mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-15

this is National Police Week, and it is great to be joined by so many colleagues to show our respect and admiration for America's law enforcement community. Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a time to pay tribute to law enforcement officials who made the ultimate sacrifice. These men and women gave their lives to their communities, to their State, and to their country; and we thank them and their families for their sacrifice. prgtoken As we mourn the loss of so many of these heroes, this week is also a time to honor and thank officers who continue to keep us safe. Former Dallas Police Chief David Brown once said, ``We ask law enforcement to do too much in this country,'' and I agree. Whether it is helping someone experiencing a mental health crisis, a drug overdose, a medical emergency, or as a victim of crime, America's police officials constantly and consistently go above and beyond the call of duty. Their jobs require tremendous hours and tremendous amounts of courage and sacrifice, not just from the officer who wears the uniform but from their families as well. And I am grateful to those who selflessly serve their communities every day. prgtoken The brave men and women in law enforcement deserve our appreciation. But more than that, they deserve our support. They deserve the resources, the training, the protection needed to do their jobs effectively. To show our support for these public servants who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities, Congress should pass the Back the Blue Act. This legislation adds stiff mandatory penalties and makes it a Federal crime to kill or attempt to kill a law enforcement officer or a Federal judge or a federally funded public safety official. It makes it a Federal crime to assault a law enforcement officer. prgtoken This legislation is needed because these men and women put themselves in harm's way every day to keep our communities safe, and we must send a strong message that violence directed at them will never be tolerated. prgtoken The Back the Blue Act sends a strong message to the more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving our country that they are supported, and I hope Congress will move forward to advance this legislation. prgtoken Today and every day, I am grateful for the dedicated police officers, sheriffs, constables, Border Patrol agents, and other law enforcement officials of all types who keep Texas safe. Like all my colleagues in Congress, I am thankful for the men and women of the Capitol police who safeguard this building and the Members of Congress, our staff, journalists, and the many visitors who walk these halls on a daily basis. prgtoken There is nothing we can do to adequately thank these heroes for their sacrifices, but there is a lot we can do to affirm that support. My colleagues and I have introduced bills to boost officer recruiting and retention, improve training, and give law enforcement th
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today during Police Week to pay tribute to Sergeant Nevada Krinkee. prgtoken Here he is. He was a member of the police force in Sheridan, WY. He was a beloved officer in Sheridan. He was well-known for his selflessness. His colleagues will tell you he always put others first. His death in February of this year, in the line of duty, was absolutely tragic, and it shook our State. prgtoken Sergeant Krinkee was the first officer in Wyoming, since 1997--the first one this century--to die by homicide in prgtoken the line of duty. It is actually the first line-of-duty death in the history of the Sheridan Police Department. Sergeant Krinkee made the ultimate sacrifice for the community he loved and the community that he swore to protect. He was only 33 years old. prgtoken In March, I attended his funeral in Sheridan, WY. It was so large they had to move it to the community college--the great auditorium there, the field house. What was moving was the outpouring of folks from all around the community, as well as the State, as well as the country. They were there to honor Sergeant Krinkee but were also there to support his wife Karla and their young daughter Bella. More than 1,800 people attended in the community of Sheridan, WY. They flooded in from across Wyoming and from across the country. Many of them who were there to mourn his death and honor his family had never actually met Sergeant Krinkee. prgtoken It was the largest single event in Sheridan, WY in 40 years. It was 40 years ago that Queen Elizabeth visited Wyoming and had a similarly sized turnout. Law enforcement officers traveled from every corner of our State. They came from tiny towns. They also came from big cities across the West. All came to pay their respects to the man and to their brother in uniform. prgtoken As police cars escorted the family to the memorial service, citizens of Sheridan, WY, lined the streets of the community--four deep--waving American flags. It was absolutely beautiful to behold. prgtoken One of the newspaper reporters asked a man from Wyoming, who drove over 100 miles to be there, why he came that far to attend the funeral. After all, this was somebody he had never met. He had never heard of Sergeant Krinkee before he had been killed. prgtoken He responded: I stand for those who have stood for us, and I will until the day I die. prgtoken Well, that says a lot about the people of Wyoming through and through. prgtoken One of the greatest blessings of our great Nation is the men and women of law enforcement. Police officers have one of the most dangerous and demanding jobs in our Nation, and they do it with confidence and with compassion. prgtoken Today, officers need to deal with dangerous criminals, and they often do it in the face of continuous criticism. It is alarming. Police officers across the country are coming under attack from criminals and the soft-on-crime politicians who coddle them. Sadl
BACK THE BLUE
Randy Feenstra (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-5-15

on March 26, Dordt University women's basketball won the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. prgtoken Led by Head Coach Bill Harmsen, the Defenders defeated the University of Providence by a score of 57-53 to secure their first-ever national championship. With this championship victory, the Defenders finished the season with a nine-game winning streak and ended with a program- best 35-2 record. This is an incredible milestone in the history of this program. prgtoken I thank the head coach and the girls' basketball team for their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that has elevated Dordt's women's basketball team on the national stage. prgtoken I congratulate women's basketball Coach Bill Harmsen on a successful season and look forward to cheering him on in the Defenders' 2025 and 2026 seasons.
