mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-2-26

I thank my friend from Missouri, the good ranking member of the Budget Committee. prgtoken , we, as politicians, are talking down our economy specifically to pass this spending package. To be clear, we know many Americans are still suffering. s want to provide targeted relief to those in need--temporary, targeted relief related to COVID. In fact, for a year now, we have been working to support families impacted by COVID, and we have done so in an overwhelmingly bipartisan way. prgtoken , now the have power and they are not interested in bipartisanship--no matter what the campaign pledges were--or even basic facts. The fact is that CBO projects that the unemployment rate, which is lower right now than it was in the first prgtoken 5\1/2\ years of President 's Presidency, will continue to fall even without congressional action and reach its pre-pandemic size by next year. prgtoken Additionally, personal income increased at the end of last year, and the report out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics today says personal savings rates are now over 20 percent, a level not seen in four decades. But these are facts that don't back up the ' preferred narrative, that the economy is horrible, and this big, spending package is their solution. prgtoken are distorting the truth to push through a package that dedicates only 9 percent of the $1.9 trillion price tag of this bill to actually combating the virus. prgtoken , let's reject this package. Let's get American people back to work. Let's get schools open. Let's get parents back at work. Let's get women back in the workforce. And we can do that with bipartisan solutions, not a big spending package. prgtoken Let's reject this. Let's start over and get to good terms so we can actually fix the problems for the American people, get them working again, get schools open, and beat the virus.
COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2021
Yvette Herrell (Republican, NM) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise in support of my amendments that would strike all potential wilderness designations from this bill. A wilderness designation is one of the most restrictive designations that the Federal Government can put on a piece of land. They put limits on forest management activities, access for emergency and military personnel, and limit access for the general public. prgtoken As we have seen across the West, areas designated as potential wilderness or wilderness study areas sit in limbo for decades. Criteria for what constitutes a wilderness area is very clear and straightforward. Keeping lands under potential wilderness or wilderness study area designations for extended periods of time is unnecessary and greatly handicaps rural communities in the West. prgtoken , let me emphasize: Many of the counties affected by these potential wilderness designations are already living in lands with over 80 percent publicly managed lands. Many of my Eastern colleagues may not appreciate what that means for local governments in the affected counties when I say a county is over 80 percent public land. Public lands are not taxable, meaning that the local tax base for counties that have high amounts of Federal lands is extremely small, therefore, their multiple use on these lands prevented by this legislation is crucial for economic success.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-2-26

I believe every person born or unborn is worthy of our protection. A majority of Americans--nearly 60 percent-- believe that Federal tax dollars should not be used to pay for the destruction of life. Hyde protections to prohibit taxpayer funding for elective abortions have been in place in this country ever since President Ford. Even President supported them as a Senator. But now House have abandoned nearly a half century of bipartisan consensus. prgtoken I offered an amendment in the Ways and Means Committee to include Hyde protections, which have saved more than 2 million innocent lives in this $1.9 trillion bill. I also joined my colleagues in submitting a similar amendment for floor consideration. rejected both. prgtoken This is a moment that calls for healing and not destruction, for saving lives and not ending them, for bringing Americans together and not tearing us apart. It is sad to see partisanship take priority over the most vulnerable among us, the unborn. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting innocent life by opposing this bill.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1319, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , the payoff to progressives package before us today has little to do with the ongoing pandemic. This bill, which is the most expensive single bill in history, only allocates 9 percent of the $1.9 trillion price tag to actually defeating COVID. prgtoken So what are the spending the rest of the money on? prgtoken Corrupt pet projects, of course, and also payoffs to Progressive liberal special interest groups. prgtoken Just look at it: $100 million for a Silicon Valley rail project near Pelosi's district. Totally coincidentally, I am sure. Taxpayer funded healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants. Fifty million dollars for Planned Parenthood. Hundreds of billions in bailouts to blue State Governors, who crush small businesses with their draconian lockdown measures. And a minimum wage mandate that, right off the bat, would kill 1.4 million American jobs. The list goes on and on. prgtoken But do you know what aren't putting in this bill? prgtoken They aren't reopening our schools. In fact, this bill spends 95 percent of the education funding after the school year. prgtoken also aren't reopening our economy with this bill. In fact, this bill spends $471 billion on policies that actually reduce employment. prgtoken And they aren't targeting relief to where it is actually needed. In fact, this bill gives checks to individuals who have not lost any income and gives taxpayer-funded healthcare to millionaires. prgtoken President and congressional had a chance to make good on their empty promises to show unity and bipartisanship. They could have worked with s on a targeted relief bill that sends money to where it actually needs to go and effectively spends $1 trillion in the remaining funds that have already been allocated. Instead, they are using this pandemic as pretext to force through a corrupt bill filled with Progressive payoffs. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1319.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Carol D. Miller (Republican, WV) \u2014 2021-2-26

