mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EASING INFLATION
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2021-11-17

. Madam , contrary to the remarks from my friend from South Carolina, leading economists in this country say that the Build Back Better bill will help on inflation. It will ease inflationary measures. It is important that we pass the Build Back Better bill if we are going to deal with inflation. prgtoken Build Back Better, the Reuters Agency says 's spending plan will not add to inflationary pressure. prgtoken Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said, ``The bills do not add to inflation pressures, as the policies help to lift long-term economic growth via stronger productivity and labor force growth, and thus take the edge off of inflation.'' prgtoken Madam , 17 Nobel Prize winners in economics have already stated they believe the Build Back Better bill will ease longer term inflationary pressures. prgtoken So it is not an inflation problem. In fact, by passing the bipartisan infrastructure bill, we make it easier for people to get to work and for goods to get to market. Improving our ports, our airports with cargo, our highways, and our rail, all of those things, make it easier for us to work against inflation and to get goods to market and improve the economy. prgtoken So we should pass Build Back Better, and hurray .
RECOGNIZING CHEZ PANISSE
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-11-17

I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of Chez Panisse, the pioneering home of farm-to-table cooking in Berkeley, CA. prgtoken Chez Panisse was founded in 1971 by Alice Waters, then a young Montessori teacher. She felt that by strengthening her community's connection to seasonal foods and local growers, she could foster new ideas and connections. At the core of the new restaurant was a sense of social responsibility and limitless communal potential. prgtoken Guided by Alice Waters' ideals, Chez Panisse spurred a movement of slow food and local eating, showing that sustainability could ground a gourmet menu. Alice Waters mentored countless young chefs on her staff, many of whom went on to open restaurants, found companies, or write cookbooks of their own. Today, the style pioneered at Chez Panisse is known as California cuisine. prgtoken And Alice Waters never lost sight of the principles that inspired her. To commemorate the restaurant's 25th anniversary in 1996, she launched the Chez Panisse Foundation, which supports organic gardening and culinary education in schools. Thousands of schools across the world now benefit from the curriculum developed through her Edible Schoolyard Project. prgtoken Chez Panisse is an icon of the California culinary scene, offering a testament to the fruits of eating locally and sustainably. I congratulate Alice Waters and all the staff of Chez Panisse on this remarkable anniversary and send my best wishes for the decades to come.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-11-17

. . and colleagues, sadly, this is the third time I have had to come to the Senate floor to object to proposals dealing with far-fetched claims about vaccines. prgtoken And today I am struck by one issue in particular because my background is working with senior citizens. I was the director of the Gray Panthers at home for almost 7 years. I ran the legal aid office for the elderly. I went into public service because of my passion for the cause of the elderly and trying to protect their well-being and keeping them safe. prgtoken It is almost as if this unanimous consent request ignores the extraordinary human toll COVID-19 took on senior citizens in nursing homes across the country: nearly 200,000 dead in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities since the beginning of the pandemic-- mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. That is roughly 1 in 10 residents in those nursing facilities, according to an analysis of State and Federal data by the COVID tracking project. prgtoken How many of those senior citizens died alone, without being able to spend their final hours or days with their loved ones? How many others of those fortunate enough to survive the pandemic were still separated from their family members for months and months and months in 2020? prgtoken We also know that the risks to nurses and doctor and EMTs were massive as well. One major investigation found that more than 3,600 healthcare workers died of COVID in the first year of the pandemic--the worst pandemic in a prgtoken century that our country is still wrestling with as we speak. Nobody in this Chamber should forget that just over the last week, there have been more than 1,000 COVID deaths per day. prgtoken And in my view, it doesn't do any good to unnecessarily suppress access to highly effective vaccines while there is a deadly virus circulating and mutating around the country and around the world. prgtoken Seniors who live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities are safer when the people around them get vaccinated. And I just hope that our colleagues will recognize the importance of that basic proposition. When Americans are vaccinated, they and the people around them, based overwhelmingly on the factual evidence, are less likely to die of COVID-19. And everybody ought to be interested in stopping this virus with these overwhelmingly effective vaccines. It shouldn't take a requirement to get healthcare workers to protect themselves and their patients. prgtoken As I close, I think--and, again, I am sad to have to come to the floor and get into this issue, but because of my background working with senior citizens, I think it is bad for senior citizens, bad for the elderly to continue these frightening remarks about vaccines and vaccine policies. They prolonged the pandemic. They led to more infections and deaths. prgtoken With respect to the proposal that is before the Sen
HONORING HERB BARRET FOR A REMARKABLE LIFE OF SERVICE
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-11-17

