mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-5-7

we are here today to ensure the Senate fulfills its constitutional duties in having the sole power to send U.S. troops to war. prgtoken Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution is explicit in saying the power to declare war is an explicit power of the Congress. prgtoken Congress overwhelming reaffirmed this Constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers law in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon after the American people were lied to by both political parties about that war. prgtoken Under the law, the President has the authority to approve military attacks as a response to an imminent threat or with the expressed authorization of Congress. prgtoken Neither of these was the case with President 's decision to kill Iranian General Suleimani in January, a decision that led to a horrific missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq and only further added to ongoing tensions with Iran. prgtoken The majority leader has argued that the War Powers law is somehow only relevant to thousands of troops being deployed to a Vietnam type situation, not a military action the President argues is simply a deterrence. prgtoken Well, that is a dangerous rationale argument and exactly what this law had in mind, the reckless or creeping escalation to war without the authorization of Congress. prgtoken In fact, the recent briefing by the administration on Iran was filled with prgtoken echoes of the Gulf of Tonkin, vague assertions used to justify stunning military escalation in Vietnam. prgtoken It raised serious concerns about what we are being told about the justifications for the attack and showed little evidence of an imminent threat and this from an administration whose President has made more than 18,000 misleading or false statements already. prgtoken Certainly nothing in the briefings offered the Senate convinced me that the administration even thinks it needs congressional authorization for taking escalatory actions. prgtoken That is why I joined Senator Kaine in invoking the War Powers Act. This Senate should not allow the county to led into another Middle East war without its consent. prgtoken And the Constitution is clear on this; Article I section 8 states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of the Congress--as it should be, one should never send our sons and daughters into war without the consent of the people. prgtoken I have made this same argument regardless of who was in the White House, or . prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join us in reaffirming this body's constitutional role in matters of war by overriding the President's veto.
SENATE RESOLUTION 567--COMMENDING CAREER PROFESSIONALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THEIR EXTENSIVE EFFORTS TO REPATRIATE UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS DURING THE COVID-19...
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-5-7

today I rise to introduce a resolution with Senator Risch, as well as other colleagues, to thank countless State Department career officials for their extensive efforts to bring home over 78,000 United States citizens and legal permanent residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption in global travel, leaving tens of thousands of United States citizens and legal permanent residents stranded overseas with no direct way to return to the United States. While we will have ample opportunity in the future to examine and better understand the decisions made by senior leadership at the Department of State at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis that could have allowed the United States to more effectively respond to this pandemic, including to identify and mitigate repatriation challenges, I will note that once the Department recognized the enormity of the repatriation crisis, it's career professionals sprung into action and, characteristically, rose to meet the challenge and serve their nation with distinction. prgtoken Staying true to the Department's most fundamental mission, to protect U.S. citizens abroad, State Department officers, family members, and local employees faced great personal risk and long hours to assist U.S. citizens during a time of dire need and stress. For that, my colleagues and I are tremendously grateful. We commend the extraordinary work done by the Repatriation Task Force, embassy and consulate staff around the world, and the United States Transportation Command. Their efforts resulted in the repatriation of over 78,000 Americans on 833 flights originating from 128 countries and territories in just an 18-week period. I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee and Deputy Assistant Secretary Hugo Yon for their exemplary leadership of and contribution to the Repatriation Task Force, as well as to Wendy Kennedy for her work with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Furthermore, I would like to thank Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie Chung, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin O'Reilly, Consul General Dana Deree (Honduras), Consul General William Bent (El Salvador), Consul General John Barrett (Recife), Deputy Chief of Mission Denison Offutt (Lima), Director for Central America Affairs Marta Youth, and Country Consular Coordinator Alexander Delorey (Quito) for their leadership in facilitating the repatriation of thousands of Americans citizens from countries in the Western hemisphere. I recognize that in calling out these individuals who were especially helpful to me and to my office that I run the risk of not naming the tens, if not hundreds of others who worked just as hard and contributed just as much; they have my thanks as well. prgtoken I, along with my colleagues, are profoundly grateful to the Department of State personnel who have worked tirelessly these past few months
TRIBUTE TO KIMBERLY BIERLY
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-5-7

