mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-7-20

I rise this afternoon to speak about the legislation we are going to be voting on later today, including an amendment that I have, and it has to do with the Crime Victims Fund. And I just want to explain and remind my colleagues just how important the Crime Victims Fund is. prgtoken This is a very, very major funding source for people who do some of the most important work in America. I know. I have met these folks. I have toured their facilities all across Pennsylvania. I am referring to the advocates for victims of crimes. And these advocates, my goodness, the heinous and horrendous crimes that they guide people's recovery from--I am at a loss for words to describe what these folks do often for children, often for very vulnerable people who are victims of these heinous crimes. prgtoken Well, thank God there are people who dedicate their lives, professionals who dedicate their lives to helping people with their recovery, to helping people who are victims to cope with what can be horrific reliving of the experience when they have to recount it to law enforcement or go through physical exams and on and on. It is very, very difficult work, and it is very, very important to help completely innocent victims get through what is undoubtedly the worst experience in their lifetime. prgtoken So the Crime Victims Fund provides resources for the people who help the victims of crime and for victims themselves. It is important to point out that the fund is funded entirely by the proceeds from criminal penalties. There is no taxpayer money in this fund. There never has been. It is entirely from criminal penalties. prgtoken And there is a statute that created this account in the Federal Government that requires the money that goes into it, these criminal penalties, to go to the victims and their advocates. But it doesn't say when the money has to go, and so that gave rise to a serious problem that developed. prgtoken For years, it turns out that money that was put into this fund--money from criminal penalties that went into the fund--didn't go to victims, didn't go to the advocates for victims. It was intentionally withheld because we had these crazy budget rules that created an incentive to withhold it. prgtoken The way the budget rule worked is, if there was money in the fund that did not go to the victims of crime and their advocates, as it is supposed to, under the budget rules, you could pretend that that was a savings, and it would therefore allow you to spend more money in other areas. It was effectively a way to circumvent spending caps, and that is how it was used. prgtoken Year in and year out, money was systematically withheld from victims of prgtoken crime and their advocates, and it was a big problem. I will give you a sense of scale. In 2014, for instance, only $745 million was obligated, despite a balance of $9 billion. There was over $8 billion in funding that was supposed to go to crime victims
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2021-7-20

thank you very much. prgtoken My first prop is a front-page story from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal on Thursday, July 1, 2021. It says: Hail State! Bulldogs are national champions. Mississippi State celebrates after winning the College World Series 9-0 against Vanderbilt after the deciding Game 3 on Wednesday in Omaha. See full coverage: Sports, 1B. prgtoken That is my other prop, and that headline says: Best in Show. Decisive win delivers first national title for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. prgtoken Senator Hyde-Smith and I could not be more delighted to rise this afternoon and recognize Mississippi State University and their baseball team on their first national championship in school history in any sport. prgtoken The Bulldogs had been to the College World Series 11 times in the past, and that in itself is a remarkable achievement. They even got to the championship series once in 2013. But this year was the year it all finally came together under Head Coach Chris Lemonis. prgtoken They say good pitching wins baseball games, and in this case, it certainly helped Mississippi State win the College World Series. prgtoken The hype had been building around MSU by the time they arrived in Omaha in mid-June. After beating Texas and then Virginia and then again beating Texas on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth, the Dawgs advanced to the championship round to face Vanderbilt. prgtoken The Bulldogs dropped the season opener, but the next day, on the strength of pitching from Houston Harding and Preston Johnson, who combined to throw a four-hitter, State bounced back with a 13-to-2 victory. They carried that momentum into game 3, where Will Bednar and Landon Sims took the mound and held Vandy to one single hit. The Bulldogs won in a 9-to-0 shutout to bring the national title home for the first time ever to Starkville, MS. prgtoken I want to offer my congratulations to Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis, who was named Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. prgtoken Congratulations are also in order for Will Bednar, who won Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series and outfielder Tanner Allen, the SEC Player of the Year. He was also named the American Baseball Coaches Association National Player of the Year. prgtoken In addition, six Bulldogs were named to this year's College World Series All-Tournament Team: Logan Tanner, Luke Hancock, Lane Forsythe, Tanner Allen, Rowdey Jordan, and Will Bednar. prgtoken I want to commend the Mississippi State Bulldogs team for their tireless work throughout this season and for their outstanding achievement. They have made Mississippi State and the entire Magnolia State of Mississippi proud. prgtoken In the words of the late Jack Cristil, the voice of the Bulldogs for many, many years, you can wrap this one up in the maroon and white. prgtoken I yield to my colleague from Mississippi.
VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-7-20

