mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , each of us here took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, not the President, and not our political party. prgtoken Today, history will judge. Did we abide that oath? prgtoken To extort a foreign country to investigate your political opponent is an unconstitutional abuse of power. To solicit foreign interference in an American election is an unconstitutional abuse of power. prgtoken The need to protect against just such abuses prompted our Founders to grant the sole power of impeachment to this House. prgtoken The delicate balance of power that underpins our democracy is threatened when a President disregards the Constitution by obstructing Congress' power in order to cover up illegal behavior. In doing that, President violated his oath. prgtoken Today, we must put country over party, conscience over complicity. Today, we must assert no one is above the law. Today, we are summoned by history to do the right thing.
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Cedric L. Richmond (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , President , on January 20, 2017, raised his hand and swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Now we must preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution from him. prgtoken Madam , I rise today, not to disparage and embarrass the President of the United States, but to defend our precious democracy. prgtoken I speak today, not because I hate this President, but because I love this body, the people's House. prgtoken I have heard s say: Why are we rushing to judgment? This is not a rush to judgment; it is a rush to justice, and we must not delay. prgtoken Corruption is corrosive; it eats away like acid. The longer we wait, the more time we allow for this President to do irreparable harm to our country and our democracy. prgtoken Just last week, Rudy Giuliani was back at it in Ukraine. So please don't tell us to wait, because the corruption continues. prgtoken There is a famous quote that says: Politicians worry about the next election; statesmen worry about the next generation. Today calls upon us to be statesmen and stateswomen--, , and Independent. Our election is under attack from within. prgtoken So, to my colleagues, many of whom spent a lifetime trying to build a reputation of honesty and courage, I beg you: Don't throw that away for President . He doesn't deserve it, nor will he appreciate it past the next tweet or next week. prgtoken My fear and my prediction is that his actions will continue. prgtoken Madam , recently said: I can do anything I want. He also bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. Well, he is shooting holes in our Constitution on Pennsylvania Avenue, and our House, the people's House, must defend the Constitution from a domestic enemy to the rule of law: . prgtoken Because I don't want generations to come to blame me for letting our democracy die, I, therefore, rise in favor of impeaching .
RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-12-18

I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary. I appreciate the opportunity to speak about this esteemed organization and recognize their efforts supporting American servicemembers, veterans, and their families. The centennial celebration is a historic occasion for the State of Michigan, as well as the entire Nation. prgtoken The American Legion Auxiliary was founded in 1919 to support the efforts of the men in the American Legion. The women of the Auxiliary saw an opportunity to embark on a mission of their own, to not only support active servicemembers and veterans of World War I but also their communities and families. This mission resonated among others and by November 1920, there were 1,342 Auxiliary units founded across 43 States. prgtoken During World War II, the Auxiliary jumped into action again to serve brave servicemembers joining the fight. They established scholarships for students to train as nurses and fulfill needs on the frontlines, donated six mobile blood units to the Red Cross, and established an Emergency Voluntary Committee to support the war effort. At the beginning of World War I, there were approximately 500,000 enrolled members. After World War II, membership rose rapidly and peaked in 1955 with 1,001,545 members. Today, the American Legion Auxiliary consists of approximately 800,000 members who continue to support troops and veterans across the world in war and peacetime. prgtoken Communities throughout the State of Michigan, as well as across the country, benefit from the Auxiliary's advocacy and outreach. This past year, their work has culminated into over 40 million volunteer hours and $37 million to charitable efforts across the United States. Their own charitable causes include Girls Nation and State, the Auxiliary Emergency Fund, and American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, as well as numerous scholarships and helping to fund veteran support services. prgtoken In addition to philanthropic work, the Auxiliary has advocated for veterans' rights and increased support for those who have served our Nation. They have advocated for legislation such as the GI bill, legislation that would expand U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, and efforts to help end homelessness among veterans. prgtoken It is my great pleasure to congratulate the American Legion Auxiliary on its centennial milestone and recognize the meaningful impact they continue to have in the State of Michigan and across our Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating its members and their dedication to support servicemembers, veterans, and their families by promoting fellowship, patriotism, peace, and security throughout the world.
