mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
52 WEEKS OF BROKEN PROMISES
Jerry L. Carl (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), my colleague, for organizing this Special Order. prgtoken Madam , when my father was a child, he sold newspapers on the streets in Oklahoma City. He was 6, 7, and 8 years old. He would tell me stories that they would show up every morning and fight over the best corners because they knew they could sell the most newspapers. That was when we were in the middle of a depression. prgtoken We are not in a depression today--yet. But yet, we still have fighting over those same corners. prgtoken Today, instead of fighting over the sale of newspapers, they are fighting over the sale of drugs, and these are illegal drugs that are coming across our border. prgtoken Most people don't realize how potent fentanyl is. Let me give you an example. One grain, one single grain of fentanyl can kill a grown man. You can take two packs of sweetener that you sweeten your drink with; that is enough to kill every member of Congress, House and Senate, to give you some idea of how potent these drugs are. Could you imagine a 50-pound backpack of it coming across our open borders? prgtoken My personal observation is these intercity killings are primarily against minority communities. Where is the outrage for these children which are our responsibility? They are our responsibility, not another person's responsibility. Our communities are being flooded with illegal drugs being brought in from the left and the right, across our southern borders. My colleagues remain silent. prgtoken Madam , I truly believe President cares about the lives that are being lost due to illegal drugs and the violence that is being claimed due to these illegal drugs. But where is he? Why is the President not being the leader that he was elected to be? We need a President that is a leader and that will step out there. prgtoken We have had a full year to address this simple issue. This simple issue is the illegal drugs. No one seems to be paying attention. I promise you it affects every family. Every family in America that has a family member or friend that has been affected by this fentanyl needs to hear this because we can stop it. We can do it. prgtoken This is an American issue that all communities should be in an uproar about. There are simple, commonsense solutions to fix this problem. I am asking, no, I am begging President to sit down at the table and work across the aisle. Let's secure our southern border and stop the flow of these illegal drugs into our community that are killing, killing our kids. prgtoken Let's build a wall now instead of stopping the wall. Let's build a wall now and finally put safety and security back into America. First and foremost, our responsibility is the safety of the citizens of this country. prgtoken , please hear my plea. Now is the time to take action. We need an American leader.
WELCOMING THE HONORABLE SHEILA CHERFILUS-McCORMICK TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , as the dean of the Florida delegation, I have the honor of welcoming Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida's 20th District to the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken Our new colleague will fill the seat of my late dear friend, Alcee Hastings. Now, similar to the district that I am honored to represent, Florida's 20th District is extremely diverse and covers urban and agricultural areas in both Palm Beach and Broward Counties. prgtoken Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick is the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants, and she was born in Brooklyn, New York. prgtoken Madam , after finishing college at Howard University, she moved to Florida to attend St. Thomas University School of Law. prgtoken Although she left Florida to become a project manager at the New York City Transit Authority, it wasn't long before Florida's sunshine brought her back to Florida. In 1999, she joined Trinity Health Care Services and eventually became the company's CEO. prgtoken Madam , this once single mother is the epitome of the American Dream and represents the aspiration of so many of our South Florida neighbors. I look forward, Madam , to working with our newest colleague on the issues of importance to our country and to South Florida. Florida's congressional delegation is honored to welcome Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick to the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken Madam , from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick), who is our newest Member of Congress.
