mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2021
Jake LaTurner (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-5-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 2520, the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021. prgtoken Today, State and local governments are not in the position to defend their networks against cyberattacks from sophisticated foreign adversaries or cybercriminals. State and local governments are rich targets for cyber adversaries, and the frequency of attacks is only accelerating as budgets are increasingly constrained. prgtoken The Federal Government needs to redouble their efforts to support State, local, Tribal, and territorial government entities to bolster their cybersecurity posture. prgtoken To help remedy this, this bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for engagements with SLTT entities to increase Federal support and information sharing. prgtoken Additionally, the bill expands DHS' responsibilities concerning grants and cooperative agreements. The bill also provides DHS the ability to coordinate with SLTT entities to conduct exercises, provide technical and operational cybersecurity training, as well as promote cybersecurity education and awareness. prgtoken S. 2520 will help shore up SLTT vulnerabilities against malicious cyberattackers and will go a long way to strengthen our more localized entities that are closer to the everyday American. prgtoken I urge Members to join me in supporting S. 2520, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-5-17

today the Senate is considering a bill to give $40 billion to Ukraine. This bill brings up the questions of both constitutionality and also affordability. prgtoken There was an essay written in 1867 that was published in Harper's Magazine. It was called ``Not Yours To Give.'' It is the story of Davy Crockett as a Congressman in the late 1820s. Like most stories of that vintage, some will argue that the story is an accurate rendition while others may say it is apocryphal. The moral of the story, however, is incontestable. prgtoken Davy Crockett only served two terms in Congress, but on one day in Congress he was confronted with a bill to give money to the widow of a military officer. Davy Crockett arose and gave this speech. --I have as much respect for the memory of the deceased, and as much sympathy for the sufferings of the living, if suffering there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for a part of the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. We have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to appropriate a dollar of the public money. prgtoken Davy Crockett continued: I am the poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give one week's pay-- I will give my check for 1 week, and if every member of Congress were to do this, it will amount to more than this bill asks for. prgtoken When Crockett finished, there was silence, and, remarkably, the bill failed. When later asked for an explanation, Davy Crockett explained. prgtoken He said: Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the Capitol with some other members of Congress, when [we saw] a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast as we could. In spite of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families made homeless, and, besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many women and children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them. The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon as it could be done. prgtoken Later in the year, when Davy Crockett was back in Tennessee, he ran into a constituent by the name of Horacio Bunce. Crockett asked him for his vote, and Horacio Bunce responded thusly. He said: You had better not waste your time or mine. I shall not vote for you again. Your vote last winter shows that either you have not the capacity to understand the Constitution or that you are
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ON THE RISE
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , it was a big day a couple of days ago because the new immigration figures prgtoken came out for the month of April, and it is something that ought to be banner headlines in all the newspapers. I will report them. prgtoken In April, 185,000 illegal immigrants entered the United States. Sometimes people talk about the number of contacts we have; some of the people turned around. Madam , 185,000, that is up from 152,000 in March. It is 185,000 this April; 66,000 last April; and two Aprils ago, under a different administration, it was under 6,000. prgtoken Let me repeat: In April 2020, 5,700 people entered the country, and we didn't know exactly who they were; last April, 66,000; now, 185,000. prgtoken In there, we have 8,600 unaccompanied children. People want to worry about families being broken up, that they will send them somewhere in the United States. But 8,600 children entered the country unaccompanied. prgtoken In any event, if we have any newspaper people listening, they ought to report this as the banner headline tomorrow.
