mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT-
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-4-22

over the past 13 months, Americans have endured extraordinary constraints on one of the most precious rights guaranteed by our Constitution: the right to freely exercise their religion. There is, perhaps, no freedom more intertwined with our nation's history. It was religious freedom that drove persecuted settlers from England to America just over 400 years ago. And they were not the last. Over the centuries, countless religious minorities from across the world have come to America, seeking refuge from religious warfare and bigotry. prgtoken To be clear, we haven't always lived up to this ideal. Members of the church to which I belong were forced to flee across the country due to religious persecution, to name just one example. Despite these aberrations, however, no nation in the history of the world has protected and preserved the rights of religion and conscience like the United States.And that's not an accident. The First Congress recognized the profound importance of religious freedom by protecting it in the very first sentence of the Bill of Rights. That provision--called the First Amendment--states that ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' The Supreme Court has applied this prohibition to State and local governments through the 14th Amendment. prgtoken So what does this mean, practically? First, governments cannot discriminate against religion or single it out for worse treatment than similar nonreligious activities. But, second, if a government does treat religion differently than other similar activities, it must 'pass'' the ``strict scrutiny'' test. That means that the government must show that there was absolutely no other way to achieve an extremely important goal than restricting the religious activity in question. prgtoken The First Amendment is clear. Religious exercise must be protected. Nevertheless, over the course of the pandemic, governments throughout the country have placed heavy-handed restrictions on this fundamental freedom, restricting Americans' freedom to gather for worship, to meet in smaller groups for religious purposes, or even to sing. prgtoken At first, Americans accepted these restrictions. We understood the extraordinary difficulties facing our leaders as they struggled to grapple with a new and deadly virus. And we were assured that these restrictions would be temporary, lasting no longer than necessary. But as the weeks and months dragged on and the prohibitions on religious exercise continued, we began to see a startling trend. As restrictions on restaurants, casinos, and museums began to thaw, in many states, synagogues, churches, temples, mosques, and other religious gatherings were left out in the cold. prgtoken In May 2020, the Governor of California allowed some restaurants and retail businesses to operate indoors with up to 50 Percent capacity. Meanwhile, all indoor religiou
IN RECOGNITION OF KASEY MEREDITH
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-4-22

. Madam , I rise to recognize Kasey Meredith of Johnstown, Pennsylvania as she is named the Cadet First Captain and Regimental Commander of the Virginia Military Institute's Corps prgtoken of Cadets. A trailblazer, Cadet Meredith will be the first woman to hold the position in the Institute's 181-year history. prgtoken As Regimental Commander, Cadet Meredith will oversee the training, discipline, fitness, and morale of the Corps. She currently is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Officers Training Program. Upon her graduation and successful completion of the program, Cadet Meredith will receive her commission as a Second Lieutenant of Marines. prgtoken Cadet Kasey Meredith's selection as Regimental Commander is a testament to her strong academic performance, determination, and leadership. On behalf of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, it is my privilege to recognize outstanding Pennsylvanians as they answer the call to serve our nation. I proudly congratulate Cadet Meredith on earning this well-deserved position and wish her every continued success.
KEEPING OBSCENE AND INDECENT CONTENT OFF OUR AIRWAVES
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-4-22

John Adams said our Constitution is fit for a moral and religious people, and is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. prgtoken The average American watches about 30 hours a week on broadcast TV. And, of course, what starts on broadcast TV winds up on other screens as well. The Federal Communications Commission is tasked with keeping obscene and indecent content off the airwaves. prgtoken While there are some especially responsible parents who raise their children with no TV in the house at all, as a practical matter, broadcast TV affects the moral norms of the Nation. prgtoken I have received complaints in my office, and rightfully so, about Cardi B and the GRAMMYs. They wonder why we are paying the FCC if they feel this should be in living rooms across the Nation. prgtoken I realize that has used her fame to promote this performer, but I assure the FCC that millions of Americans would view her performance as inconsistent with basic decency. prgtoken Wake up, FCC, and begin to do your job. The moral decline of America is partly due to your utter complacency.
CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH FERNDALE AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-4-22

