mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-3-4

less than 2 months ago, at his inauguration, President spoke about his deep commitment to bringing Americans together. prgtoken Today, the Senate will consider the first major bill of his Presidency, an intensely partisan piece of legislation. Why is the bill before us today so partisan? It is not because s were unwilling to cooperate with on COVID legislation. In fact--in fact--s made it very clear that we were willing to work with . prgtoken No, the bill before us today is so heavily partisan because didn't want to work with s. saw an opportunity to use the COVID crisis to advance a whole host of liberal priorities, and they were afraid that allowing s to participate in the process would mean that some of their pet projects would be excluded or that they would have to pare back some of their more profligate spending. prgtoken So decided to use reconciliation to ensure that s wouldn't be able to interfere with their ic legislation. And let's be very clear about the nature of that legislation. would like to present this as a COVID bill. It is not. Yes, there are a handful of true COVID priorities in this legislation, such as more money for vaccines and coronavirus treatment, something that I think everybody here on both sides of the aisle supports. But the bulk of this bill is either non-COVID-related or ostensibly COVID-related but, actually, either unnecessary or excessive. prgtoken On the non-COVID front, there is the $86 billion bailout for multiemployer pension plans, the billions for climate change and other environmental policy issues, a new taxpayer-funded leave program for government employees with no requirement that it be used for COVID-19, and I could go on. prgtoken The version of the bill that came over from the House contained such non-COVID-related measures as $100 million for an underground rail project in the House 's home State and $1.5 million for a bridge in the ic leader's home State, plus a massive increase in the Federal minimum wage that would cost an estimated 1.4 million jobs, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and potentially-- potentially--devastate small businesses already reeling from the effects of the coronavirus. prgtoken Then there are the ostensibly COVID-related measures, such as $350 billion for States. So what is the big problem there? Well, States don't need anywhere near that much money to weather the rest of the pandemic. The vast majority of States are not in crisis, and rescuing those States that are not in crisis would not take anywhere close to $350 billion. are going to spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary giveaway to States, and on top of that, that giveaway is heavily, heavily weighted in favor of blue States. That is right. The distribution formula is designed to heav
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-3-4

on a completely different matter, yesterday, our ic colleagues had planned to begin ramming through their partisan spending spree, but it seems they have had some difficulty getting to the starting line. After all, Senate , including committee chairs, are essentially being jammed with text from over in the House. Their own Members have barely been able to read this thing, let alone shape it. prgtoken So let's think back to where we were 1 year ago. Eleven-and-a-half months prgtoken ago, the Senate was also discussing a major spending package. In fact, it was the same size as what is being proposed right now--about $2 trillion--an appropriate pricetag back at the start of the crisis, but that is where the similarity actually ends. prgtoken Last March, the Senate was working overtime, in a bipartisan fashion, to craft good policy from the bottom up. I assembled bipartisan task forces. We had s and and staff working around the clock to build the policies that would save our health system and our economy. prgtoken The CARES Act sustained us for almost a year of shutdowns. It funded the healthcare fight, saved small businesses, and funded Operation Warp Speed, which helped pave the way for these pioneering vaccines and preordered hundreds of millions of doses for Americans. The law sent so much relief to households that, even as the GDP declined, personal incomes and savings actually went up. Even liberal economists say President has inherited an economy that was already primed for a swift recovery. It was the largest American rescue package ever. Yet it passed the Senate without one single dissenting vote because it was built the right way. prgtoken That was last March. So what about today? prgtoken Instead of heading into a dark tunnel, we are accelerating out of it: incredible vaccines, a rebounding economy. That is what the administration inherited thanks to what we did last year. prgtoken Yet Washington are trying to exploit the last chapters of this crisis to pass what President 's Chief of Staff calls ``the most progressive domestic legislation in a generation,'' and they have told s: Take it or leave it. No openness to meaningful bipartisan input. Ten Senators approached President and proposed cooperation on the order of hundreds of billions of dollars. They were refused. All that interested the was a partisan hodgepodge of, largely, non-COVID-related items. prgtoken Last year, the ic leader said: Sitting in your own office, writing a bill, and then demanding the other side support it is not anyone's idea of bipartisanship. prgtoken As recently as last November, he said: We need a true bipartisan bill--not ``this is our bill, take it or leave it.'' prgtoken Another time, our friend from New York told everyone to ``go look up in the dictionary what `bipartisan
CONCERNS OVER NATIONS FUNDING UNIVERSITY CAMPUS INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES ACT
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-3-4

