mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ELVIRA "VERA" TAMARGO GARCIA
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-10-25

I rise today to honor the life and memory of Elvira ``Vera'' Tamargo Garcia, who passed away at the age of 88 on August 8, 2023. She was a lifelong Tampa native and devoted teacher who dedicated her life to civic service. Vera's contributions and tireless dedication to the Tampa Bay community will forever be remembered. prgtoken Vera embodied the true spirit of public service, exemplifying the values of compassion, dedication and mentorship. Throughout her 48-year career as a teacher at Broward, Ballast Point and Mendenhall elementary schools, she left a mark on hundreds of students she taught, their parents, and new teachers she mentored. Throughout her career, Vera taught in every elementary grade. Her passion was for early childhood education, and she played an important role in launching kindergarten instruction in Hillsborough County schools. Her talent and experience as an educator were evident in the numerous accomplishments she achieved. Vera's recognitions included Florida's Outstanding Young Educator in 1966 and was ranked fourth at the national level. prgtoken She attended the University of Tampa for her bachelor's degree and subsequently earned a master's degree from the University of South Florida. In her classroom, Vera strived to teach her students the values of respect and friendship along with phonics and counting, and her selfless service is manifested in the good principles of my Tampa Bay neighbors. Her tenacious determination as an instructor to future generations shaped much of her perspective and identity, but her work as a caregiver extended beyond the classroom. prgtoken Many knew Vera for her work advocating for Tampa's Latino heritage, protecting and preserving the Centro Asturiano de Tampa's original cemetery and its 121-year-old building. Vera took the role of president for the historic social club for immigrants and their descendants, making her the first woman to hold that position at the ``Centro.'' She and her husband, attorney William F. ``Willie'' Garcia, devoted their later years to the preservation of the ``Centro.'' Earlier in their lives, Vera and Willie were active in state and local politics, running campaigns, attending rallies and always supporting ic candidates at the local, state and federal levels. At home, they would adorn Christmas gifts with handmade themed ornaments that they would spend months creating. Their marriage was filled with love and support for each other, accompanied by humor that made their bond stronger. prgtoken The eldest of three girls, Vera was born to Francisco ``Pancho'' and Honorina ``Nora'' Tamargo. She and her two sisters, Junis and Sandra, shared a room as children and their lives as adults. Her devotion to her family was shown in her commitment to spend Christmas together with her two sisters and cousin Mary Louise. Vera was beloved by her many nieces, nephews and cousins who could call or stop by her home to say hello, h
STANDING WITH ISRAEL AS IT DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST THE BARBARIC WAR LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORISTS
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-25

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken For millennia, the Jews of the world have been subject all over the world to prejudice, hate, and violence. prgtoken , I have visited the Kfar Aza kibbutz over four times in the last 25 years. It was a place of community. On October 7, Hamas turned it into a place of slaughter. prgtoken This brutal terrorist organization will pursue its genocidal, anti- Semitic mission to fight and kill Jews. That is their purpose. prgtoken The Jewish State of Israel will cease to exist if their objectives are achieved. Hamas will not yield, and neither can we. prgtoken As the resolution makes clear, we will stand by our ally Israel; have their back, . prgtoken Dozens of American civilians have been killed, wounded, and held captive in this war. We have also seen the scourge of anti-Semitism here in America.
STANDING WITH ISRAEL AS IT DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST THE BARBARIC WAR LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORISTS
Shri Thanedar (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-10-25

I rise in support of H. Res. 771. prgtoken I firmly stand with Israel in the face of terrorism from Hamas. prgtoken When I visited Israel in August, I saw how they were surrounded by threats. Now, those threats have come true in the most violent and terrible possible way. prgtoken Let me be clear, our goal is the eradication of terrorists and terrorism from the face of this Earth. prgtoken We call on and expect the Israeli army to try to minimize civilian casualties. We should make every reasonable effort to protect innocent Palestinians, but there can be no cease-fire until Hamas releases all hostages, stops its rocket attacks, and surrenders the leaders of the terrorist attack.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-10-25

