mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND REPLENISHMENT ACT OF 2021
Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam , we discussed this bill thoroughly this morning, and I think everybody understands that we have a $42 billion section of it that is wanting to help restaurants. I thoroughly support trying to get restaurants back on their feet. prgtoken In fact, it has been mentioned a number of times, we have an alternative bill called the ENTREE Act that actually fixed the constitutional problem that existed because the bill as originally structured, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, was incorrectly structured. It prioritized groups over something else and was quite unconstitutional. prgtoken It was underfunded. I told everybody at the time that the bill came through committee that was the case. I offered an amendment to try to fix it, and it was defeated. Today, here we are trying to fix a bill that I said wasn't structured right, it was underfunded, and we tried to fix it. prgtoken I have a bill to do that. It is paid for. This bill suddenly has no chance because it has never even been in committee yet. We can't get a hearing on it. prgtoken Why? Who knows? prgtoken We have known for a long time we had this problem. Suddenly, last Friday this particular bill shows up, and now, all of a sudden, we recognize we have a problem. We have said this for a long, long time, 6 months or more already. prgtoken Number two, we have a second part of this which hasn't been discussed very much this morning, which are the hardest-hit industries. We have $13 billion there. I can guarantee you, Madam , this isn't going to come close to fixing that problem. If you open this up to every single business that has been hard hit, we are going to wind up being back here--which is fine--but I am just telling you right now this is not going to fix it. prgtoken I think one of the comments made earlier was that this bill is about economic resilience. I think our businesses are resilient. That is why our economy has continued to bounce back. But it is not going to be resilient if we strangle it with higher inflation, pouring more money into this, higher energy prices, and more regulation. prgtoken This is about freeing up the entrepreneurial spirit of our people and our small businesses that drive this country, taking those burdens off, lowering inflation, quit spending money we don't have, and give them the support they need instead of choking them off with all these other sorts of things. prgtoken We have a bill before us that can fix this if we allow it to come up. But we are not doing it this morning. Instead, we have a bill that is poorly structured again. I guarantee you, Madam , it is not funded correctly either. We are trying to find a way to claw back money which we don't even know for sure if we can. We have got some so far, but we don't have enough. prgtoken So where is the rest of it going to come from? prgtoken It is going to be printed. That is not how we should operate as a C
SOUTHERN BORDER ISSUES
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , I appreciate the time from the gentleman from Wisconsin and his commitment to fighting to change this town, which, unfortunately, too many of our colleagues are unwilling to do. I am glad to have my friend from Virginia here as well. prgtoken Yesterday, we had an interesting exchange in the House Judiciary Committee. We had a number of different conversations about the issue of the ongoing threat at our border. I know that my friend from Virginia was also here on the floor of the House last night, where we had a continued conversation about the ongoing threat at the southern border of the United States. prgtoken I would imagine that the people who I represent, and the people of the State of Texas, would be horrified if they all got to see what I see every day and the exchange with my colleagues here in this body about what is actually happening at our border. What do I mean by that? prgtoken Yesterday, I had an exchange with the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee because I was acknowledging, in the context of a debate we were having about opening up visa waivers for the United States Virgin Islands, that those kinds of waivers had been abused in Guam and other territories of the United States. We were questioning why we are going to open up these waivers while our border is wide open. prgtoken I pointed out the abuses that are happening at our border and the abuses that are happening in Texas. I specifically talked about the sexual abuses, the rapes, and the tragedy of what is occurring to little girls and to people on the journey, in particular in Texas when they cross the southern border because they are at the hands of the dangerous cartels. prgtoken I said this at the time, that the committee chairman kind of scoffed. It wasn't the first time I had seen some of our colleagues scoff with respect to the perspectives that we are offering about what we see every day and the conversations we have with people on the ground. prgtoken Why I think it merits conversation here on the floor of the House is--and I want to get the gentleman from Virginia's perspective on this--on behalf of the American people who we represent, the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the people of the State of Texas, the many people we represent, we are trying to articulate, for a body of representatives of those people, that their lives are being impacted and harmed by virtue of the refusal of this administration and, frankly, many of the people of this Chamber to secure the border of the United States. prgtoken In very short outline form, it comes in the form of empowered cartels, dangerous individuals crossing our border, be they criminals, be they terrorist members, or be they folks from state-sponsors of terror. prgtoken It comes in the form of dangerous fentanyl and narcotics coming into our communities, poisoning our families, poisoning our young, killing people in schools. prgtoken It comes in the form of physical
