mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Democratic Legislative Agenda (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-12-15

I appreciate my friend from Texas and his comments, but I have trouble following some of them. prgtoken When he came to the floor after the deserved credit for the 2017-2018 tax cut for the rich--70 percent of the benefits went to the 1 percent--he did take credit for his work in the Finance Committee. He should take credit for that, but that is what drove this hole in the deficit where the rich got richer. prgtoken I remember during that--and the Presiding Officer was not here at the time, but he can still see it here. prgtoken You can look out the window, and you can see Senator McConnell's office there and the lobbyists lined up. You should have seen it back when Senator Cornyn was talking about this tax cut--this tax cut for the rich--when they made these promises: You know, if you give tax cuts to really rich people and corporations, it will trickle down, and we will all do better. They will hire more people, and they will raise wages. prgtoken Well, we know what they did. In fact, they just announced another round of it--a whole bunch of stock buybacks for the executives. So we know what happened during those years. Profits went up for corporations, and stock markets soared. Executive compensation exploded through the roof, and wages for most people in Mansfield, GA, and Mansfield, OH, and Marietta, GA, and Marietta, OH, stayed flat. We know that. That is why Build Back Better makes sense. It begins to put money in people's pockets. prgtoken And what my friend from Texas--and we sit across from each other in the Finance Committee and work together on some issues, and I appreciate what he has done on some other bills. But what he didn't explain is why every one of them opposes the child tax credit. On the child tax credit, we know a number of things. I have been working on this since 2013. It started with not a lot of support, but it built huge support by this year, early this year. Sitting at this desk, on March 6, I voted--as did the Presiding Officer from Georgia in the first really big vote he cast as a Member of the Senate, in the majority--for the child tax credit. prgtoken Two different times, every single voted no. Every single voted yes. Do you know what that meant? It meant that starting in July, when we got it set up, 90 percent of the families in Georgia, 90 percent of the families in Ohio who have children under the age of 18 got at least a $3,000-a-year tax cut. prgtoken Think about that. There are families who struggle with paying rent. Twenty-five percent of renters in this country before the pandemic paid more than half their income in rent. Think of the pressure those families are under if, at the end of every month, they cobble together $700 to pay their rent. They get a $3,000 tax cut. The family who is struggling to pay for diapers or childcare, especially--the cost of childcare has exploded. prgtoken Whether it is Metro Atlanta or Metro Columbus
IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF WILLIAM LeFEVRE FROM THE TRENTON CITY COUNCIL
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-12-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Councilman William LeFevre on the occasion of his retirement from the Trenton City Council after over thirty years of service to the City of Trenton, Michigan. His significant contributions to our downriver community are worthy of commendation. prgtoken William LeFevre was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1948, his family moved to Southgate, Michigan that same year. A 1966 graduate of Southgate High School, he attended Central Michigan University from 1966 to 1970. In 1971, he joined his parents in running the family business, B & D Vacuum, where he remains today. In 1973, Trenton became his home. prgtoken Councilman LeFevre was appointed to the Trenton City Council in February 1990 to fill a vacant seat, since then he has been reelected every year since. A trusted colleague among his peers, he's served as Mayor Pro Tem six times. He is also the chairman of the Trenton Brownfield Committee. While serving on the Council he has been an advocate for Trenton's financial growth and development and strong voice for the City's public safety officers. prgtoken An active member of the community, Councilman LeFevre is a Trenton Rotarian, a Trenton Jaycee, and a longtime member of Trenton Faith United Methodist Church. His sharp wit, caring personality, and compassionate ways--as well as his colorful wardrobe--makes Councilman LeFevre someone that leaves a mark on each person that he meets. All who know him can attest to his generosity and love for his community. A gifted emcee, he has been the host of the annual Trenton City Awards Banquet, Trenton Education Foundation events, the Trenton Rotary Wild Game Lunch, and the Trenton Memorial Day and Christmas Parades for countless years. Councilman LeFevre and his wife Linda reside in Trenton, along with their two children Matthew and Andrea who are proud graduates of Trenton High School. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Councilman William LeFevre for his dedicated service to the citizens of downriver. We are immensely grateful for all that he has done to improve the lives of Trenton, Michigan. I join with Bill's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him in retirement.
Unanimous Consent Requests (Executive Calendar)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2021-12-16

