mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-1-24

I thank the gentleman for his comments. prgtoken The gentleman, of course, just voted against funding the Department of Homeland Security, as did his colleagues. prgtoken The gentleman proudly said that all of his colleagues--and not all of his colleagues voted against it--but he voted against opening up the Department of Homeland Security. He voted against paying the personnel in Department of Homeland Security. Yet, he cites them as experts who have given us advice, and why don't we follow that advice. prgtoken But, , the minority party doesn't have enough respect for them to open up the government, open up the Department of Homeland Security, pay the people who are protecting our border, pay the people who are processing paperwork for those border security guards, pay the people who are answering the phones, pay the people whom we ask to protect our borders, and then laments that somehow we are not coming up with a number. prgtoken Open up this government, . prgtoken And, yes, I used the word, ``hostage''; and, yes, I used the word, ``ransom.'' And, yes, I believe there are two people, and a lot of complicit people, with this government being shut down and with the pain and suffering that we are imposing on our employees. Anybody who thinks are responsible for that doesn't know what is happening. prgtoken I am very concerned about the President being able to communicate with the American people. The historic, greatest tweeter of all time. You can't get away from hearing what the President has to say, every morning, every afternoon, and every evening. He has plenty of time. prgtoken And, by the way, the President said: Yes, I am not going to give the State of the Union until the government is open. He just said that, just a few hours ago. prgtoken Open up this government. prgtoken And for anybody who watches the votes on this floor, watched that we voted unanimously to open up DHS; we voted unanimously to open up the other departments of government; we voted unanimously to make sure that the people are being served by their government agencies. prgtoken And, , again, I understand Mr. Scalise and I have a difference. When the of the House John Boehner brought a bill to the floor when the government was shut down to open it up, Mr. Scalise voted ``no''; and the other person who voted ``no'' is Mr. Mulvaney, who is now the chief of staff. prgtoken I get that. They think shutting down the government is not a bad option to try to force the other side to agree with them or to pay their ransom. prgtoken Yes, I use those words. And, actually, if either one of us adopts that as an acceptable alternative in the negotiation process, this country is in real trouble--real trouble. prgtoken And so we ought to open up the government, and then, yes, we can sit down, and, yes, we will resolve this. prgtoken But my friend's great angst--he did not mention why it took them 11- 2/3 months while they were in charge last yea
COMMEMORATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOUISVILLE'S FAIRNESS ORDINANCE
John A. Yarmuth (Democrat, KY) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise to commemorate 20 years of Fairness in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. prgtoken It's upsetting to think, but in much of the country, it's legal to kick someone out of their home or fire them for no reason but how they love. For being LGBTQ, for being gay. prgtoken But not in Louisville. prgtoken Because on January 26, 1999, our community took a bold and historic step for LGBTQ rights, passing the Fairness Ordinance and ensuring that no individual could be robbed of their home or job simply for being who they are. prgtoken Louisville was the first in our Commonwealth and among the first in the South to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, and it was due to a decade of committed work by the Fairness Campaign's passionate staff and volunteers, who refused to accept anything but real, true equality. prgtoken In two decades since, Fairness has helped 10 Kentucky cities outlaw LGBTQ discrimination--from our capital Frankfort to the tiny Appalachian coal town of Vicco and beyond. prgtoken The rest of Kentucky and our country should follow Louisville's lead and ban LGBTQ discrimination everywhere. I look forward to continuing Louisville's legacy by casting my vote for the Federal Equality Act in this Congress and I urge every Member to join me.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Ann Kirkpatrick (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I was in my district over the weekend. We had a couple of marches. We had a Women's March. We had a march for MLK Day. prgtoken A man approached me, and he said: Representative Kirkpatrick, I work for the National Park Service. I am furloughed. I have no income. I have missed two paychecks. prgtoken He said: My 9-year-old son gave me his Christmas gift card to help our family get by. prgtoken He had tears in his eyes, and I am tearing right now just telling that story, because this shutdown is affecting families, children. prgtoken The instability that these children are feeling--and we don't talk about that enough--is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. prgtoken We have got to open the government, and we have got to do it now.
