mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Resumed
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2021-5-27

. and Members of the Senate, what we are going to be voting on shortly here, Senate Amendment No. 1562, is an example of the bipartisanship that can be achieved if we put in the hard work to work out the details and the differences between us on very critical issues. prgtoken This is not just an amendment on one topic; this is an entire title, the Finance Committee's title. The chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Wyden, and I have worked for months prgtoken together to identify that intersection--which is a big one, as you will see--between s and here in the Senate on trade policy to help us to put together a package of strong trade policy that will help us to stand up our efforts in pushing back against China in one of the most critical arenas that we face: trade, our economy, and working against the very nefarious activities that China is engaged in to try to undercut us economically and to undercut our American companies in our trade relationships. prgtoken Senator Wyden and I worked hard together to get this done, and I am glad that we now have a package that can be put forward. As I said, it is not just one provision; this is an entire trade title. Let me summarize just some of the things that are in it. prgtoken It provides a comprehensive approach to combat China's manufacturing imbalances, threats to free and fair trade, and illicit activity, which undermine America's leadership in innovation. This legislation will level the playing field for American consumers and companies, including workers, farmers, fishers, families, and taking aim at China's worst practices. prgtoken The amendment itself carries a bipartisan approach into a Senate-wide effort to ensure that the United States is positioned effectively to compete on a fair playing field globally--not just with China, globally, but especially with China. prgtoken It bolsters efforts to prohibit goods made with forced labor from reaching the United States by strengthening our Customs and Border Protection enforcement efforts and through better use of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. prgtoken It provides modernized trade enforcement tools to U.S. Trade Representatives to address anti-competitive digital trade and censorship practices, like China's great firewall, by requiring the USTR to identify trading partners that disrupt digital trade. prgtoken It appoints a USTR official to oversee information communication technology and provides advance notice and text of proposals for any digital trade agreements 5 days before they are tabled to facilitate our efforts here in Congress to oversee an effective trade policy. prgtoken It requires a review of trade in essential supplies, including the sources of imports, and analysis of any vulnerabilities, as well as additional tools for businesses in the United States seeking reliable suppliers. prgtoken It strengthens oversight over U.S. trade policy by providing an ins
TRIBUTE TO TOM GRESHAM
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2021-5-27

on May 31, 2020, Mr. Tom Gresham of Indianola, MS, concluded his term as the 84th president of Delta Council. I am pleased to commend him for his service and contributions to the Delta region and the State of Mississippi. prgtoken Organized in 1935, Delta Council plays an important role in uniting the agricultural, business, and economic development leadership to solve problems and promote greater opportunities in the Mississippi Delta region, which encompasses 19 counties in Northwest Mississippi. prgtoken Mr. Gresham's tenure began on the heels of the devastating and historical Yazoo Backwater Flood of 2019, which destroyed thousands of acres, hundreds of homes, and took two lives. As a Delta native, business owner, and servant to his community, his leadership helped bring tremendous attention and change to a new plan proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address this critical flood control issue. prgtoken He also met challenges unlike any other Delta Council president in the unprecedented times we faced during the onset of the global pandemic of COVID-19. In leading Delta Council throughout his presidency, he navigated the way for the council to continue its devoted work to the region, despite the difficulties the virus brought us. This included the first-ever virtual meeting of Delta Council. prgtoken I also applaud Mr. Gresham, as a longtime former chairman of Delta Council's Development Department, along with Delta Strong leadership, on bringing hundreds of jobs to the Delta through the Delta Strong industrial recruitment initiative. As the president of Double Quick, Inc for over 35 years, Tom Gresham knows what it takes to grow a successful business in the Delta. prgtoken Despite the time spent dedicated to his presidency and career, Mr. Gresham still finds time to serve in a multitude of capacities locally and regionally. He has served in leadership roles as cochairman of the Indianola Promise Community, director of Northwest Mississippi Community Foundation, past chairman of Mississippi Economic Council past president of Mississippi Association of Convenience Stores, Indianola Educational Foundation, Indianola Rotary Flub, Mid-Delta Arts Association, Society of Independent Gas Marketers of America, and more. prgtoken I am pleased to join the citizens throughout the State of Mississippi in commending Thomas G. Gresham and sharing our appreciation with his wife Louise Houseman Gresham and their three adult children and four grandchildren. His input over his year of service has undoubtedly contributed to the overall success of this highly respected 86-year-old organization, Delta Council.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-5-27

