mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-1-24

I come to the floor to implore my colleagues and the President to end the shutdown and reopen the Federal Government. prgtoken We are now on day 34 of this shutdown, which is well past being the longest in American history. When you think about what our country has been through: the Civil War, World War I, World War II; you think about the protests we had; what we had with the country in the Depression; what we had only a decade ago with the biggest downturn since the Depression--through all of that, even through a few shutdowns, we somehow, in this Chamber and in the House and in the White House, were able to get our act together and were somehow able to keep the government open. prgtoken Now is the time to open the government, . The 800,000 Federal employees who are not being paid are keenly aware that this is the longest shutdown on record. Another sad milestone is coming if the shutdown continues through tomorrow. These workers will miss yet another paycheck. These are workers, like a Federal prison worker in Rochester, MN, who noted to me that the inmates were getting paid but the prison workers are not. She was so excited to get this job a few months ago. Her child was in daycare. She is a single mom, and now she has to decide between taking some other job and moonlighting. What does she do about the daycare if she takes another job and takes her child out of daycare and stays home with her child, which would make some sense, except she wouldn't have enough money, and then she would lose her spot in the daycare. It is very hard to get daycare in Minnesota. prgtoken Instead of working on those kinds of what I would call opportunities, at a time when our economy has been stable after we had gotten out of the downturn, we have been working out of chaos. Instead of helping her to afford childcare and figuring out smart solutions, or doing something about pharmaceutical prices, or doing something about college costs, or training our workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow, or enacting comprehensive immigration reform so our rural areas in my State, where we don't have enough workers on our farms and in our fields and in our factories--we prgtoken should be working on those opportunity issues--instead, we are trying to crawl out of chaos. prgtoken We need to reopen the government and get these workers back on the jobs providing vital services for the American people. Once it is open, as my colleagues have made clear and as leadership has made clear, we can continue negotiations with the President about border security. I am someone, as is my colleague from Pennsylvania, who voted for a bill that had over $40 billion in border security that was part of comprehensive immigration reform. We did this, but was it a wall through the entire border? No, it was not. It allowed the experts to decide where there should be technology, where there should be fencing, where there should be b
HONORING CHARLIE ``CHIEF'' INGS
Val Butler Demings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise today to honor Charlie ``Chief'' Ings, a legend in the Orlando Police Department. prgtoken Charlie ``Chief'' Ings spent nearly thirty years with the Orlando Police Department. He was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, serving as one of OPD's first black police officers and serving as the first black detective. prgtoken Charlie Ings' commitment was real, his dedication fierce, and his perseverance unwavering. Before joining the police department, he spent seven years with Orlando's Recreation Division. While walking a different type of beat, he mentored children and teenagers and stood as a strong role model and source of strength and inspiration for his community. prgtoken By the time he joined the Orlando Police Department, he was called a ``walking encyclopedia'' of West Orlando's families by his peers. What came naturally to Charlie Ings is today known as ``community-oriented policing.'' Simply put, he always put service above self. The community trusted him, and that meant getting calls and tips to fill in crucial details on unsolved cases. prgtoken He worked long nights and cold mornings, broke up crime rings and built lifelong friendships. He was married to his wife Pearl for thirty years and was father to six children. One of his children, Commissioner Samuel Ings, followed in his footsteps by joining the Orlando Police Department. prgtoken What Charlie ``Chief'' Ings' former colleagues remember about him is his character. His integrity was renowned, and he treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was an officer and a gentleman and leaves an exemplary roadmap for others to follow. He will be remembered by his family, his friends, former colleagues, and a grateful community.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-1-24

I rise to talk about the shutdown, as my colleague, the senior Senator from Minnesota, just did. I am grateful for her comments on what is happening to people in Minnesota, the direct adverse impact of this shutdown on their lives. We have all seen it. We have all experienced it. prgtoken I will be referring to specific testimony from people who wrote me letters, but let me just highlight one experience I had the other day at a food bank in Central Pennsylvania, just miles from our State capital--a food bank that serves 27 of our 67 counties. prgtoken I was talking about how this shutdown could end. The President wanted the shutdown. He got the shutdown, but he could also end it. Prior to the discussion we had, behind us, they had an entire table full of food items that the food bank and others in that region of Pennsylvania were delivering to Federal workers, especially to TSA agents, who cannot afford food because