mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Gaza (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-7-23

I thank Senator Ernst for bringing this and continuing to bring the plight of the hostages to our attention. prgtoken I am glad to join Senator Ernst in speaking about just one of these: Edan Alexander. He grew up in Northern New Jersey. He was a champion swimmer for his high school team and a big fan of the New York Knicks. prgtoken Edan also had close ties to Israel. He was born there, had grandparents there, and had his bar mitzvah there. Still, his mother was surprised when Edan announced his senior year in high school that he wanted to postpone college and go to Israel. prgtoken Edan joined a program for young Jewish adults who want to explore serving in Israel's Defense Forces. Edan and 16 other American high school graduates, including a classmate from his high school, moved to a kibbutz in Israel. There they did 4 months of training before committing to serve in the IDF. Edan returned for a visit home in August and expected to return again in April for his brother Roy's bar mitzvah. prgtoken He was on patrol at the kibbutz on the morning of October 7. He called his mother after the Hamas terrorist attacks began. She said: I'm here. I'm with you. I love you. Just protect yourself. Just be safe. prgtoken That is the last she heard from her son. Edan needs to come home now. prgtoken .
Vote on Kiko Nomination (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-7-23

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Cotton), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott), and the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Vance). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``yea'' and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) would have voted ``yea.''
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-7-23

. Mr. Chair, an administration that cares about prosperity and abundance should be more concerned about the availability of food and what everyday Americans pay out of their pockets at the grocery store. prgtoken Instead, the - administration expresses concern over animal- and food-related emissions and proposes goals and regulations to address this. prgtoken I have already highlighted some of the ways that the EPA has gone after rural communities. This office will not be the eyes and ears for our rural communities. Instead, it will continue to support climate- related policies that hurt our farmers and ranchers. prgtoken The - administration has a history of adopting rules and policies suggested by international NGOs. The Federal Government, unfortunately, has a tendency to follow the poor examples of other countries by adopting terrible policies after they do, especially if it is related to this nonsense surrounding so-called climate change. prgtoken We don't need this office within the EPA. We already have to deal with the USDA. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge support of my amendment, and .
ISRAEL
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-7-23

now on another matter, tomorrow, the Capitol will welcome Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the democratically elected leader of America's closest ally in the Middle East to address a joint meeting of Congress for the fourth time. prgtoken It is a pivotal moment for the United States-Israel alliance and for Israel's war against savage Iran-backed terrorists. This is an existential conflict for Israel, but it is also a test of America's reliability and a challenge to the entire free world. prgtoken I look forward to hearing the Prime Minister's remarks. Unfortunately, some of the leaders who could learn the most from the experience of the battle-tested, duly elected leader of a sovereign democracy apparently will not be among us. prgtoken The Vice President, who traditionally presides over joint sessions of Congress, apparently can't spare the time to demonstrate even symbolic support for the only democracy in the Middle East. prgtoken Of course, Israel deserves more than symbolism. It deserves the time, space, prgtoken and material support to guarantee its security and defeat the terrorists who started this war. prgtoken But no matter how many times I say it, no matter how many of our colleagues affirm Israel's right to exist, no matter how sternly the President insists his commitment to Israel is ``ironclad,'' America's actions speak otherwise. prgtoken The administration's policy toward Israel has often compounded the challenges our ally faces. It has withheld critical military assistance and tried to micromanage Israel's military operations. prgtoken Washington have struggled to forcefully condemn the scourge of anti-Semitism and terrorist sympathy running rampant across university campuses and throughout the American left. prgtoken Instead, they have indulged the mob, engaging in grotesquely hypocritical efforts to meddle in Israeli domestic politics and call for the removal of its democratically elected leader. And this is just in the past 9 months that the Commander in Chief's failure to deter enemies of Israel and America is a debacle years in the making. The chaos fomented by Iran and its proxies across the Middle East is no surprise when you consider the seeds this administration has sown: prgtoken Desperation to return to a failed nuclear deal told Iran that it, once again, held leverage over America. Rescinding the Houthis' terrorist designation told Iran-backed groups that America isn't serious about imposing consequences for their savage violence. A humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan invited allies and adversaries alike to question America's competence and America's resolve. Failure to respond decisively to Iran-backed strikes against American personnel, interests, and partners across the region told the world's most active state sponsor of terrorism that the world's only superpower was unwilling to act like one. prgtoken Today, America and our partners are reaping the conse
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Anna Paulina Luna (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-7-23

