mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Biden Administration (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-2-1

we recently passed the 1-year anniversary of President 's inauguration. It is a natural time for taking stock of the first year of his Presidency. prgtoken In President , we were supposed to get a leader--a leader at home and on the world stage. The grownups, we were told, were back in the room. But the truth of the matter is that President 's first year in office has been marked by a lack of leadership more than anything else. prgtoken Again and again, President has simply abdicated his responsibilities. Take perhaps the two defining domestic crises of the Presidency: our inflation crisis and our border crisis. In both cases, the response of the President and his administration has by and large been to stick their fingers in their ears and pretend the crises don't exist. Sure, the President or his people make a gesture toward the problem every now and then, but mostly, you would be forgiven for thinking that neither the border crisis nor the inflation crisis was even on the President's radar. prgtoken Migrants continue to pour across our southern border in massive numbers, creating a humanitarian, enforcement, and security nightmare. And the President? Well, he appears to believe that if he ignores the problem long enough, it will go away. When he does talk about immigration, it amounts to a green light to the cartels and traffickers to keep leading migrants to our borders. That is why I recently joined more than 100 lawmakers in requesting that the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general investigate the administration's border failures. prgtoken Between the President's rhetoric and his failure to take any meaningful action to address the influx of illegal immigration, it is no surprise that we saw more than half a million attempts to cross our southern border illegally in the current fiscal year's first 3 months alone--half a million. prgtoken Meanwhile, American families are struggling with the worst inflation in 40 years--40 years. The last time inflation was this bad, ``E.T.'' was just premiering, and ``Return of the Jedi'' hadn't even come out yet. American families are struggling with huge increases in the price of the most basic necessities, from food to fuel. And the administration's response? Mostly crickets. prgtoken Of course, President hasn't just been largely ignoring this crisis; he actually helped create it. The so-called American Rescue Plan Act the passed and the President signed into law in March of last year helped produce the sky-high inflation we are experiencing. But instead of addressing the resulting crisis, the President has been focused on passing another massive government spending bill that would almost undoubtedly worsen our inflation problem. Yes, his solution to our inflation crisis is to double down on the strategy that helped produce so much inflation in the first place. prgtoken Meanwhile, Americans a
Government Funding (Executive Calendar)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-2-1

first, I would like to commend my colleague, the senior Senator from Kansas, for his incredible ongoing leadership on the issue of the veterans of our Nation and his strong commitment to each and every one of those veterans and to the men and women who wear the uniform and go to battle to keep us safe and keep us free, and it is his long history of leadership for which I am most grateful.
HONORING MAJOR DAVID MONIAC
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-2-1

I rise today to honor the 200th anniversary of Major David Moniac, the first Native American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. prgtoken Today, I would like to share the inspiring story of Major Moniac. He was born in 1802 and lived near present-day Pintlala, within Montgomery County, AL. Several of Moniac's family members were members of the Creek Nation and influenced passage of the Treaty of New York in 1790, which declared peace between the Creek Nation and the United States. This treaty is significant as it contained an important provision for the U.S. Government to educate four young Creek Native Americans. Twenty-seven years later in 1817, David Moniac was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy under this provision at only 16 years old. prgtoken Despite facing an uphill battle due to his age and being the only minority at West Point, Moniac persevered. He went on to graduate in the year 1822 as a brevet second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment. prgtoken In 1836, Moniac answered the call of the U.S. military, to fight for our Nation and aid the Army in the Second Seminole War occurring in Florida. Moniac was named captain and proceeded to organize a unit of Creek Volunteers from Alabama to serve. During the war, this impactful Alabamian demonstrated true leadership as he commanded an assault on a Seminole stronghold and earned a promotion to major in October 1836. One month later, in November 1836, Major Moniac was killed by a musket volley at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp while he was leading a charge of Creek Volunteers. Moniac's death marked the end of the battle. prgtoken Major Moniac was laid to rest at a cemetery in nell, FL, near the site of the Battle of Wahoo Swamp. To remember his incredible courage and bravery, the inscription on his grave marker states, ``He was as brave and gallant a man as ever drew a sword or faced an enemy.'' prgtoken On November 21, 2021, Governor Kay Ivey presented the Alabama Distinguished Service Medal to Major Moniac's family at the Alabama State Capitol. The Distinguished Service Medal recognizes exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. prgtoken Today, we honor Major David Moniac for his impact and the transformational change that he led as he paved the way for other Native Americans to receive admission to West Point. His legacy continues to make not only my home State of Alabama proud and grateful for his leadership but our entire country. It is a privilege to honor Major Moniac today in Congress 200 years later commemorating his service and sacrifice.
MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE CLARENCE ``BUD'' BROWN, JR.
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-2-1

