mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7160, SALT MARRIAGE PENALTY ELIMINATION ACT; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 987, DENOUNCING THE HARMFUL, ANTI-AMERICAN ENERGY POLICIES OF THE BIDEN...
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-2-14

in a time when middle-class families are increasingly squeezed by the rising cost of living, providing real tax relief is imperative. prgtoken That is why I introduced the SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, which is designed to correct an inequity that has burdened married couples across New York and the United States since 2017. prgtoken The current tax code unfairly caps State and local tax deductions, otherwise known as SALT, at $10,000 for married couples filing jointly, essentially penalizing them for their marital status and depriving them of the full $20,000 deduction they would rightly deserve. prgtoken This arbitrary threshold does not reflect the economic realities faced by dual-income households, especially in high-cost areas like New York's 17th District. It is an issue that transcends tax policy. It is about fairness and supporting the backbone of our communities--our families. prgtoken The implications of the SALT cap are significant. Since its implementation, we have witnessed a dramatic decline in taxpayers claiming the SALT deduction, a drop from nearly 50 percent in my district to 19, or nationwide, from 31 percent to 9. prgtoken This stark decrease has disproportionately impacted high-cost States like New York where the cost of living far exceeds the national average. prgtoken In my district alone, the percentage of filers itemizing taxes have halved since the cap's introduction, underscoring the urgent need for reform. prgtoken The SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, my first bill introduced in the House, seeks to address this issue head-on by eliminating the marriage penalty and reinstating a fair deduction limit. prgtoken During the Rules Committee hearing, there was some insinuation that this legislation was hurried and rushed in the dead of night. prgtoken I am here to tell you that this legislation has been available for people to review for over 13 months and is less than 2 pages long. prgtoken This isn't some thousand-page omnibus deal. It is something that we have worked on with leadership and our colleagues to address for over a year. prgtoken Passage of the SALT Marriage Penalty Implementation Act would represent a significant step toward alleviating the financial burden faced by countless families in my district and across the country, offering relief from the double taxation that has unjustly impacted them. prgtoken Additionally, with housing costs reaching near record highs and inflation continuing to erode purchasing power, the need for this bill is all the more necessary. prgtoken For instance, in Rockland and Westchester Counties in my district, the monthly cost of a mortgage surged by $1,000 in the past year alone, thanks to rate increases brought about by the trillions in new spending from this administration and the prior Congress. prgtoken These spikes in housing costs, coupled with rising grocery prices, are unsustainable for the average family, mak
HONORING DR. SWATI KULKARNI
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-2-14

I rise today to thank Dr. Swati Kulkarni for her time serving as the consul general of India. prgtoken Dr. Kulkarni, who initially aspired to pursue a career in medicine, made a pivotal shift to Foreign Service. Her journey included work in diverse locations like Oman, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. prgtoken Understanding the responsibility of representing a country with a flourishing economic profile and a population constituting one-fifth of the world, she realized the importance of looking beyond her own community. prgtoken Throughout her time as consul general, Dr. Kulkarni conducted a series of more than 150 meetings with elected officials across the southern United States. prgtoken This extensive outreach included interactions with 7 governors, over 20 mayors, and more than 20 congressional leaders. prgtoken Her efforts were aimed at building alliances and fostering connections that extended beyond regional and cultural boundaries. prgtoken As a testament to her dedication, Swati Kulkarni was honored with flowers and a plaque commemorating her impactful contributions, marking a momentous occasion in her diplomatic journey. prgtoken Thank you for your important diplomatic work, Dr. Kulkarni.
COMMEMORATING THE SWEARING-IN OF JILL DUTTON
Lance Gooden (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-14

I rise today to recognize the swearing-in of Jill Dutton as State Representative for Texas' 2nd House District. Mrs. Dutton is a strong conservative, entrepreneur, and devoted to the people of Van Zandt County. I am confident she will be a determined and effective representative for her constituents. prgtoken Mrs. Dutton embodies Texas' highest values. She is a former school board member with Van ISD where she fought for parents and students. When a tornado struck her town, she worked to rebuild the schools and develop a new Career & Technology Center that now prepares students for careers after graduation. She has dedicated herself to serving the people of Van Zandt County and I look forward to what she will accomplish for the people of Texas. prgtoken I am proud to represent Van Zandt County and am confident that she will diligently serve them in the Texas Legislature. I wish her and her family the very best as she begins her term.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF JOHN MORROW DERBY, PRESIDENT OF MID-VALLEY PUBLICATIONS
John S. Duarte (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-2-14

