mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-3-7

on Saturday, deadly tornadoes swept through Iowa, destroying homes, parks, and leaving over 10,000 people without power. prgtoken The communities most affected are Winterset, IA, and Chariton, IA, but other communities as well. Tragically, seven people--five adults and two children--died, and many people have been affected because of this severe weather. This is the deadliest tornado in our State in 15 years. The one 15 years ago came close to my hometown of New Hartford, IA, and the adjoining community of Parkersburg, IA, and 13 people lost their lives that time. prgtoken So, with today's incident, as families, businesses, and communities continue to assess the damage and clean up from these storms, I want Iowans to know that I have talked to the Department of Homeland Security's Secretary Mayorkas about these tornadoes. He has been assuring that wherever the Federal Government has authority to help, they will step in and do that. I have also reached out to FEMA, the State of Iowa, and affected communities. I will do everything I can at the Federal level to assist. prgtoken Unfortunately, Iowa is no stranger to tornadoes and natural disasters. Once again, I am encouraged by the stories I hear from neighbors of strangers helping each other and their communities. Of course, we all know that that is the Iowa way: neighbor helping neighbor. These storms take time to recover, and I know that we will continue to reach out and help our fellow Iowans in need. prgtoken My thoughts and the thoughts of all Iowans and their prayers go out to those who lost loved ones and to those whose properties were affected by these tornadoes. I also pray for those who were hurt and for some who were hospitalized in that they will have speedy recoveries. prgtoken Iowans are strong and resilient people. We will recover, and we will rebuild. As Iowa's Senator, I will be there to help in any way needed. Free Speech prgtoken Now, , another matter that I have spoken of on the floor of the U.S. Senate recently and, to some extent, a few times last year is the issue of freedom of speech in our colleges. In recent years, I have tried to highlight some of the most ridiculous impositions on freedom of speech in college, but so many of these cases get swept under the rug. prgtoken It can be hard to get an idea of whether typical students feel free to speak their minds in the university environment. So last spring, the Iowa legislature passed a bill strengthening free speech across our State's education system. In part, this bill was meant to find out how big a problem the restraint of free expression is at our State's public universities. Last month, that led to the results of a survey of 17,000 students in Iowa's public universities. The results raised serious concerns. prgtoken Now, get this: Fewer than half of the employees thought that their universities allowed them to say what they
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-3-7

Russia's brutal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine intensified over this last weekend, bringing even more death and destruction to the Ukrainian people and more uncertainty to the rest of the world. It appears that Russia is now targeting noncombatant evacuation routes--the latest blatant war crime and a clear escalation following targeted attacks on civilians. prgtoken Russian forces fired on civilians as they fled for their lives, killing a mother, her two children, and a family friend. Over the last couple of weeks, hundreds of Ukrainians have been killed, and countless others have been wounded. More than 1\1/2\ million people have fled the country, making it the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. prgtoken Through the immense suffering Russia has inflicted, the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people has shown bright. The world has been awestruck at the courage of teachers, architects, grandmothers, Ukrainians from all walks of life who have taken up arms in defense of their democracy. prgtoken We have all been moved by the leadership of President Zelenskyy, who is fighting alongside of his fellow Ukrainians while pleading with the rest of the world to take action. We have admired the strength of those who were forced to say goodbye to loved ones, abandon their homes, and search for safety beyond Ukraine's borders. prgtoken People around the world have rallied around Ukraine, offering support in ways big and small. Families across Europe are welcoming refugees into their homes. People around the world have organized fundraisers and donation drives to get food, blankets, first-aid kits, and other critical supplies into the hands of the Ukrainians. prgtoken People all over the free world have cheered on and generously supported Ukraine at this critical moment, but now it is time for Congress to act. Since Ukraine is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, we have no legal obligation to support its fight against Russia, but we do have a moral obligation to help them defend themselves. prgtoken Russia has waged an unmistakable war on a sovereign democracy. It has targeted civilian areas and brought immeasurable destruction to Ukraine, and it continues to threaten further death and destruction outside and beyond Ukraine, even rattling its nuclear saber at the heart of Europe. prgtoken Yes, we have a moral duty to support the Ukrainian people as they defend their sovereignty in their beloved country. So far, the United States has provided military, humanitarian, and economic assistance for Ukraine. These resources have been critical in the fight so far. prgtoken The United States and our allies have also imposed harsh sanctions on Russia's economy, sending its currency into a downward spiral. This has, no doubt, made life harder for the Russian people, with whom we have no quarrel, but we should continue to use every tool at our disposal to impose costs on
HONORING THE LIFE OF GLEN McCALL
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-3-7

