mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Joseph Goffman (Executive Calendar)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2024-1-31

I rise today in support of Joe Goffman's nomination to serve as Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. prgtoken At the end of last year, I joined several of our colleagues to discuss our recent delegation trip to Dubai for the annual United Nations climate conference, known as COP28. While on the ground, our message to the world was clear: The United States is again leading the global effort to attack the climate crisis. prgtoken That leadership is thanks in no small part to the administration's work to implement the unprecedented climate and clean energy investments that many of us here on this floor helped to enact into law. It is also thanks to the historic action by the Environmental Protection Agency to rein in climate pollution in a way that supports economic growth and job creation. prgtoken Still, meeting our Nation's climate goals, reducing harmful air pollution, and supporting good-paying, clean energy jobs requires having the right leadership in place. prgtoken As I have said before many times on this floor, the Office of Air and Radiation has an outside impact on our lives, and the American people deserve someone leading this office who is committed to carrying out its mission. That includes reducing climate pollution, while also improving our vehicle emissions standards and protecting public health--all of which go hand in hand with economic growth and job creation. prgtoken Mr. Goffman has proven that he is up to the task. Under his direction, the EPA has made significant progress in implementing many of the programs that we secured in the Inflation Reduction Act. That includes programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help lower energy costs for all Americans. prgtoken From the earliest days of his career serving on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which I am now privileged to chair, to his time at EPA under President and now President , Joe Goffman has dedicated his life's work to cleaning up the air that we breathe and protecting our one and only planet. He is thoughtful, he is principled, and he is humble. I know those things because Joe has served as chief counsel of the Environment and Public Works Committee, which I am now privileged to chair. prgtoken Importantly, he has followed and continues to follow the law, and he does so in a way that also provides certainty and predictability for the industry. prgtoken Joe Goffman is also committed to fair outcomes, and that is because he cares about doing things the right way while listening to the concerns of all who might be impacted by changes to our Nation's clean air standards. Don't just take my word for it. Over 50 groups representing a broad coalition of interests, from--oh my, what a wide group, and I will mention them in a minute--they voiced their support for Joe Goffman's confirmation to serve as EPA's Assistant Administrator. prgtoken Here is just a sam
CHILD TAX CREDIT RELIEF
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-2-1

after a long fight, and as a senior member of the Budget Committee, we have gotten to a point where we can say to the American people: We care about you, and we care about your families and most of all your children. prgtoken The first step yesterday of taking a leap to be able to establish for this Nation permanent child tax credit relief is unbelievable in terms of the lives of America's children. Please be reminded that this is for our children. prgtoken I cannot forget the emotions that I felt when I opened up the registration for the child tax relief during the pandemic, when the administration gave that opportunity, and to see the mothers coming in with two and three children, one in a stroller, seeking to be able to get the relief that was needed. prgtoken This permanent tax relief must be passed and, again, I will continue this fight into the Senate to ensure that in the middle of filing season this legislation could deepen relief for 16 million children and lift as many as 400,000 children above the poverty line in the first year alone. Increase the maximum refundability of the credit, giving eligible families the option to use their earned income from the prior year. That is crucial to be able to ensure that the child tax credit lifts our children up and helps our families. Let's get permanent child tax relief done.
ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-1

