mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING COURTNEY STEVENS' SERVICE TO MISSISSIPPI
Steven M. Palazzo (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-12-30

. Madam , I rise today to recognize my Chief of Staff, Courtney Stevens. Courtney joined my legislative staff in Washington, D.C. in 2019. She was hired as a Senior Legislative Assistant and immediately displayed her aptitude with the Appropriations process and delivering district wins, resulting in a promotion to Legislative Director. In addition to her legislative portfolio, Courtney took on managing staff and running the day-to-day of the D.C. office and earned a promotion to Deputy Chief of Staff at the beginning of 2022. A few months later, I was glad to name her my Chief of Staff, given her commitment to my office, Mississippi, and public service. prgtoken Courtney is a native of Northern Virginia. She graduated from James Madison University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a European Studies minor from the University of Antwerp. After college graduation, she knew her major wasn't her passion and leaned on her favorite experience--a Capitol Hill internship she did for two summers in high school for Congressman Pete Sessions. prgtoken Courtney's career on the Hill started with an offer to join the Senate Appropriations Committee under the Leadership of the late Senator Thad Cochran, the senior Senator from Mississippi. During her time there, she built relationships and absorbed information from the pillars of the Committee. Courtney did what was needed, from planning Committee Christmas parties to working on both the Legislative Branch and Labor, Health and Human Services subcommittees. prgtoken During the 114th Congress, the Committee Staff Director nominated Courtney for the Emerging Congressional Staff Leadership Program through the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership. Additionally, she was selected to participate in educational programs through the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the MIT Security Studies program. The House Office of lnterparliamentary Affairs chose her to join the 2022 Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange. And most recently, Courtney was nominated and then picked by Leadership to join the first-ever Level Up--Future Chiefs of Staff course created by House Leadership. prgtoken Courtney's diverse professional experience has been key to my success as she supported me and my Appropriations subcommittee assignments. She took on an array of district issues, such as working with USACE during the extended opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway and ensuring NASA continued its commitment to Stennis Space Center with the ``Green Run'' test for SLS. She learned about the U.S. Coast Guard's missions, the situation at the southwest border, and how to work with NOAA and state agencies to extend red snapper season for the Gulf Coast. Courtney sorted through and prioritized my office's community-funded project submissions, which resulted in $32.2 million in direct funds for projects across South Mississippi in f
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Juan Ciscomani (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy as of the House. prgtoken The American Dream is a dream worth fighting for, and I know in my heart of hearts that Kevin McCarthy is the man to lead us as we work to fulfill that dream for everyone in every State and in every district. prgtoken Everyone in this Chamber understands the need to serve our constituents. It is who elected us, and it is our responsibility. Kevin understands this as well as anyone. He has dedicated his life to spreading opportunity for all through the private sector and the public sector. prgtoken This place is a special place for me. My first time on the Hill was back when I was an intern in 2003. My mom visited, and I remember walking her around the Halls of Congress as if I owned the place. prgtoken Well, just a few days ago, I got to walk my mom around this special place one more time, but now as a Member-elect of the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken The American Dream is alive. I believe it. prgtoken I have gotten to know Kevin McCarthy well. He secured a majority in the United States House and laid out a plan to deliver for the American people. prgtoken There is one thing I know about Kevin McCarthy: He cares about the American people. He cares about our country, and he is here not to be somebody but to do something. prgtoken That has been laid out in his Commitment to America, to fight for: an economy that is strong; a nation that is safe; a future that is built on freedom; and a government that is accountable. prgtoken This I can strongly get behind. prgtoken This country gave me and my family an opportunity, an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. prgtoken Madam Clerk, I was born in Mexico. The best way that I can tell you who I am is through a short conversation I had with my dad when I told him I was going to run for office. This conversation, of course, was in Espanol, in Spanish. prgtoken My dad asked me, ``Juan, where else could we have our story? We come to this country, we immerse in the culture, we learn English, we go through the long journey and become U.S. citizens.'' He said, ``I drive a bus my whole life, and now my son has a shot at becoming a Member of the United States Congress. Where else in the world could we have our story?'' prgtoken But where else in the world could any of us have our story? Regardless of our background, regardless of where we come from, what side of the aisle we sit on, we have the privilege and opportunity to sit here today as part of a historic moment, fighting for what we believe. prgtoken The answer of where else is nowhere else. Only here. prgtoken I trust Kevin to fight for that American Dream because he is a product of it. We are all a product of it. He gets it and understands that a government accountable to the people is the best tool to ensure that our future generations continue to have a real shot at the American Dream. prgtoken So let's be proud of our stori
