mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Iran (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-1-31

the Nation received tragic news on Sunday morning. Three American soldiers were killed in an attack by an Iran- backed militia against Tower 22, a base in northeast Jordan that sits near the border of Syria and Iraq. More than 40 servicemembers were also injured in the attack with 8 requiring evacuation. prgtoken Families of the fallen and injured are in our prayers, as are the families of the two Navy Seals who were lost at sea off the coast of Somalia earlier this month, during a dangerous nighttime raid to interdict Iranian missile parts being shipped to the Houthis in Yemen. prgtoken We owe all of these military members a tremendous debt of gratitude. prgtoken There will no doubt be an investigation into how the drone that killed our soldiers on Sunday was reportedly mistaken as a friendly drone. But with more than 165 attacks against U.S. troops over the last several months, the risk of a U.S. fatality has been very high, and the half measures so far pursued by the administration have failed to stop us from reaching this tragic milestone. prgtoken That is because the administration's posture is missing a key element. It is possible to deter an adversary from taking certain actions by having the military capabilities to deny their success or to impose a crippling response. But having the military might alone isn't sufficient for a credible deterrence. These capabilities must be--have to be--backed up with a clear willingness to use them. prgtoken So when the administration repeatedly asserts that we don't want to escalate with Iran, that we don't seek a war with Iran, the Iranian regime sees that as permission to set loose its terrorist proxies. It is unquestionably true that we would prefer to avoid escalation in the region. I am not here to call for war with Iran. And if the ayatollahs in Iran are to be believed, they say they do not want war either. prgtoken But if every diplomatic admonishment and so-called proportional response to the Houthis or Iran-backed militias comes with a caveat that we are not seeking to escalate, it is interpreted as ``we won't escalate.'' This is not the language of deterrence, and it neuters the ability of our counterstrikes to compel any change in behavior. prgtoken So what should this administration do in response to the 165-plus attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, the Red Sea, and now in Jordan? First and most importantly, keep all options on the table. Let the Iranian regime guess the lengths to which we will go to protect our troops from attacks, combat terrorism, uphold our freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and help our ally Israel. Second, the President, as Commander in Chief, needs to take decisive action and articulate his strategy to the American people. I will defer to our military leaders on what measures will send the clearest message to Iran that its days of enabling attacks against U.S. military targets are numbered. <
NATIONAL GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-1-31

I rise today to acknowledge the retirement and career of Paula Sands, a beloved host and news anchor from KWQC. prgtoken For the past 41 years, we have welcomed Paula Sands into our homes. Paula began her TV career at KWQC in 1982 as a cohost of PM Magazine. prgtoken At the time, she was the youngest cohost of PM Magazine in the country. Eventually, the program was renamed ``Paula Sands Live'' and recently celebrated its 30-year anniversary. prgtoken In 2015, Paula was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Silver Circle. To many, Paula is the definition of dedication, style, and professionalism. I wish Paula the best of luck on her next chapter. prgtoken We congratulate Paula on a very impressive career and a well-deserved retirement. Recognizing Tory Taylor
TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND WORKERS ACT OF 2024
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-1-31

. To the extent that this is a tax bill, there are good provisions in it on business expensing for economic growth. Nonetheless, , this is not a tax bill. This is a welfare bill masquerading as a tax bill. The Wall Street Journal was correct to identify the ways in which this legislation vastly expands the welfare state. prgtoken This is how the bipartisan agreement came together: If the s were willing to give the what they wanted for illegal aliens to get massive subsidies and welfare, then the were willing to give the s what they wanted on a bunch of business welfare. prgtoken The child tax credit, as currently contemplated, will be a massive pull factor to bring people into this country illegally, and we could have, as the majority party, demanded constraints to stop them from being able to use the money that way. Nevertheless, bipartisanship was more important than good policy. prgtoken As my friend from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) noted recently, , if you aren't paying taxes and you get a refundable tax credit in the form of a check, that is not a tax cut. That is not even tax policy. That is just welfare. That is just giving people money who didn't initially pay it in, and a bunch of them are here illegally. prgtoken It is not just a welfare bill in that respect. It is also corporate welfare. Indeed, these tax credits they have put in there are so targeted, they are bought and paid for by the lobbyists who fund their campaigns and give them donations, and it is entirely wrong. We should have a flat tax code. prgtoken The R&D tax credits they are putting in are deeply misguided. They continue to distort the economy, and, frankly, it is just another flavor of a lot of the Green New Deal tax credits that you act like you are against, but, indeed, , that is not the case. prgtoken This is not a tax bill. It is a welfare bill in drag, and that may be appealing to some of the proponents.
Iran (Executive Calendar)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-1-31

