mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SMALL BUSINESS PROCUREMENT AND UTILIZATION REFORM ACT OF 2024
Roger Williams (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-6-11

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 7988, the Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform Act of 2024, also known as the SPUR Act, sponsored by Representatives Stauber and Perez. prgtoken Small businesses are vital to the health and resiliency of America's industrial base. Broad and robust small business participation ensures that America can continue to lead the world in innovation and defend us against foreign adversaries. However, small businesses are getting squeezed out of the industrial base at a staggering rate, a direct threat to America's dominance. prgtoken There are just half as many small businesses participating in the industrial base as there were just a decade ago. This downward trend is a culmination of years of bad government policy and is being made worse by the administration's regulatory onslaught, dissuading small businesses from even considering participating in the Federal marketplace. prgtoken The SPUR Act is a critical step into looking under the hood of the government and bringing accountability to agencies. By grading agencies on how many contracts have been awarded to small businesses for the very first time, we will bring together a great focus on reversing the declining participation of small businesses in the industrial base. prgtoken Madam , I urge all of my colleagues to vote for H.R. 7988, and .
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4368 (Executive Calendar)
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2024-6-12

I was proud to join my colleague from Texas in introducing the IVF Protection Act. I am grateful for his leadership on this important topic. prgtoken As a mom, I know firsthand that there is no greater joy in this life than that of being a mother. IVF helps aspiring parents across our Nation experience the miracle of life and start and grow a family. That is why I strongly support continued nationwide IVF access. IVF access is fundamentally pro-family. For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood. prgtoken We all have loved ones, whether they are family members or friends, who have become parents or grandparents through IVF. Across America, about 2 percent of babies born are born because of IVF; that is about 200 babies per day. So think about the magnitude of that number and the faces and the stories and the dreams it represents. In recent decades, millions of people have been born with the help of IVF. Along with my colleague Senator Cruz, I was honored to lead Senate colleagues in a joint statement emphasizing our shared support in continued nationwide access to IVF. prgtoken IVF is legal and available in every single State across America. That includes my home State, where Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature acted quickly and overwhelmingly earlier this year to protect IVF access for our State's families. prgtoken Today, the Senate has an opportunity to act quickly and overwhelmingly to protect IVF access for our Nation's families. That is what the IVF Protection Act would do. It is straightforward, just as Senator Cruz has said. The bill would give aspiring parents nationwide the certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single State. prgtoken Now, I want to break this down as directly as possible. First, there is only one bill that would protect IVF access and not stray outside those parameters; that is our IVF Protection Act. There is only one bill that would protect IVF access while safeguarding religious liberties; that is our IVF Protection Act. And there is only one bill to protect IVF access that could get 60 votes in the Senate, and once again that is our IVF Protection Act. prgtoken However, that is not the bill that are going to be putting on the floor this week. Sadly, they aren't interested in a bill to actually protect IVF access and figuring out how we could get that to become law. That wouldn't advance their true goal, which is about partisan electoral politics. If allowed the IVF Protection Act to pass today, they would lose a key scare tactic they believe helps them in November, and that, ultimately, is what this is all about. prgtoken They are in week two of their summer of scare tactics, and eventually they are going to transition to a fall of fearmongering. prgtoken At the end of the day, the American people want secure borders; they
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 359 (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-6-12

reserving the right to object, the United States of America has benefited for nearly 2\1/2\ centuries from having one of the world's best, most objective judicial systems in the entire world. While no system run by fallible, mortal human beings can be described as perfect, ours is as good a system as has ever existed in the world and certainly as good as any that exists in the world today. But the capstone of that is an entity that exists by virtue, by operation of the Constitution--the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken This solution--a solution that is being rammed through today--this is a solution in search of a problem that would itself create another problem for which there would be no solution. That problem would, in turn, turn one of our greatest strengths--an independent, functioning judicial system, one that has preserved the rule of law in this country for nearly 2\1/2\ centuries--into something, a more political animal. It is not what we wanted. It is not what the Constitution contemplates. It is not what we benefited from. prgtoken And why? We must ask the question why. Is there any great moral offense that has been committed? No. Is there any grave violation of law that has been committed? No. Is there any violation of law that has been committed at all? No, there is not. prgtoken What we have here is something very, very cynical, and what we have is that people on the left have a couple of cases currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States--cases that they are worried about the outcome, cases in which they are worried that certain Justices might rule against them. And they have some Justices they don't like. They have some Justices that they worry are going to reject the bad arguments that they have made in those cases. So rather than double down on making sure that their arguments are good and that they are persuasive and recognizing that they are not going to win all cases, they are threatening, they are intimidating the Justices. prgtoken They are making--it is not just a mountain out of a molehill; they are making a mountain out of nothing. They are doing this specifically to harass, threaten, and intimidate certain members of the Supreme Court in order to influence the outcome of pending litigation. Make no mistake, that is what is going on here. They are trying to trigger more recusals--recusals of those Justices they don't like. prgtoken The legislation they are offering would create more problems in this, would make it easier for them to trigger more recusals. prgtoken This is not a good outcome. This is a political effort to influence the resolution of pending litigation before the Supreme Court of the United States and to threaten Justices that don't toe the woke line. prgtoken I withhold my objection at this moment.
TENNESSEANS HOPE FOR CHANGE
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-6-12

