mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Afghanistan (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-4-15

President has decided to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. I believe this decision was one of the hardest President will ever make. prgtoken As Washington Post columnist David Ignatius pointed out, ``'s military and intelligence advisers had presented him with three unpleasant alternatives: leave May 1 as previously agreed, even though this would probably mean the fall of the Kabul government and a return to civil war; stay for a limited period, perhaps negotiated with the Taliban, which would delay its eventual takeover; or stay for an undefined period, which could mean a long continuation of what is already the United States longest war.'' prgtoken In effect, there were no good choices. The President exercised his best judgment to endorse a path that is most likely to protect the national security interests of the United States. prgtoken I believe there were several factors over 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan that shaped the President's decision. The most critical miscalculation over the past 20 years was the administration's decision to invade Iraq. prgtoken We took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan at a crucial time and instead pursued a war of choice in Iraq. The attacks by al-Qaida on September 11 galvanized the world. The authorization for use of military force passed the Senate 98 to nothing, while the French newspaper Le Monde proclaimed, ``We are all Americans.'' Most notably, for the first time, NATO invoked article 5 of its charter, which calls upon its members to take action on behalf of any member nation which is attacked. The world was with us. prgtoken But before we could really gain momentum in Afghanistan, the United States diverted to an unnecessary war of choice in Iraq. As journalist Steve Coll wrote in his definitive history of the war in Afghanistan, months after 9/11, ``On November 21, 2001, then Central Commander Tommy Franks, who was planning our operations against Tora Bora, took a call from Donald Rumsfeld, who ordered him to start working on the plan for the invasion of Iraq. Rumsfeld told him to have something ready within a week.'' prgtoken As a consequence, General Franks' attention was being forced elsewhere. As journalist Susan Glasser wrote in the Washington Post, in the Battle of Tora Bora, ``corrupt warlords allowed bin Laden to escape, while special forces pleaded with the Pentagon to let them get in the fight.'' As we now know, Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida and the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, was not captured for another decade. This decision wasted a period when the Taliban was routed and the Afghan population was welcoming. prgtoken More recently, President inherited a flawed agreement from the administration. Known as the Doha agreement, it required the United States, its allies, and coalition partners to withdraw all military forces by May 1, 2021. Nondiplomatic civilian pers
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-4-15

I feel very privileged to be here today to speak on behalf of Vanita Gupta, a dedicated public servant who is devoted, deeply devoted, to equal justice, civil rights, and the rule of law. prgtoken I have seen firsthand, and I know I am not the only one who has done so, her consummate dedication to the integrity of the Department of Justice, which is so vital to be restored at this moment in our history. prgtoken The support for her reflects a broad, professionally and ideologically diverse coalition of individuals and organizations that know she is eminently qualified to be Associate Attorney General. prgtoken When she is confirmed, she will not only be the first civil rights lawyer but also the first woman of color to serve as Associate Attorney General. prgtoken She is, in effect, the leader we need in that position now. And we need it right now. The Attorney General needs her right now. He has said so. And we should be proud to confirm this eminently qualified woman. Hers is the character that the Department of Justice requires to help restore trust and credibility. prgtoken Now, the fact is that she has been a target of a smear campaign, a vial and despicable campaign of lies and deception that are completely unfounded. These attacks are based on demonstrable lies and mischaracterizations. prgtoken Her previous tenure in the civil rights division makes absolutely clear her commitment to enforcing the law with integrity and honesty, with balance and insight. She has a proven record as a consensus builder and as a leader. prgtoken And her work with law enforcement is the reason why she has such support among law enforcement leaders, and that support is across party lines. In fact, every major law enforcement organization refers and supports her nomination. prgtoken Try as they might, unfortunately, our colleagues continue to smear her. She has never--she has never called for defunding the police. She has never said many of the lies that are attributed to her. And even more than being unfounded, these attacks are really the height hypocrisy. It is unconscionable that s would criticize this lifelong public servant and Justice Department veteran after they silently sat by when there was no Senate-confirmed Associate Attorney General for nearly 3 years during the administration. The outrage that they feign should fall on deaf ears. prgtoken Our moment of reckoning is soon. It is not just our moment of reckoning; it is a moment of reckoning for the Nation because, in the last year, we have faced a global pandemic. We have grappled with racial justice issues that have been ignored for too long, and we have defended against an onslaught of hate and extremism. prgtoken We are at a pivotal moment. We urgently need her kind of leadership to combat domestic terrorism, extremist violence, and hate crimes. In fact, we are in the midst right now of considering a measure that will he
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-4-15

