mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-12-22

I want to thank Senator Whitehouse for this long journey we have been on together. prgtoken For Congressman Malinowski from the House, this has been a passion. prgtoken This amendment would allow the Department of Justice, through the Secretary of State, to transfer proceeds from seized oligarch assets or other sanctioned entities to the people of Ukraine. It will be a godsend to the long-suffering people of Ukraine. It will be a relief to the American taxpayer because billions of dollars are subject to being seized and transferred. It will be a bad day for oligarchs. prgtoken I ask for a voice vote.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-22

. On any matter whatsoever. prgtoken So what I would inquire of the gentleman is does he agree with this: If you go back and look about what is going on, everything you are seeing unfold before your eyes, America, is a setup? It is a complete setup. prgtoken You go back to September, and a block of about 42 of us wrote a letter to the leaders of these august bodies saying, Hey, how about not doing a continuing resolution into the middle of December right before Christmas? How about you not do that because we know exactly what that results in. prgtoken We sent that letter. prgtoken What happened in September? prgtoken A continuing resolution right until the middle of December. prgtoken Now, you get to the continuing resolution in the middle of December, and there is all sorts of chatter about: Will there be a continuing resolution into early 2023 with a new House majority? prgtoken Never in the last 70 years have we had a change, a transfer in the majority of the House Chamber and had the Senate do what it did today, which is jam through a massive spending bill with the existing House, soon to be minority, and jam it through. prgtoken Now, fast-forward to right now, and what do you have? We have this bill sent to us that spends $1.7 trillion: a 10 percent increase in defense spending; $42 billion increase in nondefense spending, which is 6 percent; Ukraine funding of $45 billion; disaster relief funding of $40 billion; and $15 billion of earmarks that I went through and described a little bit ago. prgtoken Who spoke in the Chamber in the United States House of Representatives last night, other than the President of Ukraine? prgtoken Now, does the gentleman believe, as I do, that that is not an accident? prgtoken The entire setup from the House s and the Senate s working with the leadership in both Chambers was to set that up so that you have the President of Ukraine speaking here saying we have got to pass this massive spending bill because you had the whole theatrical event set up from the beginning, set up to expire right before Christmas to then jam through 7,200 earmarks, a massive amount of spending, a continued explosion of the bureaucratic state, a restriction on the ability to secure the border, all because you knew you had a handful of s on the hook who couldn't help themselves because we are talking about defense and we are talking about Ukraine. prgtoken Does the gentleman think that maybe that stuff is not a coincidence?
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-12-22

our amendment achieves a simple goal desired by all of us: equal treatment for all the 9/11 families, the Beirut Marine barracks bombing families, and all victims of terrorism. prgtoken To those families, we know that nothing we do here can assuage your grief or replace your loss, but we pray that this action by your Congress, on behalf of your fellow citizens, will serve as a reminder that we hold you close in our hearts and we pray for your comfort. prgtoken As a show of our support and love for these families, I suggest the Senate accept the amendment by voice vote.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-12-22

. This constitutional amendment prohibits Federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against States. A State can waive immunity if it wants to, and States do so now and then. prgtoken There is a proven process for eliminating or changing the protections of a clear constitutional language. It is not the role of the Senate to repeal constitutional rights through legislation, which is what the Cassidy bill does before us. This bill would nullify the 11th amendment, opening public sector entities in States to more Federal compliance issues and litigations. prgtoken Hoosiers did not elect me to roll back constitutional protections for Indiana. This is why I am offering this amendment to strike section 6 of this bill. prgtoken .
PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2022-12-22

the purpose of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is to help pregnant mothers in the workplace receive accommodations so that they can maintain a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, I want to make clear for the record that the terms ``pregnancy'' and ``related medical conditions,'' for which accommodations to their known limitations are required under the legislation, do not include abortion. prgtoken On December 8, the sponsor of this legislation, Senator Bob Casey stated on the Senate floor as follows: ``I want to say for the record, however, that under the act, under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the EEOC, could not--could not--issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of State law.'' prgtoken Senator Casey's statement reflects the intent of Congress in advancing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act today. This legislation should not be misconstrued by the EEOC or Federal courts to impose abortion-related mandates on employers, or otherwise to promote abortions, contrary to the intent of Congress.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-12-22

