mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BORDER CRISIS IS A DANGER TO AMERICANS
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2021-3-11

. Madam , I thank the esteemed congressman from Texas, who has been quite a champion on this issue. prgtoken Madam , no nation in the history of the world has been more welcoming to immigrants than the United States. And no nation in the history of the world is more diverse or has provided more opportunity for people of all races and ethnic backgrounds than the United States. prgtoken That is why millions of immigrants of all races and ethnicities are seeking to come to America. In fact, billions of the world's 7 billion non-U.S. population would come here, undoubtedly, if they could. prgtoken I sincerely believe that most Americans, if not most elected officials, understand that the lack of an effective immigration policy is one of the most important threats to our country. However, President 's decision to reverse the policies that successfully secured our border is dangerous to the future of our Nation and driven solely by a need to pander to the left. prgtoken Make no mistake, President 's policies created this very crisis today, his promise of amnesty made it worse, and his administration is now ignoring it. prgtoken You would think in the absence of leadership, Congress would try to step in and address the border surge crisis. prgtoken Instead, we are expecting to take up two liberal amnesty bills in the House this upcoming week, including H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. prgtoken H.R. 6 would provide amnesty to roughly three million people, which would be a slap in the face to everyone who ever has or currently is navigating our legal immigration system. prgtoken Even worse, it would incentivize more illegal immigration at a time prgtoken when we have no operational control of our southern border. prgtoken Even more bizarre, this bill allows for criminal aliens, people who have committed crimes in American communities, to be eligible for amnesty. prgtoken The bill specifically allows for an individual who has committed up to two misdemeanors or one crime of moral turpitude to gain a pathway to legal status. prgtoken Some may say, well, misdemeanors aren't that serious. Well, here are a few examples of crimes that are only misdemeanors in States such as California: Domestic violence, prostitution, drunk driving. prgtoken Worst of all, this legislation provides a waiver for people who would technically not otherwise qualify for this amnesty. This waiver specifically covers: Human smuggling offenses, voter fraud offenses, and communicable diseases. prgtoken I urge this Congress not to worsen this crisis, and to instead debate legislation that makes America safer and honors our legal immigrants. prgtoken Instead of providing amnesty to criminals, we should debate my legislation, H.R. 398, the No Asylum for Criminals Act, which would prohibit dangerous criminals from qualifying for asylum in the U.S. prgtoken When it comes to legal immigration, people of good faith can debate on what overal
Nomination of Debra Anne Haaland (Executive Session)
Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-3-11

I thank Senator Daines for his leadership on this issue. prgtoken The only thing the previous speaker and I have in common is agreeing that it is high time that we had a Native American woman to lead the Department of the Interior. prgtoken On behalf of the people of Wyoming, I am opposing President 's nomination of Congresswoman Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior. prgtoken As Secretary, she will continue the job-killing, anti-energy attack on Wyoming's livelihood that President started during his first week in office. prgtoken Let's recap just how bad President 's Executive actions are for my State. prgtoken A University of Wyoming analysis found that Wyoming stands to lose nearly $13 billion in tax revenue if we don't lift the ban on new oil and gas leasing and drilling on Federal lands. To put this in context, $13 billion in tax revenue would educate 60,000 Wyoming students from kindergarten through high school graduation. It would fund the University of Wyoming for the next 59 years. It would fund our public safety and corrections budget for the next 68 years. And it would fund the Wyoming Department of Health for the next 26 years. These are real numbers, and the ban is having real consequences. prgtoken In Wyoming, we put the tax revenue from Federal land leases to use educating our kids, caring for the sick, and funding public infrastructure. prgtoken Maybe this sounds like my complaint is just with President . That is prgtoken how Congresswoman Haaland would have you see it. Congresswoman Haaland says that she will simply be following the administration's orders and implementing its agenda at the Interior Department. This isn't exactly encouraging for a number of reasons. prgtoken The White House's very first action in implementing their climate change agenda is on track to cost my home State a whopping $13 billion in revenue. I shudder to think what their next action will cost us, especially with Department heads committed to blindly enacting the agenda without consideration for the extraordinary impacts it will continue to have on energy States like Wyoming. prgtoken Second, Secretaries have an incredible amount of power to make decisions on how an administration's agenda gets implemented. Based on her own public statements and actions, Congresswoman Haaland is more radical in her positions than President . prgtoken None of these facts are particularly encouraging to folks in Wyoming and the West who will be devastated by the policies that Congresswoman Haaland plans to champion. What we need is a Secretary who understands the issues that westerners face. We need someone who knows the ways that States like Wyoming are contributing to America's energy independence and doing so in increasingly environmentally friendly ways. Banning permitting on Federal lands in Wyoming means banning access to 68 percent of Wyoming's minerals. For our Stat
Nomination of Debra Anne Haaland (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-3-11

