mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NDO FAIRNESS ACT
Scott Fitzgerald (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-5-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of this legislation, H.R. 3089, the NDO Fairness Act. This bill makes much-needed changes to the way law enforcement obtains and utilizes nondisclosure orders, also known as secrecy orders. prgtoken Before modern advancements in cloud computing, when a law enforcement officer wanted to search someone's office, they would be required to obtain a search warrant based on probable cause, as we are all well aware of. When the officer executed the search, they would notify the individual, who would then have an opportunity to challenge the search in court. However, the era of cloud computing has ushered in a new method of storing sensitive information, whereby, as we know, individuals are replacing file cabinets with digital file folders. prgtoken Unbeknownst to them, by surrendering this physical office in favor of a digital office, individuals are also surrendering their expectation of privacy. That is because a provision within the Electronic Communications Privacy Act allows law enforcement to access an individual's data by subpoenaing the third-party service provider, such as Microsoft, Google, or Apple, rather than the individual. prgtoken The law enforcement officer then imposes a secrecy order on the company, preventing them from notifying the individual of the search. The secrecy order is often boilerplate in nature and without a time limit, leading to abuse and overuse. prgtoken According to Microsoft, between January to June 2022, Federal authorities requested U.S. citizen data from more than 5,500 accounts, an average of 15 requests per day. Over the same time period, Google received more than 21,000 subpoenas for nearly 50,000 accounts. Apple, whose public data is only available through calendar year 2021, received more than 6,600 requests between July and December of that year. prgtoken In nearly all the cases, a secrecy order was imposed on the company to prevent the disclosure of the search. The NDO Fairness Act would stop this abuse, which has allowed the circumvention of Fourth Amendment protections in favor of simple convenience. prgtoken This legislation ends indefinite secrecy orders, instead requiring the court to certify that disclosing the search is likely to jeopardize an investigation, result in the destruction of evidence, or endanger the life of an individual. prgtoken This legislation also imposes a 90-day limit on secrecy orders, with an extension available if and only if the need for secrecy is justified based on the facts and approval by a judge. prgtoken Finally, this legislation gives the individual subject to searches a chance to be heard and a chance to request a copy of the information that was disclosed. prgtoken Today's legislation, while not a major overhaul of ECPA, provides us with an opportunity to address the threat to our constitutional freedoms. These changes, I believe, will bring searches of
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-5-15

I rise today to honor the life and memory of Mr. Edgar ``Bee'' Ernest Wilhelms, Jr of Reynolds County, MO. prgtoken Edgar Wilhelms, Jr born in Exchange, MO, on September 12, 1925, was the last remaining World War II veteran in Reynolds County. In 1943, at 18 years old, Edgar enlisted with the U.S. Army. During his time in service, he achieved the rank of corporal and aided the Allied efforts in the European Theater. In January of 1946, Corporal Wilhelms left the Army to return to his family back in Missouri. prgtoken A few months prior to his military service, Edgar married his loving wife, Lucille G. Haywood, in Ellington, MO. During their marriage, they had four children. Edgar's greatest joy in life was spending time with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren. In addition to spending time with his family, Edgar enjoyed fishing, cooking fish, and hunting quail, squirrel, deer, and elk. Edgar was also very involved in his community. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 6660 in Centerville, MO, a former member of the Barnesville Masonic Lodge No. 353, and a congregant at the Ellington First Baptist Church. prgtoken Edgar passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the age of 97. He is remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Edgar ``Bee'' Ernest Wilhelms, Jr and I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time of mourning.
National Police Week (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-15