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis is one of the best and the brightest naval officers this country has. In late May of 2021, he was involved in a serious car accident in which he encountered an unforeseeable, unforeseen medical emergency that caused him to lose consciousness. He was involved in a car accident as a result of that emergency in which two Japanese nationals tragically lost their lives. prgtoken It was, indeed, an accident, not preventable or foreseeable by Lieutenant Alkonis. Nonetheless, under the Japanese legal system, he now stands convicted of a crime for which he is serving a 3-year prison sentence. This is an accident that was not avoidable by Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis. prgtoken I believe that, under these circumstances, we must stand behind him and his family. Lieutenant Alkonis has a wife Brittany and three young children. They are set to lose their pay and benefits from their sole breadwinner in their home 1 week from today. We must stop that. prgtoken The Department of Defense supports this. They wish they could grant it on their own. They don't believe they have the authority. I disagree with them. But this will fix that, and I am happy to help them with that. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this and would gladly accept a voice vote.
STUDENT VETERAN EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT OF 2022
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-12-22

I returned home to Green Bay, Wisconsin today to attend to a family matter and avoid dangerous travel ahead of the powerful snow storm. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 539, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 540, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 541, ``yea'' on rollcall No. prgtoken 542, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 543, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 544, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 545 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 546.
REMEMBERING JOHN P. CONNELLY
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-12-22

I rise today to commemorate the life and career of John P. Connelly, longtime National Fisheries Institute president and CEO. John succumbed to cancer on November 20, but not before leaving a profound mark on the commercial seafood industry that is so dear to us in Alaska. prgtoken Following service in the U.S. Navy--including Active-Duty service as an officer in the Navy's destroyer fleet--John joined the American Chemistry Council, where he rose to become ACC's corporate secretary. In 2003, he was named president and CEO of the National Fisheries Institute. In nearly two decades of leadership at NFI, he joined with many of us in the Senate in tackling the priority issues confronting American seafood producers and the fisheries they rely on--from vital legislation such as the 2007 Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization legislation and the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, to ensuring that Federal nutrition guidance reflects the science regarding the value of seafood consumption and utilizing trade agreements to open key markets to seafood exporters from Alaska and elsewhere. On his watch, commercial seafood producers made sustainability the core of their operations. On issue after issue, he brought disparate players together in what often can be a fractious industry, driving concrete progress where others' efforts had stalled. prgtoken While at NFI, John Connelly held leadership roles with the NOAA Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee; the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation; the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations; the ``FISH'' for Crewmembers social responsibility standard; the Seafood Industry Research Fund; and many others. In October 2022, the Global Seafood Alliance awarded him the Wallace R. Stevens Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his ``leadership, integrity, and commitment to responsibility.'' prgtoken As is so often the case, however, it was not the plaques on the wall that made John Connelly effective. He was known to many in the seafood world, including to my staff and me, as a warm, engaging person who always wanted to learn about the people he met before delving into business. John loved sharing and swapping stories--the funnier the better--and as any Alaskan will tell you, fishing and storytelling go hand in hand. What a wonderful match between a leader and the industry he chose to serve. prgtoken To paraphrase Lincoln, I know nothing I say on the floor today can beguile prgtoken John's wife of 36 years, Margaret, or their four children, from the grief they are more than entitled to feel at the untimely loss of a dear husband and father. I do hope, nevertheless, that this brief tribute will leave the Connelly family--and all those who benefited from his service to the seafood industry--with the solace of knowing how valuable that service was to our Nation. John Connelly will be missed by many in my State and by so many in the industry he loved.
FAREWELL TO CONGRESS
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , I rise today to address the people's House for one final time. prgtoken It is hard to sum up the lessons that I have learned over my decades of service in 1 minute, so instead, I would just like to say thank you. prgtoken Thank you to the 13th District of Illinois for allowing me to represent you for the last 10 years. prgtoken Thank you to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who were willing to work together to make life better for our constituents. prgtoken Thank you to my hard-working staff over the years who have been in the trenches alongside me. prgtoken Thank you to the dedicated men and women who serve our legislative branch and keep our House operations running. prgtoken Thank you to our brave Capitol Police who saved my life on more than one occasion. prgtoken Thank you to my kids, Toryn, Griffin, and Clark, and my best friend in the world, my wife, Shannon, for going on this journey with me all these years. prgtoken While I will no longer be a Member of Congress come January, I will continue to be this institution's biggest advocate and know that the great work will continue because of all of you. prgtoken So as I leave, I would like to offer some advice to the incoming freshmen. My friend Lee Brice sings in one of his best songs ``Love Like Crazy": ``Don't outsmart your common sense.'' prgtoken I hope I remembered every time that I got in front of a microphone here or in a committee hearing that I had these words come to my head sung by one of the greatest rock bands ever, Nickelback: ``These five words in my head, scream, are we having fun yet?'' prgtoken So thank you, Congress. It has been an honor. prgtoken for the very last time.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Ashley Hinson (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , I was not present for votes last week due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 519; NAY on Roll Call No. 520; NAY on Roll Call No. 521; YEA on Roll Call No. 522; NAY on Roll Call No. 523; NAY on Roll Call No. 524; NAY on Roll Call No. 525; YEA on Roll Call No. 526; NAY on Roll Call 527; YEA on Roll Call No. 528; NAY on Roll Call No. 529; and NAY on Roll Call No. 530.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-22

