mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PAIN AT THE PUMP
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-7-27

. Not only that, as the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good), my friend, knows--look, I am from Pennsylvania, we have got a lot of natural resources right under our feet. prgtoken Instead of coming to Americans to say, ``Can we produce more?'' he is going to people that hate America--Venezuela, Saudi Arabia--even as much as saying that, even though we have sanctioned Iran's oil with this potential Iran nuclear deal pending, they would go there and ask Iran. prgtoken But we are getting too far afield here. Look, people are struggling every single day. This is not due to incompetence. This is not due to negligence. This is a plan. This is on purpose.
CHILDREN MUST BE PROTECTED
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2022-7-27

as a former prosecutor, I saw many different types of crimes committed and many different criminals through court, but prgtoken none so heinous as the targeting and abuse of our Nation's children. prgtoken That is why I urge the House to consider legislation that I introduced last year, the Child Rescue Act, which is currently in the House Judiciary Committee. prgtoken This bipartisan bill, which I introduced with Congresswoman Spanberger, requires the Department of Justice to convene with experts to focus on protecting children who are suffering abusive situations, whether this be trafficking, sexual abuse by family and trusted adults, or pornography. prgtoken Technology companies report more than 45 million photos and videos online of children being sexually abused in 2018, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission also released a report last year which studied child sexual abuse image producers and found that these crimes had increased by 422 percent over the last 15 years. prgtoken I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to develop proactive solutions to protect our Nation's youth and safeguard them from heinous predators. The Child Rescue Act is a targeted solution supported by child protection advocacy organizations, and I urge Chairman Nadler and the Judiciary Committee to act on this legislation as quickly as possible.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-7-27

I rise to recognize and congratulate the Van Buren Lions Club as it celebrates 100 years of service to western Arkansas. prgtoken The Van Buren Lions Club was chartered on October 10, 1922, only 5 years after the creation of Lions Club International. Since its founding, its members have committed themselves to making a difference in the lives of people in the community and around the world. prgtoken While it began as a club to support local causes and provide networking for businessmen, a larger mission came into focus after Helen Keller spoke at the Lions Club International convention in 1925. She challenged all Lions to be ``Knights of the Blind'' and her eloquent plea transformed the organization, making support of sight- related programs the group's primary mission. prgtoken Throughout its 100-year history, the Van Buren Lions Club has worked tirelessly to make a difference for this cause. It hosts annual fundraisers and works with area eye doctors to recycle glasses, donating them to people who cannot afford them. In addition, members support local eye examination programs as well as the Arkansas Eye Bank and Laboratory, Lions World Services for the Blind, Mid-South Sight and Hearing Service, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Diabetes Education and Prevention, Sight First, and the Lions of Arkansas Foundation. prgtoken As an optometrist, I am proud of the great work done by this club and Lions chapters around the world. I congratulate the Van Buren Lions Club on its 100th anniversary and hope these Knights for the Blind continue to prosper in their mission for years to come.
SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON VA REGIONAL OFFICE ACT OF 2022
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-7-27

I am glad to join you and the other Senator from Georgia, Mr. Ossoff, here today and join both of you in sharing some thoughts about Senator Isakson. prgtoken Senator Ossoff has already said a lot of things that are easily said. Not that they were easy for him to say, but anybody that knew Johnny Isakson would make many of those very same points and, hopefully, make them as well. I was glad to join him as the original cosponsor of this bill. prgtoken Johnny and I served together in the House from 1999 until 2005. I was the majority whip during most of that time. And he was one of the half dozen deputies that really are key to getting things done. And Johnny Isakson liked to get things done. prgtoken In 2005, he came over here to be in the Senate and brought that same determination to get things done, to find the place--wherever that place was--where something could happen. And he was a master at making things happen. prgtoken When I joined him in the Senate in 2011, I was pleased to get a chance to serve alongside him again. He was a fast friend and a friend that you could count on. He knew how to bring people together. He did view, as Senator Ossoff said, people as his current friends or people who--the only reason they weren't his friend is they hadn't become his friends yet. And that is quite a way to approach life. And Johnny did it really well. I don't think there was anyone more respected by the other Members of the Senate than Senator Isakson was. prgtoken In September of last year, I had the opportunity to join you, , along with Senator Coons and Senator Graham, in hosting a bipartisan lunch that Johnny first started 13 years ago. I think we are going to do that again in September of this year. We have ic lunches, and we have lunches. The Johnny Isakson lunch every year was the bipartisan lunch. And I think that is a great tradition to at least one more time do in honor of his service here and his friendship. prgtoken He understood the value of sitting down over a cup of coffee or over a meal, of talking to one another, of finding the things you agree on, and then working together. prgtoken And one thing I found here--and I think one of the ways I found it was watching what Johnny did--when a ic and Senator find something to do together and get it done, invariably, they start looking for the next thing to do together. And their staffs start looking for the next thing their bosses can do together. And it is an infectious kind of thing that gets things done. And that was one of the great understandings of the legislative process that Johnny brought to the Senate. prgtoken I think when Johnny was in the Georgia House, there were a handful of s in the Georgia House when he got there. He told me he got to be minority leader pretty quickly--maybe it was because he didn't show up in the room that day before they could choose who their l
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Pete Sessions (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-7-27

