mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MARCH 13, 2020
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2022-3-3

I rise here today--we are going to be voting here later on. In a recent Monmouth poll in January, respondents were asked if they agreed with this statement: ``COVID is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives [and live with it].'' Seventy percent said they did agree with this, including half of all . prgtoken We have been through 2 years where we have been from here to there on it--if an early believer, take it seriously. We didn't know what it was going to have in store for us, but I think we do now. prgtoken So often you hear: Listen to the data; look at the science. Too often, it has kind of been the political science of it. prgtoken Vaccinations and natural immunity mean that a large majority of our country is already protected. Hospitalizations, serious illness, and even death from COVID we can see are really going in the right direction, thank goodness. prgtoken As therapeutics continue to improve, it is clear that most Americans are right--COVID is here to stay. It is endemic. We can't marinate in fear. We can't have lockdowns. We can't have one-size-fits-all for across the country. We have got to get on with our lives. prgtoken President recently extended the Federal state of emergency under the National Emergencies Act indefinitely. I would like to point out, he is not alone there in the sense that most of our Governors have done the same. I only think in Florida and in Iowa--I would say that I am guessing most citizens living in a lot of these places would like their Governors to do likewise. This state of emergency makes robust powers available to the President during a crisis. It includes forgiving student loans, imposing travel restrictions, capital investments in neighborhoods deemed to be disproportionately affected by COVID. prgtoken When this emergency was first declared 2 years ago this week, it was needed. It was uncertain. It was gratifying to see that, in a bipartisan way, in March of 2020, we came together. But we have learned so much since then. Now, I think it has become a burden. prgtoken I cite 3 weeks ago--it was in a classroom in Las Vegas. You ought to look it up. It was announced there--this is different, but it was a mandate. It was that you had to wear a mask in the classroom. The kids, I think, embodied prgtoken what this whole process has been about and that we are at a different place. It looked like they won the State championship in something. prgtoken We are there. Congress has a responsibility to vote on whether to approve these emergency declarations, as we will today. prgtoken Every State and community is easing COVID restrictions, and many of them have eliminated them entirely. Ideally, you fight something like this with maybe general guidance from here, but you let government where it is closest to the people dictate how this stuff should happen and how long it should be there. prgtoken It is past time for the President and Governors
BIDEN ENERGY CRISIS
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-3-3

. Madam , we are in the depths of the energy crisis. prgtoken On day one of 's Presidency, he launched his war on American energy when he killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which could be supplying 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada to U.S. refineries. As recently as a few days ago, we imported 600,000 barrels of oil from Russia. prgtoken During the State of the Union, President claimed he wanted to ``Buy American.'' But regrettably, he did not apply that to our oil or our natural gas. has made it crystal clear that his anti-energy agenda would continue. prgtoken He also announced that he would once again tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and release 30 million barrels of oil in another desperate attempt to reduce gas prices here at home. The SPR is supposed to be used for national security emergencies and prgtoken for major weather events, not for to use as a political Hail Mary when his policies fail us. Energy security is national security. prgtoken Let me say this: Winston Churchill said appeasement is like feeding a crocodile and hoping he eats you last. We must stop appeasing Russia. We must be Churchill in this moment, not Chamberlain.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-3-3

. I appreciate that clarification because it is in President 's set of sanctions that he specifically exempted energy. Clearly, that is not unifying, even to us. prgtoken But it is the money that is still allowed to be flowing into Russia, into Putin's pocket, to finance the war that many of us want to get at. prgtoken If H.R. 6858, after the gentleman looks at it, has some provisions that we could work on, I think it would be very unifying to the country to say we are finally going to confront what might be Vladimir Putin's largest source of funding, and that is his oil exports to the United States. It offends many, many people that, today, we are getting over 100,000 barrels every single day from Russia because we took things like the Keystone pipeline off the table. prgtoken That would have brought us oil from Canada. Canada is a friend, by the way. And it is not like the need and the demand just went away. The demand is still there. prgtoken President said no, we don't want Canadian oil. But it wasn't because he didn't want any oil. He didn't say no, we don't want any pipelines. He just said no to the Canada-to-America pipeline, but he said yes to the Nord Stream 2, initially. But he also said to Vladimir Putin: Would you produce more oil? prgtoken And let's keep in mind--I know there is this conversation about the planet. Let's be honest about carbon emissions. Carbon is emitted all around the globe. So if we shut down production in America, which has been done--and it is not just on Federal lands where the President is not issuing permits. He put a freeze just 2 weeks ago on all new permits. prgtoken But it is also the banking system that he is using to go after oil and gas companies, so there is no investment being made in America. They are making investments, billions of dollars of investment, in other countries. They are just not making it here in America because of those policies. prgtoken Again, that just gives more leverage to Putin. We were paying less than $2 per gallon under President . I know the gentleman wanted to bring up President . prgtoken President stood up to Putin, by the way. You didn't see an invasion anywhere in Ukraine under President . You surely did under President and Vice President when Putin walked in and took Crimea with no consequence. Afghanistan, the weakness that was being showed clearly was being watched by Putin and Xi and other adversaries as a preface to then go and start marshaling troops on the Ukraine border. prgtoken President didn't let that happen. He stood up to Putin and pushed back on Putin. He also used energy as a weapon against our enemies because we were producing enough to not only meet our needs but to export to our friends around the world. prgtoken Surely, lower pricing was a benefit to Americans, but it also helped our allies around the world. That has been taken off the table. prgtoken But let's talk about th
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-3-3

