mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-5-27

last September, the Echo Mountain Complex Fire swept through Lincoln County in my home State of Oregon. Nearly 300 homes were destroyed. At least 50 other buildings and structures were burned as well. In just a few days, the lives that residents spent decades building literally went up in smoke. These devastated families began looking around for help--for safety and security; for support getting back on their feet and rebuilding their lives. And they quickly found that help coming from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. prgtoken Even as the fire raged and families raced out of its path, leaving their homes and belongings behind, the Siletz worked with the Red Cross to open the doors of the Chinook Winds Casino to provide shelter and safety for their displaced neighbors in need. Sadly that safety and security provided by the Siletz was short lived as the casino itself was forced to be evacuated as the fire made its way dangerously close. And with the loss of power and phones lines and people in their cars on the way to the casino while others were leaving, it was hard getting any clear information. How harrowing it must have been for all those who believed they had escaped the worst, only to be forced once more to run from the path of an oncoming inferno. But the Tribe used the casino's shuttles to bring evacuees to the Newport Red Cross site, while staff volunteered to help deliver meals to those in need. prgtoken Fortunately, the casino was not damaged, and everyone who was there made it to safety. And after the fire subsided, leaving a path of destruction in its wake, the doors of Chinook Winds and its hotel were once again opened to those in need. Families and members of the community who could not be in their homes--whether because those homes were completed gone or damage to roofs and other parts made them unlivable--were able to stay for up to 3 months at no cost to themselves until they could return to their own houses or found a new permanent living situation. prgtoken But all these months later, many Oregonians impacted by the Echo Mountain Complex Fire are still struggling to rebuild their lives. Many still don't have a place to call home. Fortunately, they once again have the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians looking out for and working with them, in partnership with FEMA, to get them back on their feet. prgtoken Since March, the Tribe has been hosting FEMA provided trailers on their lands to house Oregonians impacted by the fire until they can find permanent housing--something that could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months in this part of the State that continues to struggle with a shortage of affordable housing. prgtoken This is the first time in Oregon's history and potentially in the history of the whole country that FEMA has partnered with the leadership of a Tribe to host housing units on Tribal lands. FEMA was originally working with Lincoln County and Lincoln Ci
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2021
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-5-27

I rise to voice my strong support for the recent passage of S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. I believe it is a vital investment in the current and future health of all our communities, and I applaud my Senate colleagues for helping to get this done. prgtoken Ensuring access to clean water is essential--and one of the most basic duties of government. Every American deserves safe drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, and in my home State of Maryland, these systems are vital both to the health of our fellow citizens and to the health of our rivers and our beloved Chesapeake Bay. prgtoken This bill will help pull our waterways into the 21st century by providing a critical boost in water systems investments to restore aging infrastructure, fund cutting-edge waterway technology, create resiliency in the face of climate change, and create new jobs. And critically, this legislation was designed with equity in mind, so marginalized communities can benefit from this big leap forward. This has been a longstanding bipartisan priority, and I am pleased that colleagues from both sides of the aisle have come together to pass this vital legislation through the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Now, it is up to our colleagues in the House to pass this bill too so we can get it to the President's desk. And should he sign it into law, as I believe he will, I will be doing my part as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to ensure we fully fund this initiative. prgtoken s for joining me and a bipartisan group of Senators in supporting this key investment in our Nation's water infrastructure.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-5-27

