mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-5-27

reserving the right to object, one of the bills in question--specifically, H.R. 478, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to take 55.3 acres of land owned by the Gila River Indian Community into trust. prgtoken The Gila River Indian Community Reservation is already 583 square miles, with a population of 11,000. The Gila River Indian Community already owns this land, so why we need to take more land into trust and have the Federal Government more involved in the management of the land is not immediately obvious or apparent to me. The answer is not at all clear as to why it needs to be in trust. prgtoken Trust land responsibilities for the Federal Government are significant and before we expand the size of our trust lands, we have to have an understanding of what we are doing and the actual need to do it prgtoken Proponents of this legislation have claimed that the Tribe has a unique history with this particular plot of land--this particular 55.3 acres of land--adjacent to the trust land. But from the history shown, the Tribe's interaction with the land is mostly that they have had friendly neighbors with whom they have traded goods. prgtoken As many of my colleagues are aware, I have great concerns that I have quite consistently expressed with further expanding the Federal Government's management or involvement in public lands, including trust lands. prgtoken Nevertheless, I have been engaging in negotiations, and I have made a number of good-faith efforts to develop a possible path forward--one in which the amount of acreage owned or held in trust by the Federal Government would not grow, while taking this land into trust for the Gila River Indian Community. While I continue to negotiate a path forward, I am not inclined to abandon this concern. This is a negotiation that has been in progress. prgtoken That said, with respect to the part of the request dealing specifically with S. 789, the RESPECT Act, I am willing to let that go. But if the request is to pass both of these by unanimous consent, I can't support that, and on that basis, I object.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-5-27

last year Senator Warner, the senior Senator from Virginia, and I introduced the CHIPS for America Act to help shore up vulnerable supply chains for semiconductors and to reduce our reliance on other countries for the most critical components of everything from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to the cell phones in our pockets and everything in between. prgtoken The vast majority of our colleagues have agreed that this is a critical task. It was carefully crafted after monthslong bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. In fact, this legislation was adopted as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 96 to 4 at the end of last year. But now we need to fund the program we created, and there is just one issue standing in the way. prgtoken During committee consideration of the Endless Frontier Act, an amendment was adopted that would apply controversial and unprecedented prevailing wage language to the CHIPS for America Act signed into law last year. This provision creates a needless hurdle to funding for the CHIPS provision. prgtoken Considering the current wages of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing companies, there is zero benefit--zero benefit--to workers' wages. So this is really a nonissue in terms of the compensation that workers in semiconductor manufacturing facilities will make. What is more, these Davis-Bacon provisions represent an expansion of special interest labor policy to private construction projects and set a disturbing precedent. prgtoken Leaving this language in the bill is a gratuitous act and could dramatically weaken support for the broader legislation, and I would hope we could all agree that the stakes are simply too high to let that happen. So I have introduced an amendment to strike this unnecessary and divisive language and maintain strong bipartisan support for this program. A partisan provision with zero benefit to workers' wages is hardly a reason to gamble with strong support for the CHIPS Act. prgtoken s and have worked hard together to bolster our domestic semiconductor manufacturing and to confront one of the most dangerous, looming threats from China. Now is not the time to sacrifice the progress we have made. So I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment so we can maintain the strong bipartisan support for this critical legislation and send a message to our adversaries that the United States intends to stay the world's preeminent economic and military power.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-5-27

