mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DENOUNCING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S OPEN-BORDERS POLICIES, CONDEMNING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS ALONG THE SOUTHWEST BORDER, AND URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO END HIS...
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-1-17

. Restricting immigration and parole is a lose-lose situation, as is rejecting DACA young people who are, in fact, ready to be paramedics, lawyers, doctors, teachers. prgtoken The White House calls on Congress to advance critical national security. prgtoken All of this is what President is doing, and I would make the argument that this is what we should be doing in order to have real immigration reform. I ask that we do not support the underlying bill. prgtoken , I rise today in strong opposition to H. Res. 957-- denouncing the administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety crisis along the southwest border, and urging President to end his administration's open- borders policies. prgtoken This resolution is yet another shameful effort to distract the American people with unviable solutions for immigration and border control--all in the face of inaction to prevent our government from shutting down once again. prgtoken This resolution does nothing to address legitimate issues at the southern border--instead, it repeats an old list of hyperbolic talking points on immigration. prgtoken Rather than working constructively to address these issues, House s continue to make the evidence-free argument that President , Vice President , and Secretary Mayorkas have intentionally created a ``national security and public safety crisis'' at the southern border. prgtoken This bill peddles the false narrative that President has an open-borders policy and vi11ainizes immigrants fleeing dangerous situations. prgtoken And it does nothing to advance common sense solutions to improve our immigration system like creating better legal pathways, increasing processing capacity at ports of entry, or funding more immigration judges to reduce the asylum backlog. prgtoken It is truly shameful that just days until a government shutdown, my colleagues continue to waste time with a resolution that repeats the same, tired, inaccurate talking points on immigration and the border. prgtoken Once again, s talk a big game when it comes to immigration and border security--but instead of trying to pass thoughtful and bipartisan legislation that might fix the problems in our immigration system, their resolution accomplishes nothing. prgtoken Let's look at the facts. prgtoken Today, there are approximately 38,000 people in immigration detention, which is 4,000 more than what DHS is funded for and roughly what the administration averaged in Fiscal Year 2018. prgtoken The administration has also significantly increased removals (in ways that many in our caucus worry violates due process). prgtoken Since the end of Title 42 last year, the administration has removed or returned to Mexico over 470,000 individuals, including over 78,000 individual members of family units, including children. prgtoken The total is nearly equivalent to the
GUATEMALA
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2024-1-17

the inauguration of Bernardo Arevalo as President of Guatemala shortly after midnight on January 15 was a triumph for the people of Guatemala. Despite corrupt forces in the outgoing government, the Congress, and the Office of the Attorney General--who abused their authority in a flagrant attempt to subvert the result of a free and fair election that President Arevalo won overwhelmingly--in the end, Guatemala's democracy was preserved. prgtoken I want to congratulate the Guatemalan people for their courage and perseverance, especially the indigenous Mayan population who have suffered deprivation and indignity under successive governments whose officials cared far more about enriching themselves than improving the lives of the country's most vulnerable. It is long past time for Guatemala's indigenous leaders to have a central role in the national government. prgtoken I also want to commend the administration, in particular U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power, Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols, Charge d'Affaires Patrick Ventrell, and the other U.S. Embassy staff, who in the months leading up to the election and late into the chaotic night of January 14 until Arevalo was finally sworn in, used a combination of diplomacy, sanctions, and advocacy to support a peaceful democratic transition of power. Without their sustained diplomatic engagement and the strong support of the international community, it is likely that the so-called Pact of the Corrupt would have prevailed in destroying Guatemala's fragile democracy. prgtoken President Arevalo faces immense challenges. Late last year, in an attempt to ensure that if he came to power he would be unable to govern effectively, the Congress slashed the national budget for the social programs and economic reforms necessary to carry out his anti- corruption, anti-poverty, pro-justice, and accountability vision for the country. The Guatemalan people expect him to deliver on his campaign promises, but the very forces that sought to prevent him from taking office have made clear that they will do every possible to prevent him from governing. prgtoken Despite these formidable obstacles, Bernardo Arevalo's remarkable ascendency to the Presidency offers Guatemala and the United States an opportunity that has not existed for generations. Hundreds of thousands of impoverished Guatemalans have fled their country, risking their lives in search of safety and a better life in the United States. In President Arevalo, we finally have a partner of integrity with whom we can focus on addressing the root causes of migration. prgtoken For generations, Guatemala's elites, including business and political leaders, have profited from a corrupt system at the expense of the best interests of the country. Tax revenues are a fraction of what they should be. Large areas of the country lack basic public services. Millions of Guatemal
RECOGNIZING PAUL SULLIVAN
Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-1-17

