mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROTECTING OUR KIDS ACT
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-6-8

. Madam , I rise in strong support of this bill, the Protecting Our Kids Act. I point out that every argument we have heard against it so far is nonsense. prgtoken Every student deserves to feel safe in school, and every parent should know that their child is safe when they walk out of their house in the morning. prgtoken After each mass shooting, too many people are content to offer their thoughts and prayers. The Protecting Our Kids Act is more than thoughts and prayers. prgtoken I was proud to work on this bill with Chairman Nadler, Chairwoman Jackson Lee, and all of our colleagues who have contributed bills and input that have made this bill the important bill that it is. prgtoken As a lifelong hunter, gun owner, and as a combat veteran, I believe in law-abiding citizens' ability and right to own firearms. As a gun owner, I believe that all responsible gun owners have that responsibility to support efforts to help keep our schools, streets, and communities safe from mass shootings and from the everyday gun violence that often goes unreported by the media. prgtoken Each provision in this bill helps reduce gun violence, and it saves lives. Raising the age to buy an assault weapon saves lives. Limiting magazine capacity will limit the carnage of mass shootings, and it saves lives. Going after traffickers keeps guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them, and it saves lives. Safe storage helps reduce suicides and keeps kids safe at home and school, and it saves lives. The unregulated sales of bump stocks and ghost guns is tearing up our communities; regulating ghost guns and regulating bump stocks saves lives. prgtoken This bill respects the Second Amendment while taking steps to protect our communities from the epidemic of gun violence. None of our careers are worth more than the lives of the children in this country. We need to pass this bill, and I hope we do it with strong bipartisan support.
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-6-8

I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the leader, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 925, Alan M. Leventhal to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark; that there be 10 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on the nomination; and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination and the Senate resume legislative session.
HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS ACT OF 2021
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2022-6-8

the Senate is on the verge of honoring our commitment to our country's toxic-exposed veterans and their families through the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act. prgtoken Look, generation after generation of veterans have been exposed to toxic substances during their time in service, dating all the way back to World War I and every conflict since then. prgtoken And they have returned only to face yet another battle here at home when prgtoken they seek care and benefits because of the impact of toxic exposure on their lives. prgtoken In the worst care scenarios, folks are paying the price with their lives--veterans and heroes like Sergeant First Class Robinson, for whom this bill is named after. prgtoken Look, we have made some incredible advances as a country over our history when it comes to taking care of our servicemembers both in- theater and after they get back home. The survival on the battlefield now compared to 50 years ago has been improved amazingly. prgtoken Prosthetics--we have done some amazing work with prosthetics for the folks who have come back who are missing limbs. We have been working hard on mental health. We are not where we need to be, but we are making some advances. We have got more stuff to do, particularly in the area of transition and implementation of alternate forms of mental healthcare. prgtoken But the fact is, with toxic exposure, we have never done a good job. This bill will put the VA and put this Nation on the right track to addressing decades of inaction and failure by our government--by us--to pay for the cost of the war. prgtoken So what does it do? It expands eligibility--expands eligibility--for VA healthcare to more than 3\1/2\ million combat veterans exposed to burn pits since 9/11. prgtoken It supports our post-9/11 and Vietnam-era veterans by removing the burden of proof for 23 presumptive conditions caused by toxic exposure, from cancers to lung diseases. prgtoken It establishes a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure. So why is this important? Well, you know how the Senate works. Oftentimes, it takes a long time to get much done, and it has taken an act of Congress--literally, an act of Congress--to get these presumptives approved in the past. prgtoken Now the VA is going to have a structure where they can follow the science and get these toxic exposures covered, the ones that are going to happen in the future--and, unfortunately, I am afraid that they will happen in the future so this structure is important. prgtoken This bill also gives the VA the tools it needs to bolster its workforce, to establish more healthcare facilities, to improve claims processing, which will better meet the immediate and future needs of every veteran that the VA serves. prgtoken I have talked about the costs. The costs are $287 billion over 10-- significant, very significant, but it is a cost of w
PROTECTING OUR KIDS ACT
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2022-6-8

