mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROTECTING WOMEN'S SPORTS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-11-1

a year and a half ago, Riley Gaines bravely spoke out when she was forced to compete against a biological male, Lia Thomas, at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships. prgtoken It is still an issue. Riley and Lia at the time tied for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle after Lia had won the 500-yard freestyle the previous night. prgtoken On the podium, the NCAA handed Lia the fifth place trophy for the tie that Lia and Riley had and gave Riley the sixth place trophy, telling Riley she would receive her correct trophy in the mail later, not even deciding by a coin flip or some other tiebreaker. prgtoken I remember hearing this story and being completely appalled. I was sympathetic for Riley and for the heartbreak and disrespect she and all of the other women and girls had who worked their whole lives to compete at the highest level in collegiate swimming or even in high school and lower levels. prgtoken I also remember hearing calls and rebuttals from those who sympathized with Lia Thomas and transgender kids across the country: Just let Lia compete. She deserves it. Transgender kids have the highest rates of suicide. Let them play sports and they will be happy. It is not happening often. Don't worry about it. This is just a one- time thing. This won't open the floodgates. prgtoken Unfortunately, this is not a one-time thing. This is happening often, and the floodgates have been opened at all age ranges. In the last year and a half, we have seen countless stories of opportunities being taken away from young women by biological males competing in their sports, whether it is being bumped from first place to second place or top two or males in running events where the girls are losing out on Olympic spots, endorsement deals, college scholarships, or even whether they are going to make the varsity team or not. All of these tragedies for women and girls in sports deserve outrage from all Americans. prgtoken In addition, the left has silenced young women who have stated that they feel uncomfortable sharing locker rooms with biological males. Instead, for the case of Lia Thomas' teammates, these young women have been outrageously--get this--told to get counseling. prgtoken Just a few years ago, we had the #MeToo movement in which we were told to believe all women, yet a few years later we are being told not to believe women or even see what their feelings and thoughts are but rather believe the biological male who believes he is a woman. prgtoken Speaking of believe all women, last week, up in Canada, a 50-year-old biological male was allowed to participate in a swim meet with 13- to 14-year old girls because he identified as a 13-year-old girl. You cannot make this stuff up. This 50-year-old man was able to use the girls' locker room to change with underage young women. I cannot express how angry this makes me and many sensible Americans and Canadians. prgtoken Where are the adults in the room? How can any responsible a
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-11-1

this is an amendment that should be a simple and bipartisan, commonsense amendment. prgtoken Under a treaty in 1944, Mexico is obliged to provide 350,000 acre- feet of water per year to the Rio Grande Valley. Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are facing drought right now, and Mexico has been slow in meeting its treaty commitments. This amendment simply instructs the water negotiators to press Mexico to meet its treaty agreements and provide the water that is owed. prgtoken I would note that the language of this amendment was worked out in a bipartisan manner and was cleared by both and s on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This language was also worked out directly with the negotiators of the International Boundary and Water Commission. It is designed not to negatively impact any other State but to instruct States to urge Mexico to meet its treaty commitments so that farmers who need water can get the water they need. prgtoken I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support the amendment.
URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO DESIGNATE HIZBALLAH IN ITS ENTIRETY AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-11-1

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , 3 weeks ago, Hamas launched a brutal and unprovoked terrorist attack on our ally, Israel, from its perch in the Gaza Strip. prgtoken Now Israel is engaged in a major military operation in response to the pressing threat posed by this Iran-backed terrorist group. For years, Hamas benefited from the misconception that it was focused on governing the Gaza Strip but make no mistake, there is no difference between the political and military wings of terrorist organizations. prgtoken One of Hamas' allies in the region, Hezbollah, also benefits from this misguided fiction that its political and military entities are separate. Like with Hamas, this is unequivocally false. Even Hezbollah's leader himself admits there is no distinction between the two, so it is unfortunate that the European Union includes Hezbollah's military branch on its list of sanctioned terrorist organizations, but not its political wing. prgtoken This has enabled Hezbollah to use Europe as a base to plan extremist terrorist activities and exploit global financial networks to pay for them. Right now, Hezbollah is launching near daily attacks on Israel's northern borders with rockets, mortars, and antitank missiles. Every one of these attacks risks the opening of a second front in this war. prgtoken Does this sound like the work of a political party? Yet, the EU's continued recognition of this arbitrary distinction between political and military wings allows Hezbollah to continue to operate throughout Europe, even while causing casualties in Israel. This issue has never been more urgent. We must make clear to these terrorist proxies that we are not fooled about their true intention: the destruction of Israel. We must make clear to Iran that it cannot hide behind its terrorist proxies. prgtoken , I urge our allies in the European Union to designate Hezbollah in full as a terrorist organization. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues in the House to vote in support of this resolution, and .
CONDEMNING THE SUPPORT OF HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR JEWISH STUDENTS...
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-11-1

