mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING COLIN POWELL
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-12-17

. . I rise today to honor one of our Nation's most distinguished and honorable military and diplomatic leaders, Colin Powell. prgtoken Few American leaders have served their nation more, from combat overseas as a young officer to the heights of military command and diplomacy on the world stage. Colin Powell will and should hold a renowned place in our country's history. prgtoken Throughout his life, Colin Powell was the epitome of selfless service and courageous leadership. He gave everything he had to America--and then some. And he always did what many profess but few do: He took responsibility. prgtoken Colin Powell was a trailblazer for countless Americans. He paved much of the way on his own. Raised in the South Bronx as the son of Jamaican immigrants, he joined ROTC at the City College of New York and went on to serve with incredible bravery in Vietnam, sustaining wounds on two tours and saving the lives of many fellow soldiers. Colin Powell's remarkable skill as a military commander was clear to everyone around him, and he rose quickly through the ranks, eventually becoming National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan and, later, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H.W. . prgtoken The ``Powell Doctrine,'' as his theory of warfare would become known, guided the United States to its most decisive military victory since World War II through Operation Desert Storm. Colin Powell insisted that war should be the last resort in any national conflict, but, when necessary, it should be focused, overwhelming for the enemy, and controlled with clear objectives. We would do well to remember that vision today. prgtoken Colin Powell reached the summit of his career when he was named Secretary of State for President . Once again, he served his country selflessly and demonstrated his innate decency and integrity. prgtoken A distinct honor of my life was the opportunity to work with and learn from Colin Powell in the years afterward. I made a point to call him when I was named chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His advice was deeply appreciated. Indeed, both in and out of uniform, he advised generations of Presidents, diplomats, military leaders, and lawmakers with wisdom and candor. Colin did not shrink from the truth, and he will be remembered as one of our Nation's most thoughtful strategists. prgtoken Perhaps most importantly, to the countless Americans who looked up to him, Colin Powell leaves a legacy of courage and integrity. He was the first leader of color in many of the land's highest offices, including National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State. He was beloved by his troops, respected by his peers, and trusted more than any other American of his day. prgtoken Colin Powell was resolute and honorable throughout his life and career, and America is fortunate to have benefited from his leadership.
Nominations (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-12-17

I rise today to talk about some nominees and how important it is to keep advancing nominees. prgtoken A President should be able to have his Ambassadors in place so we can deal with the rest of the world, and we have key people who are still missing from Agencies, many of whom got through committees with strong bipartisan support. Let me start with one of them. prgtoken Today, I rise to discuss the importance of the Senate swiftly confirming Alan Davidson, one of President 's very important nominees to the Department of Commerce. If confirmed, he will play a crucial role in the coming months and years in making sure every American has access to reliable, affordable internet. prgtoken Mr. Davidson has been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA. OK. That sounds like a lot of words, but what does it really mean? prgtoken As head of the NTIA, Mr. Davidson will oversee the distribution of the $40 billion for broadband infrastructure funding coming out of our bipartisan infrastructure bill. So his job couldn't be more important as we look at providing high-speed internet to every corner of this country. He will also play an important role in expanding wireless internet networks, promoting fair competition in the digital sector, and ensuring every American has access to affordable and fast internet. prgtoken As you know, after months of negotiations between and s, this Senate came together to pass the President's bipartisan infrastructure law, making a once-in-a-generation investment to improve roads, rail systems, and public transit, address climate change by updating our power grid, and, yes, invest in high-speed internet. prgtoken It is the largest investment our country has ever made in high-speed internet. I was proud to lead in the Senate the base bill-- Representative Clyburn led it in the House--to make this happen when it comes to broadband. prgtoken Affordable and reliable internet access is more important now than ever as students and families rely on the internet to learn or work from home, access telehealth services, and stay connected to loved ones. prgtoken As 42 million Americans, including 16 percent of households in rural Minnesota, lack reliable broadband access, the need to make the promises of this law a reality could not be more urgent. As head of the NTIA, Mr. Davidson will be responsible for overseeing the rollout of funding for broadband grants across the country. We don't want to wait. We need someone who knows what he is doing in place now. prgtoken With more than two decades of experience in the public and private sector as an executive, someone who worked in technology, and as an attorney, it is clear Mr. Davidson is ready for this job. prgtoken He served in the Department of Commerce during the administration, where
Nominations (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-17

