mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-4-22

our Nation is in the midst of a historic crime wave that is affecting Americans of every background and walk of life. This surge in violence includes a shocking rise in hate crimes against our fellow citizens of Asian descent. Last year, the total number of hate crimes in America's largest cities dropped by 7 percent, but they surged by nearly 150 percent against Asian Americans. prgtoken Often, these hate crimes target the elderly and the frail--people who can't fight back against their vicious assailants. prgtoken Just last month, a 65-year-old Asian-American woman was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked in broad daylight on the streets of New York City while her attacker shouted anti-Asian slurs. We later learned that her attacker was a convicted murderer who was out on parole, thanks to criminal prgtoken leniency policies. Instead of being in prison, locked up, where he belonged, he was brutalizing an innocent victim in broad daylight--yet more proof that being weak on crime doesn't reduce crime; it only invites more crime. prgtoken A civilized society can't ignore such attacks on our innocent citizens. We have to protect them. We have to protect every citizen and get tough on violent hate crimes. prgtoken Unfortunately, in response to this terrible rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, the initially introduced an extremely partisan bill intended to score political points. This flawed piece of legislation that the Senator from Hawaii originally sponsored contained provisions tailor-made to muzzle free speech. prgtoken For example, the bill would have directed the Department of Justice to tell Americans how they were supposed to talk about this virus. I voted against proceeding to this bill, in part because of this crazy, radical idea to impose a speech code on how Americans can talk about this virus. Some say: How could you vote against it? Very simple. I will never support a speech code imposed on the American people on how they can exercise their First Amendment rights to talk about this pandemic. prgtoken This whole idea is deeply concerning, especially because some in the media and some of our ic friends believe that even pointing out that the virus came from China is somehow inciting violence. That is as foolish as it is dangerous. Calling this virus--which, yes, came from Wuhan, China--the Wuhan virus is not racist, and it doesn't incite violence. You may recall, after all, that last year, journalists from such esteemed outlets as CNN, Reuters, the Washington Post, and the New York Times all used the terms ``Chinese virus,'' ``Chinese coronavirus,'' and ``Wuhan coronavirus.'' Were they inciting violence? Were they racist? No, of course not. They were following the centuries- old practice of referring to diseases by their geographic names. prgtoken It wasn't anti-Spanish to call the influenza outbreak of 1918 the ``Spanish flu'' even though it didn't even start in Spain.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-4-22

I rise today to honor a Springfield, MO, resident who has dedicated 38 years of her life in service to the city of Springfield by helping facilitate economic development, creating and retaining thousands of jobs, and bringing life to the downtown area. Mary Lilly Smith started her career in 1983 as a city planner for downtown Springfield, where she helped create the city's initial neighborhood conservation office. During the next 38 years, Mary played an instrumental role in nearly 100 key economic initiatives. prgtoken Mary is best known for her 17 years as the economic development director. Along with her commitment to the downtown area, she created the Economic Development Incentives Policy Manual, which became a template for other towns and cities across the State to implement development policies. In addition to her economic development initiatives, Mary made sure to preserve the city of Springfield's incredible history. Throughout her nearly four decades of service, Mary has developed many different approaches to preserving and honoring the history of the area. She also developed the city's first capital improvement program, which facilitated a change in the review process for protecting architecturally significant historical properties. prgtoken Mary leaves behind a legacy for the city of Springfield to be enjoyed by all for years to come. For her many years of service, she has earned her retirement. As she enters this new chapter of her life, I offer Mary best wishes.
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTRE ACT OF 2021--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-4-22

