mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE DEDICATION OF THE BALL FAMILY
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-8-6

in this underlying bill, there is $87 billion for the IRS. The want to make the IRS-- the three prgtoken letters you never want to see in your mailbox--bigger than the Pentagon, the State Department, the FBI, and the Border Patrol combined. prgtoken Instead, what my motion does is that it would take $45 billion from enforcement and give it to parents so that they can help their kids make up for the learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. prgtoken And oh, by the way, when you think about the size of the IRS and when you think about the enforcement, realize that according to the CBO, 90 percent of the targeting would be on household incomes under $200,000. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support my motion.
TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAURIE RODRIGUEZ
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-8-6

I rise today to honor an exceptional member of the Air National Guard. I would like to recognize Lt. Col. Laurie Rodriguez's distinguished service and dedication to enhancing the relationship between the National Guard and my office as a legislative liaison. prgtoken A native of Brandon, SD, Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez enlisted in the South Dakota Air National Guard and was later commissioned as a force support officer. She has served 25 years in both the South Dakota and Mississippi National Guard in a broad range of drill status and Active- Duty assignments, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently, she is excelling in not one, but two, demanding positions as the 186th Force Support Squadron commander and as the joint team lead for the National Guard Bureau Office of Legislative Liaison. Additionally, she has served Active-Duty tours at Headquarters Air Force, the Executive Office of the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy, and several offices within the National Guard Bureau. prgtoken Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez has served as a legislative liaison officer since October of 2018. Her attention to detail and responsiveness strengthened the relationship between my office and the National Guard immeasurably. Additionally, she formulated the congressional engagement plan and prepared National Guard leadership for over 71 meetings and hearings, informing congressional members on the National Guard Bureau's legislative priorities. Her efforts played a pivotal role in securing $129 million in appropriations in support of counter drug operations helping deter the opioid epidemic. Laurie also served as lead action officer on the impacts the creation of the Space Force had on 13 National Guard units with space missions. Finally, she answered hundreds of congressional inquiries, which provided critical information necessary for the consideration of three National Defense Authorization Acts. She did all of this while taking care of the men and women under her command at the 186th Force Support Squadron. prgtoken After concluding this challenging assignment in August, Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez will take on another challenging role as a deputy division chief within the National Guard Bureau Operations Directorate. She embodies the qualities that the Nation expects from our officer corps and has a promising career ahead in continued service to our Nation. In closing, I express my gratitude and appreciation to Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez for her excellent support of my office in furtherance of National Guard missions and my appreciation to her supportive husband, Angello Rodriguez. I wish this National Guard family all the best in their next chapter of service to our Nation.
HONORING THE DEDICATION OF THE BALL FAMILY
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2022-8-6

the American people are hurting. Inflation has soared to the highest we have seen in 40 years, and the Consumer Price Index is now 9.1 percent. Americans are seeing increased prices on everything from the grocery store to the gas pump. Gas prices have gone up $2.25 a gallon just since the President took office. Diesel prices since this administration took office are up $2.81--that means 60 percent more since President took office. The cost of food is up more than 12 percent. prgtoken We not only have inflation, we have our economy stagnating as well-- stagflation. It is something we haven't had since the late 1970s, early 1980s. We have the resources and the capabilities to reduce that inflation to address the stagnation. This tax-and-spend bill is not the way to do it. prgtoken I ask that we return this to committee and come up with a plan that will actually get our economy going and reduce inflation. I ask for support on this motion.
HONORING THE DEDICATION OF THE BALL FAMILY
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2022-8-6

I rise to offer a commonsense permitting reform amendment. There has been a lot of talk and promises about a supposed deal or fixing our Nation's broken permitting system, but we have yet to see any legislative text. prgtoken My amendment delivers these reforms right now. Among these reforms are provisions that reduce delays and environmental reviews, generally to 2 years or less, while maintaining protections. Eliminating regulatory hurdles, which are now driving higher gasoline and energy costs, and implementing the one Federal decision--these are things say they will support eventually. Let's tackle inflation, permitting, and energy supply challenges right here tonight. Let's finish the Mountain Valley Pipeline now. prgtoken Americans can't wait, and no one can build back better if we can't build anything at all. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the amendment. prgtoken .
PRAYER
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-8-6

