mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-2-8

from New York for making those statements, and I am glad that I was able to yield time to hear them here on the floor myself. Supplemental Funding prgtoken , today is one of those days where I wonder if people know--who are watching C-SPAN or watch reports or are in the Gallery-- what the heck is happening. So I thought I would come down here and maybe tell you what is happening. prgtoken For about 4 months, Senator Lankford, Senator Sinema, and Senator Murphy got together with the charge of trying to come up with a bipartisan approach to the situation at the border. prgtoken I think, by most objective measures, everyone I know--because now it even shows up in polls--recognizes that we have got an out-of-control situation at the border. prgtoken We clearly have people who should come to this country and should be able to ask for asylum, but it has been abused. The cartels are making about $1 billion a year charging tolls to come across the border. And if you don't pay the toll, you are probably going to get killed. You get about one chance to cross the border without paying a toll--$5,000 if you are from Central America, $50,000 if you are from China. But if you try crossing that border--I have been there. They have got a line of sight, and if you try to cross that border without paying that toll, paying a transnational criminal organization, they are going to kill you. prgtoken Now, they do let some people come across the border without having paid a toll, but they have got to work it off once they get here. They are effectively indentured servants who are doing the work of cartels. prgtoken This is not hyperbole. This is a briefing that I have gotten from law enforcement officials--, s, Independents--in the administration. This is real. This is not politics, not from me anyway. prgtoken So James Lankford, representing the Party, went down, tried to negotiate a deal. And he worked hard at it. James Lankford is from Oklahoma, a ruby-red State. James Lankford is considered to be one of the most conservative Members of the U.S. Senate. To see Members of my conference and people out in the country criticizing James Lankford as some sort of a ``squish'' or some sort of a sellout really tells me that the people here have to know, so they must be misinforming people, and the people out there are believing it because they are hearing people here say that James Lankford sold out. It couldn't be further from the truth. prgtoken The fact of the matter is, the bill that they negotiated, it still needed a little bit of work, but it is a dramatic improvement over the status quo. prgtoken Why did we think we even had to go down this path? Because President has apparently forgotten, over the last 3 years, all of the Executive orders that he has rescinded that have prgtoken caused the border situation to get worse.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-8

for the entirety of President 's term of office--for the last 3 years--my colleagues and I have spoken out about the crisis on our southern border. Of course you can imagine, coming from a border State like Texas--we have 1,200 miles of common border with Mexico, and we are at the epicenter of this crisis. prgtoken I can't tell you how many times I have come here and tried to convince my colleagues that we needed to do something in order to stop the flow of humanity coming across the border, along with the drugs, the criminals, the people on the Terrorist Watchlist--the whole enchilada. I explained that the recordbreaking number of illegal crossings was something that is not normal. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented wave of humanity coming across the border. It is making these criminal organizations that pay by the head--or get paid by the head for smuggling people to the border from around the world and the ones who smuggle the drugs that follow on closely behind fabulously wealthy. prgtoken I have criticized the administration's policies day in and day out because they send a clear signal to the migrants to keep on coming. In other words, the Border Patrol likes to talk about the push factors for immigration. Those are poverty, violence, things like that, a desire for a better life. They also talk about the pull factors and the policies of releasing everybody who comes to the border illegally, either in claiming asylum or in granting them something called parole, which is 2 years in the country, plus a work permit. This is an enormous pull factor. It is like a giant magnet, telling people: Come to America. Forget illegal immigration. Forget the fact that people who come here legally have to wait in line and have to meet certain legal requirements. prgtoken I want to make clear: America was built on legal immigration. Legal immigration has been one of the greatest blessings our country has ever encountered. No other country in the world is as generous as the United States of America when it comes to welcoming people from other countries. But we expect them to follow the rules, which allows us to control the numbers, which allows for the reasonable assimilation of those individuals because we want everybody not to be a hyphenated American but to be an American, and that means assimilation into our society. It also means keeping criminals out. It means keeping terrorists out. It means keeping the drugs out that come with illegal immigration. prgtoken So the policies have been a flashing green light and a welcome mat for people from around the world. There are as many as 300,000 a month now--unbelievable--and as many as 13,000 a day. Jeh Johnson, the former Secretary of Homeland Security under , said that 1,000 illegal border crossings a day was a real problem, and we are seeing 13,000 under President . prgtoken I have tried to shar
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2024-2-8

