mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CLOTURE MOTION
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-4-25

. I am coming to the floor again this evening to talk about the tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine. This is the ninth week in a row during sessions that I have come to the floor to talk about the brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine--Ukraine, an ally of ours, a democratic country, and a sovereign country. prgtoken It has now been more than 2 months since Russia's assault began, and Ukrainians continue to fight with heart, toughness, and conviction. The Russians have been defeated in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. And the Russian Black Sea flagship, the Moskva, was sunk by Ukrainian Neptune missiles. So there have been some successes. But while Ukraine and its people have impressed the free world with their fierce defense of their homeland, the senseless and indiscriminate killing of Ukrainian civilians by Russia continues. prgtoken In this new stage of the war, Russia has begun an intensified offensive in the Donbas region in the eastern part of Ukraine. A few days ago, a Russian commander affirmed that their goal is to gain full control of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts--meaning control of all of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, rather than the roughly 50 percent they took in 2014, and control of southern Ukraine, cutting Ukraine off from its Black Sea ports, leaving one of the world's most important exporters landlocked. prgtoken The commander also threatened the territorial integrity of the small country of Moldova that borders southern Ukraine by saying this would connect Russia to the breakaway province of Transnistria, where Russian troops are already stationed. prgtoken It may not be coincidental that today we heard reports of bombs hitting the Ministry of State building in Transnistria, when no one was there, by the way. Some say this could be a false flag attack, giving Russia an excuse to invade all of Moldova. All of the countries in the region are nervous about their status. They are worried for a good reason. They could be next. I can see why they are concerned. prgtoken We have all seen with our own eyes what is going on, on television or online, the videos we have seen, but let's not forget, Russia continues to commit war crimes and display an utter disregard for innocent human lives. They continue to prevent evacuation of civilians from Mariupol. They have executed noncombatants, and now there are reports of systemic rape and torture by Russian soldiers. This is on top of previous confirmed reports of the use of cluster munitions and thermobaric weapons on civilians. prgtoken As of February 28, the International Criminal Court announced allegations would be investigated. That is good. That must happen. But if they wait and have the proceedings once the war is over, in my view, that is too late. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. These horrific Russian assaults on innocent Ukrainian families in Bucha, Mariupol, and elsewhere, the bombing of civilian targets, the rapes, the tort
RECOGNIZING FES SECURITY FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO EAST TENNESSEE'S COMMUNITIES
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-4-25

. Madam , today I recognize FES Security as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. In April 1972, Frank Whitley started Frank's Electrical Service to meet the electrical needs of his community. Frank enlisted the help of his son, Dale, on the weekends and the work inspired Dale to earn a degree in electronics so he could help run the family business. prgtoken Frank and Dale soon noticed a growing demand for home security, so Dale took the lead in getting Frank's Electrical Service involved in the industry. This was a wise decision. The business quickly switched to specializing in home security and was rebranded as FES Security in the process. prgtoken Dale Whitley, now the owner of FES Security, is building on the successes of the company his father started. The business keeps up with modern technological advancements and FES Security offers digital security systems, products that are controllable through mobile devices, and cameras with video recording capabilities. The company also offers fire and gate systems, as well as home theatre and surround sound installation. prgtoken Although the scope of FES Security's work evolved throughout the years, its commitment prgtoken to East Tennesseans stays the same. Dale and the folks at FES Security pride themselves on the fact that monitoring rates have not increased once throughout the business's history, and they continuously strive to provide the kind of high-quality customer service you can always expect in East Tennessee. prgtoken Congratulations to everyone at FES Security for making this family- owned and operated business a success. I thank them for their work to provide important security services to our community.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-4-25

