mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING JAMES BLANTON'S RETIREMENT
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-9

today I rise to recognize the retirement of James Blanton after his incredible 35 years in law enforcement. prgtoken James' journey started in 1989 as a Patrol Sergeant and Criminal Investigator for the Caldwell County Sheriff's Department, where he played an important role in the CAPCO Drug Task Force and solidified his reputation as a trusted law enforcement professional. His career brought him through a variety of roles, including Investigator for the Bastrop County Sheriff's Department, Deputy for the Comal County Sheriff's Department, and Deputy Constable for Precinct 2 in Hays County. prgtoken In each and every assignment, James' integrity and professionalism stood out among his colleagues--leading to a decorated career. Most notably, James has been awarded with the Master Peace Officer classification by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, recognizing his excellence in the field. But more than any award or career achievement, James is known for his character, and his respect for all individuals he encountered during his service. His unwavering commitment to serving his community marks truly a job well done, and a life well lived. prgtoken As James embarks on this new chapter of his life, it is my honor to recognize his remarkable service and dedication. I join the communities James has served in thanking him for his years of service. May God bless him and his family in the months and years ahead.
HONORING VIVIAN MARTAIN
Cori Bush (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2024-2-9

St. Louis and I rise today to honor the exceptional career of Ms. Vivian Martain. Ms. Martain is retiring at age 81 after spending over five decades working to service our St. Louis community. prgtoken Ms. Martain's commitment to service is evident in each of her pursuits. Since 2018, she has served as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance Officer and Project Pave Administrator at Millstone Weber. In 2019, Ms. Martain became Millstone Weber's first Civil Rights Compliance Manager, where she worked to ensure that minority contractors were represented on the massive I-270 North Project. Prior to that, she served a 14-year term as Executive Director of the Construction Prep Center. prgtoken As the chief architect of Millstone Weber's Project PAVE Initiative, she strived to guide, educate, and support students in North St. Louis County high schools and encourage them to pursue careers in heavy design, engineering, and construction. Ms. Martain fondly recounts stories of every single student and how each of them excelled after being in the program. prgtoken Ms. Martain has committed her professional life to serving the people of Missouri, and her retirement signifies a well-deserved reprieve from her tireless service. The impact of Ms. Martain's work is immeasurable. We thank her for an unwavering dedication to public service and congratulate her on an outstanding career.
ORDERS FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-2-9

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 12 noon on Saturday, February 10; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; and that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 30, H.R. 815.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2024-2-9

. Unfortunately, the administration's urgent pleas have mostly fallen on deaf ears with Netanyahu's coalition. Just a few days ago, we saw Secretary Blinken in Jerusalem, meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, urging that Israel not take military action in Rafah. prgtoken What is Rafah? Rafah is a city in Gaza that is right on the Egyptian- Gaza border. Before the war started, there were about 300,000, 400,000 people in Rafah. Today, you have about 1.4 million people crammed into Rafah because over a million people who have been displaced from other parts of Gaza went to Rafah because they were told it was a safe place to go. prgtoken Despite what Secretary Blinken said and despite the fact that just the other day, John Kirby, the national security spokesman, said that the United States would not support a major military operation in Rafah--nevertheless, within hours of Secretary Blinken's meeting with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that they are going to go into Rafah. It is just one of many, many examples of where our requests have been rebuffed. prgtoken We have made some incremental progress from time to time. For example, after many, many requests and urgings, we saw a while back the long-delayed reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing to allow some more trucks into Gaza. But the reality is that the number of trucks and the amount of aid getting into Gaza is nowhere near what is necessary to meet the dire humanitarian situation. prgtoken Here we are 4 months into this war, and over 27,000 Palestinians have been killed, over two-thirds of them women and children, and that does not include those who are still buried beneath the rubble. prgtoken Wes Bryant, who helped lead the U.S. targeting against ISIS, has written about the unacceptably high levels of civilian casualties in Gaza. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that his op-ed be printed in the Record.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-9

