mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CARDIOVASCULAR ADVANCES IN RESEARCH AND OPPORTUNITIES LEGACY ACT
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , I rise today in support of an issue that is obviously very personal to me, my legislation, the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act, or the CAROL Act. prgtoken I am just overwhelmed and so grateful to my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I thank them for their kindness, their kind words about Carol, and their advocacy for this very important legislation. prgtoken I do ask for the indulgence of the House and my colleagues to speak about a topic that is very personal. I have become, unfortunately, very passionate about it. prgtoken My life and my girls' lives were changed forever when we lost Carol, who was my best friend, and that was a sudden cardiac event on June 16, 2020. She was only 39 years old. This was just a few weeks before her 40th birthday. prgtoken The end of her life didn't define her life. When people hear about the CAROL Act, I want them to know not just about the legislation. I want them to know about Carol, the woman who inspires it, because so much of her life really continues to make a positive impact on all of us. prgtoken First of all, Carol was obviously a beautiful person, but her beauty on the outside was not as much as it was on the inside, as beautiful as she was as a person. prgtoken She was an amazing friend and daughter and wife. She was so supportive. Everybody who serves in this body knows it takes so much support from a spouse, and I witnessed that every day both in this job and out of this job and in the 12 years that we were married. prgtoken She was a supporter. She was a selfless giver. And she was a giver not just to me and my girls, she was a selfless person with everyone, with her friends, with her family. She was always going out of her way to do for others and put others ahead of herself. prgtoken Professionally she was incredibly accomplished. She worked in the pharmaceutical industry. She was a planner, a list maker, a detailed organizer, which was great for me because I wasn't any of those things. She complemented me. She kept me going. She kept me on time and organized. I was not a list maker, and she was. She was a go-getter. prgtoken As my friend, Whip Scalise, said, she had this great saying, and she said it to me the weekend before she passed away: ``Just get it done.'' prgtoken But of course, her greatest legacy was her motherhood. She was defined by her motherhood of our girls, Eleanor and Mary Clay. She was the best mother in the world. Now, she only had 9 and 7 years, but she packed it in, and she left a great mark on those kids, and they are her greatest legacy. I am so proud of our girls. And my youngest, Mary Clay, always says: ``Daddy, when prgtoken you give those speeches, why don't you talk about me? And, Mary Clay, I am talking about you, and I am talking about your sister, Eleanor, right now because you are your mother. You shine through, and your mother will continue to shine through you all. prgtoken S
TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRIS RYAN
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise today to honor an exceptional member of the U.S. Air Force. I am proud to enter this tribute into the Record as I have had the pleasure of traveling with Chris to London and Ukraine and saw firsthand his professionalism, leadership, and dedication to duty. prgtoken Lt. Col. Christopher ``Chris'' Ryan has distinguished himself through his professional character and dedication by serving this Nation in uniform. A leader and expert communicator, he has provided distinguished service to our country while assigned to the Air Force Senate Liaison Office. He is an outstanding leader and the perfect airman to represent the Air Force on Capitol Hill. Chris has served in the Air Force for over 20 years in both the enlisted and officer ranks. As an aircraft maintenance officer, Chris has led thousands of maintainers in support of the AC-130H, C-17A, KC-135R, and C-5M aircraft. prgtoken Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated his exceptional abilities; he was the 1997 Airman of the Year at Joint Base Andrews and recipient of the John Levitow Award in 2000. Chris was both distinguished graduate for the ROTC Detachment 330 at the University of Maryland-College Park and at the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School. Further, Chris was recognized as the 2019 Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison Reserve Officer of the Year. Prior to his current assignment, Chris had the privilege of being selected as an Air Force Legislative Fellow where he was detailed to the Congressional Research Service and then worked for my dear colleague, the senior Senator from Oklahoma and then-chairman of the Armed Services Committee in 2018. prgtoken As a legislative liaison in the Air Force Senate Liaison Office from December 2018 to December 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan performed his duties well and without reservation supporting the 115th, 116th, and 117th U.S. Congresses. His strategic thinking and foresight helped to strengthen and improve our national security. Chris accomplished this utilizing his in-depth prgtoken Air Force knowledge with numerous engagements between Congress and the Department of the Air Force. prgtoken Chris expertly conveyed Department of the Air Force positions on the Air Force Future Design that included the future bomber, tanker, and fighter force. Chris' direct support provided the U.S. Senate critical information necessary for three National Defense Authorization Acts. His efforts helped establish the U.S. Space Force, ensure the confirmation of the 25th and 26th Air Force Secretaries, the 22nd Air Force Chief of Staff, and ensured the Department of the Air Force support of the National Defense Strategy in our return to Great Power Competition. prgtoken Lieutenant Colonel Ryan planned and led delegations for Members of Congress on visits all over the world to include the bicameral Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Reagan National Defens
LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING EXTENSION
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-12-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 5290, to extend authority for the Department of Agriculture's Livestock Mandatory Reporting program. prgtoken Under the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program, or LMR, meatpackers across the country are required to report to the USDA the details of transactions involving the purchase of cattle, swine, and sheep, as well as transactions for the corresponding sales of certain beef, pork, and lamb products. prgtoken The USDA compiles and disseminates the information through hundreds of market reports each week, detailing price trends and supply and demand conditions. In turn, livestock industry participants, including farmers, ranchers, and feedlot operators, use the information to make informed marketing decisions. prgtoken The livestock markets have experienced significant price volatility leading up to and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cattle markets in particular. As I am sure many of you have heard from constituents at home, this uncertainty has led to cries from the countryside for significant market reforms and investigations into packer purchasing behavior. prgtoken As industry and Congress continue to grapple with the best approach to improving market transparency while avoiding unintended consequences, and as we await the results of ongoing investigations, it is imperative that farmers and ranchers maintain access to the market information already provided by LMR. prgtoken H.R. 5290 would do just that, providing much-needed certainty for the year ahead. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and .
TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GRACE MILLER
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-12-8

I am here tonight to take a moment to recognize the contributions of a member of my staff, Air Force Maj. Grace Miller, who has spent the last year working in my personal office as part of the U.S. Air Force Congressional Fellowship Program. prgtoken Before Grace departs my office at the start of the new year, I express my appreciation to Major Miller for all of her tremendously beneficial and hard work and her dedication to the service of our Nation. prgtoken Grace's 15 years of service in the U.S. Air Force developed her leadership capabilities and demonstrate her commitment to serving others. These attributes have made her an invaluable asset to our team as we work to serve Kansans, servicemembers, and veterans. prgtoken Before joining my office, Grace's assignments took her around the world in service to our country. Grace earned her commission from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. As an aircraft maintenance officer, Grace has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, taking her across the Middle East. prgtoken Major Miller's commitment to service also extends to teaching. She taught English at the U.S. Air Force Academy, earning her the academic rank of assistant professor and serving as executive officer to the dean of the faculty. prgtoken Grace joined our team in January of this year. She, since then, has fully embraced Kansas, its people, and the challenges they face day in and day out. Grace's personal interactions with Kansans and Kansas veterans, in particular, have helped drive meaningful policy in a time when our past and present servicemembers have needed it the most. prgtoken She has spearheaded the Senate passage of the ``Six Triple Eight'' Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021, which recognizes the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion--the only all-African-American, all- female battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II. The 6888, as this battalion has come to be known, sorted millions of pieces of backlogged mail so troops serving on the frontlines could hear from their families and loved ones from home. Their efforts boosted morale and directly contributed to our servicemembers' fighting spirit, particularly toward the end of the war. prgtoken Grace has been a tireless advocate for these women, and I commend her dedication. The bill currently awaits passage in the House. prgtoken Furthermore, throughout the chaotic and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Grace was an indispensable resource for veterans and Afghan refugees. She continues to assist innocent Afghans seeking refuge from the Taliban's tyrannical hold on the country. prgtoken I want to highlight her efforts in this regard. She was tireless and was here morning, noon, and night--always with the goal of trying to make sure those who should be on a plane out of Afghanistan were able to be so. It was an emotional issue and a trying issue a
REMEMBERING ROBERT J. DOLE
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-12-8

much is grown on Kansas' plains. Crops and pastures stretch as far as the eye can see. Grain elevators replace city skyscrapers, and the whisper of the wind substitutes the screech of sirens and traffic. prgtoken What truly makes the prairie special, however, is the people, the people of the plains. Kindness and resilience define Kansans. Churches that seem entirely too big for the tiny towns they tower over are filled on Sundays; and neighbors are checking on each other, sharing food, sharing laughs, maybe sharing a cup of coffee and even a few beers. prgtoken And perhaps this is why Senator Bob Dole reminded me every time I saw him: Roger, always remember where you are from. prgtoken In every speech I ever heard him give, he always said: Always remember where you are from. prgtoken I thought a lot about that this week. What was Senator Dole saying? Why was that so important? prgtoken And I think, reflecting, he always wanted to make sure that he remembered his Kansas values and that the people of Russell, KS, shaped his life, to pay honor to them and respect. prgtoken This week, Kansans lost a great friend and neighbor. Senator Bob Dole, a personification of the gentle toughness cultivated in the rural Midwest; an advocate for the disabled, the hungry, our veterans and our American way of life; a genuine once-in-a-generation, from the ``greatest generation,'' American hero has been called home. prgtoken It was to these same plains that a young Robert Dole returned from war, critically wounded from injuries sustained in 1945 on a battlefield in Italy. The people of Russell had chipped in money-- $1,800 to be exact--into a cigar box on the counter of Dawson's Drug Store, where a young Bob Dole once worked as a soda jerk. These funds were used to help offset the costs of his recovery, and it was a grueling recovery. During his 3-year hospital stay, he spent time in a body cast. He fought horrible infections that shot his temperature to over 109 degrees, which forced the doctors to pack him in ice. He literally underwent dozens of surgeries on his shoulder, his arm, and even to remove a kidney. Bob Dole was once a strapping, muscular three- sport varsity athlete at Russell High School, as well as a KU Jayhawk athlete.
