mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING THE BOB ROSS AUTO GROUP ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Michael R. Turner (Republican, OH) \u2014 2024-7-10

I want to congratulate the Bob Ross Auto Group, located in my congressional district in Centerville, Ohio, as they celebrate a half-century of service to its customers and the Greater Dayton community. prgtoken The Bob Ross Auto Group, which consists of three franchises, Buick, GMC and Mercedes-Benz, commemorated its 50th anniversary on February 22, 2024. Over the past five decades, this family-owned dealership has become a pillar of the community and earned the trust of thousands of customers for their automotive and service needs. prgtoken The dealership contributes to a variety of charitable causes and community events, and to the Nation as a whole, through its support of the American Cancer Society's efforts to raise awareness and find a cure for breast cancer.
WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-7-10

I want to join with Senator Reed and so many of my colleagues today as we express our great sorrow in learning about the death of Senator Jim Inhofe. prgtoken Jim was an icon here in the Senate. He was a personal inspiration to me. When I first got here, he was the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee in the Senate and worked with me. My first legislative accomplishments came as a result of him and his staff working with me to help me establish myself as a new Senator and to do the work that the people of South Dakota sent me here to do. And he made that possible because of just the way that he led the committee and his understanding of what it takes to get things accomplished here in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken And I am grateful for his legislative prowess, for his leadership as a chairman of not only that committee but later the Senate Armed Services Committee. And I am grateful for his tireless work ethic. I have learned a lot. prgtoken My first trip actually, as a Senator, abroad was to Iraq, and I went with Senator Inhofe. And I can tell you from traveling with him--and I know that anybody who has traveled with Senator Inhofe knew--that he had boundless energy and an ability to work people half his age under the table. He was truly a remarkably durable and passionate advocate for this country, a man of deep convictions, and--as was pointed out by Mr. Reed--somebody who had a connection with the rank-and-file military because of his military background. And in every place that we went, we would meet with soldiers who respected him for that--the connection that he had and also for the leadership that he provided for our country when it came to important national security matters. prgtoken I also had the opportunity in Oklahoma to visit and to travel the State a little bit with him. I flew in an airplane with Senator Inhofe, and he was a renowned pilot. I think everybody knew that was one of his great passions in life. But there wasn't anybody who was around him ever who had the opportunity to interact or work with Senator Inhofe who wasn't impressed by that powerful work ethic that he brought for the people of Oklahoma and for the people of this country. prgtoken And I know that, in traveling abroad with him, I saw that firsthand. I know of his many trips to the continent of Africa, oftentimes to war- torn countries where he built relationships, advocated for American ideals, and was a tremendous example and witness on those trips. And I am grateful for his leadership in so many ways and for the impact that he had not only to the people of Oklahoma and to the people of this country but people all over the world whom he touched by his work, by his efforts, and by his character. prgtoken And I also want to say, finally--and probably most importantly--above all, I am grateful for his Christian witness. Jim was a man of deep and profound faith, and it showed up literally, as I ment
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2024-7-10

reserving the right to object, I would simply observe that this resolution is, in fact, not a sense of the Senate, and it is wrong to suggest that a majority of Senators in any way agree with this resolution. prgtoken It is also a simple fact that the dictator, the war criminal Vladimir Putin thinks he can wait out the clock. This resolution would close the door to continued support for Ukraine. Taking bilateral agreements off the table would simply bind American's hands. prgtoken Victory against the dictator Putin must be our position. Ukraine can't win without the support of its friends. Putin knows this, and, surely, my friend the senior Senator from Utah also knows this. prgtoken We should not pass this resolution because it would hand Putin a rhetorical victory and we should not permit that. prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-7-10

