mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING HENRY H.R. ``HANK'' COE
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-1-21

on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, the 2021 General Session of the Wyoming Legislature got underway. Noticeably absent from the first day of the session was State Senator Henry H.R. ``Hank'' Coe. Hank had been present in Cheyenne for the first day of the annual legislative session for 32 consecutive years. prgtoken In March of 2020, on the last day of the 2020 Wyoming legislative session, Hank announced his plan to retire. Senator Coe represented the people of Park County from 1988 to 2020. prgtoken Hank was a respected and effective legislator. He earned a reputation for being a kind, thoughtful, persuasive legislator of great integrity. prgtoken Hank always had a remarkable grasp of the issues facing the state and his home community. He could see short and long-term needs and offer solutions to address those needs. prgtoken During his time in the legislature, Senator Coe served on numerous committees, was elected as majority floor leader, and, in 2001, served as president of the senate. prgtoken For 17 years, Hank proudly served as the chair of the senate education committee. He was a strong proponent of local control and high-quality education. prgtoken Hank showed students that through hard work and dedication to their studies, there was a world of opportunities within their reach. He understood the importance of investing in our young people, recognizing their achievements, and providing them with the tools needed to succeed. prgtoken When I served in the Wyoming State Senate, I had the great honor of working with Hank Coe on one of our proudest legislative initiatives, the creation of the Hathaway scholarship program. prgtoken We were able to create a scholarship fund with a $400 million permanent endowment. Income from the fund continues to fund scholarships for Wyoming high school graduates today. The Hathaway scholarship program allows every Wyoming student, regardless of economic background, to qualify for a merit-based scholarship to attend the University of Wyoming or any of our State's seven community colleges. prgtoken Senator Coe's leadership was a driving force behind passage of this legislation. Thousands of Wyoming students without the resources to obtain a college education have benefited from this scholarship. prgtoken Hank's contribution to public service extended far beyond Wyoming's capitol. He was a mentor to many in his hometown of Cody. He participated fully on local boards and committees. The Cody Chamber of Commerce, Cody Medical Foundation, Cody Yellowstone Air Service, Wyoming Air Service, Buffalo Bill Museum of the West, and the Park County Commissioners all benefited from Hank's committed service. prgtoken When Hank retired, he released the following statement, which was printed in the Cody Enterprise on March 13, 2020: ``The Wyoming Legislature continues to be one of the most effective and civil deliberate bodies in the nation. It is my sincere hope that t
CONFIRMATION OF AVRIL DANICA HAINES
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-1-21

the Director of National Intelligence must demonstrate commitment to restraining the vast power of our intelligence agencies. They should not view themselves as an enabler or facilitator of prgtoken agencies that already operate without public scrutiny. We do not need another Washington insider in this position, someone who will go along to get along, helping to further the expansion of secret government powers. prgtoken What we need is someone who is a skeptic of these powers. After years of revelations of government spying on Americans and the exposure of the unconstitutional applications of these powers, I had hoped that the President would submit a nominee that understands the importance of regaining the public's trust, to pledge transparency and accountability. prgtoken The President's nominee, Avril Haines, does not meet that profile. She played a key role in formulating the government's legal authority to conduct summary executions by drone and was reportedly summoned in the middle of the night to approve lethal drone strikes. As Deputy Director of the CIA, she declined to punish any of the CIA employees who spied on the Senate as it was investigating the CIA's torture programs. Her record is that of an insider, someone who will defend the broken status quo. I will not support more of the same unconstitutional policies, and I oppose her confirmation.
HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOUSTON COUNTY BEING ESTABLISHED IN TENNESSEE
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-1-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Houston County being established and incorporated into the state of Tennessee. prgtoken Officially established on January 21st in the year 1871, Houston County takes its name from the legendary Sam Houston, who, among many things, served as the first member of Congress from the 7th district of Tennessee. Like its namesake, Houston County embodies the spirit of American grit and perseverance. From the stoked lime kilns of days past to the thriving timber industry of today, Houston County continues to foster a strong and proud community. prgtoken Over its long history, Houston County has endeavored to faithfully honor the heritage of the Irish pioneers who settled the land through the annual Irish Day Parade. One of my favorite events of the year, the Irish Day Parade, now draws over 30,000 people to Erin. The scenic countryside of Houston County is home to gently flowing creeks and streams, rolling hills and forests, and a vibrant community with a little bit of Ireland in its soul. prgtoken Houston County is home to many of Tennessee's finest citizens, and I am honored to represent them in the United States Congress. I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Houston County on this impressive anniversary.
MAKING IN ORDER AT ANY TIME CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 335, PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-1-21