. The definition of advanced energy technology, which is in the bill, the Endless Frontier Act, and is defined in 42 USC 18632 is along the following lines. It says ``Definitions,'' ``advanced energy technology'' means an ``innovative technology that produces energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or other renewable energy.'' prgtoken That is important for our country. It goes on to say ``that produces nuclear energy''--that is important for our country--``for carbon capture and sequestration.'' Again, a critical comparative advantage. ``That enables advanced vehicles, vehicle components, prgtoken and related technologies that result in significant energy savings.'' Again, important. prgtoken And it also says ``that enhances the energy independence and security of the United States by enabling improved or expanded supply and production of domestic energy resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas.'' prgtoken That is in the definition of advanced energy technologies, and that is the definition that was passed two Congresses ago, unanimously, and that is why it has not been defined here because it has already been defined in this. prgtoken Congress is very clear on what advanced energy technology means in the Endless Frontier Act. That is a huge comparative advantage, as I mentioned, oil, gas, renewables. And that is an important element of this legislation in our competition with China, and I am glad that is recognized. prgtoken One final area of what, again, the current administration's National Security Advisor called a situation of strength relative to China, and that, of course, is our military. To be honest, this is where I am worried. prgtoken The second term of the - administration cut defense spending by 25 percent. That is actually one of the reasons I ran for the Senate. I never ran for anything, but what I saw what was happening to the U.S. military--an institution I love and I served in for over 25 years--that was enough motivation for me to say I need to help do something. The readiness of our forces during that era, the second term of the - administration--the readiness of our forces plummeted--plummeted. And our adversaries in Moscow and Beijing watched this and were gleeful. prgtoken We can talk about AI and everything else that we are talking about in this bill, but if we are gutting our military, that is one of the worst things we can do with regard to sending a message to China about our seriousness. I worry. prgtoken Last year on this floor--last summer--we had a big debate in the NDAA over defense spending. The majority leader--who was then the minority leader--and the Senator from Vermont, Senator Sanders, put forward an amendment they called--no kidding--``defund the Pentagon'' then. That was the name of their amendment, with 14 percent across-the-board cuts to the entire U.S. military. My response was: There they go again. There they go aga
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT--Continued
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-5-27

reserving the right to object, the sponsors and managers of this bill have made the point that this piece of legislation has followed regular order, and I will admit, versus how things have been passed in the last 10 years since I have been here, this is a little bit better regular order than I have experienced in general. But it still does not even come close to giving Members time to fully consider what we are voting on here. I don't even have a total score on this. I have been told it is approaching a quarter of a trillion dollars. prgtoken The history of this bill is on May 13, about 730 pages were reported out of committee. This wasn't exactly the bill that was voted out of committee, though. Somewhere, somehow, the chair modified at least one amendment that was not particularly recognizable to those that offered the amendment. prgtoken On 5/19, on September--or May 19, the bill grew to 1,445 pages, and just today we voted on an amendment, 900 pages. So now here we are at 11 o'clock. We come to the Chamber. For the first time, I see what the amendments are in the managers' package. prgtoken I am sorry. I don't know what these amendments are. I know what my amendment is. I don't know what the rest of these are. I haven't seen them. I don't even know how many pages this is. I just have a list. So you can claim this is regular order. You can claim this is a deliberative process, but it is far from it. prgtoken So I would just ask that the Senator modify her request; that the Senate stand in recess for 3 hours--only 3 hours--to allow us to review this package of amendments. prgtoken Would the Senator modify her request?
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-5-27

