mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-10-25

I really appreciate the opportunity to come to the floor and have time to talk about this nomination. prgtoken As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Lindsey Graham for the great work that he has done and to Leader McConnell for the way he has given us the opportunity to work through this process of completing this confirmation. prgtoken As I have talked to Tennesseans from one end of our State to another, I have heard from them, time and again, how important they think it is to have a judge and a Supreme Court Justice who is not an activist. prgtoken As we went through the hearings last week, I will tell you that I thought it was so interesting. One of our colleagues said: Oh, we fear that you will usher in an era of conservative activism. prgtoken They fear that, but do you know what? Conservatives do not want activist judges of any stripe. They want constitutionalists. They want judges to abide by the rule of law. They want Supreme Court Justices who will call balls and strikes. That is what those of us on this side of the aisle want--s, Conservatives, and Independents, who are there in the center. Do you know? That is what they see in Judge Barrett. prgtoken I have found it so interesting, as we have worked through this process, that people, whether they are , Independent, or , have said: I was so impressed with her--the way she retained knowledge and information, the way she represented her views, the way she talked about the law and precedent, the way she talked about the Constitution, the way she talked about her relationship with Justice Scalia. They also liked the way her students and her professors and her colleagues spoke of Amy Coney Barrett. They like that because these are people with whom she works. Her children are in school with them. They are in church together. So they have come to know her through the many different and varied facets of her life, and they appreciate who she is and the life that the Barrett family is leading and how that represents their thoughts and their beliefs. prgtoken There are a couple of things I would like to discuss and points of clarity that deserve to be made in this debate. prgtoken As we were in committee, our friends across the aisle chose to take much of their time not to get to know Judge Barrett or to question her about opinions that have been written, and she has written right at 100 opinions or has writings that have been published. They chose to take their time to discuss the Affordable Care Act and to talk about individuals and the concern for losing healthcare. prgtoken I think it is right that the American people know we would all like for every American to have access to affordable healthcare. I think we can say that it is a goal of ours. How we get there and what the system looks like is going to be something that is, really, quite different. They are ver
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-10-25

we are in session here on a Sunday in Washington for a rare Sunday session in the U.S. Senate so that we can confirm a terrific woman to be the next Justice of the Supreme Court. prgtoken There is an open seat right now that needs to be filled, and Judge Barrett, who is currently a judge on the circuit court, one level below the Supreme Court, has really impressed me and the American people with her performance. prgtoken I had a chance to meet with her this past week, and I was already impressed but even more so, having had a chance to spend some time with her. I had been impressed with her performance at the hearing because I thought she showed great patience and calm in the face of some really tough questions. To me, that is judicial temperament, and I think that will serve her well in her new role as Justice of the Supreme Court. prgtoken I have also been impressed with her qualifications. I don't think anybody can say she is not highly qualified. In fact, the American Bar Association, which does not always look favorably at appointees, was, in her last confirmation, convinced that she was highly qualified, and again, in this one, they gave her their highest qualification. That is impressive. prgtoken As has been talked about on the floor tonight, she actually has been through this process before--and pretty recently. I think less than 3 years ago she was confirmed by this same body, and it was a bipartisan vote, and it was an opportunity for people to get to know her. So this is not as though we have brought somebody forward who isn't already known, who isn't already deemed to be very well qualified. In fact, I don't know anybody in this Chamber who doesn't think that she is well qualified and that she has done a good job as a judge and a lawyer. prgtoken She graduated first in her class at Notre Dame Law School, and then she went back there and taught. She won the Teacher of the Year Award three times when she was at Notre Dame, and, most importantly to me, she is just widely respected by her colleagues. These are professors. She is also widely respected by her former students. These professors and students, by the way, are representing the entire political spectrum from very liberal to very conservative. All of them say the same thing about her, which is that she is a legal scholar, that she is highly qualified, and that she is a good person. prgtoken In our meeting I got to see some of that. I saw in our meeting that she is a great listener. People talk about active listening. She was really interested in what the topics were and had very thoughtful responses. prgtoken She is also a legal scholar who understands very clearly what the role of the Supreme Court should be in our separation of branches in our governmental system here. I think that is really important. As I said to her in our meeting, I hope she will be an ambassador, and I think she will. In fact, I think she will be
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-10-25

