mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Gaza (Executive Calendar)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2024-7-23

. I want to thank Senator Ernst for arranging this time. This is a critical moment. We are close to having a deal where the hostages can be released. It is important that we all speak out. I want to thank Senator Ernst for arranging this time. prgtoken To Senator Rosen, thank you for your incredible leadership on this issue. I thank you for your comments. I certainly concur in those comments. prgtoken We just left a meeting with the hostage families that are here. I have been meeting with the hostage families regularly since October 7. I first want to acknowledge their courage for putting a face on these issues and motivating us to do more. prgtoken I made a commitment when I was in Israel in October that I would do everything in my power to get the hostages released. And, every day, I look at opportunities and I ask my staff to look for opportunities so we can get the hostages released. prgtoken Let me make this clear. Hamas is responsible for the hostages. They have taken them. They never should have. Some died under their custody, and there are still hostages who haven't been released after 291 days. prgtoken I had the opportunity to be in Buenos Aires last week, representing the United States at the 30th commemoration of the AMIA bombing, the Jewish community center where 85 lost their lives. It was a very moving ceremony in which the families of the victims of the Jewish community center bombing spoke. They want to make sure we never forget the names of those 85. prgtoken And they demanded justice. It has been 30 years, and justice still has not been handed down to Hezbollah and Hamas and Iran, who are responsible for those attacks. prgtoken We are demanding the release of the hostages that were taken on October 7, and we will not forget their names--the eight Americans who have not yet been accounted for. prgtoken Omer--I just met his family--a 22-year-old born leader, grew up in Long Island. He was the regional president of the United Synagogue Youth and captain of many sports teams. He is being held by Hamas. prgtoken You heard about the others: Itay, Edan, Hersh, Sagui, Keith, Judith, and Gadi. They are just the eight Americans that are being held. All the hostages need to be released, and they need to be released now. Two hundred ninety-one days--it is outrageous. prgtoken , I wanted to join Senator Ernst today to make it clear that there is no justification for the holding of the hostages. We have an opportunity to reach an agreement. Let's do this. Let's get it done. Let's get the hostages home. Let's hold the perpetrators accountable for the atrocities that they have perpetrated. And let's find a path for real security and peace in the Middle East, for the Palestinians and the Israelis. prgtoken There is no room for peace in the Middle East with Hamas. They need to be held accountable for these atrocities, and the hostages need to be released today. Let us all join together in unity to get the
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2024-7-23

I had to miss yesterday's vote due to illness. During that time, I was unable to make Roll Call votes No. 356, No. 357 and No. 358. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: prgtoken YEA on Roll Call No. 356, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S. 3249 to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas, as the ``Captain Elwin Shopteese VA Clinic''; prgtoken NO on Roll Call No. 357, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1631 the Pro Codes Act; and prgtoken YEA on Roll Call No. 358, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 8812 the Water Resources Development Act.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Chellie Pingree (Democrat, ME) \u2014 2024-7-23

. Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to reduce the Fish and Wildlife Service back to fiscal year 2021 levels. The House-based bill already reduces the Service's funding by $144 million, or 8 percent below the enacted level, which would make it impossible for that critically important agency to function. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment. I encourage my colleagues to oppose it as well, and .
RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING LIFE OF MRS. JANICE MARIE LITTLE BARTLEY
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2024-7-23