I rise today to reintroduce legislation with my colleague from Maryland, Senator Ben Cardin, to increase access to preventive bone density screenings and to improve osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment in the process. prgtoken May is National Osteoporosis month. Approximately 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass. Women are disproportionally affected, accounting for 71 percent of osteoporotic fractures and 75 percent of health costs related to osteoporosis. prgtoken Osteoporosis is often called ``the silent disease'' because bone loss usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. As the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center observes, falls are especially dangerous for people who are unaware that they have low bone density. If the patient and the doctor fail to identify the link between the broken bone and osteoporosis, the chance to make a diagnosis with a bone density test and begin a treatment program may be lost. prgtoken Our legislation, the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021, tackles a proven barrier to proper screening by creating a floor reimbursement rate under Medicare for the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test, the ``gold standard'' for osteoporosis diagnosis. prgtoken Congress has twice recognized the importance of reversing Medicare cuts to DXA reimbursement in order to maintain patient access to this test, yet the Medicare reimbursement rate for DXA tests administered in a doctor's office has declined from $140 in 2006 to only $42 in 2018--a dramatic 70 percent decline. It is not surprising that this inadequate reimbursement has led to a decline in screenings. prgtoken The National Osteoporosis Foundation has found that declining reimbursement rates have created a 26 percent decline in physicians performing DXA tests since 2008, resulting in a corresponding 22 percent decline in diagnoses since 2009. prgtoken Regrettably, the result of reduced screenings due to declining reimbursements produces real harm. It is estimated that more than 40,000 additional hip fractures occur each year, resulting in nearly 10,000 additional hip fracture-related deaths. Keep in mind that these painful and costly fractures, and even deaths, are all occurring at a time when early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis are proven to reduce fracture rates dramatically. prgtoken With osteoporosis already an under-diagnosed condition in the Medicare population, it is clear that we must change this trajectory I thank Senator Cardin for joining me in this effort to increase patient access to osteoporosis screening and diagnosis, while lowering cost and consequences resulting from a lack of diagnosis. I encourage my colleagues to support its adoption. Thank you, .
TRIBUTE TO LISA'S FIFTH STREET DINER
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-5-27

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I will recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business and beloved staple, Lisa's Fifth Street Diner of Bowling Green, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Located in the heart of Bowling Green, KY, Lisa's Fifth Street Diner opened its doors in 2010. After operating a successful catering business, founder and owner Lisa Parker decided to open a restaurant with her husband, Cliff Parker. Together, they created a homestyle diner with delicious food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. prgtoken Over a decade later, Lisa's Fifth Street Diner has become a local favorite. They continue welcoming customers from all over Kentucky, from local Western Kentucky University students to baseball fans traveling to cheer on the Bowling Green Hot Rods. But no matter how far customers travel, they can always depend on Lisa and her team to serve them a hot, country-style meal with a friendly smile. Their outstanding service was covered by WNKY TV's SoKY Sunrise, which recognizes local small businesses using their signature hashtag, ``Because Local Matters.'' Additionally, Lisa's Fifth Street Diner has consistently received outstanding reviews from local and industry outlets alike. prgtoken Like many small business owners, Lisa and Cliff are active in their community, supporting various charitable organizations. For several years, the Parkers have teamed up with local volunteers to provide free Thanksgiving meals to folks in need. In 2018, Lisa's Fifth Street Diner partnered with Meijer, a local grocery store, to provide 300 Thanksgiving meals to families in need. This support is not one-way, however, with Bowling Green stepping up to support the Parkers through thick and thin. When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, Bowling Green continued supporting Lisa's Fifth Street Diner, ordering carryout meals and ensuring this small business stayed open throughout the year. In early 2021, Lisa, a three-time cancer survivor, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The community rallied around her, raising funds and organizing a benefit to support her during this time. prgtoken Despite the challenges, Lisa has continued to be an uplifting example. In April 2021, Lisa was honored as a Hughes & Coleman Hometown Hero by local news station WBKO. In addition to her community leadership, this award recognized Lisa's hard work, compassion, and commitment to her staff and customers. prgtoken Lisa's Fifth Street Diner is a remarkable example of the critical role small businesses play in every aspect of building community. Small businesses like Lisa's Fifth Street Diner form the heart of towns across Kentucky, regularly stepping up to support their communities. Congratulations to Lisa, Cliff, and
TRIBUTE TO NELL ``MICKEY'' STEVENSON BRIGHT
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-5-27