FILIBUSTER
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-1-18

late last week, our ic colleagues briefly paused their quest to destroy the Senate's 60-vote threshold just long enough to use the 60-vote threshold themselves to block a bill. prgtoken s supported sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline that would give Russia even more leverage to bully Europe. Most of our ic colleagues bowed to the furious lobbying from the administration to protect Putin's pipeline. There were 55 votes to pass the bill that our friends, like Ukrainian President Zelensky, desperately wanted passed, but blocked it by denying 60. prgtoken Now, many of these same colleagues have spent weeks thundering-- literally thundering--that the Senate's 60-vote threshold is an offensive tool of obstruction, a Jim Crow relic, declaring that simple majorities should always get their way. Ah, but late last week, they literally wielded the 60-vote threshold themselves--a useful reminder of just how fake--fake--the hysteria has been. prgtoken We already knew Washington didn't have any principled opposition to Senate rules. repeatedly filibustered the CARES Act in March of 2020, while insisting on changes. filibustered and killed Senator Tim Scott's police reform bill. prgtoken You only have to go back a few years to read vigorous defenses of the filibuster from our ic colleagues and their allies. prgtoken The ic whip, Senator Durbin, put it this way: We need to protect the right of debate in the Senate, preserve checks and balances so that no one party can do whatever it wants. We need to preserve the voice of the minority in America. prgtoken Dick Durbin. prgtoken The ic leader himself said in 2017 that we need to ``find a way to build a firewall around the legislative filibuster''--build a firewall around the legislative filibuster. prgtoken Then, in a letter that same year by 32 Senate , our colleagues demanded--demanded--that the 60-vote threshold stay right where it was. prgtoken Until the last couple of years, Senators on both sides have understood the Senate is not here to rubberstamp massive changes by thin majorities. This institution exists to do exactly the opposite--to make sure major laws receive major buy-in and have major staying power, and, historically, ic allies outside this Chamber have recognized this as well. prgtoken Let's go back about 15 years ago when s controlled the Senate. A leftwing organization called The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights published a lengthy statement defending-- defending--the filibuster, including--listen to this--its relationship to civil rights. prgtoken Here is what they had to say when s were in the majority here in the Senate: On behalf of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation's oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, with
H.R. 5746
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-1-18

last week, I gave a long, detailed speech on the topic that was at hand last week and is the topic, right now, that we are focusing on here in the U.S. Senate: voting rights and the majority leader's goal this week, as it was last week, to blow up the legislative filibuster. prgtoken I believe it would be the first time in U.S. history that a majority leader would actually seek to do this--to blow up the legislative filibuster--which, in and of itself, says a lot. This would, of course, change the Senate and change the country forever. There will be a lot of speeches on that. There will be many more speeches today, tomorrow, and Thursday on these important topics. prgtoken Now, the President of the United States weighed in on these two topics--the filibuster and voting rights--in Georgia, in a speech last week that is already going down as an infamous speech by a President of the United States. Let's just say it really didn't go very well, the President's speech. prgtoken I ask all Americans to take a look at it. It is quite disturbing for a whole host of reasons. The President's speech was almost universally panned, on the left even, on the right, and in the center. I have not seen one U.S. Senator come down on the floor, this week, to defend it. It will be interesting, as we debate these issues, if anyone does, but I doubt there will be, and there are many reasons for this. prgtoken As a speech by a President, it was remarkably divisive--in essence, calling every Senator, or , who doesn't agree with him a racist and a traitor. Read the speech. It was historically absurd--invoking the sacrifices of the Civil War and heroes like Abraham Lincoln and villains like Jefferson Davis to present-day circumstances. It was profoundly un-Presidential, as Senator McConnell stated, rhetoric, completely unbecoming of a President of the United States, and in an attempt to get Senators, especially Senators, to vote the way in which President wants them to vote, it appears to have been a monumental failure. Now, I wonder why. Well, of course, here is why. prgtoken Calling someone a racist and a traitor is not the normal, logical route to try to persuade one to come over to your side--neither is claiming that Senators, legislators, States, and State voting laws are so-called Jim Crow 2.0, when your very own State's laws, in terms of voting, are some of the most restrictive in the country. This is a narrative, I hope, our friends in the media will keep an eye on during the debates this week. prgtoken What am I talking about? prgtoken Well, first and foremost, I am talking about Majority Leader Schumer and and their States, New York and Delaware, which have some of the most restrictive voting laws in America. Let me repeat that. Some of the most restrictive voting laws in America come from the majority leader's State and the President of t
52 WEEKS OF BROKEN PROMISES
