mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FAILURE OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , from the State of Washington, a good friend and chairman of our Western Caucus. I appreciate the time and the effort to have this time of education here tonight on the House floor, and for those who would watch and want to actually learn what goes on. prgtoken So where do we start on the Endangered Species Act? prgtoken Passed in 1973, signed by President Richard Nixon. prgtoken Now, if you were to listen to the rhetoric any time s want to talk about reforming the Endangered Species Act or doing things that make sense, I think, out in the woods or with water storage, with mining the critical minerals we are going to need for a lot of these idealistic views, we are going to have more and more use of electricity, you would think that we were prgtoken going to be the plunderers of the land. Completely not the case. prgtoken The things that are going on right now in the time of drought we have in the West, in my home State of California, and the ongoing problems we have with nonmanaged timber lands, U.S. forest lands, and the resulting effect that has on private lands with the bad neighbors of U.S. lands are typically to them. prgtoken If we are in a time of drought, we need to up our game more so on forestry, forest management, thinning, and using these materials for the good of people. prgtoken We had a toilet paper shortage months ago, as ridiculous as that sounds in a first-world country like the United States, yet we are burning millions of acres every year. You could trace a lot of this back to the misuse, the abuse of the Endangered Species Act to stop and block the type of work we need to be doing. prgtoken We have had hundreds of thousands of acres of fire like over there on the Western Coast, north coast of California. They try to put in a project after a 400,000-acre burn to do a minimal amount, 7,000 acres of clean up, of restoration, of removing some of the dead trees and brush and other things that were left behind along roadways and somewhere around communities, et cetera. Environmental lawsuits come in and stop them from doing 7,000 acres, less than 2 percent out of the fire. prgtoken So what is the solution to this? Just watch these ghost trees stay there, watch the brush grow up around all this and become the next tinderbox for the next fire in 5 or 7 years? prgtoken That seems to be the solution by those on the far left that use the Endangered Species Act as a weapon to stop progress for people, as well as nature, as well as the environment. prgtoken California is in the throes of drought right now big time. Our reservoirs are way down from just 2 years ago when they were all practically full, and 2 years before that topped off, too. You may recall Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam had the spillway break apart in the early part of 2017, because the lake was actually flowing over the top of the emergency spillway. The dam is in fine shape. The spillway ha
CONGRATULATING THE 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF MR. AND MRS. FRED IVERS
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the 70th wedding anniversary of Lewisville, Arkansas, natives, Fred and Christine Ivers. Mr. and Mrs. Ivers exhibit strong values of family, commitment, and sacrifice which set them apart as an example in their community. prgtoken After meeting at ages 21 and 17, the couple dated for a little over a year before getting married on May 26, 1951. As newlyweds, they faced many obstacles together, but they soon became the proud parents of four children--three boys and one girl. Mr. and Mrs. Ivers raised their children in church and always lived by their motto: ``those who pray together, stay together.'' prgtoken The couple believes the secret to their 70 years of marriage is keeping God first. Family is very important to the Ivers, and their children attest to this. In the words of their oldest son, ``They set such a tremendous example for myself and my siblings and lived their lives to the fullest''. prgtoken I take this time today to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Ivers for the example they have set for generations of Fourth District Arkansans and to congratulate them on 70 years together. May we always look to them as the picture of true love, commitment, and selflessness.