HONORING DR. C. ELAINE SMITH FOR RECEIVING THE WOMAN IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor and recognize Dr. C. Elaine M. Smith on receiving the 2020 Outstanding Woman in the Community Service Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. This award was developed to honor women who are making significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents, and dedication. This is an amazing accomplishment. prgtoken This award recognizes Dr. Smith's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. Dr. Smith generously serves the community with civility and justice. prgtoken As a second grader, Dr. Smith was one of the first to integrate the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, then known as Princess Anne County. At the age of 6, her parents supported her on a journey of learning experiences that were both negative and positive yet vital to her development. prgtoken Dr. Smith has been an agent for change and an advocate for students with disabilities (SWD) as she sought Specials Education as her vocation. She retired from Norfolk Public Schools after more than 30 years, where she served in numerous leadership capacities. Her professional experiences are vast as she has taught students with emotional disabilities, autism, and learning disabilities. As a Teacher Specialist at the district central office level for secondary students with disabilities and as an Educational Diagnostician, her duties were to assess both general and special education students who experienced academic and behavioral challenges in school. In these positions, she made recommendations to improve academic and behavioral deficits and to keep students in the least restrictive environment based on their individualized needs. prgtoken Her service to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc National Alliance for Black School Educators, National Allies for Parents in Special Education, has allowed her to put enormous efforts in strengthening ties to the local community with her civic involvement with various organizations. Dr. Smith's dedication as a leader within our community is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize Dr. Smith's leadership and the role she plays in making our community a better place. Coastal Virginia has significantly benefited from her presence.
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , indeed, we are here today because the President of the United States abused his power and betrayed his oath of office. He laid siege to the foundation of our democracy: the electoral process. prgtoken These actions have posed a direct threat to the freedom and fairness of the upcoming 2020 election. prgtoken The very day after Robert Mueller testified that Russia had systematically and relentlessly attacked the 2016 election, the President picked up the phone and made his now infamous July 25 call to Ukrainian President Zelensky, asking President Zelensky on that call to ``do us a favor though,'' and announced investigations into his political rival, . prgtoken We have since learned from numerous National Security Council and State Department officials that the President did not even expect Ukraine to open these investigations; rather, he just wanted them announced so he could smear his rival. Rather than trusting the voters to decide who should hold the White House, he sought the aid of a foreign country to tip the scales in his favor--again. prgtoken After Russia's unprecedented interference, a dark cloud hung over the 2016 election; and instead of leading the American people out from under the cloud, the President, instead, emboldened by perceived lack of consequence, attempted to pressure Zelensky to interfere in the 2020 election. prgtoken After a courageous whistleblower came forward and warned Congress and the public about the President's scheme, the President stood on the White House lawn in front of TV cameras broadcasting around the world and called for China to interfere, too. prgtoken Some of my colleagues have asked: Why not wait? Why are we proceeding? That is very simple. Because nothing could be more urgent. We are on the precipice of the 2020 election, and Congress has ultimate responsibility to protect the sacred equalizer: our right to vote. prgtoken To defend the integrity of our elections and to fulfill our duty to the Constitution, I will be voting in favor of impeachment today.
