mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Vote on the Turk Nomination (Executive Session)
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-3-24

. Thank you, . prgtoken It is obvious to just about everyone outside of Washington that the situation on our southern border is a crisis. I can't believe that anyone wouldn't believe that it is a crisis, but there are some who would answer that it isn't a crisis. prgtoken President and the DHS Secretary refused to call it a crisis. It is not just a challenge. They called it a challenge. This isn't a challenge. This is a crisis. Ask anyone you see on the street if it is a crisis--people lined up, coming in illegally. prgtoken You don't have to take my word for it. Look at the facts. We have had a 173-percent increase in border apprehensions compared with 1 year ago--173-percent increase. This past February, apprehensions were at the highest total for February in 14 years. prgtoken DHS admits that we are on track for the most illegal migrants in more than 20 years. This is on the border. This is today. This is what is happening. prgtoken Last week, mainstream media news reports found that the administration is restricting information Border Patrol agents are allowed to share with the media about the crisis. The border agents claim that they are under an unofficial gag order. These are the border agents. These are the ones who do this for a living. They are down there. They are protecting our laws, stopping illegals from coming in. That is what their job description is, and yet they are under a gag order. prgtoken They don't want the media to find out. And they are being told to deny media requests for ride-alongs at the border. Now, that is so the media can tell the people of America what is going on down there, and they are being denied that opportunity. prgtoken The DHS Secretary claims that he is committed to openness and transparency, but this is not openness and transparency. This is hiding from the people what is going on. prgtoken Maybe this administration is doing this and refusing to call it a crisis because their policies have invited this surge. This surge is coming as a result. prgtoken President has frozen funds from Congress directed for the building of the wall. He ended the ``Remain in Mexico'' asylum policy that was put there by the previous administration. It is a crisis. prgtoken Illegal aliens know is opening our borders up, and they intend to take advantage of that. And the illegals are wearing the T- shirts. Do you see this photograph over here? There they are we are coming in. prgtoken I know a lot about the southern border because I have been there countless times, seeing firsthand the problems on both the Mexican side and the American side of the border. I was a builder and developer for 30 years down there. I know that border. I was there for 30 years, all the way from Brownsville to McAllen, TX, on both sides. I know the individuals that are down there who are the career people protecting our borders. prgtoken I am disappointed that the administration
Opioid Epidemic (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-3-24

last month alone, more than 100,000 migrants crossed our southern border. Our ports of entry are overrun; holding facilities are packed; and, yes, our Border Patrol agents are absolutely exhausted. They are exhausted. This isn't just a logistical challenge; it is a tragedy made worse by the administration's disastrous open borders policies. prgtoken The crisis is escalating, especially for the tens of thousands of children who have arrived in this country very much alone. Unaccompanied minors accounted for nearly 10 percent of all migrants who crossed our border last month. That is roughly 10,000 children a month walking into chaos. prgtoken Anyone paying a bit of attention knows what is going on here. Customs and Border Protection has been sounding the alarm on the connection between children and human trafficking for years. The coyotes, the cartels, and the gangs use children as drug mules. They use them as sex slaves. If you don't believe me, ask anyone with the CBP why they administer pregnancy tests to little girls as young as 13 as soon as they arrive at the border. prgtoken This is a heartbreaking situation. These children are living in hell, and it is getting worse. False claims of family ties have fueled a rise in fraudulent asylum claims and in human trafficking. Adult migrants are making arrangements with cartels and smugglers to borrow children. They claim kinship and use that relationship to bolster a fraudulent asylum claim. And what do they do when they have gotten what they want? They send the child back across the border to start the entire nightmarish process with another stranger. That is correct. This is called child recycling, but I think ``recycling'' is an odd choice of words to describe one human being treating another human being like a piece of garbage. Again, this is heartbreaking. prgtoken If you want to get an idea of how big a problem we have, consider that the Department of Homeland Security says that, over the past decade, they have seen a 1,675-percent increase in asylum cases. prgtoken In 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement implemented a pilot DNA testing program to try to stop this rampant exploitation. They found that 20 percent of all kinship claims they were able to screen were lies--20 percent. prgtoken This is a humanitarian crisis, an environmental crisis, and a health and safety crisis. The administration has lost control of this situation, but there are things we can do right now to protect these children and put the smugglers in check. prgtoken This week, I introduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act, which would require our border agents to administer DNA tests to adult migrants claiming kinship with a minor without migrants' having the legal documentation to prove it. prgtoken If the adult refuses, they will be immediately deported. Furthermore, the bill mandates a 10-year penalty for all alien adults who lie about their relationsh
PREVENTING ACROSS-THE-BOARD DIRECT SPENDING CUTS
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2021-3-25

