mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-12-15

first of all, it is great to be on the floor with my friend Jeanne Shaheen and talk about something positive, something that we have been able to accomplish over the years--as she said, we have been at this over a decade--which is to encourage more energy efficiency. This is the ability for us to save energy by not using it. It is, therefore, sort of energy found. It is also an ability to improve the economy because it creates more jobs and makes us more competitive globally by having lower energy costs. prgtoken Think about the businesses in your State. The competitive nature of business today is that you are really competing with the Europeans and the Japanese and the Chinese and so on, and if you have higher energy costs and you are not energy efficient, you are not going to be competitive. prgtoken But if you are competitive, it adds jobs and makes the economy stronger. So the way I look at it, if you are interested in lower emissions and a better environment and, at the same time, you are interested in a better economy and creating jobs, then energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit. That is the thing we can all agree with. prgtoken I applaud Senator Shaheen because she has been patient. We have both been patient, as our staffs have been, over the years, in getting pieces of our legislation in various bills that have passed this U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and been signed into law by President , President , and now President . prgtoken The most recent one was the infrastructure bill, and it is exciting what we were able to get in there in terms of encouraging a better, more sustainable use of our energy resources in both the public sector and in the private sector. prgtoken Importantly, energy efficiency is also a part of a more reliable and resilient grid, which was part of our legislation: improving the electrical grid. prgtoken We have had some pretty severe weather events over the last year, as you know. I was just in Kentucky over the weekend, my neighboring State, helping out on the cleanup there. And, boy, electricity was out everywhere. prgtoken By improving energy efficiency, we can reduce demand, taking pressure off our power grids, and help create more stability. prgtoken These are some of the reasons why, since 2011, we have worked together to promote this energy efficiency bill called the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. Senator Shaheen called it Portman-Shaheen. I call it Shaheen-Portman because she is in charge now. The Senate is in the ' majority, not ours. But we have worked together seamlessly. It has really been nonpartisan. prgtoken And, again, our goal has been, really, three different areas. One is residential and commercial buildings, because that is where we use a lot of energy. About 40 percent of the energy used in this country is used there. prgtoken Also, to ensure that the Federal Government does a better j
The Economy (Executive Calendar)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-12-15

I come to the floor today to talk about our Nation's economy. prgtoken We have come to the end of another calendar year. The American people are asking themselves a simple question: Are we better off now, today, than we were 1 year ago? prgtoken For most Americans, the answer is no. In fact, a new survey from the New York Federal Reserve says just that. Most of the people surveyed say they are worse off now than they were 1 year ago. prgtoken Most also said, very concerning, that they expect to be worse off a year from now than they are today, and it is easy to see why. Shelves are empty, we have the worst labor shortage ever recorded, and prices are rising at the fastest rate in 40 years. prgtoken is breaking records, but not the good kind. is about to enter his second year in office with record-high inflation and record-low approval. prgtoken Since took office, prices have gone up much faster than wages. As a result, the typical American family can purchase less today than they could a year ago. People have had to change the way they drive, they shop, and they eat. prgtoken By one estimate, families are paying $175 more every month because of inflation since took office. This works out to be $2,000 a year--a bite out of the paychecks of the American people equivalent to a loss of $2,000. prgtoken Now, some estimates are even higher. Harvard Professor Jason Furman was a prgtoken top adviser to President . His estimate is that it is double that number. He said there have been $4,000 more in expenses for the American families this year than there was last year. prgtoken Of course, the biggest increase that we see is in energy. Gas prices are up. They are up by more than a dollar a gallon. Now, this is just in the 10 months since took office. It costs $20 to $30 more to fill the tank. Today, they are at a 7-year high. prgtoken Natural gas prices are also at a 7-year high, while half the families in America heat their homes with natural gas. One in five American families has already been cutting expenses in other places to pay for their energy bill for the year. prgtoken Last month was the biggest jump in energy prices, amazingly, in an entire decade, and winter is almost here. Some people may have to choose between whether they can afford to eat or whether they can afford to heat their homes. prgtoken It is hard to believe that in just 10 full months in the White House, could have taken inflation to this very high level. prgtoken The supply chain crisis, the worker shortage, the inflation crisis are all the direct results of the policies of the administration and the in Washington. prgtoken Why are the shelves empty? Well, because we don't have enough workers. More than 11 million jobs today are unfilled. We have broken new records for unfilled jobs in 5 of the first 10 months that has been in office. And no matter w
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022--Resumed
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-12-15

