mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Energy (Executive Session)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-3-14

I have had many experiences presiding when you have gotten up to speak about energy and climate. So now the roles are reversed, and I will take a perspective somewhat similar to yours in the past but perhaps a little bit broader. prgtoken We are in a point in time where it is clear that there is a nexus between energy, climate, economic security for a family and for a nation, and national security. And if we ignore any one, if we overemphasize one and forget the rest, then we lose all four. prgtoken I will just share the example we have right now. The administration has clearly prioritized climate in such a way that they have attempted to decrease the amount of fossil fuel being produced in the United States of America and limit the exports of that fuel. Because of that singular emphasis, we are now at a point where we have endangered the economy of many--not ``we'' but circumstances around the prgtoken world have endangered the economies of the European countries dependent upon Russian oil. It has endangered the pocketbook of the families that cannot afford $4- to $6-a-gallon gasoline, depending upon where you live. And the climate globally is worse. prgtoken Because there are inadequate amounts of liquefied natural gas going to Europe, they are going to burn tremendous amounts of coal, and that coal, of course, will have a greenhouse gas profile that is far greater than that of natural gas. prgtoken So the question is, How do we achieve all of our goals: the climate, the national security, the pocketbook issues for families and for our nation, as well as our energy security? So that is what I wish to speak about today. prgtoken Now, of course, we know there is a tension here, and the tension here is between this kind of almost battle we have been having in our country: How do we develop America's resources, but how do we do it while at the same time lowering carbon intensity? prgtoken If one party is in charge of the regulatory state, then they will attempt to use regulatory power to choke off the amount of carbon coming from America's resources. I am speaking of fossil fuel resources at this point. But, as I mentioned, it seems that with this backdrop of a need globally to be free of Russian energy, we need to have a different approach--acknowledging totally those who are concerned about carbon intensity; acknowledging totally the Europeans who are now so vulnerable to Russian energy shortages; acknowledging totally the family at home with the 10-year-old pickup truck who can't afford to fill it up to get to work. prgtoken , let's set the stage. Europe depends on Russia for 40 percent of its natural gas supplies. Some countries in Europe depend upon Russia for 90 percent of their natural gas supplies. In 2013, the EU imported 135 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas and in 2019, 166 billion cubic meters. One reason we need to export liquefied natural gas is to decrease that r
Senate Accomplishments (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-14

last week was an exceedingly productive week for the Senate. We funded the government, passed postal reform, kept our promise to the Ukrainian people, revived VAWA, and unanimously passed anti-lynching legislation. President is going to be busy this week signing a lot of bipartisan bills into law that will impact the lives of millions of Americans, and s on both sides of the aisle for their good work. prgtoken Today, we are picking up right where we left off--confirming more of the President's nominees, maintaining our laser focus on lowering costs for American families, and continuing to explore how we can help Ukraine in their war against the evil Mr. Putin. prgtoken First, on this last point, earlier today, the and I announced that President Zelenskyy will deliver a virtual address to Members of the House and Senate this Wednesday, March 16, at 9 a.m. As you know, it is one of the highest honors of any Congress to welcome remarks by foreign heads of state, but it is nearly unheard of in modern times that we hear from a leader fighting for his life, fighting for his country's survival, fighting to preserve the very idea of democracy. prgtoken Let me say that again. It is one of the highest honors of any Congress to welcome remarks by a foreign head of state, but it is nearly unheard of--unheard of--in modern times that we hear from a leader fighting for his life, fighting for his country's survival, and fighting to preserve the idea of democracy--something Americans cherish. prgtoken As war intensifies in Ukraine, we have all been inspired by the courage of President Zelenskyy and that of the Ukrainian people. President Zelenskyy can rest assured that he will always have friends in Congress ready to listen, to stand in his corner, and we are honored to have him speak to us later this week.
CYBER INCIDENT REPORTING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-3-14