I appreciate the insights offered by my friend and colleague, the distinguished Senator from the State of Maryland. I am grateful for his leadership in the Senate, for his friendship and all he does in looking out for the interests of our country, and I am grateful to have his insights today on the floor in explaining the reasons for his objection to the resolution that I have offered. prgtoken I would like to note that not one of these arguments negates the fundamental realities that we are dealing with here. Not one of them negates something very fundamental in all of this, which is the requirement in the Constitution, found in article II, section 2 of the Constitution, that says that the President ``shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided [that] two-thirds of the Senators present concur.'' That is a pretty significant requirement. So let's address each of these arguments that we have heard in the last few minutes in turn. prgtoken We have heard arguments about the fact that there has been significant bipartisan support for Ukraine aid. That doesn't negate this. I mean, first of all, providing material support--humanitarian or otherwise--to Ukraine is not the same as a treaty. A treaty creates a lasting international obligation, one that is intended specifically to outlast, as my friend from Maryland noted is the objective here, that is supposed to transcend one administration to the next, so it is not just a fleeting moment; it is an ongoing sovereign obligation. prgtoken For that very reason, article II, section 2 of the Constitution requires that the Senate ratify treaties before they may take effect. The President may prgtoken propose them. The President may negotiate them and even sign them, but unless or until a treaty is presented to the Senate and ratified in executive session by the Senate with a two-thirds supermajority vote-- it takes 67 votes with 100 Senators--then you don't have a treaty, and you don't have that lasting, sovereign, international obligation--one that transcends one administration to another. prgtoken As far as the argument that there has been transparency and that there has been outreach by the White House to Senators and communication, that is great. It is the sort of thing that ought to happen. It is in no way sufficient to provide a substitute for or an end-run around article II, section 2 of the Constitution--requiring that treaties be presented to the Senate and ratified only with 67 votes in a 100 Member Chamber. So that doesn't do it. That can't take care of that here. prgtoken Look, the point here is that there is nothing in what I am suggesting that would necessarily close any doors in the future. What I am trying to say here is that, if we are going to do this--if we are going to close doors, as is the intention behind this agreement--close doors to future administrations and to future Congresses to
WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-7-10

my colleagues and I are here today to honor the life of our former colleague, Senator Jim Inhofe. prgtoken Jim was a longtime legislator, a public servant, and a conservative champion. He was many things to many people. To me, Jim was a dear friend. prgtoken Jim and I are both from the heartland, so we shared a similar world view as well as a commitment to similar people--the humble, hard- working Americans from the center of this country. prgtoken Jim was fierce in his convictions. Jim was serious in his work. He was also kind-spirited, with a deep compassion for others. But perhaps more than all of these things, Jim was a visionary who used his positions in public life to build a better future for his State and for this country. He recognized the profound importance of public infrastructure investment. From highways, to airports, to levees and much more, Jim's legacy can be felt all across America's heartland. prgtoken Jim and I worked together on the Senate's Armed Services Committee. A veteran himself and an avid pilot, Jim was a fighter for the members of our military. All of our Senate colleagues knew that if Jim was leading an international trip to visit with servicemembers across the globe or to meet with America's allies that that trip would be all business. We would sleep on the plane, and we would be in a different country every single day. prgtoken I remember that, on one trip, we were forced to slow down a little bit when we lost a plane engine. You heard that right. We lost a plane engine, so we needed to stay in a country an extra day while the repairs were going to be made. That didn't mean we had a vacation. What Jim did is he found ways that he could be relentlessly efficient with all of our time, and his energy and his motivation to do the people's work was infectious. prgtoken Near the end of his Senate career, Jim served as the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee. He was one of the first Members of the Senate to recognize how seriously the world had shifted since the Cold War and how desperately we needed to rebuild our military in response to that. He had a very clear view of the global threats that America faces, both present and future, and he led accordingly. prgtoken Jim respected the design of the Senate as a place where every State's needs should be considered. He valued cooperation, he valued collaboration, and he wanted our annual Defense bill to reflect the concerns of all of the committee members. prgtoken He was resolute in his views and fierce in their defense, but he was always kind and caring. He built strong friendships with all of his colleagues, and despite many disagreements, he would have these relationships, so much so that a close colleague once described him as a brother to her. prgtoken Of course, you cannot speak of Jim without speaking of his family. Anyone who knew him knew how much he loved his wife Kay. He was a devoted husband, f
Biden Administration (Executive Calendar)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2024-7-10

