mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REAFFIRMING THE STATE OF ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-11-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , today I rise to urge the House to agree to my resolution that reaffirms Israel's fundamental right to exist. prgtoken This is a pretty simple and straightforward resolution. Israel has a right to exist. You either believe that or you don't. The American people should see very clearly whether or not the Members of Congress affirm Israel's right to exist. prgtoken President Harry Truman recognized Israel 11 minutes after its founding. America was the first country to recognize the State of Israel, and for good reason. prgtoken Over the last 75 years, Israel has become the greatest ally of the United States--our shared values, shared heritage. The relationship between our two Nations is unbreakable. prgtoken I fundamentally believe that the terrorist attacks of October 7 perpetrated by Hamas are about one thing: Hamas does not believe Israel has the right to exist. Hamas wants to eradicate the Jewish people from the face of the Earth. They say so. prgtoken Other bad actors like Hezbollah share that perspective. Iran, the greatest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, the backer and funder of Hamas, has been calling for the eradication of the State of Israel for millennia. They don't believe they have the right to exist. prgtoken This resolution seeks to reaffirm the commitment made by President Truman upon Israel's founding. We not only recognize Israel, we reaffirm Israel's fundamental right to exist. prgtoken In the wake of the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel, we saw Members of this body and other opponents of Israel call for the elimination of Israel. When they chant: ``From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free,'' they mean that Israel will not exist. prgtoken I want Palestinians to be free. I want them to be free from their oppressors: Hamas and the Palestinian authority. prgtoken Hamas has used Palestinians as human shields even until today. As Israel prosecutes this war against this terrorist organization, Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields, camping out in hospitals and schools, launching missiles, shooting innocent civilians. prgtoken I watched in horror the 21-minute unedited, raw footage of the October 7 terrorist attack. Every Member of Congress was offered the opportunity to watch a 45-minute viewing of that attack. prgtoken Nearly half of Congress chose not to come, including some of the Members who have made it clear that they don't support Israel's right to exist. prgtoken On college campuses and city streets, we see people calling for an intifada, actively promoting the destruction of the Jewish state. Everyone has a right to say what they want about a foreign government, to say what they want about war, but they don't have the right to delegitimize the very existence of the Jewish state to justify terror. prgtoken The State of Israel was created 75 years ago to reestablish the native homeland of the Jewish people. For centuries,
TRIBUTE TO CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOSHUA K. LEONARD
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-11-28

I rise today to recognize CMSgt Joshua K. Leonard for his dedicated service to the U.S. Air Force and the Senate as a legislative defense fellow. Josh has served as a vital part of my team since January 2023. He has been a trusted adviser on issues relating to the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. prgtoken Josh enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 2005. His continued service is a reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of every servicemember who protects our Nation and defends our freedoms. His effort and passion distinguished him as a valuable member of my legislative team. I am proud to have someone like Josh on my staff, who understands the significance of maintaining America's air superiority and caring for our servicemembers and their families. prgtoken During his tenure in my office, he led the charge in introducing the Gerald's Law Act. This critical initiative would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits eligibility to terminally ill veterans who pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care. As he is soon to be promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant, Josh's character and consistent display of knowledge, leadership, and devotion deserve to be recognized and rewarded. I am confident he will continue to serve our country honorably. prgtoken I am incredibly grateful for his support on behalf of the people of Arkansas. Both in the Nation's Capital and while visiting the Natural State, he spoke with and listened to the concerns of Arkansas's veterans and their families. While stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Josh worked tirelessly to ensure the concerns of our veterans and military community were heard and their issues were resolved. We have been very fortunate to have Josh serve Arkansans as a legislative defense fellow. I also want to thank his wife Mrs. Shauntai Leonard and his beloved children Josiah, Lincy, and Kayla for their support during his time in uniform. Growing up in a military family, I understand that service in the Armed Forces is a family affair and impossible without their sacrifice and unconditional support. prgtoken Josh, thank you for your continued service to the U.S. Air Force and all your heartfelt, committed work as a member of my staff. Having you on my team has been a privilege, and you will always be welcomed here. I know that you will remain an asset to our military and veterans in addition to any other endeavors you pursue; I wish you and your family the best and congratulate you on this well-deserved promotion.
Israel (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-11-28