today I wish to honor Kimberly ``Kim'' Bierly, who will retire this month after 13 years of service to the U.S. Senate. For as long as I have been in the Senate, Kim has served as my regional manager for the North Central Region of Pennsylvania. prgtoken Born and raised in Lock Haven, Kim gained a wealth of professional experience prior to her Senate service. A student of journalism, Kim graduated from Rider College before becoming a reporter for the Lock Haven Express. She later served as the national marketing director for Penn State University and worked in private sector marketing, before lending her time and talents to my 2006 Senate campaign. Following our victory that year, Kim began her Senate service when I asked her to join my State staff in 2007. prgtoken Over the course of these many years, Kim has tirelessly championed the concerns of rural constituents and worked to ensure that their needs were always addressed in my work. She answered thousands of phone calls, attended hundreds of constituent meeting and traveled far and wide across many, many miles to meet people in their own towns. She worked hard to present the views of our State's farming community and conducted me around all my engagements and events throughout the region. It is often said that Kim ``knows everyone in Central Pennsylvania,'' and I can testify that that is true. prgtoken Kim has a heart of gold, and she has always watched over all of her colleagues as a kind of ``Mother Hen,'' sending along a kind word of encouragement, placing a personal call, and helping everyone who is in need. As a proud cancer survivor, she proudly ministers to other patients and believes in giving back in return for the many kindnesses bestowed on her during her illness. prgtoken For all of her professional accomplishments, Kim has many hobbies and personal pursuits. She is an accomplished knitter--socks are her favorite--who owned her own small business in Centre County for several years called ``Main Street Yarn.'' She is also an animal lover who spent 10 years leading a volunteer golden retriever rescue organization in her free time that saved over 800 dogs. While she misses her goldens ``Timber'' and ``Teddy'' every day, she loves to show off pictures of her dog, ``Charlie,'' and her cat, ``Caddy.'' They are her family. prgtoken My most enduring memories of Kim are our annual attempts to procure donuts and milkshakes at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and snacking on the wonderful chocolate chip cookies she would bake for the whole team during our staff retreats. Her departure leaves big shoes to fill, but I wish her well as she and her husband, Keith, move on to this next adventure in their lives. prgtoken Congratulations, Kim, for a job well done. I am grateful for your service to the country and the Commonwealth, and I wish you the best of luck in your retirement. We will miss you.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2020-5-7

in February, a bipartisan majority of the Senate voted to affirm our constitutional authority to declare war and to prohibit the President from starting a war with Iran. In March, the House of Representatives also cast a bipartisan vote to affirm that Congress, and Congress alone, has the authority to declare war. prgtoken The President has vetoed that Iran War Powers resolution, rebuking the will of Congress, the will of the American people, and the directive of the U.S. Constitution. prgtoken It is now up to Congress to reassert our authority, to override this veto, and to make good on the words of article 2, section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the sole power to ``declare War''-- because the last thing we need right now, at this time of grave crisis for our Nation, is a crisis of our own making in the Middle East--a protracted, unconstitutional conflict with Iran. prgtoken Some would like to think that there is no chance that this President would begin a war with Iran in the middle of a global pandemic, a war that would kill Americans and Iranians alike. prgtoken Think again. prgtoken On March 11, a barrage of rockets hit an airbase north of Baghdad housing U.S. troops, and killing two. That day marked the birthday of Iran's General Suleimani, who was killed in January in an unprovoked attack ordered by the President. prgtoken The attack was launched by a Shiite military group, whose leader also had been killed during the January attack on Suleimani. However, the Pentagon did not have solid evidence that the attack had been ordered by the Iranian Government. prgtoken But the President's advisers, who have supported a maximum pressure campaign that has risked military conflict with Iran, did not wait for clear-cut evidence of Iran's involvement to try to push us closer to war. Senior advisers to the President, including Secretary of State Pompeo, strongly argued that the U.S. should launch a direct attack upon Iran in retaliation. prgtoken Pentagon and military leaders pushed back against Secretary Pompeo's call for military action inside Iran, warning that a large-scale response within Iran's borders could draw us into a wider war with that country. prgtoken Thankfully, these cooler heads prevailed, and the President ended up ordering night airstrikes against the militia's outposts inside Iraq to limit the possible death toll. prgtoken But, not satisfied with that response, Pentagon officials have ordered the military to draw up a plan to destroy the responsible militia group inside Iran. prgtoken However, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, LTG Robert P. White, has reacted strongly to that directive, warning that any such campaign could be bloody and counterproductive and risk war with Iran. He warned any such escalation would require thousands more American troops be sent to Iraq. prgtoken So, since March, at least twice, high level Pentagon and military officials have warned that adm
TRIBUTE TO THE BOUSTANY FAMILY
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-5-7