I rise today to celebrate Earth Day and recognize Mrs. Sweeney's sixth grade class at Ferndale Area Elementary School in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. prgtoken In March, Mrs. Sweeney's class wrote an article called ``Stewards of the Environment.'' Her students were inspired to start the ``Every Bottle Back'' schoolwide recycling program. The class set a goal of recycling 1,000 bottles, and, as of today, they have collected 1,486 bottles. prgtoken Mrs. Sweeney's class decorated receptacles and spread the word throughout the school. The students kept track of their progress with a tally sheet, and every 2 or 3 days educators took the plastics to the Roxbury or Geistown recycling center. prgtoken The actions of these sixth graders continue to inspire others in the community. In fact, these sixth graders have inspired the local high school to start a similar program. They have set a great example proving that the littlest of actions can make a big difference. prgtoken Thank you, Ferndale Area Elementary School, for your hard work and dedication to recycling. prgtoken , as we celebrate Earth Day, let us use Ferndale Area Elementary School as an inspiration to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-22

over the last few months, we have been spending a lot of time talking about the surge of migrants at our southern border and, as the Presiding Officer knows, we are having bipartisan meetings here to try to figure out how to address that and other challenges of our broken immigration system. prgtoken We know the spike in migration is not a new phenomenon, and sadly, neither is the increase in the number of unaccompanied children. But the current surge is unlike anything we have experienced in the past. We are breaking all the wrong kinds of records, including the numbers of unaccompanied children, total monthly border crossings, and capacity levels at care facilities. And, of course, all of this is happening during a pandemic which creates serious risks for our law enforcement and for those caring for these migrants and for the migrants themselves. prgtoken Unfortunately, the administration has not yet figured out how to stop this flow of illegal immigration. The President and his team are telling migrants: Don't come. But when it comes to his policies, all of his policies say: Come while you can. prgtoken They haven't figured out how to replace -era policies, and so what they have done is left a void that is being exploited by everybody from the coyotes, the human smugglers, the people who smuggle in drugs into the United States, as well as the people who understandably want a better life. Maybe they are fleeing poverty or violence. We all understand why people want to come to the United States, but we also believe the safest and fairest sort of immigration policy is legal immigration into our country. prgtoken We are the most generous country in the world. We have naturalized about a million people a year. It is one of our comparative advantages compared to the rest of the world that restricts migration. Over the last few months, like many of us, I have spent a lot of time listening and learning from the folks on the ground in Texas who know the ins and outs of this topic better than anybody else. prgtoken I have visited border communities and heard from Border Patrol officers, mayors, county judges, and nongovernmental organizations that try to help these migrants once they make their way to the United States, and whose experience precedes this current surge. prgtoken I visited five of the facilities in Texas that are helping take care of the record number of migrant children in Carrizo Springs, Donna, Houston, Midland, and Dallas. I have heard about the heartbreaking circumstances under which many of these children have arrived on our doorsteps. I have seen the incredible ways that our nongovernmental organizations, like Catholic Charities, are trying to ease the burden of this crisis, even after a year of supporting their communities through a global pandemic. prgtoken The reality of this situation is that we are quickly nearing a breaking point. We lack the facilities, the personnel, t
TRIBUTE TO ROD OSTERMILLER
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-4-22

this week I have the honor of recognizing Rod Ostermiller of Yellowstone County for nearly 30 years of service in law enforcement in Montana. prgtoken Rod first entered law enforcement in 1991 at the age of 21 and moved up the ranks swiftly. In 2004, he became Chief Deputy Marshal and later served as acting U.S. Marshal when his predecessor retired. prgtoken In 2018, I had the distinct honor of nominating Rod to become the U.S. Marshal for Montana, which received unanimous approval in the U.S. Senate. He was then officially appointed by President . prgtoken Rod is a Montana native from the south side of Billings. He later attended Montana State University to earn his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. prgtoken Since his retirement from law enforcement, Rod went on to become the executive director of the Mental Health Center in Billings, where he continues to help combat the meth crisis we have in Montana in a different capacity. He exemplifies what it means to make one's community better. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Rod for his decades of service to Montana's law enforcement and for his continued efforts to make Montana a safer and better place for all.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-4-22

I rise in support of amendment No. 1458, which I introduced. It will narrow the scope of the tangled web of regulatory guidance that the bill calls for and keep politics out of the process of reporting and addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans. It addresses crimes, not incidences. prgtoken I don't think it is out of line to introduce a little precision to the process and make sure the Agency officials who will be responsible for running this program know what they are supposed to be looking for and what they are supposed to be doing with all that information. prgtoken I can guarantee my colleagues that support of this change will result in a bill that will fulfill its purpose to protect victims and potential victims of hate crimes, and it will stop their attackers. prgtoken I urge adoption of the amendment.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-4-22