I want to take a moment to speak on my amendment, and I won't take very long. prgtoken First of all, really, my comments are geared toward somebody who might be watching or will maybe watch a video of this later because usually there aren't a lot of mysteries here on the floor of Senate. And when these amendments come up, everybody kind of knows the way it is going to go. And this amendment that I am about to put forward here is probably not going to pass. I am pretty certain it won't or we wouldn't have gotten a vote on it. That is just the way it is. prgtoken But that is OK because--it is not OK, but it is OK in the sense that I still want to take this opportunity to talk about this and have a vote on it. prgtoken Let me just say this: If you go back 2, 3 years, I believe not the first but one of the first people here who talked about the need to do what much of this bill does was me. I have been talking now for 2 or 3 years about the need for the American Government to step forward and partner with the private sector. I have been talking about the need for industrial policy. prgtoken You can't compete with a nation-state if the nation-state is not involved in the competition. And that is what we are involved in--a nation-state competition. And it does involve a massive amount of Chinese investment in research and development. prgtoken And we have to step up to the plate. The days of believing that on some of these items the private market on its own will solve it, it is not possible at this scale and scope. prgtoken I point to Operation Warp Speed. Would the private market have eventually given us a vaccine? It would have. But we needed it now. We stepped forward. We provided the money. The private sector responded. And today we are standing around here with no masks on, and much of the country is getting back to normal because we have vaccines. prgtoken You could criticize a lot of things about what America did in the beginning of the pandemic, but we have done vaccines better than anyone in the world, and that would not have been possible without industrial policy, which is the partnership of government and business to solve an urgent crisis of a national concern. prgtoken Well, when it comes to research, development, technology, that is perhaps the single greatest requirement before us today in terms of the future. The 21st century is going to be defined by this definition between China--this competition between China and the United States. And it is a competition we simply cannot win unless we step forward and match it. prgtoken But another part of the Chinese approach to this is not simply to invest but to steal. As many of you know, I have been on the Intelligence Committee now for 10 years. I was acting chairman of it for a number of months and now the vice chairman in a committee that I think--maybe I am prejudiced in this view, but I think it is the best functioning committee here. I a
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-5-27

it is a great honor for me today to recognize a North Dakota legend who is celebrating his 100th birthday on June 4. Lynn Aas, of Minot, is one of our State's most treasured residents. With his engaging personality and deep commitment to public service, Lynn has experienced many great moments in our State's and in our Nation's history. prgtoken Lynn was raised during the Great Depression on a farm near the town of Benedict, 40 miles south of Minot. He earned law and business degrees from the University of North Dakota, managed a medical clinic, served in the North Dakota Legislature for 8 years, and was a delegate to the State's 1972 Constitutional Convention. He and his late wife Beverly raised four sons. To this day, Lynn remains active in his community. prgtoken With all that has been so remarkable about Lynn's life, it is his service during World War II that resonates the most with those who know him. Like with so many other young North Dakotans, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 changed the course of Lynn's life. prgtoken In August 1942, Lynn had just finished his first year of college when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He began basic training in March 1943 and became part of the 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division. Following intensive training stateside, he boarded a ship in Boston in August 1944 heading to Liverpool, England. prgtoken Lynn's first combat experience was the Battle of the Bulge, one of the costliest battles in American history, with more than 80,000 U.S. casualties, including 19,000 American soldiers killed. His division and unit were flown to France and transported by trucks to Bastogne on December 24, 1944. His platoon entered combat on January 7, fighting in deep snow, frigid cold, and heavy fog. Beginning with 55 troopers, Lynn was one of only 5 survivors to leave the frontlines 3 weeks later. prgtoken The end of January brought his first 2 nights of sleep under a roof in 5 weeks. prgtoken In February, his platoon fought along the Siegfried Line on Nazi Germany's border. prgtoken Later in March, he participated in Operation Varsity, the last large- scale Allied airborne operation of the war. There, he was towed in a glider and landed behind enemy lines near Wesel, Germany. prgtoken Lynn's combat days ended on March 25 when he was wounded in his left arm by shrapnel. Following extensive recuperation back in America, Lynn remained in the Army another 5 months until he was honorably discharged on November 1, 1945. prgtoken For his valor and commendable 18 months of service during World War II, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals, in addition to the Glider Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Campaign Medal with one Bronze Arrowhead and three Bronze Campaign Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. prgtoken Later in his life, Lynn attend reunions of the 17th Airb
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-5-27

I join my colleagues today to make a simple request: Let the people see the bill. prgtoken Too often, this body acts without due time given to hear from all of the ones we represent: the American people. That has absolutely been the case this year as Congress has rushed through massive, 1,000- or 2,000-plus-page bills, spending billions or trillions of tax dollars without valuable input. prgtoken Now you ask us to vote on a massive bill compiled just this evening. That is wrong, and the American public know it is wrong. We haven't had the time to read this. No one has, in fact. This entire bill as it sits here before us has only been under consideration for a little over 2 weeks, with thousands of pages, and it has been amended numerous times, including many times today. It spends hundreds of billions of tax dollars. prgtoken As my colleagues know well, I am as vocal an opponent of Communist China as anyone. America must take decisive action to protect our interests and combat the threats posed by China's Communist regime. If the purpose of this legislation is to address that urgent issue, it should do that with input and feedback from the public. prgtoken We should table this vote, let the Members return to our States, hear from constituents, and then move forward in a timely manner with the legislation after we have heard from our constituents. This is a simple and reasonable request. Therefore, I ask the Senator to modify her request to delay further consideration of S. 1260 until the week of June 7.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-5-27

