mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-2-4

I am offering an amendment today to reopen our Nation's schools once teachers are vaccinated and the potential for tying COVID funding to that reopening. prgtoken The evidence is clear, school closures are hurting students, prolonged remote learning puts kids where they are at high risk of falling behind, of failing classes, and of having mental health problems. And even a greater number of students with disabilities in underserved areas are impacted by not going to school. prgtoken Science confirms schools can and should reopen safely. Just this week, the CDC Director said that vaccines aren't even a prerequisite to getting kids back to school. There shouldn't be any further delay. This amendment does include teachers vaccines as part of the criteria; but with vaccines, we should get back to in-person school. The case is strong. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment.
MORNING BUSINESS
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-2-4

health savings accounts are good for the American people. They increase the availability that families have--the access that families have to healthcare. They make it more affordable, and they also bring about competition in healthcare, which tends to bring up quality and also bring down cost. That is good for everyone. prgtoken Now, the expansion of the use of health savings accounts could be encouraged by allowing any health insurance plan to be considered HSA eligible, by increasing the maximum HSA contributions, and by allowing for more preventive and health maintenance expenses to be covered, including the use of dietary supplements and nutritional supplements. This would not directly affect Care, and expanding HSAs would simply give Americans more opportunities and would bring down cost while increasing the quality of the healthcare they receive. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2021-2-4

the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy was put in place by the administration after talks with Mexico about how to stem the flow of migrants from Central America who were seeking to come to the United States for economic reasons more times than not. Before the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy was adopted, migrants from the Northern Triangle countries traveled to the United States, seeking to turn themselves in and claim asylum whether they had valid claims or not. They would then be released into the United States and often did not return for their court dates. prgtoken If we end the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy for asylum seekers, it will lead to a run on our border and complicate efforts to reform the immigration system. Over 50,000 asylum seekers have been waiting in Mexico rather than in the United States, where they often disappear while waiting in the 1 million-person asylum case backlog. This was an important change that the administration put in place, and it is a serious mistake to reverse it.
REMOVING A CERTAIN MEMBER FROM CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-2-4

who is next? Who is next? prgtoken Everyone has said things they wish they didn't say. Everyone has done things they wish they didn't do. prgtoken So who is next? Who will the cancel culture attack next? prgtoken Former New York Times editor Bari Weiss--not a conservative--had to resign because of the environment at that paper. She had to resign--she coined this term--the ``digital thunderdome.'' prgtoken You engage in wrong-think? You engage in wrong-speak? You are going in the thunderdome. prgtoken Today, it is Mrs. Greene. Who is it going to be tomorrow? prgtoken I have heard several times on the floor today from the , ``conspiracy theory.'' The peddled the biggest conspiracy theory of all time, the Russia hoax. prgtoken For the last 4 years, they peddled this theory. Two of those years, they spent $40 million, 19 lawyers, 40 FBI agents, 500 witnesses, 2,500 subpoenas, but came up with zero collusion. prgtoken The former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, he was going on television all the time, talking about the coordination and the collusion that was going on. But what did he say behind closed doors when he was under oath in the Intelligence Committee? He said this: I never saw any evidence that the campaign was conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election. prgtoken No evidence, but they peddled this theory for 4 years. prgtoken And think about this: The guy who started the debate off today for the , the chair of the Committee on Rules, 4 years ago, guess who was the first person to object to the 2016 Presidential election? The guy who kicked off the debate for the today going after Mrs. Greene, the gentleman from Massachusetts. Guess what his reason was: the Russian hoax conspiracy theory. prgtoken And guess which State he objected to. Alabama. prgtoken That is right, January 6, 2017, the guy who kicked off the debate from the objected to Alabama, a State that President won by 30 points. The first person to kick off the debate today 4 years ago objected to Alabama based on this Russian hoax conspiracy theory. And now, they are coming after Mrs. Greene. prgtoken I stood right here 3 weeks ago, and I said this cancel culture will not just come after s; it is going to come after us all. It is going to come after us all. This is what is scary. And it took all of 13 days--all of 13 days--for that to be proven true. prgtoken Last week, Senator Dianne Feinstein Elementary School is no longer named after Senator Feinstein. That is how bad this is. prgtoken I hope this stops, and I hope it stops soon.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-2-4