this is a very popular piece of legislation. As the Senator from California pointed out, the Senate has unanimously passed this on two previous occasions, so hopefully this third time is the charm. prgtoken What it does is unlocks COVID-19 relief money that States and local jurisdictions have that they no longer need for that purpose, but it allows them now more flexibility to spend it on infrastructure and disaster relief and the like. The best part about it is, it doesn't add one penny to the debt. prgtoken We would ask for a voice vote.
PRESIDENTIAL TAX FILINGS AND AUDIT TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2022
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , if I might, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. This is probably his last time managing a bill, and I thank him for his dedication and diligence as ranking member. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in strong opposition to this bill. I think it is one of the most unnecessarily divisive efforts in modern history. It has been rushed to the floor with no notice, no hearing, no markup, and certainly no opportunity to amend it. prgtoken We are only here as an excuse for ' last-minute rush to weaponize private taxpayer information against their opponents. Much of the oversight of the Presidential audit program claim to have been seeking could have been conducted without accessing or releasing anyone's confidential tax information. prgtoken The Inspector General and the Joint Committee on Taxation could have provided an analysis of the start and completion dates of Presidential audits without obtaining or releasing confidential tax information. prgtoken The JCT could have provided us an analysis of the efficacy of Presidential audits without obtaining or releasing the private tax returns. prgtoken Instead, we are debating a bill which will never be considered in the Senate or become law, but solely to paper over the bad decision that made only two nights ago. prgtoken Let's defeat this bill today and start over in January with a bipartisan effort to ensure the Presidential audit program is working as intended, making sure the President and his family are following the law, without rushing to cancel anyone's 6103 protections.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-12-22

. This amendment simply clarifies one area. Faith-based groups have reached out and said they understand this and are supportive of this, but they would like to get clarity in one section. prgtoken I am going to just read this section to you. As it currently reads in 7(b), it says: This title is subject to the applicability of religious employment set out in Section 702(a), which is the Civil Rights Act. prgtoken What we are asking for is very straightforward. Everyone has received a copy of this. It just changes that language to read it to say: This division shall not be construed to require a religious entity described in Section 702(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make an accommodation that would violate the entity's religion. prgtoken It is very straightforward. It deals only with religious entities. It reinforces the Civil Rights Act. I think it was an oversight in the way this was written. There are some faith-based groups saying: We are uncomfortable prgtoken with this. It is very narrowly tailored in the way it is written. prgtoken I, frankly, would accept this as a voice vote, as well, if we would like to voice this right now.
AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , last week, during a telephone townhall, a woman in my district asked what Congress was planning to do about the cost of her fuel bills. She could no longer afford to heat her home, and she has been forced to use a wood stove just to maintain a normal temperature in her home. prgtoken The temperature in my hometown in Altoona, Pennsylvania, tomorrow night will be 1 degree Fahrenheit. prgtoken For months, we have warned of constituents being unable to heat their homes when truly cold nights come this winter. And guess what, now they are here, and the administration has still refused to act. prgtoken President has refused to slash red tape and get pipelines and liquid natural gas facilities online that could address these soaring energy prices. prgtoken That is why we need to enact in Congress our Commitment to America and return not only to energy independence but to energy dominance. prgtoken We as s will cut through government regulation. We will work to solve permitting reform, and we will finally bring the change that makes it possible to utilize the energy sources that are under the feet of my constituents.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANCO HARRIS
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-23