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
John James (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy for of the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, there has been a lot of talk about history over the last few days. 1856 was the last time it took longer than 9 votes to find a of the House. It took 133 votes over 2 months. prgtoken Without question, the issues that divide us today are much less severe than they were in 1856. In fact, there is far more that unites us than divides us, regardless of our political party or ideology. prgtoken The issues today are over a few rules and personalities, while the issues at that time were about slavery and whether the value of a man who looks like me was 60 percent or 100 percent of a human being. prgtoken It was a long, drawn-out, painful process, but it needed to happen. In the end, Nathaniel Banks won by the slimmest of margins. But the margins don't matter when your policies are on the right side of history. On that day, long ago, the good guys won. On that day, long ago, the abolitionists won. On that day, the people who believed in prgtoken freedom and self-determination won. The leading nominee won then, and the leading nominee will win again today. prgtoken Since then, our Nation has made a lot of progress. That includes families like mine. My family has gone from slave to the floor of the United States House of Representatives, being the first Member of his freshman class to speak. prgtoken In a series of five generations, my family has gone from slave to right here since 1856. My father and mother were born in the 1940s and 1950s in the Jim Crow South, and my dad lived directly across the street from a school he couldn't go to because he was Black. He started a business with one truck, one trailer, no excuses, with the help of his wife, and now his son stands here on the precipice of taking back the majority for the American people and taking this Nation in the right direction. prgtoken I am a freshman. I have only been here a couple of days, but I have heard a lot of D.C. politicians tell me about how broken D.C. is. I don't need D.C. politicians to tell me how broken D.C. is. The American people have already told us how broken D.C. is by giving the s the majority so we can fix this mess. prgtoken We will counter the socialist movement of envy and confiscation with a conservative movement of access and opportunity. We will stand on the right side of history again. We will end the growth of government, and we will stop 87,000 new IRS agents from picking through your pocketbooks. We will secure our energy independence. We will ban the sale of petroleum from our strategic reserves to China. We will establish a bipartisan select committee specifically to keep our eye on the ball in China. We will address the crisis at the border that is killing Americans by the day and improve both our safety in our Nation and our dignity for those who come here in search of a better life. prgtoken But not yet.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise tonight in the spirit of 1923 to address the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy as of the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, first let me express my deep appreciation and the appreciation of everybody in this room for the work you are doing. prgtoken Our Clerk has stepped up and reflects our House's best tradition of preparation and dedication to this institution, and we are grateful. prgtoken From the first of the House, the Honorable Frederick Muhlenberg, to the one who will be elected next, Kevin McCarthy, the role of of the House is one of the most beloved in American history. prgtoken The 's mission is to carry out the principled goals and objectives of his or her party while at the same time protecting this institution and the traditions of the people's House all the while remaining faithful to that imperative in our preamble of the Constitution to ``promote the general welfare.'' prgtoken It is a difficult job that takes a special personality with deep affection for the House, robust courage, a sense of humor, and great amounts of humility and patience. prgtoken I have watched Kevin McCarthy for longer than my 8 years serving in this Chamber, and I can say without hesitation that Kevin has brought these foundational traits of leadership to bear for the good of this institution and for the good of the American people. prgtoken It is said that a nation not in control of her finances cannot control her destiny, and I agree. From our many conversations over many years, I have no doubt that our next , Kevin McCarthy, agrees. prgtoken