mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING WESLEY AIKEN
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2020-2-13

I want to take a few minutes to recognize the life of Ugiaqtaq Wesley Aiken, who died January 6, 2020 at the age 93 years old, only 19 days shy of his 94th birthday. prgtoken With the passing of Native elder Wesley Aiken, Alaska has lost a highly respected Inupiat leader who dedicated his life to leadership in the Alaska Native community and ensuring that cultural and traditional knowledge will be passed down to younger generations. prgtoken Wesley Aiken was born in 1926 in Utqiagvik, to a completely subsistence lifestyle north of the Arctic Circle. He grew up in a small village, Isuk. which lays east of Utqiagvik, until the age of 12, moving for his education. As a teenager, he became a reindeer header for 3 years in order to help out his family. He was a man of many trades--he was a mechanic, laborer, member of the Alaska Territorial Guard, and later a member of the Alaska National Guard. He served as the land chief for Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation following its formation in 1973. He was a spiritual leader for the community and was always asked to pray. He would pray when the whale was caught, before big celebrations, the Nalukatak blanket toss, the Winter Games, and he prayed with the whaling captains. He loved the gatherings of the people and strived to see all the community's children participate. He was a hard worker prgtoken and would say, ``If you have dreams to do something, you, yourself have to work hard to get to that goal.'' prgtoken Wesley grew up using dog teams in the wintertime to camp and hunt long before snow machines were prevalent and available in his region. His traditional knowledge of the subsistence lifestyle was extensive, and he enthusiastically shared with his community. He learned whaling from his grandfather and uncle and later became a whaling captain. He took it upon himself to teach the next generation whaling. His daughter's generation was sent off to boarding schools, and so many youth were not taught the traditional ways of hunting and needed to be retaught when they returned. He taught many of his nephews traditional hunting methods and said it was his job to give back, just as his elders had taught him how to hunt whale and inland animals. He observed changes in sea ice and climate in his generation and shared with the world what he saw. prgtoken Wesley also served on the North Slope Borough's Inupiat History, Language and Culture Commission. He often stressed the importance of language, and his dream was an immersion camp in which only Inupiat was spoke. He reminded the youth about the hardships their ancestors experienced and that the whole community looked out for each other. And if you took care of animals and the land, they would take care of you. prgtoken In 2018, he served as the keynote speaker at the Elders and Youth Conference in Anchorage, during which he delivered a strong message on respect. He said it is all about respect. It is about respect f
CELEBRATING OREGON'S 161ST BIRTHDAY
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , on February 14, Oregon celebrates her 161st birthday. As a lifelong Oregonian whose ancestors came there by wagon train in 1845, I may be a little biased, but I can confidently say there is no place like Oregon. prgtoken She boasts of so many unparalleled wonders and sights from the mighty, powerful Columbia River and the winds of the Columbia River Gorge to the majestic Painted Hills to the rugged landscape of the Umatilla National Forest, the clear, deep blue waters of Crater Lake, the deepest lake in North America. Then think about the great Cascade Mountains or Steens Mountain or the Wallowas or the Blues, and then all the way down to the depths of Hells Canyon. prgtoken The late great Governor Tom McCall said it best. He said, ``Oregon is an inspiration. Whether you come to it, or are born to it, you become entranced by our State's beauty, the opportunity she affords, and the independent spirit of her citizens.'' prgtoken Madam , I wish a happy birthday to Oregon. She truly does fly with her own wings.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-2-13