this week is National Police Week, a time to honor the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. These brave men and women have chosen a difficult and often dangerous career. They have dedicated their lives to protecting the rest of us, defending our civil liberties and protecting our cities and neighborhoods. That decision requires tremendous courage and sacrifice by both the officer and their family. prgtoken We have recently been reminded of the dangers they face every day. Just a week ago, shoppers wandered in and out of a busy outdoor mall in Allen, TX, near Dallas. It was a beautiful, seemingly normal Saturday afternoon until the day took a tragic turn. A man pulled up in his vehicle, got out of his car with multiple weapons, and started firing. prgtoken Fortunately, out of this terrible tragedy, fortunately, an officer was already on the scene for an unrelated call. He did what he was trained to do and what his conscience told him to do and ran immediately toward the danger. He didn't hesitate to put his own life on the line in order to stop the shooter and save countless lives. prgtoken The shooter killed eight innocent people and wounded seven more. Had this brave officer not been on the scene, it is difficult to imagine how many more casualties would have been incurred, how many more lives would have been lost. prgtoken The shooter was carrying multiple weapons and had five additional guns in his car. If not for the quick action of that Allen police officer, more families would be making funeral arrangements today. prgtoken Stories like this underscore the dangers our officers take in their daily lives. A routine call or a traffic stop can turn deadly without warning. And these men and women still lace up their boots and put on a uniform each morning. prgtoken Each year for National Police Week, we honor the law enforcement community, naturally, and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. One of the most striking reminders of that sacrifice is the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which sits along the National Mall here in Washington, DC. prgtoken It is a powerful tribute for the State, Federal, and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and features marble walls, filled with more than 23,000 names. Each of those names represents an American hero. And, sadly, the names of 67 Texans will be added this year. prgtoken These officers gave their lives in service to their communities and our country. And while there is nothing we can do to console the families of those heroes, we can do more to support their brothers and sisters, still in blue. prgtoken Over the last couple of years, members of our law enforcement community have faced an onslaught of new challenges. From the pandemic to dangerous ``defund the police'' rhetoric to baseless attacks, the men and women in blue who keep us safe are subject to tremendous risks and st
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR RECOGNIZING "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK"
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2023-5-15

with the recent largest-ever homicide spike in the history of our Nation, our first responders and law enforcement officers are facing unprecedented threats on the job at severe staff shortages as they are simultaneously met with radical calls by some to ``abolish the police.'' prgtoken These men and women of extraordinary courage who take the risks, sweat the details, and face danger each and every day in order to ensure public safety not only deserve our gratitude and respect but also robust support from Congress to assist them in keeping our communities safe. prgtoken The brave officers we remember this Police Week--and always--remind us of the increasingly dangerous job our men and women in blue so courageously perform--some paying the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their community. prgtoken In the Fourth Congressional District of New Jersey, we specifically remember Officer Joseph William Goertz, of the Lakewood Township Police Department, Officer Joseph Charles Capriotti, of the Middletown Police Department, and Officer Matthew Scott Horton, of the Ocean County Sheriffs Office. prgtoken , those who commit violent acts against police and others, as well as those who destroy property and steal, should be prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law. As a lawmaker, I've written many laws to combat crime and assist victims and strongly opposed recent legislation in Congress to eviscerate ``qualified immunity'' for law enforcement. Qualified immunity--a judicially created legal doctrine-- shields government officials, including law enforcement, from personal liability lawsuits so long as their actions do not violate ``clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.'' prgtoken According to the Congressional Research Service, ``The Supreme Court has observed that qualified immunity balances two important interests-- the need to hold public officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials from harassment, distraction and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.'' prgtoken As recently as last Congress, introduced a bill that would end qualified immunity and states in pertinent part that ``It shall not be a defense or immunity in any action brought under this section against a local law enforcement officer. . .'' even if ``. . .the defendant was acting in good faith, or that the defendant believed, reasonably or otherwise, that his or her conduct was lawful at the time when the conduct was committed. . .'' prgtoken If this section became law, it would likely result in a flood of legal actions--an engraved invitation to sue law enforcement officers. prgtoken Moreover, it will deter police from using force where the use of force is necessary to save life or protect property--diminishing the ability of police to provide public safety in dangerous situations. As an elected official, words are inad
HONORING THE MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER JUILLERAT
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-5-15

I rise today to remember the life of Christopher Lee Juillerat and to commend the inspiring work done by his mother, Theresa Juillerat, in light of Chris's passing. prgtoken Three years ago this week on May 12, 2020, at just 23 years old, Chris lost his life to fentanyl poisoning. A graduate of North Side High School in Fort Wayne where he played baseball, he was survived by his young son, Jaxon, and many other family members and friends who miss him dearly. prgtoken In the years since, Theresa has been tireless in her efforts to educate other parents and youth about the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. This is so important, as fentanyl has devastated so many other families across Northeast Indiana and the Nation. prgtoken In Psalm 147:3, Scripture tells us of the Lord, ``He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'' In the wake of her own loss, Theresa has dedicated her life to saving families from enduring the same. prgtoken This is a testament to Chris's life and to the selfless service of his mother, Theresa, to save the lives of others. Please join me in praying for the Juillerat family and for all families who've lost a loved one to the fentanyl crisis.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF JOSSELL BAKHEET ON HER OFFER OF APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2023-5-15

