mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-7-26

. Would it surprise the gentleman to learn that I share his concern about the state of the United States military, given the politically correct nature of the current leadership? prgtoken I just met with a bunch of parents of the individuals that I have nominated to go to the academies, and these parents are beside themselves. They are saying, please, can you stop this? It is going to endanger my kids who are going to go serve their country at the academies because they hear the facts. They see that the U.S. Special Forces hired their first chief diversity officer; that the Department of Defense just hired a chief diversity officer; that a Space Force guardian was fired for saying the ``diversity, inclusion, and equity industry and the trainings we're receiving in the military via that industry are rooted in critical race theory which is rooted in Marxism.'' prgtoken This isn't just embarrassing and un-American. It is making us weak. Our diplomats are apologizing to the Chinese Communist Party for racism when Beijing is running concentration camps. This is the reality of what we are doing to our military, where we are running ads talking about LGBTQ issues instead of actually just recruiting warriors to go defend the United States of America. .
THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER IS UNPROTECTED
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-7-26

. Madam , we have a record-setting surge of illegal drugs coming in across our southern border, including the very, very deadly fentanyl, which takes only small amounts to greatly affect many people, as well as whatever other activities the cartels want to do. prgtoken The U.S.-Mexico border is basically unprotected, and it doesn't seem to be a priority of the administration at all. Please, prove me wrong. prgtoken Yet, the administration is happy to, once again, push the idea of perhaps shutting down the country over COVID again. Is it because of the delta variant, or now is it going to be over a new Mexico variant? But it seems to be coming our way. prgtoken Yet, they will not control the border and the flow of illegal immigrants that might be carrying COVID themselves, whether it is through the new Mexico variant or not. prgtoken So you have to ask, whose side is this administration on with this open sieve of a border, these drugs coming through, illegal immigrants coming through, and then putting the clamps down on our own economy and our own people?
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE'S COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE PROJECT
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2021-7-26

today I rise to recognize the installation of a historical marker in the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church yard on August 1, 2021, that will memorialize the life and death of three citizens who were lynched in 1908. This month, my constituent, Ms. Joyce Salter Johnson, will travel with friends and family from Wisconsin to Mississippi to honor her relative Frank Johnson, as one of those three men who were violently murdered in Hickory, MS. prgtoken This historical marker is part of the important work being done by the Equal Justice Initiative in honoring and memorializing lives lost to racial violence in this country through its Community Remembrance Project. With its mission to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenge racial and economic injustice, and protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable, the Equal Justice Initiative has been working to expose the truth, advocate for change, and create hope for historically marginalized communities. Lawyer and author Bryan Stevenson founded Equal Justice Initiative in 1989, and since then, it has grown to an organization of robust projects, hands-on education, and publically accessible museums and memorials. In April of 2018, following in the footsteps of the late Dr. James Cameron of Milwaukee's Black Holocaust Museum in my home State of Wisconsin, the Equal Justice Initiative--EJI--opened America's first national memorial dedicated to victims of racial terror lynching and a new museum dedicated to slavery and its legacy was opened in Montgomery, AL. prgtoken EJI's Community Remembrance Project partners with community coalitions to do extensive research of documented victims of racial violence. EJI fosters critical conversations about our history and race and justice today. The Community Remembrance Project memorializes documented victims of racial violence and its Community Soil Collection Project gathers soil at lynching sites for display in powerful exhibits honoring these victims. Narrative historical markers are erected in public locations where violence took place. prgtoken My constituent, Wisconsin resident Joyce Salter Johnson, is a historian whose third book provides a well-researched history of the Freedmen Settlement of Good Hope, MS, where she lived until the age of 10. Thus, prior to EJI's documentation, she knew the terrible sequence of events that led to the October 10, 1908, lynching of her relative, Mr. Frank Johnson, and the two others. Given her knowledge, research skills, and inclinations, she was well-suited to take leadership among the coalition members working on the Community Remembrance Project for these men, and for that, I am thankful. prgtoken I commend the work of the Equal Justice Initiative and all who help further the Community Remembrance Project's mission of confronting the legacy of slavery, lynching, and segregation and charting a better future. And I extend my solid
FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-7-26

