mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
POLICE OUR BORDER ACT
Nick LaLota (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-5-16

. Mr. Chair, the cartels have more control over the U.S.- Mexico border in Cochise County than either the governments of Mexico or the United States. prgtoken That is what law enforcement officers from the Tucson sector of America's southern border told me on my fourth trip to the southern border recently: The cartels have more control over our border than we do. prgtoken What are the cartels doing with that control? To America's detriment, they are smuggling people and drugs across it every day. prgtoken I suppose we could blame the cartels because they are vicious and ruthless, but we should look closer to home for the blame. prgtoken We should look to the person most responsible for creating the disaster at the southern border. We should look to the very person who, when he took office, repealed 64 very effective policies, which were keeping our border safe: canceling border wall construction, instituting a mass parole system, and taking border agents away from the border to place them in migrant processing centers to process more and more migrants into the interior of the country. prgtoken Who is responsible for the disaster at the southern border? It is not climate change or migratory patterns. Rather, it is illegal immigration's best friends: President and Secretary Mayorkas. prgtoken President 's open-border policies have allowed nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl to enter the United States so far this fiscal year. prgtoken This scourge has led to over 200,000 fentanyl deaths in the United States since President started repealing those very effective border policies. In fact, fentanyl is the leading cause of death of Americans ages 18 to 45. prgtoken In response to President 's open-border policies, my good friend and fellow Long Islander, Congressman D'Esposito, has proposed an effective bill that would modify the requirements for reporting by the Attorney General on the impacts of the border crisis. prgtoken Included in Congressman D'Esposito's bill is language to better understand when law enforcement is exposed to fentanyl. prgtoken This legislation is critical to understanding the challenges law enforcement officers face every day while giving further insights into the crises at our southern border, those crises caused by President . prgtoken I, alongside my good friend from Florida, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, am proposing an amendment to Congressman D'Esposito's bill that would further get to the root of the fentanyl crisis. prgtoken Our amendment requires the nationality of the migrant be included in the underlying reports when said migrant exposes a law enforcement officer to fentanyl during an encounter at the border. prgtoken It is imperative that we, as a Nation, collect more information on who and where these drugs are coming from so we can put an end to the fentanyl scourge. prgtoken We know from the DEA that most of the fentanyl consumed in the United States is produced in Mexi
ISRAEL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SUPPORT ACT
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-16

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , Hamas' October 7 massacre was as cruel, barbaric, and bloody as anything I have ever seen. Hamas unleashed pure evil on Israel that day. The Hamas terrorists filmed themselves committing brutal atrocities because they were so proud of their barbaric acts. prgtoken In fact, in just hours they murdered 1,200 innocent people and took over 250 hostages, including Americans. I say this to remind my colleagues of the moral clarity that we as a body felt in the aftermath of these brutal attacks. prgtoken It was obvious to us then that Hamas was ruthless. It was obvious to us that Hamas needed to be eradicated to ensure Israel's security. It was obvious to us that Hamas would fight dirty and use innocent civilians as human shields. It was obvious to us that Israel had no choice but to win this war and end the perpetual terrorist threat. prgtoken We all, s and , spent those weeks talking about our steadfast support for Israel, our ironclad commitment. In fact, Mr. Meeks and I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas in support of Israel which had more cosponsors than any other resolution in the history of the Congress. prgtoken However, today, I am deeply disappointed that for some in this country and for the administration that that moral clarity has faded, that their ironclad commitment apparently is not, in fact, ironclad. prgtoken In an about-face, the administration is now withholding critical arms necessary for Israel to win this war. This administration wants to dictate how Israel executes the war that they were thrust into. prgtoken They did not ask for this war. They did not start this war. Hamas started this war. prgtoken Just recently, though, President said that if they go into Rafah, I am not supplying the weapons, period. That would be similar for us, Madam , to say during World War II, my father's war, that you can invade all the way up to Berlin, but you can't go into Berlin to finish the job. Imagine if we had done that with our Allies back then. prgtoken Israel is in a fight for its very existence, and this administration's public break with Israel has only made negotiations and victory more difficult. prgtoken Rafah is a final key military objective to complete the mission against Hamas. prgtoken Israel has effectively eradicated 19 battalions throughout Gaza, yet 4 remain in Rafah. This is the last stage of the military operation, and it keeps getting delayed and delayed and delayed. prgtoken We know that Hamas is exploiting this cease-fire and using the negotiation process just to buy more time. prgtoken Hamas has established a network of tunnels that total over 300 miles in Gaza. These tunnels of terror are where they are holed up ready to strike Israel at the first opportunity. prgtoken Their use of tunnels is why Israel must use these larger bombs, to destroy their command and control centers and
Tribute to the Fighting Irish (Executive Session)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2024-5-16

