mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-4-6

today, I rise to share my concerns with the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Let me begin my remarks by noting that I have enjoyed getting to know Judge Jackson. My visits with her and conversations with her in the committee and otherwise and also my interaction with Judge Jackson's family have all reinforced what I know of her generally, which is that she is a good person, a noble citizen, and someone who has earned very impressive academic and professional credentials. prgtoken After graduating from Harvard Law School, she ended up clerking at all three levels of the Federal judiciary and worked at a number of positions over the years as a lawyer. She has now, as a judge, served as a Federal district judge, which is a trial court position, and has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which is an appellate court position. If confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, she will have served at all three levels of the Federal judiciary, which is itself an impressive accomplishment and one that I think would benefit the Supreme Court. Any time they have the insight of someone who has served in that many roles, it can be helpful. prgtoken She is a good person in many respects and comes with impressive qualifications academically and professionally, but I do have concerns, and those concerns are what I want to turn to now. prgtoken Many of them date back to efforts by groups like Demand Justice to shame and intimidate Judge Jackson's former boss and the Justice whom she would be replacing if confirmed to this position, Justice Breyer, into retiring by paying for a billboard mounted on a truck to drive around the Supreme Court of the United States, bearing the slogan ``Retire, Breyer.'' These same groups are now the same groups that are spending money--millions of dollars--to advocate for Judge Jackson's speedy confirmation. Then there was the shameless leaking of Justice prgtoken Breyer's decision to retire well before he was ready to announce it. prgtoken Now we find ourselves in the midst of a needlessly rushed nomination process, where liberal dark money groups are pressuring Senate to confirm their preferred Supreme Court nominee months--many months--in advance of when she could actually be seated on the Court. prgtoken Because of this false sense of urgency being presented by the radical left, we have also seen the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee refuse to accommodate reasonable and commonsense document requests from members of that committee. The same members of the committee who demanded more time to review and interrogate a nominee about his high school yearbook are now feigning outrage and insisting that it is somehow unacceptable that we should demand more time to review a nominee's own judicial record. The contrast is significant. prgtoken Let me provide some additional co
CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I am so happy that the gentlewoman from Colorado organized this effort tonight. We need to be speaking about it, and of course, I would call on our friends from this side of the aisle. prgtoken It is interesting that we are standing on this side of the aisle. I mean, thank goodness somebody is willing to stand over here and defend the country. prgtoken , I call on my colleagues to start answering some questions and start defending their country from this invasion. prgtoken But if the gentleman doesn't know this, if you do a quick calculation--this isn't Congressman Perry, Congresswoman Boebert, Congressman Roy, any of us up here. This is DHS. The Department of Homeland Security is bracing for 18,000 crossings a day, 18,000 people coming across the border illegally each day. prgtoken Now, I don't know, for each one of you, the size of your town where you come from, but I suspect 18,000 in any town would make a pretty big dent unless you are talking about one of the major cities like Los Angeles or something like that. prgtoken Even so, 18,000 a day, , that is over 6\1/2\ million people, if we keep that rate up, 6\1/2\ million people in 1 year illegally coming to our country. prgtoken Congressman Norman or Congresswoman Boebert, could your business sustain something like that?
DISASTER AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise to educate my colleagues and the public one more time as to what sort of disaster we are soon to have on the southern border. prgtoken Recently, we have had frequently 90,000 to 100,000 people cross the border every month. People of whom we know little. People are skipping to the head of the line over people who want to come here legally, people that come from countries that are hostile to us. prgtoken But as bad as it is to have 80,000 to 100,000 people come across, the administration is claiming that within the next month and a half they will remove title 42, opening up the border to perhaps another 200,000 or 300,000 or 400,000 people a month above what we are already getting here. prgtoken I personally think they are doing this because the Ukraine war is going on, and they think they can really land a death blow to the future of this country by opening up the border to people all over the world. prgtoken I call upon American citizens and my colleagues to not forget about what is going on at the border. I call upon the press to treat this story with the gravity it should be given and to report on all the people who are going to come here in the second half of May. prgtoken We cannot have 400,000 people a month coming across the border.
CRISES THE WHITE HOUSE IS CAUSING AT HOME AND ABROAD
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-4-6

