mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-5-26

the United States is at a crossroads in our strategy to counter the threat posed by Communist China. It is vital that we place ourselves in a position to compete with China, to be sure, but it is equally important that we consider just what kind of game we are playing and just what kind of competitor we aspire to be. prgtoken The bill before us, the Endless Frontier Act, aims to counter China primarily by boosting technology research and development. No doubt, these are important components of any strategy to counter China, but, unfortunately, it goes about it in the exact wrong way--trying to beat China at its own game and taking us across a frontier that we ought never to traverse. In fact, models of some of China's own bad strategies are emulated in this legislation, strategies that are in exact opposition--direct opposition--to American principles and American ways of life. prgtoken Let's consider some of the hallmarks of communist China. In every aspect, the Chinese regime grows and centralizes the power of government at the expense of free citizens and free markets--an experiment that has expanded into dangerous and even deadly territory. Take, for example, China's record on human rights. prgtoken China has gone so far as to enslave and subject the Tibetan and Uighur people to forced labor, reeducation, and torture. Under China's infamous one-child policy, it has brutally and barbarically forced families to undergo IUD implantation, complete sterilization, and abortion. prgtoken It has a long, dark history of religious persecution and of silencing dissidents. Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese authorities have detained millions of Muslims and arrested thousands of Christians. They have seized control of Tibetan monasteries and closed or demolished dozens of Buddhist and Taoist temples. They have even practiced forced organ harvesting of members of the Falun Gong religion. prgtoken Or consider China's actions in the realm of foreign policy. prgtoken In true imperialist form, China is pushing its Belt and Road Initiative--a massive, predatory infrastructure project that stretches from East Asia to Europe--designed to massively expand China's coercive economic and political influence. It has spread Confucius Institutes across American college campuses, entangling American universities with Chinese state policies and turning them into megaphones to repeat Chinese propaganda. In multilateral organizations, China continuously undermines longstanding democratic norms, instituting policies that, instead, benefit the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian values, and it has held a tight, cronyist, command-and-control grip over its economy--heavily subsidizing industries and constantly picking winners and losers. prgtoken While China has picked up some steam through some of these actions, we cannot ignore that whatever momentum it may have acquired is of dubious success and minimal sustainability i
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-5-26

in recent years, research involving human-animal hybrids has become much more prevalent. For example, in April, researchers in China created a monkey-human hybrid embryo that they allowed to grow and studied for weeks. prgtoken I have serious ethical concerns with this type of human chimera research. My amendment would ban the practice by applying the NIH's current anti-chimera policy universally. prgtoken Due to the dangerous and offensive nature of this research, my amendment imposes penalties on those who participate in this unethical research. prgtoken We must act now. Just this morning, the International Society for Stem Cell Research, an international standards-setting body, issued guidance that permits the creation of human-animal hybrids. I ask that my Senate colleagues reject this foreign position and maintain our own NIH's ethical standards. prgtoken All life is sacred. It is Congress's responsibility to enact commonsense bioethics.
BORDER SECURITY
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-5-26

in the 4 months since the took control of the U.S. Government, they have not once indicated they understand the severity of the crisis playing out along our southern border. prgtoken It is hard to believe they get the same reports from Customs and Border Protection as I do, so just in case they haven't seen this month's update yet, I am going to go ahead and run through the numbers. prgtoken In April, CBP apprehended more than 178,000 people trying to illegally cross our border. prgtoken Almost 14,000 of them were unaccompanied children or single minors. prgtoken Drug seizures were up 6 percent from March. We have already seized more fentanyl this year than we did all last year. prgtoken On top of all that we are still catching smugglers trying to pass off counterfeit face masks, prohibited COVID test kits, and banned pharmaceuticals. prgtoken It is important to understand that all of this, from the human trafficking to the drug smuggling to the bootleg PPE operations, are symptoms of a much bigger problem. prgtoken We are dealing with a systemic humanitarian, health and safety, and national security crisis that gets worse every time the administration doubles down on open borders rhetoric. prgtoken What is worse, they are treating the chaos like a logistics issue. Instead of trying to reduce the flow of migrants coming to the southern border, the administration is trying to speed the flow. prgtoken They are actively trying to move as many migrants into our country as possible. prgtoken Last week, we received reports that the Department of Health and Human Services is using Chattanooga, TN, as a rally point for unaccompanied minors on their way to meet up with their sponsors or move on to area shelters and homes. prgtoken We saw video of the children getting off of planes at Wilson Air Center and boarding buses to continue on their journey. At least four planes full of unaccompanied minors landed in Chattanooga last week. prgtoken It is important to realize that all this was happening in the dead of night, without the knowledge of any Tennessee elected officials or community leaders. prgtoken No transparency, no coordination, no notice whatsoever. prgtoken This is cause for concern not only because HHS circumvented State authorities but because this Agency has a history of operating under a veil of secrecy when it concerns their handling of migrant children. prgtoken Back in 2014, HHS blocked congressional oversight of their migrant housing facilities. Our attempts to tour one such facility, which at the time housed more than 1,000 children, were met with delays, denials and refusals. prgtoken Fast-forward to today, and HHS is being just as secretive about how they are managing care for these children. Fortunately, eyewitnesses have come forward to confirm the scope and secrecy of this operation. prgtoken One source said: ``They have intentionally not shared a lot of information with us. T
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-5-26