I rise today to recognize Paul Sullivan, owner of Esters Pub for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2023 Reinvestment Award. prgtoken The Reinvestment Award recognizes businesses that have demonstrated their commitment and investment in making Wheat Ridge a wonderful place to live, work, and play. prgtoken Congratulations to Paul Sullivan for his contribution to the Wheat Ridge community and for receiving this award.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-1-17

I have four requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on foreign relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 10 a.m to conduct a classified briefing. committee on homeland security and governmental affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a business meeting. committee on homeland security and governmental affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. committee on the judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing.
HONORING DR. JOAQUIN GARCIA
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2024-1-17

I rise today to honor the legacy of Dr. Joaquin Garcia, an esteemed medical professional of Palm Beach County. January 12, 2024, has been officially declared as Dr. Joaquin Garcia Day. Dr. Garcia is the first notable Hispanic in Palm Beach County to have a High School named after him to honor his memory and community contributions. prgtoken As a Cuban native, Dr. Garcia continuously strived towards progressing immigrant members of the community in collaboration with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other various Hispanic-affiliated groups. As a founding member and chairman of the Hispanic Education Coalition of Palm Beach County (HEC), Dr. Garcia avidly promoted the education of children through his support for dual-language programs in the community. Beyond his role at the HEC, Dr. Garcia was deeply involved in an array of advocacy groups including the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, Compass, International AIDS Education Foundation, Cycle for The Cause, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Health Education Outreach. prgtoken Dr. Garcia once stated, ``I did not have any natural children, but I consider the tens of thousands of students in the district to be my children and my responsibility.'' prgtoken , Dr. Joaquin Garcia's dedication to advocacy on behalf of children and his service to the people of South Florida is truly admirable. May his legacy be honored by the success of the students of Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School.
Introductory Statement on S. 3605
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-1-17

I rise to introduce the Emergency Vehicle and Community, EVAC, Planning Act. This legislation would strengthen communities to incorporate emergency evacuation routes in the transportation planning process. prgtoken Specifically, this bill would direct the Department of Transportation, DOT, in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to develop and publicly disseminate guidance and best practices for States, territories, Indian Tribes, and local governments to utilize to ensure necessary considerations are taken for evacuation routes during local planning. prgtoken As we suffer from increasingly catastrophic natural disasters--from fires to hurricanes to flooding--efficient emergency evacuation routes can be the difference between life and death for our most vulnerable communities. prgtoken The 2018 Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, CA, incinerating roughly 19,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings. Eighty-five people perished. But one of the most horrifying aspects of this tragedy was that some of the victims were killed in their cars when flames overtook the backed-up traffic on the only road out of town. prgtoken We saw similar concerns in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in efforts to improve evacuation route capacity, after nearly 100,000 residents were trapped inside the city of New Orleans. prgtoken And most recently in Lahaina, HI, a lack of evacuation routes contributed to making this the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Press accounts detail the harrowing experience of people finding themselves caught in their cars, jammed together on narrow roads, surrounded by flames on three sides and the ocean on the fourth. prgtoken In the event of a natural disaster, people need to efficiently access evacuation routes that have been strategically designed to save lives and move people out of the area quickly. prgtoken Many cities, counties, and Tribal governments--especially those that are rural or low-income--that are the most vulnerable to disaster are also the least likely to have the resources and in-house expertise necessary to develop cornprehensive and efficient emergency evacuation routes. prgtoken I thank Senators Cassidy, Schatz, and Hirono for introducing this important legislation with me. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure communities are equipped with the guidelines and best practices necessary to bolster disaster preparedness and save lives.
MAUI COUNTY HOUSING PLAN
Jill N. Tokuda (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2024-1-17