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the small business, Neeley Family Distillery of Sparta, KY as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Today, I honor a business deeply rooted in Kentucky history. Founded in 2015, the Neeley Family Distillery bares a history far older than their date of official registration. The Neeley family has been distilling and bootlegging illegally in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky for 11 generations, with James Neeley distilling the first batch of Neeley family whiskey on American soil in 1740. James Neeley came to the New World with a mastery passed down to him by his Irish forefathers. Ten generations later, James' descendant and lead distiller Royce Neeley uses many of these same skills to craft fine Kentucky Bourbon. prgtoken Though his single-barrel bourbon earned him a gold medal from the 2020 World Spirits Competition, Royce is just as famous for his moonshine. Royce's great grandfather Leonard Neeley developed the moonshine over 100 years ago, by adding sugar to the original family recipe for rye whiskey. This concoction was so popular in the days of underground bootlegging that it led a vicious and at times violent rivalry with another local bootlegging family. Artifacts from this trialing era are all on display at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, including the pistol Royce's great-grandfather used to shoot another moonshiner. Though the Neeley family business is no longer under threat of the law or mob rivals, Royce proudly bears that history in the creation of all of the distillery's products. prgtoken Carrying the torch that his forefather lit long ago, Royce brought the Neeley family name to the legal production of bourbon for the first time in 2015. Starting out as a young entrepreneur with a wealth of expertise, he steadily grew his business in the years to come. However it was not until 5 years later that Royce switched gears and entered into a new kind of production. Faced with gross shortages of essential products during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Neeley Family Distillery joined forces with other Kentucky distillers to produce nearly 125,000 gallons of hand sanitizer. Together, the distilleries donated the much needed product to frontline workers across the Commonwealth. Fulfilling this desperate need required immediate retooling of their facilities, sourcing of necessary products, and totally shutting down their production of bourbon. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated that an industry, once spurned by authorities during the days of Prohibition, could rise to be great stewards of their community during times of hardship and duress. prgtoken The Neeley Family Distillery has since returned to their regular product
REMEMBERING JONES WEBB
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-3-3

I rise today to honor the life of a great man, Mr. Jones Webb. Jones was a fellow Young College graduate with an innate love and passion for the college. prgtoken Young ran in Jones' blood, as his grandfather owned a store and rooming house for male students at the college. His father attended Young Academy and Young College, where he graduated in 1916 and was the editor of the college's first yearbook. prgtoken Jones was a dedicated servant to the college and served his many years on the Academic Affairs Committee, Executive Committee, Planned Giving Committee, and the Properties Committee. prgtoken He spent 35 years on the Young College Board of Trustees before being elevated to emeritus trustee status in 2013. Additionally, Jones spent time as the secretary of the board for 17 years, from 1991- 2008, and served as college counsel for several years. prgtoken He wore many hats and provided his keen insight, legal acumen, and wise counsel to ensure the college that he loved so dearly was even better for the next generation of students. His passion and dedication will always be remembered. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers will remain with his family and friends during this most difficult time.
REMEMBERING DR. JAMES CAMERON
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2022-3-3

