mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-11-28

last week, our Nation celebrated one of our great, distinctly American holidays. In President Reagan's Thanksgiving proclamation in 1982, he wrote eloquently of the ``divine plan [that] placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the Earth who had a special love of faith and freedom.'' prgtoken On Thursday, millions of families sat down to catch up with loved ones, enjoy food and fellowship, and reflect on the incredible blessing it is to get to call the United States of America our home, and we kept in our prayers the many brave servicemembers and first responders who were missing at their own families' holiday tables this year in order to keep the rest of us safe and protected at ours. prgtoken This year, for too many families, Thanksgiving also brought added stress and anxiety: 2 years of ruinous inflation that have pushed up the costs of everything from food to travel, to housing, to home heating and electricity. prgtoken In January 2021, with inflation well within a normal range, President and this all-ic Party government took power, talking a big game about ``rebuild[ing] the middle class.'' Instead, they promptly set out eroding away the ground from right underneath middle- class families' feet, taking a match to trillions of dollars and igniting the worst inflation in 40 years. prgtoken On President 's watch, the average American household is paying an extra $110 a month on food, an extra $111 on housing, $270 more on transportation, and $147 more on energy. That is more than $750 in hidden ic inflation taxes for the average household--thousands of extra dollars per family, per year, because Washington jumped headlong into party-line reckless spending that every expert and every warned would hurt our country. prgtoken All in all, prices have soared by 13.9 percent since President put his hand on the Bible. Thanks to his party's reckless spending, inflation is the highest it has been since the fallout of the Carter administration. prgtoken So it is no wonder this was a painfully costly Thanksgiving. Staples from turkey to potatoes, to green beans have seen double-digit price increases in just the past year--inflation literally on top of inflation. prgtoken This runaway inflation has been hitting families hard everywhere. In the State of Georgia, for example, local food assistance organizations reported skyrocketing demand heading into the holidays. The CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank said: ``We're basically back to the same level of demand we were at during the height''--the height--``of the pandemic.'' prgtoken There is a charitable organization saying that ' party-line policies have created an economic environment that is on par with the worst of the COVID shutdown. prgtoken On the ' watch, rising housing costs in Georgia outpaced the already big jump in the na
TRIBUTE TO DANA CONNORS
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2022-11-28

it is a great pleasure to join people throughout the State of Maine in thanking Dana Connors for a remarkable career of nearly six decades of devoted service and lasting contributions in government and the private sector. In addition to being an outstanding leader, Dana is a cherished friend to me and so many others. prgtoken I first met Dana when I was working for Bill Cohen in Washington and he was the city manager of Presque Isle, a position he held for 16 years. Both of us are natives of Aroostook County, so we have always had that special county bond. prgtoken Years later, we served together in Governor John McKernan's cabinet, where he was commissioner of transportation. Everyone who worked with Dana during his 11 years in that challenging role was in awe of the fact that Dana could go into any meeting, and no matter how unhappy the people might be about the condition of a road or bridge in their community, they inevitably came out smiling. He just had a knack, which he still has, of always listening to people and making them feel valued. prgtoken From there, Dana stepped forward to serve as president of the chamber. Throughout his nearly 30 years of leadership, he has shown a deep understanding of the role of businesses in our State, particularly those that are owned by families. He is a staunch supporter of Maine's traditional industries, including farming, fishing, and forestry, and a champion of such emerging industries as advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. prgtoken What motivates Dana are his love for our State, his belief in our communities, and his deep affection for our hard-working, ingenious, and determined people. He understands the importance of creating an environment that is conducive to small businesses starting up, growing, and expanding. Above all, Dana is passionate about ensuring that Mainers have good jobs and are able to stay right here in Maine. There is no better demonstration of this desire than his strong and effective advocacy for vocational education, apprenticeships, and other programs that provide Mainers with skills that are in demand by Maine employers. prgtoken I am especially grateful to Dana for the advice he provided during the pandemic as I was drafting the Paycheck Protection Program. I knew I could turn to him for guidance on how it should be crafted and what would work best to help our small employers remain in business and continue to pay their employees. Dana was truly an invaluable resource during that crisis. prgtoken There is one special memory of Dana that I want to share. In 2016, he brought together all five of Maine's living U.S. Senators--George Mitchell, Bill Cohen, Olympia Snowe, Angus King, and me--for a forum about public confidence in government and bipartisanship. It is a testament to the enduring relationships Dana has forged and the respect he has earned from members of both parties that he was able to convince all five for
TRIBUTE TO LES GILMAN
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2022-11-28

