mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BORDER CRISIS BECOMES A FENTANYL CRISIS
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , I rise today because every State is now a border State. A border crisis is now a fentanyl crisis. But don't take it from me, take it from the sheriffs in my district. prgtoken Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said, ``Fentanyl is coming into our country from our southern border. It is becoming an increasing problem, and it is killing our citizens.'' prgtoken Randolph County Sheriff Art Moystner said, ``Our guys on the ground tell us they know these drugs are coming through Dayton via the southern border.'' prgtoken Hancock County Sheriff Brad Burkhart said, ``Illegal drugs coming across the border affects everyone, and Indiana is not immune.'' prgtoken In Decatur County, Sheriff Dave Durant explained it like this, ``Fentanyl in our communities is not just a thing, it is the thing.'' prgtoken , stop downplaying this crisis. It is killing Hoosiers in Indiana.
BIDEN LETTERS ON AFGHANISTAN
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , on August 26, remarks regarding the terrorist attack at the Kabul, Afghanistan, airport, with the murder of 13 American servicemembers, the Commander in Chief stated that military leaders have contacted him, `` . . . usually by letter, saying they subscribe to the mission as designed. . . . '' prgtoken That evening, I sent the first of four letters to the White House asking for all letters referenced, with no reply. The decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan abandoning Americans has been correctly identified by President as the worst foreign policy disaster ever for American families. This leads to murderous attacks over open borders into America. prgtoken Where is the American media on this crucial issue of the claimed Afghanistan letters? prgtoken Sadly, no response from the White House reveals admission of no letters. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism moves from the safe haven in Afghanistan to America.
DORIS BARNES--MARINE CORPS
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , in November, I had the opportunity to attend a Veterans Day Event in Upper Township where Doris Barnes was the guest speaker. Doris, who recently turned 100 years old, served in the Marine Corps from 1944 to 1945. In the Marines, she was a Sergeant on aviation duty and was also a stenographer. At the time of her discharge, Doris received an Honorable Service Label Pin and an Honorable Discharge Pin. Currently, she resides in Ocean City, New Jersey and is a member of the Moray-Miley American Legion Post No. 524. In her free time, Doris enjoys the camaraderie of the American Legion and the daily flag raising ceremony on the boardwalk. I thank Doris for her many years of service to her community. God Bless Doris and God Bless America.
CELEBRATING RUBY ELLEN TALLEY'S 90TH BIRTHDAY
Jake LaTurner (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , today, I come to the floor to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of my most important constituents, my Grandma Ruby. prgtoken Ruby Ellen Talley was born February 9, 1932. Grandma Ruby married my late grandfather, Joe LaTurner, on October 5, 1951. Together, they have 6 children, 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great- great-grandchildren. prgtoken Nursing was her profession, but what is clearly most important to her is faith and family. As matriarch of the LaTurner family, Grandma Ruby has aggressively instilled the values of honesty, hard work, empathy, and always caring more about the one who is down on their luck. prgtoken For me personally, she helped raise me, and I hear her voice in my head every single day, insisting that I have both confidence and humility. I hear my Grandma Ruby say, as I have throughout my entire life, that I am the best and can achieve anything I am willing to work hard enough for. And I also hear her saying maybe even louder: ``Don't get too big for your britches.'' prgtoken I would not be standing on this floor today without her. I love my Grandma Ruby dearly, and I wish her a very happy 90th birthday.
BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , I rise today to speak on amendment number 150 sponsored by Representative Mike Levin. prgtoken This amendment is modeled off the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA) which promotes wind, solar, and geothermal resources on public lands. prgtoken You might ask me why I am speaking on a amendment, or why I seem to know so much about this amendment. prgtoken It's strange because this amendment looks familiar to me. I wonder why that is? prgtoken Oh that's right, that's because PLREDA is my bill, one which I have sponsored since the 112th Congress. prgtoken When I introduced PLREDA in the previous Congresses, I solicited original cosponsors in a bipartisan manner. prgtoken Mr. Levin was one such original cosponsor. prgtoken After the 2020 election, we used Mr. Levin as the lead, yet with this current legislation I was prohibited from being part of its annual original sponsors. prgtoken But that's fine, I am more interested in passing good governance for the American people than demanding the credit. prgtoken I have done this in the past when we reformed the antitrust exemptions in the McCarran-Ferguson Act for the medical insurance industry and brought knowledge to the erroneous administrative exclusion in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act jeopardizing constituents in Mohave County, Arizona and Clark County, Nevada. prgtoken If this were a stand-alone provision, it would earn my support because we need to pass the remainder of PLREDA, the rest which I was unable to get passed in previous Congresses. prgtoken However, used as an amendment to a very disingenuous bill, I cannot support it. Not because of the theft of my bill but the poor process used today in this bad bill. prgtoken I've always said good process builds good policy which makes good politics. prgtoken The amendments being considered inside en bloc packages is a tactic of the current majority which would make the founders roll in their graves. prgtoken This is not a counter China bill. This bill promotes a role for the government in the economy which is un-American and deals more in abstract social and climate policies than anything else. prgtoken It is not good process. Everyone on the other side has not read the full bill, just like they have not taken the time to make themselves fully aware of anything they have passed so far, regardless if it's a bill, amendment, or resolution. prgtoken The American people should be concerned about how this bill actually makes us weaker in the face of China, and no matter how many of my good policy ideas you add to it in the form of an amendment, you cannot change its rotten core.
CELEBRATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , it is my honor today to recognize Jewish Family Services (JFS) and join them in celebrating their 150th Anniversary. JFS is a nonprofit human services organization that draws upon traditional Jewish values to provide services to those in need-- regardless of their faith, age, income, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. prgtoken Founded in 1872, JFS began as the Hebrew Benevolent Society to meet the needs of Denver's first 300 Jewish pioneers. From there, JFS has continued to grow and expand their mission--meeting the moment time and time again. They helped resettle Holocaust survivors in the wake of World War II, opened a group home for individuals with disabilities in the 1980s, formed an Employment Services Department in 2021, and continue to fight day after day to remove barriers to employment and help people find opportunities to work towards a livable wage. prgtoken In the face of an unprecedented pandemic and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, JFS continued to provide food security, children's services, mental health counseling, disability services, employment support, and housing stability. In the last year alone, JFS helped over 25,000 individuals with the aid of over 1,300 volunteers to stand strong against COVID-19 and address the needs of the community regardless of circumstance. prgtoken At the beginning of 2022, JFS became a temporary Afghan Refugee Resettlement Agency--providing comprehensive services to refugees arriving from Afghanistan who are starting new lives in in the Denver metro area. These services include cultural orientation, housing, employment, food, school enrollment, and referrals to language classes. prgtoken For 150 years our community has been made a better, more inclusive place to live because of the thousands of selfless JFS volunteers who have pulled upon their faith to serve our community and improve the lives of others. I congratulate and thank JFS for their service to our community and look forward to the incredible achievements the next 150 years will bring.
TRIBUTE TO LaTONYA BARTON
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-2-3

