mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JERRY LEWIS
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today to honor the life and service of our former colleague, Congressman Jerry Lewis. Throughout his career, Mr. Lewis was respected for his hard work, his in-depth policy knowledge, his commitment to his constituents and to his home state, as well as to his colleagues and the institution of the House of Representatives. prgtoken Mr. Lewis was best known for his commitment to the active work of the Appropriations Committee, where he served as Chairman--and he was equally well known for his friendship on both sides of the aisle in his role as the Dean of the California Delegation. prgtoken He played a leading role as Chairman of the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee--supporting research, development and scientific endeavors including the space and aerospace sectors that for so long were major hubs of economic activity and cutting-edge technology in our home state. prgtoken Mr. Lewis was a believer in investment in education and in research institutions like the University of California system and in resources like the San Bernardino National Forest, which is located in one of the beautiful and distinctive snow-capped mountain ranges that backdrop the unique and well-known Los Angeles basin landscape. prgtoken A longtime resident of the San Bernardino area, including San Bernardino and Redlands, cities at the center of his congressional district in the diverse and vast Inland Empire, he was the product of public schools, graduating from San Bernardino High School and later UCLA. After college he served briefly on the staff of former Congressman Jerry Pettis, as a member of his local school board, and later operated a small business. prgtoken From 1969 to 1978 like many in this body, he served in Sacramento as a member of the state legislature where he helped establish a committee dedicated to addressing air quality, a major concern in Inland Southern California in the 1970's. prgtoken In 1978 he was elected to this body, serving as Chairman of the House Conference in the late 1980's, before ascending to leadership positions on the Appropriations Committee. prgtoken I am honored to have known him as a mentor, as a fellow legislator and as a friend. I am grateful for his contributions and leadership in our delegation, for his unending belief in cooperation between parties and branches of government, and his faith in the leadership role of America in the world. prgtoken Mr. Lewis gave much of his life to serving our state, working to improve our nation, and to serving with distinction his hometown and home district--his legacy is an inspiration to all of us who have followed in his footsteps and proudly serve the state he loved, in the institution he revered.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-7-22

I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. It is an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Representative Gohmert, and I look forward to many more conversations on so many different topics, and I thank him for allowing me to be part of this Special Order today. prgtoken , I rise today to stand up for and in support of our Border Patrol agents, our National Guard, the officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety, our local law enforcement officers protecting our hometowns, and all those that have made securing our border their mission. prgtoken In fact, my own Florida National Guard and several of our Florida officers and deputies have become part of the mission to secure our southwest border. For our Border Patrol agents, they have been trained to do a job that this administration will not let them do. They have dedicated their lives and careers to upholding the rule of law, something that this administration will not do. prgtoken They have continually put themselves in harm's way, keeping their heads down and continuing to follow orders. And their reward to date? Well, just look at the facts. Look at the numbers. prgtoken Approximately 40 percent of our Border Patrol agents are babysitting and processing, not patrolling, not securing, and certainly not defending the homeland because that is not their mission today. prgtoken Eleven agents are currently in the hospital fighting COVID from contact with untested migrants, three of whom are in the ICU today; two are intubated. prgtoken Just last month, the month of June, Border Patrol agents apprehended 188,829 migrants. Let me repeat that: 188,829 migrants. That is the highest number in over 21 years. It is staggering. It is shocking. And it should frighten every single American today. prgtoken And that doesn't even include the got-aways. The got-aways are the people actively seeking to avoid detection by Border Patrol or National Guard or Texas DPS or any number of resources and assets that we have on the border. prgtoken The got-aways right now are about 200,000. And these are just the folks that have been seen by an agent or caught on camera running away. These are the people who are criminals, registered sex offenders, gang members, cartel members. These are people who are now in our country and we don't know where, doing God knows what. prgtoken And, of course, let's not forget the drugs, the narcotics that have been seized at the border but also the ones that have made it across. You know, just in the month of June the fentanyl seized--keep in mind, only 20 percent is what they estimate is caught coming across the border--the amount of fentanyl in pounds, over a thousand, is enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the State of Florida 10 times over. And that was just in the month of June. And that was just fentanyl. That doesn't include the cocaine, the heroin, the meth, the weed, and any other narcotics that come. prgtoken When you talk abo
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

the balance of my time. prgtoken , this is a tragedy in so many ways; the loss of so many of the best and brightest of our youth because of political and military leaders who were willing to put them in harm's way but without a commitment to victory and without the willingness to back them with the full might of the United States. prgtoken For Afghanistan, it means the best and brightest of that country, the very people who were willing to risk their futures for freedom are the ones who are now being forced to flee, depriving Afghanistan of the most patriotic citizens who could otherwise have formed the core of a free government if we had finished the job we started. prgtoken It is to be greatly hoped that like the Iranian diaspora, they will focus their energy from abroad to support the resistance movement that is sure to emerge under the yoke of Taliban oppression. It is to be greatly hoped that our Nation will finally return to a tradition that served us well for nearly 200 years; that there is no substitute for victory and no excuse for waging war without the absolute commitment to swiftly win it. prgtoken , .
