mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UKRAINE DEMOCRACY DEFENSE LEND-LEASE ACT OF 2022
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-28

. Madam , I thank the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the manager, Mr. Wilson, who I have traveled with as well, and I know his heart. prgtoken Madam , I rise and support the legislation, S. 3522, that will provide the President with the authority to lend and lease defense articles to be able to help in the fight. prgtoken Madam , but as I do that, realizing what we are standing for, I raise my button that says, ``We Stand With Ukraine,'' the very nation that is standing in the gap and fighting for the preservation of democracy around the world against the tyranny of autocracy and a one- man band and a one-man war. prgtoken We have all heard of the atrocities that this violent dictator has chosen to wage against the innocent people of Ukraine, a country that wants nothing more than to love, to live, and to live under a democratic regime. But let me tell you the story of what they face every day. prgtoken Mariupol, the people who are there under siege do not know whether or not the soldiers, the injured soldiers, civilians, and children will ever come out alive. Or the mother who held her 3-month-old baby with her family members in her own apartment, seeking refuge and bombed by the Russians. prgtoken Or the little girl, 16 years old, who was told to take off her clothes to be raped by a Russian soldier, and to be raped again and again. prgtoken For the children who sat amongst the bodies of their parents, for the children who themselves were killed in Mariupol and around the nation, for those who lost loved ones who are fleeing through universal humanitarian routes that are known in every war. prgtoken I recall, as a Member of the United States Congress, going to the Bosnian War, Albanian Civil War, Iraq, Afghanistan. I don't think I have ever seen a direct and deliberate attack on civilians as Vladimir Putin's war has done. prgtoken So this is a crucial moment in our history. We have our responsibilities to America. We have the responsibilities of securing the southern border. I just spent hours in the Committee on the Judiciary where my friends on the other side of the aisle decided to take up one issue, the attack about title 42. prgtoken On this floor, just a few hours ago, there was a constant rampant voice of title 42 regarding the southern border when we were discussing this bill under the rule. prgtoken I want the American people to know that talk is cheap, and what we should be doing now is realizing that this is serious business. We must pass this legislation.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF S. 3522, UKRAINE DEMOCRACY DEFENSE LEND- LEASE ACT OF 2022; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-4-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the United States of America just witnessed the most astonishing spectacle. We are here to debate aid to the people of Ukraine defending themselves against a massive invasion by Vladimir Putin and his army. Then, the minority puts up the distinguished gentlewoman from Georgia, who does not mention Ukraine once. prgtoken She does not mention the thousands of Ukrainian civilians who have been slaughtered by Putin's army. She does not mention more than 100 Ukrainian children who have been shot and killed by the Russian army. Instead, she talks about a massive invasion at the border, a massive invasion, which their own speakers have said, today, hundreds of thousands of people have been apprehended in. prgtoken That is very different from a military invasion, the one in Ukraine. Of course, the gentlewoman is not going to talk about that. She had a lot to say the other day when she heckled me continuously. When I came to the floor, it was like ``The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' in here with her chanting about the Russia hoax and Russia this and Russia that. prgtoken Now, she had the opportunity to tell the world what her views about Russia are. I put them out there, exactly what she has said. She said that the aid that the taxpayers of America are sending to the people of Ukraine to defend themselves against Vladimir Putin and the Russian army falls into the hands of Nazis. prgtoken I want to see her proof. prgtoken Where is her evidence? prgtoken She talks about NATO Nazis. Does the minority believe that our allies in NATO, who are trying to defend the people of Ukraine, are Nazis? Has it come to this? prgtoken The gentlewoman talked about massive invasion. We had a massive invasion of our own Chamber. * * *
SBIR & STTR PROGRAMS
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-4-28

