mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REFORMING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURING AMERICA ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Continued
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-4-16

I will get to the issue of Secretary Mayorkas's impeachment in a moment, but I would first like to speak to Iran's attack on Israel this weekend. prgtoken We all saw what happened on Saturday evening. Israel is once again under attack--this time, under direct attack from Iran--and the United States must clearly and strongly stand with our great ally and fully support its right and obligation to defend itself by any means necessary. prgtoken I was just in Israel, a few weeks ago, to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and see the terror and devastation that Iran-backed Hamas terrorists unleashed on the Jewish State on October 7, firsthand. More than 1,200 were murdered, and hundreds are still being held hostage by Hamas just for being Jewish. Americans are among the hostages and those murdered that day. prgtoken The horrors of that attack are difficult to describe and can never ever happen again. Today, I continue to pray for the safety of the Israeli people and call on every and every to stand unequivocally with Israel as it fights for its very existence against evil terrorism. prgtoken Again and again, have blocked the passage of aid for Israel. have blocked Israel aid four times in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The House has passed a good bill that is ready for Senate passage right now. I urge Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to immediately put the House-passed Israel aid bill on the floor, as well as my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, tonight. Nothing before the Senate is more important, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that vote happens as soon as possible. prgtoken Let us all remember who the enemy is here and has always been: the evil and terror-supporting regime in Iran. prgtoken Since its first days, the administration has emboldened Iran with appeasement, freeing billions upon billions of dollars to fuel Iran's support of terrorism and turning its back on Israel. prgtoken Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and one of America's strongest allies, but it took President months to meet or speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu after he took office. And, unfortunately, the world took notice. prgtoken Since October 7, President and in Washington have continued to undermine Israel's fight against Iran-backed Hamas terrorists, further isolating our ally in its greatest time of need. prgtoken And here is where what has happened in Israel ties into the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas that we are dealing with here at home this week. Mayorkas Impeachment prgtoken America and the freedom-loving nations of the world are less safe and secure because of President 's weakness and appeasement of evil regimes and the terror each support. That is a fact that the FBI Director confirmed when I questioned him in the Homeland Security Committee, last year. prgtoken And the terrifying truth is t
REFORMING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURING AMERICA ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Continued
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-4-16

I come here today to commemorate the retirement of one of my longest serving staff in my time in the Senate, Debra Jarrett. prgtoken She has been my administrative director for the last 9 years. She has worked in the Senate for 29 years. I was looking it up on the internet earlier today. To give you an idea of how long ago 29 years was, that was the year that ladies were getting ``Rachel'' haircuts because ``Friends'' was one of the most popular shows on. Jennifer Aniston was rocking the ``Rachel'' haircut. Boyz II Men was topping the charts. It was a long time ago. Debra really quickly demonstrated that this was probably the right place for her to start her career; and, today, we are looking at her turning another chapter. prgtoken My staff put together some comments that I am being loosely advised by. They said it was a bittersweet moment. Well, I personally think it is bitter. I am sure it is sweet for Debra, the person who is going to be retiring. I think it is probably a violation of the rules to point back here where Debra is sitting, so I am not going to do that. But if it wasn't a violation of the rules, I would point there. That is Debra, sitting here behind me on my wing, which she has been several times before. prgtoken When you come to the Senate, the amazing thing about coming to the U.S. Senate--I came in 2015--is they say, you know, ``Congratulations.'' They swear you in. They give you an allocation of money to run your operations. North Carolina has got about--almost 11 million people, so that dictates how much money you have to set up a State operation and a DC operation, but that is it. Your personnel practices, who you hire, how you provision computers--basically the whole running of the business operation; there is not some special department there--that is something you have to do. So one thing you learn very quickly is to find a highly competent person to do that, and I was blessed to have the opportunity to bring Debra in. prgtoken I said she has been in my office for 9 years, and she has been in the Senate for 29 years. I should start by saying she was born and raised in St. Joe, IN, population 460. Then she started to work for Dan Coats, the Senator from Indiana, as his legislative aide back in 1995. Then, in 1999, she joined Senator Judd Gregg as a special assistant. She was promoted to office administrator a year later, and she worked for Senator Gregg for 12 years. Then, when Senator Gregg retired, New Hampshire adopted her; and Kelly Ayotte, who was also a Senator from New Hampshire, brought her in as the director of administration. She did that for 4 years and then finally came to work for me. prgtoken Debra is somebody--and I do mean this. Even as a U.S. Senator, there are some people who scare me, and Debra is one of them because she is so on point for everything that we do whether it is the efficiency of our office or our fiscal conservative policy. We spend ju
REFORMING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURING AMERICA ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Continued
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-4-16