I rise this evening along with several of my Ohio colleagues to honor the life of a great Ohio Congressman, Clarence ``Bud'' Brown, Jr who sadly passed away last Wednesday at the age of 94. prgtoken Congressman Brown represented the people of Ohio's Seventh District with great distinction from 1963 through 1983. As ranking member of the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, Congressman Brown crafted legislation to help his constituents and the American people overcome the 1970s energy crisis. prgtoken Congressman Brown hailed from an impressive Ohio family. His father represented the Seventh District for 27 years in Congress. His son, Clarence ``Clancy'' Brown, III, is an actor who has appeared in many movies, including Shawshank Redemption, but is probably best known to American parents as the voice of Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants; and Congressman Brown's nephew, Zac Haines, currently serves on Miami University of Ohio's board of trustees. prgtoken , I respectfully request that all Members keep Congressman Brown's family and loved ones in their prayers as they mourn this profound loss. I would ask for a moment of silence in his honor.
CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT AMIRIDIS
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-2-1

I appreciate the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees selecting Dr. Michael Amiridis as the new university president. As established by Dr. Pastides, he continues the importance of Greek heritage so meaningful for the people of South Carolina. prgtoken Having previously spent over 20 years on the USC campus, President Amiridis returns from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he has been chancellor. As President Amiridis is already familiar with the university community, I am confident that the school, branch campuses, and students will benefit from his appreciation of the extraordinary Gamecock traditions. prgtoken Shortly after being selected, President Amiridis said, ``Through academics, research, and its vibrant culture, the university system is critically important to the people of South Carolina and to the State's future. I feel privileged to be able to lead this great institution.'' prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues, moving from the safe haven in Afghanistan to America.
CONGRATULATING FOREST COUNTY SHERIFF BOB WOLFGANG ON HIS RETIREMENT
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-2-1

I rise today to congratulate Forest County Sheriff Bob Wolfgang on his retirement. prgtoken Sheriff Wolfgang was first elected sheriff in 2001 and proceeded to spend two decades as the Forest County sheriff. In his work as sheriff, Bob aimed to engage the community and help people turn their lives around. prgtoken During his five terms, Sheriff Wolfgang and his office worked to overhaul conceal carry permits, improve security, and start several programs aimed to engage the county's youth. prgtoken From participating in ``Shop with a Cop'' to a Forest County Youth Field Day, Sheriff Wolfgang focused on working with children to improve relationships with police and the community. He also spent time raising awareness for scams targeting senior citizens. prgtoken Sheriff Wolfgang always focused on helping the community and being a positive role model for other officers and Forest County residents. His impact on all of our community cannot be overstated. prgtoken , I thank Sheriff Wolfgang for his dedication and service to Forest County and the region. May he enjoy his retirement. He deserves it.
HONORING DR. PAUL ANTONIK FOR HIS TREMENDOUS CAREER AT THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY IN ROME, NEW YORK
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-2-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor Dr. Paul Antonik for his exceptional career culminating in his appointment as Chief Scientist for Connectivity and Dissemination at the Air Force Research Laboratory. prgtoken Dr. Antonik dedicated his long and distinguished career to developing warfighting information technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces. Dr. Antonik began his work with the Department of the Air Force in 1978 as an electronic engineer at the Rome Air Development Center. After five years of service, he transitioned into the private sector, working on developing, designing, and evaluating sensor systems, waveforms, and signal processing techniques. In 1998, Dr. Antonik returned to government service and joined the Sensors Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Antonik's exceptional work earned him a spot in the Senior Executive Service in 2012 as the Chief Scientist for Connectivity and Dissemination. prgtoken Dr. Antonik received six U.S. patents and authored or co-authored over fifty-five journals, papers, and reports. Additionally, Dr. Antonik won the prestigious Presidential Rank Award in 2019. As the Chief Scientist, Dr. Antonik led the Information Directorate as its principal scientific advisor and oversaw technologies that span the functional areas of command and control, communication, computer, intelligence, and cyber. Throughout his career, Dr. Antonik served the Air Force in a multitude of roles developing sensor systems and knowledge-aided signal processing techniques. Dr. Antonik was an early advocate for applying artificial intelligence into the radar signal processing chain, which is now a best practice for this type of work. prgtoken I am grateful for Dr. Antonik's over thirty years of service to the Air Force and his contribution to the scientific community. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I would like to congratulate Dr. Antonik on his retirement and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
The Economy (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-2-1

