mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-7-26

I rise today to address my colleagues on the topic of competition policy, just as I did last week, and I will continue to do until we take action. prgtoken Now, I want to start out speaking briefly about one part of competition policy that is very important, and that has to do with prescription drugs. prgtoken As we all know, brand-name prescription drugs in the U.S. are more than 250 percent of those in other industrialized countries. In many cases, Americans pay the highest prices in the world for these drugs. Yet it is our country, our taxpayers, that have put in the money for the research. prgtoken The high price of prescription drugs has put treatments out of reach for many Americans, even those with insurance, and driven up the tab for taxpayers. prgtoken Examples: One of my constituents, Ramae, from Bemidji, was diagnosed in 2018 with an incurable blood cancer, multiple myeloma. She relies on a drug called Revlimid that costs about 15,000 a year. Ramae depleted her life savings, cashed out her 401(k), and sold her house in order to afford this drug she needs to survive. prgtoken Actually, nearly 20 percent of older adults have reported not taking their medicines as prescribed because of the cost. prgtoken The good news--and this gets to competition. Years and years ago, as you know, , the pharmaceutical industry installed in law a provision that said Medicare was banned from negotiating less expensive prices for drugs--banned from negotiating. prgtoken Yet, we know from the VA, which is allowed to negotiate on behalf of our Nation's patriotic veterans, that we can get much less expensive but as high quality drugs for our veterans. Our 46 million seniors deserve the same kind of deal. prgtoken That is what we are coming into in this next week, finally. And I have led the bill that has over 30 cosponsors in the Senate to allow for negotiation of prescription drugs for a long, long time. Finally, we are going to get this done. prgtoken It is not going to cover all the drugs as I would, but it is a big beginning. We have enough votes in the Senate to pass a bill to fix that. ic votes--all ic votes. But it is the fight worth fighting. You see the Pharma ads running against this bill. They have got every incentive to stop this. Why? prgtoken Well, it is going to save taxpayers 288 billion over 10 years. Taxpayers are going to be able to get that money, instead of the prescription drug companies. That is why this is so important. It is going to allow Medicare to finally negotiate prices under Medicare Part D. prgtoken In addition to that, it will stop drug companies from price gouging drugs that are already on the market, stop price hikes, and make sure the price of your drugs doesn't increase more than the rate of inflation. prgtoken As I said, we have the votes in the Senate--all ic votes--to make life easier for so many people. We stand with AARP. We stand with t
HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF MRS. MATTIE McALISTER
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-7-26

. Madam , I rise today in tribute to a one-of-a-kind woman in Toledo, Mrs. Mattie McAlister, who passed from this life at the age of 98 years on July 7, 2022. Mattie McAlister was a giant in the education of the young people of Toledo. prgtoken Mattie McAlister was born in Benton, South Carolina, the youngest of eleven children born to Pearl and Arthur Garrison, he a teacher and she a midwife. Her father started a school for Black children in their rural county and taught adults in the evening in the Garrison home. Mattie graduated high school at age fourteen, obtained her bachelor's degree and began teaching high school math and science. She went on to study at Detroit's Wayne State University, the former Mary Manse College in Toledo, and earned her master's degree from the University of Toledo. prgtoken Upon her arrival in Toledo in 1960, Mattie McAlister took employment with Toledo Public Schools, teaching at several elementary schools until her retirement from Fulton School in 1991. After that, she worked with children at Grace Community Center and developed a curriculum there. She researched and developed methods to address the uniqueness of ``Summer's Child,'' a term she coined for those children born in the summer who were often the youngest of their peers in school. prgtoken Her obituary in the Toledo Blade makes clear the influence Mrs. McAlister had on her young charges and the educational system: ``Mrs. McAlister retired in 2014 from Grace Community Center, where she developed a curriculum and worked with children, from kindergarten through eighth grade. She also shared pearls of wisdom that have become part of Grace's culture. Her sayings ``had to do with how you treat one another in this world,'' said Elaine Taite Page, Grace executive director since 2012. ``She told students, `Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go higher than you think,' and `The nicest words I know are, `Excuse me,' `Thank you,' `If you please,' '' Ms. Page said, Students energetically chanted, ``Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Your good becomes better, and your better becomes best.'' ``Those sayings are on display at the Center. ``There was never a student she could not reach,'' Ms. Page said. ``She made people understand, I see you, I value you, and you are somebody.'' ``The one word that epitomizes what was driving her is a four-letter word. Love. Love supreme,'' Ms. Page said. ``In the Center's after-school programs, she arranged children in a circle. Sitting on an African-style chair of carved wood, she opened with, `How was your day?' '' Ms. Page said. ``She could glean needs that had to be heard, to be recognized. She had a positive affirmation to leave with every child,'' Ms. Page said. ``Mrs. McAlister worked to reinforce reading and math
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2022-7-26

