mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
JUNETEENTH
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-15

I rise today to recognize the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth. On Saturday, we mark 156 years since June 19, 1865, when MG Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, TX, that the Civil War was over and that enslaved people were now free. prgtoken In his announcement, General Granger said: The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property. prgtoken In commemoration of this momentous day, June 19 became known as Juneteenth. In the years following the Civil War and in the early 20th century, Juneteenth has been celebrated as a holiday of independence. prgtoken While Juneteenth has been celebrated in States across the country, it carries a special significance in Texas, where Juneteenth celebrations began. In 1872, four men in Houston, my hometown, purchased the land for Emancipation Park, the oldest park in Texas, as the site for Juneteenth celebrations. In 1980, the State of Texas became the first State to make Juneteenth a State holiday. Today, 47 States recognize Juneteenth. prgtoken I am proud to cosponsor the Senate resolution designating June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth Independence Day to honor the historical significance this day has in the United States. prgtoken Juneteenth is an important day. It is a somber reminder of the original sin of slavery that our Nation inherited from colonial powers. Still, it is also a celebration of the fact that our country strives each and every day to make good on its promise to protect the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all men and all women, who are created equal. Our country was founded on that revolutionary idea, that revolutionary belief that all men are created equal, and that means no matter where we come from or what we started with, any one of us can live freely and achieve great things. prgtoken The story of America and the story of Juneteenth is a story of freedom, and while we have had many troubled chapters along the way, I, for one, agree with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr that the arc of history is long and that it bends towards justice, and we have made significant progress on that arc. prgtoken On Saturday, as we commemorate the long-overdue announcement of emancipation made in Texas 156 years ago, let us together remember the God-given freedoms we all cherish as Americans.
CHINA
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-15

in recent years, China has emerged as one of the greatest competitors to America. Both s and recognize the need to take action now to confront the growing threats posed by China, and so that is what we did last week. prgtoken Last week, the Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan bill to invest in strategic competition with China, in large part by funding the CHIPS for America Program to shore up this vulnerable supply chain of advanced semiconductors coming primarily from Asia, primarily from Taiwan
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-6-15

I reserve the right to object, and I rise to object to this unanimous consent request. prgtoken The VA, for years, has made promises that they have year after year failed to meet. For years, veterans and their family members have called my office, whether I was in the State senate or over in the House or here in the Senate. They are distressed by the lack of service they receive from the VA. My caseworkers would work tirelessly with these constituents, only to end up frustrated by a very unresponsive VA. This is unacceptable. It has become the culture of the VA, and this is something that has to change. prgtoken Now, for weeks, the committee has been asking for feedback on legislative proposals which have the potential to affect the workflow and the capacity of the VA. The VA has been silent on this even though we have asked for their views and have asked them to weigh in. The reason we have asked them for this is the VA has a backlog of over 180,000 cases. Their wait times this year have continued to escalate. They are not going down. prgtoken So, yesterday, I had a call with Secretary McDonough expressing my concerns with the lack of feedback that the committee has received on what is shaping up to be the most consequential legislative effort in the veterans space in an entire generation. The formal response that I received today was incomplete, but it contained a promise that they would have more fulsome feedback by July 30. prgtoken I will continue to keep my hold on these pending VA nominees until I receive the official views on the COST of War Act, on the toxic exposures bills. We owe our veterans. We owe it to them to get this right. Therefore, I object to the unanimous consent request, and I will continue my hold on these nominees.
PROMOTING UNITED GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO SAVE OUR SOUND ACT
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-6-15

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , H.R. 1144, the PUGET SOS Act, codifies the Environmental Protection Agency's existing restoration work in the Puget Sound and establishes a Puget Sound program office. prgtoken Puget Sound was one of the first estuaries designated within the National Estuary Program in 1987, and EPA has worked with Federal and non-Federal entities to coordinate restoration efforts. This bill ensures this important work will continue. prgtoken Madam , I urge support of this legislation, and .
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL A. SPRAYBERRY
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-6-15

. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael A. Sprayberry, who is retiring as director of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, NCEM, and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, NCORR. Mr. Sprayberry has served North Carolina for over 42 years and has exemplified the highest standard of leadership, effectiveness, and professionalism, and I thank him for his valued service to our State. prgtoken Mr. Sprayberry was born in Atlanta, GA and moved to North Carolina in high school. He went on to serve our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps and in the North Carolina National Guard for 11 years. In 1979, Mike received his bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He continued his education and received his master of arts degree in history. prgtoken Mike's entire career has been in service to his country and the Sate. During his years of service with the National Guard, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters and the North Carolina National Guard Distinguished Service Medal. He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1998 and was inducted into the North Carolina National Guard's Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in August of 2011. prgtoken In 2005, Director Sprayberry began his career in emergency management as the deputy director and logistics chief. He served in this capacity until 2013, when he was appointed to serve as director under Governor Pat McCrory. prgtoken Mr. Sprayberry is the longest serving emergency management director in North Carolina's history. During his tenure, he successfully oversaw the State's response to 19 State declared disasters and 11 federally declared disasters. He has led North Carolina through hurricanes, earthquakes, winter storms, and a pandemic. prgtoken Mr. Sprayberry is nationally respected and has served as president of the National Emergency Management Association and is a member of the FEMA National Advisory Council. prgtoken , thanks to Mike's leadership, North Carolina is better prepared to deal with both natural and man-made disasters. Please join me in thanking Director Mike Sprayberry, his wife, and his daughters for his career in public service and wishing him a joyful retirement.
NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-6-15

I rise today to recognize June as National Dairy Month. prgtoken National Dairy Month began as National Milk Month in 1937. Now it has developed into an annual tradition that celebrates the contributions the dairy industry has made to the world. prgtoken Milk contains nine essential nutrients which may help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain cancers; yet dairy products, particularly milk, continue to be unfairly demonized. prgtoken Coming from a long line of dairy farmers, I understand the impact that this decrease in milk consumption has caused. Not only does it hurt our dairy industry, but it has also resulted in the loss of an entire generation of milk drinkers, which has negatively impacted their health. prgtoken That is why I introduced the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act in March of this year with the gentleman from New York, Mr. Antonio Delgado. This bill addresses the importance of providing both flavored and unflavored whole milk in school cafeterias. prgtoken This builds upon the efforts from the School Milk Nutrition Act, which allows for flavored and unflavored 1 percent milk to return as an option for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. prgtoken Last month, Mr. Joe Courtney and I led a bipartisan coalition of 55 Members of Congress from across the country in writing a letter to Secretary Vilsack of the USDA. This letter urged him to codify the efforts to continue to provide schools the option to offer low-fat flavored or unflavored milk. prgtoken Whether it is protein to help build and repair the muscle tissues of active bodies or vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse. prgtoken That is why, , I urge my colleagues to sign on to my bill, the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act, during National Dairy Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk that they love. prgtoken And this month, when you pour a glass of milk, enjoy a cheese board, or cool down with some ice cream, remember the hardworking dairy farmers and farm families who made that possible.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-6-15

