mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-11-1

we just heard from the Senator of North Dakota talking about the imperative of ensuring that our borders are secure, particularly at the southern border. prgtoken We had an opportunity yesterday in the Senate Appropriations Committee to hear from Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken about the administration's supplemental funding request. If there were one common thread there that was underscored over and over, it was the dire need-- the immediate need--of support for our allies, our allies who are locked, really, in two existential wars that threaten both their sovereignties and their people. So the support for Israel and the support for Ukraine, in my view, is one that I shared with the two Secretaries: that they are inextricably linked and our support for both must be inextricably linked. prgtoken We have all watched with horror as Hamas has unleashed this terrorist attack on civilians, killing more than 1,400 Israelites and taking at least 240 Israelites hostage; then in Ukraine, with Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine homeland killing over 70,000 Ukrainians in just a hellbent mission to reclaim their old Soviet territory. prgtoken It is times like this when I think we look to the role that the United States should be playing. We are not--no, we are not--the police force for the world. We are not there to fight the wars for others. But when the world is watching democracy face direct assaults from terrorists and from authoritarian regimes, this is the time that the United States must be leading from the front. We have a responsibility to our allies, and we have a responsibility to the world at large, whether that is providing humanitarian aid, promoting stability, or lending support through the most powerful military in the world. prgtoken This is the United States. These are responsibilities that, I think, are significant, and, again, others from around the world look to us for that leadership. prgtoken Now, there are some who would suggest that we have supported Ukraine enough; that we should move and direct our attention only to our own borders; that the situation in Israel is such that we should focus exclusively there. As we heard yesterday in the Appropriations hearing, we do not have the luxury of dealing with one crisis at a time. That would certainly make things easier, but we do not have that. prgtoken So to those who would suggest that we must abandon our allies in their most desperate hour, I would remind them that this defense spending comes right back to the United States through our own defense industrial base, providing an opportunity to refresh outdated war- readiness items, making the United States stronger in return as well as providing jobs to Americans. So this is not just about providing aid to others outside our borders. This is also helping to strengthen us. prgtoken There was a comment that I had read: The United States can lead through the power of example; but in
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-11-1

. Having heard that objection, , I call to the floor Executive Calendar No. 132, Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Marine Corps, to be Lieutenant General and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force. prgtoken General Cederholm has been Deputy Commandant for Aviation since July 2022, a position he held with high distinction. He has held many operational assignments, including in U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command and as a TOPGUN Instructor Pilot. He has flown operational tours in all aircraft that the Marine Corps has to offer. General Cederholm has held numerous other assignments, including the deployments in furtherance of Operation Enduring Freedom, Joint Task Force Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom. He has also served in many Commanding Officer postings, including Commanding General of Task Force Baltic Watchtower and Commanding General of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. prgtoken We can confirm this nomination by voice vote right now. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 132, Michael S. Cederholm, to be Lieutenant General and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
DECLARING IT IS THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES THAT A NUCLEAR ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
Keith Self (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise today in support of Mr. McCaul's resolution to declare the policy of the United States that a nuclear Iran is not acceptable. prgtoken I commanded a Green Beret Special Forces detachment that deployed a tactical nuclear weapon, and I stood strategic nuclear watch for 1 year. I was intimately familiar with the single integrated operations plan, the strategic nuclear plan. I knew in detail the tens of thousands of deaths that nuclear war entails. prgtoken The United States and our allies, including Israel, must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon by any means necessary. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
CONDEMNING THE SUPPORT OF HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR JEWISH STUDENTS...
Erin Houchin (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-11-1

