mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING GEORGE MILLS' 100TH BIRTHDAY
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-5-12

I rise today to honor George Mills, an extraordinary Alabamian I recently met in Decatur at a Kiwanis pancake breakfast. George is a former World War II prisoner of war and will celebrate his 100th birthday on May 23. prgtoken The youngest of eight children, George graduated from Decatur High School in 1939. While in high school, George worked for Western Union, delivering telegrams on his bicycle from 5 to 11 every night. After high school graduation, George sold pianos for Forbes Piano Company. prgtoken In 1942, at age 21, George Mills enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Company E, 109th Division under General Omar Bradley, making him a member of one of World War II's best-trained divisions. prgtoken Sergeant Mills arrived on Omaha Beach 25 days after D-day. For 7 months, he was in combat and engaged in four major battles, including the Battle of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the battle at the Hurtgen Forest. prgtoken After the Hurtgen Forest battle, George and his company were sent to the Germany-Luxembourg border, where, one morning, they were awakened by exploding rockets and artillery. His company was surrounded by 15,000 Axis forces. Despite overwhelming odds, they held their ground for several days. prgtoken Eventually, Axis forces blew a hole in the house Mills was sheltered in. Bazookas and flamethrowers followed, setting the entire house on fire. George was injured by shrapnel. prgtoken On December 18, 1944, after more than 2 years of service, George was captured by the Germans. After the fight, the Germans flattened the surrounding town, shooting civilians and the mayor. prgtoken The Germans interrogated the soldiers before taking them to a German POW camp, where they were fingerprinted, photographed, given dog tags, and registered as prisoners of war. They remained there for 2 days before the Germans segregated the soldiers, sending officers to concentration camps, forcing privates to work, and sending noncommissioned officers, including George, on a 5-month walk across Europe that broke their souls and their bodies. prgtoken George tells many vivid stories of the cold winter, lack of food and sleep, abhorrent treatment by their captors, and the good friends made along the way. prgtoken Thankfully, George was liberated on April 14, 1945. prgtoken In October 1945, George was discharged and returned to America. After a very long bus ride home, he arrived at his Alabama hometown, where his sister was so excited to see him that she forgot to unlatch the screen door and his faithful bulldog nearly broke down the door to get to him. prgtoken Four years later, George and his wife, Charlie, were married. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage before Charlie passed away in December 2015. prgtoken In 1983, George retired but stayed busy, traveling with his wife across America, Canada, and Europe, while looking up George's Army buddies along the way. prgtoken One of George's proudest moments came on Novem
American Families Plan (Executive Calendar)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-5-12

Washington has been on a dizzying spending spree over the past couple of months, passing trillion-dollar bills right and left. It is nearly impossible to calculate the total cost. And now, President and the in Congress are proposing several trillion dollars in even more spending. prgtoken With tax day approaching on May 17, the time has come to pay the bills for all of these government giveaways. And guess who will be forced to pay for it? Well, of course, it is the American people. prgtoken Right now, are hoping to finance their ongoing spending splurge by increasing taxes on hard-working Americans across this country. One of the key tax hikes included in the President's so-called American Families Plan would hit farm families especially hard. prgtoken The proposal would eliminate a protection that allows Iowa farm families to pass down their assets to the next generation without a tax penalty. The Farm Bureau says the end result would be a significant tax increase on our farmers and ranchers. prgtoken This is the last thing the ag sector needs as they continue on their economic recovery. While hiking taxes on our farmers who help feed and fuel our Nation every single day, my ic colleagues also want to give a tax break to high-income coastal elites. prgtoken And don't just take my word for it. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, the leader of the socialist squad in the House, says the ' proposal to repeal the cap on the State and local tax deduction is ``a gift prgtoken to billionaires'' and ``a giveaway to the rich.'' Never in a million years did I ever think that I would agree with AOC, but there is no arguing on that particular point. prgtoken Those aren't the only parts of the ' tax strategy that make no sense. According to recent reports, their demand to raise taxes on capital gains could actually cost the government money. The calculation is that if rates get too high, people will just stop selling their assets. prgtoken Well, here is an idea: Rather than taking more of Iowans' hard-earned dollars to pay for their plans, maybe could stop their reckless spending. But let's be honest, that probably won't happen. They are the party of tax and spend, after all. prgtoken Rather than raising taxes, my friends across the aisle could start by collecting the $380 billion in taxes that is already owed, but not paid, every year. Current and retired government employees alone owe over $3 billion in delinquent taxes. Why should Iowans be paying the salaries and benefits of those who aren't even paying their own tax bill? They shouldn't. And that is why I am helping lead an effort that would collect the billions in back taxes owed by Federal employees. prgtoken Another solution: We could bring in billions of dollars by closing a tax loophole that literally goes all the way to China. If the communist regime was treated the same as a U.S. c
American Families Plan (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-5-12

first, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Wyoming for his thoughtful remarks. I mean, he is absolutely right. This is not the time for us to be raising taxes. prgtoken It is tax day coming up next week, and Senator Ernst of Iowa put together this colloquy to focus us all on that issue and the fact that here we are coming onto tax day, yet there are proposals out there saying you are not paying enough tax. So all of you who think you are paying too much tax, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the administration would like to increase those taxes substantially. prgtoken It is going to really hurt our economy and hurt workers. That is my big concern about this proposal in this so-called infrastructure package. Our economy is kind of limping along still, in part, because we have spent so much in stimulus that it has overheated the economy, and you can see the inflation that is hitting us. You can see it in the gas prices when you go to the pump or food costs or, if you are trying to buy lumber these days, check out the cost. prgtoken On the one hand, are encouraging more inflation through stimulation that really wasn't needed based on what we had learned from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office--and that has overheated the economy--and, by the way, as former Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers predicted. This was in a ic administration, two of them. prgtoken I am concerned about the spending, but then to pay for the spending, these tax cuts are really a mistake. What I would like to do is go back to the economy we had before COVID. That economy was really helping everyone. It was an inclusive economy. prgtoken Two years ago, just before COVID, we had significant economic growth, which most people know about. What folks might not know about February a year ago, just before COVID hit, it was the 19th straight month of wage growth of 3 percent or more on an annual prgtoken basis. Think about that, 3 percent or more wage growth. We haven't had that in Ohio, my home State, in a long time, perhaps a decade and a half. prgtoken That kind of wage growth was primarily focused on lower income and middle-income workers, so the benefit wasn't just to the companies and the people at the high end. The benefit was primarily to those who were at the lower end of the economic scale. prgtoken We had a study by the Congressional Budget Office, as we looked to these corporate tax cuts that were made in 2017, and they said that 70 percent of the benefit was going to go to workers in terms of higher wages and better benefits. That is exactly what happened. I think they were right. We tied the 50-year low in unemployment at 3.5 percent. We also had historically low unemployment for some groups--Hispanics, Blacks, Asian Americans. prgtoken In fact, before the pandemic, we reached the lowest poverty rate we ever had in this country. We started keeping track of it back in th
HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Young Kim (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-5-12

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for hosting this Special Order tonight. prgtoken As we celebrate National Police Week, I would like to also add my voice to recognizing the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe across California's 39th District and beyond. We also honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. prgtoken I am proud to support our law enforcement and their important hard work that they do each and every day. From Captain Steven Tousey and Deputy Louis Denver with the Walnut Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County, who I rode along with, by the way, last week, to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and their hardworking team, I am always talking to our law enforcement across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties about how I can help make sure that they have the support and resources needed to perform their demanding jobs and to learn how I, in Congress, can support our police officers. prgtoken I would also like to recognize the men and women of our Capitol Police here in Congress who put their lives on the line to protect not only the Members of Congress but our staffs and all the House staff behind the scenes who make this place run. We are so grateful for you and appreciate each and every one of you. prgtoken This National Police Week, I encourage all of us to take the time to thank a police officer in your area. It is because of our police officers that we can live our daily lives each and every day knowing that we are kept safe. prgtoken , I am proud to be standing here and back the blue.
American Families Plan (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-5-12

