mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-1-13

just a quick observation or two about what my colleagues from New Hampshire and Connecticut were just speaking to, and that is the issue of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. I intend to talk about another subject, but as I was listening to their dialogue on that subject, there were a couple of things that I thought were important to respond to. prgtoken They had indicated that there is a bill offered by Senator Menendez on their side of the aisle that they thought would get 90-plus votes here in the U.S. Senate. I would say to my colleagues on the ic side that Senator Cruz, as he was advocating for a vote on his amendment, offered that up. He offered up a vote on Menendez and a vote on his amendment to Menendez, and that was turned down by the leadership. So that was put forward as an offer by the Senator from Texas, Senator Cruz. prgtoken Just to also make the point--this isn't something that is a new issue for him. He has been advocating on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline for years. In fact, there were sanctions put in place under the previous administration, which I think had been quite effective. prgtoken With respect to holding State Department nominees, sometimes around here, you have to get people's attention in order to get a vote on something. I mean, he didn't have to hold nominees in the last administration because they allowed for a vote. In this administration, that has not been the case. He has been trying for literally weeks and months. I happened to be here in the wee hours of the morning a few weeks ago on a Friday evening when this was being discussed, and we were waiting for some agreement between him and the leadership about giving him a vote on this amendment. Ultimately, when he got the vote on his amendment, he turned loose 40-some State Department nominees. prgtoken So I think he has in this case played fairly, played by the rules in the Senate, and exercised the leverage he has as a U.S. Senator to ensure that he got a vote on an issue that is critically important, not only to him and I would say to this entire body but to our country and certainly to our allies in that region. prgtoken There is one final point I will make. Everybody, as they were talking about this, was saying: Wow, you know, this is--all of a sudden, this issue has become a relevant one. prgtoken Well, it has always been a relevant one. Defending and supporting people in Ukraine and making sure they have a democratic government that allows for self-rule is something that I think all of us in this country want to see happen. prgtoken But I think one of the reasons it has come to a head is because last year--not last year but 2 years ago, the previous administration--the Senators from New Hampshire and Connecticut were going after Senator Cruz and other s for not paying attention to this issue a long time ago. prgtoken We have been paying attention to it for a long time, but one th
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-1-13

I want to commend my colleague from Wyoming Senator Barrasso, who has been a leader on so many of these issues, and Senator Cruz on his bill, this important piece of legislation that we are going to be voting on here in a couple hours. prgtoken This Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill is not just about the immediate crisis in Ukraine, but this would be a continuation of long-term bipartisan American strategy as it deals with Russia, energy security, and American security. So I want to provide a little broader context to that bipartisan strategy and put this debate and vote that we are having here today into that context. prgtoken The U.S. commitment to European security, as we all know, is ironclad. We fought two world wars and a cold war to protect our interests in a free and open Europe. We expanded NATO to secure those gains and to prevent Russia from ever building a new empire that could threaten us or our allies. prgtoken As we all know, Russian power is not just a function of military power; to the contrary, Vladimir Putin and the Russians for decades have been using energy in terms of power and energy as a weapon. As a matter of fact, it is their weapon of choice in many instances in Europe. prgtoken Let me provide a few recent examples. prgtoken If you look at this map, one pipeline that is actually not depicted is the so-called Brotherhood Pipeline from Russia into Ukraine, and it goes into Europe. The Russians have cut off supplies of natural gas on that and other pipelines going through Ukraine in 2006, in 2008, in 2014, and in 2015. prgtoken In Moldova, shortly after the defeat of a pro-Russian Government and the election of a pro-Western one, Russia did what they normally do. They cut off gas to that country. prgtoken And it is not just impacting countries like Ukraine. When these gas supplies were cut off by Russia--because Vladimir Putin was angry about something--it impacted over 18 EU countries with regard to those cutoffs. And it is happening even today. prgtoken Just yesterday, the head of the International Energy Agency in Paris said that Russia is already, right now, strategically limiting natural gas to Europe during this very cold winter to pressure European nations not to support Ukraine as the Russians amass tens of thousands of troops on their border as we speak. prgtoken For these reasons, it has been the longstanding bipartisan American policy to do two things as it relates to energy security: First, we have sought, dating back to the 1980s, to block implementation of major pipelines from Russia--from the then-Soviet Union into Europe. The Reagan administration did this with sanctions in 1982, and we have continued to work this element of our policy. The other element of American bipartisan policy, as it relates to European energy security, has been to help countries--former Soviet Union countries, particularly in the Caspian and Central Asia area--to provide their own energy o
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-1-13

