mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-3-13

I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her words. prgtoken , I rise to share some history. prgtoken Two of the greatest freedom fighters I have ever had the privilege to know were two Polish Americans, a husband and wife. prgtoken The husband, who escaped capture from a Soviet work camp during World War II, lived to age 97. He also survived three Nazi death camps. prgtoken Each of them lived by the motto: Freedom means never surrender. prgtoken A 30-minute film about their valiant lives can be viewed online at PBS or YouTube at no cost under the title ``Freedom Means Never Surrender.'' prgtoken I ask all Americans to learn something about Colonel Marian Wojciechowski and Wladyslawa Poniecka-Wojciechowski. prgtoken These great Americans were born in Poland after World War I. Separately, they endured horrific torture as their homeland of Poland was invaded and obliterated by Nazi Germany on the west and Stalinist Russia to the east. Their lives were changed forever. prgtoken Then Poland, as a nation, was squeezed out of existence as 6 million of its citizens were slaughtered into submission by two tyrannies. No nation on Earth lost a higher percentage of its citizens during World War II than did Poland. prgtoken Here in America, our land of comforts and possibilities, the blessings of liberty to date have shielded us from the harsh reality of dictatorship. Most people could not possibly imagine the torture and cruelty that bore down on the lives of this particular couple. prgtoken What a high privilege to be afforded the deep honor of representing human beings of such noble bearing. I bow low to their dignity and resolve, having borne such enormous suffering. prgtoken They went on to lead constructive lives and become citizens of the United States of America. prgtoken By sharp contrast, recently, I watched the latest Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, be interviewed by a very shallow American TV commentator. With a straight face, Putin presented this gullible American with a complete fabrication of what happened to the Polish city of Danzig and the entire Polish nation during World War II. prgtoken The American TV anchor swallowed Putin's sadistic comment that Hitler offered Poland an amicable choice during World War II as to whether it should be invaded. Wow. What a lie. For any American to sit in front of that lying mass murderer and reply ``okay'' is not only offensive, but it is dead wrong. prgtoken That vapidness cuts through the hearts of Poles, Polish Americans, and people of Polish heritage across our world. What an embarrassment for any U.S. broadcaster to utter such drivel. prgtoken Here are some facts. Poland lost a higher percentage of its citizens in World War II than any nation in the world, 6 million people, 25 percent of its population, 3 million of Christian heritage and 3 million of Jewish heritage, at the hands of Hitler and Stalin. Try that on for size. prgtoken Across Europe today lie the bodies of ov
ROTARY CLUB OF BARBERTON CHAMPION OF THE WEEK
Emilia Strong Sykes (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2024-3-13

today, I rise to recognize the Rotary Club of Barberton as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week. prgtoken The Rotary Club of Barberton has been a staple in the City of Barberton for over 100 years, providing life-changing services and investing in the community and its members. prgtoken The first formal meeting was held on February 13, 1924, in the Peoples Bank Clubs under the leadership of M.S. Yoder and U.L. Light and was formally chartered on February 29 of that year. prgtoken The club also hosts community-building events throughout the year, such as speech and debate tournaments and organizing volunteers within the community to clean up trash around the streets of Barberton. The club has continued to support students through scholarships not only in Barberton but in neighboring communities by providing more than $5,000 in scholarships each year. prgtoken The Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Barberton are dedicated to ensuring the community of Barberton is clean, safe, and secure, and they are unwavering on their goal of helping members of Ohio's 13th Congressional District better themselves and their cities. prgtoken Again, congratulations to the Rotary Club of Barberton for 100 years of service to our community and being named as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF ITAY CHEN
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-3-13

I rise today in remembrance of 19-year-old Itay Chen, an American-Israeli and citizen soldier who died in service to his country. prgtoken I was absolutely devastated yesterday to learn that Itay was not, as we thought, held hostage, but was killed on October 7 defending Israel's border from Hamas' brutal invasion. prgtoken I sat with Itay's father, Ruby, many times over these last 6 months. In fact, he gave me this very tag that reads, Bring Them Home, in both English and Hebrew. prgtoken We held out hope for 157 days that Itay would return home. This whole time Hamas has had his corpse as this war has raged on and as his parents have sat in darkness, and as we on the international stage and in this very Chamber have called for a return to the hostages. prgtoken , I am furious. I will not stop fighting.
PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS ACT
Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-13