it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Jossell Bakheet of Perrysburg, Ohio, has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. prgtoken Jossell's offer of appointment permits her to attend the United States Air Force Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2027. Attending one of our nation's military academies offers the opportunity to serve our country and receive a world-class education. At the same time, these young men and women undertake one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. prgtoken Jossell brings a tremendous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2027. While attending Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, Jossell participated in student government, medical club, Spanish Honorary Society, and was a member of the National Honor Society. Throughout high school, Jossell played lacrosse and field hockey, and she served as team captain in both. After high school, she attended the Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jossell Bakheet on her offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available, and I am positive that Jossell will excel during her career at the Air Force Academy. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to her as she begins her service to our Nation.
THE DURHAM REPORT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-5-15

. Madam , today the Durham report finally came out. As suspected, the FBI and the DOJ acted vastly improperly with raw and uncorroborated so-called evidence that they used to hound President for well over 2 years and try to influence the 2016 election as well as make the administration untenable following that. prgtoken So who is going to go to jail for this? prgtoken It is hard to tell. It is pretty difficult to prosecute these sorts of things when the insiders at the Department of Justice and FBI are going to be trying to make sure it doesn't happen. prgtoken So what do we do to put, at least, the confidence of the American people back into the upper echelons of the Department of Justice and the FBI so that we don't have to think that they are going to be doing this sort of thing to anybody they disagree with politically on top of what we just saw? prgtoken Indeed, how do we regain trust? prgtoken It has been blown up in the name of influencing an election in 2016 and harming the administration.
Border Security (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-15

we have really heard quite a bit over the past few weeks and especially this past weekend about this administration and their decision to do away with title 42, and I would take this opportunity to remind my ic colleagues that President himself admitted that our southern border will be, and I quote him, ``chaotic for a while'' post-title 42. So the expectation is that this will create chaos, and they know it, but they are doing it anyway. prgtoken In the days right before title 42 was terminated, we were already seeing unprecedented chaos along our southern border. Again, they knew it. Chaos was coming, but they were going to do it anyway because it serves their purposes. prgtoken Now, here is some of the chaos that has actually happened at that border. These are last week's numbers. They are not my numbers. They are not numbers. They are Border Patrol's numbers. This is what this administration is doing to the communities that are along that southern border. prgtoken Border Patrol reported last week 68,000 apprehensions, and they seized hundreds of pounds of narcotics, including 56 pounds of fentanyl. Bear in mind, 1 little gram, one little touch is enough to kill. We are all hearing ``One pill will kill.'' Yet think about 56 pounds of that coming in. What would that do to your community? prgtoken At the same time, on top of the 68,000 who were apprehended, there were 16,000 ``got-aways'' whom they could see on surveillance video, but they could not get to them. Those are the known ``got-aways.'' So they cross the border, and they go running into the country. prgtoken There are also the unknown ``got-aways.'' As the Presiding Officer knows, as Border Patrol is out, as they are going through their day, many times they find evidence of the people who have crossed where they couldn't see them on video. They weren't wanting to be apprehended. Those are the really bad, bad, bad guys who are bringing in more drugs, more terrorists, more gangs into this country. prgtoken In the past 72 hours alone, we have seen three agents assaulted. These are our Border Patrol agents. They are being assaulted. Bear in mind, the cartels--global organizations--the cartels are in charge of that border on the Mexico side. So three of our agents have been assaulted. There were almost 15,000 more apprehensions in 72 hours and more than 4,300 ``got-aways'' who evaded capture. prgtoken As I said, these are not my numbers. They are not numbers. These are the numbers of the Border Patrol. They are the administration's numbers. They know that they are creating chaos, that they are making life difficult, that they are making the job of Border Patrol harder every single day, but it serves their purpose, so they do it anyway. prgtoken They know exactly what is happening and what will happen if they don't regain control of that border: prgtoken more chaos. The chaos is going to escalate because
Remembering Corporal Marion "Wayne" Saucerman (Executive Session)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-5-15