they are working but are not being prgtoken paid. It is hard to comprehend that. It is hard to comprehend that so many veterans around the country are, once again, serving their country by serving in the government as they served in combat or in the military; yet they are being left out in the cold, so to speak-- sometimes literally--but are, obviously, being left out when they don't have paychecks. prgtoken So this is real life. We debate bills and budgets and appropriations here in Washington. We have debates on the floor and debates and discussions in the hallways, but for these folks, this is real life. I will just point to, maybe, five examples in Pennsylvania. prgtoken Adams County, which is in the southernmost part of our State, where Gettysburg is--just on the Maryland border--is not a big county by population. Here is what one individual who is married to a Federal worker wrote. I will just quote her in part. prgtoken She writes: We are expecting our first child this summer and, prior to December 22, were excited about the future and potential of 2019. Now we are anxious, sad, and angry, not knowing where the money will come from to buy necessities for this child, let alone medical expenses related to birth and daycare. prgtoken She goes on to write later in the letter: We are now in real and serious danger of losing our home and our vehicles. We will soon have to choose between buying groceries or paying for the electric bill. prgtoken She goes on from there. She is one Pennsylvanian in Adams County. prgtoken Here is one from Cambria County, which is in the southwestern part of our State. prgtoken This individual wrote: ``My husband is a Federal employee who has been furloughed.'' prgtoken She goes on to write: We have a son in elementary school. It is about time for spring sports sign-ups, but we don't know how we are going to pay our bills or buy groceries. It is our son's birthday in less than 2 weeks. We cance
THE SHUTDOWN HURTS NEW JERSEY FAMILIES
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , 34 days into the shutdown, New Jersey families are hurting: 5,000 Federal workers have lost their paycheck; millions more are being harmed by the closure of critical services. prgtoken In my district in Edison, many EPA employees are being prevented from doing their jobs. These dedicated public servants help clean up contaminated sites. They keep our drinking water safe. Meanwhile, at the NOAA lab at Sandy Hook, they are unable to conduct urgent research on climate change. prgtoken One of my EPA workers said: ``, please open the government. Do your job so we can do our job.'' I couldn't agree more. prgtoken Members of the Coast Guard at Sandy Hook in my district are going without pay. These are the men and women who risked their lives to keep us safe during Superstorm Sandy, and they deserve a paycheck. prgtoken An IRS worker from my district said: ``This is the first time in my life that I have ever had to go to a food bank for food. Not knowing where food is coming from is scary.'' And she went on to say that she fears being evicted from her apartment. This is an IRS worker. prgtoken Madam , House have voted 11 times on bipartisan legislation. It is time to open the government, .
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I had an unavoidable family commitment and so I missed Roll Call vote number 44 regarding the ``NATO Support Act (H.R. 676).'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 45 regarding the ``Hack Your State Department Act (H.R. 328).'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 46 regarding the ``Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes (H.J. Res. 28).'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 47 regarding the ``Rule Provided for Consideration of H.R. 648 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 and H.J. Res. 31 Making further Continuing Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2019 (H. Res. 61).'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 48 regarding the ``Motion to Recommit on H. R. 648 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, I would have voted ``no.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 49 regarding the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.R. 648).'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
DO YOUR JOBS, NOT PRESIDENT'S BIDDING
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise today because what our country is going through is a disgrace: 800,000 Federal workers are going without a paycheck. They are suffering, and their families are suffering, all because the President wants a wall that is nothing more than a monument to hate. The American people are tired of this President's games. prgtoken Last night, I called some constituents who had contacted my office because they are furloughed due to the shutdown. prgtoken I talked to a Forest Service worker from my district who has missed a paycheck and doesn't want to be used as a bargaining chip by the President. prgtoken I talked to another constituent who works at the National Archives and is experiencing the consequences of this shutdown. She knows that the longer this drags on, the more people who will get hurt. prgtoken Last night, I received a heart-wrenching message from a constituent who is experiencing hardship and needs to apply for assistance programs, but she can't because she can't even access the information she needs from the Office of Personnel Management. prgtoken This has to end. We have voted not once, not twice, but 11 times to reopen the government. Leader McConnell and the Senate s have blocked these bills in the Senate every step of the way. To them, I say: Enough. Do your jobs, not the President's bidding. 800,000 workers and the rest of the American people demand it, and so do we.
