mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT-- Continued
Pete Ricketts (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-5-8

I rise today to join my colleagues in opposing the administration's anti-energy policies. From the EV mandate to the so-called Clean Power Plan 2.0, the administration's war on American energy threatens the livelihoods of millions of Americans and American families. prgtoken Let's start with the EPA's delusional and reckless electric vehicle mandate. It requires up to two-thirds of all cars and light trucks being sold in 2032 to be electric vehicles. prgtoken It is delusional because it will block low-income families from owning a car. Owning a car is a pathway out of poverty for many Americans, including many people in my State, and 's EV mandate will drive up the cost of those used vehicles. prgtoken It is delusional because the administration has no plan for how we are going to generate the power needed to be able to charge these cars or the transmission lines needed to transmit the energy from where it is being produced to where it is going to be needed. prgtoken It is also delusional because this EV mandate will make us more dependent on the Chinese Communist Party, which controls about 60 to 80 percent of all the critical minerals that are necessary to be able to make the batteries for EVs, and they are leading us in this EV battery technology. prgtoken This is how crazy stupid this administration is: They want to mandate EVs on the one hand, but they also want to attack any project that may allow us to be able to mine the minerals that we need to be able to create the batteries for EVs. prgtoken For example, EVs can use up to four times the amount of copper that a regular car uses. At the same time, though, the administration has blocked a road that would go to the Ambler Mining District in Alaska. The Ambler Mining District is one of the places where we have a lot of copper. It is a major copper deposit. We need this copper. Yet the administration is blocking us from being able to get to it. It makes no sense. prgtoken Another thing that makes no sense is an EV mandate that requires dramatically increasing our energy production and transmission on the one hand, and then, on the other hand, we have the Clean Power Plan 2.0, which is going to attack our energy production. It is a classic example of ``bureaucrats gone wild.'' It forces coal- or gas-generating electric plants to reduce up to 90 percent of their carbon emissions by the year 2039. prgtoken First, the Clean Power Plan 2.0 is illegal, explicitly countering the Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. EPA. prgtoken Second, the rule will stifle our industry not only in Nebraska but nationwide. In Nebraska, 49 percent of our electricity comes from coal- fired plants. It is the baseload generation we have. prgtoken Nebraska, actually, ranks pretty high when it comes to renewable energy. We have over 31 percent of our electricity coming from renewable energy, but we still need that baseload. prgtoken
RECOGNIZING MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-5-8

I rise today in honor of Military Appreciation Month. prgtoken With 24 years of service in the Army and now representing a congressional district with a significant Active-Duty and veteran population, I am deeply honored to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our Nation's heroes. prgtoken Military Appreciation Month was proposed by the late Senator John McCain in February 1999. Two months later, Congress voted to officially designate May as the nationally recognized period for honoring the military, culminating with Memorial Day. prgtoken Across the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force, there are more than 2.8 million servicemembers worldwide tasked with protecting the freedoms we enjoy here at home. prgtoken , I thank all those who serve and have served. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America. Honoring Iowa's First Responders and Red Cross
CELEBRATING NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-5-8

I rise today in honor of National Nurses Week and to celebrate the incredible contributions and sacrifices that nurses make each and every day. prgtoken As an occupational therapist myself, I have seen firsthand how important nurses are, not only in the delivery of healthcare but in their daily interactions with patients. They build connections and tend to a patient's needs, serving as the main conduit to a patient's medical care. prgtoken My grandmother, Dechantal O'Brien Kennedy, was a nurse. My mother, Mary Wilson Kennedy, was a nurse for more than 54 years and went on to teach nursing at D'Youville University in retirement. prgtoken We should be grateful to our nurses, but we need to do more to support them. This Congress should prioritize the passage of H.R. 2530. This legislation will mandate specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, ensure Medicare payments reflect those ratios, and empower nurses to speak up if those ratios are violated. prgtoken It is common sense that we protect patients and reduce burnout and fatigue among nurses. It will save lives. Let's get it done.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TABLE ROCK LAKE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-5-8

