mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-12-9

in case anyone was wondering, there are 16 days left before Christmas--16 shopping days. prgtoken Now, I know I still have some shopping to do, and I look forward to that, but it seems as though some of my colleagues have a jump on me. Seems as though President has a jump on me, and that is good thinking because this year you can't start too early, with the supply chain as bad as it is and the price of presents rising. prgtoken So why don't we gather around the Christmas tree to see what gifts national are prepared to pass out on Christmas morning, thanks to their reckless tax-and-spending spree. prgtoken To the leftwing labor unions, what do they offer? are gifting billions of dollars in handouts to strengthen this core constituency of prgtoken theirs. While they are letting charitable deductions expire in Build Back Better, they have gift wrapped an above-the-line tax deduction for union dues. prgtoken Let's see what we have here. prgtoken Well, that is a car. That is a car. And this is the labor union present. Hmm. As a special Christmas surprise, it seems that the have put under the tree a shiny new tax credit for electric vehicles but only if those vehicles are made in a union shop--only a union shop. prgtoken You see, if you are naughty, and you buy an electric vehicle from a nonunion shop, like those that are made in my State of Indiana, you will miss out on the ' $4,500 holiday giveaway in this bill. Apparently, during the Christmas season, the impact of electric vehicles on climate change only matters if the workers' contracts are collectively bargained. prgtoken Which brings us to another gift we have, and that is China. China has a gift under the tree. Why don't we just open this China gift. Well, that is a lot of money. The tax hikes on businesses large and small in this bill will give China an unfair competitive advantage. Increasing taxes on American employers by more than $800 billion, when they are already struggling with supply chain issues and worker shortages--this is going to do very little to bring jobs back home, jobs of the future here in the United States of America, which is exactly why the Chinese Communist Party and all of its leaders will love this very expensive gift. prgtoken And the largest gift under the Washington ' tree goes to--is that--could that be? It says ``the rich.'' prgtoken I am going to see what is in there. prgtoken Well, this must mean--it says SALT. By dramatically increasing the cap on the State and local tax deduction, or what is known around here as SALT for short, the once-proud party of the working class is giving a tax cut to two-thirds of people earning more than $1 million a year. Now, the average size of that tax cut is almost $17,000 a year for millionaires. This is the new ic Party. prgtoken Merry Christmas. This is the single most expensive tax expenditure in the Build Back Better A
HONORING THE CAREER OF MR. CAMERON COLLIER
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-12-9

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Cameron Collier of Decatur, Indiana for his dedicated service to our Nation as an officer in the United States Navy. Cameron has just retired from the Navy, and I wish to reflect the gratitude I, and all northeast Indiana, have for him. prgtoken Having graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2001, Cameron reported to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2003, where he underwent training in preparation for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Iraqi Freedom, Cameron served as a Radar Intercept Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman. prgtoken In 2006, Cameron moved to Annapolis, Maryland with his family, where he served as the Training Officer on staff at the Naval Academy. He left active-duty service in 2010 to pursue a career in financial planning, yet remained an officer in the Naval Reserve, attaining the rank of Commander in 2016. In this capacity, he also served as Chairman of my Service Academy Board, responsible for interviewing and evaluating high school students in Indiana's Third District seeking a nomination to U.S. service academies. prgtoken I hope Cameron's heart is filled with joy knowing he has played an essential part in securing our country's greatest blessings. As he retires from the Navy and prepares to move on to the next chapter of his life, understand that his record of service will stand as a shining example to generations of Hoosiers contemplating serving our country for years to come.
RECOGNIZING THE PANCAKE PANTRY
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-12-9

