mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ESG DISCLOSURE SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 2021
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-6-16

the balance of my time. I want to make sure we are clear not only with my colleagues but to those who may be listening and watching today. prgtoken Our side of the aisle has a couple of problems with this legislation today. First and foremost is the structure; next is the content; and then third, we have to question motivation. prgtoken What is the problem with the structure? prgtoken My friend from Connecticut talked about an issue that we have a lot of agreement on, and I say to him: Amen, hallelujah, let's talk about cybersecurity. Let's talk about how corporations are going to be held responsible for that. prgtoken However, my colleague from Iowa is talking about corporate tax law and country-by-country tax reporting. Now, that might be a good issue, but it is the wrong committee. I wondered to myself if Chairman Dingell, who chaired the Ways and Means Committee for a few decades, and my colleague from Michigan, would have allowed this committee mission creep. Actually, I don't wonder. I know exactly what he would have said: Hell, no. This is in my committee. prgtoken This issue is in the wrong committee, and Financial Services is not the right and proper place to be doing that. prgtoken Let's look at the content of these bills. We are not debating climate, and we are not debating these social issues that need to be addressed. We are debating who is responsible for enforcing these. We are not debating the failures and flaws of humans. We are questioning who should be the enforcer of these regulations and if they are equipped to do so. prgtoken Now, not that long ago, before defunding the police was a popular item to discuss, the SEC was commonly called on all sides the cop on the beat. They were the cops on the beat who were the enforcers. They were the ones who were coming along and saying: We are going to make sure that there is no fraud as we protect investors; we are going to make sure that we have efficient markets; and we are going to make sure that we are building capital. prgtoken Here is the problem: They are not prepared and equipped to do so. prgtoken Don't take my word for it. Let's look at President 's head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Jo White, who said: ``When disclosure gets to be too much or strays from its core purposes, it can lead to `information overload,' a phenomenon in which ever-increasing amounts of disclosure make it difficult for investors to focus on the information that is material and most relevant to their decisionmaking as investors in our financial markets. To safeguard the benefits of this `signature mandate,' the SEC needs to maintain the ability to exercise its own independent judgment and expertise when deciding whether and how best to impose new disclosure requirements.'' prgtoken She also said at one point that the Securities and Exchange Commission was not prepared to do enforcement on areas that they had no expertise. She was re
Nuclear Energy (Executive Calendar)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-6-16

I want to talk for a few minutes about nuclear energy. President , of course, as we both are aware, has called climate change the ``existential threat.'' He says it is the ``number one issue facing humanity today.'' Secretary Kerry, who, as we know, is President 's climate envoy, has said that climate change is a ``life and death'' issue. President 's National Climate Advisor, the Honorable Gina McCarthy, believes that saving the environment is the ``fight of our lifetimes.'' prgtoken If you ask many Members of Congress, not all of them--I don't want to paint with too broad a brush--but if you ask many Members of Congress what they think the solution to our environmental issues is, they will probably respond: renewable energy. But if we are really worried about the climate--and I know we all are; we all want clean air, and we all want bright water--I suggest that we also embrace nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is not only safe, but it is clean and, frankly, it can produce more power than renewables. prgtoken Nuclear energy, as you know, creates little or no carbon emissions. Let me say that again. A lot of people don't realize it. Nuclear energy creates little or no carbon emissions. It also creates very little waste--an extraordinarily small amount of waste. All the nuclear waste that America's commercial nuclear industry has ever produced--ever, prgtoken in the history of ever--can fit into a single football field to a depth of fewer than 10 yards Now, you compare that with solar panels, for example--solar panels create 300 times more toxic waste than nuclear plants in order to yield the same exact amount of energy--or compare the waste from nuclear power production with wind turbine blades. Wind turbine blades are very hard to recycle, and they usually end up in landfills. prgtoken These facts are underreported, but the fact is that solar and wind power do have their own harmful impacts on our environment. There is no free lunch, as you know, and you don't get one now. There are pros and cons of everything. prgtoken Solar and wind can't hold a candle to nuclear power when it comes to efficiency. That is just a fact. It takes more than 3 million solar panels or more than 430 wind turbines to produce the same amount of energy as the average nuclear plant. Let me say that again--3 million solar panels, 430 wind turbines to produce the same amount of energy as the average nuclear powerplant. And these numbers do not take into account that solar panels, as we know, are useless when the Sun doesn't shine, and wind turbines are nothing more than expensive paper waste when the wind doesn't blow. prgtoken Also underreported, in my judgment, is how safe nuclear energy is. Despite what some people may think, Homer Simpson does not run America's nuclear powerplants. The industry is constantly evolving to make nuclear powerplants safer, to make them more efficient. In fact, we have all rea
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-6-16