. Madam , later this month, 30 years to the day, my father was shot and killed by senseless gun violence. prgtoken And so I rise today with a heavy heart for those who have been murdered by gun violence and the survivors who now must live with that trauma every single day. prgtoken I have a heavy heart for the 58 victims and survivors in my hometown of Las Vegas who experienced the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. prgtoken I have a heavy heart for the parents and families in Uvalde, Texas, whose children were murdered while at school. prgtoken I have a heavy heart for the Black Americans who were murdered at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. prgtoken I have a heavy heart for the doctors and nurses who were killed at a hospital in Tulsa. prgtoken I have a heavy heart. But I also have the courage to protect our children, and I will continue to work to break the cycle of violence. prgtoken The question is: Do my colleagues have the courage to protect our kids? prgtoken Vote ``yes'' on this legislation.
PROTECTING OUR KIDS ACT
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-6-8

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken What happened in Uvalde, Buffalo, and Tulsa is as wrong as wrong could be, and our hearts go out to those communities and those families who have been impacted in such a terrible way. The answer is not to destroy the Second Amendment, but that is exactly where the want to go. prgtoken Don't take my word for it. Just look at what they said. The President of the United States said last week that he wants to get rid of the most popular handgun in the country. Michael Moore, a --not a Member of Congress but a --said it is time to repeal the Second Amendment. prgtoken During our 10-hour markup last Thursday in the committee hearing, Representative Jackson Lee said if this bill passes, we are not finished. Representative Jones said if this bill doesn't pass, we will end the filibuster; we will expand the Supreme Court; we will do whatever it takes to get law-abiding citizens' guns. prgtoken Today, we have this hodgepodge of six bills thrown together. Many of the elements in these bills are unconstitutional. Even the Ninth Circuit has said it is unconstitutional what they want to do on the age limit. These bills would say when you can buy a firearm, what kind of firearm you can get, and where and how you have to store that firearm in your own darn home. prgtoken Of course, tomorrow, they are bringing the so-called red flag law to the floor. Someone who doesn't like you can file a complaint. Within 24 hours, there is a hearing that you are not allowed to be at--you can't confront your accuser--and they can take away your Second Amendment liberty. That is the bill they are going to pass tomorrow. prgtoken Frankly, this shouldn't surprise us. For 18 months, have assaulted the First Amendment. It shouldn't surprise us now that they are coming after the Second. Every right we enjoy as Americans under the First Amendment--your right to practice your faith, your right to assemble, your right to petition your government, freedom of the press--heck, some of them call for outlawing certain networks. prgtoken And freedom of speech, just a few weeks ago, the administration tried to put together the Disinformation Governance Board. Oh, my goodness. prgtoken The attacks on the First Amendment have been sustained. They have been going on for 18 months, and now here they come, going after law- abiding citizens' Second Amendment liberties. prgtoken The started by saying this bill is about protecting our kids. That is important. Sure is. That is what she said, protecting our kids is important. Yes, it is. But this bill doesn't do it. prgtoken What this bill does is takes away Second Amendment rights, God-given rights protected by our Constitution, from law-abiding American citizens. That is what this legislation does, and that is why we should oppose it. prgtoken Madam , .
REQUEST TO CONSIDER S. 4160, SUPREME COURT POLICE PARITY ACT
Lisa C. McClain (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-6-8

today an armed man with the intent to kill justice Kavanaugh was arrested near the Justice's home. The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill that would provide security to the Justices and their families. Yet House have refused to act on it. prgtoken Unlike the bills we voted on today, we actually have a bipartisan, commonsense solution to protect one of our Nation's most sacred institutions. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 's table S. 4160 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
RECOGNIZING LINDSAY HOLCOMB, JR., ON HIS 88TH BIRTHDAY
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-6-8

. Madam , I rise to recognize and wish a happy 88th birthday to an exemplary North Carolinian, Lindsay Holcomb, Jr of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has been my honor and pleasure to know Lindsay for nearly 30 years, and I understand what a remarkable man he truly is. prgtoken After graduating from Duke University in under 4 years, he went on to serve in both the United States Army and National Guard. Later, he became president of Pine State Knitwear, a prominent textile manufacturer in Mount Airy, North Carolina. prgtoken Additionally, he served on the Board of Trustees for Northern Surry Hospital for three decades, and was chairman four of those years. prgtoken That is an impressive resume. But there is more, much more to his story. He served in pivotal leadership roles within the community as well and showed his generosity in many ways. prgtoken He and his late brother, Smith, funded a care wing at Arbor Acres, an independent living community in Winston-Salem, in honor of their mother who suffered from dementia. They also donated the waiting room in the Perry Clinic at Arbor Acres. prgtoken He is the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need, and his service to others speaks volumes about his character. prgtoken God bless you, Lindsay, and happy 88th birthday. Here is to many more. Recognizing the Service of William Morgan, Jr.
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-6-8

