mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF CASPER COLLEGE
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-5-19

I stand today to recognize the 75th anniversary of Casper College, a community, regional, and State pillar of education. Casper College is one of Wyoming's great educational institutions, with the mission of ``Education for a Lifetime.'' prgtoken Casper College was the first community college in Wyoming. The idea for the college began following World War I. After 19 years of study and debate, a measure to establish the college was passed by the Wyoming Legislature. It was signed into law in February 1945 by then- Governor Lester C. Hunt. Casper Junior College opened in 1945 on the third floor of the Natrona County High School building. Timing was ripe for Casper College to meet the demands of the ``greatest generation'' of service men and women who were eligible for the newly offered GI bill. Since that time, Casper College has continued that same spirited mission. The college is an incredible success story, growing into one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in the Rocky Mountain West. prgtoken In 1955, the rapidly expanding 2-year school moved to its present location on the hills below Casper Mountain. Today, the campus comprises 28 buildings on more than 200 acres. Casper College offers more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. Eleven universities offer advanced degrees through university partnership programs. There are 40 University of Wyoming programs through the Casper College 2+2 Degree plan. prgtoken Casper College has received numerous awards and national recognition. In 2020, the College Consensus named Casper College one of the Fifty Best Community Colleges in the United States. The school was also named the ninth-best community college in the Nation in a recent study conducted by the personal finance outlet WalletHub. This study recognizes where students can receive the best education at the lowest price. In 2021, Great Value Colleges named Casper College as one of America's most beautiful community college campuses. prgtoken Casper College's core values are integrity, people, diversity, forward-thinking, and community. Alumni leaders include former Vice President of the United States , the late country singer and rodeo cowboy Chris LeDoux, artist Chris Navarro, renowned entomoligist Wayne Hunter, and Marlan Scully, American physicist best known for his work in theoretical quantum optics. The alumni list also includes former professional athletes Earle Higgins, Bob Lackey, and Flynn Robinson. With over 4,000 students each semester, Casper college will continue to produce outstanding artists, athletes, academics, and professionals. prgtoken Under the direction and guidance of President Darren Divine, staff, and faculty, Casper College continues a tradition of excellence started by the founders 75 years ago. They are educating, teaching, and training the next generation of leaders and professionals. The college board of truste
SMALL BUSINESS IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF NEW JOBS
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2021-5-19

a while back, I visited a small business called Craft Axe Throwing and Beer. What an interesting combination of activities, I thought. I had driven by it a number of times, but I stopped in one day. Seeing this team make a living, enjoying themselves, I thought to myself, that is what it is all about. prgtoken , the main driver of new jobs in America is small business. The good news is that unemployment has been on a steady downward trend. But now, the hard news: the April jobs report. It was bad. At the same time, small business owners report that they can't fill the job openings that they have. Why? Earlier necessary government assistance during the pandemic is now interfering with the successful transition back to meaningful work. prgtoken A little good news: Wages are going up. Let's let America run.
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE CHARLES ELSON ``BUDDY'' ROEMER
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-5-19

on this somber occasion, we rise to honor the late Buddy Roemer. prgtoken He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1943. He was a Harvard- educated reformer with big ideas. prgtoken He represented Louisiana's Fourth Congressional District here in the House from 1981 to 1988. He served as the 52nd Governor of Louisiana, and he was a former candidate for President of the United States. prgtoken He passed away at the age of 77 on May 17, 2021. prgtoken Please join us in a moment of silence in honor of his public service and his important contributions to Louisiana and our Nation.
THREE MAJOR CRISES
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-5-19