I rise today to oppose H.R. 7521. prgtoken Banning TikTok is an insufficient Band-Aid solution to the genuine national security concerns the app raises and exposes. The bill seriously undermines civil liberties by essentially banning a platform that 150 million Americans use to engage in free speech and expression. A statewide TikTok ban has already been paused by a Federal judge on First Amendment grounds. prgtoken Even without TikTok, the PRC could still be able to conduct influence operations on other social media platforms and obtain sensitive U.S. user data through hacking or data brokers. prgtoken Finally, this bill would greatly expand the executive's authority to ban tech companies with zero congressional oversight. I cannot sign a blank check to some future President who would easily and dangerously weaponize this legislation to profit and silence. prgtoken The creatives, artists, content creators, and businesses in my district will get caught in the cross fire of this bill, and deserve better than Federal overreach as a substitute for a thoughtful and incisive solution to this complicated national security challenge.
CELEBRATING 314 DAY
Cori Bush (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2024-3-13

St. Louis and I rise in celebration of 314 Day, founded by Young DIP, celebrated across St. Louis on March 14-- 314, which is our area code. prgtoken On 314 Day, we celebrate our amazing sports teams and passionate fans, from the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, CITY Soccer Club, Battlehawks, Surge, as well as our college and high school teams. prgtoken On 314 Day, we indulge in toasted raviolis, Imo's Pizza, Red Hot Riplets, and our Chinese food and Vess soda. prgtoken On 314 Day, we enjoy artists and creators rooted in St. Louis, like Nelly, the St. Lunatics, Tina Turner, Scott Joplin, Michael McDonald, Maya Angelou, and Cbabi Bayoc. prgtoken Most importantly, on 314 Day, St. Louis is gathered together to bask in the love and the pride that we have for our community. To be from St. Louis is to love St. Louis. Every day it is among one of my life's greatest honors to be your Congresswoman. prgtoken I love St. Louis. Happy 314 Day.
RECOGNIZING VIRGINIA'S FOURTH DISTRICT WOMEN IN EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Jennifer L. McClellan (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2024-3-13

in celebration of Women's History Month, I rise today to honor 23 women chosen by constituents in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District for my inaugural Women in Excellence Award. These women are recognized for their meaningful contributions and commitment to improving the lives of others and giving back to their communities. I commend these remarkable women who are spearheading progress across the district in the fields of advocacy, environmental justice, economic development, education, government, healthcare, law, public safety, and more. prgtoken Chief Lynette Lewis Allston, Southampton prgtoken Dr. Monica L. Ball, Richmond prgtoken Ms Sherri Bowman, Charles City prgtoken Dr. Shantelle Brown, Richmond prgtoken Ms. Chelsea L. Buyalos, Chester prgtoken Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford, Petersburg prgtoken Mrs. Dixie Daniel, Brunswick prgtoken Detective Lakisha R. Davis, Chesterfield prgtoken Dr. Tamara W. Dias, Chester prgtoken Ms. Austine Ellis, Emporia prgtoken Dr. Shonda -Muhammed, Richmond prgtoken Mrs. Evelyn M. Johnson, Chesterfield prgtoken Ms. Michelle Johnson, Charles City prgtoken Mrs. Rebecca L. Larkin, Henrico prgtoken Ms. Tracy Lee, Colonial Heights prgtoken Dr. Shantell Lewis, Henrico prgtoken Ms. Danielle Milliner, Petersburg prgtoken The Honorable Gammiel Poindexter, Richmond prgtoken Ms. Aileen Rivera, Henrico prgtoken Mrs. Vondrenna Smithers, Brunswick prgtoken Ms. Kenda Sutton-EL, Richmond prgtoken Dr. Phyllis Taylor Tolliver, Prince George prgtoken Ms. Kim Walker-Lee, Southampton
UTILIZING SPACE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 2023
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-3-13

. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6276, the Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies Act of 2023. prgtoken Once again, the House Majority has brought forth a bill that would accomplish the exact opposite of its claims. This bill would create massive inefficiency by forcing the early termination of government facility contracts to meet an arbitrary and inflexible standard of occupancy. These contract cancellations would incur additional costs, result in massive staff relocations that are not paid for by this legislation, and severely disrupt the work of federal employees who are serving the American public. The end result would be a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Additionally, this legislation would override the work that agencies themselves ale already doing to evaluate and update their federal space requirements. Instead, H.R. 6276 sets up a biased method of data collection that inaccurately assesses the needs of our federal workforce. It fails to count field workers--including Border Patrol agents, park rangers, and food safety inspectors--as full-time federal employees. It would ignore the significant challenges, and costs, involved in modernizing and reconfiguring historic buildings to increase occupancy levels. prgtoken My ic colleagues and I want to work with the federal agencies to collect accurate information and to fully understand the individual facility needs of each agency. Where opportunities to reduce space or improve its utilization exist, the General Services Administration already has the authority to act. As agencies adjust to the increased use of alternative and hybrid work schedules, they are examining opportunities for consolidation and other ways to efficiently and effectively achieve their missions. This thoughtful and necessary work would be swept aside by a clunky and misguided mandate in the USE IT Act. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 6276.
UTILIZING SPACE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 2023
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2024-3-13