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , this week we look back over a year of failures; from the economy and crime to foreign policy and national security. There is not one area where a year of total control shouldn't receive an F. prgtoken It is hard to believe it was only a year ago this Thursday that President swore to uphold the Constitution just outside the building from where we stand today. prgtoken Despite assuring the American people that he sought to unify the country, 's first hours in office were marked by divisive and controversial executive orders. prgtoken 's incompetent economic policies destroyed our chance at a strong economic recovery and harmed hardworking families and small businesses. prgtoken A year later, Americans are paying about 50 percent more each time they fill up their tank. That is after President canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, halted new oil and gas leasing on Federal land, and proposed burdensome taxes and regulations on small energy producers. These policies all matter. They impact real people. prgtoken That is why tonight I wanted to share some insight and experiences from folks in Kansas after a year of President holding office. prgtoken Nick, a new father in Derby, has certainly noticed the increase in fuel. He just had a baby last year and started a new job. Paying more at the pump means that he has less for his newborn's needs, and as every new parent knows, diapers aren't cheap. prgtoken But that is not the only thing Kansans are paying more for. prgtoken The administration has directly caused rising prices by flooding the economy with their Big Government spending. The prices of many other everyday goods like beef, bacon, eggs, chicken, and coffee. prgtoken That is a lot for any American, but it is especially noticeable for Nancy, a grandmother on a fixed income. She shared that each time she goes to the grocery store she notices her grocery bill keeps going up. prgtoken That is not to mention bare shelves and out-of-stock items that many Kansans have experienced when they go shopping. prgtoken Beyond the economy, we have witnessed the failure to keep our country safe from illicit drugs flowing into our country at the southern border. prgtoken Executive orders have halted the production of a barrier at our southern border, and open border policies have allowed drugs and trafficking to become commonplace. Every State is now a border State, as fentanyl makes its way to communities in Kansas and across the country. prgtoken CBP reports that more pounds of fentanyl were seized at the southern border than in the previous 2 years combined. prgtoken In a recent survey, a majority of Kansans from my district told me the issues of most importance to them are the economy, rising prices, immigration, and our Federal deficit. prgtoken It is time for Congress and the President to start addressing these core concerns. Americans cannot afford another year of radical socialist polic
TRIBUTE TO LINDSAY NOTHERN
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2022-1-18

I congratulate Lindsay Nothern, a cherished member of my staff who is retiring from Senate service. prgtoken In Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous poem about how to measure success, he concludes, ``to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.'' I am among the many who have breathed easier because of Lindsay. He has represented me, spoken for me, written for me, and provided outstanding counsel. He has aptly communicated the needs of Idahoans and kept Idahoans informed about the happenings in Congress. For example, this includes him taking a direct interest and involvement in advocating for Idaho domestic violence victims and Idahoans affected by Cold War era above-ground nuclear testing, often referred to as ``downwinders.'' He has taken on each challenge with great compassion and persistent optimism. prgtoken Prior to joining my staff, Lindsay was a journalist and worked in news management. He also served as press secretary for former Idaho Governor Phil Batt and campaign press secretary for Representative Mike Simpson. Lindsay has been with me since I began my Senate service in 1999. I am so grateful my then communications director insisted on waiting until Lindsay was available to bring onto the staff. Lindsay has been with me ever since, moving from press secretary to communications director in 2011. Throughout, Lindsay has been patient, kind, empathetic, a great listener, and a trusted adviser. prgtoken Thank you, Lindsay, for your service to this extraordinary branch of our government, and, most importantly, your service on behalf of the great people of Idaho. I understand you have said you have had two of your three wish-list jobs--bartender, radio disc prgtoken jockey, and cabdriver--and you still have one job on your list left to do. Thank you for diverging from that list to be such a valuable part of my staff for all these years. I hope that in your retirement, you may reach all your dreams and more. You have certainly earned it. Thank you for your outstanding help and guidance, and congratulations on a very successful career.
52 WEEKS OF BROKEN PROMISES
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-1-18

. As we reach the one-year anniversary of President in office, I borrow from the great Ronald Reagan and his extraordinary question during the 1980 Presidential debate and ask: Are you better off today than you were a year ago? The obvious and sad answer of thinking Americans is no. prgtoken Since President took office January 20, American families have suffered under a one-party rule, destroying jobs. The continued taxing and spending policies of and have caused inflation. This situation is getting worse and will challenge our children's future, while threatening the savings of retirees. prgtoken flation has hit the highest rate in 40 years, and the astronomical price increases that come with that affect all of our pocketbooks. A few examples include, gas is up 56 percent higher than over a year ago. Propane, kerosene, and firewood are up 40 percent. Beef and bacon are up 19 percent. Chicken is up 10 percent. prgtoken Compounding this damaging effect, most workers have not received wages prgtoken that keep up with inflation, according to The New York Times. Families have actually lost possibly $5,000 in just one year. Also, the December Jobs Report came in at less than half where economists projected. prgtoken Since President took office, he has failed to protect our southern border. Over 1.7 million illegal aliens have invaded, benefiting the drug cartels and benefiting the horror of promoting human trafficking. prgtoken Energy independence has been replaced by energy dependence, resulting in skyrocketing costs. President 's policies worldwide have been disastrous. A feeble response to Putin is putting Ukrainian families at risk of mass murder with already 14,000 people killed; bowing to China as it continues the genocide of weaker Muslims; capitulating to Iran as it shouts death to America, death to Israel; appeasement of Afghanistan leading directly to thirteen American heroes murdered; leaving Americans behind and establishing Afghanistan as a safe haven to attack American families with suicide bombers, as we saw claimed this weekend at the Texas synagogue. prgtoken American families have never been at greater risk of attack than they are today in American history. The elite think they are smarter than everyone, and they think voters and media are ignorant to believe $5 trillion in spending costs zero. That is a direct quote from the President. prgtoken So I ask the rhetorical and famous question again. Are you better off today than you were a year ago?