today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Les Gilman of Madison County for his longstanding dedication to protecting the land and people that make up Ruby Valley. prgtoken Les is a fifth generation Montana rancher in the Alder area with family roots that date back to the Gold Rush in Virginia City in 1863. The history of the Gilman family's revered land can be recounted by historical documents written and compiled by Les' father, Lowell Gilman, complete with photographs and stories of the agricultural and mining activity that took place over the years. Les and his wife, Donna, now proudly tend to their family's ranch along with other family members.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-11-28

I rise today to recognize Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree who is retiring after 27 years of leading his community. prgtoken When Crabtree was elected mayor of Pea Ridge in 1994, it was a part- time position that oversaw a population of 1,300 people. He helped usher in growth and development that, today, underpins a flourishing community that now boasts nearly 6,600 residents. prgtoken In his decades of service and commitment, Mayor Crabtree successfully met the moment to change the community including providing the services and needs citizens rely on such as a full-time fire department and paramedics and an expanded police department. prgtoken His leadership was crucial to improving the infrastructure in the city with an upgraded wastewater treatment plant, new water lines, and additional sidewalks. prgtoken The list of accomplishments he has directed is lengthy, but he is quick to credit his dedicated team. Mayor Crabtree's humility reflects his success as a leader and public servant. prgtoken The mayor considers it an honor and privilege to serve the people of Pea Ridge. They will surely miss his vision and dedication, but I am confident he will continue to be involved and engaged. prgtoken From a career at Walmart, to the Pea Ridge School Board and president of the Arkansas Municipal League, Mayor Crabtree has spent countless hours giving back to his community and beyond. I applaud him for his commitment to helping others and enacting positive change. I appreciate his example and many years of friendship. prgtoken I wish him the best of luck in his retirement where he will be able to spend more time with his wife and high school sweetheart Freida Sue Booth and their son Eric, daughter-in-law Shelly, and granddaughters Mahala and Kaylea.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-11-28

for the past 2 years, the COVID pandemic dominated every news cycle, and if the mainstream media is to be believed, it was the leading topic of conversation at every dinner table, whether it was Washington or Nashville or San Francisco. As the months wore on, it became glaringly obvious that, while the pandemic was a concern, people were less worried about the virus itself and more worried about how the were using it to justify one power grab after another. prgtoken Even in the face of catastrophic inflation, the employment crisis, the failure of public education, and the slow creep of lethal opioids into rural communities, the chose power over progress every single time and, in doing so, abandoned their duty to the American people. prgtoken And now, as this year draws to a close, my ic colleagues have declared that now it is time for everybody to just move on, move on from the pandemic. When Dr. Fauci appeared for a final press conference before his conveniently timed retirement, the White House made sure he wouldn't have to answer any questions on the origins of COVID-19. prgtoken The talking heads in the mainstream media have spun the harm done to students by virtual schooling as a tragedy rather than the completely predictable effects of forced isolation on our precious children, and the White House remains determined to blame inflation and shortages in the energy market on Vladimir Putin. prgtoken They want us to ignore their own self-proclaimed war on American energy independence. I suppose they think that if they just erase the mess that they have made from the daily talking points, the American people will just forget about it and move on. I hate to spoil their ending, but the American people are not ready for that. They want some answers. They will never ever forget the damage that these policies have done to their families and to their communities. prgtoken Now, the left tried their best to frame the debates over lockdowns and mask mandates and vaccine mandates as conspiracy fodder, but we all found out, no, it was not; it was personal, especially after it became clear that control was the ' end game. Yes, control over you, over your life, over your children, over their education, over student loans. Control is what they want. prgtoken Now, the science changed but the narrative never did, and Tennesseans have noticed this. They have caught on to this. The ongoing fight over the military's vaccine mandate is particularly raw for Tennesseans because it is proof that the are willing to jeopardize our national security to score points against political rivals. This desire for power and control is in direct opposition to the Federal Government's sworn mission to provide for the defense of our Nation. This isn't a matter of opinion; it is a fact, confirmed by President 's chosen military commanders. prgtoken This year, the number of new serv
CLOTURE MOTION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-11-28