I rise today to tell the hopeful story of the Boustany family, Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Providence, RI, 100 years ago next month. The family's history exemplifies the extraordinary contributions that generations of immigrants have made to American life. prgtoken The Boustany family's journey began in Deir al-Qamar, Lebanon, a village southeast of Beirut. Life in Lebanon was difficult in those days. The people of Deir al-Qamar had seen it all: war, famine, pandemics, and even swarms of locusts. Michel and Yahout Boustany lost eight children to difficulties in childbirth and illnesses, and a ninth was tragically kidnapped. The surviving members of the grief-stricken family resolved to leave their native country to start a new life in a land of opportunity. prgtoken Getting to America wouldn't be without heartbreaking setbacks. The departure was delayed 6 long years due to World War I. Sadly, Michel passed away unexpectedly not long before the family was to make the voyage. Yahout, and two of her sons, Francis, age 11, and Frem, age 17, resolved to carry on with the plan to emigrate. prgtoken The Boustany family left for the first leg of the journey from Beirut on a prgtoken Fabre Line steamship bound for Marseille, France. In Marseille, they boarded Fabre Lines' SS Providence on its maiden voyage to Providence, RI. prgtoken The family landed at the Port of Providence in June 1920. According to an article printed the following month in Providence Magazine, the SS Providence was welcomed by Rhode Islanders with great fanfare, as it was the largest steamship that had ever traveled up Narragansett Bay. From there, the family boarded a train to Lafayette, LA, where Yahout's two oldest children had already settled. prgtoken The Boustany family thrived in America. The children grew up, started families, and became successful entrepreneurs and respected leaders in their community. The first generations passed along their Catholic faith and an exceptional work ethic to their children and grandchildren who would go on to find success of their own in many pursuits. Members of the family have become civic leaders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and so on. Among them is Vicki Kennedy, an accomplished lawyer and the widow of a giant of the Senate, Ted Kennedy. Vicki is a dear friend to many of us in this Chamber. Dr. Charles Boustany, a retired heart surgeon and former Congressman from Louisiana, is also one of the family. prgtoken June 17, 2020 marks 100 years to the day members of the Boustany family first set foot in Providence. Prior to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, their descendants had been planning to travel to Rhode Island to celebrate the centennial of their family's beginning in America. Now, they are considering other ways to mark the anniversary remotely as a family. The Boustany family represents the very best of us: hardworking, generous, and community-minded. I wish them well as they cel
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-5-7

tomorrow, the Bureau of Labor will publish its monthly jobs report for April. Some experts are projecting that it could show well over 20 million job losses in the past 4 weeks. The preliminary report today suggests that there prgtoken will be over 30 million newly unemployed Americans over the past 7 weeks. That is a tenth--1 out of 10 people--losing their job. A tenth of our population. prgtoken We are looking at what seems to be the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Small businesses have shuttered. Some larger businesses have filed for bankruptcy. Millions of workers, through no fault of their own, are being laid off or furloughed or are losing their paychecks. They are worried about keeping their homes, feeding their kids, accessing healthcare. prgtoken Once this crisis is over, we can't snap our fingers and have everything return to normal. Twenty to 30 million newly unemployed Americans will not immediately return to their old jobs. Hopefully, many can, but many jobs just will not be there. prgtoken The disease has washed over our Nation like a flood. Once the waters have receded, there will be a great deal of damage left in its wake. We need a big, bold answer to this. We need to marshal a broader spirit of action. The American people need an active, engaged, and forceful government to lift them up and carry them through these dark times. prgtoken Pelosi and I are working on a big, bold plan that will deal with the magnitude of the problem. prgtoken So I am appalled today that congressional leaders and President are saying that we should delay more assistance to the American people. prgtoken A week ago, the leader, Senator McConnell, said that we need ``to push the pause button.'' prgtoken Tell that to someone who is losing his job. Tell that to someone who has worked so hard to create a small business over decades and sees it falling apart. Tell that to the family who has a member that is sick with COVID or something else and can't get adequate healthcare. prgtoken To say that we should wait and see what is happening, as Leader McConnell has said, that maybe we don't need to do anything more is ignoring what is going on around us. prgtoken Over 30 million are unemployed, and certain leaders are saying: Let's hit the pause button on future government support. prgtoken The leader of this Chamber called us back into session, despite the obvious health risks, not to consider new relief or respond to the COVID pandemic but to process nominations. He has been coming to the floor, drawing redlines in the sand, pledging not to support another emergency relief bill unless it extends legal immunity to big corporations. prgtoken Today, he gave a very long speech on national security. Now, that is very important, but the No. 1 immediate crisis facing us is COVID, and this speech was sort of a metaphor for what Senate s are doing
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-5-7

