mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONDEMNING MILITARY COUP IN BURMA
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2021-3-18

I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I thank the chairman for his leadership. prgtoken I would especially like to thank Mr. Levin for his resolution condemning the military coup in Burma, and calling for release of all those who have been detained, as well as restoring those elected to serve in Parliament to a position that allows them to fulfill their important duties. prgtoken I would also like to thank Mr. Connolly for his Protect Democracy in Burma Act, H.R. 1112, and the important report that it will authorize. prgtoken , 24 years ago, in 1997, I chaired my first hearing on Burmese human rights abuse, and chaired additional hearings after that, including in 1998 and 2006. I also introduced several resolutions addressing the ongoing egregious crisis, including H. Res. 1710, which decried the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and called on the Burmese military regime to end its campaign of religious and ethnic persecution of the Rohingya people, amounting to crimes against humanity. prgtoken Thus, after decades of abuse, rape, torture, and murder, it is incredibly tragic as to how little has changed in that country. prgtoken As H. Res. 134 points out, the Burmese Government's unlawful detention of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the crackdown on democracy advocates and the squelching of free expression and other fundamental civil and political rights, is outrageous and begs immediate reform and correction. prgtoken The United States must, and I believe will, in a bipartisan way, and with the executive branch taking the lead, do its part. Every sanction of leverage must be deployed, and we must call on all of our international partners to join us in those efforts. prgtoken The most glaring example of basic religious persecution, , is the oppression of Burma's Muslim Rohingya population. This persecution has been aided and abetted in part by religious and nationalist extremists such as the Buddhist monk Wirathu and the 969 movement. prgtoken We also see religious persecution intertwined with ethnic persecution, as in the case of the Karen, Kachin, and Shan people, many of whom are Christians. I have met many of them over the years. prgtoken Many of you have seen the riveting image of a Catholic nun, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawang, kneeling before a group of militarized police, pleading that they do not shoot the protesters. Sadly, at least two protesters lost their lives that day. But what gives us at least a glimmer of hope is that opposite Sister Ann Rose, two of the officers, who are presumably Buddhists, also got down on their knees in response that this ought to be peaceful and not violent. prgtoken It is an image which gives one some hope that the people of Burma can overcome their differences and unite for peace and justice and for the benefit of all Burmese, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. prgtoken , I thank my distinguished chairman and the ranking member
Nomination of Martin Joseph Walsh (Executive Calendar)
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-3-18

in a moment, I am going to propound a unanimous consent request, but before I do so, I want to make some brief remarks. prgtoken As my colleagues know and as several fact checkers have confirmed over the past week, the ' partisan reconciliation bill that became law last week will provide many illegal aliens with $1,400 rebate checks paid for by the American taxpayer. By several estimates, millions of illegal immigrants will get these rebates. prgtoken I offered an amendment 2 weeks ago to the ' bill to close this loophole. During debate on my amendment, one ic Senator spoke against my amendment, saying that no illegal aliens have Social Security numbers, and therefore the premise of my amendment and my speech was, he said, ``not true.'' In fact, here are the Senator's full remarks from the floor 2 weeks ago: , the statement from the Senator from Texas is just plain false. Let me be clear. Undocumented immigrants do not have Social Security numbers, and they do not qualify for stimulus relief checks, period. And just in case you didn't notice, they didn't qualify in December when 92 of us voted for that measure, and they don't qualify under the American Rescue Plan. Nothing has changed. And for you to stand up there and say the opposite is just to rile people up over something that is not true. It is not true, and we know what is going on [here]. They want to be able to give speeches and say the checks go to undocumented people. In the circumstance where there is a parent receiving-- prgtoken At that point, the Senator's time expired. prgtoken Following that debate, the Senator in question took to Twitter to double down. So it was not, after an all-night of no sleep, a moment of erroneous comment, but, rather, on Twitter that same Senator tweeted: Sen. Cruz's claim is only meant to rile people up over something that's not true. You cannot receive a stimulus check without a Social Security #. That's a fact. Instead of discriminating against mixed-status families, let's prioritize getting more relief to those families. prgtoken A second tweet from the same Senator: We simply cannot stand by and allow outright falsehoods to be propagated on the Senate floor. It's time for GOP Senators like Ted Cruz to stop trying to rile people up over misinformation. prgtoken Well, as John Adams famously said, facts are stubborn things, and it turns out the comments from the ic Senator were categorically false and my comments that this bill would send checks to millions of illegal aliens were categorically true. prgtoken Numerous fact checkers began looking at the claims. Newsweek initially fact-checked it, and, as is the wont with a fair number of media fact checkers, took the word of the for it, concluded my statement was mostly false.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-3-18