I rise today to recognize Arkansas State Trooper Spencer Morris who has been prgtoken named the National State Trooper of the Year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, State, and Provincial Division. Morris has demonstrated his dedication to serving his community, and this high honor is certainly hard earned and well deserved. prgtoken Hailing from Crittenden County, Trooper Morris graduated from the Arkansas State Police Training Academy in 2018 and began his career serving and protecting his neighbors and fellow Arkansans. As with all law enforcement positions, this role comes with considerable risk and uncertainty, which he understood and agreed to step into for the sake of public service. prgtoken Morris has shown his commitment to the people of Arkansas each day he puts on his badge and uniform, but exhibited incredible bravery on December 16, 2021, during an attempted traffic stop. While on patrol, Morris answered the radio call from the U.S. Marshals Service requesting assistance in the apprehension of a wanted fugitive believed to be armed and dangerous. Morris sprang into action and attempted to pull the suspect's vehicle over when he sustained a shot in the chest. After returning fire and calling for backup, the suspect was successfully apprehended. prgtoken Colonel Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police, said of Morris' heroism, ``Trooper Spencer Morris is just one example of more than 500 other Arkansas state troopers, just like him, who set aside awesome risks to themselves each day to make their state a safer and better place to call home.'' prgtoken I am extremely thankful for Trooper Morris and his colleagues who patrol our State highways and serve Natural State citizens each and every day. It is because of their dedication and bravery we are able to travel across our beautiful State and feel safe on our roads, highways, and beyond. prgtoken Congratulations to Trooper Spencer Morris on this distinguished and prestigious honor. He represents the best of his community, his brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and our wonderful State. We are tremendously proud of him and celebrate this milestone in his career and protecting the Natural State.
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF MICHAEL A. FINNEY, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF THE MIAMI-DADE BEACON COUNCIL
Carlos A. Gimenez (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the extraordinary life of Michael A. Finney. Michael was a pillar in the business community in Miami-Dade County and known around the country for his ability to conduct business and spur economic growth. On a personal level, Michael was a dear friend and I will always cherish the time we spent together and the projects that we worked on for the people of Miami-Dade County during my tenure as Mayor. Lourdes and I send our prayers to his wife and children, Gina, Michael Jr Marcus, and Austin. prgtoken Known by many as an ``intellectual,'' Michael was brilliant, and more importantly, a deeply caring person. He dedicated his life to serving communities from his time in Michigan to his time in Miami-Dade County. One of his many initiatives, Miami Community Ventures, sought to help individuals from low-income neighborhoods and pair them with employers to help them earn a living wage. This is just one example of how Michael wanted to bring economic prosperity to everyone he could reach. prgtoken Michael was an incredible businessman and embodied the American entrepreneurial spirit. He helped navigate the largest municipal restructuring of debt in the United States during his time in Michigan and played a key role in Miami-Dade's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he was not an elected official, he was truly a public servant. prgtoken The Miami-Dade County community will mourn the loss of Michael A. Finney; husband, father, grandfather, friend, and businessman.
WHY ALL AMERICANS SHOULD OPPOSE AN ATF NOMINEE WHO WANTS TO BAN THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2022-4-25

. Madam , I oppose the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). prgtoken Our right to meaningful self-defense, and the concomitant right to bear arms, was so important to the Founders that it preceded the right to due process, a speedy trial, and reasonable bail. That is how dangerous the Founders knew a tyrannical government could become. In order to protect those constitutional rights and those in the First Amendment--the right to speech, press, and assembly--citizens must have the means to do so. prgtoken And this right is not protected by the Constitution alone. It--and the very closely related right of self-defense--is a civil right as well--or a right that serves to guarantee America's foundational tenet of equality under the law. prgtoken All of President 's recent actions point to a very simple goal-- he wants our guns. By taking our guns, he takes our right to self- defense. Coming at a time when crime is at record levels in most democrat-run cities, self-defense is not a theoretical discussion. The news is filled daily with citizens being attacked, raped, assaulted, maimed or otherwise hurt by assailants. Good people have the right and duty to defend themselves and their family. And, we have seen government overreach as well--tyrannical tendencies by the Regime to imprison its political opponents and political dissidents. Currently almost 800 Americans have been arrested, many denied bail, for trespassing and other minor violations relating to January 6th, even though the favored criminals of the regime who looted, burned and murdered in the name of racial justice in 2020 walked away Scot free. prgtoken In a country that has enshrined the right to self-defense, the mere existence of the ATF is anathema to the Constitution. We have no government agency running roughshod over newspapers and radio stations seeking to ``constrain'' and ``limit'' the First Amendment. We have no government agency cracking down on the unbridled expectation and right to be secure in one's possessions. But we do have the ATF, whose mission is to violate a constitutional right. prgtoken The ATF recently and cleverly changed the definition of machine gun so that more guns would be considered illegal. ATF was caught red- handed recently compiling a registry of gun owners--an action explicitly contrary to federal law. And the DOJ just decided to serialize thousands and thousands more firearms and expand the registry already approaching one billion records. prgtoken The administration wants there to be as big a paper trail as possible against those wishing to exercise their constitutional right. And we know the ATF is making lists of gun owners who made legal purchases--and just announced plans to expand that list. Why would they need all this information? Because with more information, the easier it is to confiscate. The easier it is to blacklist.
America COMPETES Act (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-4-25