I rise today to speak about two of the Federal government's most important innovation programs: the Small Business Innovation Research program, also known as the SBIR, and the Small Business Technology Transfer program, or STTR for short. prgtoken It is very appropriate we are having this discussion as we are about to go into conference in regards to legislation that affects America's competitiveness. The SBIR and the STTR program represent the best of government industry partnerships. prgtoken The programs harness the creativity and ingenuity of America's entrepreneurs and innovators, solve the most pressing public health and national security challenges of our time. prgtoken The programs are also primed to help our Nation rebuild our domestic production capacity, to reduce our reliance on foreign supply chains on critical products, and reduce costs for the American people. prgtoken I would like to remind my colleagues that fighting inflation and rebuilding our domestic manufacturing capacity are inextricably linked. prgtoken When factories close, when products sit in shipping containers in ports, when production capacity decreases due to sick employees, and when products take longer to get from the warehouse to the store, prices go up. prgtoken I have no doubt that every Senator has heard from businesses in all sectors of the economy about solving this critical issue. prgtoken According to a recent survey the National Federation of Independent Business conducted, more than half of all small business owners reported a significant impact due to supply chain disruptions. prgtoken Thirty percent reported that the disruptions were causing a ``moderate impact,'' and 14 percent reported a ``mild impact.'' Only 5 percent of those surveyed reported that they were unaffected by the disruptions. Of the small business owners affected by disruptions, 80 percent reported that the disruptions have caused them to miss out on business opportunities. prgtoken I am very pleased to hear that President announced during his State of the Union address that rebuilding America's domestic production capacity is central to his administration's plan to fight inflation and keep our Nation secure. prgtoken SBIR and STTR are two of the best tools in the Federal government's toolkit to achieve our goal. Congress created the SBIR in 1982 to increase the participation of small businesses and Federally funded research and development opportunities in areas ranging from clean energy to advanced manufacturing. prgtoken Under the program, Federal agencies that budget at least $100 million annually for outside research must allocate a portion--3.2 percent since fiscal year 2017--to support R&D and small businesses. prgtoken There are 11 Federal agencies and departments currently in the program, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Education, and Health and Human Services. The program awards funds in
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-4-28

. Well, from Montana for articulating this issue. prgtoken Too much market control, not enough transparency, and our growers basically get stuck with having invested costs never to recuperate them because somebody used that market power to basically lower those costs. And, you know, we have seen this a lot. We have seen them import a ton of Canadian beef right at this very moment, right when they are about to deliver U.S. product into the meat packing plants: Oh, we just dropped the price because we got so much supply because they just let a lot of supply in from Canada. prgtoken So this--the gentleman from Montana is talking something that is existing in other aspects of our economy too. So I am very glad that we are trying to better police these markets and do a good job. And I know you and the Senator from Mississippi have focused on this issue, and we very much appreciate you doing that. prgtoken Well, , we are about to go to conference on the United States Innovation and Competition Act and the House America COMPETES Act. Boy, this is a long time coming. I want to thank Leader Schumer and my colleague Senator Wicker, also Senators Young and Cornyn and other Members who worked hard to help us reach an agreement so that we can have this process today. prgtoken Obviously, I hope my colleagues will vote yes to compound this motion and go to conference and allow for these various motions to instruct. prgtoken It has been 324 days since the Senate passed this bill on June 8, 2021, and it has been 488 days since we authorized the CHIPS Program. I am here to implore my colleagues to get this done today and to say that we need to move faster. prgtoken We just heard yesterday from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who said even in Ukraine, weapon replacement is being hindered by a lack of chips. We know that we are facing other problems. I am talking about Beijing with further lockdowns. What does that mean? It means fewer people producing products. It means more serious supply chain issues. So if you are serious about America's competition, Americans being allowed to build more and invest more in the United States, onshoring of our manufacturing supply chains, our competitiveness, then you want to vote yes and go to conference. prgtoken We have had so many letters in the last month--the American Society of Engineering Education, tech companies that believe in the competition and the opportunity that we have seen--writing us and saying to please get this legislation done. We have seen used car prices shoot up 40 percent because semiconductor shortages have basically created havoc in the automotive market. prgtoken And it is clear that our European and Asian counterparts aren't waiting. They are moving ahead trying to deal with this supply chain shortage because as the Secretary also told us yesterday, the shortage is well defined. We know that it is going to last well into the future;
BLUESTAR RECYCLERS
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-4-28