in order to build on a key provision I authored in the CARES Act, which provided states with $150 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), I am introducing the State and Local Emergency Stabilization Fund Act so that States and local governments can continue to be supported as they shoulder the costs of battling the corona virus. prgtoken The State and Local Emergency Stabilization Fund Act would cut needless red tape that was bureaucratically imposed by the Administration, which is constraining States from spending the CRF money that Congress unanimously approved to save lives and help rescue our economy. My legislation makes it clear that lost revenue is a cost. It also extends the time horizon States have to spend the money in order to ensure they have the flexibility to equitably allocate and disburse the funding and help communities combat COVID-19 and recover. prgtoken Unfortunately, the costs of responding to the coronavirus and keeping our economy afloat have only increased as result of this Administration's inability to formulate and execute a public health strategy based on facts and science, or implement effectively the resources and programs Congress authorized to keep our economy afloat. To meet these increasing costs, this bill would provide State and local governments an additional $600 billion in funding. The bill includes a protective $5 billion small State minimum, treats the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Kico as States, and reserves funds for territories and Tribes. In addition, $59 billion would be allocated to States based on their relative coronavirus infection rates, and $205 billion would be reserved elusively for local governments. prgtoken State and local governments are being pushed to the financial brink by skyrocketing costs and plunging revenue, and they need stability in order to have a chance at recovery. While some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have tried to paint this issue as a `red State vs. blue State' problem, all fifty States are suffering and need financial relief from the Federal government to prevent massive layoffs, cuts to needed services, and future tax hikes. prgtoken In addition, on May 6, 2020, CNBC reported ``[p]rivate payrolls hemorrhaged more than 20 million jobs in April as companies sliced workers amid a corona virus-induced shutdown that took most of the U.S. economy offline, according to a report Wednesday from ADP. In all, the decline totaled 20,236,000--easily the worst loss in the survey's history going back to 2002 but not as bad as the 22 million that economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting. The previous record was 834,665 in February 2009 amid the financial crisis and accompanying Great Recession.'' prgtoken , the scale and pace of our public health emergency and the impact it has having on our economy requires each of us to swiftly set aside ideology and work
HONORING THE LIFE OF OVERLAND PARK POLICE OFFICER MIKE MOSHER
Sharice Davids (Democrat, KS) \u2014 2020-5-8

. Madam , I rise to honor Officer Mike Mosher who was killed in the line of duty on May 3, 2020. Officer Mosher served with the Overland Park Police Department for 14 years and was the President of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police. prgtoken Officer Mosher was passionate about his job and served valiantly in our community. He is described by colleagues, friends, and family as a dedicated father and a true gentleman. In 2018, Officer Mosher was one of two officers to stop an active shooter. He earned the Gold Valor Award and was named Officer of the Year at the Metro Chiefs Awards for Valor. Officer Mosher also loved bringing the community together. He organized events like Shop with a Cop, served as a field training officer, and played a major role in starting the Shoot for the Gold fundraiser, which raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics. prgtoken My thoughts are with Officer Mosher's wife and daughter during this difficult time. I join the Overland Park community in expressing my deep gratitude for Officer Mosher's service as we mourn his passing.