mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Vanita Gupta (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-4-15

Vanita Gupta is President 's nominee to be Associate Attorney General. She is unfit for that role. She is unfit because of her radical view that every single American and every single institution in the United States is inherently racist. She is unfit because she lacks the temperament to do the job, as evidenced by her relentless attacks on the integrity and character of judges and Senators alike, seemingly anytime she had a mere disagreement with them. She is certainly unfit based on her attempts to mislead the Senate in her Judiciary Committee hearing. prgtoken Ms. Gupta has been before the committee many times as a partisan advocate. There is nothing wrong with that, but her past appearances do give us a glimpse of what she believes when she isn't seeking our votes for confirmation. prgtoken Less than a year ago, June of last year, she came before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify on police reform. When she was asked ``Do you believe all Americans are racist?'' she replied under oath ``Yes, I do.'' Think about that. The person nominated by to oversee, among other things, the Federal Government's civil rights enforcement says that she believes every single American is racist. prgtoken This preposterous idea that anyone and everyone is inherently racist is at the core of the pernicious ideology pushed by the left called ``critical race theory.'' But this position was not an anomaly, a misstatement, or a new position for Mrs. Gupta. In 2005, she published an article in the Fordham Law Review on what she called ``Critical Race Lawyering.'' In that article, Ms. Gupta argued that ``the rule of law'' and ``equal justice for all'' and ``equal protection'' aren't the great bulwarks of our liberty, aren't the single achievements of our Republic and our constitutional form of government, but instead ``code words''-- that is what she called them--for some kind of twisted racism. Anyone who thinks that the rule of law or equal justice for all or prgtoken equal protection are simply ``code words'' for racism is unfit for any position in our government but especially a position of leadership in the Department of Justice. prgtoken The concerns with Ms. Gupta's nomination are not limited to extreme views on these topics. Ms. Gupta has made a career over the last few years on social media attacking the character and integrity of Federal judges, judicial nominees, and Members of the Senate. She accused four different jurists currently on the Supreme Court of being liars, extremists, ``dangerous,'' or ``opposed to civil and human rights.'' She must have had a macro; she just hit a shortcut button that said ``opposed to civil and human rights.'' prgtoken By my count, she has leveled incendiary attacks on the integrity and character of around 50 currently sitting Federal judges. It could be more. I may have lost count when it got so high. I asked her about these attacks. While she said during
Nomination of Vanita Gupta (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-15

later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on whether to discharge the nomination of Vanita Gupta, the nominee for Associate Attorney General, from the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Ms. Gupta is a polarizing figure, as reflected by the vote in the Judiciary Committee. It was a tie vote, 11 votes to 11. So she failed to receive a majority support from the committee, and now the Senate must vote on whether or not her nomination can come to the Senate floor for consideration. prgtoken I want to be clear, though, the passionate opposition of this nominee is not about politics. I voted to confirm the vast majority of President 's nominees, my attitude being that he won the election and he is entitled to populate a Cabinet and other important positions with people he has confidence in. But there are limits. prgtoken The President's nominees for the top two positions for the Department of Justice did not require this extraordinary step. I voted to support Ms. Monaco's nomination, who has been nominated for Deputy Attorney General, as well as the Attorney General himself, Judge Merrick Garland. As I said, those were not controversial nominees. This nominee is a polarizing, partisan activist and should not be confirmed to this important position. prgtoken The lack of support for Ms. Gupta is not a reflection on her political affiliation, nor of her gender, nor of her race, as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee intimated. The opposition to Ms. Gupta is a direct result of her history of inflammatory public statements, radical policy positions, and a laundry list of misleading statements and flat-out lies during her sworn testimony before the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken The position of Associate Attorney General is not some bureaucratic paper-pusher. This is the third ranking position at the Department of Justice, the highest law enforcement Agency in America. The American people deserve to know that the individuals leading the Department have no agenda other than to fairly and impartially administer justice, but based on everything we now know about Ms. Gupta, I do not have faith in her ability to deliver on this most basic principle. prgtoken Ms. Gupta is not a career public servant. She is a partisan culture warrior with a radical agenda. During her tenure in jobs outside of government, during which she was a registered lobbyist, Ms. Gupta was quite outspoken about her views on just about every topic you can imagine. She slandered Supreme Court nominees. She vilified organizations that she disagreed with. She even took a crack or two at a number of our Senate colleagues. prgtoken But the words I find most troubling are those that relate directly to the policies of the Department of Justice itself. As the Judiciary Committee evaluated Ms. Gupta's qualifications, she was asked about her previous writings and her public statements on a variety of topics. There is a lot to sort through. prgtoken Fi
Nomination of Vanita Gupta (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-4-15

