mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-10-3

I don't expect this to be the best formed set of remarks that I have ever made on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and I would guess that they could be refined and improved--and maybe somebody will edit them and make them in a better form--but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to express my views in regard to several things that occurred in the U.S. Senate, in the Congress, in this country last week. prgtoken I think our country faces perhaps the greatest challenges ever faced in my lifetime, certainly in my time as an elected official. It seems to me that the array of challenges from our adversaries are real, are increasing, and are threatening. prgtoken I have always been an optimist. I expect us to be able to do the things necessary to change the course of history, to make sure that the United States remains the country that it is today. prgtoken Perhaps my fears arise because Robba and I are now grandparents. Perhaps it is this love of another generation and the desire to see that they experience the things that I have been able to experience in my lifetime. prgtoken I want to highlight a recent and important essay penned by a former Secretary of Defense. Robert Gates, a fellow Kansan, warns of our government dysfunction at a moment in history in which our Nation confronts graver threats to its security than it has in past decades-- perhaps ever. prgtoken Our constituents, from time to time, pay attention to what we do here, but I want us to recognize that perhaps even more intently, our adversaries pay attention to what we do or don't do here. prgtoken What we do and how we do it either strengthens or harms the future of the United States. It can increase the trust placed in us by our allies or it can embolden our adversaries because if I am right, our future is in the balance, and we need to work to increase those who decide to be on the side of freedom and liberty, of stability, of a better life for all people. We need to be the leader of a coalition that understands the values and the American ideals and how they alter lives, and we need to make certain that those who should be on the side of right are not sitting on the fence. prgtoken During my time in the U.S. Senate, I have never been more angry or more sullen than those few days that week or so in which our country left Afghanistan. Our unprepared actions and void of leadership resulted in the deaths of Americans, American servicemembers, and it stranded thousands of Afghans--Afghan allies--behind enemy lines. I raise this because I want to tie it to what may now be happening here. Those few days may have been among the most costly in emboldening those who seek our country's demise, and I fear today that we are about to again demonstrate to the world our feckless ambivalence to lead. I don't want us to lead as a superior or to be in the face of our allies, but I want people who care, countries that believe in peace and prosperity an
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-10-3

today is the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu. At this very moment 30 years ago, nearly 100 Rangers and Delta Force operators were pinned down in the city, caring for the wounded and fighting off thousands of heavily armed Somali militiamen. Helicopter crews from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment--the Night Stalkers--provided aerial fire support. prgtoken One of the most intense battles of modern times had been going for 7 hours. It would continue through the night for another 8 hours. In the end, 18 Americans died and more than 70 were wounded. prgtoken This epic battle was immortalized in the classic book ``Black Hawk Down'' by Mark Bowden and dramatized in the movie of the same name. What most Americans know about the battle comes from his excellent reporting. What Bowden made clear is sometimes overlooked: These warriors accomplished their mission. prgtoken The veterans of that battle should hold their heads high with pride, and the Gold Star families of those 18 fallen warriors in Mogadishu should know that their husbands, sons, and fathers were, indeed, heroes--no less than the men who jumped into Normandy or stormed Iwo Jima. prgtoken Unfortunately, their leaders in Washington failed these heroes. No modern battle better reflects some enduring truths we ought to keep in mind today. We should only commit our forces when our vital national security interests are at stake, when the mission is so critical that it justifies American casualties, if necessary. prgtoken Once committed, we should provide our troops with every last thing they need to fight and win, without tying one hand behind their backs. And we should be mindful of what dangerous lessons we teach our enemies when we handcuff our troops or squander their battlefield victories. prgtoken Let's go back to how those Rangers, Delta operators, and Night Stalkers wound up fighting for their lives in the streets of Mogadishu. In 1992, an estimated 350,000 Somalis had starved to death in a famine of biblical proportion. The American media highlighted the atrocious suffering in Somalia, but the famine primarily resulted not from natural disaster but from rival warlords fighting a brutal civil war. prgtoken The warlords stole food-aid shipments to profiteer, feed their own clans, and starve their enemies. Hunger was just another weapon. After the election and with the approval of President-elect Clinton, President decided to intervene. He acted against the counsel of many of his senior advisers. CIA Director--and, later, Secretary of Defense--Bob Gates summed prgtoken up their opposition by observing that ``no vital American interest was at stake.'' prgtoken Moreover, the humanitarian disaster was caused by the warlords; so intervening to ensure the safe delivery of food aid merely addressed the symptoms, not the causes, of the famine. Gates lamented ``the first U.S. military intervention driven by CNN.'' prgtoken In
MERIT-BASED EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-10-3

