mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2467, PFAS ACTION ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2668, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND RECOVERY ACT; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3985...
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-7-20

the balance of my time. prgtoken , s agree that PFAS contamination must be addressed, and it must be addressed quickly. But requiring a blanket CERCLA designation for a family of over 9,000 compounds is not only untenable; it circumvents the science and the ongoing work at the Environmental Protection Agency. prgtoken I do want to point out that yesterday I had posed a question in the Rules Committee if there had been a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee. I was assured that there had been. But, in fact, those hearings occurred in the previous Congress. prgtoken There was a reference to PFAS in the budgetary hearing for the Environmental Protection Agency, and there was likewise a tangential reference in a reauthorization of a water bill, but for an issue that is this involved, it seems that this required its own separate hearing within the committee. prgtoken The Chair, who is on the Energy and Commerce Committee, knows that sometimes these things run together. We have worked on this problem for so many Congresses that I asked the question simply because I couldn't remember if there had been an actual hearing on this bill in this Congress. But, in fact, there has not, and I just want the Record to accurately reflect that. prgtoken The reason that that is important is there are many Members in this Congress who were not Members of the previous Congress, and we are asking them to take a vote today on a terribly important piece of legislation. We need to provide our colleagues with all the facts, and the way we do that in regular order is through the regular hearing process in an authorizing committee, like the Energy and Commerce Committee. prgtoken Unfortunately, in spite of the assurances from the chair of the Rules Committee, that has not happened with this bill. prgtoken Another thing really was concerning to me yesterday in the Rules Committee. I had two amendments. I was told: Oh, we can't do those because we don't really know the budgetary impacts of that. prgtoken My gosh, you don't know the budgetary impacts of the entire bill. prgtoken We got a CBO score right at the hearing time yesterday, and the CBO score says $280 million of direct expenses over the next 10 years. But it has no idea of the downstream effects of passing this legislation or what the resulting expenditures would be for Federal and State governments. We have no earthly idea what the actual cost of this is. prgtoken I would just simply submit, to reject amendments brought in good faith by s because you don't have all the budgetary information at hand when the Congressional Budget Office really cannot provide us the proper budgetary direction on the underlying bill, you begin to see the discrepancy and why that yields so much frustration. prgtoken As a result, no amendments to try to improve the bill were considered because of the indeterminate budgetary effects. It seems to me that a b
HONORING THE LIFE OF BYRON BERLINE
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-7-20

. Madam , Byron Berline, a genius of bluegrass music, passed away on July 10, 2021, after a lifetime of sharing his amazing talent on the fiddle and mandolin with millions of people worldwide. prgtoken Byron was born on July 6, 1944 in the small town of Caldwell in the 4th District of Kansas where he began to play the fiddle at age five. prgtoken After serving his country in the U.S. Army, Byron quickly rose to musical fame, winning three national fiddle competitions and becoming a much sought-after recording artist, studio musician, member of the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, and frequent festival favorite. Berline performed with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Monroe, and many other notable and international musicians. His talent was also featured on TV and movie soundtracks including Back to the Future Part II and Star Trek, to name a few. prgtoken Byron Berline's biggest fans were the thousands of people who attend the annual Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, where Byron was a favorite performer on stage and in the campgrounds. He leaves a legacy of five decades of live and recorded music and joyful memories for all those who were blessed to enjoy his gift of fiddling.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-7-20