EFFECTS OF THE SHUTDOWN
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I really appreciate the opportunity to come down and talk. prgtoken Our colleague from Alabama was talking about Martin Luther King, who also talked about the urgency of now. If there is a time for urgency, it is now to end the shutdown and pay the workers. prgtoken He also talked about and warned about that, if you wait too long, it can be too late. So this is the time to spare what is a growing disaster for all Americans from happening. prgtoken Wilbur Ross, our Commerce Secretary, said that he doesn't quite understand why these furloughed and unpaid workers might have to go to a food bank. He doesn't understand. prgtoken That is exemplary of the level at which this administration is completely tone-deaf and out of touch, that they don't understand how people--the beginning salary for a TSA worker at the airport is $28,000, and sometimes it goes up to maybe $43,000. Tomorrow will be the second paycheck that they don't get. prgtoken So a number of us in Chicago had a roundtable that included eight Members of the House of Representatives, , and Senator Durbin. Madam right now in the chair was at that roundtable. We heard from 18 different workers from different agencies talking. prgtoken Wilbur Ross ought to talk to Florence, who is helping people get food stamps and found herself having to apply for food stamps, for the SNAP program. She waited 3 hours at a food bank. Why? Because the lines are growing and growing and growing of people who, yes, need to get food on their tables and can't afford to do it. prgtoken Shame on Secretary Ross for not understanding what is going on out there. prgtoken We are hearing of people giving blood and plasma in order to have a few dollars to put food on the table. We are hearing about people running out of gas money, and that means that they can't get to work. This is money that comes out of their pocket while they are not getting paychecks. prgtoken Madam , to Mitch McConnell, who doesn't want to call bills that would actually get the government going, I say: Shame on you. Shame on you, Wilbur Ross. Shame on this administration. This is a crisis. This is a disaster that you are creating. You can end it. prgtoken So the demand is clear: End the shutdown; pay the workers.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , this week I met with south Floridians to talk about the impact of the cruel shutdown, so many sad stories. prgtoken I learned about a TSA agent who just came back from maternity leave who had to send her baby to her mother in Massachusetts because she didn't have the money for daycare or Pampers. prgtoken The air traffic controllers told me that their stress level is so high now, it is a danger to all of us. And I heard from the service providers of victims of domestic violence who are worried that their shelters are about to close. prgtoken Now, , we support smart border security, not an ineffective, wasteful wall. But, listen, we can debate that at another time. prgtoken Right now, we have to open our government so that we can get back to the business for the people.
TRUMP SHUTDOWN
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , today, I went to the Jose Andres food bank in Washington, D.C for Federal workers. I was stunned to see hundreds waiting in line in the rain. prgtoken Inside, they were giving a hot meal to everybody, as well as fresh vegetables, diapers, and feminine products. And they were assisting those who were in danger of missing utility payments. prgtoken As I served the workers, I asked them what their jobs were. They worked for the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the D.C. Superior Court. prgtoken How many of these workers were served by this food bank yesterday? Eleven thousand. prgtoken They are like the Federal workers in my district, people like Catherine, who has back problems and now can't afford the copay for physical therapy and epidurals, or Eric, who told me he had to defer car maintenance in order to avoid missing his son's college tuition payment. prgtoken This suffering could end right now. But instead of ending their pain, ignores it. Just this morning, his Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, said he could not understand why furloughed workers have to go to food banks. Well, I say: End this shutdown today.