HONORING CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER LEE R. BOWDEN
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today to honor an incredible warfighter and patriot, Chief Warrant Officer Lee R. Bowden of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who recently was recognized as the 2023 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician of the Year. Officer Bowden has been a faithful servant to the Marine Corps and this Nation for nearly 20 years since enlisting as a recruit in 2004 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina. prgtoken Officer Bowden has had a distinguished military career that is second to none. He achieved the distinction of being the honor graduate in many of his military education courses, including Maintenance Management, EOD Basic School, EOD Supervisor Course, EOD Officer Course, and Warrant Officer Basic Course. In 2011, Officer Bowden was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and helped protect our warfighters from improvised explosive devices, unexploded explosive ordnance, and other war relics. He was also deployed to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania to provide EOD force protection to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and partner nations during warfighting exercises. prgtoken After a few deployments, Officer Bowden used his talents and expertise to teach young soldiers about the importance of EOD. In June 2015, Officer Bowden reported to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, California, and served as the primary instructor for the EOD Supervisors Course. He was recognized as the 2016 Air Control Training Squadron Basic Instructor of the Year. Officer Bowden, in his last deployment in 2021 to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, helped protect American citizens and innocent Afghan civilians from the harmful remnants of war. prgtoken Officer Bowden has received many awards for his excellent service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Master EOD Breast Insignia, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. I have no doubt that his dedication to the EOD field has saved countless lives here and around the world. In an increasingly bellicose and belligerent world, we desperately need leaders like Officer Bowden, who are experts in their fields. I am confident that the next generation of EOD technicians and warfighters will be well prepared with Officer Bowden at the helm. I am honored to have the opportunity to extend this chamber's recognition of this admirable defender of our great Nation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Pete Ricketts (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-5-15

I join my colleagues in expressing my support and admiration for the women and men who put on the blue. Whether it is our southern border or our own backyards, these members of law enforcement are essential to protecting our safety and security. They are the guardians of our neighborhoods, protectors of our families. They take deadly drugs like fentanyl off of our streets. prgtoken As we celebrate National Police Week, let's recognize the service of those among us and the jobs they do that require the utmost integrity, skill, and dedication. prgtoken We must never forget the sacrifices that the members of law enforcement and their families make on our behalf. They work long hours in challenging conditions and dangerous areas to serve and protect us. Yet, despite the dangers they face, they remain steadfast in their commitment to our communities. They are the ``thin blue line'' that protects us while we sleep. prgtoken In recent years, we have seen a disturbing trend of not just disrespect toward law enforcement but violence. It prgtoken is not just wrong, it is dangerous. It undermines the rule of law and threatens the safety and security of our communities. prgtoken We must send a clear message that violence against the women and men in blue will not be tolerated. We must stand with them and support them in their vital mission in our communities. prgtoken On Monday night, I had the opportunity to walk in a vigil, walk the beat, to honor the more than 149 members of law enforcement who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in my home State of Nebraska. Their names are reflected on the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial in Grand Island, NE, and they are remembered in the hearts of their fellow citizens today and throughout the year. prgtoken We remember Ross Bartlett, who died last month after 30 years of service with the Ceresco Police Department. prgtoken We remember Detective Kerrie Orozco, who was murdered in 2015--1 day before she was supposed to go on maternity leave. prgtoken We remember Investigator Mario Herrera, who was killed trying to serve an arrest warrant. prgtoken We remember all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. They were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. They were heroes, and their bravery is eternal. prgtoken The women and men in blue are the backbone of our communities. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay, but we can show our appreciation for them, show our support for them. prgtoken I am proud that in Nebraska, while other communities are trying to defund the police, we support the police. In Nebraska, we back the blue. prgtoken When I was Governor, we had the largest package of pro-public safety and law enforcement legislation passed in years. We invested $47.7 million in our Grand Island Law Enforcement Training Center to ensure that our law enforcement officers would get the highest level of training. We invested $16.9 million in our State