I rise today in support of the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022, which is included as division Y in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. Cyber attacks and ransomware attacks are a serious national security threat that have affected everything from our energy sector to the Federal Government and Americans' own sensitive information. The SolarWinds breach demonstrated how broad the ripple effects of these attacks can be, affecting hundreds or even thousands of entities connected to the initial target. As cyber and ransomware attacks continue to increase, the Federal Government must be able to quickly coordinate a response and hold bad actors accountable. prgtoken Especially now, as the threat of Russian cyber attacks looms in light of Putin's horrific invasion of Ukraine, we shouldn't be relying on voluntary reporting to protect our crucial infrastructure. The Federal Government needs to know when vital sectors of our economy are affected by a breach so that the full resources of the Federal Government can be mobilized to respond and mitigate their impacts. prgtoken This bipartisan bill will take significant steps to strengthen cybersecurity protections, ensure that CISA is at the forefront of our Nation's response to serious breaches, and most importantly, require timely reporting of these attacks to the Federal Government so that we can better prevent future incidents and hold attackers accountable. prgtoken The plain text of the statute makes Congress' intent clear: although the reports themselves--and any ``communication[s], document[s], material[s], or other record[s] created for the sole purpose of preparing, drafting or submitting'' those reports--may not be received in evidence, the FBI and other law enforcement entities nevertheless may, as appropriate, prgtoken make use of reported information in their investigations of a cyber incident. In other words, the FBI cannot attach the report filed with CISA in a warrant application or submit it in evidence in a trial but, if provided information from reports under the process outlined in the statute, may as appropriate use information contained in the reports and derived from them for a range of purposes, including getting a warrant and prosecuting bad actors. Further, this statute also is not intended to prohibit or discourage entities from reporting to CISA and law enforcement concurrently. prgtoken The language of this bill makes clear that the information may be used for cybersecurity or investigative purposes. Section 2245 clearly states that reports submitted to CISA under this provision can be used for ``the purpose of preventing, investigating, disrupting, or prosecuting an offense arising out of a cyber incident reported pursuant to [the bill's requirements or voluntary provisions].'' Nor are facts developed during an FBI investigation of the relevant cyber
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-3-14

last Thursday, I decided to join with Senator Shaheen and set up a meeting with about 13 European Ambassadors to the United States. It was for the ic Senators. Afterward, we thought this should have been bipartisan, and the next one will be. prgtoken But the Ambassadors' meeting was nothing short of historic because these 14 Ambassadors, representing the obvious leaders in Europe, all spoke to the issue of Ukraine and what it has meant to them and what it has done to their nations. prgtoken Some of their statements were profound. The Ambassador from Germany talked about how her country had, in a matter of 2 weeks, dramatically changed its position on many issues: On the future of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, they have come to realize that dependence on Russia is risky business in the 21st century; whether or not Germany will step up and support the Ukrainian people. They decided they would, and they also decided that they would make a substantial investment in military spending as part of NATO. prgtoken Some of those things seem like very common decisions to Americans, but for them, it was many times a reversal of a party position. They have come to realize, as we have around the world, that the Ukrainian situation calls for emergency measures. prgtoken I first want to commend President . Though I may not agree with all his policies and approaches, I have to say that at the moment in history we find ourselves, thank goodness is our President. I cannot imagine his predecessor in a similar circumstance. prgtoken set out to first unify NATO. It sounds like an easy task. It is an alliance which we inspired back in the 1940s, after World War II, and have been an active leader in for decades. But our relationship with the nations of NATO and Europe and our relationship to the world as a NATO alliance prgtoken had suffered greatly in the last few years. set out to change that, and he is the man to do it. prgtoken Throughout his career in the Senate and as Vice President to President , he played a major role in foreign policy. He was no stranger to many of the people he sat down with in the NATO alliance. He brought them together and impressed upon them that, if Putin should decide to invade Ukraine, the NATO alliance had to be stronger than ever. He convinced them, and we should recognize that. Both parties should recognize that. His leadership brought NATO into the 21st century and brought it to the stage where it can confront this Putin threat in a responsible manner. prgtoken This is being felt across the world, but it is being felt particularly in the nations that are on the border of Ukraine or Belarus. prgtoken At this meeting of the Ambassadors, I called on the Ambassador from Poland. I will have to admit and concede that I have a bias there because I represent the second largest Polish city in the world, Chicago, IL, second only to Warsaw. There
Nomination of Shalanda D. Young (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-3-14