it is a privilege to serve with the Senator from Vermont on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He and I have been called, maybe, the odd couple on a number of issues like Freedom of Information Act reform and other matters. So we find ourselves aligned on that important issue, the importance of the public's right to know. prgtoken But it won't surprise anybody to know--it certainly doesn't surprise him to know--he and I have a different point of view on this nominee and on a few other topics as well. prgtoken One of the ones I wanted to talk about briefly at the very beginning was the so-called Ginsburg rule. prgtoken Senator Leahy was there and was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee back in 1993 when Justice Ginsburg--then a lawyer-- was nominated for the Supreme Court. Her record as a litigator for the American Civil Liberties Union placed her far outside of the mainstream of American law. prgtoken She argued for legalized prostitution, against separate prisons for men and women, and had speculated that there could be a constitutional right to polygamy--certainly outside of the mainstream of American legal opinion. prgtoken But when she was pressed time and again before s to talk about those views, she said she would not answer those questions. She cited, appropriately, Canon 5 of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct, which, among other things, forbids Federal judges or judicial candidates from indicating how they will likely vote on issues that may come before the courts or from making any statement that would create the appearance that they were not impartial. prgtoken This rule is absolutely critical to an independent judiciary because judges must remain open-minded and be able to decide an actual case without prejudging that matter before it comes before them. Can you imagine what it would be like if you were a party to a lawsuit and came before a judge who had made a statement committing to a particular outcome during their judicial confirmation hearing? Well, the unfairness of that is obvious. prgtoken So I think Judge Barrett did what Justice Ginsburg did when she was before the Judiciary Committee, what we expect all nominees to do, and that is to not prejudge cases and to not give any hint or prediction of outcomes or run on a platform or an agenda. prgtoken My view is that, if you had a judge who did or a nominee who did come before the Judiciary Committee and prgtoken make those sorts of commitments, that would be disqualifying in and of itself. That person ought to run for Congress. They ought to run for city council. They ought to run for the school board. They should not be a Federal judge. That is not what Federal judges are supposed to do. prgtoken So I think Judge Barrett did exactly what a judge should do when they are confirmed. We still got to ask her a lot of questions, as Senator Kennedy pointed out, over the 30-plus hours of questioning, and she was extraor
Honoring Detective Lieutenant Kevin Collins (Executive Calendar)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-10-25

the men and women of law enforcement in Arkansas could have no greater champion in the U.S. Senate than John Boozman. It is always an honor to join him on the floor, but today is a sad and solemn honor to be here to commemorate the life of Detective Kevin Collins. prgtoken Detective Collins of Pine Bluff had known since he was the young age of 3 that he wanted to be a police officer. His step-dad worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. His mom was a teacher. So from an early age, the role models in Kevin's life inspired him to serve others, and serve he did, above and beyond the call of duty. prgtoken For a time he worked as an emergency services dispatcher. Then he worked for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Five years ago, he realized his childhood dream by joining his hometown police department to serve the community he knew and loved. prgtoken Detective Collins was part of the violent crimes unit, which means he worked on some of Arkansas' most dangerous cases. He had a special passion for taking illegal guns off the streets and mentoring young people in the community. prgtoken His hard work was noticed and rewarded. Just 2 years after joining the force, Detective Collins was named Officer of the Year after rushing into a burning apartment building and rescuing a 95-year-old woman trapped inside. prgtoken When he received that award, Detective Collins reflected on his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer, which he described as a ``service'' and something ``I could be proud of.'' prgtoken You could say that Kevin Collins was destined to be a police officer. Tragically, he was also destined to die as one, much too soon. prgtoken Earlier this month, Detective Collins was tracking a suspected murderer who was holed up in a hotel. A gun battle broke out. Detective Collins and his fellow officer, Lieutenant Ralph Isaac, were hit during this exchange and rushed to the hospital. Lieutenant Isaac has begun to recover, but, sadly, Detective Collins did not. He went home to be with the Lord at the age of 35, leaving his family, his community, and our State heartbroken over the loss. prgtoken Detective Collins' death is a tragedy and a stark warning and reminder of the dangers police officers face every day. prgtoken Detective Collins joins 231 of his fellow officers who have died in the line of duty in America just this year, but it would be a mistake only to mark Detective Collins' death. We ought also to learn from his example in life. prgtoken Kevin Collins was a guardian of Pine Bluff, whether in his capacity as an officer or off duty as a security guard at his local church. prgtoken When he received the Officer of the Year Award in 2017, Detective Collins said that being a police officer was about extending a ``life line to save others.'' We will never know how many lives Kevin Collins saved, but we do know that his hometown is now safer and more peaceful because of his years
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Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-10-25