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I will recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business, Batteries Plus Bulbs of Bowling Green, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Since 2004, David Paschall has owned and operated a Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise in Bowling Green, KY. As a young man, David owned and operated a successful service station in Puryear, TN. After meeting his wife, Dorothy, David relocated to Bowling Green in 1988. Dorothy, who was working in Bowling Green at the time, is a Kentucky native and a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Over the next few years, David started working in the batteries industry. When local entrepreneur Steve Sheldon opened a Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise in 1999, David joined his friend as store manager. In 2004, when Steve moved on from the company, David and Dorothy purchased the store. prgtoken Today, Batteries Plus Bulbs Bowling Green continues to thrive under David and Dorothy's leadership. In addition to their original location, they own and operate Batteries Plus Bulbs franchises in Elizabethtown and Somerset, KY, and Clarksville, TN. David and Dorothy's care and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of their business. Their strong sense of family has built a tight-knit and supportive team, with several long-time employees working over a decade at the store. Customers are regularly greeted by name and treated according to the golden rule. Finding a solution to a customer's problem is prioritized over pushing a sale. Notably, Batteries Plus Bulbs Bowling Green is known for its prgtoken beloved mascot, Morris. A rescued cat, this 13-year-old orange tabby delights staff and visitors alike. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce recognized David's outstanding work, naming him the 2016 Small Business Person of the Year. prgtoken Together with his wife, Dorothy, David gives back to his community. Locally, Batteries Plus Bulbs has sponsored several sports teams and charitable organizations, including the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society. David and Dorothy are active within their local church community as well. Notably, Dorothy also served as executive director of the Barren River Area Development District and was involved with the Hospice of Southern Kentucky. prgtoken Like many small businesses, David and his team stepped up to keep their community supplied during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an essential business, they stayed open and adapted to State guidelines, ensuring all of their employees stayed healthy. Despite the challenges, at the end of 2020, Batteries Plus Bulbs Bowling Green was ranked No. 25 out of 740 franchises nationwide by the national corporate office. prgtoken Batteries Plus Bulbs is a notable example of the en
Rodriguez v. Pan American Health Organization (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-6-16

it has been so interesting to talk with Tennesseans over the past couple of weeks, and it is interesting in the vein that they are beginning to really question some of the proposals that my ic colleagues are bringing forward and items that they are pushing from the left side of the aisle. prgtoken I have to tell you that I honestly can't blame them. After all, when they promised COVID relief, they delivered a blue State bailout, which was something that was not popular in Tennessee. They said that they were going to be all for some much needed infrastructure projects. In Tennessee, we like to talk about this in terms of roads and railways and runways and rivers. Yet what did the people from Tennessee hear? They heard all about the Green New Deal, they heard about incentives for electric vehicles, and they heard about alternative energy. They looked at that infrastructure bill and said: This is fantasyland. prgtoken Then, when they promised to support families and children, what did you get from the left side of the aisle? You got support for expanding the welfare state. prgtoken Now Senate have promised to vote on legislation that they claim is going to make our elections more transparent. Hmm. That is interesting. Surprising no one, the bill the are trying to sell to the American people will do exactly the opposite. prgtoken Of course, in typical fashion of the House, what did it do? It gave it a friendly sounding name--the For the People Act--but in actuality, this is a bill that would take away rights and responsibilities from the American people. prgtoken They are saying: This is going to be about transparency. Well, when we think of transparency, we think of things that are going to be seen, of things that are going to be easily understood. We think of things from which the activity within is going to be made available so that people can see this. It should follow, then, that a bill that is promising transparent elections would be there to help voters understand the rules, trust the people in charge, and cast their votes of confidence. It would not be a bill that would seize control from local officials and place it in the hands of unelected Washington bureaucrats, and it would not be a bill that would make it literally impossible to stand up polling places. It certainly would not be a bill that would erode confidence in ballot integrity, but that is what we have. It just doesn't make sense what they are trying to do when it comes to voting. prgtoken Even with all of this, my ic colleagues have spent most of this year trying to sell the American public on a bill that would centralize power, that would impose burdensome rules on State and local governments, and that would take away constitutional responsibilities and rights and all but ensure rampant voter fraud. That is correct. A piece of legislation that would do--what?--make it easier to cheat. prgtoken
ESG DISCLOSURE SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 2021
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-16

