mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
National Debt (Executive Calendar)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-4-27

about 6 years ago, I came to this floor and presented an idea: How do we get on top of our debt and deficit? Are we going to get on top of our debt and deficit? prgtoken Interestingly enough, for each of us and our own families, we can all tell a story about a season in our life that we really hit hard times. I have had several where the money was really tight and our family was very attentive to what we were spending--very--those moments when we would literally make sure that every time we went to the grocery store, we only spent this much because we knew we had an electric bill coming in; we knew we had our rent coming due. prgtoken My family has most definitely been there. My wife and I, when we were first married, we had a rule that we couldn't ever spend more than $25 without the other person knowing it because our fear was when we were first married that one of us would spend $30 and the other would spend $35 that day and we would blow up our bank account because we were living that close to the edge and just getting by while I was at school and we were just getting started. A lot of families have been that way. prgtoken You can tell how serious a family is about dealing with their debt by how seriously they take their expenses. There are some individuals that have massive debt that still keep running up their credit card. They keep buying more and more product. They still use their credit card and go get additional electronics and get extra stuff on it and max out this card and then I will max out another one, not with essentials, just with fun--not paying attention to the fact that someday that comes due. prgtoken When I started presenting the idea of the ``Federal Fumbles,'' my whole concept was simple: Where is it the Federal Government is dropping the ball; that we are not paying attention to the areas we need to be able to pay attention to in our spending? It is a well-known fact that we have trillions in debt. In fact, as a nation, we have now crossed $30 trillion in total debt--$30 trillion. It is interesting that the conversation doesn't seem to be serious. We don't seem to be in a dialogue about how we are going to actually bring our debt down. We are still spending on other things and still saying, not we are limited in what we can do; we seem to be adding more to the mix. It is not necessarily on essential things; it just seems to be on things. prgtoken The ``Federal Fumbles'' book that I released this week, put on our website, just details several different items. One is, where are we in our debt and how did we get here? But I also try to walk through some of our trust funds on this because I think it is important. prgtoken Where are we on Medicare trust funds? By the way, we are 4 years away from insolvency on Medicare--4 years. Where are we on Social Security? We are 12 years away from insolvency in Social Security--12. Where are we on the highway trust fund? We are well pa
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-4-27

I want to say a few words about this matter. prgtoken Two months ago, I sent a letter to the Attorney General demanding answers why the Department of Justice was hanging out to dry four deputy U.S. marshals who had bravely defended the Portland courthouse against leftwing street militias in the summer of 2020. Those marshals are now facing civil litigation, but the Department is refusing to defend them in court, putting them at risk of bankruptcy, and perhaps most alarming of all, it won't even tell them why. prgtoken Now, the Department still hasn't provided definitive answers; and after I raised this alarm, they took another step and put the marshals on limited duty, telling them that after 20 months of active unrestricted duty they are now under investigation for the events in Portland. That is despite the fact that they received an award for their actions in Portland, received outstanding and excellent performance evaluations for 2020, and were, again, deployed to some of the most dangerous and high-risk missions that our law enforcement officers can undertake. prgtoken Call me crazy, but I have to say this seems like a case of potential retaliation. But it does, in a way, give the marshals the information we were seeking to help them understand their status. I also understand that at least one marshal has filed a complaint for retaliation against Vanita Gupta, the Assistant Attorney General. prgtoken The facts will come out one way or another. My message to the Department of Justice today is this: You will be held accountable for your actions against these law enforcement officers if they are inappropriate or even unlawful. If not this year, it will happen next year because I also want to add that yesterday, I and several of my colleagues, including the Judiciary Committee's ranking member Senator Grassley and the former Judiciary Committee chairman, Senator Graham, sent a letter to the Department about this investigation. We intend to get to the bottom of it, and we are committed to an oversight investigation in the 118th Congress if one doesn't occur in this Congress. prgtoken I have also spoken to our colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee who have today issued a request to the Department of Justice to preserve documents in this matter. prgtoken Now that I am confident the Department will receive the oversight that it deserves in this matter, I will no longer object to these nominees. Therefore, given these developments in this matter, I will withdraw my objection to the confirmation of today's nominees.
TRIBUTE TO BRUCE REICHERT
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2022-4-27

