mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CHILE
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-1-26

in 1823, President James Monroe named Heman Allen of Vermont as the United States' Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Chile. January 27, 2023, therefore marks the 200th anniversary of official relations between the United States and Chile. Today, Chile is a regional leader and trusted partner in promoting democracy, human rights, economic stability, environmental protection, and advancing equitable and sustainable development. prgtoken Chile and the United States cooperate at the highest levels to promote peace, security, and democracy in the Americas and throughout the world and have a long history of strong cooperation on science and technology. prgtoken 2023 also marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement that continues to bring increased prosperity to the American and Chilean peoples. In 1955, Chile and the United States established the region's first and oldest bilateral Fulbright Commission to exchange knowledge and expertise. prgtoken The bedrock of the U.S.-Chile bilateral relationship is the deep mutual respect and friendship between the American and Chilean people. As we enter the third century of our partnership we must continue to hope for ever stronger ties among our governments and peoples, through which we together will build a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable future.
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2023-1-26

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 21, and I urge all my colleagues to oppose this big giveaway to Big Oil. prgtoken The bill before us today is yet another effort to open our public lands and waters to major new oil and gas extraction. This is despite the fact that oil companies already control huge amounts of our public lands and waters, most of which they don't even use. prgtoken Right now, oil and gas companies have about 9,000 approved but unused permits across 26 million acres of public land. Right now, offshore they have 2,000 active leases covering 12 million acres, three-quarters of which aren't being used. prgtoken This bill asks us to give them even more land--an area three times the size of California, or more than 300 million additional acres. Big Oil has more public land than they can use. They could expand production today if they really wanted to. Instead, they lobby Congress to open up even more lands to extraction, to lower environmental standards, and to give them more taxpayer-funded subsidies. And in the process, they lock out public land and public access from other essential uses that would contribute to the American people and contribute to the mitigation and remediation and the climate action that is required around the issue of climate and the climate crisis. prgtoken To add insult to injury, this bill would actually make it harder to help everyday Americans. It would prevent the President's ability to keep down gas prices. prgtoken Last year, President took decisive action, allowing releases from the reserve to lower prices at the pump. Under this bill, if the President needed to act again to keep prices low, he would first have to pay off Big Oil by opening up our public lands. prgtoken This bill does not protect the American people, and it certainly doesn't protect our climate or environment. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
RECOGNIZING ESTHER GEORGE'S RETIREMENT FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2023-1-26

it is with a profound sense of gratitude that I rise today to celebrate the decades-long career of Esther George, who has served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City since October 2011. Having made the Federal Reserve Bank her professional home since 1982, Esther has dedicated 40 years to helping ensure the financial well-being of the United States. With her retirement nearing, let us take a moment to reflect on Esther's illustrious career and her efforts to steer our country's economy through periods of historic uncertainty. prgtoken Born on January 15, 1958, in Faucett, Missouri--a rural farming community in the northwestern part of the state--Esther remembers getting paid 25 cents an hour while working on her family's plot of land. After learning about an opportunity for high school students to study abroad in France, Esther secured a loan from a bank in St. Joseph, Missouri to cover the costs of the foreign exchange program. Representing her first meaningful visit to a local bank, this experience sparked Esther's lifelong interest in banking, and she soon began working at the institution while still in high school. While earning her degree in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University, Esther continued to work at the bank that had helped facilitate her trip to France, thereby expanding her knowledge of community banking while gaining an even deeper appreciation for the ways in which well-run banks can empower everyday people. Making use of another bank loan, Esther returned to Europe during her college years to study the finer points of international banking. prgtoken Made aware of job openings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City through a newspaper ad, Esther joined the Bank on April 5, 1982, as a bank examiner trainee. At the time of her hiring, the banking industry was going through a period of relative stability. This smooth sailing, however, gave way to rough and stormy seas when the failure of a bank in Oklahoma City initiated a financial crisis whose waves of volatility crashed most violently against the Federal Reserve's 10th District, where Esther had begun working just 3 months earlier. This baptism by fire made clear the importance of the Federal Reserve's role in safeguarding America's financial system, and Esther quickly began rising up the ranks. Promoted 3 times by 1984, the young banker worked tirelessly to lessen the impacts of this financial storm. prgtoken Esther went on to earn an MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in addition to graduating from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Esther held leading positions within the Bank's research, public affairs, and human resources departments before taking the reins of the Bank's Division of Supervision and Risk Management in August 2001, making her the chief regulator of the Federal Reserv
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Andrea Salinas (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-1-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the DelBene amendment and in defense of Oregon's coast. prgtoken The Oregon coastline is a wonder of nature and a critical piece of Oregon's economy. We love our coastal playground. We respect our coastal communities. And that is why we must fight to protect them--not as or s, but as Oregonians who cherish our environment and our people. prgtoken Oregon led with the first-ever ``Bottle Bill'' to reduce litter on the beaches. Oregon led when it made its coastline free and open to the public. Now we must lead the fight against offshore drilling, which threatens our coastline, the people who call it home, and fisheries and families who depend on it for their livelihoods, and our environment. prgtoken Offshore drilling is a mistake, and it will only exacerbate our energy and environmental crisis down the road. We must say ``no'' by voting ``yes'' on this amendment.
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Mike Levin (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-1-26