. Madam , I rise today in support of H. Res. 798, a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses and encouraging campus leaders to speak out in support of their Jewish students, faculty, and guests. prgtoken One word that comes to mind is ``regression.'' The extreme rhetoric on college campuses is, sadly, yet another chapter in the troubled history between Jewish students and American universities. It started with quotas. In 1922, Harvard President Abbott Lowell proposed a cap on the number of Jewish enrollees each year. Many other universities adopted similar policies. prgtoken Out of Jewish quotas, alternative Jewish education opportunities were born. In 1948, Brandeis University was founded. It was named after Lowell's great enemy, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis. The initial 107-student class at Brandeis was overwhelmingly Jewish and just 12 miles down the road from Cambridge. It stood as a stark reminder of ethnic discrimination. prgtoken The world progressed greatly in the post-war period, but the events of the past month have ripped open a wound in American postsecondary education that had been festering. prgtoken There is no better example than modern Harvard. The coalition student group letter from Harvard was the first anti-Semitic demonstration on campus to make the news after Hamas' October 7 attack, hearkening back to Harvard's Jewish quotas. Harvard is a bellwether, for better or for worse. prgtoken H. Res. 798 condemns the support of terrorists and condemns anti- Semitism behavior. I thank Representative Owens for putting this important resolution forward, and I pray that it is a step toward reversing the abhorrent behavior that has taken over college campuses. prgtoken Madam , we must throw anti-Semitism into the dustbin of history where it belongs.
CONDEMNING THE SUPPORT OF HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR JEWISH STUDENTS...
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-11-1