I will enter this letter into the Record, but I would like to read the key sentences. And to the Senator from Indiana, if I could read this letter to you and to make sure that--I don't know how--I have spoken to my attorney general, who was one of the original cosigners, and I said: Mr. Attorney General, I want to explain this in English because it is very easy to understand. It says this: Nothing in the Act prevents States from enacting a broad variety of tax cuts. prgtoken Do whatever you want. That is, the Act does not ``deny States the ability to cut taxes in any manner whatsoever.'' prgtoken This comes from the Secretary of Treasury. It simply provides that funding received under the Act may not be used to offset a reduction. . . . prgtoken That you choose, unless it is COVID related. It makes all the sense in the world. It has to be COVID related. If States lower certain taxes but do not use funds under the Act to offset those cuts--for example, by replacing the lost revenue through other means--the limitation in the Act is not implicated. prgtoken They can do whatever they want to. And if they can show other revenue to offset it, that is great. They just cannot use the Treasury's money that the people have invested in their States for that purpose. prgtoken It also says this: It is . . . important to note that the States choosing to use the Federal funds to offset a reduction in net tax revenue do not thereby forfeit their entire allocation of funds appropriated under this statute. prgtoken They have alluded to that, which is not accurate. The limitation affects States' ability to retain only those Federal funds used to offset a reduction in . . . tax revenue resulting from certain changes in [the] state law. prgtoken That is it. That is not--and these are all supposed to be educated attorneys that are writing letters wanting explanations. prgtoken This is as common sense as it gets. It is a bipartisan guardrail to simply make sure the emergency funds make it to the people who need it most, and the States can do whatever they think they should do and could do. prgtoken As a former Governor, I would have been offended if I thought it was hampered. I am not. I have got to make good decisions here. I have other revenue coming in. I want to cut this tax. That is fine. I just can't cut a tax to be popular and then say: OK. Mr. Senators here, please send us money so we can be popular back home but use your money to make us look good. That is about it in a nutshell. prgtoken So it is for those reasons, and many, many more, I object.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-3-25

I have 9 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry prgtoken The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 25, 2021 at 9:30 a.m in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Child Nutrition Reauthorization: Healthy Meals and Healthy Futures.''
RECOGNIZING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF GREECE AND CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY IN GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-3-25

I come to the floor in honor of an historic occasion: the 200th anniversary of Greece's independence. I am delighted to join the Greek-American community in New Jersey and across the United States in celebrating this bicentennial. The bonds of friendship between the United States and Greece are unbreakable, and as I stand here, in the center of American democracy, I am reminded of the strength of the shared democratic values on which our long partnership is based. prgtoken Greece has made incredible contributions to the world, not least of which is developing the ideals of democracy and rule of law that inspired our Founding Fathers to establish our American system of government. The very architecture of the Capitol building is a tribute to the foundational role Greece played in the shaping of our democracy and society. The democratic ideals developed in ancient Greece continue to motivate Americans and people around the world today. prgtoken The people of the United States in turn worked to support the people of Greece as they began their own struggle for independence 200 years ago. American Philhellene Committees, comprised of ordinary Americans, sprung up to support the Greek fight for freedom through fundraising and humanitarian assistance. prgtoken Members of Congress, including Daniel Webster applauded ``the struggle of an interesting and gallant people . . . contending against fearful odds . . . for the common privilege of human nature.'' In a letter to Greek scholar Adamantios Koraes, whose work formed the intellectual basis for the Greek independence struggle, Thomas Jefferson demonstrated his support by writing that ``no people sympathise more feelingly than ours with the sufferings of your countrymen, none offer more sincere and ardent prayers to heaven for their success.'' prgtoken Several American Philhellenes traveled to Greece to assist the Greek people more directly. Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, who later became a prominent voice in America's fight to end slavery, served with the Greek army as a surgeon and a soldier. Jonathan Peckham Miller, another future noted abolitionist, also served in the Greek army. George Jarvis fought alongside the Greek people, as well as working to provide food, medicine, and clothing to those who needed it with the support of the American Philhellene Committees. prgtoken The bonds between the peoples and governments of Greece and the United States have lasted throughout our countries' long history and are stronger than ever today. Greece is an invaluable partner to the United States as a NATO member, as an EU member, and in promoting peace and stability in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Greece's unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law makes it a truly reliable ally in the region and an increasingly critical one as we face the challenges of the 21st century. prgtoken I am proud that Congress demonstrated its support for
CONFIRMATION OF ADEWALE O. ADEYEMO
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-3-25

