mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
National Beef Month (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-5-5

it is my pleasure to celebrate with my colleagues the month of May as National Beef Month, and I come to the floor not just to say that we ought to eat more beef and help the farmers and cattlemen of this country. prgtoken Before I get to something else, though, Iowa has the seventh largest cattle inventory in the United States and ranks fourth in the country for cattle and calves on feed. While I usually focus on the need for a fair and transparent market for cattle producers, today I want to draw attention to the job that cattle producers across the country have feeding America and the world. prgtoken Over the last 30 years, the U.S. population has increased by 80 million people. In that same period, the world's population has grown by more than 3 billion people. In the face of a growing population, farmers across America have been faced with a challenging question: How do we meet the growing demands for food while also lowering our environmental footprint? prgtoken American farmers and ranchers have risen to that occasion; in other words, not just producing more food but helping the environment at the same time. Farmers in all segments have expanded production to fulfill increasing demand while protecting our environment. The United States is currently producing 80 percent more pork, 48 percent more milk, and 18 percent more beef than just 30 years ago. prgtoken Now, you would think, with all that increase in production, you would have more of an environmental problem, but despite the increases in production, per unit greenhouse gas emissions from pork production have decreased by 20 percent and 8 percent for beef production. prgtoken Nonetheless, environmentalists still seem to place unwarranted blame on farmers for contributing to our changing and warming climate. The recent narrative that U.S. agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is simply not true. Now get that--it is simply not true. According to the EPA, only 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. The leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions contribute nearly twice as many emissions as the agriculture industry does. Transportation contributes 27 percent, electricity contributes 25 percent, general industry is contributing 24 percent. So I am here to set the record straight. For the last 30 years, American farmers have been reducing greenhouse gas emissions with each meal served by embracing efficiency and the adoption of new technologies. prgtoken Agriculture needs to have a seat at the table for these conversations because farmers are the first conservationists and can help offset emissions from other sectors of the American economy. Whether it is creating carbon sinks on farmland to produce biofuels prgtoken or turning farm waste into energy, farmers have taken a very active role in reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. prgtoken Research from the U.S. Department of Agric
STAND with Taiwan Act (Executive Session)
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-5-5

as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 1081 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that the Braun substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
Student Loan Debt (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-5-5

in Albany, NY, a grandmother of four reported recently that rising prices have forced her and her husband, a retired New York police officer, to cut back on eating out. ``I feel it in the pocketbook,'' she said. prgtoken In Grand Rapids, MI, one young family reported that, before inflation took off, ``the paycheck went a little bit further.'' Now, on essentials like gas and groceries, ``there's no wiggle room.'' prgtoken In Springfield, MO, a food truck owner said that he and his wife are having to take business farther and farther from home despite gas prices. prgtoken Stories like these aren't exceptions; they are the rule. Working Americans have been absolutely swamped by rising prices. prgtoken Two-thirds of Americans told one recent survey that inflation has been difficult or even a hardship for their families. Fewer than one in five says the administration's policies have done anything to improve economic conditions, and yet, as we speak, with the economy already scuffling, Washington are proposing more reckless spending and the biggest tax hike in American history. For example, President is considering trying to buy up his sinking approval ratings by magically waving away $1.6 trillion in student loan obligations. prgtoken So let's put a few things into perspective. prgtoken More than a third of Americans did not pursue education beyond high school. Of the Americans who did receive additional schooling, barely one in four holds any student debt at all. In fact, an outright majority of the $1.6 trillion in Federal student debt is held by professionals with advanced degrees. prgtoken Working people who chose to avoid taking on debt should not have to bail out high-earning doctors, lawyers, and dentists or adults who borrowed six figures for an Ivy League master's. prgtoken President wants to effectively funnel money away from people who decided to learn a trade, away from people who chose community college, away from people who made tough sacrifices to actually pay off their loans in order to buy more enthusiasm from one of the ' loudest and farthest left constituencies. Young liberal professionals with elite degrees and massive earning potential get a giant handout, and working people in rural America get the bill. prgtoken As one scholar from a left-leaning think tank puts it: Almost a third of all student debt is owed by the wealthiest 20 percent of households [while] only 8 percent by the bottom 20 percent. prgtoken He concludes: Student debt is concentrated among high-wealth households, and loan forgiveness is regressive whether measured by income, educational attainment, or wealth. prgtoken Even among the small slice of Americans who do have some student debt, the majority owes less than $20,000. Ah, but the senior Senator from Massachusetts has proposed a cap that would cover debt up to 2\1/ 2\ times that amount. She i
Nomination of Kathryn Huff (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-5-5