HONORING MICHAEL ``BIG MIKE'' PHILLIPS
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise with great admiration to honor the efforts of a humble hero in San Diego and our LGBTQ community, Michael ``Big Mike'' Phillips. prgtoken Big Mike may have received his namesake due to his tall stature, but there is nothing bigger about him than his enormous heart. Those who have had the pleasure to cross paths with Big Mike know him as a warm, empathetic, and gregarious soul, dedicated to improving the lives of others. He has a unique way of welcoming total strangers and making them feel included, loved, and a part of our community. prgtoken Throughout over four decades working in all aspects of the hospitality industry, Big Mike has come to be an expert in the art of serving others. Whether he's serving food and beverages to friends or new friends, hosting a charitable event, or photographing history in the making, his main concern is always the happiness and fulfillment of the people around him. prgtoken Big Mike's selflessness may be what helps to make him such a talented photographer. When he looks through a lens, his focus remains solely on the people and the moment. He has captured local historic LGBTQ events, multiple LGBTQ Marches on Washington, and even photographed four living U.S. Presidents and First Ladies at the opening of the Clinton Library. prgtoken In all endeavors, Big Mike gives one hundred percent of his head and his heart. He has contributed to so many charitable organizations that I could not possibly list them all. When Special Delivery San Diego, a nonprofit that provides meals to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, was in need of funding, he inspired 128 other bartenders to enroll in an effort to donate to the program. He has the rare ability to inspire others to be a part of something greater than themselves. Using this skill, Big Mike helped to found Ordinary Miracles and The Rob Benzon Foundation, two non-profits with the mission of welcoming individuals to add their own light to the world that when joined together, illuminates and eases the needs of the abused, sick, and hungry. prgtoken When leaders in our community search for a sense of direction and initiative, they often look no further than Big Mike--which can explain why he has been appointed to serve on community advisory boards under almost every single mayor in recent San Diego history. prgtoken Though he has lived an accomplished life, Big Mike is quick to give credit to his caring adoptive parents, his loyal friends, and all who have supported him along the way. It is exceptional to find a person who has carried out their career and lived their life almost entirely for the benefit of others, and I can honestly say that Big Mike is one of them. prgtoken Even on his birthday, he cannot help but use the opportunity to make the world a better place to live. Every year, Big Mike hosts his Birthday Fundraiser to boost awareness and support for various non- profit organizations and invaluable local resources. prgtoken
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-24

I appreciate my friend, the Senator from Maryland, yielding time. I appreciate the fact that this may be the first time, at least in the last few weeks, where a group of Senators from both sides of the aisle are actually coming together to find agreement--not to score ``gotcha'' points but to find agreement. I promised the Senator I would be very brief. prgtoken It is clear this government shutdown needs to come to an end. My hope would be that as we move toward that conclusion, we will also look at the issues revolving around, particularly, low-paid Federal contractors who will get no relief when the government reopens. I also hope we can work together. prgtoken I have legislation called the Stop STUPIDITY Act. It is a good name. It may need further amendments that would try to prohibit future shutdowns being used by either party on a going-forward basis. prgtoken What I think we need to do, and I think other colleagues will acknowledge this, is let's take a 3-week, short- prgtoken term CR. Let's consider the President's proposal. Let me be clear. The President is watching. This Senator will commit to good-faith negotiations. This Senator will commit to supporting increased border security beyond what we just voted on in the so-called ic proposal. I hope the President will take that kind of commitment for increased border security as a good-faith effort and will be responsive so we can get this government reopened on a short-term basis and that the kind of horror stories we all can recount about our workers, contractors, and oftentimes private businesses that surround those Federal installations--that will see no relief--can actually get their operations back open. prgtoken I thank my friend, the Senator from Maryland, for granting me this time. from Alaska for leadership on her time. Let's see if this eight can go forth and multiply so, before this weekend is over, we can get our workforce back to work doing the people's business. prgtoken to the Senator from Maryland.