facts are a nasty thing. Do you know that? prgtoken I would ask the good Senator from Florida to read the damn bill. This bill is to put money into roads and bridges, to put money into our electrical grid, to put money into our ports, to make our ports safer, to put money into water systems--the list goes on and on and on. prgtoken For you to say that 50 percent of this bill is all that goes into infrastructure is not factual at all, and I will debate you on that until midnight tonight and longer--until Christmas Eve, because it is not factual. prgtoken But I will tell you what is factual: The fact is that you, the good Senator from Florida, have stopped Amit Bose from being Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, thereby stopping any sort of improvements in the supply chain that we have, thereby stopping any sort of lowering of costs for small businesses and working families in this country. That is a fact. prgtoken And if you would like to respond to that, I would be more than happy to yield. prgtoken That is a fact. The truth is the same people who stand up here and say this administration has got problems are creating those problems, because a minority of the minority are stopping good people from being in positions in this administration. That is a fact.
IN RECOGNITION OF COMMANDER DON LIND
Blake D. Moore (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-12-16

. Madam , today I rise to recognize Mr. Don Lind of Utah; a proud Naval Aviator, esteemed scientist, and veteran astronaut who has contributed significantly to our nation's exploration of space. prgtoken After serving a church mission to the Northeastern United States and graduating from the University of Utah, Mr. Lind went on to pursue a Ph.D. in High-Energy Nuclear Physics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1964. During this time, he held the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserve as an aviator and logged more than 4,500 flight hours. prgtoken Don began working at NASA in 1964 during a time of intense competition when America's dominance in space was still in question. He quickly set himself apart and was selected into NASA Astronaut Group 5 just two years later. Commander Lind's proficiency in developing tools for use on the lunar surface, studying the properties of low-energy particles in interplanetary space, and developing payloads for early space missions made him an invaluable member of the group. prgtoken In 1985, Commander Lind became the final member of the ``Original Nineteen'' to go to space when he served as Mission Specialist 1 on STS-51-B. This important mission was instrumental in capturing images of the Earth's aurora and deploying the Northern Utah Satellite, which was designed to measure antenna patterns of L-band radars. The program faced immense adversity, yet Don's determination ensured its success. prgtoken Following his time with NASA, Commander Lind returned to his home state of Utah and moved to Cache Valley, where he inspired countless students as a professor at Utah State University. prgtoken Back home, Don continues to serve others by magnifying church callings and loving his seven children and many grandchildren. Today, Commander Lind, now 91, resides in Smithfield, Utah and remains an icon of Utah's many contributions to space exploration. prgtoken I join with Americans across our nation in thanking Commander Lind for his dedication to our community, to our greatest ideals, and to the state of Utah. The sacrifices of men and women like Don Lind have buoyed our collective conscience, encouraged our nation through times of great uncertainty, and lifted our eyes and minds to the endless possibilities that surround us.
Nomination of Holly A. Thomas (Executive Calendar)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-12-16

I ask my friend and colleague from Illinois, who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, if he could actually work with us--I have already reached out to him and some other Senators--on this very reasonable request. He has been here a lot longer than I have. But every time there is a Ninth Circuit judge who has been nominated, I have met with him because it is so important to my State. Alaska has 1 Ninth Circuit judge, and there are 29 judges on the court. prgtoken So I would ask, respectfully, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to work with me because this is a precedent that I don't think any Senator, or , wants. prgtoken Literally, you are going to have the White House saying ``You know what? You are not on the Judiciary Committee, so your advice-and- consent role under article II, section 2, is null and void'' because the White House Counsel wants to ``protect the judges''? Protect them from what? prgtoken So I want to work with my colleagues--all of them--particularly the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as he has a lot of influence, I am sure, with the White House and the White House Counsel's Office, but, again, I encourage my colleagues to vote no until we start getting meetings and are able to do our duty. This is going to benefit my colleagues on both sides of the aisle over the long term, and it will strengthen this body, not weaken it, which is what is happening right now. prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO STAFF
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-12-17