this amendment reflects the intent of S. 80, Sarah's Law, which would amend the mandatory detention provisions of the INA to require the detention of anyone unlawfully present in the United States who is charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. prgtoken It honors the life of a girl from Iowa, Sarah Root. Her life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver who was illegally here in the United States. Sarah's Law currently has 21 cosponsors. prgtoken One of the first things the administration did was stop prioritizing violent aliens for deportation. This amendment reflects that DHS should not implement such policies. prgtoken I thank Senators Tillis, Moran, Grassley, Sasse, Inhofe, Hyde-Smith, Lee, Rick Scott, and Hoeven for joining me in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-2-4

we are ensuring with this amendment that there will be resources for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Senator Shaheen has pointed out that our shelters are very, very much in need of our support. prgtoken We urge you all to protect the most vulnerable in their time of need. We ask for your support on this amendment. Vote on Amendment No. 834
MORNING BUSINESS
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-2-4

I rise in opposition to the amendment. We all know about the inequities in our criminal justice system, and we have worked together to try to bridge some of those inequities. The SBA tools help to bridge the inequities in regard to the opportunities in America. prgtoken The Kennedy amendment would attempt to impose a lifetime prohibition for a conviction of a misdemeanor for a civil disorder. It may have happened 10, 20, 30 years ago. A person may have paid their price for that, but this is moving in the wrong direction, and I would urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.
REMOVING A CERTAIN MEMBER FROM CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-2-4

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I rise to support H. Res. 72, legislation I never hoped to author. prgtoken My resolution would remove Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments. We have already heard today a lot about precedents, so let me explain the precedents which brought us here. prgtoken Congresswoman Greene advocated for the execution of a leader of this House. She advocated for the execution of former President . She encouraged violence against law enforcement and has a long record of racist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic comments. prgtoken She spread cruel conspiracy theories, even claiming the horrific mass school shootings in Sandy Hook and Parkland were staged, and even stalked a young survivor of one of those tragedies, calling him a ``coward.'' prgtoken These are unprecedented comments and actions by a Member. No one else on this floor has called for violence against other Members and law enforcement. Only one Member has done that and refused to back down, and that is the real precedent we are dealing with today. prgtoken We have also heard about regrettable conduct before taking office, a so-called statute of limitations on bad behavior. Prior to her floor remarks this afternoon, Congresswoman Greene spent this entire week doubling down on her promotion of violence, bigotry, and conspiracy theories. prgtoken Her response to her critics just yesterday was: ``I won't back down. I'll never apologize.'' prgtoken We have also heard today about revenge and whataboutism. Greene herself threatened that when s wield the gavel, will face a similar fate. prgtoken And if a proposes violence against Members and peddles dangerous lies and conspiracy theories, then refuses to renounce them and our caucus refuses to police it, then punishment would be in order. prgtoken That is the reality of what we are dealing with today with Congresswoman Greene. We are dealing with conduct that brings shame on this House and a pointed refusal to denounce or internally police it by s. prgtoken Congresswoman Greene's past support and present reaffirmation for violence, intimidation, lies, and racism is dangerous. It is exactly the kind of conduct that helps fuel domestic terrorism. prgtoken , I don't take this threat of violence lightly. Two years ago, a pipe bomb, one of 16 sent around the country in my name, sat in my district office for more than 24 hours with my staff handling and moving around it before anyone knew or told them it possibly contained an explosive device. None of my staff signed up for that kind of threat. No one should be terrorized at work. prgtoken But what delivered that bomb to my office was not just one disturbed man. It was the culmination of endless lies, conspiracy theories, and hate that drove someone to violently attack his political rivals. prgtoken We all saw that unfold again with deadly consequences here in the Capit
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-2-4

