mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF GENEVA WILSON PERRYMAN
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-11-26

. Madam , I rise today to acknowledge the legacy of public service and commitment to our communities of the late Geneva Wilson Perryman. prgtoken Geneva Wilson Perryman was known for the passion she shared for making her community a better place for all, and she constantly inspired her friends and family to remain active in their communities. Mrs. Wilson Perryman raised her five children in Detroit alongside her husband, Alex, to whom she had been married for 77 years. Everyone in the neighborhood knew if they were ever hungry, they could stop by and find Geneva on the porch, ready to welcome them to share in the meal of the day. prgtoken Mrs. Wilson Perryman was a teacher for nearly 40 years, serving as head teacher of Michigan Head Start at the end of her career. She valued civic engagement and she served as a poll watcher in local elections. She has received numerous awards and accolades for excellence in education and her hands-on actions in working to secure equal justice for all people in Detroit. Her pride in her community is evident throughout her seven decades of commitment to improving the quality of life for her all. She was an outspoken, feisty woman, and made it her mission to speak truth to power. prgtoken Please join me as we recognize Geneva Wilson Perryman's contributions to the families of the Detroit and Michigan's 13th Congressional District as we give honor to her memory.
TRIBUTE TO LACY BOWER
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-11-29

today I wish to recognize Lacy Bower of Hutchinson, KS, for her incredible achievement in attaining not only Girl Scouts's highest honor in the Gold Award, but Boy Scouts's Eagle Scout rank as well. Both are remarkable achievements on their own, but attaining both is truly a remarkable feat. prgtoken For her Gold Award, Lacy decided to focus her efforts to helping the Hutchinson domestic violence center with her project, ``A Walk of Love.'' To help the shelter, Lacy worked with the community to collect over $5,000 worth of toiletry items, which she then turned into 200 toiletry bags to donate to the shelter. In addition, she helped establish a continual collection process for these items so the shelter can more adequately provide resources for those that use it in the future. prgtoken Of course, that is only half the story. To accomplish the double feat, Lacy needed to create yet another community project for her Eagle Scout rank. Lacy set her sights on repainting the gymnasium of a church in Hutchinson. After plenty of preparation and recruiting, what she initially thought would take 2 weeks only took her 2 days after successfully recruiting help throughout the Hutchinson area during her preparation process. prgtoken After achieving these two feats, Lacy has said that she hopes to be an inspiration for young girls to show that they are capable of making a difference and achieving what they want, so long as they put their mind to it. She has certainly set a tremendous example for young women everywhere, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lacy for her outstanding achievements.
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-11-29

from Ohio, and I am on the floor today to talk about a major public health crisis facing our country, one that is resulting in thousands of people losing their lives, causing the death of over 100,000 Americans a year, and has negatively impacted so many millions more in my home State of Ohio and all around the country. prgtoken And, no, I am not talking about COVID-19. I am talking about an epidemic within the pandemic. I am talking about the surging epidemic of drug use and addiction that has fueled a record number of overdose deaths and threatens to get even worse. prgtoken In the past 19 months or so, our attention has, understandably, been directed toward the COVID-19 crisis. And, once again, we see with Omicron the possibility of another variant coming, and those public health challenges are real. prgtoken But I have to tell you that it has led us to ignore another crisis. The Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, recently issued a report which was shocking and should serve as a wake-up call to all of us. prgtoken It said that between April of 2020 and April of 2021, the most recent year for which we have data, we had over 100,000 individuals lose their lives to drug overdose deaths in this country. That is the highest ever. It is a record. prgtoken By the way, 100,000 deaths per year is more than the deaths from gunshot wounds and the deaths from car accidents combined. It is truly the epidemic within the pandemic. prgtoken Away from the headlines, we have this other tragic healthcare crisis that has left no part of the country unaffected. Forty-six States and the District of Columbia have seen their overdose rates go up in the last year, with a 26-percent increase in my home State of Ohio. In some States, there are now as many drug overdose deaths as there are COVID deaths. prgtoken Like many of you, I have seen firsthand the damage drugs like crystal meth or cocaine or heroin or now the synthetic opioids are causing to the families we represent, to people who have gotten caught in that spiral of drug abuse and addiction. prgtoken I have also seen the heroic efforts of first responders who have saved people's lives by administering naloxone, which some call Narcan, its brand name. It is a miracle drug that literally saves lives by being able to reverse the effects of an overdose. prgtoken And I have ridden with law enforcement and treatment providers on rapid response teams in various places in Ohio that follow up with those who have overdosed. Literally, somebody overdoses, and then this rapid response team--usually made up of law enforcement but also treatment providers, social workers--goes to people's homes, and it is amazing what you will find out. prgtoken I was, frankly, a little surprised during my first visit--then, I got more used to it--which is that people respond very favorably. Most people who are approached by these rapid response teams agree to get into tr
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-11-29