I rise today to recognize 50 years of steady economic development, volunteerism, and stewardship from the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in Missouri. prgtoken Formed in 1974 as the Kimberling City Chamber of Commerce, the group has adapted and changed to accommodate the needs and interest of its community. In the 1990s, the chamber launched an initiative to protect the waters of Table Rock Lake, which spawned a part of the organization known today as H2Ozarks. Now, the chamber has embarked on a 5-year economic development initiative called Launch Stone County and has recently moved to a new location in Branson West to provide additional services to the business community. prgtoken The chamber has remained committed to promoting tourism of Stone County and the Ozarks, working to preserve the beauty of Table Rock Lake for future generations to enjoy. I am proud that such a vibrant community of small businesses exists and thrives in Missouri and hope Table Rock Lake continues to be a celebrated tourist destination for years to come.
EQUAL REPRESENTATION ACT
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-5-8

my mama's prayers did. Mine don't get quite that close. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 7109, the Equal Representation Act. This legislation will require U.S. citizens to include a question that asks if the person is a United States citizen. It is just a question. prgtoken This bill passed through the House Oversight Committee on a straight party-line vote, 22-20. Not a single supported it. prgtoken The Census informs how our government divides up congressional districts and electoral college votes it helps to ensure American voters have equal representation. That process should not factor in people who are not citizens or not eligible to vote. prgtoken You can see why my ic colleagues would have a problem with this bill. Factoring illegal aliens into the process skews things in their favor. In fact, it wasn't very long ago that a Member from the minority party was on the news claiming that they wish more illegals would come to their district for the Census. prgtoken If the Census does not include the citizenship question, States with more illegal aliens will get more congressional districts and more electoral college votes. prgtoken We have a history of saying that elections are sacred and that free, fair, and secure elections are the cornerstone of this great Republic, . It is time to act like it and prioritize the dadgum representation of our people. prgtoken Americans are sick and tired of this administration weaponizing different parts of our government, and they don't want to see something like the Census being used against them when it is so hard to get American citizens to even take the Census. prgtoken Leaders in States like California and New York are taking pride in harboring illegal aliens. In fact, the people of California have offered free healthcare to their illegals, and New York has kicked combat veterans out of housing to house illegals.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT-- Continued
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-5-8

this week, we are taking a big step forward in the fight to end online child exploitation. The bipartisan REPORT Act, which you and I led, has been signed into law, and now law enforcement and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children-- or NCMEC, as we call it--will have the resources that they need to better protect vulnerable children and track down these predators and pedophiles. This legislation has been urgently needed. And, , I thank you for your leadership on this issue. prgtoken Here is a frightening statistic: In America, a child is bought or sold for sexual exploitation once every 2 minutes. In this country, in 2024, a child is prgtoken bought or sold for sex once every 2 minutes. This abuse increasingly happens in the virtual space, where predators distribute child sexual abuse material; they recruit minors into sex trafficking rings; and they extort children into sharing explicit images of themselves. prgtoken Just last year, NCMEC received 36.2 million reports of online child sexual exploitation, a 23-percent increase over 2021. prgtoken NCMEC, whose CyberTipline serves as our country's centralized reporting system for online child abuse, does incredible work to track down these crimes and report them to law enforcement. But, tragically, so many more acts of online sexual abuse against children are going unreported. prgtoken Although criminal law requires electronic service providers to report any child sex abuse material on their sites, online platforms-- including Big Tech sites, such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram--have no obligation to report content involving the sex trafficking or grooming of children or enticement crimes. prgtoken Most online platforms choose not to report this abhorrent material to law enforcement. And even when they do report the content, electronic service providers often omit necessary information to identify victims and track down their abusers. prgtoken We have also heard from victims, their families, and law enforcement about the need to modernize laws around reporting online sexual abuse. For example, children and their parents risk legal liability for transferring evidence of online sexual abuse that they have experienced when submitting reports to the NCMEC CyberTipline. prgtoken The REPORT Act addresses these issues and more to ensure that they are defending children against some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Now, electronic service providers will be legally required to report child trafficking and enticement. prgtoken To ensure compliance with the law, the REPORT Act raises the fine for first violations from $150,000 up to as much as $850,000, and subsequent violations, that fee is raised from $300,000 up to $1 million. prgtoken At the same time, the legislation enables victims to report evidence of online exploitation to the authorities and allows for the secure cloud storage and safe transfer of reports from NCMEC to l
INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING MEDICAID CONTINUITY FOR THE INSULAR AREAS ACT OF 2024
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democrat, MP) \u2014 2024-5-8