I want to talk today about one of the most disturbing human catastrophes in the world. Now, I have recently visited the Ukraine border, and I have done medical mission work around the world from Haiti to Honduras to Africa. I have seen malnutrition and starvation. I have seen trauma. I have seen the consequences of the lack of potable water and sewage. prgtoken I describe this so when I say our southern border--yes, our own southern border--is a humanitarian crisis, you know I am not speaking in ignorance or hyperbole. And this crisis, this humanitarian nightmare, has been created by our own President's policies. prgtoken You see, when he was elected, he sent a loud invitation to the whole world; and more recently, when he said he was ending title 42, it was like turning on a stronger magnet. It was like sending a flare, a signal. It was like a giant Times Square billboard telling all the world: Come now, come to the United States. Amnesty is waiting for everyone. prgtoken As for the cartels--the people traveling, they paid no mind to the court ruling. Instead, they kept coming. And as we speak, the largest caravan to date is on its way, with more than 15,000 people--bigger than my hometown of Great Bend. prgtoken This invitation, this magnet has made an already treacherous, inhumane situation worse. Our President is, indeed, inviting people to their own peril, to their own harrowing, life-threatening journey. prgtoken Let me share with you what I saw just 16 days ago on my fourth visit to the border. prgtoken Upon our arrival and a short drive to the river, we found the Border Patrol and our National Guard hard at work with some 30 migrants in line waiting to be processed. They had turned themselves in. And within moments, within minutes, that line was over 100 people. And at the front of the line were two beautiful young sisters, ages 7 and 9. They were unaccompanied--no parents and no families. I can only imagine what it would have been like traveling over 1,000 miles from Central America to the Rio Grande River without your parents or without a family member. I can only imagine what might have happened to them on that trek. prgtoken From the river, we traveled to a detention center where the migrants were held for 2 to 3 days. prgtoken I have to again compliment our Border Patrol; they are doing an incredible job in a humanitarian crisis by providing showers, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and meals. The challenge is 80 percent of our Border Patrol officers are having to function like they are like running a restaurant, like running a hotel, functioning as social workers while our borders are left unguarded. prgtoken And the get-aways--we haven't talked about the get-aways. Let me tell you the story of one young lady I met. Let's say she was probably 17 years of age from Central America. She or her family paid the cartel some $3,000 to get from Central America through Mexico across the river a
Tribute to Kenny Klein (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-6-8

3 weeks ago, a Federal judge blocked the Administration from lifting title 42 COVID restrictions. It was a welcome decision that will hopefully stave off an additional flood of illegal immigration on our southern border. But it has been pretty much the only bit of good news on this front, because the situation at our southern border is out of control. prgtoken In April, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 234,088 individuals attempting to cross our border illegally--234,088. That is the highest number ever recorded. prgtoken The Border Patrol is stretched thin. A recent article reported that ``around 60 percent of CBP agents have been assigned to process migrants, taking them away from field work.'' Sixty percent. Detention facilities are overflowing and massive numbers of illegal immigrants are being released into the country, many of whom will never report to an immigration office as ordered. prgtoken In short, our southern border is in chaos, and if title 42 is lifted, the situation is almost guaranteed to become much worse. prgtoken The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that as many as 18,000 migrants per day could attempt to cross our southern border if the policy is lifted. Eighteen thousand per day--that is more than double the number we are currently experiencing, and the administration has yet to implement any plan for dealing with such a situation. prgtoken Illegal immigration, especially the kind of out-of-control illegal immigration we are now experiencing, has serious consequences. Criminals, including human traffickers, drug smugglers, and gang members, regularly attempt to cross our southern border. The worse the situation at our border gets, the easier it is for those individuals to make their way into the United States, and that has consequences for our entire country. prgtoken South Dakota law enforcement officials tell me that they are seizing drugs that they can trace directly back to the cartels who smuggle these drugs across our border. Our country is currently in the midst of a fentanyl crisis. In fact, right now, fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 45. And where is all this fentanyl coming from? Most of it is being trafficked across our southern border; and when more and more of our Customs and Border Protection agents have been pulled off the border to process migrants, it is pretty much a guarantee that drug smugglers are having a much easier time in getting their product into the country. prgtoken I mentioned that Customs and Border Protection encountered more than 234,000 individuals who were attempting to cross our southern border illegally in the month of April, but that number only reflects individuals the CBP has actually apprehended. In April, Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas testified that, in addition to the 1.7 million apprehensions at the southern border in fiscal year 2021
SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF FATHER MICHAEL DANDURAND AND THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-6-8

