mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4403 (Executive Session)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-5-23

I deeply appreciate the insights offered today by my friends and colleagues, and that they truly are. The senior Senator from Missouri and the junior Senator from New Mexico have made an impassioned plea--an impassioned plea that I am deeply sympathetic to for a variety of reasons, including and especially the fact that they are both right as to their respective States. The folks in Missouri deserve to have this coverage, and so do people in New Mexico. There are also additional people not covered by the existing program in Utah who need to be covered. prgtoken In all three instances with respect to Utah, New Mexico, and Missouri, we need to get this done. You know, taking into account all of the arguments that they have made and the evidence that I have reviewed, I am prepared to do what it takes, and I am prepared to get this done today. prgtoken As I mentioned, this isn't just an abstract concept to me; this is near and dear to my heart. Many people I know and love have had their lives altered and, in many cases, ended by exposure to downwind radiation. prgtoken One of those people was a loving husband and father who raised seven children, who was taken at the prime of his life, at the peak of his career, just days after his 61st birthday, as he was surrounded by his wife and their seven children, one of whom stands at this desk today. prgtoken My father died from this in 1996, just 28 years ago, and we didn't know at the time--didn't know until years after that he had, in fact, been a victim of and then died of a cancer linked to his exposure as a child growing up in eastern Arizona, spending his summers in Reserve, NM, a small sawmill camp where his family lived each summer. He was exposed to downwind radiation, and that led to his untimely death. prgtoken My dad would be nearly 90 if he were alive today, and I can only imagine the youth and the vitality we would still see in him. I am convinced he would still be practicing law. I am convinced he would still be a runner. His life and that of so many others in Utah, Missouri, and New Mexico have been cut tragically short by this exposure, which is why we need to get this done. prgtoken So, look, in light of these concerns and the political realities we face, again, I want to make sure that RECA doesn't lapse, and so I want to offer an updated version of the Downwinders Act. prgtoken This bill would extend the benefits of the program to those in Missouri exposed to the hazards of improperly stored nuclear waste, while also addressing the historical oversights in New Mexico and in parts of Utah. prgtoken When we look at this, we have to do this to make sure that we are following the science, and in all three of those areas, the science is backed up, and in all three of those jurisdictions, not only does the science back it up, but there aren't other government programs that may overlap with it that provide this compensation. prgtoken Remember, if
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , in America, the citizens are the sovereign, and we govern through the votes we cast. Allowing foreign nationals to cancel out the votes of American citizens makes a mockery of our democracy, and it robs Americans of our sovereign right to direct our own government and decide our own destiny. prgtoken The fact that enacted such a law into the Capital City of our Nation and in other jurisdictions across the country and defend it today on this floor speaks volumes of how far that party has drifted to the left and what a grave threat their policies now pose to the most fundamental institutions and rights that we cherish as Americans. Only the American people can change that, and only if the sanctity of our elections can be protected. prgtoken One more point: Washington, D.C is unlike any other town or community in our Nation. Washington, D.C belongs to the American people, who retain through their Constitution the exclusive right to govern it through their elected Representatives. This outrageous law is the strongest argument yet for Congress to take back America's Capital City for America and to take back America from the radical left.
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , it is unbelievable that we are even here having to debate this, once again, about whether it is appropriate for people who are citizens of foreign countries, people who are here illegally, people who can vote for Vladimir Putin would also get to vote for the Mayor of D.C. prgtoken It is unbelievable that people in this body who represent hundreds of thousands of citizens of this country believe that that is the appropriate path. prgtoken Madam , I urge adoption of this legislation.