I want to thank my friend, the senior Senator from South Dakota, for working with me on this. We have been working on this for a full decade now. We worked together in the Ag Committee to deliver for America's farmers. I want to take the same approach here. prgtoken Healthcare workers, as my friend from South Dakota said, have been on the frontlines of this pandemic going on for a year now. Not only are they combating this virus in their own community; many of them have traveled across State lines, obviously, to do this. prgtoken A surprise tax bill is the last thing they need. We should make it easier for these mobile workers to support themselves and their family. prgtoken This is important to a lot of my colleagues. Senator Hassan, Senator Shaheen, Senator Cortez Masto, and I just talked about it. I thank all of you for working to make this progress possible.
MORNING BUSINESS
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-2-4

this amendment is a direct attack on the Midwest and America's hundreds of thousands of farmers. Capping the price of biofuel credits at 10 cents per gallon would stifle the RIN market and destroy the Renewable Fuel Standard Program. prgtoken When my good friend the Senator from Texas last proposed this 10 cent cap in 2017 and 2018, it was opposed by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association, and the American Farm Bureau, to name just a few. Now, farmers get up pretty darn early in the morning, but, even tonight, I did not bother to call any of these associations to get their response on this amendment. prgtoken So I will quote the National Farmers Union's previous president, who, in 2017 and 2018, said that not only is a RIN cap harmful to American agriculture, it is a sellout of America's farmers and a handout to refiners. prgtoken America's corn and soybean growers have suffered for years under the administration's anti-biofuel policies.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2021-2-4

the funding provided in the American recovery package is critical to New Mexico's students, workers, and families. prgtoken Among many measures important to New Mexicans, the budget resolution provides emergency funds to close the homework gap for K-12 schools and libraries, including those on Tribal lands. It provides emergency funding for our rail and air infrastructure, including maintaining essential air service in rural areas and passenger rail throughout the Southwest. It includes emergency grant funding to support local newspapers and broadcasters, who continue to provide fact- and evidence-based reporting on local and national issues as advertising revenues plummet. prgtoken New Mexico faces a digital divide, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing disparities between the students who have broadband access and the one in four who don't. Failing to address these disparities risks widening the homework gap and making it harder for students, especially those living in rural and Tribal communities, to catch up. The budget resolution under consideration does right by students, not only by helping them survive the public health emergency but also by thriving long term. prgtoken By providing emergency funding for rail and air infrastructure, it also saves jobs and communities in New Mexico. Our small airports and rail stations are hubs of commerce that connect rural New Mexico with markets across the United States and the world. As a new member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I am ready to get to work and get the job done on these New Mexico priorities. prgtoken What Congress is working toward today--providing essential support to help fight and recover from the coronavirus pandemic--matters little if those most in need do not trust in America's institutions enough to benefit from this support. That is why I am particularly proud of the resolution's support for local journalism. With this resolution, Congress has an opportunity to help our students, protect jobs and businesses, and fulfill our moral duty. The Senate must do everything in its power to provide the tools for the American people to recover and to rebuild. prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-2-4

the role of Federal funding to schools for COVID relief is to help support our schools in implementing public health protocols aligned with local public health guidance in order to safely reopen. prgtoken The President has made clear that he would like the vast majority of K-8 schools to reopen in the next 100 days, but any amendment offered today attaching extraneous conditions to those funds is simply a political show. If we withhold funds and schools cannot implement health safety protocols, then we are acting counter to actually getting students back into the classroom. prgtoken Making sure our Nation's educators receive a vaccine is an important step; however, vaccinations are just one piece of safely transitioning back. Safely reopening schools means providing schools the resources to implement public health protocols, physical distancing, consistent mask-wearing, ventilation, testing, and contact tracing. This amendment would prohibit schools from getting critical resources to implement those public health protocols, and, as a result, this amendment would make that much harder for schools to reopen for in-person instruction. prgtoken The best way for our schools to reopen as soon as possible is to give schools the resources they need. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
ECONOMIC CRISIS
Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-2-4

a lot of people in this body are talking about jobs these days, and rightfully so. Our economy is in crisis. But what I want to do is urge everyone that when we talk about rebuilding this economy, we are talking about all of the issues that make for a successful economy, and that includes childcare and attention to our children. prgtoken Like many industries during this pandemic, childcare is struggling. Many facilities can't pay their bills due to reduced demand in services and increased costs to keep safe facilities for both children and staff. Many of us on both sides of the aisle have rightfully celebrated the heroes of this pandemic: healthcare workers, frontline workers, and essential workers. And these are the very people who are using childcare right now and they are the ones who cannot work from home and, therefore, need enriching and safe places for their children to go while they literally save lives and provide for the American people. prgtoken So I ask every Member who has spoken so passionately about our heroes and about returning to normal life to move beyond those words and to take meaningful votes on legislation that will ensure access to equitable, high-quality childcare for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and afterschool care children alike all across this country.
MORNING BUSINESS
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-2-4

