mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Ukraine (Executive Session)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-10-3

I am grateful to follow my friend--and he is a friend--the Senator from Kansas, who stated very eloquently a number of challenges that lie ahead and the reasons we do have to come together on a bipartisan basis to make America and the world more secure. prgtoken Like him, I found last week to be both frustrating and discouraging, but I have been heartened, first, by the overwhelming bipartisan votes in this Chamber in favor of aid to Ukraine--in fact, in support of a bipartisan compromise that included aid to Ukraine and provided a temporary extension of funding, which eventually became the core of the measure adopted by the House. prgtoken I have been encouraged as well by the leadership of Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell in coming together with Senator Collins and Senator Murray to say that we will fulfill our obligation to Ukraine and that we will do it promptly. prgtoken That is why I am on the floor of the Senate right now--to emphasize the urgency of making sure that we provide Ukraine with the tools, the financial support, the humanitarian assistance, and the arms that it needs to win. And it can win. It is making solid, steady progress. I have seen the maps. I have visited Ukraine four times in the last 18 months. Ukraine can win, and it will win if we provide Ukraine with the tools it needs, but it must be done now. prgtoken We owe it to the men and women who are in those trenches right now, bleeding and dying, and who are watching America. prgtoken We owe it to the leadership of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy, who has asked me on each of those four visits: Will the United States stay by our side? And I have assured him that, yes, we will be solid. prgtoken We owe it to our allies who are also watching--our allies and our adversaries. And, make no mistake, the Chinese have changed their view of whether they can count on the United States to fail and falter, because, so far, we have stood strong, sending a message to China about what we would do if China invades Taiwan. prgtoken The world is watching, and history is watching. prgtoken To my colleagues, there are few, if any, votes you will take or actions by which you will be measured more intently and importantly than what we do right now--not months away but days away--on what we must do in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. prgtoken I urge the administration to take whatever action is necessary-- again, not just in statements, not just in words, but in deeds. prgtoken Ukraine is waiting for the longer range artillery, the ATACMS, that it needs to pound targets where the Russians gather intelligence, where they store supplies, where they conduct their leadership. Those ATACMS are necessary--not just the HIMARS but the longer range artillery. We need to train the pilots. That can be done under existing authority and financial support. They need to provide munitions--we are producing more, but Ukraine continues to use them at a rate
WELCOMING LAPHONZA BUTLER TO THE SENATE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-10-3

it says, ``Let me be the first to welcome our newest colleague,'' but I see she has had a lot of good welcomes already. So let me be the first majority leader to welcome our newest colleague to the U.S. Senate, Senator Laphonza Butler, sworn in moments ago as the next Senator from California. prgtoken , I can't help but think how proud Senator Feinstein would be seeing someone as brilliant, as accomplished, as history- making as Laphonza Butler take her place. I know that our old colleague is looking down at this moment with pride now that her seat is in good hands. prgtoken Congratulations to Senator Butler on this immense honor. This is a historic moment for the Senate, for California, and for the entire country. Senator Butler is only the third Black woman in American history to serve in the U.S. Senate. She is the first openly lesbian Senator from California, and prgtoken she is the first openly LGBTQ Senator of color to serve in this body. Today, the Senate takes another step toward fully reflecting our vibrant democracy. prgtoken Now, Laphonza's life story can be summarized in two words: serving others. By her own telling, service was practically a dinner table conversation growing up in Magnolia, MS. After losing her father to illness, Laphonza watched her mom sacrifice everything to put her kids first: working night shifts as a nurse, as a security guard, a classroom aide, anything to help her kids have a better life. prgtoken No surprise, that example left a mark on Laphonza for the rest of her days. Following in her mom's footsteps, Laphonza has dedicated her entire career to fighting for others: fighting for women, fighting for working families, and fighting for the cause of justice. I know she will do the same here in the Senate. prgtoken So, again, this is a proud moment for all of us. And I know this must be a proud moment for Laphonza's family. prgtoken I know you are not supposed to address members of the Senate Gallery, , but let me say this to everyone who had attended here and who are still here: We are all very happy Laphonza's family could join us to share in this special day. We share in their joy too. prgtoken Finally, to our colleague Laphonza, I know these last few days have felt like a whirlwind. I know it seems like there is a million things to do and so little time to do them. But rest assured, we are here to help you. prgtoken I spent a great half hour, 45 minutes talking to Laphonza, and she is going to be one great Senator. We are ready to work with her. All of us who have stood where Laphonza stands now have felt the awesome weight of holding this office and are ready to help her. I urge you, if you permit me, to never let the sense of duty disappear, for in our hands rests the trust, the wishes, the hopes, and the burdens of the American people. prgtoken So to Senator Butler, congratulations on this honor and welcome to the Senate today. Today
RECOGNIZING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AUTHORITY OF COLORADO
Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-10-3

