mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MORNING BUSINESS
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-1-13

had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted ``No'' on S. Res. 490, ``a resolution recognizing the essential work of United States Capitol personnel on the anniversary of the insurrectionist attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.'' prgtoken I am grateful for the service of all Capitol personnel who come to work every day to help operate the workings of Congress and keep Members safe. However, this resolution has been written to score cheap partisan political points. It attacks s for their response to COVID-19, and it contains falsehoods, such as the incorrect assertion that the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was perpetuated by ``violent insurrectionists.'' Not a single person from that day has been charged with the crime of insurrection. If we are going to honor Capitol Hill workers--and we should--we must do so in a manner that focuses on their service to their nation, not on false narratives that are meant to divide us. prgtoken I support Capitol personnel but oppose this resolution as written.
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-1-13

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. prgtoken , today our Nation faces the most dangerous assault on the vote since Jim Crow. Last year alone, more than 440 draconian voter restrictions have been introduced across 49 States, with at least 19 States enacting 34 measures into law. This legislation seeks not only to suppress access to the ballot but empowers States to nullify election results entirely. That is the legislation that I referenced across the country. prgtoken This sinister campaign has particularly targeted communities of color. As the Committee on House Administration proved in last summer's report, partisan forces are accelerating a sinister campaign to silence the voices of color in particular. prgtoken There are four things, just four things, I want people to know about the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, four things to remember, and one observation, the four reasons why every Member should vote for this bill today. prgtoken First, it ends shameful voter suppression and election subversion, which lets local officials simply choose winners and losers based on their own political interests. Nullification of elections, vote ``no'' on that. prgtoken Secondly, it ends partisan gerrymandering so that the redistricting process will meet the standards of the Constitution, of the Voting Rights Act, and keep communities of interests together. prgtoken One, stopping voter suppression and election nullification; two, ending partisan gerrymandering. prgtoken Third, it stops big, dark, special interest money, which is suffocating the airwaves with misrepresentations, which does suppress the voices of the American people. Get rid of big, dark money. People can still give their big, dark, special interest money, but they have to disclose it so that the public knows. prgtoken Fourth, this legislation empowers the grassroots by rewarding their participation in our democracy and amplifying a voice and, yes, the power of matching their small-dollar contributions. prgtoken Hear this: There are no taxpayer dollars involved in that, no matter what you might hear them misrepresent. No taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Four things: end voter suppression and election nullification; end political gerrymandering; end big, dark, special interest money crushing the political system; and reward the grassroots. That is in the Freedom to Vote Act. prgtoken In the John R. Lewis Act, which is part of what we are voting on today, I just want to be clear: The Voting Rights Act has been strongly bipartisan. Indeed, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, George Herbert Walker , and , who signed the most recent Voting Rights Act, which received like 390 votes in the House, unanimous in the Senate--it was signed by . It was bipartisan. prgtoken Four times the Congress has reauthorized the Voting Rights Act in a bipartisan way. This is the first time we have the assault that we have on
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-1-13

I am proud to help bring this bill to the floor and to push for its consideration in the Senate. prgtoken Pennsylvania--and Philadelphia, which I represent--is the birthplace of our democratic Republic, but it is now ground zero in the battle for the soul of our Nation. prgtoken A decade ago, when the last redistricting occurred, the Pennsylvania legislature launched an attack on election rights, which has only escalated over the years. Voters have had to battle in court to get fair districts and to overturn discriminatory voter ID laws that threaten to disenfranchise more than half a million eligible Pennsylvania voters. And in the last 2 years we have seen these threats multiply as the former President and his far-right allies have tried over and over again to make it harder to vote and to throw out the legal votes of Pennsylvania's eligible voters. prgtoken This bill is not a takeover of State elections, it is a response to attempts by State legislatures, like Pennsylvania's, to make it harder for Americans to express their most essential freedom--voting--by exercising our duty under Article I Section 4 of the Constitution to protect that right. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues, no matter what party, to support this legislation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-1-13

