mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-12-13

today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Craig Price of Richland County as Montanan of the Month for his generosity and service to the Sidney community. prgtoken Craig embodies the values and spirit of a Montanan. Through his upbeat attitude, generosity, and passion for volunteerism, Craig has become a pillar of the Sidney community. He has been an active member of the Sidney Lion's Club for 46 years, where he has helped with important initiatives, including Highway Clean Ups and the Meals on Wheels program. prgtoken Craig's enthusiasm for supporting Sidney's youth has made the difference in the lives of countless young Montanans. After working for 18 years as an educator and guidance counselor, Craig has dedicated countless hours to mentoring Sidney High School students involved in the school's Leo Club and instilling in them the same Montana values of generosity and service to their community. He also works with young students each year through the Lion's Club Plus Optics program, screening children for eyesight problems. prgtoken Craig's selflessness and passion for volunteerism has not gone unnoticed. He has rightfully received numerous awards for his service including the Lion's Club International President's Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Sidney Leo Club. Craig also received the Citizen of the Year award in 2021. prgtoken I have no doubt that the Sidney community is eternally grateful for Craig's countless hours of service and his devotion to instilling Montana values in the next generation. It is my honor to recognize Craig for his commitment to serving his neighbors in the Sidney community and for making Montana a better place. Keep up the great work, Craig. You make Montana proud.
EXTENSION OF COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND PAYMENTS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise in support of H.R. 5119, legislation that would extend availability of CARES Act funds provided to tribal governments through December 30, 2022. prgtoken Currently, CARES Act funds will expire on December 31, 2021, and tribes will be unable to use these vital resources. Although $8 billion was set aside for Tribes in the CARES Act to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic, they did not receive any funds until May 5, 2020, and some are still in the process of being distributed. prgtoken It is important to note that this legislation does not increase federal spending, rather it extends the timeline to use money already allocated. prgtoken After the CARES Act was signed into law, there was minimal guidance offered on what this funding could and could not be put towards, which led to an inadequate timeframe for Tribes to prepare an effective spending plan. A one-year extension will allow them the necessary time to best allocate these resources to their members without a rushed agenda. prgtoken Coronavirus Relief Funds have been put towards many essential services such as, improvements to health care, purchasing protective equipment, and distance learning programs. prgtoken Tribes used these funds in many different ways. Whether it was turning facilities into emergency operation centers or building meatpacking warehouses to help with the food supply crisis, they stepped up to provide for their members and community during the pandemic. prgtoken With the delayed allocations and limited guidance, tribes were put at an unfair advantage to begin with. This is why a December 31, 2022, extension of availability for CARES Act funds is necessary to allow tribes the time to effectively use these resources. prgtoken As Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, I commend Vice Chair Young and Representative O'Halleran in introducing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 5119.
HONORING CHEHALIS MAYOR DENNIS DAWES
Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican, WA) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mayor Dennis Dawes of Chehalis who is retiring from Chehalis City Council at the end of this year. Our community owes Mayor Dawes our sincere gratitude; he has dedicated his professional life to public service. He began his distinguished career in the Chehalis Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to become police chief. Mayor Dawes also served six terms on the Chehalis School Board from 1983 to 2007, and even worked as a bus driver for the Centralia School District. Ever active in his community, Mayor Dawes has also volunteered as a referee in local basketball and football games. Most recently, he has spent the last sixteen years as a city councilor in Chehalis, with eight of those years in his current role as mayor. prgtoken Mayor Dawes exemplifies what it means to be a public servant and has worked diligently for decades to improve the community he loves. It is truly my honor to work with exceptional, motivated, and dedicated leaders like him. While his official public service may be coming to an end, I am confident Mayor Dawes will continue to serve his neighbors in the Chehalis community, and I wish him the best in his retirement.
HONORING CPT. MITCH PHILLIPS
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-12-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor the service of one of Missouri's finest, Captain Mitch Phillips, who is retiring after 28 years of dedicated service in the Cass County Sheriffs Office. prgtoken Cpt. Phillips started his career attending what is now known as the University of Central Missouri. While there, he discovered a call to serve and protect his community and decided to pursue a career in public service. Cpt. Phillips first joined the Garden City Police Department after graduating from the National Police Academy in Warrensburg, Missouri. prgtoken Shortly thereafter, Cpt. Phillips became acquainted with the deputies from the Cass County Sheriffs Office and knew that his call to service would lead him there. In August of 1993, Cpt. Phillips joined the Cass County Sheriffs Office as a Patrol Deputy. As a result of his hard work and demonstrated leadership capabilities, Cpt. Phillips quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant in November of 1995. prgtoken Cpt. Phillips has held various leadership positions within the Cass County Sheriffs Office and has cultivated an environment that promotes integrity, dedication, and excellence from all his officers. His unwavering, steadfast support for his brothers and sisters in uniform truly represents the values of Missouri. prgtoken As any of the men and women that wear the badge can tell you, service does not come without sacrifice. No officer bears the burdens alone. For more than 28 years, Cpt. Phillips put the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of Cass County above his own, with the support of his wife, Michele, his three children, who stood beside their husband and father throughout all the hardships that the nature of law enforcement placed before them. We owe them all a debt of gratitude. prgtoken His life verse, Mathew 7:12, is one we all should abide by--``So in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you . . .'' Cpt. Phillips embodies all the qualities that make an excellent officer and public servant. Please join me in recognizing and honoring this heroic police officer and his years of self-less service to protecting our community.
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-12-13