the United States' mineral security has really become our Achilles' heel. It is a significant threat to our economy, to our competitiveness, to our security, and to our geopolitical leverage, all at the same time. prgtoken We know that mineral demand is skyrocketing, and yet it is harder than ever to produce minerals here in this country. So what we have done is that we have turned to imports to fill the gaps in our supply. prgtoken We are seeking, through this amendment, to put some limited assistance on the table to make sure that projects for the most critical minerals can move forward in a timely manner. That is what my amendment does for cobalt and for nickel. prgtoken Right now, we import 76 percent of our cobalt, 48 percent of our nickel, but demand is growing so dramatically for both as a result of EVs, of energy storage systems, and other clean technologies. So what we are seeking to do with this is repurpose $400 million for States to implement energy efficiency codes to instead ensure that domestic nickel and cobalt projects can advance.
HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REPRESENTATIVE JACKIE WALORSKI
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-8-6

. five minutes from the bill time. prgtoken I rise today to honor the life of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. Three others were lost in the tragic accident. prgtoken Like I said last week, it is a real gut punch to any of us who knew Jackie and to Hoosiers across the board. The outpouring of grief for the lives lost has been immense in our State. As Hoosiers share their memories of them, you can see just how important all those lives were. prgtoken Let me talk about Jackie. I got to know her early on when I was entertaining running for Senate. She was up in the north central part of Indiana, a place that I had been very little, and she was engaging. I spent get-togethers with her before and then after I was elected, and Todd said it well: Whomever she came across, she was their friend, full of enthusiasm. She never really knew a stranger. prgtoken I got to know her better over the years since then, and I can tell you that faith, family, and community were the principles that guided her, and times of mourning show us just how important those things truly are. prgtoken As the friends and family grieve for the four lives lost in this tragedy, I hope they can find consolation in their prgtoken faith, in their families, in their communities, and in the memory of their loved ones. prgtoken Zach Potts was a rising presence in Indiana politics. He was the district chair, also the chair of St. Joe County, an up-and- comer. He is remembered by friends as someone who truly cared, who didn't ask, ``What's wrong?'' but instead asked, ``How can I help?'' prgtoken Emma Thomson, Jackie's communications director, is remembered by those who knew her as creative, funny, driven, committed to the idea that people are the most important thing in politics. prgtoken Edith Schmucker is remembered as a loving mother and a big-hearted friend to all at the assisted living facility where she worked and served others. prgtoken I hope you will join me and Todd in praying for their friends and their families. As we honor the lives of Jackie, Zach, Emma, and Edith, their legacies will live on in those whose lives they touched. prgtoken And Jackie was a living testament to what it means to be a ``good and faithful servant.'' She lived it out every day, and she will truly be missed. prgtoken .
PRAYER
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-8-6

this one should be simple. prgtoken My amendment eliminates subsidies for slave and child labor. The price of buying a car has reached a record high, and what is the ' answer? A tax break for wealthy coastal elites to buy electric vehicles produced with slave and child labor. prgtoken Currently, this bill already prevents vehicles containing any part sourced or assembled in foreign entities of concern, like China or Russia, from being eligible for the tax credit. My amendment doesn't change that. My amendment simply ensures that our tax dollars don't subsidize EVs from any countries using child or slave labor. prgtoken We all know the critical minerals that comprise EV batteries are largely mined in sub-Saharan Africa by companies abusing children, which are then assembled in Chinese-owned factories, many of which use slave labor. Subsidizing, to the tune of $7,500 per person, the purchase of a luxury vehicle for wealthy coastal elites that utilizes slave or child labor is a direct contradiction of our American values. prgtoken We shouldn't be sacrificing a clean conscience in exchange for a so- called cleaner car. prgtoken I urge the adoption of the amendment.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-8-6

