mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEMOCRATS NATIONALIZE EDUCATION
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2021-11-3

. Madam , last night was a great night for America. As Virginians across the Commonwealth, in bipartisan fashion, s, , and Independents, rejected the radical, woke, socialist education policies of this administration and this complicit majority in this Congress. prgtoken Most of our schools will be better off being governed by the first seven ticked-off parents in line at the next school board meeting than the woke leftist, progressive, liberal members of the typical American school board. prgtoken The Federal Government should not be involved in education. There is no constitutional basis for the Federal Government to be involved in education to begin with. I love our friend, Thomas Massie, our colleague from Kentucky's bill that says--of which I am a cosponsor-- the Department of Education shall cease to exist on December 31 of 2022. How much better our schools, our children, our parents, and families would be if that were the case. prgtoken We are seeing the silver lining from the past 2 years with the China virus as the exposure has been there. What is being taught in the schools? The strong disinfectant of sunlight, letting parents see what their children are being taught as they supervise them learning from home. prgtoken And, thankfully, thousands and thousands of parents showing up at school board meetings to make their voices heard because they don't want critical race theory and its ideology taught in our schools. It is amazing how the majority and their allies, their friends in the media say: That doesn't exist. prgtoken It may be true that there isn't a class taught in a typical American high school that is called critical race theory, taught an hour a day every day for 5 days a week. Of course, that is not true. That is not typical. However, all throughout our country, critical race ideology, this theory that tries to define who we are as Americans: it tries to define Americans based on race; it tries to explain why we became a Nation; it tries to explain why the American Revolution was fought; it tries to identify who are victims and who are oppressors. prgtoken That ideology is absolutely included in training for teachers all across this country. In fact, in just the last 2 weeks we have learned that in two of Virginia's largest blue counties, Fairfax County and Loudoun County, teachers are being trained with critical race ideology to have that permeate all of their teaching through all of their classes. It is the lens through which they are taught to present the material to their students. prgtoken In Fairfax County, as a matter of fact, it was shown with a recent article by the Washington Times, spent $5.5 million dollars in the past year purchasing CRT-related curriculum and materials for their school system. $2.5 million of which was for--guess whose son in-law's company--the attorney general, Merrick Garland. prgtoken So you have parents rising up sa
Nomination of Michael Lee Connor (Executive Calendar)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-11-3

I thank the senior Senator from Minnesota for her hard work in getting Michael Connor to the floor. I have been very pleased to join with her, and, obviously, we are hopeful that, tomorrow, we will have that vote. prgtoken The position of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works is critical to every Member of this body. Every State has interactions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Assistant Secretary is the top civilian who oversees the Corps of Engineers. The Assistant Secretary plays a vital role in formulating the Corps' budget, in setting policy and priorities for the Corps, and in ensuring that an incredible array of projects is managed and executed across the Nation. prgtoken For example, in my State of North Dakota, we have Corps projects in communities like Minot on flood protection. A number of years ago, we had 11,000 people and 4,000 homes and buildings inundated. Obviously, flood protection is incredibly vital for them, prgtoken and we need the Corps working to get that done. prgtoken In the Red River Valley of the North, as Senator Klobuchar said so accurately, we are working together for comprehensive flood protection in that region. It is a multibillion-dollar, multi-State project that uses the latest approach of a public-private partnership with a WIFIA loan guarantee. We are doing things in a way that hasn't been done before that can really help us cut into the backlog that the Corps has on these flood projects. prgtoken But it takes a lot of work and a lot of creativity to keep that moving forward, and so we need the Assistant Secretary in place to help us do that, and that is why we need to move forward with this confirmation vote. prgtoken And as Senator Klobuchar said correctly, Mr. Connor is well qualified for this position. He held the No. 2 position at Interior from 2014 to 2017. He also served as Commissioner of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation from 2009 to 2014. He worked on Capitol Hill from 2001 to 2009 as counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. prgtoken So he has got the background to do this. He is ready to go. Let's have this vote on confirmation and let's put him to work for the great people of this great country. prgtoken And with that, I would defer again to the Senator from Minnesota for any concluding remarks she has, but, again, I want to thank her for working on this in a bipartisan way.
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS FOR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-11-3