I rise at a challenging, divisive time for our Nation. For years, America's politics have spiraled steadily downward into increasingly bitter, tribal partisanship, and our democracy has been strained. prgtoken While that may sound abstract, it is a problem that hurts Americans in real, tangible ways. These deepening divisions hurt our ability to work together, to create new job opportunities, to protect the health and safety of our communities and country, and to ensure everyday families get ahead. Americans across the country know this. They see it every day, not only on social media and cable news but at their jobs and around their dinner tables. We are divided. prgtoken It is more likely today that we look at other Americans who have different views and see the other or even see them as enemies instead of as fellow country men and women who share our core values. It is more common today to demonize someone who thinks differently than us, rather than to seek to understand their views. prgtoken Our politics reflect and exacerbate these divisions, making it more and more difficult to find lasting, broadly supported solutions to safeguard our freedoms, keep our country safe, and expand opportunity for all our citizens. prgtoken So two questions face us as a nation: Where does this descending spiral of division lead, and how can we stop it? prgtoken Our country's divisions have now fueled efforts in several States that will make it more difficult for Americans to vote and undermine faith that all Americans should have in our elections and our democracy. These State laws have no place in a nation whose government is formed by free, fair, and open elections. prgtoken We must also acknowledge a painful fact: prgtoken The State laws we seek to address are symptoms of a larger, more deeply rooted problem facing our democracy--the divisions themselves, which have hardened in recent years and have combined with rampant disinformation to push too many Americans away from our basic constitutional values. prgtoken In the spring of 2017, after took office, I wrote an opinion piece in the Arizona Republic highlighting my concerns about the strains on our constitutional boundaries and the shrinking respect for our founding constitutional principles. In the years that followed, my colleagues and I in this body were called upon to participate in two separate impeachment trials for crimes against our Constitution. prgtoken And on January 6, last year, I was standing in this very spot, speaking in this very Chamber, defending Arizona's fair and valid election against disinformation, when violent insurrectionists halted the Presidential certification. prgtoken Threats to American democracy are real. prgtoken I share the concerns of civil right advocates and others I have heard from in recent months about these State laws. I strongly support those efforts to contest these laws in court and to invest significant resou
PROTECTING EUROPE'S ENERGY SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION ACT--Continued
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-1-13

this is a pivotal week for the security of Ukraine. Talks are ongoing to test whether the Kremlin wants to engage in diplomacy or is intent on war, to see if the United States and our allies can pull Putin back from the brink. And if the headlines are any indication this morning, it is clear that this is an open question. prgtoken This is a critical time. There still may be a window to deter the Kremlin from deciding to invade. But we must be clear and united about what awaits Russia if it chooses the unwise path. We must send an unequivocal message: that, should Putin invade, the consequences would be devastating; that there would be steep costs to the economy and to the people of Russia if he further tramples on Ukraine's territory and independence. prgtoken That message should be sent through every channel, at every level, including by this body. And we have a chance to do just that. prgtoken The Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act, which has in just 2 short days 39 cosponsors already, is a comprehensive response to the threat facing Ukraine. It would impose massive, crippling sanctions on multiple sectors of Russia's economy. It would impose the harshest sanctions on Putin and senior Kremlin officials themselves. It would effectively cut Russia off from the international financial system. That is the sanction that I helped devise that ultimately brought Iran, years ago, to the negotiating table. prgtoken This act also makes clear that the United States will make every effort to expedite security assistance and defense articles to help support Ukraine. And it expands our efforts to counter Kremlin aggression across the region. It says the United States will not stand for this bullying. And it makes clear that Putin has a choice to make. prgtoken But we are not voting on that comprehensive response. We are not voting on how severe the consequences should be if Putin goes down the path of invasion. Instead, we are voting on whether to sanction Nord Stream 2--as if that alone would deter Putin from reinvading, as if that alone would stop him. prgtoken Instead, sanctioning Nord Stream now at this pivotal moment would have the opposite effect of deterring Putin. It might even be the excuse Putin is looking for. Right now, the one thing we know Putin wants is for Nord Stream 2 to be operational. prgtoken Now, let's be clear. If we don't sanction Nord Stream now, that does not mean the pipeline goes online. It does not mean that Putin get his way. What it does mean is that there is leverage. prgtoken Right now, we have a new German Government that has blocked the pipeline from moving forward. Right now, that German Government is a productive partner with us on this critical issue. They are where we need them to be--working to coerce Putin not to reinvade Ukraine; making clear that if Putin advances into Ukraine, there will be no Nord Stream; working with us to strengthen and support strong deterrence; c
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-1-13

