mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IMPEACHMENT
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-13

the Constitution reserves impeachment for cases of ``treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.'' Congress must never take this action lightly and only in the most extreme circumstances. prgtoken On January 13, the House of Representatives voted 232-197 to impeach on a count of inciting the insurrection that took place on January 6. prgtoken I have taken care over the past week to fulfill my charge as an impartial juror in this trial. I have listened carefully to the presentations made by both sides. And I believe the House impeachment managers proved the case that bears responsibility for inciting the violence and the insurrection on January 6. prgtoken I therefore cast my vote to convict him of the impeachment charge. The argument has been made that is no longer President, thus he cannot be removed from office, as he has already left. I understand the argument, but it fails on several counts. prgtoken First, failure to act would set the precedent that a President can get away with anything at the end of his term. Relying on criminal proceedings in place of impeachment is insufficient; Congress must have the power to impeach, regardless of when actions occur. Indeed, the House approved the Article of Impeachment when was still president. prgtoken Second, there is legitimate fear that, if allowed to run for office again, we could see an emboldened wouldn't hesitate to repeat the actions of January 6. If convicted, a simple majority vote would bar him from running for office. prgtoken And third, a conviction would send a clear message to 's followers, particularly the ones who accept violence as a legitimate means of protest, that perpetrators of insurrection and those who enabled them will be held responsible for their action. prgtoken As impeachment manager Diana DeGette said of the mob at the Capitol: ``All of these people who have been arrested and charged, they're being accountable, held accountable for their actions. Their leader, the man who incited them, must be held accountable as well.'' prgtoken It is important to understand that 's actions on January 6 weren't without precedent. The House impeachment managers made a compelling case that has a long history of urging and supporting violence among his supporters, knowing full well that they would take action. prgtoken This is a key matter for this impeachment trial: Did 's words inspire violence? Were those carrying out the insurrection following his direction? The House managers gave several examples of 's past practice. prgtoken After Congressman Greg Gianforte in 2018 pleaded guilty to assaulting a reporter who asked him a question, former President praised him. ``Any guy that can do a body slam--he's my guy.'' prgtoken After a 2017 rally of White supremacists and neo-Nazis turned violent in Charlottesvi
IMPEACHMENT
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-2-13

the hallmark of our American democracy is the peaceful transfer of power after the voters choose their leaders. In America, we accept election results even if our candidate does not prevail. If a candidate believes that there is fraud, the courts can hear and decide those issues. Otherwise, the authority to govern is vested in the duly elected officials. prgtoken On January 6, this Congress gathered in the Capitol to count the votes of the electoral college, pursuant to the process set forth in the 12th Amendment to the Constitution. At the same time, a mob stormed the Capitol, determined to stop Congress from carrying out our constitutional duty. prgtoken That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence. Rather, it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President that were aimed at overturning the results of the Presidential election. prgtoken The President's unprecedented efforts to discredit the election results did not begin on January 6. Rather, he planted the seeds of doubt many weeks before votes were cast on November 3. He repeatedly told his supporters that only a rigged election could cause him to lose. prgtoken Thus began President 's crusade to undermine public confidence in the Presidential election unless he won. prgtoken Early in the morning of November 4, as the ballots continued to be counted, President claimed victory and asserted that were trying to steal the election. prgtoken On November 8, the day after several media outlets had declared the apparent winner based on State-by-State results, President tweeted: This was a stolen election. prgtoken With that, his postelection campaign to change the outcome began. prgtoken Over the ensuing days and months, the President distorted the results of the election, continuing to claim that he had won, while court after court threw out his lawsuits and States continued to certify their results. President 's falsehoods convinced a large number of Americans that he had won and that they were being cheated. prgtoken The President also embarked on an incredible effort to pressure State election officials to change the results in their States. The most egregious example occurred on January 2. In an extraordinary phone call, President could be heard alternating between lobbying, cajoling, intimidating, and threatening the election officials in Georgia. ``I just want to find 11,708 votes,'' he stated, seeking the exact number of votes needed to change the outcome in that State. Despite the President's pleas and threats, the Georgia officials refused to yield to the Presidential pressure, as did State officials in other States. prgtoken In December, President 's postelection campaign became focused on January 6, the day that Congress was scheduled to count the electoral college votes. Although this counting is a ceremonial and administrative act, it is never