I come to the floor today to support the nomination that we are soon to vote on, and that is the nomination of Dr. Kathryn Huff. She was nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy. prgtoken Now, while I don't agree with her on many issues, she is a strong supporter of nuclear energy. She is well qualified for the position to which she has been nominated. She holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and currently serves as a special adviser to the Energy Secretary. prgtoken Before joining the Department, Dr. Huff was an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has also worked in our National Laboratories. prgtoken At her nomination hearing in early March, Dr. Huff testified: It would be my honor to help the United States bolster and reclaim its global leadership in nuclear energy. prgtoken Now, more than ever, it is critical that the Department work diligently to make America energy-dominant again. Nuclear technology is essential to meeting America's energy, environmental, and national security objectives. We need to be looking for opportunities to expand our use of nuclear energy. Dr. Huff is ready and able to take on that responsibility. prgtoken Russia's army is funded by the sale of energy. That includes uranium. Russia accounts for one-third of the world's uranium conversion and half of the world's uranium enrichment capacity. It is our third largest supplier of uranium--for us in the United States. prgtoken Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine has opened the world's eyes. We can't be reliant on Russia. Now is the time for the United States to stop buying Russian uranium. Now is the time for the United States to ramp up our domestic uranium production. Dr. Huff recognizes that opportunity, and she is prepared to act. prgtoken The Department of Energy needs to take immediate action to establish a strategic uranium reserve. This is to ensure our existing reactors have the fuel that they need. prgtoken We also can't allow America's advanced reactor developers to be dependent on Russia. The Department of Energy needs to take immediate action to develop an American supply of high-assay, low-enriched uranium. To meet these challenges, we need experienced leadership in place at the Office of Nuclear Energy. Dr. Huff is up to that task. So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting her nomination. prgtoken . prgtoken .
U.S. Supreme Court (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-5-5

I know we are used to having a lot going on here in Washington, DC, but this week seems like we have been hit by a whirlwind of activity--a war in Europe, COVID-19 still lingering in parts of the world, and then the Supreme Court found itself the victim of an unauthorized leak of a draft opinion, which has created a lot of furor and anxiety and misinformation. prgtoken One of the things that it has demonstrated is the need to protect the independence of the Court. prgtoken Justice Antonin Scalia used to say that you can read the constitution and bill of rights of a lot of countries around the world, and they look great on paper. He mentioned that of the old Soviet Union, for example. But he said they are just words on paper without an independent judiciary to enforce them, and he was right. prgtoken Whoever leaked this draft document obviously intended to create a lot of public pressure--indeed, coercion--on the sitting Justices to either change their minds or to somehow garner a political issue that they would be able to use to divert the American people's attention from things like inflation, crime, the border, and the challenges to our national security and world peace. prgtoken We have to get to the bottom of this, and I am confident that Chief Justice Roberts will pursue that until the person who leaked it is identified and held accountable. prgtoken But this spotlight on the Court, along with the reaction--the public reaction that we have seen has raised another important issue, and that is the physical safety and security of the Justices themselves and their families. prgtoken In our increasingly polarized climate, the Justices have been villainized and subjected to violent threats. People have even published their home addresses so they can show up and protest on their home, on their property, on their lawns. prgtoken This decision, which is actually a nondecision because the Supreme Court hasn't handed down its decision--but the leaker has accomplished his or her goal, I suppose, by creating this hostile environment for the Justices and their families. prgtoken But, unfortunately, there are even people in this Chamber who have contributed to that environment. prgtoken In 2019, the ic leader went to the Supreme Court steps and threatened two Supreme Court Justices by name. He said: You have released the whirlwind-- prgtoken By the way, this was the day that the abortion case was argued in the Supreme Court. prgtoken The senior Senator from New York, the majority leader, said: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. prgtoken And he named Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh by name. prgtoken Now, to have the senior and Senate majority leader from this Chamber lobbing threats at sitting Justices on the Supreme Court if they did not rule in a way he wished is dang
VOTE EXPLANATION
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-5-5

