mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING TONY "DOC" FUENTES
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-3-22

today I rise in honor of Tony ``Doc'' Fuentes, a San Antonio native who has dedicated his life to placing the needs of others before his own. His giving spirit represents the best of our city of San Antonio. prgtoken When Mr. Fuentes graduated from South San High School in 1970, he knew that his family would be unable to bear the burden of college tuition. Seeking another way to honor his family and to serve others, Mr. Fuentes enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Southeast Asia the following year, where he was assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh, Vietnam. While there, Mr Fuentes volunteered for a front-line medevac unit to help transport soldiers who were wounded on the front lines. prgtoken After his time in the service, Mr. Fuentes returned to San Antonio and was taken under the wing of Lt. Col. Hector Villarreal, who became his mentor and provided Mr. Fuentes with the support needed to fully ``return home.'' Shortly before Lt. Col. Villarreal passed away in 2020, he designated Mr. Fuentes as his successor to lead the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families, an organization dedicated to helping San Antonio's veterans through difficult times. He stepped into the role in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge of veterans seeking assistance. Since then, the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families has expanded its scope and operations every year to help even more veterans and their families with basic needs and emergency support. prgtoken , please join me in recognizing the honorable achievements of Mr. Tony ``Doc'' Fuentes. His efforts have led to increased support systems for San Antonio's prgtoken veterans and their families, and he is a testament to the idea that a medic's commitment to his soldiers is one that never ends. May God bless Mr. Fuentes, his wife Cynthia, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchild today and for all their years to come.
FURTHER CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-3-22

. Madam , well, it is no secret that this appropriations cycle was tough, and as ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I thank--really thank--Chairman Calvert for working in a bipartisan manner to get the Defense bill done. prgtoken This compromise Defense bill is focused on two things--national security and our servicemembers and their families. prgtoken This bill provides our servicemembers with the training and the equipment necessary to complete their missions and come home as soon and safely as possible. prgtoken It supports military families with a 5.2 percent pay increase. prgtoken It includes a 5.4 percent increase to the basic housing allowance. prgtoken This bill restores at least some funding for Ukraine through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. prgtoken But the House must pass the Senate's security supplemental as soon as possible. I am glad to report that all the partisan riders that were originally in the Defense House bill have been removed. prgtoken Madam , this minibus shows us that there is only one way to fund the government, and that is on a bipartisan basis--full stop. prgtoken Let's follow this example in the next appropriations cycle. I urge Members to support the bill.
CONCERNING TRUTHS
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2024-3-22

I rise today to talk about a very concerning truth about this Chamber. prgtoken Recently, this Chamber moved at lightning speed on a bill that will ban TikTok if it becomes law. I voted against that bill for many reasons, one being that the process was alarmingly fast with little time to discuss the facts or the impact to small businesses or content creators, which actually should have ownership. prgtoken , I find it very hypocritical that with all the pressing urgent matters before our Nation, we swiftly moved this bill through committee and on the floor. prgtoken I am not the only one noticing that fact. The American people are also asking why we can't act on other important issues, why we can't pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on the floor in 5 days. We haven't even been given an opportunity to have a hearing on the topic. prgtoken , why can't we pass legislation to address the gun violence epidemic in this country, like my Break the Cycle of Violence Act or Congresswoman McBath's assault weapons ban? prgtoken , why can't we have a hearing to address the housing crisis that is facing Americans or pass my HOME Act?
UDALL FOUNDATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2024-3-22