I rise to recognize the Jefferson County Communications Center Authority of Colorado (JeffCom911) for winning the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International's 2023 Technology in Leadership Award. prgtoken JeffCom911 is being recognized for its outstanding performance and exemplary levels of professional conduct in the line of duty. 911 call- takers and dispatchers contribute an essential service to our community by providing lifesaving emergency medical instruction, assessing scene safety for arriving responders, and maintaining situational awareness while facing numerous emergencies at one time. JeffCom911 protects 774 square miles of urban, rural, and mountainous terrain by providing public safety education and coordinating efforts between local fire, police, and emergency medical service providers to save lives. prgtoken JeffCom911 is the lifeline between emergency services and our community, processing over 700,000 calls every year. The agency's longstanding record of excellence represents the best of Colorado's public service members. prgtoken , on behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, I thank JeffCom911 for the important and challenging work they do every day to keep our residents safe.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-10-3

after hearing oral arguments earlier today, the Supreme Court will rule on a case that will determine whether average Americans will continue to have an independent Federal watchdog to push back against the abuses of big financial institutions. prgtoken The case I am speaking of is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau--CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association of America. It deals with an outlandish ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that would invalidate the congressionally approved funding scheme of the CFPB. If it stands, the ruling will starve the Bureau of funding and effectively prevent it from working on behalf of the American people. prgtoken But let's take a step back to remember why the CFPB was created over a decade ago. prgtoken In the runup to the great recession, lenders were aggressively marketing subprime mortgages with predatory features to borrowers they knew had no ability to repay. Reckless Wall Street firms bundled those mortgages into securities and sold them to investors, including pension funds. And weak regulators stood by as all of this unfolded. prgtoken Borrowers ultimately discovered that they could not repay their mortgages. The securities backed by these mortgages took a nosedive, causing a meltdown of the banking system and taking down the entire economy. prgtoken While Wall Street got a lifeline from the Congress and the Federal Government, millions of Americans did not. They paid with their jobs, their homes, and their savings. prgtoken The unemployment rate peaked at 10 percent; nearly 7.5 million families lost their homes; and Americans lost $20 trillion in household wealth. prgtoken At the time, people rightfully asked who was looking out for them. The truth was no one, really. prgtoken American families were ill-served by financial regulators and by the system. A half dozen Federal Agencies shared responsibility for making sure that working families didn't get ripped off, but they all failed. In many cases, they seemed to regard their primary mission as protecting the big players in the financial system. And they were hamstrung by the administration, which used the appropriations process to starve Agencies, like the SEC, of the resources and personnel they needed to be effective. prgtoken So while these Agencies all had some responsibility for protecting consumers, none of them pursued it vigorously. The performance of regulators at the time put truth to the saying that ``when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.'' prgtoken This weakness in our regulatory system and structure is why Congress created the CFPB and gave it a singular mission to protect Americans from the worst kinds of financial abuses, not just for mortgages but for every single consumer financial product. prgtoken The creation of this Agency is arguably one of the most important reforms made following the financial crisis. prgtoken I recognize that Wall Street and
Nomination of James C. O'Brien (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-3