if there had been a recorded rollcall vote on the motion to instruct from Senator Menendez that moves that the managers on the part of the Senate at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 4521 be instructed to contain provisions in section 73003 of the Senate amendment related to the establishment of an inspector general for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, I would have voted nay. prgtoken If there had been a recorded rollcall vote on the motion to instruct from Senator Lujan that moves that the managers on the part of the Senate at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 4521 be instructed to insist on provisions supporting the work of the Department of Energy, user facilities of the Department of Energy, and National Laboratories, including work in microelectronics and across the key technology focus areas, supporting the Department of Energy and its national laboratories, I would have voted nay.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-5-5

I rise to speak in support of the ``Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act,'' which I introduced today. prgtoken During National Small Business Week, we are celebrating the resiliency of our Nation's entrepreneurs who are leading our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken To promote a strong recovery for the 32.5 million small businesses across the country, Congress should bolster Federal programs that support these entrepreneurs and innovators. prgtoken For more than 40 years, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs have spurred innovation, job creation, and economic growth. prgtoken These programs have generated breakthroughs in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, defense, energy, healthcare, and transportation. prgtoken Today, the Small Business Administration and 11 participating Federal Agencies leverage the SBIR and STTR Programs to help small innovative firms explore their potential and increase the commercialization of innovations arising out of Federal research and development. prgtoken While these critical programs have invested more than $40 billion in small businesses, many firms, especially those that are minority- or women-owned, still face considerable barriers to participation. prgtoken As we look to spur innovation and drive small business growth, Congress should improve the diversity of these programs, enhance access to capital, and expand the eligible uses of funds to better support the needs of U.S. small businesses. prgtoken That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to increase the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs by improving diversity, enhancing access to capital, and expanding the eligible uses of funds. prgtoken This bill would direct participating Federal Agencies to use a portion of their SBIR allocation to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to underserved populations and states. prgtoken It would also allow Small Business Investment Companies to participate as investors in SBIR and STTR projects and permanently add testing and evaluation activities permanently as an eligible expense, which can be resource-intensive for small firms, across all relevant agencies. prgtoken Additionally, this bill would require participating Federal Agencies to conduct a joint annual meeting to share best practices for improving data collection and streamlining processes across the programs. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill to improve the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs.
Inflation (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-5-5

