mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-2-6

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I will address some of the, at a minimum, misinformation that has been provided by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This notion that s have somehow cut Border Patrol is absolutely false. prgtoken In fact, it has been the administration that has brought decreasing budget requests, for example, for ICE detention beds every single year, and we wound up giving them more than they asked for. prgtoken Our bill, H.R. 2, actually would provide 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and the supplemental request by the President asks for approximately 1,400. You can't say we are resourcing less when we are actually providing numbers for more. That is just disinformation. It is false. prgtoken This notion that seizures are up, if you pour more water through a small pipe, there is more volume coming at the fence. They are going to seize more. I get that. However, tell me why the price for a hit of fentanyl on the street in Tennessee went from $95 a hit when this President took office to $28 a hit. prgtoken It is because of the supply and demand of fentanyl. It is the supply and demand curve. That is because it is pouring across our southern border. It is pouring across our southern border because the cartels are jamming folks through the crossing sites. The Border Patrol agents are having to move off the border to cover that, and we have a wide- open southern border. prgtoken We have shown this in our five-phases investigation, videos of camouflage-wearing, carpet-shoe-wearing people with backpacks full of drugs coming through the remote parts of the country or the border. To suggest that just because seizures are up somebody is doing their job, that is meaningless. prgtoken I want to make a point here, because several people have said, if we were concerned about border protection, we would bring up the Senate negotiated bill. Well, I thought the Senate had to pass it before we could bring it up. I haven't heard that the bill has even passed the Senate. Therefore, this accusation that we somehow aren't for Border Patrol because we haven't taken up this bill is false because it hasn't even passed the Senate yet. prgtoken I heard someone say Mr. Mayorkas has done his job. The last poll I saw indicated approximately 85 percent of Americans think the Secretary is failing, but, yes, keep singing that song. prgtoken Rushed? We have been at this for almost a year. prgtoken One gentleman said: No court has actually ruled that Mr. Mayorkas is breaking the law. prgtoken The Fifth Circuit court absolutely ruled it. Then the gentleman who mentioned that actually said that the Supreme Court overturned that. prgtoken No, they didn't. They decided they weren't going to decide. They said: We don't have standing here, or you don't have standing here, so their case technically wasn't even heard. They said: You don't have standing. Have a nice day. prgtoken To suggest that that w
CELEBRATING JAMES W. PUTNEY, JR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-2-6

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate James W. Putney, Jr a veteran, patriot, and grand marshal of the 2023 Savannah Veterans Day Parade. prgtoken Mr. Putney proudly led the annual Veterans Day parade in Savannah, which is dedicated to celebrating America's heroes. prgtoken His devout service and leadership have been evident since answering the call to join the United States Army at 17 years old. Over two decades of honorable service resulted in his retirement as a staff sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia. prgtoken In his military journey, James played vital roles as a construction and combat engineer. Post-retirement, he returned to his roots in Savannah, transitioning to a career at the Chatham County Courthouse, where he continued his service until 2016. prgtoken Even in retirement, James remained actively involved in various local organizations, as he continues to exemplify dedication and leadership to his community and to his country. prgtoken I congratulate James and thank him for his service to our country and our community.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 543 (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-2-6

