mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-4

over this last weekend, the world saw a much clearer picture about the atrocities being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. prgtoken As Russian troops withdrew from certain areas in the north, around Kyiv, Ukrainian forces are moving into these cities for the first time in weeks. prgtoken In Bucha, a city just north of Kyiv, devastating images showed the carnage from the Russian occupation. Photos showed burned-out apartment buildings, bodies lining the streets, and mass graves. It appears that some of the victims died execution style, with their hands tied behind their backs. prgtoken The world can be under no illusion about Putin's barbarity. Russian forces have targeted residential neighborhoods, humanitarian evacuation routes, and even a bread line. The discovery of hundreds of dead civilians in Bucha underscores the urgent need to hold Putin accountable for his crimes and to help the Ukrainians defend their country. prgtoken Of course, people around the world have united in condemnation of Putin's heinous actions, but those statements must be accompanied by further action. Putin really doesn't care whether we like him or not. He has his own plans and his own aims. prgtoken We need to take additional actions that impose even greater costs on Russia. Following Russia's unprovoked invasion, the United States and our allies prgtoken imposed powerful sanctions on Russian businesses and oligarchs and cut off Russian banks from the global financial system. prgtoken The goal, of course, is to make it impossible for Putin to fund his war machine. And in the beginning, the results were encouraging. In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, the ruble plummeted to a record low, but, unfortunately, in the last few weeks, it has slowly rebounded. prgtoken One of the biggest drivers of that stabilization is Russia's sale of oil and gas. Fortunately, the United States is no longer one of its customers, and I hope we never will be again. prgtoken Our European allies depend on Russian energy to keep the lights on, but even they are reevaluating their energy dependency and looking for alternative energy producers. Poland has committed to ending its import of Russian energy by the end of this year, and I hope more countries will follow suit. But we can't sit around and just wait for that to happen. We need to do more to raise the cost of this war, this unprovoked invasion on Ukraine. prgtoken Every day Putin persists, more innocents die. It appears Russia has found a loophole in some of our current sanctions. The Russian Federation is buying gold to offset the devaluation of the ruble and then selling gold on the international markets in exchange for high- value currency. In short, Russia is laundering money through the international gold markets, and we need to stop it. prgtoken That is why a bipartisan group of Senators, including myself, have introduced the Stop Russian GOLD Act that would bring an end to
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I thank Mr. Kilmer for his great words and for putting some specifics around what we can do to help the men and women in blue and green and brown keep our communities safe. prgtoken Madam , the cost, as you know, of keeping our communities safe, keeping us safe, is great. The people who pay the price of that cost are very dedicated, special people. It truly is a solemn honor for all of us to be able to pay tribute to, and to thank, the men and women who work every day to do just that, keep us safe. prgtoken As Mr. Kilmer just said, we should be committed to doing all we can to provide all they need for them to be able to do their jobs. prgtoken Madam , I thank all of my colleagues from the State of Washington, and I thank the men and women who do their jobs without thinking twice, who are dedicated to protecting us, to keeping our families and communities safe. We owe them a great deal. prgtoken Madam , .
SPECTRUM COORDINATION ACT
Troy Balderson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 2501, the Spectrum Coordination Act. prgtoken Spectrum is a finite and high-demand resource that, when allocated correctly, fuels innovation. The industries that use spectrum are rapidly evolving, and Federal coordination of spectrum should evolve with it. prgtoken That is why I am proud to support the Spectrum Coordination Act, sponsored by my friend, Congressman Bilirakis. While the industries that use spectrum continue to modernize at an accelerating pace, the memorandum of understanding between the NTIA and the FCC on spectrum coordination has not been updated since 2003. prgtoken This commonsense bill would instruct the NTIA and FCC to update their nearly 20-year-old MOU, ensuring prgtoken that they work together seamlessly to resolve disputes while ensuring spectrum is allocated as efficiently as possible. I strongly urge all my colleagues to support the Spectrum Coordination Act.