here we are, following the Thanksgiving holiday, where I hope that people got to get together with friends and family and enjoy a little respite from the hectic schedule here in Congress. But here we are now, with just a few short days intervening between now and Christmas, and the end-of-the-year legislative mad dash is officially upon us. prgtoken This year, our ic colleagues, who control the Senate agenda, have ignored some of the Senate's most important and basic responsibilities, leaving us with a whole lot to do and not a whole lot of time in which to do it. prgtoken In September, when the Senate should have passed a group of bills to prgtoken fund the government for the next fiscal year, our colleagues instead kicked the can down the road. You would have thought they would have used the past couple of months to pass the annual appropriations bills, which is one of most basic and fundamental responsibilities of Congress; but, no, they chose not to do that. prgtoken Instead, our ic colleagues found time for partisan, dead-on- arrival messaging bills while they failed to bring a single appropriations bill to the floor with a December 3 deadline. prgtoken As things stand today, it looks like these funding bills are nowhere near ready. This risks leaving millions of Americans without a paycheck right before the Christmas holidays or punting on our funding responsibilities once again. prgtoken And that is not the only potential fiscal disaster we are careening toward. At some point in the coming days, weeks, or months--we don't know exactly when; only Secretary Yellen knows--the U.S. will run up against the debt limit. That is, we have maxed out our credit card and, unless our ic colleagues decide to raise that credit limit, we will exhaust the credit of the United States Government. prgtoken It kind of feels a little like ``Groundhog Day'' because we saw this movie just about 2 months ago. prgtoken had a clear roadmap and ample time to increase the debt ceiling on their own and avoid a financial crisis, but they stubbornly refused. They said they didn't have enough time. Well, they don't have that excuse now. prgtoken And, even then, they have known since July that s would not help them with another partisan spending spree. So we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a potential economic crisis, but our colleagues can't blame the calendar for not having enough time again. prgtoken If our ic colleagues want to exclude s and continue spending on a purely partisan basis, they will have to raise the debt ceiling in a partisan fashion. They have proven they are OK with spending trillions of dollars of borrowed money without a single vote. It is not too much to say that they should be held accountable for that reckless course of conduct. prgtoken Of course, before the Senate addresses either one of those crises, there is another i
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-11-29

today I am going to highlight a new Hunter record that I have recently made public. prgtoken Before I get to that point, I am going to take a trip down memory lane--yes, down memory lane. prgtoken On September 23, 2020, Senator Johnson and I released our `` Report,'' as it has been called. That report focused on questionable financial transactions between the family and foreign, government-linked individuals. prgtoken On November 18, 2020, we released a supplemental to that report. I am going to read several statements from the media and my ic colleagues about our report. prgtoken So, to start with, on September 23, 2020, a New York Times article by Nicholas Fandos described it in two ways: ``lack of meaningful new information'' and ``overlap with a Russian disinformation campaign.'' prgtoken And the then-ic minority leader was quoted in the same article prgtoken and said the report read ``as if Putin wrote it, not United States senators.'' prgtoken A September 23, 2020, Salon article by Igor Derysh quoted a ic Senator saying that the report was the culmination of a ``sham investigation.'' In that article, the same ic Senator described our investigation as being ``rooted in disinformation'' from Russian operatives. prgtoken Separately, a ic Senator also said about our report: ``Bottom line: The Johnson-Grassley investigation is baseless. It's laundering Russian propaganda for circulation in the U.S.'' prgtoken In a September 23, 2020, CBS article by Melissa Quinn, another ic Senator said about our report, meaning the Johnson-Grassley report: ``The chairmen have amplified a known Russian attack on our election,'' and ``It is unconscionable that the chairmen are continuing to advance false information intended to undermine our democratic process at the expense of bipartisan work that we should be doing to protect our national security.'' prgtoken That same CBS article said that our report ``reveals little new information.'' prgtoken And one Washington Post columnist, Josh Rogin, said: ``Even after accepting disinformation from Russian agents, Johnson and Grassley couldn't come up with anything new or interesting on Hunter .'' prgtoken So understand this: Week after week, month after month, year after year, the media and my ic colleagues falsely attacked our investigation with reckless disregard for the truth. I have spoken at length on the Senate floor rebutting all these false charges with example after example. I did so on May 11, 2021; March 18, 2021; December 14, 2020; December 10, 2020; October 19, 2020; and September 29, 2020. prgtoken Well, on November 15, this year, Senator Johnson and I publicly released a record that I placed in part on this poster next to me, and I will get to this in a minute. The full document illustrates an assignment and assumption of business interests. prgtoken The part next to me is a signature
RECOGNIZING IMOGENE'S ALTERATIONS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-11-29