today the Senate is debating the nomination of Deb Haaland, a Member of Congress, to serve as Secretary of the Interior. If confirmed, she will be the first Native American Cabinet member in U.S. history. This is a historic moment, and it should be recognized. prgtoken I want to be very clear with you. Representative Haaland's policy views and lack of substantive answers during her nomination hearing, in my opinion, disqualify her for this job. prgtoken In May of 2019, Representative Haaland said unequivocally in an interview with The Guardian: ``I am wholeheartedly against fracking and drilling on public lands.'' On her campaign website, she stated she wanted to ``keep fossil fuels in the ground.'' On the same site, she pledged to ``vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure,'' period. prgtoken I, along with many western Senators, have consistently opposed nominees who hold such views, and in my opinion and the opinion of my constituents, these views are extreme. prgtoken Representative Haaland's views aren't just statements; they are backed up by legislation that she has cosponsored. As a Member of Congress, she was a day-one cosponsor of the Green New Deal. Now we are talking about destructive legislation that would not just overhaul American energy but would impact almost every sector of society and cause great harm to America's economy. That bill was so extreme that when it was brought here to the Senate floor, it received no support. None. prgtoken She also cosponsored legislation to provide permanent Federal protections for the grizzly bear. I believe that legislation is also extreme, and I will tell you why. prgtoken The legislation that she proposed as a Member of the House completely disregards the scientific conclusions of the administration, the administration, and the administration. How many things can we name that all three of those Presidents agreed upon? But the three of them did. They all concluded--the administration, the administration, and the administration concluded that it was time to take the grizzly bear off the endangered species list. prgtoken Both ic and Interior Departments determined that the grizzly bear was fully recovered, but Representative Haaland has chosen instead to ignore the science and the scientists of the very Department that she is now nominated to lead. Representative Haaland's policy views are squarely at odds with the mission of the Department of the Interior. That mission includes taking species off of an endangered species list when they are recovered, and the grizzly bear is fully recovered. prgtoken That Department also manages our Nation's oil, gas, and coal resources and does it in a responsible manner, not eliminating access to them completely. prgtoken Just as troubling as her policy views were her answers to questions during the confirmation process. She struggled or refused to answer t
SUPPORT OF ARIZONA STATE HOUSE BILL 2111
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-3-11

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of Arizona State House Bill 2111, the ``Second Amendment Firearm Freedom Act''. This bill takes an originalist and strong stance on Arizonans' right to bear arms. I am grateful for the work by all members of the state legislature who introduced this legislation. I would especially like to thank State Representative Leo Biasucci for his support of the Second Amendment. prgtoken This legislation purports to allow the State of Arizona to protect the Second Amendment rights of its citizens, barring them from compliance with any restrictions or infringements that the federal government enacts as federal law. prgtoken Arizonans value sovereign state authority to the highest regard. Any infringements on their constitutionally protected rights are dangerous and federal overreach. I applaud Arizona HB 2111 and its clear purpose of refusing to allow any federal overreach into the state and its citizens. prgtoken The people of Arizona are strong supporters of the Second Amendment and the Constitution's clear permission of allowing American citizens to keep and bear arms. As such, this legislation is a great movement for the citizens of the great state of Arizona. I look forward to the day that Governor Ducey signs this legislation into official Arizona law. prgtoken Madam , Arizona's state motto is ``Ditat Deus,'' meaning ``God Enriches''. I hold this phrase dear to my heart, and I know the citizens of Arizona do also. Through God's enrichment, I'm confident the governments at the local, state, and federal level will see any infringements on constitutionally-protected rights as dangerous and un- American. prgtoken I pray for the future of this nation every day. I believe that Americans have the right to keep and bear arms. This legislation is a great step forward for the people of Arizona and their rights that are protected under the Arizona Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--Resumed
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-3-11

