mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SYRIA WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-8

the balance of my time. prgtoken , let me say, it has been a good debate. There is nothing more important in this body than issues of war and peace and what we have been talking about today. prgtoken I was a counterterrorism Federal prosecutor after 9/11 and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee when ISIS and the caliphate were at their strength with external operations and, yes, the southern border and the threat that that poses. We can talk about the merits some more, and I appreciate this discussion. prgtoken But at the heart of this under the War Powers Resolution privilege is, and I am quoting directly: `` . . . that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities . . . without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs. . . . `' prgtoken The authority is there, and if you look under the AUMF of 2001 `` . . . to prevent any future acts of international terrorism. . . . `' prgtoken I want to close with what President said. I was a part of this decision with him on June 9, 2020. He said: Since October 7, 2001, United States Armed Forces have conducted counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida. Since August of 2014, they have targeted the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, formerly known as al- Qaida in Iraq. These ongoing operations have been successful in seriously degrading ISIS capabilities in Syria and Iraq. prgtoken If we want to start having a debate without repealing and replacing the 2001 AUMF, then I would just argue to my colleagues that that would be the productive route to fix this issue of whether the United States should be present in the Middle East at all. prgtoken And to close, our Afghanistan hearing, what a mess we have left behind and what a threat that has become, as well. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this, and .
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-3-8

I, too, want to acknowledge the great work of the Senator from Tennessee, Senator Hagerty, on this matter on which we will be voting later this afternoon. It has to do with the issue of DC crime. prgtoken I think he has touched a nerve in a way that I think is going to lead to a very big bipartisan outcome on this because it is a recognition that the issue he addresses with this resolution is one that the American people, I think, feel deeply about; one that is affecting our cities, both large and small, across this country; and one on which I think this United States Senate needs to be heard. prgtoken The last weekend in February, eight men were fatally shot in Washington, DC--eight men in a single weekend. It was a tragic illustration of the current crime situation in our Nation's Capital. Homicides in Washington, DC, which had already reached disturbing heights in 2021 and 2022, are up 33 percent so far this year compared to this point a year ago. We are just 67 days into 2023, but so far this year, there have been 101 carjackings--that is a motor vehicle theft where the victim is actually present--66 percent of those involving guns. There have been a staggering 1,258 motor vehicle thefts to date this year--1,258. That is an average of roughly 19 motor vehicle thefts every single day--19 thefts every day. prgtoken In the face of the crime surge DC has been experiencing for a while now, the DC City Council recently decided to pass legislation weakening penalties for a number of crimes. The bill the council passed late last year would reduce the maximum penalty for crimes like carjacking, robbery, and firearm offenses; remove mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes except first-degree murder; clog up the court system by substantially expanding access to trial by jury to individuals charged with misdemeanors; and more. prgtoken Later today, we will be taking up legislation here in the U.S. Senate to block the bill. Congress, of course, has the legal authority to block DC ordinances thanks to Federal legislation rooted in the Constitution which gives Congress legislative jurisdiction over the seat of the U.S. Government--namely, Washington, DC. prgtoken It looks like today's vote will receive strong support from both parties. That certainly was not looking like it would have been the case a week ago. Last month, the administration issued a statement opposing the move to block DC's crime bill. When the House took up the measure, 82 percent of House voted against blocking the DC bill. But last week, the President changed his tune. He announced that he would not veto the attempt to block the DC bill. Since then, Senate have been lining up to announce they will vote to block DC's measure. prgtoken I am pleased have recognized that weakening criminal penalties is not the way to address DC's crime surge. Blocking DC's crime bill will be a victory for common sen
CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF OLA COX
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise today to celebrate the 100th birthday of Ola Cox. prgtoken Ola is a lifelong resident of Venango County, Pennsylvania, where she continues to make history in her own right over the last century. She has broken gender barriers, supported community endeavors, and brought a global perspective home. prgtoken Born in Pittsville, Pennsylvania, Ola graduated high school at 16 years old and enlisted in the Navy WAVES. After returning from naval service during World War II, she married Lester ``Boone'' Cox and started a family. prgtoken Ola continued to break gender barriers as a working mom beside her husband at their Franklin Print Shop. In Ola's 100 years of life, she has countless stories, from their working farm to raising four children. prgtoken Following her time in the print shop, she worked at Oakwood Rose Gardens, served as the township tax collector, and frequently volunteered in her community and with her church, the Rockland Methodist Church. She also traveled the world. prgtoken , Ola is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother. She cared for her dear husband and spent countless hours with her children and great-grandchildren so they could learn and understand the importance of family, community, and the world. prgtoken I thank Ola for her service to our country and her dedication to our community.