FARM SAFETY NET
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , America's farm families work around the clock to feed, fuel, and clothe our Nation and the world, yet their livelihoods are often at the mercy of unpredictable forces beyond their control. prgtoken Since the last farm bill was passed in 2018, producers have faced record inflation, rising input costs, fractured supply chains, labor shortages, natural disasters, and more. prgtoken Our current safety net is tattered, and our farmers have been bearing the burden of these challenges alone, risking the viability of their operations. prgtoken The 2024 farm bill is the opportunity to implement significant changes to the farm safety net, equipping our farmers to meet their needs. prgtoken A robust farm safety net provides stability to our producers to ensure farmers can continue operations in uncertain times. prgtoken A stable, reliable food supply is essential for ensuring national security. The importance of our agriculture industry cannot be overstated. By investing in our farmers and strengthening the safety net, we can ensure that America and American families remain food secure.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2024-5-23

I wish to recognize and congratulate LTG A.C. Roper on his retirement as the Deputy Commander of the United States Northern Command and Vice Commander of the American element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. I know that I speak for people across Alabama in expressing my gratitude for his countless contributions to our Nation. General Roper, a native of Birmingham, earned a bachelor's degree at Troy State University, a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama, and a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He has served a total of 42 years, between Active and Reserve, including deployments to combat zones, as well as disaster response. In addition to his distinguished military service, General Roper's public service to his community includes 33 years of law enforcement service in Montgomery, Hoover, and Birmingham, where he served as the chief of police. His legacy of dedicated service to his community, State, and Nation is deserving of the highest honor and admiration. General Roper's remarkable military career began when he was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1983 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Public Affairs Officers Course, Equal Opportunity Advisors Course, Inspector General Course, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Command and General Staff College, Joint Senior Reserve Component Officer Course, Defense Support to Civil Authorities Course, National Defense University's CAPSTONE Course, the NORTHCOM Joint Task Force Commanders Course, and Harvard University's National and International Security Seminar. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, where he served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice. He specialized in protecting critical infrastructure and served on the executive board of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. General Roper's other general officer level assignments included Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, NC, and prgtoken Deputy Chief, Army Reserve, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, headquartered at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. Prior to this assignment, he commanded the 76th Operational Response Command in Salt Lake City, UT, which was the USAR's all hazard response command. He also served as Commanding General--80th Training Command (OPCON to TRADOC), Acting Deputy Commanding General--CBRN, 335th Signal Command, and Commander of the 415th CBRN Brigade, where he was dual-hatted as the Task Force Operations Commander, JTF-51, ARNORTH for the C2CRE-A homeland response mission. During General Roper's service, he deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield, to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and supported Joint Task Force Andrew relief operations in southern Florida. His awards and decorations
FARM BILL
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-5-23

I come today to provide some real world perspective from what I call the real America. I am honored to speak on behalf of the tens of thousands of Iowa farmers who, this very day, are tending fields across my home State that feed and fuel America. prgtoken I often remind people here in Washington that farmers make up only 2 percent of our population. That means that the other 98 percent of the American people depend on the livelihoods of just 2 percent of the people for their next meal. prgtoken Here in the U.S. Senate, I am one of only two grain farmers serving among 98 other lawmakers in this body. This puts me in a unique position. As a lifelong family farmer and a U.S. Senator, I use my platform to speak up on behalf of American farmers, and I know there are lots of other colleagues that I have in this body that do the same thing for the farmers in their State, but I think I do it with some hands-on experience. prgtoken From one generation to the next, the way of life of these family farmers upholds our Nation's food security and, in recent decades, has strengthened U.S. energy independence. prgtoken The productivity of American agriculture has empowered the family farmer to supply the grain for our domestic renewable fuels industry and to displace foreign oil in the U.S. transportation fleet. prgtoken America's farmers embrace best conservation practices to strengthen soil health and precision agriculture to reduce their carbon footprint in food and fuel production. prgtoken Now, it happens that my State is No. 1 producer of corn and ethanol and No. 1 in a couple of other areas that I won't go into. Clean- burning, renewable fuels are better for the environment, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create good jobs in rural America and fuels the economic growth of that same rural America. When it comes to the hard work and ingenuity of the American farmers, the sky is the limit, quite literally. prgtoken Now, to the point of my remarks today to my colleagues: Let's consider sustainable aviation fuel and alternate fuel made from nonpetroleum feedstocks, something the environmental community in the United States is promoting to get greenhouse gas down. prgtoken Scientists say that this next-generation fuel will help lower carbon emissions in the environment. That is a pretty big shoe print, considering aviation accounts for 2 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions and 12 percent for the transportation sector alone. prgtoken Sustainable aviation fuel--that goes by the acronym SAF--has tremendous market potential. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 360,000 commercial flights have used SAF at 46 airports, mostly in the United States and Europe. That is really just a spit in the ocean, considering there are more than 10 million scheduled passenger flights in the United States per year, according to our FAA. prgtoken Displacing conventional jet fuel with sustainable products, such as