reserving the right to object. prgtoken I have a simpler solution here, and I have already mentioned it. prgtoken The White House has denied my ability to meet with one Ninth Circuit judge who just got confirmed. Let me meet with the next two, and then we will UC these. We will UC these nominees whom Senator Whitehouse has been trying to move forward tonight. prgtoken I also want to mention to my colleague from Rhode Island that I am certainly more than amenable to working with him on a principle that, I think, all Senators should agree on--all of us--to strengthen this institution, whether you are a , a . That is this simple idea, which I thought existed here because I have certainly been able to do it: If a judge is up for confirmation, a circuit judge, and if you are a Senator representing one of the States in the circuit and that judge is going to have enormous power over your constituents for life, we should, as a general rule, as a general principle, say always: Of course, you get to meet with that judge. Of course, you can do your constitutional advice and consent duty. prgtoken I would be for it for any who wants it if there is a . Again, I talked to some folks from the administration today. They said that they always offered that. So maybe there is a misunderstanding. I don't want to say that my Senate colleague from Rhode Island is not right or those guys. I don't know. That is what they mentioned to me. prgtoken I just think, as a principle, every Senator here should agree with it. Why wouldn't you want to do that? prgtoken Like I said, until today, I have met with every single Ninth Circuit judge whom we voted on in my entire career here. Now, it has been a relatively short career, but this is really important to the people I represent because that court is really important to the people I represent. The Ninth Circuit so frequently gets the law wrong as it relates to Alaska, and it negatively impacts my constituents. This is important. prgtoken So I object to this date certain request, but as I mentioned, if I can meet with these--two more--Ninth Circuit judges, Senator Whitehouse can come down here and UC these two Court of Federal Claims judges, and I think he can move it. It is a real simple ask. prgtoken And the fact that the White House Counsel hasn't even called me back--a U.S. Senator trying to do his constitutional duty, advice and consent of the Senate? The Senator from Rhode Island and I are of the Senate. prgtoken So why don't we work on this principle that, if there is a nominee, a circuit judge nominee, and if a Senator from a State in that circuit wants to meet with that nominee--to do his constitutional duty--that we should all agree to do that no matter who is in the White House. I would agree to that principle in a heartbeat.
UYGHUR FORCED LABOR PREVENTION ACT
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-14

such time as I may consume. prgtoken H.R. 6256, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, is an opportunity for this body to send a resounding message to the world. We are engaged in a strategic competition with China around the world, and our stance on this issue, I believe, will define why our system is better. We aggressively oppose forced labor and Islamophobia, and we will back up our values with our actions. prgtoken In this major piece of legislation, we are doing it together, and s, working with Ranking Member McCaul and others, because it is the right thing to do. It is the right message to send. prgtoken So let us do it; let us get it out; let us stand tall; let us be true to our values. Let not China get away with Islamophobia. Let's make sure we wipe out Islamophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism from all corners of this place that we call the planet Earth. prgtoken , .
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE FIND MARK RANDALL MEADOWS IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-14