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I support this resolution expressing solidarity with the freedom-loving Cuban citizens, condemning the regime's violence against innocent protesters, and calling on our international partners to pledge support for Cuban freedom. prgtoken , I also want to thank my colleagues, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Albio Sires for their work on this resolution. prgtoken For over 60 years, Cubans have been held hostage by a tyrannical dictatorship. The Communists have bankrupted a beautiful country, condemning three generations to misery, and separating countless families. prgtoken Castro's Cuba is also a threat to regional stability and security, trafficking weapons to North Korea, propping up Venezuela's cruel regime, and forging alliances with pariahs like Russia and China. prgtoken The Cuban regime is a cancer that has metastasized throughout Latin America. Starting on July 11, tens of thousands of protestors across the island demanded and pleaded for an end to the oppressive regime. Some were even waving the greatest symbol of liberty known to mankind, the American flag. prgtoken Since the protests began, Ranking Member McCaul has called on the majority to consider a resolution standing prgtoken in solidarity with the Cuban people; each time it was blocked. I am pleased that the leadership has finally allowed a measure to be considered 4 months after the initial protests. prgtoken Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution reinforcing Congress' support for the pro-democracy movement in Cuba. As Members of Congress and Americans, we have a moral obligation to support them. prgtoken The United States remains committed to democracy and respect for human rights in the Western Hemisphere, and this resolution urges the international community to join us in these efforts. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this measure and advocate for many Cubans who cannot speak for themselves .
IN MEMORY OF GEORGE CAMPBELL
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-11-3

. Madam , I rise to honor the life of a great American, George B. Campbell. Mr. Campbell lived in Winchester, Kentucky and passed away on October 21, 2021. prgtoken George Campbell was a proud veteran of the United States Army, enlisting in 1968. He served our nation with honor in Vietnam, where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. After his time in the military, Mr. Campbell enrolled in Georgetown College where he met his wife Rosemary. They were married for 47 years and have 2 sons, Jeff and Chris, and four grandchildren. Mr. Campbell worked as a civil servant with the Department of Defense. He retired after a 30- plus year distinguished career as the Chief of Operations Division for Special Operations Forces Support Activity at Bluegrass Station. prgtoken Mr. Campbell had a passion and a gift for serving others. On a trip to the Vietnam Wall Memorial in 2011, he observed a group from an Honor Flight from Chicago. Upon speaking with a medic from the group and several veterans and guardians, he learned more about the Honor Flight organization and its profound impact on our nation's veterans. Returning home, he became the co-founder of Honor Flight Kentucky. He was very active as a board member, officer, Ambassador and Flight Coordinator. Mr. Campbell's work with Honor Flight brought joy, comradery, and a renewed sense of pride to hundreds of Kentucky veterans. I came to know Mr. Campbell when I was given the opportunity to participate in Honor Flight Kentucky activities and I am grateful to Mr. Campbell for allowing me to be involved. prgtoken Faith was a guiding light in the life of this humble servant leader. Mr. Campbell was a parishioner of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, where he was an active member and played guitar for Sunday mass. He volunteered at the Troy Bowling Campus of the Lexington VA Healthcare System and at various other charitable organizations. prgtoken George Campbell was a true patriot, a follower of Christ, a family man, and an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know him. While he will be missed, he leaves behind a legacy of service that will continue. It was my honor to call him my friend and it is my honor to lift up the life of George B. Campbell before the United States Congress.
Remembering Abner Linwood Holton, Jr., and Voting Rights (Executive Calendar)
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-11-3