last year, in this body passed a party-line spending bill, and they spent us into record-high inflation. Ever since then, this has been nothing but bad news for the working families of this country. prgtoken We have seen the worst inflation in 40 years. Prices have gone up faster than wages month after month after month. Fifteen months in a row now, prices are up faster than wages. prgtoken Now, ' inflation has caused a recession. As a result, working families are finding it much harder to get by. They can't keep up. The average family can afford less today than they could the day that took office--much less. The savings rate hasn't been this low since the great recession. People are having to spend their savings. Credit card debt is at an alltime high. prgtoken But the worst gut punch is about to happen right now, making all the pain the Americans have suffered now extend for a longer period of time. If pass this bill that is on the floor today, this inflation crisis is going to get worse. prgtoken For weeks, there have been rumors that were working hidden behind closed doors on another reckless tax-and-spending bill. The American people knew it would be bad, and the bill that we are looking at now is worse than expected. prgtoken Of course, the wrote it in secret. They didn't want the American people to know what was inside it. Now, here we are, late on a Saturday afternoon, and the are trying to cram it through before people even get to read it. Members of my party were wanting to read it earlier today. It wasn't even available, likely because it wasn't even written yet. prgtoken I understand it is over 700 pages long. An earlier version, I saw 725 pages, with a cost of over a billion dollars a page. prgtoken call it their bill that they intend to try to use to reduce inflation. But the more likelihood is that it will lead to double-digit inflation. Haven't seen that since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. prgtoken The Wharton School of Business does a budget model. It says that this bill, from everything that they have read so far, will actually increase inflation for the next 2 years. It is bad enough for the American people today. They can't put up with it for another 2 years. prgtoken Now, I am told that the Wharton analysis is usually the economic analysis that the Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, uses. Well, I hope that Senator Manchin and every Member of this body pays attention to that Wharton study. prgtoken A chorus of economists is saying the exact same thing as the experts are telling us from Wharton. There is a nonpartisan group called the Tax Foundation, and it says ``this bill may actually worsen inflation''--worsen inflation. That is why I say we are looking at the possibility of double-digit inflation. It is 9.1 percent now. prgtoken ' favorite economist, Mark Zandi, says that the bill
HEALTHCARE
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-8-6

this body has a long record of coming together to improve healthcare for Americans. prgtoken In 2003, when I was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, we worked in a bipartisan manner to establish the Medicare Part D benefit. More recently, I have worked with my colleagues on the Finance Committee on oversight and investigations to hold EpiPen manufacturers accountable that were misusing taxpayer dollars and insulin manufacturers and PBMs accountable that were unfairly increasing the list price of insulin. We can work together and meaningfully improve healthcare. prgtoken This Congress, I have worked with my ic colleagues to pass five of my bills out of committee in a bipartisan way. These bills will lower drug prices, create more competition, while holding Big Pharma and PBMs accountable. Unfortunately, the leader hasn't brought any of these bills up for a vote, even though they would easily pass the U.S. Senate. prgtoken But this hasn't stopped me from trying to find other ways to help bring down the cost of medications. prgtoken In 2019, as Finance Committee chairman, I began a bipartisan committee process with the ranking member from Oregon to lower the costs of prescription drugs. That bill is entitled the ``Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.'' prgtoken We held three committee hearings to learn from policymakers and advocates, while also holding Big Pharma and PBMs accountable. We held a committee markup, where the bill passed 19 to 9 on a bipartisan basis. We continued to hold additional negotiations to make improvements in the bill, even after it got out of committee. It contained stuff that I like. It also contained stuff I didn't like, but that is the way we do bipartisan legislating. prgtoken Today, it is still the only comprehensive prescription drug bill that can garner more than 60 votes on the Senate floor. prgtoken I recently outlined on the floor the bill's details in case the majority party has forgotten. I won't restate every part of my July 20 speech, but here are some of the bill's key highlights: prgtoken One, it lowers costs for seniors by $72 billion and saves the taxpayers $95 billion. prgtoken Two, it establishes an out-of-pocket cap, eliminates the doughnut hole, and redesigns Medicare Part D. prgtoken Three, it ends taxpayer subsidies to Big Pharma by capping price increases of Medicare Part B and D drugs at inflation. prgtoken Four, it establishes accountability and transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. prgtoken Five, and most important in this body, the bill is bipartisan. prgtoken Now, believe it or not, a bipartisan bill limiting pharmaceutical increases is possible. Compare this to what the majority has offered us. Their partisan bill includes more reckless spending and tax increases. Their partisan bill reduces the number of new cures and treatments. Their partisan bill fails to enact any bipartisan accountability for Big Pharma and, in particula
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--Continued
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-8-6