I rise today in support of amendment No. 1725, which will be called up later. My amendment is with Senator Crapo of Idaho, my dear friend. I want to speak a little bit about the EVs-- electric vehicles--and the tailpipe emissions rule that has been handed down. prgtoken The administration's electric vehicle policy has been held completely captive by the activist environmental groups and the radical advisers in the White House. I can't put it any other way than that. prgtoken First, they tried to bribe Americans to buy EVs by giving them $7,500, and now they are trying to mandate that we all must buy them after 2032--because they won't be produced anymore. So they have changed the rules. They basically tried to bribe them and still couldn't move them as quickly as they wanted to. Then, on top of that, they prgtoken are saying that now we are going to pass a law to where you can't have an option of buying another type of vehicle for transportation. prgtoken That is just not the American way. It is not the way we were raised. It is not the way this country grew. Transportation is the foundation of our economy. If you think about it, never in the history of our country have we had to depend on other foreign supply chains--and especially unreliable foreign supply chains--for our transportation: our cars, our trains, our planes, and everything in between. We have been able to do it right here, and now we have thrown everything onto the backs of foreign supply chains because we don't have the critical minerals. We don't basically manufacture, and we don't produce them. We don't do anything with them, and we are trying to get up to speed. prgtoken The Inflation Reduction Act was and always will be an American energy security and a manufacturing bill. When I negotiated and started negotiating after the BBB was killed and then the war started in Ukraine, there was one moving factor that urged me to do that internally more than anything else. We couldn't help our allies--those who fought and died with us who needed our help now--and Putin weaponized energy. He weaponized his gas and his oil reserves that went into Europe, and here we were not able to help them at all. I said we had better do something. That is when we started negotiating and working on some way that we could be energy independent. prgtoken I will tell the Presiding Officer that, for the first time in 40 years, the United States of America is producing more energy today than ever in the history of this country. We are producing more energy than any other country in the world, and we should be proud of that, but my friends in the White House won't speak about it. All they want to tell you about is the environmental bill. It is the greatest environmental bill. We are producing more energy from wind and solar than ever before. We are doing everything, and they can't accept an all-energy policy, and it is unbelievable. We are replacing some of t
FURTHER CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-3-22

. Madam , as the ranking member, I live at the border. I don't just go visit the border. I know the border. This is a strong border security bill that we passed in a bipartisan, commonsense way. prgtoken This bill takes away all the poisonous riders and adds bipartisan riders. It adds the largest number of Border Patrol agents, 22,000 agents. It adds CBP officers at the bridges so they can stop fentanyl. It adds support staff so they can support the agents. It adds money to air marines so they can do their work and counter drones. It adds money for the TSA so they can have pay equity. It adds money to the food and shelter program, which is important for the border community. It adds beds that are being used right now, even up to 41,700 beds. It adds money for deportation when aliens don't have their rights after they get processed. It fully funds reunification efforts for families that were unjustly separated. It adds money for the Border Patrol.
REPEALING OF GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-3-22

first, I remind my colleagues that called the Saudis and said to please do everything they can to raise the oil price because gasoline is so cheap, and they did. I appreciate them keeping the gas price up. prgtoken In the words of a great American, I regret that I have but 3 minutes to explain all the stupidity in this bill, so I am just going to focus on the methane emissions reduction plan for now. prgtoken Nobody really understands methane out there in the public, so let's just put this in terms folks understand. Imagine that you live in a town that has two dairies. They take cow milk and turn it into downstream products. prgtoken One of them makes milk. They make cream. They make half-and-half. They make 2 percent. They are a productive plant. They don't waste anything. They have good jobs. They grow the American economy. prgtoken The one next door says: We are just making 2 percent. We are going to throw away all the cream. We are going to throw away all the half-and- half. We are going to pour it in the river, and the town is going to stink to high heavens of sour milk. You can't swim in the water. In addition, by the way, we are not making much money because we are throwing away all of our product. prgtoken Now, let's imagine that the government came in and said: We want both of these businesses to be competitive. We want workers in both of those plants to have good jobs and a good future, so we are going to provide you with the capital to capture that cream so you can sell it, stop polluting, and make more money. prgtoken Then, let's imagine that one political party said: How dare you cry over spilled milk? Spill the damn milk. We want to keep pouring that cream in the river. We want to keep this factory open so that they can keep spilling cream and wasting money. prgtoken That is what this bill does. It says to a gas pipeline company that is leaking methane, the thing they sell, that rather than give them the ability to sell more, rather than help stop polluting, we want to protect their right to be a bad citizen and uncompetitive, so we can drive more business to China because our gas is going to be too expensive. We are going to spill all ours. prgtoken This bill is so stupid. If my colleagues love pollution, hate capitalism, hate competitive American businesses, prgtoken vote for this bill, but don't be stupid. Let's get back to real work.
UDALL FOUNDATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-3-22