. Working Americans and their families are being hammered by the worst inflation in 40 years, and Washington own it. Sometimes it can be difficult to directly connect Washington policies to the downstream effects on our families. Sometimes it can be tricky to identify cause and effect. But not this time--not in this case. prgtoken The pain that families are feeling today was not just foreseeable, it was prgtoken actually foreseen by experts all across the political spectrum. prgtoken Economists said this inflation is exactly--exactly--what would happen if pushed ahead with their reckless spending sprees that the economy simply did not need. prgtoken Larry Summers, who was Treasury Secretary for President Clinton and ran the National Economic Council for President , warned a year ago this week that far-left plans could trigger ``inflationary pressures of a kind we have not seen in a generation.'' prgtoken Jason Furman, who chaired President 's Council of Economic Advisers, said the very same thing. He said the 's spending binge was ``definitely too big for the moment. I don't know any economist that was recommending something the size of what was done.'' That is Jason Furman, President 's Council of Economic Advisers. prgtoken But our ic colleagues did not let families' actual needs restrain their radical daydreaming. They had already made up their minds. This temporary pandemic was to serve as a Trojan horse for permanent socialism. prgtoken Remember, right from the start, in March of 2020, with Americans dying from this new, mysterious virus, a top House called it ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' prgtoken So the new ic Party government's first major act was to start printing, borrowing, and spending money like there was no tomorrow. They managed to blow through roughly $2 trillion on a so-called COVID bill that utterly failed to crush the virus. Less than 9 percent of the money went to the healthcare fight at all. Even the liberal expert, Steve Rattner, a former official, said the spending spree was ' ``original sin'' when it comes to inflation. prgtoken And working Americans are paying dearly for it every single day. Just look at the headlines: 2021 went down as the worst year for inflation since 1982. Higher prices seeped into just about everything households and businesses buy. There's no telling when prices will fall to more sustainable levels. prgtoken Further quotes: [R]ising costs for food . . . rent and other necessities are heightening the financial pressures on America's households. Rising prices have wiped out the healthy pay increases that many Americans have been receiving, making it harder for households, especially lower-income families, to afford basic expenses. prgtoken Yes, it is true that in
Tribute to Christopher Austen Joyner (Executive Session)
Richard Burr (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-2-1

occasionally, Members are given the opportunity for a point of personal privilege. This is mine today. Today, I rise to speak in tribute to Christopher Austen Joyner, my most trusted adviser for the last 24 years. prgtoken This week, Chris will retire from a 22-year career working in public service, most of them supporting me in some capacity. prgtoken Twenty-two years is a long time. In Hill terminology, that translates to three terms in the House, followed by almost three terms in the U.S. Senate. And in Chris's case, it includes participation in almost every one of my campaigns since 1998. To say that I will miss our partnership is an understatement. prgtoken Joyner's love of country, his dedication to serve, his ability to bring out the best in staff and in me have been a true gift for the last two decades. prgtoken Chris, I hope you will enjoy a well-earned retirement; that you can head out to the coast; that you can have a few laughs with your wife, Amanda, your kids, Liz and Andrew; that you can enjoy some more baseball games, whether that is coaching Andrew's Little League team or sitting at Nats Park; and that you can properly reflect on your poor decision to get a pandemic puppy. From now on, I hope that there will only be one Monday per week, and, in addition to lunch, you occasionally get dinner. I expect to see you here, though, for the occasional breakfast burrito. prgtoken Like so many young staffers, Chris started his Hill career as an intern at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1996. In the spring of 1998, Alicia Clark, my then-chief of staff, brought Chris to my House office as a legislative assistant. Chris worked in my House office from 1998 to 2005, involved in almost every issue that came through our doors: foreign policy, defense, oversight, trade, tax, ag. In my House office, I could always count on Chris to be committed, prepared, and willing to work within the conference and across the aisle to get things done for the American people. prgtoken One of Chris's proudest accomplishments during those years was his work with a bipartisan group of House staffers to draft legislation that ultimately became the tobacco quota buyout. Of course, I think his most noticeable accomplishment there in those years was to meet and marry the love of his life, Amanda, who has been patient over the years with long nights, nonexistent weekends, and staffdels that produced laundry smelling like jet fuel and explosives. prgtoken Chris rose through the office ranks to become policy director, and he joined my Senate office in 2005. In the spring of 2006, after 8 years on Team Burr, Chris went looking for new challenges and briefly worked as a Washington rep for the American Petroleum Institute. prgtoken Thankfully, he wasn't gone too long, and, in 2008, Chris agreed to come back to my Senate office as chief of staff. As my chief, Chris hired and mentored my staff both here and in North Caro
SUPPORTING AMERICA'S SMALLER BUSINESSES
Sharice Davids (Democrat, KS) \u2014 2022-2-2