Judiciary Committee Staff (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-4-7

I would like to thank my staff who worked on this nomination. prgtoken First, I would like to recognize the contributions of Kolan Davis, my chief counsel and staff director. Kolan was assisted by Brendan Chestnut, my chief counsel for nominations. prgtoken The staff in the nominations unit also worked incredibly hard on this nomination. They include Lauren Mehler, Gabi Kenny, Vetan Kapoor, and Raija Munk. prgtoken The permanent nominations team received some reinforcements for this Supreme Court nomination. Annie Croslow joined my staff to lead the team of special counsels assisting on this nomination. That team includes Annika Boone, Kyle Cole, Isaac Fong, Jenna Lorence, Daniel Morales, and Luke Zaro. This team scoured Judge Jackson's record. They spent countless hours reviewing her opinions, her speeches, and pulling filings and transcripts for her cases. Their exhaustive review helped the s on the committee prepare for her confirmation process. prgtoken I also want to thank the communications director, Taylor Foy, as well as the deputy communications director, George Hartmann, Aaron Britt, Annie Richardson, Jennifer Heins, and Megan Behrends also contributed to the communications effort. prgtoken Other staff also helped review and prepare for the nomination, including Dave Lewen, Lauren Stimpert, Rachel Wright, Erin Creegan, Tianna Torrejon, and Chesney Mallory, as well as law clerks Carly Hviding, Luke Bunting, and Noelle Daniel. prgtoken Finally, I want to thank the rest of my Judiciary Committee staff for their continued work during this process and also thank my deputy staff director, Rita Lari, for her advice and leadership.
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND REPLENISHMENT ACT OF 2021
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , I have a motion to recommit, and my amendment affirms this Chamber's commitment to being a proper steward of taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of SBA's programs. prgtoken Over 2 years ago, Congress enacted and activated numerous relief programs to rescue the American economy from the COVID-19 State and local shutdown orders that devastated small businesses across the country. Speed was of the essence, and Congress focused on getting dollars out quickly before parts of the economy collapsed. prgtoken However, criminal behavior took hold as many illegal applicants entered programs and scammed others to take advantage of this relief. According to the SBA inspector general's estimates, over $80 billion of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program payments and $4.6 billion of the Paycheck Protection Program are potentially fraudulent. These are American taxpayer dollars that are on the line, and they are being misused and stolen. prgtoken We must do everything in Congress' power to stop this illegal behavior and ensure that the fraudsters are brought to justice. Our oversight capabilities must be reinforced and strengthened. prgtoken As the ranking member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee of the Committee on Small Business, I stand ready to ensure that these programs are adequately built to deter this fraudulent behavior. prgtoken However, we must also ensure that law enforcement has the tools at their disposal and enough time to complete the job. We must lengthen the statute of limitations for the loans and grants made during this emergency period and give the SBA's inspector general, the Secret Service, and the Department of Justice the necessary time to launch investigations and complete their process. prgtoken Five years is simply not enough, especially when the SBA continues to defer payments on EIDL loans. Therefore, my amendment moves the statute of limitations from 5 years to 10 years to capture, recover, and seize fraudulent dollars within these COVID-19 small business relief programs. prgtoken Criminals moved quickly, and they did so at a time when those folks who needed it the most were unable to get these dollars. They took advantage of an unprecedented worldwide epidemic. In due time, our authorities will find them and recover the money that was meant to assist Main Street America during the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Our economy is driven by America's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups, and protecting those relief dollars dedicated to them should be a top priority for all Members of Congress. prgtoken This amendment is a simple, commonsense, and necessary fix. I urge my colleagues to support it. It will give the time necessary for law enforcement to recover our American taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Madam , I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND REPLENISHMENT ACT OF 2021
Roger Williams (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-7