yesterday the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point, the biggest rate hike in 22 years. The effort is underway to stop inflation. For millions of American families who are struggling to pay their bills and afford the basics, this can't come fast enough. The U.S. economy has added nearly 1.7 million jobs this year. Consumer spending is strong, but higher costs for groceries, gas, housing, and more are straining family budgets and making people very anxious about their future. prgtoken In announcing the interest rate hike yesterday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the following: The biggest drivers of inflation today are higher prices caused by Russia's war on Ukraine and rising COVID cases in China, which can further disrupt supply chains. In other words, the Federal Reserve Chairman said two of the biggest drivers of inflation are really global; they are complicated; and they aren't going to be solved by America alone. prgtoken Fortunately, there are some simple solutions we can take to help families save money. Let me tell you about three of them. The first is to cut gas prices. I can't think of a single cost of living that is more visible. Every street corner in America has a sign declaring what the cost of a gallon of gasoline is, and people compare these in their mind even as they drive down the road. Some people make a hobby of it. Anyone who has filled up a gas tank in the last few months has felt the sticker shock of Mr. Putin's war on Ukraine. prgtoken President has already made two changes that will reduce gas prices. A little over a month ago, he announced the United States will release 1 million barrels of oil a day from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve--in prgtoken other words, to increase the supply in an effort to bring down the price--1 million gallons a day for 6 months, while oil companies ramp up domestic production to make up the shortage caused by Mr. Putin's war. prgtoken President also has issued an emergency fuel waiver allowing E15 gas--that is gas with a higher blend of ethanol--to be sold across America this summer. Normally E15 isn't sold in the summer, but the White House estimates that by allowing gas stations to sell it, it will save Americans 10 cents a gallon. prgtoken Of course, if we are really serious about cutting gas prices and reducing the power of tyrants like Putin whose nations happen to sit on big oil reserves, we can do that by investing more in electric cars and clean energy sources that don't break the bank or bake the planet. prgtoken Here is another solution that can save millions of families hundreds of dollars every single month. Let's agree to cap the monthly cost of insulin for diabetes at $35. In 1923, almost 100 years ago, researchers in Canada were awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of insulin to manage diabetes. They sold the patent--listen carefully--for this drug discovery for $1. The
Nomination of Kathryn Huff (Executive Session)
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2022-5-5

2 days ago, it was my unhappy task to notify the Senate that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources had deadlocked on another nomination and on 3 important public land bills, with all 10 ic members voting for each bill and all 10 members voting against them. prgtoken I strongly believe that the Senate works best when we work together, find common ground, and reach a consensus and that we fail the American people when we don't. prgtoken So it is with great pleasure that I come to the floor today to speak on the nomination of Dr. Kathryn Huff to be the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy. I am very pleased to say that Dr. Huff's nomination is one thing and s on the committee agree with completely. We reported her nomination last week without a single dissenting vote. I urge my colleagues, and s alike, to vote to confirm her today. prgtoken My friend John Barrasso is ranking member, and we work very close together, and this is one that we found total unanimity that she is the right person at the right time in the right place for this job. prgtoken Dr. Huff is extremely well qualified for this important position. She has the academic training as a physicist and in nuclear engineering. She holds degrees in physics from the University of Chicago and nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has extensive postgraduate experience as a research assistant at Argonne and the Idaho National Laboratories and as a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley. She has extensive professional experience as a professor at the University of Illinois for 5 years before joining the Department of Energy. prgtoken She joined the Department of Energy a year ago as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. She served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for nearly a year prior to her nomination. She has very clearly demonstrated her ability to handle the job through her performance as the Deputy and Acting Assistant Secretary over this past year. She also showed her firm grasp of nuclear issues facing the Department at her confirmation hearing. prgtoken In short, Dr. Huff has earned the strong bipartisan endorsement of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. I urge all Senators to vote to confirm her today. It shows that when we get the right person who is qualified for the job, basically, we will come together. prgtoken I would advise any administration to look deeply at the person you are bringing before us to make sure they fit those requirements. This is a carbon copy of what I would continue to find--people such as Dr. Huff to fill these very, very, very important jobs. It takes that type of dedication, but it takes the type of knowledge and experience that Dr. Huff has. prgtoken I urge total adoption of this by all Members of our Senate, 100 of us.
STAND with Taiwan Act (Executive Session)
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2022-5-5

I suppose I prematurely gave my reasons for objecting as I responded to Senator Braun's objection to passing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act; but, again, this is pretty much the status quo. If it is a voluntary program, it is not an enforceable OSHA standard; and these frontline heroes who have endured so much over the past few years, with increases in violence and during the pandemic, deserve the legislation that I have sponsored, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. The House passed it over a year ago, and that is what we should be taking up. prgtoken So I object.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-5-5

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 897, 898, 899, 900, and 901; that the Senate vote on the nominations without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.