along with my colleagues Senator Jim Risch, Representative Mike Simpson and Representative Russ Fulcher, I congratulate Bruce Reichert who retired after being the host, one of the main writers, and executive producer of Idaho Public Television's Outdoor Idaho for more than 35 years. prgtoken Devoting 35 years to any occupation is certainly a remarkable commitment, but particularly so when your job takes you to Idaho's rugged and hard-to-reach places. From exploring Idaho's mountain ranges and headwaters to examining what it is like to live and work in Idaho's ``Spud Country'' and seeking out some of our State's most storied barns, Bruce has given Idahoans a view of what lies beyond the roads, trails, and ridges. For example, he was executive producer and host of the award-winning ``Canyonlands Calling,'' showcasing the magnificence and beauty of the Owyhee Canyonlands, where collaborative efforts to manage these lands were achieved with private and Federal agencies. As Bruce has said, ``It's a state you can easily get lost in, both literally and figuratively. I know I speak for all who work on Outdoor Idaho--it's an honor to share our state with fellow Idahoans. Idaho is truly the keeper of special places. Esto Perpetua. May she live forever.'' prgtoken The other shows Bruce has produced include ``Idaho Geology: A Convergence of Wonders,'' ``State of Change,'' ``50 Years of Wilderness,'' ``Salmon Reckoning,'' ``Sawtooths on My Mind,'' ``Pend Oreille Country,'' ``Land of the Lost River Range,'' ``Idaho Headwaters,'' and ``Beyond the White Clouds.'' He has earned a number of recognitions for his work. This includes multiple Emmys, Edward R. Murrow, and Press Club awards. prgtoken Bruce, thank you, for your excellent work all these years to tell Idaho's stories and shed light on the people, canyons, mountains, aquifers, prairies, lakes, fish, and wildlife that make Idaho such a magical place. You obviously realized long ago how truly special our great State is and have devoted your career to enabling others to get a sense of this spectacular treasure. Congratulations on your remarkable career.
TRIBUTE TO DAVID HAUCK
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-4-27

I rise today to congratulate Mr. David Hauck on his retirement and recognize his 35 years of dedicated service to the Congress and the American people. prgtoken A native of Minneapolis, MN, Dave began his Capitol Hill career while still a graduate student at American University, working part-time as an elevator operator in the Senate. After completing his degree, he spent 5 years working on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where he served as hearing coordinator and systems administrator. prgtoken Following his time on the Foreign Relations Committee, Dave became the assistant director of the Congressional Special Services Office. In 2008, Congress established the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services and made Dave its founding director. For over 29 years, Dave has worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities, including Members, staff, and visitors to the Capitol, have the best possible access to facilities and events throughout the Capitol Complex. In addition to helping Congress create and staff the Office of Accessibility Services, Dave also worked with Congress throughout the construction of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center--CVC--to make the CVC accessible to all visitors. prgtoken Dave and his team have handled the day-to-day accessibility needs of Congress and played an important role in every major event Congress has seen over the last three decades. Dave has been a staunch advocate for the accessibility community throughout countless joint sessions of Congress, the lying in state or lying in honor of many beloved Americans, and the inaugurations of seven Presidents. When I chaired the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for both President and President 's inaugurations, my staff and I saw firsthand how invaluable Dave's expertise on accessibility issues was to planning a seamless inauguration. prgtoken Today, it is my pleasure to thank Dave for his many years of service and to congratulate him on his retirement. I wish him the best in his next chapter, as I am sure so many here do.
INFLATION, IMMIGRATION, AND INCOMPETENCE
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-4-27