GOOD TROUBLE
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Ananya Vel, an 8th grade student from St. Bernadette School in Northborough, Massachusetts. prgtoken Ananya recently won the Worcester County Bar Association's Annual Law Day Essay Contest which sought to honor Congressman John Lewis by asking: what does ``Good Trouble'' mean to you--today? prgtoken John was a great man, but more importantly, he was a very good man. He was a champion for justice and equality who challenged the conscience of our country and called America to a higher standard. prgtoken John believed in Good Trouble and that all of us must find the moral courage to get in the way and do something when we see something is wrong. I am humbled to have worked alongside him, and I know he would be proud of Ananya's words today. prgtoken Madam , I would like to congratulate Ananya and include in the Record her award-winning essay: On December first, 1955, what started out as an ordinary evening in Montgomery Alabama, turned into something else. When a 42-year old African American woman took a seat on a bus and wouldn't give up her seat for a white man, she started something. Some might say she started trouble. Others might say she did something good, in standing up for herself. But in that moment, that ordinary evening turned into a night that would go down in history as the night Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to vacate her seat for a white passenger. Which is why still others may say that she both caused trouble, and did something good. The phrase, ``Good Trouble'' may seem like an oxymoron, seeing as the two words have opposite definitions. The dictionary defines the word ``good', as ``to be desired or approved of and the word ``trouble'' as ``difficulty or problems'' or ``public unrest or disorder.'' But if you look deeper, beyond a combination of definitions and into the true meaning, you'll see that ``Good Trouble'' is a lot more than just an oxymoron. I believe, good trouble is knowing when to bend the rules, and when to break them. When trapped in a moral dilemma, it's choosing the ethical choice over the lawful one. It's defining your principles and sticking to them, no matter what. We all have a set of rules in our heads that we follow based on what we think is right. We all have lines that we draw to keep ourselves in check. But too often, we break rules and cross lines in order to dance to the tunes of others. Good trouble is a right choice, and a circumstance. In America we have the right to speak our minds, but we also have the choice to use that right. We will only have to make that choice is the circumstance requires it. America has counted on good trouble to get to where it is today. It has brought about most change in our country. In 1920 women got the rig
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-6-14

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-14

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, June 15; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that upon conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Khan nomination; that all postcloture time expire at 11:30 a.m.; and further, that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Ahuja nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; that if cloture is invoked on the Ahuja nomination, that all postcloture time expire at 2:30 p.m.; finally, that if any of the nominations are confirmed, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
HONORING JEFF OLSON AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today to honor Jeff Olson, a community pharmacist at Montross Pharmacy, as this week's Iowan of the Week. Since 1995, Jeff has been the owner and operator of Montross Pharmacy in Winterset, Iowa, which this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary. prgtoken If you were to ask Jeff what it means to be a community pharmacist, he'd emphasize one word: community. Every day, Jeff works to make sure nobody goes without the care they need--whether that means fielding questions at the pharmacy counter, delivering prescriptions at home, or supporting local health as president of the Madison County Health Trust. Community pharmacies like Montross Pharmacy are mainstays and integral parts of the health care system in our small towns. prgtoken When COVID-19 forced us to adapt to different daily routines, Jeff and his staff at Montross Pharmacy redoubled their commitment to serving Winterset. They knew the pandemic presented a once-in-a- lifetime challenge, but they resolved to get through it together. Together, Montross Pharmacy kept its doors open, providing continued access to pharmacy services for residents in a safe setting. Jeff and his staff were on call 24/7. And, trust me, if there were more than 24 hours in a day to give, they'd have been there. prgtoken They also quickly added new services for the community, including thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. It wasn't always easy. When faced with a vaccine shortage, Jeff took it upon himself to drive six hours to secure more doses for his friends and neighbors. His hard work did not go unnoticed. In fact, one resident--an older woman who had been homebound during the pandemic--exclaimed to Jeff that the vaccine he administered was ``the best gift she could receive.'' prgtoken Jeff and his family have made a lasting mark on Winterset. Decades ago, Jeff's grandfather left his mark by welding on the cupola of the Madison County Courthouse. prgtoken Today, Jeff is leaving a different kind of mark. In each COVID-19 vaccination he delivers, Jeff sees the things that make Winterset his home--a summer day enjoyed at the pool, a youth sports game, and his kids laughing over lunch with friends. prgtoken Jeff's selflessness is truly infectious, and I know that Winterset will see the impact of his hard work for years to come. I am sincerely grateful for Jeff's commitment to his family, friends, and neighbors, and it is my honor to recognize Jeff Olson as Iowan of the Week.