if you listen closely right now, you can hear the drums of war gain momentum. I know that sound. It is the same sound that led me to deploy to a dusty desert outpost in Iraq 20 years ago, where I served alongside some of the bravest men and women you could ever meet. It is the same sound that, ultimately, led me to run for office, a decision I only made after I was shot down in Iraq, when I found myself searching for a new mission to serve my Nation. prgtoken I found that mission in giving a voice to every veteran who had willingly sacrificed so much answering their Nation's call to serve, and I found it in speaking up for the Active-Duty troops still waking up in dusty base camps throughout the Middle East, still serving tour after tour, bleeding--even dying--thousands of miles away because they had sworn an oath to defend a country they loved, no matter what it cost them. prgtoken And that sound is why, a few minutes ago, I wheeled myself to this desk with the same purpose that took me first to battle, then the campaign trail: And that is to help keep America as strong as she can be and to try to look out for the troops who never stop looking out for the rest of us. prgtoken Today, I am here in this beautiful chamber with privilege all around me to beg of my colleagues one simple thing: As tensions in the Middle East escalate, please, from this place of safety and comfort, think of the sacrifices our servicemembers make every single day. Please, as the drums of war grow louder, honor our servicemembers by thinking of what we would be asking them to risk if we risk an expanded conflict with Iran. prgtoken On Sunday morning, we all woke to the tragic, horrific news that three American soldiers were killed in an Iran-backed attack in Jordan. I imagine many who saw the news may not have even known that we had U.S. servicemembers stationed in Jordan, but I was acutely aware of it. In fact, prgtoken just 24 hours earlier, I had woken up in Illinois and helped to send almost 300 Illinois National guardsmen off to start their mission in the CENTCOM area of operation, the exact AO where this attack took place. prgtoken And since Sunday, I don't think I have gone a waking hour without thinking about the brave servicemembers who lost their lives--SGT William Jerome Rivers, SGT Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and SGT Breonna Alexsondria Moffett--and each of them was willing to sacrifice the unimaginable to keep our Nation safe. They are our heroes. prgtoken During this impossible time, my thoughts are with their families, who will never be able to say ``I love you'' in person to them again. And my thoughts are with the more than 40 other servicemembers who were wounded in the blast, with at least three among them having severe enough injuries that they had to be evacuated to Germany. prgtoken It is clear that we must forcefully and swiftly make those responsible pay for the devastation they have wrought and send a
TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND WORKERS ACT OF 2024
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-2-1

I rise in opposition to H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 this bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing. prgtoken Let's be clear about what this tax deal is: just another handout to big corporations and oil companies. Congressional s are claiming victory with this bill, touting the $600 billion in tax cuts for corporations if the corporate tax cuts in this bill are made permanent. prgtoken The 2017 Trrump-GOP tax scam has added $1.9 trillion to the deficit. s voted to raise taxes on the middle class to pay for their deficit-exploding giveaway to big corporations and billionaires. Thanks to the -GOP tax scam, big corporations and oil companies have enjoyed lower taxes and have taken advantage of tax credits. Big corporations like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Marathon Petroleum already pay far too little in taxes each year. H.R. 7024 would give them access to even more tax cuts. Congress should be ensuring big corporations and oil companies pay their fair share rather than helping them get a leg up. prgtoken I support the Child Tax Credit and voted for it in the American Rescue Plan, but H.R. 7024 is eighty-two pages long and only three pages pertain to the credit. In those three pages, the Child Tax Credit provisions fail to replicate the success of the improved Child Tax Credit provided to families by the American Rescue Plan. Under H.R. 7024, fewer families will be eligible, and the credit will be received as an annual refund. We heard from families who said the monthly payments are what made this credit so helpful to them in 2021 to pay their monthly bills, keep healthy and nutritious food on the table, and manage a mortgage or rent. I look forward to working with NETWORK, Save the Children, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and other advocacy groups to put forward a tax bill that accomplishes all our goals with the Child Tax Credit. prgtoken I strongly opposed the -GOP tax scam when it was rushed through Congress in 2017. and the GOP promised increased tax revenues to offset the massive debt they created, but it never materialized. Instead, the tax scam ballooned the deficit. I've been outspoken in the past about how harmful those tax cuts were, and I believe H.R. 7024 is another scam to give big corporations a break while the rest of America picks up the tab. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 7024.
Nomination of Lisa W. Wang (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-1

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Lisa Wang to the U.S. Court of International Trade. prgtoken Ms. Wang attended Cornell University and the Georgetown University Law Center before entering private practice in Washington, DC, as an international trade associate. Ms. Wang then spent 3 years serving in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as a senior import administration officer before joining the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as assistant general counsel. She went on to serve as a senior attorney in the Commerce Department's Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance before completing another stint in private practice. prgtoken In 2021, President nominated Ms. Wang to serve as an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance, and she was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. At the Department of Commerce, she has led the Federal Government's efforts to maintain a level playing field for American workers and consumers by holding our partners accountable to their trade agreements. prgtoken Ms. Wang was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. Her deep knowledge of international trade law and commitment to fairness make her an excellent addition to the Court of International Trade. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for her confirmation.
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM DUIs ACT
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2024-2-1