we are in a bit of a lull here, so whenever there is a lull in Senate activity, it is one of those moments and times when you think about those who have contributed to those of us who serve here in the Senate--staff who have been with us over a period of time, whether they be here in Washington, DC, or back in our home States. prgtoken Tonight, I come to the floor to share some long overdue recognition to a long-term member of my team, Michelle Blackwell. prgtoken We have had kind of a hectic beginning to this Congress. Yet we are back, doing legislative business, and that is good, but it has, I guess, delayed my tribute to, again, an extraordinary Alaskan, a woman who has been a good team member but also a friend of mine. prgtoken Earlier this year, Michelle retired from my team after 17 years of service--amazing years--to the U.S. Senate, as a member of my staff in Alaska, and to many of my constituents back home. Since 2003, Michelle served as my regional representative for the Southcentral region on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula, for those who are not familiar with it, is a pretty significant area. It is equivalent in size to the States of Massachusetts and New Jersey combined, with a population of about 55,000 people. prgtoken If there are roads that wind around and go up and down and into some pretty extraordinary areas, Michelle has traveled them, and she has represented this region with grace, efficiency, diplomacy--resolving truly thousands of cases for constituents who have experienced problems with Federal Agencies. You name it--whether it is the IRS, whether it is Social Security, whether it is the VA--she has a story to tell there. Helping constituents and serving as a liaison to the community were really the keys to her success in my office. Her commitment to public service and to helping Alaskans has made me a better Senator and certainly a better representative for Alaskans. prgtoken I have to confess that, as much as we would like to claim her 100 percent for Alaska, Michelle did not get her start in public service in the State of Alaska. Like many who now call Alaska home, Michelle's path was kind of an adventurous one as she worked her way north. prgtoken She came to me from Wyoming via Washington, DC. She grew up in Wyoming, and then, following college, she went to work for then- Congressman . This was back in the early eighties. She started out on the front desk, as a good staffer does, and as many successful staffers like Michelle have done, she worked her way up from there. prgtoken She spent 11 years working for as one of his key aides, and he was so appreciative of her work that he brought her with him during his first tenure as Secretary of Defense under the 41st President, George H. W. prgtoken As many of us know, when you find good staffers, you do everything that you can to hang on to them, but Michelle had a very adventur
CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH AND HONORING SABRINA JAVELLANA
Stephanie N. Murphy (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , as part of our national celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I am paying tribute to Floridians who have made outstanding contributions to our community and our country. prgtoken Today I rise to honor Sabrina Javellana. prgtoken Sabrina, who is a proud lifelong resident of Hallandale Beach, graduated from Hallandale High School and Florida International University. On November 19, 2018, Sabrina made history as she became the first Asian-American, and the youngest person, ever elected as a Commissioner of Hallandale Beach. Within days, her colleagues selected her to serve as Vice Mayor. prgtoken A dedicated public servant and community activist, Sabrina has championed environmental policies to protect Florida's coral reefs and waterways. She has advocated for the City of Hallandale Beach to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and to prepare for climate change-related extreme weather events and natural disasters. prgtoken Sabrina is a champion for equity and justice in South Florida. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating Commissioner Sabrina Javellana.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-5-28

