mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-6-16

thank you for that emphatic recognition. prgtoken In the next few minutes, the Senate will vote on the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022. prgtoken This is a significant--I would say historic--moment. This bipartisan legislation, not only is it significant and important because of the content, but it is also significant and perhaps historic because of the cooperation that has prgtoken been garnered to put this act together and presumably pass it and send it to the President of the United States. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation is the most comprehensive toxic exposure package the Senate has ever delivered to veterans in our country's history. prgtoken Generation after generation, Americans, one by one, have answered the call of duty with the promise that we--the United States of America, the citizens of this country--would take care of them and their families after their time in uniform. Yet generation after generation, veteran after veteran, these servicemembers returned home only to be met with a piecemeal process as they work to cobble together the care that they earned and the benefits they deserved from the Department of Veterans Affairs. prgtoken Veterans have spent years fighting bureaucracy to get the care they need, and, sadly, there are those who have been fighting, up to this point, who are no longer living, to receive the benefits that this legislation will provide. prgtoken Chairman Tester, the Senator from Montana, and I made a commitment to get to this point today. I am proud that we are doing so together in a bipartisan way. And, most importantly, this bill will deliver healthcare and benefits to thousands of veterans who are ill due to their exposure to burn pits and other toxic exposures. prgtoken There is no doubt that the cost of taking care of our veterans is high, but the truth is freedom is not free. We say that. This is evidence that we believe that, upon the passage of this legislation. prgtoken There is always, always a cost to war. It is always high. It is always dramatic. It is always something that costs people their lives. But we make a decision when we send those service men and women to war that we are going to do what we said we are going to do and care for them. The decision is made when we send someone to war about whether we are going to spend money to care for them when they return. The cost of war is not fully paid when the war is over. prgtoken We are now on the verge of honoring that commitment to America's veterans and their families. Back home in Kansas, MG Lee Tafanelli said this legislation ``will have a great impact in the lives of our veterans long after their service. The knowledge that the obstacles formerly in their way have now been streamlined will provide peace of mind as our veterans move on with their lives.'' prgtoken I spoke on Memorial Day at a cemetery in Kansas, and a Navy vet
MEAT AND POULTRY SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR ACT OF 2022
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-6-16

I want to make it clear: just because named their bill the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act does not mean this bill will achieve that goal. prgtoken The only thing it really achieves is a campaign talking point for responding to constituents frustrated with higher prices at the grocery store and the gas station caused by their reckless spending. prgtoken Instead of wasting our valuable time debating this bill that will never become law, we should pass H.R. 8069, the Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Production Act, introduced by Ranking Member Thompson, which includes real, immediate solutions our farmers, ranchers, and producers support. prgtoken His bill, which I am proud to support, would reverse the EPA's reckless actions related to crop production tools, reverse the administration's confusing and disastrous changes to the Waters of the United States rule, and would withdraw the SEC's ludicrous ESG rule on climate-related disclosures, an action that has received bipartisan support.
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR PRESIDENT'S MISTAKES
Jason Smith (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-6-16

the biggest challenge facing Missouri families right now is sky-high inflation. They know that President and Washington have only themselves to blame for driving inflation to the highest level in 40 years. prgtoken Last month alone, inflation cost Missouri families an extra $663. That is about the same as a monthly payment on a brand-new pickup truck. prgtoken Gas prices are the highest they have been, at over $5 a gallon. The cost to fill up an F-150 is over $150. prgtoken Families are paying more to put food on their tables, clothes on their backs, and gasoline in their cars. Milk is up 15 percent. Bread is up 14 percent. Bacon is up 18 percent. prgtoken Just yesterday, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the third time since March. This is yet another price increase for families, farmers, and small businesses. prgtoken The American people cannot afford to keep paying for President 's mistakes.
Introductory Statement on S. 4420
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2022-6-16

