mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook (Executive Calendar)
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-5-10

I rise today to speak on the nomination of Professor Lisa Cook to serve as a Governor of the Federal Reserve Board. prgtoken Two weeks ago, Senate tried to cancel the vote that was scheduled on Professor Cook's nomination. prgtoken In his floor remarks, the chairman of the Banking Committee stated that Senate s have been ``AWOL in the fight against inflation for months.'' The irony of that, of course, is that it was who wanted to cancel the vote. s were ready to vote and not just on Professor Cook, mind you. We wanted to vote on the other Fed nominees as well. I objected to canceling the vote because we were ready to vote, and we wanted to vote, so the vote took place. prgtoken Professor Cook's nomination failed that day on a procedural vote by a margin 47 to 51. Then, immediately after that, I asked consent to vote on the two remaining Fed nominees who have been processed in the committee but haven't been voted on. Those would be Chairman Jerome Powell, who has been nominated to be Chairman again, and Professor Philip Jefferson, who both could have been confirmed to the Fed that day, as they could have been confirmed months ago. prgtoken But the objected to us having a vote a couple of weeks ago. It is really pretty amazing. Let me just be clear for the record. The hold the majority. The control the schedule on the Senate floor. And our ic colleagues have tied up for months the nominations of multiple nominees, including two--two--Fed nominees who have either unanimous or very nearly unanimous support. That is Jerome Powell and Philip Jefferson. prgtoken So if confirming Fed nominees is so important to our ic colleagues in the fight against inflation, it makes you wonder about this strategy of canceling votes and not holding votes when s have been trying to confirm the nominees. prgtoken But I have a theory as to why this is, and I think it is because our ic colleagues know that Professor Cook is simply unqualified to serve as a Governor of the Federal Reserve Board. They don't want to leave her stranded as the final Fed nominee after all the other nominees get confirmed, so they are holding the nominations of Chairman Powell and Professor Jefferson hostage in order to push through their preferred candidate, their top priority. prgtoken I want to address this specific point that the chairman has made in the past because he has made this several times. He has suggested that somehow s oppose Professor Cook's nomination because she is a Black woman. Let me just be as clear as I can. That is a very offensive charge to make. It is actually outrageous. It is also blatantly and demonstrably false. prgtoken In this Congress alone--a little over 1 year--Banking s have unanimously supported eight Black nominees, six of whom were women: Cecilia Rouse, the first Black woman to serve as C
NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2021
Stephanie I. Bice (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-5-10

the NWR Modernization Act of 2021 will ensure the continued safety of all Americans when experiencing severe weather and other emergency events. We have seen examples as recent as the past month of the NOAA Weather Radio saving lives in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Colorado. prgtoken Although the National Weather Radio coverage is currently available to 95 percent of the U.S. population, I see no reason why we shouldn't strive for 100 percent. Every citizen, no matter how remote or isolated their location, deserves equal access to this lifesaving service. prgtoken Additionally, because we have seen just how effective NWR is, we need to support its modernization and continued use for decades to come. Many services across different industries have used technology to adapt to a more modern age, and our country's emergency alert system should be no different. This bill allows NOAA to achieve both of those goals. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and .
TARGETING RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED ACT OF 2022
Nancy Mace (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-5-10

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 6531 directs the Office of Management and Budget to lead a government-wide effort to review the share of Federal funds addressing poverty in a consistent manner across agency assistance programs. prgtoken Specifically, this legislation will ensure that a more up-to-date and consistent listing of the areas of persistent poverty in our Nation will be used by agencies to determine funding allocations. This will help struggling rural Americans getting greater access to the many taxpayer-funded poverty assistance programs. prgtoken The Federal Government currently spends an enormous amount of taxpayer funds on low-income populations. However, it is important that funding be targeted especially to our most vulnerable counties experiencing prolonged struggles with poverty. prgtoken This bill creates a consistent approach across competitively awarded Federal grant and financial assistance programs. prgtoken , s, Congressman Clyburn and Congressman Hal Rogers, for their bipartisan efforts on this legislation, and .
RECOGNIZING F.O. BARDEN & SON LUMBER'S CENTENNIAL MILESTONE
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-5-10