I come to the floor today in support of James O'Brien to be Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasia Affairs. prgtoken As Russia continues its brutal assault on Ukraine, as democratic backsliding continues to threaten Central Europe, as we continue to grapple with energy and food security, we must have a fully staffed and empowered diplomatic corps. Vacancies leave a vacuum, and they send the wrong message. prgtoken Ukraine is by far one of my highest priorities. It is very clear to me that making sure Russia does not succeed in Ukraine is in the United States' national security interest. Ukraine is not only fighting for itself; if Ukraine loses, Moldova and Georgia are next. Ukraine is on the frontline of our fight to defend democracy and our shared values. prgtoken Iran is watching. North Korea is watching. China is watching. When they see the resolve of the United States and our coalition of partners, it stops them from thinking about taking military action elsewhere. That is why we need to continue to show leadership when supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggression. prgtoken As the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will do everything I can to show the international community that we stand with Ukraine today and tomorrow. That means ensuring Ukraine gets more air defense and long-range missiles. That means working with our European partners who continue to house and support Ukrainian refugees, supporting humanitarian assistance for those suffering, including children who have been abducted into Russia and families who have been torn apart. That means finding a path for the administration's supplemental request. And, yes, that means getting our nominees to their posts in the European Affairs Bureau. prgtoken Without our nominees confirmed and in their positions, who will advocate on behalf of American values in Ukraine and beyond? Who will advance America's national security interests? Who will work to lead our efforts from Washington to shore up our transatlantic alliance in pursuit of stability and peace? prgtoken President Putin is helping far-right political parties, individuals, and groups across Europe and beyond who support his agenda. He is attacking the human rights of Ukrainian citizens. He is laying waste to Ukrainian cities. I believe he is trying to commit genocide in Ukraine, and I support an international tribunal into Russian war crimes like the one we saw in Nuremberg after World War II. prgtoken Given these challenges, we need someone leading the diplomatic effort on behalf of the American people to confront Russia's aggression. That is why we must confirm James O'Brien today. prgtoken Ambassador O'Brien had an impressive hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He presented a compelling vision for how he would lead the Bureau of European and Eurasia Affairs. He laid out the importance of America's leadership on integrating Ukraine, as
HONORING NEIL McKIERNAN ON HIS RETIREMENT
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-10-3

. Madam , today, I rise to honor Neil McKiernan, an outstanding public servant who just recently announced his retirement from the House of Representatives where he has worked for over 20 years; 17 of those years in my office and 7 of those years as chief of staff. prgtoken Neil is a native of the State of Connecticut and began his journey over 20 years ago on the Hill as a young assistant working in Congresswoman Linda Sanchez' office. He then worked for a short period of time for my colleague, John Larson. Then when I was first elected in 2006, Neil joined my office. prgtoken Neil worked on a variety of issues during his time there. I see my friend Mr. Kelly from Pennsylvania here. We worked together to repeal the Cadillac tax in 2019, and Neil was part of that really massive bipartisan effort to protect and stabilize the health benefits of union and nonunion workers all across the country, which passed by a margin of 419-6 on the floor. prgtoken Mike and I were here that day, and Neil--actually, one of his rare visits to the House floor--was there to join us. prgtoken The centerpiece of Neil's work was the fact that I have the honor of representing the submarine capital of the world. It is the home of the oldest submarine base, the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, where there are 16 attack submarines tied up and doing great work for our Nation every single day, as well as General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard, a 120-year-old company that is building submarines for the Navy to this day. prgtoken This is a picture in 2014 of myself and some staff from the House Committee on Armed Services. Neil is the gentleman on my far right with the glasses and the cup of coffee. It is before dawn at the naval port facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. We were about to embark on the USS Missouri, the submarine right behind us, which was built in Groton and commissioned back in 2011. It is over in the Indo-Pacific region doing great work for our Nation. prgtoken Again, when I first came into office, the shipyard was in a dangerous downward spiral. After the Cold War, procurement for submarines had totally collapsed. The shipyard, which once had 28,000-plus workers, was down to roughly 6- or 7,000. prgtoken Beginning that year, we got a plus-up, working again with Neil's incredible work, Ike Skelton, and Jack Murtha, and others to turn around that spiral. prgtoken Today, the shipyard employs over 21,000 workers. We now again have a build rate of two attack submarines and now the Columbia-class ballistic submarine program is beginning its work. They just laid the keel for the second of those vessels. prgtoken It is a great legacy that Neil leaves behind him in terms of really reversing what really would have been a tragic loss of an industrial base with unique talents, but also making sure that our Navy has an undersea fleet, which today, with the threats from China and Russia, is still our strongest card in terms of
Tribute to Adam Wainwright (Executive Session)
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-10-4

