mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-5-12

Iowa is home to 88,000 family farmers. These farmers make up the economic foundation of our rural communities, and farmers are the leaders who make up the councils and the school boards across our State. So when we see economists estimate a 20- percent drop in livestock and grain producers' revenue due to COVID-19, it isn't just our farmers who are concerned; it is our whole State. prgtoken In the CARES Act, we provided USDA with $24.5 billion to address this loss in revenue; however, we know that even with this funding, the supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 will force some agriculture producers to miss payments, and ultimately some will be forced to sell their family farms. prgtoken The consequences of COVID-19 shutdowns have injected uncertainty that we haven't seen since the farmer crisis of the 1980s. prgtoken During my time in the Senate, I have always tried to be a vocal advocate for the importance of a safe, affordable, and secure supply of food. But now our country's food supply chain is facing disruptions never envisioned before. As processing plants have shut down due to employees being sick, the supply chain disruptions are being felt by farmers and, of course, by consumers. prgtoken I ought to tie the two together because it is so important. The old saying that we are only nine meals away from a riot--we haven't had that in the United States yet, and I hope we don't have it, but when you see short supplies of toilet paper and people fighting over toilet paper in the supermarket, it wouldn't surprise you that they would fight more for food. prgtoken With as much as 40 percent of the slaughter capacity at our packing plants down for the past month, beef prices have doubled for the consumer. That has caused meat shortages in fast food chains, and grocery stores across the country have been forced to limit meat purchases per consumer. prgtoken If that is not bad enough, at the same time, livestock producers with livestock that is ready to sell have been turned away by meat processors. Even if producers are lucky enough to sell, the prices they are getting are well below the cost of production, and they are losing money on every animal they sell. prgtoken I have received a large volume of calls and emails from Iowans and member organizations expressing concern that the current discrepancy between high shelf prices and increased losses for cattle producers just doesn't make any sense. I share the concerns of these farmers, and I take their claims of market manipulation very seriously. prgtoken President is on top of this issue, and this past week, he echoed a request that I made of the Attorney General last month to examine the current structure of the beef meatpacking industry and investigate potential market and price manipulation. Holding the four large meatpacking companies accountable is the least we can ask of Federal officials, and I thank President for talking to Bar
TRIBUTE TO LOLETA MARIE ``LETA'' RECORD TANNER
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-5-12

I would like to say a few words to send best wishes to a good friend of mine on her next adventure, LoLeta Marie ``Leta'' Record Tanner. I recently learned that Leta will be moving to Texas from our great State of Wyoming to live with her son. While I am overjoyed that she can be with her family, I am deeply saddened that Wyoming will no longer be the physical home to such a dedicated, strong, and loving person. prgtoken Leta was born in Gillette, WY, in 1930. She graduated from Campbell County High School and then traveled to Denver, where she graduated from a small community college. A dedicated public servant and Wyomingite through and through, Leta served for more than 15 years in the Campbell County Assessor's office and district court and 12 years as a member of the Gillette City Council. She also worked for former Wyoming Senator Al Simpson for 10 years, both in his northeast State office and in Washington, DC. prgtoken While her political career alone is impressive, Leta was always involved and giving her time to Wyoming. Leta is a dedicated member of the ranching community and the community at large as a member of Campbell County Cattle Women, Campbell County Wool Growers Auxiliary, and a member of Women in Business, just to name a few. She loved nothing more than working on the ranch with her family, and has worked tirelessly to support the next generation in agriculture. prgtoken In 2002, Leta was the Campbell County Woman of distinction. She has done many wonderful things for the Gillette community and the State of Wyoming. She has been a generous supporter of family-oriented performance at the Cam-Plex Heritage Center in Gillette since 1996. In 2013, her donation to Gillette College in support of their Agriculture Education Center and Rodeo complex made it a reality. This state of the art facility features an indoor rodeo practice area, classroom, lab, and 20-stall loafing sheds. It is quite possible that, without Leta's support, this world-class facility and many other projects would not have come to fruition. The dorms at Gillette College will forever bear the name Tanner Village. Her willingness to help the community grow and thrive will never be forgotten. prgtoken I am reminded of a few words my mother taught me: ``Do what's right. Do what's best. Treat others as you'd wish to be treated.'' Leta certainly embodied these principles and will continue to do so. Although she will be leaving our great State, Leta's legacy will live on and continue to be an example of just what is possible for Wyomingites of all ages. prgtoken Leta, thank you for your years of tireless service to Wyoming. Diana joins me in sending our best wishes to you and your family. Stay in touch. Wyoming will always be your home. Thank you and God bless.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-5-12

today I honor Fred Kelly Grant. In March, our Nation unfortunately lost a reasoned, dedicated, and outstanding advocate for locally driven decision-making. However, Fred leaves a lasting remembrance in the extraordinarily positive impact he had on so many people. prgtoken Fred, who was born in South Carolina and grew up in Idaho, earned a degree in history at the College of Idaho before earning his law degree at the University of Chicago Law School. His early career included serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore from 1963-1965. He then served as Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City, where he was appointed chief of the organized crime division. He then practiced criminal law in private practice before returning to Idaho and serving as counsel for two former Idaho Governors, Cecil Andrus and John Evans. He also served as law clerk for Judge Edward J. Lodge from 1975-1980, and he provided legal, political assistance to local governments, businesses, and individuals throughout his career. Further, Fred served on multiple commissions, authored books, and led organizations. This includes him helping to start the Stand and Fight Club focused on preventing regulatory agencies from doing economic harm to rural America. prgtoken Countless people all around the country were influenced and helped by Fred. Fred was a long-time Idaho lawyer, but his influence and know-how reached far beyond our Idaho borders. In a 2017 Washington Times Article, Fred was aptly characterized as an ``unsung hero of rural America.'' He gave needed weight to requiring the Federal Government to coordinate with localities when implementing new rules. He emphasized local policy and local plans as drivers of the economy. Fred championed this effort in Idaho and nationally, extending important information and experience to other local governments across the nation. In so doing, he advanced the ideal of those closest to the land rightly driving natural resources and environmental solutions. prgtoken This emphasis on locally driven, collaborative land management decisions was the central focus of the Owyhee Initiative. Fred masterfully provided local leadership at a critical time in the history--and future--of Owyhee County. The Owyhee Initiative, ushered into law through the hard work and strength of purpose of Fred and other Owyhee Initiative partners, maintains a thoughtful balance of multiple uses required for the betterment of an amazing part of our great state and country. The collaborative efforts furthered in the Owyhee Initiative remain an example of the great achievements that are possible when we all come to the table and work through the differences to find the common ground. prgtoken My staff and I knew him best during the many years of sustained effort on the Owyhee Initiative, yet we are aware that his life reached many people well beyond that important work. Many have shared messages describing
RECOGNIZING JO ELLIS AND MAKE.DO.
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-5-12

. Madam , today I recognize Jo Ellis and her team at the nonprofit organization Make.Do an organization that has been restoring hope through creativity, connection, and compassion in Searcy, Arkansas. prgtoken The team at Make.Do. has shifted their focus during the current public health crisis due to COVID-19 and have dedicated their abilities to making masks for the community and healthcare workers, so far producing more than 780 masks. prgtoken The team has also adapted their community outreach by starting the Quarantine Craft Camp. Here, they provide craft supplies to Searcy residents and encourage them to participate in the educational Facebook Live events that they host. prgtoken This initiative has shined a light on how creativity encourages positive attitudes and can unite a community even amidst a public health crisis. prgtoken I congratulate Jo Ellis and the team at Make.Do. for their creative way to bring the community of Searcy together.
FISA (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-5-12