I am very pleased that the Senate is finally voting on the fiscal year 2022 Defense authorization bill. It is the most significant bill of the year. prgtoken There is an old document that nobody reads anymore called the Constitution. It kind of tells us what we are supposed to be doing around here, and sometimes we forget. We are talking about national defense. That is what we are supposed to be doing. That is why Congress has passed a defense authorization bill for the last 60 years. This will be the 61st year in a row. It will pass. It will pass in about another half hour from now. It is going to pass because it has passed in the past, and everyone realizes this is the most important thing we do here. A lot of people don't say that, but it is true. prgtoken Every year, we come together--the House and the Senate, the s and the --and put our differences aside and build this bill together and show our servicemembers that we really support them. I think that is so important. prgtoken All we have to do is argue about this bill, and what we are doing is reflecting on the people who are out there on the line, out there making the sacrifice and losing their lives in many cases. It is important that they know this is the most important thing we do, and that is exactly what we did this year. prgtoken It looked a little different this year because the Senate didn't take up the bill until after Veterans Day. I was critical of Senator Chuck Schumer. We filed our bill--Senator Reed and I filed this on September 22. We didn't take it up until November 17. That is 2 months that was wasted that we could have used and used very productively. We don't need to do that. We can't let that happen again. prgtoken It is the most important bill we do all year, and it shouldn't be left to the last minute. That is especially the case right now because we face threats like we have never before in my lifetime faced. We have China and Russia. They are growing and modernizing their militaries at a rate that we have never prgtoken seen before and using their new technology to menace their neighbors. We are seeing Russia build up forces on the Ukrainian border, most likely intended to be used for them to attack. We feel that is what is happening now. prgtoken We have seen evidence that China is testing hypersonic missile technology that we don't even have. We don't have hypersonic missile technology like the Chinese have. Those of us who have studied what happened in World War II, we swore we weren't going to let this happen. And for a long period of time, we had the best of everything. In one area where America should have the best of everything, we didn't have the best of everything. prgtoken So we have seen threats and are seeing threats now that we haven't seen before. Yes, on the Ukrainian border--we know what is happening there. We know 100,000 people are ready to go in. The Russians are there. Now we ar
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022--Resumed
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-12-15

in the aftermath of Western Kentucky's devastating tornado outbreak, I have maintained close contact with State and local officials. My staff has been on the ground since the outset of the crisis, helping residents access Federal resources and keeping me up-to-date with any developments. Toward the end of the week, I will travel back to Kentucky to meet with my constituents and visit the areas affected. prgtoken The stories coming out of Kentucky are harrowing. But in recent days, we also heard about the generosity, the hard work, and the hope that are helping our State recover. prgtoken Kentuckians desperately need help to rebuild, so our universities, normally bitter rivals on the court, are rallying together to raise money and gather supplies for relief efforts. prgtoken This Christmas is shaping up to be exceptionally difficult for children all across Western Kentucky, so churches prgtoken are organizing toy drives to help make the holidays a little bit brighter. Western Kentucky community organizations are stretched to the limit, so businesses based in the Commonwealth, from distilleries to car manufacturers, to insurance companies, have stepped up and donated literally millions. Remarkable stories of survival and resiliency have trickled out of the disaster zone. prgtoken Last weekend's storm destroyed much of the First Christian Church in Mayfield, but the congregation discovered their communion table and altar cross fully intact while picking through the rubble. A symbol of hope and rebirth survived amid so much pain. prgtoken Across town, the Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home was physically devastated when it took a direct hit from the tornado on Friday night, but all 74 of the facility's elderly residents survived with only minor injuries. As one staff member said, this was ``truly a miracle.'' prgtoken And in Bremen, KY, when a man visited the wreckage of his home on Saturday, he discovered his grand piano mostly undamaged--undamaged-- despite the storm. Amid the surrounding devastation, he sat down to play and to sing hymns. His songs, shared on social media, warmed the hearts of thousands. prgtoken These stories of hope have ricocheted across the Commonwealth, bringing smiles and strength to communities that need them most. And they give me faith that Kentucky will recover from this crisis stronger than ever.
Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court (Executive Calendar)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2021-12-15

