mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Border Security (Executive Session)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2024-6-12

if everyone here in this Chamber is watching the news of late, in the last 24 hours, the FBI scooped up eight citizens from Tajikistan that were in the United States and arrested them on immigration violations, but they were also suspected terrorists that were in the United States. They were in Philadelphia; they were in Los Angeles; they were in New York City; and they were individuals that had direct connections to terrorism. And they were here because they illegally crossed our southern border and were waved in. prgtoken This is an issue that I have been on this floor at this desk speaking about for 2 years now. The population that is crossing our southern border has dramatically changed in the last 2 years. prgtoken No longer it is just about everyone from the Western Hemisphere. Now we have very large numbers of people from places like Tajikistan, from West Africa, from China, from Russia, from Pakistan, from other specific places that are known areas of terrorism, and we have people in the thousands that are crossing our borders that we don't know who they are, from places that we typically don't have people illegally crossing. prgtoken This group of individuals are called special interest aliens; that is, they are not on our Terror Watchlist, but we don't know why they are here or how they got here or the process that they came to come to the United States across our southern border illegally is unusual, different, or is directed by a crime organization outside of Mexico-- special interest aliens. prgtoken Last year, we had 70,000 people that fell into the category of special interest aliens. This year, so far, we have had 53,000 people that were special interest aliens. These eight individuals that were arrested yesterday were part of that group of special interest aliens: illegally present here, not vetted on our southern border but released on their own recognizance, and now, with an announcement yesterday from the FBI, a connection to terrorism, specifically ISIS terrorism. prgtoken In the past several months, the FBI has also picked up al-Shabaab terrorists in the United States that had crossed on our southern border, that were listed as special interest aliens, and that have now been picked up. prgtoken We are literally living on borrowed time. This is the issue that I have brought up over and over again to this body to say we need to pay attention to this issue of what is happening on our southern border. prgtoken Now, currently the administration has put in place a new Executive order to try to lower somewhat the number of people that are coming across, but the way they are doing it is by turning around people from the Western Hemisphere, but folks from other areas like Tajikistan, those folks are still coming through. Some are being detained, but a large number are actually being released on their own recognizance as special interest aliens. We don't have information on a direct ti
Farm Bill (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-6-12

as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a resident of a State whose literal lifeblood is agriculture, the farm bills that Congress takes up every few years are one of my top priorities. prgtoken I have had the chance to help craft four, now, farm bills during my time in Congress, and my No. 1 goal is always to ensure that each bill accurately reflects the needs and priorities of the men and women on the ground, the ones who are doing the hard work of feeding our country. prgtoken As I travel around my State of South Dakota, I always take special note of my conversations with agriculture producers, and many of the bills that I introduce for inclusion in the farm bill are based on these conversations. prgtoken The current farm bill will expire later this year. With deadlines approaching and updates needed to a number of farm programs, Congress needs to focus on advancing the next farm bill. prgtoken This is all the more important given the headwinds farmers and ranchers are currently facing. With net farm income projected to decline by 25 percent this year and with input costs projected to hit a record high, it is especially important that we make sure farmers and ranchers have the support they need to carry on with their vital work. prgtoken Last month, the House Agriculture Committee marked up its draft of the next farm bill, and the bill passed the committee with the support of not just s but several as well. Yesterday morning, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman released his farm bill framework to build off the House's work and hopefully move this process forward in the Senate. prgtoken Progress in the Senate has been hamstrung by Senate ' insistence on prioritizing things like climate over the needs of farmers and ranchers. I am hoping that the recent efforts by the House, along with Senator Boozman's framework, will move deliberations along and refocus our efforts on farmers and ranchers instead of ' climate obsessions. prgtoken In preparation for this next farm bill, I introduced a number of pieces of legislation that I hope to get included in prgtoken the final bill. These bills are based on the conversations I have had with farmers and ranchers as I travel throughout South Dakota as well as events I have held to hear from ag producers about their priorities for the farm bill. prgtoken I am very pleased that the framework Senator Boozman has put out contains measures from a number of the bills I introduced. That includes elements of my Conservation Reserve Program Improvement Act-- legislation I introduced to make the Conservation Reserve Program a more effective option for producers--as well as my CRP Flexibility Act, which would provide additional drought flexibilities for CRP contract holders. prgtoken It also includes my Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which I introduced with Senator Klobuchar to help make crop ins
SERVICEMEMBER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENT AND NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-6-12