yesterday I came to the floor and spoke about the forest fires in Colorado, and luckily we have had a great deal of snow on some of the most problematic conflagrations, and it has slowed the fires down tremendously and has given us a chance to fight back and make some containment progress. So the news on the fire front is generally a good-news story today, with more challenges to come down the road. Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett prgtoken , this morning I come to the floor to talk about the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be placed on the U.S. Supreme Court. That will be the third Supreme Court Justice I have had the honor and privilege of voting on this Congress and the previous Congress, including Neil Gorsuch, Colorado's own Neil Gorsuch. prgtoken We have heard a lot of discussion about the Federalist Papers and our Founding Fathers and the intent and the role of the Senate. The language of the Constitution points out that the President shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, place Justices throughout our judiciary. prgtoken We have heard in Federalist 69 by Alexander Hamilton, the President is to nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint Ambassadors and other public ministers, Justices of the Supreme Court. prgtoken In Federalist 69, Hamilton goes on to compare the power of appointment that the President has or the Chief Executive has to that of the King of Great Britain, even comparing the power of appointment to the Governor of New York--Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 69 did-- and he stated that both the King and the Governor of New York at that time had a greater power of appointment than the President due to the requirement of advice and consent and the ability of the Governor of New York to actually cast a vote on the matter himself. To quote Alexander Hamilton, ``In the national government, if the Senate should be divided, no appointment could be made.'' He pointed out that the President has a concurrent authority in appointing offices and the President is not the sole author of these appointments. prgtoken It is clear in Alexander Hamilton's writings that this power was intended to be diluted; that it was to be balanced amongst the Chambers; that the judicial branch was viewed as the weakest of the three branches of government, not because it wasn't equal in power but because it didn't have some of the mechanisms that the other two branches do to protect it. prgtoken While the President makes that appointment, it is this Chamber--the sole duty of this Chamber, in the Constitution, to agree or disagree with that nomination. prgtoken We saw that disagreement occur in 2016 when this Chamber did not give its consent to a nomination. Later, Neil Gorsuch--Colorado's Neil Gorsuch--was confirmed to the Supreme Court. And just a matter of a little more than a month ago, we lost a trailblazing leader
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Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-10-25

during my time in the U.S. Senate, I have had, right here, the privilege of being part of the confirmation process for each Justice currently sitting on the Supreme Court--yes, each one. As such, over the years I have had the opportunity to meet with many of the Nation's most talented jurists. At this time, I consider Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the most qualified Supreme Court nominee I have encountered in my 34 years in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Let me explain. prgtoken Education--that is important. Judge Barrett, born and raised in the New Orleans area, is the eldest of seven children, as has been spoken of here. And if you take a look at her scholastic credentials, you know she was an exceptional student. Judge Barrett graduated magnum cum laude from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She also graduated summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School, where she was the executive editor of the Notre Dame Law Review and finished first in her class. prgtoken Look at some of her professional experience. This is important. prgtoken Judge Barrett is no stranger to the courtroom. She has decades of exemplary professional legal experience that I believe deem her well qualified to sit as a Supreme Court Justice. prgtoken Following law school, Judge Barrett clerked for Justice Laurence Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He is a great jurist in his own right, Judge Silberman. prgtoken One year later, she had clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Scalia, one of the renowned judges, gaining fundamental legal experience that would help shape her future legal career. prgtoken From there, she practiced law and taught as a visiting professor at George Washington University Law School here in Washington. prgtoken Judge Barrett went on to serve as a law professor for 15 years at her alma mater, Notre Dame University Law School. In that period of time, she was awarded Notre Dame Law School's Distinguished Professor of the Year Award three separate times. prgtoken Most recently, in 2017, Judge Barrett was confirmed right here in the Senate as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. And during this time on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, she authored 79--79--majority opinions as a circuit court judge. prgtoken Let's review for a minute the judicial philosophy and temperament of Judge Barrett. I think that is highly important. While her education and professional experience are certainly noteworthy, it is her judicial philosophy and temperament that really set her nomination apart, I believe, from a lot of others. prgtoken I am a firm believer that any nominee to the Supreme Court must and should demonstrate that he or she consistently and honorably applies the law as it is written, impartially and equally to all individuals. prgtoken Judge Barrett has, time and again, shown through her opinions and her statements th
Medical care for the uninsured could cost billions more (Executive Calendar)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-10-25

