mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SOVEREIGN RIGHTS OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE
Kaiali’i Kahele (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to speak on a critical issue for indigenous people of the United States, specifically Native Hawaiians. prgtoken Yesterday, in this august body, I introduced H.R. 9614 to amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, legislation critical to the preservation, protection, and restoration of the sovereign rights of the Native Hawaiian people. prgtoken Madam , 129 years ago, on January 17, 1893, 13 White men with the support of U.S. troops of the USS Boston illegally overthrew the Kingdom of Hawaii. In the years that would follow, the kingdom's beloved monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, was imprisoned; millions of acres of sovereign royal lands were stolen; olelo Hawaii, the Hawaiian language, was prohibited to be taught or spoken in public schools; the United States illegally annexed Hawaii via a simple majority joint resolution after failing to gain treaty ratification in the United States Senate; and by 1920, Native Hawaiians--decimated by Western diseases, the loss of their land, culture, and identity--were on the brink of extinction. prgtoken Realizing the plight of his people, Hawaii's second Native Hawaiian and territorial Delegate to the Congress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, 102 years ago, authored one of the most important pieces of Federal legislation for Hawaiians, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. prgtoken The act would set aside 203,000 acres to restore land and dignity to Native Hawaiians of 1/32 blood quantum, giving them leasing opportunities for homesteading, farming, ranching, and mercantile purposes. prgtoken However, Delegate Kuhio ran into fierce opposition and was forced to compromise with Western powerful sugar and ranching business interests by accepting a blood quantum requirement of 50 percent to qualify for a lease. This requirement would serve as a poison pill in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act dividing Native Hawaiians--a divide that remains to this day. prgtoken Inadequately funded and managed by the United States from 1921 to 1959, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and its day-to-day management was punted to the new State of Hawaii as a condition and requirement of statehood in 1959. prgtoken Realizing that Native Hawaiians were being quickly displaced from their land due to interracial marriages, the State of Hawaii and the United States lowered the blood quantum requirement for qualified beneficiary successors to 25 percent. prgtoken Madam , 100 years later, due to interracial marriages and blended families, many descendants of beneficiaries do not meet the 25 percent requirement for successorship. prgtoken In addition, the failure of both the State of Hawaii and the United States to meet its fiduciary, execution, management, and oversight obligations to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act has resulted in less than 10,000 Native Hawaiians being awarded a lease while an applicant wait list of almost 29,000 exists to this day. prgtoken As the applicant
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 9640, PRESIDENTIAL TAX FILINGS AND AUDIT TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2022; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF S. 1942, NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam , as I said previously, S. 1942, the National Heritage Area Act should have been able to pass under suspension. It passed under a UC in the Senate. It is a straightforward bill. But the bottom line is that noncontroversial, bipartisan, bicameral bills that are brought under suspension oftentimes get defeated because my friends on the other side engage in some sort of a tantrum. prgtoken We have just witnessed on the floor a series of suspensions that will get overwhelming support when members of their Freedom Caucus are demanding votes where bills will pass unanimously or maybe two contrarians on their side will vote ``no.'' A total waste of time. prgtoken So, yes, we are bringing this National Heritage Area Act to the floor under a rule because it is important, and we want to get it passed. That is why we are utilizing this process. prgtoken On H.R. 9460, the Presidential Tax Filing and Audit Transparency Act, this is about codifying something that, frankly, we all thought was happening already: the mandatory audit of Presidential taxes. prgtoken The President of the United States is the leader of the free world, the most powerful person on this planet. The people of this country deserve to know what is in his or her taxes. If you don't want people to know what is in your taxes, it is simple: Don't run for President. prgtoken This isn't about party politics. It isn't about versus s, and it isn't about . In fact, the only person who would be audited as a result of this bill would be , unless of course, my colleagues plan to use their new majority to once again try to overturn the 2020 election and reinstate . prgtoken This is about upholding the simple idea that no person is above the law and that the American people have a right to know whether or not their leaders are telling the truth on their taxes. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this rule and on the underlying bills. prgtoken , , and I move the previous question on the resolution. prgtoken The previous question was ordered.