this amendment is a statement of three facts: No. 1, that we are not engaged at this moment in hostilities with Iran--we are not at war with Iran; No. 2, that the actions that were taken against Soleimani were, frankly, lesser in scope, nature, and duration than what the previous administration did and the way they behaved in their exercise of war powers, also a statement of fact; and No. 3, that the maximum pressure of strategy against Iran has reduced Iran's resources that they can use to sponsor terrorism and proxy groups, also a statement of fact. Whether you agree with maximum pressure or not, it is a fact that this year, and last year, Iran has billions of dollars less than they otherwise would have, had it not been for the maximum pressure campaign. prgtoken Those three things are statements of fact, and I think if we are going to have a resolution like this, it should accurately describe the situation, and that is why I urge your support and a negative vote against any effort to table.
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 79. prgtoken Of course, I believe in equal rights. Women should never face discrimination and harassment. I believe we should be empowering women and girls to achieve their dreams. prgtoken So it is disappointing today to stand in this Chamber and see this important issue turned into some type of political stunt. The deadline for States to ratify the ERA passed nearly 4 decades ago. Even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has stated the only path forward is to start over. prgtoken Let's be honest, this is not about equality or women's rights. This is about enshrining unrestricted abortion in the Constitution and allowing full taxpayer funding for abortion. Now is not the time to be weakening pro-life protections. prgtoken Yesterday, in South Bend, Indiana, in my district, the remains of 2,411 victims of abortion were finally given a dignified burial after spending 20 years in moldy Styrofoam boxes in the back of the doctor/ abortionist's car and in his basement. prgtoken These unborn boys and girls would be young men and women today entering college. prgtoken Moments ago, we stood on this House floor together and we offered a moment of silence that these innocent lives were taken and there were victims, over 2,400. prgtoken Madam , I would ask that, together, we stand again to defend the rights of the most vulnerable among us, that we stand together today for the sanctity of life, to lift women up, to protect women, and to strengthen families. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this misguided resolution.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-2-13

I think President 's decision to take out General Soleimani was the boldest defense policy decision of his Presidency to date. Even in a single strike, the President defended American lives and showed Iran that terrorism and, most importantly, spilling American blood is something that will come at a price, unlike what we have gone through with the predecessor, when the redline didn't mean anything. It means something now. Everybody knows it. prgtoken The result is that we are now in the best negotiating position with Iran since 1979, and Iran's escalation, which includes attacks on tankers, Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, and the killing of an American citizen, has ended, at least for now. prgtoken Yet some would have you believe in a vote for a War Powers Resolution, pretending as though the President is rushing to war. It is just not happening. The facts are not there. There is no war with Iran. An airstrike is not a war. Punishing Iran for killing an American citizen is not a war, nor has the Soleimani strike started a new war, as would have you believe. It just hasn't happened. prgtoken It has been 3 weeks now since the first tried to vote on this resolution, and during those 3 weeks, nothing has happened. Let me just repeat that. Nothing has happened. There have been no new Iranian attacks against us, and we have not attacked them. How can anyone claim that we are at some kind of a war? prgtoken Moreover, nobody wants war with Iran. The President has made it very clear that he doesn't want war with Iran. In fact, the President's decision to eliminate Soleimani has made war much less likely because it showed Iran that its terrorism would come at a price. That wasn't the case before. prgtoken Despite this success, today we are debating whether we want to tie the hands of our Commander in Chief--or any Commander in Chief--to respond when American lives are put at risk, as the Constitution gives them the authority to do. prgtoken I want to be sure that all of my colleagues are crystal clear on what exactly this War Powers Resolution means, what it will actually do. The resolution calls on the President to terminate the use of American Armed Forces for hostilities against Iran. But there are no hostilities against Iran. There is no war with Iran. prgtoken The resolution calling for the termination of hostilities against California would have the same effect. Practically speaking, this vote will do nothing. It is nonsense, but we should be very concerned about the symbolic effect this vote will have. prgtoken This will send a very damaging message to Iran. The Iranians will interpret a vote in favor of this resolution as tying the President's hands, and that would lead Iran to believe, once again, that it can get by with anything. prgtoken Remember, it wasn't that long ago that they really believed that. Nobody wants that. Congress doesn't want it. The White House d
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , we have heard my ic colleagues say that passing the equal rights amendment is necessary to secure basic rights under the law for women. Not only is this untrue, it obscures a fundamental fact. This ERA actually denies the most basic human right: the right to life. This ERA uses gender equality as a smokescreen to create an unlimited constitutional right to abortion. prgtoken Instead of working to craft legislation that protects women's rights without trampling on the right to life, have put forward, today, an unconstitutional, partisan measure. prgtoken Not only would this result in on-demand abortions across all 50 States, but it would also clear the way to provide taxpayer-funded abortions throughout all 9 months of pregnancy, costing millions of dollars every year. prgtoken This measure is not about advancing women's rights, especially as women across the country, s and alike, are increasingly horrified by the practice of late-term abortion and by recent comments made in New York and Virginia that lifesaving treatment should be denied to some newborns. prgtoken Allowing women to discard their unborn children at taxpayer expense is not ensuring gender equality. It is not protecting women. It is not empowering women. It is not providing women equal pay for equal work. It is simply another step down the path of devaluing all human life and dignity. prgtoken Madam , I oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this measure.
RECOGNIZING SWEETWATER SOUND
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I rise today to share one of Fort Wayne's great American success stories, Sweetwater Sound. prgtoken Founder and CEO Chuck Surack's dream started over 40 years ago with a recording studio housed in a Volkswagen van. It has since evolved into one of the Nation's leading retailers of professional recording and music equipment. prgtoken Madam , Sweetwater's total sales in 2018 were record breaking at $725 million. And just recently we found out that in 2019 it was another record year with sales of $805 million, up 11 percent from 2018. prgtoken The total sales only tell part of the success story, though. Sweetwater has recently hired 159 new employees and has given back to Hoosiers by providing middle school students with free instruments. prgtoken Hoosiers are thankful for Sweetwater Sound's big contributions to northeast Indiana, and I look forward to watching them continue to succeed moving forward. In this record-setting economy, I look forward to seeing more American success stories just like this one.
TRIBUTE TO ASHLEY KEMMIS AND BRIANNA PAGE
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2020-2-13

