mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS FOR CUSTOMER EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND NON-AWARDS EXPENSES OF COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, MN) \u2014 2021-6-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 409. I want to second what my colleague, the gentleman from California, has said about the importance of the CFTC Whistleblower Office and the Office of Customer Education and Outreach, and, of course, the employees who work in those offices. prgtoken These offices help the Commission meet its mission to promote integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets. I am proud to support today's legislation to avoid unnecessary disruptions to these activities and needless staff furloughs. prgtoken The work in these offices, particularly the Whistleblower Office, helps to root out violations of the law which harm individuals and undermine derivatives markets. Fraud and market manipulation can steal customer funds, distort prices, disrupt orderly trading and settlement, and sap confidence in the fairness of our markets. Whistleblowers are a critical source of information which helps the Commission protect the integrity of our commodity markets. prgtoken I also want to emphasize that today's legislation does not spend any new money or create any new programs. Rather, it sets aside existing funds to meet existing obligations. S. 409 ensures that funds to support the functioning of the whistleblower and customer education offices are temporarily prioritized over the funds to pay whistleblower awards in order to keep the offices fully functional. In the end, both obligations will be fully met as Congress intended. prgtoken As the ranking member of the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee, I feel a particular responsibility to make sure that the CFTC has the best tools at its disposal to meet its mission. prgtoken As we move forward in the coming months, I am looking forward to digging deeper into the work of the Commission and coming together to craft a responsible CFTC reauthorization bill which makes permanent improvements to the Whistleblower Office funding mechanism and meets the needs of the 21st century financial regulator. prgtoken I want to take a moment to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Thompson for their willingness to involve the whole committee in this legislative effort. As a new member of the committee, I appreciated the opportunity to act as a body in support of this legislation. prgtoken , I urge all Members to support this bill, and .
HONORING THE LIFE OF GENE HECKMAN
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-6-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Gene Heckman of Columbia City, Indiana. Gene was a beloved member of his community whose work shaped the lives of generations who call northeast Indiana home. prgtoken Gene entered the U.S. Air Force upon graduating high school in 1957, marking the beginning of a life of service. Upon being honorably discharged in 1963, Gene returned to civilian life. He married his sweetheart, Karen Rose, and together made the Tri-Lakes community their home. prgtoken In 1971, Gene was elected a trustee of Thorncreek Township. Additionally, Gene oversaw the township's public services; served on the Whitley County School Board; helped found the Tri-Lakes Baptist Church; was a member of Gideons International; served as president of the National Solid Waste Association Council and was a member of the Columbia City Rotary Club. prgtoken Gene's dedication to his community earned him the opportunity to meet several notable public figures, including President , Vice President Dan Quayle, Senator Richard Lugar, and Governor Otis Bowen. Separately, Gene operated his own sanitation business before selling it in 1991. prgtoken This is a testament to Gene's peerless devotion to service for which his community, and our country, is grateful. Though he is no longer with us, Gene's spirit endures in the hearts and minds of all those he touched.
SAFE SLEEP FOR BABIES ACT OF 2021
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-6-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 3182, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. I thank Mr. Cardenas and, of course, Chair Schakowsky for their hard work on this bill. prgtoken H.R. 3182 addresses the risk of dangers that infants face from inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. This bill bans all products with an inclined sleep surface greater than 10 degrees to address the tragic deaths related to inclined sleepers and any crib bumpers intended to cover the sides of a crib or that prevent access to openings on the sides of the crib. prgtoken I am always ready to work with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to help protect Americans from potentially harmful products. That is the reason I requested this subcommittee. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this particular measure, and .