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. James Cameron on what would have been his 108th birthday. James Cameron was born in La Crosse, WI, on February 25, 1914. A civil rights pioneer, Dr. Cameron fought his entire life to create an accountable and equitable world. Dr. Cameron left an indelible mark on our country as the only known person in the United States to survive a lynching, an event in 1930 at the age of 16 which would inevitably change his life. prgtoken Dr. Cameron was an early activist for the Civil Rights movement, desegregating the movie theater in the Indiana town where he and his wife, Virginia, lived. He worked with the NAACP, founding branches in Madison, WI, as well as Muncie and South Bend, IN. He also served as Indiana's director of civil liberties. prgtoken In 1952, the Cameron family came to Milwaukee. Over the years, he acquired pieces like Ku Klux Klan robes, as well as a piece of rope that had been used during his own lynching. After visiting Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, he set out to create a museum with these pieces to educate the public about the injustices Black people faced in America. At age 74, he founded America's Black Holocaust Museum in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Milwaukee. Three years later, in 1991, Indiana Governor Evan Bayh gave him the key to the city of Marion where he had miraculously survived the lynching 61 years prior. prgtoken Dr. Cameron so rightly believed that only by sharing the hard truths about our Nation's history, could we move forward together to promote racial repair, reconciliation, and healing. The best word to describe Dr. Cameron was ``survivor'' and his life's work and legacy will now live on with the Grand Reemergence of America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee on February 25, 2022. With a mission to build public awareness of the harmful legacies of slavery, lynching, and Jim Crow, America's Black Holocaust Museum is guided by a vision of a society that remembers its past in order to shape a better future, a nation undivided by race where every person matters equally. This will be a home for others to take the lesson that, in order to create an equitable world, we must first create a world willing to grow.
HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS ACT OF 2021
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-3-3

. Madam , I rise in support of the amendment introduced by Representatives Ruiz, Ryan, and Gonzalez-Colon. prgtoken Madam , I want to take my 30 seconds to just say how much this bill, the Honoring our PACT Act, rests on the work, passion, and energy of the gentleman from the neighboring district in Riverside County, which we both have the honor to represent. prgtoken Dr. Ruiz has brought his tremendous knowledge as a doctor, somebody with three medically-related degrees from Harvard University--the first Latino to do so. I can't say enough about the work that he has done to make this possible, and we all are grateful.
RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MARCH 13, 2020
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-3-3

just in response to the Senator, we have never had an ``all of the above'' strategy, truly. We have had an ``oil above all'' strategy. That is the problem that we have. That is the hole that we have dug for ourselves. prgtoken It is time for the United States to finally put a plan in place that backs out the imported oil from Russia, backs out the imported oil from the Middle East, and the only way we can do it is if we pass the climate provisions in President 's plan. prgtoken By 2030, the goal is to have 40 percent of all of our vehicles being all electric--no oil, no gasoline. Do you know what that does? It destroys the business model of Russia. It destroys the business model of the countries in the Middle East that need that petrol dollar from the American consumer in order to fund all of their nefarious activities. prgtoken Germany is going 65 percent all-electric vehicles by the year 2030--9 years from now, 65 percent all electric. prgtoken So if we put this together and we are serious about it right now, we will destroy the long-term threat fueled by our own addiction to energy, Europe's addiction to fossil fuels, and it will just send us on a clean energy future. prgtoken But in order to do it, we need a true ``all of the above'' strategy, not ``oil above all.'' That is how we got here. And if we are going to do it, we have to pass that comprehensive clean energy package out of the Senate this year and put it on President 's desk. prgtoken That will scare Putin and his cronies vacationing in Sochi. That will put a fear into the hearts of the oil monarchs of the Middle East because they will know once and for all that we are serious about not allowing our American consumer dollars to fuel conflicts around the world. prgtoken Again, I appreciate the time. prgtoken . prgtoken .
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF DR. PAUL FARMER
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of a pioneer of global health and the dear friend of many in the Congress. Dr. Paul Farmer sadly passed away last week in Rwanda at a hospital and university that he helped establish, while doing what he loved most: working to improve the lives of those in need. prgtoken Dr. Farmer saw a world in need and worked to heal it. A true revolutionary in the field of medicine, he forever altered our understanding of the fight against global poverty and how to care for those in need. Driven by an unyielding belief in the dignity of every person, he devoted his life to realizing this essential truth: health care is a human right, not a privilege. prgtoken As the Co-Founder of Partners In Health, Dr. Farmer brought his brilliant medical acumen, tireless work ethic and deep compassion to deliver his unique and innovative brand of compassionate care around the world. Alongside his dedicated colleagues Dr. Jim Yong Kim and Ophelia Dahl, he helped to fight HIV in Haiti, tuberculosis in Peru, Ebola in Sierra Leone--to name just a few. prgtoken With his life-changing work in Rwanda, he helped the government rebuild the nation's entire public health system and drastically improve outcomes for the Rwandan people. Personally, it was a privilege to see his saintly work first-hand on our Congressional delegation to Haiti in 2015, when we visited one of his initiatives to address the needs of orphan children. prgtoken Beyond his heroic work abroad, Dr. Farmer was also deeply committed to shaping the next generation of doctors and public health leaders. At Harvard Medical School, he served as the Kolokotrones University Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, where he inspired so many students to carry on his lifelong mission, as articulated by the title of one of his books: To Repair the World. prgtoken The world was in awe of Dr. Farmer's immense love for others--even those who lived half a world away and whom he had never met. Often, he would live in the communities he served, relocating his family for extended periods of time so they could be closer to those in need. It is a testament to his legendary ability to connect with others that he was godfather to more than 100 children, most of whom he met during his service in Haiti. And the partnership in public health and beautiful love he shared with his wife, Didi, was a joy to behold for all fortunate enough to know them. prgtoken While Dr. Farmer's passing is an enormous loss for the world, his powerful vision lives on in the institutions he built, the students he mentored, the hearts he touched and the lives he saved. prgtoken May it be a comfort to Didi and their three children that so many in Congress, our Country and in the world join them in mourning this extraordinary hero. May he rest in peace.
RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-3-3