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Father Michael Dandurand, an outstanding citizen from Assumption, Ohio, who will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination on June 11, 2022. This milestone provides the opportunity to recognize Father Dandurand's service to the Catholic Church and to our country. prgtoken Born and raised in Tiffin, Ohio, Father Dandurand earned a bachelor's degree in history from Saint Meinrad College Seminary in Indiana, a master's degree in Corporate and Public Communication at Seton Hall University in 1993, and a Masters of Divinity from St. Meinrad school of Theology in 1997. prgtoken After ordination, Father Dandurand served as an Associate Pastor in St. Charles Parish in Lima, St. Rose Parish in Perrysburg, and St. Joseph Parish in Maumee. Father Dandurand also served as an instructor and chaplain at Calvert Catholic High School in Tiffin, Ohio. From 2006 to 2013, he was pastor at the St. Thomas More University Parish in Bowling Green, also serving as the Chaplain for the Bowling Green State University Football Team. At his current parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, he serves the students at the Holy Trinity School as well as the wider parish community. Father Dandurand was commissioned as an Air National Guard Chaplain in 2014 and was assigned to the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard. He deployed in March 2020 to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and also served as the Catholic chaplain at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Father Michael Dandurand's ordination. It is my great pleasure to recognize this outstanding achievement, and I thank him for his service to our country and his flock. On behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio, I wish Father Dandurand the best in all his future endeavors.
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2022-6-8

I rise today, again, regarding the need to secure our southern border. Right now there is a caravan of migrants making its way to Mexico through the southern border. prgtoken Media reports that it could be the largest caravan ever, growing to 15,000 migrants by the time it reaches the U.S. border. The unprecedented and growing crisis at the southern border is due to the administration's misguided immigration policies. prgtoken This includes the lack of enforcement of key tools, including the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy, the safe third country agreements, and the title 42 public health order. prgtoken U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that in April of this year, over 234,000 individuals were encountered attempting to illegally cross the southern border--234,000 in the month of April. prgtoken This is an increase of 31 percent from April of 2021, last year, and a staggering 1,268-percent increase from April of 2020, 2 years ago. There are 234,000 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally in just 1 month--just 1 month. prgtoken I was recently in Del Rio and Eagle Pass, TX, to draw attention to the challenges at the border and to meet with the North Dakota Army National Guard soldiers. Our Guard members are providing support to Customs and Border Protection in light of the immigration crisis. prgtoken Our dedicated CBP officers and agents are working tirelessly to try to fulfill their mission of securing the border, with the added pressure and stress of addressing the humanitarian crisis occurring with the continuing surge of migrants seeking to cross the border illegally. prgtoken While they do everything they can, they face an impossible task that the administration's actions are exacerbating. As I mentioned earlier, the current crisis at the southern border is the result of the administration's policies. prgtoken Notably, the administration is now attempting to end the use of public health order 42--just last month. Those efforts failed when a Federal judge correctly issued an injunction preventing the administration from ending title 42. prgtoken The Federal injunction noted that rescinding title 42 will result in a significant increase in illegal immigration at the southern border. This includes an anticipated tripling of illegal border crossings at the border, increasing from 7,000 per day to 18,000 per day, should public health order 42 end. prgtoken At the same time, the ongoing crisis at the southern border is creating significant challenges for northern border operations and the security of our northern border. Northern border personnel and resources continue to be depleted because of the surge at the southern border. That is unacceptable. prgtoken We need to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border and ensure that we have the resources we need at our northern border as well. prgtoken Border security is vital to national security, and