mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Inflation (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-5-15

this morning's inflation report shows just how stubborn President 's inflation crisis is. prgtoken For the 37th month in a row, prices have risen by more than 3 percent, and there is still no end in sight. Overall, prices are up 19.9 percent since President took office. Grocery prices are up 21.3 percent. Car repairs are up 30.2 percent. Rent is up 20.8 percent. And the list literally goes on and on. prgtoken As Americans turn on their air conditioners this summer, they can contemplate a grim report from the Wall Street Journal, which notes that electricity prices have gone up 13 times faster under President than they did in the previous 7 years. prgtoken All told, it costs a typical family more than $1,000 a month just to maintain the standard of living it had when President first took office--more than $1,000 a month just to tread water. prgtoken So it is shocking to hear President say things like he did last week when he suggested that people ``have the money'' to pay higher prices. But that is the kind of disconnect we have come to expect from the President, who claimed inflation would be ``temporary'' and who has persistently downplayed and denied the painful economic reality Americans are experiencing thanks to ' reckless spending. prgtoken That pain is real. As one working parent in Connecticut said: Every time I look at my bank account, it's always going down. prgtoken Luis, a truckdriver in Pennsylvania said: I can do my living, but compared to what I used to have, I need to work extra to get what I used to have before. prgtoken And a family farmer in Missouri described his input costs as ``ridiculous.'' prgtoken They are not alone; 48 percent of voters say their personal financial situation is getting worse. Half of voters say they are worse off since President took office. And 80 percent of voters say high prices are one of their biggest financial challenges. prgtoken Meanwhile, the cost of dealing with inflation is adding to Americans' financial pain. Many Americans have had to turn to their credit cards to cope with higher prices. And with the Federal Reserve having to keep interest rates elevated to fight inflation, paying off that debt has gotten harder. prgtoken High interest rates have also helped put the American dream of owning your own home increasingly out of reach. Prospective home buyers need to earn nearly twice as much to afford a typical home today as they would have 4 years ago. Half of renters under age 50 don't think they will be able to afford to buy their own home. prgtoken For Americans pursuing their dream of owning their own business or running the family farm or ranch, inflation has created serious challenges. More than a third of small business owners identify inflation as the biggest single threat to their business. Higher input costs and higher borrowing costs have forced small business owners t
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today to honor the brave men and women in North Carolina and across the Nation who serve in law enforcement. This is an emotional week for the law enforcement community as thousands of officers and their families come to our Nation's capital for National Police Week. They are paying tribute to brave officers who were killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities. prgtoken Unfortunately, North Carolina is all too familiar with law enforcement officers making the ultimate sacrifice. I want to take a moment to recognize some of the law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty since last year's police week and memorial. prgtoken Last September, Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy Auston Reudelhuber was killed in a head-on collision while on patrol. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. prgtoken Last December, we lost Sergeant Russell Jones of the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office. He was attempting to halt an altercation at the Pamlico County Detention Center, and during the encounter with an inmate, Sergeant Jones was punched in the face, leading him to collapse minutes later and die. Sergeant Jones served with the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office for 4 years. He is survived by his mother and two sisters. prgtoken In December of last year, we lost Philip Dale Nix of the Greensboro Police Department. He was a sergeant in the police department. Sergeant Nix was off duty at a local gas station when he observed three individuals stealing alcohol. When he tried to intervene, they shot him and killed him on sight. Sergeant Nix worked for the Greensboro Police Department for more than 22 years. He is survived by his wife and son. prgtoken Just a few weeks ago, on April 29, a task force of Federal, State, and local prgtoken law enforcement led by the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant for a fugitive at a residence in Charlotte. Instead of surrendering, the fugitive shot at them; and during an hourslong standoff, four members of the task force were killed. It is one of the deadliest assaults on law enforcement in this country in nearly a decade. prgtoken Police officer Joshua Eyer served 6 years with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. He is survived by his wife and his 3- year-old son. prgtoken Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott were both 14-year veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Poloche is survived by his wife and two sons--one graduating from college, another from high school in a few weeks. Elliott is survived by his wife and son. prgtoken U.S. Marshal Deputy Thomas Weeks, Jr was a 13-year veteran of the Marshals Service. He is survived by his wife and four children. prgtoken Words alone cannot express the pain and loss each of these families has gone through. They lost the loving husband. They lost a parent. Their lives will never be the same. However, they are never going to be alone. Because in the wake of th
CALLING FOR RELEASE OF TYLER WENRICH
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise to call on Turks and Caicos to treat Louisa County resident Tyler Wenrich fairly and appropriately for his accidental mistake in their country. prgtoken Tyler is a paramedic and vice president of operations at Emergency Services Solutions in Powhatan County. On April 23, while traveling with friends in Turks and Caicos, law enforcement discovered two stray bullets in his baggage. Tyler apparently had the two bullets in his luggage when leaving the United States, but they were not discovered by our own TSA. prgtoken He is facing up to 12 years in prison despite no demonstrated criminal intent. prgtoken My staff and I remain in constant communication with Tyler and his family, providing support and advocating for his release with consequences that fit the unintentional offense. prgtoken I call on the administration to join me in demanding his release and issuing a State Department travel advisory, warning travelers to Turks and Caicos of the excessive criminal penalties they may face there for accidental minor offenses. prgtoken Tyler's wife, Jeriann, and young son need him in Louisa, and my staff and I will continue to pursue every avenue to help facilitate his safe return.
D.C. CRIMINAL REFORMS TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE EVERYONE SAFE ACT OF 2024
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-5-15

