mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 21, CALLING ON VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO CONVENE AND MOBILIZE THE CABINET TO ACTIVATE SECTION 4 OF THE 25TH AMENDMENT TO DECLARE PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP...
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-1-12

the balance of my time. prgtoken , in closing, I want to urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this resolution. prgtoken The resolution asks this House to substitute its judgment for the Vice President's in making the grave decision to initiate procedures under section 4 of the 25th Amendment. Under the Constitution, this is a role that belongs exclusively to the Vice President and the Cabinet, not to the House of Representatives. Attempting to usurp this responsibility is not supported by the Constitution and would be a historic overreach. prgtoken Members should also take assurance from the Vice President's strong record of sound judgment. Rather than pressuring him into acting, we should be reassured by the knowledge that he would act on this topic as he does on all others in performing his duty, in a manner befitting his constitutional role as Vice President of the United States. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question and ``no'' on the rule, and .
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-1-12

the violence at the Capitol last week has been condemned by s, , and President . So, I wonder: Why are the stoking the fire instead of dousing the flames? prgtoken This 25th Amendment resolution is actually similar, with some differences, to the proposal filed in October of this year by the same Representative and joined by 42 . The problem at that time is they were trying to get this commission together. This time, they want the Vice President to invoke the other portion of article 4. But the problem, of course, is that the Vice President sent a very lovely letter to them, saying he is not going to do that. prgtoken Our Nation is divided. While folks on the left are trying to lay this all on President , you should consider a few statements from colleagues across the aisle. prgtoken One of our colleagues at one point said: ``If you see anybody from that Cabinet,'' meaning Mr. 's Cabinet, ``in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them, and you tell them they are not welcome anymore, anywhere.'' prgtoken Senator Booker called for his supporters to: ``Go to the Hill today. Get up and please get up in the face of some Congresspeople.'' prgtoken I have dozens more similar statements. But what we are talking about here today is a resolution, asking the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment and get the Cabinet together to remove this President. prgtoken What that does, it is basically doing what wrongfully claimed President did on January 6. It pours gas on the smoldering embers, which consist of tens of millions who believe the integrity of the election was questionable. They feel disenfranchised. And quite frankly, they are more angry than aggrieved. prgtoken Some believe that by doing this, it is going to be healing. I heard this gentleman say this in the Rules Committee, that doing this would be healing. Yet, the Vice President said he is not going to do that. If this resolution is to ask the Vice President to invoke this 25th Amendment, if this is what the purpose of this is, to ask the Vice President, then the purpose is now null. prgtoken But I suggest to you it looks like, it would appear like, if we are going to proceed on, even after you received the answer that you are seeking, and it is disapprobation of your idea, that the only thing that could be left is to pour gas on the fire. prgtoken I am asking that cooler heads prevail here. This is not necessary. Don't let this get in the way. Just to parrot the last speaker, I am asking friends across the aisle: Don't do this.
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-1-12

I rise today to speak against this resolution. I am at a loss. prgtoken I can't believe the very first time that I have the honor and privilege to address this august Chamber is to talk about removing the President of the United States because he held a permitted, legal, and peaceful rally. prgtoken It is nothing but a wasteful political grandstand. Let's make no mistake: January 6 was a dark day in our esteemed Nation's history. It was a dark and sad day. prgtoken On the afternoon of January 6, a mob breached our sacred Capitol. didn't. A mob destroyed property and vandalized historic treasures and ran amuck on these grounds, but didn't. prgtoken A mob committed despicable, evil actions of violence against fellow Americans, but didn't. In fact, urged and, in fact, he demanded peaceful dissent and nothing more. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want us to unnecessarily remove a President when we are measuring the time he has left, not in years, months, weeks, or days--he has got 182 hours left in office. prgtoken You don't achieve unity by simply saying it. You achieve unity through actions. This resolution accomplishes not unity but, rather, is a waste of time, and fosters further divisiveness. I am going to vote ``no'' on this resolution.
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-1-12