last week, we saw terrible flooding in parts of Louisiana. Here, as the charts will show--water shouldn't be up to the bottom of a vehicle. Here you see people getting on a bus, wearing waders. So people's lives were disrupted, just like with any serious flood. Now families are turning to FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program, to help lift them out of the hole that last week's storms have left them in. prgtoken Moments like these are why people buy insurance. But what about after we have recovered and the Sun shines once more? There is increasing concern among Americans that they will not be able to afford their flood insurance for when the next storm hits. prgtoken A house is the biggest purchase most people make in their lifetime. Unless prgtoken you are among the wealthiest, you are taking out a mortgage to make that purchase. After you have bought your home, imagine if FEMA changes the rules and your flood insurance now costs more than that mortgage? No American should have to pay more in flood insurance than their mortgage, but that is the story I am hearing frequently from people in Louisiana. prgtoken There is a cost-of-living crisis being fueled by the inflation created by this administration. Inflation is costing Louisiana families $884 more a month compared to 2021. Everywhere they turn, they are frustrated with the fact that they are paying more and getting less. prgtoken When I speak to folks back home, they are not only worried about how to put food on their table but also how to pay for gas. They are worried about how they are going to be able to afford to stay in their homes and about how they can afford a good education for their children. prgtoken I would like to do something about some small part of it. Congress has the power to do something about it, and that is to make flood insurance affordable. prgtoken The National Flood Insurance Program was created as a safety net for the most vulnerable Americans. It covers 4.7 million American homes, but those millions of homes are at risk of losing their protection because of skyrocketing premiums caused by FEMA's new risk assessment system, Risk Rating 2.0. prgtoken Let's briefly talk about the history of NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 and how we got here. FEMA introduced Risk Rating 2.0 in October of 2021. It was slated to take effect in 2022 for new policies and in 2023 for existing policyholders. prgtoken Since then, Americans who rely on flood insurance have been held in a state of uncertainty. Before they were hit with that first bill, many families didn't know if their premiums would jump up; if they did, how much; and when the rate hikes would end. prgtoken FEMA told us that 77 percent of policyholders would see a premium hike but refused to publicly disclose how the Agency calculates individual policy rates. So now FEMA is sending Americans a bill and won't tell them how they came up with the price. If you were the American getting th
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2024-4-16

as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today, I am pleased to honor the Dunlap Hatchery as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2024. prgtoken The Dunlap Hatchery, which was established in 1918 by Oscar Dunlap, is one of the longest standing hatcheries, not just in Idaho but in the Nation. The Dunlaps moved the hatchery from Junction City, OR, to Caldwell, ID, early on in order to expand hatchery operations. Originally a chick hatchery and pullets operation, after more than 100 years in business, Dunlap Hatchery now hatches more than 50 varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and game birds. prgtoken With 106 years of expertise in the poultry business under four generations of Dunlaps, the hatchery remains committed to providing quality products and exceptional service to their customers throughout the U.S. During peak season, their efforts guide the hatching of over 1 million chicks annually while operating a retail store to ensure customers have the supplies necessary to successfully raise chickens. prgtoken Congratulations to the Dunlaps and the employees of the Dunlap Hatchery on their selection as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2024. Thank you for serving Idaho as small business owners and entrepreneurs. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.
HONORING THE LANCASTER VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS FOR SEVENTY-ONE YEARS OF INVALUABLE SERVICE TO WESTERN NEW YORK
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-4-16