for a quarter of a century, Chairwoman DeLauro has been trying to get this bill passed. She is sick and tired, I am sick and tired, and American women are sick and tired of being treated like second-class citizens. prgtoken Imagine if the women here in Congress were being paid 60, 70, or 80 percent of what our male colleagues are making. Do you think we would put up with it? Of course not. Somehow, American women are expected to put up with that. prgtoken Do you want facts? Ask about Ms. Rexroat, from the State of Arizona, who was paid less than her colleague because they decided that they would base her salary on what she was making before, as opposed to the job at hand. prgtoken We have a problem, . This has been going on for way too long. It is time for us to fix it for all the women and children in this country who want to be paid equally for equal work so that they have money for childcare, rent, food, and education.
Introductory Statement on S.J. Res. 17
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-4-15

throughout his time in office, President repeatedly disparaged our NATO allies and reportedly threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance, the bedrock of European and American security for over seventy years. Although our current President has recommitted the United States to NATO and our transatlantic partnerships, it is still necessary for the Senate to consider legislation that prevents any President from withdrawing the United States from this critical defense treaty. This legislation would not only help address present national security challenges by reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Europe, it would also provide clarity to important constitutional questions regarding the role of Congress in terminating U.S. participation in treaties and alliances. Particularly with a treaty obligation that is as central to U.S. security as NATO, no President should be allowed to unilaterally withdraw without the advice and consent of the Senate. prgtoken Over the past several years, NATO allies, many of whom we have fought alongside since World War II and earlier in some cases, have questioned our allegiance for the first time in the history of NATO. In response to the only invocation of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty following the 9/ 11 attacks, more than 1,000 servicemembers from these allied nations gave their lives fighting alongside the United States. While the United States must continue to press every country to increase defense spending to meet the agreed-upon goal of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, and ensure that our European allies contribute to their own defense, U.S. withdrawal from NATO should not be considered without Congressional input. For this reason, we must use our constitutional powers of advice and consent and of the purse to block any unilateral executive withdrawal, and preemptively authorize legal proceedings to challenge any decision to terminate U.S. membership. prgtoken The legislation I am introducing today with Senators Rubio, Collins, Blumenthal, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Graham, King, Klobuchar, Merkley, Moran, Shaheen, and Warner would provide the necessary tools to prevent a President from unilaterally withdrawing the United States from the NATO treaty without the consent of Congress. The Senate has repeatedly indicated its support for NATO through previous legislation, including the original vote of 82-13 in 1949 to grant the Senate's consent to join NATO, and the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for the United States to ``remain ironclad in its commitment to uphold its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty.'' prgtoken I am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill to ensure that the safety of the American people is prioritized through our continued membership in NATO, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate. prgtoken Thank you, Mr
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-4-15

. Madam , the gender pay gap is a pervasive problem that demands thoughtful, multipronged solutions. The Paycheck Fairness Act represents a comprehensive response to the shortcomings of existing law and addresses the holes that have emerged over time. prgtoken Representative Stefanik's substitute, the Wage Equity Act, is exactly what the Paycheck Fairness Act has been fighting over the years. It purports to offer protections, but, in reality, it creates loopholes that give a wink and a nod to discrimination. Not only would it offer empty protections, it would erode existing protections already in place. prgtoken The substitute includes inadequate protections for workers who discuss or disclose wages. While ostensibly protecting employees who disclose or discuss that pay, it allows employers to place limitations on when, where, and how employees may do so, negating the point of the provision. prgtoken Madam , you cannot remedy pay discrimination if you have no idea that you are making less than the man across the hall. When workers fear retaliation for talking about their pay, any wage gap they face is likely to continue to grow undiscovered in the shadows. prgtoken More egregiously, there is no mechanism for enforcement, as it would allow employers who conduct self-designed pay audits to escape accountability for unlawful pay disparities and deny a worker a remedy. prgtoken I think it bears repeating that corporations do not feel free to sell us spoiled meat, lock our daughters up in ninth-floor sweatshops with no fire escapes, employ our underage sons in coal mines, force us to work 13-hour shifts without overtime or a break because corporations experienced a moment of Zen and decided to evolve. prgtoken No. They were forced into greater accountability and social concern by the legitimate actions of a democratic government. In other words, if we depend on goodwill or a self-audit, then we are all screwed. prgtoken This amendment seeks to destroy the entire purpose of the bill and allows companies to evade accountability for violating the law. prgtoken Madam , I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment and a ``yes'' vote for the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Nomination of Vanita Gupta (Executive Session)
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-4-15