HONORING THE HEROES OF COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor America's heroes as they protected the faithful members of Texas-24 in their place of worship over the weekend. We witnessed a terrorist threat in our community, as he held four worshippers hostage in the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. prgtoken The brave men and women of our community selflessly rose to show our neighbors and our country that we will always stand together in unity to support each other. We proved this as the Colleyville Police Department responded immediately to the threat. Local churches showed their support as Good Shepherd Catholic Community Church opened its doors to take in the evacuees and families of hostages until the situation was resolved. Pleasant Run Baptist Church also opened its doors for others and displayed prayer signs for their ``brothers and sisters at Beth Israel.'' prgtoken We are grateful for everyone who stepped up to serve their neighbors, and commend the resilience of the four who were held hostage against their will, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, whose courageous actions led to the safe escape of his fellow hostages. prgtoken As we await further details, we ask for your continued support and prayers for the Colleyville community and the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue.
SUPPORT LIFE
Michael Guest (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , former President Ronald Reagan once said: ``America was founded on the moral proposition that human life--all human life--is sacred. And this proposition is the bedrock of our national life, the foundation of our laws. It is the wellspring of our Constitution.'' prgtoken If our Nation can unite around any singular issue, it should be that life is sacred, especially the life of a child. prgtoken This week, tens of thousands of Americans will coalesce around that issue as they visit our Nation's Capital for the purpose of protecting life. prgtoken I join with these peaceful Americans in supporting laws that ensure every child has the opportunity for the most basic right defined in our Constitution, the right to life. prgtoken As a member of the Pro-Life Caucus and a father of two wonderful boys, I want to welcome all these great Americans as they visit Washington, D.C to help defend the life of the unborn.
52 WEEKS OF BROKEN PROMISES
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I rise today to mark the 1-year anniversary of the administration. And what a year it has been. prgtoken The crisis raging across our Nation because of the incompetency of this administration threaten the lives and livelihoods of countless Americans. prgtoken On his first day in office, President gave a taste of what was to come by spitefully eliminating President 's border policies and stopping the wall, fueling a border crisis that we have not seen in a generation. prgtoken The drug and human trafficking that we have seen at our porous border reaches every community in our Nation. Untold numbers of American families who have lost loved ones to drugs and violence, those families will be broken forever. prgtoken But instead of coming after criminals, 's Justice Department has focused its crosshairs on engaged parents--moms and dads--and labeling them just because they had concerns about CRT or maybe mask mandates, they are labeled as domestic terrorists and now are charged with hate crimes. prgtoken Our economy is in shambles. The jobs deficit, the difference between jobs created and those he promised to create as part of his so- called stimulus from March, has swelled to 1.11 million. prgtoken Historic inflation has surged to the highest level in four decades. Gas and energy prices are at the highest they have been since the - administration. prgtoken The supply chain crisis has brought any economic recovery to a standstill. Have you been to the grocery store lately? Retailers are facing a 12 percent out-of-stock level on many household prgtoken staples. Empty shelves are the new norm. prgtoken And let's not forget the pandemic. President centered his campaign on having a solution for the virus. It is clear now that like every other crisis we face, has no plan. prgtoken By resorting to harmful and unconstitutional mandates and shutdowns, President is threatening the very liberty that is the foundation of this great American experiment. prgtoken And then there is Afghanistan, an issue that is very personal to me. What the administration allowed to happen there, leaving so many Americans and allies behind to the Taliban is a historic tragedy. prgtoken But does seek unity? No. He resorts to smearing over half the American people who disagree with his radical agenda. prgtoken But that is how this leadership of the ic Party in Washington thinks. They believe that the country is theirs to govern as they wish, to force their will on you and me. prgtoken Well, we have had 1 year of ic Party control; and in only 1 year, the ic Party has tried to take our country from us. I say it is time we take it back.