mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
H.R. 5746
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-1-18

I have enjoyed the discussion which has been going on with regard to this legislation and have a couple of comments. One is, given the interest and the priority of and the importance of elections, it would have been helpful, prior to preparing this legislation for a vote, if those that were the drafters of this legislation actually invited a --any --to sit down and perhaps negotiate and see if we could find some common ground. prgtoken But instead, the leadership dusted off what they had written before on an entirely partisan basis and then are shocked--shocked-- that s don't want to support what they drafted. prgtoken Now, I note that political overstatement and hyperbole may be relatively common, and they are often excused. But the President and some of my ic colleagues have ventured deep into hysteria. Their cataclysmic predictions for failing to support their entirely partisan election reform--worked out entirely by themselves, without any input whatsoever from any single person on my side of the aisle-- they are far beyond the pale. prgtoken Now, they are entirely right to call out 's Big Lie about the last election being stolen. But in the same spirit of honesty, they should not engage in a similar lie that s across the country are making it much harder for minorities to vote and, thus, that the Federal government must urgently displace centuries of constitutional practice that give States primary control over elections. prgtoken So dire are the consequences, they claim, that this must be done by shredding the rules of our senior legislative body. They point to Georgia as evidence of political election villainy. The President went there to deliver his crowning argument. But, as has been pointed out by many before me, it is easier for minorities--and everybody else for that matter--to vote in Georgia than it is in the President's home State of Delaware and in Leader Schumer's home State of New York. prgtoken In Georgia there are more days of early voting, and in Georgia there is no-excuse absentee voting by mail. prgtoken They do decry Georgia's prohibition of political activists approaching voters in line with drinks of water, but the same prohibition exists in New York. And why? So that voters don't get harassed in line by poll activists. prgtoken Just like Georgia and New York, many States keep poll activists at length from voters. My colleagues conveniently ignore the fact that the 1965 Voting Rights Act prohibition of any voting practice or procedure that discriminates against minorities is still in effect. Even today, the Justice Department is suing two States under that law. prgtoken Protection of minority voting is already required by law. Protection of minority voting is a high and essential priority for me and for my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken To be clear, I want an election system
SUPPLEMENTAL IMPACT AID FLEXIBILITY ACT
Burgess Owens (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-1-18

the balance of my time. prgtoken The Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act ensures that students and schools relying on Impact Aid will not be affected negatively by the pandemic. prgtoken Specifically, the bill allows schools to use their previously reported headcounts so that services students rely on will continue. This frees up administrators to use their valuable time and resources addressing the educational needs of the students. prgtoken Students in over 1,000 federally impacted districts deserve the resources they receive from the Impact Aid program. This aid helps pay for a wide range of services that students rely on from bussing and technology to educational support services. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to support S. 2959, and .
COMBATING CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I am an avid outdoorsman. In November and December, if I have time, I tend to spend it out in the woods, deer hunting. This is a popular passion among many Pennsylvanians as well as Americans across our great country. Nothing beats those early mornings heading out to the woods in hopes you will return successful. prgtoken But our deer are currently threatened by chronic wasting disease. This is a contagious, neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose that is always fatal. CWD has been detected in 25 States and was first discovered in Pennsylvania deer nearly 10 years ago. prgtoken Working across the aisle, my colleagues and I introduced H.R. 5608, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, which unanimously passed out of the House Agriculture Committee. prgtoken By working closely with stakeholders, we developed a bill to take us one step closer to better understanding the genetic implications of the disease and developing policies best suited to solve the problem. prgtoken Specifically, this legislation authorizes $70 million to split evenly between CWD management and research efforts through USDA cooperative agreements. prgtoken The research funds are authorized to be spent on testing and detecting CWD in live cervids, noncervids, and the environment. Additionally, these funds are authorized for research of genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease, sustainable cervid harvest management practices, and any additional factors of local CWD emergence. prgtoken The management section authorizes funding for State or Tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture based on various funding priorities, including the highest incidences of CWD, areas demonstrating greatest financial commitments to addressing CWD, efforts to develop CWD programs and policies, areas of greatest risk of being introduced to CWD, and areas responding to new outbreaks. prgtoken This bill also includes key education provisions in which USDA, State, and Tribal agencies are authorized to develop materials to inform the public on chronic wasting disease. prgtoken Last but certainly not least, H.R. 5608 directs USDA reviewal of the herd certification program within 18 months. prgtoken Madam , we need all hands on deck to help combat this disease, maintain a healthy deer population, and protect our beloved elk range-- certainly, our elk range in Pennsylvania, which is near and dear to me. It is imperative we better understand the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of CWD. prgtoken I am really pleased that, in December, this House passed H.R. 5608 with strong bipartisan support, marking an important step in that direction. Today, we wait for the Senate to take up this time-sensitive bill. It is my belief our colleagues in the Senate recognize the urgency and the potential negative economic impacts of CWD if it continues to spread at this rate and work toward its passage.