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from New York. I am so glad he said the words ``by any means necessary.'' That is striking, and without a doubt, the approach of the activist Supreme Court, right-wing, of the big lies, and of those who wish to stall and stop the very lifeline of American democracy, and that is the right of each person to vote their conscious. prgtoken As we have said: Our message, our power; but our voice, our vote; our vote, our voice. And I thank him for joining me this evening for elaborating and detailing and roll-calling where we are today. prgtoken I notice the gentleman did not step in the breach and indicate that we might need to expand the Court. That is another discussion altogether. prgtoken Madam , to the distinguished gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. ), a member of the Judiciary Committee. I think she can speak in her own way on the vitality of a vote for poor people.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-7-26

I have a request for one committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry prgtoken The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, July 26, 2021, at 5:30 p.m to conduct a hearing.
Infrastructure (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-7-26

I want to back up what the majority leader said. The day was May 22, 2019. I remember it well. Two things happened that morning. First was the birth of my granddaughter, which was an exciting and happy event. The second was just the opposite. It was a meeting in the White House with President , and the purpose of the meeting was to discuss infrastructure. prgtoken You see, we had an earlier meeting. met with the leaders of the administration to discuss an infrastructure bill. When we suggested $1.5 trillion be spent on infrastructure. President said: No, make it $2 trillion. prgtoken Well, we were happy to hear that. Then when we suggested that President 's earlier suggestion of 80 percent of it being paid on a State and local basis rather than Federal, he reversed himself. He said it will be 80 percent Federal. More good news. prgtoken Then came the suggestion: Well, it shouldn't just be horizontal infrastructure. It ought to be vertical infrastructure--broadband, school buildings, things that we desperately need in America. prgtoken And he said: Include them; let's make that part of the package. prgtoken It was one of the best meetings. prgtoken Then came the subject of how we were going to pay for it, and President said: Stop. I am not going to get into that conversation. prgtoken Well, we said: , we have agreed on what we are going to do, but we have to pay for it. prgtoken He said: No, you are not going to trap me with raising taxes or doing things that are politically unpopular. prgtoken So we postponed this follow-up meeting to this May 22 date--May 22, 2019. We were anxious to get it done because, during his Presidency, there had been no infrastructure programs--none, nothing--despite his promises to the contrary during the campaign. prgtoken We came back May 22. He walked in the room and he said to all of us assembled there: As long as you are investigating me for any reason, there will be no infrastructure bill. prgtoken He wheeled around and walked out. That was the end of the conversation about infrastructure in the administration. It was never seriously considered or debated after that. prgtoken Now we are engaged in a new exercise. Some Senators--and I thank them for their courage and initiative--want to sit down with and see if we can finally, after years and years, come up with an infrastructure bill to rebuild America. prgtoken They are under pressure. They are under pressure from Senator McConnell. He didn't want them to engage in this kind of bipartisan negotiation. And now, today, former President has joined the chorus, saying they shouldn't bargain at all with . Put it off another year, 2 years, whatever it has to be, until the s control the whole process. That is a recipe for achieving little or nothing. We know that. prgtoken So I sincerely hope that this week will be
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-26

I rise today to introduce the American Grown Flower and Foliage Month resolution. This resolution is cosponsored by Senator Padilla and Senator Sullivan, and I want to thank them for joining me in introducing this resolution. prgtoken This resolution designates July 2021 as ``American Grown Flower and Foliage Month'' and recognizes the important contributions of all those involved in the flower and foliage industry make to our Nation, and also notes the long history that flowers have in our Nation and society. prgtoken Every year, thousands of households in the United States purchase fresh cut flowers and foliage from more than 16,000 florists and floral establishments. American consumers spend $35 billion per year on floral products each year. prgtoken California is the cut flower capital of the United States, producing nearly 75 percent of American-grown flowers. While the majority of Americans would prefer to buy locally grown flowers, only 20 percent of the flowers sold in the United States are grown domestically. prgtoken Flowers are used for all types of occasions. They help us celebrate major life events, and help us to mourn. The flower and foliage industry is also a major employer in the United States. This industry supports hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands of jobs in the United States. prgtoken Our resolution encourages consumers to look for the `Certified American Grown' label to support local farmers this month and throughout the year. If consumers are able to differentiate between American-grown flowers and those that have been imported, many would choose to purchase U.S.-grown flowers and support the U.S. industry. prgtoken This resolution is an important way to recognize a major part of the agricultural industry in the United States, and I encourage my colleagues to move to pass this resolution to commemorate this important month as ``American Grown Flower and Foliage Month.'' prgtoken Thank you . I yield the Floor.
Infrastructure (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-7-26

