mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nominations (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-3-1

in his State of the Union Address last month, the President expressed an encouraging desire for bipartisanship. But I said, at the time, that I hoped his words would be matched by his actions. After all, the President spoke about being a President for all Americans in his inaugural address. But his first 2 years in office were not exactly distinguished by bipartisanship. prgtoken So while I was encouraged by the President's words in his State of the Union Address, as I said, I am looking for them to be matched by his actions, and renominating a slew of extreme nominees, as the President has done so far this year, is no way to start. prgtoken So far this year, the President has renominated at least 16 individuals who were unable to get any bipartisan support in the last Congress. They include an individual with serious unanswered questions about his possible role in a movement to push out senior career officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in favor of loyalists, multiple individuals aligned with ' radical Green New Deal agenda, a nominee who has repeatedly embraced anti-police rhetoric, multiple abortion extremists, a leftist litigator who has called the U.S. Senate and the electoral college anti-democratic institutions and who has admitted that he is motivated by his hatred of conservatives, and the list goes on. prgtoken And then, of course, there is the nominee who recently appeared in front of the Senate Commerce Committee for the third time: Gigi Sohn. This is Ms. Sohn's third nomination to the Federal Communications Commission during the administration. Her previous two nominations stalled thanks to her inability to garner any bipartisan support, and with good reason, because Gigi Sohn has to be the poster child for terrible Presidential nominees, although I suppose the judicial nominee who couldn't explain article II of the Constitution should also be in the running for that title of worst Presidential nominee. prgtoken I have serious policy disagreements with Ms. Sohn on multiple issues. She not only wants to bring back the heavy-handed internet regulation of the administration, but she wants to go further and have the FCC regulate broadband rates and set data caps. This would discourage broadband investment and threaten U.S. leadership in 5G, as well as diminish internet access opportunities for Americans outside of major urban and suburban areas. prgtoken As a resident of a rural State, I also have serious concerns about Ms. Sohn's position on rural broadband. She has been publicly hostile to the efforts of rural broadband companies to expand reliable internet access to rural areas, while at the same time she supported the use of scarce government dollars to overbuild networks in already well-served areas. prgtoken Her hostility to rural broadband led one former Senator to ask how can ``support rural broadband expansio
Internal Revenue Service (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-3-1

last year, Senate used the budget reconciliation process to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. They did this without a single vote. Included in that monstrosity was an $80 billion payday for the Internal Revenue Service--more than 6.5 times the amount of funding the IRS would normally receive in any given year. prgtoken After this happened, I had a lot of Tennesseans ask me: Why does the IRS need that much money? Many of them are really fearful that the IRS is going to come after them and their small businesses. And you know what. They are probably right. prgtoken The administration insists they are going to use this $80 billion to help the IRS answer the telephones because they are only answered about 20 percent of the time, but we know that it means more audits for small businesses, small business manufacturers, and Main Street merchants. This administration has never once passed up an opportunity to expand government power, and they aren't about to stop now. We know this expansion will lead to needless harassment. That is the nature of Big Government. prgtoken But I am equally concerned about the sheer amount of data the IRS has scraped up during investigations. The IRS already collects far more data than they need. In 2022, they hired a contractor to block taxpayers from accessing government services unless they handed over sensitive biometric data. They already have your name, address, and Social Security number, but now they want to collect a picture of your government ID, your fingerprints, and a selfie photo. Why in the world would we allow the IRS to collect this data? The answer, of course, is that most people wouldn't let them have it if they had a choice. But the IRS wants to force this on the American people. prgtoken To make matters worse, we know that they are completely incapable of protecting the data they have access to. Let's just take a moment and look at some of the instances where the IRS has shown their disregard for your data security. prgtoken In 2015, hackers exposed more than 700,000 taxpayers' Social Security numbers. In 2017, the IRS notified Congress that hackers had accessed more than 100,000 Federal student aid accounts. In 2021, the infamous ProPublica leak unlawfully exposed financial information on many prominent Americans. In 2022, the 990-T leak exposed the sensitive info of more than 100,000 taxpayers not once but twice. prgtoken But even on a good day, the top men at the IRS have refused to prioritize data security. prgtoken They still haven't responded to inquiries I made about what security protocols they implemented as part of their ``work from home'' policy. prgtoken The IRS should be collecting the minimum amount of information required to do their job, and they should be doing all they can to protect your information. Instead, this Agency has a giant flashing sign out front inviting hackers to browse their files. These bad act
CONGRATULATING FLORIDA WINTER OLYMPIC MEDALISTS
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-1