I raise bison. I know bull when I see it, and I know manure when I see it. Less than 10 percent of this so-called stimulus package actually focuses on the pandemic. prgtoken In this bill, House said no to my proposal to target aid to States with high child poverty rates to lift our children up. Instead, they said yes to $1,400 checks that could go to people who entered our country illegally. They said yes to hundreds of millions for absurd pet projects, like Silicon Valley subway systems, the Seaway International Bridge, and $350 billion in blue State bailouts. prgtoken Let's cut the bull. The $1.9 trillion payout doesn't crush COVID, nor does it create jobs. Our grandchildren should not be saddled with the cost of this bag of bailouts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-2-26

this bill isn't about COVID. It isn't about providing relief to struggling Americans. This massive $1.9 trillion spending bill is about checking boxes with donors, political allies, and left-wing special interest groups. prgtoken This bill pushes out $350 billion to bail out poorly managed, locked- down blue States, even though tens of billions of taxpayer dollars already provided to them remain unspent. It pushes this money out without guardrails, without strings attached, without certifications of need or accounting requirements. They are irresponsibly and recklessly spending hard-earned American taxpayer dollars. prgtoken , the s on my committee offered comments and amendments to make these dollars less vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse; amendments that targeted actual COVID-19 relief that were tied to important policies, like reopening schools, businesses, and communities. These amendments protected against bailing out underfunded public employee pension plans. They made sure funds were shared equitably with small and rural localities. These amendments prioritized the American people. prgtoken , my counterparts on the Committee on Oversight and Reform refused to adopt a single one of these amendments. They refused to engage in any meaningful debate. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because they don't want the American people to see where this money is going. Because, sadly, it isn't going to help them.
NATIONAL FFA WEEK
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-2-26

I proudly rise before you today in honor of National FFA Week. prgtoken As an eighth-generation farmer and former member of the Future Farmers of America myself, I have seen firsthand the positive difference that FFA makes in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success throughout agricultural education. prgtoken FFA members know that American agriculture truly is one of the best traditions of our national life and that service to one's community is a pillar of good leadership and citizenship. prgtoken I am confident that the future of our Nation's agriculture is in good hands because it is being shaped by members of the National FFA Organization. prgtoken I wish a happy FFA Week to the 28,000 members in my home State of Tennessee and to the 760,000 members across the country.
HONORING THE CAREERS OF BILL AND JANE FOX
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , I rise today to honor Bill and Jane Fox of Fox Dealerships in Central New York as they settle into well-deserved retirements. For nearly fifty years, Bill and Jane, siblings and co- owners of Fox Dealerships, have operated a thriving local business and demonstrated great generosity and care for the community they serve. prgtoken Growing up in Manheim, Pennsylvania, Bill and Jane gained an early appreciation for the automotive industry by spending their summers working with their father, a used car wholesaler. In 1976, Jane purchased her first auto dealership in Weedsport, New York, while her brother practiced law in Syracuse. Jane became one of the first female dealers in the Northeast and established herself as a leader in the industry. In 1979, Bill left his law firm to grow the family brand with the purchase of a second dealership in Auburn, New York. Over 40 years, Bill and Jane expanded their business, owning as many as 14 dealerships, and becoming a household name in Central New York. prgtoken Across Central New York, the Fox family has also become well-known for philanthropy and investment in the community. Local schools, hospitals, and charities have all benefited from both Bill and Jane's time and resources. The siblings have also always shared a strong commitment to hiring local workers and promoting them to senior positions. prgtoken Madam , I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing Bill and Jane Fox. Together, they have made a tremendous impact in our region through their business and efforts to give back to the community. I wish them both the best in their retirements.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2021-2-26

