mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ENHANCEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY ACT
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-7-23

I thank Chairman Engel for yielding the time. prgtoken I rise today in support of H.R. 1837, the U.S.-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. prgtoken I thank Chairman Engel for his support of this legislation, as well as Ranking Member McCaul, and I am especially grateful to my friend, Congressman Joe Wilson, for introducing this bill with me. I also thank the 289 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill. prgtoken Today, we send a clear message that bipartisan support for the U.S.- Israel relationship, for the security and civilian cooperation between our countries, and for the ties between the American and Israeli people, remains strong and unwavering. prgtoken Today, we vote to strengthen and enhance this relationship, while also providing victims of terrorism a rightful path to justice and restoring much-needed assistance which contributes to security and saves the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. prgtoken The security provisions in this bill reinforces the ways in which the U.S. guarantees Israel's right and ability to defend herself against any and all threats, in turn, contributing to our own national security interests in the region. prgtoken By codifying the 2016 10-year memorandum of understanding, we advance security and stability in a volatile region. But just as our alliance with Israel is about more than just security, this bill is about more than just security as well. prgtoken Our bond with Israel is rooted in our shared values. Just like this country, Israel is a vibrant democracy where political parties from right to left vigorously debate and disagree on politics and policy. prgtoken This bill enhances nonsecurity cooperation between our two nations; cooperation that has yielded impactful and tangible results around the globe in areas like energy, and water, cybersecurity, health, and agriculture. prgtoken It authorizes the United States and Israel to work together on humanitarian and development programs in developing countries; and it expands the work that Israel, the Palestinians, and other Arab states can do together to promote scientific and technological advancement and contribute to lasting regional stability. prgtoken And finally, this legislation provides a long-awaited path to justice for victims of Palestinian terrorism. prgtoken Last year, Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which was meant to do just that. Unfortunately, that legislation has not yielded the intended results and, instead, created unintended foreign policy consequences. prgtoken As a result, the Palestinian Authority refused to accept any U.S. assistance to the West Bank in Gaza, halting humanitarian programs run by international NGOs, and even our own USAID programming could not continue. The very real impact of these cuts has been felt on the ground. prgtoken I recently led a bipartisan group of Members to visit a hospital in East Jerusalem that provides some of the only cancer treatme
OPPOSING GLOBAL BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, AND SANCTIONS MOVEMENT TARGETING ISRAEL
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-23

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for yielding. prgtoken , the BDS campaign has been heralded by critics and enemies of prgtoken Israel as a penalty for what they claim is Israel's oppression of the Palestine people. Nothing could be further from the truth. prgtoken These critics and enemies of Israel are, in reality, simply adding the BDS campaign to their arsenal of weapons to try and isolate, weaken, delegitimize, and, ultimately, destroy the State of Israel, as they have for decades. prgtoken For over 70 years, Israelis have faced repeated terrorism, bombs detonated on public buses, in cafes, and at religious observances. This terrorism has been beaten back by a nation simply trying to defend itself and persevere under withering attacks. prgtoken So now Israel's enemies have adopted a new strategy. BDS is an anti- Semitic movement, plain and simple. prgtoken The founder of BDS, Omar Barghouti, said it very clearly: `` . . . we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian . . . will ever accept a Jewish state.'' prgtoken The goals of BDS are clear. Just read their words. prgtoken Israel shall not and cannot yield. And we in the United States must stand with our ally that shares our values and has also worked with us. prgtoken , I urge strong bipartisan support of this bill.
PALESTINIAN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM SUPPORT PREVENTION ACT OF 2019
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-23

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , let me start by thanking Mr. Mast of Florida and Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey for their hard work on this legislation. prgtoken The United States designated both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as foreign terrorist organizations more than 20 years ago. It is easy to see why: Hamas is responsible for the deaths of more than 400 Israelis and at least 25 American citizens. As recently as May of this year, the group fired hundreds of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, including at Israeli civilian areas in Tel Aviv. And Palestinian Islamic Jihad is taking credit for a number of terrorist attacks in Israel, including an attack that killed a New Jersey American student in 1995. prgtoken Yet both groups, and particularly Hamas, still get cash from abroad. These funds are used to build tunnels into Israel and launch rockets at civilian populations. It is simply disgusting. prgtoken No one benefits from terrorism, : not Israelis, who just want to live in peace and security; not Palestinians, who want a state of their own but are exploited by these terrorists. A Palestinian state will never be built on the backs of terrorism. prgtoken Israel has the right to defend itself. The United States will continue to support that. In the meantime, we must do everything we can to prevent the loss of civilian life. That starts with cutting off the money to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. prgtoken This bill would help do just that. It would impose new sanctions on those who support Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the deep pockets that are enabling these groups to wage their campaigns of violence. prgtoken Of course, we don't want to punish innocent civilians, so this measure includes an important exception for humanitarian and medical assistance. This bill is designed to ensure that people in Gaza get what they need and that Hamas does not. prgtoken It is a good, straightforward piece of legislation. I am glad the House is considering it today, and . House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, July 22, 2019. Hon. Eliot Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear : I am writing concerning H.R. 1850, the ``Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2019.'' In order to permit the H.R. 1850 to proceed expeditiously to the House Floor, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to forego formal consideration of H.R. 1850 with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration of H.R. 1850 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this o
PRESERVE FREE SPEECH
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-7-23