100 years ago this week, a legend was born. One hundred years ago, the champions of religious freedom refused to back down in the face of intolerance and hate. One hundred years ago today, the University of Notre Dame earned the moniker the ``Fighting Irish.'' prgtoken On May 17, 1924, thousands of members of the Indiana chapter of the Ku Klux Klan gathered in South Bend, IN, for a rally, a rally called by their infamous leader D.C. Stephenson. The target that day for their despicable and misguided message of ``true Americanism'' was the Catholic institution of the University of Notre Dame, the young men who attended the university, and the Holy Cross priests who taught at it. prgtoken In the years that immediately preceded that fateful day, the KKK had watched with despair as Coach Knute Rockne and his football ``Ramblers'' had barnstormed across the country, winning praise for their fighting spirit and the university. prgtoken We can't forget that at the time, Catholics were a major target for the KKK in the Midwest, and Notre Dame's success on and off the field was an affront--an affront--to the Klan's false message of superiority. prgtoken So the KKK gathered outside the Golden Dome for what was to be a 3- day rally, complete with parades and speeches and dances and no small amount of overtly violent intimidation. You see, they weren't used to anyone standing up to them. They weren't expecting anyone to stand up to them. And little did they know that the mostly Irish Catholic student body across the street had no intention of being intimidated. prgtoken Little did they know that the students were so animated that the university president, Father Matthew Walsh--a World War I veteran--had been trying in vain to tell his students to stay safe and to shelter in the school. prgtoken Little did the KKK know that on that day, the intended aspersion that the student body had co-opted as their preferred nickname--the ``Fighting Irish''--was about to reach a national audience. prgtoken As the story goes--no doubt colored with some apocryphal additions over the years--the Klansmen began arriving in South Bend and hundreds of students marched out to meet them. At first, the students almost playfully offered to assist the Klansmen in finding lodging and food, sometimes leading them down allies, other times leading them back out of town. prgtoken However, when one KKK leader evidently became wise to the ruse and pointed a pistol at a student who had intended to pull down the unsacred cross of lights hung in a downtown third-floor window, well, as they say, all hell broke loose. Klansmen who chose to fight quickly met their match and scrambled out of town. Students grabbed produce-- yes, even potatoes--from a local vegetable stand and hurled them at the cross, taking out all but the uppermost bulb. prgtoken At that very moment, legendary ``Four Horsemen'' quarterback Harry Stuhldreher launched an impossible sho
Nomination of Camela C. Theeler (Executive Session)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-5-16

I am pleased to join Senator Thune today in supporting the confirmation of Judge Cammy Theeler. prgtoken Ms. Theeler is a native of my home community, Pierre, SD, and has an impressive list of career experiences, spanning from the U.S. Attorney's Office to teaching at Dakota Wesleyan University, to her work now as a State circuit court judge. prgtoken It is because of her commitment to upholding the law, along with her commitment to public service, that she received the South Dakota Young Lawyer of the Year award in 2009. prgtoken She will undoubtedly exercise judicial restraint and apply the law as written. prgtoken I also want to congratulate Eric Schulte on his Senate confirmation yesterday for the U.S. District of South Dakota. He is a well-qualified attorney who will serve Americans well as a district judge. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to join today in supporting Judge Cammy Theeler for U.S. district judge for the District of South Dakota.
POLICE OUR BORDER ACT
Melanie A. Stansbury (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-5-16