an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget shows that approximately $1 trillion of previously appropriated COVID-19 relief funds have not been spent. prgtoken Let me say that again, , about a trillion dollars appropriated by Congress for COVID relief has not been spent. prgtoken Yet today, the House will vote on spending an additional $1.9 trillion. prgtoken Without so much as a single congressional hearing held with expert witnesses--including top officials in the Administration--to probe the what, why, and how much, the House will likely approve this massive spending package without serious scrutiny. prgtoken I'm committed and want to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that the federal government's ongoing response to the pandemic is both robust and responsible. prgtoken With more people getting vaccinated--meaning fewer infections and many lives saved--it's now possible to hope that we might soon see some improvement in the economy. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for example, projected in its February 1 report that real GDP will return to pre-pandemic levels by the middle of this year, 2021--meaning jobs and renewed economic security. prgtoken Last year, I strongly supported, and Congress passed five bipartisan COVID funding relief bills that were signed into law--totaling $4.1 trillion. prgtoken That included $458 billion for stimulus checks to individuals, $586 billion for expanded unemployment benefits, $68.9 billion prgtoken for nutrition programs and a whopping $1.47 trillion for grant programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses and others retain and pay their employees during the shutdown. prgtoken I would note parenthetically, that as a lawmaker who absolutely thrives on constituent casework, my staff and I have helped solve thousands of problems faced by the people in my district including facilitating medicines to patients made severely ill by the coronavirus, PPE for health workers and first responders, PPP for our small businesses and nonprofits and more. My staff and I have left no stone unturned in helping more than 1,500 people in my district who have faced unconscionable delays--even denials--in obtaining the unemployment compensation they are entitled to under congressionally appropriated COVID funding laws. Implementation of unemployment compensation by the State of New Jersey has been profoundly disappointing. prgtoken , the public-private sector effort to swiftly create safe and effective vaccines to protect against COVID has no parallel in history. prgtoken Just breathtaking. prgtoken That's what Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, recently said when asked by an Axios reporter what the Administration got right in the effort to fight COVID-19 as he gushed about both the efficacy and unprecedented speed in approving and disseminating lifesaving vaccines. prgtoken Dr. Collins
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Jason Smith (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-2-26