I rise to honor a St. Louis great who, although he has thrown his last pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals, has left a lasting impression on Cardinal Nation. prgtoken In 2003, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired Adam Wainwright, Ray King, and Jason Marquis in exchange for J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero. Little did we know the impact that trade would have on the Cardinals--the crown jewel of the National League, of course--for years to come. prgtoken Wainwright--or Waino, as we call him--just recently notched his 200th win, a huge milestone, which, by the way, in the game today may never be reached again. Starters just generally don't pitch that many games and don't get as many wins. So it is a big milestone. And he is retired from baseball now. He did that in front of thousands of fans at Stadium. prgtoken But his career was more than just 200 wins; it was 18-plus years of just nasty curveballs and heart-stopping wins, years of camaraderie and postseason excellence, and countless memories for all of us Cardinals fans. prgtoken In his first full season in the majors with the Cardinals, Waino pitched in 61 games and boasted an impressive 3.12 ERA. It was in that first full season that he showed the ice in his veins that he became known for, as he became closer at the end of the season due to an injury to Jason Isringhausen. prgtoken In the bottom of the ninth in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, Wainwright stood on the mound, bases loaded, with the mighty Carlos Beltran at the plate. Historically, Beltran had kind of owned the Cardinals, even back to his Astros days. You have two strikes on Beltran, and Wainwright kicked back and delivered a knockout curveball that Beltran watched all the way into Yadier Molina's glove. Strike three. The game was over. The series was over. In that moment, the Cardinals headed to the World Series, and St. Louis knew they had a star. prgtoken On a personal note, I know exactly where I was when that pitch was delivered. I was at a bar in Kirkwood, near my home. I was at the very last seat of that bar. For every clinching away game for the next 15 years, I and a couple of friends went back to that same place. It had some magic for a while. It ran out, as these things often do. prgtoken But it was a great moment and a great way to start his career with the Cardinals. prgtoken He would go on to secure the final out in the 2006 World Series with a strikeout by way of his signature 12-to-6 curveball--otherwise known as Uncle Charlie--becoming the only player to close out the World Series in the 21st century as a rookie and delivering a World Series championship that the Cardinals hadn't had since 1982. prgtoken Bolstered by his batterymate and self-professed ``brother,'' the legendary Yadier Molina, who retired last year, Wainwright delivered countless gems and showed up at the most crucial moments. prgtoken Wainwright tossed seven innings and won his first MLB start against the Astros in Ap
Kevin McCarthy (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-10-4

I would like to begin today with a few words about my outgoing House counterpart, Kevin McCarthy. prgtoken Shepherding an institution like the House of Representatives--every bit as stubborn and diverse as the Nation it represents--is a tall order. Getting a slim majority pointed in the same direction at any one time can seem like nothing short of a miracle. I have said before, in reference to my own position, that being leader of your party in the Senate is much like being the groundskeeper in a cemetery. Everybody is under you, but nobody is listening. prgtoken Of course, I doubt that Kevin McCarthy has ever seen himself as above anyone else--not the son of a firefighter, not the grandson of immigrants who stood up his own small business and worked his way through school. prgtoken In the beginning of the 's House career, it was clear to anyone paying any attention that he was a doer in the model of Teddy Roosevelt's ``Man in the Arena'' and an idealist in the model of his fellow Californian, Ronald Reagan. Congressman McCarthy didn't shy away from worthwhile fights. In fact, he usually dove in headfirst. He didn't hesitate to get his hands dirty. prgtoken When the circumstances were tough, he drew on his faith, his family, and his belief in American exceptionalism. His Bakersfield roots kept him grounded. His beloved mother kept him appraised of kitchen table concerns with frequent calls about the price of gas. In other words, he had all the qualities of an effective representative and . prgtoken I am not sure anyone could have predicted just how much these qualities would come in handy over the past 9 months. McCarthy took office with a commitment to America. He insisted on restoring regular order. He made sure that the people's House was once again open to the American people. He took on the gravest challenge, a looming debt crisis, with single-minded determination. prgtoken The and I worked closely throughout his tenure, but I was particularly struck by his persistence. He literally willed the President of the United States to the negotiating table and kept coming back again and again until he had helped secure the Nation's full faith and credit. prgtoken McCarthy was a partner I could trust to be honest and candid and, without fail, optimistic. I am grateful for the enthusiasm he brought to our shared work and for the patriotic conservative convictions he wears on his sleeve. prgtoken Perhaps the most telling thing about this week's events in the House has been the way the handled them--with grace and with gratitude. McCarthy should be proud of what he and his team have accomplished on behalf of the American people over the past 9 months. He can rest assured that his colleagues--myself included--will continue to draw on his talents and optimism in the days that lie ahead.