mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-4-20

it wasn't enough for like Stacey Abrams and President to lie about the new Georgia voting law. Now, today, Chuck Schumer is sending his lawyers to swarm Montana courtrooms and has taken to the Senate floor with more distortion. prgtoken This time, it is about Montana's new voting laws. prgtoken I have a message for Leader Schumer and the who are trying to distort the facts and the will of Montana voters: Please get your facts straight. In Montana we are putting in place some commonsense reforms that enjoy the strong support of Montanans. Why is the leader so determined to strike down commonsense efforts to provide integrity and transparency to our elections? prgtoken Let's talk about voter ID. A majority of Americans support needing a photo ID to cast a ballot. According to the Honest Elections Project, 77 percent of Americans support needing a photo ID prgtoken to vote--77 percent. Why? Because it is common sense and because you need a photo ID to do many tasks, some quite mundane. You need a photo ID to get a hunting or fishing license. You need a photo ID to rent a hotel room, to drive a car, to rent a car, to get on an airplane, to pick up tickets at will call. If these simple tasks require a valid ID, shouldn't protecting the integrity of America's election process require at least the same? prgtoken This isn't the first time Leader Schumer and the have tried to stick their nose into Montana's business and tried to overturn the will of Montana voters. In fact, this past election, dark money groups backed by Chuck Schumer pushed to loosen election standards, such as ballot harvesting, in Montana, and they won. This is despite the fact that nearly two-thirds of Montana voters passed a law to prohibit ballot harvesting. prgtoken How is this listening to Montanans? It is not. prgtoken Montanans want election integrity. They want to trust their elections. Yet Leader Schumer continues to undermine their direct appeal to put commonsense practices in place. prgtoken In Montana we want everyone legally allowed to vote to be able to, and we want there to be zero doubt that those votes should count. All Montanans--s, , Independents, Libertarians--should have faith in our elections. prgtoken Montana's legislature, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte wanted to strengthen this trust, and that is what they did with these commonsense bills. prgtoken The distortion by in this country is eroding this trust. This must stop. prgtoken .
HONORING THE LIFE OF JUDGE HARRY WALKER WELLFORD
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Judge Harry Walker Wellford, who passed away Saturday, April 17. prgtoken Judge Wellford was a third-generation Memphian, who dedicated his life to serving his community through the prgtoken justice system, and also dedicated his life to his family. prgtoken Judge Wellford started serving his community in our great country at a young age. Like so many of his generation, the Greatest Generation, Harry served our Nation fighting in the Pacific theater during World War II. After serving our Nation overseas, Harry Wellford returned to his home State of Tennessee to obtain his law degree from Vanderbilt University. prgtoken In the 1960s, a turbulent time for our Nation and for Memphis, Harry Wellford was an active member of the biracial Memphis Relations Committee, serving for the betterment of the Memphis community. prgtoken It was during this time that Harry Wellford became politically active, leading the west Tennessee efforts for Howard Baker's campaign for the United States Senate; and then, in 1970, managing the Statewide campaign for his good friend, Winfield Dunn, to become Governor of Tennessee. prgtoken Harry had a good and successful law practice and was well-regarded in the legal community. It was for these reasons that Harry was nominated for a Federal judgeship in 1970 by then-President Richard Nixon. Judge Wellford was unanimously confirmed as district court judge. Later, President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Wellford for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, to which he was confirmed. prgtoken Judge Wellford had a long and distinguished career on the bench. A good friend of Judge Wellford was Judge Julia Gibbons, who currently serves on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and, in 1982, replaced Judge Wellford on the district court when he was elevated to the appellate court. Commenting on him yesterday, Judge Gibbons said: Harry Wellford was one of the people we most admire to become; he was my friend; his touch with people emanated in everything he did in life. prgtoken Madam , Harry and his wife, Katherine, were members of Idlewild Presbyterian Church before she passed away. They loved to travel, and he enjoyed spending his free time playing tennis and golf. Despite being a well-distinguished judge and a political reformer for the State of Tennessee, what mattered most to Harry was his family. prgtoken Judge Wellford's favorite song was ``Eternal Father Strong to Save,'' more commonly known as ``The Navy Hymn.'' So appropriate for him and for his generation. prgtoken Indeed, Harry Wellford will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Today, Roberta and I are thinking about Harry and his five children: Harry, Jr.; Beasley; Buck; Kate; and Allison. prgtoken Harry Wellford, thank you for your service to our great Nation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-4-20