CYBER INCIDENT NOTIFICATION ACT
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-7-22

first, let me thank my good friend and the leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Chairman Warner, for paving the way for this legislation. He cares deeply about our country's response to these terrible cyber attacks and intrusions, and I am so grateful for his leadership and for his working with me to prgtoken produce the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021. prgtoken As the chairman has mentioned, this is a bipartisan bill that is broadly supported. It would strengthen our response to cyber attacks and, thus, help to prevent future cyber intrusions. It would require government Agencies, Federal contractors, and critical infrastructure entities, which are overwhelmingly owned and operated by the private sector and other important sectors, to notify the U.S. Government if they become the victims of a significant cyber attack or intrusion. prgtoken This effort is a direct outgrowth of our work on the Senate Intelligence Committee and reflects our longstanding concern regarding the lack of timely notification of cyber attacks that can lead to extremely serious consequences for our economy, for our national security, and for our individual privacy. prgtoken In September of 2019, for example, Russian hackers gained access to the SolarWinds' software. This resulted in a supply chain compromise that was downloaded by up to 18,000 of its customers. These hackers then conducted follow-on operations that compromised 9 Federal Agencies and 100 private-sector networks. prgtoken We did not become aware of this hack until more than a year later and only then because a cybersecurity firm called FireEye voluntarily notified the Federal Government and the public. prgtoken Just to reiterate that important point, FireEye was under no legal obligation whatsoever to tell us that the software had been compromised, even though it affected nine Federal Agencies. We are grateful that FireEye told us about this hack, but the fact that companies are not mandated to do so leaves our economy and national security vulnerable to future attacks and lessens our ability to respond effectively when such intrusions do occur. prgtoken Where would we be right now if FireEye had not voluntarily disclosed the intrusion? Would the Russians' operation still be ongoing? How much sooner would we have become aware of these Russian cyber operations if key sectors were required to report cyber incidents to the U.S. Government? prgtoken As the Senator from Virginia very kindly and generously noted, I have long been concerned about this problem and focused on it. prgtoken In 2012, when I was the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I joined with my chairman and dear friend former Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut in introducing a bill called the Cybersecurity Act of 2012. That bill would have, among other things, addressed this gap in cyber incident reporting. Unfortunately, our bill did not become law. How much mo
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JERRY LEWIS
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise to pay tribute to our esteemed former colleague, Jerry Lewis, the longest-serving California in the history of the House, who on a personal level, was my good friend and mentor. prgtoken On July 15, Jerry passed from this life into the next. For the last 86 years, Jerry lived a full life. He made an extraordinary impact throughout the Inland Empire community he loved so dearly, leaving it in a far better position than when his decades of public service began. prgtoken When I was first elected to this body in November of 1992, Jerry was one of prgtoken the first people I turned to for guidance. As I embarked on this new path, it just so happened that this exciting time in my life coincided with a rare low point for Jerry, who just lost his leadership position as Conference chair following the election. prgtoken Well, Jerry's loss turned out to be my gain as I was able to hire a number of Conference staff members. From that moment forward, our offices shared a very tight bond, both personally and professionally, that would endure for decades. prgtoken Personally, I couldn't have asked for a better person to learn from. Jerry possessed a deep understanding of the needs of his district, and he methodically found opportunities to align Federal resources that could help address them. prgtoken In order to achieve his goals, Jerry recognized the importance of working across the aisle and being bipartisan, the realization that was, no doubt, aided by Jerry's first 16 years in the House as a member of the minority party. Jerry worked with whoever he needed in order to deliver results for the people who sent him here. prgtoken He demonstrated that if you don't care how it gets done, or who gets credit for it, you can actually get a lot accomplished around here. Jerry's community benefited in countless ways because of his leadership. Thanks to his efforts, veterans and other residents have received better care at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System and the Loma Linda University Medical Center. prgtoken Students have greater opportunities, thanks to his support for STEM education at the Apple Valley Science and Technology Center, which was later renamed the Lewis Center for Educational Research. The entire region is safer, protected from flooding, thanks to the construction of Seven Oaks Dam. I could go on and on. prgtoken Jerry may no longer be with us, but the tremendous size and scope of his life will endure and continue to make impacts for many years and many generations. prgtoken In 2005, Jerry became the first Californian to serve as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He was incredibly proud to fill this honored position. prgtoken Jerry understood his time in that role was finite. He was determined to use that precious time to make a difference for his country, State, and district. prgtoken In May 2007, I was fortunate enough t