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken Look, I am not enthusiastic about Congress forcing disclosure of immaterial information. But if we are going to do it, if we are going to do it, then, at the very least, we should be honest. And to the extent tax increases are going to harm the company's ability to invest in its workers and invest in itself, we should disclose that as well. prgtoken Look, there was a time where corporate inversions were a big problem in this country. You haven't heard of corporate inversions since December of 2017, and the reason was because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made it unnecessary for companies to take their dollars and their jobs overseas. So now those dollars and those jobs stay for American workers. prgtoken After the passage of the American Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, actual revenues to the Treasury rose. And had it not been for the imposition of the pandemic, those tax cuts would have been paid for because the Congressional Budget Office assigned a very anemic rate of growth to their projections when they cited the CBO score prior to that bill's passage. prgtoken This is an important concept. If we are going to level immaterial information into a company's disclosures, let's disclose what happens when Congress applies additional tax rates to those companies as well. It is the right thing to do. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. It is the only thing that can make the underlying bill perhaps make a little more sense. prgtoken Madam , .
SELF-INFLICTED CRISES
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-6-16

when I was a kid, my brother and I would help prgtoken our dad make ends meet by collecting aluminum cans on the side of the road. We didn't make much, but what we made, we used to buy food. Very early, we learned the value of a dollar. prgtoken Today, the value of that same dollar has plummeted because of wasteful, Big Government spending, like the kind President has embraced with his disastrous economic policies. prgtoken One of President 's core campaign promises was that he would not raise taxes on any Americans making less than $400,000 a year. What he failed to mention was the hidden tax brought on by his inflationary spending. In May, the Consumer Price Index jumped to 5 percent, the fastest rate since 2008. prgtoken Every American is feeling the strain from this administration's reckless spending spree. From the gas pump and the supermarket to the clothing store and the car dealership, Americans are spending more and getting less. prgtoken While the current administration shovels trillions of taxpayer dollars into the furnace of a runaway train, it is clear that is intent on saddling our kids and grandkids with insurmountable debt. prgtoken It is time for to stop playing politics with taxpayer money and start doing what is right for our country. Let's get Americans back to work, get the government out of the way, and allow taxpayers to keep more of their own money. After all, they have earned it.
SELF-INFLICTED CRISES
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-6-16

I thank Captain Higgins for those impassioned words. He is exactly right. prgtoken One of the things that is so heartbreaking, frustrating, unconscionable about this is we can solve this crisis at the border pretty simply. All we need the White House to do is reimplement the -era policies because that increased border security, it discouraged illegal immigration and it reinstituted law and order, and we can do that, but they won't. prgtoken , from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who represents Georgia's First Congressional District.
RECOGNIZING FLAG DAY AND CELEBRATING THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S 246TH BIRTHDAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-6-16

I rise today to recognize Flag Day and celebrate the United States Army's 246th birthday that we observed on Monday of this week. prgtoken Every year, just a few days after Memorial Day, on June 14, our country celebrates Flag Day and the Army's birthday. prgtoken Flag Day is a celebration of our Stars and Stripes, which the Second Continental Congress designated as the symbol of our Nation on June 14, 1777. prgtoken While our flag has changed over the years to celebrate our growing country, it remains a glorious symbol of hope for our brave servicemen and -women who salute it; defend it; serve it; and, in some cases, die for it, to protect our freedom and liberty. prgtoken Since our founding, our flag has flown from sea to shining sea and around the world. Old Glory remains one of the most powerful symbols on Earth. prgtoken June 14 is also the U.S. Army's birthday. Without our Army 246 years ago, we would not be the great Nation that we are today. prgtoken , yesterday, our great Nation celebrated our Army and our flag, both of which symbolize America being the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Rodriguez v. Pan American Health Organization (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-6-16

