mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-3-31

. . prgtoken , Senator Murphy indicates there should be no discussion, really, because this is such a slam dunk. I am coming up to talk about it. prgtoken We do not do regular order. Our job is to be there for advice and consent on any nominee. We have tried to shortcut the process, not only on nominations, but even things as important as our budgets. We don't do anything anymore with discussion that gets out maybe the rest of the story. prgtoken I believe that on any of these, rather than proceeding to the floor, you ought to at least have a discussion in committee. That didn't happen. There was a vote, but not a discussion. prgtoken And when you look at this noncontroversial nominee, I think there are at least some things to think about. Harry Katz, a professor at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said Mr. Ramirez could be open to expanding the range of disputes that the Agency will consider. prgtoken So kind of hinting at some political enterprise that you would be doing more than just interpreting. He is not alone. Wilma Liebman, a former NLRB chair under President , has told media that Mr. Ramirez should be ``open to creative expansion of what the mediators do.'' prgtoken We need public servants who are going to strictly interpret the law, and this looks like if we don't at least have a recorded vote, it could slip through when it is not maybe as uncontroversial as Senator Murphy might indicate. prgtoken I have reservations about the nominee, mostly about the process, very indicative of the way that things work here in general, not only for nominations, but critical policy. I think that has got to change. prgtoken Therefore, I do object.
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF LYNN MARIE HAMSTRA
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-3-31

. Madam , I rise today to honor and commemorate the life and service of Lynn Marie Hamstra. Lynn, with great courage and vigor, lived a full life of loving service to her family and her community. After four and a half years of fighting a fierce battle against an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, Lynn peacefully passed into the arms of the Lord on March 26, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones. Lynn is survived by her husband, Daniel Hamstra; her daughter, Rachel Hamstra LeMier; her son-in-law, Ryan LeMier; her granddaughter, Olivia Lynn LeMier; her sons, Timothy Hamstra and Zachariah Hamstra; her mother, Adeline Coffey; her sisters, Laura (Coffey) Girgis and Lee Ellen (Coffey) Wilson; and her brothers, Larry and Tony Coffey. prgtoken Lynn was born in Chicago on April 19, 1961 to Lawrence Raymond Coffey, Jr and Adeline Frances Coffey. She was the oldest of five children and excelled in her role as the big sister. During her high school years at Hinsdale Central, Lynn was a world class prgtoken cheerleader who not only found the time to cheer at her brother's games but also coach her sisters in cheer. After graduating from high school, she went on to attend Purdue University where she studied electrical engineering. During her collegiate years she met the love of her life Daniel Lee Hamstra who played baseball with her brother Larry at the University of Illinois. On the same night of their first meeting Dan pitched a no-hitter, the only one of his baseball career. Needless to say, it was a match made in heaven and just a few years later Dan and Lynn were married on July 26, 1986. prgtoken Lynn and Dan thrived together, and their marriage was a model of fidelity, love, and devotion to all they encountered. Even in the midst of their busy lives Lynn and Dan managed, for over ten years, to make it to ballroom dancing classes. During the course of their thirty-five years of marriage Lynn and Dan had three beautiful children: Rachel Marie Hamstra, Timothy Lee Hamstra, and Zachariah Andrew Hamstra. Each of Lynn's children are uniquely gifted and had their own precious relationship with their mom. Each of the kids have a little bit of their mother that they will carry on. From her boisterous laugh and keen intuition to her strong convictions and creative streak. prgtoken Lynn continued her education later in life and obtained a Master of Liberal Studies with a concentration in Art History from the Southern Methodist University in 2017. One of the proudest accomplishments of her life was her development of the ``Focused Looking'' program which was designed to help doctors to increase observation skills by taking a deeper look at a single piece of art for one hour. Lynn's graduate work was influential in both the art and medical fields. She leaves behind a legacy from this work that has blessed many patients and doctors alike. prgtoken There is no doubt in my mind that this very special woman will be dearly missed.
THE STRENGTH OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
Tracey Mann (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-3-31