my amendment would prohibit any new leases under this plan that do not provide a fair return for taxpayers. prgtoken For far too long, our oil and gas leasing program has offered a sweetheart deal for the industry at the expense of taxpayers. One fossil fuel company recently even went so far as to outline in a press release the many benefits of extraction on public land compared to private land. Their release highlighted that leases on public lands are cheaper, they last longer, and they are more expansive. prgtoken While these statements may be music to the ears of those who care most about Big Oil special interests, they represent a raw deal for the American people. prgtoken Increasing the royalty rate to a fair level will generate billions of dollars in revenue for taxpayers. prgtoken The Government Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office both agree and have suggested that this is good policy. That is why last Congress I introduced the Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act, to protect taxpayers by eliminating noncompetitive oil and gas leasing and raising the onshore oil and gas royalty rate, rental fee, and minimum bid amount. prgtoken I am proud that the Inflation Reduction Act includes significant provisions of that bill, including eliminating noncompetitive leasing for oil and gas sales, raising annual rental rates, and increasing the minimum bid for public lands. These provisions will go a long way in ensuring the American people see a more fair return on the use of our cherished public lands. prgtoken But we have more work to do to provide a fair return. States like Texas and Oklahoma charge higher royalty rates on their State lands than are charged on Federal public lands, leading to lost revenue for Federal taxpayers. prgtoken This amendment builds on those provisions and will help end giveaways of our public lands to fossil fuel companies and ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return on any private profit that oil and gas companies extract from our public lands. prgtoken The American people deserve to see a fair financial return on the profits that fossil fuel companies make from their use of our cherished public lands, and this amendment will require that these companies provide that return instead of simply ripping the public off. prgtoken , .
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-1-26

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 21. prgtoken A poll was released today that 73 percent of Americans think that the leadership has the wrong priorities, and today we consider a bill which demonstrates how true those poll results are. prgtoken With this bill, the s are giving a big, wet kiss to Big Oil. They are making it more difficult for families to afford gas at the pump and rewarding Big Oil with record profits. prgtoken Once again, they are demonstrating they care more about protecting the profits of Big Oil than protecting the wallets of hardworking Americans. prgtoken This legislation would make it impossible--or nearly impossible--for the President to lower gas prices by tying releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to this notion of expanding leasing on Federal lands, which would make it almost impossible, as Mrs. Fletcher explained just moments ago. prgtoken Linking releases from the reserve to increases in drilling on Federal lands will result in higher prices for Americans and an exacerbation of the climate crisis already facing our country. prgtoken What is more startling is this isn't even necessary. There are over 9,000 leases available right now where drilling is not taking place. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because Big Oil wants to keep the price up high to maximize their profits and continue to gouge the American consumers. Let's not continue to help them to do that. prgtoken The President was very wise to strategically use that reserve to lower the price at the pump. prgtoken I urge all my colleagues not to embrace this crazy idea of protecting the profits for Big Oil, gouging our constituents with higher gas prices, worsening the climate crisis, and instead, focus on the priorities of the American people to lower the cost of goods, to lower the cost of gas at the pump, to lower the cost of food at the grocery store. prgtoken That is what s ran on, , and their first act was to gut the IRS to make it harder for people to get their tax returns back, and today they are trying to protect Big Oil and make it more expensive for our constituents. prgtoken Vote ``no.''
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-1-26

