mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS ACT OF 2021-- Continued
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-6-14

I come to the floor today to sadly announce the retirement--or not retirement--my chief of staff's decision to move on to another great opportunity, and I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about Ted Lehman and not only the 5 years he has been my chief of staff but the nearly 20 years he has been working in the Senate. prgtoken Before I start, though, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he got his undergrad, and then he went to Georgetown to get his law degree. He clerked for Thomas Hogan, who was then the chief judge of the DC District Court. prgtoken He came to the Senate about 20 years ago, in 2002. To give you some perspective, I didn't enter the legislature in North Carolina until 2007, so he has years of experience on me. He has knowledge of the Senate that I will never gain. prgtoken He started work with Senator Hatch. He worked for a couple of years with Senator Sessions, and then he worked for Senator Grassley on the Judiciary Committee. He was the chief counsel of nominations and senior counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, and that is where I met Ted. prgtoken I remember vividly, when my chief of staff at the time, Ray Starling, told me that he was going to be moving back to North Carolina, I told him: Great. Now find your replacement. prgtoken It was later that day that he came to me and said: What about Ted Lehman? prgtoken I said: I think that is a fantastic idea. prgtoken Ted wasn't looking for a job, and I wondered whether or not he would be interested in working for a freshman Senator from the State of North Carolina. But he took that job, and he has done extraordinary work, not only in terms of the day-to-day institutional grind that a chief has to go through but his attention to staff--not only the DC staff but the North Carolina staff. I think he is well-regarded among the staff, and he is going to be sorely missed. prgtoken I also need to talk about Ted and his family. To say that it is in the Lehman blood is an understatement. His brother Dirksen served on the HELP Committee with Senator Jeffords. His brother Patrick is the legislative director to Senator Sasse. He knows a lot about this institution, and he knows a lot about its processes. The first, really, opportunity I got to see that in action was when he was responsible for moving Justice Gorsuch through the nominations process. prgtoken Ted has a great family--his wife Amy, his son Jackson, his oldest son, his oldest daughter, Emma Claire, Sallye, and a young son now. Now, Ted is not from North Carolina, and we have speculated as to why he named his son what he did. He may say it is related to some sort of family tradition, but I think it is no coincidence that he named his son ``Raleigh'' after our State's capitol. prgtoken Ted is an avid hunter, fisher, outdoorsman, baseball dad, soccer dad--all those sorts of things--and he gets the right balance. He understands that family is as important as wor
BIDEN'S ECONOMICS
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-6-14

March 2021, the administration and congressional rammed through $1.9 trillion in deficit spending, and only a small portion of that really went to solving problems and helping people that needed help through the pandemic--that helped to defeat the pandemic. Much of this was not needed and only served to fuel inflation. prgtoken By the way, they were warned by many economic experts. We warned them. s on the Budget Committee and the Ways and Means Committee warned at the time this was passed in early 2021 that we would see exactly this result. We were relying on the forecasts of many economists who were saying exactly that, who were warning the administration of that at the time. Not just economists, by the way. prgtoken There is a name that many of you will know, he is a former and Clinton economist, Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, warned that the American Rescue Plan would be the biggest macroeconomic mistake in 40 years, and it would cause inflationary pressures of a kind that we have not seen in a generation. prgtoken Again, Larry Summers, a very well-respected administration economist warning that we would be seeing the inflation that we are seeing now, over a year ago, when the American Rescue Plan was passed. prgtoken Just recently a study by the San Francisco Federal Reserve confirms that prediction, attributing the American Rescue Plan for at least three points of the current 8.6 percent. Mark Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, CRFB, described the American Rescue Plan as ``pouring gasoline on the fire,'' in terms of an already stimulated economy. prgtoken In my discussion with CBO director, Phillip Swagel, during a House Budget prgtoken Committee hearing last month, he also agreed--head of CBO--that the American Rescue Plan Act pumped trillions of dollars into the economy that artificially fueled demand and ultimately drove today's inflation crisis. prgtoken So what happened? prgtoken We had far too much cash in the economy and far too much demand. prgtoken I will show you, , something that my Governor in Pennsylvania said. Governor Wolf tweeted that he wanted to send more money to people all across Pennsylvania after jobs were open and people were back to work because he said, ``States are swimming with cash.'' prgtoken They have an unusual problem in Pennsylvania right now today. This is the week they are finishing the Pennsylvania budget, and they have more money than they know what to do with. Much of that came as a result of the American Rescue Plan, and it was excess money that wasn't needed in the economy. prgtoken So those funds would have been far better used paying down the deficit, paying down the debt, and not fueling inflation by artificially boosting demand. So it really is unfortunate because this hurts my constituents, and it hurts people all across the country that the White House did not heed the c
CELEBRATING THE 245TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-6-14

