mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING GUAM'S AUTISM COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF APRIL 2022 AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
Michael F. Q. San Nicolas (Democrat, GU) \u2014 2022-4-29

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. During this month of April 2022, we take the time to recognize our autism community while reflecting on the ways we can improve our efforts to foster awareness, cultivate acceptance, and facilitate change for individuals and families affected by autism. I would like to further commend Guam's Autism Community Together (ACT) for their continued leadership in advancing these very priorities both over the past month and year-round. prgtoken Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex, lifelong developmental disability that can cause significant social, emotional, communication, and behavioral challenges. It is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, with a prevalence that has risen from 1 in 125 children in 2010 to 1 in 54 in 2020. This disorder affects more than 70 million people worldwide, and in Guam, 273 students within the Guam Department of Education have autism. However, this number does not include hundreds of others on our island who are adults, students outside of the public school system, and those that may be undiagnosed. prgtoken The entire world has shared in over two years of innumerable challenges imposed by COVID-19, but it is of the utmost importance that we do not let this hinder us from extending compassion and care to others. Groups like the autism community face a unique set of obstacles that have been exacerbated by the global pandemic, and it is critical that we remain steadfast in actively working to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families. Over the years, we have made strides in increasing autism awareness, but much more lies ahead for us to accomplish. Part of this work includes a commitment to bridging the gap between mindful awareness and meaningful action. With a collective effort to drive the movement forward by connecting the two, we can simultaneously break down stigmas and build a society which accepts and appreciates all people. Moreover, by supplementing awareness with more opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services, we can ensure that people with autism have the tools to live fully in all areas of life. prgtoken ACT has tirelessly advocated for these objectives since 2004, and this year, they have admirably brought the 2022 theme, ``Every Piece Matters--Accept & Support Autism,'' to life with various events and projects for the entire island community to participate in. Namely, they hosted an Autism Awareness Wave and Parade, their annual Autism Awareness Fair, a Funtastic Park Day, a Family Duck Ride Adventure, Movie Day, Bowling Day, 2K/5K Sunset GLOW Run, and a Mass of Thanksgiving. They are also scheduled to host a Golf Tournament today and have maintained a vital platform for our local legislature and administration to recognize the autism community. prgtoken Madam , I am h
HONORING THE SERVICE OF WORLD WAR II VETERAN, JOHN DANIEL HARMON, SR.
Jeff Duncan (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-4-29

. Madam , I rise today to honor John Daniel Harmon, Sr a 102-year-old World War II veteran from Saluda, South Carolina. prgtoken Mr. Harmon was born in 1919 in Saluda County on a small farm. Growing up during the Great Depression, Mr. Harmon learned the value of community, hard work, and being resourceful throughout his life. Mr. Harmon attended Hickory Grove School and was in the first class to graduate from the Hollywood School in 1937. prgtoken After finishing school, Mr. Harmon joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked several jobs before joining the U.S. Army during WWII. He served a tour of duty with Company B, 363rd Medical Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division as an ambulance driver. His division was among the first to cross the Siegfried Line. Mr. Harmon still remembers many of the battles he endured during his tour, and he is always willing to share his experiences of the Army. prgtoken For his service, he received several recognitions including the American Theater Ribbon, the European and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Two Battle Stars for Rhineland and Central Europe, the Combat Medical Badge, a Bronze Star, and the French Legion of Honor Medal. prgtoken After the war, Mr. Harmon returned to his hometown of Saluda where he eventually retired as a Superintendent with Eagle Construction Company. Mr. Harmon and his wife, Grace Gentry spent seventy years married and saw the growth of their family with five children, nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren with who Mr. Harmon has celebrated many birthdays and holidays. He continues to be an active member of his church, Bethany United Methodist Church. Mr. Harmon still leads a highly active life, and he has not lost his wit, knowledge, or cheerful outlook. Mr. Harmon recently celebrated his 102nd birthday, making him among the oldest surviving World War II veterans in South Carolina. prgtoken The United States is blessed to have the finest troops and veterans in the history of the world, where so many heroes like Mr. Harmon are willing to put on our country's uniform in defense of our freedoms. I am confident that Mr. Harmon's lifetime of service to his country and community will continue to inspire many. prgtoken Madam , it is a privilege to be able to serve the Third District of South Carolina and to honor those who have dedicated their lives to protecting America's freedoms.
IN RECOGNITION OF UW-PARKSIDE FOR HOSTING THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DISPARITY AND FAIRNESS IN GROWTH ON CAMPUS FOR A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
Bryan Steil (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-4-29

