mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING OLIVER LEAVITT
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-3-28

I want to take a few minutes to recognize the life of an extraordinary Alaska Native leader Oliver Aveogan Leavitt, who died January 9, 2023, at the age of 79. With the passing of Oliver Leavitt, Alaska has lost a highly respected Inupiaq leader and elder who dedicated his life to advocating for Inupiat and Alaska Native rights and ensuring that cultural and traditional knowledge will be passed down to younger generations. prgtoken Oliver Leavitt was born in 1943 in Utqiagvik and was raised in caribou and fish camps along the Arctic coast living a traditional Alaska Native subsistence lifestyle. Oliver was known as a statewide leader and was instrumental in the legislation and policy changes that he successfully advocated for, including the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act--ANCSA--working in close partnership with dear friends and leaders such as the late Dr. Jacob Anagi Adams. Oliver not only lived in a time of rapid and monumental change, but he was also an agent of that change and progress for his people at a defining period in our State's history, leading discussions about rights to the land and resources and ensuring prosperity for the region as a founder and leader of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. prgtoken Oliver Leavitt's staunch and storied dedication meant sacrificing time away from his family and cultural activities to camp out in DC, working on the passage of amendments to ANCSA that benefited all Alaska Native people for future generations, including legislation which authorized development on North Slope lands. Oliver also provided strong cultural leadership as a whaling captain, leading the Oliver Leavitt Crew, and sharing his skills as an expert skin boat maker. Oliver proudly served his community, State, and Nation at all levels, as an Army veteran, serving in the Vietnam war, and served on many local and early boards, such as Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Alaska Federation of Natives, the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Arctic Slope Native Association--which led his North Slope region in the fight about land claims--and First Alaskans Institute. prgtoken Dr. Leavitt is survived by his beloved wife Annie Hopson Leavitt; his two daughters, Mary Lou and Martina (Jamie); daughter-in-law Doreen; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his and Mrs. Leavitt's son, William Jens Leavitt. Dr. Leavitt occupied a special place in Alaska's history and in the hearts of those who called him a friend. He prioritized mentoring the next generation. Oliver was loved in return, and Alaskans are immensely proud of all that he contributed to the State. My family and I extend our deepest condolences to his friends, family, and loved ones during this time as we reflect on the life a legendary Alaskan.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-3-28

this amendment is very simple, it declares any pandemic convention produced by the intergovernmental negotiating body to be a treaty requiring Senate advice and consent. prgtoken I had a similar amendment on the Iranian agreement a few years ago. It is far past time that the Members of this body reclaim our Constitutional authority at ratifying these incredibly serious treaties and no longer allow the administration to go ahead and negotiate agreements that can have a dramatic impact on our sovereignty and bypass the Senate entirely. prgtoken So, again, a very simple amendment, it would deem any amendment a treaty and require that it be ratified by the Senate, and I urge all my colleagues to support my amendment.
REPEALING THE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ-- Continued
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-3-28

I appreciate very much my colleague from Florida's continued focus on the need to fully account for what went wrong with the administration's horribly botched withdrawal from Afghanistan; however, I regret that I must oppose his amendment because this is not the right venue for establishing a committee of this nature. prgtoken In the coming months, we are going to consider the annual National Defense Authorization Act, and important oversight issues such as the ones raised in the amendment by the gentleman from Florida should be debated within that context and that framework. prgtoken This legislative effort to remove outdated authorities that were put in place two decades ago for a war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq to prevent them from abuse in the future has to be kept, in my estimation, as clean as possible to enable them to be signed into law without further delay. prgtoken As I said before, by allowing these authorizations to live on long past their original purpose, Congress has forfeited the power to authorize military force to the executive branch. prgtoken I know my colleague from Florida cares deeply about oversight issues, as evidenced by this amendment, so I hope he and I can work together both to pass a clean repeal of these two outdated authorizations and then discuss prgtoken robust oversight measures for Afghanistan within the confines of the NDAA process. prgtoken In closing, I would urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment in order to keep this bill a clean repeal of the 1991 and 2002 authorizations. Vote on Amendment No. 13
REPEALING THE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ-- Continued
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-3-28