I wish to recognize the 60th anniversary and the opening of a new location of the legendary Pancake Pantry in Nashville. prgtoken On December 13, the Pancake Pantry, a Nashville staple and landmark restaurant, will open a second location to offer its famous varieties of pancakes as well as begin a partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation to support local communities. prgtoken Since 1961, this iconic restaurant has brightened the mornings of both tourists and residents of the Music City and will now partner with the Nashville Predators Foundation to give back to the community. prgtoken Through grants and partnerships directed towards the educational, health, and social needs of Middle Tennesseans, the Pancake Pantry is committed to supporting the local community. prgtoken To show their support, special ``Nashville Predator'' pancakes will be available between January 1 and February 28, 2022, and for each order sold, the Pancake Pantry will make a monetary donation to the Nashville Predators Foundation. prgtoken Established on August 18, 2009, the Nashville Predators Foundation strives to meet the needs of the local community by offering resources and financial support to youth-oriented organizations, awarding nearly $7.0 million to the greater Nashville community. Let us celebrate this announcement and commitment to helping those in need.
SUPPORTING THE TREAT AND REDUCE OBESITY ACT
Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , the number of Americans living with obesity is reaching record levels. Today, nearly 100 million Americans are living with obesity, a complex chronic condition associated with other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and even cancer. prgtoken Obesity also disproportionately impacts communities of color, particularly Black and Latino adults. Nearly half (49.6 percent) of Black Americans and 44.8 percent of Latino Americans are living with obesity, compared to 42.2 percent of their white counterparts. In my district in Southern California, which is more than two-thirds Latino, rates of diabetes and obesity are among the highest in the state. prgtoken Unfortunately, outdated Medicare rules deny access to effective obesity care for millions of Americans. Despite a 2013 decision by the American Medical Association recognizing obesity as a treatable disease, Medicare still stigmatizes obesity as a choice and denies access to the full continuum of care. prgtoken This is something we can change. Right now, there is legislation--The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act--that would modernize Medicare by providing access to anti-obesity medications and intensive behavioral therapy, thus expanding care to millions of Americans. prgtoken New data shows that the American people support Congressional action to expand access to coverage for obesity treatments. 70 percent of adults surveyed in a recent Morning Consult poll conducted on behalf of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network support expanding Medicare coverage for prevention and treatment of obesity in adults. prgtoken I urge all of Congress to join me in supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to begin to address our obesity epidemic in California and across the country.
NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise to oppose the out-of- control defense spending contained in this year's National Defense Authorization Act. At a topline level of $768.2, billion, this bill is larger than any previous pentagon spending bill. It's even bigger than what the President asked for by $25 billion. prgtoken This excess is particularly egregious when compared to the military spending of our potential adversaries. We spend more on the US military than the next eleven countries combined. prgtoken And all this funding is being poured into an agency that is perennially unaccountable to the American public. It has been 30 years since all federal agencies were required to pass audits. And after three decades the Department of Defense (DOD) remains the only agency in the federal government that has so far failed to pass an audit. The most recent prediction from the department for a clean audit is 2028. prgtoken Yet we see numerous examples of fraud, waste, and abuse from this department, from legacy weapons systems built for the cold war, to the billions in documented waste in Afghanistan. prgtoken The military has rightly identified the climate crisis as one of the biggest and most immediate threats to American lives and interests. And yet the Pentagon still hasn't fully reported on its own greenhouse gas emissions. And every excessive dollar spent on the Pentagon isn't available for the investments we need to make in mitigation and adaptation to protect us and the world from the impacts of climate change. prgtoken Especially frustrating to me about this bill is the fact that needed reforms to advance racial justice and combat extremism and white supremacy were excluded in the negotiations that produced this compromise legislation. Our military leaders have been clear about the need to address extremism within the ranks and provide equal justice for Black and Brown servicemen and women. By failing to address these issues adequately in this bill, we don't just let down our men and women in uniform, we let down the country and betray our ideals. prgtoken Enough is enough. Americans are demanding that Congress rebalance our priorities and invest in the biggest challenges America faces. We face imminent threats from the COVID pandemic, Climate Change, domestic terrorism, growing economic inequality, and systemic racial and ethnic inequities. It is time to shift our spending priorities to meet these urgent human security priorities. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
HONORING THE CAREER OF STEVE RICHARDSON
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the career of hardworking public servant, Steve Richardson. After serving nearly 40 years with the Social Security Administration spanning three different field offices, Steve will head onto the next chapter of his life this on December 31st, 2021. Steve has dedicated his life to serving and informing the public, and his loss is a notable one for the Social Security Administration and the Boston region as a whole. prgtoken As a fellow native New Englander, Steve graduated from Northeastern in 1984 with a Bachelor's in Political Science. As someone who place strong value in an education, he also went on to obtain a Master's in Public Affairs from Boston's Emerson College in 1999. Equipped with an impressive Massachusetts education, Steve was destined to serve the public of Connecticut's neighboring state. prgtoken Before even completing his Bachelor's, he began with the Roxbury Social Security Administration's Field Office in 1982 as a claims representative, working to prove his professionalism and wealth of knowledge from the get-go. It was because of his experience and dedication to the public that he was able to expand his career with the Administration to the Roslindale and Chelsea field offices while wearing numerous hats including the additional roles of supervisor and regional public affairs specialist. He most recently transitioned to the role of regional communications director for the Boston regional office in 2018, where he has remained responsible for the coordination of the Administration's public activities in all six New England states. prgtoken Madam , I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Steve and know of his work on all things related to Social Security. He has been an invaluable resource for my office and longtime Social Security caseworker Karen Weseliza, and has acted as a strong leader, creative teacher, and an excellent administrator to those who have worked with and for him. Even with Karen's sharp expertise, he could always be relied on as the first person to call on the hardest cases and could always be relied upon to assist my casework team with any complications. To that end, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating Steve's life of hard work and congratulating him on a well- earned retirement.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-12-13

