mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING BRUCE ROBERT VAUGHN
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-13

I rise today to remember and honor Bruce Robert Vaughn, Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service. Bruce passed away suddenly on Friday, March 17, at the height of a distinguished career serving Congress. prgtoken Bruce served Congress in several roles, including in the Senate Treaty Review Support Office and on the staff of the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition. Beginning in 2003, he served for 20 years as an Analyst and then Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, bringing his considerable expertise in the Indo-Pacific region to bear on vital national security issues important for Congress. Bruce was a passionate and dedicated public servant who believed deeply in CRS's mission to provide Congress with authoritative, non-partisan and intelligent analysis. prgtoken Bruce brought deep historical understanding of the region. He advised Congress on the prgtoken most important issues of the day, but never stopped thinking ahead. From early in his career, Bruce anticipated the importance of the Indian Ocean region and Oceania to U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific. Given the importance of the region to my constituents, Bruce was a valuable resource to me and my legislative staff in preparing for official travel, welcoming high-level delegations from the region and organizing briefings. Even after Bruce's passing, staff and Members will continue to rely on his written analysis and expertise. prgtoken I offer my sincere condolences to Bruce's family, friends and colleagues at the Congressional Research Service, and hope they may take comfort in the knowledge of his indelible and ongoing contribution to the work of Congress. Congress has lost a distinguished public servant. I thank Bruce and honor his life and his work.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIR
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-7-13

I rise today in strong opposition to this amendment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, the previous speaker, the maker of this amendment, talked about being exhausting. This issue that he has brought before this body and the committee is exhausting. prgtoken Just this week, the sponsor of this amendment called diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military a ``failed experiment.'' He has called it cancerous. prgtoken Just this week, a Senator from Alabama stated that it was his opinion that white nationalists are not necessarily racist and refused to denounce white nationalists serving in the military; all of this with the backdrop of the same Senator holding up hundreds of military nominations, which is actively hurting our national security, something that this NDAA bill would address. prgtoken To what end? The U.S. Marine Corps does not have a confirmed commandant, as we speak. prgtoken Yet, just an hour ago, on this very floor, one of the Members on the other side of this body said that his amendment had nothing to do, whether colored people or Black people can serve. prgtoken , these comments show exactly why we need diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Every day our military grows more diverse, more and more reflecting the diversity of our Nation. prgtoken This amendment does nothing to address the recruitment shortfalls that our services are facing and, instead, it will only make it more difficult to recruit Americans of diverse backgrounds representing the true makeup of our Nation.
National Defense Authorization Act (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-7-13

yesterday, I moved to proceed to the National Defense Authorization Act. We will have our first vote on Tuesday. prgtoken This bill was reported out of the Armed Services Committee on a huge, 25-to-1 bipartisan vote. We are encouraging filing amendments for the managers' package before the close of business today. prgtoken Senator McConnell, the committees, and I will have our teams working over the weekend to see what we can include in the package of amendments. Undoubtedly, hundreds of amendments will be filed to this important piece of legislation. I am hopeful that all committee chairs and committee members will work together in good faith. prgtoken Obviously, both sides will want to have amendment votes. Just like we have in recent efforts, I am willing to ensure we consider and vote a reasonable number of amendments. No Senator wants a dilatory process. I know Senators Reed and Wicker, who have done such a fine job putting together a bipartisan bill, will work with Senator McConnell and me, and we will develop a list of amendment votes and hopefully can proceed from there. prgtoken There are important issues that I believe we must address while we are on the floor. We must consider a Chinese Government competition package. We must consider the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States submarine deal. I know there will be more to do here next week, and I look forward to the debate on the floor.
PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-7-13

this amendment that is in adds a report to be submitted within 220 days following enactment on capacity to provide disaster survivors with emergency short-term housing. prgtoken This bill should be a bill that builds the mighty fighting force. It should not deny women the right under their medical care, and Secretary Austin and the Pentagon to say quietly, you can have a medical decision. If it cannot be made in the State that you are forced to be assigned to, posted, you can go to another State. prgtoken It is a disgrace that they would interfere in private reproductive rights. This is undermining what we are here for; to build up a fighting force of men and women, and that is what this bill should be. prgtoken We will stand to the death to make sure this bill supports the men and women and the fighting forces of America.
RECOGNIZING TRU MOST
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-13