for months, our country has experienced a severe computer chip shortage, one that has impacted nearly every American industry and increased costs for nearly every American. From cell phones to cars to televisions, even our refrigerators and washing machines--products we use every day--well, they need computer chips to function. prgtoken They are also used in critically important technology like the medical equipment at our hospitals and the technology used by our military. This is why the computer chip shortage we are facing is a critical economic and national security issue. It has caused prices to rise, contributed to supply chain issues, and limited the availability of many products, something that anyone who has tried to buy or rent a car over the past couple of years knows all too well. prgtoken This shortage was directly impacting hard-working families and the businesses that support jobs across our Nation. prgtoken It has hurt companies that employ people in my State of Nevada, like Varian Medical Systems, which uses computer chips to manufacture cancer-fighting and other critical medical technologies. This shortage is impacting lives and likelihoods. prgtoken For decades, America was a global leader in manufacturing and innovation; but over the years, we outsourced the production of computer chips to countries like China, costing us millions of potential American jobs and increasing our reliance on foreign nations for technology that is critical--critical for our national security and prgtoken for our safety. All of this has been exacerbated by a global pandemic and the war in Ukraine. prgtoken We can't afford to wait any longer to bring manufacturing of computer chips back to the United States. The Senate will be voting on bipartisan legislation to bring computer chip manufacturing back to the U.S. and help existing manufacturers compete, creating thousands of new American jobs and enhancing both our economic and our national security. prgtoken We will also improve our supply chain, which will help businesses like Varian Medical Systems, and it will minimize the supply chain disruptions which will ultimately help lower prices for consumers. This bill will do so much more to spur innovation and invest in our American economy. prgtoken As the first and only former computer programmer to serve in the U.S. Senate, I am so excited about what this legislation will do for the future of American technology and innovation. It will establish a first-of-its-kind effort to accelerate our development of critical technologies, like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing. We will invest heavily in STEM education and in our cybersecurity workforce. And it will help build regional technology hubs all across this country to spark innovation. prgtoken I am also so proud that this bill includes bipartisan provisions that I worked on in the committee that wrote the bulk of the le
MATHEMATICAL AND STATISTICAL MODELING EDUCATION ACT
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-7-26

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in support of H.R. 3588, the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act. I thank Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and Jim Baird for introducing this bill. prgtoken U.S. capabilities in science and innovation are critical for our future prosperity, national security, and global competitiveness. I am thrilled that this week the House will consider landmark legislation that will accelerate progress on cutting-edge science and technology. However, we cannot fully realize this vision unless we build a domestic STEM workforce that is poised to turn these investments into breakthrough discoveries and transformative innovations. To that end, we must address the longstanding challenges in K-12 STEM education. prgtoken H.R. 3588 will advance research to improve mathematics education by incorporating statistical modeling into mathematics curriculum. We know that students from diverse backgrounds are attracted to STEM if they can see it as a tool for solving real-world challenges. This bill will help researchers develop innovative teaching methods to do just that. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and .
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Resumed
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-7-26