BRAEDEN DIFRANCEISCO
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Braeden DiFranceisco with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Braeden is originally from Mullica Hill, South Jersey and is currently a senior at St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, New Jersey. He started his journey towards becoming an Eagle Scout in 2012 and has risen through the ranks from being a Bear in the third grade to Eagle his senior year of high school. For his Eagle Scout project, Braeden installed an orienteering course at Grenloch Lake Park in Washington Township. The course can be utilized by all Scout troops in South Jersey by helping them understand navigation and complete rank requirements. The orienteering course can also be used as a tool to help other scouts earn their orienteering merit badge. Braeden should be proud of his accomplishments, and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Braeden, and God Bless America.
HELP UKRAINE ACHIEVE VICTORY NOW
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-4-4

on Friday, The Wall Street Journal editorialized: ``Let Ukraine Go on Offense Against Russia.'' ``As Russia's war on Ukraine enters its sixth week, the script has flipped. Russia's advance has stalled, and Ukraine now wants to go on offense to push back Russian forces from the land they have taken. But the country needs U.S. and NATO help to do it.'' ``Now is the time to help Ukraine take the offensive. Reports of demoralized Russian forces are more frequent, including defectors who have taken equipment with them.'' ``Throughout this conflict, the administration has been slow. . . . `' Now ``is the time to keep the pressure on to truly achieve a strategic victory for Ukraine and NATO.'' prgtoken I have faith in the Russian people, a great culture betrayed by war criminal Putin. There is legislation for defecting Russian troops, diplomats, and Duma members to be provided immediate refugee status in America and up to $100,000 for any Russian military equipment turned over to Ukraine. prgtoken God bless Ukraine, God save Ukraine, and long live Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
AMERICANS NEED TO WAKE UP
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , America has to realize we are on the precipice of making one of the most significant precedential determinations in recent memory, and that is the removal of Title 42 affecting American immigration law. prgtoken Already we are allowing--depending on the month--between 80,000 and 100,000 people to cross our border who are not appropriately vetted. prgtoken However, due to a title put in effect by President , we are keeping another perhaps 400,000 people a month--we are told 18,000 a day--south of the border out of concern that they will bring the virus in this country. prgtoken If this title is removed, we will go--according to current estimates--to 18,000 people a day: a half a million people a month coming in this country. That is an intolerable amount. They are people we cannot support. They are people who have not been appropriately vetted. And, obviously, there will be a massive increase in illegal drugs crossing our southern border. prgtoken I beg the American public to wake up and do what you can to make it clear prgtoken to everybody in this body that we do not need a massive increase over the already intolerable 80,000 to 90,000 people who are coming here every month unvetted.
SPECTRUM COORDINATION ACT
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of H.R. 2501, the Spectrum Coordination Act. prgtoken Our country's airways are foundational to next-generation wireless networks. These networks offer so much promise to better our lives, as they can promote enhanced telehealth services and educational opportunities and offer new ways of engaging in entertainment and e- commerce. These networks can also help propel advancements in manufacturing and enhance critical public safety communications to save lives. prgtoken But to achieve these important objectives, our airwaves must be managed competently and correctly. Unfortunately, in recent years, our country has not hit this mark. Instead, the two agencies charged by Congress to manage the public's airwaves, the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, have often bickered and refused to coordinate their efforts. prgtoken I am pleased to see that with new leadership over the last year, the FCC and NTIA have begun to make some headway towards ensuring the Federal Government once again speaks with one voice in overseeing our airwaves. prgtoken H.R. 2501 helps advance the ball even further. This legislation requires the FCC and NTIA to update their memorandum of understanding on spectrum coordination by the end of this year. The last time this MOU was updated was in 2003, and much has changed since then. An updated MOU will reaffirm the commitment of these two agencies to provide and allocate our airwaves in a way that best serves consumers, commercial carriers, and Federal agencies in the days and months to come. prgtoken Over the past several years, the Energy and Commerce Committee has worked on a bipartisan basis on several important telecommunications matters. I want to commend Subcommittee Chairman Doyle and Representative Bilirakis for continuing this tradition through their leadership and bipartisan work in advancing this bill out of the committee. I hope the Senate can follow suit soon. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to likewise support the Spectrum Coordination Act in a bipartisan manner, and .