the Constitution of the United States contains a number of constitutional protections for the citizens of our great Republic. Among the many provisions that it contains, in addition to the structural safeguards of federalism and the separation of powers, separating out power along two axes--one vertical, which we call federalism, and the other horizontal, which we call the separation of powers--the Constitution also includes a number of substantive restrictions. These are things that the government may not do, and there are penalties attached to the government's doing those things. prgtoken Among those many protections can be found the provisions of the Bill of Rights, including the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Fourth Amendment reminds us that it is our right--a fundamental, inalienable right--as citizens in a free republic, to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and that any warrants issued under government authority have to be backed by probable cause, and any probable cause-based warrant has to include with particularity a description of the places and persons to be searched and to be seized. prgtoken This is a tradition that reaches not just back a couple of centuries, but it reaches back much farther than that and has its origins not only in our own country but in our mother country, in the United Kingdom. By the time John Wilkes was serving in Parliament in the 1760s, there had been a long-established tradition and understanding. In fact, there had been a series of laws enacted to make sure that warrants were not abused and to make sure the rights of the English subjects would not be infringed. Among other things, there was an understanding and a set of laws in place that would make clear that those conducting searches and seizures would be subject to a warrant requirement. In other words, they would lose any immunity that they would otherwise have as government officials if they didn't obtain a warrant and if that warrant were not valid. prgtoken In 1763, the home of John Wilkes was searched aggressively. John Wilkes, while serving as a Member of Parliament, had become critical of the administration of King George, and he had participated in the publication of a weekly circular known as the North Briton. Although the North Briton was not one likely to engage in excessive, fawning praise of the reigning Monarch, it wasn't until the publication of North Briton No. 45 in 1763 that the administration of King George decided to go after John Wilkes. His home was searched, and it was searched pursuant to a general warrant. prgtoken A general warrant was something that basically said, in that instance: Find out who had anything to do with the authorship and publication of North Briton No. 45. You see, North Briton No. 45 accused, among other things, King George and those who served in his government of laying aggressive taxes on the people--taxes that they knew
REMEMBERING ROBERT TORRAS SR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-5-12

. Madam , I rise today to remember and honor the life of Mr. Robert Torras Sr. of St. Simons. prgtoken Mr. Torras was a remarkable businessman, philanthropist, and visionary who was always thinking of ways to solve problems. prgtoken Through his work running the family-owned operations including the Brunswick Landing Marina, Kut-Kwick Corporation, and Torco Incorporated; developing the West Point Plantation on Saint Simons Island; and running multiple other commercial real estate holdings in both the Atlanta metro area and Glynn County, he left an indelible mark on the state of Georgia. prgtoken When Mr. Torras purchased the land now occupied by Brunswick Landing Marina, it resulted in the development of the largest saltwater marina in Georgia. prgtoken After studying the waterways, marine life, and shipping routes, his work helped spur legislative changes regarding marinas to pave the way for other commercial ventures which benefitted many. prgtoken I am grateful for Mr. Torras' many years of hard work and for his wisdom, determination, and energy. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers are with all who worked with him, knew him, and loved him.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-5-12

my home State of Texas is a great place to do business. We keep taxes, government spending, and regulations at a rational minimum in order to give people and businesses the freedom to pursue their dreams and prosper. Texas is consistently ranked on the list of the ``Best States for Business,'' the ``Best States to Start a Business,'' and the ``Best States for Female Entrepreneurs.'' prgtoken According to the Small Business Administration, there are more than 2.6 million small businesses throughout the State, accounting for 99.8 percent of all Texas businesses. Those businesses employ nearly half of our State's workforce and account for the massive portion of our Texas economy. prgtoken To say that the small businesses are an economic force in Texas would only paint half the picture. In big cities and in small towns alike, these businesses play a critical role in our communities--the locally owned restaurants and bars we visit, the gyms that are part of our regular routine, the dry cleaners, the pharmacies and the hardware stores we stop at when we run errands. But our small businesses aren't just employers or generators of sales tax. They are owned by our friends and our neighbors and are part of the very fabric of our community. prgtoken Right now, they are under severe stress and in real jeopardy. The coronavirus has kept Texans at home and put our small businesses into serious financial trouble. When stay-at-home orders were put in place, many were forced to close their doors outright. Over the last several weeks, like many of my colleagues, I have held innumerable video conferences with chambers of commerce, small business owners, and others who have told me about the difficult decisions they have been forced to make in the wake of this virus. prgtoken Without any demand, without an opportunity to sell their services or the food or other material they provide, they had to lay off employees or reduce their pay, and some were more concerned that they couldn't survive more than a few weeks because they still had to pay the rent and their overhead. prgtoken Those struggles are familiar for businesses across the country, and that is why we, together--literally, unanimously, in the Senate-- created the Paycheck Protection Program. This new loan program was designed to help America's small businesses and their employees manage these uncharted waters by providing 8 weeks of cash flow assistance to cover payroll and other business-related expenses. prgtoken As we now know, it was so popular and so needed that the initial $350 billion we funded ran out in less than 2 weeks. From that batch of funding bill, Texas received more loans than any other State. Nearly 135,000 small businesses benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program--a sum total of prgtoken 28.5 billion. That is just from the first $350 billion we appropriated. It became obvious that there was more demand than supply, and so we had to
TRIBUTE TO KAREN NYBERG
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2020-5-12