. The underlying bill already cuts the energy efficiency and renewable energy program by $1.5 billion or 42 percent below last year. prgtoken Now, there are a lot of people that are complaining about that, and I would be the first one to say that our country should not cede any new markets or capitulate to global competitors in the field of energy. prgtoken I think that we have to keep our foot on the accelerator in many energy sectors. The gentleman is right. Texas has been a leader in so many ways; certainly in wind energy, but not just that. prgtoken In terms of the solar industry and how do we pay down the debts that prior Congresses and administrations racked up? We grow our economy. prgtoken By growing our economy, more revenues come in, and they are. They are coming into the private sector. They are coming into the government. prgtoken A whole lot more people who aren't paying their fair share of taxes should be, and that would help. The way we balance budgets is not to kill economic growth. prgtoken One of the areas we grow in is energy. These are jobs that are good jobs, and they create wealth for the Nation. prgtoken We have to keep up our dominance in this country. For the solar industry, which is something I am terribly interested in, I represent the most important domestic manufacturer of solar in our country. prgtoken Overall, the whole industry across our Nation supports 333,000 jobs now. Mr. Chair, 20 years ago, they were in a very different position, and 40 years ago, they almost didn't exist. prgtoken America is now creating utility scale solar, and the invention of the American people is unstoppable. We can't give a signal that we are going to capitulate to anybody, but we have got to develop these new energy sectors. prgtoken The gentleman is right about the grid. The grid is worn out all over this country. Ask anybody in Ohio about that. It has been underinvested. prgtoken We will find a way by growing the economy, and some of the new bills we have passed for infrastructure have allowed us to modernize the grid. prgtoken Well, let's connect the dots. We can choose to give up American leadership in these technologies, or we can actually put our foot on the accelerator. prgtoken I really think that the gentleman's amendment, though he believes it is well intentioned, does move America backward, and I cannot support it, and therefore, I oppose it.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-10-25

last week in my home area of Chicago, a 6- year-old Palestinian boy answered the door and was stabbed over and over again until he died and then the assailant went into another room and tried to kill his mother. The question is, Is this a hate crime because of his Palestinian origin? Does it deserve an investigation? Does it sound, in America, like this is the sort of thing we want an answer to? Whom would we turn to for that investigation? The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Illinois. prgtoken But the Senator from Ohio--because of his hurt feelings over the indictment of former President by many others--has decided to say, in my region of the country, we will have no U.S. attorney; we will leave the position vacant, not because the person isn't qualified to take it over but because he is hurt and believes he wants to protest over the idea of holding a former President accountable. prgtoken Obviously, in his mind, former Presidents are above the law--not in my mind and not in any democracy. I don't know if former President is guilty of any charges. We have a system of laws and law enforcement to reach that conclusion. But in the meantime, whether it is a hate crime in a suburb of Chicago or drug crimes that are claiming lives every single night in every single neighborhood in our Nation, how can we stand here in good conscience and say we want to grind the Department of Justice to a halt? prgtoken That is exactly what he said over and over again: grind the Department of Justice to a halt. To prove what? To prove what about this Nation? We deserve the opportunity to be protected by the Agencies of government we have appointed, and the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their time, their skills to serve that purpose and keep us safe deserve better treatment than what is happening on the Senate floor. prgtoken I wish I could say this is a unique experience. It has become a pattern: a House of Representatives which goes for 21, 22 days trying to find a leader on the side of the aisle; military appointments, hundreds of them, men and women, qualified, serving in the military, risking their lives, whose nominations are being held up on the Senate floor by one Senator; the idea that we are holding back the possibility of appointing Ambassadors in parts of the world where war is imminent and underway and could drag the United States into conflict if we are not careful. prgtoken To take that position that we want to stop government, whether it is in the Department of Defense and their promotion policy, whether it is in the Department of State and the representatives around the world, or whether it is in the Department of Justice, is shameful. prgtoken This is not public service. This is a political errand. I wish it would come to an end soon, and I wish the Senator, who is new to this body, would think twice about whether this is how he wants to
STANDING WITH ISRAEL AS IT DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST THE BARBARIC WAR LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORISTS
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-25

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), and the chair for putting together this very strong resolution, H.R. 771. prgtoken The United States unequivocally stands with the State of Israel and its people. prgtoken The world is watching our actions today and tomorrow and by our actions will determine the future of democracies around the world; therefore, we must be unified and bipartisan. prgtoken Terrorism is never ever justified. Israel has the right to exist and defend itself against Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist group whose only purpose is to destroy the State of Israel and its people. prgtoken Therefore, Congress and the President must together pass a strong bipartisan package to support our ally Israel. We must send a strong message to Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah not to escalate the situation. In the President's word: ``Don't.'' Don't think about it. prgtoken America defends its allies, Israel, Ukraine, and other freedom-loving democracies around the world. We stand by our word.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-10-25

