mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Filling the Upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-7-9

this evening, the President of the United States will perform his duty and nominate a person to serve as the next Supreme Court Justice to fill the vacancy left by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement at the end of July. I look forward to joining the President this evening, along with a number of my colleagues, for that historic announcement. It is an important day because the person selected will help decide many cases that will have a deep and lasting impact on American history. Certainly, Justice Kennedy played that role many times in many close cases. prgtoken There are a great many talented men and women who are qualified for Justice Kennedy's seat, I believe, and that is why the President's choice is so difficult. All of these candidates who have been identified as a potential pool of candidates have the intellectual capacity that has developed over many years, along with a rigorous understanding of the law. They have demonstrated their analytical skills in a variety of ways--by studying at top-tier law schools, clerking for well-respected judges on the courts of appeals and the Supreme Court, in their public speeches, in the courses they have taught, in the articles they have published, working at the highest levels inside government and prominent law firms, and, of course, in the case of the final four, serving on an appellate bench, which is the midlevel, intermediate Federal court which, for all practical purposes in most cases, is the court of last resort since the Supreme Court only hears roughly 80 or so cases a year. prgtoken I know the President has considered a handful of these jurists. He revealed a list of potential appointees to the Court when he ran for President, and I think that probably was one reason why he was elected because when people saw the quality, the experience, and the qualifications of the individuals he said he would consider for the Supreme Court, I think it gave them greater confidence he would choose wisely, given the opportunity as President, to appoint somebody to the Court. prgtoken These individuals who are in the pool of prospective nominees have come from different academic and professional backgrounds, but I have no doubt the selection will be a good one primarily because of the one appointment the President has already made to the Supreme Court, which is Justice Neil Gorsuch. prgtoken Justice Gorsuch did not disappoint those of us who supported his nomination during his first year on the Court. He has demonstrated not only the power of his pen but the clarity of his thought and the force of his legal reasoning. I am sure his predecessor, Justice Scalia, would be proud of the fact Justice Gorsuch succeeded him on the Court and has left a record of accomplishments in such a short time. prgtoken President and Justice Gorsuch taught us all a valuable lesson last year. At the end of the day, the decisions of the Supreme
Filling the Upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-7-9

tonight the President will announce his nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. That announcement is because of a vacancy created by Justice Kennedy's recent retirement. prgtoken Justice Kennedy left an important legacy of more than three decades on the Supreme Court. I voted for his confirmation 30 years ago. Justice Kennedy demonstrated his deep commitment to our constitutional liberties. It is no surprise that some of his greatest opinions defended free speech and religious liberty. I hope Justice Kennedy's successor carries forward this legacy. prgtoken I am optimistic that the person the President nominates tonight will be highly qualified and committed to the rule of law. I am optimistic because President already appointed one such Supreme Court Justice: Neil Gorsuch. prgtoken The President's selection process is the most transparent in history. He issued a list of potential Supreme Court nominees directly to the American people during his 2016 campaign. To my knowledge, no other Presidential candidate has ever done that. The list demonstrated the types of Justices he would appoint to the Bench. The American people voted for President in part because of that list of names and what it reflected and his promise to nominate these types of jurists. prgtoken Any of the 25 people on the President's list would be an excellent choice and worthy of the Senate's serious consideration, but already we are seeing from liberal outside groups and some of the ic leadership a desperate attempt to block the nominee--any nominee--by whatever means necessary. ic leaders have pledged to block anyone from the President's list without even knowing who that nominee is and regardless of his or her qualifications. Think about that a while. The President has a list of 25 names, but some ic leaders have already said that not one of them is acceptable, zero out of 25 highly respected, highly qualified individuals--not even worthy of this body's consideration. That is an incredible statement by some of the leaders on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken This preemptive attack on a yet-to-be-named nominee is a preview of the obstacles and calls for needless delays we are sure to see from some of my colleagues. I have already heard several weak arguments made in an attempt to delay the confirmation hearing, but the ic leaders have shown their hand. The motive is to block any nominee from the President's list. Whatever reasons for delay, it is clear that their single motivating factor is blocking the nominee selected tonight, whoever he or she is. prgtoken The first delay tactic I heard was that the Senate shouldn't confirm a nominee during a midterm election, but the Senate has never operated like that. Justice Kagan and Justice Breyer were confirmed in midterm election years, in addition to many Justices who served before them. ic l
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-7-9