just 1 percent of the U.S. population serves in the defense of our great Nation. America owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to this small number of citizens who give so much to protect our freedoms and our way of life. prgtoken May is Military Appreciation Month, so on behalf of the people of Iowa and me personally, I want to thank each and every one of the women and men of our Armed Forces and their families. prgtoken We may celebrate you in May, but we appreciate you every single day. You are the ones whom we call upon to defend our Nation from our foreign adversaries and rogue actors who intend to harm us. You are the ones we called upon when COVID-19 seeped into our borders and shut down America. You stood guard to ensure our way of life succeeds. Thank you for being the greatest fighting force on the face of the planet. prgtoken After 23 years of my own military service, with great pride, I now get to watch as my daughter soon embarks on her career as an Army officer. prgtoken Libby, thank you for your willingness to serve and the sacrifices you have committed to. prgtoken While serving in the military is one of the most rewarding experiences, it is not easy. As we approach Memorial Day, we must all take time to remember the servicemembers and their families who have paid the ultimate price, laying down their lives for our great Nation. prgtoken Iowa has lost 158 of our sons and daughters in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2 in Panama or Grenada, 7 in the first Persian Gulf war, and 867 in Vietnam. Our Korean and world wars numbers were in the thousands. prgtoken While I won't be able to individually honor all of these heroes, today I would like to echo a few names in remembrance of Iowans we lost in the defense of our Nation. Honoring Our Armed Forces Gunnery Sergeant Jeffrey E. Bohr prgtoken , Marine GySgt Jeffrey E. Bohr, Jr is from the tiny farm town of Ossian. He was 39 years old when he was killed on April 10, 2003, after a 7-hour gun battle in front of a Baghdad, Iraq, mosque. prgtoken Gunnery Sergeant Bohr served a 20-year career as an Army Ranger and then a Marine. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA, at the time of his death. He was the first Iowan killed by enemy fire in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. prgtoken Gunnery Sergeant Bohr left behind his wife Lori, who is also a native of Iowa. Honoring Our Armed Forces Sergeant James C. Kearney III prgtoken , Army SGT James C. Kearney III--I know him as Jamie. He was an Iowa National Guardsman from Emerson, which is 10 miles from where I grew up. I knew Jamie before he enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard. He was very excited about his enlistment, and he told me about his excitement and how he felt that he had found a place that truly reward
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-5-26

I rise today kind of expressing the frustration of many of my constituents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had Federal Agencies and employees not working at all--not from home, not in the office, period. Have not had a lick of work for over 14 months. prgtoken In April, the Senate Finance Committee had a hearing entitled ``The Social Security Administration During COVID: How the Pandemic Hampered Access to Benefits and Strategies for Improving Service Delivery.'' prgtoken Now, following the hearing and in response to my concerns that seniors in my State with issues getting their Social Security benefits are not being sufficiently served due to field and local offices being closed, my office got a letter from Commissioner Andrew Saul. The letter states: I urge you to encourage the unions to continue engaging in meaningful dialogue with management that includes a focus on the very best service to the public. prgtoken That is a nice way of saying: We need help getting the unions to the table so we can get Federal employees back to work. prgtoken Now, we are talking about mandatory services, reopening Social Security offices for in-person visits in a postvaccine world to assist elderly Americans--my grandparents, your grandparents--having issues with their benefits. This isn't happening because government employees are not showing up. prgtoken It brings to mind an old quote from an old Governor in Louisiana, Earl Long. They asked Governor Long: How many people do you have working at the capitol? And he looks off into space, and he goes: Working? About two. prgtoken Now, in this case, that is the way it is going with this. The situation at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in connection with the National Archives and specifically the National Personnel Records Center, is even worse. According to the National Archives, the backlog of veterans' records grew to more than 499,000 requests in April of 2021. They estimate it will take 18 to 24 months to clear once the National Personnel Records Center is staffed at full capacity. prgtoken I just want to make this point. We have 499,000 ignored document requests from veterans. The people who have served our country are not being served in their current life. prgtoken Despite the widespread availability of vaccines and the recent relaxation of COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Personnel Records prgtoken Center only moved to phase 2 on March 29, 2021. In phase 2, the National Personnel Records Center has 25 percent of staff onsite. There are supposedly 200 employees per shift, 2 shifts a day, 6 days a week, but they are only processing emergency requests--for example, immediate burials, hospitalizations, and for the homeless. prgtoken In the Veterans' Affairs Committee, we led a push to enable National Personnel Records Center employees to get vaccines from the VA's allotment in
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-5-26