I rise today to recognize small community banks. Small community banks often serve as lifelines for local businesses and individuals. prgtoken Banks like Raymond Federal and Security State Bank have a finger on the pulse of their community and are often able to lend to members in the community when the big guys can't see the value these guys provide. prgtoken These small community banks are also able to respond quicker to local events, like a strike at a local lumber mill, by offering automatic loan modification to striking workers. prgtoken Small banks are facing a number of pressures like high interest rates and capital consolidations that benefit the big players in the financial world such as big banks, insurance companies, and companies like Apple and Amazon entering the banking space. prgtoken That is why I believe when we talk about supporting rural areas, we need to add regional community banking to the list of critical services to protect. Recognizing NASCAR Driver Eric Johnson, Jr.
Gun Violence (Executive Calendar)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-7-13

as our Nation celebrated on July 4th, our birthday, with festive block parties, in one example in Baltimore, it turned into tragic gun violence in our own backyards and across the country. prgtoken It has been a deadly summer so far, and we have only made it to the middle of July. In my home State of Maryland, in Salisbury, 14-year-old Xavier Cordei Maddox was killed and six others injured during an overnight July 4th block party. prgtoken It came just after a horrific mass shooting on July 1st at an annual block party in the South Baltimore Brooklyn neighborhood, which claimed the lives of a young man and a young woman, while injuring 28 others, many of whom are teenagers. Twenty-year-old Kylis Fagbemi died at an area hospital, and 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene. prgtoken Just weeks before the shooting, Gonzalez graduated from Glen Burnie High School in Anne Arundel County. Gonzalez had recently decided to enroll at Anne Arundel Community College to stay closer to her family, according to news reports. Now she is dead. prgtoken I joined Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott in a visit to the Brooklyn neighborhood on Independence Day. As I said at that time, this is a dark moment for our community and our country. People who shouldn't have guns have guns, and they are causing irreversible harm. prgtoken Public safety always must be our top priority. Sympathy and words are not enough. A comprehensive approach to reducing violence includes cracking down on illegal guns, many of which flow from other States into Maryland. We must also enact stricter regulations on legal gun purchases. prgtoken Mayor Scott of Baltimore summarized the need for action: You're talking about a country where it's easier for a 14- year-old kid to order pieces to put a gun together and go out and use it and commit a crime than it is for me to get Claritin D from CVS. That's what we should be talking about every day in this country. prgtoken Maryland has been working on this. The general assembly, with Governor Moore's signature, recently enacted legislation in Annapolis to strengthen gun safety rules regarding carrying concealed weapons, restrict the carrying of firearms in sensitive locations such as schools and healthcare facilities, strengthen safe storage requirements for firearms, and raise the age from 18 to 21 to qualify for a handgun permit. prgtoken Following the Brooklyn shooting, Mayor Scott stood up a coordinated neighborhood stabilization response within the community under the auspices of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. This response focused on addressing trauma and stabilizing the neighborhood, in partnership with community-based organizations and city agencies. prgtoken Our Federal partners also have been working to make Baltimore safer, with a focus on reducing violent crime and the homicide rate, particularly
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-13

. Mr. Chair, we are in the midst of a major overhaul of our nuclear weapons system. It is a vast project and extraordinarily expensive, and in that process of reviewing and modifying our nuclear weapons system, this particular bomb becomes one of the items that is not necessary going forward. prgtoken It basically has two uses. That is to wipe out a very large city with one bomb--this is a super-megaton bomb--or to somehow go after deeply buried and entrenched targets, and it is not particularly useful for that. Therefore, the Nuclear Posture Review has determined that this bomb should be retired. prgtoken The amendment before us today allows for the continuation of the program to set about doing two things: one, retiring the 83-1; and two, figuring out a more suitable weapon to go after deeply entrenched targets. Therefore, this amendment is of use. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge the passage of the amendment.
CHIPS Act (Executive Session)
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2023-7-13

