mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMENDING PLACE OF HOPE
Brian J. Mast (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-4-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize an organization that is celebrating 20 years of service to our community. Place of Hope has been dedicated to providing a stable and loving environment for children, youth, and families that are suffering from abuse, neglect, homelessness, and human trafficking. prgtoken Place of Hope has served over 17,000 children, youth, and families in our community over the past 20 years. To date, a remarkable 320 ``forever families'' have been created via adoption. They are the largest, most diverse, residential children and families organization in Palm Beach County and on the Treasure Coast. Moreover, because of their work, more than 40,000 community members have been educated about human trafficking. prgtoken Organizations like Place of Hope are indispensable to making the world and community a better place, so I congratulate them on their 20 years of service and wish them continuing success in the future.
KEEPING FOOD ON AMERICANS' TABLES
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-4-14

last month, the House Agriculture Committee hosted its first, or at least more fulsome, attempt at publicly reviewing the pandemic and Congress' response. prgtoken This pandemic has infiltrated our lives in every sense possible. Unfortunately, the brunt of it was borne by our communities and, in particular, families already living paycheck to paycheck. In too many instances, arrogant career politicians issued statewide, indiscriminate edicts, forcing businesses and schools to shut their doors, plummeting our communities into a deep recession. prgtoken As the end of the pandemic nears, I hope we can use what we learned in that hearing to provide these families with more holistic services, particularly as they engage in a postpandemic economy that will look wildly different. prgtoken The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, currently provides nutrition assistance to 43 million individuals, with an average individual benefit of $183. Total SNAP-related spending in fiscal year 2020 was $78.9 billion, which includes benefits, administration, nutrition education, employment and training, and program integrity. Of that $78.9 billion, $74.2 billion was solely for benefits. prgtoken By way of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, more than $37.8 billion has been appropriated to respond to the supplemental nutrition assistance needs of our communities. prgtoken This monumental response is in addition to the more than $7.7 billion per month in standard SNAP benefits. Beyond direct funding from Congress, the former and current administrations have issued more than 4,000 administrative waivers to States. These waivers impact operations related to program eligibility, distribution of benefits, employment and training, and more. prgtoken These facts are startling. Combined with myriad social service policies, including those found in the shortsighted, outrageously naive American Rescue Plan, we are in the midst of our Nation's second- largest expansion of entitlements. prgtoken Unsurprisingly, leading economists and Wall Street analysts have said key parts of that bill are poorly targeted to the specific needs of the crisis. As a friend in southwest Missouri recently said, unnecessary rescue diminishes a person's dignity and, if repeated enough, gives way to debilitating dependency. prgtoken The witnesses who joined us for the hearing are our everyday heroes. They are the folks who responded without hesitation to the needs of their communities infested by a pandemic that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of our friends, neighbors, and family members. Whether it be the farmer who chose to donate their crop or the food bank that opened additional sites to be more accommodating, the witnesses who testified deserve our thanks. prgtoken I must also applaud the Department, particularly the former adm
Filibuster (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-14