I want to honor a remarkable woman who has retired after three decades at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In her 30 years at NASA, Karen Nyberg spent 20 of them as an astronaut, including 180 days in space on two spaceflights. prgtoken Along with other Americans, I enjoyed following her space shuttle mission in 2008 and the International Space Station's 6-month expedition in prgtoken 2013. During her space shuttle mission, she became the 50th woman in space. While on the International Space Station, she shared unique personal messages, including videos on how to wash hair in space, make a stuffed animal, and work on a quilt. I have since become acquainted with her as an alumna of the University of North Dakota, where she earned a mechanical engineering degree in 1994. A native of Vining, MN, she is one of 11 NASA astronauts who have ties to the Dakotas and Minnesota. prgtoken Karen has given back to her alma mater, where she has served on the foundation board of the UND School of Aerospace Sciences. There students from across the globe in the Department of Space Studies learn about cutting-edge technologies and scientific breakthroughs in space exploration. Their coursework includes studying future space trips, including a mission to Mars. prgtoken Last July, our Nation observed the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. I recall as an 8-year-old watching history unfold on our black-and-white television, joining millions around the world in the exhilaration of this technological feat. prgtoken In the half-century since the first moon landing, space exploration has had phenomnal impact on the world, which I believe is underappreciated by the average citizen. Karen's contributions to space exploration during 30 of those years have added to our greater understanding of our world and universe. prgtoken There is a bright future for America to lead the world with commercial, technological, and military space missions. The work of astronauts like Karen and the future impact of current students at institutions like the University of North Dakota inspire us to move forward with these vital endeavors. prgtoken On behalf of all North Dakotans, I send my sincere congratulations to Karen Nyberg on her distinguished career at NASA and for all she has brought to this new frontier. prgtoken Best wishes on your well-earned retirement, Karen, and I hope our paths will cross often. We will join in wishing godspeed at the end of this month to your husband, Doug Hurley, and his space shuttle crew on their historic flight from Florida to the International Space Station.
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-5-12

we are back for our second week in the Senate after spending some time working remotely to help flatten the coronavirus curve. We are getting used to the temporary new normal-- social distancing during hearings, floor votes, and meetings; masks; a lot of conference calls and Skype calls instead of in-person meetings; lots of hand washing and hand sanitizer; and as many staff working remotely as possible. We are committed to doing the essential work of the American people, and they are depending on us to do it in the safest way possible. prgtoken Responding to the coronavirus continues to be at the top of the agenda. Last week, we held a number of coronavirus-related hearings, including a hearing on coronavirus testing and a hearing on the impact the pandemic has had on the airline industry. prgtoken When people think about what the Senate does, they tend to think about voting on bills and debating on the floor, but the truth is, committee work is some of the most important work we do here in Washington. Committees are where we review nominees' qualifications, hear from experts in various fields, develop legislation, and conduct essential oversight of government programs. The work we do in coronavirus-related committee hearings will inform any future coronavirus legislation we might consider. prgtoken This week, the Senate Banking Committee will be voting on the nomination of Brian D. Miller to be Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery at the Treasury Department. If he is confirmed by the full Senate, Mr. Miller will be an essential part of ensuring that the trillions we have provided for coronavirus relief are spent properly. The Banking Committee will also be holding an oversight hearing with key Federal financial regulators to learn about the steps they have taken to ensure the safety and soundness of our financial sector during this challenging time. prgtoken The Senate Judiciary Committee will be examining the issue of liability during the COVID pandemic and discussing ways to prevent frivolous lawsuits from damaging our economy once we reopen. prgtoken The Senate Commerce Committee, of which I am a member, will be holding a hearing looking at efforts to maintain and expand reliable high-speed broadband access during this time when so many Americans are relying on their internet for work, school, and connections with friends and family. prgtoken The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will be hearing directly from the leaders of our fight against the coronavirus--Drs. Fauci, Redfield, and Hahn, and Admiral Giroir. Senators will be talking to these experts about what we need to do to safely reopen our economy and our schools. prgtoken Another big part of our coronavirus response right now is monitoring the implementation of the funds we have already provided. We have delivered a tremendous amount of money to respond to the pandemic-- equal to almost 50 percent of the enti