. Madam , medical education based on competency and merit is necessary to lead the world in healthcare and medical innovation. prgtoken Americans sign up for a healthcare system free of racial discrimination. Medical schools must instill this fundamental precept in our country's future healthcare professionals. prgtoken That is why the Education and the Workforce Committee pressed the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the medical school accreditor, on its diversity, equity, and inclusion standards for applicants and its mandate for diversity. prgtoken LCME responded to the committee inquiry and publicly clarified that accredited medical schools will not treat applicants differently on the basis of race. With lives on the line, racial discrimination must play no part in our Nation's healthcare system. prgtoken The committee will continue to push for merit-based education standards for all professions in the American workforce.
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-10-3

I have heard people talk about bad faith here. I have heard them make reference to this January agreement--my friends from Arizona, Virginia, and Florida. prgtoken Let me be crystal clear: Not a single one of them was in the room. prgtoken You know what? The didn't meet the targets of that January agreement, he exceeded them. The greatest savings in American history. The greatest savings in American history. prgtoken , this isn't about fundraising. This is about our country. It is about our children and our grandchildren.
Government Funding (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-10-3

as the world now knows, over the weekend, Congress passed a short-term funding bill to prevent a government shutdown. prgtoken I want to commend McCarthy and the Members of the House on both sides of the aisle for finding a path forward to keep the government open for the next 45 days while the two Chambers advance full-year appropriations bills. The failure to advance those bills was, in fact, the reason why we came up against the end of the fiscal year deadline and had to resort to a short-term continuing resolution. prgtoken Now, I have made my feelings about government shutdowns crystal clear. They don't save any money. They don't solve any problems, and the same problems that caused you to shut down the government are still there staring you in the face when you reopen. They are not in anyone's best interest, unless you are concerned primarily with politics and the blame game. prgtoken When the government shuts down, millions of federal workers are left without being paid. Now, that doesn't mean they don't have to continue doing their jobs. It just means they won't get paid. That includes members of the military, our frontline border security personnel, and so many others. I am glad their families don't have to confront the reality of a shutdown today. prgtoken Beyond the impact on individual workers, shutdowns impact critical functions of the Federal Government. Immigration court hearings are canceled, resulting in an even greater backlog of pending cases. The E- Verify system, which is designed to allow employers to determine whether somebody can lawfully work in the United States, is taken offline, meaning employers have no way to verify job applicants' employment eligibility. In many cases, Federal investigators aren't able to pursue leads of potential criminal activity, develop evidence, or even bring enforcement actions against bad actors. Programs that support our veterans, low-income families, and other vulnerable Americans are temporarily paralyzed. prgtoken So there are no winners during a government shutdown. The overwhelming majority of us--and, I believe, of the country--understand that. So I am glad we were able to avert a crisis at the last minute. But the fact that we even landed in that situation represents a failure of Congress to govern, and it starts right here in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken At the start of the summer, it looked like the Senate would embrace the regular appropriations process, something it hadn't done in a long time. The day this Chamber passed the legislation raising the debt limit, Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell issued a joint statement about the process going forward. This is back when the debt ceiling legislation was signed. They said they asked the chair and vice chair of the Appropriations Committee to get regular order process started to move all 12 appropriations bills through the Appropriations Committee. The leadership also pledged to wor
TRIBUTE TO SPECIALIST RACHEL RONEY-RIVERA
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-10-3

although she is just 25 years old, Specialist Rachel Roney-Rivera's life has been all about breaking barriers. A native of Beauregard, Rachel enlisted in the U.S. Army on her 18th birthday, using her interests to become a paralegal for the National Guard. prgtoken After finishing her military service as an E-4 specialist, Rachel decided to use her experience to pursue a career in law enforcement. She graduated top of her class at the police academy before prgtoken joining the Chambers County Sheriff's Office. Rachel has proven to be a vital part of the force, including becoming the first woman to be selected for the SWAT team. She now serves as a sex crimes investigator, helping families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson says that Rachel, ``puts 110% into every case to bring resolution and justice.'' prgtoken Rachel's presence in the community extends far past her investigative work. She also serves as a self-defense instructor, where she helps empower women in East Alabama with confidence and defense training techniques. But that is not all--Rachel is also preparing to graduate with her bachelor's degree in psychology from Columbia Southern next spring. She is studying for the LSAT, hoping to become an attorney one day. In addition to being a full-time deputy and student, Rachel is also a proud full-time mom to a 4-year-old daughter. prgtoken Her story inspires Alabamians young and old about what can be accomplished with hard work and determination. I am honored to recognize Rachel as the October Veteran of the Month.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4394, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4364, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS...
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-10-3