. Madam , Congressman Johnson comes down here week in and week out and talks about not just the problems that face our great Nation but really the discussions that I want to bring tonight about families who sit at home, families who sit around before they perhaps watch TV or when they come home from church. They are talking about their lives, the lives of their children, and the things which concern them most. prgtoken I remember well just a few years ago when America had the greatest of times that it has perhaps ever had: a stock market reaching the highest levels; employment in America that was the highest level we had ever had; more African Americans, more Hispanic, more women, more people at work with a growing economy; housing aplenty. prgtoken It was full of opportunity from an economic perspective that came as a result from what I think was discipline, discipline from s who had been in the majority. Yes, I was one of those s, and I had an opportunity to serve as chairman of the Committee on Rules for 6 years. prgtoken During those 6 years, 2013 to 2019, we held a disciplined view of the budget and of spending. We held a disciplined view that meant that we did not spend one penny more in discretionary spending than we did in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. prgtoken It allowed the free enterprise system to grow. It allowed Americans the opportunity to not have government grabbing at them or overburdening their jobs. It meant that the free enterprise system with gasoline, with cars being built, with opportunity, with economic success was on the rise. prgtoken Madam , tonight, we will say to you that that changed. That changed on January 20, a year ago. This boost that we had, this opportunity where s were growing our economy, it all of a sudden changed on January 20, a full year and a half ago when President came in and immediately did exactly what had been done by President Clinton, what had been done by President , and that is a massive spending bill. None that was talked about during the election, but as soon as they got control, a massive spending bill. prgtoken This is virtually the same kind of policy that President 's favorite President, Jimmy Carter, had when I was in college that led to 18 percent interest rates. A whole generation of people that had to dig themselves out of paying too much for the day-to-day products that they needed. prgtoken We are back to that. We are back to that because of excessive government spending that started here in the House of Representatives. The ic Party tonight was on record asking us to please come and vote with them on more Big Government, more spending. prgtoken Well, the word is out that we are close to entering a recession. This is something that comes because have made inflation their friend. They have done the things for inflation that would have it roaring back to rob the Am
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS HEATH ROBINSON HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS ACT OF 2022--Resumed
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-7-27

I would briefly and simply reiterate my request that our ic colleagues, including the chairman, who obviously is passionate about this, just engage with us to fix this, this problem that has nothing to do with the bill that he wants to pass, this problem that wasn't in the House version of this bill. prgtoken The chairman's argument that, well, it is always ultimately subject to appropriations--well, that is really an argument that says let's not have a budget at all, let's not have any rules because--it is true--a future Congress can always do whatever it wants. So, by that logic, we should have no rules, no guidelines, no budgets, no procedures, no pay- go, no effort whatsoever to have any management of our Federal budget because--what the hell--any Congress can come along and just waive it. prgtoken I don't agree with that. I think, especially at a time when inflation is running rampant, when we have been spending money like no one has ever imagined--if we have got an important need, OK; we do that. But this gimmick--and the chairman said people are sick and tired of games. I totally agree. This is one of those games where you have got a bill that is going to pass and so let's sneak in this change in the budget rule so that it will be easy to spend money on other things in the future. prgtoken That is ridiculous. That is just not defensible. So, again, I would stress there is a very easy path to a very big vote in favor of this bill that probably could happen later tonight but could certainly happen tomorrow. And if the path is there, let's fix this problem. prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO BILL MILLS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2022-7-27