I rise today to speak against the sanctioning of German and Russian businesses over the transport of natural gas between their countries. prgtoken Proponents of sanctions say: Sanction this, sanction that. The Department of the Treasury is currently administering dozens of sanctions programs designed to change the behavior of certain countries. Yet, no one seems to ask the important questions: Do sanctions promote peace and understanding, or do they escalate tension between nations? What behavior has China modified since the United States began sanctions? Has Russia changed prgtoken her behavior? Has Russia given back Crimea? Sanctions, although lacking in proof of effectiveness, are very popular with both parties. prgtoken Embargoes, sanctions' big brother, also garner bipartisan enthusiasm. The U.S. embargo of Cuba has now gone on for more than 60 years without any evidence of a change in regime or even a change in the regime's policy. prgtoken Embargoes are often described, especially by the embargoed country, as an act of war. Many historians say that the U.S.'s embargo of 1807 ultimately led to the War of 1812. President Jefferson's embargo was intended to punish France and England for their aggressions, but instead the embargo crippled American shipping exports. Exports declined by 75 percent. prgtoken Some historians also blame the U.S. embargo of Japan for the ensuing war. Roosevelt seized many of Japan's assets, and Japan lost access to much of its international trade and over 80 percent of its imported oil. Effectively, at least from the perspective of Japan, the embargo was an act of war. prgtoken Yet enthusiasts for embargoes and sanctions still clamor for more. Sanctionistas point to the international sanctions against Iran as the lever that brought about the -era nuclear agreement with Iran. Perhaps, but an equally valid argument could be made that it was the extension of carrots rather than sticks that brought Iran to the table. It is funny how diplomacy seems to require give-and-take, not just take, take, take. prgtoken Our interaction with Iran should illuminate today's debate over sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline between Russia and Germany, but the shade of mercantilism is dimming the light of experience. prgtoken Opponents of the pipeline, not surprisingly, are largely from States that compete in the sale of natural gas. This is more about protectionism than it is national security. Reports are that the pipeline will cause a significant reduction in U.S. exports of liquid natural gas; hence the keen interest by people representing States that sell natural gas. This is not so much about national security; it is about protectionism. prgtoken Acknowledging that this debate is only superficially about national security and really more about provincial protectionism helps us better understand the dynamics. prgtoken History demonstrates that trade and interconnectedness betwe
ISSUES FACING AMERICA
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-1-13

a recent survey asked Americans for their view of the most important problems facing our country. Of course, we know what Washington view as their top priority. President and Senate have been shouting--actually shouting--at the American people that an evil, racist, anti-voting conspiracy will destroy democracy forever unless get total one-party control of the entire government, starting next week. prgtoken But are the American people buying any of it? Is this what working families want prioritized? So let's take a look. In a recent survey, Gallup asked citizens for their priorities, what they thought we ought to be doing. prgtoken Do you know what share of Americans said election law? Less than one- half of 1 percent--one-half of 1 percent. Nobody in this country is buying the fake hysteria that democracy will die unless get total control. prgtoken Here is what people do care about: The top response at 21 percent was poor government leadership. About a year into the administration, the American people's single greatest concern is bad leadership. And when you dig into the other issues, you can see why. prgtoken Some of the next largest concerns were either general economic problems or inflation and rising costs, in particular, and no wonder-- no wonder. New figures, just yesterday, show our country continues to experience the worst inflation in 40 years--40 years. prgtoken Gas prices are nearly a dollar higher than a year ago; grocery prices are up 6.5 percent; and across the economy, inflation has exceeded 5 percent every month for 7 straight months. There is no working family who has not been hurt directly by this. prgtoken Another huge chunk of Americans said their chief worry is the coronavirus--certainly no surprise there. A year into the administration that promised it would shut down the virus, well, what do we have? Record-setting new cases. Shortages of testing. Shortages of important treatments, in part, because of the administration's decisions. prgtoken We have reports of multiple States potentially limiting or excluding patients from lifesaving treatments on the basis, believe it or not, of their ethnicity. prgtoken And still, 2 years into this, notwithstanding abundant vaccines and a milder variant, we have Big Labor bosses in big cities being permitted to lock vulnerable kids out of the classroom. prgtoken Oh, and when kids are in the classroom, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice try to persecute concerned parents who dare ask what their kids are learning. prgtoken So these are just a few examples of real problems. These are the kinds of places where the American people need this dramatically unpopular administration to entirely refocus. prgtoken Yesterday, a new poll indicated that 33 percent of Americans approve of the President--33 percent. When he was inaugurated and pledging to govern for all Americans,
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-1-13