HONORING LIEUTENANT RUTH COUGHLIN, TENNESSEE'S SECOND DISTRICT'S MARCH 2023 VETERAN OF THE MONTH
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise to honor Lieutenant Ruth Coughlin, an American hero who served in the Navy faithfully from 1953 to 1958. prgtoken Lieutenant Coughlin was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After high school, she went to St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, where she graduated as a registered nurse. From 1944 to 1953, she worked in private practice in ophthalmology and oral surgery practices. prgtoken In 1953, she joined the Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and was stationed in Maryland at Bethesda Hospital. During her career she served as a nurse aboard a medical ship that made 32 round trips crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Brooklyn, New York, to north Germany. In 1957, she was reassigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corona, California, where she met her husband, Dennis. prgtoken They moved to Knoxville and raised five children together. She will be turning a very young 100 years old this month. I think it is very appropriate during International Women's Day that we honor her. prgtoken So happy birthday, Ruth. prgtoken Our country's heroes are the men and women of our Armed Forces, like Lieutenant Ruth Coughlin, who has dedicated her life to the service of her country. It is my honor to recognize Lieutenant Coughlin as the Tennessee Second District's March 2023 Veteran of the Month.
MAKING IN ORDER AT ANY TIME CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 21, SYRIA WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Thomas Massie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-3-8

. Madam , I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H. Con. Res. 21 in the House if called up by the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or his designee; that the concurrent resolution be considered as read; that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to adoption without intervening motion except for 1 hour of debate equally divided among and controlled by Representative McCaul of Texas, Representative Meeks of New York, and Representative Gaetz of Florida or their respective designees; and that the provisions of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution, 50 U.S.C. 1546, shall not apply to H. Con. Res. 20.
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-8

crime is surging across this Nation. Murder rates have risen over the last 3 years, carjackings are rising, robberies are rising. prgtoken Today, I want to discuss the resolution disapproving of the DC City Council's decision to eliminate mandatory minimums and to reduce maximum sentences for violent crimes, including robbery, carjacking, and burglary. prgtoken The DC City Council made this decision to lower penalties late last year, despite the fact that crime has been skyrocketing in this city. In the past 12 months, overall crime is up 25 percent in DC. Car theft has increased 110 percent in DC. And homicides have increased 30 percent. prgtoken Who, in their right mind, looks to those rising crime rates and says the answer is to lower the penalties for violent crime? prgtoken DC's spike in crime is hardly confined to the last 12 months. In 2021, the number of murders in DC was the highest it has been since 2003. The Mayor of DC, a , vetoed the city council's decision to rewrite the Criminal Code, saying: Any time there is a policy that reduces penalties, I think it sends the wrong message. prgtoken Unfortunately, the on the city council in DC overrode her veto. prgtoken Time and time again, we have seen in major cities reducing penalties for crime; and we have seen, as a result, crime spiking. We have seen this in San Francisco. We have seen this in Los Angeles. We have seen this in Portland. We have seen this in Boston. We have seen this in Philadelphia. We have seen this in New York. We have seen this in St. Louis. We have seen this in Chicago. prgtoken Crime is spiking in DC, and it is incredibly harmful to the men and women and children who live in DC to be lowering the penalties for violent crime. That is why I am proud to support the resolution to disapprove of the DC City Council's decision. And I thank my friend from Tennessee for his leadership in bringing this resolution. prgtoken This has already passed the House. And I believe it will pass the Senate as well. And, despite being soft on crime his entire Presidency, President has said he will sign it if it passes the Senate. Now that is remarkable given 's record on crime. That is remarkable given that has nominated not one, not two, but three of the leading advocates of abolishing the police to senior positions in the Department of Justice. prgtoken I am sorry to say that every in this Chamber voted to confirm not one, not two, but all three of those advocates of abolishing the police to senior positions in the Department of Justice. One of those was a George Soros-backed prosecutor in Massachusetts who, like the DC City Council, put out a list of crimes that she would not allow her prosecutors to prosecute, endangering the citizens she was charged to protect. prgtoken What was her reward for refusing to prosecute violent criminals? President nominated her to be
Voting Rights (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-3-8

