mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BORDER SECURITY
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-7-13

I am on the floor today to talk about border security--a humanitarian, a national security, a community safety issue with direct connection to the drug epidemic we see in communities all around the country, including my home State of Ohio. prgtoken I am also here to talk about legislation I introduced today with Senator Jim Risch to address this crisis. So we are in the middle right now of what is the biggest border crisis in the history of our country if you measure it by the number of people who are coming to the border unlawfully and, as the administration says, people who are encountering the Border Patrol. prgtoken The administration claims that they have the border under control and that they are--and I am quoting--doing a good job. This chart, though, tells a really different story. It shows that as of May, which is the last month that we have records for, we had the highest number of border encounters on record. The second highest, by the way, was the month before: April. So you see this goes back to 2019. There was a surge here--144,000. Here, we have the inauguration of President , and then we have had big increases--again, to the point that over the last couple of months, we have had record numbers of people who have come unlawfully to the border and been stopped by, apprehended by, the Border Patrol. prgtoken This includes 239,000 total encounters at the border in the month of May--165,000 of which were single, adult migrants. This does not include those who were not encountered--in other words, those who slipped past the Border Patrol. We haven't been able to find a precise number for these individuals. prgtoken The Border Patrol calls this group of people got-aways. But using a conservative estimate from the Border Patrol of 300,000 people who they think got away in the last fiscal year, you would then put the total number of unlawful entries at approximately 286,000 people in 1 month. If you annualize that, that would be 3.4 million people a year. Think about those numbers: almost 3\1/2\ million people a year coming to our border and attempting to gain entry unlawfully. prgtoken Today, not all of those who are apprehended are allowed to come into the United States, and that is because under so-called title 42, roughly half of those individuals who are being apprehended, who are being encountered, are turned back. If they live in Mexico, they are sent back across the border. If they live in a country--say Ecuador or Guatemala--they are sent back, flown back to their country of origin. But these are people who are being turned away because of title 42. prgtoken So what is title 42? It is a public health authority. It is an attempt by our government to limit migration in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases--in this case, COVID-19. It allows the Customs and Border Protection officers and agents to tell unlawful migrants: You can't come to the United S
PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7900, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--Continued
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-7-13

I rise in opposition to this incredibly ridiculous amendment. There is a reason this is the last amendment. I feel like the opposing party is probably a little embarrassed that it is even being brought up, the fact that we are doing it so late. prgtoken It would repeal a provision that approved last year that simply requires the State Department to notify Congress before it spends thousands of dollars on art for United States embassies. Most of this art will never be seen except by the employees of the embassies. prgtoken Now, these same want to repeal this provision because they know there is absolutely no way they can justify spending millions of taxpayer dollars on art when inflation is at 9.1 percent, gas is nearly $5 a gallon, and our country is on the brink of a recession. prgtoken This isn't a new thing, though, . A few years ago, I found out the State Department spent 84,375 taxpayer dollars on a piece of artwork designed by Bob Dylan. That might have been a bargain if it was Hunter 's artwork, but it was Bob Dylan's. prgtoken During a government shutdown, while thousands of Federal employees were struggling to make ends meet, I thought that was sickening. I introduced a bill to prevent any tax dollars from being spent on art in United States embassies, but it still hasn't been passed. prgtoken Over the past year, the State Department notified us it wanted to spend over $400,000 on a sculpture of clouds in Montenegro, over $250,000 on a mural in Mexico City, $350,000 on a mosaic in Rio, and lots more. They should be spending zero, . Zero. prgtoken By the way, these purchasing decisions are made by an office that employs 15 people, and many of their salaries are over $100,000 a year, and that is a lot more than the average East Tennessean's salary, the people that I represent. prgtoken So the bill that my friend is presenting is sunsetting, is providing oversight in the spending of money, and you are denying Congress the oversight that we should have. We should have the purse strings, Mr. . prgtoken I am sick of hearing things like a million dollars here or there is not that much that is so elitist, and anyone who says that needs to check their privilege. A million dollars is a lot more than many of my hardworking constituents will see in a lifetime. prgtoken Our government cannot justify spending that much on art, and the know it. That is why we are trying to pass this amendment to get the State Department off the hook from reporting it. prgtoken , .
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-7-13