. Mr. Chair, I first will open up by congratulating myself because 20 years ago about an hour from now, my lovely bride said ``yes,'' and she has stuck with me for 20 years. So a hearty congratulations that my wife would put up with me for these 20 years, but I am deeply honored to count her as my lovely bride still to this day, so happy anniversary back in Texas. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I am offering an amendment here that would prohibit any of the funding in this National Defense Authorization Act from being used to carry out President 's executive orders on climate change. prgtoken Our military should be focused, very simply, on its mission as a military, not social engineering. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle like to just dismiss this as some sort of political agenda. This is a foolish thing for us to come down and say. Our military ought to be focused very specifically on ensuring they have got the tools necessary to carry out their job, not advancing a radical agenda that is actually undermining our national security and undermining the readiness of our men and women in uniform because that is what is happening. That is the truth. prgtoken In 2021, the Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby refused to say that China was a bigger national security threat to the United States than climate change. prgtoken He called them ``equally important.'' Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that climate change is an existential threat to our Nation's security. prgtoken Five senior officials at the Department of Defense proudly explained in an op-ed that they attended the United Nations Climate Conference, COP28, citing the administration's 2022 national security strategy as justification. prgtoken Just this point: 's executive orders have served as a catalyst for reforms at the Department of Defense that compromise national security in order to advance the climate fetish of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, while China, again, as I said in a previous amendment, is literally building two coal-fired plants a week and we are doing nothing. prgtoken I mentioned that point, and one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle said, well, you are so committed to fossil fuels. prgtoken Well, how about we produce more nuclear power? prgtoken We have done one, one in my lifetime. I am 51 years old. prgtoken The United States of America, the greatest country in the history of the Earth, has only produced one nuclear power plant in 51 years. If you are so committed to producing energy without producing CO2, why not build more nuclear power? prgtoken The fact is, it is not about that. It is not about that. prgtoken It is about chasing the unicorn theory of energy whereby you litter the landscape with windmills and solar panels. Never mind how those solar panels are created, never mind all the child labor being exploited, never mind the empowerment of China, and never mind the massi
Inflation (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-6-12

since President took office, consumer prices have risen more than 20 percent. The Nation hasn't seen this sort of persistent drain on our economy since the Carter administration, and the administration is desperate to avoid the obvious comparison to the stagflation back in the 1970s. prgtoken The White House recently asserted that ``President 's top priority is beating inflation, which is why he has taken historic action . . .'' prgtoken Well, that begs the question: Which historic action are we talking about here? Is the administration referring to the time it invited historic inflation over the warnings of top liberal economists like Larry Summers but ignored that and went ahead with the so-called American Rescue Plan or the time they did the same thing again but called it the Inflation Reduction Act? prgtoken The administration is still looking for a safe landing spot, and liberal commentators are literally tying themselves in knots. One liberal editorial board recently suggested that since employment and consumption levels are steady, ``people will . . . start to notice and the `vibes' will also return to more normal levels''; that ``[i]t's possible that Americans are experiencing the economic equivalent of a hangover.'' prgtoken But, , that is just utter nonsense and is not fooling anyone who actually has to balance a family budget. A recent survey reported that nearly two-thirds of middle-class Americans say they are facing economic hardship. prgtoken Numbers don't lie; neither do consumers. The high prices they are facing aren't a matter of ``bad vibes.'' They are the predictable and avoidable consequences of omics.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNITED STATES ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
Laurel M. Lee (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-6-12

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the United States Election Assistance Commission, the EAC, and the local elections offices across the country who are this year's Clearie Award winners. prgtoken The EAC was established in 2002 as part of the Help America Vote Act to assist States in HAVA compliance and distributing funds to the States. They also are responsible for creating voting system guidelines and assisting local elections offices across the country. prgtoken Each year, the EAC administers a national award, the Clearinghouse Award, or Clearies, to recognize local offices that implement best practices and procedures to ensure their election administration is safe and secure. prgtoken I commend their annual efforts in showcasing the successes of local and State jurisdictions and congratulate the hardworking staff from the 24 election offices from across the Nation who were recognized. I would like to give special recognition to Florida's very own Hillsborough County Elections office, which was named a winner for distinguished voter education and communication initiatives. prgtoken Madam , I congratulate the 2024 Clearinghouse Award winners.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 359 (Executive Calendar)
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2024-6-12