I want to talk a few minutes about the good people of China, about Confucius Institutes, and the Chinese Communist Party. prgtoken I meant what I said when I referred to ``the good people of China.'' You visited China, . The people of China are wonderful people. They are engaging. They are smart. They have a great sense of humor. They have built an extraordinary economy. prgtoken I wish I could say the same about their authoritarian government, but I can't. The Communist Party of China is trying to not only swallow China, it is trying to swallow the world. prgtoken We helped the Communist Party of China be admitted into the World Trade Organization. We were told that if we did, they would embrace free enterprise. We were told that the Communist Party of China would be a valuable participant in a stable world order. None of that has come to be the case. prgtoken We know what the Communist Party of China has done to Hong Kong. We know what the Communist Party of China has done to the Uighurs. We know what the Communist Party of China has done to the wonderful, wonderful people of Tibet. But I did want to make that distinction between the authoritarian government of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. prgtoken The Communist Party of China, being as aggressive as it is, has for a number of years reached out to our colleges and universities to establish what the Communist Party of China calls ``Confucius Institutes.'' And this was the pitch made by the government of China to our universities: ``We will give you bucket loads of money if you''-- our American universities--``will allow us to establish Confucius Institutes where we can explain our culture to the young people of America, where we can have a free exchange of ideas, and where we can help young Americans learn the Chinese language if they would like.'' prgtoken That sounds great. You know, I will take a dozen of those. But the Communist Party of China being the Communist Party of China, that is not how our Confucius Institutes have worked out. prgtoken These institutes, run by the authoritarian Government of China, will not allow the free exchange of ideas. They will not allow anyone to talk about the Uighurs or the people of Tibet or Hong Kong or what happened at Tiananmen Square. They basically--``they'' meaning the Communist Party of China--have used these Confucius Institutes as propaganda arms of their government. prgtoken Many of our universities have done the right thing. They have said: No, we stand for the free exchange of ideas, and if you are going to come on our campus and tell our people that there are things they can't talk about, then, respectfully, you need--you, the Confucius Institutes--to leave our campus. prgtoken But some of the universities haven't done the right thing. I am not suggesting that--I am not cynical enough to suggest that it is all about the money, but you can't ignore the fact th
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2021-3-4

I will try to be relatively brief here. I understand the bill is being printed now, and we will have a vote here fairly shortly. prgtoken I just want to set the stage for my view--my point of view. I think I speak for most people in our conference on what we are trying to do here. prgtoken Up until now, we have been able, as a body, to work together on COVID relief. And the question is, Why can't we do it again? I think I know the answer, but I want to remind people what we have done in a bipartisan fashion. prgtoken On March 5, 2020, when we had President , a Senate, and a ic House, we approved $8 billion, 96 to 1, and we were just beginning to understand the virus; March 18, a few weeks later, $355 billion, 90 to 8; March 25, $1.9 trillion, 96 to 0. prgtoken So from March 5 to March 25, we passed three bills, well over $2 trillion, 96 to 1, 90 to 8, and 96 to 0. So I would argue to the American people that it is not like the Party and the ic Party can't work together when it comes to COVID relief. prgtoken But now that the have the House, the Senate, and the White House, there seems to be no desire to go down that road, and I will talk about that in a minute. prgtoken April 21, 2020, we did $355 billion more. That was by voice vote. Spending $355 by voice vote is pretty astonishing; $1.9 trillion, 96 to 0 is pretty astonishing. September 30, 2020, 84 to 10. December 21, just a few months ago, we spent another trillion, 92 to 6. prgtoken Why do I bring this up? I bring it up to show there is plenty of bipartisanship around COVID relief, and that bipartisanship has stopped. President made a big deal about wanting to bring the country together and find common ground. In the one area that we actually had common ground, we have abandoned common ground to deal with a $1.9 trillion package just months after we authorized $1.04 trillion. prgtoken Here is the problem I think s have. Of the $1.9 trillion being proposed now, about 90 percent of it has very little to do with COVID. It is a liberal wish list. The reason I know it is a liberal wish list is that Senator Schumer said 15 times yesterday--about 15 times--that it wasn't a liberal wish list. If Senator Schumer is saying it is not a liberal wish list, it is a liberal wish list. I will be able to prove that in more detail. prgtoken That is the history of bipartisanship. That bipartisanship has been destroyed. We had 10 s, I think, go to the White House to offer around $700 billion that would extend checks, that would do vaccines, would do a lot of things that we think we need to still do, but that went nowhere. prgtoken Another point for the American people: We are going to a partisan approach to COVID for the first time. I went over the amount of money we have appropriated to the COVID problems the country has experienced, and here is what I want you to understand. We are go
REMEMBERING SAM TAYLOR
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-3-4