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to consider the following amendments to the substitute: Lee, No. 6482; Lankford, No. 6496; and Rubio, No. 6493; that at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, all postcloture time be considered expired, that if any of these amendments are offered, the Senate vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed, with 60 affirmative votes required for the adoption of the Lee amendment; that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to each vote; that any remaining amendments except Senate amendment No. 6487 be withdrawn; that the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; that the cloture motion with respect to H.R. 8404 be withdrawn; that the bill be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage, all without further intervening action or debate; finally, that the remaining cloture motions filed on November 17 ripen on disposition of H.R. 8404.
CLOTURE MOTION
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-11-28

. As the majority leader said, I rise to honor the stellar public service of Joan Kleinman, a senior member of my office team, who retired in February after 19 years of working on behalf of the people of Maryland and the United States. prgtoken Today, I would like to share with the Senate the depth of her commitment to prgtoken the people of Maryland and her extraordinary legacy of good works, and have her story inscribed in the pages of the Congressional Record so that it might be a source of wisdom and inspiration for all time. prgtoken I first met Joan Kleinman in 1990, when I started working at the Washington, DC, law firm of Arent Fox. Joan was also a fellow lawyer, who was in charge of managing the staffing of cases in the litigation department. For those of us who were litigation associates, that meant we had better be on Joan's good side. prgtoken While I was practicing law at Arent Fox, I was also serving 3 months a year in Maryland's part-time legislature. I knew Joan and her husband Sam were raising their family in Montgomery County, and that Joan had a keen interest in what was happening in our community. prgtoken At the time, I needed someone to be treasurer for my State senate campaign committee, somebody who was really well organized, someone who cared about our community, and somebody who I could trust completely. Joan fit the bill. But would she do it? prgtoken I will confess that I was a little scared to ask her. I finally mustered up the courage to knock on her office door, and luckily for me, Joan had no idea what she was getting into, and she said yes. prgtoken The rest is history. prgtoken In 2001, with Joan's encouragement, I launched my campaign for the House of Representatives. That campaign started at the kitchen table in our home in Kensington and with my wife Katherine and a small cadre of friends and dedicated volunteers, including Joan. prgtoken We knew it would be a tough fight, but we thought we had a shot. Our campaign grew quickly. It was powered by hundreds of volunteers and thousands of small contributions that kept coming in. prgtoken And, now, as treasurer of my congressional campaign, Joan would keep track of the flurry of small contributions that arrived every week. It was a ton of work. And Joan also worked on other aspects of the campaign at the same time. As another veteran member of that congressional campaign recently told me, ``for Joan, 3 a.m. was as much a part of the normal workday as 3 p.m.'' prgtoken We won that campaign, and Joan was key to our success. So when the campaign ended, I had some very big decisions to make, including who would run our congressional district office? I wanted someone who was dedicated to our community, someone who could manage that important job, and, again, someone whom I could trust completely. The person who met all those requirements was Joan Kleinman. prgtoken I will admit--and we would all admit--that in those early days, we were flying b
MORNING BUSINESS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2022-11-28