. Madam , last week the press--not the Department of Agriculture--reported that the administration's Farmers to Families Food Box Program would come to an end. prgtoken In subsequent reporting and an unapologetic email from the USDA, it was made clear that the only reason for its termination was because of the man who created it. prgtoken The Farmers to Families Food Box Program had open eligibility, making certain anyone and everyone in need, regardless of status, income, or household size, had supplementary access to fresh meats, dairy, and produce. Since May 2020, this program has provided more than 156 million boxes to households across the United States. prgtoken Farmers to Families provided an alternative market for food intended for restaurants and food service, creating outlets for supply chains. Due to COVID this food could not easily be realigned to retail markets quickly enough to prevent spoilage. Even today, Farmers to Families provides fresh products in greater quantities than traditional emergency feeding programs--items such as dairy, meat, and fresh produce, which have always presented unique logistical challenges for distribution. prgtoken The program reemployed workers in the commercial food distribution sector whose work was halted by the closure of restaurants, hotels, and other food service industries during COVID. prgtoken In my own district, L&M Farms, a participant in the program, managed to supply more than 600,000 boxes of fresh produce to those in need. prgtoken Regardless of the various hiccups heard during USDA's listening sessions in previous hearings and from Members of this very House, the program worked exactly as intended, as a lifeline for consumers and producers alike during a challenging time. prgtoken Nine hours after the press broke the story, USDA relayed, via email, that commodity purchases will ``continue to occur and be directed to existing, reliable channels of distribution.'' prgtoken This leads me to believe that locally focused producers and distributors who benefited greatly from Farmers to Families are being traded in for billion-dollar organizations that have already received billions in government aid to perpetuate dependence instead of eradicating it. prgtoken Madam , I hope this body comes together to voice their strong opposition to the termination of this small piece of salvation that had a positive impact on all of our local communities, particularly those in rural areas.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-4-22

today, I express my support for S. 937, as amended by Senators Hirono and Collins. prgtoken Every single one of us is horrified to see our fellow Americans attacked because of their race or ethnicity. We are united in our opposition to this despicable violence and to seeing it investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I have introduced a resolution to this effect and asked for a hearing to learn more about Attorney General Garland's review of hate crimes committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. prgtoken It is good to see my ic friends acknowledge that bipartisanship is still the way to solve problems in the Senate. We have come together and, with a bipartisan amendment, improved this bill and made it more useful. We have gone beyond merely looking at COVID- related hate crimes to all hate crimes, and we have increased funding for reporting hate crimes. prgtoken I would be remiss if I did not say that more bipartisanship could have made the bill even better. I think a committee markup would have been useful. I think if had allowed us to bring a amendment extending the Violence Against Women Act for a vote, that would have been useful. Women are suffering from terrible violence during this pandemic, and this was a missed opportunity. prgtoken Passing amendments by Senators Kennedy, Cruz, Lee, and Blackburn prgtoken would guarantee even more support for marginalized communities, by ensuring Asian Americans are not discriminated against by institutions of higher learning and that religious Americans are free to worship in peace during the pandemic. prgtoken But I hope nonetheless that this is a moment where the Senate speaks together about the importance of fighting hate crimes. We all believe that, even though we have different ideas about the best way to do it. This bill is the product of that collaboration. I will be voting for it, and I hope my colleagues will do the same.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-4-22

today is Earth Day, and there are many issues, environmental challenges, that each of us could be discussing here on the Senate floor. prgtoken I have chosen to speak on a bill that I am introducing today that is called the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act. I am pleased to be partnering, once again, with my colleague from Delaware, Senator Carper, who serves as the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Our bipartisan bill would help ensure that we have accurate information about the extent of mercury pollution in our country. prgtoken Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. It poses significant ecological and public health concerns, especially for children and pregnant women. Mercury exposure has gone down as U.S. mercury emissions have declined. However, the levels remain unacceptably high. prgtoken It is estimated that nearly 200,000 children born in the United States have been exposed to levels of mercury in the womb that are high enough to impair their neurological development. This exposure can impose a lifelong disability. prgtoken In addition, the societal costs of neurocognitive deficits associated with mercury exposure are estimated to be approximately $4.8 billion per year. prgtoken In Maine, some of our lands and bodies of water face higher mercury pollution compared to the national average. Maine has been called the tailpipe of the Nation, as the winds carrying pollution, including mercury, from the West drift into the State of Maine prgtoken A system for collecting information, such as we have for acid rain and other forms of pollution, does not currently exist for mercury, which, ironically, is a more toxic pollutant. A comprehensive mercury monitoring network is needed to protect human health, safeguard our fisheries, and track the effect of emission reductions. This monitoring network would also help policymakers, scientists, and the public better understand the sources, consequences, and trends of mercury pollution in our country. prgtoken Specifically, our legislation would do the following: prgtoken First, it would direct the EPA, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other Federal Agencies, to prgtoken establish a national mercury monitoring program to measure and monitor mercury levels in the air and watersheds, water and soil chemistry, and in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms at multiple sites across the Nation.
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2021--Motion to Proceed
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-4-22