now for years, s and have spoken about the need to invest more in our Nation's infrastructure. We are a country the size of a continent. Every State has critical infrastructure demands, bridges that need repair, railways that need maintenance, sewer systems that desperately need expansion and renovation. prgtoken Over a month ago now, a bipartisan group of Senators announced a deal with the White House on a framework for a bipartisan infrastructure bill--a breakthrough moment. Ever since, I have committed both publicly and privately to put that bill on the Senate floor. prgtoken Unfortunately, last week, our colleagues prevented the Senate from taking a procedural step to begin the debate. But I want to be very clear. I am fully committed to passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill. prgtoken As majority leader, I have the ability to move to reconsider the vote to begin debate on that bill this week. Since Senators are still finalizing the text of the agreement, Senators should be on notice that the Senate may stay in session through the weekend in order to finish the bill. prgtoken Let me say that again. Senators should be on notice that the Senate may stay in session through the weekend in order to finish the bipartisan infrastructure bill. prgtoken As I have said before, further delays may mean that the Senate will remain in session into the previously scheduled August recess. prgtoken We have reached a critical moment. The bipartisan group of Senators has had nearly 5 weeks of negotiations since they first announced an agreement with President . It is time for everyone to get to ``yes'' and produce an outcome for the American people. prgtoken I understand that bipartisan achievements are difficult in our polarized times. Extreme partisans are always rooting for failure. Look no further than the former President. prgtoken Just this morning, former President released a statement urging s to retreat from all bipartisan negotiations on infrastructure until after the midterm elections in 2022, maybe longer. Again, the former President said this morning that s are ``weak fools and losers''--his words--for even talking to and suggested that the s should not negotiate at all unless they are in the majority. FOX News personalities, following his lead, are now encouraging primaries for Senators who support a bipartisan infrastructure deal. prgtoken Look, there are always going to be radical voices on the far right who brook no compromise, but that is only a recipe for obstruction and gridlock. We have the opportunity right now to actually accomplish something good for the American people. prgtoken Will our colleagues follow the absurd demands of the disgraced former President and his media allies, or will they get a good, bipartisan deal over the finish line? Senators must ignore former Presi
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CRISIS
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-7-26

. Madam , I stood here nearly a month ago to deliver a very similar message: once-in-a-lifetime storms are becoming our reality in Michigan. prgtoken In the last month, southeast Michigan has flooded three times in the city of Dearborn, nearly 20,000 homes have been impacted. My constituents can't recover from one flood before it worsens and another one hits and there is more damaged property, more lost valuables. prgtoken People are angry. People are scared. And they have every right to be. That is because we have known the solution to these disasters for a while. The time for climate action is now. This starts with investing in resilient infrastructure to protect our communities from the impacts of climate crisis. prgtoken We need to invest in infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters and make it easier on the American people to recover. We can't continue to have these floods couched as once-in-a-lifetime, if you call them that, when people are dealing with unimaginable damages in my city for the third time in 4 weeks. prgtoken We need a strong infrastructure package that takes bold action and addresses change head-on.
Remembering Mike Enzi (Executive Session)
Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-7-27