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this bill. Certainly, we can agree that federal agencies, like many large employers, need to reevaluate their office space requirements in response to more hybrid work options post-COVID. prgtoken But this is not a new endeavor for the federal government. This is something the federal government was doing for more than a decade before the pandemic. prgtoken When we passed the Telework Enhancement Act in 2009, federal telework participation was below 14 percent. By 2016, that number grew by more than 50 percent to 22 percent. During that intervening period, agencies created hoteling options, reevaluated office space needs, and even identified telework savings associated with reduced real estate requirements. prgtoken So again, this is not new territory for the federal government. What is new is the mindless and punitive approach s have started to take towards agency decisions about workplace environments. prgtoken During the pandemic, s on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, voted to require 100 percent of federal employees back into the office for full-time in-person work--a standard that did not exist even before the pandemic and one that envisions a 19th century workplace complete with hole-punched timecards. prgtoken Concurrently, they opposed my legislation, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act, to implement common sense workplace public health standards to protect federal employees during COVID and any future public health emergencies. prgtoken Their opposition is, as I said, mindless and punitive. prgtoken With this bill, House s are at it again. This bill would establish an arbitrary requirement for agencies to dispose of property and leases. prgtoken It makes no accommodations for the workplace flexibility our federal agencies need, not just to compete for talent, but also to accommodate those with disabilities or military spouses whose employment would not be possible without hybrid or remote work. prgtoken This bill demagogues the issue of hybrid work at a time when we should be taking meaningful action to help the federal workplace remain competitive and productive. prgtoken I welcome the Administration's efforts to end pandemic era remote work postures while strengthening robust telework options for federal employees, which we helped create with the Telework Enhancement Act. prgtoken There is a way forward that helps agencies adjust to post-pandemic workforce needs, but this bill is not the solution and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.
WENDY MOTTA, A REMARKABLE LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-13

I rise today to pay tribute to an exemplary public servant, Wendy Motta, who has dedicated her career to serving the constituents of the 24th Congressional District with unwavering commitment and tireless effort. As we bid farewell to Wendy, we reflect on her distinguished service and the indelible mark she leaves on our community. prgtoken Wendy Motta's journey in public service spans decades, including previously serving in the office of my predecessor, Congresswoman Lois Capps. Throughout her tenure as Senior District Representative, Wendy demonstrated an exceptional ability to address the diverse needs of our constituents, tackling crucial issues ranging from agriculture and veterans' affairs to infrastructure and environmental stewardship. Her tireless efforts have made a lasting impact on the lives of those she helped. prgtoken One of Wendy's most remarkable contributions was her dedicated work in responding to natural disasters and emergencies. Her leadership during those challenging times provided solace and support to our community, showcasing her resilience and dedication to the well-being of the people she served. Wendy's proactive approach and swift response in times of crisis set a standard of excellence for public service in our district. prgtoken Beyond her professional accomplishments, Wendy Motta is the epitome of a devoted family person. Married to Silvio Motta, she has been a loving partner and a source of strength for her family. Wendy and Silvio have been blessed with two wonderful children, Caio and Carina, who undoubtedly have been inspired prgtoken by their mother's commitment to public service. prgtoken Prior to her service with Congress, Wendy Motta served the California State Legislature in the 18th Senatorial District office. Her experience and expertise from the state level were instrumental in navigating the complexities of multi-jurisdictional issues and implementing effective policies for the benefit of our shared constituents on the Central Coast of California. prgtoken As we express our gratitude for Wendy's years of service, we also extend our best wishes for a fulfilling and joyous retirement. The 24th Congressional District has been fortunate to have such a dedicated advocate, and Wendy's legacy will undoubtedly endure as an inspiration for future generations of public servants. prgtoken In closing, I ask you to join me in acknowledging Wendy Motta's selfless contributions to the well-being of our community and express our deepest appreciation for her years of dedicated service. May her retirement be filled with the same warmth and kindness she has bestowed upon us throughout her illustrious career.
HONORING RAMONA FRADON
Patrick Ryan (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-3-13

