mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-10-26

I come to the floor to speak to the fiscal year 2022 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill. prgtoken Every year as December approaches, we finally roll up our sleeves and get serious about passing the critical appropriations bills that fund our government for the new fiscal year, and this year should be no different. We are, in fact, already a month into fiscal year 2022. Until we complete our work on the Appropriations Committee, Federal Agencies are compelled to run on autopilot--something they can manage for a few weeks, even a few months, but it creates immense problems for Agencies and has grave consequences for every State and county and municipality in this country if it goes on too long. prgtoken What I am talking about today is the grave risk that we will end up with a continuing resolution. Now, a continuing resolution doesn't sound that scary, but it is appropriations-speak for doing nothing, for a zombie government, for conducting business as if time has stopped and nothing has changed. prgtoken As the relatively new chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I am acutely aware that running our government on autopilot undermines the ability of the United States to be a global leader, to defend and advance our national security and foreign interests, and to counter the influence and aggression of our competitors and adversaries. prgtoken If we were to continue month after month through this entire fiscal year with no appropriation, what are the things that have happened that we would fail to respond to? prgtoken Well, tragically, in Ethiopia and in Afghanistan, there are humanitarian crises unfolding before our eyes, where millions are at risk of starvation. In Haiti, due to the recent earthquake and political changes, armed gangs have taken over much of the capital, and tens of thousands are homeless. In Venezuela, the ongoing crisis with the Maduro regime continues to worsen, putting enormous pressure on its neighbors as millions of Venezuelans flee to other regions seeking refuge. prgtoken We are also continuing to work to vaccinate the world to stop further the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the development of even more deadly variants than the Delta variant. prgtoken Last year's State and Foreign Operations bill included a small fraction of what is now widely recognized as being essential to prepare for the next outbreak of a deadly virus, which could be prgtoken even more lethal than COVID-19 or Ebola and more transmissible. prgtoken A continuing resolution would deny the U.S. Government the resources included in this year's bill to lead the global pandemic response. prgtoken Now, , I will not attempt to go through the entire roughly 320 pages of this year's nearly $60 billion State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, but I do want to talk about, at the top level, some of the most important provisions and some of the most s
HELP FOR OUR RETURNING SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I have seen that, too. There is a spouse out there who is seeing their loved one struggling with post-traumatic stress, and they don't know what to do to help. They are reaching out to the local veterans service office. They are reaching out to their local Dwyer program because they want to help their loved one. They want to keep their marriage together. They don't want everything to fall apart. prgtoken The specialty, the expertise here, is not just about providing that support and help to the servicemember. When one person serves in the military, just like you were a sheriff, when one person serves in law enforcement, the whole family serves. You come home with the mental wounds of war, and really, in a way, the whole family is experiencing the mental wounds of war.
Opioid Crisis (Executive Calendar)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-10-26

we need to talk about the opioid crisis. prgtoken The 2020 data shows the largest annual increase in opioid deaths in the last 50 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 69,710 Americans died last year from opioid-related overdoses, a 37-percent increase from 2019. prgtoken In Louisiana, the opioid crisis is getting worse--and fast. In 2020, our State, Louisiana, saw a serious spike and the steepest surge in drug overdose deaths in the Nation. Louisiana drug overdose deaths surpassed a record high 2,100 in the 12 months leading up to March 2021. Overdose mortality increased statewide by over 56 percent last year. prgtoken These numbers are devastating. Last year, opioid deaths increased, for example, in New Orleans by 51 percent with 365 OD deaths, 69 percent in Jefferson Parish, 35 percent in St. Tammany, and a 64- percent increase in St. Bernard Parish. Deaths continue to climb throughout the State. prgtoken In Alexandria, Acadian Ambulance ``responded to nearly 160 calls of opioid overdoses just in Rapides Parish--an average of over one call per day.'' prgtoken East Baton Rouge Parish, the State capital, is seeing significant increases in fatal overdoses. According to a local TV station and the coroner's office, 242 people died of an overdose in 2020. This year, through September, the East Baton Rouge Parish has seen 214 fatal overdoses, again, in the first 9 months of this year. prgtoken Now, the double tragedy of this is that these deaths are preventable. In 2018, Congress passed landmark opioid legislation, and for the first