it is no secret that this Senator has been a leader in promoting renewable energy sources. Iowa has done even more to lead the Nation in biofuels production. This leads to a cleaner environment and really increases America's energy independence. prgtoken Last week, Reuters reported the administration is considering ways to allow U.S. oil refiners to not meet their biofuel blending requirements. This same administration has proposed hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies for electric vehicles but failed to include any support for biofuels infrastructure, which play a vital role in our Nation's transportation sector as well as our efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. prgtoken Need I remind my colleagues, President promised in his campaign to ``promote and advance renewable energy, ethanol, and other biofuels to help rural America and our nation's farmers.'' President is not keeping that promise. prgtoken Unfortunately, despite the administration's emphasis on the environment and climate, their recent actions contradict that and undermine their entire credibility. The biofuel industry has proven that ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions from motor fuel by almost half. prgtoken Almost every vehicle on the road can run on at least E10 ethanol. Many retailers are now selling more E15 ethanol and other higher blends like E85, if you have a vehicle that can use E85. Whether it is 10 percent, 15 percent, or 85 percent, it is cleaner than 100 percent petroleum. prgtoken According to the Energy Information Administration, by 2050, 81 percent of new vehicle sales will still be gas-powered or flex fuel. prgtoken In my introductory telephone conversation with EPA Administrator Regan, when he was nominated, he told me that biofuels are a major tool in the administration's plan to combat climate change. I stressed to him at that time the importance of the biofuels industry to both agriculture and energy, and Iowa happens to be the No. 1 producer of ethanol. prgtoken No matter what the EPA or Big Oil says about the impact of its waivers to oil companies making billions in profits, farmers and biofuel producers know and feel the negative impact. Any attempt to exempt oil refiners from their biofuels obligation is a blatant bailout. prgtoken The law is simple: Blend biofuels or buy credits from those who do. By adding more biofuels to our energy mix, we can reduce emissions from dirty oil while keeping transportation costs low for working families. prgtoken Unfortunately, despite the administration's emphasis on environment, it seems like biofuels don't appear to be much of a priority and well short of what nominee at that time, now-EPA Director Regan said that it would be. Now it looks like labor unions have been co-opted by Big Oil, and we are doing their bidding in the White House. prgtoken President is now faced with a decision. He can lower greenhouse gases with biofuels or h
TRIBUTE TO ROSELEE NICHOLS ROBERTS
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-6-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my good friend and former House staff member Roselee Roberts, who passed away on April 22, 2020 in McDaniel, MD, on Maryland's Eastern shore. Roselee was a tireless advocate for America's space program and she will be deeply missed by many. prgtoken Roselee was born on April 24, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. After high school, she attended the University of Miami in 1960 and graduated with honors and a degree in math and economics in 1964. While in college, Roselee ran the campus speaker's bureau, where she met her future husband, William ``Art'' Roberts. After graduating, she was recruited and hired into a management position with AT&T's Southern Bell Co. at their Jacksonville, Florida office. About a year later, she and Art wed and moved to Reston, Virginia. A few years later, Roselee was selected to serve as a Junior Economist on President Lyndon Johnson's Council of Economic Advisers. prgtoken Following positions with the Office of Management and Budget and as Rep. Bill Nelson's (D-Florida) chief aide on the House Budget Committee, Roselee launched her space career by serving as a staff member on the House Science and Technology Committee's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. In 1985, she left Capitol Hill for a position in the McDonnell Douglas legislative affairs office, which later merged with the Boeing Corporation. In that era, the space and aeronautics industry was predominantly comprised of men with military backgrounds. To support and encourage women in the industry, Roselee helped establish Women in Aerospace. The group now includes more than 2,000 individual and corporate members. prgtoken In 2005, I was truly blessed to have Roselee head back to the House and serve as the staff director for the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee while I held the gavel as Chairman. With the space shuttle program and International Space Station facing significant challenges, the space industry was at an inflection point at that time. Thanks in large part to Roselee's determination and leadership, we were able to successfully pass and have a NASA authorization bill signed into law for the first time in five years. After serving in the House again, Roselee moved over to NASA headquarters for her final government post as the Special Assistant to the agency's Deputy Administrator. prgtoken Roselee is survived by her husband, Art, of 54 years; their children, Elizabeth (Libby) Roberts Holah and husband, Greg; and granddaughters Olivia Holah and Violet Holah, and Leigh Roberts Melton and husband, John; granddaughter Harper Melton and grandson Hunter Melton. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Roberts family, her friends, and everyone fortunate enough to have known Roselee. Although she may be gone, the many contributions Roselee made to our country will have a lasting impact.
2022 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-6-15

8 short months from now, the greatest athletes in the world will gather together and compete in the 24th Olympic Winter Games. prgtoken Usually, Americans await this awe-inspiring event with enthusiasm and excitement. This year, though, we await it with apprehension and, frankly, disgust. That is because next year's games will be held in the People's Republic of China--a Communist nation that enslaves workers, puts women and children in concentration camps, sterilizes women, and unleashed a global pandemic that killed millions and upended the global economy. prgtoken The 2022 Games will be located in Beijing--a 5-hour train ride away from the Wuhan lab where the coronavirus pandemic likely originated and a day away from Xinjiang Province, where the Communist Party is committing genocide against ethnic and religious minorities and has herded more than 1 million innocent souls into concentration camps. prgtoken The Chinese Communist Party may believe that extravagant pageantry will distract us from the reality of what they have done, but no amount of rushed urban cleaning can wipe away the moral stain that permeates the capital city of China. No golden torch can redeem the moral bankruptcy of communism. No fireworks display can make us forget that Beijing is the epicenter of evil in the world. It is no exaggeration to state that the Chinese Communist Party is the purist, most powerful, and most pervasive force for evil in the world. prgtoken Locating the Games in Beijing will enrich and embolden the Chinese Communist Party and strengthen their hold on their captive people. That is why the International Olympic Committee should immediately-- immediately--rebid the 2022 Games and award it to a free democratic nation. I will note that this is entirely feasible. prgtoken If the Tokyo Summer Games can be postponed a year due to an event that was no fault of Japan's Government, we can certainly rebid the Winter Games on short notice if China is perpetrating crimes against humanity. prgtoken I would observe that the Winter Games are far smaller and easier to move than the Summer Games. The Winter Games include fewer than half the number of sports, nearly 4,700 fewer medals, only one-quarter the number of events, and less than half the competing country. prgtoken There are many, many Western democracies that could easily, easily accommodate a relocation of the Games on short notice. Some of our European partners, like France, Switzerland, Sweden, and Italy have more than enough winter sporting venues and hotel capacity and transportation capacity to host these Games with 8 months' notice. Many of them have hosted modern Games before. Many of them host national and international winter sporting competitions. prgtoken If the IOC fails to rebid the games, however, the United States should fully embrace an economic and diplomatic boycott. No U.S. official, company, or spectator should participate in and legitimiz
UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR OUR COAST GUARD ACT
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2021-6-15