I rise today to introduce the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, the CREST Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Cantwell on this bill. Our bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Energy to research and evaluate the feasibility of innovative carbon removal and storage pathways. The name the CREST Act alludes to the fact that we have reached the ``crest'' of our emissions and we must work to bring them down. prgtoken With more and more private and public sector commitments to reach net-zero emissions within certain timeframes, companies are scrambling to invest in quantifiable, durable, and verifiable carbon removal solutions. Microsoft, for example, has made a commitment to be carbon negative by 2030. Even though Microsoft plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than half, it will need to remove the rest of its carbon emissions. In order to do this, Microsoft plans to invest $1 billion in carbon removal technologies, such as direct air capture, forestation, and carbon mineralization. prgtoken Despite the growing number of companies that are looking to offset their emissions, current cost estimates show that private sector investment alone will not be sufficient to research and deploy carbon removal pathways. I strongly supported the Energy Act of 2020, which authorized the first comprehensive Federal carbon removal research and development program, and the bipartisan infrastructure, which invested $3.6 billion in direct air capture. Although these investments have been significant, more work is needed in further research, increased testing, and enhanced public-private partnerships to help aid in scaling carbon removal technologies. prgtoken The CREST Act would expand the Department of Energy's carbon removal research and development programs to include carbon removal pathways that can permanently sequester carbon dioxide or use carbon dioxide to produce biofuels or products. The key areas of focus for research and development in our legislation are biomass carbon removal and storage, geological removal, atmospheric and aquatic removal, carbon dioxide storage, and carbon dioxide removal quantification. prgtoken Our legislation also aims to accelerate the commercialization of innovative carbon solutions through a pilot program at the Department of Energy. This pilot program would be charged with accelerating the deployment of affordable and proven carbon removal technologies. This reverse-auction style pilot program would position the government to purchase innovative and promising technologies, subject to certain criteria, and reduce the costs of those technologies. This would allow companies that may not have as much purchasing power as Microsoft to participate in carbon removal to help offset emissions. prgtoken This pilot program would also support companies that are leading the way in carbon removal technology, like Running Tide in Maine,
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-6-16

I want to talk a little bit about the whole idea of loan forgiveness, student debt forgiveness. I have spoken many times on the floor about the importance of higher education--both college education and apprenticeships and other kinds of work preparation. I was the first person in my family to ever graduate from college, and later was the president of the university. And it is important, there is no doubt about that. prgtoken I have often also talked about one of the reasons I think our system works so well is in post-World War II America, we have not tried to run higher education; we have tried to encourage and support higher education. prgtoken You could use your student benefits, whether they were student loans or VA benefits or other benefits, at any accredited institution, and the Federal Government doesn't decide what is an accredited institution. prgtoken I think the way that we have found that balance has been really important for higher education. I think it is why we have the best higher education in the world, but I think the balance is one that we ought to be thinking about maintaining. prgtoken We should be concerned when we begin to get into that balance in a way that the government does more than it should do or, frankly, less than it should do. prgtoken This is the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant Program. I have been a big supporter of Pell grants. I know you have too. prgtoken And during the time we have worked here together, we have expanded Pell grants to year-round Pell grants. One of the great ways to keep college costs down is to finish. If you have got a pattern that is working, particularly if you are a first-time college student in your family or an adult that has gone back to school, if you have got something that is working and you can keep it working, we ought to do that. prgtoken There was about a 10-year period where we had two semesters of Pell grants and then there was a summer without Pell grants, that didn't really work out all that well. And every higher education person I know believes we did a really great thing by going back to year-round Pell. prgtoken We have also increased the Pell grant award. In fact, in the last 7 years, we have increased the annual individual award by over $1,000-- $1,120. We have reinstated year-round Pell. prgtoken The Pell grant is targeted. It is targeted to people who need help going to school. When we were talking, I think very wrongly, about free higher education--which I think would really be expensive if you had free higher education and the government became the payer. I have said the Pell grant is really the way to adjust that. prgtoken If the Pell grant is not high enough, Congress can raise it. If the income levels are not high enough, if you had to have higher income levels or lower income levels to get the full Pell or partial Pell, Congress can do that as well. prgtoken I think the one thing that would be a mistake here w
CONGRATULATING LTC ERIC MARSHALL
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican, AS) \u2014 2022-6-16