NOMINATION OF KENNETH ALLEN POLITE
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-6-22

I intend to object to any unanimous consent request relating to the nomination of Kenneth Allen Polite to be an Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, PN423. prgtoken Last week, at the Senate Judiciary Committee's Executive Business Meeting, I noted my intent to object to Mr. Polite's confirmation not on the basis of his credentials--I happen to find him well qualified for the position--but on the basis of the Justice Department's failure to respond to congressional oversight requests. prgtoken To date, the Justice Department has failed to provide a full and complete response to any of my oversight requests. prgtoken As one of many examples, on February 3, 2021, and March 9, 2021, Senator Johnson and I requested information from the Justice Department relating to Nicholas McQuaid. Mr. McQuaid is Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, the position Mr. Polite will hold upon confirmation. In those letters, we raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in light of the fact that Mr. McQuaid was employed at Latham & Watkins until January 20, 2021, and worked with Christopher Clark, whom Hunter reportedly hired to work on his Federal criminal case. prgtoken This arrangement presents a potential conflict of interest. A core function of congressional oversight is to ensure that governmental Departments and Agencies are free of conflicts of interest. That is especially so with the Justice Department and FBI. If conflicts infect them, those investigations and prosecutions--the very purpose of the Department's existence--could be undermined. prgtoken As a part of my oversight, I have requested a recusal memo for Mr. McQuaid. I have also requested to know, as a threshold issue, whether one even exists. prgtoken Attorney General Garland has failed to answer and provide the requested records. I have noted to the Department that in 2016 I received from the Department Andrew McCabe's recusal memo to illustrate precedent exists for such a production to Congress. Still, the Justice Department refuses to provide the same for Mr. McQuaid. prgtoken There is nothing more eroding of public faith than an unresponsive executive branch that believes it only answers to the President and not the U.S. Congress and, perhaps most importantly, ``we the people.'' prgtoken This administration's continued ongoing and blatant lack of cooperation has forced my hand. Thus, unfortunately, I must object to any consideration of this nomination. My objection is not intended to question the credentials of Mr. Polite in any way. The executive branch must recognize that it has an ongoing obligation to respond to congressional inquiries in a timely and reasonable manner.
Iran (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-6-22

over the weekend, Iran held what its Supreme Leader might call a Presidential election. To the rest the world, including millions of Iranians, what actually happened was quite clear. The regime's favored choice was selected from a limited field of approved candidates in a carefully controlled bit of political theater. There is no doubt this charade works as intended. The Ayatollah got a President-elect with a record of strict adherence to his regime's revolutionary orthodoxy. Meanwhile, former Presidential candidates who emerged as leaders in the popular 2009 Green Movement remain under house arrest. Like his predecessors, Ebrahim Raisi will serve as a figurehead while the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard actually run the show. prgtoken But even rigged elections have consequences, and the new most visible figure in Tehran has a proven history as a hardline theocrat. For decades, from his time on a so-called death committee in the 1980s, the President-elect played an intimate role in the trial, conviction, and summary execution of political prisoners and peaceful protesters. There is no question he is an extreme hardliner, even in the Iranian context, and now he is set to be the so-called counterpart to President as this administration reengages eagerly with the world's most active state sponsor of terrorism. prgtoken In some circles, a looming turnover in the top ranks of Iranian leadership is being spun as a reason for the White House to rush even faster than it already is toward restoring the administration's failed nuclear deal. One particularly eager assessment in the New York Times called the next 6 prgtoken weeks ``a unique window for clinching an agreement,'' like some sort of liquidation sale in which President needs to take whatever he can. Meanwhile, rational observers know that the fundamental reality of the U.S.-Iranian relations certainly has not changed. prgtoken If the selection of a new hardline figurehead in Tehran sends any signal, it is a reminder that showering the regime with sanctions relief and expecting a change in behavior is a reckless and damaging approach. In fact, President-elect Raisi has already said as much himself. Iran's ballistic missile program is ``not negotiable,'' and meeting with President is not on the table. prgtoken Of course, Iranian politicians and diplomats are known to lie and to dissemble, so we should pay closest attention to this regime's actions. What will it actually do? prgtoken Here is the truth: Domestic political developments in Tehran don't absolve the administration of its responsibility to confront Iran's nuclear and missile proliferation, its support for terrorism, its abuses of human rights, and its relentless efforts to destabilize the entire region. prgtoken If President hopes to earn bipartisan support for an Iran policy that could outlast his time in office, he needs to start ex