. My good friend from Texas apparently did not understand the prior amendment in terms of its utilization in the time of disasters that his district faces as mine does all the time and many other Americans. prgtoken So let me indicate as I move to No. 36, this is, again, an effort to help Americans and to address the question of the efficiency of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. prgtoken My amendment would allow the necessary and routine test drawdowns that occur as part of the work to make sure the reserve can fulfill its function of providing access to the resources on a moment's notice in time of emergencies. Those of us in various parts of the Nation understand emergencies. prgtoken In keeping with our commitment to addressing the core mission of many of us to reduce emissions, we may need a number of tests. Tests are basic to the core mission of the reserve and often involve numbers of barrels or less being drawn down. prgtoken The Jackson Lee amendment would provide the provisions of this bill should not be triggered by Strategic Petroleum Reserve tests. The Jackson Lee amendment would ensure that tests can continue without delay or suspension out of concern regarding the requirements of the bill so that this Strategic Petroleum Reserve can stand ready to be able to efficiently address what is needed. prgtoken I am concerned about the direct attack because the CEO--the President of the United States--in the executive article utilizes his powers to help Americans in the midst of a disaster. prgtoken I hope that this amendment can be accepted by my friends which says that we have to do due diligence on testing. I understand the authors of the bill have a specific policy objective in mind and believe that the bill will accomplish a narrow policy change. However, I would hope that they believe in efficiency, and the utilization of this Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an efficient manner requires tests and drawdowns if we are going to be ready for emergencies to save lives in a crisis that is either heating or otherwise. prgtoken Again, let me remind my colleagues that we did not hear a word--a word or a ic word--when gasoline prices came down. prgtoken So the executive branch should have the right, if you will, to make those emergency decisions. But to have the ability to test is a reasonable response to ensuring that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve works well every single day that we need to use it. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to support Jackson Lee amendment No. 36. I will also finish by saying: Please understand what we are saying. Please know that we understand both the legislation and the need for improvement of the legislation. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 36 Jackson Lee, and .
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-1-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Virginia. prgtoken Virginia is blessed with beautiful coastlines. The Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay provide critical habitat to marine life and offer numerous recreational opportunities to locals and tourists. Virginia's coasts are also home to a growing source of clean, affordable, and domestic energy thanks to ideal windspeeds, shallow waters, shipping lanes free of overhead obstruction, and a talented workforce. Located 27 miles off the coast, the first two turbines in federal waters are not visible from shore. The benefits they generate, however, are increasingly being felt on shore as emissions are lowered and good, family-sustaining jobs are created. prgtoken These exciting developments are in sharp contrast to what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have planned for our coastal communities--an expansion of offshore drilling. We ought to learn from the tragic mistakes of our past: Exxon Valdez in the Prince William Sound, Santa Barbara off the coast of Southern California, and Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. prgtoken Throughout my career, I have opposed attempts to open Virginia's coastline to offshore drilling along with local communities, small businesses, scientists, beachgoers, environmentalists, seafood lovers, and people of faith. The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association all oppose offshore drilling along with Oceana, the Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Surfrider Foundation, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light and so many others. National security experts also warn that offshore drilling is incompatible with military training in the region, not to mention the incredible harm a spill would do to military facilities. prgtoken As sea levels in Norfolk and around the world continue to rise, any expansion of highly polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is simply a bad idea. Virginians are simply not willing to sacrifice the health of our climate, marine life, local economies, or coastal ecosystems to expand offshore drilling. prgtoken The growth of offshore wind in the region further underscores the false choice being presented by my colleagues. Virginians are already enhancing our energy security by harnessing the power of the wind. Thanks to the investments in the Inflation Reduction Act-- including provisions I introduced with Representatives Pascrell, Norcross, Luria, and the late Congressman McEachin--the future of offshore wind and domestic offshore wind manufacturing is bright. prgtoken Virginians have repeatedly stood together to protect our coasts and, as this amendment demonstrates, we will continue to do so. I urge my colleagues to protect Virginia's coasts by supporting this amendment.
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-1-26