much has been made about the title of this bill, but I would remind my friends across the aisle that they had a bill called the Inflation Reduction Act and it spent over a trillion dollars and inflation has not been reduced. prgtoken , I thank the gentleman, Mr. Donalds, for allowing me to speak. prgtoken Right now the city of Washington, D.C considers a criminal a youth offender if they are under 25 years old, yet you can be a Member of Congress at 25 years old. It seems the Washington City Council believes something magical happens on someone's 25th birthday, . prgtoken They seem to believe that one day, dadgummit, you are a child who cannot be fully accountable for your actions and the next day you can serve in Congress. They are trying to be politically correct as always by not prosecuting criminals, and the city is suffering because of it. prgtoken Last year, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing with the District of Columbia's Mayor on the rising crime in our Nation's Capital. At the same time, , a carjacking was happening just up the street less than a mile from where we are standing today. We can appreciate the irony there, but it is not surprising. Carjackings and all other kinds of crimes are happening around Washington at any given moment. prgtoken Motor vehicle thefts increased by 107 percent last year alone. Violent crime increased by 37 percent, homicide increased by 29 percent, and robberies increased by 65 percent. It is also worth noting that in the United States, most homicides are committed by people 20 to 24 years old, . prgtoken However, the City Council of our Nation's Capital is still pushing policies every day that prevent criminals from being brought to justice. prgtoken The DC CRIMES Act forces Washington, D.C to change its definition of juvenile back to kids under 18 years old. It also stops judges from sentencing youth offenders below the mandatory minimum requirements and prevents Washington from changing the current minimum sentencing laws. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to have some basic common sense. I know that is lacking in Washington. When people tell me something that is made of common sense, I tell them they have no place in Washington, D.C today. That is apparent right here. I support this bill. prgtoken , I will tell that family in the back that had that sweet little baby boy making those noises that he was not bothering us one bit.
National Peace Officers Memorial Day (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-5-15

this week, thousands of law enforcement personnel from across America will descend to our Nation's Capital to pay solemn tribute to comrades killed in the line of duty. prgtoken The entire Nation joins them once again in honoring the service and sacrifice as we mark National Peace Officers Memorial Day and add the names of fallen heroes to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington. prgtoken I would like to extend a warm welcome to the officers and families who are in town this week. Our Nation owes the thin blue line a great debt for their dedication to keeping our communities safe. prgtoken I am especially grateful to Kentucky's law enforcement and honored to pay special tribute to one of the Commonwealth's finest who was killed in the line of duty just last year. Deputy Caleb Conley of Scott County Sheriff's Office was tragically shot and killed a year ago next week during a routine traffic stop in Georgetown, KY. prgtoken He leaves behind his wife and two children. And yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting with members of the Conley family and assured them that their sacrifice is not forgotten. prgtoken The loss of the heroes we honor this week leaves holes in tight-knit departments and devoted families. And their deaths are a reminder of the daily risk peace officers take to keep the rest of us safe. prgtoken Of course, in this building, we are never far from men and women who swear oaths to run toward danger. And this Police Week, I hope our colleagues join me in thanking the officers of the Capitol Police who guard this institution and honoring their comrades who have given their lives to defend it.
DEMOCRATS ARE DESTROYING AMERICAN DREAM, RULE OF LAW
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-15