I rise today to ask unanimous consent that the Senate adopt our resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Governors of the individual States have a constitutional right to repel the dangerous and ongoing invasion across the U.S. southern border. prgtoken has the power to secure our borders. Instead, he has chosen to break the law, resulting in the worst border crisis in American history. prgtoken Frankly, I don't know how the President sleeps at night knowing that 300 young Americans will die today from fentanyl poisoning: 300 yesterday, 300 tomorrow. Three hundred thousand people have died from fentanyl poisoning since he took office. prgtoken Along with that, there are terrorists, Chinese communist nationals, cartels. And worse, they are all living in the interior of our country. prgtoken Since our Commander in Chief won't stop this historic crisis, an invasion declaration, as defined by the U.S. Constitution, allows Congress to recognize each State's right to secure their own borders. Where fails to put Americans' safety first, our resolution acknowledges each State's right to secure their borders themselves, as leaders like Texas Governor Greg Abbott have. The cartels and the CCP should not have more operational control of our borders than we do. prgtoken We have reviewed the big picture here. Let's take a closer look. I think the first question we all ask is, Is this an invasion? Well, to have an invasion, you have to have invaders. And as we try to understand what the Constitution means, it is good to go back to some of those Founding Fathers when they defined what they thought were ``invaders.'' prgtoken It is interesting that James Madison called pirates and barbarians invaders. And just like the barbarians of Madison's time, today's cartels and terrorists are those invaders acting like pirates of the day. prgtoken So then let's talk about is this an invasion? Do we have an invasion on our southern border? You know, I tried to think what analogies I could give of what it was like when I visited the southern border. But we are here in DC, so I will kind of paint a picture of what I think it would look like if this invasion were occurring right here in DC. prgtoken If you could imagine with me what it would look like if there were 10,000 ships coming up the Potomac River over the last 3 years--10,000 ships, each with 1,000 people from over 180 different nations; 10,000 ships, 1,000 people from 180 different nations. Let's pretend they come up the Potomac River and they lay anchor right out here at the Wharf and those people slowly get off one at a time. The way I would envision this is one of those ships is full of known terrorists and Chinese nationals. There would be 80 ships with aliens of interest--people from countries that wish harm to America. There would be 200 ships anchored out here where people would hop off the ship and just disappear into the nig
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1199 (Executive Calendar)
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-2-6

there you have it. There are the Big Tech talking points. The problem is that they are entirely false. I have the bill text in front of me--the bill text that, again, passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee--that explicitly exempts encryption technology: page 184, lines 15 and following; page 185, lines 1 through 18. You can read it for yourself--explicitly exempts. That is not true at all. It is flatly false. prgtoken I have been on this floor over and over and over again on this issue, and every time, we are told: Not today. Not this. A little more of that. Maybe if it were more bipartisan. prgtoken This has unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee. Unanimous. Every . Every . prgtoken And we all know the truth here: that until victims can get into court and have the rights and dignity of every other American challenging any other company, this will not change. prgtoken Congress created this problem. Congress created it by giving the most powerful companies in the world a sweetheart deal that they still have to this day. prgtoken It is an easy choice: Are you with the corporations or are you with the American people? Are you with the big companies or are you with the child victims? That is the choice. prgtoken I would just say to those who continue to support 230 with no exceptions, no exemptions, no reform, no recognition of the incredible danger it has unleashed for children, that they are on an island. prgtoken This state of affairs cannot continue. It cannot continue to be that if Big Tech sells products that kill kids, they cannot be held responsible. prgtoken It cannot continue to be that only these companies, the most powerful companies in the world, get a pass that nobody else gets, because nobody should get it. prgtoken I am committed to coming to this floor and forcing votes as long as it takes--as long as it takes--until we get justice for victims, until they are heard, and until these companies are finally held accountable. prgtoken .
SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2024-2-6

