mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE
Wiley Nickel (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-2-13

. Madam , I rise today in support of the supplemental aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. prgtoken This morning, the Senate passed the aid package with nearly all Senate voting in favor of the bill. I thank Senate for their tireless leadership on this issue and their commitment to democracy around the world. prgtoken Madam , 22 s also voted with nearly all Senate to move this bill to the House; 22 Senate s voted to put country over party; 22 Senate s voted to put democracy over . prgtoken This bill includes funding to stand with our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. It also includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance that is desperately needed to provide food, water, shelter, and medical care for the civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine, and other war zones around the world. prgtoken Now, Madam , the eyes of the world are watching the House of Representatives. Russia is watching. China is watching. Iran is watching. North Korea is watching. prgtoken Authoritarian regimes around the world are watching the House. They are watching the people's House to see if we will honor our commitments and stand with democracies around the globe. prgtoken We must stand with Ukraine and our allies. prgtoken Madam , the world is watching the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken Just last night, Mike Johnson said that the bill was dead on arrival in the House, saying: ``[In] the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters.'' prgtoken He is reading straight out of the Vladimir Putin playbook. Inaction would be a gift to Russia and Vladimir Putin. By doing nothing, we would hand over Ukraine to Russia and Putin. prgtoken Madam , Russia would not stop at Ukraine. As soon as Ukraine prgtoken falls, they would move directly to another NATO ally. prgtoken Now many of my constituents rightly question the high cost of this aid package. Support for Ukraine and our allies is in our national interest. It is a national security issue. If we hand over Ukraine to Russia, then Putin will win. Our alliances will crumble. prgtoken While the costs are high, we will spend 100 times more containing an aggressive Russia around the globe if we do nothing. We must stand with our allies. This will be a vote where Members will be forced to choose between democracy and authoritarianism. That is the great challenge of our time, and we cannot fail. prgtoken If Johnson fails to bring this bill to the floor, I believe the House will work its own will on this issue. prgtoken Our has made it clear that he is totally beholden to far- right MAGA extremists--like we just heard from on the floor. It is the tail wagging the dog. However, I believe that a majority of the Conference would vote for the Senate aid package if they were allowe
AMERICA MUST CONTINUE TO OPPOSE BASHAR AL-ASSAD'S BARBARIC REGIME
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-13

. Madam , I will address the results of Thursday's elections in Pakistan and the ongoing vote count there. prgtoken I am deeply disturbed by the numerous reports that Pakistan's military is engaging in vote-rigging and violence to overturn the results of Thursday's elections. prgtoken These latest actions follow months of targeted suppression, politically motivated arrests, and brutal intimidation tactics. prgtoken The results of Pakistan's elections must reflect the will of its people, not its military. It is imperative that every effort is made to ensure that every vote is counted fairly and accurately, and that violence is prevented at all costs. prgtoken As we continue to monitor the results out of Pakistan, I urge the State Department to delay recognizing a winner until these allegations are fully reviewed.
RECOGNIZING PETE CARROLL'S LEGACY
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2024-2-13

I rise today to recognize Pete Carroll's contributions to the Seattle Seahawks and the people of Seattle during his 14-year tenure as head coach. Throughout his tenure, the Seahawks had a 137-89-1 regular season record, 10 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XLVIII victory to conclude the unforgettable 2013 season. prgtoken Coach Carroll prioritized a positive team culture that he described as ``. . . trying to help people find their best, one person at a time.'' His exemplary leadership philosophy has been referenced and used to develop mindset training for Air Force cadets and for companies throughout Washington State. I would also like to commend Coach Carroll's service to the Pacific Northwest through his Amplify Voices initiative and philanthropic efforts. prgtoken Coach Carroll is the winningest coach in the history of the Seattle Seahawks and has made a significant impact in our community--both on and off the field--over the past 14 years. On behalf of Washington's 7th Congressional District, I would like to recognize Pete Carroll's work as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and his many accomplishments.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS MAKE BORDER CRISIS WORSE
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2024-2-13