the Senate is now, of course, back in session following a 2-week home work period, as we refer to it. That is when we get to go back home and see our friends and constituents and travel around our States. And in my case, representing 29 million Texans, that entails a fair amount of travel, but it is always good to get reconnected with your friends and your neighbors and your constituents. prgtoken I know we are eager to hit the ground running here this week, and certainly, we have a lot to do. For example, the conference committee process for the China competitiveness bill will begin soon, and I am eager to work with the fellow Members of the conference committee to reach a strong, bipartisan bill. prgtoken The long list of unrelated partisan provisions in the House bill, though, have no place, in my opinion, in the final agreement, but I am ready to get the ball rolling so we can pass a bill that serves the American people, our economy, and, most importantly, our national security.
RECOGNIZING STAN KELLY
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Stan Kelly of Winston-Salem and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement as CEO of the Piedmont Triad Partnership. With his departure from this position, he leaves the entire Piedmont region revitalized and ripe for North Carolina's next chapter in modern industry. prgtoken Stan began his distinguished career as a personal banker with Wachovia National Bank, a North Carolina-based financial institution. His industrious work ethic, charismatic personality, and keen intellect propelled him to the position of President of Wachovia's wealth management division in 2001. When Wachovia was acquired by Wells Fargo & Company in 2008, Stan was selected as the bank's regional president for the Carolinas. In this role, he ensured the brand transition from Wachovia to Wells Fargo was seamless for employees and clients, alike. His region of more than 450 branches consistently overperformed company expectations in customer service ratings, employee retention, and market share. Stan retired from Wells Fargo in 2014, leaving the company well-positioned for future success in the region. prgtoken In 2015, however, Stan was called out of retirement when the Piedmont Triad Partnership selected him as its President and CEO. For over 30 years, the Piedmont Triad Partnership has served as the region's umbrella organization for economic development and has worked arduously to promote transformational commercial growth and success in the heart of North Carolina. The Partnership has been instrumental in building upon the Piedmont's proud history of agriculture, textiles, and furniture to facilitate new, robust sectors of industry including aviation and automotive manufacturing, as well as the emerging sector of regenerative medicine. prgtoken As President and CEO of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Stan again proved himself a remarkable leader. Under his direction, the Partnership launched the Carolina Core brand, a regional initiative to highlight existing infrastructure and develop industrial potential along the future 1-685 corridor. Regional leaders have united with Stan in promoting this economic engine capable of powering the Piedmont into the future. Stan's efforts in developing the Carolina Core have already been instrumental in attracting over 30 thousand new jobs in just five years. prgtoken Stan's other accomplishments extend far beyond financial services and economic development. Through various roles, such as Chair of the Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University and the Winston-Salem Foundation, he has studiously worked to give back to his local community and state. Earlier this month, he was honored with North Carolina's most prestigious civic award: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Despite all of Stan's accomplishments, however, he is undoubtedly most proud of his loving family: his wife, their daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , please join me in
AMERICAN FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-26

. Madam , I was caught in traffic. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 126. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Brown (OH) (Jeffries) Brownley (Correa) Butterfield (Evans) Carey (Balderson) Castro (TX) (Correa) Craig (Pallone) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) DeFazio (Blumenauer) DeSaulnier (Beyer) Garcia (IL) (Pressley) Gohmert (Weber (TX)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Correa) Jackson (Nehls) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kelly (IL) (Jeffries) Lamb (Pallone) Lawrence (Stevens) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Levin (MI) (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) Morelle (Jeffries) Murphy (FL) (Deutch) Ocasio-Cortez (Escobar) O'Halleran (Stanton) Payne (Pallone) Ross (Beyer) Sires (Pallone) Smith (WA) (Beyer) Spartz (Miller-Meeks) Strickland (Jeffries) Suozzi (Beyer) Taylor (Van Duyne) Torres (NY) (Correa) Trahan (Beyer) Trone (Ruppersberger) Waltz (Gimenez)
VOTE EXPLANATION
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-4-26

while returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans- Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend vote No. 135 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. prgtoken I would have voted yea on the motion to invoke cloture had I been able to attend the vote. prgtoken While returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend today's vote on No. 136 on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. prgtoken I would have voted yea on the confirmation had I been able to attend the vote.
ONE STOP SHOP FOR SMALL BUSINESS COMPLIANCE ACT OF 2021
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 4877, the One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act of 2021, which will require SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman to maintain a centralized website for regulatory compliance guides. prgtoken Federal agencies are required by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act to publish small entity compliance guides for each rule requiring a regulatory flexibility analysis. prgtoken These compliance guides are meant to explain Federal rules in easy- to-understand terms for small businesses and help them comply with Federal regulations that protect our environment, health, and consumer safety. However, small businesses do not always have the resources to navigate multiple agencies' websites to find these guides. prgtoken H.R. 4877 will ensure the Office of the National Ombudsman maintains an updated centralized website containing links to each agency's small business compliance guides and their relevant points of contact. prgtoken This simple step will significantly reduce the administrative burden on entrepreneurs, make compliance easier, and allow them to spend more time doing what they do best--running their businesses and creating jobs. prgtoken , I thank Representatives Delgado and Van Duyne for working in a bipartisan manner to advance this bill to assist small businesses across the country. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and .
DEMOCRACY OVER AUTOCRACY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-26

. Madam , I was pleased to join the Hoyer codel to Europe, which included a number of countries and also the border between Poland and Ukraine. That is why I am stunned by the remarks of Foreign Minister Lavrov, who indicates that, ``Russia warns of nuclear war risks as Ukraine talks go on.'' prgtoken Let me speak directly to Foreign Minister Lavrov. Maybe Russia should stop the bestiality, the cruelty, the brutality of this war, the killing of children and seniors, and leaving people to starve, and leaving their soldiers on the battlefield. prgtoken It is important that peace talks have an opportunity but saber- rattling gets you nowhere. And frankly, you would be as much afraid of a nuclear outright war than anyone else. Ukraine has a right to be a sovereign-free nation. Their children have a right to grow up free in this world, and democracy has a right to exist over autocracy. prgtoken I believe this is Putin's war, a senseless, vile, and violent war. prgtoken Thank you to the strength of the people of Ukraine. It is important that the administration do as they have done. We should applaud them for what they are doing, as well as acknowledge what Germany is now doing in providing the air-to-ground weapons. prgtoken Stand with Ukraine and stop the saber-rattling. prgtoken Russia, stop the war.
COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF A NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ACT
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-26

I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 3525, a bill I authored to establish a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. prgtoken I want to first thank Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Westerman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Congressman Bentz, and Chairman Neguse and Ranking Member Fulcher of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands for their work with me on bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken Second, I thank Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, and Whip Clyburn for their support on this historic legislation. I also acknowledge and thank Chairperson Lofgren of the Committee on House Administration for her support in moving this bill forward. prgtoken I first introduced this bill in the 114th Congress, and during that Congress, we witnessed the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture that our former colleague, the legendary John Lewis, spearheaded for decades. prgtoken Since then, we have seen legislation establishing the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum signed into law. prgtoken Our communities and caucuses have stood together in each of these efforts, and it is a joy to see this AAPI museum study bill arrive at this point today. prgtoken America is filled with diverse stories of achievement and moments of tragedy. Within our shared history, there are countless tales of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, or AAPIs, contributing to every facet of our Nation. prgtoken As far back as the 1700s, AAPIs have shaped American society. From the Chinese laborers who helped build the transcontinental railroad, a vital piece of U.S. infrastructure, to the thousands of AAPIs who fought for fair working conditions for agricultural workers during the Hawaii sugar strike of 1946, AAPIs have and continue to shape this Nation's history. prgtoken Yet, those contributions are often unheard of and simply forgotten. It is time to change that. A national museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying these tales is long overdue. prgtoken Museums provide a space to reflect on our past, assess our present, and dream of the future that we are working toward. prgtoken My bill is one step closer to the creation of a national museum dedicated to our AAPI American history. The commission established through this legislation will be comprised of experts in their respective fields who will be responsible for studying the feasibility of creating a national museum and providing recommendations to Congress on whether to, and how to establish a national museum. prgtoken Additionally, the commission will study logistical questions of exhibit curation, fundraising capacity, cost of creating and maintaining such an institution, and whether or not this museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution. prgtoken AAPIs are the fastest growing ethnic gr