. Madam , I appreciate very much my good colleague from Florida. Wow, very impressive, too, all those stats. prgtoken Madam , I rise today and thank my fellow Texan (Mr. Roy) for this Special Order that we are going to do on our Texas Rangers' 200th anniversary. I rise today to celebrate one of our country's most storied law enforcement agencies, the Texas Rangers. prgtoken Since its creation 200 years ago as a force to defend settlers on the frontier of Texas, the Rangers have been a central part of my State's rich, rich history. prgtoken This group of remarkable men and women have seen their fair share of legends themselves. Men like John Coffee Hays, who helped tame the vast wilderness of Texas and protect settlers in the early days; John B. Jones, who brought law and order during a time when the West was still very wild; Frank Hamer, who took down the infamous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. In fact, my district, the 36th Congressional District, which includes Houston over to Louisiana, is home to a few legendary Texas Rangers itself. prgtoken Major James T. Thomas grew up in Newton, Texas, right down the road from my hometown of Woodville, Texas. He is the first known Texas Ranger to hold a doctoral degree and is a forensics expert. His fellow Rangers say that he is the epitome of what it means to be a Texas Ranger: a man who is devoted to his faith, to his wonderful wife, and is a great father to his children, and is a loyal friend and colleague. prgtoken I am also proud to represent other legends of the Texas Rangers. Brandon Bess, is known for using modern techniques like genetic targeting to solve cold cases that are decades old. Texas Ranger Joe Haralson, is the longest-serving Ranger in history. It is a great privilege to represent heroes like these three men. prgtoken Throughout history, the Texas Rangers have protected Presidents and dignitaries, captured bandits and burglars, and solved some of the most complicated criminal cases ever. They have always served their communities and the Lone Star State with distinction and bravery. prgtoken Madam , I thank them for their dedicated service, and may God continue to bless the Texas Rangers and our beloved Lone Star State.
Democratic Party (Executive Calendar)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2023-3-1

I come to the floor today to talk about the priorities, misguided priorities, of the majority in the Senate. prgtoken So far this year, Senate have ignored the most important issues that are facing our country. are focused on cramming through 's radical leftwing nominees. prgtoken Looking at the Senate floor, you would think that everything is going well in the world and well across the United States. I have news for and for Chuck Schumer: People all across this country are not happy. The country is heading in the wrong direction. prgtoken In meeting after meeting in Wyoming last week, as I traveled the State, people talked about sky-high prices, the sky-high debt that we have as a nation, and China's spy balloon. prgtoken Under , America is in crisis--inflation crisis, energy crisis, crime crisis, and a spending crisis. prgtoken Inflation went up again in January. The numbers came out Friday. The headlines don't lie. They said inflation remains entrenched-- entrenched--and that is what people are feeling all across the country. prgtoken In addition to inflation, drugs are pouring across the southern border, killing record numbers of people, even in my home State of Wyoming. When the numbers are like they are in Wyoming, that tells you every State is a border State. prgtoken Crime is out of control in strongholds in cities like Washington, DC. We see it here. We see yesterday in Chicago, the mayor didn't even make it through the primary process--didn't finish first, didn't finish second, not even in the runoff. And according to people I have talked to from that State and watching the news reports, the No. 1 issue is crime; the No. 2 issue is crime; and the No. 3 issue is crime. prgtoken Internationally, Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly going to Moscow. Why? Well, to strengthen his ties with Vladimir Putin. prgtoken The list goes on and on of failures and crises that this administration is facing and, for the most part, has caused and created. are doing nothing to deal with it. prgtoken There is a lot we should be doing in the U.S. Senate. We should be unleashing American energy. We should stop the reckless tax and spending that the continue to promote. We should secure the border. Stop this flow of illegal drugs. We need to crack down on the criminals who are terrorizing communities. We need to put China on notice. Yet the are disinterested and ignoring it all. prgtoken Senate s are going to force a vote today that will actually help people. We are going to vote to protect America's retirement savings accounts. prgtoken The American people know that continues to spread lies about Social Security and Medicare. If is so concerned about people's retirements, he needs to look in the mirror. The only politician meddling with people's retirements is . That is right. T
KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-3-1