I want to talk today about deterrence and escalation. prgtoken In 1988, the American frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine in international waters. Thankfully, no Americans were killed. But, wisely, President Reagan didn't wait for tragedy to occur before acting. Just 4 days later, the United States destroyed two Iranian oil platforms, three warships, two fighter jets, and multiple other vessels. prgtoken The message was clear: If you put American lives in danger, you will be destroyed. There was no escalation. The conflict did not spiral into an uncontained war. Deterrence was restored. prgtoken Compare that powerful and effective example of deterrence to where we are today. Another Iran-backed group, Hamas, attacked our ally Israel on October 7. The President said that the United States would stand with Israel and that he would not tell Israel how to conduct its war against this terror. Since then, his administration has all but folded to the demands of those in his party who want to condition aid and support to our ally. prgtoken Since October 7, Iran-backed militias have attacked U.S. troops not once, not twice, but more than 150 times. President has allowed not days, not weeks, but months of unanswered attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on U.S. ships and civilian cargo vessels in the Red Sea. What was the inevitable result of the President's hesitation? The tragic deaths of three American troops at the hands of an Iran-backed militia, with dozens more seriously injured in that attack. And let's not forget that two Navy SEALS gave their lives just days before. They died trying to stop Iran from supplying weapons to similar militia groups across the region. prgtoken This administration likes to say that it doesn't want to escalate the situation. President doesn't want Israel to escalate its justifiable war, and he doesn't want the United States to escalate our defense of Americans. His administration has said it wants to avoid escalation so much that it is beginning to seem like he is more afraid of being blamed for escalation than he is afraid of Americans being killed. But we should be clear: The only attacks President is deterring are our own. prgtoken It is time to realize that our enemies have already escalated. Our response must be strong enough so that we can restore deterrence. Militants, they have attacked Israel, targeted civilian ships, and now they have killed Americans--all funded and supported by Iran. To stand up for our country, to stand against the murder of Americans and to stand with Israel, we must clearly demonstrate to Iran that they will pay a price for their continued support of terrorism. prgtoken Public reports say that President is considering options for a retaliatory strike against Iranian forces. Whatever he decides to do, it must not follow his now well-established pattern of too little, too late. President must fina
TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND WORKERS ACT OF 2024
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2024-1-31

I join in support of H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, being considered in the House today. This bipartisan bill, championed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, improves existing pro-growth tax policies to support America's families, strengthen our economy, and boost innovation by helping U.S. companies compete against China. prgtoken One of the main provisions in this bill is the Child Tax Credit, which benefits more than 250,000 families in Puerto Rico. A study made by the Youth Development Institute (Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud), a non-profit organization focused in reducing child poverty on the island, found, youth poverty may have declined from 55 to 39 percent in 2021 when eligibility for the Child Tax Credit was expanded to residents of Puerto Rico with one or two qualifying children. Previously this tax benefit only applied to three or more qualifying children. I am proud that my legislation recognizing the need to include families with one or two children was adopted, and families can claim this credit in the same manner as families in the rest of the country. prgtoken From hurricanes to earthquakes. Puerto Rico has suffered several natural disasters over the last few years. The support we have received from Congress and federal agencies has been instrumental in our recovery. As such, I sympathize with my colleagues who have been afflicted by recent disasters and support the tax provisions that are presented on this bill that would bring much needed relief to communities across the country. prgtoken I am encouraged by the bipartisan and bicameral work that produced this bill, and I strongly encourage my colleagues on the House and Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee to continue working on expired tax provisions, including the Rum Excise Tax Cover-Over. prgtoken Earlier this Congress, I reintroduced H.R. 3146, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would modify the amount of money transferred to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the excise taxes collected on rum that is produced in or imported into the rest of the United States, known as ``rum cover-over.'' It is used to support critical services such as healthcare and education, as well as agricultural and conservation efforts. prgtoken I was proud when Congress last approved my bill to extend the rum cover over for five years as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. However, that increased rate of the rum cover over expired at the end of December 2021 and has yet to be renewed, resulting in continued uncertainty, and negatively impacting the economies of both jurisdictions. prgtoken Puerto Rico's rum industry is one of the major drivers of the island's economy, producing more than 70 percent of the rum that is consumed in the U.S. and 80 percent of the rum consumed around the world. prgtoken With that in mind i
Burma (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-1-31

