mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LONG ISLAND SOUND RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-7-8

due to travel cancellations relating to Hurricane Beryl today, I was unable to vote during today's vote series. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted YEA on H.R. 897, the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, and YEA on H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023.- personal explanation
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2024-7-8

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment No. 44--which has been included in the En Bloc amendment--to help ensure that the U.S. remains focused on helping to end female genital mutilation around the world at a time when some countries are considering repealing existing bans. prgtoken Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves procedures that alter or injure the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. prgtoken As the person who led efforts to outlaw female genital mutilation in the State of Wisconsin, I am too keenly aware that this remains a pressing issue. prgtoken More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. And it is estimated that 4.4 million girls are at risk of experiencing this harmful practice this year alone. prgtoken This is a practice that has no health benefits but harms girls and women. prgtoken I share concerns that have been raised about the overall funding levels in this bill that have been so well articulated and the deep cuts to a range of programs that are vital to our Nation's interest and national security efforts. prgtoken I am also troubled by a number of policy riders that have been inserted into this bill. The bill defunds agencies like the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) that have been working to address female genital mutilation for years. Agencies like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that have also been engaged in helping to move the world towards the elimination of this practice. The Department of State has annually provided about $5 million to UNICEF to support a Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. prgtoken While we have not yet eliminated the practice of FGM, our investments and those of our international partners have seen results. As noted by the UN, over the last three decades, the prevalence of FGM has declined globally. prgtoken It wasn't by accident. prgtoken It took hard work by dedicated partners at all levels from the international community to the local community working to reframe laws and attitudes. prgtoken But the work must continue. prgtoken For example, the parliament in The Gambia is considering repealing the FGM ban enacted in that country in 2015. prgtoken The repeal campaign began after the government dared to actually enforce the law a few years ago. prgtoken Overall, there is concern that if The Gambia repeals its law, this could inspire other countries to do likewise. prgtoken But more importantly, is what it would mean for the women and girls in Gambia, where some estimated that up to three-quarters of the women and girls have undergone the procedure. prgtoken In February of this year, when the world commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, our Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, ``FGM, in all forms, is a Human rights abuse that harms all women.
TRIBUTE TO PAUL LeBLANC
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2024-7-8

I am honored to recognize a Granite Stater whose leadership and innovations have helped make higher education more affordable and accessible to people around the world, Southern New Hampshire University president Paul LeBlanc. prgtoken After 20 years of leadership, Paul has now moved on from SNHU, but his legacy of modernizing higher education and making it more accessible will endure far beyond his tenure as president. Under his leadership, SNHU transformed from a small regional school to the largest nonprofit provider of online higher education in the country, growing from 2,500 students to more than 225,000. prgtoken As an immigrant and a first-generation college graduate himself, Paul knew as well as anyone that, too often, college is out of reach for many people. Many students have the talent, the drive, and the ambition that is required for college, but simply lack the means. As Paul often says, ``Talent is distributed equally throughout the prgtoken world, but opportunity is not.'' From the very beginning of his career, Paul knew that in a country like ours, where we believe that our democracy's promise belongs to everyone, we have to do better to expand opportunity to more students. prgtoken With this challenge in mind, Paul helped revolutionize the modern classroom through innovative online and hybrid programs, giving more students the tools that they need to embark on exciting new careers. SNHU has not only opened doors of opportunity for Granite Staters and other Americans, but for students all across the world. Under his leadership, SNHU even began offering courses to students living in refugee camps or who have been displaced. During my time as Governor and now as Senator, I have had the privilege to work with Paul in his mission to make education more accessible. I have seen firsthand his vision and ability, traits that have made him one of the most respected voices in higher education. His creativity is boundless, and his care for his students is at the center of all that he does. Through his pioneering spirit, he is always trying to find ways to give more students the chance to gain an education, learn more about our world, and build better lives. prgtoken When taking measure of his achievements, it can be easy to get lost in a sea of statistics--the number of students who earned a degree under his tenure, the number of countries that have students enrolled at SNHU, the honors and recognitions won by SNHU, and more. But behind these statistics are people whose lives have been made better, in part, thanks to Paul and SNHU. Across the country--and indeed, the world-- there are people who were able to follow their dream to start their own business, become a nurse, serve as a teacher, and build a better life for themselves and their family because of Paul LeBlanc and SNHU. By modernizing higher education and making it more accessible, Paul and SNHU have helped give hope to countless
U.S. Supreme Court (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-7-9

