mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Debt Ceiling (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-5-10

I was glad to attend yesterday's White House meeting in solidarity with McCarthy. Unlike the White House, the has been handling the debt limit in a responsible fashion. prgtoken McCarthy and House s have passed the only legislation currently in existence that prevents default. He spent months waiting for President to come to the table. But the White House has wasted 3 months--3 months wasted. The President of the United States has been MIA. prgtoken So let's hope yesterday was the start of the administration accepting the reality of our situation. Everybody knows there is only one way to defuse the looming crisis, the normal and routine thing--spending negotiations between the President and the . prgtoken The American people voted for divided government. President refusing to compromise is really not an prgtoken option when you have a divided government. Unconstitutionally acting without Congress is also not an option. There is exactly one way--just one way--to prevent a pointless, avoidable crisis: the bipartisan negotiation that McCarthy has been calling for since way back in February. prgtoken Seven of the last 10 debt limit hikes came with a bipartisan deal on spending levels. Let me just say that again. Seven of the last 10 debt limit hikes came with a bipartisan deal on spending levels. prgtoken Just 4 years ago, we had today's situation in reverse. What happened? Secretary Mnuchin was sent to negotiate with Pelosi. They struck a caps deal, and the debt limit was addressed. It was exactly the situation we have now, in reverse. prgtoken Yesterday's meeting was an overdue first step. I hope President has begun to wake up. Even rank-and-file in the House and Senate say the President's refusal to negotiate has been untenable. prgtoken The can't waste any more time. The White House has to stop sleepwalking towards default and reach a spending deal with the .
REPUBLICANS ADDRESS THE DEBT CEILING
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-5-10

last month, I was grateful to join House s in passing the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which will limit government spending, reduce the Federal regulatory state, and promote pro-growth energy and economic policies, creating jobs. House s, led by Kevin McCarthy, have acted responsibly to address the debt limit deadline. prgtoken On behalf of American families now and in the future, this legislation should next pass the Senate. prgtoken Americans are struggling every day with 40-year-high inflation, jobs destroyed, rising gas prices, and the highest interest rates in decades. Unfortunately, President has insisted on a blank check to increase the debt ceiling without any reforms on how spends and wastes taxpayer money. prgtoken This legislation will save an estimated $4.8 trillion over 10 years, maintaining a strong national defense and protecting Medicare and Social Security. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2, SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1163, PROTECTING TAXPAYERS AND VICTIMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD ACT
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-10

I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. prgtoken For over 2 years, the administration has continued to ignore crisis after crisis. Just 2 weeks ago, the American people saw that President and the ic Party were just fine ignoring our looming debt crisis. prgtoken , 2 weeks ago, House s kept their promise. They kept their promise to the American people and passed a responsible solution to raising the country's debt ceiling. prgtoken Now this week, House s are having to once again clean up after this administration and their reckless policies that are hurting the lives of Americans around the country, but especially in my home State of Texas. prgtoken Our southern border is not secure. This administration does not have operational control, and their claim that they have decreased immigration by 90 percent is simply laughable. prgtoken President 's destructive policies and continued lies to the American people have only worsened this deepening crisis. prgtoken My fellow Members and I have heard from law enforcement on the ground that this country has gone from one of the safest and most secure borders under the administration, to an unsustainable humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and it is getting worse by the hour. prgtoken With the expiration of title 42 tomorrow, it will be unfathomable of what will be facing our friends on the Texas border. prgtoken This all happened within the first 24 hours of this administration. President sits in the White House and threatens to veto our bill, calling for comprehensive immigration reform, while vulnerable migrants crossing our southern border are raped, killed, or trafficked every single day. prgtoken Along with all my fellow Members, I want to see comprehensive prgtoken immigration reform, but that cannot be done until this crisis on our southern border is under control. H.R. 2 will do exactly that. prgtoken , this bill will finish the border wall, will provide adequate funding for our Border Patrol agents, and ensure that the migrants most vulnerable, the unaccompanied alien children, are taken care of once they become this country's responsibility. prgtoken , this bill is just common sense. I urge my fellow Members to support the underlying bill, and I urge support for the rule.
Introductory Statement on S. 1547
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2023-5-10