I rise today to celebrate the incredible life of Mrs. Janice Marie Little Bartley, an outstanding leader, my very dear friend, and big sister. Domiciled in my Congressional District, she was a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and passed away early Friday morning, June 28, 2024. Janice was an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated Sorority, since her initiation into the Beta Gamma Chapter at Dillard University in New Orleans. As a proud Dillard Alumnae, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. As a National Urban Fellow, she earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from Bernard Baruch College, City University of New York. prgtoken She was an experienced Housing Administrator who started her housing career more than 35 years ago and worked throughout the years with local, state and federal programs in the areas of community development, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness and HIV housing supports, housing management, housing development and construction. Janice also worked at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana and served as Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs and a member of the Executive Council. prgtoken Janice Bartley's career began as the Mayor's Executive Assistant and later the Executive Director for the Office of Housing and Urban Affairs for the City of New Orleans. With a staff of more than 140 individuals and a budget of more than $30 million, her office had the responsibility of administering the City's federal CDBG funds, ESG, Stewart B. McKinney, HOPWA, HOME and local housing funds. She worked to expand community development projects, create and support viable economic development programs and establish housing programs to reduce blight, revitalize neighborhoods and to create decent, safe and affordable housing opportunities for low income and or vulnerable individuals and families in the community. Within the City of New Orleans Mayoral Administration of then, Sidney Barthelemy, Janice and I worked closely together as Legislative Coordinators. prgtoken As she continued her career as a loyal and dedicated employee with a passion for housing, her career continued as HUD Regional Director for Volunteers of America and most recently as Director of Housing Development and Operations at the Council of Aging of Baton Rouge. prgtoken Janice has served as the Director of HUD Housing Operations for Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge. She successfully supervised the management of affordable multi-family 202 and 811 HUD properties in Baton Rouge, New Roads, Lake Charles, Elton and Oberlin, Louisiana. Bartley was recognized by the National VOA for Excellence in Housing and for serving as the 2018 Chair of the National VOA Housing Operations Shared Leadership Network. prgtoken In 2006, Janice worked for the State of Louisiana, Office of Family and Children Services. Post Hurricane Katrina, she was assigned to the FEMA Head
ALLOWING CONTRACTORS TO CHOOSE EMPLOYEES FOR SELECT SKILLS ACT
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2024-7-23

I regrettably missed 22 roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: prgtoken Nay on Roll Call No. 359 on Ordering the Previous Question; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 360 on Agreeing to H. Res. 1370; prgtoken YEA on Roll Call No. 361 on S. 3706; prgtoken YEA on Roll Call No. 362 on S. 227; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 363 on Ogles 36; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 364, Perry 42; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 365, Perry 43; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 366, Perry 44; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 367, Perry 45; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 368, Perry 46; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 369, Perry 47; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 370, Perry 48; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 371, Perry 49; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 372, Perry 50; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 373, Perry 51; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 374, Rosendale 53; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 375, Roy 54; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 376, Roy 56; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 377, Van Drew 62; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 378, Van Drew 63; prgtoken No on Roll Call No. 379, Van Drew 64; and No on Roll Call No. 380 on H.R. 7887.
Joint Meeting of Congress By His Excellency, Binyamin Netanyahu (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-24

this afternoon--in just, actually, a few short hours--Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will deliver an address to a joint session of Congress. prgtoken As his country faces multiple attacks on multiple fronts--an existential threat, actually--Prime Minister Netanyahu has come to the United States to affirm the strong relationship between his country and ours and to highlight the stakes of this war. prgtoken This joint address comes at a critical time, and I am absolutely stunned and profoundly disappointed that the Vice President of the United States has decided to boycott participating in this particular speech. As we all know, it is traditional that the Vice President, as the President of the Senate, and the sit behind the invited speaker--in this case, Prime Minister Netanyahu. prgtoken I remember several years back, when Prime Minister Netanyahu was last here, that the Vice President and the both sat in those chairs, recognizing the importance of lending that dignity and sense of gravity to the proceeding. But Vice President can't be bothered with any of that. She is blaming her decision on a scheduling conflict even though the date of this speech was announced in early June. The only other item on the Vice President's schedule is a speech to a sorority convention in Indianapolis. The world is on fire--we have never seen a more dangerous environment since World War II--and the Vice President can't be bothered to show up at the Nation's Capitol, in the House Chamber, and demonstrate the respect and courtesy that we thought was a given--but apparently not in this case. prgtoken Not only has the Vice President chosen to skip this address, so has the Senate's President pro tempore, Senator Murray. We learned this morning, the majority whip, Senator Durbin, is boycotting this address as well. I think it is absolutely disgraceful that the most senior members of the ic Party have chosen to give the Heisman to one of our closest allies in the Middle East--the only democracy in the Middle East that is fighting for its very existence. Why would they do something like this? Well, it is pretty obvious. It is pandering. It is pandering to the most radical elements of the ic base. prgtoken I am proud of the deep friendship between the United States and Israel. Our national security is tied up in the national security of Israel. We know Iran, the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism, wants to wipe Israel off the map, like Hamas, which is a proxy for Iran, like Hezbollah, like the Houthis in Yemen, which all are determined to destroy the nation of Israel. So it has never been more important for the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally and friend against these unprovoked attacks by terrorist groups against innocent civilians. prgtoken There were 251 hostages taken on October 7--innocent civilians--in addition to all of the thousand-plus individuals who were murdere
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-7-24