reserving the right to object, my friend, the Senator from Oregon, suggested that the Senate rules precluded this provision from being addressed in the recently passed bill. prgtoken It is actually a little bit more complicated than that. So let's remember how we got here. prgtoken Last year, s and worked together, and we passed five bills, adding up to about $4 trillion, authorizing another several trillion dollars of loans. It was an extraordinary reaction to an extraordinary moment, and s and came together time and time again. prgtoken As the circumstances were changing, we passed new legislation to reflect that--passing a big bill, a trillion-dollar bill nearly, in December. But as soon as our ic colleagues had the ability, they decided they weren't interested in any bipartisan legislation prgtoken anymore. It was going to be strictly using the reconciliation process, and that is the only reason that this provision couldn't be addressed because it can't be dealt with under the reconciliation rules. prgtoken So now our ic colleagues perceive a problem with this legislation, and they would like the s' consent to fix what might have been resolved with some kind of compromise had they pursued the path that we pursued when we were in control. prgtoken But let's talk about where we are and what we have done for individuals and families. The unprecedented financial support from the Federal Government has been really amazing. An average family of four has, by now, received stimulus checks of $9,200 and child tax credit checks of $6,000. That is $15,200. By the way, that has gone to people who never lost a penny of income. And if they did lose their job, as in the hypothetical that the Senator from Oregon suggests, then the unemployment benefits, in more than half the cases, paid them more than they made working because of the legislation that we passed. We designed it so they would pay people more not to work than they would make working, in addition to these stimulus checks that they got. prgtoken So the result of that is, in the aggregate, personal savings have gone through the roof. It is up by over $1.6 trillion. Total consumer credit is down. The fact is, we more than replaced lost income through the series of bills that were passed. prgtoken Now my colleagues want to come here and block a valid, legal claim from being honored with some of this money. And specifically, they want to block these stimulus checks from being subject to garnishment. prgtoken So what is a garnishment? That is just when money is withheld from someone because they owe something. They owe money that they haven't paid to someone else, and that someone else has gone to court, made the case, and it has been adjudicated that, yes, this is money that is owed. prgtoken So they want to forbid this windfall--which in many, many cases this is a windfall, let's
Nomination of Xavier Becerra (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-3-18

I come to the floor today to oppose the nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services of Xavier Becerra. prgtoken As I stand here today, America is still fighting the worst pandemic in a century. More than half a million Americans, as we have just heard, have died of this coronavirus. Life expectancy in our country has actually dropped by a full year. Now, as a doctor, I will tell you that is a significant drop of life expectancy. prgtoken In this time of crisis, our Secretary of Health and Human Services may be the single most important member in the President's Cabinet. There are many well-qualified , in my opinion, who could serve in this position. For example, I voted to confirm President 's last Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell. She was confirmed by a large bipartisan majority. prgtoken That is not the kind of nominee that we have this time. In the middle of a crisis, President has chosen someone who is, in my opinion, both unqualified and unfit for this specific job. prgtoken First, Attorney General Becerra is unqualified. Let me talk about that. As a doctor, I am deeply concerned that President has nominated someone with no medical or public health experience. He is not a doctor, not a scientist, not a public health official. He is a trial lawyer and a career politician. A global pandemic is no time for on-the-job healthcare training. The Secretary must be ready on day one. prgtoken Attorney General Becerra is not only unqualified, I say he is radically liberal in his positions. Attorney General Becerra is the most leftwing nominee for this job, in my opinion, in history. He is an aggressive culture warrior from the radical left. He supports Medicare for All, which would ban private health insurance, and 180 million people who get their health insurance through their jobs would lose it. If his positions go forward and he has his way, American workers would lose that opportunity and that benefit of their jobs. prgtoken He has made a name for himself in the ic Party for his extreme positions on abortion. During his 24 years in Congress, Attorney General Becerra voted against every restriction on abortion. During his confirmation hearing, Senator Daines even asked him to name a single restriction he would support. He couldn't name a single one. This record has earned him a ``100 percent'' rating from Planned Parenthood. prgtoken As a Congressman, Mr. Becerra even voted against the ban on partial- birth abortion. The Supreme Court, rightly, upheld banning partial- birth abortions in the United States. prgtoken This wasn't the only time the attorney general's positions were at odds with that of the current Supreme Court as he was attorney general in California. prgtoken During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Becerra claimed he never sued any nuns. That is his quote: ``never sued any nuns.'' He also said he only sued because of California
AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2021
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-3-18