I want to touch on two critically important subjects that the Senate is considering today. First, I want to rise in support of Vanita Gupta, President 's nominee to serve as the Associate Attorney General, the third highest ranking position in our Justice Department. prgtoken I think my good friend, the Senator from Illinois, has already spoken about Ms. Gupta. I want to make a personal note. First, that Vanita is a fellow Virginian. I am proud to say that she and her husband, Chinh Le, are raising their two sons in the Commonwealth. They live in Arlington. prgtoken Ms. Gupta is also an outstanding public servant. She served from 2014 to 2017 as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division at DOJ. She led the Division, as the Acting Assistant Attorney General, until 2015. prgtoken Since 2017, she has led one of the country's preeminent civil rights organizations--the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights. This means that, if confirmed, Ms. Gupta will be the first civil rights leader in any of the top three positions at Justice. prgtoken The sheer depth and breadth of Ms. Gupta's legal and professional experience makes her an outstanding selection to serve as the Associate Attorney General. Perhaps that is why Ms. Gupta's supporters span the political spectrum. prgtoken My understanding is that my friend, the Senator from Illinois, has already pointed out some of this broad-based bipartisan support. Let me elaborate on some of that support. Grover Norquist calls her an ``honest broker'' in his endorsement letter. prgtoken Let me just state for the record that I have had interactions with Grover Norquist since before I was Governor, over 20 years, and Grover Norquist has never called me anything close to as nice as he called Vanita Gupta as an ``honest broker.'' prgtoken Mark Holden, the former general counsel of Koch Industries, writes: ``Ms. Gupta is an exceptional lawyer, and among the most talented lawyers I have worked with in my career.'' prgtoken Ms. Gupta has spent years and years collaborating with people from across the spectrum to promote a more fair and equal justice system. prgtoken And let me note for the record, as well, that I have not always agreed with Ms. Gupta. I was very involved in prgtoken housing finance reform. Ms. Gupta, as chairman of the Conference on Civil Rights, had a different opinion, but I always respected her intellect and her willingness to listen to alternative views and her willingness to really dig into the facts. prgtoken With that background as a civil rights leader in the thick of issues around policing, race, and criminal justice reform, she actually led the investigations of police departments in Ferguson, Chicago, and Baltimore. prgtoken At the same time, I have a long list of law enforcement groups that are supporting Ms. Gupta's nomination, including the National Fraternal Order of Police. Again, in terms of the
BORDER WEEK
Tracey Mann (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-4-15

I rise today to discuss the southern border. President 's policies paved the way for this full-scale crisis. He promised outright citizenship to more than 11 million illegal immigrants, placed a moratorium on deportations, and halted border wall construction. prgtoken I went to the southern border to witness firsthand this crisis last week: prgtoken I saw scared children. Under the administration, Mexican cartels are the winners, and innocent children are the losers. Cartels are making hundreds of millions of dollars exploiting children as the daily average of unaccompanied minors crossing the border has nearly doubled. prgtoken I saw overcrowded facilities and overwhelmed Customs and Border Patrol agents. Texas migrant facilities are well over 700 percent capacity, and 40 percent of our agents are being pulled away from border control to process unaccompanied children. prgtoken I watched agents place $8 million worth of methamphetamine, cartel- smuggled drugs, on a table, and I learned that the cartel would throw migrant children in the Rio Grande as a distraction to avoid being apprehended. prgtoken We must end these disastrous, no-consequence policies, secure our border through a physical barrier, enhanced technology, and patrol agents, and adhere to and modernize our country's immigration system.
Remembering Douglas Burtell (Executive Session)
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-4-15

