hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HOUCHIN: it is this last letter from Virginia's attorney general that makes an important point. I am quoting directly from the letter, ``Unfortunately, due to the proximity of our communities, D.C.'s crime problem has become Virginia's crime problem.'' What happens in the Nation's Capital certainly has consequences for our neighboring communities, but I would also argue that it has consequences across the country. The decisions made here often affect decisions around the country and in other major cities. Therefore, we must think carefully when we review legislation that would allow outside groups to target individual officers and make it more difficult for those officers to do their jobs. We certainly don't want that to catch on. D.C., as of this month compared to last year, has had total crime rise 23 percent, seen homicides increase by 31 percent, and sexual abuse crimes rise a staggering 84 percent. Why we would be trying to implement measures alienating law enforcement officers is beyond me. We should be doing everything we can to show law enforcement officers that we stand with them, especially in areas where crime is on the rise and out of control. We should make it easier, not harder, for them to do their jobs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule, our female athletes, and police officers here in the Nation's Capital and around the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HOUCHIN: I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Democrats have had ample opportunities to work with Republicans during the 117th Congress on bills that protect students in schools, including H.R. 7966, the STOP II Act, sponsored by Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, that would have increased funding for school resource officers and mental health guidance counselors and would have provided Federal grants for better securing our schools; and H.R. 7942, the Securing Our Students Act, sponsored by Representative Burgess Owens of Utah, that would have allowed school district to use unspent COVID-19 emergency relief funds to improve school buildings and strengthen security. Unfortunately, the Democrat then-majority blocked these bills from coming to the House floor. In addition, the House recently passed H.R. 5 which includes provisions ensuring the rights of parents to be informed about violent incidents in school and ensuring that school boards cannot censor the voices of parents who are expressing concerns about any such violent incidents. This is not about bullying kids. It is about fairness. It is about standing up for biological women and girls when no one on the left seems to care about that. Our colleagues across the aisle have even said it is okay for biological males to share locker rooms and showers with biological females even if they don't consent. If supposed groups that support women oppose this bill, then they don't support women. We aren't saying that they can't participate in sports with children or biological males that might have a different identity. We are not saying they can't participate in sports. We are saying they must compete according to their biological sex. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ: I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would not protect kids. We must remember that this legislation could require female student athletes to be subjected to invasive genital examinations or forced to disclose their menstruation data.  What parent would want their child to go through that? This is a grotesque violation of privacy and the complete opposite of protecting our children. If Republicans really want to protect our girls, they should focus on real issues. The sexual abuse of female athletes and students goes unreported too often. The U.S. Center for SafeSport found that 93 percent of athletes experienced sexual harassment or unwanted contact and they were too afraid to report it. We must address the real issues that our children face. With regards to the D.C. bill, Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. NORTON: I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose this rule. I will have more to say tomorrow about the police accountability and transparency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia's local legislature, but I want to take this time to discuss democratic principles. It is true that Congress has the constitutional authority to legislate on our local D.C. matters, but it is false that Congress has a constitutional duty, obligation, or responsibility to do so. Instead, legislating on local D.C. matters is a choice. I remind my Republican colleagues, who claim to revere the Founders, what James Madison said in Federalist 43 about the residents of the Federal District: ``A municipal legislature for local purposes, derived from their own suffrages, will of course be allowed them.'' The Supreme Court has held that Congress may delegate ``full legislative power'' on local D.C. matters. D.C. disapproval resolutions are profoundly undemocratic and paternalistic legislation. D.C.'s local legislature, the D.C. Council, has 13 members. The members are elected by D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, they can vote them down. This is called democracy. Congress has 535 voting Members. The Members are elected by residents of the States. None are elected by or accountable to D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like how the Members vote--even on legislation that applies only to D.C.--they cannot vote them out of office. The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. Yet nearly 700,000 D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress, whether on national or local D.C. matters, while paying full Federal taxes. Indeed, D.C. pays more Federal taxes per capita than any State and more total Federal taxes than 23 States. If the House cared about democratic principles or D.C. residents, it would be voting on my statehood bill, the Washington, D.C., Admission Act, instead. Congress has the constitutional authority to admit the State of Washington, D.C. The House is choosing not to. It is a choice. Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying to all Members of the House: Keep your hands off of D.C.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HOUCHIN: we have heard our Democratic colleagues across the aisle talk about Republicans not caring about sexual abuse of female athletes and it is going underreported. But not a single Democrat voted for H.R. 5 which has language in it in the Parents Bill of Rights to inform parents of violent activity going on at school. This provision was put in, in part, because of circumstances that happened in Loudoun County, Virginia, which kept a sexual assault by a trans student of a young female under wraps, including even transferring that student to another school where that student committed an additional sexual assault. Not a single Democrat voted for H.R. 5. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. ALFORD: I rise today in strong support for the rules package of H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Here we are again, Mr. Speaker. This side of the aisle is advocating for sanity and humanity while that side of the aisle raises their hands saying: What are we doing here? Just like in our debate where we had to denounce socialism on this floor, and just like our debate where we had to defend the lives of abortion survivors, we are here to protect America. We are here for the sanity and humanity of America. Women's sports are meant for biological women and biological women alone. Let's follow the science. For generations, female athletes such as Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams, Katie Ledecky, Mia Hamm, and, most recently, Riley Gaines--who sat in this very gallery during our State of the Union Address and most recently was violently assaulted by a radical mob of activists--have fought tirelessly to tear down societal barriers in sports. This movement, Mr. Speaker, is making a mockery--a mockery--of their brave dedication and overall progress for women in general. Now my colleagues across the aisle want to insult the hours of blood, sweat, and tears that these women have invested into their sports and their careers. We are not going to stand for it. Enough is enough. The emperor has no clothes. Some 50 years ago, Congress passed Title IX to give women the opportunity to compete at levels never seen before. Women broke barriers, and now this radical movement wants to break their spirit.  It is an insult to that legislation and to the progress society has made. It isan insult--yes--that we are even here today having to debate this very issue. Women deserve protections and a fair playing field and a fair swimming pool. Is that too much to ask for, Mr. Speaker? This legislation will give them just that. H.R. 734 states that sex in the athletic context must be recognized based only on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It also clarifies that a recipient of Title IX funding is violating the prohibition against sex discrimination if a school allows a person whose sex is male to participate in a women's athletic activity. Simply put, we cannot ignore the biological differences between a male and a female. To do so would be ignorant and a disservice to the sporting world. Mr. Speaker, this is not about hate. This is about love. This is about love for our country, love for the advancement that women have made, and love for sanity. Let's give women the protection that they deserve and the protection that they have earned.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HOUCHIN: I flatly reject any talk of fearmongering on behalf of Republicans on this side of the aisle. Talk about fearmongering, we have just heard from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that, according to this bill, female student athletes will be subject to violative exams. Nothing in this bill talks about them being subject to exams, physical or otherwise, only that they compete in the sports according to their biological sex at birth. Nothing in this bill prevents or says that transgender children cannot participate in sports. We are only saying that, out of fairness and safety for women and girls, students participate in sports according to their biological sex. We are not preventing anyone from participating in sports. Mr. Speaker, again, I reiterate, the public safety legislation that Republicans proposed in the 117th Congress that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle opposed--bills that would increase funding for school resource officers and mental health counselors, Federal grants to secure schools, Securing Our Students Act, allowing districts to claw back unspent COVID-19 funds to improve school buildings and strengthen security--those bills were flatly rejected from the Democrat-held majority at the time. Those bills would have done exactly what they suggest that they want to do now. Maybe if we bring those bills back, we will get their support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ: we can actually point to two accomplishments that we did on this House floor when Democrats were in charge. The Democratic leadership in Congress helped us lead to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It was bipartisan, but we had very few Republicans. That would have provided the kind of resources we need in our schools to help our children. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Sorensen).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. SORENSEN: stop the nonsense. Let's get back to work and solve the real problems, which is what the people back home sent us here to do.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. BALINT: I rise in opposition to this bill and to speak clearly and directly on H.R. 734, which Republicans are ironically calling the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This bill is undeniably an attack on our kids and does nothing of substance to protect girls.  Bills like this are aimed at taking away rights from LGBTQ Americans, specifically our kids. Kids and their families are being targeted and harassed for political gain. I ask, is this really the Nation that we want to live in? Sports bans for kids are cruel and unnecessary. These bills are clearly, at their core, un-American. They are about restricting rights. They are about barring kids--kids, kids--from full participation in sports. The U.S. House of Representatives must not participate in this obvious fear-based hate and discrimination of trans youth. We risk lives when we don't stand up clearly and loudly against discrimination of all kinds. This bill would have us believe that we should be afraid of trans youth. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I talk to these kids and their families, when I listen deeply to these kids and their families, what they say is: I just want to live my life. I just want to have friends. I want to be myself. I don't want to go to school and be picked on. They need our support. They do not need us demonizing them and fearmongering and bullying. Today, Republicans blocked our amendments, which would have actually supported our girls in schools. My amendment would have strengthened protections against harassment in schools based on sex, race, color, national origin, disability, and age. It would have restored protections against harassment and ensured equal opportunities for all students. It would have also required schools to take additional steps to protect students that have experienced sex-based harassment. We cannot keep putting our children in harm's way with this hateful rhetoric that is coming directly from inside the Halls of Congress. Instead, let's do our job and take real steps to actually protect our children.