I rise today to discuss how House s make the border crisis worse to harm America. prgtoken Last week, they failed in their political stunt to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. There was no reason at all to do this in the first place. Then they failed to pass an appropriations bill because they did not include border security funding. prgtoken Let's be honest. s are not interested in border security. Their master, , told them to do nothing so he could use it as an election ploy. Consequently, they are allowing more undocumented immigrants to enter this country, and they are allowing dangerous fentanyl and other drugs to threaten the lives of Americans. They do it so they can kiss the feet of their boss and fearless leader. prgtoken They are robbing resources and funding from hardworking Americans to do it. It is an example of cowardice that has no equal in American history.
EVOLUTION OF BLACK EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Lucy McBath (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2024-2-13

I thank Representative Cherfilus-McCormick for diligently holding the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. I don't know what we would do without her. prgtoken , I am proud to participate in this evening's Special Order hour celebrating the evolution of Black excellence throughout history. The stories and triumphs of Black Americans deserve to be commemorated all year long, but especially during Black History Month. prgtoken The legacies of the men and women who shaped this Nation's history impact our daily lives in countless ways. It is my honor to take just a few moments to share highlights from the communities that I am proud to represent. prgtoken I grew up in the heart of the civil rights movement. I was the baby in the stroller at the March on Washington. My father was the president of the Illinois chapter of the NAACP, and my mother was a nurse. My parents' teachings and example made such a strong impression on me even as a little girl. Some of my fondest memories were watching them direct meetings in our home and prepare for marches while caring for and lifting up each and every person that they interacted with. As the daughter of civil rights leaders, I know how hard-fought our freedoms are. prgtoken In Georgia, we proudly claim two of this Nation's most prominent civil rights leaders: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the great Congressman John Lewis, whose presence and influence this legislative body misses every single day. Georgia's legacy of Black excellence extends far beyond Atlanta and reaches every corner of our State in a multitude of ways. prgtoken In my district, Georgia's Seventh Congressional District, I am proud of the incredible transformation in Black prgtoken history that has taken place over the last 200 years. In Gwinnett County, Salem Missionary Baptist Church was founded in Lilburn around 1834, when slaves constructed a meeting place to gather and worship. prgtoken Three decades later, Hopewell Baptist Church was founded by freed slaves. The original building was destroyed in a fire in 1920, but its congregation continued to grow. The current church building was dedicated in 1993. prgtoken In the early 1920s, entrepreneur Robert Livsey purchased the Maguire- Livsey House, a former plantation in South Gwinnett, and dubbed it ``The Promised Land.'' As the decades passed, this property became a thriving farm and Black business hub in the region, bringing a sense of independence and empowerment for the local Black community. prgtoken In Lawrenceville, the Hooper-Renwick School was the only Black public high school in Gwinnett County until the end of school segregation. The Hooper-Renwick School merged with the Gwinnett County school system in the 1960s. Plans are currently underway to transition this building into a library and Black History Museum. prgtoken In Johns Creek, the Macedonia Cemetery is a historical site of deep local significance. It is the resting place of dozens
LET'S DO OUR JOB
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-2-13

let me pay tribute to the Congressional Black Caucus and the managers tonight for honoring Black History Month. I look forward to participating this month of February to honor the great history and excellence of African Americans. prgtoken At this time, I call upon Johnson to do his work. There is a $60 billion bill that will help us fund the desperate people of Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, and Taiwan and be able to help the Palestinian families. prgtoken It has already been voted on in the early hours of this morning from the Senate. Let the House do its job, do its will. Let us vote. prgtoken , 300 of us will vote to push that legislation forward, yet tonight, we did a foolish thing, and that is to pass an impeachment of a very qualified and effective Secretary of Homeland Security. prgtoken Do your job, Mr. Secretary. Do not be impacted, Secretary Mayorkas, by this false attempt to diminish you. prgtoken Help us as we work toward making the border safe, and that is the way we do it, by doing our job, and also passing also the funding bill that has been put forward. prgtoken I ask my colleagues: Let's do our job.
INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE ACT OF 2024
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2024-2-13