HOW THE TRUMP SHUTDOWN HURTS HOUSTON RESERVIST
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , Edith Banda a constituent who lives in Houston recently returned from a reservist deployment in the Middle East. She is among thousands of people in the Houston area feeling the impact of the government shutdown. prgtoken Edith has not worked her federal job in downtown Houston since the shutdown 25 days ago. prgtoken Making matters worse, she and dozens of others in Houston are unable to seek temporary private sector work because such jobs require permission, and the people who process those requests have been furloughed. prgtoken Edith has begun selling her personal possessions to make ends meet, but she said another couple of weeks of no work would be crushing.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-1-24

I want to thank my colleague and ic leader Senator Schumer for making clear what is going to happen on the floor of the Senate this afternoon. We have a chance, an opportunity when 100 Senators come to the floor, to put an end to the government shutdown this afternoon. I want to tell you, there is nothing more important than that, as far as I am concerned. I hope we will rise to that occasion and rise to that challenge. prgtoken During the last 2 days, what I have done is travel across my home State of Illinois and sit down and meet on an informal basis with Federal employees who are going through this government shutdown. In the last couple of weeks I have been to Peoria, Pekin, Aurora, Marion, and I went to St. Louis, though it is clearly not in Illinois, to meet with air traffic controllers who live in my State. I sat down and asked them tell me the stories, to tell me what has happened in the 34 days when they haven't been paid--34 days, as of today. They were a little embarrassed and a little reluctant to talk about what it meant. prgtoken Eventually, I said ``Well, tell me about some of your coworkers,'' which is usually a way that people can tell their own stories without embarrassment. I heard some stories that are breaking my heart as I stand here at this moment. prgtoken Have you ever been in an air traffic control tower? It is amazing. I have seen some of the biggest. We had one up in Elgin, IL, which takes care of O'Hare and Midway and all of our great airports. It is a little bit frightening to go into one of these towers and see 10, 20, 30 air traffic controllers looking at these screens. On those screens are little dots, and each one of the dots is an airplane, and in each one of the airplanes there are going to be 20, 30, 40, 150, 200 people. That air traffic controller has an awesome responsibility to make sure that they are on the right path for takeoff and landing, to make sure that their paths don't cross. A mistake in that job can be fatal. That is the reality of what they face. prgtoken Air traffic controllers have one of the most stressful jobs in the Federal Government. We don't think about it. We get on the plane; we get off the plane. Thank goodness for those men and women who are there to make sure it is a safe experience for all of us. prgtoken Do you know that the shifts that are worked by air traffic controllers are 10-hour shifts? How would you like to face a 10-hour shift with that kind of stress every single day you go to work? Do you know how many days a week they work? Six. Six out of seven days they are working 10-hour shifts in one of the most stressful jobs we have in America. Do you wonder why they work 6 days? Most people work 5 days, and they certainly don't work 10-hour shifts. It is because there is a shortage of air traffic controllers. At age 56, you have to leave. Literally, you have to leave as of the next day. You cannot continue to work
HONORING MANUEL U. GARCIA
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I would like to take some time to honor Manuel U. Garcia, a proud U.S. Citizen and Zacatecano that devoted his life to theater, philanthropy, and his family. Regrettably Mr. Garcia passed away on October 28, 2018 in Santa Ana, California at the age of 76 years old. prgtoken Mr. Garcia was born in El Cargadero, Zacatecas, Mexico to Francisco and Antonia Garcia. He was the fourth child of a family of 10 children. At the age of 21, he immigrated prgtoken to the United States in 1962 as a member of the Bracero Program and worked as a farm worker in Arizona and California. He eventually made his way to Los Angeles where he attended community college to learn English. In 1964 he moved to Santa Ana where he bought two homes. He became an imperative resource to his family and friends arriving from Mexico, providing them with temporary shelter, food and helping them find jobs. prgtoken As a member of the Santa Ana Actors Club of the Yost Theater, he helped bring Spanish-speaking theater to the growing Latino community in Santa Ana by acting and writing screen plays and poems. He began working as a laborer in 1966 and was a proud card-carrying member of the Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 652, for more than 50 years. During his 23 years as a laborer, he worked on many construction projects throughout Southern California, including numerous expansions to the Interstate 5 freeway and building the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland Park in Anaheim. prgtoken Mr. Garcia was married in 1971, to Reyna Silvia, and together they had eight children: Leticia, Patricia, Alma, Elvira, Rosalva, Carlos, David, and Teresa. He was also the father to Johnny and the grandfather to 13 grandchildren. prgtoken After nearly 30 years in the United States, he was inspired to become a citizen as a result of the anti-immigrant sentiment in California in the 1990s. He was proud to become a U.S. citizen on March 9, 1999, and quickly registered to vote as a . He made sure he voted in every election, and took pride to learn about all candidates, local measures, and statewide propositions to make sure he made informed decisions. prgtoken Manuel was also very proud of his Mexican nationality, and frequently visited El Cargadero--a small town in the state of Zacatecas. He was instrumental in helping build a health clinic, a library with computers, a funeral home, and update the elementary school. For nearly four decades, he partnered with many Mexican government officials to further help improve his hometown. He spearheaded projects to build a bridge, expand the central plaza, build a new townhall, public restrooms, a new baseball stadium, and improve local infrastructure. prgtoken Manuel was also an avid baseball fan. He was a loyal fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels. He played recreational baseball for many years with his brothers, and as a parent coached many teams for the Santa An