the new power dynamic in Washington has brought about a frenzy of proposed institutional changes by our friends across the aisle. prgtoken The American people elected a ic President, that is true; they reduced the ic majority in the House; and elected a 50-50 Senate. In all of Congress, there are seven more than s. That is all--7 out of 535 Members. prgtoken Despite these tight margins, our friends on the other side have tried to characterize this new power dynamic as a mandate, and they have floated a tsunami of rule changes to go along with it. First came the push to eliminate the filibuster. prgtoken Just a few years ago, the idea of such a radical change terrified our ic colleagues. We certainly didn't do it when we were in a position to do it, notwithstanding the encouragement of President . prgtoken When s held control of the Senate, the House, and the White House, as our ic colleagues do now, our friends on the other side of the aisle feared the filibuster would come tumbling down. They were so concerned, in fact, that 33 of our colleagues signed on to a letter insisting that the filibuster be preserved. Leader McConnell agreed. He never wavered to pressure from anyone, even the President, to eliminate the filibuster. He has been around this Chamber and this Senate a long time, and he knows that what goes around comes around. prgtoken As the leader correctly noted, didn't just spend the last 4 years supporting the filibuster, they took every advantage of the opportunity for prgtoken the minority to stop legislation they disagreed with. They spent 4 years using it. prgtoken Our ic colleagues employed the filibuster to kill quite a number of bills on pandemic relief, government funding, pro- life legislation, police reform, and the list goes on and on. prgtoken Despite the fact our friends on the other side of the aisle consistently praised and utilized the filibuster in recent years, now, after the election of 2020, they seem to have reversed course. Since the political tides have changed, so, too, have the views of many Senate . prgtoken In recent months, one of our colleagues referred to the filibuster as making a mockery of American democracy. prgtoken I happen to remember at John Lewis's funeral--the great civil rights icon--even former President called it a ``relic of Jim Crow,'' arguably giving permission to to call the filibuster a racist obstacle to making progress in the country. prgtoken Another Senator said that the filibuster had deep roots in racism, even though last summer used this tool to block an anti- lynching bill. prgtoken The entire debate has ballooned beyond reason, and the past few months have been a game of ``will they or won't they'' when it comes to eliminating the filibuster. prgtoken You know, the filibuster has very sound origins. It forces us
For the People Act (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-4-14

it has been just over 2 months since we transferred majority rule to President and the , and they have made it very clear that not even their most radical policy proposals are up for debate. They just want to push things through. In fact, based on what we have seen, I am willing to go on the record as saying that they see any possibility of defeat as an impermissible challenge to their hold on power, and they have got quite a long enemies' list. prgtoken You will recall that, back in 2016, after won the election, liberal activists blamed the electoral college for their many campaign failures. prgtoken In 2020, even as the count came down in their favor, the attacks continued. Faced with the possibility of constitutionalist, conservative judicial nominees, the Supreme Court also became a source of righteous panic. In the wake of the 2020 election, activists were quick to demand that their new majority break the structure of the Court and transform it into a rubberstamp for radical policies that don't stand a chance of surviving this Chamber under regular order. prgtoken Just this year, when faced with a much slimmer majority than, I am sure, they expected, many of my ic colleagues reversed their positions on the filibuster. Suddenly, the procedural backstop so many of them had once vowed to protect--this was an important check against the tyranny of the majority--was, all of a sudden, nothing more than a racist relic of Jim Crow America. So we are left to assume, I suppose, that tyranny started to look pretty good in the face of such a slim majority. prgtoken Yet the filibuster isn't the only Senate institution that came under fire. Debate over a Federal minimum wage increase grew so unhinged that many suggested firing the Parliamentarian and replacing her with someone who was willing to deploy his or her own rubberstamp. Just this week, news broke that Senate are now toying with the idea of firing the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. For what? For the unpardonable sin of doing his job. prgtoken If you don't like the score, fire the scorekeeper. If you don't like the standard, wipe it off the books. If you don't like the institution, just burn it to the ground. prgtoken It is a familiar curriculum now reflected in the ' latest effort to demolish and rebuild the country in their own radical image. They call it the For the People Act, but the basic premise of S. 1 is that, in order to secure our elections, we have no choice prgtoken but to take electoral power away from the people and put it in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. It is a top-down approach that, if implemented, would centralize control over elections in direct contravention to the Constitution, destroy barriers to voter fraud, and enable radical activists to harass and intimidate their political opponents. It is the sort of power grab you would expect
HONORING DOROTHY WILLIAMS MOORE ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-4-14

today, I rise to honor Dorothy Williams Moore on the occasion of her 100th birthday. prgtoken Dorothy was born in Hamptonville, North Carolina. She graduated from Catawba College, class of 1942, majoring in home economics. On March 20, 1946, she married Thomas Moore and moved to Charlotte. Dorothy and Thomas had four children: Luther, Louanna, Neil, and Cynthia. prgtoken Dorothy has proudly served as a mother, homemaker, and substitute teacher. She also taught Sunday school. prgtoken Thomas passed away in 1986, after nearly 40 years of marriage. prgtoken Dorothy still lives in Charlotte. She has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A double cancer survivor, she loves music and sang in her church's choir until the onset of COVID-19. She also enjoys sweets, especially chocolate ice cream. prgtoken It is an honor to pay tribute to Dorothy on her 100th birthday. She has led an amazing life, and her family is overjoyed to celebrate with her.
Maiden Speech (Executive Session)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-4-14