on nominations, in a few moments, we are going to begin confirming a slew of nominees to serve in the administration that, up until now, have been needlessly obstructed by a handful--just a handful--of Senate s. But under the rules, they can do that. prgtoken Confirming these nominees is one of the most basic constitutional responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. It is bigger than the interests of any one Senator. It is about ensuring our government is able to effectively serve the American people here at home and advance the American interests overseas. prgtoken For decades, both sides--both sides--have understood that each President, regardless of party, deserves to have their administration filled, and we have worked together to make that happen, particularly for noncontroversial and less senior nominees. But today's blockade is a beast of a different nature. prgtoken Right now, over 150--150--of President 's nominees are stalled by a handful of Senators who have hijacked the rules of the Senate for no other reason than obstruction for its own sake. Many received bipartisan support in committee. prgtoken These aren't low-priority nominees--whatever that means. Many of these men and women would deal with matters of diplomacy and national security. That is what s are blocking. Some of them would help implement the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That is what s are blocking. prgtoken From fighting inflation to relieving supply chains, to advancing U.S. national security, many of the men and women who are nominated would be the ones who would actually do this work. Let me repeat that. For all the howling and hollering we hear from s about inflation, national security, and economic recovery, they are blocking the very same people whose jobs it would be to tackle these issues. It is ``Alice in Wonderland'' logic. prgtoken There are no justifications for their delay--none. Listening to the other side twist themselves into pretzels, it is clear that their game is simple, cynical, self-interested obstruction. And s on this side of the aisle for coming to the floor day after day to shine a spotlight on the real-world impact of s' obstruction. prgtoken This is the consequence of obstruction. We are going to keep voting in this Chamber as we work to get these nominees confirmed.
Judicial Nominations (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-12-17

the Senate will soon vote on 10 judicial nominees--nine for district courts and one for the Ninth Circuit appeals court--as we continue the critical work of restoring balance to our Federal judiciary. prgtoken Before briefly speaking on their records, I want to offer a few broad observations. I continue to be impressed by the experience, qualifications, and professional diversity that we see among President 's judicial nominees. prgtoken Looking at these 10 in particular: Nine currently serve as either State court or Federal magistrate judges; three have worked for county or State governments; two have previously served as Federal public defenders; one has served as a Federal prosecutor, while another has worked in various roles at the Justice Department; one has worked for a leading civil rights organization; and several have worked in private legal practice. prgtoken The judiciary is stronger when our judges come from an array of professional backgrounds, including those that have been historically underrepresented on the bench. Furthermore, all 10 of these nominees are highly qualified, with broad experience and distinguished records. Each of them has demonstrated their commitment to impartiality and evenhandedness. And they will be ready upon confirmation to fully dedicate themselves to the demands of the bench. prgtoken First is Judge Linda Lopez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. For the past 3 years, Judge Lopez has served as a magistrate judge in the Southern District of California, where she has presided over seven bench trials. Prior to her appointment, Judge Lopez spent 25 years as a criminal defense attorney, first in private practice and then as a Federal public defender for more than a decade. During this time, she appeared in court frequently and tried 11 jury trials. prgtoken With such extensive trial experience, both on and off the bench, it is no surprise that Judge Lopez received a unanimous rating of ``well qualified'' from the American Bar Association. She has the strong support not only of her home State Senators--Senators Feinstein and Padilla--but also of top Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California, including the Deputy U.S. Attorney and Criminal Division Chief. prgtoken We will also vote on Judge Jinsook Ohta's nomination to the Southern District of California. Judge Ohta is currently a judge on the San Diego Superior Court, where she handles family law cases involving domestic violence, child custody, and child support--among many other issues. prgtoken Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Ohta spent nearly a decade with the consumer protection section of the California Attorney General's Office. In this role, she handled major cases involving healthcare fraud, illegal robocalls--and oversaw an investigation into Facebook's violations of consumer privacy rights. prgtoken Judge Ohta has been rated ``well
Vote on Lopez Nomination (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-12-17

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from West prgtoken Virginia (Mrs. Capito), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines), the Senator from Iowa (Ms. Ernst), the Senator from Nebraska (Mrs. Fischer), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson), the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Portman), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds), the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Shelby), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey).
Purdue University (Executive Calendar)
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2021-12-17

according to ProPublica reporting, a Purdue student from China, Zhihao Kong, who goes by the nickname ``Moody,'' wrote a letter condemning the Chinese Communist Party for killing dissidents in Tiananmen Square in 1989. prgtoken We all know the famous image of the man who stood courageously, not in front of one tank--most of the images that ran in U.S. newspapers were of one guy standing in front of a tank. And if you just look at that image, you can assume that the tank commander is some nutjob who decided he was going to torment this kid. But if you actually look at the image, as you can through U.S. photo archives, and you pan back out, that first tank is one tank in a long, long, long, long line of tanks coming that this man stands courageously in front of. It is not one nutjob tank commander looking at this guy in Tiananmen Square; it is an autocratic government that is scared to death of the courage of free people. And that man stood there courageously as the Chinese Communist Party was murdering students in Tiananmen Square. prgtoken The Purdue graduate student, Moody, decided to write an open letter about that reminding students in America and around the world of what happened in Tiananmen Square. prgtoken Well, guess what happened next. After Moody published his essay, China's secret police decided to go visit his family and intimidate them so that they might put pressure on him, asking him, commanding him, coercing him, twisting the arms of his parents and loved ones, to stop talking about the truth, about what happened in Tiananmen Square in June of 1989. prgtoken When Mr. Kong refused to back down, other Chinese students at Purdue--not Chinese students in Beijing, Chinese graduate students at Purdue--decided that it was their obligation to harass Mr. Kong. They pursued him around campus, and they threatened to report him to the Chinese Embassy. Think about that for a second. prgtoken What do we think about Embassies as for? Two hundred countries around the face of the Earth, and when you are traveling and you have a lost passport or you suffer some, you know, petty crime or you have a family member who has a medical emergency back home, you call up your Embassy for help because you think these are people who love you. You are in a foreign place and you don't maybe speak the language and the Embassy is there to help you navigate a world where you might not know the language, the laws, or the customs. prgtoken What happened in the United States--a freedom-loving place--is that these Chinese students, Chinese nationals here in school at Purdue, decided that they thought it might be their job to contact the Chinese Embassy to tattle on Mr. Kong because the man had the courage to tell the truth. He had spoken online. He had written online. He had been involved in dissident events. prgtoken So what happened then, besides his parents being harassed by the Chinese secret police and besides gra
TRIBUTE TO OFFICER RODERICK JENNINGS
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-12-17