. Madam , I will tell you what this bill does. Page 51, section 310: ``Grant program to assist eligible applicants. The Secretary shall establish, within U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, a program to award grants.'' prgtoken So while there is a disaster on the border, so much so that we have to send FEMA there, this bill not only gives amnesty to illegals, it uses American tax dollars to help the illegals apply for amnesty. prgtoken Such a deal for the American taxpayer. That is what this legislation does. That is what this bill is about. prgtoken At a time when we have chaos on the border, this bill gives amnesty to 3 million illegals and uses American tax dollars to help those same illegals apply for the amnesty. I mean, the disrespect that the have for the American taxpayer is astounding to me. It is truly astounding. prgtoken I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Herrell).
RECOGNIZING REGAN CAPONE
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2021-3-18

I am here today to recognize an outstanding 10-year-old girl from Sea Isle City in south Jersey. prgtoken Regan Capone is already an engaged member of her community and frequently fundraises for local charities. Last year, Regan raised over $6,000 for the Love of Linda Cancer Benefit Horse Show. Regan is now raising money for her Uncle Mike's Seafood Polar Bear Run/Walk For Autism. prgtoken Aside from fundraising, Regan is a competitive equestrian and competes in the English Circuit of South Jersey. She even made it to the regionals this year. Regan is a dedicated individual who impacts the South Jersey community every day with her selflessness and her desire to raise awareness for the causes that are so close to her heart. prgtoken Thank you, Regan. You are truly an American hero for all that you do. God bless you and God bless America.
Filibuster (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-3-18

once again, we are hearing chatter from some ic Senators about abolishing the filibuster. I had hoped we would move on from such talk after multiple ic Senators pledged to uphold the filibuster but apparently not. Apparently, some think that they can pressure or bully those Senators and other ic Senators who have expressed reservations into going back on their word. prgtoken Let me quote a former Senator on attempts to change filibuster rules in the Senate, and I am quoting: We should make no mistake. This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab by the majority party. . . . Folks who want to see this change want to eliminate one of the procedural mechanisms designed for the express purpose of guaranteeing individual rights, and they also have a consequence, and would undermine the protections of a minority point of view in the heat of majority excess. prgtoken That was former Senator . prgtoken Here is what a current Senator had to say on eliminating the legislative filibuster, and again I quote: I can tell you that would be the end of the Senate as it was originally devised and created going back to our Founding Fathers. We have to acknowledge our respect for the minority, and that is what the Senate tries to do in its composition and in its procedure. prgtoken That was a statement from the current ic whip in 2018. prgtoken In 2017, 33 ic Senators signed a letter urging that the legislative filibuster be preserved--2017. prgtoken Of course, have not limited their support of the filibuster to words; they have supported it by their actions. In the last Congress, set a record for forcing cloture votes, which is what has to happen in order to end a filibuster. They repeatedly used the filibuster when they disagreed with legislation that s were advancing. They filibustered COVID relief. They filibustered police reform even though Senator Scott and Leader McConnell had committed to a robust, bipartisan amendment process. They filibustered pro-life legislation, and they made it very clear that they deeply regretted the fact that they could not filibuster judicial nominees--a situation, I would point out, of their own making. Even without the judicial filibuster, they used every tool at their disposal to slow down judicial nominations. prgtoken So, as of last year, ' actions clearly demonstrated their firm support of the filibuster, but now that they have actually taken power here in Washington, albeit by the slimmest possible majority, they are pushing to get rid of it. prgtoken , of course, would like people to believe that this is a principled change; that all of a sudden, they have realized that it is really much better for the country if the majority party gets to do
ELECTIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-3-18

