mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-5-4

I rise today to explain my position on Senator Sanders' motion to instruct conferees to remove language from any final conference report of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and the America COMPETES Act that would provide $10 billion for NASA to develop a second Human Landing System. prgtoken California has long been the epicenter of the global aerospace and commercial space industries, and I am proud of the many technical and scientific advancements made by California scientists and engineers. The bills that the conference committee will consider are intended to ensure that the innovation in aerospace in California and beyond has the support needed to maintain the United States' global competitive edge and lead scientific advancement. prgtoken When the Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last summer, I was concerned that section 2614 of the bill would circumvent the competitive process at the heart of Federal procurement and undermined NASA's existing contract for the Artemis Human Landing System. prgtoken By that time, NASA had already completed a contract review and award for the Artemis program for the development of a landing system, selecting the proposal by SpaceX. The SpaceX bid not only received the highest rating for its technical aspects and management approach, it also had the lowest price. prgtoken Nevertheless, the unsuccessful contractors who did not receive the final contract, Blue Origin and Dynetics, filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office, alleging violations and unreasonable evaluation practices. prgtoken The GAO investigated for 3 months and ultimately denied the claims by the contractors, saying: ``The evaluation of all three proposals was reasonable and consistent with applicable procurement law, regulation, and the announcement's terms.'' prgtoken Like Senator Sanders, I had initial concerns that section 2614 of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act would create an additional Human Landing System contract, thereby providing substantial public funding to contractors who lost a fair competitive contract award. Moreover, the terms of section 2614 threatened to force NASA into a rushed acquisition and could have diverted funds from other important projects to cover the expenses of this second Artemis award. prgtoken However, my staff and I have worked with Senator Cantwell and her staff at the Senate Commerce Committee to address those concerns. I understand that the Commerce Committee will work through the conference process to extend the timeline for the new contract in the bill-- previously just 90 days--to ensure that NASA can undertake another fair procurement process. prgtoken They have further committed to working with NASA to ensure that the language does not represent an unfunded mandate, forcing NASA to pull funds from other programs. prgtoken Lastly, NASA's budget request this year for the landing system was $1.5 billion,
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-5-4

I agree with my colleague that the SBIR Program and the STTR Program are critical to our American small businesses. It offers them incredible opportunities to develop technology important for our Nation. I also agree with my colleague that it is important we prevent critical national security technology developed by the programs from being acquired by China and Russia. prgtoken I do point out that if you look at the COMPETES Act, there are safeguards to prevent our foreign adversaries from acquiring sensitive technology--and not just China and Russia but all foreign countries of concern, including Iran and North Korea. This effort prgtoken builds on section 223 of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that provides protection and requires disclosure to guard against foreign influence on federally funded research and development. prgtoken I am going to support the motion to instruct and work with my colleague so we can develop clear language and make it clear that the technology developed by the SBIR Program and STTR Program are protected against being taken into China and Russia. I look forward to working with my colleague. prgtoken I support the motion. Vote on Motion
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-5-4

. And that is what my point is. We are not fast-tracking these without a vote. This is a motion to allow a vote en bloc on the floor. So you will have an opportunity to vote against Mr. Chaudhary or all of these. This is not a motion to immediately approve them without a vote. It is just a motion to bring them up so that you and others can vote on these nominees. That is all I am seeking. prgtoken And so my request, basically, would guarantee you a vote on all of these nominations if you drop your objection.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-5-4

I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 148. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 149. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 150. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 151. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 152. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 153. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 154. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 155. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 156. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 157. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 158. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 159. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-5-4

microchips are in everything from household vacuums to the most advanced fighter jets. A resilient domestic microchip supply chain is important to our national security and to our economy, but we have two problems. We are facing a shortage of microchips, and we do not have the capacity to produce enough of them here in the United States. That is why we have worked together, s and , to pass a plan in the Senate competitiveness bill that will boost American microchip manufacturing capacity, create thousands of jobs, and help lower costs for families. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to support this motion to show the continued bipartisan momentum behind our plan so we can get this across the finish line. prgtoken I am OK with a voice vote. Vote on Motion
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-5-4