this week I have the honor of recognizing Ashley Kemmis and Brianna Page for their entrepreneurial spirit in Valley County. prgtoken Ashley and Brianna saw a need in the community for more options for women's clothing after Shopko closed in Glasgow in 2019. prgtoken They teamed up together to launch Thistle and Thread, an online women's clothing boutique. Since they launched their website one year ago, Ashley and Brianna's project flourished into a successful operation out of Eastern Montana. prgtoken Women across the country can purchase the boutique's clothing online and those in eastern Montana can visit their storefront in Glasgow. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Ashley and Brianna for taking the initiative to successfully launch Thistle and Thread. Thistle and Thread is a now a proud part of the Glasgow community, and I am grateful for Ashley and Brianna's entrepreneurship.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2020-2-13

I want to talk for a few minutes today about 5G, the Federal Communications Commission, and swamp creatures. prgtoken We have all heard a lot about 5G, and 5G is just incredibly fast internet. It will make possible things like driverless cars, telemedicine, and the internet of things. prgtoken I want to caution all of us that these things are not going to happen overnight. In fact, some parts of our country already have 5G, and we don't have driverless cars and the internet of things and long-distance surgery. prgtoken These innovations are going to happen over a long period of time, and in the meantime, there is going to be a lot of hype from the telecommunications companies. Why? Because they want to sell you 5G. They are going to tell you that 5G can do all these incredible things. They are going to tell you that 5G can grow hair, that 5G can cure erectile dysfunction, that 5G can do this and it can do that. prgtoken Look, I want to be on record as saying 5G is going to be extraordinary, but it is not going to happen overnight. The emergency that some of our telecommunications companies are trying to create is not nearly the emergency that really exists because they have something they want to sell you. I am not putting them down. That is free enterprise. prgtoken How does 5G work? Well, it is wireless technology. When I have 5G on my phone and you have 5G on your phone, we communicate--whether it is 5G wireless technology or otherwise--through radio waves. Radio waves go from my phone to your phone, and they carry data. It is called electromagnetic radiation, but all it is, is really radio waves. And there are all different kinds of radio waves. It depends on the frequency. prgtoken Do you know who owns those radio waves? The FCC doesn't. The telecommunications companies, which use those radio waves, don't. The Federal Government doesn't, except in this sense: You own those radio waves. The American taxpayer owns those radio waves. And they are incredibly valuable because telecommunications companies line up when the FCC has new radio waves available for them. They line up to bid on those radio waves, which they can use. We call that spectrum. prgtoken There is a certain type of radio wave going through the air--or spectrum, if you will--that is perfect for 5G. It is like Goldilocks' porridge--it is not too hot; it is not too cold; it is just right. The telecommunications companies want to use that C band, we call it, or midrange spectrum. I am going to call it C band. They want the FCC to license it to them. prgtoken Well, right now, using that spectrum, that C band--remember, these are the radio waves, the spectrum, that are just perfect for 5G. Right now, using this C band spectrum are a number of satellite companies, most of which are foreign-owned. The major satellite companies that are using it right now happen to be domiciled in Luxembourg--wonderful country and wonderful people. Do you
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-2-13