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
Val Butler Demings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , as you know, our Nation was created with the highest ideals and values. Our new Nation was set aside to be a beacon of hope where we could build our hopes and dreams and calm our fears. We are known as the home of the brave and land of the free. prgtoken Yes, the history is clear, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, America demonstrated its ability to rise to its values. But America's history, as we all know, is complicated. For it took 2 years, from January 1 of 1863 to June 19 of 1865, for the last group of enslaved Americans to receive official word that they were indeed free. prgtoken But we know today, Madam , that our work is not yet done. We are still a work in progress. We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, we are a work in progress. prgtoken Let us celebrate Juneteenth, as we should. But celebrating freedom must be more than just a special day. It must be a celebration of who as a Nation we say we are; one who says we believe in justice for all. prgtoken Yes, America celebrates being free, celebrates our freedom from physical bondage, but we must also celebrate freedom from discrimination. We must also celebrate freedom from racism. We must also celebrate freedom from poverty. We must also celebrate freedom prgtoken from injustice. And we must also celebrate freedom from complacency. prgtoken Mrs. Coretta Scott King said this: ``Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.'' prgtoken Madam , regardless of the color of our skin, what State we are from, how much money we have in the bank, our religion, our gender, or our political party, we all have an obligation, and we all must carry the torch of freedom. prgtoken Madam , I thank our chair who is leading this Special Order.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 256, REPEALING THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2002; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1187, ESG DISCLOSURE...
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of the rule we are considering and to speak to the necessity of Congress repealing the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq. prgtoken Repealing the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force is a good first step towards Congress reasserting its constitutional authority over when and if the United States goes to war. This country has been in a state of perpetual war for almost 20 years. We now have members of the Armed Forces deployed overseas who are the children of soldiers who were sent to war under the 2002 AUMF. prgtoken Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress has the sole authority to decide whether to allow the President to take the country into a prolonged war. Before this Nation sends our children, our servicemembers into harm's way, Members of Congress have the duty to consider and approve or disapprove such use of force. Americans have the right to hold us accountable for those decisions. prgtoken Repealing the 2002 AUMF does not impede the President's ability to use military force without congressional approval in the event of a sudden threat or imminent attack, but we cannot continue to operate under a system where U.S. Presidents can place American troops in harm's way with no checks or balances. That is unacceptable. prgtoken Congress' failure to repeal or replace the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs for two decades has done lasting damage to the constitutional separation of powers between Congress and President. It is time for this practice to end. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to approve this rule and vote to repeal the 2002 AUMF.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-6-14

like the Senator from New York, I believe that we should transfer crimes regarding sexual misconduct to a special prosecutor, as the Senator of New York has outlined, and that is a decision that many of my colleagues have made over the last few months. In the past, they have been opposed, as I have opposed that approach. prgtoken The difficulty is the transfer of other crimes like burglary, arson, financial mismanagement, misappropriation of government funds or properties. Those issues have not been carefully studied, and they should be studied, and that is the purpose of the committee. prgtoken We will take this up. We will study it very closely. We will also look at something that I think has to be looked at seriously: How do we implement this reform, and how much time do we need? The last time that we made a major change to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, we allowed the Department of Defense 2 years, and they took all of it. The present legislation would allow 18 months. This is something we have to look at. prgtoken We also have to look at the resources that are needed. This involves a change in the structure of the military legal system, and the committee is a place where we will get the best views of people who have dedicated themselves in the Senate to thinking hard and thoroughly about issues of military justice, issues of military preparedness, and all of these things. prgtoken Looking forward to a debate, but looking also forward to, I think, what prgtoken is becoming increasingly secure--the transfer of responsibility for sexual assault and crimes of that nature to an independent prosecutorial approach--it is something I think that we can anticipate going forward. prgtoken And with that, I would object.