8 months after President asked them to study Supreme Court reform, the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States has finally released its report. prgtoken I want to begin my comments by recalling the backstory behind this group. prgtoken The President created this Commission to appease some Members of the ic Party. These progressives want to pack the Supreme Court with Justices who will put their agenda before the Constitution. prgtoken Not all belong to that group. I see the Court packers as more of a radical fringe who can't stand the thought that the Court may make decisions that they don't like. prgtoken But instead of lending this fringe element the legitimacy they hoped for, the Commission's nearly 300-page report simply lays out the arguments for and against Court packing, and then makes no recommendation. prgtoken In fact, the lawyers, professors, and former judges the President appointed were deeply divided on the issue of adding more Justices to our Nation's highest Court. prgtoken Twenty-nine of the Commission's 34 members were liberals. But even with this supermajority of left-leaning scholars, the Commissioners still expressed their ``profound disagreement over whether Court expansion at this moment in time would be wise.'' prgtoken If you can believe it, many in Congress are fond of saying that expanding the Supreme Court for political reasons is actually unpacking it. prgtoken Representative Jerry Nadler, the from New York who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, has claimed that unpacking the Court by expanding it would ``restore balance'' and that Senate ``should immediately move to expand the Supreme Court.'' prgtoken I want to be as clear as I can about this. Adding Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States simply because you don't like some of the decisions they make--that is Court packing. prgtoken President Franklin Roosevelt explored this idea in the 1930s, after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of the New Deal. prgtoken President 's Commission's own report called FDR's attempt to pack the Court a ``needless, futile, and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle.'' prgtoken No President has been reckless enough or shortsighted enough to push for it since FDR. President said prgtoken he was not a fan of Court packing during his campaign, but then he backtracked and said he was open to the idea. prgtoken Giving in to pressure from the far-left wing of his party, he created this Commission instead, leaving the problem of taking a position on this issue for another more politically convenient day. prgtoken As the Commission's report details, Court packing is often used as a political weapon in authoritarian regimes, not in the United States of America. prgtoken Take Venezuela, where Hugo Chavez cemented support for his socialist policies by expanding the country's Supreme
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-12-15

. I object. prgtoken , it is now December. It has been nearly 4 months since the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. prgtoken Thirteen servicemembers lost their lives in the attack on Abbey Gate along with hundreds of civilians. As a result of the botched evacuation operation, hundreds, if not thousands, of American civilians were left behind to the enemy. prgtoken We hear from our friends on the other side of the aisle that my insistence that we actually vote on nominees is unprecedented. I would humbly suggest that the crisis into which this President has led this country is unprecedented. In my lifetime, it is unprecedented. prgtoken And who has been held accountable for this disaster? No one. Who has the President fired? Who has offered their resignation? Which of the planners at the Department of State or the Department of Defense or the National Security Council have been relieved of duty? No one. prgtoken Until there is accountability, I am going to ask that the Senate do the simple task of its job, which is to actually vote on these nominees. The least we could do is observe regular order and vote on these leadership positions at the Department of State and at the Department of Defense. prgtoken My colleagues say that we have got to put national security first. I agree with them about that. But I believe that begins at the top, with the President of the United States and the leadership of the Department of Defense and the Department of State. I, for one, am not going to stand by and look the other way while this administration systematically endangers our national security, imperils the American people, and watches the sacrifice of our soldiers go by without any accountability, without any change in direction. prgtoken I am not willing to look the other way and just pretend that Afghanistan didn't happen, which seems to be the posture that many in this body have adopted. I am not willing to do that. I can't do that because I promised the parents of the fallen that I wouldn't do that. prgtoken I am going to discharge my responsibility. And as long as it takes, I will continue to draw attention to what happened at Abbey Gate and to demand accountability for the disaster that this administration has pushed upon this country and upon the people of my State.
RECOGNIZING THE COAST GUARD PAY AND PERSONNEL CENTER
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-12-15

I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center in Topeka, KS. The Pay and Personnel Center was first established in 1979 in the suburb area of Washington, DC. In 1982, with the help of Senator Bob Dole, the center permanently moved to the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka. It is a true honor that I and my staff have the pleasure of working with this devoted lineup of leaders on a routine basis. prgtoken The Pay and Personnel Center offers a focused and essential service to more than 142,000 men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their mission is to provide caring and responsive personnel and compensation services for each of their military members, retirees, annuitants, and other customers in support of the Department of Homeland Security missions. The Pay and Personnel Center has continued to operate with superb attention to detail without much attention publicly. They carry out the passionate mission of providing the compensation and services necessary to keep our Coast Guard focused, secure, and dedicated. These men and women truly go above and beyond to help our Coast Guard members. prgtoken I offer congratulations and accolades to the Pay and Personnel Center on 40 years of hard work and superior service to our men and women in the U.S. Coast Guard. The center is an illustrious example of the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus, Always Ready. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this milestone.
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-12-15

