mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-19

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and the Nation's aviation safety and infrastructure program for the next 5 years. prgtoken I thank Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves, and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen for working with me to develop and introduce this legislation. prgtoken For over a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation. Unfortunately, our gold standard status is being threatened by increasing global competition, by rapid developments in technology, a shortage of aviation professionals, and the inefficiencies and lack of leadership in the FAA. prgtoken H.R. 3935 is critical to keeping America a global leader in aviation. It is vital to our economy, to millions of American jobs, and to the 850 million passengers that depend on our National Airspace System every single year. prgtoken If Congress fails to act on a new long-term aviation measure by September 30, when the current FAA law expires, key aviation programs will cease to function. prgtoken H.R. 3935 provides the necessary long-term certainty that is demanded by both the civil aviation system and the aviation community to guarantee its safety and prosperity for decades to come. prgtoken This bill not only improves FAA's efficiency through reasonable organizational changes but makes the agency more agile while simultaneously prioritizing safety each step of the way. prgtoken The FAA is simply too slow in everything it does, from rulemaking to aircraft registrations and from certifications to just simple paperwork. prgtoken This bill ensures robust investment in infrastructure for airports of all sizes, including the thousands of smaller and general aviation airports that make up the bulk of our aviation system. prgtoken I am proud to say our bill includes the first ever General Aviation title in the FAA reauthorization bill. GA is the foundation to our civil aviation system. It is where many of our pilots, mechanics, and other aviation professionals begin their careers, gaining valuable experience along their journey in the aviation industry. prgtoken This bill recognizes the importance of GA and protects the freedom to fly for every American. prgtoken As previously mentioned, growing shortages across the aerospace workforce are a true threat to the future of American aviation. prgtoken H.R. 3935 addresses workforce challenges head-on by removing barriers to entry for individuals and veterans interested in pursuing careers in aviation, such as through the CAREER Program. prgtoken Bottom line, our bill encourages growth in the aviation workforce through meaningful reforms, the most meaningful in decades. prgtoken What is more, H.R. 3935 mai
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Frank D. Lucas (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-7-19

I thank Mr. Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for putting together a solid bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. prgtoken I am here to discuss how this legislation addresses FAA's research, development, and engineering activities that are within the jurisdiction of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. prgtoken Our role in the FAA reauthorization is to inform the process by crafting legislation that supports R&D to advance American aviation. Our goal with the bill was to support smart, strategic work to promote innovation and keep America the global leader in aviation. That leadership is critical to our national security and our international competitiveness. prgtoken For our economy to thrive, we need the ability to transport people and goods quickly, safely, and efficiently. Staying competitive means staying at the leading edge of aviation innovation. prgtoken With that in mind, last month, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously passed H.R. 3559, the FAA Research and Development Act of 2023. That bill, which has been incorporated into the legislation before us today, is the product of months of work within regular order. prgtoken We gathered extensive feedback and held a legislative hearing to give our members a chance to directly question stakeholders, industry, and FAA representatives on how best to support innovation and modernization in American aviation. prgtoken The result is comprehensive legislation that quite literally supports aviation from the ground up, from the durability of our runways to how we monitor traffic over oceans and remote areas. It accelerates the development of advanced materials for aerospace vehicle construction and supports research into how more accurately to predict the weather to reduce delays and increase safety. prgtoken Importantly, it ensures that safety continues to be the primary focus of FAA research and development by requiring a report on whether at least 70 percent of FAA R&D funds are going toward improved safety. prgtoken In short, we have put together a solid framework to support FAA's research work, one that is appropriately tailored to FAA's jurisdiction and strengths. prgtoken With this legislation, we are ensuring that America remains the global leader in aviation for years to come. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren for working with me in good faith to develop the R&D portion of this legislation. I thank Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for incorporating our work into this package.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2023-7-19

