mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 169 (Executive Calendar)
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2024-1-9

the laws that govern who could enter this country are some of our most important. Those laws, from the time President got elected, have been completely ignored. And as point person, Secretary Mayorkas has been the leading individual saying one thing and doing another. prgtoken You have heard the statistics--8 million illegal immigrants, ``got- aways''--not even a term a few years ago--up to around 60,000 per month. And in that crowd, these are not people that are wanting to greet someone at the border. They pay the big fees to the cartels. They want to come into the country, and they are doing so with some type of a record that they don't want to be discussing once they get here. Who knows where that ends up. prgtoken I was down there in 2021--I think April--and it was not currently where most of the traffic is coming from. Eagle Pass was down a little bit east of there. And those numbers, 50 to 60,000 per month, are now dwarfed by 200 to 300,000 monthly, plus the ``got-aways,'' again, that come in here not wanting to greet the Border Patrol. prgtoken It is not secure. Back then, Border Patrol said their job is, basically, triage. They are so overwhelmed. prgtoken We should, today, pass this no-confidence measure because there has been plenty of time to adjust your policies; and when you only do it because you are paying the political consequences that will be meted out here next November, I don't think that counts. That means you are doing it thinking that you can maneuver beyond it politically when you have caused all that grief in the meantime. prgtoken The leader of the band is President . He is the conductor. Mayorkas has just been in the orchestra, but it has clearly been orchestrated, where we are at. When you put up the welcome sign to come into our country with no consequences, sooner or later it adds up that there will be consequences. Even our northern border has got more illegal crossings than we have ever had before. prgtoken Down there a couple years ago, 50 different nationalities were crossing. Now it is up to over 150. And 170 on the Terror Watchlist have been confronted. How many others were not? prgtoken This is a dire national security threat. Those who are ignoring the problem for political reasons should bear that in mind. And, most importantly, the American public should bear that in mind when they go to the ballot box next November. prgtoken .
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-1-9

302,000--302,000--that is how many migrants U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reported to have encountered at our southern border in the month of December. One month--302,000. prgtoken To put that number in perspective, 302,000 is equivalent to roughly a third of the population of my home State of South Dakota or almost half of the population of Vermont or more than half--more than half, I should say, of the population of Wyoming. And that is just 1 month of encounters--1 month. Just when you think the border crisis can't get any worse, it gets worse. prgtoken The situation at our southern border is unsustainable. We have got three successive recordbreaking years of illegal immigration at the southern border under President , and if the current trend continues, we are well on our way to a fourth. prgtoken The Border Patrol is stretched thin. Border towns are stretched thin. Other major U.S. cities are struggling to deal with an influx of migrants. prgtoken Take New York City, for example. New York City is currently facing cuts to city services, including a massive 13.5 percent cut to its police force as a result of the migrant crisis. And while practical challenges posed by this immigration crisis are massive, even more worrisome are the national security challenges. Our country cannot be secure while we have hundreds of thousands of migrants flowing across our southern border each month, frequently to end up released into the United States with court dates years in the future. prgtoken Even more concerning are those who are making their way into our country without being apprehended. Since October 1 alone, there have been more than 83,000 known ``got-aways'' at our southern border. Those are individuals that the Border Patrol saw but was unable to apprehend. That is 83,000 individuals making their way into our country without our having the slightest idea of who they are, what they are doing here, or where in the United States they are planning to travel-- 83,000. And while some of them may simply be in search of a better life, others may be dangerous individuals who should not be entering our country. prgtoken Let's be very clear. There are dangerous individuals who are trying to make their way into our country. Between October and November alone, the Border Patrol arrested 30 individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist attempting to make their way across our southern border. Fiscal year 2023 saw 169 individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist arrested at our southern border--169--a substantial increase, I might add, over fiscal year 2022, which itself was a substantial increase over fiscal year 2021. That is not a good trajectory. prgtoken Again, I point out, these numbers only refer to the individuals the Border Patrol actually apprehend. There were 670,000 known ``got- aways'' during fiscal year 2023. How many of them--how many of them were terrorists, criminals, or other dangerous indi
Unanimous Consent Agreement (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2024-1-9