12 days ago, on April 3, we brought sad news of the passing of Douglas Burtell, of Bowman, ND, the last known World War II veteran residing in my State from the legendary 164th Infantry Regiment of the North Dakota National Guard. Tomorrow would have been his 97th birthday, April 16. I join in remembering and honoring him and the generation of heroes he represents to our State and to our Nation. prgtoken Douglas Burtell joined the National Guard in Fargo at the age of 16. In February of 1942, 2 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, this Casselton native was among the 1,723 young men to mobilize in the 164th Infantry Regiment. Ten months later, the regiment sailed into history as the first U.S. Army unit to offensively engage the enemy in the Pacific when they landed at Guadalcanal on October 13, 1942. There they reinforced the 1st Marine Division and spent more than 600 days in the combat zone until August 1945. prgtoken His talent for illustration was noticed at the national regiment headquarters, where he was trained in intelligence and reconnaissance. There he interpreted aerial photography, analyzed captured materials, and drew maps based on patrol reconnaissance reports. His service included combat on the Philippine Islands, Bougainville, and Guadalcanal, and he received the Purple Heart after being wounded in action. prgtoken Returning to North Dakota after the war, Mr. Burtell earned his high school GED, attended art school in Minneapolis, and spent much of his life in lumber, millwork, and camper sales in Fargo. He spent his last years living near his daughter in Bowman, ND. prgtoken Often attending reunions of the 164th Regiment Infantry Association, he was present at its final gathering in October 2017. He helped relatives of other veterans with research about the war experiences of their loved ones prgtoken And he painted throughout his life, generously sharing his work with friends. Mr. Burtell's artwork helped tell the everyday stories of the soldiers as they fought their way through the South Pacific. His illustrations are a lasting testament to the heroic contributions of the 164th Infantry Regiment to World War II. He was honored in March when North Dakota Adjutant General, Major General Al Dohrmann announced one of his sketches would be featured on a new recognition coin. Other artwork is etched in granite on the 164th Infantry Regiment Memorial located at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery near Mandan, which is now Mr. Burtell's final resting place. prgtoken , on behalf of all Dakotans and a grateful nation, I offer my deepest condolences to Douglas Burtell's family and friends, including his daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Steve Conley, his two granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren. prgtoken Today, with most of our World War II veterans now gone, Mr. Burtell's artwork preserves the faces of so many brave North Dakotans and exemplifies their patri
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-4-15

my colleague, the Senator from Idaho, knows how much I respect him, and I certainly appreciate the invitation to work with him and his committee, and I intend to do that. prgtoken And I know that the Senator didn't say this, but I don't believe in government-run healthcare. But we have a discrete problem here and a very unique situation that can be addressed. This is not a biologic, as I said earlier, that costs hundreds of millions of dollars to develop. This is insulin, and a lot of Americans need it or they will die. prgtoken There is a monopoly, and there are efforts that have been made to maintain that monopoly, and my people in Louisiana--I know the people in Idaho--many of them feel the same way, and that is why they applaud Senator Crapo's efforts, but they are hurting. prgtoken You can die without insulin. You can die. And it costs 10 bucks a vial to make, and it has been around 100 years, and now it costs 375 bucks. And all you have to do is walk across the border into Canada, and you can buy it for 50 bucks. prgtoken The market is being manipulated. I know it is complicated, and I understand politics. I have been around it a good portion of my life, but this is an issue where we need to stop--we need to stop--talking about it, strutting around, issuing press releases, holding hearings, and doing nothing. prgtoken I don't want to price fix. I don't. It makes me real uncomfortable to be proposing this, but I don't know what else to do. There comes a point where patience--where patience--ceases to be a virtue. prgtoken And here is what I know. I mean, the bill has been objected to, and I appreciate it. You pass a bill like this or a similar bill like this; you are going to see a solution pretty fast. You are going to see a solution real fast. You are going to see some--this opaque market react with new energy. They are going to be running around like hounds from hell, trying to keep this from becoming the law, and that is why we need to hit this head-on. prgtoken But with that, I thank the President for his attention, and for his eloquent remarks. prgtoken .