there is a regrettable and un- Presidential thread that has been woven throughout the whole Presidency. Whenever this President finds himself facing bad headlines, he tries to change the subject by fearmongering about civil rights and voting rights and pretending we are in the 1950s or sixties. prgtoken Remember early last year when the full impact of the ' inflation was coming into focus? That is when President flew to Georgia, screamed that Jim Crow was coming back and our democracy was on death's doorstep, and compared s--listen to this--to Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis. He compared us to Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis. prgtoken Well, here he goes again. Last weekend, down in Alabama, the President suggested that the right to vote in America is ``under assault'' today, on par with Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge nearly 60 years ago. Nobody believes this. Nobody seriously believes that race relations or voting laws or any of these issues are anywhere near--anywhere near--where they were back in the 1960s. This is utter nonsense. prgtoken President again referenced the State's voting laws that he last year called Jim Crow 2.0, as if all of that hysteria had not been completely disproven in the meantime. prgtoken Last November, the exact same Georgia voting law that the called evil and racist and the death knell for democracy created record-high turnout, lightning-fast voting lines, and a supermajority of African-American voters reporting that the voting experience was-- listen to this--excellent. prgtoken Do you know the share of Black voters in Georgia who described their voting experience under the new law as poor? Let me say that again. Do you know the share of Black voters in Georgia who described their voting experience under the new law as poor? It is zero. Zero. President said this law was the second coming of segregation, and zero percent of Black voters said they had a poor voting experience. prgtoken Ah, but here he goes again with the same lies, the same hysteria. We are back in this bizarre, bizarre twilight zone where the President of the United States periodically says these utterly absurd, apocalyptic things with zero basis in reality, and everybody just carries on like it really didn't happen: Well, there goes the leader of the free world, shouting unhinged--unhinged--and false things about the end of democracy one more time. Oh, you know, just another day. What else is on TV? prgtoken It is utterly surreal and, frankly, embarrassing, the President walking on stage every couple of months, shouting angry things and appearing confused--confused--about whether it is 2023 or 1963--utterly confused. And nothing happens. The world keeps turning. The s keep passing popular, commonsense laws that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. Voters of all races continue having good votin
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Pete Ricketts (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-3-8

we are here today to discuss the resolution disapproving the DC Council's efforts to water down the city's Criminal Code. prgtoken Now, some might be wondering why the Congress has a say in the DC Criminal Code. The reason goes back to the founding documents of our country. DC's very existence is in our Constitution, which calls for a district not exceeding 10 square miles to be the seat for the Government of the United States so that, while DC is a place where people live and work, it belongs to the entire Nation. prgtoken Citizens from all across this country come here--students, for example--to learn about American history. In fact, I was meeting with some students just earlier today. Citizens come here to interact with their elected officials. We are here today because the DC City Council is trying to make this District--this constitutionally mandated seat of government--a less safe place to be able to live, work, and conduct business. prgtoken In the rewriting of DC's Criminal Code, DC is trying to make things such as first-degree murder, carjackings, robberies, burglaries, home invasions--it is trying to reduce the penalties for all of those crimes at a time when the crime rate in DC is rising. For the first time in a couple of decades, DC has seen 2 years of 200 or more homicides. Over the last 5 years, carjackings have increased every single year. In fact, in the first 67 days of this year, reported carjackings have been at 100. Crime, year over year, in DC is up 22 percent, and the DC police chief has said, when they arrest a homicide suspect, that suspect, on average, has been arrested 11 times previously. prgtoken Now, there are smart ways to think about criminal justice reform, and that is what we did in Nebraska back in 2015, but reducing the penalties and being soft on crime is not that approach. Rather than reduce the penalties for violent crimes, the city of DC should look at what Omaha, NE--my home city--has done and how they have used community engagement with the police force to reduce homicides. In fact, they have reduced homicides in each of the last 2 years. This is common sense. prgtoken We need to stand with law enforcement and respect their work to put criminals behind bars. We need to stand with the law-abiding victims and give them the justice they deserve, and we need to make sure that government is fulfilling its obligation to keep people safe. prgtoken That is exactly what we have done in Nebraska. We have rejected the woke politics of these soft-on-crime policies that reduce penalties. In Nebraska, we back the blue. We stand with law enforcement officers as they work to identify, investigate, and arrest criminals. As a seat of government, DC's rising crime is a threat to all Americans and to Nebraskans, which is why the House and the Senate have an obligation to act. prgtoken I am grateful to my esteemed colleague from the great State of Tennessee for introducing