. Mr. Chair, let me clarify, prohibits the use of funds to take retaliatory actions--retaliatory. We are already working together. We are working with the EPA. As was said, this is a regional partnership and has been a regional partnership. prgtoken This isn't about industry getting a free pass to pollute anywhere. This is about the heavy-handed, coercive tactics of the EPA on States that want to do this, that got into this because this is what they wanted to do. We don't need the EPA. prgtoken By the way, go to some of these treatment plants, and do you know what the EPA's requirements are, ? Beyond the limits of technology. They have to treat the water to beyond the limits of technology. Think about what that statement says. It says they can't get there from here, but the EPA is still going to fine them if they can't get there from here while prgtoken acknowledging they can't get there from here. prgtoken All we are saying is, don't spend money on the extortionary, retaliatory, coercive tactics. Spend the money, if you are going to spend it, on actually working together to clean up the bay. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I don't know what else you need to hear. We are not against the EPA. We are not against cleaning up the bay. We are not against spending the money to clean up the bay. What we are against is the retaliatory actions that don't help clean up the bay and waste our money. prgtoken By the way, since we are talking about it, while Pennsylvania continues to try to get beyond the limits of technology, that the EPA acknowledges, some of the other States in the compact aren't interested but aren't fined under these retaliatory practices. This is punishment to some States but not to others, which we see as unfair, as you might imagine. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE ON THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF DONALD J. TRUMP
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-24

the balance of my time. prgtoken , political violence--this was election interference in the extreme. prgtoken Just an hour, an hour and a half ago, in this very Chamber, the Prime Minister of Israel spoke with us. One of his comments was that there is no room for political violence in a democracy. I agree with him. I am so relieved that the Secret Service Director did resign. prgtoken How do you comport the idea that it was reported that there was evidence of an Iranian plot against the life of , and then you let a teenager wander over that field for an hour and fly a drone overhead? It makes no sense that that could have happened. Of course, the only answer for the Director of the Secret Service was resignation. prgtoken More than that, we as a body, we as a Congress, need to put together this task force to understand and get to the bottom of what occurred on July 13. It is our duty. prgtoken It is our duty. It is our duty for the sake of future leaders of this Nation. It is our duty for our children and grandchildren. We have to understand the circumstances that allowed the assassination attempt to occur and, of course, to ensure that it never happens again. prgtoken I once again urge all my colleagues to support this critical legislation. .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 1371, STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ITS BORDER CZAR, KAMALA HARRIS'S, FAILURE TO SECURE THE UNITED STATES BORDER
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-7-24

hundreds of thousands of Americans die every year from fentanyl. Communities, including many in my own district, have been ripped apart by the scourge of this deadly poison. prgtoken I have hosted roundtables with local law enforcement, families of victims, and other advocates all across my district. One thing I have consistently heard is that we need to stop the flow of fentanyl into this country. prgtoken Our police officers are struggling to keep up with the constant influx into our communities, and it is killing some of our youngest and brightest citizens. prgtoken Every American knows these deadly substances are flooding across our borders, brought to this country by criminals who directly benefit from the - administration's open-border policies. We also can't forget the other Americans who have been assaulted and murdered by illegal immigrants allowed to enter this country. prgtoken Laken Riley is dead. Rachel Morin is dead. Others have lost their lives. Even children have been brutally assaulted. Why? So our border czar, , could score political points with the radical leftwing of her party. prgtoken Meanwhile, the State of New York is going bankrupt, spending billions of dollars to pay for housing, benefits, and food for this flood of illegal immigrants being released into the interior of this country. prgtoken Again, this is a direct result of the open-border and sanctuary policies of the ic Party under -. Vice President , the anointed border czar, wholeheartedly supports these policies. prgtoken Time and again, she looks into the eyes of the American people who have seen loved ones die of fentanyl overdoses or have been the victims of criminals who were in this country illegally and lies to them. She lectures the American people about the root causes of illegal immigration and pretends that her policies had nothing to do with this historic crisis. prgtoken We are not buying it, and the American people won't buy it in November. prgtoken Rather than visit our southern border, she led a junket to Central America to plead and to beg migrants to not come. prgtoken It doesn't get more pathetic than begging other countries while paying lip service to Americans who are feeling the real pain of this crisis. prgtoken Now, of course, this is entirely consistent with Vice President ' failed leadership in this administration. The condescension and virtue signaling may play well among the liberal, coastal elites who are now circling the wagons to ensure that she is slammed in there as the ic Presidential nominee in August, but the American people see her failures for what they are. prgtoken People are suffering. People are dying from this crisis that and President have created. deserves full condemnation, and I am glad to see the House take up this resolution. prgtoken I am going to sit and wait for the condemnation of the
National Security (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-7-24