I rise today to honor a true trailblazer, Ramona Fradon, who recently passed away at the age of 97. prgtoken One of the country's first female comic artists, Ramona was world- renowned for her illustrations at D.C. Comics, where she created and contributed to characters like Aquaman and Metamorpho. prgtoken As an independent comic, she was an inspiration to female artists around the world as the illustrator for the iconic feminist character, Brenda Starr, Reporter. prgtoken Beyond her work as a comic, Ramona was a powerful advocate for seniors and people throughout our community in Ulster County, especially in her efforts to protect and strengthen Medicare. prgtoken She was a true force and the overwhelming outpouring of support from literally across the world following her passing highlights the exceptional legacy that Ms. Fradon leaves behind. prgtoken My thoughts are with her daughter, Amy, and all of her family and friends throughout our community and across the country. prgtoken May we all take a moment to remember Ramona and hopefully to enjoy a couple of her comics.
PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS ACT
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-3-13

I thank the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. prgtoken This bill will ensure the divestiture of TikTok from its People's Republic of China-controlled parent company, ByteDance. prgtoken Why is it essential for Congress to do this? prgtoken It is because the PRC controls ByteDance, and this presents a serious national security threat to our country. prgtoken TikTok has 170 million-plus U.S. users, and it collects tremendous amounts of sensitive data. They also collect substantial background data that may be proprietary which may only be available to TikTok. prgtoken The national security law of the PRC requires all Chinese organizations to ``support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts.'' Under this law, ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese Government to provide data on every American TikTok user. They can weaponize this data to exploit and manipulate Americans through surveillance and disinformation. prgtoken This legislation separates TikTok's data, algorithms, and source code from ByteDance. prgtoken Importantly, this bill does not ban TikTok, something I do not support. prgtoken I support divestiture because our first and most important responsibility as Members of Congress is to defend our Constitution and protect and defend the United States of America. The bill would also give Americans secure ownership of their data, including posts, photos, and videos, and give this administration and future administrations the authority to respond to future national security threats. prgtoken For all these reasons, I urge all my colleagues to vote for this legislation in the name of our national security.
REMEMBERING GEORGE E. "COTTON" FLETCHER
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-3-14

I rise to honor the life of George E. ``Cotton'' Fletcher. Cotton Fletcher was born in St. Petersburg, FL, and shortly after moved to Newberry, FL, where he led family enterprises and created jobs for hard-working Floridians, including a 2,000-acre farm, the Newberry Fletcher Farm Equipment dealership, a cattle ranch, and a family-run sawmill in west Gainesville. Later he turned to property development as the president and CEO of the Fletcher Family of Companies. prgtoken Mr. Fletcher also dedicated his life to service. He served in the U.S. Navy and the Air Force, retiring as a major from the Air Force Reserves. His service continued beyond the military, serving 53 years on the Alachua General Hospital Board, which later became Santa Fe Healthcare and included the founding of Haven Hospice in Gainesville, FL. He also served on the Florida Lottery Commission, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, and as a Paul Fellow Rotary Member. prgtoken He is survived by his children Cheryl Hartley (Robert), Cindy Thompson, Deborah Diamond, and Blake Fletcher (Ashley); his sister-in- law Mary Fletcher, son-in-law Lester Thompson; 12 grandchildren Matthew, Bryce, Andrew, Ross, Myles, Chelsea, Ryan, Bella, Reagan, Landon, Greyson, Brady; and 6 great-grandchildren Brendan, Parker, Catherine, Emory, Claire, Ellie.
Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 7511 (Executive Session)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-3-14

I would like to start by thanking Senator Budd for leading this very important issue to the Senate floor. prgtoken We rise today to honor and pay our respects to the late Laken Riley and her family and to mourn with her family. prgtoken Today, we call on this Chamber to come together to ensure this never happens again. prgtoken Laken Hope Riley. Laken Hope Riley was a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. She was brutally murdered in broad daylight while jogging on the University of Georgia's campus. prgtoken Her alleged murderer, a Venezuelan illegal alien, was one of 2 million people paroled by --one of 2 million. Ironically, he was welcomed here on United States soil by this President and his egregious open border policies. prgtoken He was stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in 2022 when he crossed into Texas illegally, but because of the administration's unlawful mass parole of illegal aliens, he was permitted into our country. From Texas, he moved to New York, where he was arrested by the New York Police Department last year for acting in a manner to injure a child and for a motor vehicle violation. But he was quickly released and never turned over to ICE for deportation. Instead, he was released by police before a detainer could ever be issued by DHS, and he was allowed to roam freely. prgtoken Then he journeyed on to Athens, GA. And now we understand that the alleged assailant was a member of a violent Venezuelan gang. prgtoken How can we ever identify who those people are when 10,000 people are crossing our border every day? How can the Border Patrol possibly vet these people in a proper manner? prgtoken Just like so many other unvetted migrants living in the country right now, this man was handed the American dream--the American dream that Laken Riley should be living right now. prgtoken .