I rise today to introduce the Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2023, known as the Reach Act. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen the United States' efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in developing countries by 2030. I want to thank Senator Coons for his partnership on this important bill, and I also appreciate the cosponsorship of Senator Durbin and Senator Wicker. prgtoken Senator Coons and I have led efforts to ensure robust funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development's maternal and child health programming. These programs have been the backbone of the United States'' commitment to helping to end preventable child and maternal deaths globally. prgtoken Due in part to American leadership and generosity, many lives have already been saved. While progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality rates, recent data suggest that these improvements are slowing. Far too many mothers, newborns, and young children under the age 5 continue to succumb to disease and malnutrition that could easily be prevented. prgtoken Nearly 300,000 women die annually from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, with 99 percent of maternal deaths occurring in developing nations. In addition, a significant proportion of the deaths of children under the age of 5 occur in the first 28 days after birth, with newborns accounting for nearly 50 percent of all under 5 deaths. In 2021, 5 million children under the age of 5 died from mainly preventable and treatable diseases. prgtoken The Reach Act aims to help these mothers and children with simple, proven, costeffective interventions that we know will help them survive. A concentrated effort could end preventable maternal and child deaths worldwide by the year 2030, but continued U.S. leadership and support from the international community are critical to achieve this goal. prgtoken To advance this cause, our bill would require the implementation of a strategy focused on bringing to scale the highest impact, evidence- based interventions, with a focus on country and prgtoken community ownership. These interventions would be specific to each country's needs and include support for the most vulnerable populations. We do not have to guess what interventions will work--the reality is that thousands of children die each day of conditions we know how to treat. prgtoken These lifesaving interventions include clean birthing practices, vaccines, nutritional supplements, handwashing with soap, and other basic needs that remain elusive for far too many women and children in developing countries. This must change. prgtoken Our bill would require the establishment of a Maternal and Child Survival Coordinator at 1USAID who would focus on implementing the 5- year strategy and verifying that the most effective interventions are being scaled up in key countries. The Coordinator would identify and promote the most effective
SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-5-10

my, my, my. My colleagues across the aisle say we have a short memory. We don't have a short memory. This has seemed like an eternity over the last 2 years. We had no idea, as a nation, that this much injury could be brought upon our country in this short period of time. prgtoken H.R. 2 is the strongest border security package that has ever been brought to the floor in this body. Why has the majority party, the s that were elected to power by the American people last year, drafted this bill over the course of the last year carefully and strategically? Because we are responding to the total collapse of our sovereignty at the southern border brought upon America by my colleagues across the aisle. prgtoken If you want more of what you see on the TV today, then by all means America can support my ic colleagues and their policies because those are the policies that have brought this disaster upon our Nation. H.R. 2 addresses it aggressively. prgtoken Our southern border is no longer a sovereign border wherein America controls the northern portion and Mexico controls the southern. It is now a theater of engagement controlled by the cartels. H.R. 2 corrects it. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand in support of H.R. 2 because it addresses aggressively the injury that our Nation suffers brought upon us by weak, disastrous policies out of the ic executive branch, the White House, and ic majority control for the last 4 years. prgtoken , I urge strong support of H.R. 2.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1192 (Executive Calendar)
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-10