. Madam , Russia's unprovoked, unjustified war on Ukraine threatens peace, democracy, and stability around the globe. However, what it does not do is break us, and it has not broken the people of Ukraine. prgtoken Instead, the people of Ukraine have shown the world their resilience and the strength of democracy. As we work to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his aggression, we must also ensure that we provide support for the Ukrainian people as they seek certainty and refuge. prgtoken As an emergency physician and the only trained humanitarian in Congress, I have seen firsthand what lies ahead for those fleeing a crisis. This is a complex humanitarian crisis and deserves a human response. The U.S. must contribute to that response, including helping our humanitarian partners on the ground and granting Ukrainians refuge and temporary protected status to Ukrainian nationals here in the country. prgtoken Madam , I stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people to protect their sovereignty, and my prayers are with them.
RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MARCH 13, 2020
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-3

. I will be brief as I conclude. prgtoken , as our country turns the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, we stand at a crossroads. We can either take steps to keep America ready in case new variants arise--and the odds are high they will arise--or we can backslide and undo everything we have done, at great cost, to get our country closer to normal. prgtoken Today, the Senator from Kansas is advancing a proposal that would precisely handicap the administration's ability to fight the pandemic and heighten the danger that all our progress is suddenly unraveled in the future. We have learned how to fight the pandemic; we are better at it; this undoes it for some kind of ideological reason. prgtoken This proposal to hinder our COVID preparedness is as damaging and risky as it is unnecessary, and it should be voted down. It is going nowhere if it passes. prgtoken The national emergency declaration, which this proposal would immediately terminate, has been one of the most powerful and best tools for mobilizing the Federal Government to combat the pandemic. It has made it easier to acquire medical supplies, to provide resources for healthcare works, and has helped cut redtape under the Defense Production Act. It has also offered student loan borrowers critical relief by clearing the path for suspending student loan payments--a lifeline for tens of millions. Do we want that undone? prgtoken Just as it looks like we are turning the corner, why on Earth would s risk bungling it all by crippling America's ability to remain prepared for the future? The best way to ensure that we keep schools open and cases low is by staying at the ready, and that is what these emergency powers enable us to do. We don't know if new variants will come or not, but if they do, they can appear with frightening speed, and we need to be prepared. prgtoken By prematurely terminating the national emergency declaration on COVID, it will be harder to ensure we have enough supplies, enough support for healthcare workers, and risks throwing tens of millions of student loan borrowers into needless uncertainty and anxiety. It is a wrong move. I will vote against it today. prgtoken And . Vote on S.J. Res 38
HONORING MARY CHAPMAN AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2022-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mary Chapman, a tireless advocate for economic, social, and racial justice who is working to close the opportunity gap for youth between the ages of 16 to 24. prgtoken Dr. Chapman serves on various community and civic boards including Bankers Trust Advisory Board, Iowa Corrections Board, Des Moines Branch NAACP Executive Committee (Women in NAACP Chair), Des Moines Public Arts Foundation, Des Moines Art Festival, Hoyt Sherman Foundation, and Urban Dreams Board. She also is a member of Des Moines Chapter of The Links, Inc. and a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. prgtoken Among the many awards she has received, Dr. Chapman is an Iowa African American Hall of Fame inductee, a 2013 inductee in the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame, and a Des Moines Business Record Woman of Influence awardee. The Iowa Department of Corrections has also named the Mary Chapman Computer Lab in the education center at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in honor of her. prgtoken Community leaders like Dr. Chapman make Iowa a great place to live, and I share her goal of making Iowa a more equitable and just place to live. I will continue that fight in Congress and always support advocates like Dr. Chapman and organizations like the NAACP. It is my pleasure to name Dr. Mary Chapman as Iowan of the Week.