. Madam , with regard to Israel, the mask has finally come off the woke left whose center of gravity, sadly, is situated in American universities. prgtoken Following the barbaric attacks on Israel by Hamas, student groups at universities across the country demonstrated support for the terrorists. prgtoken Let me pause to say that again. Demonstrations are happening at universities across the United States in support of terrorists. prgtoken A student group at my alma mater, George Washington University, called for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. prgtoken The liberal ideology is emanating from universities and spreading throughout our corporations and tainting the world view of the next generation of Americans. This is dangerous and must be rejected. prgtoken That is why I am an original sponsor of Representative Owens' resolution condemning the support of terrorists at our institutions of higher education. prgtoken I urge all Americans to join me and my colleagues in stating in no uncertain terms that we support our Jewish students and affirm the statehood of Israel and the right of her people to live and to thrive. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 798.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-11-1

we have heard story after story this past month about Hamas's brutal ground attacks on Israel. Hamas militants murdered Israelis and Americans alike as they stormed places, from border towns to music festivals. Hamas didn't just attack from the ground; they continue to rain rockets on Israel. These rockets have destroyed people's homes, ruptured their livelihoods, and taken their lives. prgtoken Throughout this conflict, Israel's Iron Dome defense system has played a crucial role. The Iron Dome acts as a shield, detecting rockets and firing missiles to intercept them before they hit the ground. prgtoken The United States has stood by Israel--our closest ally in the Middle East--since the country's inception. We have always pledged our support in times of crisis. So it is critical that my colleagues and I on the Senate Appropriations Committee work together to ensure that Israel receives the defensive and offensive capabilities that it has requested from the United States. That includes replenishing the Iron Dome system so that Israel is able to protect its people from rocket attacks by terrorist groups. It includes replenishing Israel's David's Sling system and investing in the development of the Iron Beam system. These defensive systems set Israel up for an effective response to the havoc that Hamas and Hezbollah continue to wreak. prgtoken We must provide Israel with the time and resources its government needs to eliminate those threats. But as we consider the aid we will provide to Israel, we also need to consider the question, how do we better position the United States to support our allies as well as bolster our own defense systems amid the escalating global threats? prgtoken A few days after the heinous attacks on Israel, a bipartisan, bicameral congressional commission released its report on the strategic posture of the United States. This report, based on the consensus of respected national security experts from across the political spectrum, concluded that the United States will be woefully underprepared for the threats we are facing. prgtoken Our two peer nuclear adversaries, Russia and China, have dramatically expanded their nuclear forces over the decades. They continue to develop novel nuclear weapons and delivery systems. Meanwhile, the United States is barely keeping up with modernizing our nuclear forces. prgtoken The report emphasized the need to grow our nuclear and conventional forces and, above all else, to expand our production capability, including our workforce, supply chain, and infrastructure. prgtoken As Senators, we regularly receive briefings and intelligence reports that clearly outline the threats we face from actors like Russia and China. I have often said that if the American people had access to more of this information themselves, they would better understand the nature and the severity of the threats we face. Investment in national security would move to the
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF PITTSBURGH MASSACRE
Jennifer Kiggans (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-11-1

I include in the Record remarks submitted at the request of a Virginia Beach constituent, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman of Temple Lev Tikvah, and are a reflection of his views: Fifth Anniversary of Pittsburgh Massacre The utterly unsettling 83-minute attack on Shabbat morning. Oct. 27. 2018, at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. resulting in the death of 11 worshiping Jews, has been described as the worst antisemitic crime committed on American soil. The name ``Tree of Life'' connotes the holy Torah whose lessons. including the Ten Commandments, aim to preserve the divine gift of precious human life, proclaiming that freedom and responsibility are inseparable twins. A 2020 book, ``Bound in the Bond of Life: Pittsburgh Writers Reflect on the Tree of Life Tragedy'' (University of Pittsburgh Press), offers the traditional Jewish response, asserting life's primacy facing death and loss. The moving volume of insightful reflections by a wide array of Pittsburgh writers connects to their own lives' experiences. It is a thoughtful and fitting account honoring the memory of the slain who are rightfully placed in the context of the long historical chain of Jewish martyrdom, culminating in the Holocaust and beyond, with the appellation of ``Kedoshei Pittsburgh'' (Pittsburgh's Martyrs). The book's co-editor Beth Kissileff is married to one of the attack's survivors, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light Congregation. Kissileff, who has taught at the universities of Pittsburgh and Minnesota, raises, ``Can one heal after gun violence? Can any of us feel safe again? Did antisemitism really not ever go away?'' The above interrelated issues are complex and beclouded by sectarian politics. Yet, we are not free from tackling them while advocating for remedies helping to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Co-editor Eric Lidji is director of Pittsburgh's Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Sen. John Heinz History Center. He oversees preserving the massacre's documentation. ``In due time, with persistence, I can know just the tiniest bit more . . . so that others can someday make meaning from it all.'' However, what ``meaning'' can be derived from such a calamitous occurrence? Recording aids sacred remembrance and provides a therapeutic dimension. David M. Shribman who wrote the book's Forward is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His team won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for covering the carnage. His then-newspaper printed in Hebrew the four letters of the memorial Kaddish prayer. Dor Hadash congregation was inspired to conduct a ``Refugee Shabbat,'' for the gunman's ire was at the refugees and immigrants assisted by HIAS (Hebrew Immigra
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-11-1

