mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-27

amendment No. 861 fully captures the utter failure of the modern Congress to assert and defend congressional war powers that the U.S. Constitution solely vests in the legislative branch. It treats matters of life and death as mere fodder for political ``gotcha'' prgtoken votes and represents an approach to legislating that is ultimately as simplistic as it is dangerous. prgtoken If one asked 10 attorneys to analyze the text of amendment No. 861, one might very well receive 10 wildly different interpretations of what the undefined terms in the amendment mean, from the use of the term ``attack by the government, military forces, or proxies of a foreign nation or by other hostile forces'' to the phrase ``used to ensure the ability of the Armed Forces of the United States to defend themselves, and United States citizens.'' prgtoken As the authors plausibly argue, the intent of the amendment may very well be to simply reaffirm existing legal interpretations and norms that authorize the U.S. Armed Forces to defend itself and our citizens against attack by a foreign nation or other hostile force. As supporters argue, the amendment language avoids using the specific phrase ``authorization for use of military force,'' and thus one may argue that it is technically not an ``AUMF.'' prgtoken Yet adopting such an interpretation requires ignoring years of executive branch overreach when it comes to taking unilateral military action without seeking an authorization for use of military force or a declaration of war from Congress. prgtoken It requires willfully forgetting the behavior of our current President and past Presidents of both parties, who have chosen to define the concept of Commander in Chief under Article II of the U.S. Constitution to be less a commander and more an emperor while the legislative branch has sat idly by as its war powers were rapidly seized by the modem imperial Presidency. prgtoken Congress is a coequal branch of government. It is time we started acting like it. We cannot trust any President to take a blank check and fill in a reasonable number. I must oppose amendment 861 because, in my reading, any President of any party would adopt the broadest legal interpretation possible in defining what constitutes an ``other hostile force'' or an ``attack'' or what it means to ``ensure the ability of the Armed Forces of the U.S. to defend themselves.'' prgtoken This language risks unintentionally authorizing President to order all types of military strikes against any number of potential entities that the President deems to be a threat. How would the administration determine the precise baseline that defines the term ``ability'' of the military to defend itself? Would allowing the degradation of any platform or capability qualify as failing to ``ensure the ability'' of the U.S. Armed Forces to defend itself? If so, that would authorize the use of funds in the National Defense Aut
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020--Resumed
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-6-27

. I thank my friend and colleague Chairman Inhofe, and let me say I know where he has been on this issue. I have seen his speeches from years past on this issue, and I do appreciate that, and I appreciate the fact that he is a cosponsor. prgtoken I also know this has been put on an NDAA before in this body without a pay-for, without an offset, in order to have a sense of the Senate and to go on record, and that is what I think we should do. I understand we are not there this year for whatever reason. I still believe, in part, that it is a procedural issue that ought to be put aside for this, but that is an argument for another day. prgtoken I do so very much appreciate the chairman's remarks. I have enjoyed working with him, Senator Reed, and others on the NDAA. That has been an effort. I told folks back home and across the country where I have spoken that I wish people could have actually seen what happened in that markup behind closed doors and the bipartisanship that the chairman showed and the other Senators showed. I wish people could have seen it because we don't get to see it. I don't think if we opened it up that we would have seen it, but it was remarkable. prgtoken So we are where we are in the Senate. I understand that, and I knew that coming in here. I will simply say this. The House of Representatives is also going to take up the NDAA, and I hope my colleagues on the other side of the wonderful Capitol are listening. Put it in. It is not in the committee bill. Put it in. Bring it to conference because, if it gets to conference, I am going to continue to have this in this NDAA, and let's get this done, once and for all. prgtoken Thank you, Chairman Inhofe, and thank you, . prgtoken .