last week, we celebrated Veterans Day. In that spirit, I rise today to honor a man of exemplary service, unwavering dedication to our country, and someone I am proud to call a constituent, Mr. Herb Barret. prgtoken Mr. Barret is someone who has lived a remarkable life of service. He is a veteran and a former member of the Marine Corps who risked his life for our country in the Korean war--sadly, but often known, as ``the forgotten war.'' Marines live by a set of values and principles, such as honor, courage, commitment. They are the bedrock of our Nation's character, and what Mr. Barret embodies every single day in our community. Throughout his esteemed career, Mr. Barret has shined bright as a beacon of perseverance and commitment, inspiring all of us with his valor along the way. prgtoken Mr. Barret is a dedicated member of our community in New York City and has laid the groundwork for the next generation of public servants to follow in his footsteps. He is a living example that anything that is possible in this country through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, through the physical, mental, and moral battles faced during combat and while serving in our communities on behalf of our great Nation. He is a man of great integrity, courage, and humility, and I am proud to call him a member of our community. Honoring Dr. Juan Tapia-Mendoza
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-11-17

reserving the right to object, I know my colleague--well, I assume my colleague is sincere about his interest in doing something about our issues of port congestion and supply chain issues, but I disagree with his approach here today. prgtoken I have, personally, worked very hard on increasing the amount of investment in port infrastructure that was in the bill--just signed by the President on Monday--that helps to increase port capacity around the United States. Why? Because we have seen, even in a pandemic, an increase in trade and port activities. So, yes, we have to invest in our infrastructure. prgtoken I take disagreement with my colleague's characterization that the President hasn't done anything because the President has helped at L.A.-Long Beach in reducing the congestion, and he has put in place a better COVID response process. My colleagues need to understand that longshoremen died in the COVID pandemic while delivering goods and products to us in the United States of America. They died. So getting a better response in vaccination for people working on our docks is incredibly important. So the President has done something. He has got a better COVID response; he has basically helped at reducing congestion; and he has got a plan to invest in our ports all over the United States of America. prgtoken I know my colleague wishes that it would be so simple, but these shipping companies are reporting more than $200 billion in profit--$200 billion in profit even during the pandemic. So they are not lacking for money. And, if they wanted to go to those ports, they would go to those ports. We heard from one of the big shipping associations that going anywhere, just to say that you want to go there when there are logistical and cost reasons that don't likely bear out, eventually, the customer really just wants to go where the customer wants to go. prgtoken That is why it is so important to invest in our ports. That is why we led the charge for a $2.25 billion investment. Why? Because 95 percent of consumers live outside of the United States. And if we want to be involved in the trade economy, we should invest in our infrastructure to get product to and from our citizens, to other citizens of the world, the 95 percent who live outside of the United States. prgtoken So I don't think giving shippers--who are having a recordbreaking profit year--more money is going to make them go to other ports. So I do hope that we continue to look at ways to catch up from the fact that production in many areas of our economy were off. There is no bigger example than the 8-percent reduction in oil from OPEC in 2020. prgtoken Talk about something we need to address, my colleagues and I sent a letter to President about high oil prices in 2018, and we recommended these various things that the President should do: leverage a relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince to urge them to increase capacity in world oil
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-11-17

I come to the floor today to discuss what are, sadly, the harmful impacts of ongoing partisan obstruction in the Senate. prgtoken Earlier today, at the Small Business Committee, our colleague, Senator Cardin, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, held a business meeting--I think about the fifth one--to try to advance the nomination of Mr. Dilawar Syed to be the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. prgtoken As we know, the Small Business Administration is a very important Agency under the best of circumstances. It does great work, but during this pandemic, for the past year, it has become absolutely indispensable as we tried to address the continuing economic impact of COVID on our small businesses. prgtoken In order for it to operate effectively, in order for us to hold the Agency accountable for administering the small business relief programs that Congress has designed to pass, we have an obligation to ensure that the Small Business Administration has a fully functioning and Senate-confirmed leadership team. prgtoken Unfortunately, as Senator Cardin and others witnessed just a few hours ago, s, again, on the Small Business Committee--all of the s on the Small Business Committee--have orchestrated a complete blockade of Mr. Syed's nomination, preventing it from even coming to the floor of the Senate for debate and consideration. prgtoken And what is so confusing, , is that there doesn't seem to be a reason to the s' objections to Mr. Syed. It keeps changing. No one has raised any questions about Mr. Syed's competence or his experience or his suitability to serve as Deputy SBA Administrator. prgtoken In fact, several months ago, we tried to advance the nominee in our first effort in a business meeting by a voice vote, and several Members of the Small Business Committee who are now participating in this obstruction voted yes at that time, including the ranking member. prgtoken Now it appears that this boycott is part of a pattern by just a handful of Members who simply want to stop any action that would allow the administration to have a full complement of Senate-confirmed officials at critical Federal Agencies so they can then carry out their work as directed by Congress. prgtoken Unfortunately, I would also note that this partisan brinkmanship and obstruction doesn't end with domestic and economic matters. I want to point out, again, the dangerously slow confirmation process of our State Department nominees and ambassadors. Again, we have a few Members of the Senate who are not just threatening our economic recovery and the health of our small businesses; they are threatening our national security by slowing the process to schedule nomination hearings for qualified nominees and by placing holds on their confirmation because of their own personal political issues. <|p
MINNESOTANS NEED BUILD BACK BETTER
Ilhan Omar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-11-17