it is Groundhog Day again on the House floor. Yet again, our ic colleagues continue to gaslight the American people by claiming that despite record turnout in recent elections, s are scheming to steal the sacred right to vote from our fellow citizens. prgtoken What is their solution to the problem, which they assure you is very real? It just so happens to be a partisan Federal takeover of elections that empowers unelected bureaucrats in Washington to oversee local elections and overturn popular voting protection laws. That is not democracy; that is a violation of our Constitution. prgtoken The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which was deceitfully added to a NASA leasing authorities bill in the dead of night, is a transparent attempt to diminish the voting power of law-abiding American citizens. prgtoken , my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are right about one thing. Democracy and the principle of ``one citizen, one vote'' are indeed being threatened. The are, in fact, cynically championing this effort in spite of the fact that the ic voters in New York State, a highly blue ic State, rejected the very provisions in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by a substantial margin in a referendum vote just this past election. prgtoken With every attempt to allow noncitizens to vote and with each push to ban commonsense voter identification laws, in Congress and in places like New York City attack and erode election integrity. prgtoken By the way, Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states and protects the rights of our States to determine voting laws and practices. However, the legislation before us today would force upon the Nation a laundry list of damaging Federal policies, creating chaos and insecurity in our elections, making it easier to cheat, and overriding basic election integrity measures. prgtoken This assault must be stopped. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this misguided legislation.
HONORING 77 KENTUCKIANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO HORRIFIC TORNADOES IN DECEMBER 2021
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-1-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor the 77 Kentuckians who lost their lives to the horrific tornadoes that devastated our Commonwealth this December. May we continue to lift up all of those who were affected by these storms and support the rebuilding of homes, businesses, and livelihoods. prgtoken We lost 17 Kentuckians in my district, all in my home county of Warren County. We must ensure their memories are never forgotten, and I ask that Americans keep these families and these names in their prayers: Alisa Besic, Alma Besic, Elma Besic, Samantha Besic, Selmir Besic, Nariah Brown, Nolynn Brown, Nyles Brown, Nyssa Brown, Rachel Brown, Steven Brown, Terry Jayne, Say Meh, Cory Scott, Victoria Smith, Mae White, and Robert Williams, Jr. prgtoken May they rest in peace.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-1-13

Robert J. O'Brien, Sr age 103, passed away on January 4, 2022. A native of Chicago, O'Brien returned home after serving in the Navy during the Second World War and graduated from DePaul University. prgtoken Soon after, Mr. O'Brien joined John V. McCarthy & Co the predecessor of R.J. O'Brien & Associates, where he focused on client and business research. By 1959, Mr. O'Brien was named President of John V. McCarthy & Co. and, in prgtoken 1964, was elected to the Board of Governors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a position he held continuously until 1977. He served as Chairman of the Exchange from 1967 to 1968 and was inducted into the FIA Futures Hall of Fame in 2007. prgtoken During his tenure on the Board of Governors, contracts on live animals were successfully introduced to the market, representing the first in a wave of innovation in contract design. He was also involved in changing the structure of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to make it more democratic and in revitalizing the audits and investigations department to attract new exchange members. prgtoken Mr. O'Brien's entrepreneurial spirit is best illustrated in his countless contributions to the futures industry as he built the largest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States. He pioneered new industry practices and created opportunity for others, including taking delivery of the first live cattle contract traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, broadcasting the first live commodity report from the trading floor, and sponsoring the first woman to work on the trading floor in 1966. prgtoken The longevity of Mr. O'Brien's career and the lasting success of his company are a testament to the focus placed on the relationships that have been built with more than 80,000 clients, his employees, and his family. Mr. O'Brien is survived by five children, 22 grandchildren, and 33 great grandchildren.
PROTECTING EUROPE'S ENERGY SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION ACT--Continued
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-1-13