this legislation will help to lower costs for hard-working families, create jobs, and equip the Nation to compete in a changing economy. prgtoken Historically Black colleges and universities have been putting in the work. For years, they have always had to punch above their weight, but they play a critical role in creating those jobs and in ensuring that we have a diverse, trained workforce for new technology, for research, and advanced manufacturing opportunities in Georgia and, indeed, across the country. prgtoken That is why we have to invest in their ability to meet tomorrow's challenges. When we invest in all of our young people, we position our economy to be strong for 10 years, 20 years, 30 years into the future. prgtoken The purpose of this motion is very simple. It will ensure that our entire higher education sector can contribute to our growing tech and innovation economy. We make good use of all of our talent in creating businesses and good-paying jobs in Georgia and all across the Nation. I hope that we can adopt this motion by voice vote. Vote on Motion
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-5-4

I rise in opposition to Senator Sanders' motion to instruct. prgtoken When America invented the semiconductor 40 years ago, we produced nearly half of the world's semiconductors. Today, we produce less than 10 percent. prgtoken Look what happened: Plants shut down across Ohio. Whirlpool, Ford, GM--forced to idle plants because of the ``spread out all over the world'' supply chain. prgtoken We passed the CHIPS Act 2 years ago. I thank Senator Cantwell who-- what she has done to stop this, encourage more production of these chips at home. prgtoken This bill will fund--this legislation will fund the bill Congress already passed. It is not a bailout. It is critical to my State--10,000 good jobs, 5,000 building trades--union building trades jobs paying prevailing wage for the next 10 years. It is an incentive program. prgtoken The EU, China, Taiwan, South Korea all provide incentives to make these chips domestically. None of them require stock warrants. prgtoken Everybody in this body knows my position in opposition to the financial services industry to stock buybacks. You can count on that. prgtoken I yield my final 30 seconds to Senator Wicker.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-5-4

the provision in the underlying bill that Senator Cruz's motion argues for is a good one in that we should care about cooperation between China and Iran, but I would encourage my colleagues to oppose this MTI because of another extraneous provision in the motion. prgtoken The motion argues that the United States should tie our Iran terrorism sanctions to our China policy, and that, frankly, is a bad idea. Terrorism-related sanctions are about punishing and deterring support for terrorism. If we want to use sanctions to deter cooperation between Iran and China, then we should craft those tailored sanctions; but to tie our Iran terrorism sanctions to our China policy would have the effect, really, of muddying the waters about the purpose of terrorism sanctions. Terrorism sanctions should be about stopping terrorism--period, stop. If we start applying terrorism sanctions for other purposes, it weakens our entire anti-terror strategy. prgtoken For that reason, I would urge opposition to the motion. Vote on Motion
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2022-5-4

. Thanks to a bipartisan effort in the Commerce Committee, the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act includes nearly $17 billion to support research, development, and supply chain support at the Department of Energy National Laboratories, including key technology areas, such as high-performance computing, advanced energy technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and advanced manufacturing. The House bill also includes robust support for our National Labs. prgtoken This strong investment is critical to maintaining and strengthening U.S. competitiveness and security, especially as global R&D expenditures rise in these transformative industries. prgtoken Our National Labs are a research crown jewel, and other countries are taking notice of our progress. In fact, China is working to build out their own national lab network modeled after our own DOE Labs. Inaction would leave the United States at risk of being rapidly outpaced. prgtoken New Mexico's own Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories are leading the way in developing cutting-edge technologies in key focus areas and driving innovation in critical national priorities, such as next-generation microelectronics. prgtoken The Department of Energy's experience working with universities, collaborating with the private sector, and protecting American intellectual property from theft makes it a pillar of the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Vote on Motion
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-5-4