I rise today to join my colleagues-- Senator Brown; Senator Booker; the Presiding Officer, Senator Bennet-- in shining a bright spotlight on the tragedy of child poverty and what the Senate needs to do and can do to eliminate poverty permanently-- child poverty across our country. prgtoken Someone has said that children are the casualties of every age, and while this is a longstanding problem, the fight could not be more urgent as countless families work to pull themselves out of the economic misery caused by a once-in-a-century pandemic. This pain is felt all across our country. prgtoken But as we talk about the issue of child poverty, this is not theoretical. For me, it is personal. I grew up in public housing. I am one of 12 children in my family. I am No. 11 and the first college graduate. I stand here today as a U.S. Senator, but I am the product of good Federal public policy and good public schools. I know that what we do in this Chamber makes a difference in the lives of families and in the lives of all of our children. My life's journey is a testament to the promise of our country, the greatest country on Earth, when we make the necessary investments in our youth and enable them to thrive. prgtoken As a pastor, I speak to young people all the time, and I often go back to my hometown of Savannah, GA, and communities all across Georgia like the neighborhood I grew up in. In my efforts to inspire children who are struggling, I tell them that your parent's income does not have to determine your outcome. It is not where you start; it is where you end up. prgtoken Now, that is what I say to them, and I believe it, because they need to be inspired to give it all that they have got. But the truth is, when I tell them that their parent's income does not determine their outcome, that is not based simply on what they do, but on what we do. That has to be made real through good public policy. prgtoken That is why I am so proud to work with my Senate colleagues and I was so happy to join this U.S. Senate at such a critical time in our country, and in a moment, when we, buoyed by the people of Georgia who made a historic choice, our majority enabled us to pass the American Rescue Plan. prgtoken Over the past year, we have seen how the consequences of COVID-19 and the economic downturn that followed it have both illuminated and exacerbated so many of the longstanding disparities that have challenged Georgians, Americans, and people everywhere. We know that low-income families and children, especially, have not only not been spared but have, in many ways, suffered more than most. Children are casualties at every age. prgtoken According to data from the Center for American Progress, we know that nearly one in five children in Georgia was living in poverty last year. Think about that: nearly one in five children in poverty in the middle of a pandemic. It is tough enough to live in poverty, but it is even tou
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-3-25

