mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF ALBERT N. BULLOCK, POSTHUMOUSLY
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I rise to honor Albert N. Bullock ``Al'' who passed away at the age of 96 on August 16, 2019 in Daly City after a remarkable life. Al was an unflappable photographer who filmed the attack on Pearl Harbor and covered many events that shaped the Bay Area, including the Patti Hearst kidnapping, the assassinations of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk and the Jonestown mass murder where I met him. He will always have a special place in my heart. prgtoken Al was born in Utica, New York on March 5, 1923. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 which changed his life. His first job was washing airplanes and working in a photo lab where he discovered his talent and love for taking pictures. When a place in the Navy photography school opened, he was picked and received what he called the best education possible in photography, motion pictures and navigation. He graduated as a second class photographer's mate and was immediately hired by the government. He was shipped to Pearl Harbor and as fate would have it, the year was 1941. On December 7th, Al was on Ford Island and as the Japanese were dropping bombs right on top of him, he filmed the carnage with a hand-cranked 16mm camera. Ford Island was the strategic center of operations for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, the location of Battleship Row. Assigned as a flag cameraman on the USS Santa Fe, he spent the entire war moving from one campaign to the next. In March 1945, he shot historic photos and footage of the burning and listing USS Franklin 50 miles off the coast of Japan. The USS Santa Fe rescued many sailors and helped put out the fires on the Franklin. Al was 22. prgtoken In 1950, Al moved to San Mateo in my Congressional District and held a variety of jobs selling China and silverware, taking photos and filming car races. One day in the 60s, he was filming a race that ended in a fiery crash. Roger Grimsby, an anchor and the news director at KGO-TV, watched him as he kept filming. He approached Al asking, ``You have any blood in your veins?'' He bought the footage for $25 and used it on the air that day. Thus began Al's pursuit to become a cameraman for KGO. In 1962, Grimsby, known as ``Grim Grimsby'' for his gruff no- nonsense delivery of the news, finally relented and hired him. Al stayed at KGO for 30 years covering the John F. Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, the birth of the free speech movement, the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, and the Loma Prieta earthquake. prgtoken He also covered a story that shaped my life and cemented my commitment to public service. Al flew to Guyana with my mentor and boss Congressman Ryan who took a delegation there to investigate the commune Jim Jones had built in Jonestown. Relatives and friends of Jones' followers suspected that he was holding them against their will. They were right and some 40 followers were ready to defect with our delegation. What unfolded was one of the deadliest mass murders in
RECOGNIZE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I was speaking to one of our colleagues who indicated that he held a town hall meeting where he was explaining, as a civics matter, the Constitution of the United States and the role of the United States Congress in holding the executive accountable. He said his constituents relished the opportunity to understand the process. prgtoken I am going to remind our colleagues that any time we move toward a process that is constitutionally based, it is somber and respectful, detailed and efficient. prgtoken So I want to read from Article I, Section 2, Clause 5, which indicates that the House of Representatives ``shall have the sole power of impeachment.'' Article II states that the President ``shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.'' Article II also requires that the President ``take care that the laws be faithfully executed.'' prgtoken With that in mind, I believe it is important that this Congress recognizes its duty to work in an efficient manner; that all committees work and investigate, and all committees do their work in a somber manner; and that we continue to educate our constituents about the value of the Constitution, the beauty of this Nation, and the rule of law. That would mean that we are doing our job as Members of the United States Congress. prgtoken The Constitution governs the order of our nation and it dictates the work of the Congress. Article I details the powers of the House and the exercising of these powers as they relate to the coordinate, coequal branches of government, codified in Articles II and Articles III: three equal branches of government coexisting and cohesively working to provide oversight to the respective actions of the Congress, the Executive and Judiciary. This has worked, with challenges of course, since 1789, and the situation which we are now currently facing is directed by three provisions of the Constitution. Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 indicates that the ``House of Representatives . . . shall have the sole power of impeachment.'' Article II states that the ``The President . . . shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.; Article II also requires that the ``President take care that the laws are faithfully executed.'' prgtoken That language is stark and clear--and throughout our history it has been used in varying periods where the assessment was that the law has been breached. Sometimes Congresses are concerned that the weight and view of the American people should be considered. Sometimes they are moved by the urgency of the matter. We now have an urgent matter: that matter involves the President of the United States speaking to a sovereign foreign nation and conspicuously and overtly asking for an investigation of his opponent in a presidential election