I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 6976. prgtoken Once again, the majority is wasting our time by putting forward a piece of legislation that has zero chance of becoming law and that is extraordinarily broad. No one condones driving under the influence. We should do everything we can to prevent people from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, but this bill, designed to scapegoat and denigrate immigrants, will not solve the serious problem of DUIs. prgtoken Public safety threats, including those who have been convicted of serious DUI offenses, are already inadmissible and removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and this bill would not change or enhance that. prgtoken Under the INA, a conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude where the punishment can be for a year or longer makes an individual deportable. Courts have ruled over and over again that serious DUI offenses that put others at risk are CIMTs and make the perpetrators deportable. prgtoken But this bill isn't about serious offenses, . Far from it. prgtoken The bill says that a conviction for a single DUI offense, misdemeanor, or felony makes you instantly deportable and an admission to such a offense makes you instantly inadmissible. No questions asked. prgtoken I can understand, maybe, the appeal of something that sounds like a zero-tolerance policy, but let me tell you, , if we had that kind of policy here in the House of Representatives, there would be several Members that would not be Members of this Chamber. prgtoken Moreover, by including every single type of DUI offense, this bill would make someone deportable for not driving under the influence. That is because States have a wide variety of opinions on what is a DUI. For example, Arizona's DUI statute allows people to be charged with a DUI if they are intoxicated and have ``physical control'' of their vehicle. prgtoken The Ninth Circuit found that the breadth of this statute means--and I am quoting here, ``One may be convicted under it for sitting in one's own car in one's own driveway with the key in the ignition and a bottle of beer in one's hand.'' prgtoken Because of this, the Ninth Circuit determined that a conviction under this statute was insufficient to count as a deportable offense. As the court put it, ``Drunken driving is despicable. Having physical control of a car while drinking is not''--their words, not mine. prgtoken As many places across the country experience cold spells in the last week or so, there are States that would allow prosecution of someone simply if they were sitting in their car with the heat on while inebriated even if it was in their own driveway. prgtoken Current law allows judges to use their discretion to look at the broader facts of the case. This bill would strip that discretion away from them and would mandate that even someone whose only crime was sitting in a parked car while inebriated must be deported. prgtoken Let's not forget that d
MICHAEL JOSEPH REED'S STRONG LEGACY
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2024-2-1

I rise to remember a dedicated public servant and appropriations policy adviser par excellence, my former chief of staff and friend, Michael Joseph Reed. Michael transitioned on Monday, January 15. prgtoken Starting as a Presidential management intern at the U.S. Department of Transportation, he went on to serve two prolific congressional appropriators--Congressmen Lou Stokes of Ohio and Bill Gray of Pennsylvania. prgtoken When I got a seat on the House Appropriations Committee in 2003, I needed a seasoned specialist and was blessed to have Michael Reed join my team, first as special assistant, then deputy chief of staff, and finally chief of staff and senior policy adviser. prgtoken For 18 years I matriculated in the Michael Reed school of budgetary policy. He was a master. Learning the intricacies of ag policy, he became an asset to me and was highly respected on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken Upon leaving the Hill, he was honored by the communities and industries he helped, including the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and the Georgia Peanut Commission, among others. The research and disaster relief he made possible for American agriculture are among his lasting legacies. prgtoken Family and friends will celebrate his life in a private ceremony this week. We mourn his loss but thank God that his legacy of service will endure.
BIPARTISAN MAJORITY IS STILL STRONG
Greg Landsman (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-2-1

I rise today to talk about what is at stake right now, who is here to lead, and who we have to watch out for. prgtoken Last year, there was a small number of more extreme Members that took this country to the brink of default, but a bipartisan majority of us voted to stop that and to protect our economy. When the brought us a bipartisan bill to fix air travel, that same bipartisan majority of us voted to pass that, too. prgtoken Is that bipartisan majority gone? No. We are still here. prgtoken In fact, last night the brought to the floor a bipartisan bill to provide meaningful tax relief for families and small businesses, and we passed it overwhelmingly. So bring us a bipartisan budget to protect millions of jobs and critical investments in our families. We will pass that, too. prgtoken Bring us the bipartisan bill agreement to fix the border. We will pass that. prgtoken The largest majority in this House is our bipartisan majority. Bring us these bills. We will pass each and every one of them, and that is what the American people want and need us to do.
National Security (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-2-1