. Madam , such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. prgtoken For the past 2 weeks, I have been inundated with phone calls, emails, and texts from frantic parents and terrified students who have experienced online hate, taunting from their fellow students, exposure to swastikas on their dorm walls and doors, chants of death to Israel and Jews, and seeing those words chalked on campus walkways. These students sat through anti-Israel and anti-Semitism rants by professors who were supposed to be teaching them, not spreading anti-Israel propaganda. prgtoken Rallies were held by students and others who are ignorant about the history of the Middle East and ignorant about the 2,000-year history of anti-Semitism. prgtoken Our education system is failing us, and we are seeing it come alive on our college campuses. We are seeing that failure at some of the most illustrious institutions in my State of North Carolina and at my own alma mater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. prgtoken We are seeing the failure and inability of university presidents and university chancellors--people who are able to take the simple step of condemning terrorism against Israel and of condemning the gruesome attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians and the taking of hostages--to simply call out and condemn anti-Semitism. prgtoken They do this under the guise of free speech. prgtoken Madam , I am glad that Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are committed to standing strong against terrorism, anti- Semitism, and all forms of hate on college campuses. This is critical. prgtoken This is an important and timely resolution that seeks to call out a deeply disturbing pattern of support for terrorism and anti-Semitism that we have been seeing on all too many college campuses in recent weeks. prgtoken I am appalled by the inability of our institutions of higher education to be able to stand up for what is right and to take on the initiative to use these incidents as a teaching opportunity. After all, what are our colleges and universities for if they are unable to use this opportunity to teach about what is right and what is accurate. prgtoken I ask all my colleagues to join me in voting in support of this resolution, and .
RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC WATER AT CAMP LEJEUNE
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise today, along with my colleague, Rep. Gregory Murphy, to speak on behalf of all those Americans who were exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When writing the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, we understood that the only way the veterans, their families and others could get fair and just compensation was through a jury trial. Let there be no ambiguity. Let this be understood to be our unequivocal expression our intent, from the inception of the bill through final passage and into enactment: the claimants who have suffered so intensely as a result of the toxic water at Camp Lejeune have the right to a trial by jury. prgtoken We were aware of how the Federal Tort Claims Act worked, through a bench trial, and we specifically rejected that model when we wrote the Act. Indeed, it has always been our intent for the Act to stand separate and apart from the Federal Tort Claims Act in all respects. For these reasons, we expressly included a provision in subsection (d) of the Act confirming every plaintiffs right to a jury trial. The Department of Justice is inexplicably reading this provision out of the statute. prgtoken Specifically, the United States Department of Justice has recently filed a Motion in the Camp Lejeune Water Litigation proceeding pending before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina in which the Department asserts that those harmed by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 are not entitled to a jury trial. This argument is inexplicable. prgtoken We fundamentally disagree with the Department's position. When we drafted the Act, it was our clear, unambiguous, and unequivocal express intent to provide all those covered by the Act with the right to a trial by jury against the United States of America for the harm they suffered at Camp Lejeune. We thought it was critically important that people who had been betrayed and misled by the government for decades would have a right to have their claims decided by a jury of their peers. prgtoken We want to cite the law as written in ``Public Law 177-168 Section 804. Federal Cause of Action Relating to Water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina subsection (d) Exclusive Jurisdiction and Venue--The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action filed under subsection (b), and shall be the exclusive venue for such action. Nothing in this subsection shall impair the right of any party to a trial by jury.'' prgtoken We want to take this opportunity to again restate what we have always intended and what is clearly written in Public Law 177-168. We are dismayed that the Department of Justice has taken this wrongheaded position, which flies in the face of everything Congress intended for those harmed by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Those who have steadfastly defended our country rate no less than the rights they deserve a
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-11-1

