mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-9-9

let me say at the outset how proud I am to serve with my colleague, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. Her sacrifice for America is nothing short of amazing. Her life's story, her commitment to the men and women in uniform whom she served with and to the veterans and others, is now well established, not just in my State but across this Nation. prgtoken Only a small minority of Americans have had the privilege and honor of serving in the military. Many, like myself, count themselves as those who respect the military and understand that they deserve that respect for their willingness to volunteer to serve and even to die for this Nation. What Senator Duckworth has done with her life is a clear indication of the spirit of the fighting women and men who keep this Nation democratic and safe. prgtoken I am really disappointed. What a great moment it would have been in the history of the Senate if we had support, as well as ic support, for the Duckworth resolution. I am sorry the Senator from Georgia objected. She took exception to The Atlantic magazine article, the one that said the President called those who died in war ``losers'' and ``suckers,'' but even that article has been accepted by FOX News as being a valid comment made by the President and reported. prgtoken Even if you take The Atlantic magazine and set it aside, there is ample evidence of this President's attitude toward our military. We all heard say publicly, when he was running for President in 2015, about our friend and colleague, the late John McCain: ``He's not a war hero. . . . I like people who weren't captured.'' John McCain spent more than 5 years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Vietnam, and this President, , dismisses him as no war hero. John McCain suffered for his Nation. He deserves the respect of everyone, let alone the President. prgtoken We also saw publicly attack a Gold Star family in 2016, the parents of the late Humayun Khan, an Army captain killed in Iraq in 2004. prgtoken We have heard President dismiss traumatic brain injury faced by servicemembers and veterans as just ``headaches.'' prgtoken We have seen his silence in the face of reports that Russia offered bounties to kill American servicemembers in Afghanistan. prgtoken We have witnessed his use of military officials for photo ops or as his own personal security forces. prgtoken Recall the scene in ``A Very Stable Genius'' by Washington Post reporters Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig in which called the service chiefs ``a bunch of dopes and babies'' and barked: ``You're all losers. You don't know how to win anymore.'' President repeated those claims again in a news conference just this week. prgtoken These are just a few examples of not fake news but real news about this President's attitude toward the American fighting men and women. It is no surprise that he would say vile things privately
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2020-9-9

. It is an honor to follow my friend Senator Whitehouse. prgtoken You could only turn out well, my friend, with the bloodlines you have. prgtoken , I rise today really for one reason: I rise today to make crystal clear that we are profoundly grateful to every American who has answered our Nation's call to serve in uniform, to risk their lives, and in too many instances to lay down their lives so that we might remain a free people. prgtoken We are profoundly grateful to their families who have sacrificed so much while their loved ones were away fighting to protect the rest of us and making this a better and more just world. prgtoken We are especially indebted to those families whose loved ones left for war and never came home. It is a sacrifice that many Americans can barely imagine but one that has been all too real for millions of families since the founding of our Nation. prgtoken One of those families was my mother's family. I never got to meet my mom's younger brother. His name was Bob Kidd Patton. My mom was a Patton. Bob was the youngest of five children, born near the coal- mining town of Beckley, WV, to my grandparents, Ray and Effie Mae Patton, a Gold Star mother. Bobby was killed in action on October 26, 1944, during a kamikaze attack in the Western Pacific on his aircraft carrier, the USS Suwannee. Among the bodies of the ship's crew who were never recovered was that of my Uncle Bob. On the day of that attack, he was--get this--19 years, 6 months, 23 days old. My grandparents were never able to see their son again or say goodbye. My sister and I, along with our cousins, would never meet him. prgtoken Neither Bob Patton nor his Suwannee shipmates who also perished that day were ``suckers'' or ``losers,'' as President has characterized others who answered our Nation's call to uniform; they were and remain heroes. prgtoken I was fortunate enough to make it home after serving three tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war, but 58,000 of my brothers and sisters never did. Their names are inscribed in a black granite wall not far from here so Americans will remember their sacrifice. Let me add that those 58,000 Americans were not ``suckers'' or ``losers'' either, as President has described John McCain; they were patriots. Unlike , they answered the call of duty. prgtoken My squadron and I were deployed to Southeast Asia as part of the Seventh Fleet for several of the years that John McCain was held as prisoner of war in the ``Hanoi Hilton,'' along with hundreds of other POWs. His plane had been shot down in 1967 over Hanoi. Both his arms and one of his legs were broken during the ensuing crash, and he was taken prisoner of war. For 5\1/2\ years, John McCain was held captive, beaten, and tortured. Despite this, he refused the early release that was offered to him by his captors. Far from being the loser that President refers to him as, John McCain was the embodime
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-9-9