HONORING JONATHAN MARQUESS
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor Jonathan Marquess on his appointment as the Georgia Pharmacy Association vice president of the Academy of Independent Pharmacy. prgtoken A graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, Jonathan has enjoyed a distinguished career and is well deserving of this appointment. prgtoken He is currently the president and CEO of the Institute for Wellness and Education in Woodstock, Georgia, and owns many pharmacies across the State. In addition to owning and managing many pharmacies, Jonathan has served as president of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and vice president of professional and clinical affairs for the American Pharmacy Cooperative. Jonathan has served as the third, fourth, and fifth vice president for the National Community Pharmacists Association since 2017. prgtoken Jonathan has dedicated his career not only to bettering his patients but also working to improve the lives and practices of pharmacists nationwide as well. prgtoken His illustrious career of service makes him more than suited to fit this role, and we are excited to see what else he can accomplish.
52 WEEKS OF BROKEN PROMISES
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , as President continues to fail the American people in so many ways and his poor leadership has created crisis after crisis after crisis, I can't think of anywhere in the country that shows us just the opposite type of leadership than the free and open State of Florida. prgtoken Madam , from Florida (Mrs. Cammack), one of Florida's great leaders, a freshman leader in the Study Committee, my colleague and friend.
H.R. 5746
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-1-18

one of the things that I sometimes regret about this body--and especially after hearing such an eloquent presentation from my colleague from California--is that we don't do enough dialogue here; it is a lot of monologues. Often, some of the best speeches that I have heard in this Chamber have been delivered to nearly empty Chambers because we don't sit and listen to one another, answer questions, engage, find the greater wisdom. prgtoken I am excited that tomorrow will give us an opportunity to do that. I expect 50--hopefully, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100--Senators on the floor for a discussion about voting rights, which we have not been able to have since I joined the Senate in January of 2013. This is an enormously important topic. We have not had a floor debate on any voting rights bill since I came to the Senate in 2013. prgtoken In this spirit of dialogue, I wanted to basically come and talk about Senate rules to respond to a question or a challenge that s were making on the floor last week. They pointed out that I, along with a number of , had signed a letter in 2017, arguing, in their view, that we should not change the filibuster on legislation. They cited that, and they said: How can you stand on the floor now and contemplate changes to the filibuster rule? prgtoken So what I wanted to do tonight is come to the floor and talk about 2017, talk about things that have happened since 2017, and, frankly, explain why I haven't really changed the position that I articulated in the letter, but I have changed my views about whether the filibuster accomplishes the objective or cuts against it. prgtoken Finally, what I want to do at the end of that, of answering their question about that letter, is to reassure them--to reassure them that what we will reach for tomorrow is not a blowing up of the filibuster. prgtoken I heard my colleague from Alaska today say we wanted to blow up the filibuster. No. Let me reassure all s that that is not what they are going to be asked to vote on tomorrow. They are going to be asked to restore the filibuster to what it was during the vast majority of the history of this body. prgtoken Here is the operant quote from the letter of 2017 that I signed. It was in April of 2017, shortly after the s had changed the Senate rules to ram through Neil Gorsuch after they had refused to even entertain the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. It was a bipartisan letter. ``We are united in our determination to preserve the ability of Members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor''--``extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor.'' prgtoken Well, what has happened since that letter was written in April of 2017? prgtoken First, those of us in the room know, as for extended debate on the Senate floor, are you kidding? It almost never happens. The filibuster rule that some of us hoped might facilitate that ha
