mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-8-4

with respect to my amendment, I offer it on behalf of myself and Senator Cassidy. prgtoken The last 18 months have been challenging for Louisiana. First, there was Hurricane Laura. Then there was Hurricane Delta. Then there was Hurricane Zeta. The hurricanes alone did about $25 billion of damage. Then we had the historic freezes. Then we had historic flooding. The total amount of damage was $47.1 billion. prgtoken My people are tough, but they are tired. This amendment would appropriate $1.1 billion in community development block grants to help my people recover. prgtoken I bring you a problem but also a solution. Thanks to the efforts of Senator Cantwell and Senator Schatz and myself, 3 years ago, we convinced the FCC not to give away the spectrum auction, which belongs to the American people, and instead to auction it off. There is now $80 billion sitting in Treasury. The money for these block grants would come from that $80 billion in cash. prgtoken Thank you.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-8-4

there is funding in this bill for a complex program that would lead to very few actual forest projects, and I fear it will only function as a shell for programs like the Climate Conservation Corps. prgtoken And to be good stewards of our forests, we need to be good stewards of our limited resources. This amendment does that by redirecting these funds to higher priority accounts, like Good Neighbor Authority and post-fire treatment. prgtoken Good Neighbor Authority has routinely enjoyed very bipartisan support in this body and has proven to be one of the most effective forestry tools. Given recent past and present wildfire seasons, redirecting funds to post-fire treatment just makes sense. prgtoken It is early August, and Montana is on fire. There are nearly 300,000 acres burning across our State. We need to manage our forests before they manage us. And in order to do so, we need to invest in higher priority accounts, and my amendment would do just that.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-8-4

this morning, the Appropriations Committee considered a first partial batch of government funding bills for next year. prgtoken I want the Senate to secure bipartisan appropriations through the regular process. I want us to fund the government in an orderly fashion just like the successful Appropriations Committee work we saw throughout s' recent years in the majority. prgtoken We accomplished that because we built a truly bipartisan process. Importantly, it began at the beginning. Early in the calendar year, we convened bipartisan talks to produce top-line numbers so the appropriators would have actual targets. That let good-faith bipartisan conversations happen at the subcommittee and committee levels throughout the spring and summer, and we got results on a bipartisan basis. prgtoken Unfortunately, this year, our ic colleagues haven't done anything like that. Either our colleagues don't have any big-picture plan or they are privately working off the President's partisan budget request. There has been no big-picture, bipartisan conversation. The didn't even let the committee vote on top-line allocations, which normally happens at the start of a markup. prgtoken Our colleagues' fixation on far-left shiny objects is distracting them from basic governance. They are more focused on ramming through another reckless, inflationary taxing-and-spending spree than ensuring we avoid a stalemate over government funding. prgtoken Now, look, I understand and I appreciate that Senators on both sides have worked hard to develop appropriations titles with a lot of good content. The problem is bigger picture. When it comes to floor consideration, we cannot and will not start planting individual trees before we have bipartisan consensus on the shape of the forest. prgtoken Here is what it will take to get a Senate appropriations process back on track, two--two--simple things. prgtoken No. 1, will need to honor the longstanding bipartisan truce that provides parity for defense and nondefense spending growth--parity for defense and nondefense spending growth--and at a responsible overall number that we can all accept. Our men and women in uniform and the Nation they defend deserve better than a budget that cuts our national defense after inflation and allows adversaries to get an edge. prgtoken No. 2, we must have agreement that we are going to keep longstanding bipartisan policy riders in and new poison pill riders out. We need to keep foundational mainstays, like the Hyde amendment, right where they are, and neither side should throw new wrenches into the process. prgtoken Parity for national and border security and a bipartisan deal on policy riders--this is not rocket science; it is a roadmap. We all know it very, very well. That is what it will take to move bipartisan appropriations bills across this floor, but the majority is behind on the homework.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-8-4