I rise today to pay tribute to the remarkable life of Ms. LaTonya Barton, a military spouse who made tremendous contributions to veterans, especially veteran entrepreneurs, veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. prgtoken Ms. Barton and her spouse, Mr. Timothy Barton, a U.S. Army veteran, founded Kingdomware Technology, Incorporation, in 1993. After several unsuccessful responses to requests for proposals issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs--VA--Ms. Barton suspected that the Department was failing to comply with a statutory requirement known as the Rule of Two. Under this Federal law, VA contracting officers are required to restrict competition to veteran-owned small businesses when it is reasonable to expect at least two veteran-owned small business interests will compete for a given VA contract award. prgtoken Ms. Barton's legal challenge wove its way through the Federal judiciary until it reached the Supreme Court of the United States of America as the case Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States. Ms. Barton ultimately prevailed in her case, as the Supreme Court issued a unanimous 8-0 opinion which held that the Rule of Two is a mandatory legal requirement that applies to all VA competitive contract awards, including orders on the Federal Supply Schedule. prgtoken Ms. Barton's legal victory was a significant win for the rule of law and every veteran-owned small business interest seeking to do business with the VA. Throughout her years of conducting research for the litigation and testifying before Congress, Ms. Barton always kept faith in our justice system and remained steadfast in her determination to make sure veteran small business owners who served our Nation in uniform would benefit from laws enacted to help them do business with the VA. Ms. Barton will be remembered by colleagues as a pioneer businesswoman who was unwavering in her commitment to the principle that when American tax dollars are expended by the VA, veteran-owned small business interests must be empowered to compete with large private sector competitors. prgtoken Of course, Ms. Barton was far more than a savvy businesswoman. She was also a devoted mother, mentor, friend, and patriot who was loved and respected in her community. Despite the significant demands placed on her time by the litigation, Ms. Barton invested countless hours developing her children's academic and athletic prowess. prgtoken The fruits of her labor resulted in developing a successful veteran- owned small business that has lasted more than 20 years and three outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the basketball court. prgtoken Ms. Barton passed away unexpectedly on November 3, 2021, leaving behind a legacy for veteran entrepreneurs across our Nation. She will always be remembered for her tenacity and dedication to doing right by our country's veterans. Qualities t
ROSALIE GRENON
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , I rise today to honor the late Rosalie Grenon of Sutton, Massachusetts, a loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many. prgtoken Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Rosalie spent her entire life in Central Massachusetts, growing up and raising her family in Millbury and Sutton, respectively. She married her high school sweetheart, David Grenon, and they built a beautiful family and life together. Driven by their belief in the importance of education, Rosalie and David have a long history of supporting the business studies program at Assumption University in Worcester, MA. prgtoken Rosalie was actively involved in her community, and a true patron of the arts. She served on the Advisory Board of the Joy of Music in Worcester, the Scholarship Committee for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and the Advisory Board for the Performing Arts School of Worcester. prgtoken A graduate of Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, Rosalie received a degree in music from the college in 1960. She was a talented opera singer and had a particular adoration for classical music. A skilled artist, she found joy in photography, painting, and drawing. She often used her talents to contribute to her church and events in our community. prgtoken Rosalie loved the many roles she held in her life, but she cherished being a grandmother and great-grandmother the most. She had magical connections with the children in her life, and she often spent her time playing with them and rocking them to sleep with ease. prgtoken Rosalie was a vibrant woman who put an abundance of love out into the world. She will be remembered for her artistic eye, her dedication to her family, and her love of Barry Manilow's music. Her kindness and passion extended beyond herself and touched the people who loved her in unforgettable ways. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress and Rosalie's loved ones, it is my great privilege and honor to celebrate and recognize the beautiful life of the late Rosalie Grenon.
CHIPS for America Act (Executive Calendar)
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-2-3

I thank the senior Senator from Texas who, in fact, is a noncombatant in this effort. And I am sorry that he has had the misfortune of having to come out here and object. prgtoken I will say that Colorado and Utah are right next to each other, and I faced the same travel issues that the Senator from Utah faces, I guess. I hope he gets where he is trying to go, but I stayed here this evening not because I objected to this but because I thought it was so incredibly important for us to get this work done. prgtoken And I want the record to reflect that I actually didn't name the Senator who objected, but the Senator from Texas did. prgtoken My fervent hope is that we can work this out because, really importantly, we are having the anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt's decision to inter these young people this month. And if we don't get this back to the House of Representatives, we may miss that anniversary, and people in Colorado would miss the chance to be able to demonstrate that they are carrying this really important legacy forward. prgtoken When I think about my mom's experience and the experiences here and the country that these young men and women are growing up in who are with us today, it just makes me think even more about how important all of this is. And, , I can't think of anybody I would rather have this discussion with than with you presiding in the Chair. prgtoken With that, . prgtoken .