. Cpl Marion ``Wayne'' Saucerman--there he is. prgtoken He graduated from Dugger High School in Sullivan County, IN, in 1943. Two days later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. This is a decision he made after he listened to reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor over the family radio in 1941. prgtoken Corporal Saucerman was ready to fight, and fight he did with great valor. In a year, he went from rural western Indiana to the volcanic beaches of Iwo Jima. He was part of an elite sniper platoon in the 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. prgtoken As he and other marines approached the shore, the battle was so fierce, the marines could barely make out the smoke-shrouded island. prgtoken Days after landing, Corporal Saucerman and his 30-man platoon reached the frontlines. Only 10 returned. While Corporal Saucerman did not raise the Stars and Stripes on Mount Suribachi, he could see it waving high in the distance from his position down on the shoreline. prgtoken That American flag would not have flown over the island had Corporal Saucerman and his brother marines not been there fighting for it. prgtoken Weeks later, he led an operation to flush out Japanese riflemen who were hidden deep in caves. Wayne Saucerman was hit three times by enemy fire: a bullet to the right hand and two more in the left leg, one of which he carried the rest of his life. prgtoken The Purple Heart was Corporal Saucerman's reward for his bravery at Iwo Jima. The bullet in his leg was a lifelong reminder of the service to his country. prgtoken The sacrifices of those marines and sailors on Iwo Jima, men like Wayne Saucerman, saved the lives of 24,000 American air crewmen from a perilous fate in the waters of the Pacific and changed the tide of World War II. And then they came home. They built communities; they raised families; they continued to make history. In fact, for 35 years, Corporal Saucerman worked at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, helping build the machines that took Americans across highways, into the air, and to the Moon. prgtoken Corporal Saucerman passed away on May 2. He was aged 97. prgtoken I rise today to give tribute to a life well lived in both heroic service to his country and dedicated service back home, a man who had great love for his family and friends and a Hoosier who was, in return, greatly loved. prgtoken His passing is a reminder that the ranks of our World War II veterans grow thinner by the day. They have saved civilization by simply doing their duty. prgtoken In what time we have, with what poor power each of us has, let us never forget or cease to thank these heroic veterans for doing their part. prgtoken Semper Fidelis. prgtoken .
National Police Week (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-5-15

each year during Police Week, we honor the law enforcement officials who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities, to our State, and to our country. prgtoken This year, we will add the names of five Ohioans to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, all who laid their lives down last year: Deputy Sheriff Daniel Kin, Deputy Sheriff Matthew Eugene Yates, Police Officer Dominic Francis, Agent John Dale Stayrook, Deputy Sheriff Terrence Nicholas Bate. prgtoken Sadly, we already know of one more name that will be added to the memorial next year: Officer Timothy James Unwin III of the Springfield Township Police Department. prgtoken Each one of these losses is a tragedy for a family, for a community, for their fellow officers. These Ohioans' lives are a reminder of the ideals we should strive for. We need officers who are true public servants in the best sense of the word, people who give themselves to their communities. And these Ohioans gave so much. prgtoken In their memory, I want to reminisce for a moment about each of them and tell my colleagues why this is so important and who these public servants were. prgtoken Deputy Sheriff Daniel J. Kin was a devoted husband and father to two young children. He was known for his easygoing personality and being a colleague and friend whom everyone could count on. prgtoken Deputy Kin was a Sandusky native--a community on Lake Erie--and helped his father run their family farm in his free time. He gave his life while serving as deputy sheriff at the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office. prgtoken Deputy Matthew Eugene Yates served his community for 15 years at the Clark County Sheriff's Office as a member of their special operations team. His colleagues remember Deputy Yates for his joy but also his strength and his bravery. He mentored younger deputies and children in their community. prgtoken Our thoughts are with his wife, his daughter, his stepsons, and his father, who also served in the Clark County Sheriff's Office--a long history of public service in that family. prgtoken Police Officer Dominic M. Francis grew up in Bluffton, OH, and returned home to join the Bluffton Police Department after playing football at the University of Findlay and serving at the Findlay Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office. Officer Francis received the Officer of the Year award twice, multiple letters of commendation, the Chief's Leadership Award, and the Bluffton Police Department Lifesaving Award. He was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers as Top Cop and earned the Ohio EMS Star of Life multiple times. He loved spending time with his wife and two children at Indian Lake and served in law enforcement for 19 years. prgtoken In honor of his memory, a portion of I-95 that runs near Bluffton has been renamed the ``Officer Dominic Francis Memorial Highway.'' prgtoken Agent John Dale Stayrook was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather and devot