today marks the 1-year anniversary of the election of Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, the first woman to hold the office of President of Honduras. She succeeded Juan Orlando Hernandez who had discredited the office of the Presidency by colluding with drug traffickers, corrupt business owners, and other criminals; abusing his authority by pressuring corrupt legislators and judges to dismantle the institutions of democracy; and using the armed forces and police to brutally silence his critics. The many crimes committed by his government were well documented, yet numerous U.S. officials treated him like a legitimate partner even after his stolen reelection in 2017, until he was finally arrested and extradited to the United States. prgtoken The election of President Castro gave the people of Honduras a new sense of hope that finally that dark period was behind them, that rather than seeking to enrich themselves and hold onto power, she and her administration would finally tackle the grinding poverty, inequality, injustice, impunity, and insecurity that have caused so many Hondurans to seek a better, safer life outside the country. prgtoken It has now been 10 months since President Castro was sworn in, and her record is mixed. She has taken a number of important steps to reverse the improper and illegal practices of her predecessor and to put the country on a brighter path. By doing so, she has distinguished herself from her counterparts in El Salvador and Guatemala who have chosen to continue down the dark path of authoritarianism, corruption, and impunity. But while her administration faces every imaginable challenge, none is more urgent and necessary than reversing the Hernandez administration's assault on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. Under President Hernandez, the very concept of justice was turned on its head. Anyone with money could get away with practically anything, including murder, and the government could arrest and imprison anyone with impunity. The vast majority of crimes went unpunished. prgtoken Recognizing the need to establish public confidence in the courts and Office of the Attorney General, one of President Castro's most important promises during her campaign was to create a Comision International Contra la Impunidad en Honduras--CICIH--to succeed the defunct Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity-- MACCIH--which was shut down by President Hernandez. Yet, nearly a year after her election, a formal agreement between the United Nations and Honduras, or convenio, to establish an independent CICIH, has not been signed. prgtoken One of the lessons the people of Central America have learned is that the only way to establish the rule of law and end impunity in their countries is with the active participation of international institutions and experts and the unequivocal commitment of local officials. Despite millions of dollars invested by th
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-11-28

I hope my colleagues had a good time with their families over Thanksgiving. I sure did. The flu intervened in some of our visitations, but we were able to join by Zoom and by telephone and had a great time in that holiday. I am looking forward to even better times for the Christmas holiday that is coming up. prgtoken Before we can leave for Christmas, we have some work to do. There is a priority for this Congress as it ends this calendar year and fiscal year. We have many challenges ahead of us. prgtoken The leader came to the floor and talked to us about the Omnibus appropriations bill, which we know has to be done. We don't want the government shutting down. prgtoken We have the National Defense Authorization Act, which is critically important for the defense of our Nation and for our continued presence in places like Ukraine, to provide assistance to the people there who are fighting for their freedom and literally fighting Vladimir Putin for their lives. prgtoken We also have issues before us such as the Respect for Marriage Act, which confirms, I hope, on a bipartisan basis in the Senate, that we stand behind the Obergefell decision, that we believe people should be able to make their own decisions about the people they love and marry on a civil basis. And I believe that should pass--and I hope it does pass--before we leave for Christmas. DREAM Act prgtoken , there is another issue that is of urgent priority that is personal to me. It deals with the legal limbo that has been created for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and DACA recipients who are now uncertain of their future. prgtoken These recipients are immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Some were toddlers and infants; others, kids in their teens, brought here by their families. They didn't make the decision to come, but they made a life when they came. They attended school. They grew up in America. They stood up in the classroom every morning, as all kids do across this country, pledging allegiance to that flag, believing it was their flag and their country. But that is not how the law sees it. prgtoken Some of those, just babies when they arrived, grew up here and were educated in school. They went to school with our kids and our grandkids. Their parents attended church with our families. prgtoken Responding to the need to take care of these young people and give them a path to citizenship--a chance to become a permanent part of America, legally in this country--20 years ago, I introduced the DREAM Act. We came up with the term ``DREAM Act'' between myself and Senator Orrin Hatch, a conservative from Utah, who was my original cosponsor of the bill. prgtoken It was a bipartisan bill. Here was Durbin from the State of Illinois and Hatch from Utah, agreeing on a bill that was so important that we argued between ourselves who would be the lead sponsor. I d