. Madam , last week, I promised we were getting close to actually finishing our math in regard to what was the true story of what was happening with Social Security. A couple of our Ph.D. economists have spent months, and we have put it together. prgtoken However, I first want to talk a little bit about the politics of telling the truth around this place. Then I want to talk about the reality that the , our brothers and sisters on the left, either willfully or through ignorance, their solution just doesn't get you there, and the immorality. prgtoken Let's first walk through something. How many of you have heard over and over from me behind this microphone that, in 2033, 2034, a 25 percent cut, because the Social Security trust fund is emptied? I had a debate the other day with a ic Member here who is running for another office, and she was saying Social Security doesn't contribute at all to the debt and deficit. prgtoken She is absolutely right. That is not what we are discussing. What we are discussing is, in 8 or 9 years, we are going to double senior poverty, the average couple in America. In 2033--I am going to use 2034 because at least that is more of a consensus number for the exhaustion of the trust fund. That average couple in America will take a $17,400 cut. Articles that we have been collecting on the number of baby boomers who are ending up homeless--they are ending up on the street. We are looking at numbers that would explode that type of dystopian vision. Yet, if you get behind this microphone and tell the truth about the math, right now, some troll in a basement is writing something saying: Schweikert mentioned Social Security. Let's attack. prgtoken It is the same thing with Medicare. This society is absolutely immoral. We have this obligation to modernize, to save, to protect. If you step up to try to do it, you will be attacked. There is a reason we call it the third rail. prgtoken Well, screw them. We are going to tell the truth here. Part of the morality here is: How do you save something? How do you modernize it? How do you protect seniors? prgtoken Everyone runs away from the discussion, runs away from the actuarial reports, because the moment you start to tell the truth, you are a target. Now, most of it is not true. I had someone in my office a couple of hours ago bring me something saying: Look, this person is writing editorials in your district saying you voted against Social Security. prgtoken I am going, okay, let's see. I actually used to chair the subcommittee over Social Security, trying to work out the math and those things to save it. I don't remember ever having a vote in this place to change it. prgtoken We looked it up. There hasn't been, but this is the way politics works anymore. Make crap up. Then you wonder why it is toxic. It is so much easier around here to pretend, somehow pretend magic is going to fall out of the sky and everything is going to be fine.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2024 CONGRESS-BUNDESTAG/BUNDESRAT EXCHANGE
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-2-7

since 1983, the U.S. Congress (House and Senate) and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and engage in discussion regarding mutual interest. prgtoken A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany from Friday, June 28-Sunday, July 7, 2024. During this exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic and media agencies. prgtoken A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States from Saturday, September 14-Sunday, September 22, 2024. They will attend similar meetings in Washington organized by the members of the U.S. delegation. prgtoken The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. prgtoken The U.S. delegation shall consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. prgtoken Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. prgtoken Please note that there is a significant time commitment aspect for those selected for the program. In addition, U.S. participants are expected to plan and implement the meetings and programs for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. prgtoken Members of the House and Senate who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. prgtoken Applications should be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HC-4, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024. Please submit the application and any questions to interparliamentary.affairs@mail.hous
IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING AMERICA
Blake D. Moore (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-2-7

I served on the Natural Resources Committee with the gentleman from California. The point that we continually tried to make is that American innovation and American leadership need to be invested in. prgtoken The policies that are playing out and the rhetoric and all of hyperbole, it moves us away from improving the situation on anything related to energy. It is fascinating. He and I had a chance to spend a lot of time on that. prgtoken To further emphasize and discuss the bill we just recently passed, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, is an incredibly important voice within our conference, from Pennsylvania's 13th District, and a physician himself. I look forward to hearing his thoughts. prgtoken , from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).
MORNING BUSINESS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-2-7

this week, a dear friend of mine and the Grassley family passed away unexpectedly at age 64. A fourth- generation family farmer, Bill Northey was a son of the soil from Northwest Iowa, where Iowa Nice and a strong work ethic run through the bloodstreams in smalltown Iowa. prgtoken Bill graduated from Iowa State University in 1981 with an undergraduate degree in agricultural business. A quarter-century later, he earned a master of business administration from Southwest Minnesota State University. After graduating from Iowa State, Bill returned home to the family farm near Spirit Lake, IA, in Dickinson County. Here, Bill practiced what he preached. The Northey family farm implemented conservation-friendly farming practices, including reduced tillage, cover crops, and GPS on its corn and soybean acres. prgtoken At age 20, in the midst of the farm crisis in 1985, Bill was the only local farmer to show up at a meeting organized by the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Unbeknownst to Bill at the time, that meeting launched his public service career. He ran for the Iowa Corn Growers board and, later on, became president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association. prgtoken His resume reflects his lifelong commitment to and champion for Iowa agriculture. Bill cut his teeth in public service at the grassroots, where he served as a commissioner of the Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District and rose through the ranks of the Iowa Farm Bureau at the county and State levels. In 2006, he ran and won a statewide election to serve as Iowa Agriculture Secretary, where he served from 2007 to 2018. He served at the helm of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for 11 years, winning reelection in 2010 and 2014. Under his leadership, Bill championed renewable fuels, a statewide voluntary water quality program and led Iowa producers through animal disease outbreaks, including the State's bird flu outbreak in 2014-2015 that has helped guide responses today to the highly contagious disease. prgtoken President tapped Bill to serve as the first USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, where he served under Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue until 2021. Bill was caught in some crossfire over regional disputes related to the Renewable Fuel Standard. Without hesitation, I went toe-to-toe with Texas Senators in support of his nomination. Bill was highly qualified and deserving of the responsibility to serve in this leadership role for America's farmers. Bill never wavered in his patience and commitment to public service. He weathered the nomination storm with grace and self-sacrifice over an issue that is important to the farm economy, U.S. energy independence, national security, and the environment. prgtoken Once confirmed to the USDA post, Bill oversaw a division with 21,000 employees who worked across 3,000 locations. Traveling to 48 of 50 S
FIGHTING BIDEN'S WAR ON AMERICAN ENERGY
Scott Fitzgerald (Republican, WI) \u2014 2024-2-7