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-1-24

I join with my colleagues here in saying how disappointed I was that today's vote to reopen the government immediately while we keep negotiating to address border security was defeated, but I am encouraged by the bipartisan group on the Senate floor with me this afternoon to send one clear message: Let's pass a clean, 3-week continuing resolution to reopen the government immediately, and each of us is committed to work to pass a strong, bipartisan border security bill during that 3-week period. prgtoken Like many of my colleagues, I have gone down to the border. I have talked to our frontline personnel on the border. There is a lot of common ground about what we need to strengthen our border security. I join my colleagues here and thank Senators Cardin and Murkowski for organizing us in saying that we can get to a solution on border security, but we need to open the government right away. prgtoken There is no reason to keep the government closed while negotiations on strengthening border security continue. In fact, there is concern that negotiations forced by shutdowns set a dangerous precedent. prgtoken So I strongly urge my colleagues from both parties to support this bipartisan approach. I also thank Senators Graham and Cardin for their leadership in this effort, and I am committed to working with them and the rest of this bipartisan group to find a way forward. prgtoken Every day that this senseless shutdown continues, it is hurting people in New Hampshire and across the country. We have all been sharing stories. We have heard these stories. We have talked to the hard-working men and women who serve the people of this country and who are doing their work without pay or who are furloughed and who really don't know how they are going to make their next mortgage payment and their next utility payment or put food on the table and get their medication--all of the things they need a good day's wages to do. So we need to end this now. prgtoken I join with my colleagues in being here this afternoon to simply say that we need to open the government and that I am committed, as all of us are, to negotiate in good faith going forward to find a solution on border security. prgtoken Thank you. prgtoken .
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-1-24

I certainly appreciate the words from Senator Portman. The two of us have been working together since we were in the House of Representatives, and we are proud that we have a record of concrete accomplishments, working together across party lines. Sometimes we had to take on the leadership of both of our parties, but we got things done. So I am encouraged by his comments, and I really do believe we can work together to resolve this issue. prgtoken With that, I would like to yield to my colleague from West Virginia, Senator Manchin, who has been a real leader on the practical impact that this shutdown has. The story about what is happening in the prisons located in West Virginia I think really frighten all of us.
END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise today to commend the good people of the Fifth District of Pennsylvania, who are helping their neighbors, the Federal workers, contractors, and families who have been so grievously impacted by the government shutdown. prgtoken As the human and financial toll of this senseless shutdown has spread, we have seen locals step up and help those who are struggling without pay. What a contrast with this administration where Cabinet members said today that they didn't understand why an unpaid worker might have to resort to a food bank to feed his family. prgtoken Unlike this administration and the Senate majority leader, our neighbors have recognized the true impact of the shutdown and are doing something about it. We have seen youth groups, and fire departments, and local organizations organize food drives. Nonprofits are collecting donations and organizing food pantries so Federal workers can feed their families. prgtoken I urge the President and the Senate majority leader to put people before politics. People are not bargaining chips. The shutdown needs to end now.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise to call on President and the Senate to reopen the Federal Government immediately. prgtoken A legion of Federal workers went to work again this morning with no idea how or when they will be able to pay their bills or support their families, workers like Tracy from my hometown of Amsterdam, New York. prgtoken Tracy has worked for the USDA for more than three decades helping upstate New York farmers, with nowhere else to turn, find the funds they need to stay afloat for another season. prgtoken She says: ``When you start to lose farms, equipment dealers go out of business. Everybody suffers--the charities, the churches. If you can't pay your bills, you can't go to the local pancake breakfast on Sunday'' to help a not-for-profit. prgtoken This weekend, bitter cold hit New York's capital region. Tracy tells me she hasn't gone down to the basement because she is afraid to see the level of heating oil left in her tank. prgtoken Just as tough is the mental toll this shutdown is taking. Until recently, Tracy was furloughed. Now she is working, working without pay. She worries about the farmers who rely on USDA loans to get seed and fertilizer for the coming season. prgtoken When asked what she would say if she were standing here in this spot today, she said: ``We need to take care of one another. It doesn't matter what party you are. We need to help and uplift each other.'' prgtoken Madam , I urge the United States Senate to heed Tracy's call, move forward with any one of the many bills that we have passed here in the House to reopen this government, restore paychecks to our dedicated Federal workers and the critical services they provide to our neighbors who need it, who need it most.