I rise today to recognize 100 years of stellar performance of an exemplary company in Michigan's First District, F.O. Barden & Son Lumber. prgtoken Since its founding in 1922 by Frank Barden, the company has become a vital component in helping Boyne City and northern Michigan grow and adapt to needs in all aspects of daily life. prgtoken This centennial milestone represents the years of service that Barden Lumber has dedicated to contributing to the economic well-being of the area and the lives of countless residents. prgtoken In reflecting on the company's 100-year history, it is clear that they have continually chosen to not only make decisions for the good of the company in the wake of a changing marketplace, but they have also proven capable of looking beyond the balance sheet to include the ideas and the ideals of its people and community. prgtoken Even as our cyclical Michigan economy has presented obstacles to its growth, F.O. Barden & Son Lumber has sustained itself through dedication and innovation. prgtoken We are grateful for the company's contributions to Boyne City and to all of Michigan. Thank you, F.O. Barden & Son.
COLONEL JEFFERY B. EDWARDS
Cliff Bentz (Republican, OR) \u2014 2022-5-10

. Madam , I rise to recognize Colonel Jeffrey B. Edwards, United States Air Force, for his exceptional dedication and distinguished service to the United States of America. Colonel Edwards will retire on May 15, 2022, from his current assignment as the Commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon. We thank him for his commitment to our country over the past 27 years. prgtoken Colonel Edwards graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1995. His first mission took him to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, then to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, and then Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. During his time in Alaska, he was deployed twice to defend our nation, which included 52 combat sorties in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in Iraq and Operation ALLIED FORCE, over eastern Europe. In 2000, he was assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, where he served as an F-15C fighter pilot instructor, training the next generation of fighter pilots. In 2003, Colonel Edwards was stationed in Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea as the Chief of Air Defense Plans for the 7th Air Force. After his service in Korea, in 2004, he joined the Oregon National Guard at Kingsley Field. In 2006, Colonel Edwards attended United States Air Force Weapons School. In 2019, after serving in several positions at Kingsley Field, he earned the Command of the 173rd Fighter Wing. Colonel Edwards has been awarded the 173rd Fighter Wing Instructor Pilot of the Year award, the USAF Weapons School F-15 Academic Award, the 19th Air Force Air-to-Air Fighter Pilot Instructor of the Year, the Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. His service has included over 3,200 flight hours. Colonel Edwards embodies the Air Force Core Values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do as a Commander, leader, and Airman. prgtoken Kingsley Field is a critical asset for American national security. It serves as an outstanding training center for the Air National Guard and active-duty pilots. In Colonel Edwards' time as Commander, Kingsley Field was designated as first in line to function as a formal training unit for the Boeing F-15EX fighter jet. A critical part of domestic defense missions, the first operational F-15EX squadron was designated to operate in the Oregon Air National Guard. Additionally, Colonel Edwards led Kingsley Field effectively through the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans were formalized for Kingsley Field's dedicated men and women to support their families while carefully maintaining the overall mission. In 2021, he seamlessly balanced the activation of over 250 Airmen for COVID-19 and hospital support. In 2022, over 145 members were activated to help the State of Oregon's deal with the Omicron variant. During this time, never once did Colonel Edwards' leadership waver. He stands on the front line, supporting innovation in a
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-5-10

. Madam , I was attending a funeral for a Thin Blue Line Brother and was unable to make it back to Washington in time to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 142, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 143, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 144. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Barragan (Beyer) Bourdeaux (Wexton) Brown (MD) (Evans) Brownley (Kuster) Carter (LA) (Jeffries) Carter (TX) (Babin) Castro (TX) (Garcia (TX)) Cawthorn (Moore (AL)) Correa (Costa) Cuellar (Garcia (TX)) Curtis (Moore (UT)) Delgado (Neguse) DeSaulnier (Beyer) Diaz-Balart (Cammack) Doyle, Michael F. (Evans) Gottheimer (Pallone) Herrera Beutler (Katko) Horsford (Evans) Huffman (Neguse) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kelly (IL) (Blunt Rochester) Kim (CA) (Steel) Kirkpatrick (Pallone) Lamb (Pallone) Langevin (Lynch) Lawrence (Stevens) Lawson (FL) (Soto) Meng (Escobar) Mfume (Evans) Mooney (Miller (WV)) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Ocasio-Cortez (Bowman) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Ross) Rush (Evans) Ryan (Kaptur) Scanlon (Garcia (TX)) Scott, David (Jeffries) Sires (Pallone) Speier (Escobar) Suozzi (Beyer) Thompson (MS) (Jeffries) Tiffany (Fitzgerald) Titus (Connolly) Walorski (Wagner) Wild (Evans) Wilson (FL) (Neguse) Wilson (SC) (Timmons)
Abortion (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-5-10