I find it so interesting that my friend and colleague across the aisle is trying to deflect questions and concerns that we have by insinuations and some pretty disgusting slander, and I am sorry that we have listened to that here on the floor of this Chamber. prgtoken Yes, indeed, I am coming to the floor today to oppose discharging Vanita Gupta from this floor to be confirmed as the Associate Attorney General. And, yes, I have concerns. I have had questions in committee. prgtoken I will tell you I didn't expect to find a lot in common with her because I have had a difficult time finding a lot in common with some of the nominees that President has sent over to us at Judiciary Committee. But as a member of that committee, it is my responsibility to approach each nomination with an open mind. Some I have decided were worthy of an ``aye'' vote. There are others, like Ms. Gupta, that I feel are not worthy of a confirmation vote. prgtoken Over the course of the review of information--and to my friend, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 11,000 pages of documents--you can send in a million pages of documents, but if you are not answering the question, if you are trying to circumvent the question or nuance it or dance around it, it still doesn't answer the question. So the volume doesn't really matter. prgtoken What matters is someone who steps up and says: Here is my answer-- clear, concise. That is what you want, and that is what the American people expect. prgtoken I arrived at the opinion that, no, I didn't think she was fit to take that No. 3 position, not because I disagreed politically but because the answers that she gave on some specific issues--police funding, drug legalization, qualified immunity--were so inconsistent with what she had previously said or what she had previously written that no one can say with any degree of certainty what she will do with the newfound power if we decided to give that to her. No one knows what she would do. prgtoken Due to the time constraints we have on the floor today, I want to go back to the 2012 article and use that as one example. There has been quite a bit said about that. Now, she was in the position of the ACLU's deputy legal director. She wrote an op-ed arguing--and I quote, and we have just heard a good bit about this--``States should decriminalize simple possession of all drugs, particularly marijuana, and for small amounts of other drugs.'' That is a quote. prgtoken Speaking as a Senator representing the interests of a State struggling to emerge from the opioid epidemic, this statement to me is a disqualifier. It is as simple as that. prgtoken Senator Cornyn added to that conversation with other specific items that have transpired in her past. In her hearing, which took place in March, Ms. Gupta almost got away with disavowing that op-ed. But when we pressed her on it, what did she have to say? That her position had evolved. prgtoken It
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Scott Fitzgerald (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-4-15

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 7. prgtoken This bill is a solution in search of a problem, and it does nothing to help employees. In reality, the bill would only boost paychecks for trial lawyers and not workers. prgtoken H.R. 7 places unworkable, burdensome restrictions on employers, and also poses a threat to worker privacy. prgtoken Even more, this bill would kill the Christmas bonus by effectively prohibiting employers from paying end-of-the-year bonuses to their employees. This hardly seems fair to an employee, despite the title of the bill. prgtoken s tried to strengthen the bill during the committee markup. My colleague, Ms. Stefanik, offered an amendment that would have made commonsense improvements to the text, but that amendment was rejected by the . prgtoken I urge a ``no'' vote on the bill. We should not allow trial lawyers and burdensome restrictions to kill the Christmas bonus under the false guise of fairness.
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAY OF PIGS OPERATION
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-4-15

I rise today to honor the 60th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs operation. prgtoken Today, we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs operation and pay tribute to the brave and courageous members of Brigada de Asalto 2506, Assault Brigade 2506. On April 17, 1961, a group of Cuban patriots landed at the Bay of Pigs to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist dictatorship. We remember the sacrifice made by these brave individuals, and their memory lives on in the fight that continues today. prgtoken There is no doubt that where we see instability, chaos, and violence in prgtoken Latin America, we also see the fingerprints of the Castro regime. The Cuban people have suffered decades of oppression under Castro's regime. So many courageous individuals have dedicated their lives to the freedom of Cuba, and their commitment and sacrifice have kept the hope of liberty alive. prgtoken It is time to show Castro that his era of influence in Latin America is over. The United States must always support those fighting for freedom and democracy, and I will never stop fighting to bring a new day of freedom to Cuba and all of Latin America.
RECOGNIZING MONTAGUE WILDCATS' GIRLS GOLF TEAM STATE TITLE
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-4-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor and celebrate the Montague Wildcats on their incredible Division 4 golf state title at Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, MI. prgtoken This team has shown a great level of resilience and skill throughout this past year in their quest to the state title. Notably, the Wildcats displayed extraordinary talent on the course finishing with a combined team score of 343; a full 27 shots ahead of the nearest competitor. prgtoken I would like to congratulate each player and coach of the Montague Wildcats who played an integral role in capturing the state title: prgtoken Players: Mackenzie Goudreau, Gabriella Moreau, Katie Unger, Megan Brown, Orianna Bylsma, Isabelle McKeown, Claire Meacham, and Natalie Kellogg; prgtoken Coach: Phil Kerr. prgtoken Madam , please join me in congratulating the Montague Wildcats Division 4, golf state title and for being a Michigan symbol of resilience in the face of this ongoing pandemic.
Motion to Discharge (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-4-15