Recognizing Government Employees (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-12-18

I start by thanking my friend and colleague from West Virginia, Senator Manchin, for his remarks and for his steadfast support for workers throughout the United States of America and for working to try to bring us together in a bipartisan manner to get things done in the United States. prgtoken I rise today to give thanks to all who serve our country in uniform and as civilians. Even as partisan division and anger seem to reach new depths every day, and s have remained united in our support and our high regard for our fellow Americans who honorably serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Those who serve have earned every measure of gratitude shown to them by friends and neighbors and by all of us here in the Congress. prgtoken Other public servants deserve our thanks as well, but unfortunately, support for them is not nearly as unanimous or as universal. I will focus the remainder of my remarks on them. While they do not go into combat, they share the same dedication and love of country as those who do. Many of them also go into harm's way--law enforcement officers, diplomats in war-torn lands, smokejumpers fighting forest fires--and all of them swear an oath to our Constitution, just like our troops and just like Members of Congress. prgtoken I am talking about Federal civil servants. These dedicated public servants, men and women, are not normally public figures, but the Nation saw their strength and their character at the witness table in last month's House impeachment hearings, Americans like Laura Cooper, David Hale, George Kent, Bill Taylor, Jennifer Williams, Marie Yovanovitch, all of whom have served in nonpolitical positions for all or most of their careers. All of them testified before Congress under subpoena. prgtoken These are just a few of the 2.1 million Americans who make up the Federal civil service and the Foreign Service. They work together here at home and abroad in every field of endeavor and on behalf of all of us. For example, budding entrepreneurs can call on Small Business Administration loan officers for help accessing capital and foreign commercial service officers to help sell their inventions to the world. Farmers know that the Natural Resources Conservation Service employees can help them keep their land productive for the long term. Foreign agricultural service diplomats help American farmers make a living feeding the world. prgtoken Yet, too many of our colleagues, including many on the other side of the aisle, have defamed public servants and now accuse those who testified in the House of attacking the President. That accusation has it exactly backward. The modern civil service was created after an attack on a President in order to prevent future attacks on Presidents. Yes, President Garfield was assassinated in 1883 by a disgruntled job seeker. prgtoken In those days, each President handed out most of the Federal jobs, often based on political alle
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , the President should be impeached. His actions were an abuse of power that jeopardizes America's national security and compromises our elections. No one is above the law, and that includes the President. By withholding $400 million Ukraine desperately needed to defend itself against Russia until Ukraine did the President's political bidding, the President committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors for which he should be impeached under Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 and Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution. prgtoken This abuse of power is compounded by the President's refusal to cooperate with Congress' impeachment investigation and his stonewalling of witnesses from testifying or turning over documents to Congress. prgtoken Almost 14,000 people have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Withholding $400 million Congress appropriated to help Ukraine defend herself unless Ukraine helped the President dig up dirt on his political rival was the last straw for me. People's lives and our national security were placed at risk. This was more than paying hush money for strippers, profiting from foreign governments staying at resort properties, or even obstructing justice as laid out in the Mueller Report. prgtoken The Founders fought and died for freedom and independence from a tyrannical ruler and foreign government. Impeachment and removal from office was the remedy they included in the Constitution to act as a check on a President who placed himself above the law, abused his power for his own personal benefit, and invited foreign governments to get involved in our domestic affairs, especially our elections. A President who flaunts the separation of powers and checks and balances in our Constitution and who refuses to allow witnesses to appear before Congress would receive our Founders' universal condemnation. prgtoken Treating taxpayer money as his own to extort a ``favor'' from a foreign government to aid him in his re-election goes to the very heart of concerns raised by our Nation's Founders when they drafted and advocated for impeachment to act as a check on the awesome powers of the chief executive. For instance, Madison said in Federalist No. 47, ``the accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive and judiciary, in the same hands . . . may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.'' He went on to say during the Constitutional Convention, ``the Executive will have great opportunities of abusing his power,'' and further that a President ``might betray his trust to foreign powers.'' George Washington's Farewell Address warned of ``foreign influence and corruption'' which leads to the ``policy and will'' of America being ``subjected to the policy and will of another.'' Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 65 that impeachment ``proceeds from the misconduct of public men . . . from the abuse or violation of a public trust.'' prgtoken The USA Today editorial board stat
CONDEMNING THE TERRORIST ATTACK AT NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019, HONORING THE MEMBERS OF THE NAVY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ATTACK, AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT AND PRAYERS...