. Madam , I rise today to recognize BlueStar Recyclers for winning the Golden Rotary's 2022 Ethics in Business Award. prgtoken Each year, the Golden Rotary Club awards one for-profit company and one non-profit organization for their outstanding ethical behavior and leadership. The community is asked to nominate organizations whom they think display the highest standards of ethical business practices, integrity, and civic and social responsibility. Winners are then chosen by students in an Ethics class at the Colorado School of Mines. prgtoken A non-profit organization, BlueStar works to recycle electronics and other materials and in turn create local jobs for people with autism and other disabilities. Their mission has enabled them to be successful while making a huge impact on our community. There are countless examples of BlueStar's positive impact in our community and high ethical and moral standards. The company boasts some of the lowest turnover, absenteeism, and lost-time accident rates in the industry. Testimonies from employees show a positive workplace environment and personal growth opportunities for all employees. prgtoken BlueStar has proven to be a highly successful organization which helps people with disabilities, provides an excellent return on investment for its customers while be environmentally-conscious and giving back to their community. Congratulations to BlueStar Recyclers on receiving this award from the Golden Rotary Club and I thank them for their ethical leadership and ongoing contributions to our community.
CELEBRATING PASTOR WILLIAMS' 11TH ANNIVERSARY AT ZION HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-28

. Madam , I rise today to praise a great man of faith, Pastor Douglas L. Williams, III. prgtoken For the last 11 years he has been the pastor at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. prgtoken In that time, he has done tremendous work to help his community. He was a strong supporter of vaccinations to protect members and residents from COVID-19. He worked to provide social services to people who were suffering due to COVID-19-related job losses and other hardships. prgtoken His goal as the pastor of Zion Hill has been to love people and grow an active community church, and he has done that. prgtoken I had the honor of attending his installation 11 years ago along with my father, the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr as I was a city councilman at the time. And recently to celebrate the 11 incredible years he has given as the head of Zion Hill. I can say, he is truly succeeding in his goal. prgtoken So congratulations again to Pastor Douglas L. Williams, III, on 11 exceptional years as the pastor of my neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, from across the street, who for 60 years have gone to that church, and also for the rest of the congregation at Zion Hill Baptist Church. prgtoken He is truly a man of faith who is a blessing to our community.
UKRAINE DEMOCRACY DEFENSE LEND-LEASE ACT OF 2022
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-28

. Madam , first, let me thank Representative Spartz. She traveled with me when we visited Poland, and I know she was recently over there. She has relatives, and I think we saw her with--I think it was her grandparent, who is in her nineties, on Easter Sunday, celebrating and standing with the Ukrainian people. I thank the gentlewoman for her support even though she isn't a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, particularly for standing up for justice. I thank her personally for that. prgtoken I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), my friend and leader.
ULYSSES S. GRANT
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-4-28

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and 18th President of the United States, who was born in Point Pleasant, OH, 200 years ago this week. prgtoken In honor of the bicentennial of Grant's birthday, which took place yesterday on April 27, 2022, I joined Senator Blunt of Missouri to introduce a concurrent resolution in the Senate. This resolution honors Grant for his efforts and leadership in defending the union of the United States of America, recognizes his military victories, and affirms him as one of the most influential military commanders in our Nation's history. I spoke about President Grant's accomplishments briefly on the floor yesterday, but want to take this opportunity to elaborate on my remarks. prgtoken Ulysses S. Grant was a proud Ohioan, born in Point Pleasant, OH, to Jesse Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant on April 27, 1822. I know a number of celebrations were held in Ohio to honor the 200th anniversary. Grant's family soon moved to Georgetown, OH, in Brown County. Grant spent the remainder of his youth in the house his parents built in Georgetown. Both his birthplace and boyhood home are preserved as historic sites that draw visitors to Ohio communities today. In 1839, Grant left Ohio to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1843. prgtoken Grant was instrumental to the Union victory in the Civil War, leading Union forces to critical early victories in the prgtoken West at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga. After President Lincoln appointed him Lieutenant-General of the Army in 1864, he commanded all Union armies until the conclusion of the war. At Appomattox, Grant prescribed terms of surrender intended to set the stage for postwar reconciliation. prgtoken Grant's legacy extends beyond his role in the Civil War. Grant was elected the 18th President of the United States in 1868 and was decisively elected to a second term in 1872, the only two-term President between Abraham Lincoln and Woodrow Wilson. As President, he oversaw the orderly readmittance of States following the Civil War, completing the restoration of the Union by 1871. prgtoken An ardent supporter of Reconstruction, President Grant championed the ratification of the 15th Amendment to prohibit discrimination in voting rights on the basis of ``race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'' In 1870, he oversaw the creation of the Department of Justice, essential to the prosecution of the Ku Klux Klan and enforcement of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the ``Reconstruction Amendments.'' prgtoken Grant was an advocate for civil rights, endorsing and then signing the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to outlaw racial segregation in public accommodations, schools, transportation, and juries, nearly a century before such protections would be effectively enforced. prgtoken And although President Theodore Roosevelt is most often
HONORING MR. GORDON HARGROVE
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-4-29