time in almost 30 years, the number of opioid deaths decreased. Then the pandemic hit. Louisiana became the top State in drug overdose growth during COVID-19. The pressure of the pandemic, the subsequent influx of fentanyl from other countries--all this increased drug addiction and, hence, drug death. After a year of lockdown, social isolation, and stress, the opioid-related deaths shot through the roof. prgtoken Now, the opioid crisis is an epidemic. We should treat it like one. It took a backseat to COVID during the pandemic, but it is time we bring renewed attention to the opioid crisis because, for opioids, there is no vaccine. prgtoken Over 1,900 folks in Louisiana lost their lives to drug overdose last year--again, a 48-percent increase from 2019. We must be aware that these are not just statistics; they are lives. They are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, and friends losing their lives to addiction and being lost to others because of addiction. prgtoken It is a national crisis, a statistical crisis, and, most importantly, a personal crisis. And as the numbers speak for themselves, we feel it throughout Louisiana and our Nation. prgtoken We need to act now before more lives are lost. The crisis must be met head-on at all levels. We need to work with local leaders to make sure we implement opioid policies like the ones Congress has
Government Spending (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-10-26

continue to negotiate with each other on their reckless tax-and-spending spree. are currently working to lower the bill's top-line number in an effort to meet some of the demands of the few moderate who have reservations about unchecked government spending. prgtoken Now, you might think that lowering the top-line number would involve deciding what programs and spending to eliminate to bring the bill in at a lower cost. Well, not exactly. Yes, are reportedly eliminating some spending, but the word is that, under pressure from progressives, who are dead set against curtailing their plans for expanding government, are planning to keep a lot of their most expensive proposals, but simply shorten the funding window to make the costs of these programs seem lower. prgtoken Take ' fantastically expensive child allowance. have every intention of turning their child allowance into a permanent government welfare program, but in order to bring the top-line number of their spending bill down, the word is that are now planning to officially extend the allowance for just 1 year. prgtoken This is, in fact, a budget gimmick on top of a budget gimmick, as were already attempting to disguise the true cost of the child allowance by officially extending it for just 4 of the 10 years in the bill's 10-year budget window. prgtoken They were never, of course, planning to eliminate the child allowance after 4 years, and they are certainly not planning to eliminate it now after 1 year, but by officially extending it for just a year in their tax-and-spending spree, they can manage to make the program look as if it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars less than it will actually cost. prgtoken And they are apparently repeating this strategy with a number of their other spending measures. prgtoken That paid leave program? Apparently, the White House has proposed a smaller version that would supposedly expire after 3 or 4 years. prgtoken Those childcare subsidies? Apparently, those may also now, ostensibly, expire. prgtoken The Care subsidies want to extend permanently? Well, once again, it sounds like they are going to try shrinking the apparent cost with a short-term extension. prgtoken But, again, let's be very clear here. These short-term extensions and short-term programs are nothing more than a budget gimmick to disguise the true cost of the ' plan. There isn't one program that I have named that don't fully intend to make permanent. prgtoken Don't believe me? Just ask the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which outlined the strategy the are currently adopting in a letter to Pelosi. prgtoken I quote from that letter: If given a choice between legislating narrowly or broadly-- prgtoken the caucus wrote-- --we strongly encourage you to choose the latter, and make robust investm
TRIBUTE TO DR. KRISTAPS KEGGI
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-10-26

I rise today to honor Dr. Kristaps Keggi. Dr. Keggi is the epitome of the American dream. He was born in Riga, Latvia, and survived World War II as a child. He escaped communism on a refugee ship to immigrate to the United States. When he landed on the docks of Manhattan, he would go on to finish high school and attend college and medical school. He graduated from Yale University in 1955 and from Yale University School of Medicine in 1959. prgtoken Eight years after he arrived in the U.S he raised his right hand and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He joined the U.S. Army Medical Service and Medical Corps. Dr. Keggi served as the orthopedic surgery chief in the Third Mobile Army Surgical Hospital--MASH--in Vietnam from September 1965 to June 1966. This was the first MASH unit stood up and the first to deploy to Vietnam. The 3rd MASH supported the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions, and countless other units. He left the Army with the rank of captain. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign of Wars. prgtoken Dr. Keggi's service did not stop after Vietnam. His battlefield experience sharpened his skills. He would go on to train generations of orthopedic surgeons and win worldwide acclaim for orthopedic education and innovation. I credit much of my success as an orthopedic surgeon and in life to training under Dr. Keggi. prgtoken Dr. Keggi is the founder and the president of the Keggi Orthopedic Foundation and Orthopedic Exchange Program between the United States and the former Soviet Republics. This program has fostered hundreds of fellows in exchanges in Latvia and Russia. He even mentored the former President of Latvia who was a fellow orthopedic surgeon. prgtoken He holds memberships in many scholarly societies such as American Orthopedic Association, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery, and Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, just to highlight a few. prgtoken He has published over 135 scholarly articles on orthopedic medical treatments. He was the senior author of the seminal American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Instructional Course on ``Early Care of Severe War Wounds'' on how battlefield wounds should be treated. He pioneered and popularized the less invasive anterior surgical approach used for total hip replacement. Dr. Keggi has been recognized by Best Doctors in America starting in 1996. He was named in America's Top Surgeons in 2009 through 2017. prgtoken Dr. Keggi has volunteered for many charitable endeavors and has been recognized globally for his contributions to medical science and humanity. He was honored by his hometown of Waterbury, CT, and the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Committee for his lifetime of service working with and treating patients with the wounds of war. In 2020, Dr. Keggi was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. <
RECOGNIZING THE TZEDEK ASSOCIATION
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Boy Scout Troop 60 of Papillion, Nebraska, for their efforts to partner with the city of Papillion to preserve the community's historic 100-year-old Boy Scout cabin. prgtoken Originally formed in 1913 as Troop 1, they began building the log cabin in 1921 under the leadership of Scoutmaster Reverend B. Johansen to be used as the troop's headquarters. In June 1922, the Papillion community dedicated the Scout cabin, and it has been in continuous use ever since. prgtoken The cabin is an iconic local landmark in Papillion's City Park, celebrating pride in both Scouting and the community. It is believed that this Scout cabin could be one of the oldest Scout cabins in continuous use west of the Mississippi. Troop 60 recently finished renovation of the historic cabin, preserving it for another 100 years and for generations to come. prgtoken This restoration was part of the Papillion 150 celebration. Papillion 150 was a community movement that recognized the city of Papillion's 150th anniversary, having grown from an 1870s railroad town that was on the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad to now being one of the fastest growing cities in Nebraska. prgtoken I also recognize the troop's longtime sponsor, the Harry Bossard American Legion Post 32, which has mentored Troop 60 to be the shining example of positive impacts of Scouting. Throughout Troop 60's history, it is estimated that over 200 individuals have attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and many of those have gone on to become leaders throughout the community of Papillion, the State of Nebraska, the military, and even in the Halls of Congress with our own chief of staff, Mark Dreiling. prgtoken Madam , I salute Troop 60 of Papillion.
TRIBUTE TO JON AND CAROL MIELKE
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-10-26

every October, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute--CCAI-- prgtoken sponsors its annual Angels in Adoption recognition gala. This event honors individuals across the Nation who are making a difference in the lives of young people in need of foster and forever homes. prgtoken As adoptive parents ourselves, the dedication and commitment to adoption and foster care by CCAI and every Angels in Adoption honoree this year are extremely near and dear to the hearts of my wife Kris and me. prgtoken I want to recognize the Angels in Adoption couple I nominated and who are being honored this year. I have known Jon and Carol Mielke of Bismarck, ND, for many years. Yet I am not sure our home community has any idea of all they have done to foster such vulnerable young children for nearly 20 years. prgtoken Jon and Carol became foster parents in early 2003, when their daughter was in college and their son a senior in high school. They made the decision to foster infants, they said, because they had ``room in their home and room in their hearts.'' prgtoken To date, they have taken into their home some 45 infants. Some were with them for only a couple of days. Others stayed nearly 3 years. prgtoken Always keeping in mind the main goal of foster care is family reunification, they have made an effort to remain in contact with the biological families of these children. Their first foster child was a newborn who had been abandoned at the bus station. They cared for her for 2-and-a-half months. This girl, who recently graduated from high school, is one of the children with whom Jon and Carol have stayed in touch. Another set of twins, now teenagers, visited them for a week earlier this year. prgtoken Jon was a longtime administrative manager for a State agency, and Carol's profession was