it has been more than 2 years since COVID-19 shut down the world and forced businesses to close for months. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Congress has spent--we have already talked about it--$6.6 trillion to help prgtoken American businesses get back on track to financial recovery after enduring months of forced government closures. prgtoken At that time, aid was critical for businesses to survive the pandemic, but we must now let the free market work and stop frivolously spending billions more in the name of COVID-19. prgtoken This attempt by to spend billions of taxpayer dollars is irresponsible and will only add fuel to the growing inflation crisis that we have. Americans are currently experiencing tough times right now trying to find out how to beat, frankly, the Federal Government. prgtoken Inflation and energy prices are the primary concerns for small businesses. And I am a small business owner for 51 years; I still employ hundreds of people. So those are the concerns they have. And more Federal spending is only going to strain businesses further. prgtoken It is simple: to lower costs for hardworking families and businessowners, we need to cut spending. We need to cut it, not spend more money that we don't have. When you spend money you print and you spend money you don't have, it is called inflation. prgtoken We should be focusing on getting control of the crisis at the southern border, lowering gas prices, managing supply chain disruptions--I am in the car business, so I can talk about that--that are leaving shelves empty and incentivizing people to get back to work, not not work. prgtoken In order to get back to the thriving economy we had prepandemic under the administration, must end this emergency COVID spending charade. Hey, it is over. We are done with it. Let's move on. prgtoken And I always get a kick out of people that say they want to protect Main Street. Well, it is funny because a lot of those people wanting to protect Main Street are bureaucrats that never signed the front of a check. They never met a payroll. They have been up here all their lives. But they want to help Main Street. And the fact of the matter is we need to cut taxes. We need to cut regulations. prgtoken So if it is so important to help Main Street, why do and liberals want to raise taxes all the time? That doesn't help Main Street. I want to help Main Street, but I want to raise taxes. That is the wrong way to go about it. prgtoken So the bottom line is this: We have a better bill. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose H.R. 3807 and reject ' false claims that this bill is fully paid for. It is fully paid for on the backs of Main Street America. In God we trust.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DONALD ROSS
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of renowned golf course architect Donald Ross. This marks the 125th year since his birth. prgtoken Although the total number is not known, Mr. Ross designed around 400 courses over his lifetime which have been home to more than 100 U.S. national championships. In 1900, he was hired by James Walker Tufts to oversee the construction of four of the nine courses at the Pinehurst resort. Mr. Ross is most well-known for crafting the legendary Pinehurst No. 2. This course is held by many to be one of the most well-designed and challenging courses in the U.S. and the world. Mr. Ross' designs led Pinehurst to become the center of golf's rise to popularity in the early twentieth century and established a tradition of excellence that continues to serve as a source of pride for all in our community. prgtoken I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Ross for his committed and impactful leadership and achievements as a golf course architect. His work has greatly benefitted those in North Carolina and across the U.S and I join our entire community in honoring his extraordinary life prgtoken Madam , please join me today in honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Donald Ross.
SOUTHERN BORDER ISSUES
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise today to honor the Chattanooga Bar Association on reaching the milestone of its 125th anniversary. prgtoken Since 1897, the Chattanooga Bar Association has made it its mission to work for the betterment of the legal profession and the administration of justice; to take an active interest in governmental affairs; to stimulate a feeling of respect, esteem, and good-fellowship among members of the Chattanooga Bar Association; and to provide and promote legal education of the legal community and the public at large. prgtoken During its 125 years, the Chattanooga Bar Association has produced many outstanding members who have shaped the history of Tennessee and our Nation. prgtoken J.B. Frazier was a member of the board of directors during the first 5 years of CBA's existence and is the only Chattanoogan elected Governor of the State of Tennessee. He later served in the United States Senate. prgtoken Estes Kefauver served as the secretary-treasurer and vice president of the association before being elected to serve as Tennessee's Third District Congressman. Incidentally, that is the seat which I presently hold. prgtoken He then went on to the United States Senate and made two bids for the ic Presidential nomination before being selected as Adlai Stevenson's Vice Presidential nominee during the 1956 Presidential election. prgtoken I am extremely proud, myself, to have been a member of the Chattanooga Bar Association since I began my law practice as a young man in 1986. In 1996, I became the youngest person to serve as president of the Chattanooga Bar Association, the 99th president, an honor that is still near and dear to my heart. prgtoken Throughout its 125 years, the Chattanooga Bar Association has shown our community, State, and the Nation the best of what it means to be a lawyer, to practice law, and to pursue equal justice for all. prgtoken I am proud to recognize and honor the Chattanooga Bar Association as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. I congratulate the CBA and wish them much continued success in the future.