the Supreme Court recently concluded its term, and, as predicted, met the decisions they didn't like with howls of outrage. ``We will fight to rein in the outrageous abuses of this brazen Court,'' one offered temperately. ``We must expand the Court now,'' another cried, before it ``destroy[s] our democracy and our planet.'' Yet another announced that she would be filing impeachment articles against a Supreme Court Justice or Justices, presumably for the high crime of ruling in a way that she didn't like. prgtoken For years now--since at least the last administration-- have been engaged in a concerted campaign to paint the Supreme Court as illegitimate and extreme. We have heard about ``stolen seats'' and ``MAGA justices'' and other melodramatic statements meant to persuade the American people that the Supreme Court has somehow been hijacked. But what it all boils down to is this: think that the only legitimate Supreme Court is a Supreme Court that rules in line with ' policy preferences. That is it. That is what all of this boils down to. prgtoken can dress things up any way they like with a host of invented reasons for why this Court is illegitimate, but the truth of the matter is, ' real problem with this Court is that a number of the Justices have had the temerity to periodically deliver rulings with which disagree. If this Court were universally delivering the outcome the want, they would have no problem with the Court or its nominees. prgtoken I could spend time debunking ' wild claims. I could point out just how often this Court delivers unanimous decisions. Yes, contrary to what you might think from ' lurid statements, the nominees and the nominees are frequently in unanimous agreement. Or I could talk about just how often some of the Court's more conservative Justices and some of the Court's more liberal justices agree. But I am not going do that today because I would like to spend a minute talking about the profound irresponsibility are displaying. prgtoken We hear a lot from about their concern for our institutions, and yet they are attempting to delegitimize a bedrock American institution, all for the crime of periodically daring to deliver decisions with which disagree. prgtoken At a time of deep political division, I can think of few things more irresponsible than attempting to shake Americans' faith in the impartiality of the Court and the legitimacy of our institutions. prgtoken I realize that don't like it when a decision doesn't go their way, and I completely understand that. I have disagreed with a few Supreme Court decisions in my time. But it is one thing--a legitimate thing--to disagree with a decision; it is another thing entirely to let your disagreement lead you into attempting to delegitimize a du
REMOVING NONCITIZENS FROM EXISTING VOTER ROLLS
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-7-9

. Madam , only Americans should vote in American elections. That is why I rise in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act, introduced by my friend from Texas (Mr. Roy). prgtoken This bill would require States to obtain proof of citizenship, in person, when registering an individual to vote and also requires States to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls. These proposals are as commonsense as it gets. prgtoken Unfortunately, many on the other side disagree. While falsely alleging that the 2016 election was stolen due to foreign election interference, they ignore the very real threat of foreign election interference that currently exists. prgtoken Maybe if President didn't hold the door open for more than 9.5 million immigrants to enter our country illegally, this bill wouldn't be necessary. Because he did, it is essential to pass the SAVE Act to uphold the integrity of our elections.
REQUIRE VOTERS TO PROVE CITIZENSHIP
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-9

I thank my friend from Arizona for his willingness to come to the floor and talk about these important issues that, frankly, all of us should be talking about. He does so with regularity, and it is important. prgtoken The average American is hurting because they watch the price of goods going up and all the things that are happening as a direct consequence of what we are doing and not doing here--as the gentleman points out, our inability and lack of willingness or fortitude to focus on the issues that matter. prgtoken Right now, I think something the American people need to understand, as we head into the fall season, is that we are heading into the time of elections. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle come down to give a whole lot of rhetoric about the lack of agenda or lack of things that we are doing. We have legislation on the floor of the House this week to ensure that only citizens vote, something we call the SAVE Act. That legislation is necessary because anybody with eyes knows that we are getting overrun by open borders that are endangering the American people. We have millions of people flooding into the country and have thousands and thousands of people who are on the voter rolls who are not supposed to be. Those are facts. It is true. prgtoken We know States that are starting to cleanse their voter rolls are finding people who are noncitizens and are registered to vote. We saw it in Virginia. We have seen it in North Carolina. We have seen it in Texas. We have seen it across the country. The truth is, it goes far deeper than that. prgtoken The question that we have to ask ourselves is: What does it mean to be an American? What does citizenship even mean anymore? prgtoken We have an administration--, the people who work for him, and our ic colleagues on the other side of the aisle--that is at war with the whole idea of American exceptionalism and what it means to be an American. They are at war with the whole idea of what it means to be an American citizen. They are undermining the whole purpose, the whole intent, behind citizenship. Citizenship is supposed to matter. prgtoken This week, we are going to be voting on the floor on a bill to require a simple thing: that we know that only American citizens are voting in our American elections. That is what we are voting on this week, tomorrow. prgtoken , you would think that some number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle would be willing to work with us on such legislation. They bemoan that they are not getting an amendment offered. Let's be very clear: They offered one amendment--one--in the committee of jurisdiction, the House Administration Committee. Do you know how many were present? One, the ranking member. The ranking member offered the amendment. It went down 6-1. There was no real debate from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle because the only purpose of the amendment was
NATO (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-7-9