I am thrilled that we are passing this legislation. It is amazing to me--and I am sure the Presiding Officer would agree--that the Senate has actually returned to regular order. We are passing amendments on both sides of the aisle, and I think we are going to have a big bipartisan vote here in the Senate. In having been here for a number of years when the Senate didn't operate that way--it was incredibly dysfunctional--it is a great, great privilege to be here at a moment when it is working. So I want to express my sense of gratitude for that. January 6 Commission prgtoken , I also want to call the Presiding Officer's attention to news reports this afternoon that say that our colleagues on the side of the aisle have decided they are going to block this bipartisan Commission to examine what happened on January 6 and that they are going to use the filibuster here to block a Commission that some of them actually called for and a Commission that, I think, 35 Members of the House of Representatives supported. prgtoken I wanted to come to the floor to appeal to their conscience and to ask them to consider the damage that it will do to our democracy to not have this Commission, as we have done at other important moments in the country's history. prgtoken And, , you were here on January 6. I was here on January 6. We had been sent here--we came here--to accomplish the ministerial task that we are required after a Presidential election is concluded, to certify the results of that election, to certify the ballots of millions and millions and millions of Americans who voted in the last election. That is why we were here. prgtoken Unfortunately, we had a President at that time who denied that the election had actually happened. prgtoken The President will remember that we also had colleagues that came to this floor and said that we were disrespecting the President's base or their base because we were certifying the election, instead of having enough respect for their base to tell them the truth, which was that the election had been decided by millions of voters, and by every court that looked at it and by incredibly brave local officials, many of them s, who wouldn't allow the President to push them around. prgtoken The 6th was a terrible day here. The people who invaded this Capitol, the people who stormed the platform that had been set up for the peaceful transfer of power on January 20, when took the oath of office--the people who came here on January 6 cursed the Capitol Police. They bludgeoned the Capitol Police. They speared them. They hurled racial epithets, leading some of our African-American police officers here to ask what had happened to America. They broke windows in the Capitol. They looted the Parliamentarian's office--the people who would bravely carry the ballots out of this Chamber, when we were
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-5-27

as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, we have a real opportunity to revitalize American manufacturing and harness American leadership in scientific and technological advancement. Today I urge my colleagues to support critical, bipartisan legislation that will do just that. prgtoken The United States Innovation and Competition Act will help keep our country on the cutting edge of technology, strengthen American competitiveness on a global stage, and protect our national security. prgtoken International competitors like the Chinese Government are aggressively investing in manufacturing, science, and technology in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over the United States, and we cannot let that happen. In order to maintain our edge, we must make serious investments in domestic research and development, technology, and manufacturing. prgtoken We know that a strong manufacturing sector is the backbone of any economy. I have long believed that you cannot be a great country if you don't make things. This bill contains a number of provisions to help revitalize and strengthen American manufacturing. prgtoken A provision in this bill that Senator Stabenow and I led will provide $2 billion in new funding for the domestic production of mature semiconductor technologies that are absolutely critical to the automotive industry and other manufacturers all across our country. This provision is essential because our reliance on overseas semiconductor manufacturing is a threat to our economy and to our national security. prgtoken We are currently experiencing a semiconductor shortage that is causing massive supply chain disruptions and has idled plants in Michigan and other States across our country, forcing auto manufacturers to shut down factories and lay off workers. This is a completely unacceptable situation, and we must immediately work to address this challenge. prgtoken Boosting manufacturing in Michigan and across the Nation requires a comprehensive Federal strategy to help companies grow our domestic manufacturing base. That is why I authored a provision in this legislation to reactivate the Manufacturing Advisory Council and worked to increase funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a program that helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers grow their companies and create jobs. Together, these policies will help strengthen our manufacturing sector, advance our economic competitiveness, and create good-paying jobs. prgtoken The United States Innovation and Competition Act also helps ensure that when we are spending American taxpayer dollars, we are investing in American manufacturers and creating American jobs. prgtoken As chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I was proud of our committee's efforts to include several bipartisan provisions in this package that will strengthen ``Buy American'' requirements. These provisions, including one b
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-5-27

the Senate opens this morning after a very late night of amendment votes on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act--USICA; those are the initials--five in total, four of which of these amendments were sponsored by s. So far on this bill, the Senate has held votes on no fewer than 18 amendments, 4 from and 14 from s, and there are more to come. prgtoken As I mentioned yesterday, in a landmark moment for bipartisanship in the Senate, we even adopted an amendment from Senator Rand Paul by voice vote. Yes, that is right. I said the two words together. Rand Paul; voice vote--four words. I said the two concepts together: Rand Paul; voice vote--four words. prgtoken Now, the media will tell you that if you are talking process, you are losing, but the process was really important here. For years, Senators have been clamoring for a more open process and more amendment votes. I can't tell you how many speeches I have heard on the floor about the virtues of regular order. Well, this competition bill ought to be the answer to my colleagues' prayers. prgtoken The bill has moved through regular order, flying through various Senate committees with staggering bipartisan votes. The entire Senate opted to take up the bill by a vote of 86 to 11. prgtoken Here on the floor, we have held the kind of vigorous, bipartisan, open amendment process that Senators have been calling for. Some of these votes were tough for our side. In the old days, we would have said no. We said yes, we will vote for them, but let's keep moving forward, and we are. prgtoken Listen to this. It is only May, roughly 5 months since took the majority in this Chamber, and already more amendments have received rollcall votes than during any of the past 4 years. Let me repeat that so people hear it from one end of the Capitol to the other, particularly on this side of the aisle. In 5 months, more amendments have received rollcall votes in this -led Senate than during any of the years in which was President and Senator McConnell was majority leader. prgtoken We have considered the competition bill in an exceedingly bipartisan way. prgtoken There will be a few final steps to take, a few final amendments to consider, but I hope my colleagues have seen our commitment to developing, drafting, and perfecting this legislation in total concert with the other side of the aisle. prgtoken With cooperation from our colleagues, we can finish the bill today, and I hope we do. That is our intention, because despite the lack of attention it has garnered from the press, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act will be one of the most significant pieces of bipartisan legislation we pass in a very long time. It could be a moment in history that future generations look back on as a turning point for American leadership in the 21st century. prgtoken Everyone knows the Federal Government's c
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-5-27

