mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2022-8-3

I am really pleased to be able to come to the floor this afternoon to join my colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman. We twice traveled to Ukraine together. I have appreciated his leadership as cochair of the Ukraine Caucus and his advocacy for not only legislation to help Ukraine but also for these reports which weekly have kept the war in Ukraine in front of the American people, which is so important as we think about how we continue support in our public for what is happening in Ukraine and this fight that the Ukrainians are so courageously waging. prgtoken I am also pleased to be here with my colleague Senator Tillis, who, along with me, cochairs the Senate NATO Observer Group, because we are going to be voting this afternoon on ratification of the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. Together, we led a bipartisan delegation to Madrid last month, which included three and four s, and we were able to visit Helsinki and Stockholm on our way into Madrid to talk about just why it is so important that Finland and Sweden are joining NATO. prgtoken I wanted to talk about both of these topics this afternoon because they are connected. prgtoken As Senator Portman said, there is a reason why Finland and Sweden, after decades of maintaining neutrality, are looking at joining NATO. It is because of this unprovoked, brutal war by Russia against Ukraine. If they are successful in Ukraine, we don't know where that will end, so we need to make the connection for people. prgtoken A year ago, no one would have thought that Sweden and Finland would have wanted NATO membership, but, of course, a lot has happened in that year. prgtoken Vladimir Putin made one of the most consequential miscalculations in modern history. I think it is the biggest miscalculation in foreign policy since Hitler went into Russia in World War II. He went into Ukraine to wage this unprovoked, premeditated war upon the people of Ukraine. Part of his rationale was to talk about NATO and his opposition to Ukraine's joining NATO but also because he thought he would be able to stall the enlargement of NATO. He thought he would be able to split the NATO allies. In fact, just the opposite has happened. The global response to punish Putin for this war in Ukraine is unprecedented. Putin's barbaric campaign in Ukraine and threats to democracy around the world have resulted in the strongest iteration of NATO to date. prgtoken And now here we are. The United States is about to welcome two very capable, very qualified and deserving members into the alliance, which will further strengthen our global coordination to preserve our rules- based order. prgtoken I have spoken before in this Chamber about the strong bipartisan support for prgtoken Finland and Sweden's NATO membership. When Sweden and Finland announced their intent to apply for NATO membership, Senator Tillis and I led a letter to President that within about 24 hou
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER SUPPORT ACT
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-8-3

this week, the U.S. Senate acted, unanimously, to honor our Nation's dedicated law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders by passing the Public Safety Officer Support Act, known as PSOSA. prgtoken I was proud to author the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act and want to thank Senator Cornyn and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Durbin for their steadfast leadership and hard work in helping pass this vital legislation that seeks to modernize the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program by recognizing that, when a public safety officer dies by suicide, there should be a rebuttable presumption that the loss should be designated as a line of duty death. prgtoken I look forward to President signing the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act into law and remain confident in the U.S. Department of Justice's readiness to effectively implement this important new law. My confidence is rooted in the Department's productive engagement and helpful technical assistance that was provided throughout the development of the final version of PSOSA. prgtoken Of course, the Public Safety Officer Support Act would never have passed without the steadfast support and dedication of a wide range of organizations, such as the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD, National Association of Attorneys General, National District Attorneys Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, National Sheriffs Association, National Border Patrol Council, United States Capitol Police Labor Committee, BLUE H.E.L.P The Wounded Blue, American Psychological Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, International Union of Police Associations, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Prison Council, National Narcotics Officers Associations' Coalition, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, International Society for Psychiatric Nurses, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, SMART Recovery, Kennedy Forum, Inseparable, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Association for Rural Mental Health, American Mental Health Counselors Association, National Association of Social Workers, Postpartum Support International, National Association of State and Mental Health Program Directors, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. prgtoken This impressive array of support for PSOSA reflects the importance and urgency of fixing a specific flaw in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. Under current law, despite public safety officers facing a heightened risk for developing posttraumatic stress and having trauma-induced suicides, family membe
ABORTION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-8-3