in 1949, 12 nations gathered here in Washington to establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Seventy-five years later, our Nation's Capital welcomes NATO's 32 members back for a pivotal summit. prgtoken The most successful military alliance in human history has shepherded the free world through serious challenges--from nuclear-armed Cold War, through vicious terrorist attacks, to a new chapter of multipolar competition. This has always been a collective effort, but it has always required American leadership, and today, America and our allies face a serious test of resolve. prgtoken Russian aggression, Iran-backed terror, unchecked nuclear proliferation from North Korea, and China's bid for hegemony aren't just regional concerns; they are facets of an increasingly coordinated threat to Americans' security and prosperity. prgtoken The transatlantic alliance faces doubts at home and abroad about the credibility of our commitment to uphold this order. All NATO allies will share the risks if it is undone. All of us will suffer if autocrats and despots succeed in rewriting rules and redrawing maps. Even still, on the occasion of the Washington summit, there are encouraging signs that NATO is rising to meet the challenges. prgtoken Two years on, brutal Russian escalation hasn't just woken European allies from decades of neglect for their military capabilities; it has spurred a sea change in defense policy all across Europe and a renaissance of investment in defense industrial bases and cutting-edge weapons. prgtoken Across Europe, America's allies are investing 18 percent more on their defenses than they were a year ago. More than two-thirds of NATO's members prgtoken have now met or exceeded the alliance's 2 percent defense spending target. Just as important, many are committing 20 percent of their defense budgets to procuring new weapons and capabilities. prgtoken But the latest data did more than confirm the end of our ``holiday from history''; they also prove what I have been explaining to our colleagues for years: When America leads by example, allies invest right here in America. A full two-thirds of our allies' spending on new defense procurement is going to buy American-made weapons and systems. Right now, U.S. industry is filling more than $140 billion in contracts booked by European allies. prgtoken Many allies also are expanding their own defense industrial capacity--an encouraging and necessary step that will make NATO even more resilient. prgtoken Of course, one of the most encouraging developments since the last NATO summit has been the addition of two strong, new allies with highly capable militaries and cutting-edge industrial bases of their own. It was a tremendous honor to work closely with the leaders of Finland and Sweden throughout their accession to the alliance, and I am proud to join the ic leader in hosting them on Capitol Hill this week. prgtoken Today, the enemies
NATO (Executive Session)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2024-7-9

in 1864, after 3 years of Civil War, many citizens of the North were ready for peace. The 13th Amendment had passed in this very Chamber but failed to do so in the House of Representatives, and the fate of Abraham Lincoln's Presidency--and perhaps the continuation of the war--was on the ballot. prgtoken In that spring of 1864, Lincoln placed his hand on a Hoosier general's shoulder, and he said: ``I believe it right to give you a chance.'' What he really meant was a second chance. prgtoken I rise to mark a day 160 years ago when that second chance and a refusal to flinch from duty, even in a forlorn hope, saved our Nation's Capital and possibly much more than that. prgtoken Not long after his meeting with Lincoln, that same soldier was ushered into the office of Secretary of War Ed Stanton. ``What do you know of the Middle Department?'' the Secretary asked. ``Nothing,'' his visitor replied. ``Nothing?'' the Secretary repeated. ``I am from the West,'' General Lew Wallace answered. prgtoken By ``the West,'' Wallace meant Crawfordsville, IN, and that is exactly where he was when the year began--an officer whose career appeared to be at a dead end. prgtoken Two years before, the division under his command arrived late to the Union lines during the first day of fighting at Shiloh. Wallace was scapegoated after one of the deadliest battles in the war up to that point. He was removed from his command in the Army of Tennessee and placed on reserve. Requests for a reinstatement failed. ``I had cast my last throw. What next?'' Wallace wondered. prgtoken The answer came from another Hoosier--President Abraham Lincoln. Wallace was to report to Washington and take command of the 8th Army Corps and the Middle Department even though he didn't even know where the Middle Department was headquartered. The answer, Stanton told him, was Baltimore, and that is where Wallace headed after buying a Rand McNally map of the United States for 15 cents. prgtoken In early July, Wallace sat at his desk studying that map closely. He had just received word from the anxious president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad that Confederate troops were advancing through the Shenandoah Valley. The path from there to Washington, DC, was wide open. The city was poorly defended with Union soldiers. They were away attacking Richmond at the time. ``Washington, seriously menaced, was incapable of self-defense--that much was clear,'' he wrote years later. prgtoken Staring at that map, Wallace understood that the threat was very real and his responsibility was crystal clear. Without orders--without orders--he departed for Monocacy Junction, where the roads and railroad leading to Washington and Baltimore crossed a tributary of the Potomac. prgtoken Upon arrival, he stood on a bluff looking down on the Monocacy River and the green pastures and golden wheat fields beyond it. He could see the steeples of Frederick, MD, not far off and the C
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-7-9