I rise today to recognize the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps for its 71 years of emergency medical service to Western New York. Operating every day of every year, the volunteer first responders who comprise Lancaster Ambulance often serve as the first and most crucial contact for those suffering from profound medical distress. Lancaster Ambulance's impact on Town of Lancaster, Village of Lancaster, Town of Alden, Village of Alden, and Village of Depew is unquestionable, with its volunteers responding to an astounding 7,553 calls last year alone. These dedicated emergency responders are treating our friends and neighbors amidst their darkest hours, and I am proud to recognize their community service and high level of professionalism in the line of duty. prgtoken On behalf of Congress and the 23rd Congressional District, I commend the men and women serving as part of the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corp. I include in the Record the names of the Lancaster Ambulance Board and Management Team into the Record as a sign of respect and appreciation for their service and all the members of this important organization: prgtoken Chester Popiolkowski--President prgtoken William Revelas--Vice President prgtoken Chistopher Yockey--Secretary prgtoken Robert Over--Treasurer prgtoken Amy Revelas--Director of Operations prgtoken Nancy Revelas--Director prgtoken Allison Abraham--Director prgtoken John O'Donnell--Director prgtoken Jonathan Hunter--Director prgtoken Robert Sank--Chief of Compliance prgtoken Brian Fenik--Chief of Narcotics prgtoken Lynn O'Donnell--Training Coordinator prgtoken I ask that this legislative body joins me in celebrating the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps for its over seven decades of service. We thank the many generations of first responders who have protected the Town of Lancaster and its surrounding area through this exemplary organization.
HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HERO, LETICIA FERRER
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-4-16

I rise today to celebrate this week's Hometown Hero, Leticia Ferrer. During last week's solar eclipse, Leticia's lifelong fascination with the movement of the sun and the moon gave her the opportunity to lead a project in North Texas funded by NASA. Leticia's passion for things out-of-this-world started in childhood and she's dedicated her life to documenting and filming eclipses across the globe. Collecting data on the sun throughout her viewings, last week the Farmer's Branch native had the opportunity to work with the Citizen CATE project as a coordinator of scientific viewing teams of the eclipse at home in North Texas. The Citizen CATE project works with NASA and the National Science Foundation to collect data on the magnetic structure and energy of the sun's corona. Leticia helped lead four teams of North Texans through the process of properly collecting the necessary data and using telescopes to gather images to be studied for years to come. I'm inspired by Leticia's dedication to the advancement of solar science and thankful for her outreach in North Texas during the total solar eclipse.
REFORMING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURING AMERICA ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Continued
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2024-4-16

earlier today, we heard a very convincing case laid out by the House managers of why the Senate should fill its constitutional duty and proceed to a trial on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. prgtoken If we were to hold that trial--and we should do so--this chart that I have been developing since I became chairman of Homeland Security in 2015 would basically be the irrefutable DNA evidence of the crime. prgtoken What I have tried to lay out in this chart is the cause and effect of an ongoing set of illegal immigration crises faced by the last three administrations. What I would like to do briefly here on the Senate floor is to go through that history dating back to 2012 and show the impact of certain actions, certain court decisions, certainly the lack of faithfully executing the law in this administration that has now resulted in an invasion of our country. prgtoken Let's go back to 2012. That is where this chart begins. Even before that, I had developed a chart just showing on an annual basis the number of unaccompanied children coming into this country. It averaged for many years somewhere between 2-, 3-, 4,000 a year. prgtoken Then, in June of 2012, President issued his what I would consider lawless, unlawful deferred action on childhood arrivals. That is what has sparked all the succeeding illegal immigration crises, is that unlawful order, which, by the way, was a complete misuse of prosecutorial discretion, which is supposed to be meted out or administered on a case-by-case basis. For the first time, President and his administration granted prosecutorial discretion to hundreds of thousands of people, and the world took note. prgtoken What happened over the intervening years is that people realized America's law has changed. We have reports. When people come to this country illegally, they would get their notice to appear before an immigration court. Well, that was used by human traffickers down in Central America. They called that their ``permiso''--their permission slip--to come to this country. prgtoken A couple of years after that unlawful order--deferred action on childhood arrivals--President faced his border crisis. He actually called it a humanitarian crisis when, in May and June of 2014, they averaged about 2,200 encounters per day--2,200. That seems like the good old days. That is that little bump in comparison to President 's crisis at the border. prgtoken President actually took action. He started detaining family units with children who came across the border, and it worked. He brought down the number of people crossing into our country illegally because there was a consequence to it. prgtoken Unfortunately, in February of 2015, pro-immigration groups--pro- illegal immigration groups--took the administration to court under the Flores settlement, which was basically--back in the 1990s, there was a court case with a young immigrant girl named
Iran (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-4-16