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-9-24

I join my ic colleagues on the floor to once again speak out against this President and his administration's outrageous abuses of Executive power. prgtoken While, unfortunately, there is a myriad of Presidential abuses to which I could be referring, today, this evening, I am here to discuss two of his most recent and most egregious actions that have not only run afoul of Congress's authority and our constitutional system of checks and balances but also compromise our national security. prgtoken It began with the President making a phony national emergency declaration to bypass Congress and steal money to build his border wall under the auspices of a ``crisis''--one of the President's own making-- in pursuit of advancing the most anti-immigrant agenda this country has seen in generations, all manufactured to secure Federal funds to build his often-touted vanity wall on our southern border. This is a wall the American people were not supposed to pay for and that we, time and again, have indicated we do not want. prgtoken Now, one would think this extreme overreach of Executive authority alone would get our colleagues on the other side of the aisle riled up enough to defend the Constitution's system of checks and balances, but in declaring his national emergency, President took his overreach one step further, ransacking critical Federal funds--taxpayer dollars-- that were appropriated by Congress to fund important military construction projects and national security priorities across the country. To do what with? To put money toward building his border wall. prgtoken To be clear, instead of Federal funds going toward military infrastructure priorities such as a new pier and maintenance facility at Naval Base Kitsap in my home State of Washington that would help guide and protect our Navy's vital nuclear submarines, those funds are now going to pay for 's border wall. prgtoken Instead of our military using Federal funds already authorized by Congress to increase access to childcare for our servicemembers and their families, those funds are now going into paying for 's wall. prgtoken While this behavior from our President is predictable, it is no less wrong, underhanded, and unacceptable, and I know I am not the only one who thinks that way. prgtoken Since the President's rash move to reprogram billions of dollars from our military construction budget toward his border wall, I have heard repeatedly from constituents who are upset by this President's brazen acts of recklessness and are wondering how the President of the United States can just step over Congress to do whatever he wants with our Federal budget, especially when it is on the backs of our troops and their families. prgtoken I refuse to stand by and do nothing while this President hurts my State and so many others. Why? Because he cares more about his vanity project than our troops, the military community, or the America
THE PHILIPPINES
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-9-24

killings of environmental defenders are shockingly common in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The assassination of Berta Caceres in Honduras 3 years ago, orchestrated by top officials of a hydroelectric company and carried out by retired and Active-Duty soldiers who had received training from the United States, was emblematic of the widespread use of harassment, threats, and murder to silence those who courageously call for changes in policies and practices to protect the environment. prgtoken According to a report released today by Global Witness, the Philippines has the highest number of killings in Asia of people who oppose illegal logging, destructive mining, and corrupt agribusiness, with at least 30 cases documented in 2018. The total number is likely higher, as some investigations are ongoing. Many of the victims simply wanted a say in how their land and the country's natural resources are used. The perpetrators are almost never arrested or prosecuted. prgtoken On July 25, 2016, the Philippines' newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his first state of the nation address. He promised to safeguard the country's rural and indigenous communities, tackle corruption, and protect the environment. The results since then paint a very different and distressing picture. If President Duterte meant what he said, he has failed miserably. According to Global Witness, in the 3 years before Duterte took office at least 65 land and environmental defenders were murdered. That was appalling enough. But in the 3 years since he came to power, that number rose to 113. At least 31 of those murders were reportedly committed by the Philippine Armed Forces, whose soldiers and officers act with near total impunity. prgtoken The Philippines is a major recipient of U.S. military aid, and we are perceived by the families of the victims to be enablers of these crimes. In addition to increasing support for local environmental defenders, the Secretary of State and Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development should urge the Duterte government to ensure that the right to free, prior, and informed consent of those impacted by policies and practices that threaten their land and natural resources is respected. This is necessary not only to prevent the destruction of forests and farms, the pollution of watersheds, and the extinction of species, but to avoid confrontations and violence that result when extractive industries, supported by the Armed Forces and police, run roughshod over local communities. prgtoken The Secretaries of State and Defense should also ensure that those in the Philippine Armed Forces who receive our aid respect the rights of civilians and are accountable to the rule of law. When abuses occur they should be thoroughly investigated and the individuals responsible brought to justice. The Leahy Laws require that, and it is the responsibility of U.S. officials to ensure tha