Eastern Kentucky is again facing the threat of stormy weather and flash floods this weekend. Emergency responders have been on the ground since the flooding began and will continue their critical role in the coming days. We are making sure the Federal Government is stepping up as well. prgtoken In addition to the Governor and State lawmakers, I have been in personal contact with the President, Secretaries Mayorkas and Becerra, and FEMA Administrator Criswell going back to the beginning of this emergency. prgtoken FEMA has been on the ground since day one, providing enormous help with search and rescue operations. Once rebuilding begins, their role will only be more important. prgtoken With the President's major disaster declaration, FEMA is now authorized to send financial assistance directly to the flood victims. These funds will be critical to those who lost their homes in the flooding, especially since many lack flood insurance. To reach remote residents, FEMA representatives are going door-to-door and speaking directly to survivors in shelters to make sure everyone who qualifies for help actually receives it. The Agency has already approved hundreds of thousands of dollars for affected Kentuckians. prgtoken FEMA is also helping pull together a wide swath of Federal Agencies to supplement the Kentucky National Guard and State agencies. The Forest Service is already on the ground, clearing debris from roadways. The Small Business Administration is issuing loans to help employers rebuild. The Army Corps of Engineers is ensuring all dams in the region remain operational. prgtoken The Federal response so far has been extraordinary. prgtoken I have been proud to stand with the Governor and Kentucky's entire congressional delegation to help expand the number of counties receiving assistance and streamline the aid. Kentuckians can visit my official website to see the full list of services offered by our Federal disaster response Agencies. prgtoken The Federal Government has done an excellent job so far. The crisis is far from over. prgtoken Soon, I will visit the region myself to meet with flood victims and listen to their concerns, and then I will take what I hear from my constituents back to Washington and ensure we stand by their side as we rebuild bigger and better than before. Inflation prgtoken , now on an entirely different matter, a year and a half ago, misread a 50-50 Senate as a mandate for $1.9 trillion in party-line reckless spending. The result has been the worst inflation in 40 years. prgtoken With in charge, working families are having to spend thousands of extra dollars each year just to tread water. Grocery costs are through the roof. Energy bills are skyrocketing. Gas prices are more than $1 higher than on Inauguration Day. American families are trapped in an inflation spiral, where many workers have earned pay raise
HONORING THE DEDICATION OF THE BALL FAMILY
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-8-6

I don't think I need to tell anybody here that our work is at its best when it is focused on what people care about. Let me tell you what people care about. They don't care as much about buying solar panels and electric cars as they do about not having to live in a community where violent crime is rampant and you have some crazy prosecutor who refuses to put people in jail, who refuses to prosecute entire categories of crime. prgtoken People are worried about that, and rightfully so. And it is happening. We have these beautiful cities that were once world-class cities that have become unlivable all over this country because we have these lunatic prosecutors that have decided that there are entire categories of crime they will not prosecute. prgtoken That is the kind of stuff we should be working on here tonight, all night long. If you want to spend all night working on something, work on that. Don't waste time on stuff that doesn't matter to real people working every single day who are not going to be driving an electric car next year or the year after that, but they might get mugged, but they might be a victim of a violent crime. prgtoken So what this does is it sends it to the Judiciary Committee and asks them, in 3 days, come back with some ideas about how you can spend just a little bit of these billions of dollars that we are throwing away on this garbage--how we can spend a little bit of that money to put criminals in jail so Americans no longer have to live in fear in their communities.
HONORING THE DEDICATION OF THE BALL FAMILY
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2022-8-6

the underlying bill provides billions of dollars to the IRS to hire 87,000 additional auditors, yet more than 50 percent of the current IRS employees have yet to return to their offices or work sites. prgtoken Here are the consequences: Four out of five phone calls from taxpayers go unanswered; 21 million returns have not been processed; refunds are taking 6 months or more. prgtoken My motion would simply prohibit the IRS from using these billions of dollars to add 87,000 new employees prior to bringing 90 percent of their workforce back to the office. prgtoken I would note that that 87,000 number is more than the combined employees at the Pentagon, the State Department, the FBI, and the Border Patrol agents combined.