the instruction by my colleague from Wisconsin directs conferees to reject bipartisan House language that addresses a serious public health concern related to mink farming. prgtoken Mink farms in Europe and the United States have spawned five COVID-19 variants that have collectively infected thousands of people. The next mink variant could infect millions of people. Vaccinations do not prevent infection or transmission in mink, and the risk of virus mutation on mink farms remains significant. prgtoken Today, there are only 60 mink farms left in the United States, and they sell their furs to buyers in China, not here. Americans have stopped buying fur because keeping these semiaquatic wild animals in cages and breaking their necks to kill them for fur is inhumane. prgtoken More than a dozen European countries have already phased out mink farming because of the serious pandemic risks they present. The United States should immediately follow suit. prgtoken I urge my colleagues, for the health of our country, to join me in voting no on this motion to instruct. Vote on Motion prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-5-4

this Congress and the Clean Energy for America legislation, which passed the Senate Finance Committee, is the best opportunity in the past decade for bold action that deals not just with the threat of climate change but gives us a chance to get those big investments here in the United States with domestic manufacturing and good jobs--an economic win-win. prgtoken Our country should be doing everything possible to invest in a technology-neutral, private-sector-driven approach to promote a clean energy future, including investing in renewable energy projects, including the manufacturing of solar, wind, and other technologies here at home. prgtoken Further, I would note that our country has a clear prohibition on products made with forced labor that is restricting and will continue to restrict renewable energy products produced with forced labor in China from entering the United States. prgtoken My friend, whom I always like working with, introduces a new, vague restriction that would unfortunately tie our hands, limit our businesses' ability to source necessary materials for their products with vague and overly broad restrictions. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to oppose the motion. Vote on Motion
STAND with Taiwan Act (Executive Session)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-5-5

I wanted to come down to talk about a topic that a number of Senators have been talking about and that a number of Senators have been focused on. That is the topic of Taiwan and potentially the defense of Taiwan and the support for Taiwan. prgtoken As this body knows, in 1979, the Senate passed a very important bill called the Taiwan Relations Act--a very bipartisan bill. From that time on, the Senate has played a very important oversight role in U.S. relations with Taiwan, and it has always been very bipartisan. prgtoken Recently, a bipartisan codel, led by the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Menendez, with many other Senators-- Senator Graham, Senator Portman, Senator Sasse--traveled to Taiwan. I just got an out-brief from some of those Senators--a very good meeting. I was part of a bipartisan codel about a year ago, with Senator Coons and Senator Duckworth, also to Taiwan. prgtoken So there is a long tradition in the U.S. Senate, in a bipartisan way, with all of us working together, of addressing this question: To what degree should we be supporting and defending Taiwan against a very aggressive Chinese Communist Party, led by the dictator Xi Jinping? Why does it matter? Why should we all be working together, as we have done for decades here in the U.S. Senate, and s, to deter a military invasion of Taiwan? prgtoken What will be happening in the next few weeks I want to talk about because I am concerned about the direction of the administration, and I think every Senator here should be concerned. So I am going to ask my colleagues to lift up their voices when they talk to the administration on a topic I am going to mention here in a minute. But why does it matter? Well, this issue of the potential invasion of Taiwan could take place in a few years. prgtoken The INDOPACOM commander, a little over a year ago, in front of the Armed Services Committee, opined that the threat of an invasion of Taiwan by an aggressive Chinese Communist Party would manifest itself during this decade--``in fact, in the next 6 years.'' That was Admiral Davidson, former INDOPACOM commander, and that is not a lot of time. prgtoken Here is why I think it matters: Right now, Taiwan is on the frontline of freedom in Asia. It is not some peripheral sideshow; it is, in many ways, central to freedom in that part of the world like West Berlin was during the Cold War. A violent military takeover of Taiwan by the Chinese Communist Party would be a sea change in how the entire world is ordered. It would change the history of the 21st century in the way that the Guns of August of 1914 changed the 20th century. prgtoken Now, some see the defense of Taiwan and the support that is required from the United States because of the Taiwan Relations Act--again, led by this body--some see the defense and support of this island democracy as a luxury that we can't afford in an age shaped by gre
National Small Business Week (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-5-5