two or three times lately, I have been coming to the floor to have a conversation with my colleagues on the subject of national security. prgtoken Remember, all of us, that wars are being waged right now in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and I presume elsewhere on this globe. We have uncertainty and unrest looming on the horizon in the South China Sea and the Horn of Africa. prgtoken There are also serious national security concerns right here in the United States. For the last 3 years, our own southern border, hundreds of thousands of migrants from around the world have come to America without our permission, including people on the Terrorist Watchlist. prgtoken Earlier this month, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of NATO, the most successful military alliance in modern history. Winston Churchill sowed the prgtoken seeds for the idea of NATO. He did this in the aftermath of the failed League of Nations. He delivered his speech called ``Sinews of Peace''-- he did this in America's heartland--a famous speech at a college campus in Fulton, MO. prgtoken Churchill spoke of two great dangers that imperil the hearth and home of common people. Those two dangers are war and tyranny. In his speech, he called for a military coalition to build what he called a ``temple of peace'' that would be, as he said in a quote, a ``force for action, and not merely a frothing of words.'' That was Churchill's way of saying a blueprint for peace that actually worked. prgtoken No European NATO member was invaded post-World War II because of NATO. By contrast, the nations that wanted to be very aggressive during the Cold War, particularly the Soviet Union, instigated conflicts in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but they didn't mess around with Europe. Churchill's words of wisdom, then, stand the test the time. prgtoken I would like to further quote Churchill: From what I have seen of our Russian friends and Allies during the war, I am convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness, especially military weakness. prgtoken The fall of the Iron Curtain opened the lane to freedom, symbolizing victory over tyranny that we must never take for granted. It is no secret that Russian President Vladimir Putin--remember, a former KGB officer--wants to resurrect the Soviet Empire from the ash heap of history. You can consider Russia's recent timeline of aggression. prgtoken In 2008, Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia. In 2014, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. And then 3 years ago, Putin launched what we now know as a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Appeasement was a key ingredient in Putin's recipe for Russian expansion. prgtoken Let's not forget that Russia marked NATO's 75th anniversary-- celebrated here in Washington, DC--by, at that time, launching 40 missiles into Ukraine, ta
CLOTURE MOTION
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2024-7-24

I rise in opposition to the nomination of Margaret Taylor to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State. prgtoken While serving as general counsel at USAID, some USAID contractors and partners repeatedly promoted abortion overseas in violation of clear U.S. law. The legal office is responsible for interpreting how, when, and where U.S. laws are applied across the full range of U.S. diplomatic engagement and foreign assistance programs. prgtoken Given her negligence in applying longstanding, clear-cut laws restricting abortion advocacy at USAID and the lack of enforcement, I have zero confidence in her willingness and ability to manage this enormous responsibility at the Department of State. prgtoken In addition to these concerns, I have an even additional reason for that, and that is the fact that the State Department refuses to share the information about Rob Malley's suspended security clearance. Mr. Malley was U.S. Special Envoy to Iran and was engaged in back-channel talks with the regime. Last April, his security clearance was suspended without explanation. prgtoken For over a year now, I and have asked for information on the suspension: Can the Department confirm prgtoken Mr. Malley mishandled classified information by storing secret documents in his personal email? Did he send this information to anyone before he was allegedly hacked and information was stolen? Why hasn't the Department of Justice charged him? prgtoken I get no answers to these; neither do the . The State Department admits they have this information but refuses to give it to us. prgtoken In light of all of the above, I cannot support and will not vote for Ms. Taylor's nomination and encourage my colleagues to do likewise.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2024-7-24

. Mr. Chair, we have to remember that as we speak, the U.S. Forest Service is looking to purchase 70,000 acres of the wilderness from the school trust fund. They are looking to expand the wilderness as we speak. prgtoken Again, what this does is it ensures that the - administration on their way out doesn't do anything to expand the wilderness area. prgtoken My good friend and colleague from Minnesota says that the executive branch can't. They will try, and what this does, , is it ensures them not even considering it because it is part of legislation now. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .