mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT
Jamaal Bowman (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-4-17

I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership, and I thank her for yielding. prgtoken , I am telling America, the rent is too damn high. I repeat, the rent is too damn high. It remains too damn high for the majority of Americans. prgtoken We believe very strongly that housing is a human right. Every single person in our country should have access to affordable housing--housing that is truly affordable. prgtoken If you work full time in our country, you should be able to afford clean, respectful, dignified, adequate housing. No American should spend more than 20 percent of their salary toward rent and/or mortgages. prgtoken In my district, you have people paying 30, 40, 50, 60, even 70 percent of their salaries toward rent. How can you afford transportation? How can you afford childcare? How can you afford education or to get your child tutoring or to take additional courses for yourself? How can you afford to put your child in martial arts or science or arts or music programs when the majority of your money is going toward rent? prgtoken In Westchester County where the majority of my district resides, you need to make $40 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. That means you will be working 2.6 minimum wage jobs, and you will not have discretionary income. You will not have an exemplary quality of life, which should be the goal of this Congress; to make sure that everyone in our country has their basic needs met, beginning with housing. prgtoken President recently announced a rent cap in properties that use the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. That is a huge help for millions of Americans. We thank President --huge shout-out to him. But we need for the President to go further and regulate rent across the country. He should use his authority to cap rent at any property with a federally backed mortgage, which Senator Warren and I have joined tenant leaders in proposing. prgtoken I want to give a huge shout-out to community voices heard who are organizing for tenants in Yonkers, in the Bronx, and all throughout Westchester County. I want to give a huge shout-out to Evelyn Santiago, who is organizing for tenants in White Plains, and throughout Westchester County. I want to give a shout-out to Jeanette Garcia who is working and organizing with United Yonkers for tenants' rights. prgtoken As development goes up, we have to make sure rent remains truly affordable for the working class. We should not be allowing the displacement or the gentrification of the most vulnerable in our communities. I want to give a huge shout-out to Westhab. We have worked very closely with them to give them millions of dollars to build and sustain affordable housing for seniors and others in Yonkers and in places all over the county and the district. prgtoken We need a Green New Deal for public housing. We have to rebuild our public housing stock. The Federal Government has disinvested in public housing for decades, and o
TRIAL OF ALEJANDRO NICHOLAS MAYORKAS, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-4-17

in a moment, I will ask unanimous consent to allow for debate time, to allow for s to offer and have votes on trial resolutions, and allow for s to offer and have votes on points of order. prgtoken So I ask unanimous consent that Senator Lee be recognized to offer a resolution that is the text of S. Res. 624, the full Senate trial; that Senator Cruz be recognized to offer a resolution that is the text of S. Res. 622, the trial committee; that there then be up to 60 minutes of debate on the resolutions, concurrently and equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; and following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on, or in relation to, the resolutions in the order listed, with no amendments to the resolutions in order; further, that following the disposition of the trial resolutions, if they are not agreed to, Senator Schumer, or his designee, be recognized to make a motion to dismiss the first Article of Impeachment; that the motion be subject to only seven points of order; that there be up to 60 minutes for debate, concurrently and equally divided, on the motion to dismiss and the points of order; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the points of order in the order raised and the motion to dismiss; further, that if Senator Schumer, or his designee, makes a motion to dismiss the second Article of Impeachment, that the motion be subject to only one point of order; that there be up to 60 minutes for debate, concurrently and equally divided, on the motion to dismiss and the points of order; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the points of order in the order raised and the motion to dismiss; further, that following disposition of article II, the Senate vote on the motion to adjourn the Court of Impeachment sine die; finally, that there be up to 4 minutes for debate, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, prior to each rollcall vote, all without intervening action or debate.
BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2024-4-17

this Black Maternal Health Week, we confront the glaring reality that Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications across socioeconomic criteria and education than similarly situated White women. prgtoken Research highlights a disturbing attribution, that Black women are also significantly more likely to encounter disrespectful treatment during childbirth, facing scolding, threats, and even outright hostility. prgtoken These disparities in treatment are not new. They are deeply embedded in the fabric, unfortunately, of our healthcare system and our society. prgtoken The fact that maternal death in the U.S. has more than doubled over two decades, with Black mothers suffering the highest rate, is a national tragedy. Moreover, the CDC's finding that over 80 percent of those deaths were preventable should be a call to action. prgtoken As a mother of five and a mother for a daughter, I find the current trajectory deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable. It poses a severe threat to the health and safety of Black women and all women across our Nation. It is paramount that we improve awareness of the urgent maternal warning signs and ensure the provision of timely, respectful, and quality care. We must save these lives.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT
Robert Garcia (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-4-17

I thank Representative Ramirez for yielding. prgtoken , our Nation faces a severe housing crisis, and it is time for Congress to start working on real solutions for working families. prgtoken We know that we are facing a shortage of 3 million homes across the country. That is unacceptable, and the deficit has led to years of rising costs for every American. prgtoken Housing is a human right, but today, there are millions of people with no access to a safe home, no access to a stable home, and this is happening in cities and towns across America. We know that millions more are at risk. prgtoken In 2020, almost half of American renters were forced to spend more than 30 percent of their income just on housing, and 23 percent were forced to spend more than half their income on rent. prgtoken We just know that rent is too damn high. This is unacceptable, and it is the single biggest driver of our country's homelessness crisis. prgtoken In places like L.A. County that I represent, and in communities across America, rents are going up and housing stock is becoming more and more difficult. We know that working families and middle-class families have less and less access to not just buying a home but even renting a home that they can afford. prgtoken We know the most vulnerable constituents are facing the most severe consequences of this crisis, and it impacts especially Black, Brown, and low-income communities across America. prgtoken We also know it is a crisis for seniors and for people on a fixed income who can't keep up with skyrocketing housing costs. It is impacting young people, who are entering the job market and starting families but realizing, sadly, that they will never be able to afford a home. prgtoken For the past 70 years, being able to buy a home and build wealth has been the gateway to the middle class for millions of families. It has made the American Dream possible for so many generations, but now we are allowing that American Dream to crumble. prgtoken The shortage of affordable housing is estimated to cost us approximately $2 trillion a year due to lower wages and productivity. We need to build more housing. prgtoken Housing is a social justice issue. Housing is a climate issue. We know that communities that adopt smart housing policies can build more affordable housing. prgtoken Not only does our Federal Government need to invest in more housing, in more vouchers, in more affordability, and focus on more not just local but national tenant protections, but we also need to take a smart approach to growth. prgtoken , that is why, last year, I also introduced the People Over Parking Act to eliminate minimum parking prgtoken requirements near high-quality public transit. For those who don't know, parking minimums force property owners to create a certain number of spaces regardless of the needs of the people who live in those homes. prgtoken In fact, parking minimums are oftentimes the single largest driver
FOURTH AMENDMENT IS NOT FOR SALE ACT
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-4-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of H.R. 4639, the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act. I was proud to join Congressman Davidson in introducing this strong bipartisan legislation to help prevent government overreach by prohibiting the warrantless purchase of customer data. When the Judiciary Committee considered this bill at markup last July, it received, as Ms. Hageman noted, a rare unanimous 30-0 vote. prgtoken When we download applications to our phones, we do so because we think they will make our lives just a little bit better. Weather apps tell us if we should bring an umbrella to work, delivery apps allow us to order groceries to our homes, and even employee work apps let us know the schedule for the week. Some of these convenience applications, however, can come with a dark side that they generally do not disclose to the American public, that the data they collect from us is immediately sold to the highest bidder. prgtoken Third-party purchasers of this data, often referred to as ``data brokers,'' collect and package the data to sell to advertisers, market researchers, and government entities, to name a few. While many argue that the data they purchase from applications, websites, and social media is deidentified when it is sold, experts agree that just four points of data are needed to reidentify this data. prgtoken Because of this, the purchaser of a dataset can piece together significant information about us. For example, they can track an individual's commuting habits, including which businesses they drive by on their way to work, when they are not at home, and even when they visit places that are not part of their normal commute. prgtoken That anyone should have Americans' private information is highly troubling to me. But that our Federal Government can obtain it without a warrant should be troubling to all of us. prgtoken The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Jones unanimously found that the government's use of a GPS tracker on the subject's car is considered a search under the Fourth Amendment. But in 2004, when the search in Jones occurred, not everyone had a phone in their pocket--the ecosystem of data brokers had not yet come to life. prgtoken If the government wants to track a suspect today, they can go through the trouble of establishing probable cause in getting a warrant, which is what they should do, or Federal law enforcement could simply purchase data from a third party about the target of their operation. prgtoken If that purchased data included location data for their subject, they would have no need for checks and balances, no need for a warrant, and during an ensuing criminal trial, no obligation even to tell the court how they obtained the initial data in the first place. prgtoken We have the Fourth Amendment for a reason. If law enforcement wants to gather information about you, they should first obtain a warrant. They
CALLING FOR CEASE-FIRE AND DE-ESCALATION IN MIDDLE EAST
Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-4-17

I rise today to mark the passing of a true community builder, the unofficial ``Mayor of MIT,'' Mr. Paul Parravano. prgtoken Paul was compelled to work ``so tell me about yourself'' into every single conversation he had, and he meant it, so let me tell you a little bit about him. prgtoken Paul Parravano joined MIT's Office of Government and Community Affairs in 1990. He touched countless students, faculty, community leaders, and elected officials in his 33 years of service. He was committed to the full inclusion of disabled people in every aspect of life. He served as a board member of the National Braille Press, just one of his many contributions to the empowerment and upliftment of the broader disability community. prgtoken A Braille champion, his advocacy improved access to financial information for the blind across the United States. His contributions earned him the Cambridge NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Cambridge Community Center's Reverend Nichols Founder's Award, and he was the inaugural recipient of the MIT Staff Award for Distinction in Service--all well deserved. prgtoken His legacy was really forged in the intimate moments he shared so freely with any and everyone he met and how generously he shared his hard-fought wisdom. prgtoken He showed us how to lead with compassion, and although he was blind, Paul saw people. He saw the infinite possibilities within people and in our world more than any person I have ever known. prgtoken , to his wife, Martha, and his daughters, Emily and Ellie, I thank them for sharing Paul's light and love with us. We are a better Commonwealth because of him.
REFORMING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURING AMERICA ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Continued
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2024-4-17

I rise today as a Senator from Virginia and, more importantly, as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, in support of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, H.R. 7888, which passed the House earlier this week, with a 273-to-147 broad, bipartisan support. prgtoken Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA, which a lot of this debate is focused on, is a critical source of foreign intelligence. It is indispensable to the work that the men and women of our intelligence community, and many others, do every day to protect our national security. prgtoken Section 702 authorities have enabled the IC to thwart terrorist attacks, track foreign spies, uncover economic espionage, impede weapons proliferation, protect U.S. troops, expose human and drug trafficking, prevent sanctions evasion, and disrupt foreign cyber attacks--a whole litany of the responsibilities of the IC. prgtoken Just to demonstrate how important these capabilities are to our national security: 60 percent--60 percent--of the items that appear in the President's daily intelligence brief actually are sourced to information obtained pursuant to section 702. prgtoken In the public domain, there are many examples of the value of section 702. These include when section 702 contributed to a successful operation against one of the last remaining 9/11 architects, Zawahiri; section 702 coverage that identified evidence of an al-Qaida courier in Pakistan with imminent plans to detonate explosives on subway tracks in Manhattan and, through that surveillance, was able to prevent the attack; section 702 identified the hackers responsible for the 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline that crippled fuel supplies across the east coast and enabled the United States to recover 2.3 million in paid ransom. prgtoken Secretaries of Defense, Directors of National Intelligence, and many other Cabinet officials from both the current and the former administration have spoken out on the vital importance of ensuring that section 702 does not lapse. prgtoken To quote the President's intelligence advisory board: If Congress fails to reauthorize Section 702, history may judge the lapse of . . . 702 authorities as one of the worst intelligence failures of our time. prgtoken Quite honestly, that is what we are looking at if we don't get this done. prgtoken Nonetheless, as we indicated, we just find ourselves just hours away from a possible sunset of this critical authority, which sunsets Friday night at midnight. prgtoken Now, some Members have argued that because the FISA Court recently approved new certifications, there is no urgency to reauthorize the law. Those claims are both misguided and dangerous. prgtoken In the event of a statutory lapse, some providers--American companies who are working with us--are likely to stop or reduce cooperation, perhaps with existing targets of collection but especially with new
RECOGNIZING COACH KEVIN KIERNAN
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-4-17

today, I rise to honor this year's Orange County School Counselors of the Year. prgtoken I am so proud that two of these counselors are from my hometown. Mr. Gernux is from Santa Ana Unified School District, and Ms. Rodriguez is from Anaheim Union School District, both of whom represent the best in our local public schools. prgtoken Like myself, Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Gernux were grown in our local hometowns. They are products of Orange County public schools, and now they are giving back to the public school system that gave them so much. prgtoken Ms. Rodriguez, Mr. Gernux, and the rest of these fine educators will continue to shape the future leaders of tomorrow. All of us in Orange County and in Congress appreciate their commitment to our community, our youth, and our future.
FOURTH AMENDMENT IS NOT FOR SALE ACT
Sara Jacobs (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-4-17

. Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member Nadler for his leadership on this issue. prgtoken Under almost any other circumstance, law enforcement and intelligence agencies need a warrant to access our personal information. Even in the cases of utmost national security like when Americans are suspected of terrorism, espionage, or cybercrimes, our government gets a warrant. prgtoken This process isn't too burdensome, and it doesn't prevent law enforcement from investigating crimes or bringing people to justice. prgtoken But there are a few loopholes in this process when it comes to section 702 queries and this data broker loophole, which allows our government to circumvent our Fourth Amendment rights to access our personal information without a warrant, a court order, or even a subpoena. prgtoken This is only legal because they are buying the information. But our rights shouldn't have a price, and cash shouldn't hold the same legitimacy as a warrant. prgtoken Law enforcement claims--they say this, this is their claim--this loophole, this data that they buy from data brokers is most useful before probable cause can be demonstrated. That is the whole point of the Fourth Amendment, of our right to prevent unreasonable seizures and searches. prgtoken If you can't establish probable cause, you shouldn't be able to access or buy this information unless a court says otherwise. prgtoken That is why we need this bipartisan Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, which I am proud to co-lead. prgtoken Our bill doesn't inhibit law enforcement's investigations. Instead, it ensures that police searches are above board, follow due process, and protect Americans' privacy. prgtoken In a Congress where it feels almost impossible to get anything done and where the American people think all we do is disagree, this shows that we can do big things and there is a bipartisan consensus especially when it comes to Americans' privacy rights. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.
IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE
Stephen F. Lynch (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-4-17

as a member of the Subcommittee on National Security, I rise in strong support of aid for a free and independent Ukraine. I also stand in solidarity with the more than 37 million Ukrainian people who have never relented in their fight for freedom in the face of more than 2 years of state-sponsored terrorism launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin. prgtoken This past weekend, the Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that with U.S. assistance depleted, Ukrainian army positions along the country's 600-mile eastern border have ``worsened significantly in recent days.'' prgtoken With Ukrainian soldiers facing a critical munitions shortage, Russian troops are currently firing 10 artillery rounds for every Ukrainian round. Until the prolonged impasse on Ukraine funding here in Congress, the United States was the primary ammunition supplier for the Ukrainian army. Now, the top American military commander in Europe describes the situation succinctly when he says: ``If one side can shoot and the other side can't shoot back, the side that can't shoot back loses.'' It is as simple as that. prgtoken Ukraine's air and missile defense systems are also similarly depleted. In reference to a recent Russia air strike targeting a key power plant in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine simply ran out of the missiles necessary to defend its critical energy infrastructure. prgtoken Russia, in fact, has taken full tactical advantage of escalating lapses in the Ukrainian air defenses, launching aerial offenses against almost every power plant in the country. prgtoken Not surprisingly, Russian troops are continuing to advance in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, a primary goal of Vladimir Putin. Russia has brutally bombarded the city of Myrnohrad, also known as the City of Peace, and is now well-positioned to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar, whose high ground will enable Russian forces to launch direct offensives against the last Ukrainian strongholds in the east. prgtoken Meanwhile, over 40 percent of Ukraine's civilian population--or nearly 15 million people--are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports that the country endured a 20 percent increase in civilian casualties and injuries last month over February of 2024, with double the number of children killed or injured. prgtoken Moreover, large-scale coordinated attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure destroyed or damaged 20 energy facilities across the country, leaving millions without electricity and running water. prgtoken According to the Global Rights Compliance, an international human rights organization that is assisting the Ukrainian Government investigating and prosecuting Russia war crimes, ``The stark reality is that more and more Ukrainians are dying by the day as the Ukraine aid package remains stalled in