mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-5-20

the recent Colonial Pipeline hack, which saw more than 15,000 gas stations run out of fuel and drove gas prices to their highest level in almost 7 years, was a timely reminder of the importance of cyber security. prgtoken In today's world, where almost everything we do has a cyber component, cyber security has to be a priority. Companies have to prioritize it to keep their systems, services, and customer information secure. State governments have to prioritize it, and the Federal Government has to prioritize it. Cyber security is a crucial part of our national defense, and it is vital that we keep security systems and data secure. prgtoken The Colonial Pipeline hack was also a timely reminder of something else, and that is the importance of maintaining our energy security via energy independence. prgtoken As Americans panicked over gas shortages from the Colonial shutdown, gas stations saw lines that harkened back to the 1970s, when conflict in the Middle East and an oil embargo resulted in serious shortages here at home. prgtoken Since then, the United States has, to a greater or lesser extent, worked to become energy independent; in other words, to make sure that we are able to rely almost entirely on North American energy sources instead of imports from overseas and to make sure that American consumers never have to question whether they will have reliable and affordable access to energy and fuel. prgtoken We have made a lot of progress on that front, but it requires continued commitment and investment. It also requires an ``all of the above'' energy policy that pursues investment in everything from oil and natural gas, to ethanol and other biofuels, to solar, wind, and hydropower. Unfortunately, are increasingly minimizing the oil and natural gas part of that equation. prgtoken I am a longtime advocate of clean energy and clean fuels, but the fact is that our economy is still going to need traditional sources of energy--namely, oil and natural gas--for a long time to come. I don't expect airplanes or freight trains to be running on electricity or solar power anytime in the near future. Fortunately, as technology has advanced, it has become easier and easier to explore for, extract, and transport oil and natural gas in an environmentally responsible way. prgtoken It is vital that we continue to develop domestic oil and gas resources so that, down the road, we don't find ourselves again relying on oil from the Middle East, Venezuela, or other unstable areas of the world. That is why it was so disappointing that one of President 's first actions as President was to pause new leases for oil and gas production on Federal lands and offshore. prgtoken Oil and gas production on public lands and offshore is an essential part of the U.S. domestic energy supply, accounting for 22 percent of domestic oil production and 12 percent of domestic gas production in 2019. Only a tiny percentage of
EMERGENCY SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL TO RESPOND TO JANUARY 6TH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2021-5-20

. Madam , I thank my good friend for yielding. prgtoken This is one of the most disappointing days that I have had when it comes to figuring out a way to protect this Capitol complex. One of the most disappointing parts of this legislation is that both parties for both sides of the Capitol were working together on a bill, and out of nowhere, House stopped negotiating and decided on Friday to introduce their own partisan bill and rush it to the floor. prgtoken The press has even pointed out that the Senate will have to renegotiate this bill before it can pass, so I can't help but wonder why we are voting on this bill today when we could be voting on a deal that actually has a chance of becoming law. prgtoken Even worse, this bill is being sold as an appropriations bill, but there is a lot of legislating happening here--permanent security changes buried in this nearly $2 billion supplemental bill. As ranking member of the House Administration Committee, I can tell you that some of these permanent changes are within my committee's jurisdiction, and my committee hasn't held any hearings to review or examine these changes. prgtoken While I believe we need to make the National Guard whole for their service after January 6, this bill permanently establishes the National Guard as a quick reaction force. This was just one of the options provided in General Honore's report, but if I recall, he provided three options to establish a quick reaction force. I have some serious concerns about this being the most efficient and effective way to protect the Capitol in an emergency. prgtoken The bill also requires body cameras for each Capitol Police officer, with the exception of officers who are on protective detail for leadership and other Members. My committee has not reviewed this or why an exception was made for certain officers. prgtoken Additionally, this bill could allow Members to use taxpayer dollars to make upgrades to their homes for security purposes. As someone who has been shot at on a ballfield and received many threats from constituents and others over the years, I understand the need for protection, and there have already been changes to help increase safety. But I have a feeling some of our constituents wouldn't be happy with Members of Congress being able to use tax dollars to make improvements that could increase the value of their homes in the name of security. prgtoken I am disappointed with the process, Madam , and it is a shame we are not voting on a bipartisan bill that can make it through the Senate.
EXTENDING THANKS TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TEACHERS
Madison Cawthorn (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-5-20

