mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John W. Hickenlooper (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-3-7

I am not sure I can add too much more beyond what has already been said. prgtoken I come to the floor today to remember and add to the remembrances of the incredible life and the impactful legacy of Pat O'Toole. Senators Barrasso and Lummis and my fellow Colorado Senator Mr. Bennet have been very eloquent. But I think sometimes, really, it has to be said by everyone if everything has already been said. prgtoken As was mentioned, he lived in the Little Snake River Valley that winds back and forth along the border of Colorado and Wyoming, and he did make a very big impression on both States. He may have legally resided in Wyoming, but both States claim him. prgtoken More than anything else, he was a westerner and, in many ways, a consummate westerner. Pat understood western water and agriculture. He understood conservation. And just as the West was built by barn raisings more than shootouts, he harnessed the power of collaboration to really get to the heart of the complex discussions on managing our water and our natural resources. prgtoken He was not only a graduate of Colorado State University; he was a longtime supporter. Obviously, he fell in love, met his wife, defined his future at CSU before he went off to South America for a little touring. He went on to serve as the longtime president of Family Farm Alliance, which stood up for irrigators all over the West and recognized the importance of food to the future of the country. prgtoken And he touched many different groups at that intersection between agriculture and the environment. His public service and engagement spanned decades, including service as a State legislator in Wyoming and as an appointee on President Clinton's Western Water Policy Commission. prgtoken But Pat's impact wasn't just limited to the West. He was well-known here on Capitol Hill. As each of the other Senators have said, he testified many times--more than 20 times--here in Congress. And this was not because he liked doing it or he enjoyed it, but he recognized he had a responsibility to share his expertise and to engage on legislation. He did it not because he found coming to Washington pleasurable but because he believed in the West and in his responsibility to make sure that decisions affecting the West were made wisely. And he really pushed to make sure that we had advancements in western water management. As Western States continue to wrestle with the extreme droughts caused by climate change, Pat's wisdom is going to direct us to good solutions, and his attention to process is going to inform us. prgtoken I think it is important to remember that, no matter how many hats he wore, he was always a rancher at heart, raising ``cattle, sheep, dogs, and children'' on his family ranch. He was deeply committed to preserving the farming and ranching character that is so essential to the West, and he recognized the importance of conservation in protecting and maintaining that
WELCOMING FAT JOE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION
Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-7

I rise today to recognize my guest for the State of the Union. He is a leader in the fight to make healthcare more affordable and equitable. prgtoken Fat Joe is a Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is also a partner with Power to the Patients, to advocate for healthcare price transparency. prgtoken Confusing health information, language barriers, and lack of insurance are challenges that make our healthcare system difficult to navigate, especially for communities of color. prgtoken Because of high out-of-pocket costs, insured patients can still face enormous medical bills, and uninsured patients are more likely to face unnecessary hospital fees. prgtoken Healthcare is the only service where someone does not know the cost until after you purchase it, until after receiving the healthcare services. We must remove barriers that restrict families from getting care, including knowing your costs up front. prgtoken This builds upon the work of President and House to put people over politics, to lower the cost of healthcare coverage and lower drug prices. prgtoken Fat Joe's work to highlight the need for price transparency is necessary to reduce healthcare costs for American families. I am proud to welcome him back to the Capitol as my guest. Full Funding for WIC
Nomination of Adeel A. Mangi (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-3-7

I have an extraordinary responsibility as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee--important legislation and, probably more important, the filling of vacancies in our Federal judiciary. prgtoken Under article III of our Constitution, we create judges, and there are approximately 890 of these Federal judges across the United States. As vacancies occur, as they often do, the Senate Judiciary Committee, working with the White House and Members of the Senate, has to do background checks on these individuals, submit them to the FBI for further background checks, do our own due diligence, consider them in an open hearing before the committee, and ultimately vote in committee before they come to the floor for advice and consent. prgtoken So far this year--I should say in this term--under President , we have had 181 Federal judges who have gone through this process--been cleared on the floor, reported out of the Senate--and are now serving their Nation in this capacity. prgtoken I can tell you that it is not an easy process. Lengthy questionnaires are given to each nominee to identify so many details of their lives, I find it hard to believe they kept track and record of it, but they did. Then, of course, Agencies call to verify the contents and answers in those questionnaires. Then they go through close scrutiny by the staff of the Judiciary Committee on both sides, and s. Then comes the day of reckoning when they have their hearing in a public setting. Many of these nominees are questioned extensively by members of the committee. I will tell you, politics ain't beanbag, and when it comes to the questions asked of judicial nominees, it is a serious process. prgtoken We have gone through more than 200 under the administration in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some of them have had a tough time of it, many of them had an easy time of it, but they all go through the same process. prgtoken One of the most important accomplishments of this administration has been the confirmation of highly qualified, I believe evenhanded judges to the Federal bench. prgtoken As I mentioned, to date, we have confirmed 181 lifetime judges, including a number of firsts--the first Black woman and public defender on the Supreme Court of the United States, the first Muslim-American judge on a district court, the first Asian-American judge on the Seventh Circuit. We should add another first to that list--Adeel Mangi to the Third Circuit. prgtoken Mr. Mangi is a highly qualified nominee with incredible credentials and more than two decades of litigation experience. He would be the first Muslim American to ever serve on a Federal appellate court. prgtoken Nevertheless, he is going through scrutiny unlike anything I have ever seen. He has been criticized and questioned in a way that I have never seen before in the committee. Unfortunately, many of the questions that have been raised about Mr. Mangi
Antitrust Appropriations (Executive Session)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-3-7