I voted for a number of President 's nominees--his nominee for Treasury Secretary, for Defense Secretary, for Attorney General, for Director of National Intelligence, for Agriculture Secretary, and others. These candidates were not the ones I would have picked if I were President, but I believe it is important for our country that our President have a team in place. prgtoken As long as a President's nominees aren't raising serious concerns, I think a President of either party is entitled to have the people he or she chooses serving in his or her administration, but by the same token, if a President's nominee does raise serious concerns, I think we have a responsibility as Senators to oppose him or her. Today, I rise to oppose the President's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services. prgtoken A number of President 's nominees have been qualified, mainstream candidates. Xavier Becerra is not a mainstream candidate. He is an extremist who has used the offices he has held to advance an aggressively pro-abortion agenda and to target religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Mr. Becerra does not represent the views of the majority of Americans; he represents the views of the radical, pro- abortion wing of the ic Party. prgtoken The Planned Parenthood wing of the ic Party would like Americans to believe that unrestricted abortion on demand up to the moment of birth is a no-brainer, an unqualified good, but the truth is, despite decades of trying to convince Americans of this, Americans simply don't agree. prgtoken Just 29 percent of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all circumstances. The vast majority of Americans believe that abortion should either be illegal or that there should be at least some restrictions, undoubtedly because on some level, every American is aware that when we talk about abortion, we are talking about killing a human being. Mr. Becerra, on the other hand, does not seem to support any restrictions on abortion. If he does, I would sure like to hear about them. prgtoken As a Congressman, he earned perfect ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL. He assembled an overwhelmingly pro-abortion voting record, even opposing a ban on partial-birth abortion--a procedure so heinous and repulsive, it is difficult to even describe. prgtoken As California attorney general, he aggressively crusaded in favor of abortion. He is known for defending California's law forcing crisis pregnancy centers to advertise abortion--a case he lost at the Supreme Court on First Amendment grounds. But his activities were hardly limited to California abortion law. This was not a case of an attorney general simply defending the laws of their own State. No. As California attorney general, Mr. Becerra repeatedly--repeatedly--inserted himself into abortion debates in other States. He joined other attorneys general to file amicus briefs challenging abo
RECOGNIZING THE FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-3-11