In the Commitment to America, Leader McCarthy charged our Conference with taking on his two biggest concerns facing this world and this Nation: China and our domestic national debt and deficit. prgtoken Over the past 2 years, we have lost our way on spending--printing too much money at our central bank and spending here in Congress like drunken sailors. prgtoken This bad policy palooza went into overdrive in the past 2 years with some $5 trillion in new spending demanded by President and now delivered by the House minority--whose own budget chair famously said that there is effectively no limit to what America can print, borrow, and spend. prgtoken Of course, this is madness, and it is not anchored in any economic tenet, and there is not a single one of us here who isn't demanding a return to fiscal discipline. prgtoken And who can deliver fiscal discipline? prgtoken Kevin McCarthy. prgtoken On the point of spending, let me show you, Madam Clerk, a list of everyone who has written me in the Second Congressional District who has asked me to cut spending. I am holding up a blank piece of paper. prgtoken No one has asked me to cut spending in writing, and there are not many people who get a lot of mail in this House to cut spending and to set spending priorities. In contrast, we get hundreds of letters asking us to inc
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Troy E. Nehls (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy as of the House. prgtoken Kevin McCarthy has been our leader for the past 4 years and has overwhelming support within this Conference. My intent today is to address the American people who have been watching these proceedings and are concerned about what they have seen in this Chamber over the past 2 days. prgtoken I am a Member of the House Freedom Caucus, and I am proud to say so. I believe the 20 Members that have nominated an alternate candidate have expressed their concerns with leadership, and many of those concerns have been addressed and accepted by Leader McCarthy and this Conference. prgtoken I believe this battle we are waging must end. Kevin McCarthy fully understands that being of the House will not be easy. Kevin is aware that any legislation he would like to pass out of this House will require support and enforcement from the Freedom Caucus. This is where I believe we can hold the accountable. prgtoken Kevin has made changes to the House rules at the request of all Members. One of those rule changes was the motion to vacate the chair, which Nancy Pelosi removed 4 years ago to avoid the scrutiny and the accountability. prgtoken The motion to vacate the chair, which has not been offered for a floor vote in over 100 years, calls for the removal of the of the House. Kevin has reinstated the motion to vacate the chair, which I believe was the right thing to do. This motion allows us, the Conference, to hold the accountable. The American people gave us, my friends, us, the s, the majority, and their vote of confidence to change the direction of our country. The American people are begging for leadership because the administration certainly has not placed the American people first. prgtoken Kevin McCarthy understands. He understands he must protect that 's gavel and abide by the will of the American people. The decisions we make in the 118th Congress are critical to the future of our country. The decisions we make, the legislation we pass as a majority must have the support of the American people. We have a crisis on every corner in America, and the American people are expecting s to bring this much-needed change. We must come together today and implement that change. prgtoken To those of you outside of Washington that are watching, Kevin McCarthy and this majority understand your pain. We understand your pain. We feel it. prgtoken We understand we must secure our southern border. We must unleash our energy sector and become energy independent. We must curb inflation by reducing spending, and we must support our law enforcement officers. We have to get crime under control. We must place America and its people first. prgtoken I say to my friends on the side that we can do all this while holding the administration accountable and the Washington bureaucrats who have infringed
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Hakeem Jeffries of New York for of this House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, I speak on behalf of the ic Caucus when I say that there is no victory in adjourning without doing the business of the people. prgtoken Madam Clerk, House are united behind a champion of expanding and protecting the right to vote. Since the beginning of 2021, 21 State legislatures have passed 42 restrictive voting laws. Hakeem has stood up against voter suppression in the new Jim Crow era every step of the way. prgtoken As we begin a new Congress, we need a leader who believes in strengthening democracy, who understands that to cast a vote is a sacred responsibility that should be afforded to the many, not the privileged or the select few. Hakeem understands that in order for us to be a more perfect Union, we can't deny the voices of individuals in the democratic process. prgtoken Madam Clerk, today, we affirm our support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Madam Clerk, that is why I am directed by the ic Caucus to advance the name of Hakeem Jeffries from New York as .