IMPEACHMENT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-2-13

January 6 was a disgrace. American citizens attacked their own government. They used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of domestic business they did not like. Fellow Americans beat and bloodied our own police. They stormed the Senate floor. They tried to hunt down the of the House. They built a gallows and chanted about murdering the Vice President. They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth because he was angry he lost an election. prgtoken Former President 's actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful--disgraceful--dereliction of duty. prgtoken The House accused the former President of ``incitement.'' That is a specific term from the criminal law. prgtoken Let me just put that aside for a moment and reiterate something I said weeks ago. There is no question--none--that President is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their President, and having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole which the defeated President kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth. prgtoken The issue is not only the President's intemperate language on January 6. It is not just his endorsement of remarks in which an associate urged ``trial by combat.'' It was also the entire manufactured atmosphere of looming catastrophe; the increasingly wild myths--myths-- about a reverse landslide election that was somehow being stolen in some secret coup by our now-President. prgtoken Now, I defended the President's right to bring any complaints to our legal system. The legal system spoke. The electoral college spoke. As I stood up and said clearly at that time, the election was settled. It was over. But that just really opened a new chapter of even wilder-- wilder--and more unfounded claims. prgtoken The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things. prgtoken Now, sadly, many politicians sometimes make overheated comments or use metaphors--we saw that--that unhinged listeners might take literally, but that was different. That is different from what we saw. This was an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories, orchestrated by an outgoing President who seemed determined to either overturn the voters' decision or else torch our institutions on the way out. prgtoken The unconscionable behavior did not end when the violence actually began. Whatever our ex-President claims he thought might happen that day, whatever reaction he says he meant to produce, by that afternoon, we know he was watching the same live television as the rest of us. A mob was assaulting the Capitol in his name. These
RECOGNIZING THE 41ST ANNUAL SALUTE OF THE BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA, INC.
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-2-15

. Madam , I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 41st Annual Salute of the Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington, D.C. Area, Inc. The Black Nurses Association (BNA) of Greater Washington, D.C. Area, Inc. (GWDCA), chartered in 1975, endeavors to support the mission of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) and to provide services to residents in the D.C. area. prgtoken BNA of GWDCA acts as a vehicle for cohesion and solidarity among Black nurses to ensure the continuity of common heritage. The BNA of GWDCA hosted its first Annual Salute to a Black Nurse on February 14, 1981, at St. Elizabeths Hospital to recognize the contributions of nurses in the community and to celebrate Black History Month. ``The Salute'' has become a signature community program, where one practicing nurse is awarded ``Nurse of the Year'' and several nursing students are awarded scholarships. Meedie Bardonille RN has been selected as the 2021 ``Nurse of the Year.'' prgtoken BNA of GWDCA has a distinguished legacy of community service with a focus on addressing specific health problems of the Black consumer and health care disparities. Past programs have included participation in the National Black Nurses National Hypertension Project and the National Depression Project and partnerships with the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. BNA of GWDCA's signature community service project provides community-based health assessments and teaching through church-based and collaborative health fairs and partnerships with the D.C. Department of Health, Office of Immunizations, and the Washington Hospital Center. prgtoken Importantly, we are grateful that in response to the critical shortage of nurses in all areas of practice, BNA of GWDCA's ``Choose Nursing Project'' provides career information and prgtoken mentoring in the field for students in D.C. area middle and high schools. As a chapter, BNA of GWDCA continues to carry the mission of ``Empowering the Community through Education, Service and Caring'' and support the NBNA's theme, ``The Art and Science of Nursing.'' prgtoken Particularly during the COVID-19 crisis, the nation understands that nurses are indispensable. It is more important than ever to recognize Black nurses, whose service has been overlooked for far too long. prgtoken I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington, D.C. Area, Inc. for 46 years devoted to improving the lives of D.C. area residents and the profession of nursing.