reserving the right to object, let's be clear--this is not about improving the Court; this is about undermining the Court. prgtoken We have three branches of government here. We have the legislative, executive, and judicial branch. This would be an unconstitutional overreach. This would undermine the Court's ability to operate effectively. And it has been a continued effort by our friends on the ic side to undermine a Court they don't like. prgtoken Here is what the Supreme Court has done: In April of 2023, all nine Justices signed a statement on ethics, principles, and practices specifying the ethics, principles, and practices they follow. In March of 2023, the Committee on Financial Disclosures formally amended the personal hospitality regulations in a manner that now requires more complete disclosure. In November of 2023, all nine Justices promulgated a code of conduct. prgtoken The Court is taking these problems seriously. The question is, What are we up to here? We are trying not to empower the Court or reform the Court; we are trying to attack it right at the end of the term. prgtoken I remember very well when the majority leader, Senator Schumer, went to the Court and said, right in front of the Court itself: I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. prgtoken This is really about the way the Court decides cases that our colleagues on the other side really don't like. prgtoken So all I would say is that there are provisions in this bill that should bother anybody that cares about an independent judiciary. prgtoken Judicial investigative panels in section 2 of this bill are made up of lower court judges who would actually preside over their bosses. There is one Supreme Court here. It is unnerving to have a group of lower court judges basically handing an investigative panel the ability to investigate the Supreme Court--the constitutionally designated Supreme Court. prgtoken Recusal--that has been up to the individual Justices since the Court's founding. This bill would create a panel of judges to decide when a Supreme Court Justice should be recused. Again, that just puts the Court in, I think, disarray and fundamentally assaults the one Supreme Court we have. prgtoken All I can say is that section 7, where you have to have disclosures of amicus prgtoken briefs, would make it very hard for certain people to register their opinions about a particular matter before the Court because they could get destroyed by the media, they could get destroyed by special interest groups, and I think that chills out the ability of people to petition the Court apart from politics. prgtoken So my hope is that not only will we stop this exercise now, we will stop it forever. prgtoken With that said, I withhold my objection at this time
HONORING SOUTH BEND POLICE OFFICER DAN NAPOLITAN FOR HIS LIFESAVING ACTIONS
Rudy Yakym III (Republican, IN) \u2014 2024-6-12

I rise to recognize South Bend Police Officer Dan Napolitan, whose quick thinking and decisive action last month likely saved the life of one of his coworkers. prgtoken On the evening of May 6, 2024, Officer Napolitan was working the front desk at the South Bend Police Department. Normally, Dan would have been out walking the beat or patrolling the streets of South Bend that night. However, sidelined by a foot injury, Officer Napolitan had recently started light duty assignment while his foot healed. prgtoken As he was working, Dan noticed something was wrong when his coworker seated nearby started coughing forcefully. When she stood up from her chair and began walking toward him, Officer Napolitan immediately realized that she was choking. Acting quickly, Dan delivered several back blows to his coworker to try to dislodge the food, but she continued to struggle to breathe. Dan then performed the Heimlich maneuver and some additional back blows, which ultimately cleared his coworker's airway and averted an even scarier outcome. Officer Napolitan's ability to keep a clear head and execute quickly and professionally under pressure likely saved his coworker's life. prgtoken For his actions, Officer Napolitan has already been recognized with the South Bend Police Department's Lifesaving Award; an award presented to those who have shown prgtoken exceptional courage and learned measures in order to save lives. I am proud to recognize Officer Napolitan. prgtoken I and Hoosiers throughout Indiana's Second Congressional District are extremely grateful to Officer Napolitan on this occasion and to all our law enforcement officials serving on the Thin Blue Line for the dedicated--and often dangerous--work they do day in and day out to go after the bad guys and keep our communities safe. God bless Officer Dan Napolitan and all those who protect and serve.
Remembering Patrick Gottsch (Executive Calendar)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2024-6-12