I join Senator Boozman today in congratulating the Harding University Bisons from Searcy, AR, for winning their first ever Division II football championship against the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in a decisive victory--38 to 7. prgtoken Going into last month's game, few could have predicted such a decisive outcome. Both teams were undefeated. While Harding had the No. 2 defense and the No. 3 offense in the country, the Orediggers had the No. 3 defense and the No. 2 offense. It was an evenly matched game if there has ever been one, but after the first quarter, the Bisons didn't let the Orediggers score a single point. prgtoken Time and again, the Harding defense stopped the Orediggers dead in their tracks, with Nathaniel Wallace making two out of the Bisons' six sacks and linebacker Clark Griffin making six tackles, including two for a loss. prgtoken The offense charged just as well as the defense stopped. Harding's offense ran for an impressive 502 yards, with running back Blake Delacruz rushing 212 yards for a championship record. Braden Jay added 161 yards on the ground and scored three out of the Bisons' five touchdowns, with Jhalen Spicer and quarterback Cole Keylon punching in the other two. prgtoken It was a game that players and their families will never forget, and it is a game that Harding University and Searcy, AR, also will never forget. prgtoken This championship victory is the culmination of years of hard work, dreaming, and especially prayer because, for those who don't know, Harding University is a small Christian college in the middle of our State, and Harding's Christian mission touches every part of the university, including the football program. In his pregame speech, Coach Paul Simmons told his players that ``the scoreboard doesn't matter'' and that the ``great cloud of witnesses'' around them ``just want to see you be excellent and do things in a way that really does honor God''--a great message from a great coach for a great team before a great game. prgtoken With this game, Coach Simmons has led the Bisons to 65 overall wins since 2017--the fastest accumulation of victories in Harding University's history. prgtoken I want to again congratulate Coach Simmons and his entire team for their extraordinary victory last month. I want to congratulate them for their even more extraordinary 15-and-0 season, in which they scored an average of nearly 47 points per game. prgtoken The Harding Bisons should be proud of their many accomplishments. The State of Arkansas certainly is.
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF COLONEL DANIEL LAWRENCE "LARRY" RUBINI
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-1-9

I rise today to honor the memory of a remarkable constituent from my district, Colonel Daniel Lawrence ``Larry'' Rubini, who passed away on December 31, 2023. prgtoken Colonel Rubini served with distinction in the United States Army Reserves for over three decades as a Judge Advocate General and Civil Affairs Officer. He graduated from the Virginia Technical Institute in 1968 and commissioned through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Colonel Rubini began his tenure in the Army as an Armor Officer at Fort Knox in the early 1970s. Colonel Rubini then moved to Philadelphia and became an Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) as well as a civilian attorney. Colonel Rubini occupied various roles in the JAG Corps, including Staff Judge Advocate and Trial Counsel in the Army Reserves. prgtoken Having transferred to a Civil Affairs unit for what was expected to be a 3-year tour, Colonel Rubini remained in Army Civil Affairs for the rest of his career. Within the first 6 months of his tenure with Civil Affairs, Colonel Rubini was activated to participate in Operation Desert Storm, acting as an advisor to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice. He also served in Haiti as a U.S. Administrative Law Judge and then as Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Justice during the Iraq War. Colonel Rubini was instrumental in the creation of an anti-corruption task force in Iraq which still operates today. prgtoken At the conclusion of his military career, Larry continued practicing law, and became a U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. Judge Rubini conducted over 3,500 depositions between 2010 through 2019. Additionally, Larry was instrumental in the provisions of safe haven for many foreign nationals whose lives were threatened for serving the U.S. military as translators. One of his lasting impacts in our community was his advocacy for the establishment of Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Bucks County. prgtoken Our Nation and community mourn Larry's passing but celebrate the legacy of service and dedication that he forged in life. He will be missed by us all, especially his wife of 53 years, Joan, his sons DJ and Jeffrey, his daughters-in-law Lea and Juliet, and his grandchildren Gwen, Jane, and John.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 169 (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-1-9