there are pivotal times in our Nation's history when what we do in this Chamber really matters. How we vote may well determine whether people live or whether they die; whether men and women live under the dictates of an authoritarian regime or as free people in a democratic nation; whether terrorists continue to commit atrocities, kidnap children, kill our troops, or are defeated. prgtoken This is such a moment. prgtoken This week, General Kurilla, the Commander of U.S. Central Command, told me that this is the most dangerous security situation in 50 years--50 years. The defense supplemental bill before us would strengthen our own military. It would send a strong message to Putin that his goal of capturing free, democratic nations will not be allowed to succeed. It would reassure our closest ally in the Middle East-- Israel--that terrorists will not achieve their goal of wiping that nation off the face of the map. It would counter Chinese aggression, and it would rebuild our own defense industrial base. prgtoken , I urge our colleagues to recognize the perilous times that we are living in and vote for this national security bill. It is critical.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2024-2-8

as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today, I am pleased to honor Arnzen Building Construction as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for February 2024. prgtoken Arnzen Building Construction was established in Cottonwood, Idaho in 1987 by Morris B. Arnzen. After attending the University of Idaho, Arnzen entered the construction business in 1979 and began his career at Enneking Building Construction. Following the retirement of George Enneking, Morris purchased Enneking Building Construction and, in 1995, renamed the firm Arnzen Building Construction. prgtoken Arnzen Building Construction has played a crucial role in the changing face of North Central Idaho. Their builds and remodels of residential, commercial, educational, medical, and public works projects throughout the region are a testament to their commitment to high-quality construction and workmanship. The Arnzen's leadership and support of the Idaho and Lewis County Fairs, local 4-H chapters, Cottonwood Fire Department, St. Mary's Youth Group, and local hospitals and schools demonstrates their loyalty to constructing not only sturdy buildings, but a strong community. prgtoken Congratulations to the Arnzens and all of the employees at Arnzen Building Construction on their selection as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for February 2024. Thank you for serving Idaho as small business owners and entrepreneurs. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.
HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JANE A. WITTMEYER
Russ Fulcher (Republican, ID) \u2014 2024-2-9

. . I rise today to honor the life of Jane A. Wittmeyer, a woman who was deeply dedicated to giving back to our great state of Idaho. The passing of Jane on October 25, 2023, after bravely battling Alzheimer's, is deeply felt by many. prgtoken Born in Kansas City and raised in Platte City, Jane was known for insatiable curiosity and love for life. She graduated from Platte High School in 1973 and went to pursue her passion of Horticulture at Kansas State University, earning her BS degree. Jane furthered her education achieving an MBA in International Relations from George Washington University followed by a PhD from Virginia Tech University. Her passion for learning led her to completing Senior Managers in Government Courses from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in addition to the Library of Congress's Staff Training courses, prgtoken In pursuit of her dreams, Jane relocated to Weiser, Idaho, where she found fulfillment with her career and community. She was instrumental in establishing the first Young s chapter in Payette County, showing her dedication to civic engagement and leadership. prgtoken Throughout her life, Jane radiated positivity and joy, even in the face of adversity. Despite her battle, she continued to find joy by being surrounded by family. Jane will be dearly missed by her husband, Brent Olmstead, children Tyler Gorsuch, Katie Gorsuch, stepsons Jacob Olmstead, Berkley Olmstead, and Murphy Olmstead, siblings John Wittmeyer, Mary Andra, and Mark Wittmeyer. She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Lucy Wittmeyer and her sister Julie Wittmeyer. prgtoken Jane's impact on those around her was immeasurable, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
RECOGNIZING AMERICA'S CREDIT UNIONS
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise to recognize the importance of credit unions in the competitive financial services marketplace. I especially appreciate the 263 credit unions and their 14 million members in my state of California. prgtoken The country's two storied trade associations, the Credit Union National Association and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions are now merged into a new organization called ``America's Credit Unions.'' prgtoken As a long-time credit union member and supporter, I appreciate the difference between credit unions and banks. Credit unions are not-for- profit financial cooperatives that are democratically controlled. prgtoken Every member, regardless of how much they have in savings or loans at a credit union, has an equal voice and vote in the governance of their credit union. There are no outside stockholders and no motive for the credit union's leadership to gouge the membership or provide poor member service. prgtoken In fact, credit unions consistently rank as the most popular form of depository institutions in America. So today I congratulate the unification of the two national credit union advocacy organizations and I expect great things to come from this newly-minted trade organization called ``America's Credit Unions.''
RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY SERVICE OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT FRANK L. PIFHER
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2024-2-9