CLOTURE MOTION
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-6-27

I rise today to mark the 50th anniversary of a critical milestone in our Nation's march toward equality--the Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969. prgtoken The Stonewall Inn, which opened in 1967 on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village in New York City, was one of many establishments in cities across this country that served as sanctuaries for members of the LGBTQ community from persecution by police and by society at large. prgtoken In the late 1960s, every State in America, save one, criminalized same-sex relationships. Many State and local governments also had harsh laws that restricted the ability of transgender people to express their identities, and LGBTQ people were prohibited from gathering socially. As a result, LGBTQ individuals in places like Stonewall Inn, where they gathered, were targeted frequently by law enforcement, including the New York City Police Department. However, by the late 1960s, LGBTQ individuals had already begun to stand up to police harassment, including at places like Cooper Do-nuts in Los Angeles in 1959, Compton's Cafeteria in San Francisco in 1966, and the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles in 1967. prgtoken In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn and arrested several people, just as it had done repeatedly over the days, weeks, and months prior. But this night was different. A few brave individuals--particularly transgender women of color, like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Riviera--stood up and prgtoken fought back against this injustice. That night, they sparked an uprising against the NYPD with confrontations and protests at the Stonewall Inn and the surrounding area that lasted over the course of 6 days, until July 3, 1969. prgtoken The Stonewall uprising empowered thousands of LGBTQ individuals to emerge from shadows and to come out publicly as they stood up for their community the night of June 28, 1969, and beyond, putting their lives and their safety at risk. prgtoken Along with public protests in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and elsewhere, the Stonewall uprising became a catalyst for the LGBTQ civil rights movement to secure social and political equality and inspired the formation of many advocacy organizations. prgtoken A year later, members of the LGBTQ community commemorated the first anniversary of Stonewall and reaffirmed the solidarity of the community by organizing the first Pride marches and events in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles. prgtoken Now, we remember and celebrate the Stonewall uprising every year in June as Pride Month. prgtoken Three years ago, President declared the Stonewall Inn and its surrounding area a national monument, becoming the first national monument to commemorate the LGBTQ civil rights movement. prgtoken Last month, New York City announced that it would dedicate a monument honoring pioneering transgender activists
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020--Resumed
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-6-27

our Founders recognize that no decision carries more consequences than the decision of whether to go to war. They were well familiar with the carnage of human lives and blood, injuries, and treasure that our initial war, the War of Independence, brought. prgtoken As we stand here several hundred years later, we recognize the wars in between; that more than 400,000 Americans died in World War II, that more than 50,000 Americans died in the Vietnam war, and that more than 4,000 Americans died in the war in Iraq. Those are just some indications of the enormous impacts and consequences of a decision to go to war. prgtoken It was an issue that the Founders struggled with in a republic: Where should this immense power rest? Should it rest with one individual--the President--or are the consequences too great to have the judgment of a single person carry the decision to its completion? prgtoken After intense debate, after many arguments, the Founders became very clear that this power should never rest in the hands of a single person; that it should not just be one body but two bodies--the House and the Senate--that should weigh in on the issue of war. The consequences being so profound, they could not leave it to the idiosyncrasies or the biases or the misjudgment of a single individual. prgtoken It was in fact one of the defining arguments about the difference between a King and a President. A King could make that decision, with often horrific consequences for the people of the kingdom, but not in the United States of America. This is why it is so deeply embedded in our Constitution. In Article I, section 8, under the enumerated powers of Congress, are simply the words ``to declare war.'' That power is vested in Congress, not the President. prgtoken The Founders weighed in time and again about this. Turning to James Madison, the father of the Constitution, he commented: The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war to the Legislature. prgtoken He went on: The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature. prgtoken Madison continues: The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or not cause for declaring war. prgtoken He was the father of our Constitution. That led to this document that vests the power to declare war with Congress, not the President. prgtoken George Washington, the father of our Nation, said: ``The constitution vests prgtoken the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.'' prgtoken This was the Comman
CONGRATULATING THE HECTOR GODINEZ FUNDAMENTAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , today I rise to congratulate the Hector Godinez Fundamental High School women's softball team on their first ever CIF Southern Section championship victory. The team clinched their first ever title for the school and for Santa Ana Unified School District. prgtoken Their head coach, Ed Medina, has been the coach since the school opened in 2007 and was named the 2019 Orange County Softball Coach of the Year. prgtoken His assistant coaches--Clarissa Castellanos, Kevin Pola, and Selene Pola--are also to be commended. prgtoken Again, I congratulate the team, the coaches, and, of course, Principal Jesse Church on a job well done. prgtoken Congratulations, Grizzlies.