CONGRATULATING THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , on Sunday, January 20, the Los Angeles Rams--who play at the Los Angeles Coliseum and will soon be housed in my Congressional District in the City of Inglewood--defeated the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFC Championship Game. The Rams won the opportunity to face off with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on February 3 in Atlanta, Georgia. Football is an all-American sport and is the most popular sport in America. As such, the Rams are congratulated by all of their hometown fans and admirers across the country for their spectacular victory in becoming NFC Champions. I commend these players as well as the players and staff of all NFL teams for their tremendous talent and for exercising their first amendment rights in support of criminal justice reform.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-1-24

as you know, I seldom rise on this floor to contradict somebody on the other side. Over the years, I have worked very hard to work in a bipartisan way with the Presiding Officer and with my colleagues, but these crocodile tears that the Senator from Texas is crying for the first responders are too hard for me to take. prgtoken They are too hard for me to take because when the Senator from Texas shut this government down in 2013, my State was flooded. It was under water. People were killed. People's houses were destroyed. Their small businesses were ruined forever. Because of the Senator from Texas, this government was shut down for politics. prgtoken He surfed to a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses but was of no help to the first responders, to the teachers, and to the students whose schools were closed with a Federal Government that was shut down because of the junior Senator from Texas. prgtoken It is his business--not my business--why he supports a President who wants to erect a medieval barrier on the border of Texas, who wants to use eminent domain to build that wall, and who wants to declare an unconstitutional emergency to build that wall. That is the business of the Senator from Texas. prgtoken I can assure you that in Colorado if a President said that he was going to use eminent domain to erect a barrier across the State of Colorado, across the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and he was going to steal the property of our farmers and ranchers to build his medieval wall, there wouldn't be an elected leader from our State who would support that idea. prgtoken That comes to my final point--how ludicrous it is that this government is shut down over a promise the President of the United States couldn't keep and that America is not interested in having him keep. This idea that he was going to build a medieval wall across the southern border of Texas, taking it from the farmers and ranchers who were there, and have the Mexicans pay for it isn't true. That is why we are here, because he is now saying the taxpayers have to pay for it. That is not what he said during his campaign. prgtoken Over and over he said that Mexico would pay for the wall--over and over again. prgtoken I was going to talk about what he said about the junior Senator's father, but I am going to let that alone. It was after that. prgtoken Now we are here with the government shut down over his broken promise, while the Chinese are landing spacecraft on the dark side of the moon. That is what they are doing, not to mention what they are doing in Latin America and with their One Belt, One Road Initiative in Asia. That is what they are doing while we are shut down over a promise he never thought he could keep and didn't keep. prgtoken Finally, this idea that my colleague from Texas--and I am sorry to say this because I respect him. He is obviously a very intelligent person, but this idea that are for open bo
IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE DOMINICAN FILM QUE LEON
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , Que Leon is a Dominican film directed by Frank Perozo, produced by Caribbean Cinemas and its executive producers Gregory Quinn, Michael Carrady and Zumaya Cordero, which shows, with humor, how love can survive all adversities. prgtoken Que Leon, for its quality, represents a contribution to the Dominican filmography. prgtoken Que Leon surpassed all expectations by mobilizing more than 600,000 people in its first eight weeks in markets such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and more than eight Caribbean islands and Bolivia. prgtoken In addition, it is the first Dominican film with a massive premiere in North American territory in more than 13 states, around 35 cities and more than 70 cinemas, which sets a precedent for Dominican industry in U.S. territory. prgtoken What Leon is about the life of Nicole and Jose Miguel, who have one thing in common: their last name Leon. But they come from very different social backgrounds, and their love will have to deal with the opposition of their parents and with a large number of situations that will put them to the test. prgtoken Que Leon has a cast of prominent Dominican and Puerto Rican actors and actresses, including singer Ozuna, Clarissa Molina (winner of the reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina in 2016, who also makes her film debut), and experienced kings of the Dominican comedy Raymond Pozo and Miguel Cespedes. prgtoken Que Leon also includes in its cast important figures of theater, film and television, such as Celines Toribio, Stephany Liriano, Milagros German, Irving Alberti, Anyelina Sanchez, Roger Wasserman, Oscar Carrasquillo, Candy Flow, the salsars Victor Manuelle and Alex Matos and the Puerto Ricans Jorge Pabon ``Molusco'' and Jaime Mayol. (The statement in Spanish is as follows:) Madam , Que Leon es una pelicula dominicana dirigida por Frank Perozo, producida por Caribbean Cinemas y sus productores ejecutivos Gregory Quinn, Michael Carrady y Zumaya Cordero, que muestra, con humor, como el amor puede so-brevivir a todas las adversidades. Que Leon, por su calidad, representa un aporte a la filmografia dominicana. Que Leon supero todas las expectativas movilizando a mas de 600,000 personas en sus primeras ocho semanas en mercados como Republica Dominicana, Puerto Rico, y mas de ocho islas del Caribe y Bolivia. Ademas, es la primera pelicula dominicana con un estreno masivo en territorio norteamericano en mas de 13 estados, alrededor de 35 ciudades y mas de 70 salas, lo que establece un precedente para la industria dominicana en territorio estadounidense. Que Leon trata de la vida de Nicole y Jose Miguel, quienes tienen una cosa en comun: su apellido Leon. Pero provienen de entornos sociales muy diferentes, y su amor tendra que lidiar con la oposicion de sus padres y con un gran numero de situaciones que los pondran a prueba. Q