last week President signed an executive order to limit the number of asylum seekers that are allowed to enter the United States each day. prgtoken The policy is far too little too late, but it highlights how House s have consistently said that the President has the tools to close the border, and he has had those tools for 3\1/2\ years now. prgtoken Instead, the President has prioritized ending effective border and immigration policies over ensuring the safety and security of the citizens of the United States. Shortly after taking office, he ended border wall construction, remain in Mexico, and made many other shortsighted changes. prgtoken This resulted in more than 9 million illegal immigrant encounters at our Nation's borders, an easily expected outcome. Tennesseans rightfully concerned about this catastrophe see right through this election year campaign gimmick and hope for change come November.
SERVICEMEMBER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENT AND NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
Nancy Mace (Republican, SC) \u2014 2024-6-12

. Mr. Chair, such time as I my consume. It is interesting because the left always likes to say that there has been no determination, there is no risk per se. However, in this article in Marine Corps Times, the title is ``Parris Island in Peril: Rising sea levels threaten historic Marine base.'' prgtoken When we talk about data and science and climate change, they are not even using tidal gauges to measure sea level rise at Parris Island. At Parris Island, they are actually using data from Savannah and Charleston, miles and miles away, so that data is not even accurate because the environment and the topography is so different. In fact, we are seeing vast improvements in the environment on Parris Island today, as I mentioned earlier. prgtoken In this military.com article, it says: ``The Marine Corps is considering moving some of its bases to other locations, including the iconic Parris Island Training Depot in response to growing effects of climate change, Navy officials said.'' My colleagues want to say, well, we have to do a study and make a determination and follow the science, but they are not actually using real science at Parris Island. prgtoken If you look at the way that they have built out resiliency at Parris Island, whether it is the solar farms, whether it is the grading they have done with some of the roads to raise them up a foot or two, whether it is the Tesla batteries, whether it is their ability to produce their own energy and be self-sufficient, and produce energy for those surrounding areas, Parris Island is a beautiful example of resiliency when we are talking about environmental challenges that our bases face today. prgtoken Lastly, , I wanted to point this out in this article: ``Well, then, we better plan on moving'' Parris Island ``because it is not going to get better, it is only going to get worse. The seas are going to rise higher and higher.'' prgtoken Nothing could be further from the truth, . .
REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE OF ROBERT LEE HERRIN
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-6-12

I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Robert Lee Herrin, a valiant 22-year-old soldier who died tragically eight decades ago amidst the chaos of the historic Normandy landings, where he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. prgtoken With the recent 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, we remember the brave sacrifices of the great Americans who fought and died to rid the world of tyranny so that we may remain free. prgtoken Private Roberts' sacrifice was recognized with the Purple Heart award, a testament to his unwavering bravery and dedication to serving his country. Robert is a true son of south Georgia, born and raised in Brantley County, where his family still resides today. prgtoken With the anniversary of D-day passing, it is important to remember that it is because of men like Robert Lee Herrin that we enjoy the freedoms that we have today. We are eternally grateful for his sacrifice and all others who sacrificed their lives for our country.
RECOGNIZING DR. AL MIJARES' SERVICE TO ORANGE COUNTY AS THE OC SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Michelle Steel (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-6-12