HONORING PRIDE MONTH
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I rise to discuss an issue that is rooted in my deeply held religious belief that we are all God's children. prgtoken This June, in honor of Pride month, I rise not only to recognize the many contributions of the LGBTQ community, but also to remind my colleagues of the discrimination faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people. prgtoken House worked together last month to make history by passing the Equality Act and passed the Defense Appropriations bill with a provision to block this Administration's attempts to discriminate against the transgender community and will continue the fight until there is true equality. I know this House will continue to fight and stand up for equality. prgtoken This Pride Month, I also want to pay special tribute to LGBTQ people living in fear of deportation. prgtoken This Administration's policies of fear and cruelty especially impact already vulnerable prgtoken populations. Rest assured, you have someone in Congress working to make our immigration system fair for all, including LGBTQ New Americans. prgtoken Happy Pride Month.
AMENDMENT NO. 883 TO S. 1790
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-6-27

I rise to respond to some of the criticisms of the Udall amendment that I believe are misleading and deserve a response. prgtoken To start, I want to point out an area of agreement. The opposition says our amendment is simple, and it agrees on its intent--that this amendment would prohibit a war with Iran without there being congressional approval, and that is what the vote is about. The arguments from those in the opposition mislead to avoid that simple truth. They are trying to create excuses for why we should ignore the Constitution and open the door to war with Iran without having a vote. President prgtoken has said he was 10 minutes away from doing just that. prgtoken Here is some of what we have heard. Critics say we only have one Commander in Chief, not 535, and so we should not pass this amendment. prgtoken We agree. We only have one Commander in Chief, but the Commander in Chief executes wars. Only Congress can declare them. Our Founders made that decision for good reason. Dictators and Kings declare war unilaterally. Democracies don't. In our democracy, the people decide whether we go to war or whether we don't go to war through their elected representatives. Congress is the most direct voice of the people. prgtoken Once that decision has been made, then it is up to one Commander in Chief to execute that war. The people of New Mexico did not send me here to be a battalion commander or a general, and I have no intention of acting like one. The people of New Mexico sent me here to do my constitutional duty, and article I, section 8 vests the power of declaring war with the Congress. prgtoken Critics also falsely say our amendment limits our forces' ability to defend themselves or take incoming fire before they can respond. The majority leader said our amendment defines ``self-defense'' too narrowly. prgtoken I am confused at what he is referring to. Our amendment does not include a separate definition of ``self-defense.'' Our amendment expressly states that it does not restrict ``the use of the United States Armed Forces to defend against attack.'' This language does not, in any way, change the Department of Defense's rules of engagement that guide how to exercise our inherent right of self-defense. The DOD does not require a unit to absorb an attack before it can defend itself, and neither does our amendment. prgtoken The only restriction in the amendment is that the President cannot enter into hostilities without having congressional approval. It is a restriction that is embedded in our Constitution. If the s are proposing to do away with that restriction, I agree with my colleague Senator Merkley that they must come to the floor and propose a constitutional amendment to do so. prgtoken Our forces in Iraq, Bahrain, and other locations in the Middle East are fully capable and empowered to defend themselves, and this amendment does not affect that. Unfortunately, the opposit
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND SECURITY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER ACT, 2019
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-6-27

the humanitarian situation at our southern border is disgraceful. The administration has exacerbated a crisis that has led to intolerable conditions for children and families in the government's care. prgtoken We have been advised that agencies that provide critical services for children, including the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Customs and Border Protection, will imminently run out of funds. prgtoken Earlier this week, the House passed a comprehensive bill to fund these agencies and provide important reforms to ensure that children in our government's care are safe, healthy, and comfortable. prgtoken Sadly, the White House, which has done so much to create this crisis, refused to work with us to protect the children; and the Senate majority leader, who I am told is selling T-shirts that describe him as the Grim Reaper, refuses to respect the House as a coequal body of Congress and negotiate the differences in our legislation. prgtoken Left in the lurch by this cruelty and callousness are the babies and children in government care. The House refuses to be a party to this cruelty. That is why we are reluctantly bringing the Senate legislation to the floor today. prgtoken We could have done better for our children and our families, but, unfortunately, the White House and the Senate would not allow that. So we will fight another day, and we will never stop fighting to protect the children who are our future. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING STAFF SERGEANT STANLEY NANCE
