mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
The Middle East (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-3-6

I have a few statements I would like to make this morning, but I would like to respond to the leader's statement that he just completed. prgtoken I am not naive when it comes to Iran. I know what is happening there from press reports. Their treatment of women is abominable. There is no excuse for it. And the protests in the streets of Tehran and all across that country really are an expression of human dignity which the United States--at least I as a Senator in the United States--supports publicly. prgtoken Secondly, there are no excuses for the assistance Iran is giving to Vladimir Putin and his ruthless attack on the people of Ukraine. I won't make excuses for that or any other terrorist conduct by Iran. prgtoken But for the record--for the record--it was President who moved forward with the notion that we ought to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. They are guilty of bad conduct in many quarters, but we didn't want them to have a nuclear weapon. We didn't think it made America any safer, the Middle East safer, or our allies like Israel any safer either. prgtoken So President pushed for an arms control when it came to the development of nuclear weapons, and Iran had put together a coalition which sounds amazing today. To think that he could gather at one table in this effort--Russia, China, Great Britain, France, the European Union, and the United States in this effort to stop the Iranians from developing a nuclear weapon was nothing short of a political miracle. prgtoken It was resisted every step of the way by the s. They didn't want to have this. We did it anyway. And with this nuclear effort was an inspection team--an international inspection team--on the ground in Iran to make sure they didn't violate it. We were safer--not by much, but we were safer then. And then who came along but President who said his approach would be just the opposite. prgtoken We are going to eliminate the whole program to stop Iran from developing a nuclear program, and he did. prgtoken So for the s to come before us today and argue that we are not being tough enough on Iran, I would like to tell them that I am not going to make excuses for Iran and its foreign policy. But there are nuclear weapons we had a chance to do something about, and some of us voted for it, some of us voted against it. I think that ought to be a matter of public record.
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-6

last Thursday and Friday, I hosted several of our Senate colleagues for a visit to Texas's southern border. As you can see, Senators Thune, Wicker, Fischer, Britt, and Ricketts joined me for a series of tours and meetings in the Rio Grande Valley. This followed a bipartisan visit that we made to El Paso and Yuma just a few weeks ago. prgtoken So far, I have been happy to host, along with Senator Cruz, about 10 separate delegations to the border. Each of those Senators saw a beautiful and vibrant region overwhelmed by the burden it has been handed by the Federal Government. prgtoken Since President took office, border communities and our entire State, for that matter, has been forced to carry the massive weight of a humanitarian and security crisis. Border communities are left with no choice but to provide food, clothing and shelter, medical care, and transportation for tens of thousands of migrants each week. And they are forced to use their local tax dollars toward costs that really should be borne by the Federal Government. And, of course, they are left to wonder how this crisis is impacting the safety of their communities. prgtoken During our conversations last week, law enforcement officers shared their concerns about the security breakdowns along the border. Given the overwhelming number of people entering our country every day, Border Patrol has to respond and reposition with its limited personnel. As a result, highly trained law enforcement officers are shifted from the frontlines to pushing paper. Agents who should be arresting cartel members who attempt to traffic drugs in our country are now spending their days on administrative duties. prgtoken And 108,000 Americans died just last year alone from drugs coming across the border. Of course, this isn't a coincidence; this is a plan. The cartels are smart. They are shrewd. They are scheming, and they are in pursuit of the almighty dollar. They orchestrate migration surges in specific areas to flood the zone and overwhelm law enforcement so they can take advantage of unpatrolled areas nearby. prgtoken When we arrived Thursday night, we saw firsthand the sheer volume and diversity of migrants whom agents were apprehending, from a 6-month-old baby to single adult males. And previously, we had seen sections of the border, like Yuma, AZ, where migrants from more than 150 countries show up and claim asylum. prgtoken Of course, this is part of the overwhelming strategy of the cartels. Their strategy is to distract and overwhelm. While professional law enforcement agents are busy processing and transporting migrants, cartels can smuggle heroin, fentanyl, and Heaven knows what else across the border. It is all part of a game plan by the cartels, and the administration is getting played. prgtoken But this isn't news to the people who live and work along the border. They have seen this happening for the last 2 years, but without the su
Title IX (Executive Session)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-3-6