I also rise today to honor the life and legacy of my friend Patrick Gottsch, the founder and president of Rural Media Group, who passed away May 18. prgtoken Mr. Gottsch was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who dedicated his life to supporting and promoting rural America through television. prgtoken Patrick was born on June 3, 1953, in Elkhorn, NE, and raised on his family's farm and cattle operation. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and the unique value that rural communities bring to our Nation. prgtoken Having worked as a commodity broker on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, in home satellite sales, and as director of sales for the Superior Livestock Auction, he founded Rural Free Delivery Television, RFD-TV, in 2000. And it is on my TV every day. prgtoken Rural Media Group grew to additionally consist of many other things, including the Cowboy Channel--one of our very favorite--giving rural America the visibility it lacked through traditional media outlets. prgtoken Rural America owes much to Patrick's innovation and his tenacity. Not many people have the ability to articulate and describe the true essence of how special life in rural America is like Patrick did. Rural communities are the heartbeat of our Nation, often overlooked but essential to our Nation's survival and prosperity. prgtoken Patrick gave rural America a voice. In an increasingly urbanized world, Patrick reminded us of the value of rural America. He advocated for the 2 percent of Americans who feed the other 98 percent. He reminded Americans that our clothes and food don't magically grow on shelves at the store. prgtoken We honor Patrick Gottsch for his unprecedented work to promote the American rural way of life that my family and I get to enjoy every single day. He was truly a great ambassador for rural America, and I know he would want us to continue to tell the story to the entire world. prgtoken I offer my deepest condolences to the Gottsch family during this time, and I will strive to honor Patrick's legacy by stressing the continued need for access for rural and agricultural media and programming for all Americans. May Patrick's determination, love for rural America, and persistence in telling the great story of rural America never be forgotten. prgtoken .
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...
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-6-12

contempt: to hold something as beneath the dignity of consideration; something to be scorned; an attitude toward something that is inferior, worthless; open disrespect for something that is vile, despised, disgraced; insolence in the presence of the law. prgtoken An apt description not of the subject of this motion but of those who bring it, not of an Attorney General who has upheld our justice system, who has demonstrated a respect for institutions, but of those who mock the idea that we are a nation of laws, not the individual. prgtoken When s line up in front of a Manhattan courthouse to denigrate the rule of law in the service of a now-convicted felon, that is contemptuous. prgtoken When s peddle the lie that is pulling the levers of 's Manhattan prosecution, that is contemptuous. prgtoken When committee chairmen ignore their own subpoena but feign indignation when the Attorney General complies with his, that is contemptuous. That is deserving of our scorn. That is beneath the dignity of this body. That is vile, disgraceful, and worthy of derision.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 359--Continued (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-6-12

I want to thank my colleagues Senator Durbin and Senator Whitehouse. I have been proud to be part of their team in working for the most minimal kind of ethical standards for the highest Court in the land. Right now, that Court has no enforceable code of conduct, unlike any other court in the Federal system, unlike any other branch of government. It is so elemental as a matter of simple ethical conduct and appearance. prgtoken The Supreme Court has squandered its almost mystical authority, its unique power in the Federal Government. In a sense, that power was not envisioned by the Founders. The idea of judicial review came after the Constitution was written. We can thank Justice Marshall for the idea that the Supreme Court can literally strike down what we do here. It is the most powerful branch of government--not the least dangerous but the most powerful. prgtoken Think of it for a moment. In a democratic republic, it is unelected; it has life tenure. Nobody can tell a Justice: You are too old to do this stuff anymore. It is the most anti-democratic or undemocratic institution in a democratic system of government that you could possibly imagine. So its power is really dependent on its adherence to standards of integrity to gain respect and credibility. It has no army. It has no police force. People follow those orders that it issues because its wisdom and integrity have gained respect. prgtoken This Supreme Court is different than any other we have seen, and it is not just two Members of the Supreme Court; it is the institution as a whole that is responsible, and it is the Chief Justice of the Court that is most responsible. prgtoken So I ask Chief Justice Roberts: Please endorse this legislation not just for the sake of your legacy--we know Chief Justice Roberts cares about his legacy--but for the sake of the Court. prgtoken This Court is doing things and its Justices are committing errors of extraordinary misjudgment--not to mention the corrupt taking of gifts and trips and all the rest--that are, to use my colleague's words, blowing to smithereens the credibility and trust that this Court needs. It needs it for its decisions to be followed and respected. prgtoken What we are doing here is very simply saying to the Court: You must have a code of conduct that is enforceable. prgtoken We are not telling them what to do. We are not telling them to decide a case in one way or another. We are not interfering with their docket. We are not in any way affecting the substantive decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. It is simply telling them to conduct themselves as public officials--whether they take gifts, whether they go on trips paid by somebody else, whether they accept tuition grants. It is common sense. You don't need to be a law school graduate to understand it. prgtoken In fact, this idea is more comprehensible and more impactful to the folks who go to work every day. Nobody gives them college tuiti