the problems of today will rest squarely on the shoulders of America's children. There is nothing more foundational to the longevity of this Republic than investing in the next generation. prgtoken During this COVID pandemic, educating our students and preparing them to face the battles and turmoil of the future has never been harder. If we have learned one thing through this pandemic, it is that in-person teaching is foundational to future success. prgtoken I want to extend the thanks of a grateful district to the teachers of Veritas Christian Academy, headmaster Dr. Robert M. Woods, and other institutions who remained open throughout this pandemic and placed the needs of our schoolchildren first. prgtoken Your valiant efforts are seen. Your dedication to America's youth in the face of great challenges is recognized. And your great determination to safeguard our future leaders is of high commendation. prgtoken Thank you for all that you do, and I look forward to being back in the district to see you all soon.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-5-20

China is a 360-degree threat. They are competing with us in every area--economics, technology, military, diplomacy, information warfare. You know, we operated for the better part of a decade under the idea that we should have parity in defense and nondefense increases. I mean, this is a bipartisan thing. This is and s alike. We did this every year for--every 2 years as we did the Budget Control Act, and that was an agreement until all of a sudden, somehow, we are changing from that. prgtoken So what Senator Shelby's and my amendment does is very simple. It says that for every dollar that we increase nondefense spending, we have the same amount of money that is going to increase defense spending. I talked about this yesterday at some length. prgtoken How can you justify changing that policy when the greatest threat that we are facing right now is China? You know, they are competing in every area, and to leave that out conspicuously is not reasonable at all. So I think that the--I remember that the majority leader and the of the House back in 2019 said: `` have always insisted on parity in increases between defense and non-defense.'' prgtoken So why would they change now? And I don't think that they will change now. So, again, I am unsure people understand what this is all about. This is a very simple thing. It says that--our amendment says that for every dollar we increase nondefense spending, we also increase defense spending by the same amount. It is called parity. We have lived with this right now for 8 years. We have been in agreement, and somehow this has changed, as if the threat that we are facing right now with economics, technology, diplomacy, information warfare are more important than military. Military is the No. 1 threat.
ALASKA TOURISM RECOVERY ACT
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-5-20

thank you for passing that very important piece of legislation. prgtoken The official name of that legislation that just passed the Senate is the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. This is a really good day for Alaska right now and for our small businesses and working families and the overall economy in Alaska, across our State. prgtoken I want to say this is also a good day for the Congress. Both Houses, over the last week, have been able to come together, Members on both sides of the aisle, when they recognized that a relatively narrow segment of this great Nation--my State, Senator Murkowski's State--had a huge challenge right now with our economy relating to tourism. Senators and Members of the House worked together, and we just passed a piece of legislation that is going to the President's desk. It is really going to help. prgtoken This pandemic has really hurt a lot of our economies in different States. I would say the Alaskan economy has been really hammered--the energy sector, the commercial fishing sector, and, of course, our tourism sector. But we have hope. prgtoken As I mentioned, we just passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. This bill, cosponsored by Senator Murkowski and myself here in the Senate and Congressman Young in the House, is going to give our tourism season and the tens of thousands of Alaskans in that industry and the hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses in Alaska in that industry that are hanging by a thread--it is going to give them a fighting chance this summer. prgtoken These are businesses whose owners have put their life savings, their hard work, their hopes, and their dreams into these small businesses, and many have been on the brink financially because of the pandemic and because the short cruise ship season that drives the tourism economy in Alaska was about to be canceled again this summer. That is now not going to happen. prgtoken Think about these numbers. In 2020, last year, during the pandemic, Alaska was estimated to get--we were supposed to get, prior to the pandemic, a record number of tourists via cruise ships: 1.5 million. It would have been the alltime record. Of course, in 2020, with the pandemic, none of them showed up, not one, and 2021 was shaping up to be the same. prgtoken Think about that. These small businesses get almost all their revenue during the summer season. That would have been 2 years with no revenues. No small business can withstand that. prgtoken So 2021 was looking to be canceled again as a result of the CDC, which took too long to provide clear guidance to the cruise ship industry, but they are now working cooperatively with our communities back home in Alaska and the industry. So that is good news. That is starting to happen. It is really important. prgtoken But even with the CDC cooperating an working constructively, which is now happening, 2021 wasn't looking good anyway because of a law--dating back to the 1880s, by
S. 1260
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-5-20