. Madam , today, I rise to thank and honor the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. On April 11, UW-Parkside hosted the Select Committee on the Economy for a hearing on education pathways to opportunity. I am grateful to UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford and the students and faculty who made this hearing possible. prgtoken It was truly an honor to host my Congressional colleagues in Southeast Wisconsin to discuss policies that help workers enter, re- enter and remain in the workforce. As we in Wisconsin all know, UW- Parkside, along with our other state and private trade schools, offer unlimited opportunities. UW-Parkside has worked with community stakeholders, including local businesses, to create innovative professional programs. These programs enable folks in our community to develop new skills and enter the careers of the future. prgtoken I am grateful to my colleagues, Chairman Himes and Congresswoman Moore, for joining me to learn and visit UW-Parkside to learn about the opportunities this university has to offer our community. Again, I thank UW-Parkside for their role in our very informative hearing.
HOMETOWN HERO--MIKE E. SIMONDS
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-29

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mike E. Simonds, Senior Chief at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. We congratulate Senior Chief Simonds on his retirement after dedicating forty-two years of service to the citizens of Tarrant County, including twenty-one years with the Arlington Police Department. prgtoken Senior Chief Simonds has served an instrumental role in our community and state through years patrolling our streets, keeping drugs out of our cities and ensuring murderers were put behind bars. His unwavering commitment is unmatched, from assisting in the implementation of the nationwide Amber Alert Program, to helping develop the number one Human Trafficking Unit in North Texas, to building a robust Narcotics Unit, to growing the largest Auto Theft Task Force in the state. prgtoken Senior Chief Simonds served the last five years as the first Senior Chief for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office with honor and integrity, bringing exceptional leadership to the agency. prgtoken I thank Senior Chief Simonds for his leadership and the lasting impact he has made with our law enforcement partners. He serves as a role model and mentor to future leaders maintaining the highest of standards. Congratulations to Senior Chief Simonds on his retirement and lasting memory of a career of service.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-5-2

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio), the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey), and the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Tuberville).
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL SCOTT WILKINSON
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-5-2

today I honor a superb leader, liaison, and soldier. After a year of service with the Army Office of the Chief, legislative liaison, as the chief, Army Senate Liaison Division, COL Scott Wilkinson was selected to serve as the deputy commanding officer for Support with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. On this occasion, I believe it is fitting to recognize Colonel Wilkinson's distinguished service and dedication to fostering the relationship between the U.S. Army and this Chamber. prgtoken Colonel Wilkinson grew up in an Army family. He received his commission in 1994 as the Distinguished Military Graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ROTC program and his undergraduate degree from Harvard University. An aviation officer by designation, Colonel Wilkinson has led our Nation's young men and women at home and abroad, most prominently as the chief of staff for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, located at Fort Bragg, NC, and commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, located at Fort Campbell, KY. Colonel Wilkinson has also served in multiple command and staff positions within the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Known as the Night Stalkers, soldiers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are highly trained and have been actively and continuously engaged in the combat operations since October 2001. prgtoken The Army has consistently relied upon Colonel Wilkinson for his exceptional leadership and unparalleled prgtoken work ethic. He has deployed widely for training across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; operationally in support of Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR and JOINT GUARD in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and to combat in support of multiple contingencies and named operations including ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM SENTINEL, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and YUKON SCEPTER. prgtoken Colonel Wilkinson has excelled in numerous other leadership positions in the Army, most recently as the chief, Army Senate Liaison. In the Russell Senate Office Building and around the globe, Colonel Wilkinson continued the tradition of strengthening Army relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs. prgtoken Over the course of the last year, Colonel Wilkinson provided support to multiple congressional delegations to locations within the United States and to various countries around the world. He became a trusted adviser and friend to many of us. He distinguished himself by going above and beyond the call of duty to facilitate and successfully execute each and every trip, despite any number of weather, aircraft, and diplomatic complications. prgtoken This June, Colonel Wilkinson departs Washington, DC. This Chamber will feel his absence. I join many past and present Members of Congress in my gratitude and appreciation to Colonel Wilkinson for his outstanding leadership and unwavering support of the missions of the U.S. Army. I especially recogni
Student Loan Forgiveness (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-5-2