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise in support of my resolution that would overturn a rule from the Department of the Treasury that affects the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. prgtoken Treasury's attempted sleight of hand to keep the COVID spending spigot on is an insult to Congress and those who believe in our Constitution as well as a complete misuse of taxpayer dollars. prgtoken As we vote today, we as a body must ask ourselves a couple of simple questions: prgtoken First, are we going to allow funds meant for COVID recovery to be spent after the so-called ``emergency'' ended or are we finally able to install fiscal responsibility as our national debt spirals further out of control? prgtoken Second, are we willing to defend the article I branch from an overreaching Agency of bureaucrats who want to claim more and more power for themselves? prgtoken The spending in this program--which is hardly the point right now, actually, with this extension of the time, but it is worth noting--has been wasteful on many occasions. prgtoken When Congress provided $350 billion for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, I don't think one could have imagined that the fund would have been used for golf courses and swimming pools and tennis courts--maybe to some. It also became a slush fund to incentivize illegal immigration, $340 million for cash payments to illegal immigrants in Washington State, $3.6 million in Illinois to help illegal immigrants apply for citizenship, and $2 million in DC to help turn the District of Columbia into a ``proud sanctuary city.'' prgtoken Regardless of whether you supported the spending or not, this fund had a specific purpose. This fund was designated to aid State governments and local governments with revenue shortfalls tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken When Congress created this fund, Congress provided a clear restriction. In statute, Congress required that all costs incurred with money from this fund must be incurred by December 31, 2024. That is the statute. That is congressional language. prgtoken In short, recipients had over 3 years to obligate this funding or the funding would be returned to the Federal Treasury. Most States and localities understood the requirements. prgtoken As of March of 2023--over a year ago--all States had obligated at least 60 percent of their funding while localities had obligated over 54 percent. Yet, lo and behold, while most people in this body were celebrating Thanksgiving with our families, the Treasury Department tried to pull a fast one on the American people. The Treasury Department decided it knew better than this body and better than Congress, and the Department rewrote the law to fit its own needs and special interests. prgtoken Even though the statute said all costs must be incurred by the end of this calendar year, the Treasury Department decided that States could still use these COVID recovery dollars way past 2024. prgtoken This i
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring the brave law enforcement officials in North Dakota and across the country who work every day to keep our communities safe. prgtoken As we mark National Police Week, we recognize the bravery and service provided by our peace officers and the sacrifices they make on behalf of all of us. prgtoken According to the FBI, more than 79,000 officers were assaulted in 2023, marking the highest officer assault rate in the past 10 years. That is concerning. Despite the certain danger these officers face, they take on this responsibility to protect and serve so that our communities remain safe and free. prgtoken Today, on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, we have the opportunity to come together as a nation to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities so that we may live in safety. prgtoken I would like to honor two North Dakotans who were killed in the line of duty last year. prgtoken The tragic loss of Officer Jake Ryan Wallin of the Fargo Police Department and Deputy Sheriff Paul Martin from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office reminds us of the dangers our law enforcement officials face every day and the enormous debt we owe them and their families for their sacrifices to keep our communities safe. These heroes will be forever remembered with their names inscribed on our National Law Enforcement Memorial. prgtoken We can never fully repay our police officers, but we can continue to honor those we have lost and the sacrifices of their families and their loved ones. To honor these brave law enforcement officials, I have joined with others in introducing a resolution here in the Senate to recognize their bravery and memorialize the lives of Officer Wallin, Deputy Martin, and the more than 220 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2023. prgtoken This dedication to community and the rule of law is characteristic of so many of our police men and women, without whose efforts our communities would not be the same. That is why our resolution also designates this week, May 12 through 18, as National Police Week and honors the bravery and good work of all law enforcement officers. prgtoken One such example is Fargo Police Officer Zachary Robinson. Officer Robinson and his wife Ashley are in Washington, DC, this week. He is 1 of 10--10 in the whole Nation--to be honored as a TOP COP by the National Association of Police Organizations. He was presented with the award for his heroic efforts last July when Fargo law enforcement officials were ambushed while investigating a traffic accident, resulting in the death of Officer Wallin and the injuries of Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes. prgtoken Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski summed up Officer Robinson's actions on that day when he stated: If not for the courageous efforts of Officer Zach Robinson, our community would have been further devast