in the coming weeks, Congress has a responsibility to equip America and our allies to face a historic array of national security challenges. To understand the urgency of this moment, just look at the impossible choices facing our ally Israel as it works to bring innocent people home from terrorist captivity. prgtoken These brutal terrorists bankroll their existence with the blood of innocent people. They know that their hostages can be cashed in for a brief reprieve from justice or in exchange for terrorists incarcerated in Israel. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is one of Hamas's own design. Just as there is no moral equivalence between terrorism and self-defense, there is no moral equivalence between innocent hostages and convicted terrorists and criminals. prgtoken Unfortunately, this is not just a reminder for the activists on elite campuses and in national newsrooms who uncritically lapped up and regurgitated activist propaganda. It is also for some of our colleagues here in Congress. prgtoken According to some reports, Senate will use their caucus lunch today to discuss placing restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Israel. One of our colleagues is already on the record demanding that President ``be more aggressive with the Israelis.'' Another has declared that ``not one penny will be coming to Israel'' unless our ally bends to his view--offered from the comfort of a Senate office--on how Israel should conduct self-defense operations. prgtoken If Senate want to vote to tie the hands of Israeli soldiers as they defend their country against vicious terrorists, I welcome such a debate. prgtoken For anyone who needs to hear it again, the conflict unfolding today is between a sovereign democracy that takes great pains to avoid civilian casualties and terrorist butchers who go out of their way to inflict civilian casualties and put their own civilians in harm's way. Israel deserves the time, the space, and the resources to restore its security, and I will stand by our ally 100 percent. prgtoken For that matter, our own people--American men and women in uniform-- deserve the same unwavering commitment to restoring credible deterrence against Iran. prgtoken Since October 17, Iran-backed terrorists have launched at least 73 attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and prgtoken Syria. Clearly, President 's strikes against desert warehouses have not given our adversaries pause. The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism remains demonstrably undeterred. prgtoken Right now, we have a responsibility to equip Israel to destroy Hamas, deter violence against American servicemembers, and invest seriously in American hard power--a language our adversaries in Iran, in Moscow, and in Beijing actually understand. Supplemental national security legislation is our chance to uphold this responsibility.
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CASEY HATCHER
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-11-28

I rise today to honor the life and service of Butte County resident, Casey Corin Hatcher, who passed away in the early morning of November 5, 2023, at the young age of 43. She was surrounded by her sister, mother, and two lifelong friends. prgtoken Casey was born on February 26, 1980, in Auburn, California to her parents Michelle and Tom Hatcher. When she arrived, she was welcomed by her big sister Kelci Hatcher who became her lifelong treasure. She was inquisitive and had a head for planning, directing and problem-solving early in her development. She moved to Chico to attend college in 1999, graduating, from California State University (CSU), Chico with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing. prgtoken Casey began her professional career with a management consulting firm focused on assisting small businesses. She assisted over 60 in total during her tenure. The hands-on work with these businesses provided her with a solid foundation for continuing her work in economic development. prgtoken In 2011, Casey joined Butte County Administration as a member of its economic and community development unit, where she began her enduring advocacy for the Butte County community that she served with dedication for the remainder of her life. prgtoken Casey worked on a variety of community development projects early in her career with the County including implementation of disaster recovery assistance for homeowners affected by the 2008 wildfires in Butte County. Due to her stellar work, she was promoted to Economic Development Manager in 2016. She returned to CSU, Chico and received her Master's Degree in Public Administration in 2017. prgtoken Casey served in the County's Emergency Operation Center during many activations including the Oroville Dam Spillway Incident, the Wall, Ponderosa, and La Porte/Cherokee fires in 2017, the Camp Fire, the 2020 North Complex Fire, and the 2021 Dixie Fire. She worked countless hours supporting the response and recovery to these tragedies in Butte County. She never wavered, faltered. or tired of her dedication to serving the people of Butte County. prgtoken Ultimately. she was promoted to Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and assigned to ``lead'' disaster recovery organizing County staff, advocating with state and federal agencies, and helping rebuild the community for which she cared so deeply. prgtoken Additionally, in October 2021, Casey was asked to testify before a congressional committee on disaster recovery where she was provided a national platform to advocate for disaster recovery. The systems Casey put into place are used today as a model by communities experiencing catastrophic disasters, including most recently by the State of Hawaii in their response to the Lahaina Wildfire in Maui. prgtoken Casey was a rock; she was a role model; she was a moral compass. She was encouraging, challenging, motivating, but supportive. Her family, frien
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Motion to Proceed
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-11-28