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-4

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2022-4-4

16 years ago the United Nations General Assembly designated April 4 as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Today, I am introducing a Senate resolution recognizing that designation and reaffirming United States leadership in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance. prgtoken As we read the reports of withdrawing Russian troops leaving landmines to terrorize, maim, and kill Ukrainian civilians, we are reminded of the necessity to redouble our efforts to ban these insidious weapons once and for all. The mines in Ukraine will remain a deadly hazard there long after the fighting ends, whenever that time comes. prgtoken Landmines and other unexploded ordnance cause death and terrible injuries to people in dozens of countries, mostly places where the ability to provide lifesaving medical care and long-term rehabilitation and vocational support is lacking or far from adequate. prgtoken The United States continues to provide the largest share of demining assistance, and we spend many millions of dollars annually helping the survivors. That is something we can be proud of. prgtoken But in some countries, like Laos, the millions of cluster munitions that failed to detonate on contact were manufactured in the United States and dropped by American aircraft. Fifty years later they continue to destroy innocent lives. prgtoken So while the number of landmine and UXO casualties has fallen significantly since I and others first took on this issue in the late 1980s and early 1990s, prgtoken we are not where we hoped to be back then. prgtoken First, the Administration needs to restore the policy on landmines that was put in place during the Administration. The White House said they would but it has not happened yet. There is no excuse for delaying. prgtoken Second, we need to continue to provide the funding for humanitarian demining and survivors assistance. Fortunately, this is not a partisan issue. It is simply a matter of continuing to treat it as a priority. prgtoken And third, this is my last year in the Senate and while I will do everything I can while I am here, we need others to continue to advocate for the United States to sign the international treaties banning anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. It should have happened already, and we have to keep working until it does. prgtoken I have seen first-hand the effects of landmines and other unexploded munitions. It is horrific, especially when it's a young child with a leg or an arm missing. Or a parent blinded and crippled by a landmine, being led around by a child. prgtoken We should be the country that leads the world in ending not only the carnage of landmines and UXO left behind, but the production, export, use and stockpiling of these indiscriminate weapons that don't belong in the arsenals of civilized nations.
HONORING THE 2021 FELLOWS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I rise today to honor the 164 inventors who will soon be inducted as the 2021 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in an induction ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona that will feature a keynote address by U.S. Commissioner for Patents, Andrew Hirshfeld. To be named as a Fellow, these men and women were nominated by their peers and have undergone the scrutiny of the NAI Selection Committee, having had their innovations deemed as making significant impact on quality of life, economic development and welfare of society. prgtoken Collectively, this elite group holds over 4,800 patents. This year's class of Fellows includes individuals from 118 research universities and non-profit research institutes spanning across the United States and the world. The now 1,567-member group of Fellows is composed of more than 200 senior leaders of research universities and nonprofit research institutes, over 600 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; 45 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 63 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and U.S. National Medal of Science, 45 Nobel Laureates, 450 AAAS Fellows, 314 IEEE Fellows and 251 Fellows of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, among other awards and distinctions. The NAI was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. prgtoken We are greatly indebted to innovators such as the ones being inducted for their contributions to society through their inventions. I commend these individuals, and the organizations and taxpayers that support them, for the work they do to revolutionize the world we live in. As the following inventors are inducted, may it encourage future generations to strive to meet this high honor and continue the spirit of discovery and innovation. prgtoken The 2021 NAI Fellows include: prgtoken Katerina Akassoglou, University of California--San Francisco; Norma A. Alcantar, University of South Florida; Zhiqiang An, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; Treena Arinzeh, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Andrea Armani, University of Southern California; Santokh S. Badesha, Purdue University; Sanjay Banerjee, The University of Texas at Austin; Ravi Bellamkonda, Duke University; Ronald D. Berger, Johns Hopkins University; Madan M. Bhasin, Louisiana State University. prgtoken Greg E. Blonder, Boston University; Jef D. Boeke, NYU Langone Health; Thomas Boland, The University of Texas at El Paso; Xandra O. Breakefield, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute; Joan F. Brennecke, The University of Texas at Austin; Marcel P. Bruchez, Carnegie Mellon University; Vladimir Bulov