on an entirely different matter, later today, the Senate is set to do some bipartisan legislating. prgtoken Back in 1984, Congress passed a Victims of Crime Act, which includes an important Federal program called a Crime Victims Fund. When criminals who commit Federal crimes are charged fines and penalties, some of that money flows into this fund. It goes to State-level programs that help crime victims with services, like counseling and emergency shelters. It also helps compensate the victims directly with their expenses, like medical costs, mental health, funeral expenses, and lost wages. Some of the money also goes specifically to fight child abuse. prgtoken This fund needs to rest on firm financial footing, but right now it doesn't have that firm footing. Its balance has been shrinking fast. Congress needs to act to prevent big cuts to victims' services, particularly in rural areas. prgtoken A number of Senators on both sides have come together and produced bipartisan reforms that will strengthen the program and keep assistance flowing to the survivors of Federal crimes. prgtoken The junior Senator from Pennsylvania has a further amendment to make sure the program can't be used as part of budgetary shell games that deliberately cloud Federal accounting. I will support both Senator Toomey's amendment and our colleagues' legislation later today. prgtoken But on this subject, for goodness' sake, elected officials should not just be racing to replenish the Crime Victims Fund before it runs out. Leaders at local, State, and Federal levels should be acting to confront the surge in violent crime that is plaguing our Nation. prgtoken For about a year now, the political left has grown obsessed with the notion that police officers are inherently bad, policing is inherently evil, and what vulnerable neighborhoods really need is less enforcement of the laws. prgtoken As one House Member has informed us: Defunding police means defunding police. prgtoken Another put it this way: Defunding the police isn't radical, it is real. prgtoken Well, academic research has confirmed something troubling. The broad anti-police backlash that sometimes follows high-profile, police- involved incidents subsequently leads to less safety, more crime, and more murders. Sure enough, murders have shot up in cities and communities all across our country. prgtoken My hometown of Louisville has seen 66 percent more homicides than we had seen by this time last year--66 percent more. Last year was a record year for carjackings and yet Louisville is on pace to match it once again. The city's police department is short more than 200 sworn officers due to low recruitment, low morale, and resignations. prgtoken Leaders should be working to contain this damage, but instead of delivering a sober, responsible message, many of the most prominent ic politicians instead grabbed their megaphones and amplified the anti-police se
CONSUMER PROTECTION AND RECOVERY ACT
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2021-7-20

I thank my good friend, Mr. Bilirakis, for yielding. prgtoken , H.R. 1, the ' so-called For the People Act, would create a public money slush fund using corporate fines to fund political campaigns, including their own. prgtoken Based on numbers from the last election cycle, H.R. 1 would add up to an average of $7.2 million into each Congressional candidate's campaign. prgtoken My motion would ensure any fines collected by the Federal Trade Commission under this bill would go to the victims of fraud and not be used as a pathway to fund Congressional campaign coffers--victims, like the thousands of students that were cheated out of $62 million by a debt relief scam recently prosecuted by the FTC; or the patients with liver disease who spent thousands on a supplement that was deceptively marketed as a treatment; or those struggling with opioid abuse who were part of a scheme that overcharged them for medication to help minimize withdrawal symptoms. prgtoken The FTC has worked to ensure these victims are compensated. But if H.R. 1 were to become law, many of these fine structures would be weaponized to boost public funds given to candidates to pay for their campaign mailers, political consultants, and even attack ads. Our focus should be on assisting victims, not using public dollars to fund our own campaigns. Again, based on numbers from the 2020 cycle, that is up to $7.2 million per Congressional candidate. prgtoken H.R. 1 is often touted by my colleagues and the media as voting rights legislation. This is the furthest thing from the truth. How does weaponizing our victim compensation system to line the pockets of politicians help people vote, or really help people at all? prgtoken , if we adopt this motion to recommit, we will instruct the Committee on Energy and Commerce to consider my amendment to H.R. 2668 that would prevent any public funds collected because of this bill from going into the campaign coffers of Members of Congress or Congressional candidates, and instead, keep the fines' process focused on helping the victims of fraud. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2021-7-20