as this year draws to a close, I rise today to recognize my staff and their exemplary service to Pennsylvania in the face of immense challenges. Even under the best of circumstances, public service can be challenging work. For the past 2 years my staff have, like all Americans, grappled with the daunting uncertainty and isolation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic and grief for the more than 800,000 lives lost. prgtoken Despite these difficulties, they have risen to the demands of the moment to support, advocate for, and empower the people of Pennsylvania. The end of the year is a time for reflection on all that we have overcome and an opportunity to express gratitude for those we hold dear. This December, I would like to express my gratitude for the men and women who have served in my office--some of whom have since moved on--and their indelible contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during such an extraordinary time. prgtoken I am grateful for my administrative staff, who build and maintain the solid foundation on which an effective congressional office is built. These are the people who tirelessly ensure that everyone on our team has the support and resources needed to do their jobs effectively. While the work that they do may not be noticeable to everyone, they are truly the connective tissue which allows the rest of the office to function. prgtoken Similarly, the office's executive staff are tasked with ensuring my time is used as efficiently as possible and that my day runs smoothly. From building schedules that balance constituent engagements, committee hearings, floor votes, and travel; to managing the flurry of briefing memos on any given day and drafting my constituent greetings, I could not be nearly as effective on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania without their hard work. prgtoken It is impossible to overstate the importance of the work of the constituent services team, who walk with constituents in their darkest moments in pursuit of a brighter resolution. Day in and day out, these are the men and women who help Pennsylvania seniors navigate issues with Social Security checks, help veterans secure benefits owed to them and medals they have earned, among so many other things. During COVID, they have continued to assist with routine cases while also working tirelessly to connect Pennsylvanians with testing and other resources, apply for small business relief, navigate unemployment systems, and so much more. prgtoken The outreach staff, spread out over seven offices across the Commonwealth, serve as a vital resource in ensuring the needs of all 67 counties are met. These individuals are my liaisons to local communities across Pennsylvania, representing me in their regions every single day. Throughout the pandemic, they have been in constant contact with local elected officials, sharing information back and forth and bringing to bear Federal resources when they have been
ACT for ALS Act (Executive Calendar)
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-12-17

. I want to express my gratitude to my friend and colleague from Alaska. prgtoken It is, indeed, a deep well of darkness into which a family is cast when they receive a diagnosis of ALS. prgtoken My own awareness of this disease and its dread consequences is rooted in a number of cases that came to me and my extended family now quite a few years ago. prgtoken My brother is with us here in the Chamber today, and his dear friend Dan Loftus passed through ALS, and I remember the pain that this caused him and the depth of that loss. prgtoken A friend of mine from Delaware, Alex Snyder-Mackler, first shared with me his father Scott's diagnosis with ALS, now 20 years ago. And year after year, as many of us would gather in Newark and run a 5K and do a fundraiser for some sort of research, for some sort of hope, his father Scott slowly slipped away. prgtoken I talked to Alex this morning and was reminded of how much this means to those families who have come through this. prgtoken Max Walton, a dear friend of mine in the bar in Delaware, and his father--just an unbelievable character, a great and funny and creative and capable man who built a family business and then slipped from us through ALS. prgtoken ALS was first known to America when Lou Gehrig, an outstanding baseball player, got it. And he is still famous for his ``I am the luckiest man in the world'' speech, when he announced his retirement from baseball. prgtoken But 80 years later--80 years later--it is still a mystery to science and a death sentence to those who get this dread diagnosis who are often told they have just a few short years to live. This bill in their name and honor confronts this stark reality and makes progress. prgtoken I cannot close without thanking two other people--Meghan Taira, who is tireless here on the floor in helping move and prioritize things working for Leader Schumer, who lost her own mother, Ellen Taira, to ALS, and last, if I could, for someone whom I am not worthy of. prgtoken I have a legislative director, Brian Winseck, who is a spectacular human being, whose skill and persistence and diligence and dedication for my side of this kept us at it every day. His father Joseph was a high school civics teacher, and the loss of his life through ALS is something from which Brian has made so much good for others through his role in helping shepherd this through my office. prgtoken What Senator Murkowski and I are showing for a moment here today is an answer to a question so many families, so many people living with ALS, so many who have lost a loved one to ALS wonder in the dark moments: Does anyone care? Does anyone see this? Does anyone know what is happening? Is anyone going to do something about this? prgtoken The families and those who are living today with ALS and those who have lost someone to ALS need to know that your advocacy is heard, that it moved a mountain here in the Congress, and it will begin moving resources and energy and
CLOTURE MOTION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-12-17

