mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EQUAL ACCESS TO GREEN CARDS FOR LEGAL EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2022
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-13

every one of us here have significant groups of constituents and people across this country from the communities in question, from the Chinese-American communities, from the Indian- American communities, who have interest in wanting to make sure their communities can be represented and might well support some of this. But of course they do. Of course they do. prgtoken What are we going to do here but pick winners and losers? That is what this Congress does every single day, pick winners and losers. prgtoken Who are the losers on this? It is not Big Tech, it is not all the big corporations that are all happy to collude with the people's House in order to get their labor supply, what they need. prgtoken But who are going to be the losers? A lot of the hospitals. Why did the hospital association oppose this? prgtoken Could it be that there are Filipino nurses and others who are going to be left behind or are going to have to go to the back of the line? The Filipino nurses that were crowding the room in which I was being treated for cancer at M.D. Anderson, which is chock-full of Filipino nurses? prgtoken We are picking winners and losers here based on nationalities and specific countries. prgtoken The gentlewoman from California just tried to mount a defense that we are not going to open the door to Chinese Communists coming to the United States but conveniently leaves out of the code all of the exceptions: exception for involuntary membership, exception for past membership, exception for close family members. I mean, any idiot could drive a truck through those holes. prgtoken This is not a hard thing to understand what is happening. At the eleventh hour, at the end of the 117th Congress, while are colluding with a bunch of weak-kneed s in the Senate to pass a bunch of money that we don't have, to borrow more money that we don't have, to jam through a massive omnibus spending bill at the expense of the American people, this body is about to jam through a garbage immigration bill that will undermine people around the world seeking to come here who are going to be put to the back of the line while colluding with Big Tech and big corporate interests to do it. That is what is happening right now on the floor of the House. prgtoken We never actually have full-throated debates about this stuff, contrary to what the gentlewoman said. She just dismissed it: Oh, we had a couple hearings. prgtoken One witness mentioned something in a hearing and that constitutes a hearing? prgtoken We are not having an actual debate here on the floor. We are having 30 minutes of each side getting up and saying their talking points. Then we will have a vote, and then we will move on. prgtoken We are not going to be able to offer amendments on the floor because nobody in this body, none of the leadership on that side of the aisle or, frankly, often this side of the aisle, gives a damn about my right to be able to offer an amen
Yemen (Executive Calendar)
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-12-13

you will notice that the senior Senator from Vermont didn't talk about overall spending numbers. prgtoken I would ask the President--I would ask anybody listening to these floor speeches today: Do you know how much the Federal Government spent last year? prgtoken I have been asking that question of my colleagues. I have been asking that question of journalists here in Washington, DC, people who report on the dealings on the floor, and the vast majority cannot answer that question. prgtoken So the question you all ought to be asking yourself is, Why can't you answer that question? prgtoken It is not your fault. The reason nobody knows how much the Federal Government spent in total last year--virtually no one knows it--is that we never talk about it. We are the largest financial entity in the world, and we never talk about how much we spend in total. We talk about little bits and pieces. We talk about $6 billion here, $76 billion there--no doubt, necessary funding for top priorities. But we don't spend the time talking about how we are mortgaging our children's future. prgtoken I have got a couple of charts that I would like to display. prgtoken This first chart shows over 20 years of spending history, going back to the year 2002, when the Federal Government spent, in total, a little more than $2 trillion. prgtoken If we would have just increased spending from that point by population growth and the rate of inflation, last year we would have spent a little under $3.8 trillion. prgtoken If you go to the year 2008, when we spent just under $3 trillion, and once again just grew spending by population and inflation, last year we would have spent $4.4 trillion. prgtoken If you go back to 2016, when we were spending $3.8 