today, I introduce the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for the Insular Areas Act of 2014, which would protect access to health insurance for our most vulnerable Americans in the territories. Specifically, my legislation would authorize the redistribution of unused Medicaid block grant funding to address shortfalls in the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. prgtoken Medicaid programs in the U.S. territories are subject to a statutory cap, denying them the open-ended federal funding enjoyed by Medicaid programs in the states. Block grant programs, however, are inherently ill-equipped to respond to emergencies due to their fixed funding structure. This disparity most recently became pronounced during the COVID-19 public health emergency. prgtoken Congress knows well the challenges associated with block grant programs. That's why we designed contingency measures for other block grant programs, such as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In the event of a funding shortfall, states and territory CHIP programs have access to multiple contingency measures to protect and sustain access to healthcare services. Territory Medicaid programs face similar funding challenges as CHIP due to their shared block grant structure yet lack equivalent contingency measures. prgtoken My bill, the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for the Insular Areas Act of 2024, fixes this critical gap in our Nation's health safety net for Americans in the territories. Under terms set out by my legislation, territory Medicaid programs--like CHIP programs--would be better equipped to address emergencies through the redistribution of unused territory Medicaid allotment funds to shortfall territories. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation presents a common-sense, budget-neutral solution, establishing a long overdue fail-safe for Medicaid in the territories. The well-being of our citizens and the care to which they have access to, regardless of their geographic location, must be our top priority. prgtoken The gentleman from Guam, Mr. Moylan, and the gentlelady from American Samoa, Ms. Radewagen, are original cosponsors of the bill. I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation and uphold our commitment to providing equitable health insurance coverage for all Americans.
CELEBRATING MOTHERS
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-5-8

as a mother myself, I know that there are circumstances out of our control that require families, especially the mothers, to take time off from work, especially new mothers. Whether it is your sick child, a parent, or a personal illness yourself, taking unpaid leave is not a reality for millions of our American families, our mothers. prgtoken Too many mothers are forced to choose between taking care of their families or keeping their jobs. We need paid leave for all by providing mothers with the time off they need to care for themselves and their families. No one, , not a single person should have to fear losing the income they need to keep a roof over their families' heads in exchange for literally just being able to take care of their child. prgtoken The Healthy Families Act would guarantee employees the right to earn paid sick days each year--again, earn it. prgtoken Now, I don't want us to forget a big crisis that we have, and I think the pandemic exposed this crisis. We have a childcare crisis in our country. prgtoken Affordable childcare is also incredibly essential for working mothers and the well-being of our children. Access to quality, affordable childcare allows mothers to continue to pursue their careers while knowing that their child is safe and taken care of. prgtoken By investing in affordable childcare, we can support working mothers and help them achieve economic justice and be able to thrive, not just survive. prgtoken I am proud to support as, again, the cofounder of the Congressional Mamas' Caucus to be pushing for the Childcare for Working Families Act to be sure families can afford the childcare they need and expand access to high-quality options and help ensure that childcare workers are paid living wages. prgtoken from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez), a wonderful colleague from Illinois who is not only championing tenants' rights, which is the center to many mothers, but also is a proud child of immigrants. I will tell you just how incredibly connected she is to her community on the ground and brings a lot of that lived experiences here in the Chamber that has been really missing for a long time.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-5-8

