mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4175 (Executive Session)
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-5-23

. I have literally grown hoarse coming to this floor defending the rights of Americans poisoned by their own government to be compensated by that government when, through no fault of their own, they have been exposed to nuclear radiation, nuclear waste, nuclear contamination in the soil, in the water, in the air. prgtoken I just listened to my friend from Utah describe this eleventh-hour bill after the Senate has spoken to this issue multiple times--multiple times. After that has been done, now my friend from Utah comes and says we need a clean extension--a clean extension--clean. There is nothing clean about this bill. No, it leaves Missouri filthy dirty with nuclear radiation. prgtoken Let's just remember how it happened. All the way back in the Manhattan Project, the U.S. Government used the city of St. Louis as a uranium processing site. And did the U.S. Government clean up the nuclear radiation after the fact? No, it did not. Did the U.S. Government warn the people of Missouri that they were, in fact, being poisoned by nuclear radiation? No, they did not. prgtoken What they did instead is they lied to the people of Missouri while the nuclear contamination seeped into our ground water, seeped into our soil. For 50 years and more, the people of St. Louis and St. Charles and large parts of my State have been exposed to nuclear radiation. We have the highest rates of breast cancer in the Nation in North St. Louis County. Entire schools cannot go to school because their classrooms are filled with nuclear radioactive material. prgtoken What has the Federal Government done? Not a thing. What would this bill do? Not a thing. Would it clean it up? No. Would it clean the lungs of the survivors who even now are dying from the poison they have been exposed to? No. Would it clean the areas of the Navajo Nation that have been overrun with nuclear radiation? No. Would it clean the mines that our veterans went to for decades exposed to nuclear radiation? No. prgtoken No, it would do none of these things. prgtoken This bill, I think, partakes of an entirely different philosophy, the philosophy expressed by the junior Senator from Utah, Mr. Romney, who said recently it is too expensive for the Federal Government to actually make right what it has done to all these good Americans for decades on end. No, instead what we need to do is pass this bill that the senior Senator from Utah is now advocating. It is a small fraction, he says. He is right about that. And it is reserved for those individuals who have been determined to have actually suffered. prgtoken Let's just be clear. If you live in Missouri, you are not deemed to have actually suffered under this legislation. If you live in New Mexico, you are not deemed to have actually suffered under this legislation. Heck, if you live in Utah, you are not deemed to have actually suffered. Is there any expansion for the State of Utah in t
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 160 (Executive Session)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-5-23

I will just respond briefly to a number of points made by my colleague in opposition to this bill. prgtoken And, one, I just want to say that this UC--this bill--I am not trying to detract or distract from the vote that will happen this afternoon. This is an effort I have engaged on for 8 years. I have brought this bill to the floor many times in an effort to see it passed for Sarah, for her family and for others who are in this similar situation. prgtoken So I would hope that we would be able to pass it today. I know that I will again, in the future, be bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken As my colleague pointed out, we do--we do--appreciate the fact that there is crime all across the United States. And for those who are impacted by that crime, we do wish that they had not had to go through that crime. But the fact of the matter is, there is a difference between American citizens who are committing crimes and illegal immigrants who are committing crimes against American citizens. prgtoken The difference is that many times those illegal immigrants whom, in my bill, I am asking ICE to detain so that they can go to their hearings--I am asking ICE to detain them--not voluntarily detain, maybe have someone release them early, but they will be detained to face justice. Many times those illegal immigrants are operating under assumed names, under assumed Social Security numbers. We don't know their true identities. Many times they don't have roots in communities. prgtoken So what has happened--and we know this to be true because it happened in the case of Sarah Root and her killer--is that Edwin Mejia--that is at least one of the names that this gentleman used while he was in the United States--when he was released on bond, prgtoken he was able to slip into the shadows, and the authorities were not able to trace him. They were not able to find him. prgtoken Why? Because he was an illegal immigrant, operating under many assumed names, operating out of many different communities, with who knows which family or what contacts. prgtoken When American citizens are committing crimes, oftentimes we can trace them. We know who they are. We know who their family members are. We know where they have worked. It is very different with those who enter the country illegally. We can't trace them. We can't find them. The families like Sarah Root's family--Michelle Root and Scott Root will never see justice for their daughter because the man who killed her was released and slipped right back into the shadows where he came from. This family in Council Bluffs, IA, will never see justice for their daughter. Many of these other families will never see justice for their loved ones because our law does not require ICE to detain and hold those murderers--those killers--until they have been seen by a court of law. prgtoken That is what my bill does. It requires the detention. It does not allow ICE to voluntarily keep them. It