I thought one of the few things that we agreed on with firearms was that people with serious mental illness-- people who are judged to be mentally incompetent--shouldn't be able to buy guns. That is what we are talking about here today. prgtoken We are not talking about people who just can't balance their checkbooks. We are not talking about people who just need some assistance with their financial affairs. The standard that the VA uses is the standard of mental incompetence. These are veterans who have been judged to be mentally incapacitated. And let me put a finer point on it. One-third of the veterans we are talking about in this category are diagnosed schizophrenics, and this amendment allows for every single one of them to have their gun rights restored. prgtoken Some of the most mentally ill people in this Nation--people to whom we owe a duty of care; people who are, frankly, more prone to suicide than the general population--are now going to be able to get their hands on a weapon to kill themselves or others if we pass this. This is a death sentence for scores of deeply mentally ill veterans. prgtoken What it does not do is set up some process by which to have a court judge whether or not they should own a gun. In fact, there is no current cause of action for that to occur. We didn't have to be at this point where our only choice is to restore gun rights even to actively suicidal veterans. We made an offer to sit down and try to work out a compromise--a better appeals process, a mechanism for these veterans to go to court--but that did not happen. That offer was not accepted. prgtoken So, instead, we are voting on an amendment that gives gun rights back to every single seriously mentally ill veteran who has been judged to be mentally incompetent, even those who are actively suicidal. That is a death sentence--a death sentence--for thousands of seniors, for thousands of veterans all across this country if this becomes law. This is a terrible idea, and we should defeat it.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-10-25

yesterday morning, and s reached an important agreement to move forward on three bipartisan--underline bipartisan--appropriations bills: MILCON-VA, Agriculture, and Transportation-HUD. prgtoken We will begin voting on amendments as soon as this afternoon and keep going through the rest of the week and into the next. It is my hope that with bipartisan cooperation, we can wrap up our work on these bipartisan appropriations bills sometime next week. prgtoken And this will be the Senate working as it should, both parties cooperating, debating amendments, working through differences, without grinding the legislative process to a halt. promised our colleagues that their voices would be heard, and we are making good on that promise. Forty amendments will be considered, many of them bipartisan, on issues ranging from telehealth funding for veterans, fixing infrastructure hit by natural disasters, to investments in rural America. prgtoken We worked closely with s to put these appropriations bills together. If passed, the bills will make a huge difference for American farmers, for our infrastructure, for housing, and for our military bases and veterans. prgtoken Bipartisanship isn't easy. On the contrary, these days it is exceedingly difficult, but we are moving forward thanks to the good work of our appropriators, especially Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins. They have set the tone from the start here in the Senate that bipartisanship should lead the way. prgtoken It was true in the Appropriations Committee; I hope it remains true here on the floor because we are going to need bipartisanship in all that we do prgtoken during this time of divided government. prgtoken Bipartisanship will be essential for passing these appropriations bills; bipartisanship will be essential for keeping the government open in less than a month; and bipartisanship will be essential for passing the President's national security request. prgtoken I would say to my colleagues in the House, my colleagues, if you try to do things not in a bipartisan way, it is going to lead to cul-de-sacs, gridlocks, and other things that hurt the American people. prgtoken Both parties recognize we must support our allies in Israel against Hamas. Both parties recognize that we must support our friends in Ukraine against Putin. Both parties know that we must fight the scourge of fentanyl coming through the border, outcompete the Chinese Government, and support Taiwan. prgtoken So to my colleagues, House and Senate, let's work together to ensure that passing the supplemental remains bipartisan because only things that win support from both sides will make it to the President's desk. prgtoken s on both sides who have shown that bipartisanship is still the key to getting things done here in the Senate. And, now, because of that bipartisanship, the appropriations pr
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-10-25

I have been working incredibly hard alongside my colleagues to make sure we have an open, bipartisan appropriations process and to keep this process moving, which is why I am glad to say that in a moment, I will call up and ask for unanimous consent to adopt by voice vote the first series of amendments to the appropriations minibus. prgtoken These are amendments that will further strengthen a package of bipartisan appropriations bills--bills, I should mention, that passed our committee unanimously. We worked hard in committee to ensure this package reflects input from Members across the aisle and across the country. prgtoken While we may not agree on everything, the votes we are taking now are an opportunity for Members on both sides to provide additional input on this bipartisan package, debate those ideas, and put them up for a vote. This is an important step forward as we work to pass this package in the Senate, keep the appropriations process moving, and in the coming weeks, deliver absolutely essential supplemental funding as well. I am delighted that we are going. prgtoken I will turn it over to my vice chair who has been working alongside of me to get this moving.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-10-25