. In September 2021, President 's misguided and dangerous decisions in his botched withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan led to America's most stunning, unforced, and humiliating defeat in decades. prgtoken Due to President 's carelessness and failed leadership, 13 U.S. servicemembers were lost; billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment were left for the Taliban, and here is a picture of some of it; and hundreds of American citizens were stranded behind enemy lines. prgtoken The world is now a more dangerous place. Our enemies, like Russia, Communist China, and Iran, are emboldened, and the American people are rightfully furious. prgtoken We must have accountability, and the best way to do that is establishing a bipartisan, bicameral Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan--similar to the Iran-Contra committees--to conduct a full investigation and compile a thorough report on President 's tragically failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
TRIBUTE TO JEFF WRASE
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2023-3-28

I pay tribute to Jeff Wrase, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's deputy staff director and chief economist, who recently left the committee after more than 11 years of service. prgtoken For more than 20 years, Jeff served in what many consider to be the ``wonkiest'' committees in Congress: the Senate Finance, Banking, and Budget Committees, the Joint Economic Committee, and the House Budget Committee. Jeff's strong background in economics and career in academics made him a natural fit for each committee, with a unique skill set for thoroughly briefing and advising members on everything from macroeconomics, to international finance, to Federal debt management. prgtoken As a member of the Finance, Banking, and Budget Committees, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Jeff on many issues for more than a decade. When I became ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee at the onset of the 117th Congress, I knew I needed Jeff Wrase on my team. This decision proved invaluable over the next 2 years, as Jeff spent much of his time fighting to protect the pro- growth tax and regulatory changes that had been implemented by the Finance Committee in recent years. prgtoken Jeff was instrumental in reducing the scope and damage posed by multiple tax-and-spend packages proposed during the 117th Congress. From arguing before the Senate Parliamentarian about arcane budget rules or helping to educate members or the American people about pitfall-laden policy proposals, Jeff immersed himself in each issue, asking the tough, smart questions about the feasibility, purpose, and practicality of each proposal. He crafted several important pieces of legislation to protect hard-working taxpayers, usually countering edicts and government overreach from the executive branch. One provision would have stricken a directive included in the American Rescue Plan Act that forbids States from using relief funds to provide any form of tax relief. Jeff picked apart the vague, unenforceable nature of the legislation, noting its interference in a State's ability to provide tax relief to citizens to reduce the burden on hard-working families. It was a strong argument, as several lower courts have agreed. prgtoken Another Jeff-authored provision proved powerful in pushing back on Internal Revenue Service--IRS--overreach. When the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was being debated, a key funding mechanism was to provide the IRS with a bloated, $80 billion 10-year budget to squeeze more money out of American taxpayers to finance Green New Deal priorities. Jeff knew the estimated revenue from additional enforcement would have to include taxpayers making less than $400,000 per year, thus breaking a campaign pledge from the administration to not ``raise taxes one penny on anyone earning less than $400,000 a year.'' Congress's nonpartisan scorekeepers confirmed that individuals making under that amount would be swept up
LOWER ENERGY COSTS ACT
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-3-28

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which will unlock United States energy potential, benefiting Missourians and Americans nationwide. prgtoken Broadly speaking, this bill is important for so many reasons, from increasing domestic energy production to encouraging the production of critical minerals to modernizing the NEPA process for energy and other infrastructure projects. This bill does exactly what the title says. prgtoken Division C of the bill was produced by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and it focuses on streamlining and clarifying the scope of section 401 of the Clean Water Act to prevent its continued abuse in blocking energy infrastructure projects. prgtoken Many projects that require water quality certifications under section 401 are critical to our Nation's energy production, such as natural gas pipelines, LNG, and coal export terminals. prgtoken Division C of the bill makes clear that States cannot block important energy projects on grounds outside of the Clean Water Act quality standards, consistent with the intent of the original law. prgtoken Last month, H.R. 1152, which is encompassed within division C, was marked up and passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. prgtoken As included in H.R. 1, division C is incredibly important to lowering energy costs and boosting energy production while still ensuring water quality. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I thank two of my subcommittee chairmen, David Rouzer and Garret Graves, for their leadership in sponsoring this piece of legislation. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I would urge support of the bill. By passing H.R. 1, the House would support moving critical energy projects forward and support lowering costs for Americans through greater energy independence. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-3-28