title 42 will terminate tomorrow with the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Title 42 is one of the last tools available to Border Patrol agents, and the President is surrendering it during a record-shattering border crisis. It is unconscionable for Congress to stand aside and do nothing to preserve this critical authority. prgtoken Title 42 authority was initially based on the pandemic. While I agree that the pandemic is over, the border crisis is worse than ever. Whether to keep effective border security policies in place should not depend on the pandemic. prgtoken There is a new epidemic that is plaguing our Nation, one that demands immediate action. Deadly fentanyl--produced with the help of the Chinese Communist Party and smuggled across our southern border by drug cartels--has flooded into our communities. More than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the last 12 months alone--most from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. It is the No. 1 cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. prgtoken The rise of fentanyl overdose deaths affects every State and every congressional district. It kills the young, the old, the rich, the poor. It affects cities and small towns alike. It is not a partisan issue, and finding a solution shouldn't be partisan either. prgtoken With the end of title 42, even the administration is openly preparing for an already-recordbreaking crisis to get far worse by sending 1,500 Active-Duty troops to the southern border. It is an admission of the impending invasion. prgtoken To allow title 42 to end without creating a permanent new authority to replace it only empowers drug cartels. It enables them to illegally send migrants across the border at strategic points, bogging down Border Patrol agents with paperwork and processing that takes five times longer than under title 42. This dramatic increase in processing times will significantly decrease scarce resources available to actually patrol our southern border. Cartels will use the longer and more frequent enforcement gaps to move fentanyl across our border. We cannot allow this to happen. prgtoken Title 42 is an effective and important tool for controlling the flow of illegal migration at the southern border, but it is also an effective and important tool for dissuading migrants from making the dangerous journey to the southern border, to ultimately be exploited by drug cartels. But the current administration has no interest in dissuading migrants from coming to the United States. Instead, through 's border policies, they entice thousands more migrants per day to illegally cross into the United States, risking their lives as they magnify the humanitarian crisis at our border. prgtoken That is why I introduced legislation to add drug smuggling as an additional basis for invoking title 42 authority. It is called the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act. Overdoses have become an epi
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1192 (Executive Calendar)
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-5-10

I am pleased to have the opportunity to give some thoughts today on what is going on in the United States and around the globe. prgtoken Here in these early months of this new Congress, there clearly is broad bipartisan agreement on the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for our country's future. We are strengthening our military posture in that region, and last Congress, we passed legislation to strengthen our strategic industries. prgtoken What is being ignored, however, is a third component essential to our success in the region: expanding trade. At a State and Foreign Ops hearing in March, I noted the importance of our economic relationships around the world and asked Secretary of State Blinken about our approach to trade agreements, particularly America's absence from the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership--the CPTPP. prgtoken He told me the original pact in 2015 had real benefits, economically and strategically, but since then the world has moved on. I agree with him, our allies and our partners have moved on. They have moved on without us. prgtoken A year ago this month, President made his first trip to Asia and unveiled the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the administration's initiative to reengage the region on standards involving digital trade, supply chains, climate change, and corruption. prgtoken This is a small start, but it falls far short of what is needed today to advance American prosperity and security--also, the well-being of our Asian partners. In particular, the President's proposal fails to include greater U.S. market access. prgtoken The United States is belatedly offering a tepid leadership to a region that remains committed to open trade. prgtoken We can and must correct this or fall further behind in the most economically dynamic region in the world. I call on President to enter into--and Congress to ratify--the CPTPP. It would be difficult to overstate how important the Indo-Pacific is to American prosperity. The region comprises 40 percent of the global economic output, and that is expected to grow to 50 percent by the end of the decade. prgtoken The largest economy in the region belongs to China, which is the largest trading partner for the region's countries. This provides Beijing with leverage to bully our allies and partners into making concessions in exchange for access to the Chinese market. It allows Beijing, not the United States, the same opportunity to have that relationship, so necessary. prgtoken China, for example, used coercion to retaliate against Australia after our allies in Canberra called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Beijing regularly forces American businesses to refrain from criticism of China or conform to communist policies. prgtoken China's leaders can coerce and intimidate because they have economic strength. It is clear China will exert that tremendous leverage over other nations to achiev
SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023
Morgan Luttrell (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-10