. Madam , I rise today to recognize, celebrate and honor the frontline healthcare workers of the great state of South Dakota. prgtoken Some of these South Dakota heroes are: Leslie Alexander St. Royal, MD, Kelly Ann Stacy, MD, Michael Stadnick, MD, Donald John Stallman, MD, Theresa Stamato, MD, Andreea Constanta Stan, MD, Matthew Brady Stanley, DO, Christopher D. Stanley, MD, Jeffrey Peterson Stanley, MD, Christopher M. Stanton, MD, David Charles Starks, MD, Cherry Elizabeth Starling, MD, Lorenzo Lee Stars, MD, Robert F. Startz, MD, Michael D. Stassen, MD, Michael J. Statz, MD, David Winfield Staub, MD, Robert Lebaron Grant Stears, MD, David Allen Steele, MD, John Wayne Steely, MD, Jeffery Lee Steers, MD, Kelly Jo Steffen, DO, Brandon Daniel Steger, MD, Christine A. Stehly, MD, Diane Carravetta Stein, MD, Maggie Jane Steinbeisser, DO, Lon Robert Steinberg, MD, Frederick Brent Steinberg, MD, Baiba Steinbrekera, MD, Nathan Christopher Steinle, MD, Robert C. Stelzle, MD, Jon R. Stenberg, MD, Danny Owen Stene, MD, Vernon H. Stensland, MD, Jeffrey Stenson, MD, Valerie D. Stephens, MD, Jill Fountain Sternquist, MD. prgtoken Nicole Lynn Stethem, MD, William Ross Stevens, MD, Philip D. Stevens, MD, Dennis Charles Stevens, MD, Kerry Anne Stevens, MD, John Edward Stewart, MD, Lorelee Stock, MD, Constance Ann Stock, MD, Darcey Jo Stockland, MD, Brady J. Stocklin, MD, Steven C. Stocks, MD, Steven J. Stokesbary, MD, Ethan Damon Stolzenberg, MD, Sandra L. Stolzy, MD, Shawn Timothy Stone, MD, Kurt A. Stone, MD, Richard H. Stone, MD, William George Stone, MD, Catherine Theresa Stoos, MD, Chad Allen Storch, DO, Jeremy Carl Storm, DO, Abe Leonard Storms, MD, Mitchell Brandon Stotland, MD, Michael Paul Stotz, DO, Kirsten Hilary Stotz, DO, Stephen Young Stout, MD, Barney Daniel Stoutamire, MD, Ray D. Strand, MD, David Allen Strand, MD, David Eric Strang, MD, Jennifer Kristi Strasburg, MD, Garry David Strauser, MD, Lawrence R. Strawbridge, MD, Michael S. Strobbe, DO, Austin Lee Strohbehn, MD. prgtoken Richard Dale Strom, MD, Kevin Strom, MD, Scott Lynn Stroming, MD, Lori A. Strong, MD, Benjamin Strong, MD, Heidi L. Strouth, MD, Roger Graham Stuart Jr, MD, Judith Marie Stucki, MD, Jeremy Arthur Stueven, MD, Tamera Lee Sturm, DO, John Robert Sty, MD, prgtoken Tomasz P. Stys, MD, Maria A. Stys, MD, Adam T. Stys, MD, Ananta Subedi, MD, Umashankar Subramaniam, MD, Wesley Lloyd Sufficool Jr DO, Robert C. Suga, MD, Donny Won Suh, MD, Jongdae Suh, MD, Raed A. Sulaiman, MD, James H. Sullivan, MD, Brendan James Sullivan, MD, Shamim Sultana, MD, Christopher J Sumey, MD, Robert J. Summerer, DO, Allison Luanne Summers, MD, Ashwyna Sunassee, MD, Kalyana Sundaram, MD, Sabari Lakshmi Sundarraj, MD, Rael David Sundy, MD, Rachel Jan Sunne, MD, Arlene Sussman, MD, Joan Hazel Sutcliffe, MD, Willis C. Sutliff, MD, Rachelle Sutton, MD, Elizabeth Ann Sutton, MD, Jared Allan Sutton, MD, Daniel Samuel Sutton, MD, Sharad Surendrapuri Swami, MD, Arun S
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-3-11

before he leaves the floor, let me just congratulate our colleague from Ohio. prgtoken That was, perhaps, the most concise and informative speech I have heard on that topic, including speeches that I have given on that topic. In representing a border State, as I do, and in my having served on the Judiciary Committee and on the Immigration Subcommittee for my entire time here, the way he described it, I thought, was entirely accurate. I think you can call it a crisis, a challenge--whatever you want to call it--but it is getting worse all the time, and I think it will get much, much worse if we don't act and act together. So I thank him for his outstanding remarks. (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO assumed the Chair.)
TRIBUTE TO MARY SUIT JONES
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-3-11