HONORING THE LIFE OF WALTER STRAKA
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today in honor of the life of Private Walter Straka. prgtoken At 17, Walter lied about his age to serve in the Army National Guard. In 1941, his unit, the 194th Tank Battalion, arrived in the Philippines just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. prgtoken After the fall of Bataan in 1942, Walter and his comrades were forced on a brutal 65-mile trek now known as the Bataan Death March. prgtoken During the march, Walter was forced to walk in intense heat and subjected to appalling abuse at the hands of the Japanese army. prgtoken By Walter's own account, he should have been dead a thousand times, but Walter not only survived this 6-day march, he also survived 3 years as a prisoner of war before returning home to Brainerd, Minnesota. prgtoken Once home, Walter ran a successful business, raised a family, and was an active member in his community. prgtoken Walter Straka died this year at the age of 101. With his passing, the State of Minnesota said good-bye to its last survivor of the Bataan Death March. prgtoken Private Walter Straka is an American hero whose unforgettable story has inspired me and so many others. prgtoken Our Nation is stronger because of his exceptional service and courage.
Tribute to Chad Resari (Executive Calendar)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-7-22

it is Thursday. It is that time of week that I like to come down to the Senate floor and recognize someone special, someone we call our Alaskan of the Week. And it is--well, it is part of my, like I said, favorite time during the week. prgtoken I think some of our press like it because it signifies that most people are leaving. When we had pages, they loved it. But the reason is because you get to learn a little bit about Alaska, some great stories, some great individuals who are usually doing something really great for their community, their State, sometimes the country, sometimes the world. A lot of times, it is people who maybe don't want any recognition but deserve it. So I am going to talk about our Alaskan of the week, who is 85-year-old Chad Resari. And it is a real amazing story. prgtoken First, I want to talk a little about what is going on in Alaska right now. In Anchorage, where our Alaskan of the week lives, the sun rose at 5:08 a.m. and will set tonight at 11:01 p.m. Now, that is a lot of sunlight, a lot of energy, even though we lost 4 minutes and 41 seconds since yesterday. So we are losing a lot of daylight, but we still have a lot. prgtoken So my message to everybody is: You still have time to come up to Alaska, bask in the midnight sun--or at least midnight twilight, depending on where you are. And if you have to wait until next year, we would love to have you. prgtoken I would tell you, if you come to Alaska next year, one of the many things you should try to see, or even participate in if you are brave enough, is the annual Mount Marathon Race on July 4 in Seward, AK. It is a race that Chad Resari has run 25 times. At 85 years old this year, he was officially the oldest person to have ever finished this race. prgtoken So competing and finishing any race at the age of 85 is impressive. But let me tell you why finishing this race at that age is truly extraordinary, an inspiration to everybody who is watching--and trust me, he has inspired tens of thousands of Alaskans for his feat. prgtoken First, the history: The race dates back to 1915 when legend has it two of what we call ``sourdoughs'' were in a bar in Seward. By the way, a lot of legends begin in bars in Alaska. prgtoken So they were wagering how long it would take to get up and down the 3,022-foot peak in Seward, AK--by the way, a very steep mountain. One insisted that it could be done in less than an hour. The other said, in effect, ``No way.'' The loser was to buy the house a round of drinks. Somewhere in there, some entrepreneur decided to make it a real race, to make it on the Fourth of July. And so every year, the Mount Marathon Race has happened for over 100 years now. prgtoken The fastest runner in that first race--the race where there was a challenge in the bar, in 1915--did it in over an hour; the legend is one hour and 2 minutes. So he lost the bet. He had to buy rounds. But the race has lived on. prgtoken Now, t
COMMEMORATING THE PAST SUCCESS OF THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TEAMS AND SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TEAMS IN THE 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today to introduce a resolution with Senators Bennet, Hagerty, Klobuchar, and Coons to honor the 2020 Olympic Games that officially start tomorrow. prgtoken More than 600 of our finest athletes have traveled to Tokyo to represent the United States. These athletes trained their entire lives to compete this month on the world's biggest stage. They have shed blood, sweat, and tears and have sacrificed countless hours, many while working separate full-time jobs and raising families of their own. prgtoken Of course, no one thought the 2020 Olympics would be starting tomorrow. COVID-19 did not just delay the Games for a year, it also meant hundreds of qualifying events around the world had to be canceled and relocated. prgtoken We recognize the dedication of the athletes and coaches of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, as well as prgtoken the family, friends, and loved ones who support them. prgtoken We are grateful to our friends in Japan, who have committed tremendous resources to provide safe and secure Games. I have great gratitude for these people of Japan, the people of that great country, for the enormous sacrifice they have made to host the world, to demonstrate to the world that qualities of the human spirit are great indeed, and to make their home a place where the entire world comes to gather and celebrate the human spirit and its accomplishments. prgtoken And while these Games may look a little different this year, we stand with Team USA and will be cheering them on as they bring many medals back home. prgtoken .