. Now, , on a completely different matter, I remember distant days long, long ago, way back through the mists of time, when said it would be wrong for Washington to overturn a State-certified election result. prgtoken No, wait a minute. That was 2 months ago. Two months ago, every , cable news channel, and every liberal newspaper was melting down over some s' efforts to dispute State-certified election results here in Congress. I vocally opposed those efforts myself. prgtoken But right now, as we speak, Pelosi and Washington are literally trying to overturn a State-certified election here in Congress. That is exactly what they are doing over in the House right now. prgtoken The voters of Iowa's Second District spoke in November. They counted the votes. They recounted the votes. The outcome was certified. That is the magic word, ``certified,'' that we heard over and over and over again in November and December. prgtoken There was the opportunity to present complaints in court. Sound familiar? But the defeated passed up the opportunity to go to court. The process played out in a way that every liberal in America spent November, December, and January insisting was beyond question. prgtoken Ah, but there is a catch. This time--this time--the won, and the lost. So Pelosi and Washington have set out trying to overturn the result from right here in Congress. prgtoken Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has been sworn in. She is here. She is working. But ic leadership is trying to use brute political power to kick her out and replace this Congresswoman with the whom she defeated. prgtoken You don't often see hypocrisy this blatant and this shameless so quickly. prgtoken Naturally, now that the stand to benefit from this, the concept of Washington overturning a certified election has gone from a massive outrage--a massive outrage--to a minor afterthought for much of the national media. prgtoken This is happening at the same time that House and Senate are pitching a massive takeover of all 50 States' election laws. The same people who are trying to overturn this certified election result want to ram through a bill that would let them control the democratic processes that will determine whether they keep their jobs and their majority in 2 years' time. prgtoken This isn't about principle. It is just an attempt to use a temporary majority to pull off a permanent partisan power grab. prgtoken ic leaders have razor-thin majorities in both Chambers. They are obviously afraid they are going to lose them, so they have decided their top priority is a Washington rewrite of election rules. prgtoken The Second District in Iowa is just the appetizer. Soon want to come for the main course. Every congressional district, all 50 States, every election for every Federal office would have to be run the way liber
HONORING HARRY TALBOTT
Lauren Boebert (Republican, CO) \u2014 2021-3-18

I rise today to commemorate the life of a western Colorado legend and my dear friend, Harry Talbott of Palisade. prgtoken At his 2018 induction into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, Harry remarked: prgtoken The world may little remember nor long note what we have done here tonight, but our contributions to Colorado agriculture will live long after we are gone and make it easier for those who come after us. prgtoken I am honored and blessed to have known Harry, as is western Colorado. prgtoken As the founder of one of Colorado's largest and oldest orchards, Talbott Farms, his contributions to agriculture in Colorado cannot be overstated. prgtoken Grown with snowmelt from the Grand Mesa, the Talbott name is synonymous with the best peaches many will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. prgtoken Along the way, he employed and mentored countless Coloradans, many of whom remain in agriculture today with farms of their own. prgtoken Without Harry and his grandiose vision for Palisade, the Western Slope wouldn't be the place that it is today. He is the giant whose shoulders the community now stands upon. prgtoken However, I would be remiss to confine any tribute merely to Harry's business endeavors because they are but a small piece of the man he was. prgtoken Harry was the quintessential renaissance man. Harry was a veteran, having served honorably in the United States Army. Harry was a science teacher who invested in the hearts and minds of the children in our communities. prgtoken Harry was a pioneer and an icon of Colorado's Third District, a man whose character has been integral to that of the Western Slope. prgtoken Harry leaves behind his wife, Bonnie; his children, Bruce, Nathan, Charlie, Dave, and Kathy; as well as numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren. prgtoken I extend to them my heartfelt condolences and pray that God's holy spirit will comfort them and mend their broken hearts. Today, we honor a life of service. prgtoken Harry, we love you.