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HOUCHIN: this is the bill that they say is demonizing: ``H.R. 734, to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 to provide that for purposes of determining compliance with title IX of such Act in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.'' ``Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a recipient from permitting males to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefit that accompanies participating in the athletic program or activity.'' It makes me wonder, Mr. Speaker, if our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have read this bill, given their vehement opposition to it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. GOMEZ: here we go again. Republicans are attacking one of the most marginalized, most discriminated groups in our country--trans Americans--just to score cheap political points. Yes, cheap political points because this is something from the top down, from the head of the Republican Party here in Congress to each of the States that have introduced anti-trans legislation. It is especially sick when you look at the statistics. Over 50 percent of trans youth considered suicide just last year. Let that sink in: 50 percent--not a fraction, 50 percent. Yet, rather than address pressing issues like gun violence, the leading cause of death for our children, Republicans are attacking trans and other LGBTQ kids. It shows exactly who they are--bigots and bullies. I said that once and I will say it again: bigots and bullies. This isn't their first attack on the trans community, as I mentioned. At the start of this Congress, my Republican colleagues threatened to revoke funding for an organization in my district that helps trans Americans find jobs and mental health resources. Oh, big conspiracy, trying to help people with mental health issues and help them find jobs. If they think their attacks will stop me from supporting the trans community, they are simply wrong. Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth want to participate in team sports for the same reason as their cisgender peers: to be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves. As the brother of an LGBTQ American, I find their attacks offensive. I will vote ``no'' on this piece of legislation.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ: to discuss our proposal, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. HOYLE : my Democratic colleagues and I are here to defend Social Security and Medicare and to support our Nation's seniors.  My district has the lowest median household income in Oregon. We have over 160,000 seniors who rely on Social Security for their retirement. My colleagues across the aisle are approaching Social Security as if it is an unearned handout. That is beyond offensive. That is not what it is meant to do. That is not what it is meant to be. People have paid into this system their whole lives. They should be able to get their contributions back, and that is the promise of our Social Security program. Right now, we only tax income up to $160,000 a year to fund Social Security. Millionaires and billionaires who get their income from investments instead of earning their money by the hour, like most of my constituents and like most working Americans, aren't paying their fair share into Social Security at all. We must change the system. By finally requiring the wealthiest Americans to pay into Social Security at the same rate as all the hardworking nurses and firefighters across this country, we can expand benefits, not cut them. I am not in Congress to protect billionaires. I am here to make sure those who have paid into the system their whole lives and who have worked hard, including our fishermen, electricians, and schoolteachers, can retire with dignity and welcome a new generation to the workforce. It is our responsibility to make sure that Social Security can be successful in the future. It is time for the House majority to stop playing games with people's lives with bills that don't do anything and support Social Security and Medicare.  {time}  1315
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. GARCIA : across the country, State legislatures, including my home State of Texas, have advanced legislation seeking to ban transgender kids from participating in sports. Very sadly, this bill here today in Congress is seeking to do the same. The so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act up for consideration today is nothing more than another extreme MAGA Republican political stunt, taking away the focus from the real issues affecting American people. It would stipulate that Title IX compliance ban gender and intersex girls and women from participating in sports. Denying children access to a place where they can gain mental and physical benefits does not protect women in sports. It harms women in sports.  This bill sanctions discrimination against transgender students, which is mean-spirited and just plain bullying. This is not the role of Congress. I have heard directly from trans and intersex constituents in my district. They are worried every day about what political stunt and what political attack will come next. No one should live in fear just for being who they are. I strongly oppose the rule and strongly, strongly oppose final passage of this bill.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1772-H1782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-18
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. JACKSON LEE: I thank the gentlewoman for her kindness, and I only have a minute to talk about kindness. I vigorously oppose the underlying legislation dealing with our beautiful children. Mr. Speaker, that is what it is, and I join with the Utah Governor who indicates that this minute problem does not deserve a sledgehammer. This bill deals with girls and women in sports, and the Olympics and the NCAA have spoken on transgender. I speak from the heart as a fellow human being. I speak from loving children as the chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus. I cannot stand here and tolerate 53 percent of trans kids considering suicide last year. They want to belong. They want to have friends. They want to play sports. If you are 5 years old, 12 years old, this Congress has no right in interfering with a beautiful community. It is, in fact, a blessing to have a world and a Nation that has people who are different. I affirm their difference. I stand for their difference. I will fight for their difference because they should be loved like anyone else. The rules and regulations are already in place. Why are we here doing that when guns are killing our children?