so far--so far--the United States is standing behind Israel, as it should, in Israel's fight against Hamas-- so far. prgtoken Don't go wobbly on us, President . Don't go wobbly on Israel. prgtoken But some people in Washington seem confused as to why America backs Israel. I am seeing a lot of hand-wringing from folks who like to pretend that there is some kind of--they use this word a lot: ``nuance''--that there is some kind of nuance we need to apply to the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 before we can condemn Hamas and hold its supporters accountable. President has even suggested that somehow we are all complicit in the bloodshed. prgtoken Some people promoting this idea of nuance, frankly, believe that Israel got what it deserves. Now, they don't say that, but that is what they believe. They believe that Israel got what it deserved. These folks who believe that also apparently believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and the right to kill Jews. prgtoken Thankfully, that is not most Americans. That is a lot of people here in Washington, DC. prgtoken In Louisiana, however, my State, we understand that the debased people who slaughtered hundreds of young people at a peace concert are the bad guys. In Louisiana, we understand that the odious men who raped women, raped and sodomized women next to the bodies of their dead friends, don't deserve to be on this planet. We in Louisiana understand that the degenerates--the degenerates--who forced kidnapped Holocaust survivors to pose for photos--to pose for photos, for God's sake--next to their terrorist captors are just wrong. prgtoken Nothing--nothing--that the Israeli Government has ever done or could do warranted throwing grenades at children hiding in a bomb shelter. Why are some people reluctant to admit that? prgtoken You don't need to read a treatise on the Middle East to know that only monsters--monsters with black hearts--would put a baby in an oven and flip on the switch, as one first responder reported. That is not nuance; that is evil. prgtoken The evil we saw unfold when Hamas butchered Israeli civilians is indefensible. It is indefensible. Those terrorists brutalized thousands of people, including dozens of our American friends and neighbors. Hearing the stories from the survivors and from the first responders-- it is nauseating. It is not nuance; it is evil. prgtoken Yet the Hamas terrorists took joy, they yelped for joy, as they massacred civilians. One terrorist called his mom--called his mother-- to brag that he had ``killed 10 Jews with my own hands.'' Who would brag about something like that? Another Hamas official celebrated the violence and vowed to continue to wage attacks like this ``again and again and again'' until Israel no longer exists. prgtoken No family in Israel will be able to sleep soundly at night until these terrorists are wiped off the face of the Earth. prgtoken Israel has both the right and it has the respons
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Motion to Proceed
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2023-11-28

reserving the right to object, Americans deserve a transparent, affordable, and accessible prescription drug market. I agree with the concerns that each of my colleagues have raised here tonight. The current system fails to meet these needs, and I appreciate the intentions of my colleagues in attempting to shed light on the opaque pricing system that we now face. The problem is that the solution proposed in Senate bill 1250 is the wrong solution. prgtoken If you listened carefully to the debate of my colleagues, their main objection was that the prescription drug companies are advertising and promoting and creating markets for their products. Their solution is to have them tell you what the price is, and what they are asking in their legislation is that the prescription drug manufacturers be required to state their list price. prgtoken But we all know that the list price is not actually the correct price, and it will actually create confusion even further by forcing these pricing numbers to be put out into the marketplace through commercial advertising in a way that will then, I believe, undercut the major reforms that we are now undertaking in the Finance Committee to get the opaque system eliminated, to shed transparency onto the system, and help all consumers--including the United States Government--to understand what the real price is. prgtoken Senator Grassley referenced three or four of his bills that we are working on in legislation right now in the Finance Committee that make major reforms to achieve this very price transparency that I am talking about. We had a markup on that legislation just recently, and it passed 26 to 0 in the Finance Committee. It is ready to come to the floor. It will deal with many of these things that have already been discussed here, but it will not create a mandate that the wrong price be advertised on TV. prgtoken Far too often, heavily concentrated health plans and PBMs force consumers to pay on that list price for prescription drugs, exposing seniors and working families to catastrophic costs. This bill, if enacted, would mandate the inclusion of these inflated figures in virtually all medication ads, reinforcing the notion of the list price as the best pricing opportunity for consumers. prgtoken Respectfully, I see these requirements as moving our current system in the wrong direction by affirming deceptive price points that should never be the basis for a patient's cost or decisions. prgtoken A drug's list price includes none of the discounts, none of the rebates or other price concessions found in the net price--the real price that is paid between the insurers and the PBMs and often then dealt with in pharmacies that are integrated with the insurance companies and the PBMs. prgtoken A recent study showed that this gap between the list and the net price continues to inflate every year. In 2022, for instance, sticker prices for branded drugs, like those yo
Tribute to Peggy J. Dunn (Executive Session)
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-11-28