for so many of our Maui `` 'ohana,'' ``family,'' stable housing for their families and the ability to manage mortgages for lost homes keep them up at night. prgtoken Earlier this month, the State of Hawaii, Maui County, FEMA, and various philanthropic organizations announced a $500 million interim housing plan to move thousands of families still living in hotels into stable, long-term housing by July 1 of this year. $250 million of this critical funding is coming directly from FEMA. prgtoken Of all the ways that this plan will seek to provide some stability for ``keikis,'' ``children,'' and ``kupuna,'' ``elders,'' who lost everything, the most critical and urgent are the investments that will be made in more permanent developments. prgtoken We need shovels in the ground now, and I strongly encourage FEMA to lean into their plans to build modular homes that will house up to 500 households. prgtoken In talking with constituents and Maui Mayor Bissen, we must also focus immediately on identifying options to help survivors with their mortgages. Absent options, our people will feel they have no choice but to leave Lahaina. As I have said before, Lahaina is not Lahaina without her people.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-1-17

last week, we received remarkable news about a milestone in America's healthcare: A record 20 million Americans are now covered by health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken This is a sign of progress as we improve the quality of life and healthcare protections under President . prgtoken Having quality, affordable healthcare coverage means having peace of mind if you get a diagnosis, an accident, or if you need access to care and are facing medical debt. prgtoken I know this story. I have been there. I was a law student at Georgetown when my wife and I were blessed with the birth of our first child, a baby girl born with a serious medical condition. As a young father without insurance, I can tell you, there is no greater feeling of helplessness. prgtoken That is why have been committed to expanding health insurance to millions more Americans and ensuring it contains protections for patients with preexisting conditions. prgtoken But even with these successes, there are serious gaps in America's healthcare system, gaps which are unimaginable until you learn specifically what I mean. prgtoken I want to focus on one of them: access to dental care. prgtoken I spent the August recess last year visiting small towns in Southern Illinois. I met with the new mayor of Carbondale, IL, Carolin Harvey. prgtoken I asked her: OK. You have a U.S. Senator in your office, Mayor. What is your ask? What do you want? prgtoken Her answer: pediatric dentistry, of all things. I couldn't imagine that. I thought it would be a sewer line or a street or something for law enforcement--pediatric dentistry. She said: Senator, we just don't have enough dentists for kids in Southern Illinois. In fact, there are 10 rural counties in the State that have only 1 dentist to serve their community. In Lawrence County, there is 1 dentist for 15,000 people. That ratio--a local ratio--is 11 times worse than the national average. prgtoken What is the result of a shortage of dentists, particularly for kids? Patients' conditions worsen as they face delays to getting an examination. prgtoken My office was recently contacted about a child in Southern Illinois who was found to have tooth decay in her 18-month checkup. The patient is covered by Medicaid, and her parents had a hard time finding a dentist who would even see her. prgtoken Imagine this for a minute as I tell you this story, that you are a father or mother of a child who is 18 months old and has tooth decay and pain. After nearly a year, the patient was finally treated for severe tooth decay, erosion of the upper incisor teeth, and a large tooth abscess, but her condition did not improve after multiple rounds of antibiotics so her dentist called around to find a specialist to see her. prgtoken They were told by the specialist that ``unfortunately, we have over 200 patients on our [waiting] list, so we really cannot help [her].'' This child is going to have to dev
RECOGNIZING LAURA ERICKSON
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-1-17

I rise to recognize Laura Erickson for her contributions to the Town of Greenwich and service on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). prgtoken Laura has been a trusted member of the Greenwich community for over 30 years. As a Board Member, she spent countless volunteer hours on behalf of the Town of Greenwich. Laura has served on the BET since 2019, where she was a member of the Budget and Audit Committees and served as the BET's liaison to the Department of Public Works, the Nathaniel Witherell skilled nursing facility, and information technology/cybersecurity. prgtoken Laura has long been a distinguished public servant committed to expanding educational opportunities for all. Prior to her time on the BET, she served on the Greenwich Board of Education for four years from November 2013 to November 2017, a tenure that included being Chair of the Board during two budget cycles. While on the Board of Education, Laura served on the New Lebanon School and MISA Building Committees and chaired both the Superintendent Search Committee and the Budget Committee. Laura is currently a board member of the Norwalk Community College Foundation and has previously served as a board member of the Greenwich Alliance for Education and the Greenwich United Way. prgtoken As Congressman for Connecticut's Fourth District, I have had the pleasure of working with Laura and have seen firsthand her leadership and advocacy for our community. As Laura moves on from the BET, I thank her for her dedication and public service.
AMENDING THE PERMANENT ELECTRONIC DUCK STAMP ACT OF 2013--Motion to Proceed--Continued
Laphonza R. Butler (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-1-17