ENSURING A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , just a few days before Christmas, on December 21, President issued a Presidential determination with little fanfare under the Defense Production Act of 1950. prgtoken The Defense Production Act of 1950 is a Korean war-era law that allows the government to accelerate production of critical materials and technology. It is the same law that Presidents and used to stimulate production of COVID-related ventilators and PPE during the pandemic. prgtoken In his memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, noted that: ``Ensuring a robust, resilient, and competitive domestic defense industrial base that has the . . . workforce to meet the Virginia-class submarine undersea warfighting mission is essential to our national security.'' prgtoken To accomplish that mission, the President invoked DPA authorities to expand the domestic production capability for ``large-scale fabrication, shipbuilding industrial base expansion for resilience and robustness, and maritime workforce training pipelines.'' prgtoken As chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees the Virginia-class program, I strongly support the President's decision because it is based on both strategic national defense considerations and industrial base demand. prgtoken Indeed, just a few days after Christmas, the President signed into law the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which contained provisions my subcommittee authored that are completely aligned with the President's DPA order. prgtoken Specifically, the new 2022 NDAA added funding for new facility construction for submarine production, as well as a boost for workforce training and supply chain development. All of these provisions were plus-ups from the Navy's initial budget request last February and based on our own analysis of strained shipyard capacity. prgtoken The more consequential issue contained in the DPA, I believe, is its finding that the Virginia program ``is essential to our national security.'' That finding is a blaring signal to the Congress and the entire country that we need to bolster our undersea deterrent capability to counter aggressive, coercive actions in the maritime domain--specifically, the behavior of both the Chinese and Russian navies that has been overwhelmingly repudiated by the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, the former in the South China Sea in 2016 and the latter in the Black Sea in 2019. prgtoken In both cases, despite the International Court's scathing rejection of both countries' intrusions on protected waters, there is no sign that lawlessness has abated. China's encroachment on territorial waters in the Philippines and Vietnam continues, as does its illegal island building and militarization of artificial landmasses that the court condemned. In the Black Sea and the North Atlantic, Russian claims to sea control and its seizure of Ukrainian naval ships are blatantly in violation of the inte
REMEMBERING THE LATE SARAH TYREE
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor the late Sarah Tyree, a passionate advocate who spent her career fighting for farmers, advocating for rural and urban agriculture, and working to end hunger. prgtoken Sarah dedicated herself to ending hunger and spent her life working on issues like promoting nutrition and reforming our food system to make eating locally grown foods more accessible to everyone. prgtoken After starting her career on Capitol Hill, Sarah worked for the Biotechnology Industry Organization and then the Missouri State Department of Agriculture, helping to establish the Missouri Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. prgtoken Sarah served as vice president of the agricultural consulting firm AgriLogic, and then spent the last 15 years of her career at the financial cooperative CoBank here in Washington, D.C where she most recently served as vice president for policy and public affairs. prgtoken Madam , the impact of Sarah's commitment to agriculture and local farming cannot be understated. She established a partnership between CoBank and the D.C. Central Kitchen, which allowed for the kitchen to significantly expand their local purchasing power. Her efforts helped many farmers keep land that they may have otherwise lost due to the pandemic. prgtoken Sarah was a devoted member of the D.C. Central Kitchen board of directors for many years, and she served as chair of the board between 2013 and 2018. In this capacity, Sarah continued her amazing work to end hunger and played a major role in securing funding to establish D.C. Central Kitchen's new location and expand its reach. prgtoken Sarah was unbelievably generous in her support of a cause that was dear to me, Monte Belmonte's annual march across Western Massachusetts to end hunger and to help support the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. She poured her energy into supporting local and national efforts to end hunger while also empowering the next generation of leaders in combating hunger through her work as a board chairman of the Campus Kitchens Project. prgtoken Sarah never stopped imagining a bigger and brighter future. She believed in harnessing the power of community to make America the best that we can be, promoting nutrition, supporting local farmers, and fighting to end hunger along the way. Sarah approached her work and this life with an open heart and a genuine desire to do good. She cared about improving the lives of others in a touching and rare way and has left an immeasurable impact on this world. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress, and all those whom Sarah's light touched, it is my great privilege and honor to celebrate and recognize the wonderful life of the late Sarah Tyree. prgtoken I want to say that I think I speak for all of my colleagues in this Chamber when I extend our condolences to her husband and her family. I hope that they all get comfort out of the fact that Sarah made such a difference for so many