today I am honored to stand on this hallowed Senate floor and share my gratitude for and the priorities of the people of Kansas. prgtoken I want to start by thanking the people of Kansas who believed in me and sent me here to represent them. It is an honor of a lifetime to follow in the steps of heroic Kansans who preceded me in this legislative body. That includes sharing this tour of duty with my long- time friend whom I have admired for decades and now my senior Senator, Jerry Moran, as well as legends of this Chamber, my mentors Bob Dole and Pat Roberts. prgtoken But before I continue, I want to say a special word of gratitude to my family for all of their support. I would not be here today without the support of my wife of 37 years now, Laina, our four children and their spouses, our three grandchildren, as well as my parents, brother, sister, and extended family, who in so many ways have contributed to our campaigns and the work we have done in Congress. I am grateful for their understanding, their unwavering support, and sacrifice of privacy and family time, but, mostly, I am grateful for the values they passed on to me. prgtoken I am grateful for the many teachers, coaches, pastors, and personal friends who inspired me and gave me a solid foundation of values that have seen us through tough times. These values provided the foundation for me, a fifth-generation farm kid, to become a first-generation college student and live my American dream as a physician in rural America. prgtoken And these values have become pillars, the sturdiest of which in my life are faith, family, community, education, and hard work--a faith that you live in your heart, not wear on your shirt sleeves; a family that loves and stands beside you no matter what; a community where everyone looks out for each other; an education that is the great equalizer, leveling the playing field for all; and, finally, a belief in hard work that paves the way to achieve your American dream. prgtoken As I traveled Kansas this past year, I carried these pillars with me while I heard from people all over the State, and they gave three very clear priorities: No. 1, provide for their safety, health, and security; No. 2, to bring back our jobs and economy; and, No. 3, to protect our values and our God-given, inalienable rights. prgtoken I am here in the Senate to do just that, to fight for the people of Kansas, prgtoken for all Americans. But more than anyone else, I am here to fight for our children and grandchildren. And like another great Kansan, the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower, the decisions I make will be most guided by the impact they will have on future generations, not by tonight's news or the simultaneous tweet that goes out as I raise my thumb up or down. History will be the judge of my decisions, not social media. prgtoken The motto of the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, the Big Red One, h
FRAUD AND SCAM REDUCTION ACT
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-4-14

I thank my friend from Florida for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 1215, Fraud and Scam Reduction Act, and thank my colleague and friend, Representative Blunt Rochester, as well as the Committee on Energy and Commerce staff for their hard work in bringing the bill to the floor today. prgtoken Sadly, in today's digital age, scams targeting seniors and their hard-earned money are growing in number and sophistication. prgtoken Every year, scammers steal billions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers. The effect on victims can be financially and emotionally devastating, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse. Safeguarding seniors in Michigan and across the country needs to be a top priority. prgtoken Retailers have diligently worked to combat these crimes. Their ability to educate their employees with best practices and training to recognize the signs of a scam can make a huge difference in stopping criminals. prgtoken Our bipartisan bill builds upon the work retailers are doing by creating a Federal advisory council at the FTC to create a unified front against criminals who target our most vulnerable citizens and stop this fraud before it is too late. prgtoken , I urge the House to pass H.R. 1215 so we can help stop scammers from perpetrating a fraud and taking advantage of our loved ones and our neighbors.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-4-14