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H.R. 335 in the House if called up by the chair of the Committee on Armed Services or his designee; that all points of order against consideration of the bill be waived; that the bill be considered as read; that all points of order against provisions in the bill be waived; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2021-1-21

today, I rise in support of the requested waiver of the Secretary of Defense nominee, retired four-star General Lloyd S. Austin, III. prgtoken President recognizes the need to have the most qualified individuals in his Cabinet to right the ship from day one. The issues of instability of our Department of Defense, morale, and a desire to engage more vigorously with the world require that a nominee be one who has the type of career that General Austin does. prgtoken General Austin's distinguished career and experience as a commander of the U.S. Central Command and Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army have prepared him to be ideal for the task at hand. prgtoken We agree that the separation of Active Duty military and civilian is important. Moreover, I have full confidence, however, that the Secretary-designate shares these values, in that he came to the House, reaching out to this body in a way that shows reverence for the continued promotion and defense of civilian control of the military. prgtoken Lastly, having an African-American Secretary of Defense is highly important at this time, as the military must address the growing evidence of sympathy towards dangerous conspiracies and White supremacist causes amongst servicemembers--evidence made exponentially troubling due to the fact that a large percentage of servicemembers are people of color. prgtoken General Lloyd Austin is the right person for the job at the time at hand, and Congress must allow him to get through and get the job done. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote for the waiver for General Austin.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-1-21

I rise to express my support for H.R. 335, which would provide a waiver to allow for full Senate consideration of General Lloyd Austin's nomination as Secretary of Defense. While I have great concerns over use of this process to appoint former military leaders to senior civilian positions at the Department of Defense, and I believe that civilian control of the military is critical to our democracy, I support this waiver for General Austin for several reasons. prgtoken The first is the need for clear and effective leadership at the Pentagon. The previous administration drastically politicized the Department of Defense and hollowed out existing leadership to put in place less experienced political allies to do former President 's bidding. This has left our nation even more vulnerable during a number of national and international crises, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the recent cyber attack on our government systems by Russia, and rising tensions with Iran and throughout the Middle East. General Austin brings a distinguished career in military leadership, an unwavering commitment to our nation's security, and the respect of our men and women in uniform and will provide a needed steady hand at the Department of Defense. prgtoken Second, Lloyd Austin possess the skills and temperament to address the challenges our country faces. President noted when discussing his selection of General Austin that he played a vital role in bringing American forces home from Iraq using diplomatic skill and an ability to work cooperatively with his Iraqi counterparts, further noting that Austin had met every challenge in his career with ``extraordinary skill and profound personal decency.'' These qualities will be necessary as America works to regain its leadership on the world stage, rebuild alliances, and address the many challenges our country faces. prgtoken Third, General Austin understands the importance of civilian control of the military to our democracy and has expressed his commitment to this principle. Unlike the last time a waiver was sought when Secretary Mattis was prevented from testifying before Congress by President and was unable to reassure American people about the importance of maintaining civilian control of the Department of Defense, General Austin did testify. During his confirmation hearing, General Austin expressed full understanding of the concerns over his appointment given he has been retired from active service for only four years. He highlighted his experience implementing civilian directives, and his understanding of the need for a different perspective as a civilian leader. I am confident that under the leadership of Lloyd Austin and President , that principle will be preserved and protected. prgtoken Finally, General Austin's confirmation as Secretary of Defense would be a watershed moment as the first African American to hold that office in our nation's history
NOMINATION OF ANTONY BLINKEN
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-1-21