the year 2020 was a year filled with sadness and grief for me, but, unfortunately, that sadness and grief struck again in the year 2021. prgtoken Last Tuesday, 100-mile-per-hour winds capsized a lift boat with a crew of 19 off the coast of Grand Isle, LA, just south of Port Fourchon. The U.S. Coast Guard and a group of Good Samaritan boats rescued six crew members as winds continued between 80 to 90 miles per hour and waves were 7 to 9 feet high. prgtoken The Coast Guard credits those Good Samaritans with saving four of the six rescued crew members. So, fortunately, in the midst of a terrible tragedy, it turns out a crew of Coast Guard men and women were on a boat doing a trial run when the SOS went out. And although technically not Coast Guard, they were coastguardsmen, and they went out and aided in the rescue. We are eternally grateful for their efforts, their hard work, and for the risk they took to themselves to bring those crew members back to shore safely, who returned safely. prgtoken In this tragedy, which affects us in Louisiana but, in a sense, affects us all, any loss of life is heartbreaking. But there are some who may not be found, and we pray their families find closure. To date, six have been confirmed dead, including Anthony Hartford of New Orleans, James ``Tracy'' Wallingsford of Gilbert, Captain David Ledet of Thibodaux, Ernest Williams of Arnaudville, Lawrence Warren of Terrytown, and Quinon Pitre of Franklin. prgtoken Seven are still missing. Each day that passes, the prognosis--the chance of finding them--obviously decreases. I would like to take a moment to recognize those still missing: prgtoken Jay Guevara, Dylan Daspit, Gregory Walcott, Chaz Morales, Jason Krell, Darren Encalade, and Chris Rozands. prgtoken Our thoughts and prayers are with the crew members of the capsized vessel, their loved ones, and their communities. prgtoken While we mourn this loss, we also rise to recognize the heroic efforts of the Coast Guard, the Good Samaritans, and all involved in the search-and-rescue efforts that continued for 6 straight days. prgtoken In just 40 hours, the Coast Guard covered more than 1,440 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico, searching for missing crew members. To put that in perspective, that is an area larger than the State of Rhode Island. By Friday, this area grew to a size larger than Hawaii, searching through sea and air. prgtoken Late last week, the National Transportation Safety Board announced they will open an investigation. The team arrived in New Orleans on Thursday, and a preliminary report will be released within the next 2 weeks. prgtoken We deeply appreciate the volunteers who assisted the men and women from the Coast Guard and many others in the search and rescue, particularly during the terrible weather. In the light of this tragedy, this team effort demonstrates the best of humanity. prgtoken We grieve with the families. We shall always remember the lives of
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTRE ACT OF 2021--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-4-22

I appreciate the thoughtful comments from my colleague from Oklahoma of the need for us to have an independent judiciary. prgtoken I am on the floor to talk about a different issue, and it is the latest, very troubling information that we are receiving regarding the addiction epidemic and specifically drug overdose deaths in the United States. I am also going to talk about some of the steps we can take right now to address that reality. prgtoken One of the top priorities I have had in this body and in the House has been this drug addiction issue. Frankly, this is a moment of frustration because we were making progress, and then COVID-19 hit. Unfortunately, the drug epidemic has hit my State of Ohio particularly hard. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, show that it is a pretty grim picture right now, and it should be a wake-up call to all of us. Overdose deaths rose nearly 30 percent nationwide from September 2019 to September 2020. During this time period, you can see the overdose deaths numbers going up dramatically. prgtoken This is heartbreaking for me because we were making progress. After literally decades of increases in drug overdose deaths every single year--decades--going back to the 1990s, we finally here in the 2017, 2018, 2019 periods began to make progress in reducing overdose deaths. In fact, in Ohio, we had a 24-percent decrease in overdose deaths during 1 year, 2018, but, right now, the numbers are getting higher and higher, and it is everywhere. prgtoken As you can see from this chart, if something is in any of these colors, this means that there is an increase in overdose deaths. If it is in blue, it means there is a decrease, and this was just during this period of September prgtoken 2019 to September 2020, the latest data for which we have good information. It doesn't even include all of 2020, and as we know, the pandemic, unfortunately, went all the way through 2020 and into 2021. All of the data show that, as you got further into the pandemic, we had higher rates, so we expect, when the final data come out for 2020, it will be even higher. prgtoken Here is where we are now. Look at this. Other than the State of South Dakota, every single State has seen an increase--and a substantial increase in many cases--in overdose deaths. This is in 49 of 50 States. In my own State of Ohio, there has been about a 25-percent increase in overdose deaths during this period. prgtoken Only a few years ago, again, we were making progress. One reason that we had begun to turn the tide was because of work that had been done here in the U.S. Congress. Right around this time period, we passed legislation called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. We also passed legislation called the 21st Century Cures Act. Both were signed into law in 2016. So it would have been in this period. It became effective in this period and actually helped to reduce
HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF DAVID KERN
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-4-22

I rise to honor the life and memory of David Kern. prgtoken David recently passed away at the age of 79, following a long fight with cancer. I am particularly extending my condolences to his beloved wife, Katy; his 4 children and 11 grandchildren. prgtoken David was a veteran of the United States Army, a volunteer firefighter, a small business owner. He served as Liberty Township Trustee for 32 years, and he was chairman of the Butler County Party. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and conservationist. prgtoken More than all that, however, he was a friend and someone who gave me sound advice and used his influence as a mentor. prgtoken David Kern was a very good man, and his presence will be sorely missed by his family, our community, and all who knew and loved him.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-4-22