during my time in the Senate, I have spent a lot of time learning from folks who live and work along our 1,200- mile border with Mexico about the challenges that region and that border present. I have worked with local leaders who know the advantages and the challenges of living along an international border better than anyone else in the country. Of course, I have spoken with a number of Border Patrol agents--these, of course, are frontline law enforcement officers--as well as our local sheriffs and others, who have come face-to-face with human tragedy, exploitation, and many other forms of heartbreak and hardship. I have learned a great deal from the nongovernmental organizations--the so-called NGOs--that go above and beyond the call of duty to prgtoken care for the migrants who often arrive sick, abused, and malnourished. When it comes to border security and commonsense immigration policies, the input of these experts is invaluable. It is irreplaceable. prgtoken Later this week, I will be traveling back home to the Rio Grande Valley along with a number of my colleagues so that they, too, can learn from the true experts about the border crisis. Senator Cruz and I are leading a visit to the Rio Grande Valley to receive an update on the current state of circumstances at the border. prgtoken I know, with everything happening here in Washington, DC, and around the country, it is easy to lose sight of what is happening on the border, the humanitarian crisis that is occurring at the border, so I want to remind anybody who is listening about what we have seen over the last 2 years during--well, actually, it is the first year and a half of the administration. For a year and a half now, border communities have been overwhelmed by the sheer number, the volume, of migrants crossing the border. Since President took office, the Border Patrol has encountered nearly 3 million--3 million--people along the southwest border. That is almost an incomprehensible figure, and it is far from the normal situation. prgtoken Let me provide a little historical context. At this point during the administration, an average of about 46,000 migrants were apprehended each month along the border--46,000 during the administration. During the administration, that number was cut in half to 24,000 migrants every month. But during the administration, so far, that figure has skyrocketed. On average, more than 185,000 migrants cross our southern border every month. That is 7\1/2\ times more than we were seeing just a few years ago. prgtoken And there is no question--certainly in my mind--and I don't think any rational review of the facts would lead to another conclusion other than that President 's policies are the driving force for this crisis. The President ran on the promise of policies that would lead to this exact result, and we have heard stories from migrants who explicitly c
Inflation (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-7-13

inflation numbers came out this morning, and, once again, they were not good. Inflation in June was 9.1 percent--9.1 percent, the highest level since November of 1981. prgtoken Groceries are up 12 percent, on average. Baby food is up 14 percent, milk up 16 percent. Chicken is up 18 percent. And the list goes on. Household cleaning products are up 11 percent. Gas prices are up nearly 60 percent. Furniture and bedding are up 13 percent. Utility gas service is up 38 percent. Health insurance is up 17 percent and on and on and on. prgtoken Everywhere Americans look, they are facing price increases, price increases on the most essential items: groceries, gas, their utility bills. And on top of all this, real average hourly earnings are currently declining at the fastest pace in 40 years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Price increases on the most essential items--groceries, gas, their utility bills--all these things are forcing Americans to dig into their savings, when they have them, to try and make ends meet. prgtoken Others are relying on things like credit cards or visits to food banks. Demand for food assistance has soared in recent months. One organization in my hometown in South Dakota received 600 more calls for food assistance in May of this year than it had received in the same month a year ago. Food banks often have fewer resources to meet the need, thanks to declines in donations and the high price of groceries. And there is no end to this pain in sight. prgtoken A recent Joint Economic Committee analysis found that inflation will cost the average household $7,620 over the next year or $635 per month--$635 per month. That is an unsustainable burden for working families. prgtoken By now, most Americans are familiar with how we got here. When President took office, inflation was at 1.4 percent, well within the Fed's target inflation rate of 2 percent. And it might have stayed there had not decided to pass a massive and prgtoken partisan $1.9 trillion spending spree under the guise of COVID relief, mere weeks--mere weeks--after Congress had passed a fifth bipartisan COVID bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. prgtoken The ' so-called American Rescue Plan sent a lot of unnecessary government money into the economy, and the economy overheated as a result. You don't have to take my word for that on the damaging effects of this legislation. Here is what one ic economist who worked in the administration had to say on the subject: The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed in the early days of the administration will go down in history as an extraordinary policy mistake. prgtoken Another former adviser noted: The original sin was an oversized American Rescue Plan. It contributed to both higher output but also higher prices. prgtoken Those are warnings that came
TRIBUTE TO MIKE BURRESS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-7-13