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for of the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, we have heard a lot today, yesterday, and the day before about the potential history that may be made in this Chamber. But it is worth repeating to the American people watching the history that has already been made by the elevation of the dedicated, talented, passionate, and committed public servant and leader from the State of New York, the first African American and the first person of color to lead any political party in the House of Representatives in the history of our country, and that is Hakeem Jeffries. prgtoken Madam Clerk, it is with great pride that I rise to nominate the gentleman from New York, the man who has been the lead vote-getter 10 times and counting to be the of the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, the last several days have been difficult for the country and for the American people as they have watched what has unfolded in this Chamber and as they have seen the dysfunction laid bare on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken I suspect that some Americans watching will recall the dysfunction of years past. My colleague on the other side of the aisle talked about history, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and the like. prgtoken Madam Clerk, I would like to take you through a more recent history because I can tell my friends that as a Member-elect from the great State of Colorado, this is not their first rodeo as far as dysfunction is concerned. prgtoken Four years ago today, I was sworn in with my colleagues from the class of 2018 during what became the most difficult and the longest government shutdown in the history of our country. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because of the dysfunction and the chaos on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken The country then did what it has so often done: it looked to House to govern and to lead, and under the leadership of one of the greatest s in the history of the country, Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi, that is exactly what we did. prgtoken If we want to talk about history, then let's talk about recent history. Two years ago tomorrow I stood here with so many of my friends in this Chamber as our democracy was attacked as our colleagues on the other side of the aisle tried to overturn an election. prgtoken And the country, yet again, did what it has done before: it looked to House to lead and to govern. That is exactly what we did when we certified the election, and we safeguarded the transfer of power. prgtoken So here we find ourselves again in unprecedented times in the early days of the 118th Congress. The first time in over 100 years in which the House of Representatives is unable to organize because the House Conference cannot select a . prgtoken It is a sad day for this institution, but the country will do what it has done before: It will look to House to govern and to lead, and under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, that is exactly what
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Katherine M. Clark (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Hakeem Jeffries as of the House. prgtoken Madam Clerk, 212, 212, 212, 212, 212, 212, and, today, 212--212 House stand united behind our leader because Hakeem Jeffries stands united for the American people. prgtoken The historic dysfunction that we are seeing, this intraparty fight that the American people have been drawn into, is imperiling our national security. It will imperil the ability of this government to deliver basic services. It is imperiling our jobs and our responsibility to serve our constituents, but it is also entirely predictable. prgtoken They are failing to convene Congress today, but for years, they have failed to deliver the votes for the American people. prgtoken When schools and small businesses needed to reopen, and the American people wanted vaccines, they said no. prgtoken When we capped insulin costs for seniors at $35 a month, they said no. prgtoken When we lowered healthcare costs and premiums for working families, they said no. prgtoken When we defended the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, they said no. prgtoken When we protected lives from senseless gun violence, especially in the wake of the horrors of Buffalo and Uvalde, they said no. prgtoken When we stood up for women and reproductive freedom, they said no. prgtoken When we brought manufacturing back to America, they said no. prgtoken When we answered the urgent call to protect our planet and invest in clean energy and create tens of millions of good-paying jobs, they said no. prgtoken When we said women deserve equal pay for equal work, they said no. prgtoken When we said that childcare and paid family leave should be available to every worker in this country, to every family, they said no. prgtoken When we secured the fundamental right to vote for every single American, they said no. prgtoken When we stood by our veterans and expanded their access to healthcare, they said no. prgtoken When we defended our democracy 2 years ago tomorrow from a tyrannical President following the January 6 insurrection, they said no. prgtoken House will stand together. We will stand for the American people. It is our job and our responsibility to elect a who stands with them, and with great pride, I nominate Hakeem Jeffries.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CLERK
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-1-5

. Madam Clerk, I rise today to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for of the House. prgtoken Vote after vote, stand united and ready to work on behalf of the American people under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries. prgtoken Vote after vote, nomination after nomination, are united, just like we were united when we passed the American Rescue Plan to get our economy back on track; united when we passed the infrastructure law to rebuild America; united when we capped insulin at $35, passed historic gun safety legislation, and passed the PACT Act to help our Nation's veterans; united when passed the CHIPS and Science Act to bring manufacturing back to America; united when passed the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce our deficit and protect our environment. are unified to tackle the climate crisis while s are mired in their own leadership crisis. prgtoken Madam Clerk, House are ready, willing, and able to get to work for the American people. We will do so under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, who has a plan for the American people. Therefore, as vice chair of the ic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of our Caucus to present prgtoken for election to the office of of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress, Representative-elect from the State of New York, Hakeem Jeffries.