there has been a lot of noise about canceling student debt. That has been going on for quite a few months, but it seems to have taken on a new life here within the last week to 10 days. That whole talk is worse than closing the barn door after the horse has escaped; it is like buying a new horse but leaving the barn door open. If all student debt was gone tomorrow, we would be right back where we started when this whole new crop of students graduate. prgtoken Last month, the administration unilaterally extended all the pause on paying back student loans for all borrowers until the end of August, regardless of need. It doesn't matter that all Americans are back to work now, if they want to be back to work. It doesn't matter if the borrower is making six figures and can afford to pay off their loans. prgtoken The latest extension will bring the cost of this student loan payment pause up to about $150 billion. Just to put that $150 billion in context, the entire Department of Education budget for this year is about half of that amount at $80 billion. prgtoken Higher education advocates have been calling for the doubling of the Pell grant. That is the program that targets aid to those with the most financial need. It is a noble goal to double the Pell grant; but, of course, Congress needs to find the money somewhere to do just that. prgtoken Now, instead, the administration is spending billions of dollars to allow high earners with graduate degrees to not pay their loans with no say from the Congress of the United States. And you know the President of the United States has been debating for months--maybe starting at the beginning of his term--did he really have the authority to do it. He has expressed the opinion, at least on the $50,000 figure, that he didn't figure he had the authority to do it. I question whether he has that authority at all. prgtoken If you want to help those who owe more in student loans than they can afford to pay, we need to fix the student loan program on the front end. In other words, we need to change the incentives and give colleges a reason to bring down tuition. Right now, a high school student looking at college is often in the dark about what they will end up paying to attend college and to get that degree. It is no wonder that prices rise when students don't know even what those prices are. And students are encouraged, of course, to borrow the maximum even if they don't need that maximum, because that is what the Federal law requires. prgtoken So in response to this problem about a Federal policy encouraging students to go into more debt than they need to get their degree and also about the rising tuition costs because colleges think they can raise their tuition at will because the Federal Government is going to come in and help the student, I have introduced three bipartisan bills to give students the information they need to make the choice that works best f
TRIBUTE TO DAN AND JAN SMOOTS
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-5-2

I rise today during national small business week to honor and recognize Dan and Jan Smoots of Emporia, KS. The Smoots were recently announced as the Small Business Administration's Small Business Persons of the Year for Kansas, and once you hear why, it is clear to see they are more than deserving of the award. prgtoken The Smoots' business, Fanestil Meats, was recognized in part for surviving multiple flood disasters on the Cottonwood River. Their facility's foundation is just south of Emporia in the flood plain, making it susceptible to flooding any given year. Yet, through the hurdles, the Smoots persevered to keep their business running. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a whole new set of challenges for the Smoots, but once again, they trekked along. With 100 employees to take care of, along with unprecedented supply chain disruptions, they had to be resourceful through this new challenge. Thankfully, Fanestil Meats was able to secure a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, which the Smoots say was instrumental in keeping the business afloat throughout the pandemic. prgtoken Moving forward, Fanestil Meats is now constructing a new 40,000- square-foot meat-processing facility that will replace the original plant and help expand the worldwide reach of their beloved product, the Party Time Ham. The new facility is located adjacent to the cold storage warehouse, retail store, and administrative offices that were constructed in 2015 in Emporia, KS. prgtoken This award is truly an honor that everyone at Fanestil should be proud of. The Smoots have worked long and hard to expand and improve this business since they took over in 1997, which is no small task. Yet, thanks in part to the Smoots' ownership, Fanestil continues to rise to the occasion and prosper, even when faced with adversity. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dan and Jan Smoots for their dedication to their business and for representing Kansas greatly.
INFLATION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-5-2