. If confirmed as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Maria Pagan would be responsible for negotiating details of any waiver of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, also known as the TRIPS Agreement. prgtoken I have concerns with Ms. Pagan's nomination. Therefore, I intend to object to that until the administration has given me some basic commitments regarding the administration's position on waiving the TRIPS Agreement, particularly related to some of the proposals being pushed by various countries. prgtoken As a quick recap, the TRIPS Agreement represents a vital element of international trade law protecting the intellectual property rights of U.S. businesses, individuals, and entrepreneurs. Waiving the protection of these rights for COVID-19 drugs, vaccines, and treatments under the notion of some sense of international altruism will not advance a universal solution to the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Instead, any proposal to waive IP protections would create a disincentive for continued research, development, and distribution of the COVID-19 treatments or drugs. That could mean fewer healthcare options and advancements as the virus continues to mutate into new variants with degrees of resistance to existing remedies. prgtoken As always, anytime you weaken one property right, it spills over into other areas. We wouldn't expect this to become contained to the COVID- 19 universe. prgtoken Additionally, U.S. companies would be less likely to introduce their product to WTO-member countries not enforcing IP protections. That could mean fewer options and less access for our neighbors, not more. prgtoken Intellectual property rights provide the grounds for businesses to take risks in turning novel ideas into concrete goods and services. A business prgtoken that knows its property is secure and will not be surreptitiously confiscated by government action can fully engage in developing the innovation that drives markets. prgtoken Today, in stating my objections, this is all I am asking for. I have no concerns with this individual in particular; rather, with the authority that she might wield and the assurances I am wanting to receive from the administration on that authority, some assurance that this administration will not unilaterally wipe out intellectual property protections that have resulted in the vast majority of COVID- 19 remedies the U.S. currently enjoys and have also served millions of others globally. These are the things that are on the table. All I want is some assurance from the administration.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022--Resumed
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-12-15

I am pleased that today we will finally move to a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Thanks to the ' focus on their reckless Build Back Better tax-and-spending spree, consideration of the NDAA, one of the most important bills we consider every year, was delayed for months. prgtoken Of course, once we finally got onto the bill, rushed the process. Senators of both parties filed a total of 1,000 amendments on this bill, but not one--not a single one--of those amendments received a vote on the Senate floor. prgtoken But at least we are finally here set to pass this critical legislation. I am pleased the s were able to strengthen this bill in committee and in the so-called preconference negotiations. This includes removing troublesome provisions like red-flag laws that would summarily suspend the Second Amendment rights of our men and women in uniform. prgtoken Thanks in large part to efforts, the final bill is $25 billion above President 's inadequate budget request. prgtoken We have made a lot of progress over the past several years on rebuilding our military, which, I might add, after years of underfunding and budgetary uncertainty, combined with heavy operational demands, had been left underequipped, undermanned, and underprepared to meet the threats of the 21st century. The situation had gotten so bad that in 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission released a report warning that our readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power like Russia or China--an especially chilling warning considering the mounting destabilization from both of these countries today. The Commission noted that we would be especially vulnerable if we were ever called on to fight a war on two fronts. prgtoken But, as I said, over the past several years, we made a lot of progress on restoring military readiness. Unfortunately, President 's inadequate budget request threatened to undo some of that progress. So I am pleased--very pleased--that, thanks in large part to efforts, and s have agreed on a final number that will continue our reinvestment in our military so that our men and women in uniform will have the resources they need to address the threats of the 21st century. prgtoken With both China and Russia flexing their military power and the growing danger of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is critically important that we ensure that our Nation is always prepared to defend itself and our vital national interests, whatever the threat. prgtoken On the subject of Ukraine, I am very pleased the final bill we will vote on today includes an additional $50 million in military assistance for Ukraine. Ukraine has spent years dealing with a Russian invasion that threatens to push further into its sovereign territory, and we should be supporting