today we are wrapping up consideration of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. Next week the majority leader has indicated the Senate will take up the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. These are both bipartisan pieces of legislation. prgtoken The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was an initially partisan bill that has now been improved by input from s and I expect will receive strong bipartisan support on final passage. prgtoken The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act has been 100 percent bipartisan from the very beginning. Senators Duckworth and Capito developed this legislation, along with ic Senators Carper and Cardin and Senators Lummis and Cramer. The legislation went through regular committee consideration and was reported out of the Environment and Public Works Committee to the full Senate with a unanimous vote. It is a model of how we should work here in the Senate. prgtoken , after a very partisan start to this Congress, with and the President steamrolling through a massive, partisan COVID bill packed with non-COVID-related priorities, it is encouraging to see the Senate working the way it should: Senators from both parties talking, negotiating, coming together to work out legislation that both parties can support. prgtoken It is particularly encouraging to see the Drinking Water and Wastewater bill--a bipartisan effort from start to finish and a too- rare example of legislation that went through the committee process, which should be our goal for most bills in the Senate. I hope this trend will continue. prgtoken want the Senate to take up infrastructure legislation in the near future--a goal that s support. What we don't support is ' threat to shove through another massive, partisan bill-- this time on infrastructure--using reconciliation rules to ensure s don't have a voice in the legislation. prgtoken The Senate was designed to promote moderation and consensus. It was intended to be a check on the more partisan--or as the Founders would put it, factious--House of Representatives. The Senate fulfills its constitutional role best when it engages in serious, bipartisan consideration and negotiation and ensures that Members of both parties are heard. This is the framework we should adopt for infrastructure. prgtoken I am encouraged by President 's decision to meet with s to discuss infrastructure legislation. s have now met with the President at least twice, and more meetings are expected. I anticipate meeting with the President and other Senators soon to discuss broadband infrastructure priorities. I hope we can reach bipartisan agreement on priorities in this area, including closing the digital divide by increasing broadband access in rural America and removing obstacles to digital infrastructure deployment. I know it can be done. prgtoken When I serv
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-4-22

in 1964, then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy summed it up best as to why the Framers put the Capital outside the borders or control of any State: ``It was indispensably necessary to the independence and the very existence of the new Federal Government to have a seat of government which was not subject to the jurisdiction or control of any State.'' prgtoken As true as that was when this was said, as true as that was when the Capital was moved here, it is that true today. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I am glad they remember history. When the seat of the Federal Government was in New York City and in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, they didn't want it in the control of a State. Therefore, the District of Columbia was created, under the control of the United States Congress, because that is who should be determining what happens for the 50 States. prgtoken Our colleagues on the other side want to change an amendment to the Constitution with law. prgtoken What about other amendments to the Constitution and how they read those? Will they try to change those with law? prgtoken This is not about taxation without representation. This is about a power grab, and let's call it what it is.
ELECTIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-4-22

now, on another matter, earlier this week, the ic leadership of the Judiciary Committee convened a hearing with the embarrassing title of ``Jim Crow 2021.'' It was the latest effort to use shocking rhetoric to distract from the specific details of actual voting laws in States like Georgia. prgtoken Amazingly, one of our ic colleagues testified before the committee that people actually shouldn't bother combing through the specifics of the law--don't bother reading the actual law. He suggested that ``narrow analysis only obscures the larger, unmistakable picture.'' Put another way, the facts deflate the narrative. prgtoken Misrepresentations of Georgia's election law have been debunked by fact checkers. The real, unmistakable picture is that the bill would expand early voting and make no changes to current election day hours-- none. Ironically, ' own star witness at this week's hearing once sponsored and supported an earlier effort that would have cut early voting days in Georgia in half. prgtoken The facts puncture the left's big lie. Much of this overheated rhetoric seems like simple projection because there is, indeed, a piece of legislation that would create a stunning one-party takeover of voting laws and elections in our country, and that would be Washington ' darling, H.R. 1. This is the bill that was first introduced back in 2019, with many still in denial that a had won the White House in 2016. prgtoken It was marketed at that time as a wholesale transformation designed to salvage a broken democracy. But now that got an election outcome they liked better in 2020, what is essentially a xerox copy of the same overhaul is now being marketed, oh, as a modest step, just a modest step to maintain the status quo. prgtoken The first sales pitch was actually more honest. This 800-plus-page takeover would give Washington unprecedented control over 50 States' election laws, over a newly--listen to this--a newly partisan Federal Election Commission, over policing America's political speech. That is what it would do. prgtoken Now, know that the same Senate rules they happily used for the last 6 years will not make it easy to launch this awful proposal, so there is another important piece in their plan. They are aiming the same wild rhetoric at the Senate's own rules--at our rules here in the Senate. prgtoken The legislative filibuster which senior have loudly and proudly defended in the past, which used repeatedly in recent years, all of a sudden has become an offensive and outdated relic overnight. Isn't it amazing how this new awakening only happened when felt they had a chance to retake the majority. prgtoken Now, the American people can see right through this. Nobody is fooled. Nobody is fooled by their desperation to rewrite 50 States' election laws or the campaign to pack the Supreme
COMMEMORATING THE 175TH CELEBRATION OF THE FOUNDING OF HENDERSON COUNTY
Lance Gooden (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-22