many times, we have heard President and his administration say that the crisis we are facing at our southern border is seasonal. There is nothing seasonal about 1 million illegal aliens crossing our southern border in 6 months. There is nothing seasonal about 400,000 illegal alien got-aways going undetected into our country. prgtoken The crisis at our southern border is the direct result of President overturning successful policies put in place by . prgtoken First, halted the construction of the border wall. Then, he rescinded the remain in Mexico policy. Now, he is taking aim at one of the final remaining policies, title 42, which allows law enforcement to expel illegal aliens who pose a health risk. prgtoken The Department of Homeland Security predicts that as many as 12,000 to prgtoken 18,000 illegal aliens will cross our southern border per day if title 42 is lifted--18,000 illegal aliens in 1 day. In 3 days, that would be greater than the population of Pennsylvania's capital city, burg--in less than 3 days. In a little more than a day, it would be greater than the population of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the largest city in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. prgtoken If President removes title 42, it goes beyond bad judgment. It is reckless, and it will turn the crisis into chaos at our southern border.
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIND PETER K. NAVARRO AND DANIEL SCAVINO, JR., IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Adam Kinzinger (Republican, IL) \u2014 2022-4-6

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding time. prgtoken Dan Scavino's blatant disregard for our subpoena is his effort to ensure that Congress and the American people never get the firsthand story that he has to tell. prgtoken None of us should find that acceptable. It is contempt for the law and contempt for Congress. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail (Executive Calendar)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-4-6

ladies and gentlemen of the Senate: First of all, to my friend and colleague, Senator Brown, I thank you for the opportunity to participate today, and I hope to do my best to add a feeling of strength to the message that Dr. Martin Luther King shared in his letter. prgtoken This is a reading from a ``Letter From Birmingham Jail,'' Dr. Martin L. King Jr April 16, 1963. My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities ``unwise and untimely.'' Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against ``outsiders coming in.'' I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently, we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here. But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their ``thus saith the Lord'' far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid. Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail (Executive Calendar)
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2022-4-6

. Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides--and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: ``Get rid of your discontent.'' Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled through into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. And now this approach is being termed extremist. But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: ``Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.'' Was not Amos an extremist for justice: ``Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.'' Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: ``I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.'' Was not Martin Luther an extremist: ``Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.'' And John Bunyan: ``I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.'' And Abraham Lincoln: ``This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.'' And Thomas Jefferson: ``We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . . '' So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extre
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIND PETER K. NAVARRO AND DANIEL SCAVINO, JR., IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise today in support of a simple, but sacred principle: No one is above the law. prgtoken Peter Navarro was one of the former president's closest allies. And, by his own admission, played a direct role in planning and coordinating the events of January 6. He speaks prgtoken to that role on television, on podcasts, and even in his own book--yet he refuses to do so before Congress, even when compelled by a lawful subpoena. That is unjustifiable, and in light of the subpoena, a criminal form of contempt. prgtoken Dan Scavino was similarly close to the former president--and similarly involved in the events leading up to and on January 6. Mr. Scavino played an intimate role in crafting former President 's social media strategy and served as his Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. And, like Mr. Navarro, he was called before our committee because our evidence and public reporting, suggests he possesses direct, personal knowledge of the events leading up to January 6, and while the Capitol was under siege. prgtoken Unfortunately, both Mr. Navarro and Mr. Scavino have chosen at every turn to obstruct, to conceal their knowledge, forgoing their legal duty to comply with a congressional subpoena and attempting instead to hide behind spurious claims of privilege. prgtoken But let me be clear: There is no privilege that allows a witness to simply refuse to appear. President has declined to assert any privilege and properly concluded that the national interests in hearing the testimony of Navarro and Scavino clearly outweigh any other consideration. And there is certainly no privilege that allows a witness to refuse to appear before Congress while sitting for press interviews or discussing the matter in a book. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution. To do otherwise would set a dangerous precedent: That Congress is not a body that is capable of, or willing to, carry out meaningful oversight. That our subpoenas can be shrugged off or ignored. And that the American people can no longer have faith in our ability to investigate potential abuses of power by any president--past, present, or future. prgtoken As Judge Carter said last week in his ruling, `If the country does not commit to investigating and pursuing accountability for those responsible, the Court fears January 6 will repeat itself.' He is right. We must commit to the pursuit of accountability and justice. Not as or s, but as Americans who love and cherish our democracy. prgtoken And I will take just one more moment to urge the Department of Justice to act with all due haste when they receive the criminal contempt referrals for Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro. And not just with respect to these referrals, but on any evidence of criminality connected to efforts to overturn the election. The rule of law must apply equally to all Americans, including former presidents. To do otherwise, risks another
RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE REPORT 117-284 AND AN ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-4-6