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up the following amendments in the order listed and that the amendments be reported by number and that the amendments alternate with a ic amendment when one is available to be called up: Kennedy, No. 782, SBA/riots; Paul, No. 441, roads; Lee, No. 770, oil and gas on Federal lands; Cruz, No. 811, employment-based visas; Scott, No. 872, border security; Capito, No. 655, navigable waters; Lankford, No. 837, State and local/religion. prgtoken This is not the last list, my colleagues. There are another 10. So if we stay in our chairs, we might make it by sunrise, but we really have to cooperate here. Those are the ones we have so far.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-2-4

I have great respect for my colleague from South Carolina. We are going to serve together on the Aging Committee, leading the committee. prgtoken I oppose this amendment for some basic reasons. No. 1 is he cited the number of deaths in long-term care facilities across the country. More than 150,000 people are dead in long-term care. The last administration didn't even count those deaths until May of 2020, despite efforts by Members of this body to urge the administration to do that. prgtoken They never had a plan. They didn't help the States. This is an effort, an ongoing effort, to blame States when the Federal Government dropped the ball when it came to long-term care. prgtoken I think we can do better than that. We should be helping nursing homes with the resources they need, like resources for cohorting where you can separate a resident with COVID-19 from those who don't have it. prgtoken We should be providing money for strike teams in ways to help nursing homes. Let's reduce the deaths instead of pointing fingers.
MORNING BUSINESS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-2-4

this now will put the Senate on record as to what the Senate thinks about the 2017 tax law--the $2 trillion bill that overwhelmingly benefited corporations and the wealthy. It opened new special interest loopholes, and it increased incentives to ship American jobs overseas. prgtoken The Senate needs to fix our broken Tax Code, starting with the proposition that everybody, including those at the top, pay their fair share. Locking in the tax handouts to those at the top would take America in the wrong direction. This is not the vehicle to debate these tax changes. I strongly urge a ``no'' vote. Vote on Amendment No. 55
REMOVING A CERTAIN MEMBER FROM CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-2-4

I rise in support of H. Res. 72, to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee post. prgtoken Congresswoman Greene is part of the cult conspiracy mindset that has infected segments of our American society and is ripping our Nation apart. prgtoken The wild conspiracy theories that QAnoners invent are, in essence, outrageous lies. Even more alarming, they are lies backed by the threat of violence. prgtoken Yes, Representative Greene and her QAnon adherents are ready to defend their deranged lies with violence. They have expressed a desire to assassinate Pelosi and to publicly execute those who disagree with their malignant lies. They have even expressed a passionate desire to overthrow our constitutional democracy. prgtoken Congresswoman Greene indicated before last year's election that, if lost, Americans may need to reclaim freedom with the price of blood. prgtoken Marjorie Greene has harassed a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, calling him a coward and proclaiming the massacre was staged as a plot to pass more gun laws. prgtoken Yet her colleagues believe she has the proper credentials and principles to serve on the Education and Labor Committee. Some will play both sides, but that is a false equivalence. prgtoken I think it is clear that we need to draw the line at Jewish space lasers and calling for political assassinations, not policy differences. At least with one xenophobic racist, both sides were able to put country over party. The party of Honest Abe can no longer be honest with itself. prgtoken Marjorie Greene and her fellow conspiracy theorists have saturated our Nation with lies. It is time to turn the tables and start talking about truth for a change. prgtoken Gandhi liked to say: ``Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.'' prgtoken , I urge everyone to join in defending truth. Stand up for truth even if you are alone.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Martin Heinrich (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2021-2-4

my friend from Wyoming and I disagree on many things. We disagree on the impact of this policy in the immediate, and we disagree on the speed of the energy transition to a zero-carbon economy. prgtoken What we do not disagree about is that these communities we support-- we support their schools, and throughout this transition we should support the people who have kept the lights on and made this country the greatest energy country on the face of the Earth. prgtoken So I would support this amendment because it is about supporting the schools in those communities. Vote on Amendment No. 653