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
August Pfluger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 192, which would prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia. prgtoken I think there has been a lot of talk about our Founding Fathers. I point out that I think one of the things that they envisioned was a healthy, functioning Republic with accountability, with D.C. at the epicenter, and D.C. not being a State but a District because they knew that that would change the dynamics of this place. prgtoken I, like many others, think that this Federal District is very special, and it is worth having the accountability, and that accountability is here in the United States Congress. It is Congress through the Constitution that our Founders entrusted the care of D.C specifically ``exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever'' over the District. prgtoken Washington, D.C is going through a tough time. It has not been going well in the last couple of years. In fact, let me just point out that, in 2023, this was the deadliest year on record in Washington, D.C. prgtoken Madam , 274 people were killed. Violent crime spiked by nearly 40 percent. There were proceedings that even the Mayor opposed that had to do with violent crime, carjackings, lowering the penalties and thresholds, and making it a little bit easier. It was a strategy of appeasement that even the Mayor opposed. prgtoken In this Congress, last year, we acted and did something. What we did was said no, Washington, D.C is not going to lower those penalties for things like carjackings. prgtoken It was said that we would never get that through the Senate. Guess what? The Senate passed it, and President signed it into law because he said it was ridiculous to reduce accountability measures in the District of Columbia. prgtoken So, here we are. In this case, the D.C. City Council has made a very shortsighted decision that I fear could be a harbinger around the country. That decision, I believe, lessens and cheapens citizenship. We see that in other areas, but the D.C. City Council has moved to allow noncitizens, including illegal aliens and foreign agents, to vote in local D.C. elections. prgtoken In fact, not only are they allowed to vote, but they are being encouraged. You can look at this flyer right here. This was just sent out by Washington, D.C to encourage people to vote. prgtoken Yes, there may be 500 who are registered--this is a year old--but there are 50,000, according to Washington, D.C statistics, who are eligible. They are encouraging people to vote for Mayor, for attorney general, for members of the board of education, and more. prgtoken Some may argue that, yes, these are just local elections. They are democratic elections that regularly determine taxation, the criminal code that I just referenced, and the election of the very city councilmembers who decide ordinances like who gets to vote, not to mention that many of these
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1843 (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-5-23

I think the esteemed chairman of the Judiciary Committee is misreading the bill because this would apply to people who are entering the United States. It would apply to those who are coming to the southern border. prgtoken This is a process that had been in place. The administration chose to stop this process. What we understand is that they chose to stop this because the test takes 45 minutes--45 minutes to determine if that child is or is not related, 45 minutes to determine if that child should be left with those adults. Thirty percent of the children that are DNA-tested at that southern border are found to not be related to the adult who is holding them by the hand, who is bringing them into the country. prgtoken So I would ask my colleagues, is 45 minutes too much time to take to be sure that a child is secure? prgtoken We have had 10 million people come to that border. We have had 400,000 of those children. Don't we want to provide the best for these children and separate them from traffickers? prgtoken By the way, HHS has lost track of 85,000 of these children. They can't tell the Presiding Officer's committee where those children are. They can't tell the Judiciary Committee where those children are-- 85,000 children. We do not know if they are dead or alive. We do not know if they are being labor trafficked, sex trafficked. We do not know what is happening. prgtoken DNA testing is a way to help save some of these children. We should return to this policy. prgtoken By the way, again I will mention that H.R. 2 has been in here. The Homeland Security Committee has had 374 days to have a markup on a border security bill. They chose not to. The Judiciary Committee could have had a markup on a border security bill. They did not do it. But they are bringing a political stunt bill to the floor today to try to push it through to give cover to vulnerable Members of your party. prgtoken .