inflation has hit a staggering 8.5 percent on ' watch as a result of ' policies. prgtoken Last week, the Commerce Department announced that personal consumption expenditures climbed at their fastest rate this past year since 1982--40 years ago. Americans are paying 10 percent more on groceries than they were a year ago and about $1.25 more for a gallon of gas. In every aisle of the supermarket, in every big box store, the prices families pay for essentials have skyrocketed. prgtoken As the owner of a coffeehouse in my hometown of Louisville put it, ``We are trying not to pass on too much to the customers, but it comes to a time when you just have to.'' prgtoken The owner of a longstanding butcher shop nearby said: ``We're all holding our breath.'' That goes for small business owners and shoppers alike. prgtoken One new poll found that 94 percent of Americans are upset or concerned about inflation, and they are overwhelmingly not happy--not happy--with what the administration is doing about it. Just 28 percent of the country approved of President 's handling of inflation. prgtoken The worst part is that this pain was certainly not inevitable. American families could have been spared all of this. prgtoken Last spring, inherited an economy that was ready for a historic comeback. Even top liberal economists such as Larry Summers and Jason Furman--both senior advisers to the White House-- warned--warned--that ' $2 trillion spending binge was completely out of proportion to the remaining output gap. The country didn't need anything like it. prgtoken Summers warned of ``inflationary pressures of a kind we have not seen in a generation.'' prgtoken Furman said: It's definitely too big for the moment. prgtoken But ic politicians didn't listen. Here in the Senate, the ic leader said: I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the near-term, are very real. prgtoken That was Leader Schumer last March. prgtoken So they spent all that money anyway, and, sadly, for the American people, the rest is now history. prgtoken spent $2 trillion of the American people's money and purchased the worst inflation in more than 40 years. prgtoken Well, actually, that is not all it purchased.
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-5-2

when it comes to addressing the many challenges facing America today, the administration's preferred strategy is to blame someone else. prgtoken President has tried to blame the previous administration for the supply chain challenges, and he has also tried to blame the administration for his deadly and dangerous withdrawal from Afghanistan in a precipitous fashion, which our friends and allies simply were left to read about it or hear about it in the newspaper and hustle to get their own people out of Afghanistan, as we were as well. prgtoken And now we are seeing the blame game being played out again on the border. Last week, Secretary Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, claimed the administration inherited, in his words, ``a broken and dismantled system,'' a defense we have heard before. prgtoken Now, there is no question that our immigration system is in need of reform. As a matter of fact, we have been working on that the entire time I have been in the U.S. Senate. But as I have said before, we never fail to fail when it comes to fixing our broken immigration system. prgtoken But the fact of the matter is the administration is playing on the same field as previous administrations. Presidential authorities haven't changed. Congress hasn't passed sweeping reforms that make it difficult to enforce our laws at the border. Yet, here we are, experiencing record levels of illegal immigration into the United States. prgtoken Just to provide some historical context for how bad President 's first year in office stacks up against previous administrations, consider this: During the first year of the administration, an average of 44,000 migrants were apprehended each month--that is each month--along the southwestern border. During the first year of the administration, that number was cut in half because the administration had different policies with regard to removing people who were illegally coming across the border, or if they were claiming asylum, making them wait until their claims were ruled on by an immigration judge in Mexico rather than being welcomed into the United States and never to be heard from again. prgtoken So 44,000 a month for the administration; 20,000 a month for the administration. But during the first year of the administration, numbers took off like a rocket. prgtoken An average of 176,000 migrants were apprehended at the southern border each month. One more time: 44,000 for President ; 20,000 for President ; 176,000 for President . That is nearly nine times as many migrants as we were seeing just 4 years ago. prgtoken Again, Congress hasn't passed any major laws that have caused this dramatic increase. President has the same authorities as the previous administrations. He has been in office for more than a year and has had plenty of opportunity to use the authorities Congress has given him