I rise in support of Mr. Huizenga's amendment. I think it is logical what he is saying. prgtoken I rise, again, in strong support of my amendment to this bill, as well, No. 31, to seek to identify ways in which Puerto Rico can further increase air cargo operations in our three international airports, and thus, better serve domestic and international stakeholders and consumers. prgtoken Specifically, this amendment authorizes a GAO report that will look at recommendations for security measures that may be necessary to support increased air cargo operations in Puerto Rico, airport infrastructure improvements that may be needed, alternatives to increase private stakeholder engagement, and the potential need for additional staff. prgtoken Airports are drivers of economic activity across our country. My amendment will support Puerto Rico and the Nation as we continue to find ways to generate greater opportunities for financial and infrastructure investments. prgtoken This section requires an assessment from the FAA on the resiliency of coastal airports, including those on our island.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Mary E. Miller (Republican, IL) \u2014 2023-7-19

I rise in support of my amendment. Secretary Buttigieg and President 's DEI initiatives which hire and promote people based on their physical characteristics over their merits and qualifications violate Title VII and the Constitution. prgtoken In critical public safety roles such as air traffic control, it is essential to have the best possible candidate based strictly on professional qualifications and merit. Efforts by the administration to factor race, gender, and sexual orientation into hiring and promotion decisions puts the traveling public at risk and deepens the staffing shortages we have seen throughout the FAA. prgtoken Under this administration, we saw the first national ground stoppage since September 11. My constituents regularly face delays caused by shortages in air traffic control staffing, delays that I am sure many of my colleagues have also experienced. prgtoken We must roll back the administration's woke DEI policies and put the needs of our public aviation system before the far left's political agenda. prgtoken I urge the adoption of my amendment, and .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-7-19

America's attention is rightfully drawn to supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia's illegal and unjustified war. At the same time, we are contending with China, which is undergoing the largest peacetime expansion of military power in history. prgtoken This morning, Congress and the American people heard from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and I rise today to remind my colleagues of the ongoing threat posed by Iran to peace in the Middle East and beyond. prgtoken Iran is exporting more oil today than it has since 2019 despite the sanctions that were overwhelmingly passed by this Congress and that remain as current law. prgtoken Recently, the Navy's Fifth Fleet intervened to prevent two commercial oil tankers from being seized by Iran in the Gulf of Oman. Iran was recently granted membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which fosters deeper political and economic cooperation with Russia, China, India, and other members. prgtoken All of this has taken place while Iran continues to enhance its nuclear program, provides Russia with weaponry to use in Ukraine, funds proxy fighters throughout the Middle East, holds U.S. citizens hostage, and vows to kill former American officials in revenge for the death of Soleimani. prgtoken Despite Tehran's reestablishment of diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and holding indirect talks with the United States, it appears that we are far from the ``deescalation'' that the administration says it seeks. Instead, all evidence points to an Iranian regime intent on aggressively pursuing its aggressive objectives. prgtoken I agree that we should avoid a crisis that would be triggered by Iran enriching uranium weapons beyond a 90-percent grade or by Iran-backed militias killing U.S. servicemembers in an attack, but my concern is what behavior the President is willing to accept short of these redlines. prgtoken While I can only speculate on the content of the administration's reported talks with Iran, press reports suggest a possible agreement would permit Iran to maintain nuclear enrichment at 60 percent. This level cannot be justified for peaceable purposes, and agreeing to it can have serious consequences. prgtoken In addition, the administration's persistent outreach to Iran undermines its stated goal to degrade the Russian military. prgtoken Henry Rome and Eric Brewer, two scholars who follow Iran's nuclear program closely, recently wrote: Instead of laying the groundwork for a deal that reverses Tehran's nuclear program, this strategy risks cementing Iran's status as a nuclear threshold state [all] while shaking off its economic and political isolation. prgtoken In other words, it gets a lot of what it wants without any price to pay. prgtoken Normalizing the 60 percent enrichment level may threaten more nuclear proliferation, particularly in the Middle East. Other countries contemplating nuclear programs will take no
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-19