it will come as no surprise to anyone in this Chamber that I am extremely proud to be born and raised in Michigan. prgtoken Our State leads the world in innovation. We are the leaders in making things--furniture, appliances, wind turbines and solar components and so much more, and, of course, we are the home of the automobile and the automotive assembly line and the middle class of America. prgtoken Our workers put the world on four wheels. They built an economy strong enough that those same workers could afford to buy one or two or more cars and trucks that they made. prgtoken Yet our Nation faces a stark choice right now, and that is why the bill in front of us tonight is so very important. We can continue to invest in making things in America or we can decide that it is not really worth the trouble anymore. prgtoken We can continue to lead the world in the research and development of breakthrough technologies or we can allow other countries to surge ahead while we tread water. And we can stand with our workers on the assembly lines as they build the vehicles of the future or we can watch our plants close, ship our jobs overseas, and let our middle class wither away--our choice. prgtoken But I would argue that we may have no choice. That is no choice at all. We know what we need to do. It is time to stand on the side of American manufacturing, as this bill does. It is time to stand on the side of American ingenuity, as this bill does. And it is time to stand on the side of American workers and our American middle class. prgtoken It is time to take a stand and invest in our shared future and build an economy that can compete with anyone, anywhere, anytime. That is America. That is what the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act does. prgtoken One of our first orders of business is to increase our investments in research and development, and we have no time to lose. American R&D spending is prgtoken near the lowest point in 60 years--lowest point in 60 years. What else happened 60 years ago? Well, the first person flew into space, and he wasn't an American. That fact helped light a fire under American leaders. They understood that we could invest in R&D or let the Soviet Union surge ahead, and we did. prgtoken Today, we are in a race with China, and they are gaining on us. In 2019, China's investment in R&D grew by about 13 percent. Ours grew 8 percent. And they plan to boost R&D spending by 7 percent each year through 2025. prgtoken That is why it is so important that we pass the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. It will invest $120 billion over 5 years in critical-- critical--research, including artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and semiconductors. And it will quadruple the investment for the manufacturing extension partnership and provides $1.2 billion for the Manufacturing USA Program that is especially important to Michigan. prgtoken We are proud to have two Manufacturing USA initiatives
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-5-27

colleagues, this coming Monday is Memorial Day. Many of us are making our plans to commemorate the holiday, the weekend, where we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation and in defense of our democracy-- those brave Americans and so many others who have worked, fought, and died for more than 200 years to protect our system of government--of the people, by the people, for the people. Upholding that legacy is our highest duty, and it is in that spirit that I rise today. prgtoken On November 3, 2020, I was serving as California's secretary of state. It was my privilege for 6 years to serve as the chief elections officer in our Nation's most populous and most diverse State, and I can tell you that even in the best of times, election administration is complex. Elections are consequential operations. prgtoken Last year, our elections workers at all levels of government faced the additional, unprecedented challenge of administering an election during a global health pandemic. And I am proud to say that they rose to the occasion to protect the democratic legacy that we hold and trust. And, as a result, California's election officials administered an accessible, secure, and safe election, which drew historic voter turnout. Indeed, by every objective measure, the 2020 elections were a national success. prgtoken But none of this mattered to President , who had spent years attacking the integrity of our elections by repeatedly lying about voter fraud and ``rigged elections,'' even the election that he won in 2016. prgtoken President was furious at his 2020 loss, and he chose to take a sledgehammer to the core of our democratic system. He didn't just refuse to concede the election--breaking a tradition that dates back to Thomas Jefferson--President attacked the very notion of a peaceful transition of power. prgtoken Along the way, he filed and lost more than 60 cynical lawsuits challenging the election. He personally called State elections officials and pressured them to alter vote tallies--tallies that had been counted, recounted, and audited. prgtoken And he lied to the American people, tweeting out a steady stream of conspiracy theories and disinformation denying his electoral loss. prgtoken Online and around the country, President 's Big Lie caught fire. Sadly, many officials participated in fanning the flames, spreading fears of voter fraud for political gain. Others stood by silently as President radicalized his supporters with falsehoods. They chose loyalty to over the truth, delusion over democracy. prgtoken Let me be clear. These allegations of fraud had no basis in fact. They were rooted in 's ego and cemented in White supremacy. And they led directly to the deadly insurrection of January 6, an unprecedented attack on our Nation's Capitol by violent extremists against the U.S. House of Representatives and this Senate, invi
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-5-27

today I am introducing legislation to reauthorize the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor for the next fifteen years. This legislation will continue to preserve the industrial, natural, and cultural heritage of the Blackstone River Valley for generations to come. prgtoken In 1986, Congress designated the Blackstone River Valley as a National Heritage Corridor, recognizing the region's critical contributions to the American Industrial Revolution. Indeed, in 1793. Samuel Slater initiated the American Industrial Revolution in Rhode Island when he built his historic mill along the Blackstone River, Today, the mills and villages throughout the Corridor reflect the legacy of this key chapter in American history. prgtoken Encompassing both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor links twenty-four communities along the Blackstone River from Providence to Worcester. The Corridor has also served as a critical partner to the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, resulting in the recovery of dozens of historic villages, waterways, and rural landscapes throughout the Blackstone River Valley, which includes thousands of acres of beautiful lands and waters that are home to diverse wildlife. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to ensure the continued preservation of the Blackstone River Valley for the benefit of our natural resources and our country's history.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-5-27

. The Presiding Officer and I and another 20 or so Senators listened yesterday in the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to the CEOs of the Nation's six largest banks testify to our committee. Those six CEOs are among--or maybe the six most--powerful business people in America. prgtoken I look to what has happened to my hometown of Mansfield, OH, and to Zanesville, OH, and Lima and Chillicothe and Portsmouth and Springfield--medium-size industrial cities that 40 years ago were prosperous industrial communities that created and which were the homes of thousands--tens of thousands, really, of good-paying union jobs, allowing people out of high school to go into the plant and make a decent middle-class living, allowing them to send their kids to North Central State or Mansfield OSU or Denison or schools all over Ohio. prgtoken But in the last 30 or 40 years, we have seen what Wall Street has done. Wall Street has done just fine for themselves. We have seen profits go up dramatically. We have seen executive compensation stratospheric--tens of millions of dollars for most of these CEOs and their earnings every year and their compensation. prgtoken But we see middle-class wages in places like Toledo and Akron simply flat. And we heard a lot at that hearing yesterday, from these CEOs, about how much they value their employees. Yet not one of these CEOs agreed to remain neutral if their workers want to unionize. prgtoken And I know from my State, whether it is Dayton or whether it is Trotwood or whether it is Zanesville--I know from my State--that when workers are lucky enough to carry a union card, they are much more likely to prosper. prgtoken These CEOs said: Yeah, we want our employees' voices to be heard. prgtoken But that is not what remaining neutral means--not using their vast power to intimidate their employees. prgtoken The Presiding Officer has seen it in Georgia, we saw it recently in Alabama, and I have seen it many times in Ohio, where an employer uses the vast resources of the corporation to browbeat--or however they do it--to stop people from voting for the union that would make their lives better. prgtoken I heard these CEOs say they are focused on lending to small businesses and growing the economy, but I don't see that in Newark. I don't see that in Canton. I don't see it in Warren or Youngstown. These small businesses want help. prgtoken The community bankers did it. For community bankers, their lending went up during the pandemic, but these large six banks restricted their lending in the pandemic. prgtoken But they had enough money left to do major stock buybacks. One of these companies planned to do $25 billion. It was announced just recently that one of these six banks was going to do a $25 billion stock buyback. prgtoken Do you know who that enriches? It certainly doesn't enrich the community. It doesn't enrich Columbus or Cincinnati or Blue Ash or Bellaire or Steubenville. What it does is en