today we took another giant step on something that has been a lot harder than it should have been and could have been because it actually started last June when I rose before this body--June of 2021--to speak about the critical need to pass the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, as it was known back then, USICA, in order to shore up U.S. investment in research and development and manufacturing of critical technologies. prgtoken On this bill--a few name changes later, and, unfortunately, more than a year later--I rise again before this body to express my strong support for this revised CHIPS+ legislation--that we just cleared an important hurdle for over the last hour--and urge my colleagues to pass this bill as quickly as possible so we can get it out of the Senate, get it over to the House, and get it to the President's desk. prgtoken We cannot afford to waste any more time because this funding sends a message that the United States is putting a strong down payment on maintaining our edge in the global technology race and preventing global supply chains from being weaponized against the United States or, for that matter, against our allies. prgtoken Over the past few years, China has continued to increase investments in its domestic industries and, particularly, in areas that confer long-term strategic influence. This includes the semiconductor industry, which I have been particularly focused on over the past few years. prgtoken Now, let me be clear. When I talk about China--let me be clear--my beef is with the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, and their approach. It is not with the Chinese people; it is not with the Chinese diaspora. As a matter of fact, when people don't make that distinction, you may play exactly into the CCP's agenda that somehow these are all simply anti-Chinese activists. These are not. These are activities against the Government of China and, particularly, the Communist Party of China. prgtoken Coming back to semiconductors: Semiconductors, often called chips, are the backbone of our modern lives. They can be found in literally everything with an on-and-off switch: from cars and trucks to washers and dryers to smartphones and laptops. Chips are an essential component in so many of the devices we use today. prgtoken The growth in chips is going to be exponential. Many have fought and talked about the whole notion of the internet of things. The internet of things require devices that are connected to the internet. Obviously, autonomous driving would be one example. For every connection, there needs to be a center, most of those requiring a semiconductor chip. prgtoken Unfortunately, looking backwards, for many years, American semiconductor companies led the world in both design and manufacturing of this critical technology. But the truth is, our leadership has languished. In recent years, we continue to lose ground, particularly not just to China but to East Asian ma
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-26

this morning--this morning--the Senate will draw a clear line in the sand that America's chip crisis and America's dwindling commitment to science and innovation will not continue under our watch. Within the next hour, the Senate will vote, finally--finally--to move toward final passage of our CHIPS and Science bill. That is what we are calling it, the CHIPS and Science bill. That will put us in a position to finish the work on this bill before the end of the week. It is a major step for our economic security, our national security, our supply chains, and, in fact, for America's future--for America's future. prgtoken I want to be clear. The proposal we are passing this week contains the majority of key science and innovation measures that the Senate passed last summer. It will make historic investments to scientific research. It will take direct aim at our Nation's chip crisis. Alongside the infrastructure law and our recent gun safety bill, among others, it is one of the most consequential bipartisan achievements of this Congress. I thank all of my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle who are helping to make this happen. prgtoken I am confident that future generations will look back on the passage of this CHIPS and Science bill as a turning point for American leadership in the 21st century, but it didn't come together overnight. The legislation has been several years in the making. prgtoken In 2019, I approached my colleague Todd Young with a proposal prgtoken to work together on legislation to revive America's commitment to science and innovation. Together, we drafted the first iteration of many policies we are passing this week, the Endless Frontier Act. prgtoken A year later, I joined with my colleagues Senators Cornyn and Warner to push for the authorization of new Federal chips initiatives as part of the NDAA to address our Nation's growing chip shortage. prgtoken We all knew that America faced a choice: We could keep underfunding science and innovation and continue to let America fall behind our global competitors, or we could wake up to the challenges of this century and empower the American people to unleash the next wave of discovery and scientific achievement. We knew that if we didn't get there first, our rivals--chief among them the Chinese Communist Party-- would likely beat us to the punch and reshape the world in their authoritarian image. prgtoken In February of 2021, less than a month after I became majority leader, I directed the chairs and members of our relevant committees to start drafting a legislative package to outcompete China and create new American jobs, with the Endless Frontier Act serving as the core of this effort. I also instructed them to draft legislation to rebuild the capacity of the U.S. semiconductor industry. The pandemic made clear with unforgiving clarity how America's chip shortage was creating a crisis in our economy and national secur
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-7-26