I notice it must be campaign season. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trotting out the age-old push-granny-off-the-cliff campaign talking points. It never fails. prgtoken If my colleagues want to have a conversation about how to save Social Security, the trustees just put a report out this week or last week pointing out that it is going to be underwater by 2033. The minority wants to ignore that reality. Instead of figuring out how we are actually going to deal with the problem, trot out the same old story about taxes. prgtoken By any objective measure, by any analysis by left, right, center, Libertarian, conservative, or liberal, you can tax literally the entirety of the top 1 percent of earners, but it can't possibly balance the budget. Literally, the math doesn't work. prgtoken We can throw all this around in election-year rhetoric, but the truth is our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not just watching Social Security go bankrupt, but they are bankrupt in ideas on what to do about it. prgtoken The fact is you have to actually constrain spending, discretionary spending, deal with the issues we ought to deal with on mandatory spending, and recognize the fact that we are $34.5 trillion in debt. We are racking up $1 trillion every 3 months. We are now going to crack $1.1 trillion of interest this year alone--$1.1 trillion of interest, which is far more than our entire defense budget. prgtoken The fact is our retirees are going to have a problem in 2033. In fact, this trustee's report pointed out that they will be getting 79 cents on the dollar in 2033. We can have a conversation about what you want to do about taxes, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are all too happy to regulate and crush the entire American economy to death and drive up inflation, making all those Social Security recipients have less value in their Social Security dollars. That is the truth. prgtoken The average American can't afford to live, whether they are earning money in the prime of their earning potential, in their earning years, or whether they are a retiree because the dollar value is decreasing because we are printing money because, frankly, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have no interest in actually being fiscally responsible--I am an equal opportunity basher of fiscal responsibility--nor do my colleagues on this side of the aisle, to be honest. prgtoken It is a repeating problem that never ends, but it is my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, my radical progressive ic colleagues--and there is no other way to characterize them--who want to use scare tactics in a campaign year rather than addressing any of the actual fiscal issues that affect our Nation. prgtoken The fact is that are destroying the American Dream, killing the ability of the average American family to prosper. Hardworking American families right now are struggling to pay b
CONDEMNING THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS AND THE TREMENDOUS BURDENS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FACE AS A RESULT
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-5-15

the balance of my time. prgtoken , once again, I have to remind my friend that the Senate could not pass its bill. The House passed our bill, and the difference is stark. As I said, the Senate bill forbids any future President from using the powers that used to secure our borders until illegal crossings reached 4,000 a day. prgtoken He is not required to take any action until they reach 5,000 a day, and even then he must still allow 1,500 illegal crossings every day. That is the ' idea of border security, and it is a farce. prgtoken This debate encapsulates the differences between the two parties on this issue, and they are absolutely jarring. I don't need to characterize it; it speaks for itself. The American people can clearly see the difference and will need to make the most important choice of their lifetimes in just a few months. prgtoken I would simply ask: How do we make our streets safer by making it all but impossible to deport illegal aliens as the law requires? prgtoken That is what our sanctuary cities are doing. prgtoken How do we make our families safer by flooding our communities with deadly fentanyl? prgtoken How do we make our children safer by refusing to vet every person who enters our country so that we can keep the criminals out? prgtoken How do we make our neighborhoods safer by refusing to prosecute criminal illegal aliens to the fullest extent of the law? prgtoken How do we make our highways safer by creating the conditions of deadly high-speed chases and drunk driving? prgtoken How do we protect our country as untold numbers of terrorists enter among the 1.9 million known got-aways who have entered under 's nose? prgtoken How do we make our communities safer as criminal gangs and criminal cartels set up shop in our cities for their lethal business of child trafficking, drug trafficking, extortion, and crime? prgtoken These are the questions that have gone unanswered since this administration took office and with which our local law enforcement officials must grapple every day at the peril of their own lives in order to protect ours. prgtoken It is time we thanked them for their service and their sacrifice and put the full might and fury of our Nation behind the defense of our national borders. That is what this resolution calls for. However, one thing more will be needed that Congress cannot provide, and that is a new administration. prgtoken Let us pray it comes in time to save our country. prgtoken , .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-5-15