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, July 10; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. I further ask that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Bennett nomination. I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings. Finally, I ask that all time during adjournment, leader remarks, morning business, and recess count postcloture on the Bennett nomination.
Filling the Upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-7-9

``sexist,'' ``a disaster for women,'' ``totally unacceptable''--these are just a few of the ad hominem attacks the far-left special interest groups hurled at a Federal circuit court judge whom a President nominated to the Supreme Court. The name of the Federal judge--Anthony Kennedy. prgtoken After President Reagan nominated then-Judge Kennedy to the Court in 1987, these far-left special interest groups impinged his character. They cooked up apocalyptic warnings about all of the terrible things that would happen to Americans if he were to be confirmed to the Court. Of course, the American people didn't buy it, and a majority of Senators saw through the hyperbole and hysteria and confirmed that qualified nominee. Believe it or not, the sky didn't fall, but decades later, our ic colleagues still haven't tired of crying wolf whenever a President nominates anyone to the Supreme Court. We have seen this same movie time after time. prgtoken Less than 3 years after Justice Kennedy's confirmation, President nominated David Souter to the Supreme Court. Guess what leftwing pressure groups said about David Souter right after President selected him. That is right, the very same things we are hearing today. The same things you have heard from these same corners about every Supreme Court nominee named by a President. prgtoken One organization proclaimed that Justice Souter might ``undo the advances made by women, minorities, dissenters and other disadvantaged groups.'' prgtoken That was about Justice Souter. prgtoken Back in 1975, they assailed the nomination of John Paul Stevens. They said he lacked impartiality and opposed women's rights. That is what was said about John Paul Stevens. So these far-left groups have been at these same scare tactics for over 40 years. The consistency is really quite amazing. Decade after decade, nominee after nominee, the far-left script hardly changes at all. prgtoken Anyone and everyone the President nominates to the Supreme Court is some kind of threat to the public, according to the hysterical press releases that inevitably follow. No matter their qualifications, no matter their record, no matter their reputation, it is the same hyperbole, the same accusations, the same old story. prgtoken Tonight, President will announce his nominee to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy. We don't know whom he will name, but we already know exactly what unfair tactics the nominee will face. They will not be new, and they will not be warranted. We can expect to hear how they will destroy equal rights or demolish American healthcare or ruin our country in some other fictional way. prgtoken Justice Kennedy's resignation letter had barely arrived in the President's hands before several of our ic colleagues began declaring their blanket opposition to anyone and all--anyone the President might name. One ic Sena
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA AMERICAN LEGION
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-7-9

I wish to recognize the Pennsylvania American Legion on its 100th anniversary. prgtoken The Pennsylvania American Legion was chartered in 1919 by veterans returning from WWI with the goal of serving local communities, the State, and the Nation. Since then, the Pennsylvania American Legion has been a prominent advocate for the rights and entitlements of veterans. As one of the largest departments in the national organization, Pennsylvania has nearly 200,000 Legion members promoting the awareness of veterans' issues throughout the Commonwealth. prgtoken Over the last 100 years, the American Legion has played a leading role in advocating on behalf of veterans in Pennsylvania and across America. The Legion was vital in the decision to expand the Veterans Bureau hospitals, a forerunner to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 1924. During WWII, the American Legion was instrumental in crafting the GI Bill, which provides mortgage, medical, employment, disability, and educational assistance to returning veterans. prgtoken In recent years, the Pennsylvania American Legion has continued to honor its commitment to veterans and the community. It has expanded the Housing for Homeless Veterans program, which aids homeless and drug- dependent veterans across the Commonwealth. The Legion also provides numerous academic, athletic, and scouting programs designed to mentor youth. prgtoken The Pennsylvania American Legion is also dedicated to representing men and women in uniform. It continues to build upon its founding principles of a strong national defense, caring for veterans, mentoring youth, and promoting patriotism. prgtoken Today I want to recognize the significant contributions the Pennsylvania American Legion has made to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its continued service to the nearly 1 million veterans across the State. I wish the members of the Pennsylvania American Legion all the best as they celebrate a century of service and the enduring commitment to support the veterans and servicemen and servicewomen of Pennsylvania with dignity and honor. prgtoken Thank you.
SOUTH SUDAN
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-7-9