REMEMBERING MARTHA HAYS COOPER
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2021-2-15

. Madam , I rise to remember Martha Hays Cooper, known as ``Ookie,'' a remarkable woman and friend and the wife of our colleague Jim Cooper, who passed away last Thursday in Nashville. I include in the Record for history her husband's words in tribute: Martha Hays Cooper died peacefully at home in Nashville on Thursday, February 4, after years of struggling with Alzheimer's. ``Ookie'' was married to Representative Jim Cooper for almost 36 years, mother of their three amazing children, Mary (Scott Gallisdorfer), Jamie, and Hayes, and grandmother of the incomparable Jay. Martha was born on September 13, 1954, the second child of the late Dr. A.V. Hays and Dr. Martha Hays Taylor of Gulfport, Mississippi. Her siblings, Art Hays (Debbie) of Gaithersburg, MD, and Mary Hays Peller (Steve) of New Orleans, survive her. Martha graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1976 and from Mississippi State in 1980 with an M.S. in ornithology. Her first job was in a cubbyhole in the attic of the Natural History Museum, the Bird Division of the Smithsonian, staffing the first two editions of the million- selling National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. An adventuresome soul, Martha smoked cigars in swamps to repel mosquitoes, made lifelong friends in Buenos Aires, taught children and studied Puffins for the Quebec- Labrador Foundation, protected Least Terns on Gulf of Mexico beaches, camped in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and worked the Galapagos Islands for World Wildlife Fund, all while keeping an African-Grey parrot named Baroot in her kitchen. Martha lived in Georgetown and drove a 1971 Robin's-egg- blue Volvo P1800E when she met Jim, the youngest congressman in the U.S who proposed at a White House Christmas party. Part Audrey Hepburn, Ali MacGraw, and Penelope Cruz, Martha was wary of politics until she lived in Shelbyville with Jim's mother for a few months in 1984 to manage Jim's first re-election campaign. The experiment worked. They married on April 6, 1985, followed by the birth of Mary Argentine in 1990, John James Audubon in 1991, and Hayes Hightower in 1995. Martha loved Mardi Gras, Galatoires (``the big G''), hurricanes and snow, peonies, Little Cayman Island, Ernie Banks, homemade popovers, Radnor Lake, friends in the Query and Centennial Clubs, Aretha Franklin and Paul McCartney, Standard Poodles (Ruby, Sirius Black, and Romeo), Cicadas, golf, City House's belly-ham pizza, families of Crows, Prince Charles, her Cardinal-red 2003 Mini-Cooper, and the Hermitage, serving as Regent of the Ladies' Hermitage Association. Her favorite president was ; favorite bird: Upupa Epops. Martha's charm and optimism were heroic, eclipsing her illness. S
HONORING THE LIFE OF 1SG STALEY JOHNSON SR.
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-2-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor the service of 1SG Staley Johnson Sr. of Kannapolis, North Carolina. prgtoken Staley Johnson was born on December 4th, 1920 in Alexander County, North Carolina to Jonas and Nancy Johnson. After the 5th grade, Johnson left school to help provide for and support his family. prgtoken A native North Carolinian, Staley Johnson enlisted with the U.S. Army on December 6th, 1941, the day before the attacks at Pearl Harbor. Staley Johnson was just 23 years old at the time. prgtoken Johnson served heroically and courageously as a heavy machine gunner in the 330th Infantry. During his service in Europe, Johnson was wounded from gunfire in the back near La Barre, France on July 27, 1944 after arriving on the beaches of France just after D-Day. Johnson was involved in further action in Europe as the Allies closed in on Germany before Allied victory in Europe. Johnson received a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and several other awards for his valor and courage. After his discharge, he went to work for Cannon Mills, but remained active in the National Guard. prgtoken In April 1945, Johnson married Nellie Victoria Foster. They had four children; Staley Jr Pamela, Jerry, and Kathy. The couple were married for over 64 years before Nellie passed away in 2010. Staley is the grandfather to six, great-grandfather to 12, and great-great- grandfather to two. His family and his church mean the world to him. prgtoken Often, Staley Johnson can be found singing ``Sweet Hour of Prayer,'' a song he learned while resting in a town the allies had just recaptured from Hitler's Army. He is known to be full of stories from World War II. prgtoken Madam , 1SG Staley Johnson Sr. is an American hero. His service to our country will never be forgotten. It is an honor and a privilege to represent Staley Johnson in the U.S. House of Representatives.
