mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Bidenomics (Executive Calendar)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-11-8

last winter a restaurant and a bakery near Omaha NE, well, they both closed their doors. The restaurant owner said: We have to close. There is no way around it. The owner simply couldn't keep up with food and labor costs that were going through the roof, costs that have been catapulting higher and higher ever since President implemented his so-called omics agenda. prgtoken The bakery owner, well, she had a similar story as she closed her doors. She said that rising costs made it impossible to continue. Inflation took a sledgehammer to those small businesses as well as the livelihoods of their owners and their employees. That is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken Starting and sustaining a family business is already a massive undertaking. That work, combined with the burden of oppressive inflation, becomes too heavy for some families to carry. And the coming months may add even more to that heavy load. prgtoken As we close in on the winter season, days are getting colder; days are getting darker; and that means that many family-owned shops--well, they are going to lose significant business. Fewer customers are going to venture out to shop at small businesses and they will do it for fewer hours during the day and that is going to cut down on the amount of profit that these businesses make. prgtoken But not only that, while profit decreases, costs will go up. Because it is colder, small businesses will spend more of their money on energy bills to heat the buildings. Winter in Nebraska, well, it can pose challenges for family-owned businesses every year. And this year, that is especially the case. prgtoken Since President took office, energy prices have risen by 44 percent. The burden of a higher energy bill during the winter months is 44 percent heavier. Fuel oil is 51 percent more expensive. That is an astounding number. Electricity has gotten 26 percent more expensive, and natural gas, well, it is 22 percent more expensive. prgtoken This winter, there may be Nebraska businesses that follow in the footsteps of that Omaha restaurant and that Omaha bakery, losing so much money to inflation that they are going to be forced to close up shop. prgtoken Spending hundreds more dollars on basic business necessities is unsustainable for a family-owned business, and that is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken Inflation burdens businesses, but that is not where it stops. Inflation is costing the average Nebraska household $988 a month. That is almost $12,000 more a year. Families are paying more for everything, from eggs to gas to their mortgage payments, and this October--for the second year in a row--candy. Candy inflation hit double digits. When buying Halloween candy contributes to a middle-class family's financial struggle, we have got a serious problem. And that is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken Nebraskans know omics isn't working and so do the American people. In a New York Times poll
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MIKE ANDERSEN
Young Kim (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-11-8

I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mike Andersen, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of Veteran Air. prgtoken Mike led a life of service and made a lasting impact in his 40 years of life. He joined the Army in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, serving 4 years and deploying to Iraq. When he returned, he started Veteran Air, an HVAC company that has become a pillar of California's 40th District and throughout Orange County. prgtoken From holiday donations to restoring the Prado Dam Mural, Veteran Air is everywhere and always giving back to our community and to our area. prgtoken His efforts expanded even further when Veteran Air launched Operation Water Drop. Mike packed up supplies and drove to Texas to provide support during the historic 2021 freeze. My heart is with Mike's family, his wife, Jessica; their six children; and the Veteran Air family as we mourn Mike's passing and honor his legacy. prgtoken His impact will not be forgotten.
RECOGNIZING AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION STAR OF LIFE NOMINEE TOM FENNELL
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2023-11-8

I rise today to recognize a first responder in my district, Tom Fennell. Tom has been nominated for the American Ambulance Association's Star of Life Award; a prestigious recognition given to those who have made exceptional contributions to the emergency medical services (EMS) community. prgtoken Tom's journey into emergency medical services began in his childhood, growing up with ambulances in his garage. His father owned a local ambulance service, instilling in Tom a deep appreciation for the lifesaving work of EMS providers. prgtoken After leaving home, Tom continued to his involvement in EMS, working with a Basic Life Support ambulance service which he helped evolve into an Advanced Life Support service. prgtoken Tom's dedication and expertise were evident and he quickly became recognized as a leader in the field. He went on to serve as a regulator for the State of Minnesota's EMS Section, gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by ambulance service providers across the state. prgtoken Tom has made a profound impact on the emergency medical services community in St. Cloud and across Minnesota. He is an inspiration to all those who have had the opportunity to work alongside him. prgtoken Throughout the years, we have been grateful to see many exceptional Minnesotans honored as American Ambulance Association Star of Life recipients. America's first female Emergency Medical Technician and Star of Life Recipient, Rose Pelzel, and her fellow Star of Life recipient, Marcia Anderson, were both panelists in our office's Young Women's Leadership Program. Both women are pioneers in the emergency medical services field, and we were lucky to have them participate. prgtoken Congratulations to Tom on joining these impressive ranks, and I thank him for all his work on behalf of EMTs and first responders in Minnesota.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-11-8

. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to offer this amendment today with the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) as a cosponsor, who was here a minute ago. I am confident it will garner bipartisan support. prgtoken My amendment would prohibit funds from this bill from being used to support a shareholding increase for China at the International Monetary Fund, the IMF. prgtoken The IMF is the world's lender of last resort and plays a critical role in ensuring multilateral cooperation on a wide array of financial matters. prgtoken As the IMF's largest shareholder, the U.S. is the only member to wield a veto over important decisions at the Fund. This includes decisions that change countries' shareholding weight at the institution. prgtoken Across administrations, the U.S. has advocated for the IMF to support fiscal responsibility among borrowers, responsible governance of exchange rates, and transparency in sovereign lending. These principles support global financial stability, but they have now been put at risk by China's dictatorship. prgtoken Put simply, the emergence of China as the world's largest official creditor has saddled countries around the world with opaque and onerous debt that the IMF has been called upon to resolve. None of this lending complies with international rules and norms like those established by the Paris Club and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. prgtoken Although Chinese lending to developing countries has declined since its heyday in 2016, it still racked up $79 billion in commitments across the board in 2021. Much of this lending is shifting from infrastructure to emergency lending. In other words, China itself is adopting a role that the IMF has been traditionally playing. prgtoken Moreover, China's flouting of international lending standards mirrors its nontransparent management of its domestic currency, the renminbi. It is shocking, but undeniably true, that the IMF has limited insight into the exchange rate regime of the world's second largest economy. This is why my amendment is so important. prgtoken The IMF is finishing a review of its shareholding by the end of this year. China continues to argue that its shares, referred to as a quota at the Fund, don't accurately reflect its weight in the world economy. It has pushed and will continue to push for a greater say on the board of IMF. prgtoken My argument boils down to this: Shareholding at these institutions is not about the size of a country's economy, but, rather, its commitment to international rules and good-faith cooperation. As long as China dismisses every principle of the IMF's foundation, we cannot reward it with a stronger voice at the Fund. It would be absurd to increase its shareholding weight at the IMF when it is refusing to restructure much of its predatory lending to the Fund's borrowers. prgtoken The Treasury Department represents us at the Fund, and I am pleased that it has conveyed Congress' skepticism
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Steve Womack (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-11-8

. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Tennessee for yielding. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. prgtoken To be clear, I have a record throughout this entire appropriations process that will demonstrate that I am not a supporter writ large of the Holman rule. I personally think it has been overused, and the record can reflect that I don't think I am on the record voting for any of the Holman rules to date. I wanted to make that disclosure up front, but that is just a personal opinion. That is what I believe. prgtoken The Holman rule is a serious tool in Congress, and I think we have to be careful when we are establishing precedents on the use of it, but I do think there are times when the Holman rule is justified. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the Securities and Exchange Commission under Chairman Gary Gensler is an example of a time when I think the Holman rule can be used as a messenger to the SEC Chairman. prgtoken The health and vibrancy of our markets and our economy at large can be tested by an aggressive and overzealous rulemaking agenda. Over the last 3 years, that has defined the Securities and Exchange Commission. prgtoken Let me be clear: This is not just about how the regulatory process is conducted. The weight of the issues and topics under review by Chairman Gensler must be considered thoughtfully and comprehensively. Unfortunately, they have not been. prgtoken Reckless rulemaking requires climate disclosures from not only public companies that the SEC claims but also the private suppliers far downstream from these public companies.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-11-8

I would simply say I regret that the gentleman is opposed. Earlier this year, he voted in support of an administrative PAYGO provision that takes a very similar approach here that puts in a threshold that requires that additional scrutiny be applied to any regulation, or it be offset with additional costs. I think this is compatible with that. It takes the next step to ensure that American citizens are represented by their Members of Congress. prgtoken , I urge adoption of the amendment, and .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-11-8