. Madam , I include in the Record the following letters of support for the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746. National Urban League, New York, NY, January 13, 2022. Dear Representative: As President and CEO of the National Urban League, and on behalf of its 91 affiliates in 37 states and the District of Columbia, I am writing to express our strong support for the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, as it is considered in the House and Senate in the coming days. As a historic civil rights organization dedicated to ensuring that all people are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote, we stand with our fellow civil rights organizations in supporting this bill. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act will ensure that voters can safely and freely cast their ballots, protect against election sabotage, stop partisan gerrymandering, and limit the influence of dark money in politics. In 2021 alone, 19 states have enacted 34 new laws that suppress the right to vote for all Americans and more are under consideration today. In addition, states are pursuing manipulative redistricting effoits which discriminate against and dilute the representation of Black and Brown voters. This legislation would fight back against these attacks and ensure the ability for every American to participate in safe, accessible, and transparent elections. Our organization fully endorses this bill, which responds to the current needs of this nation in the fight for voting rights, and urges you to support this legislation. For more information, please contact Yvette Badu-Nimako, Senior Director for Judiciary, Civil Rights and Social Justice. Sincerely, Marc H. Moria, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Urban League.
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-1-13

. Madam , ensuring all Americans can freely participate in the electoral process is a bedrock of our democratic society. Today in this country we are witnessing an attack on that sacred right to vote, restricting voting access. We must act to restore Federal oversight. What we do will determine the course of our democracy for generations to come. prgtoken Our late colleague, John Lewis, shed blood for the right of all Americans to vote. Let us honor the legacy of those who fought to protect voting rights and pass this critical legislation. prgtoken President made our choice today clear: ``Will we choose democracy over autocracy, light over shadows, justice over injustice?'' prgtoken Like the President, I know where I stand. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
REMEMBERING CALEB SHIELDS
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2022-1-13

I would like to share a few words today to honor an outstanding leader and friend of mine who recently passed away. prgtoken Caleb Shields was the retired Chairman and former Councilman of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. prgtoken We talk a lot about service in this body, but everyone in Congress could learn from how Caleb lived his life. prgtoken He dedicated himself to service--service to this country, where he served honorably in the United States Navy; service to his Tribe as an elected leader for 24 years and as one of their most tireless champions; and as the author of a 500-page book on his Tribe's history, he served the next generation of the Fort Peck Tribes and the next generation of Montanans who now have access to knowledge that won't ever be forgotten. prgtoken Caleb was widely regarded as one of the most influential Tribal leaders in the country during his tenure, a reputation that was well- earned. Among his many achievements are his successful 20-year fight to get a water pipeline and treatment center on the Fort Peck reservation. After they were built, they were both named in his honor, and for generations to come, the name Caleb Shields will continue to serve the Fort Peck Tribe. prgtoken Less widely known were the small ways that Caleb showed his love and devotion for the Fort Peck Tribe. I am told that Caleb could recite the record of the Poplar High School basketball team all the way back to the 1970s. Caleb was devoted to that team, and believed strongly that basketball could provide hope and momentum that could propel the dreams of future leaders. prgtoken Caleb's legacy, his friendship, and his leadership will be felt for generations. I want to express my deepest sympathy to Caleb's wife of 58 years, Yvonne, to the whole Shields family, and to the Fort Peck Tribes for the loss of this great leader. Caleb made our state and our Nation stronger, and he will never be forgotten.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-1-13