. Thank you, Senator Shaheen. I am pleased to be here with my colleague from New Hampshire. prgtoken , as I said when I came to the floor earlier this week, I appreciate the tough negotiations that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, including Senator Shaheen with her very important subcommittee, had to go through in crafting this bill. There are many good things in it; and, crucially, it keeps the Federal Government open and working for the American people. prgtoken However, as I noted last week, the technical language released by the Appropriations Committee on Sunday restricts the Antitrust Division from using funds generated from merger filing fees that exceed the appropriated amount collected in fiscal year 2024 to enforce our competition laws without a separate act of Congress. prgtoken So the reason this has become a major deal for many of us that are simply interested in allowing the Department of Justice to do its work on some very important cases, which are well-publicized that are pending now, is that it conflicts with the intent of Senator Grassley's and my bill that passed last Congress by an 88-to-8 vote. This law provides enforcers with the resources necessary to take on the anticompetitive practices by the biggest companies the world has ever known, an acknowledgment that the world has changed. prgtoken Prior to Sunday, appropriators had, for decades, allowed the Antitrust Division to retain and use all merger filing fees it collected without limit. This makes sense. If the fees collected are high, that means the mergers are rampant; and if mergers are rampant, the Antitrust Division needs additional funding to review and challenge anticompetitive mergers when they are anticompetitive, while simultaneously maintaining its non-fee-generating work of prosecuting price-fixing conspiracies and opposing monopolistic behavior. prgtoken Unfortunately, the language in the current appropriations bill could divert fees away from the Antitrust Division in fiscal year 2024 if those fees exceeded $233 million, potentially eroding the intent of the bill that Senator Grassley and I passed, along with Senator Lee, with overwhelming bipartisan support a little over a year ago. prgtoken Yesterday, Senator Grassley and I, along with a bipartisan group that led the bill in the House, made clear that the bill's unambiguous intent was to allow the Antitrust Division to retain and use all fees generated from the new fee structure. prgtoken Just to clarify with my friend from the great State of New Hampshire, I ask her if she shares the understanding that it is the intent of the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act to provide additional resources to the Antitrust Division by increasing merger filing fees.
HUNTER BIDEN AND IMPEACHMENT
Robert Garcia (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-7

House s have finally decided to have Hunter testify in public on their sham impeachment inquiry into President . prgtoken Now, the American people will soon see what we all saw behind closed doors: that there is zero evidence--zero evidence--of any wrongdoing by President who had no involvement in any of Hunter's business dealings. Absolutely none. prgtoken We will continue to call out these lies. prgtoken Let's take a look at the star witnesses that the House majority has brought forward in this political stunt impeachment. prgtoken We have Alexander Smirnov, who we know is an indicted Russian asset. He has been indicted for lying, by the way, and working with Russian spies. We have another who turned out to be a spy for China, who actually sold weapons to Iran. The third witness right now is serving a 14-year sentence in prison for fraud. prgtoken You can't make this stuff up. prgtoken We also, of course, have recently learned about another disgraced con man who colluded with the campaign. They are all-star witnesses of the majority. Of course, we shouldn't forget Rudy Giuliani and his grand conspiracy theories, which is all the House majority is left with. prgtoken Now, the GOP insists on impeaching President at whatever the cost, all to help get reelected. prgtoken Now, was impeached twice for his crimes and faces 91 felony charges, and he is desperate for revenge. If there is anyone we should be investigating, it is the crime family and Jared Kushner's $2 billion deal from the Saudi Government, which he received just weeks after leaving the White House. The one person that was in charge of the Middle East--the Middle East envoy--then receives $2 billion into an investment fund. We know that the Saudis spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in properties. That is a real scandal and should be investigated. prgtoken It is time to end this impeachment scam and get back to work for the American people.
Nomination of Adeel A. Mangi (Executive Session)
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2024-3-7

before I begin my remarks, I just want to associate myself with the remarks of the chair of the Judiciary Committee about the nominee. Everything he said is true. I share his horror at the vilification of him, which I do believe is based on his faith, and he would be an outstanding member of the Federal court. prgtoken Thank you, , for your defense on behalf of an excellent nominee.
Antitrust Appropriations (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2024-3-7