HONORING MICHELLE ALLMAN
Darren Soto (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, I would like to recognize Joel Junior Morales. prgtoken Joel Junior Morales--pronouns he, him, his, el,--is a proud queer Puerto Rican. He is currently the operations director for the LGBT+ Center Orlando, spearheading efforts to affirm and empower the LGBTQ+ community. prgtoken Morales served as a victim service navigator during the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016. He assisted more than 900 individuals and 255 families, alongside 50 other government, community, and business organizations at the Family Assistance Center, which transitioned to being what is known now as the Orlando United Assistance, currently under Joel's leadership. prgtoken He was instrumental in creating the Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund, a collaboration of several LGBTQ organizations and mutual aid fund that helped over 700 LGBTQ+ families during the peak of the pandemic in 2020. prgtoken Throughout volunteerism, a longstanding community builder, Joel is one of the cofounders of QLatinx, a grassroots racial, social, and gender justice organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of the LGBTQ+ Latinx community. prgtoken He also serves on many community boards, including grant committee member for Contigo Fund, stakeholder forum for the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center, leadership team for the American Cancer Society, and others. prgtoken An advocate for survivors, he was trained and certified with the Florida Crisis Response Team. Joel is also the regional chapter coordinator for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. He advocated and organized around Florida House bill 7125. The new Florida policy improves the probation system, gets Floridians back to work, and removes barriers to victims' compensation. prgtoken In addition, Joel has recently joined the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center as a consultant under the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program, working closely with other trauma centers around the Nation. He aims to continue his efforts through social justice and advocacy. prgtoken For this and more, Mr. Joel Junior Morales, we honor you. prgtoken Madam , .
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , first of all, let me thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for yielding but also for her tremendous leadership and for the Emancipation Trail that she so boldly led. I am just amazed at what she shared with me earlier today and just now on the floor. prgtoken Because, yes, I am a daughter of Texas. My grandfather was born in 1875--10 years after. And my grandmother may have been part of the Emancipation Trail. She was born probably in--they left Galveston around 1900.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-14

I rise for the eighth time to call for this entire body to have the opportunity to vote on and consider the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. prgtoken This commonsense reform would ensure that people in the military who have been subjected to sexual assault and other serious crimes get the justice they deserve. prgtoken I ask for this vote because I want to ensure that this important reform, which is backed by a bipartisan filibuster-proof majority of the Senators, becomes law. If we leave this debate and this reform to the national defense authorization committee review, I have no doubts that that will not happen. prgtoken We all know how a bill becomes a law. It passes the Senate and the House, and is signed by the President. And we all know how this process can be subverted. We have seen popular provisions that have passed both the House and the Senate be minimized, watered down, or removed in conference altogether. And I have certainly seen good proposals killed behind closed doors of the NDAA markup. prgtoken In 2019, I introduced a much smaller reform called Safe to Report. That provision was designed to improve reporting rates by allowing survivors of sexual assault to report the assault without fear of retaliation in the form of misconduct charges for related minor offenses, things like underage drinking or breaking a curfew. prgtoken That commonsense reform, which could have allowed more survivors to come forward, passed in both the House and the Senate, but it was removed in conference. We had to reintroduce the very same bill the following year in order for it to be included and become law in the next year, the fiscal year 2021 NDAA. prgtoken If a program focused solely on helping to make it easier for survivors to report their assault was removed in conference, I have little reason to believe that this once-in-a-generation reform will survive. prgtoken Given the lack of progress we have made on sexual assault in the military and the entrenched problems with the military justice system, we cannot allow this widely supported reform to be left to the whims of those working behind closed doors in conference--a process with a rich history of subverting reforms on behalf of the Department of Defense. Let us have this vote in the Senate, and let us send it to the House to become law. prgtoken Every day we delay this vote is another day we deny justice to the survivors of sexual assault. We deny justice to servicemembers who have been affected by serious crimes. We deny justice to the men and women who do so much for this country. We owe it to them to not wait another minute longer. prgtoken As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the leader, the Senate Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of S. 1520 and the Senate proceed to its consi