I rise today to honor the memory of John Morrow Derby, a legend of Central Valley journalism who spent 60 years in the newspaper business. prgtoken Mr. Derby was the publisher of five local weekly newspapers, including the Merced County Times, the Atwater-Winton Times, the Hilmar Times, the Hughson Chronicle, and the Waterford News. He also served as president of the parent company Mid-Valley Publications. prgtoken Mr. Derby was known for coining the local slogan and business mantra, ``The Power of Positive Press.'' He was an avid sailor, a member of the Lake Yosemite Sailing Association, and a longtime member of the Merced Sunrise Rotary Club. prgtoken John Derby first came to the Central Valley in the 1950s, studying at Fresno State and serving in the military toward the end of the Korean conflict. In Korea, he picked up the journalism bug when he pursued an assignment to write about the operations of nine battalions from Seoul to Panmunjom where the peace talks were held. prgtoken Mr. Derby would eventually end up in Merced in 1961 after landing a reporting job at the Sun-Star. Over the course of six decades, he started multiple newspapers across the Central Valley. Mr. Derby once wrote, ``Life without being a newspaper man is about the most boring thing in the world. The ink really is in my blood . . . I am here to stay and do what I have loved to do all my life--and that is to cover the lives of people in our community in a positive way.'' prgtoken Last Christmas, he wrote a deeply personal message to some of his top staffers: ``You are full grown, and capable newspaper people. You have learned all the lessons it took me 60 years to learn and more. Now it is your duty to teach others the art of good honest journalism . . . May your ship of life sail true. May the ocean be wide and the currents be strong. May the winds blow hard. May you sail on, through the fury of those winds, and come out whole.'' prgtoken Throughout his six-decade career in journalism, John Morrow Derby exemplified ``The Power of Positive Press'' with his devotion to his community and his steadfast dedication to fairness, decency, and truth. prgtoken It was an honor to have known him, and upon his passing, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and express my deepest sympathies to his beloved Mid-Valley Publications team.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS' LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THIS WEEK
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2024-2-14

I would like to address something that happened in this Chamber earlier this week, something that we haven't done or seen in over a century in this country, and that is the impeachment of a Cabinet member. prgtoken Impeached was Secretary Mayorkas, Homeland Security, for ignoring his duties, and by ignoring his duties, creating a situation which I think is the biggest crisis in this country in my lifetime. prgtoken That, of course, concerns his inability to address the huge problems at the prgtoken border. I will remind the American public that only 4 years ago during the final year of the prior administration, the number of people being let in this country at the southern border bounced back and forth between about 6,000 and 25,000. prgtoken A good estimate of the number of people who came here in the last month is 37,000, so it has gone up by a factor of about 18 to 1. prgtoken Not only have this many people crossed the border--think about that. I guessed 37,000. In addition to this many people crossing the border-- because around the world, it is known the United States is not enforcing our border--we have people dying in the Pacific Ocean trying to get around the wall over there. We have people dehydrating in the Arizona desert. We have people drowning in the Rio Grande, all horrific instances in and of themselves, because of the inability to address people coming across our border. prgtoken I have been told by law enforcement that the price of fentanyl in this country is as low as it has ever been--it is a matter of the law of supply and demand. prgtoken We have 108,000 Americans dying of illegal drug overdoses every year, twice as many people as died in 12 years in Vietnam. prgtoken We have, through our negligence, created wildly wealthy drug cartels, wealthier than ever. I have been at the border at least eight times, and every time I hear the Border Patrol is under the impression that the Mexican cartels--which are currently corrupting the Mexican Government--are making more money allowing people across the border than they even are selling drugs. A complete disaster. prgtoken Along with this 300,000-plus people who are let in every month are 8,000 to 10,000 unaccompanied minors. There was a time when people in this body used to care a little bit about breaking up families, but that is 8,000 to 10,000 unaccompanied minors. prgtoken There was a time where we checked DNA tests to see whether these minors were related in any way to perhaps aunts or uncles who claim they were related. We stopped that policy. prgtoken The New York Times said that at one time--I think this number is a little bit high, but they had lost 83,000 unaccompanied minors in this country. prgtoken I personally think it is more like 50,000 or 60,000, but in any event, can you imagine losing track of 50,000 or 60,000 unaccompanied minors? prgtoken As a result of the negligence taking place at the border, we have all of these disasters, and I w
COMMEMORATING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-2-14