I rise today to recognize and honor the 150th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Wyoming. This important fraternal organization, also known as Wyoming Masons, will celebrate the occasion during their annual convention on August 12, 2024, in Casper, WY. prgtoken Freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the world. Members share a belief in ``the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind.'' With a shared commitment to lives of honor, integrity, and character, the men of Freemasonry work to better themselves, their communities, and the world. prgtoken The first known masonic meeting in Wyoming took place at Independence Rock on July 4, 1862. Independence Rock is located on the Oregon and Mormon trails in central Wyoming between the cities of Casper and Rawlins. Twenty masons from the camped Oregon wagon trains participated in a masonic meeting. prgtoken The Grand Lodge of Wyoming was established December 15, 1874, in Laramie City, territory of Wyoming. Four lodges with 211 members were represented. Edgar P. Snow was elected the first Grand Master. Today, Wyoming has 41 lodges with over 2100 members. prgtoken The Grand Lodge of Wyoming is a member of the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference. The lodge recognizes several Appendant and Concordant organizations which provide opportunities for family members to interact with Masonic relatives. prgtoken These organizations include Job's Daughters International, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, York Rite of Freemasonry, Ancient Order of the Mystic Shrine, National Sojourners, Order of the Eastern Star, Ladies' Oriental Shrine, Daughters of the Nile, Allied Masonic Degrees, and Royal Order of Scotland. prgtoken The Grand Lodge of Wyoming is led by its 2023-2024 elected officers: Grand Master Thomas G. Needham, Jackson, WY; Deputy Grand Master Scott Kitchner, Rock Springs, WY; Senior Grand Warden Gregory K. Shiek, Sheridan, WY; Junior Grand Warden Ken Thorpe, Jr Sheridan, WY; Grand Treasurer John F. Nunley III, Cheyenne, WY; and Grand Secretary Beynon St. John, Lander, WY. prgtoken Those serving through appointments include Senior Grand Deacon E. Ray Leeman, Jr Aladdin, WY; Junior Grand Deacon James K. Wamsley, Rock Springs, WY; Junior Grand Steward Bryan J. Compton, Jackson, WY; Junior Grand Steward Calvin E Van Zee, Laramie, WY; Grand Lecturer Weston G. Hubele, Mills, WY; Grand Chaplain Preston Goulette, Pinedale, WY; Grand Orator Thomas Jefferson Rodgers, Sheridan, WY; Grand Marshal Stephen H. Fowler, Evanston, WY; Grand Librarian Gary D. Skillern, Cheyenne, WY; Grand Historian Mark S. Young PGM, Gillette, WY; Grand Organist Tim Forbis, Cheyenne, WY; and Grand Tyler David N. Lankford, Pinedale, WY. prgtoken District lecturers are Bret D. Steger, Pine Bluffs, WY; David G. Hammond, Laramie, WY; Stephen H. Fowler, Evanston, WY; Kraig A. Kobert, Jackson, WY; Toby Errickson, Lander, WY; Christopher G
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1297 (Executive Calendar)
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-7-9

I object to S. 1297 for a simple reason: It would make it easier for unborn life to be ended. prgtoken The Supreme Court's Dobbs decision brought renewed hope to Americans who believe in the sanctity of each and every life, including life in the womb. After 49 years, a new culture of life is enriching our country from coast to coast. prgtoken But this bill would take us backward. This bill would, first of all, allow abortion on demand in pro-life States, so long as the patient is from another State. And that is crazy. prgtoken Second, this bill would expose doctors and nurses who work in religious organizations, clinics, and hospitals. It would expose them to costly lawsuits if they stand by their deeply held beliefs. That also is crazy. prgtoken And, finally, this bill would violate the spirit of bipartisan Hyde protections by providing millions of taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry. That also is crazy. prgtoken I was elected to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, including for life for the unborn. But this bill puts more unborn lives in danger. Therefore, I object.