thank you for the opportunity to address my colleagues here on the Senate floor today. prgtoken I come here with a smile on my face because the individuals I want to recognize today are friends, and they are wonderful people who have made a difference in the lives of many of their fellow citizens back home in Kansas. prgtoken I want to recognize a lifelong Kansan who has served her family, her community, and her State. Peggy Dunn has been serving the city of Leawood as mayor since 1997 and has cultivated a flourishing and beautiful community. In January, Mayor Dunn's last term will come to an end. Her dedication to the city of Leawood will not be forgotten, and she will be greatly missed. prgtoken Peggy J. Dunn was born in greater Kansas City and has been serving the city of Leawood for 31 years. Prior to being mayor, she was a city council member for 4 years until she was sworn in as mayor in 1997. prgtoken Mayor Dunn has played a critical role in the growth of Leawood, and during her years in office, many, many notable developments have been made. Shopping centers such as Park Place and Town Center, Mission Farms and Prairiefire have brought immense expansion and success to the area. Buildings like the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection reveal the architectural beauties of the city. These developments were deliberately planned and came to fruition with guidance from Mayor Dunn. prgtoken Mayor Dunn has dedicated her life to creating a lasting community by forming relationships with Leawood's business leaders, volunteer organizations, religious communities, and residents, working together for the city's success. prgtoken I have seen her meet people and I know when I meet her--every time there is a conversation, you know that she cares about you. She listens, and she cares that way for the people of her city and the people of the State of Kansas. prgtoken Through Mayor Dunn's work, new fire stations, police headquarters, and courts protect the community. Beautiful parks, golf courses, and recreational centers provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy what the city has to offer. Mayor Dunn is a servant leader. She is an innovator, and she is totally dedicated to her community. prgtoken Leawood, the city, has close relationships with sister cities. In 2003, Mayor Dunn and Mayor Peter Weiss of the Gezer region in Israel signed a resolution in agreement to become sister cities. Since then, Mayor Dunn has hosted delegations from abroad and traveled to Israel multiple times. Additionally, Leawood dedicated the I-Lan Park to its sister city in Taiwan. The park is home to a lovely Taiwanese garden, an open play space, and a piece of art called Cloud Gate. prgtoken Through Mayor Dunn's leadership, Leawood has a very bright future ahead. prgtoken Mayor Dunn's family has played a key role in her success as a leader. She has 4 children with her husband Terry and 14 grandchildren. I
REPORT ON FRAUD RELATING TO CERTAIN COVID-19 LOANS
Aaron Bean (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-11-28

I thank the chairman for yielding time. prgtoken , the COVID pandemic is behind us, and with that, a lot of the problems associated with COVID have also managed to go away, but fraud remains. The bill to the American people associated with that COVID relief fraud is here. We have to deal with it. prgtoken Pandemic relief opened the door to wide-scale fraud. Due to the lack of guardrails within the SBA and the borrowing structure, over $200 billion of pandemic loan programs were potentially fraudulent. prgtoken Did you catch that, ? $200 billion. That is not me. That is not Aaron Bean. That is the Inspector General of the United States overseeing the SBA. prgtoken He has identified more than 90,000 fraud cases, over one in five, which represents more than 100 years of investigative casework. prgtoken , one of the most disturbing stories to come out of the Inspector General's investigation is the Barbie doll face scam. prgtoken Do you know about this? This scam wasn't perpetrated by America's favorite Barbie such as Malibu Barbie, Presidential Barbie, Lawyer Barbie, or even Live Action Barbie. prgtoken No, no, no, . This was perpetrated--this was the job of swindler Barbie. Swindler Barbie's face was used as identification for fake identities who went on to collect millions in fraudulent loans when facial recognition software used at SBA verified the identities as real people. prgtoken Behind me, this poster shows real faces, real corrupt Barbie dolls that were used to collect fraudulent PPP and EIDL loans. Yes, it is absurd, , but what do you expect? This is crazy town. prgtoken That is why I rise today to speak in favor of my bill, H.R. 4666, the PPP/EIDL Fraud Report Act of 2023, but you know it, , as the we want our money back act. prgtoken The bill requires the Inspector General of the SBA to report to Congress every quarter with detailed updates on the ongoing fraud investigations of the PPP and EIDL loan programs. prgtoken Most importantly, we are not going to let it go. This will hopefully ensure that the pandemic loan fraud will not be swept under the rug. The American people want oversight over a runaway, unaccountable bureaucracy. We just don't like cheats. We don't like skippers. Somebody has to be held accountable. prgtoken As the Inspector General continues to uncover the abuse of taxpayer dollars, it is important for Congress to know the full extent of the fraud, and most importantly, the progress of getting our money back. prgtoken To the fraudsters: You can run, but you can't hide. We will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We will never tolerate stealing from hardworking taxpayers. prgtoken , as the chairman said, it has been a delight working together, both within the committee and even on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken To the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Mfume, what a treat it is to work with him as we come together to get our money back because that is w