. Madam , I rise today on behalf of Minnesotans who are facing the highest housing affordability and childcare affordability crisis, a massive racial wealth and education gap. prgtoken I rise because Minnesotans spend an average of $16,000 a year on childcare, as much as they spend on mortgage payments, and Build Back Better would address it. prgtoken I rise because the people of my district have faced the worst housing shortage in the entire country and Build Back Better would create a housing acquisition fund to address it. prgtoken I rise because we need good union jobs and Build Back Better would invest in a civilian climate corps, AmeriCorps, and home healthcare workers being paid fair wages. prgtoken I rise because the people of my district need the Build Back Better, and they can't wait any longer.
TRIBUTE TO DAVID J. BERGER
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-11-17

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking an outstanding public servant, Mayor David J. Berger, who will retire at the end of this month, after dedicating his life to serving his beloved city of Lima, OH. He leaves this office with a legacy of service and accomplishments. prgtoken Dave has served as the mayor of Lima, OH, for a remarkable 32 years. He is the proud son of an IBEW union worker and was raised with a keen sense of service to others and a dedication to his Catholic faith--two things that would guide him throughout his career. Dave's faith led him to attend a seminary high school and then St. Meinrad's seminary in southern Indiana. Upon leaving the seminary, he attended Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees. prgtoken Following graduation, his faith and commitment to service brought him to Lima, OH, where he served as the executive director of Rehab Project. He worked to bring opportunity for a second chance to Ohioans in prison, helping provide training to build and renovate homes. This work led him to run for mayor in 1989 and, after a successful campaign, serve in that position ever since. prgtoken From his work serving as a founding member of the bipartisan Ohio Mayors Alliance, to serving as cochair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council, Dave has worked with mayors and legislators on both sides of the aisle to always be a persistent advocate for the people of Lima and the concerns and challenges faced by many cities throughout the industrial Midwest. prgtoken Dave is well known for his work advocating for water infrastructure and has spent half of his career as mayor leading negotiations with the U.S. and Ohio EPAs to work to solve a combined and sanitary sewer overflow problem that has plagued many cities. My staff and I regularly met with Dave about these issues and acted upon his ideas and suggestions. prgtoken We have also worked together on several community projects. From helping to launch a My Brother's Keeper chapter in his city to advocating for public infrastructure investments or ensuring employers in Lima honor the dignity of work by respecting labor union rights, David and I have spent years collaborating to help the local community flourish. prgtoken With his commitment to push for research and economic development, and improving the city's downtown, Dave has lent his time and wisdom to serving on the board of directors of the prgtoken Ohio Energy Advanced Manufacturing Center; Downtown Lima, Inc.; the Allen Economic Development Group; and West Ohio Community Action Partnership. His pursuit of partnerships among these organizations and many community-driven task forces have helped support the city's workers and helped retain vital employers in the community, including the Lima Refinery, the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, JSMC, and the Ford Engine Plant. prgtoken I am grat
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-11-18

. Madam , the latest estimate for the ' build back broke bill is $4.9 trillion. That averages about $40,000 per family over the next decade. prgtoken They say it is paid for. Well, by whom? prgtoken By you, of course, through direct taxes, tax-driven price increases, and worst of all, inflation. prgtoken And what do you get? prgtoken Well, amnesty for 7 million illegal aliens. That is the entire population of Alaska, Wyoming, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana combined. prgtoken Now, explain to me how working Americans are helped by flooding the market with low-wage foreign labor. prgtoken The trillions of dollars of excess spending by the has already driven the inflation rate to 6.2 percent and rising. Madam , that means if you earn $50,000 a year, the just took $3,100 of that. If you have managed to put $100,000 towards your retirement, the just took $6,200 of that. prgtoken Policy matters. When s reduced the tax and regulatory burdens, we delivered the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, the lowest poverty rate in 60 years, and the fastest wage growth in 40 years. The have reversed these policies and reproduced the misery that we are suffering today. prgtoken The American people know that we are on the wrong track and that this bill sends us deeper into that cold and bleak winter. prgtoken Build back better? prgtoken How about put things back the way they were before you broke them, Madam .
PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5376, BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
Andrew S. Clyde (Republican, GA) \u2014 2021-11-18