the situation on our southern border is bad and getting worse. Last month saw overall migrant totals hit a nearly two-decade high. More unaccompanied minors arrived than during any prior month on record. prgtoken These kids, crowded in underequipped facilities, tended by increasingly overwhelmed personnel, have become the heart-wrenching face of this crisis. Yet the most resolve, the most strength that this administration has shown on the border has been their commitment to their talking points, their refusal to call the crisis a crisis. prgtoken This past weekend, the President of the United States himself slipped up and used that forbidden word. But--get this--he was then overruled by his own staff. Yesterday, his Press Secretary said President actually didn't intend to describe the situation as a crisis. Fascinating. prgtoken But then, yesterday, at last, we saw this administration take some new action on immigration. Finally, some proactive steps. Memos were issued to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP with new instruction. Were they new policies to stem the crisis? No. Stepped-up enforcement? No. A way to fix the administration's signals that have induced these new waves of prgtoken vulnerable people to try their luck? No, not this either. prgtoken Here was the big news: The government will be adopting new, more politically correct rhetoric. Under this administration, we will no longer have ``illegal aliens,'' not because they will secure the border; just because they now will be called ``noncitizens'' or ``undocumented migrants'' and so on. prgtoken These priorities are almost a parody of leftwing governance: not securing the border, not a better plan for the children, just woke proofreading. This is not going to get the job done. Opioid Epidemic prgtoken , on a related matter, of course, the flow of actual people is not our only border security problem. Americans are dying and communities are being hollowed out because foreign drug dealers and profiteers have taken our opioid crisis as a business opportunity. prgtoken Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues that pour into our country impose a staggering, tragic loss. In 2020, the CDC recorded more overdose deaths than any year on record. They attributed the spike primarily to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. prgtoken My home State of Kentucky logged a 50-percent year-on-year increase in overdose deaths. Fentanyl and its constantly changing analogues are as toxic and lethal an illegal drug as there is. We are talking about substances that can be orders of magnitude more potent than morphine. prgtoken Customs and Border Protection say fentanyl seizures jumped more than 70 percent in fiscal year 2020. They are on pace for another record year in 2021. Much of this poison is manufactured in and exported from China. prgtoken The scope of this crisis is truly staggering. But incredibly, some on the poli
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF JAMES ROBERT ``BOBBY'' RYON, JR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Brunswick High School student teachers, who recently passed the end of pathway assessments for early childhood education. These students earned the honor of being the high-scoring group that has participated in the Pint Pirates program--all of this while in the middle of a pandemic. prgtoken I commend this group of students for their hard work and dedication. The Pint Pirates program is an in-school preschool program offered at Brunswick High and taught by students from Glynn Academy and Brunswick High School pursuing the early childhood education pathway. The mission of the class is to help young children prepare for prekindergarten and to better prepare high school students who are interested in teaching early childhood programs. prgtoken I am extremely proud to have these great students and program here in the First Congressional District of Georgia. prgtoken To teachers, students, and staff alike at Brunswick High School and Glynn Academy: Congratulations on your accomplishments, and keep up the good work. Honoring Walter Ronald Huggins
HONORING JOANNE POWELL
August Pfluger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I rise to honor the life and the service of Gregorio Gutierrez, a man with a servant's heart, a strong faith in God, and an unmatched ability to connect with all sorts of people. prgtoken Born in Mexico, Gregorio came to the United States in 1984; married his wife, Araceli, in 1990; and earned his citizenship in 2000. He followed his passion and founded Conexion San Angelo, the area's first and only bilingual news organization. Since then he has expanded throughout west Texas, and his operation still lives today. prgtoken He was an amazing man with a strong legacy that will live on through his wife, Araceli; his son, Ricardo; and all who know him. prgtoken San Angelo has honored Gregorio and his family with Gregorio Gutierrez Day which will fall every year on January 23. His family should be proud of his amazing legacy and his service to the Spanish- speaking community, the members of San Angelo, and all of the Concho Valley. Honoring J.C. Campbell
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-4-20