what a sad and ominous way to begin the 117th Congress. Hasn't this body done enough in the last session to divide our country and abuse our Constitution without carrying that damage into the new session? prgtoken The 25th Amendment specifically addresses the incapacity of the President to discharge the duties of his office. It was never intended as a political weapon when Congress doesn't like the way he discharges those duties. prgtoken Now, I have read that speech. He never suggested rampaging the Capitol and disrupting the Congress. He urged them to--and this is an exact quote--``peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.'' prgtoken Now, many of us s joined a bipartisan vote to respect the electoral college votes despite our suspicions, our misgivings, and our desires. We did this because the Constitution commanded it and our institutions depend on it. Now, today, those same principles should compel a bipartisan vote to oppose this grotesque abuse of the 25th Amendment. prgtoken Last week, the majority argued that the President tried to misuse the Constitution to overturn the votes of the electoral college. Well, he asserted no direct power. Rather, he urged the Vice President and Congress to do so. Many of us declined his bad advice. prgtoken Yet, this week, the majority directly is asserting power to misuse the 25th Amendment in a manner that does overturn the votes of the previous electoral college. Don't they see that they are committing directly the same offense they accuse the President of committing indirectly? prgtoken Every act we take builds a precedent for future acts. Once Congress asserts prgtoken this new role as armchair psychiatrists and a new power to equate intemperate speech with functional disability, the most important pillars of our government--stability, the rule of law, and the separation of powers--will fracture. prgtoken It won't affect this President, but it will stalk future Presidents from this day forward. For their sake, please don't do this.
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2021-1-12

I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 21, calling on Vice President to invoke section 4 of the 25th Amendment. prgtoken Like all of us, I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the violence that occurred here in our Nation's Capital last week. Political violence is never the answer, regardless of which side of the political spectrum it occurs. And that is a strongly held position on which I have been clear since well before my time in Congress. prgtoken Let's be clear about a few things. The adoption of this political resolution would be divisive rather than unifying. The Vice President has said he has no intention of taking action under the amendment. So, this process is pure political theater on the part of the majority. prgtoken In addition, no due process has been provided. As a former prosecutor, if law enforcement brought evidence of a crime to me and said take this to the jury tomorrow for a jury trial, there would be no chance for the defendant to prepare any defense. I would be violating half the Constitution, the code of Virginia, and over 100 different rules of procedure. prgtoken In the more than 50 years since the 25th Amendment was ratified, section 4 has never been invoked. As such, there are no judicial or authoritative opinions that would evaluate its implementation. Absent this, we must look to the legislative intent of the Congress that passed its language, and nowhere in the legislative intent is the current situation envisioned. It is meant to be used for incapacity, not for political ends with 8 days remaining in a President's term. prgtoken Last week, Vice President was lauded by the majority for not yielding to pressure to exert power beyond his constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election. Yet, the majority today is attempting to pressure him to exert power beyond the intention of his constitutional role in section 4 of the 25th Amendment. prgtoken This action will only further fuel the political divide among our citizens and will be detrimental to the long-term efforts to unify our country. prgtoken , both President and President-elect have called for a peaceful transition of power. I would encourage members of both parties to work toward this end and vote against this rushed, misguided, politically motivated resolution.
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-1-12

I rise as a proud American who has the distinct honor of serving this great body. prgtoken As a Member of Congress, we take an oath to defend the Constitution because at times it needs defending. prgtoken On January 6, the Nation watched as insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, threatened the safety of countless individuals, and successfully, albeit it temporarily, disrupted our process. prgtoken In the midst of the attack, hundreds of Capitol Police officers heroically upheld their duty to defend the United States and protect those who work here. Many officers were severely injured and beaten, including one of my former interns. prgtoken Tragically, one officer, Officer Brian Sicknick, succumbed to the injuries he sustained. prgtoken To Officer Sicknick's family, I extend my deepest condolences. Know that we are praying for you. prgtoken To all Capitol Police officers, we are deeply thankful for your bravery. Because of you, thousands of lives were protected, and the people's work was able to resume. prgtoken Now, just as the Capitol Police protected us, Congress must match that courage and protect the Constitution, our democratic processes, and this Nation. prgtoken The President's role in the insurrection is undeniable. Both on social media ahead of January 6 and in his speech that day, he deliberately promoted baseless theories, creating a combustible environment of misinformation and division. prgtoken To allow the President of the United States to incite this attack without consequences is a direct threat to the future of this democracy. For this reason, I will vote to impeach this President tomorrow. prgtoken The bill before us tonight is a nonbinding resolution, which requests the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment, a step he has already said he will not take. It is merely a symbolic gesture, and I will oppose that resolution. prgtoken After last week's attack on the Capitol, it is clear our Nation is more divided than ever in recent history. We began this great experiment over 240 years ago. To preserve it, we must remember that our faith, race, or political party is not what unites us. What unites us is that we are Americans. I would encourage members of this body, and everyone at home, to remember that simple truth.
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-1-12