I rise today to remind the American people that from the day he took office, President and his administration have left much to be desired. As we look to the future, I think it is just imperative that we consider this administration's track record over the last 3\1/2\ years. prgtoken President 's record has made an enormous impact on Americans directly in their wallets--everybody feels it every day--as the people of our country continue to deal with the consequences with this reckless tax-and-spend agenda this administration has championed. prgtoken President has long pledged to get a hold of inflation and actually passed the ironically misnamed Inflation Reduction Act that did exactly the opposite. That law, along with other spending sprees passed with only ic support, have stifled economic growth. prgtoken Though President talks about the middle class, he has failed to actually deliver for them. Truly, as we know, and we have always heard in our lives: Actions speak louder than words. Instead, what we have been dealing with is a continuous impact of an economy that just isn't working. We have out-of-control prices at the grocery store and the gas pump; a housing market that has made homeownership impossible for many families; and for those locked out of the housing market, long-term rent inflation that continues to threaten renters and small businesses. prgtoken Just last week, we celebrated a great time in our Nation, our Nation's independence on the 4th of July. And what is normally a joyous time for Americans to come together, instead, became the most expensive Independence Day on record. This follows the most expensive Halloween and the most expensive Thanksgiving, leaving Americans little to celebrate. The cost of a cookout is up 5 percent over last year--5 percent. OK. But it is up 30 percent from 5 years ago. Additionally, gas prices this past weekend averaged $3.50 a gallon, a 27-percent increase from 2019. prgtoken Couple those statistics with the June jobs report that showed our country's unemployment rate at the highest it has been at in 2\1/2\ years; or that home prices are up a whopping 49 percent since 2020, far outpacing any wage increases anybody has seen; and the Joint Economic Committee's recent report that the average American family has lost $25,920 paying for the increased cost of living under President and his policies. prgtoken It is clear to the American people that omics is not working and that President 's economic policies are failing. So this is something I hear frequently about from my constituents in West Virginia, that the savings they worked so hard for and that they have sacrificed to accumulate are dwindling in front of their eyes due to the skyrocketing costs of living under this administration. prgtoken There are policies to employ. There are policies that we can shrink and cut, regulations to cut, that would i
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2024-7-10

with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson, I rise today to recognize the career and service of Dr. Rick Aman, president of the College of Eastern Idaho--CEI--in Idaho Falls. As president for more than 8 years, Dr. Aman's leadership and service will be missed by the CEI community and all of eastern Idaho. prgtoken Originally from Oregon, Dr. Aman was commissioned as a U.S. Air Force officer and spent 4 years as an Active-Duty pilot before returning to the Portland area as an Air Force Reserve instructor pilot. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service and 5,000 flight hours. Dr. Aman later earned a doctorate in community college leadership from Oregon State University. prgtoken Dr. Aman's community college administration career began in 1992 at Portland Community College where he spent 16 years in teaching and administrative positions at various campuses around Portland. Prior to his role at CEI, Dr. Aman was the vice president of instruction and student affairs at the College of Western Idaho--CWI--from 2008 to 2012. Dr. Aman led the then-startup CWI in instruction, curriculum development, and student affairs. In 2015, Dr. Aman joined Eastern Idaho Technical College--EITC--and was named the first president of College of Eastern Idaho, following the school's transition from a technical school to a community college. prgtoken While at CEI, Dr. Aman facilitated significant changes and collaborations between the school and community to better improve workforce training opportunities for students. In collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory--INL--CEI students have access to work force training and internship experience. Thanks to INL's $1 million donation, CEI's new 90,000-square-foot Future Tech Building will be completed in 2026 and provide additional workforce training opportunities. prgtoken Dr. Aman successfully negotiated an articulation agreement with Idaho State University and separately received accreditation approval for CEI to offer bachelor's degrees in digital forensics and analytics and operations management, a significant accomplishment for a community college. prgtoken Among Dr. Aman's community involvement, he sits on the board of the Leaders in Nuclear Energy--LINE--Commission and is on the executive board for the Regional Economic Development Council in Eastern Idaho. Dr. Aman was appointed to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education--WICHE--Commission and serves on the executive commission as a representative from Idaho. He also serves on a variety of local nonprofit boards and is a member of many civic organizations. prgtoken It is our great honor to congratulate Dr. Rick Aman and thank him for his years of service. We wish him the best of luck following his retirement from the College of Eastern Idaho.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO "NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING...
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2024-7-10

. Madam , I rise today with a strong sense of compassion but stronger support for H.J. Res. 165, which would overturn the administration's radical rewrite of Title IX. prgtoken The administration's failure to honor the vital protection granted to women and girls, not to mention its disregard of existing due process rights, is incredibly dangerous. Just read the rule. By attempting to work toward what the rule calls educational equity, the administration has put women and girls in danger and sacrificed their equal access in educational opportunities. prgtoken Their privacy has been invaded, making them vulnerable to many threats, from physical harm in contact sports to sexual harassment in unsupervised areas like bathrooms or locker rooms. prgtoken All it takes is to think about the safety of your own daughters or granddaughters to realize that the administration's Title IX rewrite must be stopped. prgtoken For decades, women have courageously fought for and successfully earned their equal protection under the law. The Title IX rule not only forces a nonscientific and nonsensical gender ideology onto every American but also undermines the progress of women's rights in our country. It is an enormous step backward. prgtoken I have met with female athletes who have lost out on opportunities because of a male taking their place. We have also seen the footage of female athletes being physically hurt by male athletes. Courageous voices, such as Riley Gaines, have had the courage to stand up and speak for millions of young girls across our country who are at risk because of the administration's dangerous policy. prgtoken This resolution stands up for those young women and girls who have found their voice and the courage to speak up for truth, fairness, and science. I encourage support of this resolution.
WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-7-10