I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me tonight to help me prosecute this case against Secretary Mayorkas. prgtoken As we introduce this historic measure, I want to close with this: You have nothing--you have nothing--if you don't have your word. As a physician, I took an oath to, above all else, do no harm. In the military, I took an oath to support and defend our Constitution. In the Senate, I reaffirmed my military oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Each one of these oaths I honored with integrity and exercised to the best of my ability. prgtoken On February 2, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas swore an oath to ``well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which I am about to enter and to protect our country from enemies, domestic and foreign.'' prgtoken With that oath, he promised the American people that he would defend our homeland and uphold our Constitution. prgtoken Tonight, my colleagues and I have outlined numerous ways Secretary Mayorkas is derelict in his duty as Secretary and failed to uphold this oath. We are here today because we take our oath seriously and will not stand by idly while Secretary Mayorkas threatens our national security and our democracy. prgtoken For the sake of America's safety and security, we need to impeach Secretary Mayorkas now and send a clear message to that in 300 days, we will fire him, too. prgtoken , as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 169; I further ask that the resolution be agreed to; that the Marshall amendment to the preamble, which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
BRUNSWICK AFFORDABLE BEACH
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-1-9

I rise today in regard to the City of Brunswick, Georgia, being voted Among the 15 Most Affordable Beach Towns in the United States. prgtoken This past year, according to the list, Brunswick is among the most affordable beach towns to live in the country. prgtoken Apartment Therapy stated that: Brunswick offers low-country living at an affordable price plus the small town charm of a coastal southern city. prgtoken Brunswick provides easy access to both Jekyll and Sea Islands, as well as a nicely preserved historic district with Victorian-era homes dating back to the early 1800s. prgtoken The city is fond of community and often gathers to celebrate the area's rich cultural history. prgtoken Brunswick plays host to a variety of festivals and events throughout the year, while offering arts, music, unique cuisines, and so much more to get involved with.
IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF TOM DIANA
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-1-9

today I rise to honor and remember a pillar of our community in Yorktown, Supervisor Tom Diana. Tom's life was a remarkable journey of service and dedication to his community. prgtoken A proud graduate of Lakeland High School, Tom embarked on a path of public service that defined his life and legacy. prgtoken Tom's career in law enforcement spanned several decades and included stints with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Yorktown Police Department, the Cortlandt Police Department, and finally, the Westchester County Police Department. prgtoken His service was marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence, including as a K9 officer. His service extended beyond the badge as a member of the Yorktown Town Board for 7 years before culminating as Town supervisor. prgtoken He loved the job, and the town loved him. prgtoken Last Monday, I was proud to be on hand for his swearing in. Tom talked about the importance of community and his commitment to serving a cause greater than himself, his love of Yorktown, and his appreciation to its residents for giving him the opportunity to serve. prgtoken Four days later, he was taken from us suddenly. Tom's loss has been felt profoundly, and we will miss his leadership, his infectious smile and laugh, and his optimistic and positive approach to governing. prgtoken This morning, we laid Tom to rest, joined by his beloved wife, Donna; his daughters; grandchildren; and the beloved Yorktown community. prgtoken We will always cherish Tom for his warmth, his humor, and the profound kindness he extended to all. His legacy will continue to inspire us. prgtoken We thank Tom for his service, and may God watch over his family.
Israel (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-1-9

3 months after the massacre of October 7, Israel's Defense Minister observed that his country was fighting ``an axis, not a single enemy.'' He was talking about Iran's terrorist proxies, arrayed to attack Israel on multiple fronts. prgtoken But the reality of facing interconnected threats isn't unique to Israel. Around the world, our adversaries are colluding in new and aggressive ways. Authoritarians who disdain the West are arming and underwriting one another's aggression. And, as the Senate continues our work on supplemental national security legislation, we would do well to keep this in mind. prgtoken Israel reports that it has succeeded in significantly degrading Hamas's military capacity in northern Gaza. But while the pace of operations may have slowed, Israel continues to face a dug-in Hamas threat in southern Gaza. And their terrorist enemies continue to exploit innocent civilians in their bid for survival. Hamas fighters brazenly steal international aid shipments, use Gazans as human shields, and hold more than 130 hostages, including Americans. prgtoken So Israel's operations will continue because the threats to Israel remain. As I have said before, Israel needs the time, space, and support to restore its security. prgtoken Unfortunately, that is not what the administration has been providing. In fact, as the left wing of the ic Party grows more loudly and stridently anti-Israel, its leaders are second-guessing America's closest ally in the Middle East. prgtoken Administration officials have taken to anonymously and shamefully accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of seeking conflict with Hezbollah for domestic political reasons. Of course, reality is quite the opposite. For decades, it has been Hezbollah that seeks conflict with Israel and the West. It is the terrorists with Israeli and American blood on their hands who have chosen violence regardless of the current governments in Israel or the United States. prgtoken And Hezbollah's attacks against Israel have only grown since October 7. It is not Prime Minister Netanyahu who forced tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate their homes in northern Israel. It was Hezbollah threats. prgtoken By now, we all know about Hamas's terror tunnels. Well, Hezbollah has built them too. I led a delegation to Israel, and we saw them with our own eyes--efforts to infiltrate northern Israel for the same purpose that Hamas struck in Israel's south. And it is not a myth conjured by the Prime Minister. It is a real and growing threat that even his leading political opponent and fellow member of Israel's war cabinet Benny Gantz also warns about. prgtoken Rather than sniping at Israel's war cabinet for taking Hezbollah seriously, the administration should tell Congress and our ally how it proposes to change the murderous calculus of Iran and its proxy. prgtoken So the best way we can help our friends is to restore our own credibility in the regio
Sex Trafficking (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-1-9