I come to the floor today to urge the swift confirmation for Tony Blinken to be the Secretary of State. prgtoken Like we saw with Avril Haines yesterday and moving toward Lloyd Austin today, we need to hold a floor vote on Mr. Blinken's nomination urgently. prgtoken Mr. Blinken is well known to the Senate, having previously been confirmed as Deputy Secretary of State, having served as the Deputy National Security Advisor and, of course, as the staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before that. prgtoken He is superbly qualified to be the Secretary of State, and his knowledge and thoughtfulness were on display during 5 hours of testimony earlier this week. And since then, he has been asked to respond to hundreds of questions. As a matter of fact, he has had an inordinate number of questions that have been put to him for the record. He had nearly over half a hundred before his hearing. He has had from a couple of our colleagues nearly 600 questions, including multiple parts to those questions. And to my knowledge, he has largely answered them all, notwithstanding the size, the magnitude of it. prgtoken Now, I have been, since I arrived in this institution, one of the big advocates of the prerogatives of each and every individual Senator and of the institution. So I take a back step to no one, but there is a difference between prerogatives and prerogatives that are abused, which, in essence, are for the purpose of not seeking information but for the purpose of delaying a nomination. prgtoken Now, I appreciate that Senator Risch, the present chairman of the committee, has been working with me to try to accelerate Mr. Blinken's nomination to the floor, but I would ask my colleagues, particularly those on the committee, to join him and I in an effort to bring one of the important national security positions in our government to the floor for a vote. prgtoken I don't think we should be leaving this weekend without a vote for the Secretary of State. prgtoken He is the right person to repair and restore our alliances, to rebuild and renew the State Department, to reinvigorate the relationship between the Department and Congress--something prgtoken that I think s and alike have agreed have soured dramatically. prgtoken His testimony, his opening statement, his answers to questions show that he will be a working partner with this institution. prgtoken But, obviously, confirming Mr. Blinken is not just about the nominee himself. It is about doing what the American people expect and the Constitution requires--providing advice and consent to ensure that national security officials are in office in a timely manner. prgtoken We are facing challenges in every corner of the world. The world is on fire--from Iran to Russia, to Venezuela, to global challenges that define our times and defy borders, like COVID, migration, and climate change. We can't afford delaying to put Mr. Blinken
INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE INSURRECTIONIST ATTACK UPON THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL ACT
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-1-21

. Madam , today, I rise to introduce the National Commission on the Insurrectionist Attack Upon the United States Capitol Act, which would create a national commission to provide a complete account surrounding the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, including preparedness and response. The commission would also present recommendations on how to protect our country from future attacks. My bill is modeled on the bipartisan legislation that created a national commission to investigate the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. prgtoken What happened on January 6, 2021, is no less grave, no less revealing than what happened to our country in 2001. In 2001, we realized that we were woefully unprepared for a foreign terrorist attack. The bipartisan national commission created by Congress conducted an unbiased investigation and helped us improve our defenses against international threats. prgtoken Now we are faced with another threat, but this one does not come from outside, it comes from within. The people who ransacked and defaced the U.S. Capitol, the people who threatened elected officials trying to fulfill their constitutional duty were not foreigners; they were Americans. In order to tackle this new internal threat to our democracy, we must understand it, and we cannot understand it without investigating how this attack on the U.S. Capitol occurred. prgtoken The commission created by my bill would draw upon all available evidence and prior investigations to generate a full and complete accounting of the circumstances of the attack and the country's preparedness for and immediate response to the attack. This commission must be above the fray of politics to give us clear answers on what happened on January 6th. The American people deserve unbiased answers. prgtoken What happened is deeply personal for me and for many who live or grew up in the District of Columbia, where the U.S. Capitol is located. We all recognize the U.S. Capitol as a sacred symbol of democracy, but domestic terrorists came into my hometown and wreaked mayhem on our federal governing institutions. The commission would provide definitive answers to help Congress determine policies to ward off such attacks in the future. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--H.R. 335
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-1-21