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 3933 (Executive Session)
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2024-5-23

I will be making a unanimous consent request here in a second, and Senator Britt will be joining me in that endeavor. prgtoken We are going to have a vote at 2 o'clock about a bipartisan bill. I applaud the effort to change our immigration laws and get control of an out-of-control situation. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what law is on the books, if the administration is not going to enforce the ones that already exist. prgtoken We had a vote in February on this bill. One of the problems I had the entire time is that parole is being abused by this administration. Since February until now, April, 77,800 people have been paroled in the United States, and I believe that is an abuse of the statute that is on the books. There were 1.3 million in fiscal year 2023. Over 1.2 million were paroled by the CBP alone. prgtoken Now let's talk about the parole statute, if we have that. If we don't, well, let me tell you what the law says. prgtoken It basically says you can be paroled for two reasons: a unique humanitarian need or a special benefit to the country. The statute that they are using to parole all of these people has limitations as to how it can be used. On average, the statute in question during the - years was used--about 6,000 people, on average, were paroled in the United States using the statute that the administration has been abusing. In fiscal year 2019, it was 7,525; in fiscal year 2018, 6,466; in fiscal year 2015, during the years, 4,598; in fiscal year 2019, again, 7,500. In fiscal year 2022, the administration paroled 795,561 and, in fiscal year 2023, 1.2 million plus. prgtoken Why are they doing parole differently than and ? They are abusing the statute. Why are they just waiving so many people into the country? That is for the voters to decide. I think they are just basically abusing the statute because they don't want to turn anybody around and send them back. So they just let people come into the country in violation of the law. prgtoken Again, the parole statute in question is limited to two circumstances: a unique benefit to the country or a special benefit to the country. A unique humanitarian situation is that your mother is dying. A special need to the country is you are a witness in a trial, and we need to get you in for a limited situation. Parole is not permanent status. prgtoken As for Laken Riley--and we will ask unanimous consent to vote on the bill authored by Senator Britt--the man accused of murdering her and who was indicted in Georgia, Mr. Ibarra, in September 2022, was apprehended by the Border Patrol. He was released through parole. And it took me forever to find this out, the reason for parole: The subject was paroled due to detention capacity at the central processing center in El Paso, TX. The reason for parole: The subject was paroled due to detention capacity at the central processing center in El Paso, TX. They had no
CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM AT U.S. UNIVERSITIES
Kevin Kiley (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise to honor Rebekah Perez, an English teacher at Loyalton High School in Loyalton, California. Rebekah is a remarkable and gifted educator who enriches the lives of her students and her community alike. prgtoken Before accepting her position at her hometown high school 8 years ago, Rebekah taught in title I schools in southern California for 5 years. Rebekah is one of those teachers who changes lives for the better. Her advanced placement students have scored in record-passing rates at Loyalton High School. prgtoken As a former educator, I understand the essential role that a teacher plays in the lives of their students, and Rebekah has high expectations for her students. She provides excellent support to ensure they can meet those expectations. prgtoken Knowing that reading literature and participating in thoughtful discussions prgtoken are essential for rural students to get a glimpse and understanding of the bigger world, its diverse cultures and complexity drives Rebekah's work. prgtoken Active in her community, she serves on the board of her church and as a 4-H project leader. Her big laugh and huge smile makes students, colleagues, and parents alike feel like they have come home and are deeply cared for. Rebekah's positive leadership at Loyalton is reflected in a sign she has made for her classroom. I love this. It says: ``Get excited, people.'' prgtoken Whether teaching English, providing academic advisement, leading the accreditation process, serving as a senior class adviser, or coaching young people, Rebekah brings infectious, joy-filled excitement to all those around her. prgtoken Loyalton High School shines so bright because of her great work, and we are forever grateful that she has chosen to teach at Loyalton High School. prgtoken Therefore, in honor of her passion, dedication, and her commitment to her students' success, it is my privilege to recognize Rebekah Perez as the truly outstanding teacher that she is. Recognizing Elaina Stoll
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , as we are on the precipice of another Memorial Day in this country, we have so much to be thankful for and grateful for as we pause to remember those who have fallen to defend our country, our way of life, and our Constitution. prgtoken From the fields of Valley Forge to Tripoli to our own homeland in the Civil War to San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Iwo Jima, the 38th parallel, the jungles of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and others, we are grateful for those that stood up and stood in the line of fire for us and for our values. prgtoken Indeed, from John 15:13: ``Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one's life for one's friends.'' prgtoken We owe them a lot. We can never pay that back other than to be grateful and to remember those who have fallen for our Nation.