yesterday, by a large bipartisan vote of 65 to 28, the Senate invoked cloture on legislation repealing the Iraq AUMFs of 2002 and 1991. We will continue voting on amendments over the course of today, and Members should expect the final passage on repealing the Iraq AUMFs as soon as tomorrow. prgtoken I want to thank both sides of the aisle for their cooperation and bipartisanship. This has been a reasonable process here on the floor, with votes on amendments brought forth by our colleagues. I hope this process can serve as a blueprint for how the Senate can work into the future and in the next few months for sure. We will have amendments without being dilatory. We will have debate without bogging down the process. We will look for opportunities to advance bipartisan bills as we did over the past 2 years. prgtoken So, again, I hope this AUMF portends good things to come. I hope it can serve as a blueprint for how the Senate can work in this session of Congress as we work together to make our country a better place. prgtoken I want to thank Senators Kaine and Young, Chairman Menendez, and all of the cosponsors of this legislation for their good work. Women's Healthcare prgtoken But, unfortunately, there are disturbing trends here in the Senate, and one of the most disturbing is what the Senator from Alabama is doing to weaken our national security. For a long time, both parties have worked together to quickly confirm the routine promotions of generals and flag officers without partisan bickering, without needless delay. Confirming military promotions is one of the most important responsibilities of the Senate--a charge that rises far above normal political fights. But, today, one Member--one Member, the Senator from Alabama--is blocking the routine promotions of 160 generals and flag officers because he objects to women within the military getting access to reproductive care. prgtoken It is very simple. The senior Senator from Alabama wants to make the healthcare decisions for the women of our military, and the Senator from Alabama is holding up scores of military nominees, who have not done anything to be treated this way, until he gets his way. prgtoken The women of our military are more than capable of making their own decisions when it comes to their health. They do not need the senior Senator from Alabama making decisions on their behalf, and they certainly do not need any Senator throwing a wrench in the functioning--the vital functioning--of our military when they, our military, work every day to keep us safe. prgtoken So the Senator from Alabama risks permanently injecting politics into the confirmations of routine military promotions. The Senator from Alabama prgtoken risks permanently injecting politics into the confirmations of routine military promotions. And that would risk our entire national security. For what? So he can push the MAGA hard line o
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-3-28

today I am introducing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, along with Senators Collins, Coons, and Shaheen. Our bipartisan bill will make critical updates to ensure this important program can effectively serve even more households across the country. prgtoken Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $372 in energy bills annually. Those energy savings free up limited financial resources for essentials, like groceries and medicine. prgtoken In addition to traditional services like attic and wall insulation, the program also provides services that help with home health and safety measures, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. prgtoken An independent study of the Weatherization Assistance Program by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that children in weatherized households miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less prgtoken work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to the economy. Families also reported experiencing fewer flu and cold symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing costly medical expenses. prgtoken The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy. The program supports over 8,500 jobs for energy experts and contractors, while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 billion. prgtoken The program is a win-win for all involved. That is why, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led my colleagues in supporting strong funding for it every year. And that is why I am introducing this bill--to ensure it continues to work for years to come. prgtoken This bill will help expand the program to many more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes need minor structural repairs before then can be weatherized. The bill will authorize a Weatherization Readiness Fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve. prgtoken At the same time, it will raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, and it will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home. These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation.
REPEALING THE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ-- Continued
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-3-28