H.R. 5746
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-1-18

let me start by thanking our colleague, the Senator from Oregon, Senator Merkley, for his leadership in working to restore the functioning of the Senate and to protect our democracy. We need both, and we need them now. prgtoken It was just 12 days ago that we marked the 1-year anniversary of the January 6 attack on this Capitol and on our democracy itself. It was a violent attempt to stop Congress from certifying the Presidential election of and to overturn the decision of the American people. It was inspired and instigated by the former President. prgtoken While that assault did not succeed in stopping us from counting the vote that day, the Big Lie did not die. In fact, the Big Lie has metastasized. It has spread, and its poison is seeping across the country. It is now taking prgtoken the form of -controlled State legislatures enacting laws that erect new barriers to the ballot box. Let's be clear. They are erecting barriers specifically designed to make it harder for people of color and younger voters to cast their ballots. prgtoken As we saw in a Federal Circuit Court case a number of years ago with respect to North Carolina, the court found that the State legislature had targeted African-American voters with surgical precision. prgtoken Dr. King observed that voting is ``the foundation stone for political action.'' He also observed that when the right to vote is impeded, a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition are betrayed. prgtoken What we see happening in State legislatures are not just efforts to put up barriers to the ballot box; they are also passing laws to authorize partisan operatives to interfere in the counting of the votes and even to overturn the results after the count. So laws to interfere with the casting of the votes and laws to interfere with the counting of the votes--that is what is happening right now. Nineteen legislatures around the country have already enacted these kinds of laws. prgtoken So, yes, our democracy was under attack right here on January 6 of last year, but 1 year later, the evidence is clear: The Big Lie is alive, and our democracy is still under attack. It is under attack by those seeking to implement the Big Lie in State legislatures. It is just the venue that has changed. prgtoken When we reconvened here after the attacks of January 6, I said on this floor that what we witnessed is what happens when we don't stand up together as and s to confront the Big Lie. prgtoken Now, over a year later, we have another chance to stand up together. To meet this moment and to protect our democracy, we need to take action here and now. That is what the Freedom to Vote Act does. It establishes minimum standards to ensure equal access to the ballot box across the country. It guards against partisan election meddling. It ends gerrymandering nationwide, and it ends secret money in elections. It contains t
NEW FUNDING FOR SEPTA FROM INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-1-18

. Madam , last Friday was a big day for infrastructure in the Philadelphia region. prgtoken Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Philly to announce the first tranche of funding for bridges under the new law, including $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridges. prgtoken That afternoon, I got to highlight how funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will improve our regional public transit system, known as SEPTA. prgtoken Over the next 5 years, SEPTA will receive more than $500 million more than expected. That money will help SEPTA accelerate repair efforts, including rehabilitation projects, vehicle replacement, and improving accessibility of rail and trolley stations. prgtoken While all of these upgrades are needed, the forthcoming work on accessibility is especially important. In fact, it is essential. People across our region rely on SEPTA every day to get to work, take their kids to school, buy groceries, go to the doctor, and more. Our neighbors should be able to complete these daily tasks without having to plan around which station has an elevator to accommodate a wheelchair or which stop is easier to get a baby stroller in and out of. prgtoken I am glad the infrastructure funding that Congress and President delivered will help get this much-needed work done more quickly. Our Delaware Valley residents deserve it. Election Workers are Essential