today, I introduce the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2024, which would help provide financial relief for federal employees who have a short-term injury or disability, become pregnant or develop a pregnancy-related illness. This bill would offer federal employees short-term disability insurance at no cost to the federal government. Employees would be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums and be able to receive disability insurance benefits for up to one year, which would replace a portion of their lost income due to a nonwork-related injury or illness or pregnancy. This bill is more important now than ever with the prevalence of so-called Long COVID. prgtoken I decided to investigate how we could provide short-term disability insurance for federal employees after learning that many of them already buy short-term disability insurance as individuals in the private market at high individual rates. Although federal employees have good health insurance, federal health benefits do not replace lost income if employees are unable to work. Moreover, while federal employees may have available sick or annual leave days, they may not have enough such days to pay the bills if they have to be out of work for an extended period, such as following surgery. Although there are long-term disability options for federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal employees do not qualify for such benefits until they have worked for the federal government for at least 18 months. This bill does no more than put federal employees in the same position as many of their private-sector counterparts, who often have access to disability insurance through an employer at group rates, an option unavailable to federal employees. This bill would prohibit participating insurance companies from excluding employees based on preexisting conditions. Because of the federal government's purchasing power, this bill would provide these benefits at a lower rate than is available for employees purchasing as individuals, as many do. Under this bill, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management would contract with private carriers to provide this coverage, essentially providing the equivalent of group coverage available to many workers in the private sector. prgtoken According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old worker has a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. The majority of disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by injuries or illnesses, such as back injuries or cancer, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
HONORING THE LATE DR. CLINTON BATTLE
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2024-2-13

I rise today to honor the life and service of Dr. Clinton Battle. prgtoken Born in the 1920s, Dr. Clinton Battle was known for his remarkable medical service to Indianola, Mississippi that contributed to the medical field where he earned nationwide recognition. prgtoken In the 1950s Dr. Battle received national press for his renowned delivery of first conjoined Siamese twins to ever be successfully separated. prgtoken Outside of the medical field, Battle helped to revive the local chapter of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), helping over 100 African Americans register to vote. prgtoken He always inspired African Americans to rise during the Jim Crow era. Because of this contribution to civil rights and medicine, Dr. Clinton Battle has been named a recipient of the Civil Rights Trail Marker as a trailblazer for Civil Rights and his medical accomplishments. prgtoken Dr. Battle's legacy and his contribution to medicine will continue to transcend time I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late Dr. Clinton Battle for his dedication to medicine and Civil Rights.
OFFSHORING JOBS AND OUR PRODUCTIVE WEALTH
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-2-13

why does our country have a budget deficit? Answer: Because America over the last three decades has been offshoring jobs and our productive wealth. prgtoken The people of Ohio and the industrial Midwest overwhelmingly oppose ill-conceived foreign trade deals that have harmed millions of them. prgtoken The harm began in 1993 when NAFTA was enacted. It deepened in 1994 when we joined the World Trade Organization, and the bottom dropped out in 2000 when the U.S. helped China get WTO benefits without trade reciprocity. Math tells the rest. prgtoken Our trade deficit with the world racked up to $15 trillion since 1994, as our real wealth drained out. American manufacturing plunged by a third from 370,000 facilities in 1992 to 250,000 in 2017. From 1993 to 2024, we lost 5.6 million manufacturing jobs. prgtoken NAFTA, moreover, hurt our neighbors just as much. It stimulated massive undocumented immigration from Mexico and Latin America. The pact pitted millions of unsubsidized Mexican white corn farmers against subsidized U.S. yellow corn. prgtoken What America makes and grows, makes and grows America. Our challenge is to stay the course of small business creation and investment right here in the USA.
RECOGNIZING THE LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY HOSPICE AND FOUNDER, JOCELYN CAMPBELL
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2024-2-13