trillion--under $4 trillion--and grew that by just the rate of growth and the population rate of inflation, last year we would have spent about $4.8 trillion. prgtoken Instead, last year, we spent $6.3 trillion. prgtoken Now, I realize--and you can see on this chart--that, the last 3 years, spending was heavily impacted by COVID relief, close to $6 trillion worth. prgtoken But in 2019, before the COVID pandemic, we spent about $4.4 trillion. prgtoken I have another chart I would like to put up here that puts this all in perspective. prgtoken This breaks down spending between discretionary and mandatory plus interest, and then you have total outlays. prgtoken Again, if you look at 2019, total outlay is $4.4 trillion. So because of COVID, the next year we spent an additional $2.1 trillion--$6.5 trillion. In 2021, $6.8 trillion; last year, $6.3 trillion. prgtoken Now, I heard President say the pandemic is over. I think most of us have gotten back to our normal lives. That is a good thing. Why haven't we gone back to a normal spending level? prgtoken I don't know exactly what the total spending will be for fiscal year 2023. I do know that we are 2\1/2\ months into the fiscal year. We have not brought
HONORING THE WORK OF THE MARION COUNTY MEMORIAL HONOR GUARD
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we recognize the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard. prgtoken We thank them for their hard work in commemorating the lives of fallen veterans in North Central Florida. Funeral services for our fallen servicemembers deserve the utmost respect and care, and we are grateful that the Honor Guard provides such memorable honors ceremonies for veterans and their families. With many in our district having served, it is a comfort knowing the Honor Guard bestows such a great appreciation for our servicemembers. prgtoken We thank each of the 20 members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard: Captain Stephen Peter Foster, U.S. Air Force, Retired; Captain Stephen Petty, U.S. Army, Retired; 1st Lieutenant Peter Peno, U.S. Army, Retired; CWO Bill Dorsey, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired; ATCS(AW) Donald S, Kennedy, U.S. Navy, Retired; MSG James Lynch, U.S. Air Force, Retired; MSG Sharon Cooley, U.S. Air Force, Retired; ASMC Ron Roberts, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired; SGT Tommy Carter, U.S. Army; RM2 Thomas Dewey, U.S. Navy; EON2 John ``Moses'' Morris, U.S. Navy; Cpl Joe Dewey, U.S. Army; Cpl. Lewis Alston, U.S. Marine Corps; Cpl. Lew Wolfe, U.S. Marine Corps; Cpl. Jack Kiner, U.S. Marine Corps; EM3 Marshal Searles, U.S. Navy: LCpl Larry Barnes, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Bruce Hutchinson, U.S. Army; Mr. John Earl, Bagpiper; and Roberta Foster.
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-12-13

last Tuesday, President was asked why he wasn't taking the opportunity to visit the border while traveling to Arizona. His reply? ``Because there [is a] more important [thing] going on.'' ``[A] more important [thing] going on.'' prgtoken , no offense to new investment, but if President thinks that visiting a plant to celebrate new investment is more important than the security and the humanitarian crises raging at our southern border, then his priorities are seriously out of order, but, of course, we already knew that. prgtoken This is hardly the first time the President has made it clear what he thinks of the crisis at our southern border--as just an annoying distraction from what he would rather be doing as President. In fact, he has shown a remarkable ability throughout his Presidency to ignore or minimize crises that he isn't interested in dealing with. ``There [is a] more important [thing] going on.'' prgtoken I venture to suggest that for overwhelmed border communities struggling with an apparently never-ending influx of illegal immigration, there isn't anything--anything--more important going on, and the President's prgtoken trivializing of our border crisis is a serious betrayal of the responsibility he owes to these Americans and to all Americans. prgtoken The situation at our southern border is out of control and has been that way for most of the President's administration. Over this past weekend alone, Customs and Border Protection encountered more than 16,000 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. That is an average of 8,000 per day--higher than the daily average in May, which posted the highest number of attempted illegal crossings ever recorded. October saw a staggering 230,678 attempted illegal crossings along our southern border. prgtoken All told, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered nearly 2.4 million individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally during fiscal year 2022. That is the highest number ever recorded, exceeding the previous record set the year before by roughly 640,000. Of course, these numbers just refer to individuals the