today I express my concern over the rise in violent crime and in particular the hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. prgtoken Every single one of us ought to be horrified to see our fellow Americans attacked because of their race or ethnicity. We are united in our opposition to this hateful violence. We are united in seeing it investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I introduced a resolution to this effect, and I will welcome all my Senate colleagues to join me. prgtoken I am very happy to see that Attorney General Garland has turned his attention to this problem. On March 30, he directed the Department of Justice to engage in a 30-day review of the Department's response to hate crimes. I hope the Senate will benefit from the results of that review. However, our responses to the problem of hate crimes must be guided by the facts and a pursuit of sound policy. I am not sure that we have done the legwork to arrive at a legislative solution that will make a difference to preventing, deterring, and punishing these crimes. prgtoken Along with my colleague Senator Cotton, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, we are requesting a full or subcommittee hearing on the issue, and we should do that after the Attorney General's review has been completed. prgtoken We now have before the Senate S. 937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, being introduced before the Attorney General's review began and appears to be duplicative or even in conflict with some of the DOJ's existing efforts. This does not seem to me to be the best path, but that is the path the Senate is on now, and I voted to proceed hours ago to S. 937. I am thankful that it is coming up. I know that Members of the caucus have amendments that will hopefully improve the bill and make it a very useful piece of legislation. prgtoken We hope these amendments will be listened to and fairly considered by our ic colleagues. This is too important of an issue to get wrong. Election Security prgtoken , now, on another point. Between who believe Russia rigged the vote to elect in 2016 and s who believe various theories questioning 's election victory, they all add up to what seems to be a bipartisan supermajority of Americans casting doubt about our elections. In fact, one prominent claim by some supporters that a particular brand of voting machine switched votes to appears to have been plagiarized from the ic Party's playbook from the election of 2004. prgtoken I heard from many left-leaning Iowans at that time who questioned President 's victory based on claims that a particular brand of voting machine switched votes in Ohio. That was 2004. It seems kind of similar, doesn't it, today. prgtoken Those totally unsubstantiated claims ultimately led t
504 CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-4-14

. Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 1482. prgtoken from Minnesota, Representative Angie Craig, for working with me on this bipartisan bill. prgtoken I also thank the other cosponsors, Representatives Sharice Davids and Young Kim, for their work; as well as the full chair of the committee, Ms. Velazquez, who I worked with many years either with myself as chair and she as ranking, or her as chair and myself as ranking. prgtoken I thank Mr. Luetkemeyer for the great job he is doing. At this point he is the ranking member of the committee. Hopefully he will be chair next time, depending on what the American people think a year and a half down the road. prgtoken So what does this legislation do? prgtoken A number of things. It streamlines the 504 loan closing process, clarifies the loan closing and oversight process, and enhances the program for small manufacturers. And small manufacturers are absolutely critical in the economy nowadays. And we were actually making great strides in bringing back more and more jobs there until COVID hit. So that is why programs like this are so important to give them the assistance that they need to get those jobs growing once again in that sector of the economy. prgtoken The 504 program has been one of the more successful of the SBA--the Small Business Administration--loan programs over the years, and it is really crucial as we recover from COVID-caused hardships of the past year. prgtoken The SBA CDC/504 loan program provides the Nation's smallest businesses with long-term and fixed-rate financing. Importantly, it requires that certain economic development criteria are in place to qualify for the program. And job creation and job retention are critical goals of the program. prgtoken This bill passed the House last December in the previous Congress, and I am happy to see it on the floor again this Congress. Hopefully we will get this bill signed into law this time and help provide small businesses with the support they need to recover from the pandemic, and hopefully we will be looking at the pandemic in the rearview mirror sooner rather than later. prgtoken I thank the Small Business Committee for the great work they are doing on behalf of America's small businesses. It is one of those committees that really does work in a bipartisan manner, s and working together, and that is absolutely critical if we are going to get anything done. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from the Birmingham Jail (Executive Calendar)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-4-14

. Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides-- and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: ``Get rid of your discontent.'' Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled through into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. And now this approach is being termed extremist. But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: ``Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.'' Was not Amos an extremist for justice: ``Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.'' Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: ``I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.'' Was not Martin Luther an extremist: ``Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.'' And John Bunyan: ``I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.'' And Abraham Lincoln: ``This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.'' And Thomas Jefferson: ``We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . .'' So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the