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Glen McCall of Ottumwa, Iowa. prgtoken Glen passed away peacefully on March 2 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center following a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. prgtoken A native Iowan and an Army veteran, Glen and his wife, Kay, lived in Iowa for almost 60 years. He worked at CSI in Humeston as a radio technician for years and then worked as a farmer in Leon before moving to Ottumwa as an entrepreneur to open McCall Communications, a two-way radio sales and service shop. Glen and Kay ran the store for almost 40 years. prgtoken Glen was always happy to give his neighbors a helping hand and was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Ottumwa, serving as secretary for decades. prgtoken His kindness, compassion, humor, and ever-ready smile were appreciated by all those whom he encountered. prgtoken Glen dedicated his life to serving and helping the community he loved and making Ottumwa the best place to live, work, and raise a family. prgtoken Glen's wife, Kay, their children, four grandchildren, six great- grandchildren, and all his loved ones are in my prayers. prgtoken I would also like to extend a joyful, happy 25th birthday to Caroline and Charlie Kiley. prgtoken We also stand with Ukraine.
RECOGNIZING FRANCES MAURO MASTERS ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY AND FOR HER SERVICE AS A ROSIE THE RIVETER DURING WORLD WAR II
Lisa C. McClain (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-3-7

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Frances Mauro Masters for her service to this country as a Rosie the Riveter, and to celebrate her 100th birthday. prgtoken The daughter of Italian immigrants, Frances was born on March 7, 1922. Determined to serve her country, provide for her family and support her two brothers in the service, Frances rode the bus with her two sisters to and from the east side of Detroit to Ypsilanti, Michigan every day where she worked as a Riveter at the town's Bomber Plant. A shy, quiet and hard-working young woman, Frances continued her work as a Riveter throughout the duration of World War II. The war sadly had enormous personal cost to Frances, as her brother lost his life. prgtoken Madam , Frances Mauro Masters is a true American hero, the embodiment of the `greatest generation' and a role model for all Americans today, especially young women. As the years go by, it becomes even more important to recognize humble and outstanding members of our greatest generation like Frances. I thank Frances for her service to this country and the selfless example she has set for all of us, and congratulate her on 100 years of life well-lived.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-3-7

. Madam , I rise today to bring attention to the latest Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFBP, proposed small business data collection regulation. It is called section 1071. prgtoken Access to capital for small businesses is the lifeblood of each of our local economies, and for many, the community bank lender is often leading the way in supporting our entrepreneurs in small businesses across our districts. prgtoken And yet, the CFPB's new regulation, if finalized, would actually hurt small business by making the cost of credit more expensive and imposing significant compliance costs that would fall the hardest on the smallest lenders across our Nation. prgtoken That is why I, along with Congressmen Williams of Texas and Luetkemeyer of Missouri have introduced the Small LENDER Act, a new bill that would provide regulatory relief to small business lenders by exempting them from this proposed CFPB 1071 rule and providing an additional year to comply, plus a 2-year safe harbor. prgtoken Specifically, my bill would expand the definition of a small lender as one that originates at least 500 small business loans per year, instead of the 25-loan limit proposed by the CFPB. prgtoken It would also codify a ``small business'' as one with gross revenues of $1 million or less instead of the $5 million threshold that the rule proposed. prgtoken Finally, the bill extends the effective compliance date with the final rule to be 3 years plus that 2-year grace period instead of only 18 months as proposed by the CFPB. prgtoken In the absence of Congress repealing section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, this bill would prevent some of the most harmful aspects of the rule from going into effect. I urge my colleagues to support the Small LENDER Act. Economic Crisis of Inflation
MORNING BUSINESS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2022-3-7