today I rise to pay tribute to The Lighthouse Community Hospice, and its founder Jocelyn Campbell as they host their Annual ``Covered in Love'' Gala. prgtoken Ms. Campbell has devoted over 20 years to end-of-life care, working as an advocate for the preservation of dignity and compassion for those approaching the end of their lives. In her role as the Chief Executive Officer of The Lighthouse Community Hospice, Ms. Campbell serves as a pioneer in advocating for quality end-of-life care. She oversees a dedicated and hardworking group of healthcare professionals and takes part in strategic partnership and planning in order to ensure that their programs reach their maximum potential. In 2023, the Lighthouse Community Hospice served as a signature community resource at the 52nd Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Caucus in our nation's capital. In addition to her role as CEO of the Lighthouse Community Hospice, Campbell simultaneously serves as the CEO of Health Comply AI. Through her work at Health Comply AI, she is able to balance her expertise in cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies with her passion for high standard health care delivery, in developing AI- driven solutions for administering healthcare services and organizations. prgtoken The Lighthouse Community Hospice helps to alleviate the difficult, emotional experience that is caring for a loved one who is near death. They adopt a dedicated and compassionate approach to the work that they do, helping each family to develop a plan that centers around preserving the dignity and wishes of the individual approaching eternal rest. prgtoken I am humbled to acknowledge The Lighthouse Community Hospice and Ms. Jocelyn Campbell in their global caregiver advocacy movement for end- of-life initiatives. The tireless, dedicated, and consistent work that they do continue to profoundly impact the ways in which end-of-life care is approached and administered both within our community and beyond.
HONORING THE CITY OF PASSAIC
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2024-2-13

I rise today with immense pride and joy to recognize a significant milestone as the City of Passaic celebrates its 150th anniversary. Since the city's incorporation in 1873, Passaic has evolved from a humble settlement into a vibrant and diverse urban center that stands as a beacon of progress. This historic achievement is a testament to the resilience, growth, and community spirit that have defined the City of Passaic over the past century and a half. prgtoken The industrious spirit of Passaic's residents has been the driving force behind its success. From the early days of fabric mills to the present, the people of Passaic have worked together to build a city that fosters innovation, economic prosperity, and cultural diversity. Let us reflect on the rich history, enduring spirit, and remarkable growth as we commemorate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the City of Passaic. prgtoken The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans are the earliest recorded inhabitants of the area situated in the City of Passaic. The Lenni- Lenape were met by Hartman Michielsen Vreeland, a Dutch settler and trader, who purchased Dundee Island and Pulaski Park along the Passaic River on April 4, 1678. The Dutch settlement expanded its land through further deeds and purchases over the next decade. In 1693, the Dutch settlement incorporated as the Township of Acquackanonk as part of northern Essex County. prgtoken The Township of Acquackanonk was later moved to Passaic County after being formed in 1837 by combining parts of northern Essex County and western Bergen County. In 1869 the Township of Acquackanonk officially changed its name to the City of Passaic. As the area experienced population and commercial growth, community members voted to incorporate as the City of Passaic in 1873. prgtoken Following the incorporation, the City of Passaic experienced an industrial boom fueled by immigration from European countries. By the late 19th century, critical developments such as the construction of the Erie Railroad helped Passaic become an economic hub with flourishing manufacturing and commerce. The city established a diverse economy with a thriving textile industry producing silk and cotton. prgtoken Today, there are nearly 70,000 residents that call the City of Passaic their home. The city has a large immigrant population and is a melting pot evident through the array of multi-cultural businesses, restaurants, and community events. Throughout Passaic's history, community leaders and residents played a key role in shaping Passaic into the exceptional city we celebrate today. One of Passaic's most notable figures is Mayor Hector C. Lora. His leadership and wisdom continue to guide the City of Passaic through all challenges, always emerging stronger. prgtoken , I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing the 150th anniversary of the City of Passaic. I take this opportunity to congratulat
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2024-2-13

it is with great respect that I rise today to celebrate Black History Month and its 2024 theme--African Americans and the Arts. prgtoken This theme reflects on the important work of the African-American artists who preserve history, enrich communities, and create empowerment through the visual and performing arts. prgtoken Throughout the years, northwest Indiana has been home to many such noteworthy and inspiring art-based organizations, including the West Side Theater Guild, Marshall J. Gardener Center for the Arts, the Glen Theater, the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District, the Gary Theater Ensemble, and the Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse. prgtoken , please join me in honoring the countless African- American artists in northwest Indiana and across our country for their profound passion, creativity, and perseverance to enrich our culture and our quality of life.