. Mr. Chair, as it is National Police Week, I want to begin by thanking all of our law enforcement for their service and their sacrifice on behalf of our communities. prgtoken As we do so, we honor and remember those who have passed in the line of duty, including so many in New Mexico, including New Mexico State Patrolman Justin Hare and Las Cruces Police Department Patrol Officer Jonah Hernandez who died in the line of duty just this year. prgtoken I stand to oppose this bill, but I also stand deeply proud to serve New Mexico's First Congressional District, which includes the Albuquerque metro area, the seven counties, two Tribal nations, and dozens of State, county, Tribal, local law enforcement and emergency service agencies, and Federal law enforcement. prgtoken From Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties in the north, and Torrance, Lincoln, Chaves, Guadalupe, and De Baca in the south and east, our State, county, and local law enforcement agencies care for our communities, and keep them safe every day. prgtoken Likewise, our Federal law enforcement are working overtime in New Mexico to crack down on cartels to keep drug traffickers and dangerous drugs off our streets. prgtoken We thank them for their service and their sacrifice. prgtoken We know that public safety and the fentanyl crisis are ravishing our communities, and they are on the front lines. prgtoken That is why I have worked since day one in office to help secure millions in funding for our law enforcement for tools, technology, and equipment to support their work. I have fought for funding for recruitment and retention. This includes millions in State funding I helped secure during my time in the legislature. It also includes millions I helped secure in the Congress for State police to detect and tackle fentanyl; $18 million for law enforcement equipment and vehicles, new emergency fire stations for Moriarty, Sandia Pueblo, and Peralta; and more than $17 million for behavioral and mental health services. prgtoken Nevertheless, we know that fighting the fentanyl crisis and fighting the public safety and behavioral health crisis will take more than just stopping the flow of drugs and other materials into our communities. prgtoken It requires that we also face the realities of addiction and the people who are hurting in our communities. prgtoken It requires that we listen to and support the people who are facing the realities and the relentless challenges of the opioid crisis, who are struggling with addiction and the daily tragedies that overwhelm our first responders and emergency rooms, and the thousands who have died in New Mexico alone from this problem. prgtoken That is why I have also been working to help secure millions for behavioral health to expand clinics and housing opportunities in Albuquerque, veterans' transitional housing, the First Nation's Clinic, healthcare for the homeless, and other vital programs. prgtoken Moreover, it is why I am a
FACING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DOESN'T MAKE YOU WEAK
Jill N. Tokuda (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2024-5-16

9 months ago, the Lahaina fires took the lives of 101 people and destroyed hundreds of structures, including homes, classrooms, historic parks and features, and businesses. While we have come a long way to repair the physical damage inflicted upon our community, the trauma and emotional pain from the fires continue to take root in the lives of our Maui ``family'' ``ohana.'' prgtoken First responders, disaster workers, and volunteers are on the front lines and have been there from day one, delivering physical and emotional support to our people and families during this time of crisis. While we know they often--and you heard this from the previous speaker--put the needs of others before themselves, the reality is they, too, need help dealing with the challenges and dangers that come with experiences and the things that they see every day on the job, the situations that they are faced with. prgtoken I will digress a bit and tell you some stories of things that I saw in the first days, weeks, and even months after the fires. It was not uncommon for me to come across even some of the top brass in leadership of our emergency management, fire department, or police department, and they would stop me. You could see by the look in their eyes that it was very hard for them to continue as they talked about the things they saw and the experiences that they went through as victims and survivors themselves, many of them asking me: How can I go on? What do I do now? I need help, too. prgtoken Statistically, sadly, we know that first responders, police officers, and firefighters find themselves in this very situation time and time again. We know that these first responders are more likely to die from suicide than in the line of duty, and that depression and PTSD are up to five times more common in first responders. prgtoken Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of services and resources available specifically to address the mental health needs of our first responders. Too often, first responders are directed to services that fail to meet them where they are at and are inadequate to support their mental health and well-being, to truly understand the situation that they are dealing with every single day, reliving the trauma, reliving the moment that they have experienced, yet on the surface having to put on that happy face and continue to serve the public. prgtoken This is unacceptable. That is why I introduced the CARE for First Responders Act, which would make sure our first responders, disaster workers, and volunteers have immediate access to on-site, specialized crisis counseling services and resources. Our bill would also establish a peer support program and a national hotline to provide 24/7 confidential, comprehensive crisis services to first responders and their loved ones. prgtoken Every day, these brave individuals risk their lives to keep our communities safe. They are our superheroes, but they are still
Nomination of Camela C. Theeler (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-5-16