MORNING BUSINESS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-5-17

I want to honor the life and legacy of Julianne ``Julie'' Beckett of Cedar Rapids, IA. Julie was a mother and passionate advocate for children and youth with special healthcare needs and disabilities. I got to know Julie very well over the years as the result of her daughter, Katie Beckett, and Julie's passionate advocacy on Federal policy work such as Katie Beckett waivers, Family Opportunity Act, Money Follows-the-Person, Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act, Accelerating Access to Kids Care Act, and more. prgtoken Julie's daughter, Katie, was born in Cedar Rapids, IA, on March 9, 1978. Five months after she was born, Katie contracted viral encephalitis followed by grand mal seizures. The encephalitis caused damage to her central nervous system and her respiratory system, and she was attached to a ventilator. She would be almost 2 years old before she could breathe on her own. Under Medicaid law at the time, Katie could only receive care through Medicaid if she remained in the hospital, even though she was able to receive care at home. Iowa Congressman Tom Tauke heard of Katie's situation and realized that it made no sense to keep a child in the hospital who could be at home with her family. He worked to convince the Reagan administration that the system should be changed to allow States to provide Medicaid to children receiving care in their homes. Ultimately, President Ronald Reagan took up Katie's cause, intervening so that Katie could receive treatment at home and still be covered under Medicaid. prgtoken In the 1980s, Julie and Katie were able to help change national policy that became known as ``Katie Beckett waivers'' and, to date, more than a half million disabled children have been able to receive care in their homes with their families rather than being forced into hospitals and institutions. Katie passed away on May 18, 2012. Since then, Julie continued her advocacy. prgtoken Sadly, last Friday, May 13, 2022, Julie passed away. As the result of Julie's advocacy, children like Katie are able to live a healthy, happy, and independent life. Our Nation has lost a passionate advocate for children and youth with special healthcare needs and disabilities. For more than 40 years, Julie advocated and organized the voices of families of children and youth with special healthcare needs and disabilities. Julie cofounded Family Voices, a national family-led organization of families and friends of children and youth with special healthcare needs and disabilities. Julie was instrumental in passing the Family Opportunity Act, which established Family-to-Family Health Information Centers and created options for families with children and youth with special healthcare needs and disabilities to buy into Medicaid while continuing to work, among other important provisions. Julie also worked at Child Health Specialty Clinics in Iowa for 30 years and
RECOGNIZING THE 2022 TRUMAN SCHOLARS
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 2022 Truman Scholars. prgtoken These 58 individuals were chosen from an applicant pool of 705. These students were nominated based on their records of leadership, public service, and academic achievement. prgtoken They are: Haleemat Y. Adekoya, Cameron H. Adkins, Julian R. Applebaum, Lorena Bonet Velazquez, Jilkiah L. Bryant, Fatimata D. Cham, Ji Hye Choi, Mariah Choiniere, Alton Coston, Gabriel Echarte, James H. Elliott II, Adam H. Elzarka, Tal Feldman, Rosalie Fish, Andy A. Flores, Beatrix A. Frissell, Robyn L. Griffitts-Harper, Christine J. Groves, Avi Gupta, Beyonce Hammond, Abril N. Hunter, Bhav Jain, Alixandria James, Jack Jowers, Sawa Kamara, Amisha A. Kambath, Hana Kamran, Eshika Kaul, Liana S. Keesing, Liberty R. Ladd, Jamie Landy, Jessica S. Lau, Allen Li, John C. Lin, Erin Lowe, Madison I. Marsh, Kelsey E. Matthews, Ranen Miao, Armando A. Montero, Abrianna E. Morales, Owen Mortner, Mariama L. Mwilambwe, Xalma M. Palomino, Veronica Bonifacio Penales, Emily Quan, Natalia V. Rios Martinez, Dawry Ruiz, Oksanna Samey, Maddi S. Schink, Katie Sleichter, Cooper E. Smith, Irene Soteriou, Rachel Stewart, Emma Story, Loyal D. Terry, Cassandra J. Thompson, Rebecca Townley, and Sydney J. Walker. prgtoken The Truman Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 to honor President Harry S. Truman's legacy of extraordinary public service. The Truman Scholarship serves as a living monument to that legacy. As a former Truman scholar myself, I look forward to seeing how this class continues that legacy.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-5-17

I rise today to bring the Senate's attention to the life and legacy of an Alaskan trailblazer, a woman of enormous heart and energy whose dedication to the young people of Anchorage, AK, was deep and made a positive difference. prgtoken Etheldra ``Thel'' Sampson Davis was born in Arkansas in 1931, one of eight children. After her family moved to California while she was a child, she graduated from LA City College with an associate of arts degree in 1951 and subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of California, Los Angeles. She practiced her profession in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles for 8 years. prgtoken In 1957, Thel visited her adventurous older brothers in Anchorage, AK, and fell in love with the State. After becoming certified to teach in Alaska, she became the first African-American on-contract teacher in the Anchorage School District in 1959. As a teacher, she contributed to the future of the Anchorage community at five Anchorage elementary schools: Willow Crest, Airport