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Imogene's Alterations of Bowling Green, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Located on Nutwood Street, Imogene's Alterations has served Bowling Green, KY, for over 20 years. Imogene Garmon, a longtime Bowling Green resident, embarked on her first career in the grocery sector. After 33 years working at the Kroger meat counter, she was ready for a new challenge. A self-taught seamstress, Imogene began selling fabric and doing minor alterations after leaving Kroger. Seeing a business opportunity, Imogene went on to establish a fabric shop. She thrived as a small business owner, serving the greater Bowling Green community. Word spread quickly of Imogene's talent as a seamstress. Request for alterations poured in, including everything from everyday clothing to suits and ball gowns. To meet the demand, Imogene decided to focus solely on alterations. She established Imogene's Alterations, providing full-time alterations for men and women's clothing. prgtoken Today, Imogene's Alterations continues providing alterations for all types of events and special occasions. This woman-owned business has grown along with the area, moving into its current location at Nutwood Street about 20 years ago. Customers are welcomed by name and treated like family. At 88 years old, Imogene continues to be involved in every aspect of her business. From operating the store to sewing alterations, her care and attention to detail are evident in her work. Her strong sense of family has built a tight-knit, supportive team. prgtoken Like many entrepreneurs, Imogene established a successful business while building community. As a mother, grandmother, and aunt, Imogene raised and continues to mentor generations of her family. Remarkably, Imogene founded Imogene's Alterations in her 60s. It took innovation and courage to pursue her goal, switching from the grocery industry which she knew well, to the tailoring sector. prgtoken Imogene's Alterations is a remarkable example of the resilience and adaptability of locally owned small businesses. Small businesses like Imogene's Alterations form the heart of cities and towns across Kentucky. Congratulations to Imogene and the entire team at Imogene's Alterations. I wish them the best of luck, and I look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-11-29

today's ic Party does not make the policy decisions of a party that is serious about protecting our country. prgtoken In May, President released a budget proposal that proposed a de facto cut in defense spending, and that was before the President's own supercharged inflation further cut the purchasing power of every defense dollar. prgtoken In August, his botched Afghanistan retreat shattered our allies' trust and delighted the terrorists. In 10 months in office, despite naive happy talk from the administration, the threats we face are markedly worse. The vacuum they left in Afghanistan has emboldened terrorists, from Iran's militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to the highest ranks of the Taliban's government. prgtoken Their desperation to return to a failed nuclear deal has given Iran the upper hand in negotiations. prgtoken For 4 years, my colleague the ic leader seemed constantly focused on Putin and Russia. But now, with Putin flaunting his power and Russia engaged in ongoing cyber attacks, weapons tests, and troop buildups? Crickets. prgtoken And for all their talk about China's threat, we have seen no evidence that intend for the United States to keep pace with the PLA's investments in nuclear and hypersonic weapons. prgtoken The bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission has made clear that we cannot shortchange our military modernization and have a prayer of competing with the People's Republic of China or even the declining but dangerous Russian Republic. prgtoken Our colleagues across the aisle have missed one opportunity after another to right the ship. They have used the reconciliation process to pass trillions in new partisan spending without a cent for defending the Nation. prgtoken And despite the strong bipartisan work of our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, the ic leader kept this year's Defense authorization bill in limbo literally for months and now wants to block the Senate from a real debate and a real amendment process. prgtoken Debating the right way to confront Russian threats to America and our allies and equip our friends in Ukraine is certainly worth the Senate's time. Putin is massing tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's border, but the ic leader is trying to block a debate about responding to Russian aggression? It makes no sense. prgtoken Considering sanctions on the pipeline that fuels Putin's encroachment over Europe--including provisions from Senator Risch that closely mirror language that the House added unanimously--is certainly worth the Senate's time. Setting the record straight on our resolve to maintain a strong and credible nuclear deterrent that can check the worst impulses of our adversaries is also worth the Senate's time. prgtoken Yet, once again, the ic leader seems to want to put national security last. My colleague is trying to overcorrect for poor planning by cramming a 2-week b
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-11-29