. Madam , Mark Meadows was served with a subpoena for testimony and documents 3 months ago. Since that time, he has done TV interviews, published a book, and produced over 9,000 documents about January 6, which he concedes are not covered by any form of privilege. prgtoken These documents include chilling text messages from the President's son, Don, Jr urging Meadows to get his father to do something to stop the violence; from Members of Congress, urging that the Vice President simply ignore electoral votes he personally deems unconstitutional; and, even after the violence of January 6, bemoaning the fact that the effort to overturn the counting of the electors was a failure. prgtoken One of the texts to Meadows, on January 3, came from an unknown caller and referred to efforts to replace the leadership of the Department of Justice and said the following: ``I heard Jeff Clark is getting put in on Monday. That's amazing. It will make a lot of patriots happy, and I'm personally so proud that you are at the tip of the spear and I can call you a friend.'' prgtoken But notwithstanding his texts, his emails, his interviews, and his book, Mr. Meadows refused to appear for his deposition, claiming that to discuss the same issues, documents, and book is somehow privileged. The inconsistency, the hypocrisy, grabs you by the neck, and so does his utter contempt of Congress. prgtoken Mr. Meadows is a central participant and witness to the events of January 6. He is at the tip of the spear. If he can get away with ignoring the law, if witnesses summoned before Congress can merely pick and choose when they comply, our power of oversight will be gone and along with it our cherished system of checks and balances. prgtoken Take away Congress' power to compel evidence and you take away Congress' power to protect the public from a dangerous and malign executive. People died on January 6. A Congress that cannot enforce its subpoenas in such an investigation is no more effective than a court in a homicide case which cannot compel witnesses to appear. We would cease to be a Congress and become a mere plaything in the hands of a despot. prgtoken Mark Meadows has demonstrated contempt for Congress and for the public. Now, he must be held in contempt. He should be prosecuted like anyone else who ignores the law because no one is above the law.
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE FIND MARK RANDALL MEADOWS IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2021-12-14

. Madam , just for the record, the gentleman from Ohio is aware of congressional oversight prerogatives. When Mr. Meadows was a member and later chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, he himself demanded testimony from senior executive branch officials and chided those who failed to cooperate with congressional oversight. prgtoken Madam , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the distinguished chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
COMBATING INTERNATIONAL ISLAMOPHOBIA ACT
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-12-14

I thank the chairman for yielding me time. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of the Combating International Islamophobia Act. prgtoken This legislation creates an office to monitor and combat Islamophobia at the Department of State. In recent years, we have seen tragedies like the 2019 Christchurch shooting, as well as the state-sponsored persecution of Uyghurs in China. prgtoken My hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, has a very large Muslim community, and it is also a constant target of Islamophobic hate. There have been thousands of documented complaints of anti-Muslim hate and bias in the United States this year alone. In my community are good-standing Americans. They are afraid and fearful of these actions, and I have heard from constituents who are afraid of visiting their mosques or going to events as a result. prgtoken Passing this bill sends a strong message about our shared commitment to safeguarding religious liberty worldwide. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE FIND MARK RANDALL MEADOWS IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-12-14

. Madam , first let me say that I respect the gentleman's service in the United States Navy as I respect all of our men and women in the Armed Forces of the United States. prgtoken Let me end as I began. All of us ought to vote for this motion to hold somebody in contempt who refuses to come forth, who is clearly and, obviously, in contempt of the Congress of the United States. I urge every Member on behalf of this institution, not on behalf of any political party; on behalf of our democracy, not on behalf of ; on behalf of the Constitution of prgtoken the United States to vote ``yea'' on this resolution.
RELATING TO INCREASING THE DEBT LIMIT--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-12-14

I learned a long time ago, I never want to give a speech after that, but certainly I agree with what Senator Warnock said, and the Senate schedule kind of made me do this. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Warnock, who is one of the principals in our legislation, Senator Bennet, Senator Booker, and Senator Kaine for their leadership and their work to deliver what is, pure and simple, the largest tax cut for working families ever. prgtoken Tomorrow, for the sixth month in a row--July 15, August 15, September, October, November. Tomorrow is the sixth month in a row that Ohio parents, 92 percent of parents in Ohio with children under 18, will again see $250 or $300 in their bank accounts or in their mailbox per child. If they have two infant children, they will get $600. prgtoken This is the most consequential thing we have done in decades to make people's hard work pay off. We know how hard parents work at their jobs, at raising kids. Any parent knows how much work it is to take care of children, especially young children. It has only gotten harder over the last couple of years. Often, that hard work doesn't pay off like it should. We have seen what has happened over the past decades. Productivity has gone up; the stock market has soared; executive compensation is stratospheric; but wages have been flat. prgtoken Workers' paychecks are finally--finally, during this administration and this Senate, this Congress--finally, because of the work we are doing, workers' paychecks are starting to go up. But after decades of stagnation, we have a long way to go. prgtoken Meanwhile, parents know how expensive it is to raise kids. Healthcare, school lunches, diapers, clothes, school supplies, braces, sports fees, camp fees--the list never seems to end. prgtoken Of course, one of the biggest, if not the biggest expense for so many families is childcare. Parents feel like they are trapped. They can't keep up no matter how hard they work. They work more hours to provide for their family. They have to put their money right back into childcare. Sometimes the extra money in their paycheck doesn't even cover the extra daycare costs. prgtoken That is why Senators Booker and Kaine and Bennet and Warnock worked so hard to enact the child tax credit. As I said, the largest--it is a $3,000 tax cut so 92 percent of the families in my State with children get at least a $3,000 tax cut. It is the same in Virginia, same in New Jersey, the same in Georgia. It is about finally--finally--making parents' hard work pay off so they can keep up with the costs of raising a family. prgtoken I was talking to Senator Kaine, and I know he is going to say some of the same things. Let me share a handful of some really quick stories or comments that people have gone on our website and posted at the 15th of the month. prgtoken Kristen from Columbus says she is using this money to pay for ``daycare. For two kids it is $600 a week.'' prgtoken Ale
RELATING TO INCREASING THE DEBT LIMIT--Continued
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-12-14