I am honored to recognize the incredible life and achievements of veteran Nell ``Mickey'' Stevenson Bright, a pioneer of aviation during the Second World War and a proud Utahn. Nell earned her silver wings from the Army Air Corp as one of a highly select group of women serving in the WASP program, or Women Airforce Service Pilots. These brave women flew over 60 million miles in support of the war effort and were finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009 in recognition of their valor. prgtoken As a young woman, Nell looked to the sky and saw an opportunity to chart her own course. After learning to fly at age 19, Nell undertook an ambitious new challenge--applying her aviation abilities to serve in the military. While the war raged around the world, Nell applied and was accepted to train with the Army Air Corps in Sweetwater, TX. Accustomed to the intense heat, wind, and dust as a daughter of Canyon, TX, Nell proved her talents in conditions that would trouble any uninitiated pilot. Crosswind landings were second nature to the young pilot-in-training, and she quickly earned her silver wings. She was one of 1,074 women to achieve this prestigious distinction from over 25,000 applicants. prgtoken WASPs flew every airplane the Army had in order to execute a variety of wartime support operations. Nell flew the B-25 twin-engine bomber, P-47 pursuit planes, and multiple Navy bombers. WASPs transported planes and cargo from manufacturers to bases, towed targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice, and simulated strafing missions. With friendly anti-aircraft guns firing live rounds at the women in the sky, even their training exercises were extraordinarily dangerous. Thirty- eight WASPs lost their lives over the course of their service. Their sacrifice to our country will never be forgotten. prgtoken Successfully navigating military aircraft through the skies of war is a challenge for the most decorated pilots, but the WASPs faced adversity on the ground, too. Unfortunately, discrimination was present on base. As women, the WASPs were told not to eat in the officer's mess hall, instructions they promptly ignored. The Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the service, also faced similar barriers on base. The WASPs spoke up in their defense, and the commanding officer assented. When the 20 airmen were required to sit segregated, the WASPs refused to accept the injustice and joined them. prgtoken WASPs would continue their fight for recognition after the war, contesting their civil service classification despite holding military officer status. In 1977, the WASPs received veteran status, which granted them their well-earned and hard-fought benefits. prgtoken Nell is a pioneer of military aviation, and her legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of public servants, particularly young women. By virtue of her bravery and valor, she helped break gender barriers in the military and co
MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-5-27

I have been down here a lot talking about why we need to increase the defense budget: We face more threats than ever before. China and Russia are investing more in modernizing their militaries than ever before. We need to strengthen our alliances to discourage our adversaries from acting, and the best way to back up our friends is with a strong military. prgtoken These are all good reasons, but we have 2.2 million other reasons we need to increase our defense budget: all the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform. prgtoken May is Military Appreciation Month, and I could talk all day about all the ways our servicemembers are the best in the world and how much I appreciate them. But we shouldn't just talk about it; we need to show these brave men and women just what they mean to us. prgtoken When I travel, I always eat in the mess halls with our troops--not the officers, the enlisted men and women. When I do that, I get a real sense of what our troops need to do their jobs and defend this country. So I have a pretty good idea of what will show them our appreciation. We should show them by providing adequate, consistent and stable funding on time. prgtoken When budgets are delayed and defense spending is cut, you know who feels it the most? Our troops. It hurts their morale. It hurts their readiness. It hurts their families. It affects everything. prgtoken We should show them with more and better training that focuses on their safety. We should show them by giving them modem weapons and equipment that work and work well. We should show them by taking care of their families, making sure their spouses have good employment opportunities, their kids have access to high-quality childcare and education, and they all have the best healthcare. We should show them by giving them high-quality housing. prgtoken Over the last 2 years, this was my priority, and it will be this year too. Senator Reed also understands this sacred duty we have. prgtoken The last two years, we have given our troops a pay raise of 3 percent or more--some of the largest annual pay raises ever. We increased hazardous duty pay by 10 percent last year; that is what we give our troops in the most dangerous jobs. We have made changes to fix the broken housing system because no servicemember should ever be living in bad housing. We are continuing to keep an eye on this until all the necessary fixes are in place, including the Housing Bill of Rights we are waiting for. We have helped make sure military spouses have good jobs, even when they move. We have focused on building a modern healthcare system that works for our servicemembers and their families, and we have prioritized mental healthcare for those who serve. I am proud we have been able to do all this. prgtoken But here is the thing: Taking care of our troops--that is at least a third of our defense budget right there. That is the right thing to do. Our servicemembers are