this one is special to me, since we are doing all the different services: Space Force, Navy, Army, Air Force. This is Maj. Gen. Roger Turner, U.S. Marine Corps, to be Lieutenant General and Commanding General, Third Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander of Marine Forces Japan. prgtoken The III MEF, as we call it in the Marine Corps--we only have three MEFs prgtoken in the entire Marine Corps: I MEF, II MEF, and III MEF. This is the MEF in Okinawa, forward deployed, waiting, ready to protect our interests in the Taiwan Strait, in Indo-PACOM. Right now, III MEF doesn't have a three-star general; neither does I MEF. prgtoken Again, that doesn't impact readiness? Of course, it does. Anyone who knows anything about the military knows that that impacts readiness. One of the most important fighting forces in the American military, III MEF, needs a Lieutenant General in charge. prgtoken Maj. Gen. Roger Turner has served in the Marine Corps since 1984. He most recently served as Commanding General of the First Marine Division. That is at Camp Pendleton--really important, big division, infantry division, great experience. prgtoken Previously, he served as a Commanding General of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Command and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center--incredible combat experience, ready to go if there is a Taiwan Strait crisis or another challenge in the Indo-PACOM theater. We really need this general. prgtoken For that reason, we can confirm him right now--right now--by voice vote, singular, what the Senator from Alabama has been asking for. We will see. prgtoken So, , I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 191, Roger B. Turner, Jr to be Lieutenant General and Commanding General, Third Marine Expeditionary Force, and Commander of Marine Forces Japan; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.
REMEMBERING PATRICK LEON BENNETT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise today in remembrance of Patrick Leon Bennett, who passed away on July 28, 2023, at the age of 55. prgtoken Patrick was born in Waycross, Georgia, and lived most of his life in Pierce County. He was known for being an endearing and funny person by many and a celebrated member of the Future Farmers of America. prgtoken He was passionate for hunting, fishing, and coaching recreational football. Patrick was able to lead his teams to three State championships, two of which he won. prgtoken Furthermore, Patrick was active in his teenage years in the FFA organization, including serving as chapter officer, a member of the 1985 State Winner Dairy Judging Team, 1986 State Livestock Judging Team, and recipient of the Green Hand Degree, Chapter Farmer Degree, and Georgia Planter Degree. prgtoken He will be remembered by his family and friends and his community, which he served well.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
J.D. Vance (Republican, OH) \u2014 2023-11-1