as we know, the Senate is currently considering the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act. This bipartisan legislation is the most comprehensive toxic exposure bill ever considered for veterans. prgtoken Passing toxic exposure legislation has been a priority for Senator Tester, the chairman of the committee, and for me, the ranking member, and we wanted to do it this Congress, and we are close to accomplishing that. prgtoken Last Congress, we were able to deliver landmark mental health legislation for veterans, and this Congress, we were committed to passing long-lasting solutions that will reform the VA's process by which veterans who were exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange receive their benefits and healthcare. prgtoken About a month ago, Senator Tester and I announced a bipartisan agreement and introduced the historic Heath Robinson PACT Act. Part of the agreement between the chairman and me was that two amendments would be considered for this legislation. prgtoken I offered an amendment to strike the creation of a fund which would classify over $116 billion in discretionary costs associated with the bill as entitlement spending. I believe that this untested and unique way of classifying spending lessens congressional oversight at a time of massive debt and deficits, and it sets a bad precedent. prgtoken Senator Lee has an amendment requiring the Secretary to use science when evaluating presumptions established in the bill. That amendment has been filed. prgtoken Senator Ernst has an amendment requiring the Secretary to certify that with the resources and authorities provided through this bill, there won't be a negative consequence for veterans in the system. prgtoken There are at least three amendments proposing to offset the cost of the bill or at least a portion thereof with spending reductions elsewhere. prgtoken I am hopeful that in the days ahead, before final passage of this bill, we will let our colleagues be heard through an amendment process, pass or fail. prgtoken I have also hoped that the two amendments that I expected to be able to offer would be made in order. That hasn't been the case to date, and therefore I ask unanimous consent that it be made in order for the following amendments to be made pending to the substitute amendment No. 5051 by their sponsors or their designees: One, the Ernst amendment, Secretary of VA certification, No. 5072; two, the Lee amendment to modify the authority to create presumptions, No. 5048; the Johnson amendment to pay for COVID money, amendment No. 5055; the Paul amendment, to pay for this legislation from USAID, No. 5060; the Blackburn community care amendment, No. 5075; my amendment, the community care amendment, No. 5064; my amendment to strike section 805, No. 5063; the Marshall amendment on collective bargaining, No. 5071; the Murkowski amendment on appraisals for housing loans, No. 5069; and the Inhofe amendment concern
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-6-14

I want to report that we are making serious progress in our bipartisan effort to respond to the shooting in Uvalde, TX, and other places around the country. Over the last few weeks, I have been working, in particular, with Senator Murphy, Senator Sinema, and Senator Tillis on mental health and school safety reforms, and we have narrowed the scope of our discussions to provisions that we believe can earn broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and a number of our colleagues on both sides have joined the discussion. prgtoken Over the weekend, we announced an agreement on principles for bipartisan legislation, 20 Senators--10 s and 10 . This included a range of targeted reforms to keep our children and our communities safe, from mental health resources to funding to harden schools and make them more safe. No parent should have to send their child to school wondering whether they are going to be safe at school, and certainly no student should be afraid to go to school for fear of their safety. prgtoken We also included a number of targeted measures to prevent violence by people committing crimes and other dangerous individuals. I am proud of the work we have done so far, but, of course, we are not at the finish line. We are still at the beginning when it comes to drafting appropriate text. prgtoken Our agreement is based on principles alone. And translating this proposal into legislative language is no easy task, as Members of the Senate understand. Here is an example of the many details that need to be ironed out: One of the big pieces of this bill relates to State crisis intervention programs and initiatives. prgtoken The idea here is pretty simple: Support programs that reduce violence, protect the public, and help individuals in crisis get the help they need. But there are a number of different ways this provision could be drafted, and I am committed to ensuring that we get it done right. prgtoken But I want to be clear because there has been a lot of misinformation, misunderstanding on this point. None of what we are proposing would create a national red flag law--no national red flag law. Some have mischaracterized this provision as an incentive for States to pass a red flag law, but that is something I am aiming to avoid. I trust the States to make their own decisions, and 16 States have decided to pass red flag laws. But that is fewer than half of the States with red flag laws on the books. Congress should not only send Federal funding to those States but also other States that are doing things to deal with people in crisis. And as the agreement, in principle, said, what we are focused on is crisis intervention. prgtoken But there are a number of different ways that this could be approached. And I am fighting for this proposal to include a grant program that gives every State, regardless of whether it has a red flag law or not, funding to administer programs that they do
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2543, FEDERAL RESERVE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2773, RECOVERING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE ACT OF 2021; AND PROVIDING FOR...
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-6-14