I come to the floor this afternoon to speak also about the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This is S. 4. prgtoken Listening to my friend from Virginia here describe some of the history that he and his family have been through, again, this is an important part of the discussion and debate when we talk about one of the very cornerstones of our identity as an extraordinary nation, this principle of democracy and freedom and fair and open elections. prgtoken The majority leader filed cloture on the motion to proceed on Monday evening, and despite some very real reservations that I have--and it is fair to talk about those reservations--I will be among those who vote to begin debate on this measure when we have this vote in a few minutes here. I will do so because I strongly support and I believe that Congress should enact a bipartisan reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. We have done that. Congress has done that five times since 1965, typically--typically--by an overwhelming margin here in the Senate. prgtoken It has been about 15 years now since our last amendment to the Voting Rights Act, and I think it is fair to say that 15 years after passage, it is probably timely and necessary to look at updates. prgtoken In order to do that, I think that what we have to do is we have to step back from the partisanship. We have to step back from the politicization that is driving this conversation. I think we should be able to agree to meaningful improvements that will help ensure that all of our elections are free, they are fair, and they are accessible to all Americans. prgtoken Now, those who follow this issue know that it is probably no great surprise that I am involved in this discussion here today. I have been the lead cosponsor of the voting rights reauthorization now for the last 6 years. I have worked with my friend from Vermont, Senator Leahy, as well as with Senator Durbin, Senator Manchin, and others to shape a framework that will allow us to make some progress on some very real and legitimate issues. prgtoken At this point, I feel that we have got a good foundation to help provide access to the ballot that is equal, again, for all Americans and free from any form of discrimination. We should all be able to support legislation to assure just that much--that much--because nothing, as my friend from Virginia has said, is more fundamental than the right to vote. prgtoken We have all heard that story of Benjamin Franklin being asked at the end of the Constitutional Convention about the type of government that the Framers had designed. His response, at least according to some sources, was, ``A republic if you can keep it.'' prgtoken I recognize that one of the surest ways to lose our Republic is to allow the public trust in our elections to erode, and I fear that that is where we are--that that trust, that faith, in our own elections is eroding. prgtoken I have engaged in voti
Election Security (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-11-3

later today, the Senate will vote on the latest power grab by our friends across the aisle, a bill that is called the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. prgtoken The most important reason to vote against this legislation is that it is clearly unconstitutional. prgtoken I know it is unusual for Members of the legislative branch to make statements like that, but we do take an oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States, and I think it is part of our responsibility to assess the constitutionality of legislation that is being proposed and to make a judgment on whether it is constitutional or not. prgtoken One reason why I say that is because the Supreme Court has made very clear that it is within the authority of the States to conduct elections, and that those elections must be run subject to the Voting Rights Act; but that is section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which applies across the entire country. prgtoken One of the reasons we find ourselves in this position today is because, in 2006, our ic colleagues proposed an extension of the Voting Rights Act but did not update the formula by which covered States were being determined. In other words, in 2006, they did not reflect the huge improvement and advances made in minority voting strength since 1965. prgtoken I think you could say without fear of contradiction that the Voting Rights Act is one of the most important and most successful pieces of legislation ever passed in this country. The good news is that it has worked exactly as Congress had hoped. So our colleagues are really trying to pass an unconstitutional law, which would require States to change their voting rules to ask permission of the Justice Department before they do so. prgtoken As Chief Justice Roberts laid out in the Shelby County case, that is a departure from the norm, to be sure, and can only be justified to remedy past discrimination. But if you look at the current numbers of minority voting strength around the country, you see minorities voting at historically high numbers and even in many instances exceeding that of the majority. So this is really a piece of legislation that is being sold under false pretenses. prgtoken Based on the way our ic colleagues talk about the state of voting rights in America, you would think the Supreme Court had struck down the Voting Rights Act. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who just spoke, the ic whip, described the current law as an ``insidious effort to suppress the right of voters of color.'' prgtoken The majority leader, Senator Schumer, recently said that the right to vote was ``under attack in ways we have not seen in generations.'' prgtoken And the of the House has said ``voting rights are under relentless attack.'' prgtoken But the facts do not align with this doom and gloom picture of America. In 2020, roughly two-thirds of all eligible voters cast a ballot. In Tex
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-11-3