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Camela Theeler to the U.S. District Court for District of South Dakota. prgtoken Judge Theeler's deep ties to South Dakota and her experience in the courtroom--as a litigator and on the bench--have prepared her to serve as a U.S. District Judge. After receiving her B.A. and J.D. from the University of South Dakota, Judge Theeler began her legal career in private practice before clerking for the judges of the First Judicial Circuit of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Thereafter, Judge Theeler returned to private practice, working on a range of cases, including personal injury/worker's compensation, business litigation, employment law, and criminal defense work. From 2012 to 2018, Judge Theeler served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota, becoming deputy civil chief in 2016. prgtoken Over the course of her legal career, Judge Theeler tried eight cases to verdict, judgment, or final decision. Since 2018, she has served as a circuit court judge for the State of South Dakota, located in the Second Judicial District. Judge Theeler has presided over 57 trials that have gone to verdict or judgment. prgtoken Judge Theeler has the strong support from her home State Senators, Mr. Thune and Mr. Rounds. In addition, she was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support Judge Theeler's nomination.
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF NEW MEXICO
Gabe Vasquez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-5-16

part of the reason why folks look to the United States as a beacon of democracy and justice is because we honor, respect, and follow the rule of law. prgtoken Assault in this Nation is never acceptable, no matter the perpetrator or the cause, never. When it comes to our police officers and first responders, that is especially important. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have introduced a bill meant to address this issue and specifically target immigrants in this country, and, unfortunately, they could not help themselves but to introduce inflammatory and anti-immigrant language that distorts what we could accomplish if we were actually willing to work together to find real solutions to our Nation's broken immigration system. That is why I introduced amendments to ensure what we can all agree on: due process, justice, and the rule of law to which we are all entitled to in this country. prgtoken Let me be clear: If anyone is convicted of an offense involving assault of a law enforcement officer, then they should be held accountable. However, that is not the case in the bill that s have proposed. prgtoken I remain committed to finding solutions based in truth and justice that address public safety concerns with legislators on both sides of the aisle that also support law enforcement and their families.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-5-16

we are about to hold a vote under the Congressional Review Act. prgtoken The CRA was passed in 1994 to give Congress a 6-month window of 60 legislative days to review an Agency rule and, if Congress doesn't like that rule, 60 days to overturn it. However, our vote today is not a vote on a notice and comment rule. In fact, our vote today is on something that doesn't even have the force of law. Our vote today is on a Staff Accounting Bulletin issued by the SEC back in the spring of 2022. prgtoken Now, the SEC has issued these bulletins--they are called SABs--for nearly 50 years without anyone ever suggesting that they were subject to the CRA. The CRA has a time limit for a reason--so that settled law is settled law, something that everyone can count on--and the CRA is limited to Agency rules so that a single Member of Congress can't tie up Agencies and Congress with expedited procedures under the CRA by raking over the details of every Agency action. prgtoken Today's vote--coming more than 2 years after the SEC wrote the bulletin and applying to a staff bulletin rather than a rule--is far outside the scope of the CRA. We should not be holding this vote. All by itself, that is a good prgtoken enough reason to vote no, but let's talk about the substance of this SAB for just a minute. prgtoken The fairness of our markets depends on transparency. Investors in pension funds and 401(k)s and workers who are trying to save for retirement all have a right to know what they are investing in. The Securities and Exchange Commission is the guardian of those financial disclosures that give investors information about a company's business plan, about its leadership, and about the risks that it faces in the market. prgtoken So to help public companies disclose information about their businesses in a consistent way, from one business to another to another so that investors can make comparisons, the SEC issues Staff Accounting Bulletins--these SABs--to clarify guidance about emerging issues in the accounting industry: how to tell people about this business. SAB No. 121 was published to provide accounting guidance to companies that hold customers' digital assets. It says that, because of some of the unique technological and legal risks associated with digital assets, public companies that safeguard cryptoassets for their customers should make the risks associated with holding those assets visible to investors. prgtoken One way that this risk shows up is that if a company safeguards property for someone--if just an ordinary company is holding property for someone, like stocks or bonds or jewelry--the company bears the risk that the property could be stolen. That is why companies that hold property for others carry insurance, and it is why they have really big safes. prgtoken But if the company safeguards crypto, there is a special risk that is not there with other kinds of property. Crypto can get hacked. In fact, the
CELEBRATING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRADE MEASURES
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-5-16

I rise today to celebrate the President's announcement of increased tariffs on Chinese goods in key sectors. prgtoken President leads once again. He took strong actions this week to give us the tools that we need as a nation to combat unfair trade practices, support cutting-edge American manufacturing, and protect our national security. prgtoken American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone on a level playing field, but China has undermined that level playing field for decades. The increased tariffs on electric vehicles, EV batteries, steel, aluminum, semiconductors, critical minerals, and other fundamental inputs will support American manufacturing and ensure the next generation of good-paying jobs are created right here in the United States of America with good union jobs. prgtoken These measures will also help secure supply chains essential to our national security. President 's tariff increases will build domestic capacity and insulate critical industries from undue Chinese Communist Party influence.