I am honored to host this Special Order during National Agriculture Month on the strength of American agriculture. I am inspired by the American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers who feed, fuel, and clothe not only this country but the entire world. prgtoken I grew up on a farm south of Quinter, Kansas, that my parents and brother still operate. Growing up there meant that I spent thousands of hours on a tractor working in fields and on horseback doctoring sick cattle in the family feed yard. Those hours turned into love of country and lessons about the values of hard work, creativity, flexibility, and putting others before ourselves. prgtoken My district, the Big First of Kansas, is home to more than 60,000 farms where farmers, ranchers, feedlot managers, ethanol producers, ag lenders, and agribusiness owners ensure that America remains the most food-secure country in the world. prgtoken As Congress becomes increasingly urban, the distance from farm to fork has never been greater, and since America's national security depends in large part on our food security, we need strong voices for agriculture in this Congress, which is why I am honored to serve on the House Agriculture Committee and to host this Special Order tonight. prgtoken If Congress is going to legislate effectively on matters relating to agriculture, Congress must first understand the agricultural perspective in America. There is something about being in the middle of the country where farmers pray for rain, parents drive 30 miles both ways just to take their kids to school, and communities shrink and grow with oil and gas prices that gives you a greater perspective. prgtoken House Agriculture Committee leader GT Thompson and I just returned from a trip to my district. While there, we saw an American heartland infused with both the innovative energy that creates new ideas and the love of tradition that respects tried-and-true methods. We saw the USDA National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility that will take American agriculture into the future, and we met with the family who owns and operates Brookover Feed Yards, one of the first feedlots in Kansas. We also saw oil production, ag lending, ethanol production, wheat innovation, and the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture at Kansas State University. prgtoken I look forward to celebrating the culmination of National Agriculture Month with my colleagues here tonight as we celebrate the force, passion, and strength of American agriculture. prgtoken , from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), a descendant of dairy farmers, a champion of rural development, my friend who joined me just last week on an agriculture tour of my district in Kansas, and the leader of the House Agriculture Committee.
AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2022-3-31

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , this issue is so important I don't think we should automatically accept a partisan proposal that doesn't even get to the heart of the problem. prgtoken Today we actually could be voting on H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, a bipartisan bill that would not only address the root causes of the high insulin prices, but lower costs for all patients. prgtoken Instead, and I might say, very sadly, we are voting on a partisan messaging bill to give Washington a greater say in Americans' medical decisions while raising premiums on seniors and the millions of Americans with private health insurance. prgtoken This is nothing more than an attempt by my colleagues on the other side to pass just piece by piece their cures-killing Socialist takeover of the entire innovation sector. And worse, despite the misleading title of this current bill, it does nothing to lower the actual price of insulin. Instead, it uses budget games and regulations to disguise the actual cost of insulin for all consumers. prgtoken This is just another instance of misguided health and economic policies coming at a time when more than half of Americans are worried about rising prices and the economy. And, of course, like the President's budget released this week, this bill, too, is only ``paid for'' with gimmicks, adding to our deficit and the core causes of inflation. prgtoken We can and should do more for the American people who are struggling. The American people expect us to work together. We could be doing that. prgtoken Madam , .
RECOGNIZING KELSEY'S ON MAIN
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-3-31

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Kelsey's On Main of Jackson, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Like a good Southerner, Kelsey Sebastian is passionate about hospitality. After leaving her native Jackson, she pursued a degree in hospitality management and tourism from University of Kentucky. However, instead of taking her university expertise to the opportunities of the big city, Kelsey returned home to put her knowledge and skills to work. Thus in 2014, with the help of her family, Kelsey Sebastian opened Kelsey's On Main. prgtoken The idea for Kelsey's On Main was born out of several needs for the little town of Jackson. With only a small number of sit-in dining establishments in Jackson, local residents needed more restaurant options. Moreover, there was a need for revitalization in the heart of downtown Jackson, a heady mission that Kelsey and her family bravely took on. The Hogg building, now home to Kelsey's On Main, was 98 years old when she and her family began the renovation process in 2012. A former pharmacy and pool hall, this historic building located in the center of downtown needed a healthy dose of tender love and care. Renovating the establishment was by no means an easy task but the town of Jackson and its residents will tell you that it was worth it. In 2014, the centennial anniversary of the Hogg building, Kelsey's On Main opened their doors. prgtoken Kelsey's desire to restore beauty to the dilapidated old Hogg building corresponded with her mission to provide great food and top quality service to her hometown. In keeping the original tin roof and leaving one of the old walls exposed in its brick, customers can see that this building is mature in age but well taken care of. To that end, Kelsey and her family keep old photos of downtown Jackson as well as photos of her friends and family throughout the historic building. Of course, her family is not just present in the photographs that hang on the wall; her parents often come by to pick up a shift or two to support their daughter. And as a tenant in her aunt's building, Kelsey's On Main is a true family affair. prgtoken Returning to Jackson to open her own business is not the only way Kelsey supports her community. She is an active member of the Jackson Women's Group and as a Jackson City Council member, Kelsey always volunteers her restaurant to host the monthly Jackson Chamber of Commerce lunch. Kelsey is also involved in the Breathitt County Honey Festival, a tradition that has been around for over four decades, by supporting the festival's musical committee. As someone so involved in the goings-on of her town, Kelsey does her best to bring life to the Jackson community, as ill
CONGRATULATING U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2022-3-31