. Mr. Duarte, I appreciate you bringing this sad story forward; indeed, being regulated for practices that are normal practices that are supposed to be exempt under the Clean Water Act, which was formed in the early 1970s, that were reinterpreted under the administration. prgtoken They decided to reinterpret, and now it is a wider scope. We are having this battle right now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, this conversation where we are going to do a Congressional Review Act on the overreach of the regulation of waters of the United States, WOTUS. It is going to be in the Supreme Court soon. prgtoken So it is important we get back to a level of regulation that is reasonable. Nobody wants to skirt reasonable environmental laws, reasonable usage of water, all of the above. We all get that. prgtoken But the bureaucracy, as John was saying, is just waiting to pounce upon you and level huge fines at people. prgtoken He is not the only one in Tehama County that has faced this. I had one grower--this is some years ago--that had a clover field that he wanted to relevel. prgtoken They showed up there and said, oh, you can't do this. They took at least 3 years, 3 crop years he didn't get to use his land, while the bureaucracy pontificated whether he was doing something right or wrong. prgtoken I mean, he is owed compensation for that. And others, for planting an orchard, changing their ground from one type of orchard to another. prgtoken That is somehow now a new regulatable situation that is not meant-- Congress would not have had the guts to pass a Clean Water Act that did not have agriculture exemptions as it was written. prgtoken If they had not had those exemptions, there would have been a whole bunch ridden out of here on a rail had they been that abusive of farm policy and agriculture and the food supply. prgtoken Yet, they are getting away with it by a stroke of the pen by a bureaucracy, and it changes with administration. prgtoken President , he saw they were wrong on this, and they were able to put through a modified policy on waters in the United States that actually was working and was reasonable, and pushed it right out. prgtoken So this is what we face now; his agencies are pushing this. Waters of the United States: It means every drop of water that falls from the sky is under the jurisdiction of the United States. prgtoken Whether it is a puddle here--he talked about vernal pools that might hold some water here for a little while; that is going to become water of the United States. prgtoken There used to be a term known as navigable waterways, navigable rivers. Well, if you can't run a boat up and down it, it is probably not really navigable. prgtoken But they have expounded upon this definition so far and so wide that it works for the bureaucracy to be able to attack growers, to attack landowners, fine them, seize things from them. prgtoken So the American people should be outraged
Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2023-3-1