two sets of numbers show the winds blowing in the ic direction: first, the numbers revealed by the vote last night in the State of Kansas and, second, new polling data that shows how overwhelmingly popular the Inflation Reduction Act is in the minds of the American people. These numbers show winds blowing in ' direction on the issue of choice and on the issue of the Inflation Reduction Act. prgtoken Today, I want to talk about both. So let me begin with last night's election in Kansas. Last night, in the American heartland, the people of Kansas sent an unmistakable message to MAGA extremists: Back off women's fundamental rights. In the first vote on abortion rights since the MAGA Supreme Court's reprehensible decision to take away constitutional rights protected by Roe v. Wade--and which was cheered by many s here in the Senate--voters in Kansas decided by a double-digit margin to preserve the freedom of choice in their State Constitution. prgtoken What happened in red Kansas last night is a reflection of what is happening across the country and what will continue to occur through the November elections. Voters are revolting against the extreme MAGA policies that ban abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest and send women and doctors to jail. prgtoken Last night's election was also a dark reminder that MAGA s are running the show within the GOP. Their views are spreading through the party like a cancer--views that are repugnant not only to most Americans but, as we saw last night, even to many voters. prgtoken And Kansas was just the start. If it is going to happen in Kansas, it is going to happen in a whole lot of States. The strong pro choice turnout we saw last night in Kansas will continue well into the fall, and s who side with these extremist MAGA policies that attack women's rights do so at their own political risk.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. RES. 741
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-8-3

I have read and reread the Senator from Kansas's resolution. As best I can determine, it is a declaration of war. For that reason, it should be taken very seriously. He says, in the earliest stages of the preamble, to express the sense of the Senate regarding the constitutional right of State Governors to repel the dangerous ongoing invasion at the U.S. southern border. prgtoken The operative language at the end of his resolution on this decoration of war relates to a provision in the Constitution which is rarely quoted. It is section 10 of article I. I would like to read it into the record. It says: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay. prgtoken I am trying to understand the thinking of the Senator from Kansas, but here is the best I could come up with. He says that what is happening at the southern border with our immigration issues is, in his words, ``actual invasion of the United States.'' And then goes on to say: Governors of all 50 States possess the authority and power as Commander in Chief of their respective States to repel the invasion described in paragraph 2. prgtoken So as best I can determine, the Senator from Kansas is suggesting that each Governor has the power to initiate military action. It doesn't say who the enemy will be or who the target will be. But according to this provision in the Constitution, these Governors can enter into compacts with other States for this military action or with a foreign power. prgtoken I don't know if the Senator from Kansas has thought this through, this idea that the State of Kansas would team up with the State of Arizona and declare war on Nicaragua. Is that what he is thinking because Nicaraguans are presenting themselves to the border? I would suggest that I have never seen a declaration of war that calls on the States to take such action, and the only time--the only precedent in our history was a sad one that involved the Civil War in the United States. prgtoken I don't know if the Senator is anticipating similar State action-- State by State or combination of States--attacking a foreign power. For that reason and many others, I object.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-8-3

I want to respond, at least preliminarily, to my friend from Tennessee. I appreciate his advocacy for hospitals in his home State of Tennessee. So given that he is seeking this assurance about these disproportionate share hospital payments, my understanding is that the reconciliation bill we are about to consider this week does not contain any provisions that are directly relevant and any provision that would impact these disproportionate share hospitals or uncompensated care pool funding. prgtoken So given that and given that he is seeking this specific assurance about the pending reconciliation bill--and I think it is evident or will become evident that the bill does not contain these DSH provisions or uncompensated care payment cuts--I would ask him just this question, if he would entertain this question: If the Senate does pass a reconciliation bill, which I hope will be by the end of this week, and that bill is then subsequently enacted into law, will he lift his objection and allow this and other relevant HHS nominations to be confirmed by unanimous consent?
AFGHANISTAN
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-8-3