right now, I just want to speak about the motion to discharge as opposed to whether people should vote for or against Gupta. prgtoken I am opposed to this effort to discharge Gupta from the Judiciary Committee. In fact, it is not properly in order. In theory, we are moving this nomination because it failed in Committee by an even, tie vote. But that vote should never have been called, and it was improper when it was. prgtoken Under the committee rules, members have a right to unlimited debate. This can only be stopped either by a bipartisan vote to end debate under the rules or by a vote of the majority of the committee to set a time certain to vote under precedent. Because s at Ms. Gupta's markup wanted prgtoken to talk, there couldn't have been a bipartisan vote to end debate. In fact, some, like my colleagues from North Carolina, didn't have a chance to speak and were still waiting their turn. And because the don't have a majority in the committee, they couldn't have set a time certain. prgtoken Under the rules and precedents of the committee, then, they had to let s talk, and if it took more than one markup, so be it. The did this talkathon when I was chairman. During our second markup of 2017, in order to delay Senator Sessions' nomination to be Attorney General, filibustered in the Judiciary Committee. When it happened, I didn't interrupt anyone or break any rules. I simply continued the markup the next day, checking to see who would want to be recognized and for how long. prgtoken The fact is that the frequently used these filibuster tactics against us over the past 4 years. We simply dealt with them from a position of confidence in the rules and precedents of our committee. Sometimes being chairman and moving nominees takes hard work, but we did the job we needed to do. prgtoken That is not what happened in the discussion of Gupta. Instead, my colleague from Arkansas was interrupted and the roll was called while he was still speaking. prgtoken This was not the power of the majority being used. It was the power of the chairman. What is the point of having rules if you can just ignore them--just ignore them when you find yourself dealing with an unfamiliar situation. prgtoken So I don't think the even vote--the tie vote--in committee even properly happened. As far as I am concerned, Senator Cotton had the floor. That rollcall vote was illegitimate under committee rules, and so the one that we are going to have in the Senate this afternoon is just as illegitimate. prgtoken And why did the Chairman scrap the committee rules for this nominee? This isn't a Supreme Court nomination. The nominee is a sub-Cabinet official at the Justice Department. So I have to wonder why. I think it is because the know how really powerful she will be in the Justice Department prgtoken As Judge Garland told us during his hearing, he didn't pick Ms.
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2021-4-15

in reserving the right to object, first of all, I want to respond to Senator Kennedy. prgtoken The first thing I want to say to Senator Kennedy is that I am impressed. He did this in only five pages. I wish we could all learn to write our legislation prgtoken in five pages or less. I don't disagree with the history Senator Kennedy went through, with his powerful declaration, in that this is a critical issue that we must deal with, and I don't disagree with the fact that we have to have some serious pressure built here in the U.S. Congress to get this over the finish line. prgtoken That being said, I think we just got this language last night, and what Senator Kennedy is asking us to do today is to bypass the committee and go immediately to the floor with his language. There are several reasons I am going to have to, ultimately, object to that. prgtoken The first is that he is correct. I and a number of my colleagues who would be here if I were not standing here have a real problem with the solution, the mechanism, that Senator Kennedy has chosen--just outright price-fixing. Senator Kennedy doesn't even try to deny that. It goes beyond imposing government regulatory price controls in government-run programs by going through the private market as well. That is a solution mechanism that I have opposed and many of my colleagues oppose in terms of dealing with this issue. That is one of the key reasons for my objection. prgtoken The other one, though, is that the Committee on Finance, of which I am the ranking member, is working on this. I know that this is not an answer, because the Committee on Finance has been working on this now for a year or 2 or more, but there is work underway in a number of different arenas to try to get a handle on how to solve this without having to take the drastic step of just having the government come in and take control over the private sector market. prgtoken I will just point to, for example, what happened under the administration in just the last couple of years. Through the administration's effort to try to deal with this, a demonstration project has been operating under Medicare Part D in which the effort was to try to get the monthly cost of insulin down to $35 a month, and they have had some success in that program to demonstrate how it can be accomplished. prgtoken Now, look. I get that Medicare Part D is different than private sector insurance and that it is different than Medicaid and that it is different than other pieces of our healthcare system; it is also different than CHIP, but in one sector, a pretty significant sector, we have some solutions that are starting to show real potential. prgtoken In addition, as Senator Kennedy knows, I drafted legislation in the last Congress and am working on that legislation in this Congress that will deal not just with insulin but with many different other pieces of drug pricing in our system. prgtoken I can te
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2021-4-15