let me say at the outset that from Kentucky for his words on the floor in support of assistance to Ukraine in its hour of need. I thank him for being consistent in that message. prgtoken Yesterday, after months of delay, 17 Senators joined in a bipartisan effort to advance critical security and humanitarian aid. I want to thank them for stepping up and urge them to continue moving this bill to final passage and moving it to passage in the House of Representatives. prgtoken All the while, while we were giving our speeches here on the floor of the Senate and other places, Vladimir Putin has been sitting back and waiting for the United States to finally walk away from the Ukrainians, as they fight bravely to repel his bloody onslaught. Putin is hoping that will be reelected and that this Congress will discontinue aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the ``message man'' for the MAGA movement, Tucker Carlson, was in Moscow interviewing the former communist KGB agent Vladimir Putin, hoping, no doubt, to further his cynical strategy. prgtoken Is there anyone here who could remotely have imagined that many in the party of Ronald Reagan and John McCain would be actively voting against aid to stop Russian tyranny, that they would bend to the will of former President , who has spoken favorably of the Russian despot? prgtoken This photograph captures a moment a few years ago. It captures a moment, 37 years ago, at the Brandenburg Gate, between East and West Germany, where President Reagan stood resolutely for freedom and told Gorbachev to tear down the wall. prgtoken This second photograph is more personal to me. About 10 years ago, when Senator John McCain and I were part of a delegation that represented colleagues from Arizona, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wyoming, we went to Ukraine's Maidan Square in Kyiv to honor those who had been killed in the fight for freedom. prgtoken I am not alone in asking the same question that was asked yesterday by the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. He said, ``Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us win back our freedom and independence, must be turning [over] in his grave'' with what is happening now in Washington. prgtoken The Polish people are staunch allies of Ukraine and the United States, and they have long memories of Soviet tyranny. They know that critical American resolve is part of overcoming that tyranny, and we should never forget it. prgtoken I am proud to represent the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois. There are many Polish Americans there--great people. I think what they have done during this Ukrainian war is an amazing story. They have literally embraced the refugees from Ukraine. As one of the Polish officials told me: Senator, you won't find a refugee camp for Ukrainians in Poland. We bring them into our homes. prgtoken It is an amazing outpouring. When you ask them, what is motivating you? prgtoken He
RECOGNIZING VERONICA KRUPNICK
Melanie A. Stansbury (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise today in recognition of Veronica Krupnick of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who was selected by Casey Excellence for Children Awards to receive the 2024 Alumni Award. Veronica is the first Indigenous person to have been selected for this great honor. She is an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and has Jemez Pueblo and Navajo Nation heritage. prgtoken Veronica is a mentor, a leader, and an unwavering advocate for children and youth in New Mexico's child welfare system. Drawing upon her own experience in the foster care system, Veronica's advocacy and mentorship centers around the importance of connecting children and youth in the child welfare system to their cultural identities, communities, and traditions. Last year, she played a crucial role in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which was under threat by a case heard before the Supreme Court. The ICWA mandates that when the government seeks foster and adoption placement for a child who is a member of or eligible for membership in an Indian Tribe, it must give preference to those with kin or Tribal relationships to the child. In the decades since it was enacted, the ICWA has been labeled the gold standard of child welfare policy. This law consistently establishes best practices to protect Indigenous children and preserve the integrity of Indigenous cultures and identities. prgtoken Veronica currently serves as the Leadership Analyst for the Majority Leader in the New Mexico House of Representatives. In addition, she is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), First Judicial District, a senior member of the National Foster Youth and Alumni Policy Council, a member of the National Child Welfare and Racial Equity (CWARE) Collaborative, and the Co-Chair of the Training Committee for the New Mexico Partners. prgtoken Veronica works tirelessly to give a voice to children and youth in Tribal families, and in New Mexico as a whole, that are impacted by the child welfare system. I would like to thank Veronica for working every day as a champion to instill hope in our future generations.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2024-2-9