well, they may be calling on the Vice President, but based on his letter, he is not answering. prgtoken Everybody in this country knows that they wanted to impeach President on his first day in office. And it looks like they are going to want to impeach him on his last day too. But all he did in the middle was rescue our economy, rebuild our military, reform the VA, and reduce America's involvement in foreign wars. prgtoken Now, I join the bipartisan caucus condemning the violence that we saw at our Capitol, but the hypocrisy is just downright disorienting. prgtoken President called for protests that would be peaceful and patriotic. He got labeled a national security threat. Yet the gentlewoman from California can call on her supporters to get physical and in the faces of s, and she gets the chairmanship of the Financial Services Committee. prgtoken Members of Congress utilized a process contemplated in the Constitution to offer an objection, and we were labeled seditionists. prgtoken Members of Congress raised funds for groups attacking our police, burning our cities, destroying our businesses, establishing autonomous zones, and they were celebrated as justice warriors. prgtoken Wednesday, they called for unity, democracy, and healing. Now, just days later, seeking power and political advantage, the have reverted to the mean. They have gone back to their natural state: the party of impeachment, removal, and division. prgtoken They are about to have unified control of the government. Maybe they would use this time to preview an agenda for the American people. prgtoken The last two times the 25th Amendment was invoked, it was to facilitate a colonoscopy. Now they are using it to facilitate a transition to . How weird. Why? prgtoken I would call it virtue signaling, but there is no virtue in it. This removal effort isn't for America. It is for them for their ability to showcase and wield power, and we see the power of cancellation and removal on full display in America today. Forbes Magazine has called for White House officials to be shamed and unemployable. prgtoken ABC News has called for the cleansing of the movement. I don't know what that means, but talking about cleansing our fellow human beings sure is scary. Big Tech has driven consumers and conservatives off of prgtoken monopolistic platforms, and when we created our own platform, Parler, it was nuked from the internet altogether. prgtoken The gentlewoman from New York was booted from a Harvard advisory board because she took an adverse position on electors that had been taken by every single member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2001. prgtoken Cancellations for some, celebrations for others for doing the exact same thing. prgtoken The President of the United States can't tweet or post on Facebook, but we know from Project Veritas that the principal counsel for PBS can call for the government
W. Gregory Steube (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-1-12

I would be remiss if I didn't address the atrocities occurring right here on the House floor today. A week ago, this building was attacked; and instead of working with s to attempt to prevent that from ever happening again, the and her ic colleagues think an appropriate response is to prevent Members from exercising their Second Amendment constitutional rights in the very place that wasn't secure a week ago. prgtoken This attack didn't come from the inside. It came from the outside. And to respond by restricting Members' Second Amendment rights in the very institution that is supposed to uphold those rights is appalling. prgtoken Take note, America. This is what you have to look forward to in a administration. If they can do it right here in the people's House, they will attempt to do it across the country. prgtoken The plain language of the 25th Amendment is abundantly clear. Although I am an attorney, you don't have to be an attorney to understand that the Vice President is the principal required to invoke the amendment. The beginning of Section 4 states: ``Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide . . . declare that the President is unable to discharge. . . . '' prgtoken You must have the Vice President invoking this, and you don't. The Vice President has been clear, he is unwilling to invoke the 25th Amendment. It is not Congress' role to override him. It doesn't state in the amendment that Congress makes that determination. The Vice President does. prgtoken But my ic colleagues will stop at nothing to remove this President, even a week before his term expires. The plain reading of the 25th Amendment demonstrates that this is the wrong approach. An understanding of last week's events demonstrates this is the wrong approach. And a consideration of the political tactics that we have seen in recent days, months, and years tells you that this is a disingenuous approach at best and 100 percent politically motivated. prgtoken I was elected in 2018. My entire congressional career has been consumed by impeaching or removing President . After the Russia collusion hoax and a phone call to the Ukrainian President, and then a failed impeachment attempt that resulted in an acquittal, here we are, a little more than a week away from a new President being sworn in, attempting this travesty both to the Constitution and to America as a whole. prgtoken This is dangerous, unconstitutional, and does nothing to heal this country and move this country forward.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 21, CALLING ON VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO CONVENE AND MOBILIZE THE CABINET TO ACTIVATE SECTION 4 OF THE 25TH AMENDMENT TO DECLARE PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP...
Lisa C. McClain (Republican, MI) \u2014 2021-1-12