let me read a few quotes from the last 6 months, about securing our southern border, from some of my Senate colleagues: This crisis requires swift, serious, and substantive action. It makes no sense to me for us to do nothing when we might be able to make things better. This moment will pass. Do not let it pass. prgtoken Yes, indeed, these are words of our Senate colleagues, uttered at press conferences and floor speeches and interviews from just the last few months. There are many, many, many more quotes like these, going back years, from Senators, from Congress Members, from the , and from the former President. prgtoken We kept hearing the same thing again and again and again: ``We need to do something about the border now,'' they shouted. ``The border is an emergency,'' they screamed. ``We cannot put this off until tomorrow''--and on and on and on. prgtoken So 3 months ago, here on the floor, s got a chance to back up their angry words with real action by voting on the strongest bipartisan border bill Congress has seen in decades. And practically every voted no, including my colleague who said: ``It makes no sense to do nothing.'' Then he voted no. Including my colleague who said: ``This crisis requires swift . . . action''--he voted no. And the , Johnson, who said: ``The time to act'' on the border ``is yesterday,'' and then told the whole world that our bipartisan border bill would die in the House if we sent it over to them. prgtoken has spent years bellyaching and bemoaning the problems at prgtoken the border. But when Congress finally reached a breakthrough on a strong and bipartisan border bill, he told his MAGA acolytes to kill it so that he could exploit the chaos at the border for political gain. He was bold and open about that. He wanted to exploit the chaos at the border for his own political gain. prgtoken That is cynical even for s--even, maybe, for , whose cynicism knows no bounds. For , the situation at the border is utterly unacceptable. That is why we worked with our colleagues for months to write the strongest border security bill Congress has seen in generations--a bill that had the support of the Border Patrol union and the Chamber of Commerce and the extremely conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board. prgtoken But , desperate to exploit the border for the campaign trail, torpedoed this bill right in its tracks. He knew it would take real action to secure our border. That is why he didn't want it to happen. prgtoken s will go on and on about the border this year, but their rhetoric, their political ads, everything else, will ring hollow because the border bill they killed in Congress will linger over them like stink on garbage.
EQUAL REPRESENTATION ACT
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-5-8

I thank my cousin, Representative Raskin, for yielding me time. prgtoken We have wasted another legislative week on ludicrous messaging bills to defend the liberty of laundry and freedom for the fridge. Today, they are pushing a bill to upend our Nation's process for collecting Census data. prgtoken Let's be clear. The so-called Equal Representation Act does nothing to live up to its name. In fact, their bill would result in the opposite. It will reduce participation in the Census, which our government relies on for a host of data to inform our decisionmaking. prgtoken What is more, this bill will violate our Constitution, which states that all persons be counted in the Census. Instead of wasting time on deeply unserious messaging bills, Congress should be focused on what really matters to the American people, particularly reproductive freedoms. prgtoken Right now, across the country, women are suffering from extreme abortion bans that are endangering their health and limiting their ability to make private medical decisions. Women in America are worried about prgtoken their reproductive freedoms and deeply concerned about what extremist politicians will attack next. We know that radical judges and politicians are not stopping with abortion bans. They are now attacking fertility treatments and attempting to restrict birth control methods like plan B and IUDs. prgtoken If far-right extremists really cared about women, they would want to make the full range of birth control readily available, not restrict access to it. prgtoken This Sunday is Mother's Day. How about giving moms and potential moms the gift they really want: the right to decide whether, when, and with whom to have children. Instead of flowers, let's guarantee the right to use the full range of FDA-approved birth control. prgtoken In honor of Mother's Day and for this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. prgtoken My amendment would strike the text of H.R. 7190 and replace it with my Right to Contraception Act, a bill to protect the right to access all forms of FDA-approved birth control and protect women's reproductive health from political interference. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record the text of this amendment immediately prior to the motion to recommit. prgtoken For full text, please see H.R. 4121.