as the Presiding Officer knows, the United States of America has long been at the vanguard of global scientific and technological innovation, and that leadership has helped power our economy and strengthen our leadership position in the world. prgtoken That competitive edge is now at risk. It is at risk because we have failed to renew our national commitment to one of the key tools that has brought us that success in the past: making robust Federal investments in scientific research and development. prgtoken The bill before the Senate, called the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, aims to stop this downward drift and propel us forward again in the area of discovery, in areas of innovation and manufacturing. It honors a long, long tradition of American excellence in research and invention. prgtoken If you look back over our history, America has always been on the leading edge of science, of technology, of engineering, and mathematics. That spirit has been with us since our founding, but it truly flourished in the decades following the Second World War, with new inventions springing from American minds every year and moving us forward at an accelerated pace. prgtoken American astronauts took humanity to the Moon for the first time. American computer scientists invented the internet and changed the world. In fact, it was during this explosion of discovery that an American engineer created the first integrated circuit in 1958, and that invention would pave the way for the microchips we use today and which are a big part of the legislation before us. prgtoken In the 20th century, the United States was the innovation capital of the world. In 1960, America generated 69 percent of all research and development on the entire planet. This golden age flowed from the ingenuity of American visionaries, and it was fueled by our system of free enterprise and private investment. prgtoken But we cannot ignore another key ingredient in the success of that period, and that is the very large investment in cutting-edge research and development made by the Federal Government on behalf of the American people. Federal funds accounted for two-thirds of all American research and development investment in 1968--two-thirds from the Federal Government. In fact, all three of the American-made inventions and innovations I just mentioned--from building the rocket and the systems to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth to inventing the internet, to creating that first microchip--those were fueled, in large part, by Federal Government investment, taxpayer investment, to strengthen the entire country. prgtoken For example, if you look at the history of the microchip, you will see that between 1987 and 1997--that decade--the R&D arm of the Department of Defense, what we call DARPA, disbursed around $870 million in Federal funding to 14 ship manufacturers across the country, which, in turn, made the American ship industr
ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2022
Deborah K. Ross (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-7-26

. Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 7569, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act. prgtoken As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks against our energy infrastructure. My home State of North Carolina is no exception. prgtoken Just over a year ago, a disastrous cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline caused the company to halt all pipeline operations, leading to panic-buying of gasoline and diesel fuels across my home State. Roughly two-thirds of North Carolina's gas stations ran out of fuel, including over 70 percent of gas stations in Raleigh, the largest city in my district. prgtoken Our constituents rely on dependable energy sources for their lives and their livelihoods, and we cannot afford continued exposures to these types of attacks. prgtoken The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a bipartisan bill I co-led with Congressman Carey, will help address this vulnerability. prgtoken Our bill will confront growing cyber threats against our country's critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face. prgtoken It will provide financial assistance to support graduate students studying the convergence of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, in addition to providing hands-on training and experience at our national laboratories and utilities. prgtoken It will also expand the Department of Energy's outreach to HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and Tribal colleges. prgtoken I represent much of the Research Triangle, home to institutions and universities that are propelling our Nation's innovation in cybersecurity, as well as clean energy. prgtoken From NC State to Shaw, to Saint Augustine's, and Wake Tech, this legislation will better equip our brilliant students and researchers in North Carolina and beyond to tackle the changing cybersecurity landscape. prgtoken I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their leadership in bringing forth this bill and the other Science Committee bills we are considering today. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
CONGRATULATING ELI VAZQUEZ ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE NAFCU BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2022-7-26

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Eli on his recent selection to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). prgtoken Mr. Vazquez currently serves as the President and CEO of Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union, which is comprised of approximately 90,000 members and headquartered in the District of Columbia. prgtoken Mr. Vazquez previously served on the American Airlines Federal Credit Union board for eight years and later in senior leadership roles for seven years. He was a board member of the SW Regional Payments Association for three years and chair of the NAFCU Share Insurance Committee. He is active on advisory panels for CUNA Mutual, engageFI and Visa and is a supporter of various philanthropic organizations. prgtoken Mr. Vazquez has a wealth of financial services and leadership knowledge. His vision and decision-making skills will be a valuable addition to the NAFCU board and credit unions for years to come. prgtoken Mr. Vazquez holds an MBA in Finance and a BS in Chemical Engineering. He is an experienced, active and passionate supporter of credit unions and their mission. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Eli Vazquez and wishing him the very best in his new role on the NAFCU Board of Directors.