I want to start by thanking the Senator from Minnesota for her remarks just now. prgtoken I rise with her and to join Senator Duckworth and our colleagues in responding to the shameful comments that President reportedly made about our servicemembers. prgtoken I want to begin by thanking Senator Duckworth for leading us in this effort and for her service to our country, as I thank all of the Members of the U.S. Senate and all of the staff of the U.S. Senate who have served their country and all of their families. prgtoken One of our Nation's greatest strengths is the countless Americans who, throughout our history, have been willing to sacrifice everything to keep us safe and preserve our freedom. prgtoken In New Hampshire, we are proud to be home to a high percentage of servicemembers, veterans, and their families. In my experience, people in my State--and all across the country--revere the bravery and sacrifices of those who serve and those who have served. prgtoken We may disagree about policy matters, including those that impact when and where servicemembers are deployed, but the respect that we have for servicemembers, veterans, and their families must be undisputed. prgtoken It is the President's duty to honor the sacrifices of our troops, to care for them, to support them and their fallen comrades. The role of the President of the United States of America is not just limited to being the Commander in Chief. Presidents should also lead by example and represent the values of the American people. prgtoken Unfortunately, President has, yet again, expressed his disdain and lack of understanding of why people sacrifice for our freedom and democracy. This is a failure of leadership, and it is a failure of basic citizenship that is out of step with most Americans. prgtoken Last year, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators to travel to burial grounds in both France and Belgium, as we paid our respects to our World War II fallen servicemembers. It was the honor of a lifetime. It was also deeply personal, as my dad served in the Battle of the Bulge. prgtoken Standing on those hallowed grounds was a powerful reminder of the loss of war, of those heroes who gave everything to fight against fascism and to protect freedom. prgtoken We owe these heroes our profound gratitude and our deepest respect. Yet, when speaking of servicemembers who were killed or captured, the President referred to these heroes as ``suckers'' and ``losers.'' For such words to come from the President of the United States is an affront to all that we stand for, and it is beneath the office that he holds. Unfortunately, these comments were not surprising given the President's long line of denigrating comments against those who have served, including the late Senator John McCain, Gold Star families, and other American heroes. prgtoken The resolution that we are introducing today recognizes the unmeasurable debt that we owe to th
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-9-9

as I listen to my colleagues, I am honored every day to serve with them in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken In 2018, in Minden, NV, I had the honor of commemorating the opening of the Moving Wall, which is a replica of the Vietnam war memorial that travels the country so the public can pay its respects to Vietnam veterans. I will always remember the stories that veterans and their families shared with me that day--stories of coming home from a divisive war to an equally divided public. The pain of that reception was still fresh for many of them decades later. prgtoken America's servicemembers make an implicit pact with our country. They agree to put their lives on the line, and in exchange, they deserve our support, our care for them and their families, and our respect. prgtoken Last week, The Atlantic magazine published a story in which anonymous sources claimed that doesn't demonstrate that respect. The article described a Commander in Chief who calls his own country's fallen soldiers ``losers'' and ``suckers.'' The story has fit a pattern from other anonymous sources over the years, some having described the President as lashing out at generals and calling them ``dopes'' and ``babies.'' prgtoken Now, granted, these are from anonymous sources, so let's set them aside for just a moment. As the saying goes, journalism is the rough draft of history, and sometimes that rough draft gets things wrong. prgtoken What do we know? prgtoken What we do know from the President's public statements is that does not understand the sacrifice and heroism that America's Armed Forces demonstrate on a daily basis, and that makes him unfit to lead them. How can a Commander in Chief make life and death decisions for our troops when he doesn't understand the very nature of the sacrifice he is asking? prgtoken I am not making up 's refusal to understand military sacrifice. You just have to look at the record, and you have heard some of it today. That record is part of the public record that, in 1968, showed that avoided military service through a medical deferment. Although did not serve in the military, he has felt free to criticize others who have and their families. prgtoken In 2015, we heard then-Candidate say that John McCain was ``not a war hero. . . . I like people who weren't captured.'' He was talking about a man who endured torture during the 5 years he spent as a prisoner, a man who upheld the highest standards of our military by turning down the release that his captors offered him in order to stay with his fellow POWs, a man who refused to denounce his country even when his captors informed him it could earn him his freedom. prgtoken Clearly, this President has no conception of that integrity and that sacrifice. A President who refuses to honor men and women who were captured doesn't understand what heroism is. prgtoken In 2016, as the Republ
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-9-9