today I rise to pay tribute to my longtime Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee staff director and dear friend Joe Schultz, who will soon be taking on a new challenge after more than 15 years of service in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Now, the first thing I have to say about Joe, just to get it out of the way, is that he is a proud Ohio native and a graduate of the Ohio State University, which is an immediate challenge for anyone from Michigan, whether you are a University of Michigan grad or, as I am, a Michigan State University grad. In fact, his first job in the Senate was working for my colleague and friend Senator Brown of Ohio. prgtoken Senator Brown swears that Joe was 6 feet 2 inches and had hair when he worked for him, and said it is all about the farm bills that somehow changed that. prgtoken But somehow I convinced Joe to come and work for me on the Agriculture Committee, in part, by assuring Senator Brown that Joe would still be working for Ohio because Senator Brown is on the Ag Committee. And I am so glad and lucky that I was able to do that. prgtoken Joe started as our chief economist. He is a great numbers guy, and nobody loves spreadsheets as much as Joe. Of course, he is so much more than a numbers guy, though, and we very quickly found that out. prgtoken He always knows every part of farm policy, and he is an amazing people person--someone you definitely want on your team when you go into a farm bill negotiation, which have been known to be tough. prgtoken Joe instinctively knows what people's reactions will be, what they will need in order to get an agreement, and he has always had his finger on the pulse of the Agriculture Committee and the community. That is, in large part, because agricultural is way more than a job for Joe; it is his life. prgtoken He grew up on a farm, a family farm in Ohio. He even convinced his wife Virginia to have their wedding on the family farm. It was beautiful, and I was so honored to be in attendance with all their family and friends and their sheep. prgtoken Now, if you have ever talked with Joe, you would probably know that his family raised sheep on the farm. And, boy, can he tell you some wild stories. prgtoken For years, Joe would have a contest on Facebook during lambing season. He called it ``Lambageddon.'' His friends would all guess the number of lambs that would be born over Presidents Day weekend, typically the busiest lambing weekend of the year. And, of course, he always took time off to be there. Whoever got closest to the correct number of lambs got bragging rights and the opportunity to name a lamb. prgtoken Given his dedication to the family flock, nobody on the Ag Committee was at all surprised when Joe and Virginia welcomed two adorable babies, Will and Izzy, into their own family--twins--a little bit more than a year ago. After all, sheep typically have twin births, I understand. prgtoken If you have ever worked with Joe, one
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-8-3

I rise today in support of Finland and Sweden's application to join NATO. I give my strong support to this application. prgtoken I disagree heartily with our colleague from Missouri. I know you know, , having worked on this issue, as I have--having visited these countries, we know how important they are to Minnesota and Wisconsin. prgtoken Minnesota has a special bond with the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland, and at the core of this bond, at the core of the bond between our country and these countries, is shared values--values of democracy, values of freedom. prgtoken Yes, we have challenges--of course we do--in Asia, but I happen to believe that when you are a great power like the United States of America, you can do two things at once. prgtoken Let's look at what these countries add to our security by joining NATO. prgtoken First of all, Finland is over 2 percent of their budget on military. Sweden is increasing their budget on military. Both nations have professional militaries. They have strong and transparent economies, and mostly they believe in human rights--in freedom, in liberty, and equality. They believe in democracy. prgtoken I will note specifically that Finland has added an extra $2.2 billion in defense spending this year. Greece and Poland and Lithuania and Latvia and Estonia and Slovakia and Croatia and the United Kingdom-- above 2 percent. prgtoken So let's get the facts straight here, and let's talk about what these countries will add to our security. prgtoken We are at an unparalleled moment in history. Since Vladimir Putin's cruel, unjustified invasion of Ukraine, people all over the world have been waking up out of a 2-year plague, out of a slumber, to realize just how fragile our democracy is. prgtoken We realized it here in this building when, not so long along, insurrectionists invaded this Chamber. We didn't just sit back and say: Well, there goes our democracy. We stood up. We stood up, and s, in this very Chamber. prgtoken When President Zelenskyy of Ukraine took to the streets the minute that this invasion started and looked at a video camera and said: We are here, he was saying that to his own people to give them the courage to stand up against the inhuman barbarism of a dictator, but he was also saying it to the rest of the world. prgtoken We see it on Ukraine's frontlines, where everyday people took up arms and are taking up arms to protect their country. It sent a warning shot to tyrants around the world who believe that free democracies are just up for grabs. Ukrainians have shown their true colors in bright blue and yellow, which just happen to be the colors of Sweden. They have shown their true colors, and they are showing the world what courage is all about. prgtoken Having been in the last group of Senators from this Chamber who met with leaders in Ukraine just a few weeks before the war started, I can tell you prgtoken
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-8-3