let's be clear. The stakes of this moment could not be higher. The question before us is nothing short of what kind of future do we want for our kids. prgtoken Our role as the leader of the free world is on the line. If we tell dictators like Putin they can trample sovereign democracies with impunity; if we tell our allies that they are on their own; if we tell suffering civilians help is not on the way; if we tell the world the era of American leadership and resolve is over, we will be inviting chaos, emboldening dictators, and leaving the world a much more dangerous place for our kids. That is exactly why this package is so important. That is why we have insisted for months on a serious, comprehensive national security supplemental that actually meets this moment and doesn't leave any of our allies behind. prgtoken It has been a long, frustrating road, but have been glued to the negotiating table because failure is not an option here. prgtoken Listen, I hope we move forward quickly on this package now. I, like many others, want a fair and reasonable, bipartisan amendment process, but recognize that those of us who understand the stakes of this moment are ready to stay here as long as it takes to get this done. prgtoken I hope all of our colleagues will continue to work with me and the Senator from Maine to get this over the finish line because right now soldiers in Ukraine are counting their bullets, wondering how long they can hold out. Dictators are watching closely to see if this is their time to make a move. Civilians, including kids, are caught in the crossfire and are in desperate need of food and water and medical care. prgtoken We do not have a second to lose, so let's get this done and show the world American leadership is still strong. prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-2-9

we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity to come together to cut taxes for American families in my State and for the families of more than 500,000 children, and to cut taxes for American manufacturers. prgtoken The deal negotiated by Finance Chairman Wyden, a , in the Senate and Ways and Means Chairman Smith in the House, a , along with their colleagues of both parties, has overwhelming bipartisan support. It passed the committee in the House 40 to 3. It passed on the House floor with 357 votes. prgtoken When does that happen here? It is how Congress is supposed to work. prgtoken We talk with the people with whom we serve. We hear their concerns, and we act. Families are dealing with costs that are far too high because corporations continue to raise prices to pay for executive bonuses and stock buybacks and higher profit margins. prgtoken I often think of this, because I hear, when my wife and I are at the grocery store near our church in Brecksville, when I am out talking to people at a roundtable, or just at an airport, people talk about high food prices. One of the reasons--the biggest reason--when people go to the grocery store, they realize they are paying for stock buybacks and executive bonuses. prgtoken The American manufacturers have been telling us they can't compete with countries like China without more investment in research and development, but expiring provisions mean the Tax Code isn't rewarding that kind of investment as much as it should. prgtoken I heard in Ohio from people in East Palestine. I am going for, I believe, the ninth time there next week. They are worried. This is the place, the community in Ohio on the Pennsylvania border in eastern Ohio, where the Norfolk Southern train derailed, causing all kinds of hardship for people. But people in East Palestine are worried, they tell me, that they can be hit by a surprise tax bill for the payments they rightly received from Norfolk Southern after the derailment last year. It is unacceptable. People in East Palestine have endured enough. prgtoken So we came together to write a bipartisan, consensus bill that does all of those things. At a time when Washington seems pretty broken, we have an opportunity to come together and show the American people we can get things done. We can cut their taxes, we can support their businesses, we can help keep intellectual property in this country, we can help create jobs, and we can help families. prgtoken The expansion of the child tax credit will help Ohio working families keep up with rising costs, including all the extra expenses that come with raising kids. It has broad support. Everyone--from the Nuns on the Bus to the National Association of Evangelicals--supports expanding the child tax credit. prgtoken I know the Presiding Officer, the Senator from Arizona, and I have talked about how important the child tax credit is. prgtoken It supports work. The nonpartisan scor
IMPEACHING ALEJANDRO NICHOLAS MAYORKAS, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2024-2-9