CONDEMNING THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS AND THE TREMENDOUS BURDENS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FACE AS A RESULT
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-5-15

. Madam , I rise in support of the resolution that I have authored and introduced and will be considered on the House floor. prgtoken I am going to calmly suggest my colleagues across the aisle reassess their position on this resolution because they are speaking of majorities walking away from what they allege is a strong immigration reform and border security bill. That bill was not the border security bill that we passed through this House, H.R. 2, which was the strongest legislative measure in the history of Congress. It has been walked away from by the -controlled Senate. H.R. 2 is condemned by your President, President . prgtoken You know who also did not universally like H.R. 2, Madam ? The cartels. My colleagues across the aisle may want to wonder, how do you find yourselves aligned with the cartels? Oh, let us review. prgtoken Since day one of this administration, since January of 2021, the policies of our executive branch were flipped to be more receptive to illegal immigration, and in doing so, more aligned with the prgtoken cartels' operations of trafficking human beings and drugs into our country. prgtoken Anyone with two brain cells that may occasionally bump into each other would realize that if you soften your existing law enforcement on illegal immigration when on the other side of the border the territory is 100 percent controlled by criminal cartels who are trafficking two things, human beings and drugs, what do you think might happen? Of course, you are going to have a drastic increase in trafficked human beings and drugs, which is exactly where we are. prgtoken s took action in the first few months that we had majority control. We went through exhaustive legislative measures to battle through the language of H.R. 2. We went through an 18-hour markup in the Homeland Security Committee, my committee. We brought H.R. 2 to the floor, and it was passed with all s supporting that bill. It went to the Senate, and there it remains gathering dust, Madam . prgtoken Madam , we had countless efforts to communicate with our colleagues in the Senate, encouraging them: Take up the bill. If you disagree with H.R. 2, then, by all means, debate and change, amend and pass your version, and send it back to the House. prgtoken When we go to conference, that is the way things work, but that is not the way it happened in the Senate. The -controlled Senate killed H.R. 2 which was a legitimate and strong response to the invasion that we have faced at our southern border. prgtoken My resolution simply acknowledges and condemns the loss of our sovereign control at the southern border and the impact that this wave upon human wave of misery, drugs, and human trafficking has brought upon our country and the impact upon local and State law enforcement who has had to bear the full brunt of the administration policies, Madam . prgtoken These are policies that can be
D.C. CRIMINAL REFORMS TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE EVERYONE SAFE ACT OF 2024
William R. Timmons IV (Republican, SC) \u2014 2024-5-15

I appreciate D.C.'s desire to have self- rule, but there are responsibilities that come along with that. It seems that our Nation is a Nation in decline because of the lawlessness in Washington, D.C and we have to get back on track. This is a step in the right direction. prgtoken I thank my friend from Florida for proposing this legislation. I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.
THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today in honor of my home State of Iowa being ranked the sixth overall State to live in. prgtoken Scoring third in opportunity and in the top 10 for education, Iowa has proven that regardless of where you come from or where you are going, you can find success in the Hawkeye State. prgtoken Looking for a great place to study? Iowa has some of the Nation's top schools. Want to buy a house and start a family? Iowa is one of the most affordable States to live in and a beautiful State to raise a family. prgtoken Want to start a new career? Iowa is home to several booming industries, entrepreneurship flourishes, and we would be happy to have you. prgtoken Iowa is historically known for being a farming State, but recently our State has emerged as one of the Nation's leaders in clean energy production. prgtoken In Iowa, the American Dream is alive, well, and waiting for you. God bless the Hawkeye State. celebrating national teacher appreciation day