I am so pleased to join my colleague in congratulating Mississippi State University's baseball team on its recent 2021 NCAA College World Series championship, the first NCAA championship in school history. prgtoken Mississippi State capped off its extraordinary season by defeating an incredibly talented Vanderbilt University team 9 to 0 in game 3. My house was full. We were all cheering. Their impressive and remarkable run through this year's College World Series is a testament to the rich tradition of the MSU baseball program, which has now appeared in 12 NCAA College World Series in its history, including most recently 3 consecutive series. The inspiring performance of this baseball team continues to be celebrated all over our State. Maroon is everywhere. prgtoken I truly appreciate the hard work, skill, and dedication that earned these athletes the first NCAA Division I baseball championship for Mississippi State, which are aptly described in the accompanying resolution. prgtoken We take pride in the legacy and inspiring example of these young men and their coaches. Thank you for such a wonderful and historic season. Hail State. (Rings cowbell.) prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2021-7-20

. I thank Senator Durbin. prgtoken , it has been a pleasure working with Senator Durbin on this to, hopefully, get it over the line this afternoon. I think most Americans, if they understood what we were trying to do, would be enthusiastically behind the effort. prgtoken As for the deferred prosecution and nonprosecution agreements, the revenues from those procedures--for lack of a better word--go into the General Treasury, not the Crime Victims Fund, and we are fixing that. We have had a reduction in funds available in South Carolina. We have lost $3.2 million for VOCA crime victims funding for the South Carolina Network of Children's Advocacy Centers' 27 members. Because of this quirk in the law, the Crime Victims Fund is at a historic low, and it is affecting operations in the field. prgtoken Attorney General Alan Wilson has been great to work with. With Senators Feinstein and Grassley, we have been a team on this on the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Senator Durbin went through the ins and outs of what we are doing here. I just want to add this: This was not easy. There are a lot of stakeholders in this, and there are a lot of committees of jurisdiction. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Baldwin, who has been a driving force behind it. That is absolutely true. All of the committees could have easily said no, but this is one time we wanted to get to yes because the lack of funding is beginning to affect the operations of groups that are just indispensable when it comes to providing relief to crime victims. prgtoken I would urge a ``yes'' vote. This has been a bipartisan process from day one. It has been going on about a year. It is now time to correct the quirk in the law to get these funds over to the Crime Victims Fund from the General Treasury. prgtoken Senator Toomey's amendment, I will oppose. I appreciate Senator Toomey very much, but I think that most of the groups and all of the law enforcement groups are opposed to the Toomey amendment, and I will reluctantly do so. prgtoken I hope we can get a really big vote on final passage because we need to prove to the American people that we can do things together. There is nothing that should bring us together more than helping victims of crime and making sure this fund has the resources it deserves to provide the treatment needed. This rise in crime has made this more relevant, not less. prgtoken As for Senator Durbin, as always, I have enjoyed working with him, and we will continue to find common ground where we can. So I urge a ``yes'' vote on its final passage here in a couple of hours. prgtoken .
RECOGNIZING BRENDAN BRIDGES
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the growing inflation crisis that threatens our Hoosier way of life back home in Indiana's Sixth District. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are now trying to ram through a bipartisan $3.5 trillion package that will stick middle-class families with higher taxes and lower wages. prgtoken This hyper-partisan spending spree is a tax hike and a pay cut for every American. prgtoken It is simple: Inflation is taxation.
REPORTING ON MISSING BLACK CHILDREN
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-7-20