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I thank Representative Newhouse, my friend, for gathering us together here to honor law enforcement and to mourn several recently fallen police officers. prgtoken Whenever a police officers is killed in the line of duty it is a tragedy, for the officer, for the family, and for the entire community. Even one such death is too many. And in the last several weeks in Washington State, there have been several, and we have mourned together. prgtoken As I speak, the funeral is underway for Officer Dan Rocha, killed in the line of duty in Everett on March 25. Just 2 weeks ago, I attended the funeral for Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dom Calata, who leaves behind his wife, Erin, his darling preschooler, Dylan, family, and friends. prgtoken Dom's friend and partner in duty, Officer Rich Scaniffe, spoke at the funeral. And he was critically injured at the same time but, thankfully, survived and will make a full recovery. prgtoken Back in 2019, when I was first sworn into office, Kittitas County Deputy Sheriff Ryan Thompson was also killed while serving his community. prgtoken Every day, police officers put themselves in danger to keep our communities safe, and every day, they and their families face the risk that they might not make it home to their loved ones. This is why it has been such a priority of mine to meet with police officers and police chiefs to thank them for their work and to learn how I can help support them and keep them and their communities safe. prgtoken I have heard from many of my constituents about rising crime rates in our district, including these hostilities toward police officers. Everyone, everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities. That is why I voted to increase funding for local law enforcement a few weeks ago, and why I will continue to push for funding to make prgtoken sure law enforcement have the tools they need to protect themselves and our communities. prgtoken I am deeply grateful to police officers for their service. I understand the worries that their families face daily, and mourn together with families and communities for those who have been killed in the line of duty. prgtoken May their memories be a blessing.
RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , 54 years ago tonight one of the great tragedies in our Nation's history occurred in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. prgtoken In Memphis, there is great love for Dr. King and his dream. He had given the ``I've Been to the Mountaintop'' speech the night before in Memphis. And tonight, at this hour there is a memorial service at the National Civil Rights Museum, which was constructed at the Lorraine Motel where he was staying and where he was slain. prgtoken In Memphis, a phoenix has risen from the ashes. The National Civil Rights Museum celebrates Dr. King's life and all the pioneers that preceded him and were after him in fighting for civil rights and civil justice in this Nation. prgtoken I share with all in mourning the death of Dr. King 54 years ago but take great pride in Memphis having the National Civil Rights Museum and encourage people to visit.
RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOME CARE AND HOSPICE
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-4-4

I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the leading voices in healthcare, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. Established on April 2, 1982, from three separate organizations, for four decades, it has been a voice for the essential and dedicated organizations that provide healthcare services to over 12 million patients annually in their own homes. prgtoken NAHC has provided valuable and trusted information that has helped guide Congress, the administration, Federal agencies, and many other health policy planners as we support the ability of patients to receive high quality healthcare at home. prgtoken From the beginning, NAHC has recognized that complex health policy issues require a unified voice. NAHC has brought together providers representing a wide range of home services including home health, hospice care, home and community-based services, home infusion therapy, private duty nursing for pediatric and adult patients, personal care services, home-based palliative care, and more. These providers are big and small, freestanding and part of larger institutions, nonprofit and commercial, rural and urban. prgtoken Healthcare continues to shift to care provided in the home--and with good reason. Providing expanded, holistic care in one's own home when clinically appropriate can improve the lives of patients while increasing quality and efficiency. prgtoken I pay tribute today to NAHC's decades of work to expand access to healthcare at home, and I look forward to partnering with NAHC members and staff for many more years to come.