this day is one of the profound moments for both Senator Murphy and myself, because we lived through that day--a searing, grief-stricken day that neither of us will ever forget, 9 years ago. And at this moment on that day, I stood before a church full of parents and members of that Newtown community. And what I said then was, ``The world is watching. The world is watching us and what we will do.'' prgtoken Today, we remember not only what we lost but also what we still need to do as, 9 years ago, those 20 beautiful children and 6 great educators lost their lives. Today, as we did at St. Rose of Lima Church that evening, we remember the lives they lived. Their names will be forever engraved in our hearts. We remember them for bringing bursts of light and laughter and love into our lives, mostly into the lives of their families. prgtoken We also remember the heroism, the real heroism, of those educators on that day--of the six who bravely sought to shield their children. Literally, with their own bodies, they sought to protect their children--running unhesitatingly toward that danger, barricading classrooms, drawing on all their reserves of calm and professionalism to protect the children in their care. They were heroes, and so were emergency responders, State police, and all who came to the firehouse that day. I remember the broken faces--the heartbroken faces--of men who went into the school building to secure the crime scene and saw the bodies of children who could have been their own. They were tough State policemen who had seen it all. Those emergency responders, the ministers, the priests, the people of faith who tended to the parents, and, yes, indeed, the parents themselves--heroes. prgtoken My colleague Senator Murphy has talked about Jesse's dad, Neil Heslin. Jesse's mom, Scarlett Lewis, became a hero as a champion of social and emotional learning to try to prevent the conflict and the emotional travail that could lead someone like Adam Lanza to do what he did. prgtoken I will never forget, at one of those wakes and funerals that we attended in the days afterward--they seemed interminable in the cold and the deadening light of winter--the one mom whom I approached and said: ``When the time is right, when you are ready, I think we should do something about gun violence.'' She looked at me and said: ``I am ready now.'' prgtoken The ferocity, the bravery, the strength, and fortitude of those parents in the days and months afterward, coming here, as we sought to do something about gun violence, and then they sat in the Gallery when, by a handful of votes, we failed, and the cry of shame--shame--that one of those parents shouted to us. prgtoken They worked bravely, and they have continued that work with the kind of unflinching courage that it takes every time they tell their stories and every time one of the surviving families talks about their children in the quest to save others. That is
CONGRATULATING DEPUTY SECRETARY DOUG HOUSE ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-12-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Doug House, who is retiring as Deputy Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation after two and a half years of service. prgtoken Throughout his life, in every action he has undertaken, Mr. House has selflessly served the public in pursuit of delivering a better Illinois. He has always been a fighter for meaningful change and produced real results for Illinoisans. His journey began in the Quad Cities region, when he graduated from Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Illinois. Mr. House became a Staff Sergeant in the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard in Peoria in 1980. He joined the 682nd Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve in 1983, where he helped train heavy construction equipment operators to build roads until his honorable discharge in 1986. Mr. House's commitment to revitalize our state's infrastructure was only beginning and would stay with him over the next four decades. He oversaw the progress of many public works projects while presiding over the Illinois Chapter of the American Public Works Association. Mr. House, an advocate for workers' rights, was named to The Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting as a construction analyst in 2016. In April 2019, he was hired as Deputy Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. One of his proudest moments was being in Moline, Illinois on December 1, 2021 for the opening of the I-74 Bridge, which will symbolize the hard-working spirit of our region for generations to come. prgtoken It is because of diligent and noble leaders such as Doug House that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would like to again formally congratulate Doug House on his two and a half years of service as Deputy Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.