in my lifetime, China has gone from a poor and isolated country to now accounting for nearly 20 percent of global gross domestic product. There is no doubt that the ingenuity of the Chinese people has contributed to this success, but we know the driving force behind this dramatic rise is the aggressiveness of the Chinese Communist Party. Its aims can be summed up with four R's: resist, reduce, replace, and reorder. prgtoken China resists American economic influence by manipulating American businesses and industries and stealing intellectual property. It reduces internal dissent and free expression of ideas through mass surveillance and censorship of its own people, and it seeks to exert its power and influence in the United States. The Chinese Communist Party intends to replace America as the world's technology leader through the Made in China 2025 initiative, which seeks to achieve Chinese dominance in high-tech manufacturing. Finally, it hopes to reorder international norms and institutions around itself. That is their vision. That is their strategy. That is their plan. prgtoken Now, the Chinese Communist Party's ruling strategy can best be described as ``win at all costs.'' In other words, they do not play by the same rules we do. And make no mistake, these ambitions paint an alarming picture for the United States and our allies. prgtoken Former Attorney General Bill Barr said last year: ``It is clear that the PRC,'' or People's Republic of China, ``seeks not merely to join the ranks of other advanced industrial economies, but to replace them altogether.'' prgtoken In everything from electric cars to advanced robotics, to artificial intelligence, China aspires to lead global prgtoken production and to dominate global production, and they are throwing serious money into the effort to get China there. China is expected to spend $1.4 trillion by 2025 covering investments in everything from 5G to artificial intelligence. prgtoken This is not the time for the United States to be complacent, to sit back and watch the Chinese Communist Party pursue tech domination. By the time it has made significant progress, we would be too late. We need to take action now to ensure that our economy and our military can continue to outcompete China, and that is precisely what we can achieve through the Endless Frontier Act. prgtoken As Leader McConnell said, a robust amendment process will be critical to this piece of legislation. As I was discussing with Senator Schumer this morning, for most Members, this 1,500-page substitute bill landed on their desks just a little bit earlier this week, so it is going to take a little time for us to understand and to digest the complexity and the ambitions, really, I should say, of this bill. prgtoken In the coming days, I hope the Senate will vote on amendments from Members on both sides that will strengthen this legislation and ensure that it addresses the broad range of strat
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-5-20

I want to honor a Grand Forks firefighter for receiving a national honor by the VFW. Saving lives is what firefighters are called on to do as part of their job every day. But in the case of Logan Schonart, his lifesaving act went much beyond that. prgtoken When members of the Grand Forks Fire Department heard Rick Aamot, their former batallion chief, was suffering from kidney disease and needed a new kidney, they were concerned enough to look into how they could help. Because it can take years to find a donor, they joined in the search to find one. Schonart was among those who took a test for compatibility, and his test showed he was a match. Having worked together for nearly a decade before Aamot retired, Schonert thought enough of him to step forward and offer to be his donor. prgtoken Schonert was not looking for publicity about his successful kidney donation to Aamot, but he spoke out about it to encourage others to consider doing the same if the opportunity presented itself. In recognition of his generous lifesaving act, Schonart was named the 2020 North Dakota VFW Firefighter of the Year and earlier this month was named the 2021 National VFW Firefighter of the Year. The award was presented May 7 at the Grand Forks Fire Station. prgtoken , I congratulate Logan Schonart on this national honor recognizing a firefighter who exceeds professional expectations and demonstrates community service and professional achievement. As the 2021 National VFW Firefighter of the Year, he sets an extraordinary example for all of us demonstrating what selfless sacrifice looks like.
FAREWELL TO JACK WALECKI
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-5-20

I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude to one of the most valued and dedicated members of my team, Jack Walecki. prgtoken After over 4 years of service to our country and the people of Louisiana's Fourth Congressional District, Jack is going to be leaving our D.C. office to pursue a law degree at Pepperdine University. prgtoken For the past 2\1/2\ years, and through some of the most historically significant events in recent memory, I have relied upon Jack's steady counsel as my lead staffer for judiciary issues. His level head and steadfast commitment to his work have been instrumental in helping to right the ship in truly tumultuous times. prgtoken More importantly, Jack's easy-going, quintessentially California attitude will leave a lasting mark on our team. We will sorely miss his obscure cultural references and random tidbits of knowledge that would make a trivia master's head spin. prgtoken We are all saddened to see Jack leave, but we are also delighted to see him take this next step in his life. prgtoken , I thank Jack for all his work and dedication. God has great plans for your life. Our family and staff wish him all the best. prgtoken Onward, my friend.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2021-5-20