I am pleased to join with the Senator from Colorado on this Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Act. I appreciate his leadership. prgtoken There are several points I want to make here before we vote, and that is, this program is very popular with landowners, and I think that is important. This is a very popular program with landowners. It is completely voluntary, a voluntary program. We have chatted with CBO. It does not score, so it does not have a score. Again, both the majority and minority on Ag agree and support this legislation. So, again, it is farmer-friendly, rancher-friendly, and popular with landowners. prgtoken from Colorado, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment. prgtoken Thank you, . Vote on Amendment No. 2548
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-8-4

the remarks of my colleague from North Dakota have inspired me to stand and join him; and also the fact that we are in a room of great significance and silence reigns, and I hate just to fill it with words, but I think the topic we are talking about is extremely important. prgtoken I appreciate the good Senator's support and effort in helping craft this legislation--this bipartisan legislation to improve our infrastructure in our country. prgtoken I also salute the leadership on both sides of the aisle for allowing a robust amendment process. prgtoken There is no question but that there are many opportunities to improve the legislation as written. The chance for our colleagues to offer adjustments and improvements is a part of our tradition and a good part of our tradition. prgtoken I would concur that we do need to upgrade our infrastructure. I think most Americans who have experienced our infrastructure would come to the same conclusion. Too often, our roads are in need of repair. Many times, we have communities that are not connected with high-speed travel opportunities from one part of the city to another. Our transit, in some cases, is old, slow, and does not reach communities that need it. prgtoken Our rail system, particularly in the northeast, which is an important corridor for travel, is way out of date. Some people know you can drive between some cities. Where there are trains, you can drive faster than you can take the train. prgtoken We have structurally deficient and dangerous bridges, in some cases, that need to be repaired. So I think there is general agreement on both sides of the aisle that we need to improve our infrastructure. prgtoken It is known by people in this country, and I think particularly brought home to us, if you travel in other countries and see what they are doing and then you compare where we are--you would think: Boy, we used to lead the world in these things, and now we are not. And it is having an impact on our productivity as a nation because of additional travel time necessary for us to get to and from work as well as other endeavors. prgtoken If that is going to happen, we have only two options right now and probably for the indefinite future. Right now, we have a circumstance where my party is in the minority--not by much. We are basically tied here in the Senate, although the tie is broken by the Vice President. So the have the majority in the Senate, in the House, and, of course, with the White House. Given that circumstance, it is possible for the to write an infrastructure bill all by themselves and simply pass it through a process known as reconciliation. That is one option. prgtoken The other option is to work together on a bipartisan basis, where we craft a better bill with the input of s and . That is the option that is before us now. prgtoken There is not a third alternative, which is s only draft th
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2021-8-4

I rise in opposition to the amendment, and I will explain my reasons. prgtoken Senator Daines' amendment seeks to alter the funding levels of provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act as reported out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Specifically, the amendment cuts funding for hiring veterans and Native youth to do fire prevention projects and directs that funding to postfire rehabilitation projects and to States that carry out projects on Federal land. prgtoken We are supportive of both postfire projects and States doing work on Federal land. That is why we funded these programs at unprecedented levels in our bill. However, we also support funding for veterans and Native youth. So I do not believe it is appropriate to cut the funding for this program. prgtoken So I urge my colleagues to please vote no on this amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-8-4

last summer, the United States saw up close the horrific damage that wildfires can do to our communities. In 2020, nearly 300,000 acres in Nevada burned to the ground. Right now, the Tamarack fire is devastating the Nevada-California border and local communities. prgtoken These natural disasters have done real, lasting damage to our Nation's highways, causing cracks, potholes, and, in some cases, literally melting the roads that we drive on. prgtoken My colleague Senator Risch and I offer this bipartisan amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would add wildfires as a specified damage for which Federal assistance from the National Highway Performance Program may be used to rebuild our highways. prgtoken This will provide support to increase the resiliency of the national highway system, helping to mitigate the cost of the damages. prgtoken I ask all of my colleagues to support this amendment.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-8-4

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress prgtoken has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-8-4

I join my colleague from Nebraska in support of this bipartisan amendment. prgtoken Transparency around broadband is so important for all of our communities, and it fits with, I think, what we are all doing to address our broadband needs across the country and trying to ensure we are bringing broadband into the communities most in need. So I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-8-4