I rise today to remember the life and legacy of Franco , an iconic Steelers and Penn State football running back. prgtoken The Hall of Fame running back who was known for the ``Immaculate Reception,'' considered the most iconic play in NFL history 50 years ago today, passed away at the age of 72 this week. prgtoken Before the infamous play, Franco was a proud Nittany Lion. During his time donning blue and white, helped lead Penn State to a 29-4 record from 1969 to 1971. is among Penn State's top 20 rushers in program history with 2,002 career yards and 24 touchdowns. prgtoken Franco not only impacted the game of football, but he also affected the lives of many, many people in profoundly positive ways. prgtoken Following his retirement from the NFL, returned to Pittsburgh, opened a bakery, and became heavily involved in several charities, including serving as chairman of The Pittsburgh Promise which provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh public school students. prgtoken Franco is survived by his loving wife, Dana Dokmanovich, and his son, Dok. My prayers and thoughts are with Dana, Dok, and Franco's friends.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2617, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES...
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-12-23

I thank the ranking member for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to this bill which I feel is pumped full of woke nonsense. prgtoken This $1.66 trillion package has billions of dollars set aside for LGBT centers, museums, hiking trails, pride centers, skate parks, solar panel projects, and other priorities. prgtoken We are giving $410 million to five Middle Eastern countries for border security, while billions of dollars of our own border protection are prohibited. They are prohibited, , from being used to enhance border security; not to mention over $45 billion for Ukraine, bringing it up to $100 billion total. prgtoken Mind you, , the blocked the bill that would have allowed us to have some transparency and audited those funds and know where they went. These massive costs are not our responsibility. They are Europe's, . prgtoken My ic colleagues are not even keeping an account of where this money is really going. One hundred billion dollars is about $200 million per congressional district. Imagine what east Tennesseans could do with $200 million or the districts on our southern border. prgtoken If you are a and vote for this but claim to be a fiscal conservative, , then you are a liar. If you are a and vote for this but claim to be against war, then you are a liar. prgtoken We only have ourselves to blame, , and those 20 million so-called conservatives who decided to stay home for whatever reason this past election year.
FINAL FAREWELL
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-12-23

. Madam , as I reflect on more than four decades of service in the Federal Government--working for our former Southwest Michigan Congressman David Stockman, then President Ronald Reagan, and finally in the U.S. House of Representatives--I am so grateful for the countless folks who have helped along the way including my peers, staff, and wonderful family who have helped me do my best day after day. ``One cannot count on luck. It comes and goes. But one can count on hard work. ALSO, staying out of your OWN way . . . and, for most folks, that's the hardest part.''--Amey Upton. prgtoken I was asked last week what I want to be remembered for, and without a second thought I pointed to a small, simple brass frame with a motto that I picked up from my grandfather's desk when he passed away at 96 years of age. It read, ``When in doubt, do the right thing!'' I have kept it at the center of my desk and work at the Capitol all these years. prgtoken In this journey, I have been blessed by the sacrifice of many. First and foremost, my wife Amey, who as my best friend for some 40 years has watched me depart practically every week for a trip to Washington, D.C making 99.9 percent of the nearly 22,000 votes cast. I often was at one of our district offices or community events most days of the week. I still vividly recall the Bangor town meeting on a Halloween Saturday morning in 1987 when the word came down that my wife's water had broken, and I had better get to the hospital pretty quickly. Then there was my son reminding me not to talk to strangers as a 6-year-old in the Watervliet 4th of July parade or having to miss my daughter's birthday to participate in a debate during one of my 25 contested elections. Obviously, the sacrifice of family time they all made was something they endured, especially last-minute schedule changes to long-planned family activities. prgtoken My staff--such a blessing. Janet Zielke and Joan Hillebrands were with me all 36 years and a number of others more than 20 years. Joan actually started as a legislative correspondent and worked her way to Chief of Staff where she has been steadily guiding our ship for the last 25 years. Corey Hanson, Mitzi Fitzpatrick, and Nivia Marquis are the best in the business at solving IRS, small business, immigration, and veterans' issues among others. My communications folks handling press on local and national interests were always terrific, Caroline Banaszak and Jamal Ware helped finish up strong. Dale Shugars and Mike Ryan ran my two district offices, and I have known them both for many decades as leaders in their respective communities of Portage and St. Joseph. And before them, Al Pscholka, John Proos, Jeff Breneman, Clay McCausland, and Jack Baker held those same titles. Kaitlyn Peterson was my front desk traffic cop directing many constituent inquiries. All in all, we handled more than 1 million constituent inquiries. All my staff carr