the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol remains a dark stain on our Nation's history. Americans deserve to have all of the facts about that day, and a fair, balanced, and independent Commission will give us those answers. prgtoken This Commission would complement the current investigations into this deadly attack, including my Homeland Security Committee's own investigations in conjunction with the Rules Committee. prgtoken After the devastating September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress came together to create a bipartisan independent Commission. January 6 marks a singular event in our Nation's history, similar to what we experienced on 9/11, and there is simply no logical reason to oppose its creation. prgtoken The brave law enforcement officers who stopped this attack and every American who watched in realtime as our free and fair democratic process was attacked deserve answers and accountability for the actions that occurred on January 6. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this Commission and get the American people the answers that they deserve. prgtoken .
CONGRATULATING THE TELACU EDUCATION FOUNDATION ON THEIR 37TH ANNUAL BUILDING THE DREAM GALA
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the TELACU Education Foundation (the Foundation), a non-profit organization that significantly impacts thousands of talented students from low- income families, the majority of whom are Californians and many are from my 40th Congressional District. prgtoken For nearly four decades, the Foundation has annually empowered approximately 2,000 first-generation high school, college, and graduate school students--including brave veterans of our nation's military--to achieve academic and professional success, and to become the leaders who inspire future generations. The 37th Annual Building the Dream Gala celebrates this year's graduates who will join an army of TELACU Scholar Alumni who are changing our world by innovating solutions as researchers and engineers in cutting-edge laboratories such as NASA/ JPL, CalTech, Harvard and MIT; serving on the frontlines of COVID-19 as nurses, doctors, vaccinators, and other health care professionals; and crusading for equality and justice across our nation--from the boardroom to the courtroom! prgtoken TELACU's ``CREO'' Award, the ``I Believe'' Award, recognizes individuals who exemplify the highest ideals and commitment to improving society through personal and public service. This year it will be presented to the first Latina Los Angeles City Council President in the City Council's 170-year history, the Honorable Nury Martinez. President Martinez is an outstanding role model who embodies the hopes and dreams of all TELACU Scholars--the children of Latino immigrant families, the first (but not the last) in their family to graduate from college, the dreamers who consistently shatter historical barriers to achievement. prgtoken This year's gala will also include a Special 80th Birthday Tribute to Chairman and Founder of the TELACU Education Foundation, Dr. David C. Lizarraga. With a dedicated career of service spanning six decades, Dr. Lizarraga's impact is immeasurable. Beginning as a social worker and community organizer, he quickly gained a reputation for equipping people with the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency and the American Dream. As President and CEO of TELACU in the early 1960s, he developed a unique business model for community development based on one simple but profound principle--profitability is inseparable from positive, tangible social impact. Under his leadership for more than 35 years, TELACU flourished and grew into the largest Community Development Corporation in America. prgtoken In response to staggering college dropout rates among young Latinx, in 1983 Dr. Lizarraga created what is without a doubt his most impactful and legacy in service to our community and to our nation--the TELACU Education Foundation. TELACU Scholars have built a stellar legacy individually and collectively. Historically, over 98 percent of high school scholars graduate and almost without exception pursue higher education; more than
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-5-28

as chair of the Rules Committee, I implore my colleagues to vote for this Commission. prgtoken On January 6, we all walked over that broken glass. We all saw the spray paint on the wall. We all stood huddled together in shelter, and most of us--most of us, the vast majority of us, and s--voted to uphold our democracy that night late into the evening. prgtoken But it doesn't end there. I give to you the words of slain officer Brian Sicknick's mother. An ordinary woman, who never has been involved in politics, she is now forced to do extraordinary things and lobby Members of this body to simply get to the truth. She said this: ``Not having a January 6 Commission to look into exactly what occurred is a slap in the faces of all the officers who did their jobs that day.'' prgtoken For months, national security experts have called for a bipartisan Commission. Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security former Secretaries from the and administrations--Chertoff, Ridge, Napolitano, Johnson--all called for this Commission. prgtoken This Commission is modeled exactly after the gold standard of investigations and recommendations--the 9/11 Commission. It is modeled in the words of how the staff is chosen. It is modeled in the words of getting to the bottom of something and getting something done. prgtoken But yet, so many of our colleagues, sadly, on the other side of the aisle are refusing to move on this. prgtoken Colleagues, we owe it to the heroic Capitol Police, to the first responders, to the staff members who sat in closets for hours and hours and hours, to the police officer who was called the ``n'' word 15 times and then sat in the Rotunda and looked at another officer and said: Is this America? We owe it to them that put themselves in harm's way to protect the Capitol and the sacred democratic process. Inaction is not an option prgtoken And, no, the report we are doing that I am so proud of, with Senator Peters and Senator Portman and Senator Blunt, which will come out shortly, is about an immediate response and bills we have to pass and things we have to do and mistakes that were made. It is an important report, and we are proud of our work, but it is no substitute for an 9/ 11-style Commission, and I implore our colleagues to vote with us to get this done. prgtoken .