Border Patrol actually apprehended. There have also been almost 1 million known ``got-aways'' over the past 2 fiscal years and an untold number of unknown ``got-aways.'' prgtoken President 's comment doesn't just trivialize the scope of this crisis; it also trivializes the human misery that has resulted. At least 853 migrants died crossing the southern border in fiscal year 2022--the highest number ever recorded. It is hard to imagine that that number wouldn't have been smaller if President had gotten serious about addressing this border crisis instead of inviting illegal immigration with his lax border policies. prgtoken I mentioned overwhelmed border communities. I should also mention the incredible strain the past 2 years have placed on the Border Patrol, whi
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2022-12-13

today, I rise to really honor a seventh- generation West Virginian, a lifelong Wheeling native, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and public servant, my very good friend, Congressman David McKinley. prgtoken David and I have known each other for a very long time. He and Mary, his wife, have extended steadfast love and friendship to my entire family but, in particular, to my parents during some good times and bad. Those friendships extended for many, many years and never wavered. prgtoken From when David was a delegate in the West Virginia State House to when he chaired the West Virginia Party to later when he became my colleague and our colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives, we worked together a lot. prgtoken David got a slot on the Energy and Commerce Committee during his very prgtoken first year in Washington. Now, I had already been there 10 years and still hadn't made it to the Energy and Commerce Committee, so I was a little bit jealous of David then. But, wow, did he really do tremendous work on that committee. prgtoken Although time has gone by, David's passion and his love for West Virginia have never wavered, and his pragmatic service has never changed. prgtoken As the only licensed engineer in the House of Representatives--and if you didn't know that, David is quick to tell you--his unique and thoughtful analysis to challenges has helped his constituents immensely, and it certainly made West Virginia a better place. And, by the way, he has helped me understand some very complex issues. prgtoken In fact, I don't think there are as many Members of Congress who have held townhall meetings on the Megabus to DC as David has to meet with our constituents. But David never misses an opportunity to have a conversation. David has played an essential role in advancing legislation critical to infrastructure, life-altering hearing aid devices, and securing the pensions and retirement benefits that our West Virginia coal miners rely on. David is, and always will be, a problem-solver, and he brought thoughtful solutions to the needs of our fellow West Virginians every single day with unrelenting passion. prgtoken I have mentioned passion many times already in this short speech, but ``passion'' is a very fitting word because David does not do anything halfway. He is passionate about our State of West Virginia. He is passionate about West Virginia University's football team and all sports teams. And he is always there ready to cheer on the Mountaineers. prgtoken He is passionate about his hometown of Wheeling, and he is a passionate defender of those Northern Panhandlers, which is what I am as well. He is passionate about the men and women who have worked to power our Nation and the solutions to our future. prgtoken But there is another component to David's public service and his life that we must stop and recognize, and that is of his beloved wife, Mary. prgtoken Mary has tru
BIDENFLATION ENERGY CRISIS ONGOING
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-12-13

last week the average for a gallon of gas was shamefully $1 more than when took office. A gallon of diesel, fuel for trucks and ships, is nearly 50 percent higher. prgtoken Due to irresponsible energy policies of and , inflation reached 40-year highs, and families are hurting. In the last year, one-third of households have reduced or skipped necessities like food and medicine to pay energy bills, according to a LendingTree survey. prgtoken The National Energy Assistance Directors Association has said that household energy costs will be the highest in 15 years. prgtoken On Saturday, I was grateful to be on a codel warmly welcomed in Kiev by Ukrainians thankful for defensive weapons which last week stopped 85 percent of Putin's missiles and Iranian drones. Putin must be stopped from freezing Ukrainians to death as Stalin starved Ukrainians to death. prgtoken President joined Turkish President Recep Erdogan and French President Macron pledging additional defensive weapons to courageous President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from an Afghan safe haven to America.