I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Al Mijares' service to Orange County as the Orange County Superintendent of Schools. prgtoken Dr. Mijares has served as the Orange County Superintendent of Schools since August 2012, where he led Orange County educators in equipping our students with all the necessary tools to ``lead the nation in college and career readiness and success.'' Under his leadership, the Orange County Department of Education was able to help students from Orange County outperform the state and regional averages. Dr. Mijares should be commended for all his hard work throughout his career and his dedication to educating the next generation of Americans. prgtoken , please join me in recognizing Dr. Al Mijares for his service.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4368 (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-6-12

I thank the leadership of the Senators from Texas and Alabama on this issue that is important to literally millions of Americans, as the Senators talked about. prgtoken First of all, let the record show that, today, the objected to the -led IVF Protection Act. The objected to protecting IVF. prgtoken This is personal to so many people up here, and it is personal to many Senators. I would suppose a half a dozen of us so far have a family member--maybe a child or a grandchild--because of IVF or staff, thanks to IVF. Maybe it is as personal to me as to anybody up here. For some 30 years of my life, I had the opportunity and the privilege of delivering a baby most every day. Certainly, I have just nothing but fond, fond memories in each one of those opportunities to give a baby to a new mom and dad and just see the smiles on their faces and see their lives change forever. prgtoken But not everybody was that fortunate, and not everybody is that fortunate, as 10 to 15 percent of Americans have an infertility problem. There are 10 to 15 percent of married couples who struggle to have children, and that is why I worked so hard to have an infertility clinic--a place where people could travel from hundreds of miles to get help with their infertility treatments. Certainly, there were many basic things we could do. We helped thousands of women and have helped them have a baby, but if we weren't successful, the next step was in vitro fertilization. Personally, I am proud that I participated in hundreds of IVF cycles--successful cycles--and delivered many, many, many babies from in vitro fertilization. prgtoken The country needs to know that s believe in IVF, that we support it. I have never heard one Senator up here say anything else. I have not heard anyone try to take this down. So I am proud to stand up here today and support Senator Britt's and Senator Cruz's bill to protect in vitro fertilization. prgtoken We are going to have an opportunity tomorrow on a show bill--we will have a show vote on a show bill. Senator Duckworth's bill on IVF has poison pills that not many s can tolerate. prgtoken The first poison pill is it denies freedom of religion, as Senator Cruz talked about--freedom of religion. The bill we will be voting on tomorrow, as far as I am concerned, is unconstitutional. As a physician--as a Christian physician, as a God-fearing Christian--there are certain things that I will not participate in, but I happen to believe that in vitro fertilization is a gift from God, that God has given us this technology to do good with. And I want to make sure that we apply that. There will be certain hospitals and physicians who don't want to participate in IVF, but the ' bill tomorrow forces that physician and that hospital to participate against their consciences. I think that is a violation of religious freedom. prgtoken The
Farm Bill (Executive Session)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2024-6-12

just a few minutes ago, the ranking member of our Ag Committee, the senior Senator from Arkansas, Senator Boozman, put forth a statement of principles that he has developed with his outstanding staff that really identify and describe a framework that we absolutely need in the farm bill. prgtoken As you know, we have a 1-year extension in place on the farm bill. You know, it is something that is just incredibly important, and it has to get done on a bipartisan basis, and so we need to get it done. If we can't get it done before the end of this year, we are going to have to put another 1-year extension on the farm program in place. prgtoken You know, when we talk about our farmers and ranchers and we talk about the farm bill and we talk about farm policy, you know, we think we are kind of just focused on agriculture, and that is really not the case. I mean, good farm policy in this country gives us the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. Well, who does that impact on a daily basis? Everybody. Every single person in this country every single day, multiple times a day. Highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. More choice. Higher quality. Better food than anywhere else in the world. And--and--Americans spend less of their budget on their food than any other developed country. I would say that is something we should not take for granted. prgtoken It is amazing--you know, I mean, I think nowadays so many people don't come from the farm anymore. You know, obviously we are a huge ag State, and we still have a lot of nexus with farming, but a lot of places don't. They think, wow, food comes from the grocery stores. Well, it doesn't. It is produced by our farmers and ranchers every single day. prgtoken So, you know, that is one of those things that are just incredibly important. Until we don't have it, until we don't have this network of family farms and ranches across this country that gives us something that is better than anywhere else in the world, you know, we take it for granted. We can't do that. prgtoken So we need to get a farm bill done, and we need to get it right. That is why I am here, is because if we follow the framework that Senator Boozman just laid out, we will get it right, and so we need to do it. That is the simple point I want to make, that that is the framework we need to embrace on a bipartisan basis, on a bicameral basis, get it passed, get it to the President, and get it in place, and I would say for our farmers and ranchers but really what I am saying: for every single American every single day. prgtoken I want to start out by thanking Senator Boozman; but most of all, I want to thank our hard-working farmers and ranchers who face incredible challenges whether it is weather, whether it is trade policy. You know, I mean, it is all the things that they don't control; but year in and year out, they go out and they plant a crop and they raise livestoc
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIND UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK B. GARLAND IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH A SUBPOENA DULY ISSUED BY THE COMMITTEE ON...
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2024-6-12