over the last several days, the radical left has taken the debate about abortion to dangerous ends. prgtoken Last week, a liberal group launched an intimidation campaign against six members of the Supreme Court. They posted a map online with their home addresses and encouraged protesters to take their complaints straight to the Justices' doorsteps. No surprise as swarms of protesters heeded their call. They showed up at some of the Justices' homes this weekend. prgtoken Even though this plan was in the works for several days, the White House remained silent and refused to condemn this clearcut example of doxing. prgtoken It wasn't until yesterday morning, once the weekend's protest had concluded, that the White House Press Secretary said the Justices should be able to do their jobs without fearing for their personal safety or the safety of their families. And that wasn't the only alarming update from the weekend. prgtoken A pro-life group in Wisconsin was vandalized and set on fire on Sunday morning. The person or persons responsible smashed windows and attempted to use a Molotov cocktail. They left graffiti on the exterior wall of the building that read, ``If abortions aren't safe, then you aren't either.'' prgtoken Threats of violence are never acceptable. It doesn't matter who is making the threat or who is on the receiving end. There is a world of difference between legitimate public discourse protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and threats or acts of violence which are not. prgtoken Every single person in this Chamber, especially our ic colleagues, should affirm that any demonstrations about this heated issue cannot threaten the safety of anyone, Supreme Court Justices, pro-life advocates, or otherwise. prgtoken This past weekend's events have highlighted the need to better protect the Justices and their families. They deserve the protection that, at this moment, the Supreme Court Police are not able to provide. Last week, Senator Coons, the Senator from Delaware, and I introduced a bill to increase protection for all nine Justices and their families. This basically would be the same sort of authorities given to the Capitol Police in protecting Members of Congress. prgtoken The events of this weekend have underscored just how important this is. This legislation was at the request of the Chief Justice, who wants to ensure that members of the Court and their families have the security and protection they need, especially at this tense time when Justices are facing enhanced threats. prgtoken We currently have two Justices with school-age children, and in the coming months, that number will increase to three once Judge Jackson takes her place on the Supreme Court Bench. I am glad this bill passed the Senate last night, and I hope our colleagues in the House will take it up and pass it in the coming days. prgtoken This week, the issue at the center of this tu
SPECIALIST FOUR CHARLES JOHNSON POST OFFICE
Jeff Duncan (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-5-10

we come tonight to honor another Pickens County fallen hero, Specialist Four Charles Johnson, Jr an American hero and fallen son of South Carolina, by designating the Pickens, South Carolina post office the Specialist Four Charles Johnson Post Office. prgtoken This resolution is cosponsored by the entire South Carolina delegation and supported by the city of Pickens, their city council, as well as the family of Specialist Four Johnson. prgtoken Specialist Four Johnson, Jr was killed in action on March 30, 1966, in Vietnam and was the first casualty from Pickens County in that war. prgtoken Specialist Four Johnson of Pickens, South Carolina, began his military career in the Army at a young age of 17 prgtoken years old. He was one of three brothers to serve in Vietnam at the same time. prgtoken He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the National Defense Service Medal, among other commendations. prgtoken Specialist Four Johnson was a 1958 graduate of Clear View High School in Easley, South Carolina, and was a member of the Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church. prgtoken He is an American hero and deserves to be honored for his sacrifice for our country as a soldier defending our Nation. We know that freedom isn't free, and it is because of brave men like Specialist Four Johnson that we enjoy the freedom and security that we have today. prgtoken I thank the committee and Ranking Member Comer for bringing this to the floor and allowing us to honor our fallen heroes. Again, I urge the passage of this legislation.
SUPREME COURT LEAK
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-5-10

. The leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion on the Dobbs case is a betrayal of confidence between the Justices, the deliberative process, and the public. prgtoken No matter what side of the aisle you are on or what side of the issue, everyone should find it reprehensible that such an assault on our judicial system could even occur. prgtoken The leak breaks down the ability of our Nation's highest court to objectively examine on all sides and come to clear answers on the constitutionality of serious issues. prgtoken Justices consider very serious topics, such as the Dobbs case; they should be allowed to freely debate amongst themselves and hypothesize in their deliberations. prgtoken I expect a full investigation into this leak, and I condemn this attempt to undermine the American judicial process. This leak has caused protesters to now threaten the Justices' families at their homes and where they go. prgtoken Yet, what do we get? Silence from the administration. I guess if it falls on the side of issues and topics they agree with, it isn't violence, it is just merely protest and strong feelings. What hypocrisy. We must put an end to this right now and have a full investigation so they can do their judicial process in safety and without any kind of false influence.
Women's Health Protection Act (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-5-10