this measure undermines Federal Agencies' efforts to protect workers, consumers, our environment, and public health. When Federal Agencies create regulations, they must look at the full range of costs and benefits, including the impact on employers, workers, and vulnerable groups. prgtoken This measure shuts out most of these voices. It is designed to push Congress to repeal regulations without considering the concerns of workers who rely on Federal safety standards or communities whose water has been polluted by lead. prgtoken If Congress is concerned about a regulation, we already have tools to make the needed changes--either passing a law or using procedures like the Congressional Review Act. We need to move forward on bipartisan policies that will improve our Nation's competitiveness, not measures that will endanger our constituents and our communities. I urge my colleagues to vote no on amendment 1929. Vote on Amendment No. 1929
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-5-26

. it is my honor to congratulate Gagliano's Italian Market & Deli on 100 years of successful entrepreneurship founded in culture, community, and family in Pueblo, CO. The Gagliano's story is one of multigenerational immigrant success and a heartening example of the American dream. prgtoken Giuseppe Gagliano, known as Joe, left Italy in 1918. The promise of steel mill work and American opportunity drew him to Pueblo. Maria Carmella DeAngelo--his neighbor from the farmlands just outside of Palermo in Lucca, Sicily--followed him and they were married in 1920. Soon, they had their first child, Rose. In 1921, however, a catastrophic flood destroyed their first home. Later, they lost their second child, Francis, to illness. Despite these tragedies, the Gaglianos persisted in finding opportunity. prgtoken Joe began the family's legacy of entrepreneurship by saving enough money selling milk from his cow before and after his shifts at the mill. Later that year, he used $300 in savings to buy the empty lot next to their new Elm Street home to build an attached store. prgtoken Joe and Maria Gagliano's market stocked a wide variety of sought- after Italian foods and specialties that became popular with Pueblo's diverse immigrant community. Carmella soon developed the recipe for her classic Italian sausage that quickly became a mainstay of the business. While they nurtured their entrepreneurial success, they showed compassion to customers during the Great Depression by never pursuing unpaid debts under the interest free credit they offered. The Gaglianos and their extended family who helped to run the store also took pride in their hard work to become U.S. citizens. prgtoken The Gagliano's story shows the great power of family bonds with four generations having owned and operated the store, cultivating both its historic identity and its business growth over the decades. Founders Joe and Carmella Gagliano passed away in 1966 and 1992, respectively. In 1994, Joe and Rose (Gagliano) Cortese retired from the business. Their successors in owning and operating the store are Tony Gagliano, the nephew of original founder Joe, along with his wife Josephine and children, Bonnie and Vince. prgtoken I am grateful to commemorate this special moment that is a living reflection of the American dream. I wish for a pleasant community celebration of this milestone in Pueblo on June 26, 2021, as well. May the Gagaliano family and their Italian Market & Deli take pride in their century of success and find many more years of prosperity and health to come.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-5-26