. Mr. Chair, I want to put out there that we have been working on this for a number of years, not to mention my predecessors, both ic and , have also attempted to work on this only to really be stonewalled by the Army Corps. To have them not even respond to Members of Congress isn't going to fix the issue any time soon. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I point out that while we are legislating here in Washington, people are actually losing their homes. To demand that a property owner give up their own property rights so that the Army Corps can go and restore habitat for endangered species and then point to a policy that they haven't enforced--not to mention when we have asked for actual documentation of internal communications, they sent us redacted information because they didn't want us to know about the internal communications that they were having. prgtoken I do think that it is political. I had a bipartisan delegation come up from my home. Mayors and local community leaders met with the White House. They said this needs to be fixed, and we will help you. Do you know what? Nothing happened. prgtoken I hope that people consider supporting this. I am also concerned about taxpayer dollars, but I see our taxpayer dollars going to support basket-weaving projects in parts of the world that we don't even have an invested interest in. Frankly, when it comes down to it, I think this is a way better use. Not to mention, we also have a military purpose and focus in the State of Florida, and I think this benefits everyone net positive. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8997, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8998, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR...
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-7-23

the balance of my time, and I will close on our side. prgtoken , at the end of the day, it is not just about the legislation here. It is about two competing visions for America. prgtoken ' record speaks for itself. We passed the largest infrastructure bill in a generation, and my friends are falling over each other trying to take credit for infrastructure projects in their district that most of them voted against. prgtoken We passed the largest climate change bill in world history. We brought jobs back from overseas. Inflation is coming down, job growth is solid, and we are working to guarantee that all Americans have an opportunity to succeed. We are fighting for workers. We want opportunity for kids, success for families, and dignity for our seniors. We support our veterans. We want democracy to be secure at home and around the world. We have a vision for a better future and an idea on how to get there. prgtoken These bills, once again, show the s are more interested in division and taking us backwards. They have no ideas to make life better for Americans. They only have and Project 2025. That is it. That is it. prgtoken Here we are debating appropriations bills. We were supposed to be having four on the floor today. Two of them were pulled after we had a hearing in the Rules Committee, after Members testified on amendments, after legislative staff spent hours and hours and hours drafting amendments for and s, and after the Parliamentarians reviewed all these amendments to see whether they were germane or not. CBO did scores on all of them. prgtoken All this work, and they pulled it. What a colossal waste of time, and the prgtoken gentlewoman said: Well, it is the Senate . prgtoken I just have trouble following that logic. I have trouble following that logic. It makes no sense. prgtoken The bottom line is that these bad bills can't even get over the finish line. None of them are going to become law. We are wasting our time. The way this is supposed to work is we are supposed to work together, especially since it is a ic-controlled Senate and a in the White House, and you have a very slim margin here in the House for s. We should be working together to construct bills that can actually pass and that will actually help people. prgtoken Again, I had an amendment in the Rules Committee last night to bring two bills, the Financial Services appropriations bill and the Agriculture appropriations bill that we had testimony on, bring it to the floor. I think they are garbage bills the way they are written, but I had an amendment that made in order all of the amendments that were offered by and s. We didn't protect any amendments from any points of order, and we could have had a debate and hopefully made these bills better. prgtoken However, they were so bad that s did
Gaza (Executive Calendar)
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2024-7-23