folks on the left have accused us good s of complaining about inflation. They say we have no plan for lowering the cost of food, clothes, or gasoline. prgtoken Of course, the have controlled Congress for the last 15 months, , as you well know. During that time, they have successfully rammed through trillions in unnecessary Federal spending. prgtoken Let's look at where that has gotten us. Prices for goods and services Americans rely on rose by 8.5 percent in March 2022 compared to March 2021. That is unacceptable for working Americans, especially for east Tennesseeans. prgtoken That is not even the worst of it all. Even after all this spending raised costs for American families, the still don't think it was enough. They still think the multitrillion-dollar high tax Build Back Better Act--which we have called build back broke, you can call it whatever you want--is a good idea. That bill will be catastrophic for price stability. prgtoken Right now our country is dealing with the consequences of reckless government spending. All we seem to be doing is saddling more debt on the shoulders of future generations. We used to say we are piling it on our kids. Now it is our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which some of the folks in this body, I am sure, have multiples of those. And that is not right. prgtoken So to the critics on the left who complain that s don't have a plan to address inflation, I ask you this: What is wrong with a plan to spend fewer taxpayer dollars and to be smarter about the money we do spend? This kind of fiscal responsibility is a legitimate solution to fixing the unstable prices that are worrying families in east Tennessee and across the country. s should not be afraid to say that fiscal responsibility is our plan. prgtoken My folks instilled in me a lot of values, and one of those is, ``Don't spend it if you don't have it,'' and ``Just because you have it doesn't mean you have got to spend it, dadgummit.'' prgtoken , I thank Vice Chairman Johnson, as always, for his lackluster leadership.
CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OR TO RELEASE UNITED STATES CITIZEN PAUL WHELAN
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-4-27

I thank my friend from South Carolina for the time, and, of course, I thank my friend, Mr. Phillips, for leading the debate on this important issue. prgtoken Once again, we gather on the House floor in unity--s and --to counter Putin's behavior. prgtoken Last year, I cofounded the first Congressional Task Force for American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad with my friend, Ted Deutch, from Florida. prgtoken I thank Representative Stevens for being one of the first members of that task force, and that is why I rise in strong support of my friend Haley Stevens' resolution which calls for the release of Paul Whelan who is, in fact, unjustly imprisoned in Russia. prgtoken We have heard today in the debates some of the details of Paul's arrest and nearly 2 years in pretrial detention with no evidence publicly presented justifying wrongdoing. prgtoken All parts of our government, especially Members of Congress, who directly represent the families of those held hostage or wrongfully detained, must engage with friends and enemies alike, to ensure that Americans in situations like Paul Whelan's are expeditiously brought home. Further, Congress must continue to engage with the administration in situations like these to disincentivize the wrongful detention or hostage taking of Americans. prgtoken Last year, we passed a similar resolution on this floor in support of Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan. It was, in fact, rewarding this morning to hear that Trevor was released; but, he should have never been held, and the exchange of prisoners should have never been necessary. prgtoken But today, , on a combined basis, s and , let us issue a message to Paul Whelan: We have not forgotten you. prgtoken And let this message be clear that countries that engage in political hostage taking must stop the disgraceful practice and be held accountable. prgtoken , I urge all my colleagues to support Representative Stevens' resolution.
GLOBAL MALNUTRITION PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-27

I rise in strong support of H.R. 4693, Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021, which will establish programs and direct the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to carry out activities to prevent and treat malnutrition globally. prgtoken This bill would advance targeted and evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and to improve the coordination of such programs. prgtoken Under this bill, USAID must leverage resources to address malnutrition through the Global Nutrition Coordination Plan and its role on the board of directors of the International Development of Finance Corporation. prgtoken The Global Nutrition Coordination plan is an interagency effort to strengthen the impact of U.S. investments in nutrition. prgtoken USAID must also select countries based on specific malnutrition- related indicators for the purpose of targeting malnutrition prevention and treatment programs. prgtoken The plan will prioritize high-need, underserved, marginalized or impoverished communities. prgtoken However, countries must display strong political commitment and have existing nutrition strategies already in place, which ensures that the plan to combat malnutrition in a select country will be effective and impactful. prgtoken Additionally, USAID may: prgtoken establish the Nutrition Leadership Council to coordinate activities to prevent and treat malnutrition; prgtoken target resources and nutrition interventions to the populations most susceptible to severe malnutrition, and otherwise support efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition globally; prgtoken coordinate activities among partner countries, United Nations agencies, civil society, private sector actors, and others to, for example, build capacity in partner countries to sustain nutrition interventions. prgtoken USAID would also be required to provide Congress with an implementation plan and annual reports concerning the programs for treating and preventing malnutrition. prgtoken As a senior Member of the House of Representatives and the founding chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I believe this bill is vital for preventing and treating malnutrition around the world. prgtoken We must ensure continued focus on multi-sectoral nutrition programs, while monitoring these interventions to ensure effective use of American taxpayer dollars. prgtoken I commend the USAID maternal and child nutrition programs that seek to improve health outcomes by implementing nutrition-specific interventions, and those that address the immediate, health-related determinants of undernutrition. prgtoken It is no secret that poverty amplifies the risk of malnutrition. prgtoken People who are poor are more likely to be affected by different forms of malnutrition. prgtoken Furthermore, malnutrition increases health care costs, reduces productivity, and slows economic growth, which can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and ill-health
Nomination of Sherilyn Peace Garnett (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-4-27