Nomination of Leonard Philip Stark (Executive Calendar)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Fifty-four to thirty-three. In baseball, we are hoping there is going to be a settlement in the baseball dispute right now between labor and management. But, in baseball, you have some games that go extra innings, but at the end of the game, somebody wins and somebody loses. I like to say the team that wins gets a ``w.'' prgtoken Well, we just had a ``w'' in favor of, in support of, the nomination of Leonard Stark to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit--not just a win for him, for his family; not just a win for Delaware, where he is from; not just a win for the colleges and universities he has gone to, the places that he has worked, that he has practiced law, served as a judge; but this is a win for our country. This is a win for our country. I am honored today to rise in support of his nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals. prgtoken The Presiding Officer from time to time will see me on the floor passing out what we call palm cards--he has probably passed out a few of his own--to our colleagues asking them to join him--join me--in cosponsoring legislation, supporting amendments, supporting bills on the floor. prgtoken For the last day or two, I have been passing out palm cards to our colleagues, asking them to support the nomination of Leonard Stark to serve on this court. As grateful as I am for all the and at least one or two Independents who voted for him, I want to also express my thanks--our thanks--to the s who crossed the aisle and saw fit to support his nomination. prgtoken I am not sure how much our colleagues here in the Senate know about the U.S. Court of Appeals. I would be the first to admit that I had to do some homework on it myself. But this court is best known--may be best known for its decisions on patent law. That is right--patent law. In fact, it is the only appellate court, I am told, other than the U.S. Supreme Court that will hear and consider patent case appeals. prgtoken But despite my needing to do a little homework on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, I do know a great deal about Judge Leonard Stark. In fact, I have known him for probably half of his life--for half of his life. I have admired him for every one of those years. prgtoken He has been nominated by our President to serve in this critical role in this important court. I have had the chance to follow his nomination, along with Senator Coons of Delaware, through the Judiciary Committee process, and I am confident that Judge Stark's judicial experience and his expertise, particularly--particularly--in prgtoken the complex legal arena of patent law, make him a perfect fit--a perfect fit--for this particular judgeship. prgtoken I know a lot about Judge Stark for a couple of reasons. One, we are from Delaware. Delaware is a little State. I like to say--people ask me sometimes--we have a million people who live there. They say: Have you met everybody i
RECOGNIZING GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2022-2-3

in 1961, when I was deciding where to attend law school, I was looking for an institution where I could not only learn about the law in the abstract, but also how it is applied, interpreted, and written. I was immediately drawn to the Georgetown University Law Center, given that is steps from the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court. The education that I received in my years at Georgetown Law helped me to understand that the way in which the law is written directly impacts the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, affirmed the importance of working to uphold and improve the law, and guided me toward a career in public service. prgtoken And I am not the only person in the Senate who had this experience at Georgetown Law. Senators Hirono, Durbin, Van Hollen, and Sullivan all count themselves as alumni. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was my classmate. Graduates of Georgetown Law also work in offices across the Capitol, including my own, using their legal education to help serve constituents, drive measureable change in our communities, and better our legal system. prgtoken For many Americans, the events of the past few years have brought into focus the importance of preserving our Nation's institutions and the collective work that must be done to ensure that they work better for all Americans. As a result, thousands more Americans have flocked to law school in recent application cycles. With its location in Washington, DC, and its wealth of courses, incredible practitioners and faculty, and innovative research centers, Georgetown Law has been well- positioned to take advantage of the heightened interest in the legal field. prgtoken For the 2021-2022 academic year, Georgetown University Law Center received a record 14,052 applications, an increase of 41 percent of the previous year. This incredible achievement demonstrates Georgetown Law's strength as a leader in the field of legal education. Congratulations to Georgetown University Law Center for this exceptional record. I have full confidence that Georgetown Law will continue to shape future leaders for years to come, preparing them to address the myriad challenges our society faces and to fight for justice for every person and every community. prgtoken Dean William Treanor does a superb job of leadership, and we often speak of the inspiring path of the law center over so many decades. prgtoken Georgetown University Law Center was featured in an article in the Washington Post late last year. I ask unanimous consent that the article titled, ``The country's most popular law school got an unexpected jolt'' be printed in the Record.
Syria (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-2-3

earlier this morning, Americans learned that, thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield the world leader of ISIS. I want to thank the incredible work of our brave military servicemembers who work day and night to keep Americans safe. So many have suffered at the brutal hand of ISIS. prgtoken Senators will learn more about the operation later this morning during our classified, all-Senators briefing with Secretary Austin and other senior administration officials.
MAKING CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA'S FUTURE
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-2-3

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of the America COMPETES Act, which includes two of my amendments. prgtoken This bill includes important provisions that enhance our ability to attract the best talent from around the world, such as scientists and engineers prgtoken with doctoral degrees. My amendment would extend this program to STEM graduates with master's degrees who work in fields that are critical to our national and economic security. prgtoken The bill also includes funding for scholarships for low-income Americans to study in the STEM fields. prgtoken The bill also includes my amendment to ensure our Nation's HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions or active members of Manufacturing USA institutes. prgtoken These and other provisions in the America COMPETES Act will help us create more jobs, sharpen our technological edge, and make critical investments in our future. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-2-3

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 3 p.m. on Monday, February 7; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that at 5:30 p.m the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on confirmation of the Scott and Tunnage nominations, as provided under the previous order; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Monday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.