before we proceed to a vote on final passage of the VOCA Fix Act, on which I teamed up with Senators Durbin, Graham, and other members of the Judiciary Committee, we first will turn to the Toomey amendment. prgtoken This amendment is loosely based on a bill introduced by Senator Toomey in 2015. That 2015 measure, entitled the ``Fairness for Victims of Crime Act,'' would have created a budgetary point of order against legislation that required the Crime Victims Fund to disburse less than the average amount collected by the Fund over the previous 3 fiscal years. prgtoken The Senate held a field hearing on this legislation, which was introduced by Senator Toomey, the same year. The Budget Committee, of which I am a member, then approved the legislation by unanimous voice vote. I still support the premise behind this bill, which is to promote fairness for crime victims and restore the original intent of the Victims of Crime Act. prgtoken Some years ago, appropriators placed an arbitrary cap on the amount of money that could flow out of the Crime Victims Fund each year. The imposition of this cap meant not only that billions of dollars accumulated, unspent, in the fund in later years, but also that this sum could be used as an offset to support other projects backed by congressional appropriators. Meanwhile, the availability of so much unspent money in the Crime Victims Fund made it an extremely tempting target for budget dealmakers. On one occasion in 2015, during the administration, budget negotiators simply rescinded at least a billion dollars of the fund for a budget deal. prgtoken As noted by Senator Toomey today, the President's budget proposal for the coming fiscal year indicates that he proposes to rely on $26 billion in the Crime Victims Fund and cancellations in the Children's Health Program to offset an equivalent amount in new discretionary spending. Table S-8 to the President's budget shows that this is the intention. prgtoken Every last penny brought into the Victims of Crime Act Fund is supposed to help victims rather than serve as a funding gimmick for other projects supported by appropriators and the White House. It is for this reason that I support the Toomey amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-7-20

I come to the floor today to oppose ' latest multitrillion-dollar spending spree. prgtoken It has only been 4 months since the passed a $1.9 trillion spending bill, and it was done through Congress on a party-line vote. Not a single voted for the bill. The put the whole thing on a credit card. The bill is going to be paid for by our kids and our grandkids, and they are going to have to pay for it with interest. prgtoken To me, that bill was completely unnecessary. It was a big payoff to the people who run the ic Party--$86 billion for union bosses, hundreds of billions for bankrupt blue States, and free vacation time for DC bureaucrats. There was a big expansion of Medicaid. There was an even bigger expansion of Care. Millions of dollars went for so- called climate justice. prgtoken The bill flooded the country with cash, and it did so without adding goods or services to the country. So what happens? Well, prices go up. It is no wonder that prices have gone up since took office. prgtoken Experts from both parties warned that the so-called stimulus bill would actually cause inflation, and that includes President 's economic adviser Larry Summers. Critics also included former economic adviser Jason Furman. I want to make sure I get the quote right. He said: ``I don't know any economist that was recommending something the size of what [we passed].'' Didn't know a single economist who recommended it. prgtoken The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said we don't need any stimulus funding. Well, that didn't stop the . The Congressional Budget Office said our economy would be back to normal, they said, this summer without a dime of additional spending. prgtoken , of course, ignored the experts. They got their hands on America's credit card, and they just couldn't resist using it. prgtoken One measure of inflation is now the highest it has been in nearly 30 years. prgtoken Filling up a pickup truck in my home State of Wyoming--and I was there again this past weekend--is now about $25 more expensive than it was the day was inaugurated. For 3 months in a row, prices have gone up faster than wages. In effect, the American people, because of the inflation exceeding wages and growth, have taken a pay cut. prgtoken Two things I hear about every weekend in Wyoming: one, the cost of things, and then I hear from small businesses trying to hire people, trying to get people back to work. prgtoken We know, nationally, nearly half of all the unemployed people have been making more money by staying at home than they would have by going to work. That is because Washington continue to pay them unemployment bonuses on top of the unemployment earnings that they make in their own State. States have unemployment programs to compensate people who are out of work, but Washington said: Not enough. We are goi
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-7-20