. Now, , on one final matter, as I have mentioned, it is customary for some top Senate staff positions to see new faces when party control changes hands. prgtoken Today, it is my honor to pay tribute to Mary Suit Jones, a huge asset to this institution who has become an institution herself. prgtoken Tomorrow, Mary will finish her second separate run as Assistant Secretary of the Senate and conclude a Senate career that has spanned more than a quarter of a century. prgtoken I first met Mary Jones in the mid-1990s when we brought her on board to help manage my office. Neither I nor Mary's colleagues back then could have predicted that nearly 30 years later, she would depart as one of the most senior officers in the entire place. But the truth is, if you had told us, nobody would have been even a little surprised either. prgtoken I have entrusted Mary with a lot of different responsibilities over the years. She served as our office manager just a few years out of college. She came with me to the Rules Committee, first as deputy staff director and then the top job. Senator Frist had the good judgment to ask her to be Assistant Secretary in the early 2000s. Then she returned to Rules and resumed serving as our staff director under Senators Bob Bennett, Lamar Alexander, and then Pat Roberts. Finally, she generously brought all of this expertise and institutional knowledge back to the Assistant Secretary role 6 years ago. prgtoken In her first job in my office, Mary organized one team of people and our infrastructure. In her current job, she has overseen 26 departments and scores of Senate staff, pushing resources and guidance down and pushing information up. In between, at Rules, she tackled things like helping run Presidential inaugurations. prgtoken Through it all, I cannot name one time when Mary Jones did not deliver. She is consistent, competent, and completely reliable. No wonder her name has become a kind of catchphrase around the Senate when anyone is trying to track down some key piece of wisdom or is puzzling over how to get something done: ``Well, let's ask Mary Jones.'' ``Have you checked with Mary Jones?'' ``I think Mary knows all about that.'' prgtoken Everyone from junior staff to senior Senators, s and , have been able to count on Mary for expertise and execution. On a million different subjects, she knows the answer to the question you are going to ask before you even finish asking it. A rock-solid administrator, a consummate professional--she is just that good. prgtoken So I am sorry to see Mary depart the Senate, but she has given generously to this place. She has certainly earned the opportunity to apply her many talents to some new challenges and perhaps knock a few miles off of her famously epic commute while she is at it. prgtoken The whole Senate thanks Mary for her excellent service. We wish her, her husband, and their kids all the best in the exciting new chapters t
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--Resumed
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-3-11

we have got an issue in this country related to the pandemic but, more specifically, related to children not going back to school. And one thing that is of incredible concern is it appears that the administration, which campaigned saying that they were going to follow science--alleging that the previous administration was not--seems not to be following science but to prejudice their recommendations to fit a political agenda. prgtoken With that, let me develop my case. The harms of prolonged closure to school children are remarkable. They are well known. It has been up to a year since the schools have been closed, and in the Presiding Officer's home State of California, there are some school systems that are still not reopened. prgtoken Now, think about this: Places where children go, not just to learn but to have social workers make sure they aren't being abused at home, a dietary staff to make sure they have adequate nutrition--but also to learn--have been closed for a year. prgtoken Now, we can say: Wait a second, don't worry about that because the children have been given remote learning. There is ample data which shows that particularly the children from lower income families are not logging on even when they are given a broadband computer--given an internet-equipped computer to take home or given WiFi access to use at home. We can imagine it. Mom has to work. There is no one to supervise the child, so the 7-year-old is home by herself while mom is working. prgtoken We can also imagine that a family does not have a culture of being online. We can imagine a big family of seven or eight kids where things just kind of get lost in the shuffle, and there is not enough room for someone to be by themselves. Whatever, it is established that there are kids being left behind by not being in the classroom, and those kids, disproportionately, are poor. And that is why the administration's pledge to follow science resonated, and that is why early indications that they are not is not just disappointing, it is a betrayal--and not a betrayal of a campaign pledge, a betrayal of those children who are at home. prgtoken Now, by the way, data shows that children can safely go back to school. There was a CDC study from January of 2021 finding little evidence of virus spread in a school setting when the recommended precautions were taken, which kind of calls them--and, by the way, there is a recent study by the following doctors--Henderson, Gandhi, Hoeg, and Johnson from universities such as the University of Chicago, UC Davis, and UC San Francisco--showing how safe it is to go to school, not get infected, and social distancing as minimal as 3 feet distant one from the other--OK, just 3 feet distant. prgtoken Now, that is important because if you say you can't bring kids back to school because you don't have enough classroom space for smaller classes, it is one thing if you say there must be 6 feet b