Election Security (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-24

there are certain elements of this responsibility of serving in the Senate that have been tested from time to time in our history. prgtoken As Members of the Senate, each of us stands in the well right over in that corner, raises our right hand, and swears to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Those words are almost a cliche because they are used so often. Yet here today we are being called on to really reflect on that responsibility. We are called on to reflect on it because of things that have happened that have come to light in the last several days that raise serious constitutional questions. prgtoken I will say that in the 2\1/2\ to 3 years that has been President of the United States, I think our Nation has been rocked by this President's approach to the highest office in the land. He has said things and done things no other President has ever done. prgtoken Members of his own political party have been uncharacteristically silent when it comes to criticizing this President for his wrongdoing. The litany of things he has done is long and troubling. But there is one thing that we, as both political parties, need to maintain as the bedrock of this democracy, the bedrock of our commitment to this Constitution; that is, that in this Nation of the United States, the people govern. prgtoken Ultimately, the people of the United States have the last word--in our elections. In those elections, they make their choices, whether you like them or not. I wasn't particularly enamored with the Presidential choice in 2016, but I accepted it as the constitutional verdict of the American people. It really is the bedrock of who we are and what we are. That is why the notion that some other nation would interfere in our election is so repugnant. prgtoken The thought that the American people would not have the last word, that there would be other factors and other people, other countries engaged in our election, is as reprehensible under our Constitution as any concept I can think of. prgtoken We are sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic--another group of words we have heard over and over again. But reflecting on those for a moment--sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic--is a nation that tries to interfere in our political process an enemy of the United States? Of course. That is obvious on its face. Those who would encourage a nation to be engaged in our political process, to try to tip the scales one way or the other, are they enemies of the United States? Well, they are certainly not acting consistent with that constitutional principle. prgtoken This seems like a pretty straightforward constitutional interpretation. You don't need a Ph.D. or a law degree to understand, if a foreign country tries to interfere in the U.S. election process, that foreign country i
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-9-24

I am pleased to join my colleagues and very much appreciate Senator Udall's leadership on the joint resolution we are speaking to today. This is the resolution that would end the President's unconstitutional emergency declaration, which is diverting money from critical military construction projects to fund a costly and ineffective border wall. prgtoken Congress has made it abundantly clear that we did not provide funding for the President's border wall and that we don't approve of raiding military resources to fund his campaign promise--which, by the way, the President vowed Mexico would pay for. prgtoken It is important to note that Congress works on a bipartisan basis to provide funding to secure the southern border. According to the Constitution, it is Congress and not the President who holds the power of the purse. Just 6 months ago, in a strong bipartisan vote, a majority of this body--59 Senators--successfully passed the resolution disapproving of the President's emergency declaration. Unfortunately, President chose to veto that legislation, which is why we have brought it to the floor again for a vote. prgtoken It is imperative that this legislative body--this Senate--defend its authority as derived from the Constitution and protect funding that is vital to our troops and to our national security. prgtoken I think it is difficult to overstate the critical role military construction projects play in maintaining military readiness and supporting our national defense. Yet this administration is treating funding set aside for our national security like a slush fund. prgtoken Take military construction, for instance. At the Portsmouth Naval shipyard in New Hampshire and Maine--it is on the border between New Hampshire and Maine--any disruptions for funding in construction projects can result in costly delays to our military's carefully crafted plans to upgrade aging infrastructure. Delays in projects that support the shipyard's mission threaten to exacerbate the Navy's already high demand for submarine maintenance and the projected submarine shortfall in the coming years. prgtoken In addition, New Hampshire's National Guard readiness centers are in desperate need of modernization, and they can't afford further delays to readiness center improvements. All those projects are funded through the military construction program. prgtoken While New Hampshire's and Maine's shipyard and National Guard were spared from President 's latest money grab, the same can't be said for 127 other important military construction projects across this country. prgtoken The 552 middle school children at Fort Campbell in the majority leader's home State of Kentucky will have to wait for a new school as President diverts construction funding to the border. prgtoken Critical projects in Virginia that would improve a cyber operations facility and replace hazardous materials in warehouses are another casua