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Gordon Hargrove, a community advocate who has spent his career fighting to deliver basic services to the most vulnerable people in Worcester, Massachusetts. prgtoken In 1957, while attending Worcester State College, Mr. Hargrove began working as part-time staff at the multi-service neighborhood center, the Friendly House. Over the course of 65 years, Mr. Hargrove worked from his position as a volunteer at the Friendly House to the role of Executive Director, in which he has served for 52 years. During this time, Mr. Hargrove has used his passion and knowledge to fortify the Friendly House as an important service provider to Worcester's immigrant and low-income communities. prgtoken Mr. Hargrove played an integral role in securing funding for the construction of the main Friendly House building, which allowed for collaborative projects with family shelters across Central Massachusetts. In the 70s, he helped coordinate providing services to children with behavioral issues and advocated for health insurance providers to fund mental health services. Mr. Hargrove also spearheaded a program to provide meals to elders--making the Friendly House the first shelter in Worcester to do so. Today, most community service sites offer elder meal programs, undoubtedly due to the work of the Friendly House and Mr. Hargrove's leadership. prgtoken Madam , the impact of Mr. Hargrove's advocacy cannot be understated. Countless people have had food on their tables, roofs over their heads, and a job to go to everyday because of the services provided by the Friendly House and the community-based solutions Mr. Hargrove has championed. There has never been a problem too big to take on or a family he didn't try to help. For over half a century, Mr. Hargrove has led the Friendly House with nothing but compassion and goodness in his heart. He has devoted his professional life to being of service to others and the community. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress and all the people whose lives were changed for the better because of Mr. Hargrove's work, it is my great privilege to congratulate Mr. Gordon Hargrove on his retirement, and to thank him for his tireless efforts to create a more equitable world.
ASSESSING XI'S INTERFERENCE AND SUBVERSION ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-29

I rise in strong support of H.R. 7314, the Assessing Xi's Interference and Subversion Act or AXIS Act. prgtoken The AXIS Act requires the Department of State to report to Congress on how China's government is directly or indirectly supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. prgtoken The report will include evidence of the Chinese government helping Russian entities circumvent U.S. sanctions, inhibiting the U.S. government's investigations, or assisting Russia with any technology, propaganda efforts, and financial arrangements. prgtoken The bill notes that Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping met with Russian leader Putin on February 4, 2022, less than three weeks prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the two released a joint statement outlining a strategic partnership with ``no limits'' and no ``forbidden'' areas for cooperation. prgtoken Additionally, it notes that China abstained from UN votes condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 25th and March 2nd; and that China has not publicly condemned Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion. prgtoken The Chinese government has demonstrated its support of Russia and Putin through compliancy. prgtoken China opposed U.S. military support for Ukraine, and abstained when the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution blaming Russia for the humanitarian consequences of illegal aggression against Ukraine. prgtoken Russian propaganda is spreading through China, subjecting the Chinese people to the delusion that the invasion of Ukraine is only a ``special military operation''. prgtoken Russia has claimed that their invasion is partly backed by Ukrainians attempting to free Ukraine from its Soviet Legacy. prgtoken The Chinese Communist Party has traditionally supported and encouraged Russia, as they are both rooted in communist ideology. prgtoken When Xi and President spoke on March 18th, President communicated that there would be ``implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians.'' prgtoken As a result of China's disinformation efforts related to Russia's war against Ukraine, China must be held accountable for suppressing Russia's war crimes, as well. prgtoken Russian war crimes include the indiscriminate killing of countless civilians. In light of this, if China is found to be materially supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, there should be swift and rigorous consequences for China. prgtoken Specifically, this bill would include a discussion of China's support for Russia in terms of: prgtoken Helping Russia or Russian entities evade U.S. sanctions or multilateral sanctions and export controls; prgtoken Inhibiting U.S. export control end-use checks, including interviews and investigations in China; prgtoken Providing Russia with any technology that supports Russian intelligence or military capabilities, including certain classifi