I was on the floor earlier this week, and I made a point that I think is really relevant to the discussion that we are having today as we are now looking straight into these proposals coming from the administration that would end up totaling $6 trillion in new spending. Now, that is not the annual appropriations; that is new spending. prgtoken The point that I had made was that we have to go back pre-COVID and remember what was going on in this economy. Everything was thriving, really thriving, and people kept talking about how great the economy was. In Tennessee, I had so many people who would say: You know, I have more money at the end of the month, and before, during the years, I had too much month left at the end of my money. prgtoken Do you know what? They liked having some money left over at the end of the month. prgtoken That economy we had pre-COVID came about because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It came about because of the work of President and a -led House and Senate and, indeed, because of the support from some of our ic friends. This gave us, our country, the most robust economy we have seen in decades. Unemployment had hit 3.5 percent--historic lows. Wage gains were at a record high. prgtoken Pro-growth policies, like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, had set a new standard. We proved we don't have to tax and spend ourselves into oblivion to make a difference in the lives of struggling families. It is a legacy that my ic colleagues wish the American people would forget because that memory is getting in the way of their work on behalf of big spending, big government, and big programs that take big bucks right out of the American taxpayers' pockets. prgtoken The ic agenda is not cheap. It is going to take a lot of taxpayer dollars. So how does President intend to pay for this? It is called a $2 trillion tax hike that targets all of the usual, supposed villains but that in reality would harm the very people my colleagues across the aisle insist they are trying to help. prgtoken Let's look at the proposed corporate tax hike. Corporations are the left's favorite villain, and they would certainly suffer under this scheme, but it is not the CEOs and the high earners who would feel the pain. As it stands, the proposal would impose a combined corporate tax rate higher than any other developed nation. It would put us at the top of the heap in tax rates. The only way American corporations would maintain their competitiveness is if other countries were to set aside their advantages, which, of course, we know would never happen. Not only will the Amazons and the Apples bear the brunt of this decline, so will nearly a million small businesses. We call them the mom-and-pops, and they are organized as C-corps. prgtoken Workers won't escape the fallout either. When the cost of doing business goes up, growth and investment stagnate, wages fall, and the pe
ISRAEL
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-5-12

now on a different matter, yet again, air raid sirens have been sounding in Israel. Israeli civilians have been huddling in basements, shelters, and hospital stairwells. Hamas rocket attacks are lighting up the skies, hitting buildings, and terrorizing, injuring, and killing innocent people. Of course, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad receive significant support from Iran. prgtoken Fortunately, a remarkable percentage of the incoming rockets have been intercepted in midair by Israel's Iron Dome system. Americans should take some pride of our own in defending our friends with these high-tech defenses, which we have helped Israel bring online and have advanced our own joint missile defense efforts at the same time. Missile defense is expensive but vital. It is yet another reason I am concerned with this administration's intention to underfund defense. prgtoken Whatever complaints Palestinians have with Israel's Government, wanton violence against civilians is completely and totally inexcusable. This is barbaric terrorism, not a legitimate protest; nor is it legitimate for Israel's obsessive critics to suggest any equivalency whatsoever between these inexcusable attacks and Israel's measured and quite targeted response against terrorists. prgtoken Yesterday here in Washington, street protesters screamed--listen to this--``Israel is a terrorist state.'' On the streets of Washington, they screamed: ``Israel is a terrorist state.'' Some ic Members of Congress echoed that rhetoric almost exactly. prgtoken Look, the State of Israel has every right of self-defense. Its national security leaders have continued to display restraint and invest so much in precision and avoiding civilian casualties. That has been the approach of the Israeli Government. prgtoken Israel must know that their friends and allies here in the United States stand with them as they seek to restore deterrence, that we support their right to peace and security, and that we will not relax our efforts to hold terrorists and terrorists' supporters to account.
CANCELING MOTHERS
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican, WV) \u2014 2021-5-12

. Madam , this past weekend, we celebrated Mother's Day, a day for families across our great Nation to honor our mothers. prgtoken God has blessed me with a wife, the mother of our three beautiful children, including two daughters. prgtoken My own mother, Lala, has instilled in me the values I am proud to cherish today, including my faith and belief in family. My mother, who is almost 80 years old, fled Communist Cuba under the Castro regime and is now a proud American. Her love of country inspires me each day. prgtoken Mother's Day was founded by West Virginia native Anna Jarvis in 1908. But the radical left, including some Members of Congress, have begun referring to mothers as ``birthing people.'' prgtoken NARAL, the pro-choice lobbying group, tweeted on May 6: ``When we talk about birthing people, we are being inclusive. It is that simple.'' prgtoken The canceling of the term ``mother'' actually began here in the Congress when Pelosi changed the House Rules package and eliminated the words ``mother,'' ``father,'' ``son,'' and ``daughter,'' and replaced them with ``parent'' and ``child.'' prgtoken It defies common sense that the cancel culture and some Members of Congress would seek to cancel the term ``mother.'' It is wrong that we cannot celebrate mothers on the House floor. All mothers play an important role.
IN HONOR OF MESA POLICE SERGEANT BRANDON MENDOZA
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-5-12