it is my honor to recognize Technical Sergeant Frank L. Pifher for his dedicated and humble service to our Nation in the United States Army. prgtoken Frank, a Flint, Michigan, native answered our Nation's call and enlisted in United States Armed Forces in 1952. Frank served honorably in the Korean War in 1953 with the Armored Cavalry, seeing combat as a Tank Commander and spending 11 months overseas. He earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal in gallant service to his country. prgtoken After returning stateside, Frank was stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado, where he was honorably discharged from the Army on May 5th, 1954. While overseas, Frank had frequently written to a pen pal, who was serving as a wartime nurse back in Michigan. Upon his separation from the military, Frank married his beloved pen pal, Mary Lou. In their 70 years of marriage, they had four children--Tim, Janet, Rebecca and James. Rebecca and James went on to serve honorably in the Marine Corps themselves. In addition to their children, Frank and Mary Lou were blessed with five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. The Pifhers currently reside in Tuscarora Township where they have lived for 34 years. prgtoken , I'd like to thank Technical Sergeant Frank L. Pifher for his exemplary service to the United States of America. Our gratitude extends to him not only for his courage and humility, but also for his legacy of service that he has passed down to his children and their children. May God bless Frank and his family.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise to urge strong support for the national security supplemental appropriations bill before us. prgtoken Earlier this week, General Kurilla, the Commander of U.S. Central Command, told me that this is the most dangerous time in 50 years. The threats the United States faces from an aggressive Iran and its proxies, an imperialist Russia, and a hegemonic China are interconnected, and they require our immediate attention. That is why this bill focuses not only on strengthening our allies but also on fortifying our military and rebuilding our own defense industrial base. prgtoken Since October, there have been more than 170 attacks on U.S. servicemembers throughout the Middle East. We have seen unprovoked attacks on our naval ships and the loss of two Navy SEALs at sea and three brave servicemembers in Jordan. prgtoken Merchant ships have been attacked in the Red Sea. They have been protected by our Navy ships, including, I am proud to say, the USS Carney, a destroyer built at Bath Iron Works in Maine, which has shot down numerous Houthi UAVs. prgtoken Despite the perilous times we live in, I heard a colleague suggest on the Senate floor that we are not ready to consider this bill. I would contend that we cannot wait any longer. prgtoken He also implied that it had been shrouded in secrecy. That is simply inconsistent with the facts. prgtoken The package before us is the result of months of deliberations, starting on October 20, when the President submitted his national security supplemental request to Congress, available for all to read and review. prgtoken On October 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a 3\1/2\-hour hearing on the request. Virtually every Member of the Committee attended. Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin testified. Prior to this hearing--this public hearing--the last time the Committee held a hearing on a supplemental budget request was March 25, 2010--more than 13\1/2\ years earlier. prgtoken So, under the leadership of Chairman Murray and myself, we have been transparent. We have held countless public hearings, including on the supplemental before us. prgtoken The following week, our committee held a second hearing. At this hearing, the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services testified on the supplemental request. In the time that followed, there were numerous discussions on the content of the supplemental funding bill. Information was gathered on emerging needs, particularly with regard to U.S. military operations in the Middle East, and the bill's language was refined and improved. prgtoken On February 4, the text of the national security and border supplemental was released along with a section-by-section analysis to make it easier for Members. prgtoken After it was clear that there was not sufficient support to advance the border security provisions, revised text and a summary were circulated that excluded the border sec
HONORING ANN MARIE MILLER
Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise today to recognize and honor the career and accomplishments of Ann Marie Miller, a committed advocate for the arts, as she marks the closing of a 28-year career tenure that has shaped the art sector within New Jersey. Raised in East Brunswick, Ann Marie Miller was inspired by a strong high school arts program to become an art teacher. She graduated from Moore College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Science in arts education and taught visual art in both public and private settings. prgtoken Her 28-year journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of New Jersey. I applaud Ann Marie's dedication and she has most definitely made a significant impact in the arts community. prgtoken I wish Ann Marie a peaceful retirement filled with joy, relaxation and cherished moments spent with loved ones.
SALUTING THE SERVICE OF SERGEANT JASON HOWARD, U.S. ARMY, RETIRED
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-9