since coming to Washington 2 years ago, I have learned a lot about the Senate and about how Washington works. Politics can, at times, be like a game. While we may be on different teams politically, we should all be focused on winning for all American people. If there is one thing I know about in my last 40 years as a coach and educator, it is trying to win and how to win. prgtoken Fifty years ago, we discovered a winning strategy for all of American female athletes. It was called title IX, probably one of the most successful pieces of legislation that has ever come out of this body. Signed into law in 1972, title IX's 37 words empowered women to win by leveling the playing field and providing them access to the same opportunities as young men. prgtoken I believe those words are worth repeating today to remind this body of their importance: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. prgtoken Those sometimes on the left argue that allowing males to compete against females makes sports more inclusive. I don't believe that. The opposite, to me, is true. Forcing females to compete against males destroys the level playing field created by law. It would exclude young women from the safety and fairness that they deserve. Title IX's success would be undone if this continues to happen, and that success that title IX is and has been is undeniable. prgtoken Since its enactment, participation in female sports has increased by more than 600 percent. Think about that now. In 50 years, because of title IX, the participation in women's sports has increased 600 percent, and the number of female college graduates in the United States increased dramatically from 8 to 40 percent. You don't see things like that happen. Title IX has afforded many women the opportunity to receive athletic scholarships and become our engineers, our doctors, our lawyers, and our leaders, without the burden of having college debt. prgtoken Sadly, title IX is being attacked by activists who care more about politics than what is best for women and girls. The U.S. Department of Education is caving--is giving in--to progressive activists and moving ahead with plans to force schools to allow biological males to share locker rooms and compete in women's sports. This irrational and unprecedented move comes despite record numbers of educators, parents, and athletes who have voiced their concerns about the disastrous impact that this would have on female athletes of all ages. prgtoken The Department of Education, President , and my colleagues on the left in Congress have ignored those concerns because they care more about appeasing activists and the progressive left than actually protecting young women. I just can't understand
Kentucky (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-3-6

this past weekend, the people of Kentucky endured significant severe weather. The storms that ripped through the Commonwealth on Friday caused mass power outages, localized flooding, and high winds that reached up to 75 miles an hour. At least one tornado was recorded in west Kentucky. prgtoken Sadly, the storms have taken the lives of five Kentuckians. Elaine and I send our deepest condolences to the families who are grieving their lost loved ones. My office has been in close contact with Governor Beshear's team and local officials across the State. Emergency response efforts are working overtime to ensure those impacted have the resources to make a rapid recovery. prgtoken At peak, there were more than half a million households without power. I am grateful to the linemen and chainsaw teams that have tirelessly worked around the clock to restore power throughout the State. A number of school districts remain closed today as power restoration efforts continue. prgtoken So thank you to all the first responders who have graciously deployed without hesitation. The generosity and resilience on display in the on- the-ground operations have been truly inspiring. Throughout the Commonwealth, Kentuckians are rolling up their sleeves to help where they can, whether it is assisting clean-up efforts with chainsaws in hand or opening their homes to those in need. Kentuckians have both big hearts and hard knuckles, and together, we will get through. prgtoken My prayers are with all the storm victims and their families, and I stand ready to assist with our swift recovery in the days ahead.
Nominations (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-3-6