I rise to commemorate Career and Technical Education Month. prgtoken In the construction industry, I spent over 40 years talking to young people in Georgia's 12th District about the benefits of working in a skilled trade. prgtoken As we all know, a 4-year degree is not the right fit for everyone, and oftentimes, our skilled and technical jobs are among the most in demand and highest paying in the workforce. prgtoken With 9 million unfilled jobs throughout our Nation, it is imperative that we bridge the gap between the business and education communities, ensuring our students are equipped with the skills necessary to compete in this modern economy. prgtoken The number one issue I hear about from businessowners is the need for a quality workforce, and career and technical programs offer young people an effective path to filling in-demand jobs. prgtoken This Career and Technical Education Month, we affirm that the American Dream is attainable, and it is different for everyone. prgtoken I am thankful for the educators and community leaders who remain committed to the success of America's future workforce.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS' LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THIS WEEK
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-2-14

I thank my good friend, the vice chair of our Conference, for his leadership on these important issues. prgtoken , Mark Twain once said: Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it is deserved. prgtoken From 's self-induced crisis at our southern border to the repeated assault on American energy to foreign policy blunders, this administration's policies have been a disaster for our country. prgtoken It seems every decision coming from this White House from a national security standpoint and an economic standpoint makes the United States weaker and more vulnerable both here and abroad. prgtoken Even the latest LNG export pause is of great concern to our European Union allies, who stopped purchasing natural gas from Russia because they invaded Ukraine and are now counting on the United States. They are rattled by this White House's so-called pause. prgtoken The whole country now knows that we, the United States of America, are allowing a record number of potential threats into our country at our southern border, including deadly drugs, terrorists, human trafficking, and crime. prgtoken On top of the nearly 10 million persons here illegally who have crossed the border under 's watch, 361 individuals were on the terrorist watch list. How many were there under the previous administration, under the administration, over a 4-year period? Just 11. prgtoken Why has there been a 3,000 percent increase in terrorists crossing our border? Is it because our enemies know that this is a good time to take advantage of the United States of America? The threats aren't just coming from Central or South America or the Middle East for that matter. The threats are coming from all over the world. prgtoken Customs and Border Protection says they have encountered illegal immigrants from 120 different countries, which is deeply troubling given the geopolitical conflicts created around the world in the last 3 years. Even ``60 Minutes'' expressed concern that 37,000 Chinese nationals crossed our border illegally last year, 50 times more than the previous 2 years. prgtoken What does the White House propose to solve the crisis? Symbolism of a policy, well over substance, really a do-nothing, politically motivated bill that fails to include reimplementation of the administration's remain in Mexico policy. Per Customs and Border Patrol, this is the most crucial piece to solving the border catastrophe. prgtoken If we don't require illegal migrants to claim asylum in the first safe country they enter, we will simply never solve this crisis. This is why we are not favorable to the Senate bill, because they will just keep on coming illegally. prgtoken , I am sorry to say, the administration really doesn't seem to care about protecting the interests of the United States. They made that clear by failing to enforce the laws that exist, which the White House used to secure the border.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7160, SALT MARRIAGE PENALTY ELIMINATION ACT; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 987, DENOUNCING THE HARMFUL, ANTI-AMERICAN ENERGY POLICIES OF THE BIDEN...
Nick LaLota (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-2-14