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken It is quite the intellectual yoga exercise to somehow say that s are encouraging Russian gas. It is the exact opposite. prgtoken Let's think about it. Do you know why there are Russian oil tankers in the harbor in Boston? It is because far-left radical activists, namely the entire ic Party, have decided to cancel a pipeline that should have been running from Philadelphia into New England called the Constitution Pipeline that would have brought clean natural gas from Pennsylvania into New England so the residents there have cheap, abundant natural gas and are not forced to buy dirty petroleum from Russian. prgtoken Again, the intellectual gymnastics and yoga are quite amazing. prgtoken Let's talk about some other far-left, radical policies of my friends across the aisle and how it has made us more dependent on Russia and more dependent on China. prgtoken For one, they have a new list of regulations on coal-fired power plants, making it harder for us to burn our clean coal here in the United States and forcing coal producers to ship coal to places like China, where they don't use scrubbers, by the way. Liberals across the aisle ended the Keystone XL pipeline, coincidentally killing tens of thousands of union jobs that they purport to support. They also canceled Federal oil and gas leasing on Federal land. prgtoken I ask you, which policies make us more dependent on Russia, ours or the radical left's? prgtoken Madam , .
HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF DR. NITIN SHAH
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-3

I rise today to honor the achievements of Dr. Nitin Shah, a compassionate and dedicated physician whose unwavering commitment to the well-being of his community has had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of thousands of individuals. prgtoken Dr. Nitin Shah's journey began in 1975, where he began his rotating medical internship in Vadodara, India before migrating to New York. There, he continued his career as a research fellow--and eventually moved to the City of Anaheim and continued to provide medical care as an anesthesiologist. prgtoken In 2006, Dr. Shah's deep sense of empathy and vision for a healthier and more equitable society led him to establish the Anaheim Free Health Clinic and Citizenship Fair, an event that provides free medical, dental, vision, and other health care services to Anaheim residents with the help of countless doctors and volunteers. Recognizing the pressing need for prgtoken accessible healthcare in our community, he made it his life's mission to provide quality medical care to those who were underserved and often overlooked. prgtoken From humble beginnings, the clinic has developed into a cornerstone of community health, with an impact that extends far beyond the facility's walls. Countless lives have been changed because of his efforts. Families that could not previously afford crucial health visits now have access to these services. Children get the vaccinations they need to stay healthy, and those with chronic illnesses get the continuing care and assistance they need to manage their ailments. His tireless commitment to providing free health care services to those in need exemplifies the values of compassion, selflessness, and service. prgtoken , I call upon my fellow members of Congress to join me in recognizing the incredible work of Dr. Shah.
CRIME
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-10-3

it is my honor to represent the State of Illinois and the city of Chicago. I cannot tell you how many times Members of the Senate and the House in the other party have gone to the microphones to condemn the city of Chicago and its crime rate. prgtoken Let me tell you point-blank, there is too much crime in the city of Chicago, but it is not the only city in America that suffers from that problem. Cities large and small have problems every single day with violent gun crime. My hometown of East St. Louis is a tiny little town of 20,000, 25,000 in comparison to the large metropolis of Chicago. Yet the rate of gun violence there is even higher in East St. Louis than it is in Chicago. prgtoken We have to do everything we can to deal with it. Let me tell you what ``everything we can'' means. It means we have to look at the flood of guns coming into these cities from out of State, primarily, without background checks, that are getting into the hands of criminals, who are turning around and killing innocent people. To ignore this flood of guns in the United States of America and condemn crime is to basically take a position that you are not going to look at reality. And that is what we are faced with. prgtoken We have to have a sensible policy when it comes to background checks, universal background checks, to make sure guns are not ending up in the hands of people who will misuse them. When they confiscate thousands of guns every year, which they do in Chicago, they find that they come from the surrounding States, which have lax laws, if any, when it comes to checking the background of purchasers. That is a critical element. If you raise that issue on the floor of the U.S. Senate, you will have the whole side of the aisle--the other side--coming here and waving their arms about Second Amendment rights. prgtoken I want to tell you, we need common sense when it comes to guns and gun safety. I want that to be part of the conversation on making our cities safer. prgtoken The second thing I want to really raise is personal to the Senate. If you want to stop crime in the streets of Chicago or any city--Cleveland or Chicago, for example--one of the first things you need is a competent, aggressive criminal prosecutor, a person known as a U.S. attorney who works as part of the 85 U.S. attorneys across the United States enforcing the strong Federal laws we have enacted. prgtoken So why don't we have a U.S. attorney in the city of Chicago? Why don't we have a U.S. attorney in the city of Cleveland? Because of the objections of one Senator who has come to the floor over and over again to stop these appointments from taking place. The nominees have been cleared. They have gone through background checks. Both sides, and s, have approved them. They are sitting on the calendar, and they cannot move because one Senator from the State of Ohio, a Senator, refuses to lift his hold
TRIBUTE TO DYLAN CRONKHITE
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-3