I know my time might be short tonight because we finally have come, I guess, to an agreement about a vote, but I wanted to come tonight to the floor to talk about why I am voting against this bill. prgtoken I am going to vote against this bill because the House has sent it over here without funding in it to support Ukraine, and I think that is shameful. I think that is a complete abdication of the House's responsibility to our own national security and to democracy around the world. prgtoken It is common to come out here and criticize the U.S. Senate. I have done it many times. But I was grateful to be part of the Senate when we had about a 6-month negotiation about whether prgtoken or not to pass what was called the supplemental, which was a budget bill to, among other things, fund Ukraine. There was money in that for Ukraine. There was money in that for Taiwan. There was money in that for Israel. There was humanitarian aid in there as part of that deal as well. prgtoken There was a lot of disagreement about a lot of things, but over a 6- month period, we actually finally came to a bipartisan agreement and got 70 votes. You almost never get 70 votes for anything in this place unless it is easy. prgtoken You almost never get 70 votes for anything in this place that is hard. Yet we were able to get 70 votes. We were able to put together a coalition of and s to send a message to the House that funding Ukraine was very important and that the U.S. Senate, despite our disagreements over many, many things, we are united in the idea that we have an obligation to fulfill here on behalf of our national security, on behalf of democracy, on behalf of the fight that Ukraine has led. prgtoken We had to overcome, to be sure, isolationist voices--mostly in the Party--during that debate. There are people making arguments from that isolationist wing of the Party that we heard before World War I, that we heard before World War II. It is not an unknown tradition in American history that people would come out and make those arguments. It is such a known tradition that the people who are advancing those arguments are calling themselves by the same name of some of the folks who were the most ardent isolationists before World War II. America Firsters is what they called themselves back then, and that is what they are calling themselves again. prgtoken You would have thought they would have learned history's lesson based on the way history shone on the last version of the American Firsters. They were trying to keep us out of World War II. When my mom was being born in 1938 in Warsaw, Poland--a Polish Jew--the country was completely run over or was about to be run over by the Nazis. But all these years later, you hear the same people, the same wing of the same party making the same arguments once again, and the arguments just don't make any sense. prgtoken One of the ones that I t
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-3-22

this amendment would strike funding to help Women & Infants Hospital, in Providence, RI, build a new midwifery unit in order to help ensure babies can safely enter the world and that their moms can have a safe and positive childbirth experience. prgtoken Some Members are insinuating that this is about abortion. No funds will be used for abortions. In fact, these funds will truly have a clear and direct benefit for arriving babies and moms. prgtoken And I would urge defeat of the amendment. prgtoken I yield my remaining time to Senator Whitehouse.
NORTHWEST OHIO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH RECOGNITION
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-3-22

today, I rise to celebrate Women's History Month by shining a spotlight on four remarkable women hailing from Ohio's 9th District in our Northwest Ohio region who have etched their names in the annals of history. prgtoken Growing up in a world where gender roles were rigidly defined, these women demonstrated a commitment to uplifting women and improving their communities within Northwestern Ohio and beyond. prgtoken Born in Toledo, Ohio, Mari Evans was a prominent African American poet, writer, and dramatist known for her association with the Black Arts Movement. prgtoken While she initially pursued fashion design at the University of Toledo, she ultimately decided to embark on a career in music, and then in writing. prgtoken Throughout the 1960's and 1970's, Evans gained recognition for her poetry, which often explored themes of race, identity, and social justice. prgtoken One of her most notable works is entitled ``I Am a Black Woman.'' This seminal piece encapsulates the essence of her poetic voice. prgtoken Evans' writing style was marked by its lyrical simplicity, direct themes, and its ability to capture the African American experience. prgtoken Outside of her literary endeavors, Evans was actively engaged in community service, advocating for prison reform and volunteering with organizations focused on social issues. prgtoken Her legacy endures through her powerful poetry, her commitment to social activism, and her impact on generations of readers and writers exploring the complexities of identity and experience. prgtoken Feminist icon Gloria Steinem was also born in Toledo, Ohio. prgtoken She sought to challenge the societal norms that constrained women's opportunities and perpetuated systemic injustice. prgtoken After graduating from Smith College, she honed her craft as a writer and developed a keen awareness of the pervasive gender bias within the media industry. prgtoken Determined to challenge these stereotypes, Steinem began to infuse her writing with feminist perspectives, shedding light on issues such as workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and the intersectionality of oppression. prgtoken In 1971, Steinem co-founded Ms. Magazine, a groundbreaking publication that quickly became a platform for feminist thought and activism.- prgtoken Through the magazine, Steinem and her colleagues tackled taboo subjects with courage and candor, sparking national conversations about women's rights and challenging the status quo. prgtoken Ms. Magazine provided a voice for marginalized women and served as a rallying point for the burgeoning feminist movement, inspiring many to join the fight for equality. prgtoken Steinem's activism extended far beyond the pages of the magazine, as she emerged a tireless advocate for women's rights on the national stage. prgtoken Her willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and challenge entrenched power structures cemented her status as a fearless leader and trailblazer. prgtoken
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-3-22