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , on page 1 of his report, Special Counsel Hur said: ``President willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice-presidency when he was a private citizen.'' prgtoken not only kept information he wasn't allowed to keep, he shared it with people who weren't allowed to get it. prgtoken On page 231, the special counsel told us why President did this. He said: ``Mr. had strong motivations to ignore the proper procedures for safeguarding the classified information in his notebooks. He had decided months before leaving office to write a book,'' a book for which he got paid $8 million. prgtoken So we have motive, an $8 million motive, and we have the elements of the crime, knowingly keeping classified information, knowingly disclosing classified information. prgtoken Despite all this, Special Counsel Hur declined to recommend prosecution for President because is ``a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.'' prgtoken On page 207 of his report, Special Counsel Hur said: ``Mr. 's memory also appeared to have significant limitations, both at the time he spoke to [the ghostwriter], Mr. Zwonitzer in 2017, as evidenced by their recorded conversations, and today, as evidenced by his recorded interview with our office.'' prgtoken The committees need the audio recordings to determine whether the Justice Department appropriately carried out justice by not prosecuting the President. prgtoken Remember what they told us. The Justice Department said we are going to operate independent of the White House. They said we will be impartial, independent arbiters of the facts. prgtoken Maybe so, but what we do know is this: One former President is being charged; is not being charged. We think we are entitled-- actually we know we are entitled to all the evidence and the best evidence. The transcripts alone are not sufficient evidence of the state of the President's memory, especially since the executive branch has a history of changing transcripts. prgtoken We saw this in late April. The transcript the White House put out didn't match the video and audio recording of President 's speech, and only after the White House was caught did they change the transcript. prgtoken In that case and in this case, the audio recording is the best evidence of the words that President actually spoke. prgtoken Following the release of Special Counsel Hur's report, both the Judiciary Committee and the Oversight Committee issued subpoenas requiring Attorney General Garland to turn over the transcripts of the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur's interviews with President and his ghostwriter. prgtoken To date, the Attorney General has failed to produce those recordings. In fact, he told us last week he wasn't going to do it, and that is why we are here. Despite the committee's best efforts, the De
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-6-12

as ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Details Flowers of Sac City, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week prgtoken Since 2000, Cheryl Gerry has shared her passion for floristry and design with the Sac City community through her small business, Details Flowers, which provides in-home visits for floral design, wedding services, and home decor to customers. prgtoken Cheryl studied horticulture with a focus on floriculture at Iowa Lakes Community College and dedicated 21 years to working at Marjo's Flowers in Sac City before launching her own business 24 years ago with just two employees and a delivery driver. prgtoken In 2005, Details Flowers moved to a larger location on Main Street in Sac City. Cheryl and her team brought their creative vision to life and fully displayed their work by transforming the store into a stunning showroom. All their products are customizable and tailored to meet the needs of each client, creating a personal relationship between Details Flowers and their customers. prgtoken The business is constantly adapting to incorporate current trends, seasons, and, most importantly, Cheryl's creative spirit. Details Flowers won the Business of the Year Award from the Sac City Chamber for several years. In November 2023, Cheryl and her team were also honored as the Sac City Chamber Business of the Month. prgtoken For more than 20 years, Details Flowers has been actively involved in the Sac City community. In 2020, the business sponsored the Sac City Scoop the Loop food pantry donation drive. Details Flowers is also a proud member of the Sac City Chamber of Commerce and partners with the chamber to visit nursing and assisted living homes on Mother's and Father's Day, spreading joy and ensuring no one is left without a beautiful flower arrangement. prgtoken Details Flowers' commitment to providing quality floristry, decor, and long-lasting memories is clear. I want to congratulate Cheryl Gerry and the entire team at Details Flowers for their continued dedication to the Sac City community. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.