. Mr. Chair, today, pursuant to the authority from Congress, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to report delayed or canceled flights. The rules also require a cause to be listed for the cancellation and delay. Every cancellation or delay must fall into a category of causes, one of which is air carrier. prgtoken In practice, many causes of cancellations and delays outside an air carrier's control end up in this category. In effect, it has become a catchall category. This is a problem because without good data reflecting the causes of cancellations and delays, it is impossible to identify the root causes. If you can't identify the real problems, you can't, as a Member of Congress or a policymaker, craft a good policy solution. prgtoken This amendment would require the Secretary to refine the reporting directives to provide more detailed information about the cause of a cancellation or delay, rather than simply dumping them all into a catchall category. prgtoken It builds upon the committee's acknowledgment of this obvious problem in section 716 of the bill and is simply a more robust effort to address it. prgtoken Any event listed in this amendment such as weather damage, unscheduled safety inspections, volcanic ash, or public health issues would no longer be categorized as carrier-caused. prgtoken The mischaracterization of causes endemic to the current system is fixable, and we should take this opportunity to fix it. prgtoken If adopted, this amendment will result in greater transparency to the traveling public regarding the cause of a canceled or delayed flight. Better data will allow the Secretary and airlines to develop strategies to mitigate their true causes. prgtoken This amendment simply attempts to make sure the Department of Transportation and the FAA are gathering more accurate descriptions of the causes of a canceled or delayed flight, and in turn, will allow the FAA and the airlines to better inform their decisions moving forward. prgtoken Just today, the FAA's effort to explain the cause of major day-to-day issues in real time were reported in various news sources. prgtoken My amendment will support this goal by improving the data that goes into the system for explaining the causes of delays and cancellations. prgtoken I share the FAA's goal of providing better data and more transparency, and this amendment will help provide them with the data they need to identify and to fix the problems that we have all been experiencing through air travel. prgtoken Finally, I thank Representative Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon and Representative Larson of Connecticut for their bipartisan support and for joining me in offering this amendment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-19

I rise in opposition. prgtoken Senator Paul's amendment is entirely unnecessary, but worse than that, it is dangerous. prgtoken There is no question that, like any other treaty, the NATO treaty does not supersede the Constitution. However, specifically calling out article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty here erroneously implies that there is a tension between it and the Constitution. This sends a damaging message about the U.S. commitment to the alliance at a time when support for NATO is as critical as ever given Russia's invasion of Ukraine. prgtoken Further, by only referencing the NATO treaty, Senator Paul's amendment erroneously implies that other treaties may supersede the Constitution--a proposition that no Senator would accept. prgtoken Because Senator Paul's amendment is both unnecessary and harmful at a critical time of our engagement in Ukraine, I urge all Senators to vote against it. prgtoken I reserve the balance of the time.
Introductory Statement on S. 2381
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-19

today I am reintroducing legislation that would help bolster the Nation's background check system for firearms. prgtoken Under current law, incomplete background checks must be removed from the FBl's systems if they remain unresolved beyond the 88-day mark. As a result, countless firearms have been sold without completed background checks. This poses a grave danger because it allows individuals who we know are dangerous to purchase firearms. prgtoken In recent years, gun sales across America have dramatically increased. In 2022, about 17.4 million guns were sold in the United States. Unfortunately, this surge in purchases has overwhelmed our already-strained background check system. prgtoken While the vast majority of background checks are promptly completed within 3 days, the sheer volume of checks means that some checks will necessarily be delayed--and sometimes significantly delayed. prgtoken According to data compiled by NBC News, between January 2020 and November 2021, the FBI was unable to resolve 734,604 background checks within the current 88-day window. As a result of these delays, the FBI was required to wipe the incomplete checks from their systems. Since these background checks were never completed, it is impossible to know how many of these firearms were transferred to purchasers who were prohibited by law from owning a gun. prgtoken Congress must act to protect public safety by ensuring that all background checks are completed. prgtoken This bill would do exactly that. It would grant the FBI the authority to retain gun purchase records until a background check is fully completed. Put simply, this bill will let the FBI do its job. prgtoken I thank Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Menendez, Murphy, Padilla, and Whitehouse for their support, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to support the bill as well.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-7-19

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 46 through No. 52, No. 82 through 107, No. 110 through No. 113, No. 130 through 139, No. 180 through No. 205, No. 224 through No. 226, No. 228 through No. 234, No. 236 through No. 246, No. 248 through No. 249; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and the Senate then resume legislative session.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-7-19

