mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Randy K. Weber, Sr. (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-7-21

I thank Judge Gohmert for yielding, my friend from northeast Texas. We are going to miss him. He has had quite a distinguished career both before he got into Congress and then when he got demoted to Congress. We appreciate him. I just can't tell you how much we really appreciate him. prgtoken , I rise today to honor the life of country music legend Mickey Gilley. Mickey Gilley passed away Saturday, May 7, in Branson at the age of 86. prgtoken Born on March 9, 1936, Gilley was a native of Natchez, Mississippi, where he grew up around his two famous cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart. prgtoken In his career, Gilley earned 39 top 10 hits and 17 number one songs. prgtoken With six Academy of Country Music Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and as a member of the 2011 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, Gilley was also one of only a few artists who have also received the Academy of Country Music's Triple Crown Award. prgtoken But it was the opening of the country dance club bearing his name that changed the world of country music forever. It was 1971 when Mickey officially opened the doors of his famous honkytonk. prgtoken Gilley's reputation grew so much that Hollywood even took notice of the hit movie ``Urban Cowboy,'' where he even made an appearance alongside none other than John Travolta, Debra Winger, and Johnny Lee. prgtoken Inspired by the real-life romance of a pair of the club's patrons, ``Urban Cowboy'' put Gilley's on the map, revived music careers, launched others, introduced two-stepping to a whole new audience, and created a lifestyle that has been adopted by millions. prgtoken Following his role in ``Urban Cowboy,'' Gilley found himself performing in main showrooms in places like Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and Atlantic City, and even traveling to Europe to perform. Gilley even performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. . prgtoken Over the decades, Gilley appeared in a number of popular television series, including ``The Fall Guy,'' ``Fantasy Island,'' ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' ``Murder, She Wrote,'' and ``CHiPs.'' prgtoken Not only will Mickey Gilley's music live on in the hearts of so many who loved his music, but his cultural influence cannot be overstated. ``Urban Cowboy'' became an American phenomenon, and it was influenced by the real-life stories of Gilley's patrons, Dew Westbrook and Betty Helmer. ``Urban Cowboy'' told the story of a west Texas farmhand who was new to the area and working his first job at a refinery. This film introduced country dance to America and created a lifestyle that has been adopted by millions. prgtoken Even more surprisingly, it directly resulted in the most unlikely outcome of all: Country-and-western music became mainstream. Once considered outdated hillbilly attire, cowboy hats and belt buckles became high fashion. prgtoken On Saturday, January 29, Mickey came to the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce's celebration, ``The 50t
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-7-21

Washington ' one-party government has actually performed an amazing feat. In 18 months, they have taken an economy that was ready to soar and completely derailed it with $2 trillion in unnecessary borrowing, printing, and spending. Now, 9.1 percent inflation is pinching hard-working Americans every time they visit the gas pump or the grocery store. prgtoken The administration has tried their hardest to find a silver lining amid the economic storm clouds they helped create. They have touted the strength of consumer spending to conclude our economy is strong. That is what they said. Well, of course, consumer spending has only gone up because the price of nearly everything has increased. A recent economic analysis shows the American people do spend more on gas, groceries, furniture, and clothes than we used to, but--listen to this--adjusted for inflation, they are actually consuming less--paying more, getting less. prgtoken Parents of school-age kids are some of the hardest hit. Four in ten say they won't go back-to-school shopping before the upcoming school year. One young mother in Nevada says she will ``pick out one or two shirts'' for her daughter ``and that's it.'' Inflation has made everything else too expensive. prgtoken Over in Arizona, inflation forces the average household to spend over $9,600 more a year compared to when President took office. Many families simply don't have that much wiggle room in their budgets and are resorting to desperate measures simply to stay afloat. prgtoken One Phoenix area food bank has seen a 78-percent increase in visitors compared with just last year--78 percent more families who simply can't afford to live in this -run economy. A woman in line at the food bank said she had never needed to visit one before but ``the prices are way too high'' right now to support four children on her husband's salary. prgtoken Colorado families are facing the highest inflation costs in the Nation, in the whole country: nearly $10,900 in extra spending per year compared to the beginning of the administration. Not surprisingly, Coloradans are falling behind on paying for daily necessities. One pawn shop owner in the State has noticed a marked increase in loan seekers at his business. For most of them, they just need ``30 bucks, 40 bucks'' to ``pay small bills, get gas, put groceries on the table.'' prgtoken This is all happening in my home State of Kentucky as well. People are taking out loans, cutting back spending, and relying on charity just to cope with ever-increasing prices. But that hasn't stopped Washington from proposing new ways to wreck our economy. As we speak, they are batting around a new suite of tax hikes aimed squarely at the middle class. If -driven inflation hasn't pushed struggling families off the edge quite yet, the -driven recession certainly will finish the job. prgtoken So what is on the me