I am pleased to join Senator Klobuchar on the floor today. Senator Klobuchar is the chair of the Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. I chair the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, and we are here to do a colloquy about the work of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and its funding. prgtoken First of all, I would like to thank my friend from Minnesota for her tireless work to strengthen competition policy and protect consumers. In particular, I want to commend her for her leadership on the Merger Fee Modernization Act, her bipartisan bill that was signed into law at the end of 2022. That bill modernized the merger fee filing structure for the first time in decades, resulting in more funding for the antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department. prgtoken Today, we are considering fiscal year 2024 funding for the CJS bill as part of the six-bill minibus that is before the Senate. I can state with certainty that as a direct result of Senator Klobuchar's leadership, the bipartisan, bicameral appropriations package that the Senate is considering provides the highest ever appropriation for the Antitrust Division in the Agency's 121-year history. prgtoken The Antitrust Division plays a vital role in promoting competition and cracking down on monopolistic practices that hurt U.S. consumers. That is why despite the extremely tight fiscal constraints for this year's budget, we fought off the House s' attempts to gut funding for the Division and to impede its vital work. I am proud that we managed to secure increased funding for the Division in extremely tough bipartisan negotiations. And I want to thank the staff of the Commerce, Science and Justice Appropriations Subcommittee for their good work. prgtoken House s wanted to cut antitrust by $32 million or 14 percent. We ended up providing antitrust with a 3.6 percent increase compared to last year. It is one of the only Agencies within the bill to receive an increase, and we fought for this increase because the Antitrust mission is as critical as ever. prgtoken Decades of consolidation have left Americans with less choice and less innovation, and the effects of that consolidation can be felt in all facets of American life. So this funding will further the Agency's critical mission to promote competition and level the playing field for the American people. prgtoken Now, the Antitrust Division is funded primarily through fees that are paid by companies seeking to merge. My colleague's legislation increases fees that are paid by large corporations and big mergers and decreases those on small businesses and smaller mergers. And for the first time, it adjusts the filing fee amounts each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. prgtoken Hopefully, I got that right, Senator Klobuchar.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-3-7

I want to say what a great privilege it is to be out here today with my colleagues from Wyoming and my colleague Senator Hickenlooper from Colorado to celebrate Pat O'Toole's life. prgtoken Pat O'Toole was a rancher, as you have heard, a conservationist whose family's six-generation operation, the Ladder Ranch, straddles the Colorado and Wyoming border, as my colleague from Wyoming said. prgtoken The proud son of Irish immigrants, Pat was born in Pittsburgh, but like many of us, he felt a calling to the West. He attended Colorado State University, where he met his beloved wife Sharon, who is here today. prgtoken After graduation, they were both accepted into law school, but instead they pooled their savings to buy some old ewes and take over Sharon's family ranch. For 8 years, they lived in a cabin on Ladder Ranch without electricity or running water. That might sound like a hardship to a lot of people here, but knowing the two of them, I bet it wasn't. And they were in one of the most beautiful places on this planet. In the summer, they camped while herding sheep, and bit by bit, they built their herd. prgtoken Pat was a fervent advocate for the West. He cared deeply about all the wildlife in the West, the Colorado River, and protecting American agriculture. prgtoken Pat lived a life of service. He served as president, as you have heard, of the Family Farm Alliance for nearly 20 years. He sat on the boards of the Intermountain West Joint Ventures and Solutions from the Land and was, with Senator Lummis, a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives. prgtoken When I came to the Senate in 2009, Pat was kind enough to recognize my failings and my lack of background and lack of experience in the things he cared most about, and he was kind enough to bring me up to speed on Colorado and western agriculture. I am still trying to catch up. prgtoken This is a photo I wanted to bring today. This is a photo of Pat telling me what I need to know about western agriculture on his ranch. You can tell I am listening more intently than I often do, certainly on this floor, but there was not a word you wanted to miss from Pat. There was nobody better to be the guide of people in this place so far from the ranch where he and Sharon raised their family. And we needed to listen because ranching touches every major western issue: water, immigration, Tribal rights, conservation, and even access to healthcare. Pat cared about all those things. prgtoken Those who were lucky enough to know Pat know he had a lot of big ideas and he had the drive to get those big ideas done. He was a doer. And he also had an amazing Rolodex. prgtoken Most recently, Pat brought together a broad coalition with the goal of restoring the stressed landscapes of the Routt and Medicine Bow National Forests and the contiguous Yampa and Little Snake watershed. My staff and I were honored to be included in that coalition. prgtoken I should say that w
WELCOMING CASSIE SMITH TO THE CAPITOL
Donald G. Davis (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-3-7