earlier today, the Senate leader came to the floor and noted the fact that when the American people were asked about the issues of the moment, they didn't mention their right to vote. I think most Americans would be surprised that we are even debating that issue at this moment in American history. prgtoken We know the right to vote has been contentious, divisive, deadly when it comes to the policies of this Nation and particularly the policies of individual States. It was one of the critical reasons, in addition to the hideous institution of slavery, that we went to war among ourselves and 600,000-plus Americans gave their lives. It really was at the heart of what happened after that when the North prevailed, the Union was saved, and the President of the United States, a man from Illinois, not only created an Emancipation Proclamation but set the stage for constitutional amendments which guaranteed that right to vote. prgtoken So I imagine some people would be excused if they didn't list it as the highest priority. They probably assume it is really not an issue for debate, but it is. You see, in this last Presidential election, we had two or three historic things occur. prgtoken First, the turnout of American voters was unprecedented. That is a good thing. In a democracy, it is to be applauded, and each year, we should try to improve on that outcome. prgtoken The second thing, though, we would have to put in the liability column, and that is a petulant former President who refused to even acknowledge that he lost the election and instead claims that he was abused and that it was stolen from him. That fanciful lie is now making its way across America back and forth as former President peddles it in every quarter. Unfortunately, some people are listening. Some 30 percent of American people agree with the former President that the election was stolen from him. prgtoken He couldn't win that argument in any courtroom. He couldn't even convince his handpicked Attorney General to back him up. So he resorted to sending a mob of his followers on January 6, 2021, to storm this Capitol. For the first time since 1812, we were invaded by people who did not subscribe to the basic tenets of our Constitution. It was a grim day. I will never forget it. Those who were here, I am sure, say the same. But it set the stage for a campaign that has followed for more than a year. prgtoken This morning, we read in the paper that some eight attorneys general are going to close ranks in a -inspired alliance to change election laws across America to his liking. Shame on them, and shame on anyone who thinks that is what America is all about. prgtoken We should encourage more and more of those legally eligible to vote. We should make it an easy exercise and not a hardship and burden. But the States--almost 20 of them now--are in the process of changing the laws in their States on voting and, wi
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-1-13

I rise today in strong support of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. prgtoken Our democracy is built on the sacred principle that every American has an equal and fair right to vote. But States like my home State of Texas are imposing laws that are already limiting that very sacred right. prgtoken Between bills like SB1 and extreme gerrymandering, the voices of many Texans are being diluted and silenced, especially Latinos. We cannot let this stand. prgtoken It is our responsibility, our duty to protect voting rights for every American, no matter what ZIP Code they live in or what language they speak. The Freedom to Vote Act will do just that for Latinos and for all Americans. prgtoken By banning partisan gerrymandering, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and creating new protections for voters, we will ensure every American makes their voice heard. prgtoken Mi voto, mi voz. (English translation of Spanish is as follows: My vote, my voice.)
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-1-13

our colleagues object to guaranteeing the peoples' right to vote through the vehicle of a NASA bill of all things. A quarter of a century ago s changed Texas State law to permit astronauts to vote absentee from space. They want to make it easier to vote from space, and they want to make it harder to vote on Earth. prgtoken In the last election, tens of thousands of citizens in Texas waited in line for 6 hours to vote and an astronaut on the International Space Station could have orbited planet Earth four times in the 6 hours that Texas forced some of its citizens to wait in line to vote. prgtoken Across the country it is voter suppression, GOP gerrymandering of our districts, rightwing Supreme Court packing and judicial activism to destroy the voting rights in cases like Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich and deployment of the filibuster to block voting rights legislation--the whole matrix of GOP democracy suppression today. prgtoken It is time to protect the right to vote here on Earth. If it takes a NASA bill to do it, then I invite my GOP colleagues to boldly go where none of them have ever gone before--to planet Earth on a mission to defend the voting rights of the people.