I want to commend the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma and the distinguished senior Senator from Alabama for this amendment. And it seems to me that this is a national security amendment that should get support on both sides of the aisle because the Senator from Oklahoma is absolutely correct. It has had bipartisan support in the past. And particularly at this moment, when we are talking about a bill to compete with China, we need to acknowledge that we will compete with China both in the R&D sphere, as this bill discusses, but also in terms of military might. prgtoken And it disturbs me, and I know it is of concern to my friends on the other side of the aisle, that the administration just this week announced that they would cut four ships from the most recent shipbuilding plan, which was established by our military experts, by the admirals and generals who told us what we need. To cut four ships from the shipbuilding plan, I think, would send exactly the opposite signal to China that we are trying to send through this bill. And I know I have friends on the other side of the aisle, as well as on this side of the aisle, who have signed the SHIPYARD Act, which makes the statement, on a bipartisan basis, that we need to be preparing our Navy for competition in the Pacific that will come from China, and I think it is a way to preserve peace in the Asia-Pacific region by having parity there. prgtoken So for that particular reason, on this particular week, this is a most timely and appropriate amendment, and I do hope we can get bipartisan support. prgtoken . Vote on Amendment No. 1523
LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FROM THE AMERICAN HELLENIC INSTITUTE ON THE STATE OF U.S.-GREECE RELATIONS
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-5-20

. Madam , as the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I include in the Record a letter from the American Hellenic Institute to President regarding the Institute's present perspective on the state of the U .S.-Greece relations. The letter includes discussion of issues on defense, security, and counterterrorism; international commerce and trade and energy security; and the Cyprus Issue. April 22, 2021. President , The White House, Washington, DC. Dear President : On behalf of the nationwide membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), thank you for your remarks to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence. Although many aspects of your remarks resonated with the Greek American community, the following excerpt struck a chord: ``What really binds us together are our values. We are two people rooted in a common conviction that every human being is entitled to be treated with dignity. And it is our shared commitment to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law, that empowers us to write our own futures, whether 200 years ago or today.'' , the momentous occasion to mark Greece's Bicentennial provides the opportunity to convey the Institute's present perspective on the state of U.S.-Greece relations, which is flourishing under the ``shared commitment to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law'' that you correctly and eloquently stated. Unfortunately, malign actors in the region, especially Turkey, display a blatant and an intense disregard for these shared values with provocative actions that threaten the United States' allies and strategic partners as well as our interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is in the United States' best interest for Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean to be politically, economically and socially stable, and for democratic principles to flourish, including adherence to the rule of law. Greece is an immensely valuable link as ``a pillar of stability'' in the region as several high-level U.S. government officials have noted. The U.S.-Greece relationship has reached new heights by virtue of an ongoing Strategic Dialogue, which include avenues for cooperation across sectors, such as: regional cooperation, defense and security, and trade and investment, among others, are plotted for implementation. Defense, Security and Counterterrorism Greece advances U.S. interests as a pivotal and dependable NATO and a frontline state against terrorism. The Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Greece illustrates the two allies' commitment to address longterm security
HONORING THE LIFE OF DENISE BURSTEIN
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-5-20

. Madam , I rise today to remember and honor my constituent and friend, Denise Burstein. Denise passed away on May 13 due to complications related to ALS. prgtoken She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and community leader. She was a woman of diverse passions and talent, an avid knitter, quilter, radio operator, and I recently learned that she had a black belt in karate. prgtoken She devoted her life to helping others, working as a school speech and language therapist and continuing to help children even after her retirement. prgtoken She was first to volunteer, whether it was as a local committeeperson with the Boy Scouts, coaching, training therapy dogs, or, after her diagnosis, helping spread awareness of ALS. prgtoken To know Denise is to know her husband, Frank. They are two parts of a single smile, wonderful hosts whose brunches are the places to be for friendship, politics, and delicious food. prgtoken I join Denise's family, friends, and wider community in mourning the loss of an incredible woman. I am better for having known her.
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-5-20

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m Monday, May 24; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 58, S. 1260; that at 5:30 p.m the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar No. 117, Chiquita Brooks- LaSure, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; finally, that the cloture motions filed during today's session of the Senate ripen at 5:30 p.m.