today, I rise to bring attention to new revelations about President 's nominee to head the Bureau of Land Management, Tracy Stone-Manning's involvement in a tree-spiking incident in Idaho, and to share why I oppose her confirmation. prgtoken I would have welcomed having a nominee with such strong ties to Montana to be the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and, until recently, I believed, as did most Montanans, based on her testimony before the Montana State Legislature, back in 2013, that her role in the tree-spiking crime was minimal, her actions were helpful, and she helped bring criminals to justice. prgtoken Unfortunately, new information has revealed that this simply was not the case. In fact, rather than bringing criminals to justice, Ms. Stone-Manning assisted in helping them evade justice for years--for years. prgtoken I am going to lay this out because I think it is important that the facts are shared before this body. First, it reveals that she withheld the truth from investigators for several years. Second, it reveals that she harshly criticized Federal law enforcement at the very same time she was refusing to tell them the truth. And, third, it reveals that she has not taken responsibility or expressed remorse for not speaking the truth much, much sooner. prgtoken I know many of my colleagues are probably just tuning into Ms. Stone- Manning's involvement in a tree-spiking crime committed in 1989 while she was a member of an ecoterrorist group called Earth First! prgtoken The picture that she and her advocates have painted about her involvement in this crime is that she was the innocent hero who helped put bad people in jail. Well, in recent weeks, we have learned there is a lot more to this story. It is very alarming. It is very disturbing on many levels. prgtoken Ms. Stone-Manning stated to the Montana State Legislature that a rather frightening man approached her with a letter while she was on campus. Come to find out, that man wasn't a stranger. It was her roommate and someone whom she described to the court during the 1993 trial as someone who was in her main circle of friends. prgtoken Ms. Stone-Manning stated that she simply mailed the anonymous letter--that she simply mailed it. But in reality, and as we have since found out and as we have explored court records in Idaho, this information had not come out, except in the last 45 days. prgtoken The investigation later revealed that this letter had not only been collaboratively composed, but after waiting for a few days, it was typed by Ms. Stone-Manning on a rented typewriter, which, according to her very own testimony, was because she wanted to avoid having it on her own computer and avoid having any fingerprints that could be traced back to her. prgtoken The words that Ms. Stone-Manning typed and mailed are explicit. It is not what you type and send to protect people. They are what you say to frighten people. prgtoken
REMEMBERING PATRICIA WILKINSON
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2021-7-20

I rise today with a heavy heart to remember and honor Patricia Wilkinson of Jackson, Mississippi, who recently passed away at the age of 73. prgtoken Pat and her husband, Joe, retired to St. Simons Island in my district. prgtoken I had the pleasure of serving with Joe in the Georgia General Assembly and the greater pleasure of calling Pat and him friends. prgtoken Following graduation from the University of Mississippi, Pat followed in her older sister's footsteps to become a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. She spent 50 years as a highly respected senior international Delta flight attendant. prgtoken Outside of work, Pat was an active member of the Sandy Springs Society and the Woodward Academy Parents Council. prgtoken Pat's love for life and travel was contagious. While she loved flying, nothing could compare to the love she had for her family. Her family was the center of her world, and she brought joy and unconditional love to all. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all who knew her during this most difficult time.
NATIONAL PENNSYLVANIA DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize July 20 as National Pennsylvania Day. Pennsylvania's nickname, the Keystone State, represents the central role we played in shaping our Nation. Our great Commonwealth was the second State to join the Union and continued to lead the way in making history. prgtoken As the first capitol of our Nation, many great decisions were made in Philadelphia. It was there our Founding Fathers authored the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution forming this great Nation. Pennsylvania served in an important role in key military operations. Valley Forge tells a story of sacrifice, leadership, grit, and determination when our rag-tag military was attempting to defy history and defeat a global superpower. prgtoken The Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point of the Civil War, providing the Union with the momentum to bring our great Nation back together. Our State continues to carry the legacy of many firsts, from the first American flag sewn by Betsy Ross to the first commercial oil well. prgtoken Our inventor spirit continues to weave through history, from Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton, and Jonas Salk. We continue to bring new and exciting ideas forward. Our legacy of American craftsmanship and work ethic runs deep, from our steel mills and coal mines to our farmlands and forests. prgtoken Madam , as a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, I am encouraged each and every day by the industrious spirit of our residents as we continue to build a bright path forward for our commonwealth and our country. prgtoken Happy Pennsylvania Day! I am proud to be from our great Keystone State.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-7-20