. I cannot support the incomplete Senate resolution for a simple reason: We are not honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star families in this resolution. We cannot do that if we stay silent and meek when confronted with President 's disgraceful denigration of military service, prisoners of war, and military families continue. prgtoken We can't control the offensive comments and actions of the President, but the Senate can make a clear statement that our Chamber rejects such disgraceful sentiments. prgtoken s' refusal to criticize President speaks volumes when you remember that the outrage over 's disrespect of our military is not a new concern. It actually originates with Senators who were among the very first public officials to speak out against his denigration of military service and prisoners of war. I remind you that the senior Senator from Florida spared no outrage when, in responding to Candidate 's claim that Senator McCain was not a war hero, he stated: ``It's not just absurd, it's offensive. It's ridiculous. And I do think it's a disqualifier as Commander in Chief.'' prgtoken The resolution is incomplete if it does not condemn this President's comments denigrating our troops. That is why I am disappointed that s won't join me in passing my resolution that recognizes the sad truth that never changed and his denigration of military service and sacrifice is as disqualifying today as it was years ago. prgtoken I yield to the senior Senator from Illinois.
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-9-9

I rise today to honor our veterans and servicemembers. prgtoken I thank Senator Reed for his beautiful remarks and his service, as well as Senator Carper. I also thank Senator Duckworth, who is leading our efforts today, as she has led for so long. prgtoken As I listened to my colleagues, I know that many of them were couching their remarks in the history of people. I literally could imagine John McCain right now walking up and down that aisle, crossing the aisle, coming over, working with people, slapping people on the back. That is how much he loved this place and how much he loved our country. prgtoken I remember the silent, courageous fortitude of Danny Inouye, and I remember so many of those whom I crossed paths with, like Senator Dole. prgtoken I think the reason we talk about that history is because we know that this argument and this cause is based in history. Our democracy is based in history. The idea that people serve is based in history. They don't serve for themselves. They serve, in the words of Senator McCain, for a cause larger than themselves. That is why I picture those who served before us, just like our soldiers do when they sign up to serve. prgtoken The brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces represent the best among us. Whether you served decades ago or you still wear a uniform today, we owe you a debt of gratitude for your service and sacrifice on behalf of our great Nation. prgtoken All servicemembers and veterans have something in common. Wherever they are politically, they have something in common. Regardless of when and where they served, they have something in common--a deep love of our country and a very real understanding of what it means to serve and sacrifice. They deserve a Commander-in-Chief who loves our country in the same way and for the same reasons and has that same deep understanding of why those soldiers signed up to serve. prgtoken Unfortunately, as my colleagues have pointed out, the person currently entrusted to be the Commander in Chief of our brave service men and women, according to many, many recent reports, including things he has actually said on TV, has made repeated comments denigrating their service, questioning their judgment, and belittling those who were prisoners of war or who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. prgtoken Yes, I will never forget what he said about Senator McCain when he died, as Senator McCain's friend, Jack Reed, just recalled. I, too, stood in front of that cell in Vietnam with John McCain, where he had been held. When you stand there and you think about prgtoken the fact that he made the decision to allow others to be released before him--that is courage. prgtoken What does it say to our servicemembers when a Commander in Chief cancels a visit to an American cemetery in France because, according to one report, he feared his hair would be ruined by the rain? What does it say, as reported in
COVID-19 Vaccine (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-9-9