House s have filed hundreds and hundreds of amendments. All but two were voted down. prgtoken This is clearly a partisan plan that is the wrong plan at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons. If you take out the direct checks to Americans, almost half of all the money that is in this bill will not be spent until fiscal year 2022 or later. This is not imminent. prgtoken It is the wrong plan at the wrong time and, we know, for all the wrong reasons. prgtoken , .
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his work as the ranking member on the Budget Committee. prgtoken , I am about to say something that the American people don't want to hear: the swamp is back. prgtoken , let me be clear: The swamp is back. prgtoken Every day since January 20, the have sided with their special interest allies and ignored the real needs of the American people. The result is the bill before us today--or I should say tomorrow. prgtoken Congress won't actually vote on this bill until about 2 a.m. Saturday morning. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because are so embarrassed by all the non-COVID waste in this bill, they are jamming it through in the dead of night. prgtoken We ran the numbers. The amount of money that actually goes to defeating the virus is less than 9 percent. So don't call it a rescue bill and don't call it a relief bill. If you are a friend of the , you do pretty well under this bill. But for the American people, it is a loser. prgtoken Let's consider Medicare. Tonight, the CBO confirmed that this bill will cost $36 billion in cuts to Medicare starting this year. If Members vote for this bill, I want them to go back to their districts and look the seniors in the eye and look at the hospitals, those who have been working night and day, and tell them why you voted to cut their health benefits. prgtoken Or consider the blue State bailout. This bill calls for States and local governments to receive $350 billion. Most States are not in financial distress. Nearly half saw an increase in their revenue last year, and some--even including my home State of California, and the 's as well--actually have a budget surplus. But none of that money is tied to reopening. prgtoken Or consider elite institutions, Harvard and others. This bill calls for them to receive hundreds of millions of dollars, but Harvard already has a $40 billion endowment. prgtoken Compare that to K-12 education. This bill allocates only $6 billion to help reopen American schools in fiscal year 2021. More than two- thirds of the education funding would not be spent until 2023 or later. prgtoken Almost every one of this bill's 592 pages includes a liberal pipe dream that predates the pandemic. Let's check the fine print. prgtoken On page 97, for those of you who have not read it, it hands out healthcare subsidies to illegal immigrants. prgtoken On page 347, it fast-tracks $1.5 billion to Amtrak. Now, Amtrak has $1.5 billion from the last package they haven't even spent. prgtoken On page 306, it gives Federal employees up to an extra $21,000 to help cope with virtual schooling. Let me read that so every American understands: If you are a Federal employee, you get an extra $21,000 to cope with virtual schooling. There are a lot of Federal employees who are going to vote for this bill tonight. But if you are one of the millions of parents outside of Washington, outside of the swamp, who are struggling
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1319, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , I rise today due to my strong concerns with the ' COVID-19 bill. With a very small percentage of this massive package specifically directed at combating COVID-19, the $1.9 trillion COVID bill is more of a ic wish list. prgtoken I have tried to add relief for healthcare providers, with funds specifically for rural and Medicaid providers, but voted this down. prgtoken It is amazing how it is okay to have the Silicon Valley subway, the Seaway bridge in New York, and a bailout of multiemployer pension plans from problems prior to COVID-19, but my amendment to help healthcare providers was not included. prgtoken I was proud to support the last five COVID-19 relief packages to help Kentuckians. I think we can all agree that we need to boost vaccine distribution, safely return all students back to in-person learning, and help people return to work. Much of the funds in this partisan bill will not be used until next year or later. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-2-26

three things before you print another $1.9 trillion in this bill. If you look at the monetary supply in the last year, M1 is up 67 percent and M2 is up 25 percent. You are inviting inflation big time. prgtoken Secondly, I have got one local official who asked me for a million bucks. He is getting $21 million. Another one is asking me for $800,000. He is getting $20 million. Ask your local people if they need all this money. prgtoken Third, I wouldn't even take it to the Senate because there is no way you can spend all this money. I would put some of this in infrastructure, just as a tip.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1319, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. prgtoken Madam , over the past year, Congress has allocated nearly $4 trillion to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now leadership is following through on a campaign promise made by President to spend another $2 trillion. prgtoken Madam , further assistance is appropriate for those individuals, families, and businesses who have been hit the hardest, including restaurants; but this bill fails to recognize the improving economic conditions, as well as the fact that more than $1 trillion from previous relief packages remains unspent. prgtoken Just 9 percent of this bill goes towards combating the virus, and just 1 percent is directed for vaccines. Instead, the apparent priorities for leadership include a bailout for mismanaged States, pension funds, an increase in the minimum wage, and half a billion dollars for the arts and humanities. prgtoken Madam , Congress has already provided $68 billion for our schools, more than double the CDC's highest estimate of what it would take for our schools to open safely. We should be able to unite in supporting an economic recovery, open our schools, increase testing, and ensure the efficient distribution of vaccines.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Ashley Hinson (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-2-26

Americans are crying out tonight for targeted relief; and, instead, this bill sends money straight to Pelosi's pet project in California, the Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley phase 2. prgtoken How insulting to the frontline workers who still have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, and to the mom trying to pay rent while her small business is in danger. And what about the ER docs and nurses treating kids rushed in for a mental health crisis? prgtoken This is Washington pork spending at its worst, the kind the puts in for herself. prgtoken My amendment tonight would take away the 's $140 million subway carve-out and instead redirect that money to a truly essential cause: Supporting mental health programs for students. prgtoken We have seen increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges among our kids, who have been trapped behind screens for a year now. If we adopt the motion to recommit tonight, we will instruct the Budget Committee to reconsider my amendment, which would put students over subways and reject this $140 million set-aside in favor of getting kids the mental health help they need right now, before it is too late. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the text prgtoken of my amendment immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.