I rise today in strong support of our U.S. Coast Guard. prgtoken For more than 230 years, the U.S. Coast Guard has watched over our shores, protected against foreign threats, lent a helping hand to those in need of rescue, and enforced the rule of law. prgtoken The Coast Guard lives by its motto, ``Always Ready,'' and has earned the trust and admiration of the American people. America could not do without this uniquely capable branch of our military. prgtoken The Coast Guard is so effective and so versatile that it is tasked with 11 statutory missions spanning the entire globe. prgtoken One of the best known Coast Guard missions is search and rescue. The Coast Guard carries out 45 search and rescue missions on an average day, saving the lives and property of Americans in dire need. prgtoken The Coast Guard also protects our ports and inland waterways, facilitating billions of dollars in trade and maintaining the navigation aids that make sea commerce possible. In today's global economy, 80 percent of international trade travels by sea. The Coast Guard plays a crucial role in screening commercial vessels, patrolling maritime infrastructure, and servicing aids to navigation, such as beacons and buoys. Each of these functions contributes to our Nation's prosperity and security. prgtoken The Coast Guard is also increasingly involved in homeland security. It is largely the Coast Guard's job to deter potential threats before they arrive in U.S. ports. Coast Guard men and women can be found in every major port in America, conducting security boardings and escorting passenger and cargo vessels into our waterways. The Coast Guard also helps to enforce U.S. migration laws and saves the lives of those who foolishly risk everything to travel on unseaworthy vessels. prgtoken Beyond this, the Coast Guard plays a crucial role in blocking narcotics and illegal weapons from entering our country. It is not uncommon for Americans to open their news feeds and read a report about the latest multimillion-dollar drug bust carried out at sea by the Coast Guard. In one recent example, three Coast Guard cutters joined efforts to intercept more than 11,000 pounds of cocaine valued at $220 million. That was a remarkable feat, but not unusual for the U.S. Coast Guard. prgtoken As the polar regions attract more interest from Congress, it should be known that the Coast Guard is America's surface presence in both the Arctic and the Antarctic waters. Coast Guard icebreakers carry out a wide range of operations, allowing us to have a sustained presence in Antarctica and conduct research in some of the most remote corners of the Earth. prgtoken If all of these roles were not enough, the Coast Guard is taking on greater responsibilities in national security. Partnering side-by-side with the Navy, today's Coast Guard conducts freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, provides maritime security in the Middle East, and
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. RES. 134
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-6-15

I appreciate the comments and the insight provided by my friend and colleague, the distinguished Senator from Oregon. prgtoken As to the point regarding our relative negotiating power and the wisdom of approaching this task right now, it is important to remember this resolution doesn't purport to offer the details of any such deal. It calls for a free-trade agreement. There is nothing surrendered by that. There is, however, a lot to be gained by that in signaling that we want to continue to have an open, free, and fair relationship with the United Kingdom. prgtoken As to the process concerns articulated by my friend and colleague, while he has expressed some concerns about the process, I must provide some evidence to the contrary. prgtoken Over the past year, my staff has communicated with the Senate Finance Committee staff, staff on both sides of the aisle, upward of half a dozen times. They have also pitched changes to assuage concerns about language multiple times but never received any definitive responses. prgtoken Furthermore, I have worked with colleagues on the other side of the aisle to craft almost identical draft language on United States-United Kingdom trade that was included in S. Res. 117, on the Good Friday Agreement, which passed before this body without objection. There is no reason why we can't reach a similar compromise on this legislation, and I stand ready and willing to work with my colleague from Oregon to do so (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)