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 192, an act to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia, our Nation's Capital. prgtoken In reporting out H.R. 192, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability holds that Congress must act to exert its constitutional responsibility to oversee the District of Columbia and make certain necessary amendments to the District's law. prgtoken Since the voters entrusted s with control of the House in the 118th Congress, the Oversight Committee has conducted long overdue oversight of our Nation's Capital City, including holding hearings on the District of Columbia. prgtoken Specifically, to the topic we are discussing today, the Oversight Committee held a joint hearing with the Committee on House Administration on election integrity in the District. prgtoken At that hearing, the committees examined the District government's Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, which allowed noncitizen residents to vote in D.C. local elections. prgtoken This act includes illegal immigrants and even foreign diplomats, whose interests may be opposed to the interests of Americans. This radical change to our election laws upset lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Madam . prgtoken D.C. Mayor Bowser withheld her signature on the Act, something she had done only a handful of times in her tenure. prgtoken On February 9, 2023, 260 Members of this House voted to overturn the D.C. act through a resolution of disapproval. prgtoken In that vote, 42 House voted to block the D.C. law. prgtoken However, the bipartisan resolution of disapproval was not considered in the ic-controlled Senate, so D.C.'s noncitizen voting law went into effect. This, in my opinion, and the opinion of many Americans across the country, is unacceptable. prgtoken The primary factor that differentiates American citizens from noncitizens is the right to vote. prgtoken D.C. residents should be confident that their local government vote is not being diluted by noncitizen residents or illegal immigrants casting votes. prgtoken Article I of the Constitution grants Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the Nation's Capital, and the rules of the U.S. House charge the Committee on Oversight and Accountability with a duty to oversee the municipal affairs of the District of Columbia. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support Representative Pfluger's commonsense bill to ensure that only United States citizens have the right to vote in local D.C. elections and to support the repeal of D.C.'s radical law. prgtoken Madam , .
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise to introduce the Agriculture and National Security Act and the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act. These bills aim to bolster the global competitiveness of the United States agricultural sector in emerging biotechnology and to address security vulnerabilities across the food and agriculture sector. prgtoken Through the work of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, we have developed these proposals aimed at improving coordination between Agencies to accelerate agricultural biotechnology products and to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, in important national security discussions to enhance our capabilities on disease surveillance, food security, agriculture data prgtoken security, and many other critical issues. prgtoken Agricultural biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field consisting of traditional breeding techniques and genetic engineering, among other methods, to alter living organisms into new or modified agricultural products for a variety of uses. Advances in agricultural biotechnology provide farmers with tools that can make production more efficient and manageable, which is critical for keeping pace with demands for food and our national security. prgtoken In 1986, the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology was established to provide for the regulatory oversight of organisms derived through genetic engineering. The approach taken in the Coordinated Framework is grounded in the judgment of the National Academy of Sciences that the potential risks associated with these organisms fall into the same general categories as those created by traditionally bred organisms. prgtoken The Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act would establish an Office of Biotechnology Policy at the USDA to support internal and interagency coordination, development of biotechnology policies, activities, and regulations, and to consult with biotechnology stakeholders and leaders. prgtoken The Agriculture and National Security Act would create the position of Senior Advisor for National Security within the USDA Office of the Secretary, appoint a detailee at USDA to liaison with national security Agencies, and direct the USDA to publish a report on national security food chain vulnerabilities. prgtoken Importantly, this legislation is supported by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which was chartered by Congress to conduct a review of how advancement in emerging biotechnology will shape current and future activities of the Department of Defense. prgtoken Strengthening America's longstanding leadership in biotechnology through promoting interagency coordination and appointing high-level officials to promote emerging biotechnology issues in agriculture is critical for maintaining national security, trade security, food security, and assessing any vulnerabilities throughout the food and agriculture sector. prgtoken Moreov