I rise today to congratulate the United States men's national soccer team on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup this November in Qatar. prgtoken Last night, the U.S. men's national soccer team completed their qualifying campaign in Costa Rica. It was a fitting ending to the team's qualifying run, filled with ups and downs and exciting matches, including big wins over Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. prgtoken After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, the United States team is headed back to the World Cup for the first time in 8 years. prgtoken From day one of the 2022 qualifying campaign, Coach Gregg Berhalter and the team set out on one mission and one goal, and that was to qualify. Bolstered by a golden generation of young and exciting talent, including players such as Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, and many others, the U.S. put together a strong qualifying performance, including an undefeated record against the Mexican national team this past year, which is the first time that has been done in decades. prgtoken I am proud that Illinois is home to the United States Soccer Federation, which supports our men's and women's programs at all levels. prgtoken I know I join with many in Congress and across the country in congratulating the U.S. men's national soccer team. This qualification is a well-deserved result that is a testament to the hard work put in by all of U.S. soccer and the men's team. prgtoken The team has made their country proud, and I look forward to cheering them on at the World Cup in November.
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT OF 2022
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2022-3-31

I rise today in support of Mr. Alex Wagner, the President's nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Department of Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and Mr. Ashish Vazirani, nominee to be Deputy Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness. prgtoken As a Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I know that the most important investment for our national security is in our servicemembers--our real competitive advantage with Russia and China. prgtoken Mr. Wagner brings a combination of public and private sector experience to the table. He will be key in recruiting, training, and retaining the talent needed to compete in the 21st century. prgtoken Absent his leadership, we may miss important opportunities to invest in our servicemembers at a time when we are still standing up a new military branch, the Space Force. prgtoken Mr. Vazirani will be responsible for ensuring that we take care of our people, a priority for the Secretary and everyone in this body. prgtoken Mr. Vazirani has significant private sector experience as a consultant and manager. Further, he served in the Navy and is the father of a marine. He has the firsthand experience and knowledge that we need to help improve the opportunities available to military families and spouses. prgtoken Both of these nominees are needed to help implement important priorities, like the Independent Review Commission's sexual assault recommendations, improving diversity in the force, and addressing mental health and suicide. prgtoken Both of these nominees are focused on taking care of our people and ensuring the Department has in place the workforce with the skill sets that we need to be successful in strategic competition with Russia and China. prgtoken Put simply, if you are serious about countering Russia and China, you should allow these nominees to be confirmed. And if you are serious about taking care of those who serve, you should allow these nominees to be confirmed. prgtoken Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations, en bloc: Calendar Nos. 477 and 599; that the Senate vote on the nominations, en bloc, without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT OF 2022
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-3-31

I am here on a very important bipartisan bill, but I first wanted to address the fact that I am proud to be supporting Judge Jackson. prgtoken I think she has incredible legal experience--more experience as a judge going into the job than four of the people had when they went on to the Supreme Court. prgtoken She is in the top two for trial experience. She showed incredible grace under pressure when one over-the-top, inappropriate question was asked of her after another. prgtoken She will be walking into that Supreme Court with her head held high, and she is going to be confirmed next week. prgtoken As I said, I will speak more to this later. I spoke a lot about it in the Judiciary Committee, but she is going to be a great Supreme Court Justice. Ocean Shipping Reform Act prgtoken , I rise today to highlight my bill with Senator Thune, which just passed the Senate, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. prgtoken We worked for months together on this bill to come to an agreement. We did everything right and got cosponsors on both sides of the aisle. I particularly want to thank Baz, my staff member on the Commerce Committee, who did such a great job in working on this. And I also want to thank Senators Cantwell and Wicker for their support of the bill as the chair and ranking member on the Commerce Committee. We worked together on some changes to the bill, and I appreciated their input. prgtoken As U.S. Senators representing Minnesota and South Dakota, Senator Thune and I know how crucial it is for American businesses to be able to export throughout the country and across the globe. American farmers feed the world, and consumers and businesses look to them for in-demand agricultural goods like soybeans, corn, dairy, poultry, pork, and beef, just to name a few. And American manufacturers support so many of the essential parts and products that fill our jobs, businesses, and store shelves. prgtoken As I look at our economy as we come out of this economic downturn, we must be an economy and a country that makes stuff, that invents things, that exports to the world. No matter how much American ingenuity we have--and there is a lot of it--if ships owned by foreign interests are going to other countries with empty containers and exporting nothing but air and then come to our country filled with foreign goods, that is not exactly an even playing field. prgtoken As the past 2 years have highlighted, significant supply chain disruptions and vulnerabilities have occurred. There are many answers here, one of them being workforce, one of them being port infrastructure and rail infrastructure and the like, but what we have seen when it comes to shipping--and I am so glad my colleague from South Dakota has joined me here on the floor--what we have seen in the middle of the country, where people are pretty sensible, all of a sudden they are looking at this, and they see the price of shi
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT OF 2022
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-3-31