. Madam , I rise to honor Technical Sergeant Durward B. Swanson, a World War II veteran and survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks, as the Tennessee Second District's Veteran of the Month. prgtoken Swanson joined the Army Air Corps in 1939 and was sent to Hickam Field, adjacent to the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. He originally signed up to do bomber maintenance, but a sergeant noticed he had skills on a Harley-Davidson and asked if he would head the air police motorcycle unit instead. He accepted that position, Madam . prgtoken On December 7, 1941, when Japanese bombers attacked the airbase, Swanson jumped onto his motorcycle to search for his best friend, Albert Jackson ``Stud'' Lloyd, who was standing in the middle of a ballfield shooting at the planes and cussing up a storm. Swanson drove onto the field and brought his friend back to safety. prgtoken After the attack, Swanson and Lloyd removed the damaged flag from the Hickam Field flagpole and folded it to prevent it from being flown overnight. prgtoken Following his service, Swanson played guitar for country music legend Hank Williams before deciding the music business wasn't for him. That would be Hank Williams, Sr if anyone is wondering. prgtoken He went on to speak to schools across the United States and travel with groups to Pearl Harbor and the World War II Memorial in Washington. prgtoken In June, he celebrated his 100th birthday at the Ben Atchley veterans' home. prgtoken There are true heroes in our country, and they aren't famous athletes or movie stars. They are the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, like Durward Swanson. prgtoken Madam , I thank Durward for his service.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) POST 805 IN O'FALLON, ILLINOIS
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2021-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 in O'Fallon, Illinois. On July 25, 1921, 25 members of the United States of America VFW established the Erwin L. Dann VFW Post 805 in Waterloo, which moved to East St. Louis and consolidated with two other posts in 1927. Sergeant Dann, a Waterloo native, was 22 years old when he was killed during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on September 26, 1918. A generation later, a separate group of East St. Louis veterans returned home from World War II and established SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 8475 on October 15, 1946. Sergeant Charles A. ``Chub'' Fricke was one of 18 employees of the city's Alcoa Aluminum Ore Factory who perished during the war. He was mortally injured by a mortar shell during the Battle of Anizo, passing away four days later at the age of 20. On April 29, 1987, the two posts were consolidated into one, based in O'Fallon. In order to preserve the legacy of both posts, they maintained the number from the longer-tenured post, 805, and carried the name from the other, SGT. Charles A. Fricke. Today, SGT. Charles A Fricke VFW Post 805 has about 600 members and is the largest VFW Post in the 14th District of the Department of Illinois. Several times over the last 100 years, VFW Post 805 has been designated as an All-State and All-American VFW Post, including in 2021. In 2018-2019, Post 805 was selected as one of 61 posts out of 6200 worldwide to be recognized as a National Outstanding Community Service Post. One of the most active and successful VFW Posts in Illinois, members work together to serve and support fellow veterans, their families, and the community. They have organized blood drives and maintain one of the most active and prestigious Honor Guard and Color Guard teams in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Madam , please join me in honoring the SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 on their milestone Centennial Anniversary. On behalf of Southern Illinois, I thank them for their service, and happy anniversary.
MARY WALLACE ``WALLY'' FUNK HAS LED AN AMAZING LIFE
Stephanie I. Bice (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-7-20

I rise today to honor the former Flying Aggie, Oklahoma State University graduate, and my Alpha Chi Omega sorority sister, Mary Wallace ``Wally'' Funk, who today became the oldest woman to have traveled to space. At 82 years old, Funk has led an amazing life, from breaking down gender barriers to careers in aviation, and now space travel. prgtoken In my home State of Oklahoma at Fort Sill, Funk achieved many firsts, including the first female civilian flight instructor, first female air safety investigator, and the first female FAA inspector. prgtoken Persistence is just one of the many wonderful qualities to describe Funk. When NASA began accepting women to go to space in the late 1970s, she applied three times. prgtoken As a pioneer of the aviation and space exploration, Funk's courage, perseverance, and leadership has positively impacted the science industry, especially for women I am truly honored to recognize Wally Funk for her vast achievements.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1520
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-7-20

I just want to again compliment my colleague from New York, who has worked this issue hard. It is an emotional issue. I think we all have good intentions on this issue. We all want to get to the right answer for men and women in the military as it relates to these crimes and still have a force. As she said, it is the best military fighting force in the world. prgtoken I think we are going to have a good debate on this tomorrow, and I am certainly committed to continuing to work with Senator Gillibrand on these issues as they relate to the military and as they relate to the civilian world. They are enormously important, and I take them very seriously. prgtoken Again, I want to applaud her for her passion, her focus, her commitment. We wouldn't be this far in this debate at all if it weren't for her, and I have a lot of respect for that. prgtoken .