during the recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, I asked the Secretary of Defense what I thought was a simple question: As the leader of the Department of Defense, was he against dishonorable discharges for members of the military who decided not to get the COVID vaccine. He hemmed and hawed around, but he never answered my question. But, to me, it is simple. The answer should be that we will not dishonorably discharge those who serve honorably. prgtoken Our country is defended by the bravest men and women in the world. All raised their hands and pledged their lives to defend our Nation and our way of life. Our servicemembers stand watch while we go to work, while we spend time with our families, and while we enjoy freedoms they vow to protect. prgtoken When COVID broke out, our military was there for America. Military members were mobilized in all 50 States to serve as nurses and doctors at hospitals. They drove ambulances and set up food banks. They delivered critical supplies. They worked to keep order. But how does the President thank them for their service? With a dishonorable discharge for deciding not to take the vaccine. That is ridiculous. prgtoken Receiving a dishonorable discharge means they will lose all of their veterans' benefits and their pensions. In some States, it is on par with having a felony conviction. That means they lose their ability to vote or to carry a gun, not to mention what it does to their ability to find a new job. A dishonorable discharge is and should continue to be handed down for only the prgtoken most reprehensible conduct in the military. prgtoken Now, I am for the vaccine. I have taken it, and my family has taken it, and I continue to encourage others to talk about it and talk to their doctors about it. I also respect the chain of command. I know how important it is for soldiers to follow orders. But this vaccine is still new, and I am sure the Department of Defense can look at other ways to manage our force rather than to put a stain on the reputations of the men and women who wanted to serve and have served their country, which brings me to another point about the impact of the administration's vaccine mandates. prgtoken When President made his sweeping vaccine mandates, he did so with the hubris or excessive confidence that Americans would just support the policy simply because it was his competent administration that implemented them, but the mandates are shortsighted, they are ill- conceived, and they threaten our national security. Here is how. prgtoken First, it creates a false choice for our defense contractors. They are forced to choose between coming to their job and working to support our military or taking a new vaccine that they don't want. Their decision should be between their doctor and their patient. prgtoken Second, it puts the important and critical performance of our defensive industry in jeopardy. Alabama alone is h
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-11-3

in December, President promised he would not require Americans to be vaccinated or require that they carry vaccine passports. Less than 10 months into his Presidency, I think he must have forgotten what he said, breaking promise after promise and going back on his word. How can the American people believe anything he says? prgtoken Americans are sick and tired of the government telling them what to do and are more than capable of making the right choices to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors. But now, because King has gone back on his word or forgotten what he said, millions of Americans are facing an ultimatum: Get the vaccine or lose your job. For companies, it is either make your employees get the jab or lose your Federal contract. prgtoken This is a complete overreach of power. wants to control our lives and make the government be the authority in every area of your life. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that has this power--nowhere. prgtoken Listen, I had COVID. I am grateful that I was able to get vaccinated. I hope that all Americans talk with their doctors and consider making the same decision. It is a personal decision every individual gets to make, but that is not how President sees it. That is why I introduced multiple pieces of legislation to push back on these unconstitutional vaccine mandates. prgtoken I have introduced the Freedom to Fly Act to prohibit the TSA from requiring Americans to show proof of vaccine or produce a vaccine passport and protect the privacy of American families. I don't believe that the Federal Government has any business requiring travelers to turn over their personal medical information to catch a flight. prgtoken I introduced the Stop Mandating Additional Requirements for Travel Act to prohibit the feds from requiring Americans to wear masks on public transportation like Amtrak or on airplanes. prgtoken I also introduced the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act, which would prevent Federal Agencies like the Department of Transportation from requiring proof of vaccination for companies trying to do business across State lines. prgtoken Last month, I introduced legislation to prevent vaccine mandates from being tied to a few of our Federal assistance programs, like Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, and public housing. I hoped everyone in this Chamber would have agreed that we shouldn't force struggling American families to choose between Social Security disability checks and a personal health decision. prgtoken Most Americans would be shocked if a politician said it is acceptable to deny someone health insurance or food stamps simply because of their vaccine status. Sadly, , this is exactly what happened on this floor last month. All I did was request that Americans, regardless of vaccine status, should be able to access a few of our most essentia