the People's Republic of China is the single greatest strategic challenge facing the United States. It poses a potentially existential threat to our friends in the region and a growing threat to our allies in Europe as well. prgtoken The PRC is working to undermine the prevailing order that has maintained a major power piece for eight decades. It is useful to think about this challenge from our adversary's position. prgtoken President Xi aims to expand China's influence at our expense, to rewrite the rules of the road, and to dominate his neighbors. Each of these tasks becomes easier the more the West is distracted, divided, and deterred. And depending on the choices America and our allies make, our adversaries may succeed without even trying. prgtoken Are we distracted? Ask Beijing what it thinks about the Western diplomatic energy expended on unenforceable climate mandates while Chinese industry accelerates its carbon emissions. Our adversaries must scratch their heads at some of the things about which Western leaders obsess. prgtoken Are we divided? The PRC clearly hopes that the West's shared values are not as strong as our adversaries' shared disdain for them. Beijing no doubt enjoys watching the United States abandon allies in Afghanistan, second-guess allies in Israel, and initiate trade fights with its closest allies rather than China. prgtoken Are we deterred? We are self-deterred. Hesitation and hand-wringing over fears of escalation have become hallmarks of the administration's foreign policy. Right now, you would be forgiven for wondering whether President might take longer to respond to the Iran-backed strike that killed U.S. soldiers in Jordan than he did to finally approve long-range fires for Ukraine. prgtoken The administration's public obsession with avoiding escalation at all cost only signals to our adversaries that, indeed, authoritarians can take what they want by force. prgtoken Fortunately, Putin's aggression has clarified our allies' thinking. The West is waking up, turbocharging investments in new capabilities, and accelerating the expansion of our own defense industrial base. prgtoken Beijing and Moscow are not happy to see war in Ukraine prompt two more highly advanced European nations make historic new commitments to collective defense of the West by joining NATO. They are not happy to see America's allies direct a gusher of historic military investments into cutting-edge American weapons made by American workers. In the past 2 years, Pacific allies like Japan, South Korea, and Australia have been buying American to the tune of tens of billions of dollars. NATO allies have invested $120 billion of their own in U.S. capabilities. Importantly, they are also investing in expanding their own defense industrial capacities. prgtoken Our allies recognize that Russia, China, and Iran are, as Secretary General Stoltenberg put it just yesterday here in Washington, ``sha
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-1

tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically since Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, launched its war on Israel on October 7 of last year, killing innocent men, women, and children and taking and still holding up to 132 hostages. prgtoken Over the last few months, another Iranian proxy--Iran-backed militias--intensified their attacks throughout the region. prgtoken There are Houthis in Yemen, there is Hezbollah in Lebanon, and, of course, as I mentioned, there are the attacks against Americans and American interests by Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria. These conflicts are playing out thousands of miles away from here, but we are not just a distant and disinterested spectator. Thousands of American troops are stationed in the region--not engaged in combat operations but in carrying out a range of security and intelligence missions and helping the residents and citizens of those nations defend themselves and prgtoken provide a stabilizing force against what is the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism, which is the Iranian regime. prgtoken The presence of these American troops is vital to the stability of the region and, as I said, our own security interests. We may engage in wishful thinking, thinking that what happens over there doesn't affect us here. You would think that after 9/11--albeit it occurring some 23 years ago now--it would have awakened us to the reality that what does happen in the Middle East does not stay in the Middle East. So it is important for us to provide stability operations and assistance, train- and-assist operations, for our allies in the region in a very dangerous neighborhood. prgtoken Since mid-October, Iranian-backed militia groups have attacked U.S. troops in the region more than 165 times--165 times. In less than 4 months, U.S. troops have been targeted 165 times. prgtoken This last weekend, the situation escalated dramatically when Iranian proxies targeted a U.S. military post in Jordan known as Tower 22. Tragically, these proxies of the Iranian regime--these militias--used a drone to attack the base, killing three American heroes as they slept. prgtoken SGT William Rivers, SGT Kennedy Sanders, and SGT Breonna Moffett made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country that night. prgtoken These brave individuals were the first American servicemembers killed by enemy fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October, but they are not the first Americans who have been targeted by the Iranian regime. prgtoken The truth is, as you look back at the changes in Iran since the revolution in 1979, the Iranian regime has been in what you might call a low-grade war against America and American interests for the last 45 years. prgtoken Last month, two Navy SEALs were killed while seizing a vessel carrying Iranian-made arms intended for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. These brave SEALs and their comrades prevented the Houthis from receiving ballistic