I will be, in a moment, asking for unanimous consent that we do the waiver on the Secretary of Defense, and we will vote on that relatively shortly, the Members should be aware. prgtoken So, , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate receives H.R. 335 from the House, that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that there be 30 minutes for debate; that the bill be considered read a third time; and that the Senate vote on the passage of the bill, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all without intervening action or debate.
INTRODUCTION OF THE BICYCLE COMMUTER ACT OF 2021
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-1-21

. Madam , today I introduced the Bicycle Commuter Act of 2021. This legislation passed the House last session in Section 90436 of the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2, 116th Cong.) and would reinstate and improve the bicycle commuter tax benefit. prgtoken The bicycle is the most efficient form of urban transportation ever devised. Cycling reduces carbon emissions, provides enormous physical and mental health benefits, and is one of the most cost-effective modes of transportation available. Communities across the country have realized these benefits and substantially invested in building better bike networks and improving facilities for biking to work. These investments are one of the reasons that rates of biking to work have increased by more than one-third since 2000. Still, however, only 0.51 percent of workers biked to work in 2019. prgtoken Despite these impressive developments, there is no commuter tax benefit for biking to work--like we have for parking and transit. First enacted in 2009, the bicycle commuter benefit was a tax benefit that employers could offer to provide a reimbursement of up to $20/month for expenses relating to bicycle commuting expenses. But if an employee elected prgtoken to take advantage of the bicycle commuting reimbursement, they were not eligible to receive transit or parking commuter benefits. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the bicycle commuting reimbursement benefit through 2025, taking away a valuable financial incentive for people who choose to bike to work. prgtoken With more employees choosing to bike to work, it is critical that Congress reinstates the bicycle commuter benefit and uses this opportunity to improve the benefit to reflect present-day commuting options. The Bicycle Commuter Act of 2021 reinstates the bicycle commuter benefit and changes the structure of the benefit by making it a pre-tax benefit, allowing employees to receive a higher benefit amount, allowing the benefit to be used with parking and transit, and adding bikeshare and electric bikes as an eligible expense. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to enact this legislation and provide Americans with cleaner, more efficient ways of commuting to work.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-1-21

I think I would like to raise the question, what would Abraham Lincoln do, a man who faced the turmoil of a divided Nation. I think he would look for an individual like General Mr. Lloyd Austin, someone who had had the balance of seeing life as a civilian but being an impeccable leader of the United States military. prgtoken , before I came to this floor, I walked down Independence Avenue to greet the young men and women in the National Guard who had come here from Texas. I wanted to let them know how important it was for them to be here to defend the citadel of democracy and how grateful we were that we had a peaceful transition of power yesterday. prgtoken What I see in Mr. Austin is a recognition that civilian control of the military has been a bedrock principle of our democracy since the founding of our Republic. Yet, at the same time, in the backdrop of the last 4 years, I think he is needed for two reasons. prgtoken One, the military has faced an enormous amount of instability. They were called ``suckers'' and ``losers.'' Generals were criticized. So you need someone who is a military person's military person, someone they know is part of the team. prgtoken Then you need someone who can build that morale. Yes, we had morale in the previous administration of President , having respected them. Now, I believe we must give President the opportunity for his Secretary of Defense. prgtoken , I am grateful for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who will support this concept, knowing that we believe that civilian control of the military is a bedrock. prgtoken I do think that we cannot call this a precedent. One and two is not a precedent. I do think we can look at maybe some other definitions of what it means. prgtoken But a man who is able to end a war of 150,000 soldiers coming home is a man who can lead the United States military in a spirit of lifting the morale, providing stability, and calling them the brave men and women that they are. prgtoken Let's support the waiver. Vote ``yes'' on this resolution. prgtoken , as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, I rise in support of H.R. 335, which provides an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces so that President can nominate retired four-star Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III to serve as the next Secretary of Defense. prgtoken Gen. Austin retired from active duty in 2016, which under current law (10 U.S.C. Sec. 113(a)), makes him ineligible for appointment as Secretary of Defense. prgtoken Civilian control of the military has been a bedrock principle of our democracy since the founding of the Republic. prgtoken That principle has served the nation well and we should depart from it only where there is compelling reason to do so. prgtoken Indeed, in the history