the Senate is debating the nomination of Wally Adeyemo to serve as the next Deputy Treasury Secretary. I expect his nomination is going to pass with a big, bipartisan margin, but I want to take a few minutes to lay out a few reasons why every Senator ought to support this nominee. prgtoken First, you hear a lot these days about how Members of the Senate are looking for unity. Three weeks ago, the Finance Committee approved the Adeyemo nomination unanimously by voice vote, and you can't get more unified than that. prgtoken That unanimous vote followed an excellent hearing, in which Mr. Adeyemo demonstrated his command of all the various issues the Treasury is confronting today. A severe jobs crisis. Worsening inequality. A dangerous shortage of domestic manufacturing in critical areas of our economy. Intense economic competition with China, including job rip- offs and trade cheating that have undermined American workers for too long. And many other big challenges. prgtoken Members understand that there will be policy disagreements with the other party, but Mr. Adeyemo made it clear that he wants to work on a bipartisan basis to confront these challenges. Members take him seriously on that and trust him because he has done it before at the Treasury as a member of the administration. prgtoken Second, the pandemic economic crisis is far from over, and it is essential that the Treasury Department has its leadership team in place. COVID cases and deaths are still tragically high. Jobless claims are still incredibly high--they spent an entire year above the previous peaks. So millions of families in Oregon and around the country are still walking an economic tightrope, and that is one of the key reasons why Senate passed the American Rescue Plan earlier this month. prgtoken The Treasury is right at the center of the enormous effort to implement that legislation. It is extraordinarily challenging work. Getting relief payments out to tens of millions of Americans in a timely way. Saving millions of jobs at the State and local level, particularly teachers, firefighters and municipal workers. Launching a landmark expansion and reinvention of the child tax credit to cut child poverty in half. This is difficult work. It requires the kind of strong and committed leadership that Wally Adeyemo will bring to the Treasury Department. prgtoken I am also looking forward to working with him on the issue of shell companies. Late last year Congress passed landmark legislation to end the use of anonymous shell companies in the United States. Several members of the Finance Committee had spent years working to get that legislation passed. Now that it has become law, it is up to the Treasury Department to write strong rules and implement it. This is a vital challenge, and it is a long time coming. So I am very much looking forward to working with Mr. Adeyemo once he is confirmed. He is as highly qualified
CONFIRMATION OF ADEWALE O. ADEYEMO
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-3-25

thank you very much for being a part of this effort, and I want to thank my colleague from Ohio for his extraordinary leadership from the very beginning on both of these bills. He led on the EITC bill, and I was very grateful to have the chance to be with him on that, and I on the child tax credit, and he was my partner from the very beginning on that, as was Senator Booker and Senator , before she became Vice President . prgtoken I have only been here for 11 years, , and you have been here a shorter time than that, and I never thought this day would come. I never thought we would see this day. prgtoken Before I came to the Senate, I was the superintendent of the Denver Public Schools. That is a large urban district in Colorado. Most of the kids are kids of color and most of the kids are kids living in poverty, and parents are working two and three jobs, many of them. No matter what they do, they can't get their kids out of poverty. No matter what they do, no matter how hard they work, they are not paid enough to get their kids out of poverty. prgtoken Over the last 11 years, I have had the great privilege of traveling the State of Colorado, and it is a diverse State. Politically, it is a diverse State. We have urban areas and rural areas, and we have got some of the most dynamic economies and business environments in the country, and therefore on the planet. And yet, if I had to summarize those townhalls, it is really easy. It is people who are coming and saying: Michael, we are working really hard, but no matter what we do we can't afford housing, healthcare, higher education or early childhood education. We can't save. We think our kids are going to live a more diminished life than the life that we would, and we are already living less of a good life than our parents did. prgtoken And that is the anecdotal reflection of an economy that, for the last 50 years, has worked really well for the top 10 percent of Americans but has not worked for the bottom 90 percent. The bottom 90 percent is all of America, and their wages have been flat. We have seen income inequality grow through two recessions, the great recession and now the COVID recession, and the gaps between more affluent families and poorer families have only grown as a result. prgtoken And everywhere I went this year--I went to all 64 counties of Colorado during COVID--I heard the same thing: Give us a little bit of hope. prgtoken That is what the American Rescue Plan is going to do. It is going to give people just a little bit of hope, make it a little bit easier for people to buy groceries for their families or to pay the rent at the end of the month, pay their mortgage, set up a savings fund for their kids' college education. prgtoken That might sound like an obvious thing for us to want to do, but Washington, for years, has done exactly the opposite of what we are doing in this plan. Washington has passed one
PREVENTING ACROSS-THE-BOARD DIRECT SPENDING CUTS
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-3-25

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1868; that the Shaheen- Collins substitute amendment No. 1410 and the Scott of Florida amendment No. 1411 be made pending and reported by number; further, that the Senate vote in relation to the Scott amendment and the substitute, that upon disposition of the amendments, the bill be considered read a third time, the Senate vote on passage of the bill as amended, if amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; further, that there be 2 minutes for debate, equally divided, prior to each vote; and finally, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all with no intervening action or debate.