today, Wyoming mourns the loss of a gentle giant, Mike Enzi. prgtoken Mike spent his life working to make Wyoming a better place while creating opportunities for our people. As the mayor of Gillette, a State legislator, or as a U.S. Senator and senior statesman, Wyoming had no greater champion than Mike Enzi. He always put Wyoming first and worked harder than anyone to serve his constituents. prgtoken Growing up, Mike's dad would say: I don't care if he is a doctor or a lawyer or a ditchdigger; I just want him to be proud of what he does. If he is a ditchdigger, I want any darned fool to be able to look at that ditch and say: That is a Mike Enzi ditch. prgtoken That creed became commonplace in Mike's Senate office. prgtoken I will echo Mike's former chief of staff, Coy Knobel, by saying: I think it is a pretty good ditch. prgtoken Mike was a soft-spoken leader, but the many legislative wins he delivered attest to the impact of his service. At a time of increasing political incivility, Mike Enzi managed to tactfully and graciously navigate the upper Chamber, producing results that will be felt for generations to come. His retirement left a hole in the Senate, and his death to this world leaves a hole in our State and in our hearts. prgtoken Throughout Mike's career in the Senate, he came up with multiple plans to address our debt and deficit. As an accountant by training and trade, he knew how to balance a budget and make it through the lean times. He wanted to set our great Nation up for success for his children and his grandchildren. prgtoken My prayers are with his wife Diana; his children Amy, Emily, and Brad; and his four grandchildren at this very difficult time. I know they are proud of the powerful legacy he leaves behind. We all are, and we have every right to be. prgtoken To me, personally, he was more than just our senior Senator. I have known Mike since the early 1980s, and over the last 40 years, he has been my personal friend and, as John Barrasso said, mentor. We first worked together when we were both in the Wyoming State Legislature. Then we served together in the Wyoming State Senate. Finally, when he came to the U.S. Senate, I followed him a few years later to the House of Representatives. I always joked that I was just following him around like a puppy dog my whole life. prgtoken Mike taught me about legislating, but he also taught me about life. He had a rock-solid faith. His faith was his guiding light. It is something that my late husband had, too, and I take comfort in knowing that Mike is peacefully at home in Heaven with his Lord and Savior. I am Lutheran, and in Martin ``Luther's Small Catechism,'' it says that Christians like Mike and me and John are redeemed so that I may be His own and live under Him in His Kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. prgtoken I note that because Mike was such a servant leader. He gave his earthly life to
SUPPORT HYDE AMENDMENT
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-7-27

in 1994, a senior U.S. Senator was asked by a constituent how he felt about taxpayer-funded abortion. The Senator responded, ``I will continue to abide by the same principle that has guided me throughout my 21 years in the Senate: Those of us who are opposed to abortion should not be compelled to pay for them.'' prgtoken That Senator is now the President of the United States. Yes, those were the words of President on April 7, 1994. prgtoken Only 2 years ago, in 2019, then-candidate reaffirmed his support of the Hyde amendment. A campaign statement reiterated that ``his position on the Hyde amendment has been consistent.'' prgtoken Since 1976, Congress' position on the Hyde amendment has also been consistent. The bipartisan Hyde amendment has prevented taxpayer funding for abortion. prgtoken But, for the first time in decades, House have stripped this provision from the Federal spending bills we are considering this week. Years of bipartisan consensus have been thrown out the door. prgtoken The Hyde amendment is a commonsense provision that most Americans support. In a recent poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans expressed their support for the Hyde amendment, while only 38 percent voiced support for taxpayer-funded abortions. prgtoken But this issue is not about the polling or the politics; it is about life. It is estimated that the Hyde amendment has saved more than 2.4 million lives. For over 40 years, these very precious lives have been respected, valued, and saved because of this bipartisan provision. prgtoken The survival of millions more precious lives is at stake. That is why I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reconsider their decision to strip the Hyde amendment from the spending bills we are considering this week. As a society, we must value the unborn and protect the sanctity of life. prgtoken Congressman Henry Hyde fought to ban taxpayer-funded abortions, he said, because he believed firmly in the sanctity of life. As he said, the ``little, almost-born infant struggling to live is a member of the human family,'' and ``abortion is a lethal assault against the very idea of human rights and destroys, along with a defenseless little baby, the moral foundation of our democracy.'' prgtoken The late Congressman Hyde was right. This is a moral question. That is why I agree with President 's statement when he was in the Senate many years ago: Those who disagree with abortion should not now be forced to pay for it. prgtoken I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together, just as we have for nearly five decades, to support the Hyde amendment and stand up and defend life.
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-7-27

because of the increase in hospitalizations because of the Delta variant of the virus, we are told that the CDC will soon be requiring, in about half the counties of the country, masks and other restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. prgtoken They say they are doing it because of the science. We are told they will not show us the data. The very essence of science is peer review, and pity anybody who wants to analyze it. In America, the public's business ought to be public. prgtoken If we can't get this data, what the taxpayers are paying for and public policy is being made on, it seems to me that principle--that the public's business is not really public. And when people are able to cover up things and make policy decisions that are not public and transparent, it obviously brings about less accountability. prgtoken So let's have that data. We want to know why you are requiring masks again.