it is an honor to pay tribute to Mr. Jack Rutland, Jr of Lincoln County, MS, who for more than 10 years has shown an inspiring dedication to sharing the stories and memories of armed service veterans in Mississippi. By conducting radio interviews with veterans, their experiences can be appreciated by citizens all across Mississippi. Mr. Rutland has shown that his appreciation and respect for the men and women who have served in our armed forces goes beyond that of an average citizen, and America needs more people like Jack. prgtoken Jack Rutland, Jr was born on May 20, 1948, in Birmingham, AL, while his father was stationed at an Air Force base there. His father, Jack Rutland, Sr enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to World War II, and he served during the war for 3 years in countries like England, North Africa, and Italy. During his World War II service, the senior Mr. Rutland earned five battle stars. Upon the completion of the war, he remained in the Air Force for over 20 years. Once he retired, the family returned to Lawrence County, MS. From experiencing his father's patriotic dedication to our Nation, Jack grew up with a sincere reverence for the veterans who served to defend the United States of America. prgtoken In 2003, the Military Memorial Museum in Brookhaven, MS, opened to inform the public of local veterans and the town's service history through artifacts, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia. The museum is operated completely by volunteers, one of them prgtoken being Jack Rutland, Jr. On the 10-year anniversary of the Military Memorial Museum's opening, Jack interviewed four veterans. His interviews were captivating and respectfully executed, leading the public to want more. Today, Jack has conducted more than 50 interviews with veterans, some as recently as a few weeks ago. These interviews can be heartbreaking, like the story of World War II veteran Mr. Howard Britt who had to leave his beloved lieutenant in the field after he had been wounded. While in enemy territory, there was no time to wait. A story from Mr. Don Hemphill was similarly moving, detailing his arrival on the beaches of Normandy on the evening of D-day and seeing the wreckage of equipment left behind, as well as American soldiers who had not made it. The scene was so harrowing that Mr. Hemphill still could not talk about it when he was interviewed. In addition to these poignant interviews were inspirational recollections, like Mr. Hoyte Case who saw the iconic flag raised on Iwo Jima atop Mount Suribachi from his ship as he left the battle. Mr. Herbert Savell recounted his long journey home from the Pacific following the end of the war, traveling by cattle car to return to his small hometown in the Mississippi Delta. Walking down the aisle of the church and sitting in the pew beside his mother was how he returned. Each interview shows another side of the tragedies and triumphs faced by vet
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-11-8

. So I think one of the things that has become increasingly accepted here is that deindustrialization was a terrible mistake for America. No. 1, it hurt us and wiped out good-paying jobs that we relied on to build strong communities, and the other is it left us vulnerable in our supply chains. prgtoken And one of the things that is talked a lot about in terms of industries is these provisions called ``Buy American.'' We have laws called ``Buy American.'' I think it is especially important when we are spending taxpayer dollars on propping up an industry that it have strong provisions that do so. prgtoken What is called the infrastructure bill has $5 billion of American taxpayer funds to build electric vehicle charging stations in the United States, and it has, in that bill embedded, very specific ``Buy American'' requirements that those funds may be used only so that all the iron, the steel, the manufactured products, the construction materials that are used are produced in the United States. prgtoken It is very simple. It is pretty straightforward. That is what the law reads, both a broader law that already exists and then the provisions of this bill. prgtoken The administration, after passing this, however, didn't just fail to implement this provision--they were almost a year late in even issuing any findings on it, but they have now come out with this waiver. A waiver of that ``Buy American'' requirement that allows foreign-made EV chargers--translation, Chinese-made electric vehicle chargers--up until October of 2024. prgtoken But there is more. They actually give the Federal Highway Administrator the ability to extend that deadline by 5 years. And so we are now facing, under this waiver they are requesting, the real prospect that significant portions of the $5 billion that is going to go to electric vehicle charging stations is going to be spent on Chinese companies--taxpayer dollars. prgtoken So we are either serious about restoring America's industrial capabilities or we are not. We should be especially serious about it when we are spending Federal funds on it. prgtoken Now, I have watched some of the debate, some of the things the administration is telling people about how somehow this is going to be the opposite effect. There is this 1983 general regulation that they have written or waiver that they have in place. Everyone knows here that specific statutory language, such as that that exists both in this bill and in other law, supersedes any of these. But the other is very simple. The administration, as they have done with a bunch of other regulations, can either amend it or get rid of it. But they are using that as a threat. prgtoken What they are basically telling people is, if you vote for this, if this thing passes, we will interpret that 1983 general provision to just do anything we want with regard to this. prgtoken So it is pretty straightforward. Get rid of it. Don't use it that way. Commit y
Veterans Day (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-11-8