I rise today with my colleague, the senior Senator from North Carolina, to honor the life and work of Sam Taylor, the president of North Carolina Biosciences Organization. Sam was a giant in our State and a leading voice for our vital and innovative life sciences and biopharmaceutical sector. A native North Carolinian, his love for his home State and his commitment to its future always shone through. He was a graduate of North Carolina State University, and he received his law degree with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. prgtoken Sam was a dedicated and energetic voice for the biosciences and a terrific partner to those in government and the private sector committed to promoting those industries. This sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years: since 2016, increasing its employment base by 10 percent to reach more than 83,000 jobs in 2018 across 4,210 business establishments. Between 2016 and 2019, the biosciences has attracted more than $1.5 billion in venture capital investment to North Carolina. These successes were in no small part due to Sam and his tireless leadership and advocacy. prgtoken Sam was one of the founders of NC BIO in 1994, long before most people grasped the industry's potential. His advocacy in the business community, in Raleigh, in Washington, and around the world made a huge difference. Whether promoting our world-class universities, our startups, or more established companies, Sam was always there with the facts, the vision, and the sheer force of will to move our State forward. He worked for the creation of the NCBioImpact training collaborative with the NC Community College System's BioNetwork program, as well as the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University and the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise program at North Carolina Central University. prgtoken Sam's work was recognized by the North Carolina Council for Entrepreneurial Development in 2005 with the Chairman's Service Award. He received the Life Science Conference Leadership Award in 2012 and the Life Science Award from Triangle Business Journal in 2015. Just recently and most significantly, he received our State's highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. To say Sam was a giant among men is an understatement. He was a leader and a visionary, someone who truly wanted to make our State and world a better place. prgtoken North Carolinians have lost a loyal son and a tireless advocate. We have lost a friend and colleague. Today, we ask every member of this body to join us in honoring the life and amazing legacy of Sam Taylor. Our State and the people of the United States are grateful for his life of service, and we know that North Carolina will continue to be one of our Nation's life science innovation hubs in no small part due to him.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021--MOTION TO PROCEED
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-3-4

in a moment, I will move to proceed to the Senate's substitute amendment to the American Rescue Plan. This legislation will keep America's families, businesses, and workers afloat and hasten the day when our country can return to normal and our economy can come roaring back. prgtoken The United States is facing a once-in-a-century crisis that has sapped millions of jobs from our economy, left millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet, and stolen more than half a million American lives. The time is now to move forward with big, bold, strong relief for the American people; to send checks as promised to American workers and families; to help reopen schools as quickly and safely as possible; to help the hardest hit small businesses hang on; to help families stay in their homes, care for their children, and put food on the table; to keep firefighters, teachers, and busdrivers on the job; and to crush the virus with testing and vaccines once and for all. prgtoken We are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past. We are not going to be timid in the face of a great challenge. We are not going to delay when urgent action is called for. We are not going to quit before the race is won. We are going to sprint through the finish line. prgtoken It is time to move forward with this legislation, which will be one of the largest single anti-poverty bills in recent history. It is time to lift this country out of crisis and set it on a path to a strong and swift recovery. It is time to tell the American people that help is on the way. Motion to Proceed
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-3-4

I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on subcommittee Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10:15 a.m to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Veterans' Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March at 10 a.m to conduct a closed briefing.
ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-4

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9 a.m. Friday, March 5; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; finally, that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 1319, and there be 3 hours of debate remaining, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two managers or their designees; and that it be in order for Senator Sanders to offer the first amendment.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-3-4

some of our colleagues say that America doesn't need President 's COVID rescue plan because ``the pandemic is nearly over.'' Funny. I have never heard them say we shouldn't spend money to help tornado victims in their States after the tornadoes were gone. prgtoken Let me say it clearly. We are not out of the woods yet. I wish we were. There are 510,000 Americans--maybe more now--who have died. The United States has 5 percent of the world's population. We have 20 percent of the COVID infections and deaths. Why? Because of poor leadership during the first year of this pandemic. prgtoken We had a President then, who is now gone, who would announce it was a hoax, and it was going to disappear by Easter, downplaying the seriousness of the situation with his fanciful flights about certain chemicals that were going to save us or whether or not we should all be gargling Lysol every morning. It made no sense, and the American people came out of that experience confused and infected, with deaths in their families. That was the reality of the first year of the pandemic. prgtoken There was also another reality, which the leader just alluded to in that, 12 months ago, we passed something called the CARES Act. It was historic--the largest Federal expenditure in the history of the United States of America. Who designed that bill? Well, it was Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, whom I didn't know well but who, apparently, had some skill as a negotiator because he managed to not only speak for President but to negotiate a bipartisan package in March of last year, called the CARES Act, for $2 trillion. It came to the floor of the Senate, with a vote of 96 to nothing. Every voted for the COVID rescue plan of the administration a year ago--every . prgtoken The second major bill occurred in December, that of $900 billion, designed to help us through the first 3 months of this year--again, with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin at the table on behalf of President , negotiating with and s. It came to the floor of the Senate, and, this time, there were 92 votes in favor of it, including every , and 6 s voted no. prgtoken So, you see, when it came to COVID rescue plans under the administration, the s were happy to ask us to join them, and we did. Oh, some people said we were giving them a political advantage here or there or the other place, but those arguments didn't prevail on the ic side. The Nation came first. The pandemic came first. Unemployed people and businesses that were struggling came first, and we voted that way. prgtoken Then came a new President: , elected November 3, despite the denial of some. It was a reality. He took this pandemic and faced it squarely--no excuses about hoaxes or ``it is going to go away'' or ``I have got a favorite chemical that will save everybody's life.'' He fac