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-18

I rise today to draw attention to a group of veterans who served this country decades ago but who continue to suffer to this day as a result of their service. I am talking about hundreds of thousands of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their service. prgtoken From 1962 to 1975, the United States sprayed over 20 million gallons of Agent Orange across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Millions of our servicemembers, not to mention millions of Vietnamese civilians, were exposed. Fifty years later, hundreds of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans are still paying the price. prgtoken From the start, the Federal Government has tried to slow-walk attempts to cover the care these veterans earned. It wasn't until 1991 that the VA recognized the connection between Agent Orange exposure and several diseases and conditions, finally allowing these veterans to seek treatment from the VA. Currently, the list of conditions at the VA stands at 14, but science tells us the list is far from complete. prgtoken In 2017, then-Veterans Affairs Secretary Shulkin called for three more conditions to be added to the list: bladder cancer, underactive thyroid, and Parkinson's-like symptoms. Now, these weren't randomly chosen. They were conditions found by the National Academy of Science to be connected to Agent Orange exposure. prgtoken The science was there. The VA was there. Yet this White House and its OMB Director, Mick Mulvaney, have blocked this effort to expand the list of conditions. prgtoken Do you know what the deciding factor was? It wasn't scientific evidence. It wasn't the advice of VA doctors. No, the White House decided that the cost of providing care to 83,000 veterans suffering from these conditions was just too high, and for that this administration turned its back on 83,000 veterans who answered the call to serve. prgtoken Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of the Federal Government trying to avoid paying for the care of men and women our Nation sent to war. My office hears regularly from veterans facing problems like prostate cancer, Parkinson's, and other conditions that have been linked to Agent Orange. Time and again, we hear how the VA tries to deny benefits on the basis of a technicality. This is just not right. Unfortunately, this administration is far from the first to ignore evidence about Agent Orange in order to save a few bucks. prgtoken I want to share a few stories from my State of Virginia, where more than 204,000 Vietnam veterans currently call home. In many cases, veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange have been fighting multiple administrations to get these life-or-death benefits--benefits they earned by their service decades ago. prgtoken One veteran, William Badgett of Hampton, VA, was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam with the Army. He was in the 101st Airborne, 1st Cavalry, where he served as a helicopter mechanic and supply sergeant. He has b
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2019-12-18

. Madam , the question that will be answered today is: Will Members honor their oath to uphold the Constitution? prgtoken are not supporting impeachment based on a policy disagreement or the election results of 2016. No one is above the law. The President must be held accountable. prgtoken A constitutional process is not a hoax or a witch hunt. President just opposes it. No one is above the law, not even President Donald J. . prgtoken The President abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to help his reelection campaign. Impeachment is a constitutional remedy for these actions. prgtoken betrayed his oath, betrayed the Constitution, and undermined the integrity of our elections. Those who are against the impeachment inquiry are willing to turn a blind eye to constitutional violations by the President. prgtoken As a nation, we have no other alternative. We must protect our Constitution and the United States of America. prgtoken In his own words: ``No intelligent person believes what he is saying.''
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , after nearly 400 days since President signed the agreement, we are finally voting on USMCA to deliver real results for the people who make up the backbone of the American economy. This includes our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and each and every American family who depends on these industries. prgtoken USMCA will bring more than $68 billion in new economic activity, 176,000 new jobs here at home, and an increase of $2 billion a year annually in agricultural exports. These numbers don't lie, and that is only the beginning. Passing USMCA is a big win for the American economy. prgtoken Lastly, I can't talk about USMCA without mentioning how big of a win it is for American agriculture, particularly our dairy farmers. Under this agreement, our dairy producers will no longer be subject to Canada's class 6 and class 7 milk pricing programs, policies that have unfairly limited our export potential for years. prgtoken Madam , USMCA is a good agreement. It is a fair agreement, and it is a bipartisan agreement. I am pleased that we are finally voting on this crucial piece of policy and that we can deliver on this promise. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
RECOGNIZING THE WINNERS OF THE PI LAMBDA LAMBDA CHAPTER OF THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.'S 2019 ACHIEVEMENT WEEK AWARDS
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the legacy, veterans, and service members of the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720), a fast-attack Los Angeles Class Submarine. Next month, the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) will be decommissioned in Bremerton, Washington after 35 years of service in the United States Navy. prgtoken The USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) was laid down in April 1983 and commissioned in November 1985. In April 1991, the USS Pittsburgh (SSN- 720) and USS Louisville (SSN-724) launched Tomahawk missiles against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. prgtoken Years later, in 2002, the ship departed for the Mediterranean Sea and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Retired Captain Mark Breor, then Commander of Submarine Squadron 2, stated of the submarine and crew, ``USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) provided persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the joint commanders. The products of these very successful and difficult missions were converted into a full array of sea-strike options, which included a 16 Tomahawk strike by USS Pittsburgh.'' prgtoken In November 2017, USS Pittsburgh completed its 1,000th dive, a milestone few submarines reach in service. Earlier this year, the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) returned to its homeport, Naval Submarine Base New London, after its final deployment. prgtoken The USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) is the fourth ship to bear the name of a great city that helped build America. Pittsburgh leads the nation in health care, technology innovation, and energy industries and dominates athletics with numerous professional championships. I am proud to represent southwestern Pennsylvania in Congress, and I am thankful for the service of these great sailors aboard the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720).