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , before the gentleman goes, I want to tell the gentleman from Texas that I would never accuse him of performing a stunt. I was referring to the people who should have been in the Homeland Security Committee hearing actually dealing with the issue they profess to be talking about here on the floor under completely different auspices. prgtoken Let me go back to the questions offered by my distinguished friend from Pennsylvania who said, well, if they really did have a valid legislative purpose, as all these courts are saying, then they would be talking to the former Sergeant at Arms--well, we have--and we would be talking to the National Guard--we have. prgtoken Somebody is going to have to dust off the talking points over on that side because we have heard from more than 800 people who were involved. prgtoken This has nothing to do with any kind of ideological witch hunt; this has to do with an assault on American democratic institutions. prgtoken , .
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2022-4-6

throughout 2 days of questioning in front of the Judiciary Committee on which I sit, Judge Jackson proved, without a shadow of a doubt, what we all knew to be true: She is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court of our country. prgtoken Judge Jackson has the intellect, the integrity, and the temperament befitting an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and she doesn't have an ideological axe to grind. Judge Jackson is exceptionally qualified and well regarded across the political spectrum. prgtoken And yet not a single voted to advance Judge Jackson's nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and only three s have publicly expressed support for her. prgtoken So I ask my colleagues: What is it going to take? What is it going to take to put politics aside to support a nominee like Judge Jackson? Because, clearly, intelligence, extraordinary breadth of experience, and support from prominent conservatives--conservatives-- did not suffice. Clearly, a candidate who has support from organizations from across the political spectrum--from the Black and Hispanic U.S. Chambers of Commerce to the National Education Association, with thousands of teachers; to the Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union--they would not be supporting somebody who is soft on crime--to child advocacy groups that would not be supporting her, either, if she was not being appropriate in her sentencing of child pornography defendants. So even with this breadth of support, she didn't make the cut with the s on the Judiciary Committee. So, clearly, a nominee who was uniformly called ``brilliant,'' ``beyond reproach,'' ``first rate,'' and ``impeccable'' by her colleagues across the Nation was not enough. prgtoken So, truly, what will it take? prgtoken Sadly, some of my colleagues resorted to unfounded and misleading attacks in an unsuccessful attempt to smear her character. To highlight how ridiculous the attacks around the sentencing of child pornography offenses were, I asked Judge Jackson about the history of the sentencing guidelines for these crimes and the concerns that these guidelines do not reflect what is happening with child pornography offenses. prgtoken And these facts bear repeating. A decade ago, the U.S. Sentencing Commission first addressed the issue of sentencing in this area. Even way back then, only 40 percent of convicted offenders were receiving sentences within the guidelines. Now, 10 years later, even fewer offenders are receiving sentences within the guidelines. In 2019, just 30 percent of non-production offenders were sentenced within the guidelines. In the DC Circuit, in which Jackson served, the average goes down to just 20 percent of offenders. This puts Judge Jackson well within the mainstream in her sentencing in this area. She is not an outsider. prgtoken I named numerous other judges nominated by President an
Recognition of the Majority Leader (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-6

first, I want to thank my friend and colleague, the senior Senator from Illinois, not only for his wonderful remarks here today but for his passion on this issue. He was one of the first to blow the whistle on these colleges. prgtoken When you hear about this, it just boils your blood--boils your blood. These kids did nothing wrong. It is one of the reasons we believe student debt should be forgiven. The Federal Government gave them the loans--that was required by law--but they were taken advantage of through no fault of their own. prgtoken I wonder if this Mr. Modany has been prosecuted for any of these things. He does not deserve to have, probably, the millions he has on the backs of all of these students. prgtoken But from the bottom of my heart. This boils our blood, what they did to these kids. That is one of the reasons we believe that the White House ought to forgive up to $50,000 of student debt. prgtoken OK. Let's go to another subject.
CELEBRATING MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS AWARENESS MONTH
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise today to celebrate the mathematical and statistical sciences. prgtoken Fundamental research in mathematics and statistics touches all of our Nation's scientific and technological priorities and provides tools to address societal changes. prgtoken As recent examples, mathematical scientists model the spread of pandemics and help assess the effectiveness of vaccine programs. prgtoken They produce research needed for artificial intelligence and help us understand and predict dangerous weather patterns. prgtoken And their theoretical work fortifies imaging technologies used to detect diseases, including cancer. prgtoken We are at a critical time for building and ensuring a stable and more diverse STEM workforce in the future. prgtoken Mathematics and statistics support all of the STEM disciplines and are critical to our educational system. prgtoken Every day, mathematicians and statisticians enable advances across all science and technology, making our Nation more secure and globally competitive, and training the next generation of researchers and educators. prgtoken Please join me and my fellow mathematicians on the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in celebrating April as Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.