I rise to bring attention to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, and call on the administration to take further action to help find a sustainable diplomatic solution. prgtoken Today, July 9, is South Sudan's Independence Day. Instead of celebrating the seventh birthday of the world's newest nation, we find ourselves lamenting the human costs of South Sudan's 4-and-a-half year old civil war. The situation has created the largest refugee crisis in Africa. An estimated 4.5 million people have been forcibly displaced. An estimated 300,000 people may have been killed since 2013, but the death toll could be far, far greater. prgtoken The humanitarian situation is dire. Seven million people--60 percent of the population--require humanitarian assistance. Insecurity has disrupted farming cycles, grazing patterns, and trade routes; local markets have collapsed. Food prices have skyrocketed. Over 1 million South Sudanese children are facing acute malnutrition, and parts of South Sudan may be experiencing famine. While the United States, along with other donors, has taken measures to help those in need, our efforts have been thwarted on a variety of fronts. Relief supplies have been repeatedly looted. Government restrictions and insecurity hinder relief efforts. prgtoken The war has been characterized by horrific human rights violations. The U.N. Mission in South Sudan reports that, from the outset of the conflict, ``Civilians were not only caught up in the violence, they were directly targeted, often along ethnic lines.'' The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan suggests that ethnic cleansing has occurred. Forces on both sides have reportedly engaged in widespread sexual violence. An attack on a residence for aid workers in Juba in July 2016, during which Americans were assaulted and a local journalist killed, highlighted the dangers facing aid workers and other expatriates. According to the U.N over 100 aid workers have been killed since the war began. Hundreds of attacks on humanitarian workers were reported in 2017. U.N. officials assert that targeted attacks against civilians, humanitarians, and U.N. personnel in South Sudan by government and oppositions forces may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. prgtoken Just last month, Reuters reported that the ceasefire monitoring group set up as part of the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan known as the ARCSS has evidence that South Sudan's army has massacred civilians, burned children alive, and gang-raped women since the ceasefire agreement reached in December 2017. prgtoken In the worst incident detailed in the reports, a group of 200 government soldiers attacked the village of Nyatot in Upper Nile state on February 12. Civilian survivors interviewed said they were ``shooting randomly at everything and everybody.'' Twenty-two civilians were killed and 72 wounded. South Sudan has denied targeting c
Filling the upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-9

as everyone knows, later tonight President will announce his nomination for the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. Whoever fills Justice Kennedy's seat will join an otherwise evenly divided Court and immediately obtain the ability to affect the laws of the United States and the rights of its citizens for generations to come. prgtoken Enormously important issues hang in the balance: the right of workers to organize, the pernicious influence of dark money in our politics, the right of Americans to marry whom they love, and the right to vote. prgtoken Two issues of similar and profound consequence are the fate of affordable healthcare and a woman's freedom to make the most sensitive medical decisions about her body. These two rights--affordable healthcare and a woman's freedom to make sensitive healthcare decisions--hang in the balance with this nominee. The views of President 's next Court nominee could very well determine whether the Senate approves or rejects this nomination. prgtoken President has already made up his mind. President has repeatedly said that he believes Roe was wrongly decided. He has promised, in his own words, to nominate only ``pro-life judges'' whose selection will result in the ``automatic'' overturning of Roe prgtoken v. Wade. Those are his words: ``pro-life judges'' and ``automatic.'' prgtoken He also said that Chief Justice Roberts has been ``an absolute disaster''--his words--for voting to uphold the healthcare law and said his judicial appointments ``will do the right thing, unlike 's appointee John Roberts, on Care.'' prgtoken It is near impossible to imagine that President would select a nominee who isn't hostile to our healthcare law and to healthcare for millions and millions of Americans and who isn't hostile to a woman's freedom to make her own healthcare decisions. prgtoken We can be sure of this because President , during the campaign, asked Leonard Leo, the founder of the Federalist Society, to assemble a list of possible Supreme Court Justices for him to pick from. Mr. Leo was not only aware of Candidate 's preference for a Supreme Court that would reverse Roe v. Wade; he himself spent his career in pursuit of it. prgtoken That is not just my view. According to Edward Whelan, one of the most prominent legal conservative activists and bloggers, ``no one has been more dedicated to the enterprise of building a Supreme Court that will overturn Roe v. Wade than the Federalist Society's Leonard Leo.'' No one has been more dedicated to overturning Roe v. Wade than the very man who chose the list of 25. prgtoken That is what we are up against here. That is why America is on tenterhooks, so worried about any choice from this list. prgtoken Let me repeat again that Mr. Leonard Leo is the man who assembled 's list of potential Supreme Court nominees, and no one--no one-- has been more dedicated to overturning Roe v. Wade
Filling the Upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2018-7-9