I want to join my colleague Senator Cantwell in congratulating Senator Hirono and all of us for almost unanimously passing this bill that would try to stop discrimination against Asian Americans. I am happy that passed. There was only one vote against it. prgtoken I just don't think it goes far enough. I think it is ludicrous, it is odious to me, that in the year 2021, we have major universities in the United States of America that are setting quotas on their admissions for Asian Americans--not quotas to have enough Asian Americans, quotas to keep Asian Americans out. They are, and everybody in this body knows they are doing that. prgtoken Harvard is in litigation over it. Harvard officials have already stated that but for their quotas, there would be twice as many Asian Americans at Harvard as there are now if they base the decision solely on academic achievement. And that is wrong. prgtoken There is no way to discriminate in the right way. Discrimination is discrimination. Judge people on the basis of their academic achievements. prgtoken President has talked an awful lot about the error of discriminating against Asian Americans, and he is absolutely right. What is the first thing he did? He pulled his Justice Department off of filing litigation to try to stop these quotas on Asian Americans and universities. I mean, if there weren't double standards around here, there would be no standards at all. prgtoken So I strongly encourage--Senator Cruz and I offered an amendment to Senator Hirono's bill to try to fix this. Unfortunately, we couldn't get 60 votes. In fact, I don't think a single--maybe I am wrong in saying this, but not very many of my ic friends voted for it. prgtoken But I would say to President , now, if you are serious about ending discrimination against Asian Americans, tell your Justice Department to get off its ice cold, lazy rear end and do something about it. Stop the quotas in higher education. prgtoken Anyway, that is not, really, what I came up to talk about.
THE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-4-22

. Madam , this has been a confusing time period I think for most of America, and why the confusion is becoming so cluttered among us all is because we are using definitions that sometimes don't seem to make sense for the situation that we are in. prgtoken So I was thinking back, and not too long ago we were told that we don't have to worry about our borders because we really don't have a crisis there, what we have is a challenge. prgtoken As we seem to constantly redefine or put different labels on what we know to be true, I think it is time for a moment of clarity. I went to Oxford Languages to find out just what a crisis is. prgtoken So this is not my definition. This is what Oxford Languages has said: A crisis is a time of intense difficulty or trouble or danger; a time when a difficult or important decision must be made. prgtoken So what is it I am talking about? prgtoken I am talking about our crisis at our borders. prgtoken So why would a guy who lives in western Pennsylvania worry about what is happening on the borders in Texas and Arizona? That is almost 2,000 miles away from where I live. That is almost 2,000 miles away from the people I represent. How could it possibly impact them? prgtoken So I would tell my friends that if you don't think this is going to have an impact in the community you live in, this is coming to a town real close to you real soon. prgtoken In Erie, Pennsylvania, we are now housing about 150 young girls who have come from the border. Now, I don't know where their starting point was. I know where their entry came, and I know now that these unaccompanied young ladies--they are 7 to 12 years old--have now been shuttled to Erie, Pennsylvania, into housing which is much better than what they were experiencing at the border. They are living there now, and I am not sure that they know what the consequences of this relocation means to them. prgtoken I have been told that of those people who have come in, those little girls who have come in, approximately 30 of them have COVID. prgtoken We sit in this House--the people's House--and we debate issues that are sometimes very confusing and very conflicting and separate us as a people. This is not an issue that should separate us. If we truly believe that there is a humanitarian crisis, then we should fix it in a humanitarian way. prgtoken I have often been told that you can't beat something with nothing. The previous administration under President had a very clear policy about how we were supposed to handle the surge at our borders, a very clear process, very clear what was to take place. That all changed. As the administration came in, they said, no, this policy from the previous administration is untenable, it is not humane, and it is no longer going to be in existence. prgtoken Again, Madam , you can't replace something with nothing. My question to the administration through several letters and through several requests for the HHS and