I rise to speak in support of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. prgtoken America is facing a crisis on our northern, southern, and maritime borders. Our Nation has witnessed a devastating effect of disastrous open border policies to date. For the past 2 years, over 5 million people have come into this country. That is more than the population of Louisiana and Mississippi combined. prgtoken In my district, every day I have to face the families that have lost their babies from fentanyl. A few weeks ago, in San Jacinto County, a known cartel member who was taken out of the country, ended up murdering five innocent people in one of my counties. prgtoken Now, thankfully, local law enforcement, FBI, State troopers, and BORTAC caught that bastard. These are the problems that we should not have. prgtoken , we are criticized on this side of the aisle for our immigration policies, about DACA, where the funding is going. prgtoken Well, I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: You had 2 years to fix DACA, where were you at? prgtoken You had 2 years to fund our ports of entry, where were you at? prgtoken You spent the money elsewhere. prgtoken We are criticized and criticized about this bill, which is a step in the right direction, which starts to move and solve the problem. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side, I ask you: Where have you been? prgtoken We showed up. We came here to Congress in order to fix this problem. We pushed this legislation across, and all you can do is criticize. That is unacceptable.
MEMORIALIZING OKLAHOMAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Stephanie I. Bice (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-5-10

I rise today in honor of National Police Week, which serves as a reminder to remember and memorialize law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. prgtoken Tragically, this includes two Oklahomans, Sergeant C.J. Nelson and Sergeant Bobby Swartz. These officers have 32 years of combined service for their respective forces, and both leave behind loved ones. prgtoken I offer my deepest condolences and prayers to their families. We will always remember the sacrifice of these two heroes, and we cannot thank them enough for protecting and serving our communities. prgtoken From Isaiah 40:31, ``But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.''
SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023
Michael Guest (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-5-10

make no mistake: Our border is broken. prgtoken This administration, for over 2 years, has been unwilling or unable to secure our southern border. prgtoken Statistics show that in FY21, President set a record with 1.9 million encounters. In FY22, he broke that record with 2.7 million encounters. In FY23, President is on pace to break that record once again. prgtoken The numbers to my left paint a grim picture of the dire situation along our southern border, and these numbers will only grow worse as title 42 expires. prgtoken s from Homeland Security, from Judiciary, from Foreign Affairs, have worked together to craft legislation that will combat the border crisis, a crisis created by the failures of this administration. prgtoken This legislation will hire thousands of new agents, pay retention bonuses to our frontline officers, invest in new technology, construct hundreds of miles of walls and barriers, and support our local and State partners. prgtoken Congress must fill the gap of leadership created by the inaction of this administration. We must stop the flow of illegal drugs from pouring into our communities. We must end the flood of immigrants that are coming across each and every day. We must support the hardworking men and women of law enforcement who are on the front lines of this crisis. prgtoken We will not back down from this fight, and any veto threat by this President be damned. We will deliver security to the American people. prgtoken , I urge support on this measure.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2, SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1163, PROTECTING TAXPAYERS AND VICTIMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD ACT
Josh Brecheen (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-5-10

title 42 expires tomorrow. As s are advancing the most conservative border bill ever, this administration is going to usher in more chaos on the southern border. It is going to be quite the contrast for the American people to witness. prgtoken Border Patrol agents are already seeing a surge, 26,000 illegals apprehended in a 72-hour period. This is on top of 5 million illegal immigrants that have come into this Nation within a 2-year period. That is more than the entire population of the State of Oklahoma, the State which I represent. prgtoken House s have a plan, and it is the bill before us, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which would resume wall construction. That includes the 200-plus miles of wall that was fully funded by Congress but shut down when President , in contrast with the Constitution, with his pen said: ``Not another foot.'' prgtoken This bill is going to deploy more technology. It is going to increase Border Patrol agents. It is going to end catch and release. Notice to appear in front of a judge has become notice to disappear under this administration. prgtoken Securing the border used to be a bipartisan issue. In fact, President supported the Secure Fence Act of 2006 when he was a United States Senator. That bill included physical barriers; 150 miles of wall built under the administration. Here is what then-Senator , in his own words, said: ``Why I believe the fence is needed does not have anything to do with immigration as much as drugs.'' prgtoken continued: ``And let me tell you something, folks, people are driving across that border with tons, hear me, tons of everything from byproducts for methamphetamine to cocaine to heroin and it is coming up from corrupt Mexico.'' That was then-Senator . prgtoken This statement is long before the fentanyl crisis, where 70,000 people from the United States died last year because of fentanyl poisoning, the leading cause of death between ages 18 and 45. 's own Border Patrol agents disagree with this administration.