first of all, I want to applaud the Senator from Alaska for his comments. I agree completely with his statements, and I think his amendment making it clear that we expect the 2 percent to be honored by all member states is something that we all should welcome and agree to. prgtoken I thank you for your leadership. I also thank you for how you have articulated the importance of NATO to our national security. prgtoken NATO is a transatlantic security partnership that has served our national security interests so well for so many years since the end of World War II. prgtoken Today, we are going to have a chance to vote to expand the NATO alliance by adding Finland and Sweden. I hope all my colleagues will support that. prgtoken I will point out that Finland already exceeds the 2 percent that Senator prgtoken Sullivan is talking about, the percentage of their GDP that they are spending on defense. So I think this is another reason why we have countries that we want to add to the alliance. We have 30 strong now. This will even be stronger with Finland and Sweden being added to the NATO alliance. prgtoken But what is unique about the two countries that we will have a chance to vote on in a few moments is that they give us added value to our alliance. They make our alliance stronger. It is in our national security interest to include Finland and Sweden. They add value militarily and economically to this alliance. prgtoken The geostrategic location of these two countries is critically important to our national security. Just think for a moment about the threats to the Baltic nations that we have seen by Russia--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Think about where Poland has been threatened because of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. prgtoken Adding Finland and Sweden will help us round out the security alliance necessary to provide the security that we need. Both of these countries are already committed to interoperability with the NATO alliance. They are already familiar with how NATO's process and procedures are utilized. prgtoken So we have two countries that are ready from day one to be active participants in the alliance. They both participate in regular participation and training exercises with NATO and U.S. forces. Both Sweden and Finland have done that. They have contributed troops. Sweden has contributed troops to NATO-led operations in Kosovo, to Afghanistan, to Iraq. So we have countries that have already stepped up to help us in security and now will be a formal part of the security alliance. prgtoken They will add, also, a dimension that is important for us in regards to winter warfare. The cold response winter warfare exercises have been participated in. Finland has the arctic capabilities that will be critically important to us as we move forward. So we are adding value to the NATO alliance as well as expanding the number of countries. prgtoken I want to mention one other area: cyber and misinfor
NATO (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-8-3

Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine has now reached its 5th month. But while Vladimir Putin had hoped his war would divide the Atlantic alliance, it has in fact brought us closer together. Today, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is stronger than ever, so strong in fact that new states are being brought into the fold. I am proud to vote today in favor of approving Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO. Their membership at this moment is critical to countering Putin's threats to global security--and especially to nearby, vulnerable nations. As I have already stated publicly with the bipartisan members of the Senate NATO Observer Group, Finland and Sweden are longstanding security and economic partners who already share the collective values that guide our alliance, and I welcome the addition of these two highly capable countries--and the people of Finland and Sweden--to NATO. Their decision to join NATO further reveals how Putin has made a huge strategic blunder, further strengthening the bonds among democratic nations determined to resist his authoritarian reach. prgtoken Ahead of this vote on adding Finland and Sweden to NATO, I would like to address Senator Paul's amendment regarding article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and the Constitution. Let's be perfectly clear: There is no question that the protocols of any treaty do not--and cannot-- supersede the provisions of the U.S. Constitution. That premise has governed U.S. foreign policy since our founding. And it is in keeping with that long tradition of fidelity to the Constitution that I rise in strong opposition to Senator Paul's prgtoken amendment. This amendment is unnecessary, and it ignores the ultimate supremacy of the Constitution over foreign treaties. Not only that, but this amendment even goes so far as to ignore the substance of the North Atlantic Treaty itself. Article 11 of the treaty explains that ``its provisions [shall be] carried out by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes''--affirming the ultimate supremacy of the U.S. Constitution in governing the actions of the United States. Given these facts, it is clear that Senator Paul's amendment, which would send the United States and the entire NATO community down a dangerous and unprecedented path, is predicated on faulty reasoning. prgtoken What is more, Senator Paul's amendment regarding article 5 and the Constitution threatens to weaken the NATO Alliance itself. The article 5 provision outlining the collective defense obligations of NATO members constitutes one of the central principles of the North Atlantic Treaty. The core premise of article 5 is very simple: An attack against one NATO country should be treated as an attack against all NATO countries. The strength of the NATO alliance depends upon the shared understanding of and respect for this special obligation by each and every member state. But Senat