FARM BILL IMPACT SERIES NO. 13
Tracey Mann (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise today to deliver the 13th installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series during a time when the effects of a poor wheat harvest in Kansas are only compounded by crushing inflation. prgtoken This is insult added to injury for Kansas wheat farmers. Producers are laboring under the burden of skyrocketing input costs while they work hard to keep our country fed, fueled, and clothed, and they deserve workable solutions to this inflation crisis before the situation gets any worse. Farming is already a risky, volatile business without the added burden of inflation, and USDA estimates that input costs will continue to rise to astronomical rates throughout 2022. prgtoken For an example of the risk and volatility--the wheat harvest just ended in Kansas, and the results were a fraction of the yield that farmers in the Wheat State hope for and bank on during normal seasons. The Farm Bill (which Congress will reauthorize in 2023) exists, in part, specifically for situations like this past wheat season--to provide emergency assistance to the people who feed, fuel, and clothe the world even when mother nature doesn't cooperate. prgtoken The weather in Kansas can be extreme and unpredictable, which means that growing wheat in the wheat state can be a very difficult prospect sometimes. I had an intern in my office this summer named Parker Vulgamore who is a rising senior at Kansas State University where he serves as the student body president. He is also a member of the sixth generation of his family farm in Scott City, which lies in my district. Vulgamore Family Farms is a wheat, corn, and sorghum operation, with wheat being a staple. This year, due to an exceptional drought and extreme conditions throughout the growing season, much of the wheat never grew past three inches tall. So, what is typically a highly anticipated three-to-four-week wheat harvest only lasted a day and a half. Many wheat farmers in Kansas barely even ran their combines this year--they harvested what they could, cut their losses, and moved on. prgtoken This is where Farm Bill emergency assistance programs like crop insurance come in. Crop insurance serves producers and consumers alike because it helps prevent producers from going out of business and grocery store aisles from sitting empty. Farm Bill programs like crop insurance have secured our national food supply and helped generation after generation of producers avoid bankruptcy when times get tough. We're in one of those times right now. Inflation is skyrocketing in America, President is trying to impose his Farm Killer Tax, and producers are going out of business. The chance to reauthorize the Farm Bill for 2023 has come at a critical moment in time. prgtoken The farm crisis isn't just about money. It's about morale and spirit. It's about joy. Missing wheat harvest time in Kansas doesn't just mean missing out on the yield of a cash crop--it means missing out on the special Kansas
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman from Washington for yielding. prgtoken While practicing medicine for over 30 years back in Texas, I personally prescribed a lot of contraceptives. I have seen the benefit that they have over the lives of women who use them, and I will continue to support a woman's right to access contraception. prgtoken But this bill was brought to the floor of the House urgently and outside of regular order. There was no attempt to work with s. The majority hastily put forward an incomplete product that, at the end of the day, is never going to see the light of day in the Senate. prgtoken The Right to Contraception Act would establish a statutory right for patients to obtain contraception and for doctors to prescribe. The kindest thing I can say about this legislation is that it is duplicative and unnecessary. But, unfortunately, it can also be damaging. prgtoken Contraception is so broadly defined that it could guarantee access to medical abortion pills or even contraceptives that might not have FDA approval. It could lead to the dispensing of unsafe products. Even if a product gets FDA approval, it does not always ensure its safety. prgtoken Essure was a medical device previously sold to cause sterilization. The FDA approved this device in 2002, but it didn't start examining reported concerns by users until 2015. In 2018, the FDA restricted the sale of Essure, and the manufacturer took the device completely off the market. prgtoken The Dalkon Shield is an intrauterine birth control device manufactured and sold in the early 1970s. This device was responsible for many reported incidents of inflammatory infections, uterine perforations, spontaneous septic abortions, as well as at least four deaths. The FDA requested this device be taken off the market in October of 1974 but never issued a formal recall. Under the language of this bill considered today, a provider could provide that. When manufacturing ceased in 1976, more than 2 million of these devices had already been sold in the United States. prgtoken Madam , I am the first to agree that the drug approval process at the FDA should be made faster, more transparent, and safer. But imagine the dangers of allowing contraceptives and devices where the FDA has not even considered their safety. prgtoken Madam , you will find consensus in the Energy and Commerce Committee amongst s regarding preserving access to contraception if the had only decided to work. We had no legislative hearing; we had no subcommittee markup; and we had no full committee markup. prgtoken The bill was introduced last Friday and brought to the Rules Committee on Monday. I am also a member of the Rules Committee, so that was the only hearing that we had on this legislation. As I like to tell people, Rules Committee members are like the apex predators of the legislative process. We are only there at the end of the road. prgtoken Madam , this bill
TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF KAREN KELLY
Harold Rogers (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to Karen Kelly, one of the most dynamic female leaders in Kentucky politics, who has worked with me through various roles in southern and eastern Kentucky over the last 28 years. She has served as my District Director for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District since 2013, and as she moves on to the private sector, I want to honor her today before my House colleagues who understand the immense value of having a fierce and loyal leader on the frontlines in the district while we are working diligently on Capitol Hill for our people at home. prgtoken Karen is the most recent of many incredible female leaders that I have been blessed to have on staff, starting with my very first Chief of Staff in Washington, Marty Driesler. Marty was a force of nature and was instrumental in many of my early successes in Congress--just as Karen Kelly has been in Kentucky for nearly three quarters of my tenure in Congress. Much of my staff in Washington and in Kentucky have become long-tenured experts in their respective fields, providing excellent aid to folks across Kentucky's Appalachian region, and trusted advisors during my public service in the U.S. House of Representatives--and chief among them being Karen Kelly. prgtoken British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said, ``If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.'' As we know well in Congress, the world of politics isn't for weak-minded, spineless individuals. To be effective, you must stand firm on the values you hold dear, even at the risk of losing popularity; however, Karen has managed to maintain both. In fact, she has become one of the most highly respected leaders in Kentucky because of her relentless commitment to her conservative values and her courage of conviction to do what's best for the people of our region, even when the going gets tough. prgtoken In 1994, Karen started out answering the phones and doing casework in my Pikeville office, quickly working her way up to become a Field Representative in my Hazard office. From day one she proved to be a highly motivated and promising visionary with an intense work ethic to accomplish any task that I set in her path. Soon after, I asked her to lead the Eastern Kentucky PRIDE organization, a non-profit environmental education and improvement task force to help clean up our hillsides, lakes, and streams across Kentucky's Fifth District. She quickly learned the complex ropes of grant funding and grew PRIDE's outreach operations in the schools. She also led the charge for more water and sewer project opportunities with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and exponentially grew volunteer cleanup participation. prgtoken In the early 2000s, I quickly realized that we had another crisis to clean up in Eastern Kentucky when a deadly scourge of prescription overdose deaths was ignited by a flood of overprescrib
PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD FIST-BUMP THE AMERICAN ENERGY WORKER
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , while President is fist-bumping with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Americans are still facing record-high prices at the gas pump. prgtoken When he was campaigning, President claimed he would crack down on Saudi leaders, and then he turns and shares a warm greeting with one before begging them to sell us their oil. prgtoken President showed weakness on the world stage, and he showed the American people he cares more about keeping up friendly appearances with OPEC than the well-being of the American people. prgtoken Let's be clear: The administration halted the Keystone XL pipeline on day one and destroyed 11,000 American jobs to line the pockets of OPEC oligarchs. prgtoken Why else would President be begging Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries to increase oil production when producers and refiners right here on U.S. soil have struggled for months thanks to the Green New Deal agenda? prgtoken Whatever happened to making America self-sufficient in energy? We are a country that can depend on ourselves for our energy, but the administration is continuously doing whatever they can to block this from happening. prgtoken Instead of traveling 8,000 miles across the ocean to beg for oil from others, he should continue the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and the rest of our American infrastructure, support American workers, and maybe fist-bump them for a change.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-7-21

this bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing. While the language touts supporting access to family planning, in reality, it is likely a $5 billion gift for Planned Parenthood and other abortion-related providers. prgtoken Prior to the administration's protect life rule, Planned Parenthood received nearly $60 million per year in title X funds. The administration reversed this rule and has aggressively deployed title X funds to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. prgtoken Under this bill, Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers would be allowed to use the funds to build clinics, and abortion counseling referrals would be mandatory. The bill would also force religious providers to violate their beliefs. Congress should not green light family planning dollars at the expense of family destruction. prgtoken For those reasons, I object.