I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma. prgtoken I rise today to echo many of my colleagues in the call for unity and a peaceful transition of power. I say this as a believer in the Constitution and the fact that the election has been certified. prgtoken First, the incitement of politically motivated violence that we saw last week is intolerable. Words have consequences, and, yes, the President could have done more. But I ask you this: Doesn't everybody need to play by the same rules? prgtoken Let me highlight some other questionable statements. prgtoken And I quote: ``Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gas station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they are not welcome anymore, anywhere.'' That was not President . prgtoken Let me give you another one. ``I just don't even know why there aren't uprisings all over the country.'' Again, not President . prgtoken Can we all agree that at times our emotions get in the way because we love this country so much? But I ask you this: Whatever is good for one side, isn't it good for the other? prgtoken We all have the same name on the front of our jersey, and that is the United States of America. We need to start acting like it and let our actions follow our words. prgtoken Impeachment only incites more division. It does not provide unity. prgtoken I offer a solution. I am ready to come together and get to work for this great country in which we live.
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-1-12

this is an absurd resolution callously politicizing an unpredictable tragedy last week. We all know that President called for a peaceful and patriotic march. I must have attended a half dozen rallies in the past year, and they have always been peaceful, wholesome events, typical of the thousands of peaceful protesters who remained away from the Capitol last week. I never would have expected this in a million years. prgtoken This is a horrible event, but not like the Black Lives Matter, antifa events that went on day after day in city after city, with prominent fanning the flames by mischaracterizing police shootings or apparently encouraging bail for lawbreakers. prgtoken Less than 2 years ago, a Member of this body encouraged harassment of officers at restaurants, gas stations, or department stores. And what happened? She was rewarded with the chairmanship of an ``A'' committee. prgtoken Even in last week's riots, the tried to preposterously racialize them, which can only lead to trouble, maybe violence. Everybody back home says we ought to get along. prgtoken Is this the way to start things? prgtoken It is time to get back to dealing with the people's business, dealing with the cancel culture.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 24, IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-1-13

I am deeply troubled by last week's attack on our Capitol, and I pray for the families of Officer Sicknick and Officer Liebengood. prgtoken As I have been saying all summer long, violence and rioting has no place in America. The criminals responsible for last week's rioting must be brought to justice. At a time when our Nation is still healing, we must seek out issues to work on that unite us rather than issues that further divide us. prgtoken I was greatly encouraged to see our country unite in condemnation of last week's lawlessness and the rioting. I am further encouraged that, despite my colleagues' claims to the contrary, President is committed to a peaceful and uninterrupted transfer of power. prgtoken But that is not good enough for my colleagues across the aisle. With just 7 days left in President 's term, they are fast-tracking impeachment proceedings, a move which will no doubt further divide an already fractured Nation. prgtoken Even House ' last impeachment effort, which was rushed through in record time, at the very least, that had expert input, depositions, hearings, and deliberation. This latest attempt at impeachment ignores all precedent. It ignores all due process. It cannot be voted on in the Senate before is sworn into office. prgtoken I am also very concerned by the charge against the President of ``incitement of insurrection.'' At his rally, President urged attendees to ``peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.'' There was no mention of violence, let alone calls to action. prgtoken Look, I prosecuted terrorists in the Navy. I was a defense attorney in the Navy JAG Corps. I was a district judge. Pull up the criminal statute. Look at the criminal code. President 's prgtoken words would not even meet the definition of incitement under criminal statutes. prgtoken The measure before us today sets a dangerous precedent whereby political parties can justify impeachment simply because they do not agree with the President. I would, therefore, urge my colleagues across the aisle to just take a step back, let cooler heads prevail, and consider how the actions we are taking here today will alter the course of history, will lower an already low bar of impeachment for all future Presidencies.