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-7-22

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. prgtoken I stand here alongside my colleagues in solidarity that we should be standing with the Afghans who stood together with our men and women in uniform. There is zero question that we should do that, and every veteran that I represent in the Texas 21 District shares that, as we have heard here on this floor. prgtoken I am supportive of that underlying principle, however, a self- executing manager's amendment was included that I had concerns with. It expands the program to include nonprofits and grantees, private organizations, that contributed to the United States mission in Afghanistan. prgtoken We don't know who would be included. We don't know how many people would now be eligible. prgtoken It expands the program to individuals who worked for the International Security Assistance Force without the need to perform sensitive and trusted activities for the United States forces. These people do not have to be Afghans, and we don't know how many people this would be. It weakens the standard for qualification. prgtoken Under current law, an alien has to verify that they have experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of the alien's employment by the United States Government. prgtoken The new standard is, has asserted a credible basis for concern about the possibility of an ongoing or serious threat. A credible basis for concern about the possibility of is concerningly low, lower than even the credible fear standard of significant possibility we currently employ. prgtoken The bill allows for another 8,000 principal aliens to be granted this special immigrant status. We agree we want to try to help those principal aliens. There are 10,000 currently unused. That would be about the 18,000 number. Let's also remember that we have 3\1/2\ people come in per person on average. We have had about 125 to 130,000 folks come in. This would be about another 75 to 80,000. That does not include dealing with the NGOs. prgtoken So we are now massively expanding this program, which means we are going to be back down here at the well talking about new numbers and more expansions based on nebulous standards with respect to NGOs and private entities that aren't individuals who worked for the United States Government directly alongside our men and women in uniform. prgtoken That is more than concerning, and it brings me back to my final point: We have got to restore regular order in this body. We are not amending this, we are not debating it in committee, and we did not have a hearing on the specific manager's amendment that was added. It was just added, put on the floor, and put under the title of something that everyone supports, which means, , that you are put in the position of figuring out whether you are going to support the underlying matter while all these things are added to it which have serious concerns we should have debated in committe
RUSSIA
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-7-22

now on a completely different matter, last year, on a broad and a bipartisan basis, Congress passed sanctions that were designed to block Russia from completing its Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The administration recently waived those sanctions to allow the pipeline to move forward. Now it appears the administration has cut a deal with Germany that will allow the pipeline to become operational. prgtoken The initial press reporting about this deal does not inspire confidence that this administration is taking the Russian threat as seriously as it should, nor does it indicate that we are standing with our Ukrainian partners, who are struggling to defend themselves against Moscow's aggression. The administration appears to have ignored the broader implications of the Nord Stream 2 project and Russia's approach to Europe writ large prgtoken Green energy initiatives or promises of diplomatic meetings will not address the real risks Moscow poses--not even close. Just a couple of years ago, Washington were absolutely melting down over their belief that the prior administration was being too soft on Russia and leaving Ukraine in the lurch. Where is the outrage today? prgtoken For several years there, my colleagues across the aisle sounded like big-time Russia hawks, so I hope they will now join s in pressing the administration to explain this curious decision, to explain how President intends to impose meaningful costs on Moscow for all its misdeeds at the same time they have America greasing the skids--greasing the skids--for this Putin pipeline.