at the young age of 109, Cassie Smith voted on the first day of this year's primary and was among the first in North Carolina to do so. prgtoken Ms. Cassie, also known as Ma Cassie by neighbors and friends in her Battleboro community, is a living and walking symbol of our democracy. I am honored to welcome her to Washington, D.C as my special guest to the State of the Union. prgtoken When I visited the Smith home to invite her, in response, Ma Cassie smiled brightly and said: I am blessed. I thank God every day. prgtoken Her faith drives her, and she wholeheartedly believes in the importance of fulfilling her civic duty. What a reminder as we commemorate Bloody Sunday. prgtoken Ms. Cassie traveled by airplane, which was the first time she has flown, and she said this was an item on her bucket list. At 109, why not? prgtoken I am glad to let eastern North Carolina and the American people know that Delta flight 5310 has landed, and Ms. Cassie is here in Washington, D.C safe and sound with her son, Frank, and caretaker, Faye. Ms. Cassie can check that one off her bucket list. prgtoken From working on the farm, turned maid, and now special guest at 109 years old, what an American story and inspiration. Her presence at our Nation's Capitol embodies the very essence of why we have the opportunity to assemble and our democratic values. prgtoken , it is indeed with great honor I share Ms. Cassie Smith's story.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL ACT OF 2023
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-7

. Mr. Chair, due to events in California, I will unfortunately be unable to cast my vote for legislation considered on the House floor today. Had I been able to be present, I would have voted according to the following: ``no'' on rollcall No. 66, Passage of H.R. 7511--Laken Riley Act, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 67, H.R. 3843-- Action for Dental Health Act of 2023, ``no'' on rollcall No. 68, Lawler #1 Amendment on H.R. 2799--Expanding Access to Capital Act, ``no'' on rollcall No. 69, Huizenga #2 Amendment on H.R. 2799--Expanding Access to Capital Act, ``no'' on rollcall No. 70, Lucas #3 Amendment on H.R. 2799--Expanding Access to Capital Act, ``no'' on rollcall No. 71, Wagner #4 Amendment on H.R. 2799--Expanding Access to Capital Act, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 72, Sherman #5 Amendment on H.R. 2799-- Expanding Access to Capital Act.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL ACT OF 2023
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-3-8

. Madam Chair, I just want to reiterate my opposition to this amendment. prgtoken As I said, the only fees seem to want to spare from the political crusade are those charged by the government itself. As I said, the Internal Revenue Service charges fees to folks who pay their taxes late. prgtoken There is no definition of junk fee anywhere in here. prgtoken I would also like to point out to the gentlewoman from Michigan that I was a sponsor of the Families Fly Together Act which did away with additional fees for children who are accompanied by their parents on a plane. Those children get to fly free with their parents. That was my piece of legislation. It is called Families Fly Together. It was in the base legislation of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization, and it passed this U.S. House Chamber without the gentlewoman from Michigan's support. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and .
RECOGNIZING THE UNION COUNTY WRESTLING TEAM
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to recognize the Union County High School wrestling team for achieving their 15th state championship and 3 individual state champion titles. prgtoken The Union County wrestling team has been the gold standard for Kentucky wrestling for nearly two decades and has created a dynasty of success. In the past 11 seasons, they have achieved 9 state titles. prgtoken Their first state championship title was in 1976 and they have continued their winning traditions since. I am honored to stand with the community of Union County to celebrate another state wrestling championship. prgtoken I am proud to recognize this tremendous achievement by the Union County wrestling team as they add another trophy to their case.
BLOOMINGDALE, GEORGIA, CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to recognize the city of Bloomingdale, Georgia, which is soon to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its incorporation into Chatham County. prgtoken Bloomingdale was founded in the 1830s as an agricultural community situated along the Central Georgia Railway Line with an economy dependent on the farming and rail sectors. In 1974, the rural, close- knit community was incorporated into Chatham County. Now, Bloomingdale is home to nearly 2,800 residents. prgtoken As the city has grown, its history has been preserved through sites such as Veterans Freedom Park and the Bloomingdale History Museum. prgtoken Locals take pride in the city's festivals and attractions, such as the annual Easter egg hunt and fireworks celebration on July Fourth. The city's geographical attributes provide ample opportunities to engage in popular outdoor activities, including fishing and canoeing. prgtoken Overall, Bloomingdale offers something for everyone, making it an excellent location to call home. I am proud to represent the city's residents, as well as those in the surrounding communities.