I am proud to follow my colleagues who prgtoken have spoken on the floor, particularly Senators Carper and Duckworth, and to join them today, for they are in the great tradition of this body--Bob Dole, Daniel Inouye, Tammy Duckworth, Tom Carper, and John McCain. We have known our share of heroes, and I am here to say thank you to them and to the others among us who have served. prgtoken I am proud to be here as a dad of two veterans--one a combat infantry officer in the Marine Corps, another a special operator in the Navy. Both are deployed. I myself served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. I am here to say to the other moms and dads and loved ones that does not speak for me; that does not speak for us; and that does not speak for America. prgtoken When he called those brave heroes who laid down their lives ``suckers'' or ``losers,'' my first reaction was disbelief. Then, in an instant, it was totally to believe that he had said it because it was so much in character for . For him, it is all about . If somebody else can serve and take his place without there being sacrifice on his part, so much the better. does not speak for the America I know and love or for those who have given of themselves or risked their lives, like my colleagues who have spoken today. prgtoken When talked about the heroes of Belleau Wood, he could have used a history lesson because, clearly, the marines at Belleau Wood were not suckers. In fact, the relentless tenacity of their fighting earned them a nickname from the German soldiers who were their adversaries. The Germans called them ``Teufelshunde,'' meaning ``devil dog.'' This proud moniker has stuck with them all of these years, and they use it when addressing each other--``devil dog.'' That is what they were. prgtoken One of their commanding officers, Maj. Thomas Holcomb, wrote a letter to his wife 2 days into battle, which reads: The regiment has carried itself with undying glory, but the price was heavy. . . . There never was such self-sacrifice, courage, and spirit shown. prgtoken In the 3 weeks of fighting, the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade suffered a 55-percent casualty rate--55 percent. His battalion alone suffered 764 casualties out of 900 men. He became the 17th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Belleau Wood became part of Marine Corps history. That battle was one of hundreds, even thousands of battles, where soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines distinguished themselves with uncommon valor. For every Belleau Wood, there are other battles for each of those services. None of them fought like suckers or losers. prgtoken The cost of war is unspeakably high, and we know that from our own work on the Armed Services Committee and on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I had just come from a hearing of the Veterans' Affairs Committee where we were discussing t
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-9-9

the amount of 1984-like doublespeak that comes out of the other side never ceases to amaze, and I guess it is becoming more and more extreme. The leader calls his bill bipartisan? I would remind the leader that ``bipartisan'' means two parties, and s. His bill is only a product of the side. prgtoken The leader said are delaying things. Was it who called for a pause? Was it who, when COVID was raging, said we had to assess the situation? Oh, no, it was the leader who said those things. Meanwhile, in the House, supported by in the Senate, have passed a strong comprehensive bill. We have just been waiting and waiting for our friends to get their act together so they might come close-- even near to the moment that we need. prgtoken So, after taking a pause on COVID relief for 4 months, finally, finally, finally, Senate s are realizing the damage that their delay has done to our economy and the Nation's health. prgtoken Yesterday, Leader McConnell announced that by the end of the week, the Senate would vote on a new slimmed-down version of an already skinny bill. We know what happened here. The leader did nothing for months, but the American people are demanding action. Governors, local officials, hospitals, small businesses-- everyone is demanding action. Restaurants, performance stages, and places are demanding action not just of but of both sides of the aisle. prgtoken So the leader had to do something. At first, he tried to cobble together a legislative response, but it failed spectacularly. Leader McConnell was unable to bring it even forward for a vote. prgtoken That happened a couple of weeks ago. So, now, because he can't get the votes because, by his own admission, 20 of his own members want no money voted in this crisis--how many Americans think there should be no money at the height of the greatest economic crisis we have had since the Depression, the height of the greatest health crisis we have had since the Spanish pandemic flu? How many Americans think the Federal Government should do nothing? But a large chunk of the caucus evidently seems to, by the leader's own admission. prgtoken So he couldn't even get this $1 trillion bill passed. It was pathetic. So, now, s are going to cut their original inadequate $1 trillion bill in half in a desperate attempt to find the lowest common denominator among s. prgtoken As the economic pain for millions of Americans advances, Senate s are actually moving backward. Of course, up until now, the issue in our negotiations with the White House, where Leader McConnell had been absent, has been about the size and scope of the next relief bill. passed a $3 trillion bill in the House over 2 months ago. Why? That is the need of Americ