NOMINATION OF RACHAEL S. ROLLINS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-12-8

now on one final matter, the national murder rate just recorded its biggest jump in more than a century. In some cities, homicides have set alltime records. From Albuquerque to Milwaukee, Memphis to Des Moines, city officials reported more murders last year than in any prior year. In my hometown of Louisville, homicides this year have now broken last year's alltime record. prgtoken All last year, liberal politicians and activists made absurd and false claims about law enforcement. Here are some of them: ``We need to completely dismantle'' local police. Here is another one: ``Policing in our country is inherently and intentionally racist.'' prgtoken A leftwing messaging campaign has spent a year and a half trying to chill law enforcement and policing. A network of liberal district attorneys around the country is matching their rhetoric with incredibly soft-on-crime practices behind the scenes, and the predictable result of all this has been a collapse--a collapse--in public safety. prgtoken For example, last month a man killed six people and injured dozens more at a Christmas market in Wisconsin--listen to this--just weeks after he was released on bail for another set of violent charges. This criminal had already been arrested and locked up in neighboring Milwaukee County, but he was let out by a liberal DA who remarked several years ago: Is there going to be an individual I divert, or I put into treatment program, who's going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It's guaranteed to happen. It does not invalidate the overall approach. prgtoken Stunning. There are now a whole bunch of grieving families in this Wisconsin city who have strong feelings about that ``approach.'' prgtoken Here is a headline from New York City just this week: Man busted for assault set free, allegedly beats two random [New York City] women--then cut loose again. prgtoken Smash-and-grabs, flash mob thefts, and carjackings are increasingly facts of life in multiple major cities, but against this backdrop, just want to keep getting weaker on crime and softer on public safety. prgtoken We expect a vote today on the nomination of Rachael Rollins to be U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. Ms. Rollins has spent years in her current job as a DA pushing the idea that the State should wipe entire categories of crimes off the list of things worth prosecuting. She would rather her office not go after trespassers, shoplifters, or even those found possessing drugs with intent to distribute. This soft-on- crime advocacy should have earned the nominee a pink slip. Instead, President is giving her a promotion. prgtoken I would urge all Senators to vote no. Law-abiding Americans don't want prosecutors who refuse to prosecute. They don't want city jails equipped with revolving doors. And they need leaders who will defend the rule of law.
Vaccine Mandate (Executive Calendar)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise this evening to discuss President 's divisive and unprecedented vaccine mandate on private businesses. prgtoken I would like to make one thing clear at the start: I have encouraged Nebraskans to consider getting vaccinated since the day these vaccines were approved, and I hope more Americans will join me in choosing to get one, but that is their choice. prgtoken Through OSHA, the administration has issued an ``emergency rule'' to require, roughly, 84 million employees of private companies to get vaccinated or be subjected to weekly testing. If business owners fail to enforce this rule for their employees, they could be fined tens of thousands of dollars per violation. prgtoken The administration is on entirely new ground here. There is simply no precedent for this kind of intrusion into Americans' private lives. Courts agree. The Fifth Circuit blocked the OSHA mandate almost immediately, citing ``grave statutory and constitutional issues.'' prgtoken We in Congress have the power to push back too. In October, I joined nine of my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President that outlined our concerns about this abuse of Federal power. Under the Congressional Review Act, the House and Senate can vote to overturn executive Agency actions like this OSHA mandate, and I hope the Senate will do that when we vote on this later today. All 50 Senate s signed on to this challenge. If our resolution passes both Chambers--and it looks like it may do that on a bipartisan basis-- President will have to decide if he wants to keep defending this deeply unpopular policy. prgtoken The administration's decision to force private employees to get vaccinated is not just unprecedented; it is also counterproductive. It would apply to nearly 300,000 workers in my State of Nebraska alone-- more than 28 percent of our entire workforce. Businesses across Nebraska, from grocery chains to irrigation companies and family farms, have reached out to me about the damage this mandate will do to their companies. They come from very different industries, but their message is the same: We support the vaccines, and we have taken this pandemic seriously, but if the President goes through with this mandate, we could lose many of our employees. prgtoken At a time when millions of jobs need to be filled and we are seeing massive supply chain issues, Americans simply cannot afford this kind of Federal overreach. We need to stop this mandate in its tracks here in Congress because this could be the first step on the road to even stricter rules. prgtoken Let's just look at New York City. It has recently announced one vaccine requirement that will affect private employees and another that will affect children as young as 5 years old. Bill de Blasio's parting gift to New Yorkers is this: Get at least one shot by December 27, or you are going to lose your job. prgtoken Starting later this month, kindergar