it has been 3 years since a thuggish military coup derailed prospects for democracy, unity, and self- determination in Burma. The military--or Tatmadaw--has engaged in a ruthless, systematic war against the people of Burma. This war has displaced roughly 2\1/2\ million people. Last year alone, it claimed over 15,000 lives. prgtoken And, of course, the junta has placed tens of thousands of innocent people behind bars for opposing the military regime. Right now, nearly 2,000 members of the National League for Democracy, Burma's leading pro-democracy party, are being unjustly held as political prisoners, as are many others from all corners of Burma's society and its myriad ethnic groups. prgtoken Undoubtedly, the most well-known political prisoner is my friend Aung San Suu Kyi. For the longtime leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement and for the hopes she represents, I can only imagine the 3 years of pain, suffering, and frustration. prgtoken I would hope my colleagues would join me, on this third anniversary of the coup, in calling for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma. In the face of sustained repression and brutal violence, the people of Burma continue to resist. Working together, increasingly across ethnic and religious lines, they continue to defy the heavy fist of the junta. In recent months, forces resisting the Tatmadaw have conducted promising counteroffensives and drawn significant defections from the ranks of the pro-junta military. They are determined to establish a new democratic Burma committed to coexistence, justice, and the rule of law. prgtoken As I have said repeatedly, the world must encourage and support their efforts. The United States must urge more of our allies and partners to join in applying maximum pressure to the ruling junta, to state-owned enterprises like the MOGE, and to their enablers abroad. prgtoken There is also more the administration can do to help the people of Burma. For one, it is past time to implement the bipartisan BURMA Act and deploy its new authorities and resources to engage and provide nonlethal assistance to those struggling to resist the junta, including ethnic groups and organizations on the frontlines of this terrible conflict. prgtoken The conflict in Burma is not just about freedom or justice. It has also been a boon to China and Russia. Both of our adversaries have armed the Tatmadaw for a healthy profit and growing influence. Beijing also has its eyes on critical infrastructure projects it sees as expanding its strategic reach into the Indian Ocean. Foremost among these is a $7 billion deepwater port in Rakhine State. prgtoken I would encourage my colleagues to look at a map and consider just where this complicated country of more than 50 million people sits. Geography may not exactly be destiny, but it certainly matters. The outcome of the conflict will matter in the geostrategic competition unfolding all a
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-1-31

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding the time. prgtoken This month the United States national debt hit a record $34 trillion. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the United States owed $659 billion in interest on this debt, and you can expect that number to be much higher this year. prgtoken These numbers should alarm every American and make it clear that omics is not working, but the American people already know this. The White House repeatedly has lied, publicly praising themselves for a healthy economy and taking credit for meager postpandemic numbers. prgtoken The American people aren't buying this false narrative. Hardworking Americans are still struggling to pay their bills and balance their family budgets while the President and the in Washington continue the reckless spending. prgtoken According to a recent Axios poll, 72 percent of Americans say their grocery purchases are the top way they feel inflation in their lives, closely followed by gas prices at 56 percent. prgtoken They also found that two-thirds of Americans are worried that food prices prgtoken will continue to climb. I will remind President and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that when you pass bloated spending packages that include Green New Deal funding or money to build a new park named for Nancy Pelosi or funding for gender programs in Pakistan, this isn't monopoly money that you are playing with. You are spending the hard-earned tax dollars of people who wake up every day, who go to work so that they can provide for their families. Our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren will still be paying for this debt long after all of us are gone from this legislative body. prgtoken This kind of spending must end. We must reverse course now to secure our Nation's financial future and that is why House s have been focused on cutting Federal spending. That is why we work to avoid a trillion-dollar Christmas omnibus and that is why we are going to keep fighting to put this country back on the right track.
TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND WORKERS ACT OF 2024
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-1-31

I rise today in support of this tax bill. prgtoken I am particularly pleased this bill includes language that I introduced to ensure capital-intensive industries can fully deduct the cost of interest from their taxes. This is particularly important right now as Americans continue to deal with recent high inflation and higher interest rates. prgtoken Alongside provisions ensuring domestic research and development in small business capital expenses are fully deductible, this bill enhances the opportunity to develop new products in America, create jobs, making those products here, and then sell those products around the world. prgtoken I am also glad this bill includes language ensuring Americans living, working, and investing in companies within our ally, Taiwan, do not face double taxation. prgtoken Also, I especially appreciate that the language of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act applying to the child tax credit is continued in this bill. prgtoken , this is a strong bill. It deserves strong bipartisan support. I look forward to voting for it. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Israel (Executive Calendar)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2024-1-31