today I have the distinct honor of recognizing the retirement of one of the leaders in water policy from the great State of Montana. Mr. Bill Mills is retiring after 57 years as a giant in Montana's water industry and as a respected leader nationally. prgtoken Bill retired from the Air Force in 1965 and spent the next 12 years in the pump industry, focusing on the water business. In 1977, he formed the 2M Company in Billings, MT, with a $10,000 loan from his aunt and an SBA loan. His goal was to provide ``legendary'' service and support to the water well contractors and pump installers that provide water to homes, farms, ranches, and businesses throughout Montana. From those humble beginnings, he formed a 14-branch operation that covered the Rocky Mountain States and the Pacific Northwest. Bill served on the Water System Council Board in the 1990s and was a force behind Federal investment in programs to address rural residential and agricultural water issues. prgtoken In 2006, Bill expanded his vision and focus globally by helping form Water 4 Kids, an international organization that provides permanent, safe drinking water solutions for at-risk communities. To date, Water 4 Kids International has positively impacted over 3,000,000 lives in communities in Uganda, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, and the Philippines. In 2008, Bill was recognized as Montana's Small Business Person of the Year. prgtoken In 2017, one of Bill's oldest and most trusted manufacturing partners, Franklin Electric, acquired 2M and other leading water equipment distributors around the country to form the Headwater Companies. Bill served on Headwater's board of advisers until April of this year. prgtoken Please join me in congratulating Bill on a remarkable career that has positively impacted hundreds of employees, thousands of water industry professionals and helped provide millions of people with clean, reliable sources of water around the world.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-7-27

here is how Washington are describing the American economy. From the White House last month: ``robust economic progress under President 's leadership.'' According to President himself, our economy has ``unique strengths that we can build on,'' that it was ``providing important breathing room for American families,'' and that it was ``strong as can be but for inflation, but for gas and food.'' The economy is as strong as it can be except that pesky thing: the worst inflation in more than 40 years. You almost have to laugh at that analysis. prgtoken Contrast the ' spin with how working Americans are describing our economy. From a grocery store manager in Tennessee: ``It's just not a good situation.'' From a grandmother in Georgia: ``The food, the gas, the bills, and the mortgage, everything. . . . It's a lot on a family.'' Overall, a majority of Americans are concerned their paycheck can't cover the essentials amidst inflation, and a majority prgtoken disapprove of what President is doing about it. prgtoken Clearly, something isn't adding up, but that isn't a new feature of Washington ' one-party control of government. In fact, missing the mark on economic policy has been a hallmark of the administration. Last spring, they misread what it needed after a once- in-a-century pandemic and flooded the engine with trillions in liberal spending. Then, they missed the warning signs of the runaway inflation that that mistake brought on. Now, they are mounting a panicked campaign to redefine the word ``recession'' before the next quarterly GDP comes out tomorrow. prgtoken So Washington seem to think the real-world effects of their policies--the pain Americans are feeling as they try to balance household budgets--can just be spun away--spun away--with talking points. Well, I can tell you there are millions of working families who wish it were, in fact, that simple, but you know full well that it isn't. Border Security prgtoken , now on a different matter, yesterday, I met with members of the Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association to discuss the ongoing substance abuse crisis in my home State. These frontline professionals have watched Kentucky pass some grim milestones in recent years. This is one of the most horrifying consequences of the ongoing breakdown of law and order in our country. prgtoken In 2020, overdose deaths in the Commonwealth increased nearly 50 percent from the year prior, reaching an alltime high of 1,964. Then, last year, we broke that record again, recording 2,250 overdose deaths--14.5 percent higher than in 2020. prgtoken Remember, as of this past January, 2 years into the pandemic, fentanyl alone had killed more Americans aged 18 to 45 than the coronavirus. That is not even all overdoses; that is just fentanyl alone. prgtoken The Kentucky law enforcement officers with whom I got to vi
VIOLENT CRIME CRISIS
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-7-27