I rise today to honor the career of Mike Burress for his dedicated service to better the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In his over 37 years with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District administering and writing grants, Mike has worked tirelessly to better our cities and communities. prgtoken Mike started his career as a community development adviser, providing direct support and coordination to the regional planning and development process. A few short years later, Mike was promoted to associate director for community and economic development, where he was responsible for the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the community development department. prgtoken In the summer of 1998, Mike was promoted to the district's deputy director, primarily overseeing community and economic development throughout the eight-county region. In 2018, the Lincoln Trail Area Development District board of directors selected Mike to become the district's fifth executive director. prgtoken In the last 4 years, his leadership and advocacy as executive director have benefited area development districts throughout the State. Mike's ongoing work with local, State, and Federal delegations as well as nongovernmental organizations highlights the essential work the area development districts do in assisting their constituents. prgtoken Mike and his wife Judy are Hardin County natives with three children and two grandchildren. I am proud to salute and thank Mike for a remarkable career of dedication to his community.
PROTECTING OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES EDUCATION ACT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-7-13

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , today, I rise in support of H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act. However, I want to make sure that my colleagues across the aisle know how disappointed I am in these budget gimmicks that have become a part of this final legislation. prgtoken As many of you are aware, I have the honor and privilege of representing the First Congressional District of Georgia. We have every branch of the military in our district. With every branch represented in my district, I take pride in my ability to serve and aid our men and women in uniform. prgtoken I promised them I would vote for this bill. I am going to vote for this bill. But I do so begrudgingly, and the reason why is because I think it is despicable, , that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are using our veterans in order to gain the ability to use billions of dollars, almost $700 billion, on pet projects that they want to spend on. I think that is a slap in the face of our veterans. prgtoken Our veterans did not sacrifice, did not serve, in order to bankrupt our country. But that is what our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to do. prgtoken Now, they deserve this. They need it. There is no question about that. Anyone who votes for it or against it agrees they need this, and we are going to make sure they get it. But I want to make sure that the point is made that this is despicable to use a budget gimmick like this against our veterans in order to be able to fund pet projects that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to fund.
U.S. SUPREME COURT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-7-13

now on an entirely different matter, this week, I have been discussing the historic term the Supreme Court just concluded--the most consequential and pro-Constitution term since Brown overturned Plessy almost 70 years ago. prgtoken Back in 2015, in one fell swoop, the - administration took aim at domestic energy production, harmed the separation of powers, and attacked the rule of law. prgtoken Remember, after Americans elected s in 2010 to place a check on the leftwing agenda, President infamously said he would just ignore the will of the people and work around Congress. Here was his quote. He said, ``I've got a pen.'' He said, ``I've got a phone.'' prgtoken Thus began a whole series of unconstitutional power grabs by the executive branch, a sort of crime spree against the Constitution. For example, when could not get harmful and unpopular environmental restrictions through Congress because the people's duly elected representatives did not support them, the bureaucrats at the EPA decided to pretend that some obscure lines in an old law actually gave them enormous sweeping regulatory powers to manage our economy which nobody had ever noticed before. prgtoken The EPA effectively wrote and passed a giant piece of legislation, the so-called Clean Power Plan, as one branch of government acting alone. They tried to make law without involving actual lawmakers. The EPA just up and decided they could start giving orders and issuing edicts and remake our country's electricity grid by brute force. prgtoken Of course, the pretext was simply false. prgtoken As Justice Scalia once wrote, ``Congress . . . does not alter the fundamental details of a regulatory scheme in vague terms or ancillary provisions--it does not, one might say, hide elephants in mouse holes.'' prgtoken When the legislative branch actually intends to hand over giant chunks of our power to unelected bureaucrats, we make it pretty darn clear. The - EPA had no lawful authority to grab control of electricity generation all across America. And that is exactly what the Supreme Court affirmed last month. prgtoken The ruling was a huge win for American ratepayers and anybody who wants affordable and reliable energy; but it was also a landmark legal victory for our very system of government. The Supreme Court applied the plain text of the law and reaffirmed that the unelected administrative state is not allowed to reach way beyond the powers that Congress has actually given it. With any luck, this will be part of a sea change that has been a long time coming. prgtoken Remember a few months ago, a young district judge in Florida applied the plain, straightforward text of a statute and overturned the administration's illegal and unilateral mask mandate for public transportation. That was the Centers for Disease Control stepping way, way over its boundaries. prgtoken And this past January, the Su
Remembering Hershel Woodrow ``Woody'' Williams (Executive Calendar)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2022-7-13