Heights, Government Hill, Mountain View, and Denali. And in 1965, she earned her master's in education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. prgtoken In 1967, she became the assistant principal at Willow Crest Elementary School. And in 1969--the same year in which she married Joseph Davis--she applied for and was hired to fill the position of principal at Fairview Elementary School. This was yet another trailblazing moment for Thel, as she was the first African-American principal in Anchorage. She later became principal at the new Ptarmigan Elementary and later the John F. Kennedy Elementary School on Fort Richardson near Anchorage. Always seeking additional knowledge and skill, Thel achieved yet another goal by earning her doctorate in education from California's Newport University in 1975. prgtoken Thel taught and provided leadership for Anchorage area students and her fellow educators for 21 years until her retirement in 1980. A former superintendent of the Anchorage School District has said of Thel's service, ``Etheldra had a true passion and belief that ALL students can succeed if given a rigorous academic program coupled with love and concern.'' The Anchorage School Board, in reviewing the proposal to rename Fairview Elementary School in her honor, noted that her ``passion and commitment to the students entrusted to her care is legendary.'' No better tribute can ever be said of an educator. prgtoken But throughout her career, Thel was not only a busy teacher and principal. In addition to her school-based contributions to the Anchorage community, Thel was an active member in a variety of community and national organizations, including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and National Education Association. She also helped to establish several youth mentoring organizations, including the NAACP Youth Council and the United League of Girls. As a member of the Black Educat
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2022
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken This en bloc includes several amendments that I believe would vastly improve the underlying legislation. prgtoken First, these amendments would bring needed flexibility and innovation to the workforce development system when it comes to apprenticeships. have, unfortunately, chosen to double down on the outdated registered apprenticeship model rather than meet employers where they are at. This group of amendments includes proposals that encourage innovation to occur so that apprenticeships can meet the needs of more employers. prgtoken Second, one of the amendments would ensure that States provide a realistic and workable timetable for awarding grants and contracts for adult basic education. This is simply good governance. States should not hold on to funding indefinitely that is intended to be directed toward jobseekers. This amendment will make sure the funding goes where it is intended and doesn't get stuck with bureaucrats to the detriment of individuals seeking basic education services. prgtoken Third, WIOA should be focused first and foremost on providing skills development services for jobseekers. It is unfortunate that H.R. 7309 adds vague language encouraging supportive services to include ``healthcare supports.'' While I was pleased that the longstanding Hyde amendment was secured and will apply to WIOA funds for fiscal year 2022 appropriations, I will always fight to see the Hyde amendment applied to ensure Federal funds do not support the killing of babies. It is of utmost importance that taxpayer dollars do not go to pay for killing babies, and this amendment would guarantee that. prgtoken The right to life is our most fundamental and sacred right and must always be protected. I will always remain vigilant to ensure that taxpayer funds do not pay for the killing of babies. prgtoken Madam , I hope my colleagues will support this set of amendments, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-5-17

before I begin, I want to mention the severe storms that hit eastern South Dakota last Thursday. prgtoken I visited Castlewood on Saturday, which is among the communities that was hardest hit, to get a look at the damage, and it is extensive. Homes and a school have been damaged, destroyed. Many of our farmers were hit hard and lost critical equipment and buildings. prgtoken I just want our thoughts and prayers to go out to those South Dakotans who were affected and, in particular, the family and friends of the two women who were killed in the storm. prgtoken My office will be doing everything possible to help those affected get the assistance that they need to recover. National Police Week prgtoken , this week is National Police Week--a time set aside to honor the service of our Nation's law enforcement officers and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. prgtoken While there are a number of tough jobs out there, being a law enforcement officer is in a different league. I can think of only one other career path where willingness to lay down your life for your fellow citizens is part of the job description. prgtoken Law enforcement officers don't know what they will face when they get up every day. They don't know what they face when they respond to a call, but they go out anyway. We call, and they come, day or night, no matter the danger. prgtoken In addition to the physical dangers that they face, police officers also bear a heavy mental burden. Most of us don't have to confront evil in our lives every day, thanks in large part to the sacrifices of our Nation's law enforcement officers. But police officers have to get up close and personal with evil on a daily