I rise to express my support for a number of foreign affairs nominations that should receive not just cloture votes today but should receive votes on their nomination. prgtoken It is a long list, including Dr. Atul Gawande to be the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Global Health at the U.S. Agency for International Development; Mark Gitenstein to be the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon to be the Ambassador to Spain; Rahm Emanuel to be the Ambassador to Japan; Governor Jack Markell to be the U.S. Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Marcela Escobari to be Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean at USAID; and Marc Knapper to be the Ambassador to Vietnam. prgtoken Just think about it. Think about these assignments. Think about these assignments and what they mean to the United States. These are quality nominees, people who will represent the United States at home and abroad with skill and dignity. prgtoken I appreciate that the majority leader has made it a priority to confirm them prior to the end of the session, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support their nominations. But let's face it--there is little to celebrate when it comes to nominations in the Senate. The truth is that some s' unprecedented obstructionism is straining the system to the breaking point, leaving the President without a team on national security positions that are critical to the national security and interest of the United States and the American people, leaving our Nation weakened--weakened. I will talk a little bit about that as it relates to these nominees. prgtoken I am thrilled that we are voting today on the nomination of Dr. Atul Gawande. His medical background and track record in public health are impressive, and he is clearly superbly qualified for the role of Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Global Health at USAID. But it should not take this long. Dr. Gawande was nominated 5 months ago. prgtoken We are in the middle of a pandemic, a global pandemic, and he will be key to helping us fight COVID internationally. Do you think that our colleagues would think it is urgent to get someone in a position that can help us to deal with the global COVID challenge? s should have been pressuring us to move his nomination at lightning speed instead of slowing it at every turn. prgtoken Similarly, I am pleased to support Ambassador Gitenstein to be our point person in Brussels. He has a long and distinguished career in both the public and private sectors, including previously as U.S. Ambassador to Romania, and is deeply committed to strengthening transatlantic ties. prgtoken He should have been in Brussels weeks ago, as the President is working tirelessly to ensure a strong and unified European reaction if Russia dares to invade Ukraine. He has to do so without an Ambassador to the E
TRIBUTE TO JANIS SANTOS
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-12-17

I would like to offer my congratulations to Janis Santos as she retires as CEO from Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start after 48 years of leadership in early childhood education and care. She deserves recognition for her steadfast commitment to ensuring that children of all backgrounds have access to high-quality early education. prgtoken A graduate of Holyoke Community College and the University of Massachusetts, Janis began her professional teaching career in western Massachusetts. She soon became a trailblazer in her field. After opening Parkside Early Learning Center in Ludlow in 1973, she went on to join Holyoke Chicopee Head Start, Inc as executive director in 1979. She continues to lead Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, which has grown to be the second largest Head Start Agency in Massachusetts and one of the largest providers of early education in western Massachusetts. In her career with Head Start, she has held several leadership positions, including chair of the Massachusetts Head Start Directors Association, chair of the New England Head Start Association, vice chair of the National Head Start Association, and member of the national advisory panel for the Head Start 2010 Project. prgtoken In 2003, while serving on the board of directors of the National Head Start Association, she testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in a hearing on the reauthorization of funds for Head Start. Her advocacy on behalf of the children and families in Head Start programs is powerfully important. I want to offer my gratitude to Janis Santos for her lifelong commitment to America's children and for all she has done to advance early childhood education and care in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I congratulate her on prgtoken her retirement and wish her the best of luck in her next chapter.