this week, the Senate debates whether to end two authorizations of the use of military force against Iraq. Congress passed the first authorization in 1991 for the original Gulf war, a strategic and narrowly scoped campaign to liberate Kuwait and punish Saddam Hussein's unlawful aggression. prgtoken Congress passed the second one in 2002, paving the way for the disastrous invasion and occupation of Iraq and the biggest blunder in the history of American foreign policy. prgtoken We have spent far too little time on this floor considering the legacy of both wars, and I want to thank Senators Kaine and Senator Young for this long overdue debate about the constitutional responsibility of Congress in our foreign policy. prgtoken Most Americans, I think, would be surprised to learn that Congress has much of a role in foreign policy because for virtually my entire time in the Senate, there has been very little evidence that we have played one. prgtoken The Founders envisioned a very specific role for Congress, and it wasn't to micromanage foreign policy. They knew matters of war and peace required a level of coherence and action at odds with a legislative branch that, by design, often moves slowly and encourages disagreement and some would say sometimes even incoherence. prgtoken But if the Founders had a reason for giving the Executive broad flexibility to conduct war, they also had a reason for giving Congress sole power to declare war. prgtoken They wanted to make it hard to start a war, not easy. They knew that Presidents would often find war tempting as a means to amass power, run roughshod over our constitutional checks and balances. From their study of ancient times, they also understood the ways in which endless war threatened and undermined democracy. prgtoken Here is what James Madison wrote in 1795, just 6 years after ratification of the Constitution: Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded. . . . No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continued warfare. prgtoken The Founders understood this because they studied history. They knew our history better than we know it ourselves, and they sought to apply its lessons to decisions in their time. For example, they read about how the 27-year war between Athens and Sparta corroded Athenian democracy from within by straining its economy, by feeding unrest, and creating a vacuum for strongmen who were peddling easy answers to difficult questions. prgtoken That is why they gave Congress--not the President--the sole power to declare war, but also to ratify treaties, confirm our military and diplomatic leaders, and approve our budget for national security. And they expected Congress to oversee foreign policy actively on behalf of the American people. prgtoken If we look back over the last 30 years--twice the length of time that the pages on this floor have even been prgtoken alive. If you look
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1, LOWER ENERGY COSTS ACT
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-3-28

I thank Mr. McGovern for yielding the time. prgtoken , our neighbors back home send us here to Washington to stand up for them and to stand up to the powerful special interests that have all too much influence here in the halls of Washington. They expect us to work to lower costs and for good-paying jobs and safe and healthy communities. prgtoken That is why this polluters over people act is so dangerous. It does the opposite of what we should be doing here. This bill would reward the price gouging of the big oil and gas companies. This bill would roll back our bedrock environmental protections for clean air, clean water, and lower-cost clean energy. prgtoken Mr. McGovern, I think it is important that you know that in the Energy and Commerce Committee last week, at the very last minute, with no hearing and very little debate, they included a provision that would roll back an important piece of the Inflation Reduction Act that puts money back into people's pockets back home for energy efficiency rebates and discounts to help lower energy bills. They do this at a time when Exxon made record profits last year, $56 billion, and Chevron $36 billion. prgtoken Fossil fuels were the main driver of inflation, yet you want to give another massive giveaway to oil and gas companies and take away simple energy rebates for homeowners? prgtoken They are doing it at a time when it looks as if this bill would increase the deficit by half a billion dollars. This is an irresponsible giveaway to polluters at the expense of our neighbors back home. It deserves a big ``no'' vote. Let's think about the people we represent for a change.
LOWER ENERGY COSTS ACT
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-3-28

. Mr. Chair, the balance of my time. H.R. 1, the bill before us today, is permitting reform in name only, putting polluters who want to fast-track special projects ahead of the public's interests. It includes unnecessary and unwarranted giveaways to fossil fuel and mining industries, and this polluters over people act also repeals historic investment in clean energy and climate change investments passed by the previous Congress. prgtoken I agree with the administration's statement on this bill, which called for working in a bipartisan manner to address lowering energy costs and working in a bipartisan manner to reform the permitting process and to address our energy challenges. prgtoken I know my colleagues want to speed up project delivery, and I share that goal, but it is not going to be achieved through H.R. 1. prgtoken In the last Congress, the House and Senate reached a historic agreement to restore, upgrade, and advance our Nation's interconnected infrastructure networks through the bipartisan infrastructure law, including major investments in improving clean water infrastructure. prgtoken A ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1 begins to pull back on our ability to maintain the promise of those investments. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to consider what real bipartisan work on permitting reform would look like. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1, and .