in a few minutes, the Senate is going to take a vote of incalculable importance to our national security, to the future of our allies in Europe, and to the very existence of the nation of Ukraine. prgtoken Right now, Vladimir Putin has assembled over 100,000 troops on the border of Ukraine. More troops and more prgtoken weapons are arriving every day. Putin yearns to reassemble the old Soviet Union. Putin would see Ukraine wiped off the face of the map. prgtoken This is not the first time that the people of Ukraine have had to face down Russian aggression and authoritarianism. Throughout the Cold War and through their independence in 1991, millions of Ukrainians died as they struggled for independence from the Soviet Union and from Soviet Russia. prgtoken In 1994, the United States signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. We committed--the United States of America committed--to ensuring Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for Ukraine voluntarily giving up the world's third largest nuclear arsenal, which it had inherited following the collapse of the Soviet Union. That was our commitment, and it is now our national obligation. prgtoken Russia, of course, also signed the Budapest Memorandum. Nevertheless, in 2014, thousands of Ukrainians died when Putin invaded Ukraine. prgtoken Putin only stopped short of a full invasion because he couldn't endanger the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which he needs to get Russian gas to Europe. He now believes that Nord Stream 2 is a done deal, thanks to President 's catastrophic surrender and waiving of the mandatory sanctions passed by Congress. prgtoken Putin sees Nord Stream 2 as an alternate route to get his gas to Europe that Ukraine cannot touch, and so he has moved to complete what he couldn't do in 2014. When President waived the sanctions on this Russian pipeline, the governments of Ukraine and Poland warned then that the result would be Russian troops on the border of Ukraine and an imminent invasion. They were right. prgtoken In recent weeks, the people of Ukraine and their government--the President, the Prime Minister, the of the Parliament--they have all called on this body to fulfill the commitment that we made to their nation. They have explicitly and repeatedly called upon the U.S. Senate to pass this bill before us, imposing immediate sanctions on Nord Stream 2. prgtoken None of us can know if that will change Putin's calculation, but we must acknowledge, as the people of Ukraine have pleaded with us to understand, that it is the only thing that can do so. prgtoken That is why today, in just a few minutes, we will have one last chance to stop the pipeline that Putin built so he can invade Ukraine. For 2 years, this body has had bipartisan consensus and unanimity on standing up to Russia on stopping Nord Stream 2. It is only with a in the White House that suddenly scores of have decided partisan l
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-1-13

I would hope that everyone in this body has listened to Senator Sinema's important speech on the filibuster just now. I really appreciated her clear-eyed rationale--her rationale to preserve the minority voices in this body and to find common ground in this Chamber. I thank her. prgtoken , I also come to the floor today to support the sanctions on Vladimir Putin's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. Now, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of S. 3436, the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Implementation Act. prgtoken You know, last week, the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Ukraine endorsed this legislation. The Prime Minister said the following: Nord Stream 2 is no less an existential threat to our security and democracy than Russian troops on our border. Senators shouldn't vote to protect Russia and Nord Stream 2. This is a security matter not only for Ukraine, but for the entire region. prgtoken I believe the Prime Minister of Ukraine is exactly right. prgtoken The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is being built by Gazprom. For people who aren't familiar with that, Gazprom is the Russian state-owned natural gas company. Now, the pipeline would double the amount of Russian gas going to Germany via the Baltic Sea. prgtoken This pipeline is an existential threat to our ally Ukraine. It is a threat to our allies in Europe as well. prgtoken Right now, Vladimir Putin has mobilized 100,000 troops on the border of Ukraine. He can afford to do this because he is flush with cash. Rising energy prices and reduced American production mean Vladimir Putin has hit the energy economic jackpot. The world is now more dependent on Russian oil and energy. If gas starts to flow through this pipeline, Vladimir Putin will get even richer, more powerful, and the world will become even more dependent on him, the dictator. prgtoken Vladimir Putin uses energy as a geopolitical weapon. He uses energy to coerce our allies and our partners in Europe. prgtoken Stopping this pipeline should be an area of bipartisan agreement. In fact, it was an area of bipartisan agreement in this very body until became President. Many in the body voted for sanctions the first time around. Even opposed the pipeline before he became President. prgtoken Congress has overwhelmingly passed several pieces of bipartisan legislation imposing sanctions on this Russian pipeline. Yet the administration refuses to implement these laws. prgtoken The administration has now been actively lobbying this body and actively lobbying Congress against this bill. must think it would give Putin what he wants. I don't get it. They think that if you give Putin what he wants, then he is going to play nice. That is not going to happen. Every American President must negotiate from a standpoint and a position of American strength. Vladimir Putin is cunning, opportunistic,