for several years, we have known about financier Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex trafficking ring that targeted young girls. This is something that appears to have been quite a far- ranging international ring. What we know is that this was a large network of high-profile, high-dollar predators who abused untold numbers of minors. prgtoken Only one person has been prosecuted for these crimes, and that is Ghislaine Maxwell. What she did was to recruit and groom many of the victims and prgtoken then bring them into the Epstein orbit. But we know many more people were involved in this scheme in addition to Ghislaine Maxwell. What we do not know is the extent of that involvement. The recent release of documents by a Federal judge exposing part of Epstein's potential client list is a step in the right direction to help bring some visibility and some accountability to these predators and also to bring justice for the victims. prgtoken It is so important that, as we look at this issue, we keep in mind that this is about justice for these victims, making certain that they are able to tell and share and see the FBI take action on the information they are giving them. These women deserve justice. prgtoken The court unsealed the names of more than 170 associates who were named in a lawsuit against Maxwell by one of Epstein's alleged victims. The names are a mix. Some of them are just reference--they are not accused of any wrongdoing. Some of them are accused of wrongdoing. Some of the names in this lawsuit have accused Epstein and Maxwell of wrongdoing. Some of these names are potentially people who were aware of wrongdoing but said nothing. The documents also reveal some details about Epstein's alleged abuse, including that he and his associates would target underage girls in nightclubs--didn't pursue them, didn't recruit them, didn't groom, then--and, as the pattern goes, bring them into the Epstein orbit. prgtoken The release of this information is just the first step to uncovering the truth. The latest documents come from just 1 case with 1 victim, and there are 170 named. There are countless others who were targeted, trafficked, and abused. That is why I have repeatedly requested a subpoena for the complete, unredacted Epstein flight logs and Ghislaine Maxwell's unredacted ``little black book'' of contacts and addresses, along with all of the documents and records from the FBI regarding this case. We need to know who flew on Epstein's plane and who potentially participated in his international sex trafficking ring. We need to know how far-reaching this ring is. We need to have a better idea of those who also had sex trafficking rings that intersected with Jeffrey Epstein's ring. prgtoken While Judiciary Chairman Durbin, Senator Durbin, previously had stonewalled my request, I am encouraged that he has seemingly had a change of heart and expressed a willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to obtain rec
CLINE CHURCH NURSERY
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-1-9

I rise today to recognize Ellen and Cline Church, the owners of Cline Church Nursery in Fleetwood, North Carolina. prgtoken Ellen and Cline are humble, salt of the earth people. Everyone who knows them can attest to this. prgtoken Last year, their nursery was selected as a Grand Champion Grower by the National Christmas Tree Association, and one of their North Carolina Fraser fir trees was featured in the Blue Room of the White House. prgtoken , growing a Christmas tree of that quality takes a significant amount of time, a considerable amount of work, and unwavering persistence. Ellen, Cline, and their family are among the best that the North Carolina Christmas tree community has to offer. This is a fact. prgtoken Here is to many more years of producing impeccable Christmas trees that everyone will enjoy.