I have been consistently voting against cloture motions to proceed to debate on judicial nominations because the process by which we are considering these nominations has been deeply broken. prgtoken I will again, today, be voting no on cloture even though the nominee we are voting on to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is Mark Bennett from Hawaii. I support Mark Bennett's nomination, and I spoke on his behalf during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. When debate time ends, I will vote for his confirmation. prgtoken Mark is recognized as being one of the best qualified lawyers in the State of Hawaii. He has served as a Federal prosecutor, our State's attorney general, and in private practice. He has experience in trial and appellate work, on civil and criminal matters, at the State and Federal levels. He understands legislating and has served in the executive branch. He has received high ratings from the American Bar Association and from the Hawaii State Bar Association. He is well respected and has been honored multiple times by his colleagues. prgtoken I have every confidence that Mark will put his skills and experience to good use on the bench as a fair and impartial judge who is beholden to nothing but the law and the Constitution. However, as has been my practice since the beginning of this Congress and session, I will vote no on cloture on Mark's nomination. I will vote this way to call attention to my disagreement and deep concern over how the Senate Judiciary Committee is conducting its judicial nomination hearings. prgtoken The Senate has a constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent on judicial nominees, and I take this obligation very seriously. The American people depend on the Senate to fully consider and vet each judicial nominee. Throughout the course of their lifetime appointments, these judges will issue rulings and opinions that will touch each of our lives. The process of nominating, considering, and confirming judges should be a deliberate one. Its purpose should not be to confirm as many judges as quickly as possible. Senators should be able to provide input on who should sit on the Federal bench. Senators should have adequate opportunity to hear from third-party experts about the records and qualifications of each nominee, and Senators should have enough time to question and examine a nominee during the confirmation hearing. Yet, over the past year and a half, we have seen a breakdown in the way this process should work. prgtoken The President has, essentially, outsourced the judicial selection process to two organizations that have strong, ideologically driven agendas--the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation. These nominees have been chosen without the consent of their home State Senators, as has been the practice through what is known as the blue- slip process. By ignoring the traditional blue-slip process, the
Stress Tests for Banks (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-7-9

earlier this month, the Fed released the results of its annual stress test--exercises designed to ensure that the largest banks can withstand economic shocks and will not need another taxpayer bailout in the event of a crisis. These stress tests were not in effect a decade ago before the last crisis and likely would have prevented--or made much softer--the economic landing that we had. prgtoken What happened with these annual stress tests that just came out illustrates exactly what is wrong with Washington, what is wrong with this Congress, and what is wrong with Wall Street. prgtoken The Fed allowed the seven largest banks to redirect $96 billion--that is 96 thousand million--that should be used to pay workers, reduce fees for consumers, or protect taxpayers from bailouts. Instead, it allowed the seven largest banks to plow that money into share buybacks and dividends to reward wealthy executives and generally wealthy investors. Two banks, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, had capital below the required amounts. That is right. Those banks failed the test, but they got passing grades anyway. The Fed called them up, let them haggle over the test results, and allowed them to proceed with buybacks and dividends that drained their required capital. prgtoken In what classroom in America would a teacher grade a paper and preliminarily give it an F and then negotiate with the student over test results and then say, OK, you passed? But the stakes in this case are a lot higher than one midterm exam. We are talking about the biggest banks in the country. We are talking about whether they send money to the wealthiest investors or, instead, have enough skin in the game to protect taxpayers. prgtoken So why are these buybacks such a problem? Share buybacks and dividends juice stock prices but do little to increase long-term growth in companies and do very little to reward the workers who make a company's success possible. prgtoken During the last crisis, we saw big banks send money out the door with buybacks and dividends just months before they imploded and cost taxpayers billions. Watchdogs in the administration had the tools to intervene sooner but, instead, courted Wall Street at the expense of the rest of the country. Some of those regulators today were in the Treasury Department, in the White House, and the Fed in those days and didn't see the crisis coming. They turned their backs and said: It is OK to allow these dividends and allow these stock buybacks. prgtoken Back to this year, the seven largest banks in the country increased their 2018 stock dividends paid to investors by 24 percent compared to last year. The banks that the Fed allowed to increase their stock buybacks increased their repurchases by a stunning 63 percent. What teller, what salesperson, what branch bank manager in Lorain, OH, Mansfield, OH, or Miamisburg, OH, got a raise like that in the last year? prgtoken My colleagues