today the Senate will vote on the nomination of Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett to serve as a U.S. district court judge for the Central District of California. prgtoken Judge Garnett is an experienced jurist and a long-time public servant who will make an outstanding addition to the bench. During her 13 years as an assistant U.S. Attorney, she prosecuted hundreds of matters, including criminal street gang offenses, child exploitation, and threats made against government officials. In recognition of her accomplishments as a prosecutor, Judge Garnett received a number of awards from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Postal Service. prgtoken Since 2014, Judge Garnett has served as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, presiding over misdemeanor and felony proceedings. In 2016, she also served as an appellate State court judge, presiding over criminal, civil, and family law cases. prgtoken The American Bar Association has unanimously rated Judge Garnett as ``well qualified'' to be a district court judge. She also has the strong support of her home State Senators, Mrs. Feinstein and Mr. Padilla. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Judge Garnett's nomination.
CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-27

. Madam , today we honor the tremendous legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted. April 26, 2022, marks the 200th anniversary of his birth, a day to celebrate and reflect on the great impact he had in my home community of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York and across the country. prgtoken When we visit and admire our national parks, we owe a great gratitude to Frederick Law Olmsted, as he was one of the first individuals to promote the idea of national parks in his 1865 Yosemite Report. He is remembered as the premier landscape architect in the United States during the 19th century and is considered to be the founder of landscape architecture in the United States. prgtoken His work and designs included a plethora of different types of landscapes. He worked to develop parks and parkways, college campuses, planned communities, estates, cemeteries, and recreation areas. prgtoken In our very own community, we see his impact reflected in the Buffalo Olmsted Park System; the first of its kind in this country which today is recognized on the National Register for Historic Places, and in his design of the State Reservation at Niagara, the first and oldest State Park in the United States which preserved public access to the mighty and splendid Niagara Falls. prgtoken It was not just the landscapes themselves that were impressive, but Olmsted's philosophy behind his work and designs which were visionary and have stood the test of time. He believed that landscape designs should promote community, advance democracy, provide recreational opportunities in urban environments, nurture and invigorate public health, and encourage the development of livable communities. prgtoken This philosophy was carried out well into the 20th century by Olmsted's associates, sons, and successor firms, leaving a tremendous legacy of historic landscapes that continues to benefit all Americans and visitors. prgtoken Madam , Olmsted's landscape designs are inclusive, enduring, and embrace the restorative value of parks which continue to play a valuable role in society today.
ASSESSING XI'S INTERFERENCE AND SUBVERSION ACT
Dean Phillips (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-4-27

as much time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. prgtoken , when it comes to China and Russia, I do not trust empty words; I verify. prgtoken H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act, will help Congress and the American people stay informed about how, if at all, China might be supporting Russia in its unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine. prgtoken It is of the utmost importance for this body and the world to understand whether China is complicit in the gross atrocities and war crimes being committed against the Ukrainian people. Doing so will allow us to adjust our strategies and policies as necessary to further isolate Russia and deepen support for the Ukrainian people. prgtoken , I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and .
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-4-27

I rise today in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Today, we honor and remember the 6 million Jews and countless others who were murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the families who were torn apart. prgtoken As a founder and cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations, I am committed to ensuring that our country never forgets this history and that we educate younger generations about this atrocity. prgtoken Today and every day, we must speak truth to power. ``Never again'' is more than a slogan. It is an unwavering commitment to combating anti- Semitism and hate wherever they exist.