I rise today on behalf of myself and Senator Crapo to express grave concern with the vulnerability of supply chains and the long-term implications if we do not act now to develop a secure supply chain of critical minerals. In light of the aggression shown by our adversaries, supply chain security is more important than ever. prgtoken Our Nation is at a crossroads; Russia has invaded Ukraine. At the same time, China continues to use economic coercion to control global markets and shape countries' political decisions. With Congress' support, this administration must take drastic and targeted measures to ensure our Nation takes the right path to advance U.S. competitiveness and maintain a strong position in domestic and foreign markets, including critical minerals production. prgtoken Critical minerals are vital to the emerging technologies that will underpin the future economic well-being and prosperity of this Nation. In recognition of these important minerals, under President , the Department of the Interior developed a list of 35 critical minerals, a process that Congress later codified. That list, just last week, expanded to 50. Our home State of Idaho is rich in many of these minerals--some of which are fundamental to energy and national security applications--such as antimony and cobalt. prgtoken Antimony and cobalt serve as critical components in grid storage batteries and other electrification implements essential to providing reliable energy sources to American homes and businesses. In addition to its energy contribution, antimony serves as a critical component of ammunition, armaments, and other national security platforms. Although these minerals serve as essential components in highly utilized U.S. products, 53 percent of antimony comes from China, and another 23 percent comes from Russia. Most cobalt is sourced from the ic Republic of the Congo--DRC--where the Chinese Government has subsidized companies that engage in nontransparent practices, dominate the industry, and undermine the prosperity and rights of the Congolese. prgtoken Aside from mineral production, Idaho is responsible for cutting-edge mineral research. We are proud to be the home of the Idaho National Lab, the Nation's premier nuclear energy laboratory, whose research is paramount to any future clean energy strategy. Unfortunately, the administration chose to remove uranium from the critical minerals list, which leaves the Nation's nuclear fleet even more reliant on Russian fuel. prgtoken As tensions rise with Russia and the potential of additional sanctions loom, China will look to take advantage of the void left by Russia's isolation in the market. While we need to take strong actions on Russia, the reality is that we source many of our raw minerals from them. As we tighten our grip on their financial system and exports, we must prioritize domestic sourcing and reduce our reliance on countries li
CALIFORNIA'S HIGH GAS PRICES
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-3-7

. Madam , today, the national average for a gallon of gas is a little over $4--$4.06 to be exact. Meanwhile, in my home State of California, the average gas price per gallon all across our State is $5.34. For the first time ever, the average gas price per gallon is over $5 in every single California county. prgtoken Now, I know California brings a lot of pain upon itself, self- inflicted, but I prgtoken have seen a lot of the mainstream media try to claim that these price increases are due to Russia's attack on Ukraine, not the administration's anti-energy agenda. If that were true, how has the gas price per gallon increased by $1.60 over the last year, not just the last two weeks of the Ukraine conflict. prgtoken Since taking office, the administration has frozen all new oil and gas projects on Federal lands and implemented extreme financial barriers on domestic oil and gas production. On day one, of course, we all know he killed the Keystone pipeline, which could be supplying 830,000 barrels of oil from Canada to U.S. refineries, more than what Russia imports to us. prgtoken In his first week, we had an executive order stopping new leases on Federal lands, so we need to replace Russian energy with our own production.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-3-7

I am here on the floor today to talk about Postal Service reform. We have another vote this afternoon. prgtoken And this is incredibly important to the people I represent and whom all of us represent. It is important because the Postal Service is something people depend on for so much. This legislation we are talking about has been in the works for years. It is a bill to try to save the post office from insolvency. And if we don't act on this, I believe in the next few years we will be back here with a big bailout for the Postal Service because they are having a tough time financially. prgtoken The combination of this legislation that we will pass and some internal reforms that the post office is making should be enough to get the post office back on track. prgtoken The Postal Service has a Postmaster General right now who is absolutely committed to that--making the post office more effective, more efficient--but he needs a little breathing room, as he says, and that is what we are doing here in Congress. It doesn't cost the taxpayer anything. By the way, if we don't do this, in a few years, it would cost the taxpayers a lot in terms of a bailout, and I am afraid it would happen. prgtoken The post office, again, is so important. It is definitely worth saving. Our country is pretty divided right now--let's be honest--but one enduring reality about our country is that we have a post office that ties us all together, and everybody depends on that post office. prgtoken By the way, it has been that way for a long time. In 1775, 3 months after the battles of Lexington and Concord--so this is 1775, before the Revolution was finalized in 1776. During that time, the delegates to the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the Postmaster General. And why was this so important? Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers, and this was considered to be a really crucial post because the new Postal Service offered a way for the colonists to talk to each other, to communicate, for Revolutionary leaders to be able to strategize with each other outside of the official British channels. prgtoken So the post office has that rich history, and it continues to bind us today. In Ohio, it ensures that veterans get their medications that they get through the mail. And believe me, that is important to them, to get it on time. prgtoken It allows for absentee voters. In Ohio we have no-fault absentee. We have had it for years. It works well, but it requires the post office to do its job and obviously to not just deliver the absentee forms but to get the ballots in on time. prgtoken It is also crucial for people to get their rent checks in or to be sure that they get their utility bill on time. It is for people's financial statements from their banks. But, also, the post office still delivers birthday cards, thank-you notes, and personal letters that strengthen the bonds of family and friendship. So our Post
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-3-7