. Thank you, Senator Ernst. I appreciate it. prgtoken , 291 days--that is how long it has been since families of those being held hostage by Hamas have not been able to hug their loved ones--291 days, 9\1/2\ months of not being able to rest, to sleep, to breathe; 9\1/2\ months of heartbreak; 9\1/2\ months of agony beyond imagination. prgtoken I have met with these families in Israel and here in the Capitol many times since October 7, and my heart is shattered with each and every single conversation. And each time I met with them, their ask is clear: that we, the United States and the international community, do everything we can to help them reunite with their loved ones. Their resilience, their strength, their perseverance--it is nothing short of extraordinary. prgtoken Hostages who survived and have been released have shared stories about their inhumane treatment--being kept in dark tunnels with little to no food to eat, some even being tortured, not knowing if they would live or die, not seeing the light of day, and, surely, not knowing if they would ever see their beloved families again. prgtoken We have also seen evidence of Hamas's use of sexual violence both on prgtoken and after October 7, including women who were raped in captivity. prgtoken While some hostages have been reunited with their loved ones in the last few months, there are still families, including those of eight Americans held hostage by Hamas--still held hostage by Hamas--who have yet to be whole again--yet to be made whole again, and we will not forget them--291 days. prgtoken And there are families whose ability to see or hug their loved ones have been taken away forever--forever--by Hamas terrorists, their loved ones having died at the hands of those terrorists, like the family of Itay Chen. prgtoken I met with Itay's father, Ruby, just days after the October 7 terrorist attack. As a mother, as a Jew, and as a human being, my heart broke when hearing about Itay's story and the unimaginable pain his parents are carrying. They are with us here in the Capitol today. prgtoken I want to apologize. I am sorry I have to give this speech. I know how much you loved your son. prgtoken Itay was multitalented, fun-loving, a Boy Scout who played basketball. He was an American who served in the Israeli Defense Forces and was only 19 years old when Hamas launched its brutal terrorist attack on October 7, when Hamas murdered him. prgtoken For months, we didn't know about Itay's condition, whether he was held hostage or even if he was alive. We held out hope. We held out hope. But the unimaginable heartbreak of going through this nightmare, it didn't stop Ruby. It never stopped Ruby. prgtoken He has come to Congress multiple times to remind us of our responsibility to his son and to all of the hostages being held by Hamas. His strength--your strength, Itay's parents--and resilience is an inspiration to us all. prgtoken Earlier this year, we learned It
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. JANE BARTKE
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-7-23

I rise today to honor the life and lasting contributions of Mrs. Jane Bartke. Mrs. Bartke, who passed away at the age of 86, leaves behind an indelible legacy of service to our country and Contra Costa County. prgtoken A longtime resident of El Cerrito, California, Mrs. Bartke's commitment to her community inspired her to serve in the California Public School System for over thirty years. Throughout her career in education, Mrs. Bartke served as a teacher, counselor, and Department Chair for West Contra Costa Unified School District. She consistently demonstrated a steadfast dedication to her students, and her wisdom and compassion undeniably changed the California education system for the better. prgtoken Mrs. Bartke's commitment to her community extended beyond her critical efforts as an educator. She also served on the El Cerrito City Council, as Mayor of El Cerrito, and as President of the Trust for the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. Mrs Bartke's public service was characterized by her selflessness, advocacy for the people of El Cerrito, and commitment to the empowerment of women. prgtoken Mrs. Bartke exemplified the spirit of altruism in all areas of her life. She will be remembered not only for her decades of service to California students and teachers, but also for her genuine spirit of kindness and compassion. She leaves behind an everlasting mark on countless students, fellow teachers, and the El Cerrito community. prgtoken Mrs. Bartke's enduring spirit will live on in her husband, two daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs. Bartke's loved ones I know that they, along with the people of Contra Costa County, join me in celebrating her life and legacy.
Trump Rally Shooting (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-7-23

I heard the remarks a few minutes ago of the leader of the Senate, and I wanted to respond because he referred to our Senate Judiciary Committee. What happened in Butler, PA, the attempted assassination of former President , was shocking and unacceptable conduct on the part of those who were authorized and responsible for his safety. prgtoken There is no question in my mind that there is a bipartisan feeling that we may have our differences on issues and other matters, but when it comes to the protection of all elected officials, particularly in this case a former President of the United States, we should all put the resources necessary and strategy necessary to keep them safe at all times. Thank God , whom I disagree with on many issues, survived that experience. It would have been horrible for this Nation and for his family if the wind had changed a little bit. He was 1 inch away from losing his life. Let's be honest about it. prgtoken How in the world did that happen? With all of the law enforcement and all of the Federal officials present, what went wrong? Well, the former Director, who resigned today, said that there was a failure, and she accepted responsibility for it. I think we have to get more information as this case develops, but we want to do it in an orderly fashion. prgtoken The House hearing yesterday was the beginning; 5 hours of testimony that revealed some things, but clearly not enough when it comes to what happened on that day. And the decision at the Senate level has been the subject of bipartisan cooperation from the start. prgtoken There is nothing partisan about this issue. There shouldn't be. And for anyone to suggest that we are not responding to the needs of the Nation to learn valuable information, Senator McConnell is just wrong. And I invite him to reach out to the leaders and the committees affected--the HSGAC committee as well as the Judiciary Committee--and he will learn that we have been working on a hearing for next week, which is the last week we are in session before the ic National Convention. And we are going to do our best to get the witnesses there who will produce the information so we learn more about it. prgtoken This has been a bipartisan effort from the start, and it should be. It should be all the way. There is no partisanship involved in the security and safety of elected officials. It is a bipartisan, nonpartisan issue, and we have to do everything in our power to keep people safe. So I am hoping that Senator McConnell will reach out to the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the HSGAC committee, to realize that we are working on that hearing next week as we should.
Israel (Executive Calendar)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-7-23