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EL COMERCIO DE COLORADO
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of El Comercio de Colorado for receiving 14 national journalism awards granted by the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP). prgtoken In my time in Congress, I have been proud to represent the most diverse district in Colorado. With people from all walks of life and over 120,000 immigrants calling our community home, our diversity makes our community a stronger and more vibrant place to live. prgtoken As our district's Latino and Hispanic populations have grown, El Comercio de Colorado has offered high-quality Spanish-language content for our community. As the publication has gained recognition. Jesus Sanchez, chief editor of El Comercio de Colorado, has made it his mission to provide our Spanish-speaking community with a publication that provides well-sourced information about what is happening across our district and nation. prgtoken The hard work and dedication shown by Jesus and his staff at El Comercio de Colorado has more than paid off as the publication was awarded 14 national journalism awards by the NAHP, including five first place recognitions for Outstanding Entertainment Section, Outstanding Latin American Article, Outstanding Community Photo, Outstanding Cultural Photo Essay, and Outstanding Editorial Audio. These awards truly demonstrate the hard-earned trust El Comercio de Colorado has built within our community. prgtoken It goes without saying that the Latino and Hispanic communities in our district play an integral role in making the Sixth District a better prgtoken place to live. Publications like El Comercio de Colorado play a vital role in making our community feel like home for everyone--no matter their ethnicity, religion, or place of birth. Our community owes El Comercio de Colorado a debt of gratitude for their remarkable work and I congratulate them on receiving this well-deserved recognition.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-13

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, December 14; further, 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; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Elliott nomination; further, that the cloture motion on the Elliott nomination ripen at 11 a.m. and that notwithstanding rule XXII, if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at a time to be determined by the majority leader following consultation with the leader; further, that following the cloture vote on the Elliott nomination, the Senate vote on cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany S. 1605.
HONORING MRS. LINDA B. CONLIN
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mrs. Linda B. Conlin on the occasion of her retirement. prgtoken Linda has served the people of the United States of America in her role as a Department of the Army Civilian for over 39 years. Her long and distinguished career of service began in 1973 as a Kindergarten teacher in a small DoD school in the East-West German border kaserne of Bad Hersfeld, Germany. She finishes her career with over 25 years in the Washington, D.C. area-serving in the Army's Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, and most recently for the last 17 years as the Support Division Chief in the National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison. Linda has received a Commander's Award for Civilian Service and several Superior Civilian Service Awards. prgtoken As the Co-Chair of the National Guard and Reserve Caucus, I especially want to thank her for her service with the National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison. prgtoken 2021 will undoubtedly go down in history as, ``The Year of the National Guard.'' This year. the National Guard continued its mission to fight the scourge that is the COVID-19 pandemic, conducted a mobilization of 25,000 troops to defend our Capitol--the bastion of our Democracy, responded to countless natural disasters ranging from fires, to floods, to hurricanes, all while continuing to protect us from our adversaries abroad. prgtoken Throughout this tumultuous year, the National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison supported my office, and all of Congress, in unprecedented ways. Linda was critical in providing this support and embodied the spirit of the Guard's motto: ``Always Ready, Always There.'' prgtoken This country is losing a true patriot today, her loss will be noticed. As she begins her new adventures, I wish Linda and her family with nothing but health and happiness in her retirement.
Kentucky (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-12-13