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-7-21

the business before the Senate is a critical undertaking to shore up our vulnerability to imported microcircuits, otherwise known as semiconductors. You might wonder why this is so important if you haven't been following the debate over the last couple of years. prgtoken While this legislation has taken many names, it began as the CHIPS for America Act in June of 2020, which established a new program to incentivize manufacturers of these tiny microcircuits, known as semiconductors, to set up shop here in the United States. prgtoken We have tried to fund the program at different times through the Endless Frontier Act; the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, sometimes called USICA; the America COMPETES Act; the Make It in America Act. But no matter what the title is or whatever you call it, the purpose is to eliminate this unacceptable risk that somehow--due to pandemic, due to military conflict, due to natural disaster--our access to the most advanced semiconductors on the planet would be cut off, with devastating consequences to the U.S. economy and our national security. prgtoken I know some people wonder, Why should the Federal taxpayer provide financial incentives to semiconductor manufacturing? And that is a perfectly good question. The reason is, we are in a competition with countries all around the world that are providing incentives to build these necessary and essential facilities in their country, and if we don't participate in this competition, we will end up maintaining our dependency entirely on semiconductors imported into the United States. We saw big investments being made in other countries--China, the EU, Germany, France. A number of different countries want this manufacturing capability in their country because they understand its importance to their economy and security. prgtoken Now, you might wonder, Why is it necessary? Well, there is a reason-- an economic reason--why these semiconductor manufacturers are almost all based in Asia. The overwhelming majority are made in Taiwan, and that is because it costs 30 percent less to build these facilities in Asia than it does here in the United States. prgtoken But COVID-19 exposed a lot of vulnerabilities of supply chains, whether it is PPE--personal protective equipment--or semiconductors, and this idea that just because somebody could build something cheaper somewhere else, that checked all the boxes. It does not check all the boxes. And there are some things we must have access to, and one is a secure source of these microcircuits that run everything from your cell phone to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. We know that semiconductors will get more and more important as the world competes to come up with smaller and more powerful semiconductor chips to operate everything from computers to our weapons systems. prgtoken When the pandemic hit, the supply chain vulnerability was demonstrated by empty car lots, backordered electronics,
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-7-21

America is facing a perfect storm of inflation, unsustainable energy costs, and supply chain chaos. Russia and Iran are circling the wagons. prgtoken is still finding new ways to put the American people last. In fact, prgtoken when it comes to getting gas prices under control, he has chosen to unleash a China-first policy rather than unleashing the power of American energy. prgtoken I have spent the past 18 months laying out in great detail how and the have damaged our credibility and enriched our adversaries. They undermined our economic recovery. They abandoned the border. They destroyed American energy independence. The list goes on and on, unfortunately. It appears that everything they have done makes life worse for ``we the people.'' prgtoken Unfortunately, it is emboldening the axis of evil--Russia, China, Iran, North Korea. Under normal circumstances, Vladimir Putin's trip to Iran this week would be a cause for concern, but with the administration in charge, it appears it could be just the tip of the iceberg because although Russia and Iran are competitors, especially in the energy sector, they are absolutely united in their hatred of the United States and in their desire to undermine Western interests. prgtoken When they look at the United States, they see a country whose President got a head start undermining those interests on day 1 of his administration, and you better believe they are ready to take advantage of this. They are ready for it. This week, look at what they have done. You had Gazprom, which is the Russian energy giant, and the National Iranian Oil Company come together and announce a $40 billion agreement to work together on oil and gas development and pipeline construction. They are reading the writing on the wall, and what they see is hesitation from the U.S. President to move us back to energy independence, where we were on day 1 of his administration, so they are making plans as to how they will work together and dominate the energy sector. prgtoken Meanwhile, has also sold about a million barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party. When I have spoken with Tennesseans about this, they are furious. They cannot understand why he would make a choice to do this. The left has done their best to provide cover for the President, claiming that a million barrels is really nothing to worry about, but you know it is something to worry about. Our SPR has about 750 million barrels in it. We are drawing it down at about a million barrels a day. Plus, the President is now selling to our adversaries--selling it. prgtoken We did a little bit of research into what China can get out of a barrel of oil, and here is what we found: That gives you 20 gallons of gasoline; 12\1/2\ gallons of distillate, which is what we use for diesel fuel; and about 3\1/2\ gallons of jet fuel. To Tennesseans, this makes a bi