. Madam , since President 's first day in office, he has waged an unprecedented war on American energy. The cost, of course, is ultimately passed down to Americans. prgtoken Let's break down a few critical missteps from the White House on energy policy. prgtoken This administration has crippled U.S. energy independence, as seen by the administration's most recent decision to halt approvals for new natural gas export terminals. prgtoken This administration has also made our country more dependent on foreign energy, propping up our adversaries, as seen by his decision to shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, which impacted many hardworking Wisconsinites. prgtoken The latest push from the administration seems to be a political agenda against gas vehicles, which, of course, will levy even higher costs on Americans who cannot afford an electric vehicle. prgtoken House s, on the other hand, have remained committed to making energy more affordable and putting American energy first. prgtoken We passed the Lower Energy Costs Act, which received bipartisan support and will put the country on a path to responsibly power our future.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-7

after listening to the majority leader's comments, I think it is worth taking 5 minutes to recall how we got here. prgtoken You know, it is ironic to me that people give speeches here on the floor of the Senate about their support for Israel. And there is no doubt Israel is involved in an existential fight with Iran and Iranian proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and the Shia militias in Syria and Iraq. prgtoken But the House passed an Israel aid package on November 2. Israel was attacked October 7. The House acted on prgtoken November 2, and the majority leader, who is the only one who can schedule a vote on anything here on the Senate floor, has done nothing to help our best ally and friend in the Middle East, the State of Israel--nothing. prgtoken He has insisted that we package together aid to Ukraine, aid to the Indo-Pacific. And there have been endless discussions about a border bill, which I will come to in a moment. But this problem that we are running into is one of his own creation. prgtoken He could decide to take up these bills individually, knowing that the House has already passed an Israel aid bill, and then have the Senate take it up and pass that bill. Then we can turn to the other issues that are vitally important to our national security and deserve fulsome debate and an open amendment process. prgtoken That is the question my friend from Mississippi was trying to ask the majority leader, but he decided to leave the floor without responding to that, giving me some doubt as to the sincerity of his commitment to have an open amendment process and actually restore the Senate to its previously held reputation as the world's greatest deliberative body. Nobody can call us that now with a straight face. prgtoken I understand that the majority leader is trying the best he can to help the Party. He gives advice freely as to what s should do. But the fact of the matter is, we have no confidence--zero confidence--that the administration will enforce the law when it comes to the border. That has been the case for the last 3 years, resulting in historically high numbers--300,000 people a month--showing up at the border, only to be ushered into the interior by open-border policies that either people claim asylum and are released into the interior, perhaps never to be heard from again, or they are released on parole. prgtoken Catch-and-release is the policy of the administration and congressional . That has proven to be a powerful magnet for illegal immigration--people literally coming from all around the world because they know they can make it into the country because President and Senate have laid out the welcome mat. prgtoken So you will have to forgive me when I note the fake outrage, the phony messaging that we hear from about this border negotiation. Yes, it is true that we hoped to come up with som