reserving the right to object, the Senator from Illinois has made two comments that I would like to respond to. prgtoken First of all, I think it takes a special amount of gall to be from 's political party and to complain about the fentanyl crisis that is ravaging not just Ohio but the entire country, because it is 's border policies that have invited this fentanyl into our country at record levels. I heard a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection today that confirmed that very fact. prgtoken Second of all, the Senator said something I actually agree with: that this whole policy that I have implemented on Department of Justice nominees is unprecedented. He mentions that we have in the past in this body, before I got here, approved a number of Department of Justice nominees through unanimous consent. prgtoken What the Senator from Illinois doesn't mention is that, in that time, when these nominations sailed through unanimous consent, the Department of Justice was not trying to throw the political rival of the President of the United States in prison. prgtoken I object to this because we are living in a banana republic where the President is using his Department of Justice to go after his chief political rival, the person he will appear on the ballot with in about a year. prgtoken If the Department of Justice will use these nominations for law instead of politics, I am happy to end this whole policy. But so long as the Department of Justice uses its nominations and uses its personnel to go after its political opponents--from the President of the United States on down--I will object. And, because of that, , I do object.
HONORING THE U.S. AIR FORCE AIRBORNE LASER LABORATORY
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican, WV) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise today to recognize the incredible accomplishments of the U.S. Air Force Airborne Laser Laboratory. prgtoken Five decades ago, in the midst of the Cold War, the men and women of the ALL undertook a seemingly impossible task: developing a laser defense system capable of tracking, engaging and destroying incoming missiles from an airborne platform. Although the Air Force had successfully demonstrated their ability to use a land-based laser to destroy drone aircraft, the ALL would represent the first time in history that an aircraft-based system would attempt that feat. prgtoken For more than a decade, Air Force scientists and engineers, both military and civilian, pushed scientific boundaries, working on a converted KC-135 tanker aircraft in a huge yellow hanger at Kirkland Air Force Base. These pioneers were not employing the latest technologies, they were inventing brand-new technologies as they discovered new challenges. Many of those new technologies are in use today, in both directed energy and kinetic weapons programs. prgtoken In 1983 their hard work paid off when the ALL was successfully tested against AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles fired toward the aircraft in flight. Although the fighter aircraft firing those missiles were positioned out of range, any miscalculation could have been disastrous. Lt. Col Dennis Boesen, who was one of the ALL's Test Directors as well as a Vietnam combat veteran, pointed out, they were putting their lives in the hands of pilots, engineers and even the ordnance specialists to do their job perfectly. They put themselves in the path of a missile--five missiles, in fact--to prove a technology designed to save lives. Their faith in their fellow airmen, officers and scientists is a testament to this incredible team. prgtoken In joint testing with the U.S. Navy, the ALL shot down a BMQ-34A drone representing a Soviet cruise missile. Again, the ALL performed flawlessly, destroying the drone and demonstrating that airborne laser weapons are possible. In fact, the technological breakthroughs achieved with the ALL helped inspire President Ronald Reagan to launch the Strategic Defense Initiative and lead several years later to the YAL-1A airborne laser system. prgtoken , as conflicts around the world show us every day, the U.S. and its allies are constantly under attack from new and more sophisticated enemies. If we are going to continue protecting our citizens and our allies, we need to ensure that our fighting men and women have the best technology possible. The men and women who worked on the ALL deserve our deepest appreciation for what they accomplished to keep this country safe and, as the ALL logo states, give us all ``Peace Through Light.''
HAMAS AND OTHER PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUPS INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PREVENTION ACT
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-11-1

I thank Chairman McCaul, and I certainly thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) for offering this important bill, H.R. 340, the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act. prgtoken In addition to my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I serve on the prgtoken House Financial Services Committee. Over the years that I have been in Congress, I have been on the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing and the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance. Today, once again, we come to this House floor to tackle a new form of illicit finance. prgtoken It was shocking to a lot of people in America to read in The Wall Street Journal that Hamas is now using digital assets in order to raise funds and move money around. Just as we tackle illicit charitable use, illicit cash use, illicit bank use, this committee is dedicated to tackling this new form of escaping our anti-money laundering Bank Secrecy Act laws in order to fund terror. prgtoken I expect all of my colleagues to be together, working together to pass this bill and, in fact, standing up against this new form of terror finance by using digital assets. prgtoken We look forward to working on that issue in both the Financial Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I congratulate the gentleman from Florida for his leadership.