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Eric Marshall on his retirement from the United States Army. LTC Marshall has had an illustrious career lasting over 20 years serving in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, culminating as the Honolulu District's Commander. prgtoken In American Samoa, our men and women of the Armed Forces are very important to us. The people of our islands take great pride in being patriotic Americans and our people are known for a high rate of service in our military. In particular, our U.S. Army recruiting center ranks number one in the nation in enlistment rate. prgtoken To that end I would like to recognize all the work LTC Marshall has done to lead throughout his career in situations such as leading dive missions, having a key managing role in the Western Closure, commanding the B/1-48th infantry company, and imparting his knowledge on future leaders in the Army through his instruction and course direction in physics at West Point. prgtoken He has an extensive list of military awards and decorations including the Bronze Star, Bronze DeFleury, and is currently nominated for the Silver DeFleury. He is a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Air Force Academy and received his Master's Degree in nuclear engineering from MIT. prgtoken In congratulating this outstanding officer today, we also express our deep appreciation to all who serve, including the many in uniform from American Samoa serving with distinction all over the world. prgtoken I thank Eric for his outstanding leadership and his commitment to our Soldiers, American Samoa, and our great Nation. Best wishes to him and his family as he departs Honolulu. I congratulate him on his retirement and the great future ahead. Again, I thank him for his service and his time dedicated to our beautiful island. prgtoken God bless you on your journey. (Fa'amanuia le Atua i ou ala). Soifua.
APOLOGIES TO BORDER PATROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-6-16

. Madam , I would like to comment on the recent developments regarding those brave Border Patrol officers who used their reins to prevent people sneaking into a country illegally, prevent them from getting stomped under their horses' hooves. prgtoken I have been to the border several times. Uniformly, all the Border Patrol felt those people behaved appropriately, and I think continuous studies have shown they behaved appropriately. But sadly, President has decided to pick them out for punishment. prgtoken It reminds me when he calls the police of this country racist--both completely unfounded. He only does it, I think, to divide our country, create divisions here. prgtoken I would demand that President apologize to the brave Border Patrol, those great guys or gals who, on that day, prevented the Haitians trying to slip into this country from getting stomped underfoot. prgtoken I would also like him to apologize to the police of this country who are not racist and are doing a great job to try to hold down our murder rate.
CONGRATULATING RUSSELL COUNTY BASEBALL
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-6-16

. Madam , I rise to recognize the Russell County High School baseball team, the Kentucky State High School runners-up. Their head coach, David Rexroat, has led the Lakers baseball team since 2002. He is the all-time winningest baseball coach at Russell County, and he was recently inducted into the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. prgtoken Russell County began their journey to the State tournament by winning the 16th District baseball tournament, which includes my home school of Monroe County. They have won the 16th District 9 of the last 10 years. They won the region, the 4th Region in Bowling Green, and went on to Louisville to the State. They made it all the way to the State finals, to the State championship game. prgtoken The Russell County Lakers baseball team had nine seniors on that team that had played together most of their lives. They finished the season 31-7, the most wins in Russell County school history. prgtoken Madam , that State championship game was in Louisville, Kentucky, against St. Xavier, which is one of the largest high schools in the State. It is about a 2\1/2\ hour drive from Russell County to Louisville. Ninety-five percent of the crowd was from the small county of Russell County. This community is proud of this baseball team and their great accomplishment. I commend them for a tremendous baseball season.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-6-16