CATTLE CONTRACT LIBRARY ACT OF 2021
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-12-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , let's be honest. It has been a pretty difficult few years to be a cattle producer. People in that business understand the cyclical nature of prices, so that is not so much their beef, if you will. prgtoken But in that environment, it is much more difficult to have black swan event after black swan event hit these hardworking men and women. From prgtoken the Holcomb fire to COVID-19 disruptions, it has been an incredibly volatile marketplace. They are trying to make a living and they are trying to pay their bills in that kind of environment with less price transparency than they have ever had. prgtoken Now, it used to be relatively easy. Of course, I think we all know that price discovery is a critically important part of any fully functional marketplace. It used to be easy. You just went down to the sale barn, you sat in the seats, and you were able to see exactly what Mr. Mann was selling his cattle for and exactly what Mrs. Hartzler was buying them for. prgtoken But as we have seen a migration of sales away from the sale barn and to alternative marketing agreements, that has left our producers less prepared to understand what is going on in the marketplace. prgtoken That is why I was so grateful to see a broad cross-section of stakeholders come together in Phoenix a few months ago. They said: Gosh darn it, we are tired of having the livestock industry fight amongst each other. Let's settle on what we can agree on, things that we can actually get done in the 117th Congress. prgtoken , they came out of that meeting with a clear clarion call for what Congress can do to help. There were three majors items, but the cattle library, along with the bill we just passed, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program, were the heart of one of the three recommendations. prgtoken What this bill does is takes the information, basic nonconfidential information, from those alternative marketing agreements and makes it available, and it makes sure that there is a mechanism for that information to be put into resources that can actually be used by the independent cattle producers and the small feeders that are so critically important to this marketplace. prgtoken This has been widely bipartisan, and this is embraced by a fantastic cross-section, from the U.S. cattlemen to NCBA to Farm Bureau to National Farmers Union to the Livestock Marketing Association, good people who have come together and understand that while this does not solve the problem, it is a critically important step in moving us in the right direction. prgtoken , .
UYGHUR FORCED LABOR PREVENTION ACT
Tom Rice (Republican, SC) \u2014 2021-12-8

. For that reason, we wish that our ic colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee had worked with us to update the bill from the version that passed 14 months ago to ensure that it establishes the most effective mechanism for blocking imports from Xinjiang, while providing much-needed clarity to facilitate trade by good actors. prgtoken Just as importantly, we know that China has anticipated this ban by expanding this practice beyond Xinjiang. We need to work closely with our colleagues in the Senate to ensure that the version of the bill that becomes law can better assist importers to identify and proactively eradicate goods produced with forced labor from their supply chains, whether they arise in Xinjiang or in other locations. prgtoken This bill is just the beginning, but it sends a strong signal to China that it cannot launder its policies of persecution and repression in a global market.
CONDEMNING THE ONGOING GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY BEING COMMITTED BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-12-8

I am prepared to close, and such time as I may consume. prgtoken , let me say in closing, I again thank Chairman Meeks, my friend, who has been in strong support of this legislation. We pride our committee in doing what is right by the country. We try to take the politics out of it as much as we can. And as Eliot Engel often said, it stops at the water's edge, and this is no exception. prgtoken , this is a historic day. Congress is rarely in vote or declared genocide on another people, but it is very appropriate today to do so. And the international community is watching, and China is watching this right now. They are watching this on C-SPAN, and the world knows that the United States stands for higher moral values, and we stand for human rights. prgtoken And that is why this bill was introduced, and the lives of over a million people depend on it. Think about that. A million people in internment camps, concentration camps, being exterminated, depend on this legislation. We pass a lot of things in this Congress but it is very rare you can pass something like this that condemns this kind of moral atrocity and call it to the world so the entire world can see it for themselves what is, in fact, happening. And when Congress speaks, the world does listen. And when we speak as Americans in this Chamber, not as partisan politicians, they listen. And I know they are listening today. prgtoken , .