. Mr. Chair, for decades, and s agree that opening the waters off the coast of Washington to drilling would be dangerous. Doing so would threaten our fisheries, shellfish growers, tourism, and jobs in other sectors of our economy. prgtoken The underlying legislation we are considering could result in over 300 million acres of Federal lands and waters being opened up for new oil and gas drilling. That is an area equivalent to more than six times the size of the State of Washington. prgtoken I support this amendment because I am standing up for the coastal communities I represent. We do not want new oil and gas drilling off our coast. This isn't just about environmental protection; it is about protecting our economy and our way of life. prgtoken Let's protect our marine ecosystems. Let's protect coastal communities and coastal jobs. Let's create new jobs in renewable energy.
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN ARTSAKH
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-1-26

we have already hit the debt limit. s say they want to negotiate. We negotiate about spending all the time. What they really mean is that they want additional leverage by threatening this country with a default on our debt, which would cost us, according to Moody's Analytics, 6 million jobs, a 9 percent unemployment rate, $15 trillion lost in our investment markets. prgtoken Already they are dillydallying with this debt limit. Their playing Russian roulette with our economy has already hurt our economy. As the chief on the Capital Markets Subcommittee, I am here to tell you that the cost of capital is higher and projects are not going forward because of the actions they have taken so far. prgtoken They want to negotiate? They want to negotiate going backward. They want to negotiate reducing Social Security benefits. They want spending cuts, but they won't specify what they want. If we are going to negotiate, let's negotiate going forward. Let's talk about increases in Social Security benefits, let's negotiate getting rid of the $2 trillion of unjustified tax cuts that went chiefly to corporations and the wealthy. prgtoken You want to negotiate? Fine, we will negotiate going forward, but ultimately we will end up with a clean debt limit. You can't just love your country when your guy is in the White House. You can't play Russian roulette just because you don't like the President and you think that President will take the political hit. We need to show the world that our governance in America is sound and that our economy is worthy of investment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2023-1-26

. I ask unanimous consent that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 63, a bill to adjust the effective date of application of certain amendments made with respect to the credit for new clean vehicles; that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, and the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH--Continued
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-1-26

I rise in support of the resolution that I lead with Senator Grassley to designate January 2023 as a focus on stalking awareness. prgtoken This year's resolution has eight bipartisan cosponsors. This resolution builds on Congress's recent efforts to curb domestic violence. We already passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which back in 2013 included the bipartisan STALKERS Act to improve Federal anti-stalking laws. Last year, once again, we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act. But there is so much more work that needs to be done. prgtoken You know, not so long ago, stalking was not seen as the harmful crime we know it to be today. It was only in the 1990s that the first anti- stalking legislation was passed in the United States. Without a consistent definition of ``stalking'' or resources for those in crisis, too often victims struggle to find the support they need to name and identify the harm they were experiencing. prgtoken Through the tireless work of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and service providers, we have seen progress. In the three decades since the first anti-stalking legislation was passed, every State in the country has passed anti-stalking laws. My home State passed it in 1993--3 years before Congress made stalking a crime. prgtoken But we know our work is not done. Approximately one in every three women in the United States has experienced stalking. Each year, more than 13 million people report that they are victims of stalking. According to one study, young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 experienced stalking more than any other age group. prgtoken As a former prosecutor, I know the emotional toll this crime takes. I know what the victims suffer from. Nearly 70 percent of those who are stalked by an intimate partner are physically abused by their stalkers, and three in four women who were killed by an intimate partner were stalked by their killers in the year leading up to their deaths. prgtoken By passing this resolution today, we can show how deeply we appreciate the work of law enforcement, that we are there for the victims, and we will do all we can to provide the services, safety, and stability they need. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the vote scheduled for 1:45 begin immediately.