I rise today to honor the life and memory of Austin Sorensen Klein, a son, younger brother, and friend gone too soon. Austin's loved ones remember him as a young man full of energy, talent, and passion for trying and conquering new things. prgtoken Austin loved to sing. He was known throughout the Overland Park community as a vocal talent. After winning the 2015 KC Superstar competition, he went on to pursue music through the men's glee club at the University of Notre Dame and then the a cappella group at the University of Texas-Austin. Anyone who knew Austin and heard him sing will remember his sonorous voice and how his joy for music was contagious. prgtoken Austin was a kind, intelligent, patient young man who loved to learn and loved even more to make people laugh. He was a reader and, in many ways, a budding philosopher. Austin enjoyed traveling with his close family; they hiked the Black Hills and Yellowstone, toured Disney World and Washington, DC, and explored Europe, Australia, and New Zealand together. I know his parents Greg and Sue, who are dear friends to me and Senator Thune, and his brothers Kevin and Keith will treasure these memories forever. Our community hurts with them as they navigate life without their beloved son and brother. prgtoken After a brief but remarkable life, Austin passed away on March 3, 2021. I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the Klein family and Austin's friends who mourn as they miss and remember Austin's voice, his laugh, and the joy he brought to everyone he knew. May we all learn from Austin's example to live every day to the fullest, hold close those who are dear to us, and do the things we love most.
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-20

in a State as big as Texas--as the Presiding Officer knows, having lived in and around Houston for a number of years in his previous life--we rely on a strong network of roads and bridges to travel safely and efficiently. prgtoken We have I-35, which spans the entire length of Texas, from north to south, and from Laredo all way to Dallas-Fort Worth. Much of that stretch, it seems like and feels like, is constantly under some construction. prgtoken There are bridges that are part of people's daily commutes, like RM 2900 in Kingsland. After this bridge was destroyed by floodwaters a few years back, it didn't just create inconvenience in the community but also risks. It could take a firefighter an hour to get around the water. prgtoken Fortunately, the Texas Department of Transportation and construction crews didn't waste any time, and I was able to join the dedication less than a year later. You heard that right. The bridge was destroyed, and less than a year later we dedicated the opening of that bridge. prgtoken Then we have critical projects in the works, like the ``forts to ports'' corridor of I-14, which stretches from Fort Hood all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. This will connect our critical military installations to our seaports and provide a serious boost to our military readiness. prgtoken These are much more than just roads and bridges. They are vital parts of our daily lives, trade, emergency response, and, of course, national security. prgtoken And as we welcome more new Texans every day, things are nearing a breaking point. We can't punch above our weight much longer when it come to our transportation infrastructure. It is time--and I believe it is a bipartisan belief that this is the time--to invest in our Nation's infrastructure, and we know, historically, that this has not been a partisan issue. prgtoken I am pro-infrastructure, and I imagine every person in this Chamber would tell you the same thing, regardless of whether they are from a red State or blue State. We have a strong history of working together to fund the networks of roads, bridges, airports, railroads, tunnels, and the ports that the American people rely on. For example, in 2015, we passed a 5-year highway and transit funding bill called the FAST Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support. It received 83 votes here in the Senate and 359 votes in the House, as well as the signature of President . This legislation provided the certainty and stability our States need to make long-term investments in critical projects, and it was the first of its kind in more than a decade. prgtoken Last Congress, we were poised to pass a similar bill. The Environment and Public Works Committee developed a truly bipartisan example of an infrastructure bill that built on the success of the FAST Act. That was led by Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper, at the time, but it was unanimous. This legislation included provisions to re
THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-4-20