Sergeant Jason Howard, U.S. Army, Retired, has always been there to lend a helping hand to his fellow citizens and his efforts to make his beloved community a better place has made lasting and positive impacts on the region. He is a dedicated soldier, devoted public servant, and a fitting recipient of a Congressional Veteran Commendation. prgtoken SGT Howard has extensive military experience including serving at Fort Cavazos and deployments in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He worked closely with our Kurdish allies and even met with future Iraqi President Jamal Talabani. His great work didn't go unnoticed as he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and among others. prgtoken After retiring from the Army, SGT Howard found his way back to Central Texas. Fueled by his passion for wanting to serve and lead others, SGT Howard serves as the Alderman for the Village of Salado while giving back to his community through numerous volunteer opportunities. He pours himself into making Salado a great place to work and call home, all while ensuring that the voices of residents are heard in the halls of government. His actions reflect the commitment of a devoted public servant. Once a soldier, always a soldier. prgtoken I commend SGT Howard's incredible contributions. This soldier-for- life's patriotism, citizenship, and commitment to excellence reflect the very best of Central Texas. I join his colleagues, family, and friends in honoring his career, commending his commitment to public service, and celebrating his outstanding achievements.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-2-9

there have been a lot of discussions over the last few days about a bill--a bill many months in the making; a bill that has been discussed, debated, and drafted, largely in secret. We saw it for the first time Sunday evening, at 7 p.m. eastern time. prgtoken That bill has a lot of material in it. As it was released to us Sunday night, it spent somewhere just shy of $120 billion. Since then, it has gone through some changes. It now spends just a little under $100 billion, about $95 billion. And it has been modified. Its scope has been narrowed. prgtoken I want to talk, first, just for a few minutes about how we got here or where we are in that process and then about some concerns I have with the bill as it now stands. prgtoken Last fall--the fall of 2023--there was a push spearheaded primarily by the White House but a push that included most Senate and some Senate s--a push to get more aid to Ukraine. prgtoken Now, remember, the total aid the United States has spent on Ukraine throughout the duration of this conflict is somewhere in the neighborhood of $113, $114 billion. It is an enormous amount of money. The military aid component of that itself--at least until fairly recently--was more than the military aid provided by any other country or any other group of countries. It is an enormous sum of money. prgtoken All of this is going on at the same time that the American people are enduring some challenges--challenges that relate to an economy in which the dollar can purchase less and less every day. This is the inevitable, foreseeable, and, in fact, foreseen and widely warned of consequence of a government--this government based here in Washington, DC--that has been spending too much money for many years, that has been spending money to the tune of trillion-dollar and then multitrillion- dollar deficits year after year after year. prgtoken This has happened, by the way, not during a widespread economic depression but, really, during the top of an economic cycle in which most of the last few years, unemployment has been really low. prgtoken These are not things that the government has borrowed to spend more money on because of the fact that the economy has been severely sluggish and, therefore, unable to produce as much output as we would normally hope to have. No, this is just regular government spending run amok at the peak of the economic cycle. prgtoken And as a result of this spending--this spending that has involved multitrillion-dollar deficits for the last few years, including and especially during this Presidential administration--that many years of adding that much debt to our already gargantuan national debt, which now stands above $34 trillion, those things have a consequence. When we add that much debt--especially that much debt that quickly--because of the way in which the acquisition of new debt works in the United States, it has the same basic effect on the economy a
RECOGNIZING PHOENIX OASIS
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise today to recognize the good work of a Phoenix-based veterans care facility called Phoenix Oasis. Phoenix Oasis, headed by its Director Anthony Pfeffer, demonstrated its commitment to our veterans and offered key assistance to U.S. Vets- Phoenix. When U.S. Vets lost its lease, but did not yet have a new facility ready, Phoenix Oasis stepped in and allowed U.S. Vets to continue serving veterans. U.S. Vets stayed and offered services to veterans for months after the lease had expired, and in that way, Phoenix Oasis allowed veterans in need to have continuity of care in a stable and supportive environment. prgtoken Indeed, Mr. Pfeffer prioritized providing assistance to U.S. Vets notwithstanding the needs of his own program at Phoenix Oasis. The veterans served by U.S. Vets benefitted tremendously by this compassionate effort and the sacrifices made by Phoenix Oasis and Mr. Pfeffer. prgtoken It is commendable that Mr. Pfeffer and Phoenix Oasis take their responsibilities to our veterans so deeply and personally. It is rare these days to see that level of commitment and I applaud them in so doing. prgtoken It is also the 10th anniversary of the founding of Phoenix Oasis. The dedicated staff at Phoenix Oasis have provided a decade of service delivering safe housing and substance abuse treatment services to thousands of veterans during that time. And they did so with dignity and respect to our veterans. prgtoken Our veterans helped America when we needed them. When our veterans need help, people like Mr. Pfeffer and Phoenix Oasis step in. I thank them on behalf of everyone they have helped in the last decade.