1 month ago, Judge Amy Coney Barrett was selected by President to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, filling the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. prgtoken Since then, Judge Barrett has more than proven her qualifications for this job. A respected Federal judge, educator, and public servant, Judge Barrett has conducted herself throughout this process with poise and integrity. She has certainly demonstrated her intellect, her legal acumen, and her commitment to the Constitution of the United States. She is, clearly, a brilliant jurist who interprets the Constitution as written and carefully weighs the facts of a given case. prgtoken Despite the Senate ' repeated attempts to drag her into the political fray, Judge Barrett has proven that she will make her decisions based on the law rather than politics. prgtoken When I met with Judge Barrett earlier this month, I was assured that she would be guided by the law and precedents and be faithful to the Constitution. As Judge Barrett herself has said prgtoken more than once, ``A judge is obligated to apply the law as it is and not as she wishes it would be.'' She is obliged to follow the law even when her personal preferences cut the other way or when she will experience great public criticism for doing so--the law, not politics. prgtoken As a fellow Hoosier, I have had the privilege of getting to know Judge Barrett and her family over the last several years, since she was nominated to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. When I met the then-Notre Dame Law School professor, it was abundantly clear that she was a star. My colleague at the time, former ic Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, agreed with that assessment. A brilliant legal scholar, Judge Barrett was and is held in the highest regard by her peers in the legal world. prgtoken Judge Barrett's qualifications outshined personal attacks and religious bigotry, and she was confirmed by a bipartisan majority to that circuit court, and as a judge, she has more than proven her legal credentials. She has heard more than 600 cases and authored nearly 100 opinions. I should note she is the first woman from Indiana ever to serve on that esteemed court. prgtoken As I said, when I introduced Judge Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month, I was proud to cast my vote for Judge Barrett in 2017, and I look forward to doing so again for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Three years ago, I did not hear a single credible criticism--not a single one--of Judge Barrett based on her legal qualifications, and I haven't heard one at any time throughout this confirmation process. prgtoken The have tried to make this process about anything other than Judge Barrett's qualifications. Alarmingly, they have made threats about what the consequences will be if we move forward. prgtoken First, they threatened to pack the
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Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-10-25

as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, it is my honor to speak on the floor about this nomination, which I think is historic in many facets and all positive from my point of view. prgtoken We have before the committee the nomination of Judge Barrett, who currently sits on the Seventh Judicial Circuit. She is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. Two days of hearings; answering every question thrown to her with grace and judicial demeanor. I think it should be the gold standard for every other nominee. prgtoken I want to thank my staff, beginning with Lee Holmes, the director. Lee has done such a great job on the Judiciary Committee and has done a lot of things--some contentious and some not. I want to thank Lee for shepherding this nomination and the fine work he has done. prgtoken Mike Fragoso--Mike, I got your first name right anyway. He is just outstanding. He has done a terrific job. prgtoken The permanent nominations unit for the Judiciary Committee includes Lauren Mehler, Raija Churchill, Tim Rodriguez, Watson Horner, and Akhil R-A-J-A-S-E-K-A-R--I don't want to butcher your name. They all worked incredibly hard for 135 article III judges, not just this one. prgtoken In addition, Lucas Croslow joined my staff to lead the team of special counsels assisting with the Barrett nomination. That included Sidd Dadhich, D-A-D-H-I-C-H, Joe Falvey, Abby Hollenstein, Eric Palmer, and Robert Smith. They went through the entire record presented by Judge Barrett to make sure we would be prepared for the confirmation process. prgtoken The law clerks were Matt Simpson, Emily Hall, Megan Cairn, and Peter Singhal. I would like to thank the Judiciary Committee's press secretary, Taylor Reidy. They did a great job, along with George Hartmann, as well as our deputy staff director, Joe Keeley. prgtoken The bottom line is, all of them worked really hard. They made history. They should be proud and tell prgtoken their grandkids about all this. Well done. prgtoken To my ic colleagues, I know you didn't like what we did, but I do appreciate the way you conducted yourselves in the hearing. It wasn't a circus. I think you challenged the judge appropriately during your time. We had 4 days of hearings. We heard from a variety of people about Judge Barrett. prgtoken In terms of the process, it was well within what we have done in the past. In every Judiciary Committee markup regarding a Supreme Court Justice, we have done the same thing. The first day is opening statements, then 2 days of questions, and the final day is input from outside groups. That is what we were able to do here. So she went through the process like every other nominee since I have been here. prgtoken But let me just say this to my ic colleagues. It is not about the process. You will find ways to make sure that most of you can't vote for anybody we nominate. It really does break my heart. prgtoken With Roberts, 78 to 22, that was s