we have been told by the majority party that soon we will be having a vote on an 800-page bill to change 50 State voting laws to 1 Federal law. This bill is called the For the People Act. It was compiled after the 2018 elections to call into question the legitimacy of democratic elections for partisan political purposes. prgtoken If it had been a serious attempt at legislating, there would have been some outreach to some s because it takes 60 votes, a bipartisan vote, to get anything through the U.S. Senate. prgtoken In that process, there would have been consultation also with local elected officials--the election officials who conduct the State elections--to make sure it was workable. There would have been hearings in the Congress. There would have been revisions from the bill originally introduced. prgtoken The fact that back in 2018, when it was introduced, is the fact that it was intended as political propaganda, and that betrays the absurdity of the title, the ``For the People Act.'' prgtoken Also, despite Senator Schumer's using Senate rule XIV in the last Congress to bypass the committee and put the bill directly on the Senate calendar, Senator Schumer never used his right to force a vote on moving to the bill. At that time, the ic narrative was that s were not doing enough to secure the election so the results might end up being in doubt. Now, what we know from happening in the last election, that argument is out the window now. prgtoken Since the got the results they wanted, they endlessly quote the administration's top cyber security official declaring the 2020 election the most secure ever in history. prgtoken I assumed last Congress that Senator Schumer would wait until right before the 2020 election to force a vote so he could accuse s of blocking an election bill for their campaign narrative questioning election security. Instead, they repeatedly, dishonestly, blamed the leader for blocking the bill, ignoring the fact that the ic leader had reserved the possibility of forcing a vote. prgtoken The For the People Act is a messaging bill. The bill has now been reintroduced and recast as a response to a few State election security laws. A handful of relatively modern reforms at the State level have been shamelessly and falsely characterized as voter suppression, even considering the fact that in the last election, the winner got the highest number of votes of any winner for President in the history of the United States, and the loser got the highest number of votes of any candidate for President of the United States throughout our history. prgtoken As I have mentioned before, the claim by some supporters that a certain brand of voting machine switched votes, I pointed out that that was lifted entirely from the ' 2004 playbook. And President 's questioning of his loss in Georgia was simply followin
Rodriguez v. Pan American Health Organization (Executive Calendar)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-6-16

you and I, as we sit on the Rules Committee, saw the debate on this bill--the bill that the sponsors call the For the People Act. I think it really more accurately could be called the ``For the Politicians Act.'' S. 1 was marked up in the Rules Committee last month, a markup that I certainly raised a number of concerns about the bill and others did too. It is more than 800 pages prgtoken that contains policies relating to election administration, to campaign finance, to redistricting, and much more. prgtoken Now, the truth is, we don't know what bill will come to the floor because this bill couldn't get out of committee. And apparently we are going to not use the committee process but, in fact, we will bring a different bill to the floor that nobody has seen yet. But this bill seems to get bigger over time, not smaller over time. prgtoken It includes the overwhelmingly bad idea that Congress should impose a Federal takeover of elections and force a one-size-fits-all approach on the more than 10,000 voting jurisdictions in the country. prgtoken There are very few things that you can develop a formula that works just right in 10,000 places. In fact, in our States and in the District of Columbia, we have a pretty significant problem coming up with 51 different structures that work for everywhere in every jurisdiction that is impacted by that. prgtoken This bill also has some deadlines that are so short that if it became law, it would create chaos in next year's elections and make the election process less trusted, not more trusted. prgtoken We should be focusing on Federal laws and State laws that make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. I think this bill makes it easier to cheat and harder to figure out whether anybody cheated or not. prgtoken S. 1 undermines the popular State voter identification laws. The majority of our States now require some kind of identification. And an overwhelming number of voters believe that voter identification at the polls is a good thing. prgtoken This bill allows political operatives to fan out across a community and collect an unlimited number of ballots. In fact, it says States can't even stop that process of ballot harvesting. Those ballot harvesters can collect ballots from you. They can collect ballots from your neighbors, from vulnerable voters like people in nursing homes. And, frankly, who knows if they turn them in or not? Who knows if they put them in the post office box or not? If they never show up, the ballot harvester, who may very well know that your ballot is a ballot they don't agree with, could just say, ``Well, I don't know what happened. It must have been lost in the mail,'' and who would ever know whether it was lost in the mail or not? prgtoken In addition to undermining voter identification laws and making it possible for complete strangers to take your ballot, S. 1 disrupts States' long-made efforts to maintain an accurate list of eligible vote
CONGRATULATING VANCOUVER iTECH PREPARATORY STUDENTS ON THE INCLUSION OF THEIR NATIONAL HISTORY DAY EXHIBIT SHOWCASED BY THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY AT THE SMITHSONIAN...
Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican, WA) \u2014 2021-6-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jonah Campbell, Clark Hegewald, and Grant Myers of Vancouver iTech Preparatory on having their National History Day project showcased by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Learning Lab. prgtoken Their project, titled ``No Need for Translation: The Apollo-Soyuz Mission'', focuses on the bilateral cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union in ending the Space Race through the construction of the first space station. The team placed particular emphasis on the unprecedented collaboration between Americans and Soviets at the height of the Cold War. prgtoken For over 40 years, National History Day has been a stellar opportunity for students across the country to engage in and expand their knowledge of American history through research-based projects. I hope that participating in National History Day has allowed these students to deepen their appreciation for the great American history that unites us all. prgtoken Once again, I want to congratulate Jonah, Clark, and Grant on a job well done.