I want to thank my colleague from Missouri. And I will just mention here in the Senate his leadership on so many issues are really going to be missed. Maybe he will reconsider his decision to leave this august body, which is going to be a lot less--a lot less of an institution that thinks hard about these difficult issues when he is gone. So I want to thank Senator Blunt for all he has done. He is a great friend of mine, so we are going to miss him. prgtoken It is Thursday, and once again it is an opportunity for me to talk about our Alaskan of the week. prgtoken Now, I know that our pages--the new pages, they are going to really realize this is probably one of the most exciting, interesting speeches of the week. Some of our friends in the media even like it because it is end of the week. I get to brag about Alaska and talk about someone who is doing something really great for our State, maybe their community, maybe the country, maybe the world, right? prgtoken We have all kinds who do this. prgtoken I always like to talk a little bit about what is going on in Alaska first. prgtoken So it is amazing how quickly the seasons go by because it is almost summer solstice in the State. That is when the Sun rarely sets across any part of Alaska and the State is filled with life, filled with energy. You can feel it when you come up. Hopefully, we get a lot of tourists this summer. I know we are going to get a lot. A lot of people want to get up to Alaska, particularly after the pandemic. You can feel it in the air when you are there, this sense of energy and excitement. prgtoken So our tourists are there now. They are seeing spectacular scenery, wildlife, glaciers, our salmon-choked streams. They will be able to hike through thousands of miles of State and Federal parks, climb mountains, fly through the skies, and some are even there to watch baseball. Yes, baseball. prgtoken Now, maybe not the Braves, but still good baseball. Now, I know that is going to sound odd to some people. Now, wait a minute. Going up to Alaska to watch baseball probably isn't the first thing that comes to many people's minds when they think about Alaska. prgtoken But diehard American baseball fans know that Alaska has played a fundamental role in America's pastime. They know how important Alaska summers are and have been for decades, taking young college students with raw but exceptional talent and growing them under the midnight Sun into seasoned professional Major League Baseball players. prgtoken This is the Alaska Baseball League, one of the premiere amateur collegiate summer baseball leagues that anybody plays anywhere in America. prgtoken Let me give you just a few--and I mean a few--of those who have come up through the Alaska Baseball League. It has produced some of Major League Baseball's most well known All-Stars, including Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Tom Seaver, Dave Winfield, and Randy Johnson, just to name a few. prgtoken
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-6-16

. Before dumped $2 trillion on the economy last prgtoken year, experts warned that such reckless spending would not just raise prices for working families, but could also trigger a full-on recession. prgtoken In February of 2021, for example, a prominent economist testified right here on Capitol Hill and said ' runaway spending might back the Federal Reserve into a corner. It might leave the Fed no choice but to sharply raise interest rates. And that would not just slow down our economic recovery, but potentially actually shift it into reverse. prgtoken Sound familiar? That is exactly what has happened right before our eyes. prgtoken Yesterday, a few days after the far-worse-than-expected inflation report for the month of May, the Fed announced the biggest interest rate hike in 28 years--the biggest interest rate hike in 28 years. And they signal more increases may be on the deck soon. The Fed acted too slowly on the incorrect presumption that inflation would fade away. Now that it hasn't happened, they have to make up for lost time. prgtoken The stock markets that carry Americans' retirement savings have been in free fall. The S&P 500 has lost a full one-fifth of its value in just 6 months. Americans' consumer confidence just nose-dived to its lowest point ever recorded--worse than at any point during the 2008 recession, worse than the early panic over COVID. prgtoken The percentage of small businessowners who say they are optimistic about the near future has never been this low in the entire 48-year history of that survey. And signs suggest this may be just the beginning of the pain for the American people. prgtoken Just 3 months ago, the Fed predicted we would not have to see rising unemployment until 2024. Yesterday, however, they announced they now see unemployment increasing this year, next year, and--and the year after that. prgtoken Just between March and May, their official estimate for our country's economic growth in 2022 plummeted--listen to this--by 40 percent. It looks increasingly like may have driven America toward a full-on recession. They have driven our country toward a full-on recession. prgtoken The term ``stagflation'' was invented to describe the most painful economic conditions for workers and families. It means the worst of three worlds at once: High inflation, slow growth, and rising unemployment. Unless something changes--we all hope it does--this appears to be exactly the trajectory on which ' policies have put our country. prgtoken The last time we had a unified government, our policies created low inflation, robust growth, and record-low unemployment. Sole ic Party control has produced something quite different. prgtoken But, unbelievably, the same Washington who dug this hole seem unwilling to put away their shovels. They want to keep digging. With our economy trending toward a possible recession, some of our colleagues
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-6-16

in reserving the right to object, we have been trying for a year and a half. Our staff has offered to meet with the opposition's staffs. We have not had one meeting. They have not accepted a meeting much less a compromise--a year and a half. prgtoken This could pass today by simply accepting this. There is a promise to do it at a later date when we have waited a year and a half? A year and a half went by because no one would meet with us. We have not had one meeting. We have offered to meet with the staffs of both of the authors of this, and we have not been granted a meeting. There has been no discussion of this between staff and no discussion of a compromise. prgtoken We would take a compromise. I don't understand. There has been no argument made today as to why Congress couldn't be added to this bill. They could have added this to the bill or talked to us over a year and a half. No one has talked to us. Other than to come for the public theater, no one has tried to get this thing passed. prgtoken I object.