. These Special Drawing Rights of the International Monetary Fund are the only way the poorest nations on Earth could have the money to buy vaccines to save their people. That is what it boils down to. prgtoken But Senator Kennedy says: Well, some of this money might get into the wrong hands. prgtoken I pray that it doesn't. I pray that they administer it properly, and I think they will. But how would you like to have on your conscience the fact that our amendment vote on the Senate floor is the end of the funds for vaccines for some of the poorest countries on Earth? I would not want that on my conscience. prgtoken Support my amendment, which makes it clear where the Americans do stand when it comes to this issue. Vote on Amendment No. 2014
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-5-26

amid high unemployment rates across the Country exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses continue to face challenges in hiring the skilled workers they need to grow and thrive. Simultaneously, individuals looking for work may not have the skills and support that they need to enter or renter--and remain--in the workforce. Unfortunately the pandemic has slowed the number of students attending some form of postsecondary education, but even prior to the pandemic the supply of middle-skilled workers, whose work requires more than a high school diploma but not a four-year degree, fell short of industry demand. It's important that States make strategic investments now to set students up for success in the constantly-evolving labor market, and the best training for high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand jobs is often offered by community colleges. prgtoken For many people seeking a job, attending a community college is the most affordable and accessible pathway to higher paying employment opportunities. In Virginia, we have 23 community colleges that serve an estimated 400,000 people across the state, providing them opportunities to earn an associate's degree, certifications or licensures in some of the most cutting-edge and in-demand fields in our workforce. The impact of community colleges nationwide is even greater, and our rapidly changing economy demands increased investment in the pathways these institutions provide to keep up with changing skill demands. The rapidly changing U.S. economy demands agile education and workforce development systems that can keep up with changing skill demands. prgtoken Today, I am proud to reintroduce the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act with Senator Young. This bill builds on lessons learned from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program (TAACCCT), and provides grants to community colleges to partner with private and public sector entities to create innovative career pathways directly between two-year institutions and employers. The ACCESS to Careers Act also provides grants to states and community colleges to scale evidence-based strategies that will help prepare our students with the skills necessary to succeed in our in-demand industry sectors and occupations. These grants can be used to expand dual enrollment, work-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and other pathways to best meet the skill needs of students and employers in our evolving workforce. The bill also emphasizes the importance of student services to ensure that students have the support they need to complete their programs. prgtoken As our Country begins to recover from the widespread job losses we've seen over the last year, the success of our economy will depend on our ability to provide people with the resources they need to quickly enter or reenter the workforce. This legislation makes
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-5-26

we know that some of our biggest competitors around the world spend billions in propping up state-owned enterprises and investing in research and development. They have also gotten pretty good at taking our ideas, monetizing them, and using them to compete--and sometimes cheat--against American businesses while paying their workers less and giving those workers fewer protections and rights. China is often the worst offender. prgtoken Ohio workers know all too well what happens to their jobs and their communities when they are forced to compete with Chinese companies that break the rules, pay poverty wages, and are propped up by the government. We are working to change that this week prgtoken I want the technologies that will drive the next generation of U.S. economic growth and manufacturing--from semiconductors to hydrogen buses to the next-generation jet engine--to be developed in America and to put people to work in good-paying jobs in our country. prgtoken This is something we should all agree on. It is what we are working to do with this comprehensive, bipartisan bill. prgtoken This package is packed with investment in research and development, technology, and high-tech domestic manufacturing that will again set us up to lead the world. It supports American manufacturing and innovation. It gives businesses the tools to compete. It supports American workers--the engine behind our success. prgtoken It includes my Build America, Buy America Act to strengthen our ``Buy American'' rules and ensure that American tax dollars go towards American-made products that create American jobs. prgtoken This provision is the result of bipartisan partnership. I would like to thank my colleague from my State, Senator Portman, and also Senators Peters and Stabenow from Michigan, Senator Baldwin from Wisconsin, and Senator Braun from Indiana for their work. prgtoken Our legislation would apply ``Buy American'' rules to all taxpayer- funded infrastructure and public works projects. When we ensure our tax dollars are spent on American products, these tax dollars go further in the economy. We employ more workers who spend on local businesses and lift up everyone. prgtoken When we say ``Buy American,'' we mean ``Buy American''--not import a steel slab from China, make it into a pipe, and stamp on it ``Made in America.'' We need to make sure these rules are thorough, tough, and effective. That is exactly what this provision does. prgtoken This bill also gives our country tough new tools to crack down on China's cheating. prgtoken Banking and Housing Committee Ranking Member Toomey and I worked together on an amendment to take on Chinese espionage against our economy. The amendment is the product of months of bipartisan negotiation. I thank Senator Toomey and his bipartisan staff. prgtoken The Presiding Officer, Senator Ossoff, is a new member of that committee and has contributed greatly on this and other projects we have do