I rise today because, in a practical place like the State of Indiana, believe it or not, we actually balance our budget every year. We have commonsense things in place that if you are going to receive some benefits of some sort, maybe you do something where we can help to get you to where you do not need the benefits. prgtoken In this case, this is again something that was not broken and is now being fixed in a way that takes enterprising States like the State of Indiana, like Texas, like Arizona, places that wanted the ability in administering their share of Medicaid, to have ways to try to get folks into a position where they could get back on their feet, seek work, and do things that would make sense for trying to maybe earn their way into that benefit somewhat. prgtoken Do we believe Washington has all the answers? I think that is what you believe when you get rid of something that was working in many places. prgtoken I am in the camp that, as much as I know the Federal Government has to weigh in and do things, but if the argument is that we have been knocking it out of the park here, that we have been getting things done that really work, if it wasn't done in the context that of every dollar we spend here, we borrow 23 cents--and in the time I have been here, 2 and a half years, have been probably the loudest voice on trying to fix healthcare. prgtoken Part of that issue is in my own party, where I think we are apologists for a broken healthcare industry. The other side of the aisle wants to just spend money to try to fix it without fixing the underlying issues that drive so many of the problems in this country, where we deal with them in a sustainable way in our State governments, in our local governments. If we take away that flexibility, then we are defaulting to a system that has not been solving the problems. prgtoken Today, we are here specifically talking about the Medicaid Program. The way it works currently, the Federal Government pays for half the benefits, and the States pay for half the benefits. The Social Security Act authorizes a framework of flexibility so enterprising, innovative States can maybe do something to bring down the cost of these programs and wean us off the need for them primarily in the long run. prgtoken Since President has taken office, several State waivers that were previously approved under the administration have been revoked. It has happened in Texas. It has happened in Arkansas. It has happened in Arizona. And now they are coming after a place like Indiana that has a system that works so well that we are even in the process of giving some revenues back to our citizens this coming year, where revenues were so far above forecast, we are still taking care of issues at the State level and doing what we ought to be considering: returning resources to the taxpayer. prgtoken This isn't even that. This is trying to retain the flexibility where it has
For the People Act (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-7-20

it has been all political theater all the time lately as the attempt to manufacture a crisis that will allow them to pass their partisan Federal takeover of State election law. prgtoken There was President 's overwrought speech in Philadelphia last week warning that election laws being passed in various States are ``the most dangerous threat to voting and the integrity of free and fair elections in our history.'' prgtoken That is right, in our Nation's history. prgtoken Apparently, post-Civil War voter suppression laws and poll taxes and other atrocities don't hold a candle to what is happening today in places like Georgia, where--the horror--only election officials will be able to hand out water to those in line at the polls. prgtoken Then, of course, there were the Texas ' antics as they flew to Washington via a private jet to shut down the Texas Legislature and prevent election legislation from being passed there, and the Senate ' field hearing in Georgia yesterday to highlight the supposed horrors of Georgia's mainstream election law. prgtoken In his speech last week, President mentioned stopping the spread of disinformation, which is an ironic statement when the are engaging in one of the most massive campaigns of disinformation we have ever seen, because--and let's be very clear--the narrative the are peddling, which is that States are engaging in a massive campaign of voter suppression, is simply false. prgtoken In other years, I doubt whether any of the State voting laws that have been passed would have been more than a blip in the national news because they are nothing more than ordinary, mainstream updates to State voting guidelines. The Georgia law that has provoked so much ic hysteria is not only squarely in the mainstream when it comes to State election laws, but it is actually, in some ways, more permissive than voting laws in some ic-led States. prgtoken A piece in the New York Times, hardly a newspaper that carries water for s, concluded that the voting provisions of the Georgia law are ``unlikely to significantly affect turnout or ic chances.'' prgtoken In fact, the piece notes that Georgia's law could ``plausibly even increase turnout.'' prgtoken Meanwhile, the Washington Post Fact Checker column noted again: ``The law does not put up roadblocks to Black Americans registering to vote.'' That from the Washington Post Fact Checker. prgtoken And yet have repeatedly asked us to believe that this law is ``Jim Crow on steroids'' and part of ``the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War.'' Those are quotes, actual quotes, from . prgtoken That is right, since the Civil War. Apparently, segregation and the horrors of Jim Crow are nothing compared to Georgia's adjustment of its regulations on no-excuse absentee voting, which isn't even allowed in some -led S