I would like to address what I think is the biggest crisis to our sovereignty since I have been here, and that is what is going on at the border. prgtoken It is hard to think of something new to say, but I want to point out as we pursue an open borders policy that it greatly increases the power of the Mexican cartels. prgtoken Because the Mexican cartels have a monopoly on letting people in this country, I heard a story of two people who weren't part of the cartels trying to sneak people across. Two of them were skinned alive, and a third one was partially skinned and sent back to say: This is what happens if you try to push people across without going through the cartels. prgtoken I want to point out an anecdote of a father and a, perhaps, 7-year- old girl who were murdered for trying to come across without the approval of the cartels. prgtoken I would like to address the 70,000 people who died from illegal drugs this year. I was recently at the Milwaukee DEA, and I was told last year 540 people in Milwaukee County died of illegal drug use, and the local agents suspected that all 540 were killed by drugs or ingredients from drugs that came across the Mexican border. prgtoken Please, President , do something about the crisis on the border.
CONGRATULATING CAPTAIN JONATHAN TURNBULL
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-4-20

I rise today to congratulate Captain Jonathan Turnbull on his promotion to major in the United States Army. prgtoken Captain Turnbull of Gaylord, Michigan, was deployed in Syria where he worked with local forces and nongovernmental organizations to stabilize the area and provide humanitarian assistance. prgtoken On January 16, 2019, an ISIS suicide bomber forever changed the course of his life and the life of his brothers. Four Americans were killed on that day, and Jonathan received life-threatening injuries. His courage and bravery on that day and each day since has inspired countless Americans as he recovered and continued his service. prgtoken Jonathan is the epitome of an American patriot and embodies the fighting spirit of our Nation's Armed Forces. He has fought for his life and his country and has truly earned this promotion to major. prgtoken I speak for the entire First District when I say how proud we are of Jonathan, his service, and his commitment. prgtoken I wish him, Samantha, Ian, and baby Scotty all the best in the many years to come.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-4-20

last week--no, it wasn't last week; it was about 3 weeks ago, I guess, now, President released his ``skinny budget,'' which gave us a top-line for defense of $715 billion. This is a reduction, and I want to make sure everyone understands this because the cut is actually below inflation, and that is not where we are supposed to be. prgtoken You know, we have this document here that everyone agrees with. I don't know one person--and this was written by six , six s, and this was in 2018. This has been used as our blueprint ever since that time, and it is just remarkable the way it has come out. The recommendations on this, as I said, were made by six s, six . All of them were experts in the field of defense, and they came out with recommendations. In this year, the amount in the budget for our military is supposed to be between 3 and 5 percent. This is in the document in front of us here. Of course, this is actually a reduction. So it is way below what has been prescribed. prgtoken When it comes to China, there are two big reasons we need to make sure our budget matches our strategy. First of all, China is spending more on their military than ever before. As a result, they are getting more technologically advanced and starting to sway the military balance of power in their favor. There is no question about it, and I will document that in a minute. prgtoken The threat the Chinese military poses is not a distant threat. It is not something that might happen in 2030, 2035, or sometime in the future. It is a problem we face today, right now, and it only gets worse over time. prgtoken Admiral Davidson told the Armed Services Committee that he expects the threat to manifest ``this decade, in fact, in the next six years.'' That is the sense of urgency. That is when they become greater than we are in many areas of defense and aggression. prgtoken So today I would like to spend some time dealing with the Chinese military and what they are doing. This is what we are up against. This is why it is so important that we get our defense budget right. prgtoken Let's start with China's military budget. Since 2000, Beijing's spending on the People's Liberation Army has gone up 450 percent--450 percent. Now, we knew that back during the administration, that actually went up. Our reduction--it was a reduction in the last 5 years--was 25 percent. At the same time, China went up by 83 percent. So this is what is going on in the world today. Beijing's budget for the military went up 450 percent. prgtoken Now, you compare Beijing's buildup with the rest of East Asia. At the same time, our core allies and partners in the region--that is, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan--have had basically flat defense budgets since 2000. Compare it with our own military spending. As I mentioned on the floor a couple of weeks ago, at the same time China was adding $200 billion to th
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOREN AND ELOUISE SUTTON
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 65th wedding anniversary of Reverend Loren C. and Elouise Sutton who were married on June 8, 1956. prgtoken Rev. Sutton serves as Pastor Emeritus and Senior Pastor at Airview Church of God in Opelika, Alabama. prgtoken The Suttons were blessed with four children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , please join me in recognizing Loren and Elouise and wishing them a happy 65th wedding anniversary.