engraved on a wall at the Korean Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, are these words: ``Freedom is not free.'' ``Freedom is not free.'' prgtoken It is a stark reminder that our freedom has come at a cost; that it has been bought and paid for in blood, in dark days and terrifying nights of battle, in fear and loneliness, in Christmases and holidays and birthdays spent far from home, in visible wounds and in invisible wounds. prgtoken And on Veterans Day, above all, we remember this. We remember that we live in peace and freedom because men and women have answered our country's call, have stepped up and said, ``I will serve,'' and have paid a price for that service. prgtoken One of my greatest honors as a U.S. Senator is having the opportunity to interact with military veterans. And in addition to meeting veterans around South Dakota, I have had the immense privilege of visiting with veterans who come to Washington, DC, on Honor Flights. prgtoken For anyone not familiar with the organization, Honor Flight is a nonprofit that exists to bring military veterans to Washington, DC, to visit the memorials that have been created in their honor. prgtoken At its inception, it focused on bringing World War II veterans to DC, but now, with members of the ``greatest generation'' few and far between, Honor Flights have been filling up with veterans of Korea and Vietnam as well as critically ill veterans from all eras. prgtoken I have been lucky enough to participate in three Honor Flight visits so far this year, organized by Midwest Honor Flight, which is our local Honor Flight hub in South Dakota. And the chance to interact with these heroes who have sacrificed to defend and preserve American freedoms is not something I take for granted. Seeing the look in their eyes as they visit the memorials--knowing that for some it will be the last opportunity they have to visit--is a profound privilege and a reminder of all these men and women have given for our country. prgtoken It is also deeply moving to hear from the family members who accompany these veterans, a number of whom have told me how cathartic these visits have been for their loved ones--sometimes marking the first time they really talked about their wartime experience. prgtoken On multiple occasions when I have been down at the memorials visiting with Honor Flight veterans, I have seen students with school groups come up to these veterans and thank them. It is really an amazing thing to witness. And it has made me reflect on just how important it is that children have these opportunities to see and thank our veterans and to understand what they have given us. prgtoken Ronald Reagan once said that freedom is always only one generation removed from extinction. It can't be passed on in the bloodstream. It has to be fought for and defended and handed down for our children to do the same or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children's children w
Bidenomics (Executive Calendar)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2023-11-8

I rise today, really, to speak on behalf of the American people that I represent--and those are my great West Virginians--but Americans all across the country--many, many of whom have been left behind in President 's pursuit of omics and who are directly feeling the scars that his administrative policies have left on the American dream. prgtoken American families are experiencing ever-increasing financial pressure due to the state of our Nation's economy, which is jeopardizing our ability to succeed. And it is jeopardizing our ability to feel confident. prgtoken It is simply unfair that Americans are compromised at every turn due to inflation--increased interest rates, costly regulations, and tax hikes on essential items that we all need to live. prgtoken But not only is this unfair, but for a country as strong and resourceful as our country is, it is unacceptable. prgtoken So let's just take a quick refresher on what exactly omics means. What began as sort of an ambiguous term to recognize the economic policies of this administration has quickly come to mean one thing: You are spending more and getting less. prgtoken It means that we see inflation reach a 40-year high and remain persistently above the Fed's target rate and pre- administration levels. It also means that mortgage rates would reach and remain at a 30-year record and that interest rates would rise at the fastest pace over the last four decades. prgtoken It is just truly astounding that the difference in interest that Americans are paying now, compared to what they were paying just last year. Look at some of your statements, and you will see it. The Fed aggressively raised interest rates 11 times between early 2022 and now, from nearly zero to 5.5 percent in less than 2 years. prgtoken The historic increase comes at a cost. It comes at a cost that Americans have to pay and is making that dream of affording a home, buying a new car, or building a business seemingly impossible. prgtoken omics means that consumer prices are skyrocketing, and it means that everything from groceries to energy to gasoline will stay at nearly unaffordable levels. prgtoken Well, we just saw it last week with the Halloween candy. I saw several comparisons of how much more Halloween candy was this year than last. And you know what? We are going to see it again when we all gather at Thanksgiving and we look at the cost of providing a family meal. prgtoken President refers to omics as an ``investment in America.'' But the reality is omics is making sure that Americans have nothing left to invest. Nor do they have anything in their savings accounts. We see lots of studies on this. We can't invest in our small businesses, not investing in repairing and replacing your home, and, certainly, not investing in the future of our families. prgtoken I hear about this from West Virginians every single time I go home, which is every week