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I would like to recognize my friend and colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), a great leader. I thank him for organizing this evening. prgtoken , I want to address two different fronts of President 's policies, both of which are failing the American people. prgtoken The April jobs report showed that the economy added less than 270,000 new jobs. That is disappointing, and it was an underperformance from the 1 million jobs that economists expected. prgtoken It really should be no surprise to anyone because the enhanced unemployment benefits that were approved by Congress, against all of our objections, under President 's initiative have truly disincentivized people from going back to work. prgtoken Then, on the second front, we have seen over the past week or so Hamas continue to launch thousands of rockets at Israel, aiming to kill as many innocent lives as possible. prgtoken Let me be clear: I strongly condemn these attacks. Everybody on this side of the aisle strongly condemns those attacks. We fully support Israel's unequivocal right to defend herself and her citizens. prgtoken Yet, President has taken a weak approach, demonstrating to terrorist organizations that his administration won't stand up for one of our greatest nations, greatest friends, and greatest allies, and that is Israel. prgtoken America's support of our strongest ally in the Middle East, it should never be quiet. That sends a terrible message to the rest of the world. prgtoken Ultimately, we need a government that is more efficient, more effective, and accountable. prgtoken We need to get people back to work. We must reopen our economy, lower taxes, and get our children back in school. prgtoken Lastly, we have to show the rest of the world that our support for Israel will never waver, that we stand strong in defending the Jewish state together as one. prgtoken You know, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once said, and I will paraphrase: If Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no Israel. I think that pretty much sums it up.
UNFUNDED LIABILITIES
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-5-19

before I start my presentation--and I am going to focus sort of on some of the economics, the debt and economic growth, particularly in some of the proposals that are hitting the House right now--I wanted to touch on something. prgtoken We just heard a number of folks get up and talk about their love and caring for Israel, the Middle East, and the concerns of the conflict. I want to do something that is a little bit different. I have intense concern that our relationship with a fair and functioning republic in the Middle East never become a partisan issue. prgtoken Maybe this will make sense. I have been here for a few years, and there has always been the ability for those on the left and the right to stand up and say: Look, we have a country that works. No country is perfect, but it works, and it respects human rights, and it is a functioning republic and a democracy in the Middle East. prgtoken I was really sort of heartbroken last week. Just before I did one of these presentations, there was a presentation by not many Members, but some who said some pretty awful things. So I hope as we all want the country of Israel to prosper and do well--we want everyone in the region to prosper and do well--but we have to accept there are other bad actors particularly financing things coming through Iran to some very bad actors to do horrible, horrible things in the region. prgtoken I wish we could sort of step back a few months and think of the joy that many of us felt with the Abraham Accords that good things were happening. The caring for Israel needs to be bipartisan, and my fear is we are seeing that start to slip where some on the hard left are moving away from supporting a fellow republic. prgtoken This is not a good thing for all of us, and we need to sort of rethink that discussion, stand up for our friends, and tell our enemies that they can have a home in our hearts if they stop the bad acts. And maybe the Middle East, one day, really does have a future, as we saw with the vision that came from the Abraham Accords. prgtoken , I get frustrated when I watch the floor. We all sit in committee, and so often what comes through these microphones are sort of trite talking points. prgtoken So let's go back to the big picture: What are we doing to actually deal with it? prgtoken I have a new chart. I am trying to find over and over and over how do we actually all come together and understand the reality? prgtoken This is our future. This is my 5-year-old daughter's future. It is $101 trillion in debt adjusted in today's dollars. So this isn't 30 years of inflation. This is today's dollars. This is our future in 30 years. prgtoken Many of us want to get behind the microphone and say: This is ; this is . prgtoken It is demographics. We are getting older as a society. We are getting older as a people. And the reality of it is 67 percent of our 30-year debt is the unfunded portion of Medicare. prgtoken Remembe
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-5-19