before I begin my formal remarks, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the delegation of California mayors who are here in the Gallery today. prgtoken , I rise today with gratitude, honored to be a Member of this esteemed body. I rise having never imagined that this opportunity to serve would be a part of my journey. But I am grateful to so many who have helped it become true. prgtoken I was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve the people of California after the passing of Senator Feinstein. No one could ever fill Senator Feinstein's shoes, but there are so many of us who stand on her shoulders. To both of them, I am grateful. prgtoken I also know that my presence in these hallowed Halls is only made possible by Senator Carol Moseley Braun and now-Vice President , both of whom were historic Members of this great Chamber. And to stand on their shoulders as the only Black woman in this Chamber today, I am eternally grateful. prgtoken I appreciate the sacrifice and support of my friends and my family and the leadership of EMILYs List, who allowed me to turn their lives inside out and upside down to meet this moment in our Nation's story. To my partner, Neneki Lee, and my daughter, Nylah Grace, who are in the Gallery, I am especially grateful. prgtoken , I know that I am the newest Senator to join this Chamber, and while I may be new to this title and to this institution, I am not new to the struggle and the work of justice. You see, I am the proud daughter of the South, born in Magnolia, MS, the youngest of three children. I am the granddaughter to Kary, a sharecropper from Louisiana, crippled at a young age by polio; the granddaughter to Lettie Ruth, a maid who had to take her children to the homes of the White families for whom she cleaned and children she cared for even as she worked to get her certificate as a nursing assistant. prgtoken My grandparents were patriots who had to be urgent about the promise of America for their 11 children, the promise that if they worked hard and played by the rules, that their children would never have to see sharecropping as their destiny. prgtoken My mother Sarah was number six. She had five in front and five behind. She was born in 1953, 1 year before the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Yet it would be 13 years before she and her classmates saw an integrated school or had any semblance of equal. prgtoken As an adult, my mom made ends meet by working sometimes three jobs in the same day--working as a classroom assistant for mostly special needs children. She worked as a certified nursing assistant, just as her mom before her. She was a security officer, a cashier at a gas station. But her full-time job was unpaid. For more than a decade, she was the primary caregiver for my father Delos, who died after suffering six heart attacks, angioplasty, and receiving a heart transplant from an 18-year-old
DENOUNCING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S OPEN-BORDERS POLICIES, CONDEMNING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS ALONG THE SOUTHWEST BORDER, AND URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO END HIS...
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-1-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this country is facing real problems. The right to bodily autonomy is under attack across the Nation. There was a school shooting just 4 days into the new year, leading to the tragic death of an 11-year-old and the injury of 7 others. prgtoken Our immigration system cannot function because Congress has failed to reform it for over 30 years, and hard-liners are threatening to shut down the government if we don't ``shut down the border.'' prgtoken House s are not working to respond to any of these problems as they are too busy fighting among themselves. Their historic dysfunction has even prompted multiple Members of their Conference to complain that they have nothing to campaign on. prgtoken Today's resolution is not going to help. This resolution will do nothing to solve the situation at the border. It proposes no solutions of any kind. In fact, this resolution is nothing more than a highlight reel of the talking points on immigration that we have heard over and over from s since President was sworn into office. prgtoken Let me say once again: The border is not open. The administration has been removing people at a record clip over the last few months, restricting asylum with a new regulation, and placing thousands of families in expedited removal. prgtoken Since the end of title 42 last May, the administration has removed or returned nearly a half million individuals. That is more than the number of people removed in all of fiscal year 2019 under the administration. prgtoken However, because President isn't saying that he wants to shoot migrants trying to cross the border, like Governors Abbott and DeSantis have, s don't think he is doing enough. prgtoken Further, despite my colleagues' claims, fentanyl is largely not coming into this country between ports of entry. More than 90 percent of fentanyl interdicted is stopped at ports of entry where cartels attempted to smuggle it in through primarily vehicles driven by American citizens. prgtoken I am not sure how anyone can say the border is open. prgtoken On top of this, at every turn, s have voted against giving the administration the resources it needs to do its job. Nearly every current House voted against the bipartisan infrastructure deal in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus. prgtoken Both of these bills provided significant additional funding to increase staffing and modernize ports of entry to combat the smuggling of people and drugs. prgtoken We need to work together to address our broken immigration system. Right now we have a system where many, many people come into this country, present themselves to Border Patrol or not. They are apprehended. They claim asylum under our law. They are entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge, but because we don't have enough asylum officers and immigration judges,