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise today, on International Women's Day, in support of the Women's Health Protection Act. I would like to thank Senator Baldwin for her leadership, from my neighboring State of Wisconsin; Senator Blumenthal for his longtime leadership of this bill; as well as Senator Murray and so many others, including yourself, , for your work on this. I also wanted to mention Erin Chapman, of our Judiciary team, who is here with me, who has worked on this as well, and my colleague Tina Smith, who is the only Senator to have worked at Planned Parenthood in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Last year, the Supreme Court issued a ruling shredding nearly five decades of precedent protecting a women's right to make her own healthcare decisions, against the wishes of 70 to 80 percent of Americans who believe this is a decision that should be made between a woman, her family, and her doctor. prgtoken In this past year, we heard that majority loud and clear in States where access to reproductive healthcare was directly on the ballot. From Montana and Michigan to Kentucky and Kansas, voters turned out to protect a woman's right to choose. It was almost as if those who authored some of these resolutions--like in Kansas--that tried to limit a woman's right forgot that women were going to show up and vote; and in Kansas they did, in record numbers, right in the middle of the prairie. prgtoken This doesn't come down to red States or blue States or purple States. As you know, this is about freedom. As voters across the country have made clear, it is unacceptable for women to be left to the mercy of a patchwork of State laws governing their ability to access reproductive care, leaving them, as Senator Baldwin just pointed out, with fewer rights than their moms and grandmas. That is right; my daughter has fewer rights right now than her mom and her grandma did. prgtoken And you think about what has been happening. You think about the heartbreaking story of that 10-year-old girl in Ohio who had to go to Indiana after being a victim of rape and had to go to Indiana just to get her healthcare. I remember when that story came out. People, including news organizations--some of them said it was a hoax, and then they had to go back. They had to go back and apologize to that little girl because it wasn't a hoax. It really happened. And those are the stories we are, sadly, seeing across the country. prgtoken So what can we do in the face of this threat to women's health and freedom? All three branches of government have a responsibility to protect people's rights. And if one branch doesn't do its job, then the other branch is supposed to step in. That is why we are introducing this bill. Congress must act to codify the principles of Roe v. Wade into law, and we have the opportunity and the obligation to do that with the Women's Health Protection Act. prgtoken We have updated this bill to make clear Congress's intent to res
HONORING THE DEPARTURE OF AMBASSADOR ARTHUR SINODINOS
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise today to honor the occasion of the departure of a true friend to the United States, the Honorable prgtoken Australian Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos. On March 18, 2023, Mr. Sinodinos is to step down as Australian Ambassador to the United States after more than three years of service in this role. He has been an extraordinary public servant who has strengthened the bridge between the United States and our Indo-Pacific ally through 2 U.S. administrations and a global pandemic. prgtoken Mr. Sinodinos history in public service extends far beyond his time as Australian Ambassador. Upon his graduation from the University of New Castle in 1979, he immediately picked up work in the federal civil service of the Albanese government, transitioning between rising roles in both the Department of Finance and Treasury. Throughout these years, Mr. Sinodinos had proven his skill in both policy and process, and he ultimately joined the Howard Administration as Chief of Staff upon Prime Minister John Howard's election in 1996. Notably, Mr. Sinodinos worked as the senior advisor to the leader of Australia's Liberal Party near through to the conclusion of Prime Minister Howard's tenure, leaving the government in 2006. prgtoken After a brief stint in the private sector, Mr. Sinodinos joined the Australian Senate in 2011, representing his home state of New South Wales. He earned reelection to the Senate in 2013, and worked in several cabinet positions throughout this tenure of public service including Minister of Industry, Innovation and Science. Though he was one of the stronger voices in the Liberal Party, Mr. Sinodinos maintained a respected reputation across both sides of the aisle until his time in the Senate ended in 2019. prgtoken That brings us to 2020, , when Mr. Sinodinos was appointed to the position of Australian Ambassador. With more than 4 decades of experience advancing the interests of the Australian people, a more suitable person could not have been chosen to strengthen the already immense partnership formed between our 2 democratic nations. prgtoken As co-chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, Chairman and more recently Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Ambassador Sinodinos on a number of bilateral priorities, including leading a bipartisan group of members to advocate for closer digital trade partnerships between the United States and Australia. prgtoken Our degree of coordination exploded into a new era in 2021, with the joint announcement of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) alliance, geared toward ensuring security and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. Upon the formation of this alliance, here in Congress we also established the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group to highlight legislative opportunities that will prioritize the efficacy of the alignment. Ambassador Sinodinos has been a tenacious advo