. Madam , I have no further speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close. prgtoken the balance of my time and remind everybody that, in 's America, gas prices are averaging more than $5 a gallon; inflation is at a 40-year high; and real wages have decreased 10 out of the last 12 months. prgtoken Yet, with today's rule, House are doubling down on far- left, radical policies, really failed policies, that created 's economic crisis in the first place. prgtoken It is well past time that the administration and congressional admit that they are to blame for the economic pain families are facing and workers are facing, and work with s on solutions to immediately help the American people. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question and ``no'' on the rule, and .
TRIBUTE TO KAREN GOODE
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-6-14

it is an honor to pay tribute today to Ms. Karen Goode, who has retired after 47 years of dedicated public service with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Jackson, MS. Since becoming a U.S. Senator in 2018, I have come to appreciate Ms. Goode who has earned consistent high praise from my State office staff responsible for assisting veterans with their VA claims. Karen's knowledge, responsiveness, reliability, and trustworthiness have enabled me to serve Mississippi's prgtoken veterans better and more effectively, and I am very thankful to her for that. prgtoken Karen began her career with the VA in 1975 in a clerical position with the finance department. A GS-3 at the time she was hired, Karen is retiring as a GS-13 supervisory veterans service representative, which is evidence of her meritorious work leading to continual promotions throughout her Federal civil service career. In the process, she acquired the knowledge and skill sets for processing all claims for compensation, pension, education, vocational, and rehabilitation. Ms. Goode's thorough understanding of the claims review process, along with her excellent management skills, propelled her into key senior leadership roles that led her to supervising seven different employee teams over her VA career. prgtoken Ms. Goode's high degree of professionalism earned her multiple special recognitions. At the recommendation of the veterans service center manager, Karen in 2006 served as the representative for the southern area on a quality assurance detail HELP team in Washington, DC. In 2012, at the completion of a designated special project as quality team coach, Karen obtained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt designation. prgtoken Even though Congress writes the laws regarding veterans' benefits, it is up to teams set up within the VA to review veterans' claims and determine if they are eligible for benefits. It can be a complex and lengthy process, which I highly respect. Covering a broad range of benefit categories, I understand the effectiveness in which VA team member groups review and process claims can differ greatly. Despite exercising most of her leadership away from the public eye, Mississippi's veterans are fortunate to have been served by Ms. Karen Goode for so many years working in this capacity. She has been unwavering in her commitment to ensuring that Mississippi's veterans receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the law. prgtoken In conclusion, I am incredibly grateful to Ms. Karen Goode for dedicating her career to serving those who have served our country. I commend her for her many accomplishments, and I send her my best wishes for an enjoyable retirement.
CELEBRATING THE 245TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-6-14