late last Monday, an unprecedented leak of a draft Supreme Court document opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health was published. prgtoken In reaction, SCOTUSblog, a leading Supreme Court blog stated: This leak is the gravest, most unforgivable sin. prgtoken Chief Justice Roberts called the leak ``absolutely appalling.'' Yet the White House is mute on this point. prgtoken And folks back home in Kansas? Well, they are aghast as well. They all agree--at least every Kansan I have talked to--this leak is a blow to the integrity of the Court and a blow to our faith in this hallowed institution. prgtoken In the days since the leak, we have also seen and their activists utilize another frequent strategy they deploy when things don't go their way: violence and disruption. prgtoken We have all seen the disgusting multitude of images of pro-life offices being vandalized and bombed, and we all bear witness of Catholic masses disrupted on Mother's Day--on Mother's Day, of all days. Is nothing sacred in prgtoken this country anymore? We have seen the threatening violence at the personal homes of Supreme Court Justices. Yet, for days, the White House was quiet. And just like the riots of the summer of 2020 and the looting that continues today, the White House turns a deaf ear to violence, and they swallow their tongue when the violence supports their own agenda. prgtoken Listen, these threatening so-called protests at the Justices' homes are a violation of the law of this land. They are not valid protests. These are attempts to intimidate and influence the Court to destroy the independence of this judiciary. prgtoken This violence is wrong. It is evil. It is an attack on Christianity. It is an attack on the faith and values that this Nation were founded upon. Americans know it. We all feel the hatred. prgtoken I have to note, Americans understand the majority leader has provided no such condemnation but, rather, has decided to once again bring back his ``Abortion on Demand Act'' to the Senate floor. This bill is the most egregious, the most horrific attack on the lives of unborn children and the health of moms in American history. If had their way, these babies--these twin babies I delivered more than a decade ago--could have been aborted the moment prior to the C-section. prgtoken The overturning of Roe v. Wade simply returns this emotional issue back to the States, to the elected voices of the people--no more, no less. prgtoken The Mississippi Dobbs case simply protects life after 15 weeks, when a baby can feel pain, when a baby can recognize its mom's voice, when a baby can recognize the voice of its sibling. But let me tell you exactly what the ' extreme ``Abortion on Demand Act'' would do. It goes far beyond Roe v. Wade. prgtoken This bill invalidates any and all State laws that protect not just the unborn child but the health and well-being of the mom as well. <
Women's Health Protection Act (Executive Calendar)
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-5-10

. I commend the Senator from Indiana and join him and my other colleagues in decrying the legislation that we will be asked to move to the floor tomorrow. But before I speak on the substance of the bill, it needs to be reiterated why this bill is even before us. prgtoken The only reason we are debating this bill today is because of the extreme and unprecedented breach of protocol that took place at the Supreme Court. The leaked draft in the Dobbs case was a full-blown assault on the U.S. Supreme Court and on the independence of our judiciary. It was an attempt to incite mob pressure against the Justices, which has, in part, succeeded by inciting pressure against the Justices in an attempt to bully them into changing their final votes. prgtoken And I do trust, based on the information that we have about the nine Justices, that that attempt will not be successful. prgtoken We saw over the weekend disturbing videos of protesters outside the homes of Supreme Court Justices. There is growing concern for the safety of our Supreme Court Justices and the safety of their families. prgtoken This is shameful. A Supreme Court Justice should never have to fear for his or her safety or the safety of their families for doing their jobs. We, as elected Members of the Congress, are subject to public opinion. The Supreme Court is not supposed to be subject to public opinion and should never have to fear for their safety. prgtoken The leak and the mob reaction should be condemned by both parties in the strongest possible terms, and yet there have been very few voices on the other side of the aisle addressing this matter. Certainly, the majority leader of the Senate has not said a word about the outrage of the leak or the mob protests, nor has the President of the United States. prgtoken What happened to respect and care for our institutions? prgtoken Instead of protecting the Court, our ic friends seem to be, whether inadvertently or not, legitimizing this attack on the Court by moving to consider extreme legislation which is out of touch with the mainstream of Americans. prgtoken So now let me speak briefly about the legislation. It has been said that prgtoken this is a mere codification of the Court's holding in Roe v. Wade. That is, in fact, not the case. Instead, the bill that we will be asked to move to the floor tomorrow is an attempt to expand abortion dramatically across this country, to expand abortion in a way that only a small handful of the most repressive governments on the face of the Earth permit. prgtoken The bill would eliminate even the most modest protections for unborn children across all 50 States. It would force all 50 States to allow gruesome late-term abortions that even the political left all over Europe have long ago outlawed. prgtoken As my friend from Indiana said earlier, some 47 European countries generally ban abortion after the first 15 weeks. Banning abortion after 14 weeks are our allies of Franc