I rise today to honor an exceptional American and an exceptional member of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, Officer Roderick Jennings. Officer Jennings is retiring from the U.S. Capitol Police on December 28, 2021, after 31 years of service, and today, I wanted to take a moment to honor his years of service to the U.S. Capitol Police and to our country. prgtoken While he has served in many roles during his tenure, Officer Jennings most recently has been assigned to the U.S. Capitol Police Senate Division. I would often see him stationed in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building, as well as other locations throughout the Senate complex. Whenever I saw Officer Jennings, he was always friendly and consistently maintained a sense of utmost professionalism. I always enjoyed seeing him throughout my day, and I know other members and staff feel the same. The Senate community will miss Officer Jennings. prgtoken We must do everything we can to support and honor our law enforcement officers for what they do for us each and every day. The Capitol Police make tremendous sacrifices and put their lives on the line for us, and for that, we owe them a debt of gratitude. Officer Jennings showed an unwavering commitment to keeping others safe, and these halls undoubtedly remained safer because of his service and the entire Capitol Police force. Officer Jennings represents everything that is great about our country, and we are all better off for his selfless sense of duty and his tireless commitment to our safety. I thank Officer Jennings for his prgtoken years of service, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-12-17

had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 608, Adm. Christopher W. Grady, for appointment in the United States Navy to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C sections 154 and 601. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 239, Michele Jeanne Sison, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Organization Affairs). prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 320, Rufus Gifford, of Massachusetts, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the rank of Ambassador. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 323, Marcela Escobari, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 440, Claire D. Cronin, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ireland. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 442, Bathsheba Nell Crocker, of the District of Columbia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 446, Jack A. Markell, of Delaware, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the rank of Ambassador. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 447, Denise Campbell Bauer, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the French Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Monaco. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 454, Mark Gitenstein, of Washington, to be Representative of the United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. prgtoken Had there been a recorded vote, I would have voted no on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 519, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Spain, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Randi Ludington (Executive Calendar)
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-12-17

I think here in the Senate, so many of us have the privilege to occasionally host military fellows, congressional military fellows, and I would like to take just a minute here to recognize the great work of a former member of my staff, Air Force Lt. Col. Randi Ludington. She spent the last year working in my personal office as part of the U.S. Air Force congressional fellowship program. She just concluded that fellowship program just last week and has moved on to her next assignment, but I think it is important to be able to publicly express my appreciation for the work she did over the last year and really for her service to the Nation overall. prgtoken For 17 years now, Randi has served in the U.S. Air Force. She was first an enlisted financial technician before she earned her commission and worked her way up to the rank of lieutenant colonel. She had a level of exposure before coming to my office certainly. These experiences of being in different places around the world, leading airmen, advising commanders, really proved invaluable when she came to provide her expertise in my office. prgtoken Not only has she spearheaded efforts legislatively and prepped me for meetings and hearings, she really became a key member of our team, working with Alaskans, working with counterparts back here, but really serving them just as she would serve her own troops. prgtoken When we were faced with a very chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Randi was one of those who was really burning the midnight oil. She was putting in long days and long nights, answering calls from constituents and veterans who were seeking help. She was doing just that. She was there around the clock, sometimes just listening, offering words of support; other times just really helping to synchronize the efforts between people on the ground in Kabul, lining them up with Departments and Agencies here in Washington, doing everything she could to try to help facilitate the needs of so many who were so desperate to get out. prgtoken In the end, Randi was honored by an Alaska Native Corporation, the Goldbelt Corporation. They had been engaged in an airlift, a significant airlift, and she was recognized by Goldbelt for her dedicated efforts assisting them throughout that whole ordeal. So it was nice to know that she had received not only the recognition and thanks from those here, fellows back in Alaska, but also the broader international recognition. prgtoken So I take this moment to just express my thanks to Randi. It was a pleasure having her in my office. She has a fabulous family. It was a great pleasure to be able to get to meet her husband Brad, an Air Force veteran himself. They have three super-great little kids: Charlee, Ryan, and Graham. prgtoken I wish Randi and her family nothing but the best as she moves forward with her military career. prgtoken I feel very fortunate that we get some of our Nation's best, who are able prgtoken to t