it has been deeply uncomfortable to be in such regular agreement with Senator Lankford on immigration policy. So it feels good to be back disagreeing with him. prgtoken This amendment is a bad idea for three reasons. One, it shuts down the government if it passes. Second, it is overly broad. What this really amounts to is a ban on individuals from certain country-- countries that tend to be Muslim countries--coming to the United States. But third and most important, it is unnecessary. It is duplicative. The Department of Homeland Security already has the power to deny entry to the country to anyone who is a public safety threat or a national security concern. prgtoken And so for those three reasons, I would urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.
IN MEMORY OF MRS. ADA M. JACKSON LEE
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2024-3-22

I rise today to honor a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother, community servant, and Civil Rights icon, Mrs. Ada M. Jackson Lee. Family, friends, and community leaders will celebrate the Fourth Anniversary of her passing and 100th birthday on April 6, 2024, at Ada Lee Park in Warner Robins, Georgia. prgtoken The journey of the remarkable life of Ada Lee began on March 6, 1924, when she was born to the union of the late Mr. Lewis D. Jackson and the late Mrs. Annie B Jackson in Wellston, Georgia. prgtoken A lifelong and persistent learner, Mrs. Lee graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and the Culinary Arts Program at The Fort Valley State University. She went on to work as an Urban Renewal specialist where she later retired. prgtoken She was married to the late Sylvester Lee and to this union three children were born. Daron Lewis Lee, Virey Anne Ferguson and Dorothea Rita Scott. Mrs. Lee was a woman after God's own heart who served her community with distinction and pride. ``It has been said that service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Lee paid her rent, and she paid it well. She was nothing short of a trailblazer with several historic firsts for the Warner Robins community--first Director of the Warner Robins Day Care Center, she formed the first Girl Scout Troop for African-American girls and the first Director of the Head Start Program in Warner Robins. prgtoken When Mrs. Lee saw a need in the community, she made sure that it was addressed. When she saw a need for a safe space for children to play, she approached the mayor and made it happen. Now that same park is named in her honor. She was a strong advocate for her community and for women. She truly believed in the words of Shirley Chisolm, ``if they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.'' Because of her lifetime service she was recognized with many awards to include The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for Outstanding Volunteer Services, The NAACP Trailblazer Award, Ms. Senior Warner Robins as well as one of the fifty Influential Women in Middle Georgia. prgtoken She gave her time, talent, and treasure to many organizations to include Board Member of the Family Support Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Warner Robins Housing Authority, Houston County ic Advisory, Warner Robins Day Care Center, NAACP, SCLC and served as a member of the Christian Women United Association and the Georgia Council on Human Relations. She was also an honorary member of the Order of Eastern Star, Cinderella Chapter No. 406. prgtoken But more important than all of these accolades and memberships, Mrs. Lee was a prgtoken woman of faith. A dedicated member of the Warner Robins Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Lee was a member of stewardess board, missionary board, Lay Council, We Care-Golden Age, Social Concerns Hospitality Circle and served as Founder of the Pastor's Aide Board. The
Introductory Statement on S. 4065
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-22

I rise to introduce the Equal Health Care for All Act, which appropriately frames healthcare discrimination as a civil rights issue. prgtoken Inequitable access to quality, affordable healthcare is the result of centuries of structural and systemic racism, all of which continues to result in poorer health outcomes in communities of color. prgtoken Black, Hispanic, and indigenous individuals are disproportionately more likely than their White counterparts to suffer from a range of illnesses, from asthma to heart disease to prostate cancer. prgtoken Inequitable outcomes are not exclusive to racial trends, however. Women are both diagnosed with and die from lung cancer at a higher rate than men, when comparing those who never smoked. And while rates of lung cancer have dropped, women fall behind while rates of cancer drop faster for men. prgtoken The Equal Health Care for All Act seeks to address structural inequities by establishing a legal definition of ``inequitable health care'' and creating a formal process to enforce the standard. prgtoken The bill would also establish a grant program to assist hospitals and other providers in implementing reforms to ensure equitable care and would establish a permanent Federal Health Equity Commission to study and make recommendations on health equity issues. prgtoken I would like to thank my colead, Representative Adam Schiff, for his leadership in California and for leading on this issue in the House. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Equal Health Care for All Act as quickly as possible.