. Madam , I rise in honor of Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza who was tragically killed by an illegal alien 7 years ago. prgtoken In the early morning hours of May 12, 2014, Sgt. Mendoza was driving home from his shift when he encountered an illegal alien driving under the influence of alcohol and meth. The illegal alien drove at high speeds in the wrong direction for 35 miles on four freeways in the Phoenix metro area. Despite law enforcement efforts to catch up to and stop the illegal alien, he ultimately collided head-on with Sgt. Mendoza, killing them both. prgtoken Sgt. Mendoza's death was untimely and preventable. But it requires to get serious about enforcement of our immigration laws and putting American families first. prgtoken Sgt. Mendoza's illegal alien killer had previously pled guilty to criminal conspiracy charges in Colorado, but, despite his illegal presence, he was not removed from the United States. Instead, he roamed free in our communities, ultimately choosing to drive without a license and while severely intoxicated. prgtoken Today, there are more than 3 million illegal aliens with final orders of removal, many of whom are suspected or convicted criminals, living in American communities. President should prioritize removal of these individuals before they can do any additional harm. prgtoken I am enraged by President 's nonchalant attitude towards illegal immigration into the United States. In April, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended a near record number of aliens attempting to illegally enter the United States, more than 173,000. President 's refusal to acknowledge the crisis at the border is a bold attempt to mislead the American public. prgtoken Last week, I traveled to the southwest border with 10 fellow members of Congress to again see firsthand the damage of President 's new border policies. Sgt. Mendoza's mother, Mary Ann, joined us for a portion of the tour. Since her son's death, Mary Ann has been a fierce advocate for border security, pleading with the and Administrations to protect other American families from experiencing the same pain and suffering. prgtoken During our visit, Mary Ann expressed concern that government leaders have forgotten families like hers and instead placed the interests of illegal aliens ahead of the interests of our nation. Families like Sgt. Mendoza's deserve to have their stories remembered. They deserve a government willing to protect them from the hands of illegal aliens. prgtoken I will continue to fight for border security and enforcement of our immigration laws. Sgt. Mendoza and other victims of crime by illegal aliens deserve no less.
National Police Week (Executive Calendar)
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-5-12

I rise today to recognize National Police Week and honor the law enforcement officers who selflessly serve and protect our communities. Law enforcement professionals at all levels, from local police forces to sheriff's departments, to State police and Federal law enforcement agencies, leave home each day not knowing what challenges they will experience, but they are ready to face danger head-on. prgtoken National Police Week is a solemn occasion to honor those who tragically lost their lives while performing their duties. Sadly, last year proved to be particularly dangerous for officers, and 2020 was one of the deadliest years for law enforcement officers in recent memory. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly played a part in that unfortunate reality. prgtoken This year, the names of 394 officers killed in the line of duty have been etched into the walls of the National Law Enforcement Memorial. The deaths of 185 of those individuals were COVID-19 related, including Sergeant James Dancy of the North Little Rock Police Department.
Medicaid (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-5-12

more than 4 million Texans, including half of the children in my State, depend on the stability of the State's Medicaid Program to provide healthcare for themselves and their families. Everything from emergency room visits to mental health care, Medicaid funding prgtoken is vital to the health of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. The same is true in virtually every State across the country. prgtoken Unfortunately, a recent move by the administration has put the healthcare of these vulnerable citizens in jeopardy. A few weeks ago, the administration rescinded approval of Texas's 1115 waiver extension. I know that is an obscure reference to most folks, but, basically, here is the long and short of it. The previous administration reached an agreement with the State that will enable billions of dollars to flow to Texans in need. Now, for some reason, the administration is trying to stop it. prgtoken The real question is, Why? Why would the administration try to jeopardize the healthcare for 4 million Texans, while the President has consistently talked about ensuring every American has access to quality healthcare. Just 2 weeks ago in his joint session to Congress, he said: Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege in America. prgtoken So why would the administration take an unprecedented action to reduce access to healthcare for some of the most vulnerable people in my State? prgtoken Well, the official answer from CMS is to correct an administrative error. But two Federal health officials did an unusual thing in Washington, DC, albeit anonymously. They told the truth. They told the Washington Post that this was done to ``push State officials toward accepting the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion.'' It is pretty bold to admit that this was not about an administrative error at all but about forcing Medicaid expansion onto the State of Texas. prgtoken Many people will recall that this was a portion of the Affordable Care Act which was held unconstitutional in an opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts. Chief Justice Roberts said that the Federal Government cannot put a gun to the head of the State and force it to accept the Medicaid expansion since it is a joint program between the Federal Government and the State. Now the administration is engaged in a game of political chicken, with 4 million Texans on the line, and the only ones who are getting hurt are the low-income and uninsured Texans whose healthcare relies on this safety net. prgtoken This move by the administration would have been damaging during normal times, but it is even more damaging after this unprecedented year for our healthcare providers. In fact, it is downright reckless. Hospitals and providers in Texas have been pushed to the brink during the pandemic. On top of the additional expenses associated with COVID- 19, they have faced serious financial shortfalls from the pause on none