I rise in support of Shalanda Young's nomination to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. prgtoken Ms. Young has served with distinction as OMB's Acting Director for the past year, leading the administration's efforts to execute the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and numerous Federal cybersecurity priorities. prgtoken Over the past year, she has been a true partner to Congress, working closely with Members on both sides of the aisle to find bipartisan paths forward. prgtoken In addition to her proven leadership at OMB this past year, Ms. Young brings nearly two decades of public service experience to her role, including as a senior staff Member on the House Appropriations Committee where she led challenging bipartisan negotiations around the debt limit, government funding, and budget reform. prgtoken OMB will continue to be central to the administration's efforts to tackle the Nation's ongoing challenges, and Ms. Young will be instrumental in leading that work. prgtoken I have every confidence in Ms. Young's ability to continue to rise to the challenges facing OMB, both now and in the future. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Shalanda Young as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
INFLATION HURTS ALL AMERICANS
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-3-15

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate Dionysios, otherwise known as Dennis, Kappas, an outstanding member of the Tarpon Springs community. prgtoken Dennis was born in Zakynthos, Greece, a beautiful island, but migrated to the United States after a devastating earthquake destroyed his island. prgtoken Dennis and his family landed in Detroit, where he was a hardworking new immigrant. He worked diligently at restaurants by day and learned English by night. prgtoken Through years of blood, sweat, and tears, as is common with the immigrant story, Dennis and his brother saved enough money to buy their own restaurant, living the American Dream. prgtoken In 1990, Dennis moved to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where he settled with his family and owned and operated Plaka restaurant, the best gyros and souvlaki on the Sponge Docks. prgtoken In addition to running Plaka and many other business ventures, Dennis has been a generous philanthropist and has made significant contributions to the centerpiece of Tarpon Springs, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He is donating the contents of his home chapel, including beautiful and one-of-a-kind icons, to the new church annex, which contains the newly opened and appropriately named St. Dionysios Chapel. prgtoken I am proud to call him a friend and thank him for all his meaningful contributions to our wonderful community. prgtoken Axios. He is worthy, Madam .
UNLOCKING RURAL AMERICA'S POTENTIAL
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-3-15

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding to me and for organizing this Special Order and all the great work that he does leading the Western Caucus. prgtoken We are really working on issues that impact not just rural America but all of America. And just to highlight a little bit of what is happening in Pennsylvania, currently in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvanians are paying on average $4.42 per gallon of gas. That is $1.39 more than they were paying a year ago. prgtoken The White House is frantically trying to spin a narrative that points to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the catalyst for skyrocketing gas prices. prgtoken The truth is that the administration set this energy crisis into motion on day one of his term in office by cutting American pipelines and halting leases for drilling on Federal lands. Blocking oil and natural gas drilling puts a stranglehold on domestic production and leads to higher prices for American families. prgtoken Not only has the administration diminished American energy independence, but it also gave Russia the confidence to weaponize its energy exports. Pair this with 's refusal to unleash American energy dominance, and you have a United States, our United States that is dependent on tyrannical nations for energy. prgtoken American energy is right beneath our feet. We must kick production into high gear. We heard the President stand here and talk about buy American, made American. Well, we can't do that without American energy. We can't build American infrastructure without American energy. prgtoken To unleash that energy, the administration needs to start listening to the people, needs to trust in the energy producers. We produce energy in the United States more cleanly than any other nation on the face of the Earth. We do it right, we do it environmentally friendly, and we do not want to enrich people who want to do harm to us or our allies. That is what we need to do. prgtoken We need expedited permits for LNG-exporting facilities. We need to get through the permitting process for drilling. We need to make sure we can drill on Federal lands. We need to make sure we complete pipelines. Those are the things that are halting American energy production, fueling inflation, and adding to the skyrocketing cost of energy for all Americans. prgtoken It is costing more to fill up our gas tanks. It is costing more to run our businesses and heat our homes. Simply, it is avoidable if the administration would just reverse its policies and go back to where we were just 1\1/2\ short years ago, and that was energy independence. I look forward to working with Mr. Newhouse on many things that can help make America stronger and put Americans first.
Government Spending (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-3-15