Ben McAdams (Democrat, UT) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Staff Sergeant Stanley Nance. prgtoken In May 1944, 1,100 U.S. military men joined ranks to form what would be called ``the Ghost Army.'' prgtoken Composed largely of artists, this unit had unusual orders: not to avoid detection by enemy forces, but to actively attract attention through an ingenious optical illusion. prgtoken One of them was Staff Sergeant Stanley Nance, signal Company Special of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. prgtoken The Ghost Army's tactics were to impersonate other Allied units, using inflatable tanks and jeeps made of sticks and burlap, to make the enemy believe that large factions of soldiers were on Omaha Beach and surrounding areas, after D-Day. prgtoken Massive speakers were mounted to the back of military vehicles, blasting the ambient noises of a much larger unit. They sounded like they were coming from the battlefield, but in fact had been recorded months before in fort Knox, Kentucky. prgtoken Kept a secret until 1985, the story of the Ghost Army and those in its ranks serves as a heroic tale of young Americans' bold actions to defend freedom. prgtoken Decades later, Staff Sergeant Nance's great-granddaughter, Madeline Christianson, told his story through a history project, which recently won the World War II History Award at the National History Competition. Her project is an amazing re-creation of a story of skill, courage and triumph--unique in the annals of history. prgtoken As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day 2019, we honor two extraordinary generations of Utahns--the soldier who helped defeat tyranny during World War II, and his great-granddaughter who is keeping the story of heroism alive.
SECURING AMERICA'S FEDERAL ELECTIONS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership. prgtoken There is not a time that I go home that they don't ask me how we will secure our elections. I am proudly supporting the Securing America's Federal Elections Act, the SAFE Act, and I am asking why our colleagues are fighting against Americans having the right to vote. prgtoken The SAFE Act authorizes a $600 million Election Assistance Commission grant program. It provides States with $175 million in biannual sustainment funding to help maintain election infrastructure. prgtoken Voting machines are required to be manufactured in the United States. States are mandated to conduct risk-limiting audits. prgtoken Another very important feature of the SAFE Act is that it requires accountability for election technology vendors and sets cybersecurity standards. prgtoken As a member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, recognizing what happened in 2016, I want to make sure that the Russian adversaries, the Russian military, are not our poll watchers, are not our secretaries of states, are not the vendors for our machines. prgtoken I want to make sure for minorities, every vote counts, and for every American, every vote counts. prgtoken I want to end voter suppression. The way we do this is to have safe elections. prgtoken I am very proud of this legislation, and I am proud of this , proud of the leadership, to say that we are going to be first on the line to tell America we believe in safe, equal, and fair elections. prgtoken I ask my friends to support this legislation. prgtoken Madam , as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2722, the ``Securing America's Federal Elections Act'' or SAFE Act. prgtoken I strongly support this legislation because the linchpin of representative democracy is public confidence in the political system, regime, and community. prgtoken That confidence in turn rests upon the extent to which the public has faith that the system employed to select its leaders accurately reflects its preferences. prgtoken At bottom, this means that all citizens casting a vote have a fundamental right and reasonable expectation that their votes count and are counted. prgtoken This concern is particularly salient because of the unprecedented interference by a hostile foreign power to secure victory for its preferred candidate in the 2016 presidential election and the determination of that hostile power to repeat its success in future American elections. prgtoken That is why it is necessary to pass H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act, so comprehensive election security reform measures can be implemented. prgtoken Specifically, the SAFE Act authorizes a $600 million Election Assistance Commission (EAC) grant program to assist in securing election infrastructure and a $5 million grant program to study and report on accessible paper ballot voting systems. prgtoken The bill provides grants to State and