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the 175th celebration of the founding Henderson County, Texas. Henderson County was formed April 27, 1846, and named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first attorney general of the Republic of Texas, and secretary of state for the republic, and most importantly the first Governor of Texas. prgtoken Henderson County has a rich history, including the one-time Black- Eyed Pea Capital of the world, and the home of the hamburger. Now, many Texans enjoy the wide-ranging activities Henderson County offers including recreation, entertainment, hunting, and fishing, along with the Texas Forest Trail and the Texas Lakes Trail. The county also brings in visitors from across the state and nation with events such as the Old Fiddle Reunion, held in May, and the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree which is held in July. prgtoken After 175 years, Henderson County continues to be a vibrant community that supports family, sports, fine arts, churches, and numerous organizations for more than 84,000 residents that make up 20 municipalities. prgtoken I am proud to represent Henderson County and the many people who make it a wonderful place to live. Congratulations to everyone in the county on celebrating their 175th anniversary.
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTRE ACT OF 2021--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-4-22

it is Thursday, and by now many know-- particularly our members of our press corps--that it is time for what I feel is probably one of the best moments in the Senate each week. It is time for the ``Alaskan of the Week.'' prgtoken We get to talk about Alaska, talk about somebody who is doing extraordinary things for our State, for our country a lot of times, and I like to give an update when I do my ``Alaskan of the Week'' speech on what is going on in Alaska. prgtoken It is spring, of course. The Sun is high in most parts of the State-- actually, in all parts of the State. Spring--we call it breakup, actually, relating to the ice on the rivers--it is upon us. prgtoken Now, of course, it can still snow, and it still gets pretty cold in a lot of places in Alaska, but winter is on the run. The promise of summer is in the air, and what a glorious summer it is going to be. prgtoken We aren't out of the woods yet on the pandemic in Alaska, but we have managed--we are proud of it, I am proud of my fellow Alaskans--the pandemic, the virus, as well as possible. prgtoken One of the things that is happening right now, our vaccination rates have been, almost from the beginning when we got the vaccine, the highest per capita in the country. Despite our huge challenges in terms of size, limited population, it is really kind of a minimiracle--No. 1 vaccination rates in America in Alaska. We did it by dog sled, snow machine, small airplanes to make that happen. prgtoken So if you are watching, America, please come on up to Alaska. It is safe. It is open for tourism. This summer we want you to come on up. prgtoken By the way, not only will you have an amazing experience, our State just announced a few days ago you will get a vaccine if you come to Alaska. If your State is too inefficient or bureaucratic to actually get a vaccine, come on up to Alaska. You can have the trip of a lifetime, and you and your family can get vaccinated. We want you up there. We are open for business. We want to see Americans come on up and enjoy our great State as we are getting through this pandemic. prgtoken It is a naturally beautiful place, you will see, but the people in my State work hard to keep it pristine and are really what makes it such a great place. prgtoken So, today, in honor of Earth Day, I wanted to honor Homer, AK, resident Beth Trowbridge, who has spent her career--about 40 years, four decades--working to keep our waters in Alaska and our beaches clean and pristine. prgtoken So let me tell you a little bit about Beth. Originally from St. Louis, Beth first came to Alaska in 1981 as a college student to work on the Youth Conservation Corps in Fairbanks, AK, the interior. prgtoken She only intended to stay a year or so--by the way, this is a very common story--only intended to stay a year or so, but as so many do, she got to Alaska and fell in love with the State so she transferred to the University of Alaska in Fairbanks where
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-4-22

let me tell you what support is really about on H.R. 51: ic partisanship, power, policy, progressive issues. prgtoken No State has been admitted by the Constitution. No State was created from a territory, which was crafted in the Constitution. That is what you want to obviate. prgtoken Even our Founders understood this very clearly, as they iterated, in Federalist No. 43, ``The indispensable necessity of complete authority at the seat of government carries its own evidence with it. It is a power exercised by every legislature of the Union, I might say of the world, by virtue of its general supremacy. Without it, not only the public authority might be insulted and its proceedings interrupted with impunity; but a dependence of the members of the general government on the State comprehending the seat of the government, for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence. . . . `' prgtoken That is what is at stake here. H.R. 51 is bad, according to the Founders, but it also violates the 23rd Amendment. That is clear as well. prgtoken It is time that the realize it and quit trying this power grab and vote this thing down.