this is one of the more enjoyable things of being a Senator, especially when I have some friends in from Southern Indiana up in the Gallery to see what we do here. prgtoken I rise today to offer a resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance as an expression of patriotism and honoring the 245th anniversary of the introduction of our United States flag. prgtoken Today we celebrate Flag Day, which was first established over 100 years ago by President Woodrow Wilson. As we pause to recognize all that our flag represents, let us also honor those who have sacrificed everything to defend it. prgtoken In 2002, Senator Tom Daschle raised a similar resolution with unanimous support from the Senate. It passed on the floor uneventfully. Today, I ask this body to reaffirm our support for the Pledge of Allegiance. prgtoken I also rise to honor a fellow Hoosier who knew the innate value of the Pledge of Allegiance to civic education. In 1969, Red Skelton, the American entertainer who was well-known for the program ``The Red Skelton Hour,'' wrote a speech on the importance of the pledge. Reflecting on his time in Vincennes, IN, he spoke about the values instilled by one of his high school teachers. prgtoken After the performance of the speech, CBS received 200,000 requests for copies. The speech would go on to be sold as a single by Columbia Records and performed at the White House for President Nixon. I think it would honor Mr. Skelton's memory and the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance if it were recited today on the Senate floor in the words of Mr. Red Skelton. I have done this 2 prior years too. This should never get old for anyone here or the American public in general. When I was a small boy in Vincennes, [Indiana,] I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Socrates' Speech to the Students. We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he [Mr. Lasswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School] called us all together, and he says, ``Uh, boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and give you a definition of each word: I--Me, an individual; a committee of one. Pledge--Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity. Allegiance--My love and my devotion. To the Flag--Our standard. ``Old Glory''; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts ``Freedom is everybody's job.'' Of the United--That means we have all come together. States--Individua
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2543, FEDERAL RESERVE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2773, RECOVERING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE ACT OF 2021; AND PROVIDING FOR...
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2022-6-14

. Madam , I rise to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, which I am proud to cosponsor with my colleagues, Representatives McMorris Rodgers and Westerman. prgtoken The national average price for a gallon of gasoline today is $5 and climbing. Let that sink in. It is $5 and going up. Diesel fuel is skyrocketing at an even scarier rate. prgtoken This is a self-imposed crisis on the American people. As a candidate, pledged again and again to ban development on America's Federal lands and waters. He followed through prgtoken on that promise, with the House following suit no matter the pain they cause Americans at the pump, no matter the costs they impose on businesses reliant on shipping, trucking, and more. prgtoken In contrast, we s are here offering solutions. H.R. 6858 takes away 's power to ruin our energy security and our economy by prohibiting harmful drilling bans. The bill creates a minimum number of annual lease sales, both onshore and offshore. It reauthorizes the Keystone XL pipeline so we can resume moving energy throughout our country. prgtoken here are calculating that, to reduce emissions, it is a necessary evil to make gas expensive for Americans and punish the middle class. prgtoken Madam , let me tell you why that is dead wrong. Under President , when we were net exporters of American energy, we averaged emission reductions of 2.5 percent every year. Under President , his first year in office, we saw a 6 percent jump in domestic emissions. prgtoken These policies push every day, again, are punishing the American families, the American workers, and the American middle class. It makes it harder for businesses to turn a profit. It is the leading cause of why our economy officially became a bear market just yesterday. prgtoken 's solution? Trips to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, pleading with communists and human rights violators to bail him out of a problem that he caused. Let that sink in. He is going to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, pleading with communists and human rights violators to bail him out of a problem that he caused.
RECOVERING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE ACT OF 2021
Cliff Bentz (Republican, OR) \u2014 2022-6-14

. Madam , I rise in support of my amendment No. 8. prgtoken This fiscally responsible amendment would establish a 1.85 percent administrative cap for the Department of the Interior when implementing title III of this bill. prgtoken Title I of the bill, which provides funding to State fish and wildlife departments for species conservation, includes a 1.85 percent administrative cap. prgtoken Title II of the bill, which covers Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration, includes a 3 percent administrative cap for the Department of the Interior. prgtoken However, as currently drafted, title III does not have an administrative cap. prgtoken The original intent of this bill was to provide States with funding to conserve species of greatest conservation need. prgtoken Unfortunately, the majority decided to ignore the committee process by airdropping in title III to give more funding to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. prgtoken Not only did they circumvent process to add the entire title to the bill, they didn't carry over any of the good government amendments made in committee. prgtoken Under the current text, the State and Tribal portions of the bill would be subject to strict administrative caps, but the Federal Government would not be. This is backwards, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs much more oversight since the agency is part of the reason we find ourselves in the position we are currently in with respect to the broken Endangered Species Act. prgtoken Additionally, the programs funded in title III already receive existing appropriations, and if the majority would like to increase them, they should do it through the appropriations process instead of airdropping in another layer of statute and bureaucracy into the legislation. prgtoken For these reasons, title III should be struck from the bill. Unfortunately, the majority refused to allow a vote on my colleague from Utah's amendment that would have done just that. prgtoken The very least we can do is at least ensure that title III is subject to the same administrative requirements as the other titles. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.