now on government funding, as we all know, by the end of this week, both parties must come to an agreement for funding the government and avoiding a needless shutdown. prgtoken At the end of September, and s worked together to keep the government open through December 3, avoiding many of the fights that tainted so many funding debates under the previous administration. After the House takes action this week, the ic- led Senate will move forward to make sure the government remains funded after the deadline. prgtoken With so many critical issues, the last thing the American people need right now is a government shutdown, and are going to work this week to make sure we don't have one this time around. It is important to get it done, and we are working to get it done.
MORNING BUSINESS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2021-11-29

in June of this year, Egyptian prosecutors opened a criminal investigation concerning human rights defender Hossam Bahgat, in relation to a December 2020 tweet criticizing Egypt's flawed parliamentary elections. The acts he has been accused of would not be considered crimes in the United States, nor in any other country that respects freedom of expression. prgtoken Hossam Bahgat is the executive director and founder of one of the most respected Egyptian human rights organizations, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, EIPR. His work has been recognized around the world, and in April 2021, Mr. Bahgat met with Secretary of State Blinken as part of a group of leading human rights activists. Other EIPR employees have also been targeted, along with many others as part of the government's crackdown on independent civil society organizations. In February of 2020, EIPR researcher Patrick George Zaki was forcibly disappeared and reportedly tortured. A year ago, three of EIPR's senior employees, Gasser Abdel-Razek, Karim Ennarah, and Mohamed Basheer, were also arbitrarily detained, effectively silencing them. prgtoken Mr. Bahgat faces up to 3 years in prison and almost $20,000 in fines for reportedly doing nothing more than expressing views the Egyptian authorities consider to be ``insulting'' or ``false news''. This is not the first time Mr. Bahgat has been targeted for his courageous and important reporting. In 2015, he was detained for 3 days after reporting on officers convicted of planning a coup and was only released when the case received international attention from human rights groups and the United Nations. prgtoken I have consistently spoken out about human rights in Egypt and in other countries, especially when governments crack down on human rights activists. The State Department publicly expressed concern in July of this year. Today, I am adding my voice to others who have raised concerns about Mr. Bahgat's wrongful detention. A verdict in his case may be imminent. I hope the Egyptian Government will abandon its persecution of Hossam Bahgat and his fellow human rights defenders. Like the Department of State, I have been urging the Egyptian authorities to make progress on human rights so our two countries can expand cooperation in other important areas. Further attempts to silence Mr. Bahgat and the other EIPR employees will needlessly impede those efforts.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-11-29

I rise to introduce the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act. prgtoken This legislation would place certain lands into trust for the Tribe in order to finally allow the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians to manage these lands that are of special, cultural value to their people . prgtoken Land that has traditionally been held by Agua Caliente has been divided into a checkerboard between the Tribe, Federal Government, and private landowners. prgtoken In 1999, the Bureau of Land Management and Agua Caliente entered into an agreement to acquire and exchange lands within what would become the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. In 2000, legislation was enacted to establish the monument and authorize the land exchange. prgtoken For 17 years, Agua Caliente worked with the Bureau of Land Management to finalize an agreement to exchange the lands that are addressed by this legislation, and in March 2019, the land exchange was finalized. However, since the original legislation didn't expressly address the status of land transferred to the Tribe, the lands covered in this bill were not placed in trust. My legislation would correct that and provide the fix to finally place the exchanged land into trust and made part of Agua Caliente's reservation. prgtoken This bill represents the final step to complete the original 1999 agreement between Agua Caliente and the Bureau of Land Management. prgtoken Importantly, enactment of this legislation would allow for improved land management and allow Agua Caliente to manage these lands that have a longstanding cultural and natural resource value to the Cahuilla people. prgtoken The land is in a remote wilderness area within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and the Tribe will manage the land as conservation lands similar to how it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. prgtoken I thank Congressman Ruiz for his partnership on this effort and for his commitment to honoring the Federal Government's trust responsibility. I also thank the bipartisan Members of the House who have supported this legislation and Senator Feinstein for coleading this effort with me in the Senate. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act as quickly as possible.