on February 2, I called on Japanese Prime Minister Kishida to transfer U.S. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis back to U.S. custody no later than midnight on February 28. I was explicit that a very public discussion about the U.S.-Japan relationship--and, in particular, the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement--would ensue if Lieutenant Alkonis were not back in U.S. custody by that date. prgtoken It is now March 1, 2023, and it is about 6:20 p.m. And Ridge Alkonis is not only not back in U.S. custody, he is not only not on U.S. soil, he is still languishing in a Japanese prison. prgtoken So let's have a frank discussion about our Status of Forces Agreement with Japan because we have waited long enough. Ridge Alkonis has waited long enough. And his wife Brittney Alkonis has waited long enough. Their children have waited long enough, all three of them. We are done waiting. prgtoken The Japanese Government has unjustly incarcerated Lieutenant Alkonis for too long. I traveled to Tokyo in August to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi, where he made an unequivocal commitment to expedite the Council of Europe prisoner transfer once the U.S. paperwork was completed. And it was understood at the time that that would be in a matter of days or weeks, not months or years. prgtoken Lieutenant Alkonis felt comfortable signing off on the transfer paperwork because of Foreign Minister Hayashi's commitment. With this understanding, the U.S. Department of Justice completed the necessary paperwork in less than 2 weeks. Japan has been sitting on that request ever since then, for months and months and months. prgtoken However, the Japanese Government tried to renege on its promise by having a junior member of the Japanese Embassy staff in Washington reach out to a member of my staff to deny that Foreign Minister Hayashi had ever made such a commitment. Allow me, not a member of my staff, to correct the record. Foreign Minister Hayashi, you did make that commitment to me. I have not forgotten it, and I know you haven't either. prgtoken This isn't too much to ask of any country, let alone one on which we spend billions of dollars--billions of dollars--a year to defend. A Council of Europe transfer is not an extraordinary request. On the contrary, these kinds of requests are routine. Situations like this one are the very reason why we have a prisoner of transfer process in the first place. The stated purpose for the Council of Europe Treaty is to facilitate the rehabilitation of the transferred offenders and to relieve some of the administration and diplomatic issues that arise with the incarceration of foreign nationals. prgtoken Now, look, to be very clear, we are not even asking for Ridge to be released from custody, for him to just be told that his sentence is no longer intact. We are simply asking that he be transferred to U.S. custody to serve out the remainder of his sentence. prgtoken These transfers happen all the t
CONGRATULATING FLORIDA WINTER OLYMPIC MEDALISTS
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-3-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Jim Painter, who passed away following an unforeseen complication during his yearlong battle with cancer. prgtoken Jim was a third-generation brick mason who devoted his life to the masonry industry in Gainesville, Florida. The first of many jobs the Painter family would work on at the University of Florida, one of Jim's family's first projects was working on Williamson Hall on the UF campus. prgtoken Over the course of 40 years with Painter Masonry, Jim worked alongside his father, Abe, and his brother, Jerry, to set the standard for quality masonry for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings at the University of Florida and across north central Florida. prgtoken From 1990 to 1996, Jim served as a city commissioner in Gainesville and as the mayor from 1993 to 1996. While he was mayor, Gainesville earned the title of America's Most Livable City award. He gave his time and talents to many organizations, including the Alachua-Bradford County Workforce Development Board, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gainesville Elks Lodge, the Builders Association of North Central Florida, the Florida Home Builders Association, and the Girls Club of Alachua County. prgtoken A stranger to none, Jim was a public servant, a friend, and a confidant to many. I know that I will miss Jim, and so many will miss him, as well. Congratulating the Hawthorne Girls Basketball Team
Congressional Delegation (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-3-1

last week, Senate colleagues and I visited our allies and partners in Europe. We both reassured them of America's commitment to strength and leadership but also urged them to invest and engage more in security and the transatlantic alliance. prgtoken Our allies are coming around to the realization that security assistance to Ukraine is not just helping one nation's citizens defend their sovereignty. It is also degrading Russia's ability to further threaten Europe or threaten America and sending a powerful deterrent signal to other potential aggressors. prgtoken From our own perspective, much of the money that is being described as American aid to Ukraine is actually being invested in our own defense industrial base here at home. We are procuring new versions of munitions and weapons for our own military to replace often decades-old versions that we have sent over to Ukraine. prgtoken And, after an ill-advised ``holiday from history,'' European allies are now following America's lead. NATO members are making historic investments in defense that will keep paying dividends long after Ukraine defeats Putin's aggression. prgtoken The West is priming the pump of the industrial capacity that will ensure we are prepared to meet the larger military challenges posed by systemic rivals like China. prgtoken The recent press reports that Beijing is considering providing weapons to Russia should not come as a surprise. China has plenty of reasons to fear a Russian defeat and plenty of reasons to hope Russia gets away with forcibly seizing another country's territory. prgtoken Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from Keith Kellogg, a former adviser to President and cochair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute. prgtoken Like the vast majority of Senators, he complained that the administration had been actually too slow in providing military assistance to Ukraine. He noted that the best way to end the conflict was to ``enable Ukraine to defeat the Russian army in Ukraine.'' prgtoken And what about the claim that the West supporting Ukraine is somehow distracting us from the threats posed by the PRC? prgtoken Here is what Kellogg said: Make no mistake: weakness against Russian aggression is weakness against the Communist-Chinese threat . . . Russian victory in Ukraine today almost certainly means war for Taiwan tomorrow. prgtoken Likewise, in Japan, senior officials are spelling out the clear link between the response to Putin and the prospects of deterring President Xi. They have taken historic steps to invest more in their own defense, and during our trip last week, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan plans to direct $5.5 billion in assistance toward Ukraine. prgtoken Other reports indicate that citizens of Taiwan are volunteering to fight alongside Ukrainians against Russia. prgtoken Let me sa