first, to my colleagues on Appropriations' Legislative Branch Subcommittee, Mr. Amodei as well as my longtime dear friend Mr. Espaillat, I thank them for their hard work. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to H.R. 4364 because it inadequately funds the legislative branch, which is the branch charged with funding responsibilities under Article I of the U.S. Constitution. It dramatically underfunds the Capitol Police, drastically cuts funding to the Architect of the Capitol, and guts the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion. prgtoken As my colleague has mentioned, I serve as the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration. I know firsthand how important it is that our House officers and congressional support agencies are adequately resourced. prgtoken We all rely on our nonpartisan institutional partners, some of whom are in this Chamber right now, helping us carry out our constitutional obligations, keeping us safe, providing subject matter expertise, and facilitating the legislative process. prgtoken For that reason, I am very disappointed. This bill, which includes a nearly 5 percent cut to House and joint legislative branch items, inadequately funds many of these entities and the responsibilities that they are required to carry out. prgtoken For example, at a time in which the Capitol Police is experiencing an officer shortage crisis, this bill fails to fully fund the department's salaries appropriation requests. How can we hope to attract qualified officers if we don't provide competitive salaries? How can we ensure officers are better trained if they are regularly forced to work overtime rather than attend training sessions? How do we improve officer morale if they need to work double shifts instead of going home to spend time with their families? prgtoken The men and women of the Capitol Police have our backs. They have demonstrated that in a time of crisis in this Chamber. We need to have theirs with more than just words. prgtoken The bill would also cut funding for the Architect of the Capitol by hundreds of millions of dollars and fail to meet the agency's budget request for the Capitol Police buildings, grounds, and security account. This would hinder the AOC's ability to fulfill all of its responsibilities, making Congress less secure, harming our national security, and putting Members, staff, and our visiting constituents at risk during a time of heightened threats. prgtoken Finally, I am deeply frustrated that this bill includes culture war initiatives like eliminating the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was established based on a bipartisan, unanimous modernization committee recommendation. It provides important services for and works closely with offices on both sides of the aisle. In fact, since its inception in 2019, 225 offices have utilized its services. prgtoken It is astonishing that my majority colleagues are going to s
HAMAS AND OTHER PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUPS INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PREVENTION ACT
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise in opposition to H.R. 340. I unequivocally condemn Hamas' attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 innocent people and the kidnapping of hundreds of hostages, including American citizens. prgtoken The United States has rightly designated Hamas as a terrorist organization since 1997, and I have fully supported sanctions on Hamas when they have come before the House in the past. However, there is a distinction between Hamas and the innocent Palestinians it holds captive in Gaza, and we must legislate with that understanding. Our efforts to hold Hamas accountable must not come at the expense of those innocent civilians. prgtoken As originally written, this bill included a broad humanitarian exemption that would have protected the provision of food, medicine, and other lifesaving supplies into Gaza. The State Department and the Treasury both supported that exemption, which aligned with the administration's goals to weaken Hamas without causing undue civilian suffering and deaths. prgtoken Unfortunately, the primary sponsor of H.R. 340 offered an amendment during committee markup that removed that exemption, replacing it with a case-by-case waiver that will impede the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. prgtoken At times here, we need to speculate about the motivations behind specific legislation and legislative decisions. In this case, however, it is part of the committee record. The bill's sponsor said that he believes ``any assistance should be slowed down'' and argued that no one can distinguish between innocent Palestinians and Hamas. prgtoken The situation in Gaza is incredibly dire and becoming more so by the day, which is why President has worked to secure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and requested funding to support those efforts. The decision to intentionally remove this provision was a choice to hurt people in Gaza who are not responsible for this conflict.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise today to speak in opposition to the Paul amendment. prgtoken Members of both parties have always agreed an independent--underscore independent--central bank is critical to a functioning economy. Congress put in place restrictions to shield the Fed's monetary policy from political influence. This longstanding restriction ensures that the Fed isn't subject to the whims of Congress, to the partisanship, to the nihilism--if I could use another word--of, too often, people in this body. prgtoken Whether it is threatening a default or a government shutdown, all too common because of dysfunction and chaos in the House of Representatives--whether it is threatening a default or government shutdown, we have already seen how partisanship so negatively impacts people's pocketbooks in the broader economy. We don't need it here too. prgtoken This amendment would make the Fed less effective. It would open it up to all kinds of nefarious political pressure. Congress already requires that the Fed undergo regular review of their operations, of their programs, of their balance sheet, of their financial statements. These are some of the ways Congress holds the Fed accountable while avoiding dangerous political interference. prgtoken This amendment is irrelevant to what we are voting on today. It is yet another impediment to keeping our government open. It shouldn't be partisan. It shouldn't be political. Those antics should stay out of this debate. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Paul amendment. prgtoken . Vote on Amendment No. 1217
PROVIDING FOR THE EXPULSION OF REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SANTOS FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-11-1

. Madam , due to a cancelled flight and another flight with mechanical issues, I was unable to cast my vote for legislation considered on the House floor today. Had I been able to be present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 559--Motion to Table H. Res. 829, ``yea'' on rollcall 560--H. Res. 559, ``yea'' on rollcall 561--H.R. 340, ``yea'' on rollcall 562--Motion to recommit to H.R. 4364, ``nay'' on rollcall 563--Final Passage of H.R. 4364, and ``yea'' on rollcall 564--Adoption of H. Res. 773.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-11-1

I rise to speak in support of the Equal COLA Act, which I reintroduced today. prgtoken The Federal Government's workforce is central to protecting our national security and delivering critical services to hundreds of millions of Americans. As such, it is essential that the Federal Government attract and retain an effective workforce and, once their service is complete, ensure retirees receive the dignified retirement that they deserve. prgtoken Unfortunately, in 1986, Congress created a two-tiered system that now prevents nearly 800,000 retired Federal employees from receiving a full cost-of-living adjustment when consumer prices increase more than 2 percent from year to year. prgtoken In January, some Federal retirees will receive a 3.2-percent COLA. However, other Federal retirees will receive only a 2.2-percent increase due to this policy, which fails to protect retired employees living on a fixed income. prgtoken That is why I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to fix this unfair system and ensure that all retired Federal employees receive full retirement benefits that keep up with the cost of living. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill to ensure that retired Federal employees no longer pay the price of a misguided law and that their benefits fully keep pace with the cost of living.