I rise in support of this amendment. It is a bipartisan amendment with Senator Wicker. And this is about just giving basic safety regulations to those superlong, stretch limousines. prgtoken The reason why Senator Schumer and I care about this, there was a horrible, horrible incident in Upstate New York, in Schoharie, where 20 people were killed. In that 1 limousine, 17 passengers: 4 young women from the same family--a mom lost 4 daughters--and 2 recently married couples. They hired the limousine to go safely to a birthday party. prgtoken This cannot continue. prgtoken And I yield to Senator Wicker.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-8-4

I rise to speak about Bennet-Hoeven amendment 2548. prgtoken Our amendment would formally establish the Joint Chiefs Program at USDA. I know a lot of people haven't heard of this initiative, but it is really, really important. prgtoken As I have said on this floor before, in Western States like Colorado and North Dakota, our forests and our grasslands are as important to our economy as the Lincoln Tunnel or the Brooklyn Bridge are to New York, but they haven't received nearly enough investment over the years. The result is that we have people on the ground across the West who are working with incredibly constrained resources. But, despite their best effort, there is a lot of important work to maintain the health of our forests and grasslands that they are unable to do. The consequences of this have been terrible in the West. prgtoken In Colorado, we had the three largest wildfires in our history last year. The fires were still burning when the snow fell, for the first time. That has never happened in anyone's memory. prgtoken As we consider this infrastructure bill tonight, one of the major east-west corridors in America is closed because of mudslides that poured down the burn scar from the wildfires last year. Now I-70 may be closed for weeks. prgtoken We need to deal with this on the front end, and that is why the Joint Chiefs Program matters. At USDA, the Forest Service works mostly on public lands, while the Natural Resources Conservation Service supports efforts on private lands. Joint Chiefs allows them to work in a collaborative way. prgtoken I thank Senator Hoeven for his support, and I hope we will vote for this on voice vote.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-8-4

. Now, , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10:30 a.m Thursday, August 5; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 3684.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-8-4

I rise in opposition to the unanimous consent request from the Senator of Florida. prgtoken The amendment before us would change the Standing Rules of the Senate and require additional reporting requirements regarding inflation, a change which would substantially increase the administrative burden on committees and staff and the process on the floor. prgtoken We already have significant tools at our disposal to evaluate economic indicators. We have economists at the Department of Labor, Treasury Department, Congressional Budget Office, Federal Reserve, and other Federal offices regularly consulting with Congress on issues about inflation and other economic indicators. This is totally unnecessary. prgtoken For these reasons, I oppose this resolution and the request for unanimous consent. I object.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-8-4

it is an honor to rise today to deliver my maiden speech. prgtoken Nine months ago, the people of Arizona trusted me with a great responsibility: to represent them in the U.S. Senate; to do so during a pandemic that has challenged every one of us, taken loved ones too soon, and battered our economy; and to fill the remaining years of Senator John McCain's sixth term. prgtoken Each day since then, I have gone to work for the people of Arizona, striving to fulfill that responsibility, undeterred by the challenges we have in front of us because that is what Arizonans have done over the last year and a half--protecting their families from this virus, keeping themselves and their businesses afloat, and looking out for their neighbors. prgtoken Arizonans have faced down this virus and the economic fallout that came with it with determination. And I came here to have their backs and to work towards a brighter future for our growing State because we can't just rebuild our economy the way it was before. We have to reinvent it and create the jobs of the future, good-paying jobs that you can actually raise a family on. It is a long to-do list. But, hey, I am used to those. prgtoken The checklist for flying the Space Shuttle stands about 6 feet tall. The Senate, though, is not NASA. It doesn't move as fast. And it is not the U.S. Navy, either, where everyone works together toward a common goal. prgtoken But my wife, Gabby, taught me a thing or two about how to listen and how to find common ground. Now, she loved representing Arizona in Congress, and no one works harder than she does. Now, neither of us expected that it would be me serving here in the U.S. Senate. I might have been the astronaut, but it turned out that she is the one who would nearly lose her life serving our country. prgtoken I am so proud of her and of her relentless positivity that she brings to her continued rehabilitation. It inspires me each and every day. I could not do this without her support or the support of my daughters, Claudia and Claire, or my first grandchild, Sage, who was born in May. Maybe, I am not so sure about her support; she is only 2 months old. prgtoken But in my first days here, I spoke to s and to work on emergency COVID relief. For so many Arizonans, the relief we got passed was a lifeline--the difference between bankruptcy and keeping the lights on, between losing their small business and paying their employees. I have heard that countless of times as I have traveled across the State. prgtoken In March, on my 100th day in the Senate, I spoke with a group of Arizonans to understand how COVID-19 was impacting them and their families. One of those conversations really stuck with me, and I want to take a second to tell you about Susana Andrade. prgtoken Prior to the pandemic, Susana worked in a school cafeteria in South Phoenix. Her husband worked as a landscaper. When the pandemic spiked in Arizon
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-8-4