this week, we remember--and I join my colleagues here on the Senate floor to do so publicly--we remember our law enforcement who have died in the line of duty. This week every year, we pay tribute to those who serve in the uniform and as a result of that service, come to a tragic death. prgtoken I offer my condolences to the people of North Carolina, the families of the officers just described by the Senator from North Carolina. prgtoken In my role as a Senator, I have chaired and have been the vice chair of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds our national law enforcement officers--the DEA, the ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals. A deputy U.S. marshal was killed in North Carolina just recently. prgtoken It is an honor, a privilege to be able to be associated with those who are willing to sacrifice so much for the benefit of all of us and particularly those in the communities in which they live. We honor that sacrifice, that dedication, that service to our communities. We know police officers put their lives at risk and their families know they put their lives at risk every day to protect our communities in our country. prgtoken While this week is a time to remember those who have passed, it is also important for us to express gratitude to those who currently serve. prgtoken During this week, we will memorialize 282--282--individual law enforcement officers, 282 heroes who during the last year gave their lives serving their community. prgtoken One of those heroes was Kansas Officer Jonah Oswald. In August of last year, Officer Oswald was fatally shot while responding to another department, a neighboring law enforcement's request for help. prgtoken Officer Oswald was just 29 years old, a husband, a father--father to two young boys. He had served for 4 years in the Fairway, KS, police department. Fairway is a small suburb of Kansas City; population, 1,170. He knew the importance of serving his community. He knew his community. prgtoken This morning, Ben Overesch spoke at the National Police Week memorial ceremony in Kansas, and he said this about Officer Oswald: Jonah understood the danger before him and without hesitation he showed up, over and over again, to meet it. Jonah policed with an enthusiasm that was hard to match. He was always vigilant. He was always eager for opportunities to help citizens of Kansas and Officers alike. He was employed by Fairway, but the citizens of Prairie Village, Mission Hills, Westwood, Roeland Park, Mission, and others around us were helped by Jonah more than they will ever know. He was not so enthusiastic out of vanity, or want of glory, or aggression. He believed in service, and in the nobility of the profession. He believed in right and wrong. He was filled with the hope that good will triumph over evil. We must remember not only his sacrifice, but his example daily. prgtoken Words s
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-5-15

on this National Police Week, I rise to honor the brave men and women of law enforcement. prgtoken This week could not have come at a more important time. Many members of law enforcement, both rookies and 30-year veterans, are disheartened far too often by the treatment police officers have experienced in recent years. prgtoken Their dedication is to protect and serve their communities, yet far too often, they are disrespected, defunded, demoralized, and even demonized--not by many, but enough, and too often by elected community leaders. This must stop. prgtoken Many criminal prosecutors also need to do their jobs. There are too many violent criminals who break firearm possession laws and are released. We must enforce the firearm laws that exist. This will reduce so-called gun violence. prgtoken Too many prosecutors are failing to prosecute violent criminals. This endangers citizens, diminishes public safety, and puts police officers at high risk. prgtoken As the son of a former police officer, I always back the blue. There is always room for improvement, but we all should always respect the men and women who do, in fact, risk their lives to protect and serve and too often give their lives for their job, community, and for the people they work for.
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-5-15

. Madam , the balance of my time. I wish my colleague from Massachusetts well with his derangement syndrome. prgtoken Madam , the rule before us today is about standing up for the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods, our families, and our way of life. It is about standing up for what is right and defending those who risk their lives every single day to keep our communities safe. prgtoken In my own district in the southern tier of New York, a Chemung County Sheriff's investigator, Michael Theetge, was critically injured when he was hit by a shoplifter's getaway car and has since been fighting to recover. Our prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery are with him and our whole community. prgtoken Sadly, Investigator Theetge's case is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of the dangers to law enforcement officers and what they face every time they put on their uniforms. prgtoken In my own State of New York, we have lost some of our very finest recently. We have recently laid to rest Lieutenant Michael Hoosock of the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, and NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. prgtoken We don't want other families to have to go through what their families are facing right now and to be able to expect that their loved ones will come home at the end of their shifts safe and sound. prgtoken What is happening in America's major cities in too many States and right here in our Nation's Capital is simply unacceptable, and it needs to be addressed now and is with this legislation before us. prgtoken This rule, Madam , is also about standing up for our closest friends and allies. Since October 7, Israel has been in a struggle for self-defense against a terrorist organization that seeks nothing but violence, destruction, and extermination of the Jewish people. prgtoken Israel needs the tools to defend itself and defeat Hamas. We need to send a message to the world that America will not falter in our commitment to our allies. We need to send these munitions to Israel now. Our future and their future depend on it.