RECOGNIZING THE NAMING OF THE VERMONT AVENUE EXIT ON STATE HIGHWAY ROUTE 10 IN HONOR OF THE EL SALVADOR COMMUNITY CORRIDOR
Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I rise today to honor the El Salvador Community Corridor (Corridor), the first designated Salvadoran community in the City of Los Angeles. prgtoken This vibrant Corridor, located in the Pico Union area in the southern region of downtown Los Angeles, honors the rich history, heritage and contributions of the Salvadoran American community. Murals throughout the Corridor depict the cultural pride, struggles and dreams of Salvadoran Americans. prgtoken Forty years of internal political turmoil forced individuals from the Republic of El Salvador to flee the country and seek peace and security in the United States. Today, it is estimated that nearly one million Salvadorans reside in Los Angeles, making Los Angeles home to the largest population of Salvadorans outside of El Salvador. prgtoken You cannot tell the story of Los Angeles without telling the stories of the Salvadoran American community--and of the community leaders, public servants, artists, teachers, neighbors, family members and friends who enrich Los Angeles in countless ways. prgtoken In 2012, the City of Los Angeles declared a section of Vermont Avenue as the El Salvador Community Corridor, a long over due recognition of the economic and cultural contributions of Salvadoran American individuals, families, and organizations. This designation--an important step for the community--created a special place for residents to celebrate their culture through businesses, retail, colorful art, food, clothing, and traditions. prgtoken This year, we celebrate the naming of the Vermont Avenue exit on State Highway 10 in honor of the Corridor. Another important step in honoring the integral role of the Salvadoran American community in the economy, culture and identity of Los Angeles. prgtoken I ask all Members to join me in commending the countless contributions of the Salvadoran American community to Los Angeles and recognizing integral economic and cultural role of the El Salvador Community Corridor.
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT RECEIVED ON AUGUST 12, 2019, BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TRANSMITTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE...
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-24

in August a public servant inside the intelligence community found the conduct of the President of the United States alarming enough to file an official whistleblower complaint. The inspector general of the intelligence community found this whistleblower complaint both credible and urgent. By law, the Director of National Intelligence must forward such a complaint to the congressional intelligence committees within 7 days of receiving it. Congress has been informed by the inspector general of the intelligence community in writing that the administration is preventing that complaint from being sent to the relevant committees in Congress. prgtoken Those are the facts. The situation they describe is unacceptable. We know that the executive branch is blocking the legislative branch--a coequal branch of our government--from performing its constitutional oversight duties. The fact that the whistleblower complaint concerns our national security, our foreign policy, and potential misconduct by the President makes the situation even more serious. prgtoken In a short time, I will ask my colleagues' consent to pass a simple resolution. It essentially says ``that the whistleblower complaint received on August 12, 2019, by the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community shall be transmitted immediately to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.'' prgtoken I cannot imagine any legitimate or straight-faced reason for an objection to this unanimous consent request. The only reason for any Senator to object would be to shield the President's conduct from scrutiny by the public and the representatives they elect to represent them; that is, to protect the President from accountability. prgtoken In a moment, I hope this resolution will pass without a single dissenting Senator, and it should. prgtoken The request, despite its noncontroversial nature, speaks to the issues that go back to the founding days of our Republic: checks and balances, the separation of powers, and the constitutional duty of the President and the executive branch to faithfully execute the laws of the United States. The Senate, today--right now--should speak with one unified voice to reaffirm those time-honored principles and defend the grand traditions of our democracy. prgtoken , as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 325, submitted earlier today.
PFAS CONTAMINATION
Antonio Delgado (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-24

I rise today on behalf of thousands of families in my district that have been exposed to PFAS in their drinking water. prgtoken Last week, my friend Michael Hickey testified before the House on the prevalence of PFAS contamination in Hoosick Falls and in Petersburgh, two communities in my district. prgtoken Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh are not alone. Hundreds of communities across the country are dealing with PFAS contamination. prgtoken Here is what we know about these forever chemicals. PFAS contamination can cause autoimmune disorders, thyroid conditions or disorders, and cancer. It is time for action. prgtoken As a named conferee for the National Defense Authorization Act, I will forcefully advocate for pretreatment standards and that PFAS be designated a hazardous substance. prgtoken Too many families are living with the consequences of PFAS contamination in our Nation, and it is due in large part to our inaction.