I rise today to address the violence plaguing so many American communities. prgtoken 2021 was a historic year for crime in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and even Washington, D.C. This year is on track to be even worse. Homicides alone are up nearly 50 percent nationwide from 2020. prgtoken We have seen more than 80 inexcusable acts of violence against pro- life pregnancy centers and churches in recent months. 178 police officers have prgtoken tragically been shot so far this year, with 33 of them losing their lives. It is no wonder so many are retiring or resigning; 1,500 men and women in blue have stepped down just from the New York City Police Department this year. prgtoken Congressional need to take a stand against those in their party who push radical soft-on-crime policies, such as defunding the police, and, instead, leave wokeness behind to support our men and women of law enforcement to the fullest extent possible.
NATO REINFORCED FOR DEMOCRACY
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-7-27

. Madam , last week, Congressman Bill Keating offered an historic resolution expressing support for Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). prgtoken I was particularly grateful to support the resolution having just returned from a Congressional Delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. prgtoken Led by Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Co-Chairman Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee, the U.S. delegation was grateful to meet with President Sauli Niinisto of Finland, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice President and Special Representative Pia Kauma of Finland, Foreign Minister Ann Linde of Sweden, OSCE Parliamentarv Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt, and of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlen, prgtoken NATO is more important than ever with war criminal Putin's mass murder in Ukraine, sacrificing young Russians for his personal gain of oil, money, and power. Tragically, many of us never imagined the insanity of a 21st Century land war in Europe. prgtoken Both Finland and Sweden enhance the peacekeeping ability of NATO with their professional militaries and extraordinary defense prgtoken manufacturing capabilities to promote Peace Through Strength. prgtoken The addition of Finland would increase the border of NATO with the Russian Federation by 830-miles, which could inspire Russian patriots to reestablish democracy as a valued partner in Western Civilization. prgtoken I will be clear that democracy (rule of law) will prevail to authoritarianism (rule of gun).
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-7-27

when it comes to America, I am an optimist--always. You see, I can't help but approach the future with great hope. After all, as Americans, we have never let obstacles stand in our way or accepted that problems can't be solved. prgtoken Our citizens are the world's most ingenious; our military, its mightiest; our economy, the strongest; and our innovators, the most creative. The last century was defined by our accomplishments and our ideals and I believe this one will be, too. But I have to say, this path is not guaranteed. prgtoken Now as then, America's success depends on unleashing the potential of our people and outcompeting and out-innovating global rivals who don't share our values or our economic interests. prgtoken Right now, we are in the middle of a great power competition with an authoritarian regime in Beijing that seeks global primacy and rejects democracy. The Chinese Communist Party is currently investing $1.4 trillion in frontier technologies that will dominate the 21st century-- artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics, among other key technologies. Its innovators are earning patents and publishing research in AI at greater rates than our own. Its schools are producing four times the STEM graduates as America's. The Chinese Communist Party's computer and science universities are regularly outranking ours. prgtoken Its military is making advances in cyber warfare and the development of hypersonic weapons, autonomous vehicles, electronic and cyber warfare, and orbital bombardment systems. prgtoken These are the technologies that will dominate the 21st century, economically and militarily. prgtoken China's Government is planning on winning the AI race, winning future wars, and winning the future. The truth is, if we are being honest with ourselves, Beijing is well on its way to accomplishing these goals. America is at risk of falling behind economically and technologically to a world power that doesn't value liberty or even human life. prgtoken So how should we respond? prgtoken For too long, when it comes to Chinese aggression, America has relied on a strategy of deterrence, taking steps like blocking Huawei from doing business in the U.S tightening export controls, and improving foreign investment rules. prgtoken Now, these are important measures, but they are no longer enough. You see, it is time to go on the offensive. And that is exactly what this legislation--which has gone by many names from the Endless Frontier Act to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act to CHIPS+--will do: unleash private sector innovation while significantly boosting Federal national security investments. prgtoken Let me highlight a few specifics. First, this bill greatly encourages domestic investment in semiconductor production. Right now, the USA is almost entirely reliant on other nations for high-tech computer chips that power our smartphones, automobiles, household appliances, and mili