I rise to offer my amendment which would allocate additional funding to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Compliance Account and to support the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Programs. prgtoken Mr. Chair, first, I would express my gratitude to the ranking member, who has served with such distinction in this body representing northwestern Ohio, Toledo and Sandusky, and doing her part to build a better future for the people of Ohio and the people of our country. In particular, her service as ranking member of this august subcommittee and always trying to find a way to bridge the divide and to build a bipartisan path forward. prgtoken It is unfortunate that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have regrettably chosen not to do that with this particular bill. prgtoken However, with respect to this amendment, the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Recovery Programs provide us with an opportunity to chart a bipartisan path forward. They are a model of successful partnership and collaboration across agencies, States, with both Federal and non-Federal partners in my State of Colorado, in addition to Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. prgtoken I have been leading legislation over the past several years to reauthorize these programs, including bipartisan legislation in the previous Congress, which was signed into law and legislation this year that would extend the programs for an additional 7 years. prgtoken The programs work to recover and protect four species of endangered and threatened fish, while providing Endangered Species Act compliance for over 2,500 water projects. prgtoken The Colorado River Compliance Account provides critical Federal support for these programs, and my amendment would simply increase the Bureau of Reclamation's funding to direct additional Federal resources to these programs. prgtoken I hope it is an amendment that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support. It is common sense. prgtoken , .
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2023-10-25

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 26; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 198, H.R. 4366, as provided under the order of October 24; further, that if Senator Paul makes a motion to discharge S.J. Res. 44 from the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate vote on the motion at 11:30 a.m.; further, that if the motion to discharge is not agreed to, the Senate vote on the Braun amendment No. 1182 to H.R. 4366; finally, that upon disposition of the Braun amendment, the Senate move to consideration of S.J. Res. 42; that there be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; and that following the use or yielding back of time, the joint resolution be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the joint resolution.
STANDING WITH ISRAEL AS IT DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST THE BARBARIC WAR LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORISTS
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-10-25

18 days ago, more than 1,000 Hamas terrorists invaded our ic ally Israel, and in the most gruesome, savage, and unimaginably barbaric manner attacked 22 Israeli towns, going house to house slaughtering families, raping girls, beheading babies, setting fire to homes where children were hiding in safe rooms, burning them alive, and taking more than 200 people of 40 different nationalities hostage, including taking infants and the elderly hostage. prgtoken They massacred more than 260 young people attending an outdoor peace concert. They perpetrated the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, slaughtering more than 1,400 people, including 39 Americans. prgtoken In committing these horrific crimes against humanity, they have brought disaster to the very people they govern--the Palestinian people. prgtoken They hide their fighters among civilians. They place rocket launchers and weapons in schools, in hospitals, in mosques, and in residential buildings, compounding their acts of evil. prgtoken I was so proud that President immediately expressed the full support of the United States for the State of Israel. prgtoken He traveled to Israel in a time of war to embrace the Israeli people, to show with his presence that the Jewish state has not only a right but a duty to defend itself against Hamas, a terrorist group that has in its charter as its foundational purpose to murder Jews and destroy the State of Israel. prgtoken Make no mistake: When they shout, ``from the river to the sea,'' they are calling for the total destruction of the prgtoken State of Israel and ridding the Middle East of all Jews. prgtoken Well, let me say: not on our watch. The United States will stand side by side with our ic ally Israel. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in support of this resolution.
STANDING WITH ISRAEL AS IT DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST THE BARBARIC WAR LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORISTS
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-10-25

my grandfather, Abe, fled the Holocaust as 6 million Jews were shot and tortured and gassed and starved. We often say, ``never again.'' Yet on October 7 it happened again, and make no mistake: The brutal, barbaric attacks by Hamas was not about freeing innocent people; it was about destroying Israel and killing Jews. prgtoken Today, I am proud to stand with all those who condemn Hamas, support Israel's right to defend itself, and reaffirm the United States' commitment to Israel's security.