RESPECT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-21

I thank the chairman and the manager of this bill. prgtoken I display this picture for everyone to see because a picture is worth a thousand words. This is McKayla and a constituent of mine, Simone Biles. As indicated, these women have spent years investing in their sport and rising to the level of excellence, and they are victims that should not have been victimized. prgtoken , I rise to support the Respect for Child Survivors Act. prgtoken , I include in the Record the article titled: ``Senators Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal.'' [From NBC Los Angeles, September 22, 2022] Senators Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal (By Kristen Conti) A group of senators have decided to roll out a bill to adjust the intricacies of the USA Gymnastics scandal with the implementation of The Respect for Child Survivors Act, following the Larry Nassar incident. The intentions of the act are to improve the way the FBI interacts with underage witnesses and victims in sex abuse and human trafficking cases. The catalyst for this endeavor surrounds the FBl's previous failures in handling the Nassar investigation from 2015. Nassar is currently facing decades in prison for abusing underage athletes on the USA Gymnastics team. The FBI failed to act, despite being notified of the allegations in 2015. It took them over a year to take action, leaving Nassar many more months to prey on the girls. Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Maroney are among the over 100 alleged victims of Nassar. What is the Respect for Child Survivors Act? The Respect for Child Survivors Act, which primarily aims to handle the interactions between the FBI and abuse victims, is a parallel to two other acts--The Adult Survivors Act and The Child Victims Act (CVA). The act, which has officially been introduced as a bill, will soon be assigned to a committee whose members will discuss and implement the necessary and proper changes to the bill. Next, the bill will be put before the chamber and be voted on, which will determine whether it will become a law. The timeline for this process has yet to be determined. When will the Adult Survivors Act go into effect? The Adult Survivors Act will go into effect in November 2022. The bill, which is sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal, was framed to resemble The Child Victims Act. The CVA, previously passed in 2019 and extended in 2021, only covers abuse that happened to people under 18. Who does the Adult Survivors Act serve? The victims in the Nassar case were under 18 when the crimes were committed and reported in 2015. However, it
EMMETT TILL AND MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2021
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in support of S. 450, the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act, which is a companion to a House bill sponsored by Representative Rush. prgtoken This bill will provide for a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of two very important figures in our American history and heroes of the civil rights movement, Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. prgtoken It was not long ago that Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American child from Chicago, visited his family in Money, Mississippi. Shortly after his arrival, he was kidnapped, beaten, mutilated, and shot in the head. His murderers then sunk his body in a river with a cotton gin fan tied around his neck with barbed wire. prgtoken Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett Till's mother, expressed both love and heroism in the face of the unthinkable, ensuring that her son's body was brought home to Chicago and insisting that his funeral be open casket. prgtoken She ensured that Emmett was dressed in his Sunday best and that nothing else about his body was touched, so that people could see the violence that had been perpetrated upon him and bear witness to the horrors of lynching. prgtoken Mamie issued an open invitation to her young son's funeral. 50,000 people heeded the call and were moved by the devastating effects that racism, prejudice, and hate had on Emmett's body and very life. prgtoken She allowed Jet Magazine to photograph Emmett in his casket, ensuring that all of America would have an image of her son to galvanize a nation against the horrors of lynching and illuminate the need for the civil rights of all. prgtoken Representative Rush was 8 years old when Till was lynched and murdered; and he has said that one of the sharpest memories of his childhood is the image of Mamie Till-Mobley looking at her son's body in Jet Magazine. prgtoken Mamie Till-Mobley's bravery was a fomenting force for the civil rights movement, paving the way for subsequent advocacy to increase racial equality, including the Montgomery boycott. While we still have a long way to go to ensure racial equity, we owe a great deal of progress to the bravery and sacrifice of Mamie Till-Mobley and the way that she honored her son's life. prgtoken Representative Rush represents Illinois' First District, where Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley resided. While Representative Rush has been in office, their house has become a national landmark. prgtoken Representative Rush is also the sponsor of H.R. 55, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which was signed into law earlier this year, and makes lynching a Federal hate crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Due to the absence of this and other Federal and legal protections, Emmett Till's murderers served no time in prison for their crimes. prgtoken I am so appreciative of Representative Rush's dedication to Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley and his work to ensure that lynching is
EMMETT TILL AND MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2021
Bobby L. Rush (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-21

I rise today to honor to lives and legacies of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. Their story is of major significance in the African American community and speaks to a turning point in American history. Today, the House passed the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021, which would award Emmett and Ms. Till-Mobley a Congressional Gold Medal. prgtoken I would like to start off by thanking Chairwoman Maxine Waters, Leader Steny Hoyer, and Nancy Pelosi for their assistance in shepherding this bill through the House. With their help, we have gotten 290 House cosponsors for the bill, including every House and 67 House s. l would also like to acknowledge Rep. Don Bacon from the great state of Nebraska for serving as the co-lead on this bill. I would also like to thank Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and Cory Booker of New Jersey for serving as the Senate leads on the bill. prgtoken This year, I sought to bring light to the injustice of Emmett Till's lynching, through this and the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which President signed into law earlier this year. For African Americans of my generation, his brutal torture and murder was a painful, but very real reminder of the true horrors of white supremacy. prgtoken News of his death shaped my understanding of racism at a very early age. When the photo from Emmett Till's funeral ran in Jet Magazine, I will never forget how my mother gathered us around the coffee table and told us `That's why I brought my boys out of the South.' prgtoken Emmett Till's lynching sent shockwaves through my community and deeply affected me and my family. prgtoken His gruesome murder--as well as Mamie Till-Mobley's courageous decision to have Jet publish a photo of his body and to hold an open- casket funeral for her son so people could see his mutilated body-- exposed the brutal truth of racism. This caused such outrage, not only in the United States but abroad, and sparked the Civil Rights Movement. prgtoken It is no coincidence that the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his iconic ``I have a Dream'' speech, was held on the eighth anniversary of Emmett's death. Emmett's lynching was a wake- up call for Black America and others. We could not stay quiet any longer. prgtoken I feel a heavy responsibility to continue telling Emmett and Ms. Till-Mobley's story. Not only did Emmett's death resonate deeply with me others of my generation, but he grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in what is now the Congressional District that I represent. The work that Ms. Till-Mobley started on racial justice continues today, and the same struggle to protect Black lives, Hispanic lives, LGBTQ lives, immigrants lives, Jewish lives, and others. We must continue telling their story for future generations to learn from. prgtoken Emmett's brutal murder catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement and a generation of civil
FAREWELL TO CONGRESS
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , this is my last speech on the House floor. I have given hundreds of speeches on this floor, but there will be no more. I am reminded of a quotation, each of us is called to do something, and if we don't do it, it won't get done. prgtoken For almost 15 years now, I have had the privilege to be in this Chamber to prgtoken do this work. Like many staffers who come to this great building, they seek to one day become Members of Congress, and I became one of those. prgtoken I was legislative counsel to the late Congressman Leo Ryan, who was assassinated in Jonestown, Guyana, trying to extract constituents who had been held there against their will by a cult leader name Jim Jones. prgtoken I am proud that, along with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' name, Congressman Leo Ryan's name now appears above the ic cloakroom. I was shot five times on that airstrip and left to die, but obviously survived, and committed the rest of my life to public service. prgtoken In fact, I have the record here in Congress of being the Member who had the longest stretch between the time they first ran for Congress, which was 29 years before I was elected the second time. prgtoken What I know is this: We are specks in the timeline of history--few will remember us, but they will remember events. The corridor to the Members' dining room on the House side shows a mural of L'Enfant choosing the site for the U.S. Capitol, then President Washington is seen actually laying the cornerstone, and then in 1814 the British burning the Capitol, and then the Rotunda being used to house Union soldiers as a medical center. prgtoken There is one more mural that has to be placed in that corridor. It is the mural of January 6. prgtoken What will we do to prevent another one? That is the challenge to all of us. prgtoken What will we do to lower the rhetorical temperature in this sanctuary of democracy? prgtoken Will we ever end the blood sport that goes on in this Chamber? prgtoken Above us on the ceiling is the eagle with the words e pluribus unum: Out of many, one. It is our duty to our constituents, not to our Facebook audience or Twitter followers. It is not our goal to increase our followers. It is our duty to increase the confidence of our constituents in democracy in getting things done. prgtoken Madam , I hope the 118th Congress will do what I was not able to do in 10 years and get the ERA into the Constitution of the United States; it is 24 words. Every democracy in the world has an ERA in their constitution but the United States. prgtoken I hope that we will restore the right to reproductive autonomy for every woman. prgtoken I hope that we will do what we should do and pass an assault weapons ban. Surely, we can prohibit the purchase of these weapons of war by teenagers. prgtoken We should make permanent the child tax credit; we lifted half of the children in this country out of poverty last year when we did that. prgtoken We have got to do a better
HAZARD ELIGIBILITY AND LOCAL PROJECTS ACT
Tom Malinowski (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I am proud to stand with the 409. It is nice when we can pass important legislation with such a large majority, and I sometimes wonder about the 16. I don't know quite what is going on over there, but maybe the gentleman can tell me afterwards. prgtoken In closing, the Stafford Act entitles disaster-impacted States to HMGP grants after the disaster so that they can learn from the damage and protect their communities in the future. prgtoken The ability to complete post-disaster mitigation projects should be accessible to communities in a much more timely manner. H.R. 1917 does that. It will empower States to cut through the red tape and complete acquisition projects much more quickly and with fewer burdens. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
CELEBRATING THE 30TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AS THE ``DISTRICT OF CHAMPIONS''
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise to celebrate 3 schools in my Congressional District for their display of excellence this past weekend at the University Interscholastic League Texas High School Football State Championships in Arlington. prgtoken This past Friday, South Oak Cliff High School, part of the Dallas Independent School District, became the first DISD school to repeat as state champions by winning their thirteenth straight game, defeating Port Neches-Groves High School by a score of 34 to 24 to win the UIL Class SA Division 2 title. prgtoken The Golden Bears fell behind early, 17 to 5 but came back to win the game thanks to solid performances by Quarterback William Little, who threw for a season-high 233 yards, and the South Oak Cliff defense, who forced 2 safeties along with a critical interception that was returned for a touchdown to put the game away late in the third quarter. With the victory, head coach Jason Todd made Texas history by becoming the first African American head coach to win 2 state championships with the same school. prgtoken The next day, the DeSoto High School Eagles showed the State of Texas why they're a top-ranked offensive program by overpowering the Vandegrift Vipers by a score of 42 to 17 in their UIL Class 6A Division 2 state championship game. prgtoken The Eagles racked up more than 600 yards of total offense, including two 100-yard receiving performances by wide receivers Tre Wisner and Johntay Cook II and a 100-yard rushing performance by running back Deondrae Riden, who found the endzone twice in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. prgtoken In the nightcap on Saturday, The Duncanville High School Panthers finally did something they've been trying to do for the past 5 years, defeat North Shore High School and earn Head Coach Reginald Samuel a championship ring. prgtoken The game was competitive, with both teams tied at 21 a piece going into halftime, but a critical drive capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by Caden Durham gave the Panthers the lead in the third quarter. A drive late in the fourth quarter by North Shore was stopped inches short by the Panthers' staunch defense with seconds left on the clock to secure the UIL Class 6A Division 1 title. prgtoken Madam , many members can say that their district is home to some of the top recruiting prospects in high school football, only a few members can say that their district is home to 3 state champions, but no other member in this chamber can proudly say that they have 3 of the top 70 nationally ranked programs in the country within their district lines. I want to congratulate the players, coaches, medical trainers, students, teachers, facility, staff, parents, and alumni of these 3 schools on their historic achievement and on showing the rest of the nation that Texas 30 is genuinely the district of champions.
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CARMEN H. PEREZ
Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , it is with deep sadness and the utmost respect that I take this time to remember one of Indiana's most distinguished citizens, Carmen H. Perez, beloved mother, grandmother, and educator of over 45 years. On Friday, December 16, 2022, Carmen passed away at the age of 89. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, students, and the many people whose lives she influenced. prgtoken Carmen H. Perez was a lifelong educator and taught at several school corporations throughout the region, including the Gary Community School Corporation, where she spent much of her career. Carmen's passion for the principles of early childhood development and inclusion led her to start the first bilingual preschool education program in the state of Indiana. In 2004, Carmen was presented with the Spirit of Justice Award by the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, its highest honor, for her work dedicated to improving the integration and success of Latino students. Her true devotion to helping children and young adults succeed will continue to serve as an inspiration to us all. prgtoken In addition to her outstanding career, Carmen also had a passion for advocacy and civil service. She participated in the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Health, and Nutrition, and served as a delegate to both the 1970 White House Conference on Children and the 1971 NATO International Conference on Cities. In 1986, Carmen was invited by the United States Department of State to the Foreign Policy Conference for Leaders of National Minority and Women's Organizations. For her humble and unwavering civil service, Carmen is worthy of our praise and gratitude. prgtoken Carmen H. Perez is survived by her loving daughter, Nina, grandson, Michael (Hannah), best friend, Rose, and in March 2023, great-grandson, David. She will also be remembered by numerous friends, neighbors, and students for her truly outstanding contributions to her community and throughout the Nation. prgtoken Madam , I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and remembering Carmen H. Perez for her lifelong commitment to education and civil service. For her truly meaningful career and her devotion to so many virtuous causes, Carmen leaves a legacy that is worthy of the highest praise.