yesterday morning, the Senate was greeted by some sad news. A longtime former colleague and dear friend of many of us, Jim Inhofe, passed away. prgtoken As many of our colleagues are familiar, Jim's path to the Senate was an adventure on its own: honorable service in the Army, small business success, undergraduate degree by way of nine different schools, and, by one account, even some prospecting on rare earth minerals. prgtoken But what came to define his time in this body was more than his sheer confidence and experience on such a dizzying array of topics, more than his dogged determination on issues from infrastructure to the Armed Forces to African development. What I suspect so many of our colleagues will remember most about Jim was his honesty, his decency, and his deep faith; his love of God, love of country, and love of neighbor. prgtoken It would be difficult for anyone to hope for a richer legacy than that. prgtoken So this week, I know the Senate is keeping Jim's wife Kay and the whole Inhofe family in our prayers as they mourn a great man.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF VANCEBORO, MAINE
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2024-7-10

on Saturday, July 20, the people of Vanceboro, ME, will gather for a daylong celebration of their town's 150th birthday. It is with pleasure that I recognize this landmark anniversary of a small town with a fascinating history. prgtoken Located at the headwaters of the St. Croix River that forms the international border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, the story of the region begins with the Passamaquoddy Nation, who have made the river and the Chiputenticook Lakes Chain their home for thousands of years. The reverence the People of the Dawn have for the natural beauty of the area continue to define the town today. prgtoken Drawn by the abundant forests and fast-moving waters of the St. Croix, the first European settlers harvested timber and established sawmills, followed by a leather tannery and a spool and clothespin factory. The community they built represents the best of smalltown Maine, where friends and neighbors know and care for one another, and everyone pitches in to help in times of need. prgtoken The namesake of the town, William Vance, is a remarkable figure in Maine history. Known as Old Vance, he fought for freedom in the American Revolution. During the War of 1812, he installed his own personal cannon on his riverfront property, which he called Mount Defiance, to deter any British incursion. When Maine was preparing for statehood in 1819, he served on the commission that wrote the Maine Constitution, and when our star was added to the American Flag a year later, Old Vance served in our first State legislature. prgtoken Vanceboro's location on the St. Croix River and the international border has led to some events of historical significance. Selected as the border crossing for the European and North American Railway in the 1860s, President Ulysses S. Grant and Lord Lisgar, Governor General of Canada, opened the rail line through Vanceboro with a ceremony at the border on October 19, 1871. The town's Civil War veterans manned the cannons that welcomed their general on what is still remembered as ``Vanceboro's Greatest Day.'' prgtoken The rail line remained an important shipping route, and on February 2, 1915, the international railway bridge was bombed by a German Army reservist in an unsuccessful attempt to sabotage routes for troops and war materials that he suspected might be coming across then-neutral U.S. territory to fight the Germans. On April 21, 1917, just 2 weeks after our Nation entered the war, a British delegation led by Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, met with American military and diplomatic leaders at the Vanceboro train station to discuss the path forward to victory. prgtoken In addition to the town's 150th birthday, July 20 will also mark the re-opening of the Vanceboro Historical Society. The Society is a remarkable community initiative to tell the story of the region through artifact collections, guest speakers, and educational programs. Vanceboro's 15
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Richard McCormick (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-7-10

we have a quick decision to make, and I understand this is contentious because of who is President and because of who is in control of the floor. prgtoken In the near future, we will have maybe a new President, a new Senate, and things will be looked at very differently. I think the most important thing here is empowering the legislative branch to do its duty, to have representation by the people in its most basic way. prgtoken We saw something in the debate that we have never seen before, probably the most epic and historic debate ever as far as exposing the President and how he thinks, what his mental capacity is, and his ability to lead this great Nation forward in the next 4 years. prgtoken This is about the survival of our Nation, about the representation of ideas, about the health of the most powerful person in the world. If we can get to the bottom of that, we can make great decisions on who we elect. We can also, at the same time, have the best representation from the legislative branch.