I rise today to once again stand in strong support of our friend and ally Israel and to highlight the continued fallout that we are witnessing as a result of the October 7 terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas. prgtoken It is really difficult to describe those 116 days that we have had since October 7 as anything other than shocking, as we have seen the senseless murder of over 1,200 people in Israel, widespread violence across the Middle East, and alarming rise of anti-Semitism right here in the United States. prgtoken Just this past weekend, on January 27, we recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day and honored the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust--the largest genocide in human history with unspeakable horror inflicted on the Jewish people. This commemoration serves as a reminder of why the State of Israel must exist and our continual commitment to stand against the persecution of the Jewish people. prgtoken But now, nearly 80 years later, the safety of the Jewish people is once again under siege. I never thought I would make that statement. prgtoken The terrorist attacks on October 7 killed the most Jews in 1 day since the Holocaust. Hundreds of women and children were taken hostage, including our very own Americans who still remain in captivity today. And, shamefully, some of the most prominent organizations that claim to support women were silent when it came to Hamas's use of sexual violence against women and girls on October 7. prgtoken We must continue to universally denounce the barbaric tactics of Hamas and do all that is in our power to free the hostages and bring those American hostages home. prgtoken It remains clear that Israel has the right to defend themselves, as any country would, in the face of this unprovoked terror. There isn't another country in the world that would be expected to sit back and allow this to prgtoken happen, allow their next-door neighbor--whose own charter calls for genocide--to commit this kind of brazen and indiscriminate violence. prgtoken To this day, Hamas continues to fire rockets at Israel, target their civilians, and hold women and children hostage. That is all in violation of international law. They also continue to use protected civilian structures for its operation, endangering its own people. prgtoken There is no question that our world has dramatically shifted since October 7, as we can clearly see that Israel's security is directly related to our own national security here at home. prgtoken Unfortunately, since the beginning of the attacks on Israel, President has not displayed the strength that is needed for our Nation at this critical junction. His administration, beginning on October 7, made their fears of an escalating conflict crystal clear. prgtoken Secretary Blinken said on October 22 that ``This is not what we want. . . . We don't want escalation.'' prgtoken This widely broadcasted fear of escalation prevented them fro
Iran (Executive Calendar)
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-1-31

over the weekend, our Nation lost three servicemembers in a drone attack in Jordan. Responsibility for this attack rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Sadly, what happened over the weekend, it is not a surprise. It has been happening for months. prgtoken Iran and their proxies have launched more than 165 attacks against U.S. troops across the Middle East and countless more against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. prgtoken There has been a consistent drumbeat of Iranian-backed proxy attacks since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. prgtoken A few things are clear about this situation. First, Iran and its proxies, they do not currently fear the United States. prgtoken Second, Iran is intent on harming the United States, our servicemembers, and our interests. prgtoken Third, Iran is aiming to push the United States out of the Middle East in a bid for complete regional power. We can't let this takeover happen. prgtoken Iranian dominance in the Middle East would jeopardize the free flow of international trade; it would endanger important energy resources as well as damage America's counterterrorism efforts. And in the shadow of October 7, if we were to abandon our Middle East allies, it would be open season on Israel and the Jewish people. prgtoken I have heard the views of many in this Chamber, ranging from those who favor an immediate military offensive inside Iran to those who want the United States to leave the region altogether. Instead of beginning another ``forever war'' or succumbing to isolationism, I would submit that there is a better way. And we don't have to go back very far in history to find it. prgtoken After a single American contractor was killed at the hands of Iran in 2019, President ordered a strike that eliminated the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. We didn't start a war, and we didn't withdraw. We simply sent Iran's leaders a very clear message; that is, if you kill Americans, you will forfeit your life. And Iran pulled back. prgtoken That is deterrence, when all nations know for certain that we are willing to act in defense of our people. It is that clear understanding that actually prevents a wider conflict, and it is a breakdown in clarity that is provoking the Iranians to continue taking more dangerous--and ultimately deadly--shots at U.S. forces abroad. prgtoken We must end the failed policy of appeasement toward Iran. We must also stop telegraphing U.S. responses so Iran and its proxies can move personnel, weapons, and equipment out of the target area. Weakness only invites further aggression. prgtoken We must reestablish deterrence, and we must respond with the strength that this moment requires. No more half measures, hesitation, or muddled messages. Iran and their proxies must know that when the United States of America tells them to stop, we mean it, and we are willing to do something about it. Without