accounting. He has since retired, and she later became a licensed practical nurse, keeping flexible work hours to be available for the children when they come into their home. prgtoken Because of Jon's background in legislation and lobbying, he has provided testimony on foster care issues before the legislature. This has helped bring positive statutory changes to some State laws. prgtoken Jon and Carol have been active in the regional foster care association, with Jon serving as president one year. They also mentor new foster parents and have appeared in media campaigns promoting foster care. In 2006, they were named North Dakota's Foster Parents of the Year. prgtoken The lifelong impact of the love and care they have given to each and every baby coming into their home will never be accurately measured. And, after nearly two decades, they continue to remain dedicated to foster care because of their unwavering belief they can make a difference in the life of a child. prgtoken I join all North Dakotans and the entire Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in congratulating and honoring Jon and Carol Mielke. We thank you
THE ECONOMY
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-10-26

now, on another matter. On the whole, the taxing-and-spending spree the want to ram through will hurt families and help China. But when you take a close look, there are some special groups of people here at home who would make out like bandits. There are specific special interests that take great pains to look after. prgtoken Let me give you an example. A whole chunk of money the ' proposal supposedly sets aside for patient healthcare would actually finance ultragenerous benefits for members of the powerful leftwing union, the SEIU. prgtoken The Big Labor bonanza doesn't stop there. ' tax plans would allow the expiration of Americans' above-the-line deduction for charitable and nonprofit donations. But in its place, they want to create a brandnew subsidy for--listen to this--union dues. Tough luck for the Red Cross and your church collection plate; Washington say Big Labor bosses come first. prgtoken also propose lavishing billions of dollars on something they call environmental and climate justice block grants--environmental and climate justice block grants. That sounds like a gift-wrapped giveaway to the universe of nonprofits and activist groups that seemingly exist to grift off of government grants. prgtoken They would spend billions more on tax credits to subsidize luxury purchases that are overwhelmingly made prgtoken by wealthy people, like electric cars and $8,000 electric bicycles. prgtoken Then there are billions more in special subsidies and loans for the next generation of Solyndras. prgtoken The gravy train doesn't stop there. When the administration proposed spending $40 billion on public housing renovations, the senior Senator from New York urged them to double down and spend $40 billion exclusively on his hometown--exclusively on his hometown. That is $40 billion to a housing authority that is apparently well known for bribery and mismanagement simply because the ic leader requested it. prgtoken Meanwhile, in Pelosi's backyard of San Francisco, the elite trustees of a massive park and development project--oh, boy, they are licking their chops. The plans to set aside $200 million of the spending spree for this park that is specifically not meant to receive taxpayer money, so they can focus on ``environmental and social justice.'' prgtoken The ' spree would also tear down longstanding, bipartisan Hyde amendment protections so they can directly fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood with taxpayer dollars. Today's left cannot miss an opportunity to send Planned Parenthood a new slush fund. prgtoken Then there is the ' obsession with the so-called SALT cap. Even as our colleagues draft the biggest tax hikes in half a century, they cannot resist the concept of special tax cuts for high earners in blue States. They want to reintroduce the Federal tax subsidy for living in high-tax States. O
BETTER MANAGEMENT FOR OUR FEDERAL FORESTS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I just wanted to point out, as a result of the over 2 million acres of fire that have happened in California, the next thing that happens is when the winter comes, and the rains come--like we are having so much now--the deluge of rain caused after the forest fires because of unmanaged forests the erosion that we are seeing here. prgtoken This example here is Highway 70 running through Butte County and Plumas County. The rockslide you see here is part of the fire scar. So when we lose all that foliage, you get erosion. prgtoken What does erosion mean? Not just the highway being closed, but this washes into, in this case Feather River, on down into Lake Oroville, which is a water source for 25 million people in California. prgtoken So why is this important? Because we have to do a much better job of managing our Federal forests, our Federal lands, and we are not doing that. We are not doing it speedily enough because we have so much to catch up on, yet every year millions of acres of forest land burn. This is just one of the results here. prgtoken The lost transportation. The water quality that affects so many people is going to be negatively affected by this lack of action. We need the Forest Service to move rapidly towards not only mitigating the fires from this year with erosion, but also manage these lands so we don't have these horrific fires.