this week I have the honor of recognizing Anne Stordahl of Pondera County for her commitment to supporting Montana small businesses. prgtoken Anne has been a small business owner in Conrad, Montana for 15 years. When the local candy shop closed in her community, Anne decided to help boost community morale by taking on a new project and business. She opened the 2B Sweet Candy shop right next to her hair salon, giving her customers a chance to grab some candy while waiting for their next haircut. prgtoken Anne enlisted the help of her three children to open a new candy store that could bring some joy back to their community, especially in a time of uncertainty when many small businesses were closing their doors. Her son handled the behind the scenes work of taking inventory and balancing the books while her daughters handled a variety of tasks like designing candy bouquets and serving customers. prgtoken Anne grew up on a farm and was able to use this experience to teach her children what a strong Montana work ethic looks like and the importance of family operations to our communities. At the beginning, she hoped the store would bring her family closer, and looking back, she would say this was a sweet success. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Anne and her children for taking the initiative to successfully launch the 2B Sweet Candy Shop. It is now a proud part of the Conrad community.
REMEMBERING JIM PUTEK
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-4-15

on January 25, 2021, America lost a great patriot CPT James ``Jim'' Ronald Putek, 75, of Alpharetta, GA. Born in Chicago, IL, Jim was a decorated Army veteran having served in the Vietnam war, where he received the following awards: the National Defense Service Medal, the Bronze Star with one oakleaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver and one Bronze Service Star, the Army Aviator Badge, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. prgtoken Captain Putek's heroism will live forever. Following his retirement from the Army, Jim continued his passion for aviation as a commercial airline pilot for Piedmont Airlines and US Airways. prgtoken Captain Putek is survived by his wife Tricia Putek, his sister Delores, his sister-in-law Mary, and his nieces and nephews Hank, Gwen, Joanne, Janet, and Jon. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Frances, and his brother Henry. prgtoken Jim Putek was a fine gentleman and a true hero, respected and revered by everyone who met him. When Captain Putek passed, we not only lost a good man, we lost a great American.
RECOGNIZING HUNTER'S BAR-B-Q
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-4-15

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I will recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business and southern Kentucky staple, Hunter's Bar-B-Q of Albany, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken On Hunter Shearer's 13th birthday, when other boys wanted skateboards or baseball gloves, Shearer asked for a new Weber gas grill. From that point on, he was cooking for family and friends every chance he could. As a welder, Shearer built his own mobile grill and smoker, which he used to cook at family and church events. He first sold barbeque to the public in 2009, at the 127 Yard Sale. Seeing a business opportunity, Shearer decided to pursue his boyhood dream of owning a restaurant. In 2012, Hunter began working with his father-in-law Mike Duvall to convert an old service station into a restaurant. Sixteen months later, Hunter's Bar-B-Q welcomed its first customers in 2014. prgtoken In 2021, Hunter's Bar-B-Q continues to serve up some of the best BBQ in southern Kentucky, and folks drive from all over the State to enjoy their signature hickory smoked meat and family-friendly hospitality. Hunter's care and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of his restaurant and catering business. At the restaurant, everything is made from scratch, from handmade picnic tables and cooking equipment to the smoke shack, pits, and charcoal makers. Even the charcoal is made on site, using hickory wood from local sawmills. prgtoken Locally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q is known as ``the place with the big flag.'' It prgtoken boasts a 25 by 40-foot American flag atop a 100-foot flagpole almost as big as the store. Thanks to the smokers and pits, Hunter's Bar-B-Q can feed around 3,000 people a day. The pulled pork and sliced shoulder are favorites, attracting customers from all over the country. Catering is also a large part of the business, with Hunter's Bar-B-Q catering events as far away as Louisville. prgtoken Together with his wife, Shannon, Hunter seeks to give back to their community in any way possible. Locally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q sponsors Little League and high school sports teams. They regularly support community organizations, including sponsoring Project Graduation, the All for Benny Fundraiser, and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Additionally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q has supported numerous fundraisers that have covered emergency and medical expenses for local members of the community. Hunter's Bar-B-Q is a proud member of the Albany/Clinton County Chamber of Commerce. Notably, Hunter's Bar-B-Q is one of two caterers designated by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department to provide food for events in Clinton County, Kentucky. prgtoken Hunter's Bar-B-Q is a remarkable example of how hard work, ingenuity, and discipl