SOUTHERN BORDER ISSUES
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-4-7

. Madam , I would now like to address several issues today and maybe give it a little bit of a different spin or a little bit of different observations than people are getting from some of the other congressmen. prgtoken I was glad today to vote to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and, hopefully, reduce the number of oil imports we are getting from that country. prgtoken Every day, you cannot help but be touched by the reports from Ukraine and what is happening to the civilians there. prgtoken Nevertheless, I am a little bit concerned about the public statements coming out of Washington. I believe we should all be working to end this war and wind up with a free Ukraine. prgtoken Nevertheless, to end this war, we will eventually have to get to the bargaining table, and I am afraid that statements being made by both sides will make it more difficult to reach an end result. The sooner the war ends, the more lives of Ukrainian troops will be saved, the more lives of Ukrainian civilians will be saved, and, quite frankly, the more lives of Russian troops will be saved. prgtoken To negotiate a final deal, both sides must realize and respect that deal, and both sides must feel that they came out of the negotiation with something. prgtoken I sure hope we are not in the current position we are right now 3 or 4 months from now. I would encourage all of my colleagues, and also the President of the United States, when they make public statements, to ask themselves: Are we getting closer to ending this war by my statements, or are we not getting closer to ending this war? prgtoken I suppose politicians always think about politics. But I sometimes think statements are made for political effect rather than reaching the serious goal of ending this conflict. prgtoken I would also like to follow up on what is going on on the border and the danger that we may soon end title 42. I think for the future of the United States, the most important thing going on--what is going on in Ukraine is important. The most important thing is what goes on at the border. prgtoken We all know that around the time President took office, about 20,000 people a month, and sometimes well under 20,000 people a month, were crossing the border, for a variety of reasons. The major one is, I think the current administration isn't really thrilled about enforcing our laws. We have gone from having under 20,000 to 80,000 or 100,000 people a month cross our southern border, people who are not vetted, people who we, in many cases, would not want here under any circumstances. prgtoken There is a danger that in May, that 80,000 to 100,000 figure is going to jump to 400,000 or 500,000 people a month. People are not being vetted, and people are coming from all around the globe. prgtoken I will be there next week. When you get down there and you talk to the Border Patrol, you will find people not only coming from Mexico but more people from Central America, p
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-4-7

President was elected on the promise that he would govern as a moderate and unite the country. He insisted the radical left would not be calling the shots on his watch. But when it came to one of the most consequential decisions a President can make--a lifetime appointment to our highest Court--the administration let the radicals run the show. prgtoken With Washington in power, the far left got the reckless inflationary spending they wanted; the far left has gotten the insecure border they wanted; and today, the far left will get the Supreme Court Justice they wanted. prgtoken The fringe activists who demand partisan Court packing, attack the Justices, and describe our Constitution as ``trash'' made up their minds from the start of this administration that if a Supreme Court vacancy should arise, they wanted one nominee and one nominee only: Judge Jackson. They spent dark money to promote this person specifically. They pushed her for the D.C. Circuit. Then they badgered prgtoken Justice Breyer to quit. In February, one of these groups announced Judge Jackson would be the nominee before President actually did make the announcement. So think about that for a moment. prgtoken The Senate has examined Judge Jackson's qualifications with the seriousness and vigor that a lifetime appointment deserves. Unlike when the parties' positions are reversed, the country was not subjected to uncorroborated smear campaigns, committee boycotts, stunts with cardboard cutouts, or mobs chasing Senators around the Capitol. prgtoken Now a few of our ic colleagues seem to have decided in advance they would claim that Judge Jackson was treated shabbily. I have heard that script recited, even though it didn't happen. It didn't happen. prgtoken Let's be clear. No nominee before the Senate for any position deserves a cakewalk or a coronation. Tough questions about a Federal judge's own rulings and statements are the definition of ``fair game.'' My colleagues' vigorous inquiry shed important new light on a frequently disturbing judicial record. So I applaud my colleagues for focusing on substance and not following the ' recent precedents into the gutter. prgtoken Unfortunately, what the Senate's process turned up was disturbing. prgtoken First, the nominee would not follow the Ginsburg-Breyer precedent and denounce the insane concept of partisan Court packing. prgtoken Second, her judicial record is full of cases where Judge Jackson ruled like a policymaker implementing personal biases instead of a judge following the text wherever it led. prgtoken Third, her aggressive judicial activism frequently focused on treating convicted criminals as gently as possible. In literally case after case, from deadly fentanyl to open borders, to child exploitation, Judge Jackson tilted the scales of justice away from public safety and innocent victims in favor of her career-long passion for