the tornadoes that hit Kentucky this past weekend were some of the most widespread, severe, and devastating in our State's history. prgtoken It is still difficult to comprehend the vast scope of the storm. Nearly 40 tornadoes touched down across 6 States. One tornado in Kentucky stayed on the ground for over 200 miles--200 miles. This was potentially the longest continuous path of any tornado in U.S. history. prgtoken Towns have been reduced to rubble. Families are picking up pieces of their shattered lives. Most tragically, our Governor announced today that more than 60 Kentuckians are confirmed to have lost their lives. Many more remain unaccounted for. prgtoken This is the worst storm to hit Kentucky in my lifetime. The tornadoes have caused considerable damage in 15 counties all across the Commonwealth. Thousands lost their homes. Tens of thousands are still without power. This was, in the words of one meteorologist, ``the worst-case scenario'' for destruction. And it came during the Christmas season. Families are supposed to be gathering soon for rest, relaxation, and reunion. Now, so many Kentuckians are facing exactly the opposite. prgtoken The whole country is becoming acquainted with Mayfield, KY, likely our hardest hit city. Mayfield is a town of 10,000 in the Jackson Purchase. It has been known for the beautiful Greek Revival facade of the Mayfield First United Methodist Church. Now, First United is completely gone, and the town is literally leveled to the ground. prgtoken Mayfield's candle factory was operating in full swing this weekend to keep up with the Christmas demand. It was once a mainstay of the community, employing hundreds. On Friday night, the factory was turned into a scene of absolute horror. Many of the employees who were working that evening are feared dead. Rescue operations are ongoing. At least 40 employees were rescued initially. One was saved after being trapped under 5 feet of rubble for hours. The devastation there is absolute. prgtoken The tornado was so powerful that it ripped 27 train cars off their tracks in Earlington and scattered them across a field. A family photograph that was picked up by the storm in Dawson Springs, KY, was carried nearly 130 miles by the wind and discovered over in Indiana. prgtoken All across Western Kentucky, residents spent their Saturday and Sunday clearing debris and collecting clothes and possessions that had been scattered. Families were left to inspect the cinderblocks where their houses once stood. The cheery lights of Christmastime have been replaced by absolute destruction. prgtoken Kentucky has been devastated, but we have not been defeated. Kentuckians are resilient people who will stay strong and united through the crisis. prgtoken I am incredibly grateful to the first responders who have been on the prgtoken ground since the outset: Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky State Police, sheriff's departments, city and local law e
Tribute to Captain Edward Pritchard (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-12-13

the time has come to once again bid farewell to another one of Team Blackburn's esteemed fellows. prgtoken Over the past year, we have had the privilege of working with Capt. Edward Pritchard, who came to us from the U.S. Marine Corps to serve as our first Department of Defense fellow. prgtoken It was a strange year to be a fellow here in the Senate, but Ed rose to the occasion and impressed us. He impressed every one of us with his work ethic, humor, and his singular commitment to maintaining the strength and integrity of the U.S. military. It has truly been an honor having Ed on our team, and I think I speak for each and every one of us when I say we will miss him. prgtoken Captain Pritchard, I thank you for your service to Tennessee and to this great Nation and wish you all the best as you head across the river to the Pentagon to start the next exciting chapter in your already distinguished career.