basis. They get a front-row seat when it comes to seeing fallen humanity, and they pay a price. prgtoken Being a police officer has always been a tough job, but over the past couple of years, it has gotten even harder. The ``defund the police'' movement and the anti-law enforcement sentiment have taken a tremendous toll on police departments and police officers. prgtoken Morale has sunk, which has resulted in increased resignations and retirements. Police departments are understaffed, which has stretched officers to the limit and limited their ability to respond to crimes. And, unsurprisingly, police departments are struggling to recruit officers. prgtoken Being a police officer is a difficult enough job as it is. It is not surprising that people would be reluctant to go into this field, knowing that the reward for their sacrifice will be constant criticism and vilification. ``Defund the police'' rhetoric has also put officers in increased danger. I find it hard to believe that the 59-percent increase in murders of police officers in 2021 had nothing to do with the fanning of anti-police sentiment. prgtoken And ``defund the police'' rhetoric and soft-on-crime p
ORDER FOR RECESS
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-5-17

I come to the floor today for the 12th consecutive week while the Senate has been in session to talk about the illegal, unprovoked, and brutal assault on Ukraine being carried out by Russia. prgtoken We started these discussions before this latest invasion even occurred; and, unfortunately, every week, as I talk about it, there are more and more examples of brutality as the Russians continue to bomb innocent civilians in Ukraine. Also, we have been able to talk about some progress that we have made in helping Ukraine, and that has been very effective in helping Ukraine help itself. prgtoken This is a classic fight for freedom. The importance of our humanitarian aid, our weapons, and our material support have all been in that cause, and the impact cannot be overstated. Since February 24, when the invasion began, we have provided $13.6 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds for military, humanitarian, and economic aid for Ukraine. By the way, it has made a huge difference in keeping Ukraine from being totally overrun by Russia. You will remember that the Russian objective here, in looking at this map, was to take over the entire country. In starting with Kyiv, remember that they surrounded Kyiv at one point. Now they have been pushed out altogether. prgtoken The Russians have now been forced to just focus here, in the southern and prgtoken eastern parts of Ukraine, where there continues to be very fierce fighting. These darker red sections are sections that the Russians took back in 2014. The lighter red are the sections of Ukraine they are trying to take now. The blue, you can see here, is where the Ukrainians have made progress, including around Kharkiv, which is a major city here in Eastern Ukraine. You can see where there is quite a bit of blue--in fact, in one case, all the way to the Russian border where the Ukrainians have pushed back the Russians. prgtoken So our support has made a difference. But that support--the $13.6 billion in aid--has now been depleted, and it is necessary for us to re-up, including in just providing basic munitions so that the Ukrainians can continue the fight with ammunition but also in providing heavier weapons because, down in this area, that is what is required. As the Russians use more and more artillery and other heavy weapons to try to push back the Ukrainians' positions, the Ukrainians must respond in kind. prgtoken Without the support that we have provided, Russia would have destroyed a lot more of Ukraine; they would have killed a lot more innocent civilians; and they would have achieved a victory. It would have been damaging, of course, to Ukraine and its people but also damaging to us and our national interest and a safer world because, had they been successful, there would have been a much more dangerous and volatile world in its thinking that an authoritarian country could just come into a peaceful, democratic neighbor and take over another country. prgtoken
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2022
Chris Jacobs (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , I rise in support of my amendment, which would be of great benefit to adult learners across this country, and especially in my home State of New York. prgtoken New York State has had issues over the last several years in distributing these funds promptly. Independent programs typically operate on very thin budgets, so any delay in funding puts their operations in jeopardy. prgtoken My amendment would ensure States are held accountable for distributing funding promptly by requiring the States to provide a timeline for distributing grants and contracts for adult basic education in the Unified State Plan, and specifying that funds must be distributed in a timely manner. prgtoken The typical adult learner benefiting from title II funding is either an individual who was not able to access a K-12 education as a child or is a recent immigrant. prgtoken Last September, I visited one of the adult education programs in my district, Literacy West New York, and I walked away very impressed by the adult learners there. Life certainly has not been easy for them, but that hasn't stopped them from pressing on and working to improve their lives. prgtoken It is important we make sure that the resources promised to our Nation's adult learners, and the programs that support them, are available. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.