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-22

I rise today to celebrate a win for the country. Today, the United States rightfully failed to advance the ``Corrupt Politicians Act,'' meaning that this bill will not come to the Senate floor for a final vote. This is a huge win for the citizens of the United States. This is a huge win for democracy, and it is a huge win for the integrity of our elections. prgtoken The ``Corrupt Politicians Act'' is the most dangerous legislation we considered in the Senate in the 9 years I served in this body. It is an attempt by Senate at a brazen power grab. It is an attempt by to federalize elections and to ensure that won't lose control for the next 100 years. prgtoken This bill isn't about protecting the right to vote. It is precisely the opposite. It is about taking away the right to vote from the citizens and giving it instead to the corrupt politicians in Washington who want to stay in power. prgtoken The ``Corrupt Politicians Act'' would strike down virtually every commonsense voter integrity law adopted by States across the country. Thirty-six States have adopted voter ID laws, a reasonable and commonsense step to protect the integrity of elections that over 70 percent of Americans support and over 60 percent of African Americans support. In fact, recent polling now shows support for voter ID at over 80 percent, thanks, no doubt, to the relentless assault to voter ID mounted by Senate . The ``Corrupt Politicians Act'' would repeal the vast majority of these voter ID laws. prgtoken Likewise, 31 States prohibit ballot harvesting, the corrupt practice of paying political operatives to collect other people's ballots. What would the ``Corrupt Politicians Act'' do? It would strike down all of those laws in 31 States and would mandate ballot harvesting nationwide. It would mean that paid political operatives from the ic National Committee could go to nursing homes and collect votes--some of those votes, no doubt, from individuals who may be no longer competent to make a decision. The reason 31 States have acted to ban ballot harvesting is it invites voter fraud. An unscrupulous operative can fill out the ballot for a senior citizen who no longer has the capacity to make a decision, and if that senior citizen has the temerity to vote in a way the operative doesn't like, there is nothing to prevent the operative from throwing that ballot in the mail and simply not sending it in, only sending in the ballots that happen to comply with their own political preference. If you care even one whit about election integrity, striking down every prohibition on ballot harvesting is precisely the wrong step to take. prgtoken The ``Corrupt Politicians Act'' would also automatically register to vote anyone who comes in contact with the government. So if you get a welfare check, you get an unemployment check, you get a driver's license, you go to a State college or State unive
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-6-22

the right to vote is the hallmark of a democracy. It is what distinguishes us from authoritarian regimes where elections are tainted, if they are held at all, where the free and fair elections that define America do not exist. prgtoken President Abraham Lincoln once said elections belong to the people. Voting is an action we choose to take to exercise a fundamental freedom our Constitution grants to the people. So when we hear of a bill entitled ``For the People,'' we naturally would assume at first that it must be enhancing our democracy, but a closer examination suggests otherwise. In fact, S. 1 would take away the rights of people in each of the 50 States to determine which election rules work best for their citizens. prgtoken Let's start with some indisputable facts. This legislation was first introduced in 2019, prior to last year's Presidential election. It was not considered in the Senate. It did not become law. Nevertheless, according to the Census Bureau, the 2020 election saw the highest voter turnout in the 21st century. Equally significant, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans voted in record-high percentages, and there was higher turnout across all racial groups, including Black Americans, than in 2016. prgtoken The Census Bureau also asked eligible, nonvoting Americans why they didn't vote in 2020. The majority of respondents said that they were not interested, didn't like any of the candidates, were too busy, or simply forgot. prgtoken The point is, with the record-high turnout in 2020, it is very difficult to make the case that this bill is necessary, as some have said, to save our democracy. prgtoken This is a bill that was introduced to enhance partisan messaging, not to enhance participation in our elections, as the over-the-top rhetoric about this bill highlights. Consider, for example, the debate over Georgia's new election law. In many ways, Georgia's election law actually makes it easier for citizens to vote than in other States that have not been subject to the same backlash. prgtoken Georgia allows no-excuse absentee ballots. Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut do not. Georgia's new law provides a minimum of 17 in-person early voting days. Delaware, New Jersey, and Connecticut had no in-person early voting days at all in 2020. Although New Jersey enacted a new law to allow early voting earlier this year, to great fanfare, it actually has 8 fewer early voting days than Georgia. Despite having these and many other different election rules, Delaware, Connecticut, and Georgia had very similar levels of Black voter turnout in the 2020 election. Massachusetts, by contrast, had just more than half the Black voter turnout of Georgia. prgtoken This information contradicts the underlying premise in S. 1 that we must overturn the laws of every State in our Nation in order to preserve the right to vote. prgtoken This legislation would force numerous changes to laws in