when Congress passed the Chips and Science Act last summer, we made a promise to America that these historic investments would be felt in communities across the country--more microchip manufacturing facilities, more high-paying jobs that do not require a four-year degree, lower costs, a stronger supply chain, and a stronger economy. prgtoken Since the CHIPS Act became law, companies have announced plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars to bring microchip manufacturing back to America, including in Arizona. prgtoken But here is the problem: As currently implemented, when these projects receive incentives through the CHIPS Act, they are subject to a new Federal review under a process called NEPA. This includes projects that have already received the necessary State and Federal environmental permits and are already under construction. prgtoken So factories that are being built right now in places like Phoenix could be forced to pause construction and undergo a redundant Federal review. And that just doesn't work. prgtoken So, this week, along with my colleagues, Senators Young, Brown, and Hagerty, I introduced the Building Chips in America Act. And this bill would speed up the construction of projects supported by the CHIPS Act by streamlining Federal permitting reviews and keeping in place bedrock environmental protections for clean air and clean water. prgtoken To do this, the bill designates the Department of Commerce as the lead agency to carry out NEPA reviews for any CHIPS Act project. It also clarifies that certain projects, certain chips projects like those already under development with necessary permits, are not major Federal actions and, therefore, are not subject to a NEPA review. prgtoken These measures would--would--prevent costly delays for projects, and right now, we have an opportunity to maximize the impact of the CHIPS Act for our economy and for our national security. Plans already underway that have received the necessary permits should not have to face extra hurdles. prgtoken So let's cut the redtape, and let's start reaping the benefits of our historic CHIPS Act. prgtoken . prgtoken .
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIR
Marilyn Strickland (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-13

Congress must support an inspector general position that ensures military equal opportunity programs work and sounds the alarm when extremism takes root in our military. prgtoken What we are seeing here today is a small group of MAGA extremists holding the NDAA hostage in their efforts to politicize the Department. prgtoken I urge my moderate colleagues across the aisle who don't want to fire criminal investigators, who don't want to tell our servicemembers that they don't belong, who don't want to leave military families high and dry to please vote ``no'' on this amendment. Use your conscience.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-7-13

. Mr. Chair, the millions of Americans whose families sent loved ones over to the European theater during World War II so liberty could be bequeathed to us understand what an enemy really is and what sacrifice is required. prgtoken The Ukrainians are fighting their own war against Russia's invasion. History is clear, however, on what horrors transpire when national leaders appease a virulent enemy of liberty. Appeasement is read as cowardice, acquiescence, weakness, and, even worse, succor to the enemy. prgtoken Give no succor nor encouragement to liberty's enemies. We need to defend freedom. Freedom means never surrendering, never acquiescing, never failing liberty. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in full support of Ukraine and to defeat any amendments on this floor that in any way would inhibit victory for Ukraine.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1672 (Executive Calendar)
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-7-13

I appreciate the sentiments my ic colleague expressed, and I very much appreciate his work and his concerns with respect to Big Tech. I share those concerns. prgtoken And I share some optimism today that we will find common ground to work together. The legislation I have put forward simply allows Americans to see when the government is trying to censor them. My colleague suggests that this is because of concern over protections for law enforcement and national security work. prgtoken I would like to say this. My legislation contains appropriate exceptions to protect legitimate law enforcement or national security activity and preserve the confidentiality of those communications. But in assuming that the details of those protections are my colleague's only concern, I am happy to work with my colleague to address those concerns and ensure that the core of this legislation, which requires disclosure of government censorship efforts, is quickly enacted. prgtoken I hope that Senator Peters and I can work together and do this because it is too significant to ignore. Our government, at the end of the day, works for the American people, and to ensure that this continues, the First Amendment prohibits the government from controlling what Americans can say or read. But now government is using Big Tech to accomplish such censorship, and without disclosure of such communications, Americans' free speech rights become a dead letter because there is no way to address improper government efforts to ban speech. prgtoken My legislation would preserve these rights by allowing Americans to see when government is trying to silence them. It is a basic element of self-government. I look forward to working with Senator Peters and his committee to try to make this something that can be acceptable to all.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIR
Mark Alford (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-13

I am eager to hear what Ms. Frankel has to say not related to this amendment. prgtoken , I thank the ranking member for his hard work and dedication in crafting this bipartisan NDAA. prgtoken This amendment is not intended to block in any way the modernization. We know that the A-10 is the legacy aircraft. A lot of people love the A-10, and it has performed well in battle. It has seen effective lethality in several theatres of battle. prgtoken The people who operate out of the 442nd have a deep love of their fighter mission. They have a deep passion for continuing that mission. They know that new platforms are coming. prgtoken Whiteman Air Force Base is going to be home of the new B-21 stealth bomber. There are going to be complementary aircraft and programs to that. They know that. They know the world is changing and that the pacing threat from Communist China has really changed how we view warfare and deterrence. They get that. prgtoken We owe it to them, and they deserve a little security because it is very easy for them to pick up now and leave and go into the private sector. There is too much talent in the 442nd and other fighter squadrons to not have that security. That is all we are asking for in this amendment, , is a little security. We are asking for a little appreciation and a little respect for the hardworking men and women who have dedicated their lives in service to America. prgtoken , .
Farm Bill (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-7-13