earlier this month, the Department of Labor's jobs report showed an uptick of the unemployment rate to 6.1 percent and employers only adding 266,000 jobs, despite widespread projections of approximately 1 million jobs to be gained in April. prgtoken To call this a dismal jobs report would be an understatement. It was the worst jobs miss since 1998. Yet it is not prgtoken surprising considering the many conversations I have had with Kansans throughout my travels. I have heard constantly how employers are struggling to find people for open jobs, largely because folks are staying at home due to the increased unemployment dollars and the stimulus checks that continue to push. prgtoken Earlier this year, forced through legislation--without any support--that provided $300 more per week in Federal unemployment benefits. This additional benefit, when coupled with the extended unemployment benefits offered by States, already means that the average recipient is making $15 to $20 per hour to stay home. prgtoken have made it more profitable for many Americans to stay unemployed. That is because these policies are not intended to help our economic recovery. They are intended to reform our American system and create more dependency on the government. prgtoken This leap toward socialism comes at a time when our Nation is on its way to reaching herd immunity and businesses are emerging from government-imposed lockdowns. Now President has delivered them a government-funded labor shortage. prgtoken I recently heard from a wonderful small business in my hometown of Great Bend, KS, that are short-staffed by some 70 employees--that is 70 employees they are short-staffed. They are unable to match the strong incentive to stay home provided by the Federal unemployment benefits in order to rehire their workforce. The company's mission is to provide educational and work opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, giving nearly 200 individuals in the area the independence, inclusion, and training that they need to achieve success. This labor shortage directly affects their ability to meet the needs of the people they serve. prgtoken I have heard stories from manufacturers across Kansas struggling to recall their workers, despite offering generous benefits and high-wage jobs or restaurants remaining closed because they don't have enough employees for their basic operations. prgtoken Homes aren't being built because of a lack of labor, and hotels are turning away business because they don't have employees. One company even shared a story of offering a high-skilled and high-wage position only to be turned down because the prospective employee claimed they were comfortable on unemployment, and the hours clashed with the local bowling league. prgtoken We have seen the broader supply chain begin to feel the impacts, as a lack of truckdrivers means that building materials
ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF
Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican, WA) \u2014 2021-5-19

for 10 days, moms, dads, and grandparents have been lying awake at night, waiting for the inevitable warning call of sirens to pick up their children and run to the nearest bomb shelter. prgtoken No one should live with this type of fear. No one should live with the fear that missiles could rain down and destroy their homes and lives at any moment. Yet, this is the reality that many Israeli families are living right now. prgtoken For 10 days, Israel has been defending itself from attacks launched by Iranian-backed terrorists. Let's be clear: Israel has the right to defend herself and its homeland from terrorist attacks. prgtoken Israel is one of the United States' greatest allies in the Middle East, and we cannot waver in our support of Israel during this challenging time. prgtoken Today, I am standing with the people of Israel, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken My hope is that peace and calm can quickly be restored in the region. Until that happens, we must continue standing in solidarity with the Nation of Israel and its people.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-5-19

I rise today to introduce the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act, the HAVANA Act. Our bill would provide assistance to the employees of the intelligence community and other Federal Agencies who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries at the hands of our foreign adversaries. prgtoken I am joined today by a bipartisan group of cosponsors, including Senators Warner and Rubio, the chairman and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Senators Shaheen, Cornyn, Bennet, Burr, Gillibrand, Blunt, Heinrich, Sasse, Feinstein, Cotton, King, and Risch. Most of those are members of the Intelligence Committee, and they share my deep concern and my determination to get to the bottom of what has happened to these brave men and women who have been attacked. prgtoken For many years, American personnel serving in Cuba, China, and elsewhere have experienced unexplained, serious medical harm, including, in some cases, permanent brain injuries. These conditions are believed to be connected to a mysterious direct energy weapon used by those who are our adversaries. prgtoken As we investigate the source of previous attacks and seek to prevent future ones, the bill that I am introducing today would provide additional financial assistance to Americans who were injured and who continue to experience debilitating symptoms. Too many of the victims have had to fight to get the medical care they need for their injuries. This is completely unacceptable. prgtoken Last year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report on the more than 40 American diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, and at least a dozen American diplomats at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China, who suffered symptoms ``consistent with the effects of directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy.'' Just this month, the New York Times reported that the number of American personnel who have fallen ill under these mystifying circumstances is much higher, possibly more than 130 cases. Now, we are even hearing reports of cases occurring within the United States. prgtoken The injuries that many of these victims have endured are significant and life-altering. These attacks have left Americans serving our country with damage that ranges in severity but can include reduced balance, eyesight, and hearing. Some have severe, permanent headaches. Others have brain injuries that have resulted in reduced cognitive function. Many of them can no longer perform their jobs and have been forced to medically retire. prgtoken To make matters worse, some of the victims did not receive the financial and medical support they should have expected from their government when they first reported their injuries. This is an outrageous failure on the part of our government to care for those who serve. prgtoken Our bill would give additional authority to the CIA Director and to the Secretary of State to provide f
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-5-19

before the Senator from Texas leaves the floor, I want to acknowledge that in Oklahoma, last Sunday, I was with a group of people, and, independent of each other, they asked the same question: Where is America, and what is happening over there right now? Our best friend and most loyal ally in that part of the world, Israel, is being hit by terrorists, and we are sitting back and not doing anything. It is just not thinkable that that could happen. prgtoken I think one of the most meaningful things that I had not heard before, stated this way, that the Senator from Texas stated was, if Hamas were to stop the attacks on Israel, Israel would do nothing, but if Israel were to stop responding, there would be no Israel left. prgtoken That is the situation we have there. It is something that is not understandable. It is something that we are going to do everything we can to reverse. prgtoken That is not why I am here on the floor, but I just wanted to mention that
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION RELATING TO ``UPDATE OF COMMISSION'S...
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-5-19