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL DAVID G. McLEOD
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-2-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and work of Colonel (Doctor) (Retired) David G. McLeod, who passed away on December 18, 2020. I know the thoughts of many thousands of military medical officers, protegees, surgical colleagues, and patients are with the McLeod family, especially his wife of 55 years, Claudia, their children, David Jr. and Ayvette Sailer, and treasured grandchildren. prgtoken After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Doctor McLeod joined the U.S. Army, completed medical school and began what would become a five- decade storied career in Army Medicine. Drawn to service in direct support of troops in combat, Doctor McLeod delayed his surgical training to serve a distinguished combat tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. Following his urology residency, he went on to serve as Program Director, Chief of Urologic Oncology, and Chief of Urology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. prgtoken In 1992, Colonel McLeod established the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. At its helm until his retirement from the Army in 2016, Dr. McLeod led CPDR's growth to ultimately become one of the world's finest, most influential prostate patient care and research centers, home to one of the largest and most comprehensive prostate cancer databases and tissue repositories in the country. For his part, Dr. McLeod would become internationally renowned for CPDR's groundbreaking and pioneering work that combined molecular biology and clinical research. prgtoken He rose in academia to serve concurrently as a Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery (Urology) at Georgetown University Medical Center. He also earned his Juris Doctor from Northern Virginia Law School. His published work appeared in major medical journals, including Urology, the Journal of Urology, the Journal of Urologic Oncology, and the Journal of Cancer. His contributions included co-authoring multiple chapters and publications on urologic oncology, educating his students and advancing the field of research simultaneously. He was a member of numerous professional societies and served as President of the American Foundation of Urologic Disease (now known as the American Urological Association Foundation) and past President of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Urologic Association. He was also a member of The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia and the D.C. Bar. prgtoken After more than 50 years in uniformed service to our Nation, having personally cared for senior leaders within the highest branches of government with the same commitment and dedication as that given to active duty service members, foreign heads of state, veterans and their family members, Dr. McLeod was revered as an exceptional surgeon, urologic oncologist and patient advocate. To th
HONORING MELANIE RHINEHART VAN TASSELL
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor my Chief of Staff, Melanie Rhinehart Van Tassell, for a decade of service to me and to the people of California's Fifth Congressional District. prgtoken Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Antioch, Melanie attended high school and college in the East Bay, graduating in 1996 with dual degrees in Political Science and Business from the University of California, Berkeley. She went to work in the litigation consulting industry until 2001, when she left to earn a Master's in Business Administration at New York University's Stern School of Business. Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. to use her intellect for public service. prgtoken Melanie began her career on Capitol Hill as a part-time intern in Congress before being hired as a legislative assistant to Congressman Earl Pomeroy in March of 2004. In just three short years, she took over as his legislative director, overseeing the congressman's policy agenda. After the 2010 midterm elections, I hired her to manage my legislative team at the strong recommendation of Congressman Pomeroy. Within months, she was promoted to Chief of Staff, becoming possibly the kindest, most genuine person to ever serve in such a position. prgtoken In my office, Melanie has proven herself to be an effective, charismatic leader and a skilled political operative. Handling issues of the utmost importance to our district, she has taken on a portfolio that spans natural disasters to the Wine Caucus. All the while, she has used her unbelievably positive, infectious personality to make everyone she interacts with feel special. prgtoken Despite the long hours involved with leading a congressional office, Melanie carves out quality time to spend with her husband Steven prgtoken and their young son Shane, whom she has ingrained with a deep appreciation for two of her favorite things--Disney and stuffed animals. Volunteering as Silent Auction Chair for her son's preschool in Alexandria, she showcased the same tenacity that serves her so well as Chief of Staff. Melanie raised over $20,000 for two consecutive school years, blowing out any record in the school's history. prgtoken Madam , my staff, myself, and the people of our district are deeply grateful for Melanie Rhinehart Van Tassell's expert guidance over these last 10 years. She personifies service, generosity, and leadership, and I am especially proud and honored to have her as my Chief of Staff.