I thank Senator Manchin for such a great tribute to our good friend Woody Williams and his family, to his generation, and to his love of our country and the love of freedom. Thank you for the leadership that you showed to make sure that tomorrow could happen. prgtoken I know we worked on this together, but this is not an easy lift, to lie in honor, as you know, in the U.S. Capitol. But to me, it is so symbolic of a generation, and I have encouraged everybody I have seen to please come and pay their respects to Woody or to that ``greatest generation'' that Woody symbolizes in his passing. prgtoken I also want to thank the family. I can't see them from where I sit over here. I am right underneath you guys. Woody has two daughters, Travie and Tracy, and five grandsons and three great grandchildren, one of which is a great granddaughter. And I have had the pleasure of spending time with them over the last several days. prgtoken So I rise today to honor and celebrate the legacy of an American hero and proud son of West Virginia. He was always a proud son of West Virginia. On June 29, Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, passed away at the grand age of 98, and, tomorrow, rightfully, he will become just the seventh American and the first West Virginian to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. It is a well-deserved recognition for a man from humble beginnings. prgtoken Woody was the youngest of 11 children, and I am going to tell one of my favorite encounters that I had with Woody. prgtoken He traveled everywhere. We would come on planes, and Woody would be on the plane coming to DC, and you would ask him: Where is he going? prgtoken Oh, he is going to San Francisco or he is going to Seattle to do something for Gold Star families or to flip the coin in the Super Bowl. He had more energy than all of us put together. prgtoken But he told me a lot of stories about his early life when I sat on the plane with him. And he did tell me that, during World War II, when he was very anxious to sign up--as so many of them were at those young ages of 18, 19 and 20--he had a problem because he didn't really have a birth certificate. prgtoken He was born in Quiet Dell, WV, which is a little spot on the road, on a farm. But he told me that his mother had a really good friend, and his mother's really good friend would come over and help her deliver her 11 children, and then Woody's mother would go over and help her friend deliver her 7 or 8 children, or however many she had. So there was no official documentation. prgtoken I think he told me in the end--I have to make sure that I am telling this right to Tracy. He told me, in the end, that they had to drag his mother's friend down to the bureau in the county, when he wanted to sign up to join, to make sure that he was actually as old as he said he was. prgtoken So being the youngest of 11, he made a lot of sacrifice
Biden Administration (Executive Calendar)
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-7-13

I am here today, along with my colleagues, because American families are suffering. Florida families are suffering at the hand of the administration's war on energy independence. prgtoken Last month, I heard about a church in St. Petersburg--just south of Tampa--that makes hot meals for those who have fallen on tough times. Like many other churches across the country, they started making the meals for Thanksgiving, but this church decided to keep it going, and since, they have made thousands of hot meals for families. Here is the problem: Fewer people are coming because those families who need the food now can't even afford to make the trip because gas is so expensive. The poorest families in my State are having to make the impossible choice of sacrificing a hot meal because they can't afford to put gas in their cars. prgtoken I want to reiterate this point because I want my colleagues who, like , think inflation is a ``high-class problem'' or some ``incredible transition'' to understand the gravity of this administration's inflation crisis. Families in my State of Florida are having to turn down an opportunity for a free hot meal because they can't afford the gas to get over to the church and get it. prgtoken It makes me furious to see this happening in my State and all across our country, all the while, while does nothing to fix it. He has done nothing. prgtoken As of today, the average price of a gallon of gas is $4.63. The day took office, gas was averaging $2.37 per gallon. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 15 different months of 's Presidency, the national average for gas prices has risen. But the up here don't seem to care. prgtoken You all remember how last month the senior Senator from Michigan explained during a hearing of the Finance Committee that, unlike her constituents, she doesn't worry about gas prices because she has the means to afford an electric car. She actually said that. Then, when she gets to work in Washington, she gets to charge her car at the Capitol for free, while taxpayers foot the bill. Good for her, but that is not a realistic solution for the millions of Americans suffering under the administration's failed energy policy. prgtoken in Washington know the effect these high prices are having, and they are celebrating because their radically progressive campaign against energy independence is working. But Americans are not celebrating; they are struggling. prgtoken Unlike the liberal elites running our government, I am not going to stand for it. That is why earlier this year I introduced the FREE American Energy Act, to expedite the Federal Agencies' review process of applications for permits, waivers, licenses, or other authorizations related to energy production. It is why I have introduced the GAS PRICE Act. It would direct the Energy Information A