it is National Small Business Week, a week that is set aside to honor the contributions that small businesses make to this Nation. prgtoken Small businesses are an essential part of our economy. Ninety-nine percent--99 percent--of South Dakota's businesses are small businesses, and almost 60 percent of South Dakota employees work for small businesses. prgtoken Nationally, small businesses make up most of the businesses in this country and are responsible for 62 percent of net new job creation. prgtoken And small businesses are not only an essential part of our economy, they are also an essential part of our communities--doing everything from creating gathering spaces for community members to supporting local charities and sponsoring local sports teams. prgtoken During National Small Business Week, I would like to be able to report that small businesses around the country are thriving. But the truth is, while some are doing well, a lot of small businesses are having a difficult time right now, not because of COVID, as might like you to think, but because of inflation. Inflation, which has hit American families hard, is also creating major difficulties for small businesses. prgtoken Now, when I talk to small business owners in South Dakota, one of the first things they tell me is how inflation is affecting their businesses. prgtoken In a recent survey from the National Federation of Independent Business, 62 percent of small businesses reported that inflation is having a substantial impact on their businesses, and 84 percent reported that they are experiencing lower business earnings due to inflation, and it is no surprise. prgtoken Inflation has driven up the final price of goods and services. It has also driven up the cost of raw materials. prgtoken The producer price index, which measures wholesale costs to sellers, hit 11.2 percent in March--its highest level ever recorded. prgtoken And small businesses are struggling with high energy costs, which affect everything from production to the transportation of finished products to the cost of keeping a storefront open. prgtoken Farms and ranches, which make up a substantial part of South Dakota's small businesses, are seeing huge price increases in the cost of essential inputs, like fertilizer, while the price of diesel, which powers farm equipment, reached an all-time high this week. prgtoken Agriculture is already a challenging industry by its very nature. Many farmers and ranchers in South Dakota, for example, are currently dealing with a severe drought, and inflation is making things a lot worse, especially right now in the midst of planting season. prgtoken We all know how we got here. came into office last year mere weeks after Congress had passed a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill totaling more than $900 billion, and meeting essentially all of the current pressing COVID needs. prgtoken It was abundantly clear that we were not in
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-5-5

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week, I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products of Morgantown, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken As any small business owner knows, the path of entrepreneurship is rarely straight and narrow. As is the case with this small business owner, Tabby Daugherty, who opened P31 Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Homemade Products, also known as P31 Storefront Insiders, in 2018. P31's story began a couple years prior to her official opening date. In 2016, Tabby was a part-time employee at Life-Skills, working with adults with disabilities while she raised her several children. As a mother of a large family, she strived to keep the meaning of Proverbs 31 at the core of her work and home life. What served as a motto of sorts became the inspiration for her business and its name, hence the P31. prgtoken Proverbs 31:17-18 reads, ``She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.'' Taking from that verse, Tabby sought to make herself and her household more self- sustaining and started to make her own laundry soap. Word gathered around town, and soon, there was widespread interest in Tabby's homemade soap. This do-it-yourself project and the demand it garnered soon led to her founding her own business. prgtoken A business selling soap grew into a venture that offered over 100 products. After a friend suggested she start creating products using essential oils, Tabby expanded her variety of products and began to sell moisturizers, serums, bracelets, and diffusers. She also creates custom products used to treat maladies. Around town, people know Tabby as a giver, evident in her role as a mother of a big family and in her previous job at Life-Skills looking after those with disabilities. For that reason, many put their faith in her and her products, often coming to her with a special request for a specific blend. Tabby gladly takes all requests even though it requires extra time and care prgtoken on her part to learn how to create these specially-requested items. prgtoken Customers keep coming back to P31 Storefront Insiders because they appreciate the diligent care Tabby takes in creating her line of items. The citizens of Morgantown and beyond seek her out because they know that all her products are made with real ingredients, are made in store, and are created without fragrances or synthetic products. Moreover, Tabby and her business operations abide by a strict set of codes, the most fundamental of which is customer appreciation. Patrons walk in to feel welcomed and lifted up. Tabby keeps the essence of her favorite proverb a