I thank the gentleman very much for yielding time. Let me first say that the administration enthusiastically supports the work of Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for the great work that they have done. prgtoken This is good for America. This is good for Houston, Texas, and it is good for Texas. I have two airports in the region, including Hobby International Airport and Intercontinental Airport, and Ellington Field that see some commercial flights. prgtoken It is good that we will get between $3.35 billion and $4 billion to help in the airport funding program of which I saw about 40 to 80 million come to our Intercontinental Airport in the last couple of weeks. prgtoken It is important to have the flexibility to deal with environmental issues, and, of course, it is extremely important to have a $45 million training program for a pipeline for pilots, aviation maintenance, and aviation manufacturing. Why? Because schools like Texas Southern University that uniquely has one of the only HBCUs training of pilots program will be able to do more and fill that pipeline with pilots. prgtoken In addition, we respond to the assaults that have been occurring against employees and crew, and respond by an employee assault prevention response plan, which is extremely important. prgtoken We did this during 9/11, but now we are looking at more secondary cockpit barriers that will be more important. As well, we want to make sure that we have a task force of air carriers. prgtoken This bill is for airlines and airports, but it is for the traveling public, as well. It deals with air law enforcement, aviation labor unions, and others to be able to work together. prgtoken I am excited about the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee to encourage more young women to become pilots, as we need more pilots every single day. prgtoken The matter that I worked on as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, finally we set standards for foreign aircraft repair stations, so that when our American airlines are overseas, they are subject to the same standards of American repair stations. We were very concerned about that after 9/11.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2023-7-19

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a spike in the number of prgtoken mass flight cancellations and significant delay events. Some of these events were not completely attributable to the airlines. prgtoken The acceleration of the number of worker retirements during the height of the pandemic affected every industry's workforce, and many of the airlines were understandably not prepared for the massive increase in air travel demand as the effects of the pandemic started to dissipate. prgtoken This led to the rise in significant delays and cancellations that have affected passengers over the last several years. prgtoken This also underscores the importance of the Department of Transportation accurately reporting the on-time performance of flight delays and cancellations so consumers will have a full and accurate picture of what to expect when traveling. prgtoken Unfortunately, this amendment would restrict airline service quality performance reporting by removing a host of critical reporting elements. prgtoken For example, the amendment would remove airlines' requirements to report delays due to vendor computer outages, including cybersecurity attacks. I know I would like that to continue to be reported, and I assume most of my colleagues would, as well. prgtoken This amendment would also remove airlines' requirements to report delays due to crew availability related to hours flown, rest periods, and on-duty times not caused by a carrier. This is something Federal regulators need to understand in order to make effective policy. prgtoken Further, this amendment will move airlines' requirements to report delays due to an unscheduled engineering or safety inspection. Again, I want to know when this happens because this is potentially critical information to inform an airline safety management system and can help the FAA understand whether the safety management system is working effectively. prgtoken The amendment would also remove the reporting of public health issues so airlines wouldn't need to report delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other pandemics in the future. prgtoken That kind of data helps both Congress and the public health officials take measured and appropriate action to potentially help airlines in times of financial need. prgtoken Accurate and comprehensive data is critical to helping this Congress and the Department of Transportation make good policy and take appropriate action. prgtoken It helps us to take informed steps to improve the passenger experience, identify root causes for trends and delays, hold airlines accountable for what is in their control, and target fixes elsewhere for things outside of the airlines' control. This amendment would significantly reduce the granularity of data collected. prgtoken While I am happy to work with Representative Kean to determine a fair and reasonable way to report airline statistics rega
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-7-19

. On the constitutional argument, my colleagues, this very question came before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1979. President Carter terminated a Taiwan-related treaty and was sued by Senator Goldwater and others. The case went to the United States Supreme Court. The Court said because the Constitution on exiting a treaty is silent, it is a political question that the legislature and Executive can resolve for themselves. prgtoken The Supreme Court refused to overturn Carter's action. That is a clear green light that if Congress, the legislative, and Executive branch agree that on this particular treaty the silence does not dictate but can be the source of legislation, we would be able to undertake this action. prgtoken Finally, I note this is widely bipartisan, and I thank Senator Rubio and many other ic and colleagues who have cosponsored this amendment to stand strong at this moment with me. prgtoken With that, I yield.