CBDC ANTI-SURVEILLANCE STATE ACT
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Mr. Chair, I think we have made it clear with the amendments, with our statements, and with the bill text that we need to ban central bank digital currency. Do not let them design, develop, or build a death star only to promise not to turn it on. prgtoken We need to prevent the Federal Reserve from doing this. All this should make it clear that that is the clear intent of Congress. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I encourage all of our colleagues to unite in support of this bill and this amendment, and .
MEMORIAL DAY
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-5-23

on the last Monday in May, our Nation sets aside the day to remember, honor, and pay respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our Nation's military. Flags are flown at cemeteries, and families visit the graves and war memorials. They are sharing and reliving memories of the ones we have lost. prgtoken This Memorial Day will be different for the family of U.S. Army SGT John O. Herrick. Nearly 80 years ago, Sergeant Herrick was killed off the coast of Normandy, and his body was never identified. The ending to his story was left unwritten until earlier this year, when his family received word that their soldier would soon be coming home 80 years later. prgtoken During World War II, Sergeant Herrick was assigned to Company B of the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion in the European theatre. He was on board Landing Craft Infantry 92, alongside 200 other servicemembers on the way to Omaha Beach, when the craft was hit by an underwater mine. Everyone on board was killed. prgtoken At the tender age of 19, on June 6, 1944, during the D-day landings, Sergeant Herrick paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation's freedom. prgtoken Sergeant Herrick--a young boy from a small town, Allen, with a population of about 100--is memorialized on the Normandy American Cemetery's Walls of the Missing. When I was there, I saw his name. prgtoken There are many heroes like Sergeant Herrick whose names are only remembered in the hearts of their descendants and etched in stone at places like the Vietnam Memorial wall and the white crosses at Arlington Cemetery. prgtoken Remembering and honoring the sacrifice of these heroes is not only the right thing to do, it is really important for our Nation. Hopefully, it pulls us together, not pulls us apart. We must never forget the great cost paid by our servicemembers and their loved ones as they fought fascism in Europe, tyranny in the Pacific, or terrorism in the Middle East. Their sacrifice has protected our freedoms and our Union. prgtoken One way the stories of these fallen servicemembers is being preserved is through the Veterans Legacy Program, which works to uncover the stories of fallen servicemembers and make them available to the public. The Veterans Legacy Program provides grants to educational institutions and community organizations to conduct historical research on veterans buried in national cemeteries and to share those veterans' stories through an educational program. prgtoken To help further the mission of the Veterans Legacy Program, I introduced, with Senator Mazie Hirono, my colleague from Hawaii, a bill entitled prgtoken Honoring Veterans' Legacies and Burial Benefits Enhancements Act. This legislation would establish a nonprofit that would be able to accept private donations that would be used to fund the Veterans Legacy Program, operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Furthering the mission of the VLP will help to create and preserve a col
CBDC ANTI-SURVEILLANCE STATE ACT
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Mr. Chair, last Congress, as a member of the Digital Assets Working Group, we established clear principles on how any proposed CBDC proposal should be evaluated. prgtoken First, the U.S. dollar must remain the world's reserve currency, and our payment systems must continue to be the envy of the world. American taxpayers should benefit, not be disadvantaged, by any legislation that Congress enacts. prgtoken Second, the private sector must lead the way. Digital asset policies must promote private-sector innovation and foster competition. That is what the bill was about yesterday, Mr. Chair. prgtoken Further, we must maintain privacy and security protections consistent with other currency transactions utilized today. That is in danger, based on what the Fed is proposing. prgtoken Lastly, it should come as no surprise that many Americans view a Fed- developed central bank digital currency with great skepticism, and I include myself in that category. Congress has not granted the Fed this authority, nor should it.