this weekend, Iran and its proxies in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq fired a barrage of missiles and drones against Israel. The direct attack was a marked escalation on Iran's part. And it is time for the United States, our allies, and nations that support peace and freedom to make it clear to Iran that we are not going stand idly by while Iran threatens Israel and foments terror in the Middle East. prgtoken This weekend's attack was a notable escalation on Iran's part because weapons were fired from Iran and not just by Iran's proxies. Iran has been threatening Israel and undermining peace in the Middle East for decades--Hezbollah, the Houthis, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and, of course, Hamas. prgtoken Hamas gets approximately 90 percent of its military budget from Iran, and there is reason to wonder whether Hamas would even have had the capability to carry out its October 7 attack without the support it receives from Iran. There is certainly reason to wonder what the Middle East would look like today if Iran hadn't spent decades funding and arming terrorist organizations. prgtoken Enough is enough. There have been a lot of redlines drawn for Israel lately. It is past time to draw some for Iran. Unfortunately, the U.S. posture toward Iran under President has too often been one of appeasement. It was President 's attempt to reinstate the administration's flawed Iran nuclear deal. Then there was the administration's attempt to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a deal to free American prisoners. Thankfully, the administration ultimately refroze those funds in the wake of Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel. But unfreezing them in the first place was a serious mistake. prgtoken Just last month, for the second time since the October 7 attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, President renewed a sanctions waiver giving Iran access to $10 billion from energy sales. And now, this week, President was quick to take options off the table for what U.S. assistance to Israel might look like in the wake of Iran's bold attack. This only suggests to Iran that there are limits to the United States-Israel partnership at the very time we must be making good on our ironclad relationship with Israel, not telling our ally it has to go it alone. prgtoken It is alarming when President seems more intent on preventing Israel from responding to Iran's attack than on making it clear to Iran that there can be no more of these attacks and that Iran needs to cease all of its terrorist operations. Unless President wants to continue to see Israel in danger, American troops threatened, and commerce through the Red Sea disrupted, he has to find a much stronger posture when it comes to Iran. prgtoken The United States should be making it clear to Iran that the United States will not allow another Iranian attack like the one that occurred thi
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-4-16

I would like to speak about the most important law that most Americans have never heard of, and that is section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize this important law before it expires at the end of this week. prgtoken FISA, as it is known--the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--and section 702 in particular, is one of the most important and consequential laws we use to keep our country safe from adversaries overseas. prgtoken Congress enacted section 702 in 2008 in response to the threats posed by terrorist groups in the wake of 9/11. It tore down some of the walls that prevented the sharing of information that could be used to keep our country safe, and there is no question that it has been a success. prgtoken Information acquired through section 702 has helped to identify threats against U.S. troops and to thwart planned terrorist attacks abroad and here at home. It has enabled the Federal Government to stop components of weapons of mass destruction from reaching foreign actors. It has also helped disrupt our adversaries' efforts to recruit spies on American soil and send their operatives to the United States. It has helped to understand and combat fentanyl trafficking, identify foreign ransomware attacks, like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, and uncover war crimes and gruesome atrocities in Ukraine. prgtoken For virtually every national security threat that America faces, section 702 is an invaluable asset. There is a reason why it is known as the crown jewel of America's intelligence gathering capabilities. prgtoken The President is briefed daily, in something called the President's Daily Brief, on these intelligence threats that are collected for the President's briefing, as I said, on a daily basis. A full 60 percent of the information contained in the President's daily classified intelligence brief is derived from section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. prgtoken Everyone knows that this authority has not been without controversy. In recent years, the public has learned about extremely concerning misuses of this authority that go far beyond what Congress has authorized. But I want to make clear that the targeting of American citizens here in the United States is expressly prohibited under 702, so any targeting of an American citizen is illegal and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. prgtoken Just to be clear, this authority grants the intelligence community-- by that I mean the CIA, the NSA, the DIA, the FBI--it grants authority to the Department of Justice and our intelligence community to get intelligence on foreigners located outside of the United States--in other words, if it is foreign nationals inside the United States, you cannot use section 702--but more importantly, foreigners outside of the United States who are deemed to be a threat to our natio