in the months leading up to the 2020 election, distanced himself from the far-left wing of the ic Party and pitched himself as a moderate, and for the most part, the media happily played along right until day 1 of the administration--when handed the reins to the most radical slate of nominees this country has ever seen. prgtoken The claim that this administration is transformative, but that is not what Tennesseans believe. All they see is a President who is not in control of his government and a host of unelected bureaucrats on a mission to rip apart this country and to rebuild it in their image. That is the kind of prgtoken transformation they are carrying out in this country. prgtoken This complete disregard for the American people was on display last week during Attorney General Merrick Garland's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. It became clear to me from listening to his testimony and reviewing his tenure as our Attorney General that he has truly created a two-tiered system of justice in this country--two systems of justice, two different types of investigations. prgtoken Now, under these two separate tiers of investigations and response and justice, there is one standard that applies to people of faith, to parents, to conservatives--really, the heartland of America--and then there is a separate standard for the liberal political elite--people who are after power, people who want to control your life. prgtoken Since the Dobbs opinion leak, violence and threats of violence have increased among far-left groups but not among pro-life and conservative groups. Still, the Garland DOJ has targeted pro-life advocates for investigation, prosecution, and even full-scale FBI raids. Let me give you some examples of this. Over 70 pro-life pregnancy centers have been targeted by leftwing activists; yet only 2 individuals have been indicted. Compare that with 25 pro-life advocates indicted under the FACE Act just in the last 5 months. prgtoken The Attorney General has been keeping very close tabs on the pro-life community. As I said, there are 25 who are being prosecuted while only 2 are being prosecuted after having carried out 70 acts of vandalism against pro-life pregnancy centers and churches. But he is watching this pro-life community very closely, so I admit I was a little taken aback when he claimed in his testimony that he was completely unaware of a widely reported attack on a crisis pregnancy center in Nashville. prgtoken The far-left abortion advocacy group Jane's Revenge appears to have claimed responsibility for the fire-bombing attempt on the Hope Clinic for Women, but the Attorney General is still unwilling to classify this group as a domestic terrorist organization. You heard me right. They fire-bombed a pro-life pregnancy center--a center there to help women with healthcare, to provide diapers for newborns, formula for babies. Thi
RECOGNIZING JOHN CHATBURN
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2023-3-7

I rise today to honor John Chatburn. John is retiring after nearly 30 years of public service in Idaho, but his love of our great state didn't start there. He grew up on a family ranch in Albion and was well known on the local rodeo circuit as a young man. He started his political career in 1995 as the Energy and Natural Resource Policy Advisor for Governor Phil Batt. John wore many hats, including Deputy Administrator for the Idaho Department of Agriculture. prgtoken A large part of his career was spent working for Governor C.L. `Butch' Otter. He served as his Administrator for the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Some of his responsibilities in this capacity included being a member of the U.S. Department of Energy/State Energy Advisory Board, chairman of the Western Interstate Energy Board and co- chairman on the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation. There were many other energy related boards and commissions that he served on and represented Idaho's interests. prgtoken He also worked for Governor Brad Little as Administrator of the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and was appointed by him to serve on the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. prgtoken I have known John for a very long time, but I had the opportunity to work closely with him on the Gateway West Project. John represented the state's interests in the plan to create a much-needed power transmission line that spanned a vast section of the state. In the end, we were successful in creating a diverse collaboration between stakeholders that included the World Center for Birds of Prey, Idaho Power Company, the Bureau of Land Management and the citizens of Idaho--something we can all be proud of. prgtoken I am not sure what John is going to do next, but it better include pampering his incredible wife Linda who's put up with him for over 40 years. I thank Mr. Chatburn for his service.
Immigration (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-3-7

at the end of last week, I joined several of my colleagues to travel down to our southern border. It was my second visit to the border during the administration--my third overall. My first during the administration was almost exactly 2 years ago, after border numbers started to soar in the wake of the President taking office. prgtoken I would have to say unfortunately little has changed since my list visit. Thanks to the fact that President spent the first 2 years of his Presidency refusing to even acknowledge this crisis, much less actually address it, we are still facing a disastrous situation at our southern border. prgtoken I talked to Border Patrol agents who have spent 2 years dealing with recordbreaking numbers of illegal immigrants and are still looking for support from the administration that never seems to come. Again and again, Border Patrol agents told me that not only do they not feel supported by the administration, but they feel like the administration has actually impeded their ability to do their jobs. ``Just let us enforce the law,'' one agent told me. It is something that was echoed by other law enforcement officers that we spoke to. To give you just prgtoken one example, we heard from the individual in charge of the border for the State of Texas, who told us that they have a number of panels for the congressionally mandated border wall that are ready to go into the ground. The State of Texas and law enforcement personnel would like to install these panels to help them stem the flood of illegal immigration--at their own expense, an expense of the State of Texas. But the administration has, so far, refused to grant the permissions needed to do that. I can only imagine how much harder the jobs will get when the administration ends title 42 border policies, coming up on May 11. prgtoken I was also stunned to learn that President 's supposed border czar, Vice President , has never spoken to the border czar for the State of Texas or to the leadership of the Border Patrol down there. That is right. The person who is supposedly in charge of addressing the chaos at our southern border has never spoken to the individual in charge of border issues for the State that makes up the greatest portion of our southern border or to the Border Patrol leadership in the State. prgtoken , from his campaign on, President was fixated on distancing himself from the immigration policies of his predecessor and satisfying the open borders caucus that makes up a huge part of today's ic Party, so much so that, in his first week in office or so, he repealed somewhere on the order of 94--94--executive policies of the previous administration with respect to the border. The moment he took office, he set about dismantling those policies of the previous administration without apparently taking even a minute to thi
OUR NATION'S DEBT THREATENS FAMILIES
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-3-7