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-12-13

Senate s have spent, literally, months focused on the need for a strong bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, as well as robust funding for our Armed Forces. Defending our homeland, deterring future threats, and supporting our allies and partners should not be last-minute, low priorities. They are fundamental duties if we want to remain the strongest power in the world, and investing in strength today protects our country, our servicemembers, and the American taxpayer tomorrow. prgtoken Let's take, for example, Ukraine. For nearly a year now, the free people of a sovereign nation have stood firm and battled against brutal and lawless aggression. The Ukrainians' brave stand was made possible, in part, because the United States and a number of other countries have realized that supporting their self-defense directly serves our own interests. prgtoken Europe together constitutes America's largest trading partner. Instability in Europe poses a direct threat to countless American producers who sell to our friends across the Atlantic. Further, huge disruptions to European markets would only add to the inflationary challenges that the ' spending has caused us already here at home. prgtoken What is more, a successful Russian invasion would embolden the entire club of anti-American thug regimes to take bolder and more brazen steps toward further conflict, including direct threats to American lives. prgtoken Every day Russia spends on the back foot in Ukraine degrades its own ability to wage further wars and dramatically changes the cost-benefit calculus for others who might contemplate similar violence. prgtoken Continuing support for Ukraine is the popular mainstream view that stretches across the ideological spectrum. prgtoken On my side of the aisle, for example, the former Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, said recently that supporting Ukraine ``fully and completely'' is in the best interest of the United States. prgtoken The top foreign policy expert at the Heritage Foundation, James Carafano, has spoken out forcefully about the need for continued military assistance, and so has former Secretary of State Pompeo, former Vice President , and virtually every other leading national security official from the previous administration. prgtoken Now, while the conflict has exposed serious weaknesses in Russia's ability to wage a conventional war, it has also exposed shortcomings in the West, particularly with our defense industrial bases. prgtoken Our European friends who had treated themselves to holidays from history after the Cold War, who presumed a new normal of stability and security and shifted spending disproportionately into domestic programs, have received a harsh--harsh--wake-up call. They are rushing to reinvest more in their own defenses. Some politicians here in America fell victim to the same lullaby. prgtoken Now, fortunately, supplying the specific
EXPRESSING THE COMMITMENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BUILDING ON THE TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS OF THE GEORGE McGOVERN-ROBERT DOLE FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , I rise today and join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 1156, expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to building on 20 years of success of the George McGovern-Robert Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. prgtoken During the past two decades, McGovern-Dole has provided more than 5.5 billion school meals, benefiting more than 31 million school-age children and their communities. prgtoken I have seen this program in action, up close and firsthand, and it is a special sight to see. prgtoken Having traveled with then-chairman of the Committee on Agriculture Mike Conaway several years ago to some Third World countries where food is scarce and extreme poverty, like most have never seen, is the norm, it is easy to understand how imperative this program is for so many children who would likely never have a nutritious meal. prgtoken Just as important and because of how the program was crafted, the McGovern-Dole Program provides an opportunity to learn, laying the foundation for an improved life through knowledge and then achievement. For many of these children who come from very poor means, this meal provided at school is, quite frankly, the only good meal of the day. prgtoken It is also important to recognize the support of the American agricultural producers who make this program possible. America's farm families have produced more than 1.3 million metric tons of agricultural commodities for donation, doing their part in reducing hunger and improving primary education in countries around the globe. prgtoken Congress must continue to lead by example in tackling hunger and poverty around the world for years to come. These efforts not only help feed those who cannot help themselves, but it builds good will and provides so many hope and a future. Many laws have been passed by this Chamber, but none have been more impactful to the lives of so many children who desperately need the help around the world. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to support this resolution expressing Congress' commitment to carrying on the success of this program along with the great legacies of Ambassador McGovern and my great friend, Senator Bob Dole. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.
HONORING COACH MIKE LEACH
Michael Guest (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today to recognize the life of Mississippi State University head football coach, Mike Leach, a man who left a substantial mark on the game of football and served as an inspiration for players and fans alike. prgtoken Coach Leach was, in a word, unconventional. The air raid offense, which he brought to college football, changed the game of football forever; but the sports world will not soon forget Coach Leach's unique personality that entertained everyone who had the opportunity to listen to his good-humored interview style and memorable one-liners. prgtoken I am thankful that Coach Leach chose Mississippi State University as his new home in 2020. The last three seasons with him at the helm have produced some of the most memorable football seasons in my lifetime. prgtoken Without a doubt, Coach Leach will be missed, and his impact on the game of football and Mississippi State University will prove to be timeless. We will continue to look back fondly on the memories that Coach Leach, the pirate, graciously left us with.