I rise today to spotlight the courageous spirit of Dylan Cronkhite, a 15-year-old in dire need of a kidney transplant. Dylan's journey began at just 19 months old when his mother, Leslie Cronkhite, rushed him to the hospital, sensing that something was gravely wrong. There, they received the devastating news that Dylan required a lifesaving operation to receive a kidney transplant. prgtoken Dylan's life was saved by the selfless act of his uncle, who became a living kidney donor. But today, Dylan confronts another formidable challenge as his transplanted kidney faces failure, like most young transplant recipients, compromising his health. prgtoken Living donors play a pivotal role in saving lives, offering a glimmer of hope to those desperately in need of an organ donation. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that there are individuals who are willing and able to step up for the greater good, just as Dylan's family has. I commend the remarkable efforts of individuals like Philip Piety and his congregation in Silver Spring. Their initiative to organize an organ donation forum is an honorable step towards raising awareness about the dire need for organ donors. Encouraging people to select organ donor status on their driver's licenses can make a substantial difference in the lives of those like Dylan, who are fervently seeking a second chance at life. prgtoken Dylan's story serves as an urgent reminder that there are actionable ways we can support one another through even the most challenging times. Today, I ask my colleagues to assist in raising awareness of the importance of organ donation so we can ensure that more individuals like Dylan receive the lifesaving organ transplants they so desperately need.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4394, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4364, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS...
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-10-3

. Madam , let me say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania that nobody has been tougher on China than yours truly here. I take a back seat to no one, and I don't want to be lectured. prgtoken Madam , I wasn't going to speak on this rule today, but I feel compelled to say something because I see a pattern developing that I think needs to be called out. It needs to be called out, plain and simple. prgtoken They are taking their awful appropriations bills on agriculture and foreign policy, and now energy and water and the legislative branch, and as the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania pointed out, they all have these deep cuts, and then they are loading them up with MAGA culture war crap. I think people ought to understand in plain terms what they are doing. prgtoken Let's focus on some specifics. prgtoken They say it is about woke this and woke that. I mean, give me a break. They want to get rid of an office here on Capitol Hill that promotes staff diversity and inclusion. Who wants less diversity? If you want everyone here to look the same, just say so. prgtoken They want to make it illegal to put up a Pride flag next to a U.S. flag, by the way, at an embassy during Pride Month. That is woke? What is wrong with them? prgtoken In one of these bills, they want to make it so that you can use taxpayer money to fire people for being gay. I mean, really? I mean, with all the problems in the world, this is what they focus on? This is what keeps them awake at night? prgtoken This is nuts. This isn't about religious freedom. This is about giving people freedom to discriminate. If they want to be bigoted, so be it, but don't use the United States Government and taxpayer dollars to reinforce and spread your backward views. prgtoken The reason I wanted to come down here is that this isn't just about politics. Hate crimes against the LGBTQ community are going up. My colleagues come to the floor not only failing to denounce that but advancing ideas which signal to people that it is okay to discriminate, that it is okay to hate. It is sick. prgtoken I get it. This is popular in the extreme MAGA world, but I thought there were some moderate voices on the other side that might find this as offensive as I do. I guess I am wrong because s continue to blindly come down here and support these hateful policies and vote for them time after time. prgtoken I hope that the next , whoever that may be--maybe we will find out today--will do a better job of preventing this garbage from coming to the floor, but looking at the Party in 2023, I won't hold my breath.