the farm bills that we take up every few years are essential pieces of legislation. They help provide the tools and resources that farmers and ranchers need to carry out their task of feeding our Nation. And with parts of the 2018 farm bill expiring in the next few months, passing our next farm bill needs to be one of Congress's top priorities during the remainder of the year. prgtoken The Senate Agriculture Committee has been working on this year's legislation, but there is more work to be done. And we need to make sure that we don't delay in getting this bill over the finish line. Farmers and ranchers already face a lot of uncertainty in their profession--few jobs are as subject to market fluctuations or the whims of the weather--and the least that we can do here in Congress is make sure they know that the critical programs won't be expiring and they will continue to have access to essential resources that help make farming and ranching possible. prgtoken As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a Senator from a State where agriculture is not just ``a'' way of life but ``the'' way of life, the farm bill is always one of my top priorities. prgtoken I have had the privilege of helping to craft four farm bills during my time in Congress; and, for me, the process always begins and ends with farmers and ranchers. prgtoken I have been gearing up for the 2023 farm bill pretty much since work finished on the last one. And, last year, I kicked off a series of roundtables with agriculture producers to hear firsthand from farmers and ranchers what they need from this year's farm bill. prgtoken These formal discussions, along with the many informal conversations I regularly have with farmers and ranchers, have provided me with invaluable feedback, and I am working on a number of measures for this year's farm bill that reflect the input I have received from South Dakota producers. prgtoken One thing that farmers have made clear is the critical role of the farm safety net. Crop insurance is the cornerstone of the farm safety net, and it needs to be maintained and, to the extent possible, strengthened in the next farm bill. prgtoken Currently, the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, which help offset losses when prices for agricultural commodities drop, are not always proving sufficient. And one of my top priorities for this year's bill is improving commodity and livestock programs to ensure that farmers and ranchers have sufficient backup. prgtoken I am also working to make the Conservation Reserve Program a more effective option for producers and landowners. Currently, the program doesn't prgtoken sufficiently support grazing infrastructure, which limits the benefit of participating for some producers. prgtoken And the annual payment limit for this program hasn't changed since it was first created in 1985. To address these issues, I introduced the Conservation Reserve Program I
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIR
Eric Burlison (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-13

I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment to eliminate the diversity and inclusion deputy inspector general to prohibit the establishment of new diversity, equity, and inclusion positions within the DOD and to prohibit the Secretary from filling any vacancies for DEI positions. prgtoken For years, the left has forced radical and unpopular ideas into our very institutions that are under the cover of DEI policies. prgtoken DEI initiatives and policies are not about making everyone feel like they belong. It is a smokescreen. Instead of uniting us, it is about dividing us. It is about dividing our country into separate groups that are based on identity, and conforming to a radical agenda that replaces our shared American identity instead with a tribalism, with a tribal collectivism. prgtoken And you know what? It is a disgrace to our political and military leaders who have allowed this to occur in the Department of Defense. You see, the DOD's mission is not that. Its mission, instead, is to provide the military forces that are needed to deter war and ensure the Nation's security. prgtoken Dividing our troops and the DOD employees by race and identity does nothing but distract from the mission of addressing real and imminent threats to the U.S. national security. In reality, woke indoctrination serves as only one of these very threats. prgtoken DEI in the military breeds hostility among the enlisted by focusing on identity-driven grievances instead of bringing people together, instead of unity. It undermines that shared American identity and a patriotic love of country that compelled our dedicated servicemembers to join in the first place. prgtoken The U.S. military is one of our last great merit-based institutions that is still standing. Millions of selfless patriots serve our country, but their service is exploited by the wokeness and the religion of DEI. prgtoken Instead of judging our servicemembers based on merit, they are judged by identity. Instead of having a unified body of men and women who are ready to defend our Nation, we have a group of people who are fragmented into the belief of their gender identities. prgtoken Instead of men and women in the armed services being trained in readiness, their time is wasted learning whatever new woke ideology comes out of leftist universities. This is not acceptable, and we have to stop this madness before it is too late. That is why I filed this amendment. prgtoken This amendment repeals the DEI inspector general at the DOD and prohibits the establishment of new DEI positions. Specifically, it prohibits the Secretary from establishing any new DEI positions at the DOD. prgtoken The DOD will not be able to fill any DEI vacancies that might come up. This amendment simply eliminates these unnecessary taxpayer-funded positions, and that is it. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment, and .