I thank Senator Thune and Senator Klobuchar. I know that the chair of the Commerce Committee is coming down to speak. prgtoken I just wanted to say congratulations. Thank you for your wonderful leadership on this. Obviously, with my hat on as chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, this is a big deal, as they would say. This is a very big deal to, certainly, all of our growers in Michigan but, I know, across the country. prgtoken So thank you for your great bipartisan work, and hopefully, we can get this all the way across the finish line. I know the President is anxious to sign it.
SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW THROUGH ONGOING RISK MITIGATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-3-31

. Madam , I rise in strong support of H.R. 5673, the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Technical Corrections Act. prgtoken This bill revises provisions related to the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund program, by requiring capitalization grant recipients to supplement these two most recently published editions of relevant building codes, specifications, and standards. prgtoken The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enter into agreements with any state or Indian tribal government to make grants for the establishment of hazard mitigation revolving loan funds. prgtoken The funding would enable local governments that carry out projects to reduce disaster risks for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities to decrease the loss of life and property, the cost of insurance claims, and federal disaster payments. prgtoken The Infrastructure Act of 2021 provides $500 million to the STORM Act, or $100 million per year for five years. prgtoken This new FEMA grant program finances water, wastewater, infrastructure, disaster recovery, community, and small business development projects. prgtoken This revolving loan fund can be utilized for projects intended to protect against wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, storm surges, chemical spills, seepage resulting from chemical spills and floods, and any other event deemed catastrophic by FEMA. prgtoken This legislation makes a huge impact on the nation's efforts to prevent and recover from natural disasters. prgtoken My community, the 18th Congressional District of Texas will benefit greatly from this bill. prgtoken Houston's Hurricane Harvey wreaked $125 billion in damage to the Houston area. prgtoken Houston's Third and Fifth Wards and in surrounding communities of Baytown and Gulfton, took the brunt of flooding damage due to Hurricane Harvey in 2017. prgtoken In February 2021, many of these same neighborhoods endured a much higher rate of power outages from Winter Storm Uri. prgtoken These low-interest loans will allow for cities and states to repay the loan, with savings from mitigation projects. prgtoken It also gives states the flexibility to prepare for oncoming disasters without paying high-interest rates. prgtoken They can invest in their communities--cutting red tape and they will no longer have to wait on the federal government. prgtoken For my district, and others living on the coast, it is not a matter of ``if'' a hurricane will strike our coast, it's a matter of ``when'' it will strike. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5673 because hazards are going to happen and we must do everything we can to protect our people. prgtoken We need the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act.
AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-3-31

. Madam , I would like to thank the chairman for giving me this opportunity because I wanted my colleagues on the other side to see what an insulin patient looks like. You are looking at him. prgtoken I need insulin in order to stay alive. The boot that I am wearing is not a fashion decision, it is because I have a diabetic ulcer on my foot, the fourth one I have had in 7 years. prgtoken I have left my insulin in New Jersey, gone to the drugstore when I arrived down here in Washington, and said: I need insulin. They said: Well, Mr. Payne, your insurance isn't ready to cover it. I said: Well, that is all right. I am doing okay in life, I will pay for it. She goes back, she gets the bag and hands it to me and says: $348. What happens to the people that are not at the level of a Member of Congress? Think about that. It is $12 in Canada. prgtoken We are asking for it to be three times higher than it is in Canada. Think about that. I live it every single day.