last week, the Senate passed a $1.5 trillion funding bill that the ic majority insisted was full of must-pass, got-to-have-it, can't-live-without-it provisions that the American people were demanding. Unfortunately, the reality of what made it into that bill doesn't match the fantasy my ic colleagues conjured up for the cameras. prgtoken In reality, this $1.5 trillion package was another spending spree. It was complete with 4,400 earmarks--4,400 earmarks. Now, these earmarks don't have any Federal nexus. They are not connected to your military post or your Federal highway. These are things for shopping centers and parks and city renovations and--you name it--pet projects. So that is not government funding; that is a Big Government windfall that the American people simply can't afford. prgtoken As we all know, an inability to pay for these programs has never stopped this ic majority from shoving through their radical and increasingly destructive agenda. By their own admission, the out-of- control spending habits have contributed to decades-high inflation. Imagine that. prgtoken What we know is that, in Tennessee, I am talking to people every day. They can't afford food and gas and to pay all of their monthly expenses, but for some reason, my ic colleagues think taxpayers will be happy to pay for their pet projects back home--all 4,400 of them. You just can't make this stuff up. prgtoken The American people are really confused by this. They are also completely appalled by 's refusal to secure the border, his refusal to invest in American energy independence, and his willingness to keep our economy entangled with the Chinese Communist Party. Every one of these points worries them. Yet what really scares them is the President's refusal to discuss any of it: Just don't talk about it. It will go away. Inflation, that is transitory. If gas is too expensive, go buy yourself an electric vehicle. This is just so disrespectful of hard-working men and women. prgtoken has caused a lot more problems than he solved during the first year of his Presidency, and his constant pivots away from life- or-death problems have destroyed what little trust the American people had left in his ability to get the job done. prgtoken They like to think that the President cares about what happens to them--the American people, the citizens--but they haven't seen any evidence to suggest that he is thinking about them. prgtoken Last week, I was up on the Plateau in Tennessee, talking to Tennesseans about what is going on here in the Senate. Most of what they tell me boils down to one simple truth: From where they are sitting and the news they are watching and the papers they are reading, it is clear that the have a very aggressive agenda, but they have no vision for the future of this country. They feel like what the want is control over their daily life, not a v
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-3-15

there are very few things that possess the power to change the course of history almost instantaneously. Information is one. prgtoken Consider, right now, citizens in Ukraine are holding one of the most ruthless, autocratic, and powerful men in the world, Vladimir Putin, accountable for his barbaric assault on their country with their firsthand accounts being live-streamed from behind the battle lines. prgtoken Putin is attempting to censor coverage of the bloody conflict by threatening to jail journalists and Russian citizens who dare use the word ``war'' to describe his unprovoked attack. prgtoken Even the United Nations instructed its staff not to refer to Russia's military assault on Ukraine as a ``war'' or ``invasion.'' Yet, every day, Ukrainians are bypassing this blockade of information and exposing the Russian tyrant's atrocities in real time by sharing images of civilians standing up to the heavily armed Russian invaders, the innocent victims and destruction caused by the bombing, and captured Russian soldiers in tears testifying that they were lied to and misled into attacking a peaceful country. prgtoken As a result, the people of Ukraine have rallied the world, including many Russians, behind their courageous struggle to preserve freedom and democracy against the largest military assault in Europe since World War II. prgtoken This is the power of information. prgtoken Authoritarians like Putin cannot hide their dirty deeds in the dark as long as light can be shined to expose the truth. It should serve as a reminder to every single American how important it is that we uphold and defend the fundamental principles of our Nation that make us so great--in particular, our First Amendment. prgtoken We should never take these American freedoms for granted. That is why it is important we celebrate the freedom of information every year during Sunshine Week. With widespread distrust in government and the media and Big Tech controlling what facts and opinions can even be shared, it has become increasingly important that each one of us has the power to access facts, unfiltered. prgtoken To arm us with information, over the past half century, a number of important laws have been passed by Congress to increase openness in government and give our citizens a right to know. These include the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, which allows access to government documents, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which provides a detailed accounting of how, where, why, and by whom taxpayer dollars are being spent. prgtoken To demonstrate the importance of these laws, let me give you a relatively simple example with potentially profound implications. prgtoken In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I teamed up with my friends at the White Coat Waste Project to use a combination of these transparency laws to follow a trail of U.S. taxpayer dollars to China's state-run Wuhan Institute of