let's add some honesty to the SALT conversation. I am from a blue State, and I am willing to concede to my red State colleagues especially that an increase in the SALT cap benefits blue States more than red States. There; I said it. prgtoken After all, it is the blue States with the highest State income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. At 10.9 percent, my State, New York, has the dubious distinction of having the highest taxes in this great Nation of ours. prgtoken As bloated and out of control as my State's spending and taxes are under one-party rule, it cannot be said truthfully that red States are subsidizing the blue States. The data demonstrates the opposite actually, that blue States like mine are giving far more to Washington than we get back. The opposite is true, that many red States get far more from Washington than they give. prgtoken As you can see from this chart, the home States of many of my colleagues shown in red, who say SALT is a subsidy to blue States, are, in fact, the States that get much more from Washington than they give, . prgtoken Here in this chart, you can see that New York gets one of the worst returns on investment of our Federal dollars. It is the blue line down there. Yet, many red States are at the top of this list whose taxpayers are getting much more from Washington than they are giving. prgtoken , States like New York are not asking for a bailout. We are simply asking to break even. Many of my colleagues are correct to say a large part of the problem starts in Albany. Sadly, I live in that reality, and I know better than to rely on Albany to try and improve the lives of the average New Yorker. Why do you think so many are fleeing my State for States like Texas and Florida? It is not just for the weather, . prgtoken Second, I want to address some serious intellectual dishonesty and rewriting of history by my colleagues. prgtoken , had complete control of Washington for 2 years, the House, the Senate, and the White House, yet they have never signed any SALT relief into law, even though they passed several massive omnibus and reconciliation bills. They failed their constituents and mine and embarrassed themselves and are now trying to blame blue State s, even though we are clearly fighting tooth and nail to deliver some sort of relief. prgtoken When they had majorities and the White House, why didn't Pelosi and New York's own Leader Schumer take action to deal with this issue? prgtoken , this is a political talking point for but a serious policy item for me and my fellow New York s. Restoring the SALT deduction is not just a matter of tax policy for Long Island families. It is a crucial step toward ensuring economic fairness, supporting the middle class, and sustaining vibrant communities. The lack of a meaningful SALT deduction hurts my constituents, and we must address this injustice
ASSAD REGIME CONDEMNED
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2024-2-15

last night, with the bipartisan support of the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike Rogers, and Ranking Member Greg Meeks, the House passed the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act. prgtoken This legislation holds the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad accountable for the murder of a million Syrians, with half of its population, 10 million people, losing their homes and businesses. Assad is an ally of war criminal Putin. prgtoken The bill passed the House floor with a vote of 389-32. This legislation improves and strengthens the bipartisan commitment to punish offenders while providing additional protection for humanitarian organizations serving the Syrian people. prgtoken The bill now awaits a vote in the Senate for final passage. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the safe haven of Afghanistan to America. prgtoken We do not need new border laws. We need to enforce existing laws. shamefully opens borders for dictators as more 9/11 attacks across America are imminent, as warned by the FBI.
MAKING MEDICALLY NECESSARY NUTRITION AVAILABLE
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-2-15

. Madam , as a former sheriff, I dedicated my life to holding rule breakers accountable, and I am here to tell you this morning that President and Secretary Mayorkas are rule breakers. prgtoken Their inaction on securing the southern border is not a failed policy, Madam --it is their policy. For over a thousand days now they have refused to secure our southern border. prgtoken The House tried to intervene when we jointly passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill in history. prgtoken While Senator Schumer and President refused to act on this bill, we continue to see record numbers of illegal immigrants at our border, increasing rates of fentanyl poisoning, and an uptick in our national security threats. prgtoken Senator Schumer and President falsely claim that they need additional authority to fix this situation at the southern border. That is blatantly false. prgtoken If the President cared about truly securing the border, Madam , all he has to do is undo the 94 executive actions that he has taken since becoming President that have created this crisis at the southern border and support States like Texas and others in their efforts to secure their own borders, and he can sign H.R. 2 into law. prgtoken I am proud to join with Representative Hinson and my other colleagues in demanding that the President enforce our laws on the books today to immediately address this crisis at the border. prgtoken I have to say that the President's inaction is costing American lives and billions of dollars. For 3 years, s have been the balefire to America that our southern border was in crisis--3 years. prgtoken It takes a Presidential election and the impeachment of the Homeland Security Secretary to actually get to finally admit that there is a crisis at our southern border. That should not be.
EXPORTING LNG
Stephanie I. Bice (Republican, OK) \u2014 2024-2-15

since the breakthroughs of the shale revolution, the United States has become a growing producer of natural gas and a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas. prgtoken This past year, LNG exports hit record highs, and we became the world's leading exporter. These exports are critical for our European allies who are still dealing with the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. prgtoken This is why 's decision to stop issuing new LNG permits is deeply concerning. Sadly, this is just the latest attack on domestic energy production. prgtoken The President's decision will create tremendous regulatory uncertainty and eliminate American jobs. He has weaponized the permitting process and caved to environmental groups that seek to end fossil fuels. prgtoken We have seen what can happen when there is an insufficient supply of LNG globally. Energy prices rise, and the coal-fired power plants turn back on. I urge the President to reverse this reckless decision.