Border Act of 2024 (Executive Session)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2024-5-23

it has been more than 100 days since s killed a border deal that they prgtoken specifically demanded and they actively helped to write. From start to finish, this bill is not some partisan ic wish list. In fact, the previous speaker, the senior Senator from California, is correctly upset at our lack of attention to legal immigration, to the plight of DACA individuals, and to try to anchor our policy and our core values of understanding that we are a Nation of immigrants and maybe even, separate and apart from that, immigration is one of the most effective anti-inflation policies out there. prgtoken But the vote we are about to take is not about immigration. It is about border security, and it is fair to say that the ic conference has come a long way on border security. We negotiated with one of the most conservative Members of the U.S. Senate, James Lankford. And when I heard that Chris Murphy and James Lankford were negotiating, I was not hopeful--not because I don't think they are serious legislators, but I just figured they were too far apart. And so when they came to a conclusion, I didn't love everything in that bill; but I still support it, and here is why: because it makes real reforms and meaningful investments to address a real crisis at the border that needs to be fixed. prgtoken There is no contradiction between believing in legal immigration and believing in the core values of the United States and believing in the need for order and security on our northern and southern borders. prgtoken And so this bill will expedite the asylum process; it would provide immediate work authorizations; it would expand legal immigration pathways; it would provide billions of dollars to law enforcement to stop the flow of fentanyl. prgtoken Those are all necessary measures, but the reason the bill failed back in February, the reason the border continues to be the way it is today, is . woke up one day and decided that doing nothing on the border would help him politically. He literally said: Blame me. Blame me. prgtoken And so the funny thing about this situation is if you describe what happened exactly accurately, which is that we--with Chris Murphy and Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford--negotiated the toughest border package in many generations that has a chance to pass, a bipartisan bill where were understandably uncomfortable, that when this thing came out, I was in conversations with Members of the Senate, and they were saying they expected a vote in the high 70s, close to 80 votes. They were very comfortable that this was going to win going away. And then said: Kill it. And that is what happened; it got killed. prgtoken And so the thing about describing things factually in this instance is it sounds like I am trying to, you know, lob rhetorical bombs or make a partisan statement, but that is just literally what ha
HONORING THE PROMOTORAS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COMBAT COVID-19
Veronica Escobar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise to commend the remarkable efforts of community leaders and organizations in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, including AYUDA, Inc Familias Triunfadoras, Dona Ana County--Health & Human Services, and Family Support Services of Amarillo, along with dedicated leaders like Nora Hernandez, Josiah Heyman, Mark Jurado, Adriana Orozco, Gina Nunez-Mchiri, and the memory of Patricia Juarez Carrillo. prgtoken The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our communities, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as farmworkers, dairy workers, and meatpacking workers. Recognizing the urgent need for targeted interventions, our dedicated leaders partnered with the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) to address the specific needs of these communities. prgtoken Our leader's collaboration with community-based organizations aimed to provide essential resources and support to migrant workers and food production workers in El Paso, Moore, TX, and Dona Ana, NM counties. The project began with disseminating vital COVID-19 information and evolved to address emerging needs, including vaccine access, mental health support, and promoting the NCRN application. prgtoken By early February 2024, substantial progress had been achieved in providing essential COVID-19 resources to farmworkers, dairy workers, and meatpacking workers. Crucial, targeted outreach efforts meant thousands of these workers received the COVID-19 vaccine, tests, resources, and more. These initiatives highlight a comprehensive approach to supporting essential workers' health and well-being and our greater community. The collaborative efforts of these organizations and leaders have been crucial in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and promoting health equity in our communities, reflecting the spirit of compassion and solidarity. prgtoken Today, I am honored to pay tribute to all those involved in this noble endeavor. Their selfless contributions have made a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals and families, and their legacy of service will be remembered for generations to come.