extreme MAGA s have engaged in a cynical and unserious attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. Their report to accompany H. Res. 863 resorted to sloppy misrepresentations in an attempt to justify this baseless, political stunt. prgtoken For example, the report misquoted Professor Frank Bowman, who testified before the Committee on Homeland Security on January 10, 2024. Professor Bowman testified that the Constitution did not support the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas over mere policy differences. The majority report, however, twists a passage of Professor Bowman's book on impeachment and uses it out of context to suggest policy differences were grounds for impeachment. prgtoken s also tried to misrepresent Professor Bowman's writings during the hearing, but they did not afford Professor Bowman an opportunity to explain his work. I submitted clarifying questions to Professor Bowman to supplement the hearing record, but the majority did not transmit those questions to Professor Bowman before the legislative report was filed in the House. prgtoken I include in the Record Professor Bowman's responses to my questions to make the professor's thoughts on impeachment over policy differences abundantly clear, since the majority cannot be bothered to conduct a proper investigation with a complete record. Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives Responses to Supplemental Questions prgtoken Frank O. Bowman III, University of Missouri Curators' Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Floyd R. Gibson Missouri Endowed Professor Emeritus (Academic titles provided for identification purposes only. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, do not reflect those of any other person or entity, and are not endorsed by the University of Missouri.) Question #1 from Mr. Thompson: s have portrayed your previous academic writing as confirming their position that mere policy differences may be a ground for impeachment. In particular, that ``displeasure with administration personnel and policy'' may be sufficient to warrant impeachment. Is that correct? I have never written that mere policy differences would be an adequate ground for impeachment. To the contrary, I join with the consensus view of constitutional scholars that ordinary policy differences are not a proper ground for impeachment. Indeed, this general principle is particularly applicable to a disagreement on policy between a presidential administration and a political party controlling only one house of Congress, and that by the very narrowest of margins. The quotation to which the question alludes, one mentioned by Chairman Green and Rep. Bishop, occurs in the final paragraph of Chapter 4 of the second edition of my book, High C
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-2-9

I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass the important national security package that is in front of us. This will reaffirm our Nation's commitment to our partners across the globe. prgtoken Earlier this week, many of us felt very strongly that we should move forward on the combination of bills that Senator Lankford, Senator Murphy, and Senator Sinema had negotiated. I strongly supported that bipartisan compromise and worked with them on a portion of the bill regarding our Afghan allies who had served with our troops, and I was really impressed by the thorough nature of their negotiations. prgtoken We know how important that bill was for our own national security. It would have given the President emergency authority to shut down the border when our border agents are overwhelmed. It would have made changes to our asylum system. It would have addressed processing issues and backlogs. It would have actually expanded legal immigration for things like work permits and visas. prgtoken I am grateful that the package we are considering today does include the bipartisan bill that I am part of to declare fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and allow us to impose tough sanctions on criminal organizations and fentanyl supply chain hubs, but I will note that this bill--because the other piece of this regarding fentanyl was not actually included yet in this bill, that would be the resources that we need to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at our border and ports of entry. prgtoken So not only was the bill that our colleagues sadly voted down good on giving the emergency authority to the President on the border to protect our own Nation's security--something they had been asking for-- but it also did a very important thing when it came to fentanyl. prgtoken Why is this such a problem? In Hennepin County alone in the State of Minnesota, the sheriff recently seized enough fentanyl to kill every single person in that county--the biggest county in my State--and we are seeing similar things to that across our Nation. prgtoken So what this bill would have done--the original bill would have done--with the negotiation is that it would have actually given modern- day technology, cutting-edge technology to our ports of entry--all ports of entry, including airports and the like, including help we may need on the northern border, the Canadian border, when it comes to things like fentanyl. So that is why I hope that someday our colleagues will reconsider and join us in advocating for strong border security as well as for the work that needs to be done on the fentanyl epidemic. prgtoken The original package, as we know, is not being considered, but we also know how important it is to go forward when it comes to our leadership around the world, whether that means standing with our allies after the terrorist attack in Israel, whether it means making sure that humanitarian aid gets to innocent people in Gaza and acros
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-2-10

. Now, , for the information of Senators, the Senate will gavel back into session tomorrow, Sunday, February 11, at noon. At around 1 o'clock, we will hold the cloture vote on the substitute amendment, which has the text of the supplemental. We still hope our colleagues can work with us to reach an agreement on a reasonable list of amendments so we can speed this process up. prgtoken Again, as I have already made clear, we will keep working on this bill until the job is done.