this is not about the Basque, and this is not about the IRA. This resolution applies only to the Government of Iran. This is, indeed, only about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. prgtoken Let me tell you a story about the last 17 years in Iraq. prgtoken For 17 years, the most deadly weapon our troops have faced has been something called an explosively formed penetrator. It takes a slug of copper, superheats it into a ball of magma, and sends it hurtling through the air at 6,000 feet per second at our troops. I will spare you the graphic details of what a liquid ball of copper magma does when it travels at 6,000 feet per second into the human body, but I will tell you that those were smuggled into Iraq by, yes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. prgtoken The vote here is simple: Do you want to vote to stand with our troops, hundreds of whom have died at the hands of Iran, or do you want to vote to be a lawyer for Iranian terrorists?
RECOGNIZING MARINE FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I rise to pay tribute to the heroic Marine Forces Special Operations Command (or MARSOC) which will celebrate its 14th anniversary on February 24th. MARSOC was activated in 2006 at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and initially consisted of a small staff and the Foreign Military Training Unit which had prgtoken been formed to conduct foreign internal defense. MARSOC deployed its first units in August 2006, six months after initial activation, and since that time has deployed continuously. MARSOC's current missions include counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense and security force assistance. prgtoken Since its inception, MARSOC has received numerous unit awards including: Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer, Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with One Bronze Star, National Defense Service Streamer, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer as well as Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer. prgtoken Madam , please join me in honoring the legacy of this brave and patriotic unit and their standard of Spiritus Invictus, an Unconquerable Spirit. May we always keep our dedicated service members treasured in our hearts and constantly in our prayers for their service to God and country.
MAKE CENTS Act (Executive Session)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-2-13

there is really no way to sugarcoat it. Washington's budget process is broken. Every year, it is like clockwork. First, the President submits his budget, like we saw this past Monday. Then the House tears it up--no pun intended, really. They ultimately fail to pass their own budget, and then Congress kicks the can down the road before finally cramming through a budget-busting bill at the eleventh hour. prgtoken There is no question this process is dysfunctional, but maybe, more importantly, its lack of transparency allows for wasteful spending to continue year after year--unchecked. prgtoken Folks, this cycle has to end. We have to start chipping away at this ballooning debt, and we have to work toward cutting our government's most wasteful spending. prgtoken One of the best ways to do this is to call it out when we see it. As some of you may know, every month, I give out my Squeal Award to call out the parts of our government that are wasting hard-working Americans' tax dollars. I highlight the most egregious waste found within the bowels of Washington, and then I put it forward and offer up a solution to stop it. prgtoken Take, for example, what I like to call the binge buying bureaucrats. Every year at the end of September, the bureaucrats charge billions of dollars to taxpayers during Washington's annual use-it-or-lose-it spending spree. We have seen the compulsive buying include items like millions and millions of dollars of lobster and crab. We have even seen spending on games and toys or even on something like a $12,000 foosball table. Is that what we need in Washington, DC--foosball? prgtoken I have also called out Washington's boondoggles that are just bottomless money pits for projects that never really even get off the ground. As for the contractors who are working on these boondoggles, the ones who are failing at their jobs, guess what--they are getting big, fat bonuses. prgtoken A primary example of this egregious misuse of tax dollars is what I like to call the moondoggle. Right there. There you have it. Look at that--the moondoggle. I am talking about the rockets that are being developed for NASA's next Moon mission. This project is billions of dollars over budget and years--folks, not months but years--behind schedule due to poor performance. Yet NASA still handed out generous bonuses that totaled over $300 million to the contractor who is working on the project. prgtoken Folks, it is absurd. This is absurd. We have to put an end to it, and thankfully I believe we might actually be on a path that will do that. prgtoken Taxpayers should be encouraged that all of this ``squealing'' has finally been heard at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Both of these Squeal Award recipients--the binge buying bureaucrats and the infamous moondoggle--have been targeted by President in his latest budget proposal. prgtoken Within its pages, the President states that his administration is com