. And $12.5 billion for tree equity and radical environmental justice initiatives. prgtoken That is right, this bill leaves us knocking on the door of Big Government socialism. prgtoken My constituents sent me to Washington, D.C to protect and secure their freedoms and to put Americans first, not last, and I look forward to voting ``no'' on this travesty of a bill. prgtoken I encourage all of my colleagues to also vote ``no'' on this Big Government socialism bill.
AFGHANISTAN
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-11-18

the administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan jeopardized our national security, empowered our enemies, and put thousands of innocent lives in jeopardy. But as the situation devolved, stories emerged of heroic efforts to push back the Taliban's advance and save stranded Americans, allies, and Afghan partners from the clutches of one of the world's most dangerous terror organizations. prgtoken Today, I want to honor a group of unsung heroes who joined this effort from the home front. Team Blackburn is blessed to include a dedicated and tenacious group of caseworkers and personal staff who treat the needs of Tennesseans like those of their own families. During those chaotic weeks, these people fielded hundreds of panicked calls for help from and on behalf of Tennesseans who were trapped behind enemy lines. They used every resource at their disposal, leveraged every connection they could think of and worked more than a few miracles to bring those Tennesseans closer to home. prgtoken On behalf of the Volunteer State, I thank the following members of my staff who went above and beyond on behalf of the common cause of freedom: Elizabeth Kelly, Payton Scott, Kayley Russell, Heather Hatcher, Josh Knell, Jeri Wheeler, Dana Magneson, Caroline Diaz- Barriga, Kim Cordell, Mac McCullough, Alexander Gonzalez, Grace Burch, Jay Strobino, John Clement, Edward Pritchard, and Emily Manning.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-11-18

reserving the right to object, I would just like to bring to my colleagues' attention to the front page of the Wall Street Journal, the lead story, the headline above the fold today, ``Annual Drug Overdose Deaths Top 100,000, Setting Record.'' For the 12 months ending in April, alltime record number of fatalities--a big majority of them opioids, mostly synthetic opioids, driven primarily by fentanyl. Unbelievable. Think of 100,000 new families in the last 12 months that will have an empty seat at the Thanksgiving Day dinner next Thursday. prgtoken Pennsylvania has been hit as hard as any State, but every one of our States has been hit hard by this. prgtoken So why am I objecting to this? prgtoken Because I have an amendment that at least on the margins would help. It is simple, and it is common sense. It adds fentanyl to the majors list. The majors list is the list that includes the countries that the President has to identify as the largest producers of illicit fentanyl. That is China. Let's be clear. But once these countries--any country-- is identified as a big producer of fentanyl, my bill would require those countries to prosecute drug traffickers and schedule fentanyl as a class, and if they do not, then they are not doing all they could and should be doing to keep fentanyl off our streets; in which case, under my amendment, the President would be authorized to withhold certain categories of foreign aid. prgtoken This bill is so noncontroversial and common sense, it has actually already passed this body just last year. prgtoken It is bipartisan. Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, a , is my partner on the underlying bill. prgtoken And I would point out to my colleagues, I don't have any objection to anyone getting an amendment vote. I am not holding up anybody's votes, as long as we get this chance to reduce the flow of fentanyl coming into America. prgtoken So I ask to modify the request to include my amendment No. 3925.
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-11-18

I can't help but wonder what my so-called moderate colleagues on the other side of the aisle are waiting for, with bated breath, from a CBO score. prgtoken You don't need a CBO score to know that $100 billion worth of amnesty, when our border is wide open, will cripple the State of Texas, cripple our country, and cause thousands of pounds of fentanyl to pour into our country. prgtoken You don't need a CBO score to know that a 900 percent increase in OSHA fines to go after small businesses and shut them down with tyrannical vaccine mandates is going to cripple jobs and small businesses across the country. prgtoken You don't need a CBO score to know that $500 billion of unicorn climate agenda energy policies are going to drive up heating costs, drive up the cost of gasoline, and cripple our economy. You don't need a CBO score to oppose that. prgtoken You don't need a CBO score to know that $300 billion of tax giveaways to basically blue State Yankees is going to somehow fix our country.