let me just take a minute from Senator Capito to explain what is going on. OK? prgtoken So lined up right now, we are going to do three voice votes. Negotiations are going forward on an amendment from Senator Schumer, related to the Commerce Committee's jurisdiction. And after that, I think the last vote will be that of Senator Fischer, and we will be done. prgtoken And the reason why that is delayed is in order to provide time for negotiation to occur on the Schumer amendment with the Commerce Committee, and I think we are just about resolved. prgtoken I don't like it. It is what it is. prgtoken I just want to thank all for your patience. We are close to the end. prgtoken I would just ask, when we ask for a voice vote on the amendment from Senator Jacky Rosen, that we get a voice vote. And I would ask that when we ask for a voice vote on the Carper-Inhofe amendment, we get a voice vote. And beyond that, we will be halfway home, halfway home. prgtoken So thank you for your patience. We are almost there.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-8-4

I rise to oppose the Johnson amendment. This measure would force continued payment of government contractors to build an ill-conceived border wall. prgtoken Most of these funds were never intended for this purpose. More than $10 billion was redirected from the Department of Defense, and these funds were intended for military installations and functions such as schools for military prgtoken children and National Guard equipment. prgtoken The administration is conducting a comprehensive review of these contracts, led by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. DHS has recently announced that they will continue work on certain commonsense projects on the southern border to address life, safety, environmental, and operational considerations. These decisions will be guided by what is best for our national security, not well- connected government contractors profiting off of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. prgtoken We need to move forward with smart, bipartisan investments that secure both our southern and our northern borders, and we must not look backward at the former administration's boondoggle. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Johnson amendment.
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-8-4

myotonic dystrophy is a rare, multi- systemic, progressive, inherited disease that affects successive family generations but is often misdiagnosed. Affecting as many as 1 in 2,100 individuals, myotonic dystrophy is the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy. However, there is currently no cure and there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments. prgtoken Today, I am pleased to introduce the first ever U.S. Senate resolution designating September 15th as International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day. The resolution will help to highlight the devastating generational impact of this disease, focus global attention on accelerating drug discovery, and work to advance healthcare for our community. prgtoken Caused by an inherited genetic anomaly, individuals with myotonic dystrophy experience varied and complex symptoms, from locked muscles, to heart, breathing, digestive, hormonal, and cognitive difficulties. It is not uncommon for older family members to only be tested following the birth of an affected child, and despite the availability of simple genetic tests, misdiagnoses can persist for decades. prgtoken The different body systems affected, the severity of symptoms, and the age of onset of those symptoms varies greatly between individuals, even within the same family. Many of these individuals live with debilitating symptoms yet in the majority of situations, they never receive adequate or proactive medical care which could dramatically improve their quality of life. prgtoken More research is desperately needed to change this reality. Virginia- based researchers are among the global leaders working to better understand myotonic dystrophy and discover new treatments and a cure. Much of this work is being led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and supported by Virginia advocates. prgtoken The Resolution calls for the advancement of scientific and medical myotonic dystrophy research at the National Institutes of Health and as part of the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense; fostering biopharmaceutical innovation that will lead to treatments approved by the FDA and eventually a cure for myotonic dystrophy; advancing programs and policies that assist individuals with disabilities caused by myotonic dystrophy and the caregivers of those individuals; and encouraging awareness and education of myotonic dystrophy among patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. prgtoken I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see the Resolution designating September 15th as International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day as an opportunity to raise awareness for this devastating disease and to promote and advance the health, well-being, and inherent dignity of all children and adults with myotonic dystrophy. I ask for their support.