I rise today as we consider legislation to strengthen supply chains and to stand up for our small businesses. For years, we have been too reliant on goods made in other countries. prgtoken The pandemic has exacerbated and exposed that reality. We have seen shortages from personal protective equipment to ventilators and semiconductor chips. Those supply chain weaknesses continue to contribute to rising prices and inflation. prgtoken We should be making more in America. We have many small businesses in Kansas and across the country that are willing and able to step up to the plate. prgtoken As we take up the America COMPETES Act this week, legislation drafted with both parties and aimed at creating jobs, addressing inflation, and strengthening American manufacturing, it is absolutely essential that we include small and medium manufacturers in our consideration. prgtoken In my district, the Kansas Third, we have businesses who pivoted their entire production lines to fill gaps in our medical supply chains, helping protect frontline healthcare workers amid significant shortages in personal protective equipment early in the pandemic. At that time, nurses and hospital staff were having to reuse masks and gowns, putting themselves at incredible risk. prgtoken We were slowed by our reliance on foreign-made supplies, and here we had small businesses that were ready to help if we had just given them a chance. prgtoken The America COMPETES Act includes a program to build a stable and adaptable supply chain for our national stockpile, one that is flexible enough to react in emergency situations without completely breaking down, as it did before. As we work to build that flexibility, it would be a mistake to shut out the producers we have right here at home. prgtoken My amendment is going to ensure that when we are restocking and restructuring our strategic national stockpile that we are working with a range of businesses. It would require that smaller manufacturers get a seat at the table, not just big corporations, because I can tell you from experience that they stand ready to pitch in, ready to train and employ our workers. It is our job to ensure they get the chance to do just that. prgtoken The America COMPETES Act is a major opportunity to deal in our domestic industries and workers. It is an opportunity to address root causes of inflation and bring down our costs long term, one particularly important example being incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. And it is an opportunity for us to invest in prgtoken our global standing, putting our workers, farmers, manufacturers, and businesses on a level playing field with countries like China and other nations. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and to support small manufacturers.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-2-2

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Cheryl A. Hickmon, national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and chair of the national board of directors. A native of Hartford, CT, Cheryl, the youngest of three children, was born in 1962 to the late Dr. Ned Hickmon and Consuella Anderson Hickmon. Cheryl passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the age of 60, following a battle with a recent illness. She leaves to cherish her memory two brothers, Ned N. Hickmon and David W. Hickmon of Hartford, CT, many cousins throughout the United States, coworkers, many friends, and sorority sisters internationally, including members of the Hartford Alumnae Chapter. prgtoken Cheryl was deeply devoted to Delta Sigma Theta, and her loss will be felt by many. An active member for 39 years, Cheryl's devotion to Delta Sigma Theta began in 1982 with her initiation into the Alpha Xi Chapter at South Carolina State University. She served in multiple leadership positions at the local, regional, and national levels, including as Alpha Xi chapter president in 1983, South Atlantic regional representative in 1984, Hartford Alumnae chapter president in 2009, and was ultimately elected the 27th national president and chair of the national board of directors in November 2021. Her leadership has shaped generations of women across this country and was inspired by a deep belief in Delta's core values of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action. prgtoken Cheryl shared her wisdom, care, and compassion with all who crossed her path. Her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place meant Cheryl always sought new opportunities to uplift Americans, especially Black women. Her passion enabled her to have a profound impact on many through Delta Sigma Theta and her service with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Children's Defense Fund, and the National Council of Negro Women. Cheryl will be remembered as a true champion for civil rights and social justice. prgtoken Cheryl's motivation to lend a helping hand to others in need also shaped her career of more than 30 years as a licensed clinical laboratory technologist. She supervised the In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories for andrology and endocrinology at Montefiore's Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Health. One of her greatest joys was supporting couples in their journey to become parents. prgtoken Cheryl was guided by the motto, ``Don't measure life by the number of breaths you take but by the number of moments that take your breath away.'' Her servant leadership in every endeavor she pursued will leave a lasting and meaningful legacy across this country. I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the entire sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta. I join each of them in honoring Cheryl's life by holding up her work as an example, one rooted in mentorship, enthusiasm, and servi