I rise today to discuss the state of the war prgtoken between Israel and Hamas. Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will speak before a joint session of Congress. I hope he will propose a significant change in his approach to the war. I hope he will offer his resounding thanks to President for his steadfast support of the defense of Israel. I hope he will thank this ically led Senate, the majority leader, and our colleagues for our early support of the supplemental appropriations bill that provided billions of dollars to strengthen Israel's defenses and provide humanitarian support to Gaza. prgtoken It has been more than 9 months since Hamas carried out its horrific attack against the Israeli people. Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,200 men, women, and children, and took 250 hostages. Unspeakable acts of terror were committed on October 7, and they will never be forgotten. prgtoken In the wake of this attack, the United States has stood resolutely by Israel's side, providing billions of dollars of aid and intervening to shield Israel from attack by Iran and its proxies. prgtoken For more than 75 years, Israel has been one of our closest allies. Since its founding, Israel has relied on America's friendship, and we have been proud to give it. It is because of this friendship, not in spite of it, that we must insist the Israeli Government change course in its war against Hamas. Israel's leaders must refocus their efforts to peace, stability, and the core tenets of Israel's democracy. prgtoken Several months ago, I came to the Senate floor as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and as a friend and longtime supporter of the Israeli people to say that the war had veered off course. I urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to learn from the United States' lessons in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I urged him to develop a realistic long- term plan for Gaza, including a framework for a two-state solution. Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu has not just ignored the guidance of Israel's friends and allies, he has doubled down on his worst instincts and the dangerous ambitions of the most extreme elements of his coalition government. prgtoken The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Gaza is a tiny enclave, but it is home to more than 2 million people who have been living in a war zone for 9 months. Tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians have been killed. Nearly half a million Gazans are facing life-threatening food insecurity. Efforts to increase humanitarian assistance have fallen far short. prgtoken Mr. Netanyahu and his government have failed to develop an exit strategy for Gaza. They have no plan for a sustainable future for the Palestinians and no plan to establish security and rebuild Gaza's destroyed cities. prgtoken Even more alarming, Israel now faces the threat of a second front on its northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah--better trained and better armed
REMEMBERING THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF JUDY SCHNEIDER
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-7-23

I rise to honor the life and service of Judy Schneider. The stories told at her retirement reception in 2019 were full of laughter and more than a few tears. Talk about a life well-lived. prgtoken Judy started her public service career working on committees in both chambers focused on congressional reform. She then became an analyst at the non-partisan Congressional Research Service. As each of us well knows, Judy then went on to befriend, mentor, and provide so much more to Members of Congress and their staff as a specialist on all things Congress over the next four decades. prgtoken Funny, foul-mouthed, and just opinionated, Judy had a deep love of both democracy and Congress. Whether a Staff Assistant or a Chief of Staff, a Member of the House or a Senator, she consistently passed along her love and knowledge for how the game is really played in Congress. prgtoken Through her work, Judy sought to develop not only an educated Member or an educated congressional staffer, but to live up to what the Founding Fathers envisioned and expected of an educated constituency. prgtoken But the gift Judy shared and taught so many through her exacting lectures and conversations was to train each Member and each staffer so Congress functions better, so that democracy functions better. prgtoken It is my true hope that wisdom is never lost by those who have the honor of working in this institution and complex. prgtoken There have been 56 s of the House of Representatives and 45 Presidents of the United States. There has only been one Judy Schneider. prgtoken To ascribe so many positive qualities to one individual might be seen as the usual gilding of the lily. In the case of Judy, it was simply the truth. My life, this institution of Congress, and our country are better off thanks to her 43 years of Congressional service and life here on Earth with us. May her memory be a blessing.