before I start my speech today on another topic, I want to take just a moment to discuss what is on all of our hearts across the country and across the world, that we should be praying for the Ukrainian people. We have got a mess in Ukraine. prgtoken A lot of us have been to Ukraine over the last few months. We have made friends. I went over and met with the President a few months ago and a lot of his staff--and what good people. But they told us then that they needed help. And for some reason, this administration decided to drag its feet and tried to talk its way out of it. prgtoken Sometimes, when you try to talk your way out of it instead of putting facts in front of you, you have problems. Well, we have had real problems. President Putin, who is a murderous tyrant, thought this was going to be easy. He didn't realize that the people of Ukraine were going to stand up and fight for their country. And they have done just that. They have lost many lives, Ukrainian soldiers, men and women, and also many, many citizens, but it has made NATO stronger. Putin never thought that would happen. prgtoken So as I said earlier, I think that we all should remember every day and every night our prayers will go out to the Ukrainians, and, hopefully, in the near future, we can all come to some kind of consensus of what works best and that President Putin will come to his senses and call this off. Inflation prgtoken , the other thing I want to talk about real quickly is rising prices, inflation. I was back in my home State of Alabama this week, and prices are at historic highs and getting higher every day. But we were told by this administration that inflation was transitory. We heard that all last year. The definition of transitory: not for long. Well, they were very wrong on that. prgtoken They also said inflation was due to COVID. Well, COVID is not gone, but it has died down, and inflation is getting higher. prgtoken We were told by this administration that it was due to corporate greed. Well, we have had the same corporations for years and years. Inflation has been low, but now still going higher and higher. prgtoken And the last reason that this administration said inflation is going up is because of war, and there is probably something to that. Obviously, we have got an energy crisis in this country, and everything runs off of energy. prgtoken But one thing this administration didn't tell us was they didn't blame it on the trillions of dollars that we basically have taken and thrown out of helicopters all over this country. We have got more money now, 36 percent more money in circulation than we had 2 years ago in this country, and we have less goods. And that is when you have inflationary prices that creep up. prgtoken But we have got to get control of our energy crisis. If we don't do that, then the economy is not going to have a chance. That is the bottom line
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-3-7

I rise today to recognize the life and service of former Hot Springs mayor Helen Selig. prgtoken Selig was a beloved member of the Hot Springs community and made a substantial difference in the lives of so many Arkansans. She not only served as mayor of Hot Springs from 1994-2000, but also played a crucial role in fulfilling countless projects aimed at bettering the city. prgtoken As mayor, Selig saw great success throughout her 6-year tenure, and it was something that was recognized by citizens and leaders alike. Hot Springs city manager Bill Burrough reflected that, ``Hot Springs is truly a better place because of her passion, the work that she did, and her influence. When Helen Selig was involved, people would listen.'' prgtoken Selig has been praised widely for her involvement in a variety of community projects, including the construction of the convention center. In the recent weeks, dozens of local leaders have been outspoken in their praise and gratitude for her dedication to Hot Springs. prgtoken In 1992, Selig was already making waves as a well-known leader of a group advocating for Hot Springs to be chosen as the location for the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts. This school did end up being located in the so-called Spa City and has helped so many students with bright minds flourish throughout our State. prgtoken Her lifetime of service to her community and neighbors extended far beyond her time as an elected leader. She was a founding member of the Arkansas Women's Leadership Forum, as well as the Women's Foundation of Arkansas, in addition to volunteering for several organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Hot Springs Parks Board of Directors, R.E.G.A.R.D YMCA Board of Directors, Hot Springs Music Festival-- board of directors--Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity, Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, the Lotus Book Club, and Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club. Time and time again, Helen Selig exhibited her firm commitment to the people of Hot Springs. prgtoken I am so grateful for Mayor Selig's dedication to serving her community and truly making a difference in the lives of those around her. I want to take this time to pray for her family in their time of grief and reassure them that Helen's memory will live on through the great work she has done for Arkansas.