America is heavily in debt and living beyond its means. prgtoken Last month, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office issued a report projecting a Federal budget deficit of $1.4 trillion for 2023. Further, the net interest on our national debt will amount to a $10.5 trillion burden in taxes for families over the next decade destroying jobs. prgtoken The Nation has had a record increase in revenue, but unfortunately, under and the , spending has surpassed the amount of money raised. This reckless and irresponsible spending has led to horrific debt as a threat to our children and grandchildren. prgtoken The newly elected House majority led by Kevin McCarthy is committed to creating jobs with an economy that is strong and fiscally responsible. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America. prgtoken I thank Tucker Carlson for last night's ``Tucker Investigates'' about January 6, which Glenn Beck has correctly identified as every level has been lying about January 6. prgtoken The truth has finally been revealed.
CONGRATULATING MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN CORELL ON HIS RETIREMENT
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-3-7

I rise today to recognize O'Hara True Value Hardware in Ottumwa, Iowa, which is closing after 83 years in business. prgtoken Martin and Florence O'Hara opened the doors of O'Hara Appliance in January of 1940, but before long, the appliance store quickly shifted into a hardware store, too. Martin had offered home repair advice for years, and the shift came naturally. prgtoken The O'Haras value being family owned and operated, and their children each grew into employees at the shop, including their son Mike, who ultimately took over the business and who I know well. prgtoken For years, Mike O'Hara has continued his family's legacy in Ottumwa, offering the best service and advice for all things plumbing, electrical, automotive, construction, and repairs. You could take in any kind of screw from any kind of product, and they could tell you what it went for and how to replace it. prgtoken The store is also famous for having the best Christmas decorations in town, to include live reindeer in a stable outside throughout December. prgtoken O'Hara has overcome numerous challenges over the last several decades, including major fires, the flood of 1993, and most recently, the COVID pandemic. prgtoken Mike's commitment to serving his community has always remained clear and steadfast. I am proud to know Mike and his family, and I wish him the very best in retirement--they so deserve that--but they are going to be greatly missed. The town will cherish their memories from O'Hara's and we will all miss going there for home repair needs.
DC CRIMINAL CODE
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-3-7

I would just like to thank my colleagues Graham, Bozeman, and Lankford for being here this evening to support this effort. prgtoken We need to make certain that our Nation's Capital doesn't become a national embarrassment, and we need to make certain that we send a strong message that the American public have had it with crime in America. The crime spree that is happening in our major cities must come to an end. prgtoken We are putting a marker on the ground tomorrow. I want to thank all my colleagues, both and , who are joining me in this. prgtoken .
RECOGNIZING WINCHESTER RESCUE MISSION
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-3-7

I rise to recognize the Winchester Rescue Mission on celebrating 50 years of caring for the homeless in our community. prgtoken In July of 1973, Morris Whitaker took out a $20,000 loan and bought a building to convert it into a homeless shelter for men, and the rescue mission was born. prgtoken Over a decade later, the rescue mission extensively expanded its operations to help more people in need, adding a commercial kitchen, and increasing the number of beds. prgtoken Most recently, the current CEO and executive director, Brandan Thomas, spearheaded the opening of a new four-bed shelter for women in a single-family home and purchased a separate building to add 15 more beds for displaced women. prgtoken Brandan now has plans to convert a former restaurant into a homeless shelter later this year on Valley Avenue in Winchester. prgtoken This new venture will offer even more services to help local residents without permanent housing address mental health and addiction issues, learn how to properly care for themselves, and find jobs and affordable housing. prgtoken Communities all over the country face the, at times, daunting task of caring for large numbers of homeless people, but under Brandan's leadership, and the four others who led prior, the Winchester Rescue Mission has proven that with compassion, commitment, and selfless love to folks who need it most, anything is possible. prgtoken Congratulations again to the Winchester Rescue Mission, and I wish them another 50 years of success.