PANDEMIC EFFECTS ON HOME SAFETY AND TOURISM ACT
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-6-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3752, the Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act. prgtoken I first thank Representatives Cardenas and Davis for their efforts on this bill to protect consumers. I also thank Representatives Upton and Castor for including provisions to promote and assist our tourism industry, an essential component of our Nation's economy, and something I care deeply about as cochair of the Congressional Tourism Caucus. prgtoken , H.R. 3752 directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to report on trends of injuries and deaths from consumer products during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more Americans have spent time in their homes, it is important the CPSC continues to inform consumers with information about potentially hazardous products. prgtoken Additionally, H.R. 3752 requires the Department of Commerce to study and report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our travel and tourism industry. This industry plays a significant role in many local communities and supports over 50 million jobs across the Nation. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY ACT
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-22

I rise in support of the legislation with Representative McNerney, H.R. 3723, the Consumer Safety Technology Act. prgtoken You know, over my time in the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have made several trips out to the CPSC and observed firsthand how the men and women dedicate their lives to ensuring that consumers have safe products, that consumers have products that are not going to cause harm to the user. prgtoken And as we approach the anniversary of our Nation's independence on July 4, I also have a lot of respect for these same individuals who ensure that our fireworks that are sold at the commercial stands at the side of the road also meet certain specifications. prgtoken So as we approach Independence Day, it is always a good time to acknowledge the work done by the men and women in the Consumer Product Safety Commission. prgtoken The bill we are talking about today actually passed the last Congress by a voice vote, but it did fail to advance in the United States Senate. It includes the bill that Mr. McNerney and I introduced, the Artificial Intelligence for Consumer Product Safety legislation, along with, as referenced, the Blockchain Innovation Act and the Digital Taxonomy Act. prgtoken We are once again considering this bill because this is commonsense legislation that should be signed into law to improve and modernize our consumer protection agencies. prgtoken The Consumer Product Safety Commission has jurisdiction over 15,000 consumer products. Many of these are purchased online without the consumer reviewing or assessing the product in person. Throughout the time of the pandemic, Americans have sought to fulfill their needs through online shopping, and many companies and small businesses have innovated products to further increase convenience of daily life. The pool of products available to consumers is continually expanding, putting further strain on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure the safety of those products. prgtoken While technological advances are increasing the number of types of products available for consumption, the Consumer Product Safety Commission can employ advanced technology to assist in that mission. prgtoken This bill directs the Consumer Safety Product Commission to establish a pilot program to use artificial intelligence for tracking injury trends, identifying consumer product hazards, monitoring the retail marketplace for the sale of recalled products, or identifying unsafe imported consumer products. prgtoken It is safe to say that when the Consumer Product Safety Commission was created, no one anticipated the sheer volume of material that would be being imported, for which they now have responsibility. prgtoken Artifical intelligence uses algorithms to quickly automate human functions and to filter and analyze data. Artificial intelligence is already advancing capabilities in multiple sectors to better serve consumers by increasing capacity and enhancing out
HONORING GUY DANELLA ON HIS RETIREMENT
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-6-22

I rise today to honor New York Mills Police Officer Guy Danella, who retired from law enforcement after 23 years this past month. prgtoken Guy, a native of my hometown of New Hartford, began his service in law enforcement in 1998, with the Oneida County Sheriff's Department as a corrections deputy. During that time, Guy realized he wanted to continue his career as a police officer and became a deputy sheriff with the road patrol in 2000, where he spent 2 years on the DWI patrol. prgtoken In 2004, Guy began his career with the New York Mills Police Department, where he would serve for the next 17 years. During his service with New York Mills, Guy became a field training officer, helping to mentor new officers, and was honored with a number of service awards, including the Meritorious Service Award, Exceptional Service Award, and the Patriot Award. prgtoken It was an honor to meet with Guy and his amazing daughter, Alex. I hope she fulfills her dream to go to law school someday. prgtoken Guy, we thank you for your many years of service to our wonderful community and for helping to train our next generation of heroes. Our community is truly grateful.