2 years ago, I spoke to a gathering of friends of Israel. At the time, I was working to advance pro-Israel legislation to combat the BDS movement. prgtoken This was a far-left effort to create worldwide anti-Israel boycotts. I was struck, at the time, by the opposition to the bill from the far left, and I said the had to stand up to the growing chorus of anti-Israel voices in their own ranks or we would all come to regret it. prgtoken Well, fast-forward to today. Our friends in Israel are now in their second week of a difficult counterterrorism campaign. They are responding to unprovoked rocket attacks raining down on their people. Predictably, the radical fringe has leapt to excuse the acts of terror and, of course, blame Israel, as usual. But, now, disproportionate pressure is not only being placed on Israel by far-left activists. Now, sitting Members of Congress are actually joining in. One ic House Member has lately called Israel an ``apartheid state.'' Another said it is guilty of ``terrorist acts.'' prgtoken For a long time, s and have stood together in standing with Israel. I am proud of all of the work we have accomplished together, like improving Israel's Iron Dome defenses, providing precision-guided munitions and Joint Strike Fighters, and collaborating on counter-tunneling technology to thwart terrorists. These bipartisan efforts have paid dividends for Israel and for the United States. prgtoken As recently as 2014, during the last major conflict between Israel and Hamas, most stood unhesitatingly with s to unequivocally condemn Hamas and support Israel. But, now, rather than having Israel's back, senior have actually pressured Israel to end its defensive operations. They have called for a ceasefire and urged leaders to strive for peace through a negotiated two-state solution--as if Israeli Prime Ministers from across the political spectrum haven't made good faith efforts in the past toward peace. prgtoken Of course, in this case, Israel is not fighting the Palestinian Authority. They are not up against the Palestinian Authority. They are not at war with the Palestinian people. They are fighting Hamas. Everybody around here surely knows by now that Hamas is a terrorist group that opposes a two-state solution. They want Israel destroyed. That is who this fight is between--Israel and Hamas--not the Palestinian Authority, not the Palestinian people. It is between Israel and Hamas, Israel versus terrorists. prgtoken So let's dispense with this ``both sides'' nonsense. Only one side has taken credible steps toward peace, and even when rocketed by terrorists, Israel takes extraordinary pains to avoid harming civilians. This includes giving advance warning to Palestinian civilians in the places they are about to strike. It calls them up in advance and says: Get out of there. We are about to strike. prgtoken Frankly, Israel
THE EXEMPLARY CAREER OF TOM TENBRINK
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-5-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the exemplary career of Tom TenBrink and his legacy of service, dedication, and success in the Jenison community. On behalf of west Michigan, it is an honor to express my appreciation and gratitude for his many years of service to the students, staff, and families of Jenison Public Schools. prgtoken Mr. TenBrink's distinguished career with the Jenison Public Schools is coming to an end, as he is retiring after 34 successful years, 18 of which were spent as superintendent of the district. prgtoken As a faithful servant to west Michigan, Mr. TenBrink has spent his tenure establishing Jenison Public Schools as a destination district. He has fostered a family culture, prioritizing the importance of adopting attitudes of servant leadership, while also maintaining a commitment to educational excellence. prgtoken His steadfast leadership has led to the creation of the Jenison International Academy, the development of a K-12 Spanish immersion program, and the building of the Jenison Center for the Arts and a new Kids First early childhood center. Furthermore, the district has earned countless accolades under his leadership. prgtoken Tom, thank you for your leadership, dedication, and commitment not only to the students, but to the Jenison community and all of west Michigan. I hope you enjoy retirement knowing that Jenison and Georgetown Township would not be the place it is today without your leadership.