. Madam , I stand before you as the granddaughter of a Palestinian grandmother, my sity, who yearns to experience equality, human dignity, and freedom. I stand before you, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, parents who experienced being stripped of their human rights, the right to freedom of travel and equal treatment. So I can't stand by and watch this attack on our freedom of speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the Government and the State of Israel. prgtoken I love our country's freedom of speech, Madam . Dissent is how we nurture democracy and grow to be better, more humane, and just. This is why I oppose H. Res. 246. prgtoken All Americans have a constitutional right, guaranteed by the First Amendment, to freedom of speech, to petition their government, and to participate in boycotts. prgtoken Speech in pursuit of civil and human rights at home and abroad is protected by our First Amendment. That is one reason why our First Amendment is so powerful. With a few exceptions, the government is simply not allowed to discriminate against speech based on its viewpoint or its speaker. prgtoken The right to boycott is deeply rooted in the fabric of our country. What was the Boston Tea Party but a boycott? Where would we be now without the boycott led by civil rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s, like the Montgomery bus boycott and United Farm Workers grape boycott. prgtoken Some of this country's most important advances in racial equality and equity and workers' rights have been achieved through collective action protected by our Constitution. prgtoken Americans of conscience have a long and proud history of participating in boycotts specifically to advocate for human rights abroad. Americans boycotted Nazi Germany in response to dehumanization, imprisonment, and genocide of Jewish people. In the 1980s, many of us in this very body boycotted South African goods in the fight against apartheid. prgtoken Our right to free speech is being threatened with this resolution. It sets a dangerous precedent because it attempts to delegitimize certain people's political speech and to send a message that our government can and will take action against speech it doesn't like. prgtoken Madam , the Supreme Court has, time and time again, recognized that expressive conduct is protected by the Constitution, from burning a flag to baking a cake. Efforts to restrict and target that protected speech run the risk of eroding the civil rights that form the foundation of our democracy. prgtoken All Americans have the right to participate in boycotts, and I oppose all legislative efforts that target speech. prgtoken Madam , I urge Congress, State governments, and civil rights leaders from all communities to preserve our Constitution, preserve our Bill of Rights, and preserve the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech by opposing H. Res. 246 and antiboycott efforts wherever they arise.
HONORING HENRY LOZANO
Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-23

. Madam , on July 19, surrounded by loved ones, the city of Los Angeles lost a giant. His name was Henry Lozano. prgtoken Madam , I simply don't have enough time to recount all of Henry's achievements or the profound impact he had on our district and on the Golden State. His list of accomplishments is pretty impressive. prgtoken He was a Korean war veteran, serving as a Marine corporal in the 1950s; a fierce workers' advocate as a labor leader for UAW Local 509; chief of staff to Congressman Ed Roybal; an adviser to Xavier Becerra, the current attorney general of California and the former Congressman for the district I now represent. prgtoken Congressman Ed Roybal was the first Latino elected to Congress from California since the 1800s, a founder of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Oftentimes, I say I stand on the shoulders of giants, and people think I am referring just to the elected officials who came before me; but, more often than not, it is the people who surround those elected leaders, like Henry Lozano, the ones who are their advisers, their confidantes, the people who try to keep them true to their word and to their core and to their principles. prgtoken Henry was that type of individual. He cared deeply about the Latino community and empowering them in a time where we oftentimes felt marginalized. He came up during the seventies and the eighties and the nineties. prgtoken I did not work with Henry directly, but I got to know him. Back in 2004, at the ic National Convention, I was introduced to Henry by a mutual friend, and he said that Henry was a legend within the Latino community on the east side of Los Angeles. He said he was the one who helped, really, mentor countless elected officials and wannabe elected officials like myself. prgtoken I befriended Henry, and Henry gave me quite a bit of advice. Most importantly, he wanted to make sure that I would remain truthful and remain committed to the community that I would one day represent. prgtoken I got to visit him just before he passed in the hospital. He looked pretty good to me. We talked, and the first thing he asked me about is what did I think. I thought he was referring to the Presidential election, but, in the end, it was really about a local city council race. prgtoken He said that politics is always local, and you should always think about the people first. prgtoken Henry will be missed. He had a profound impact on a lot of folks, and I am one of them. So I hope that we will keep his memory alive. Honoring Barbara Torres
HONORING FORMER ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-7-23

when it comes to air safety, the United States of America should be the gold standard for the world. In fact, better than the gold standard, it ought to be the Sullenberger standard. prgtoken We remember Sully Sullenberger, who was the pilot at the controls when the ``Miracle on the Hudson'' flight in 2009 landed safely. He prescribed the qualities that we should regard most highly as we choose a new Administrator of the FAA. He also gave us the leadership we need and should respect when considering the nomination of Stephen Dickson. We should reject it, and he articulated exactly why. prgtoken Chesley ``Sully'' Sullenberger said about Stephen Dickson that ``his actions and words raise grave concerns about his ability to act with the integrity and the independence the next FAA Administrator must have to navigate the challenges of the ungrounding of the 737 MAX and to rebuild the global trust in the FAA's confidence and ability to appropriately certify new aircraft design.'' That is what he said in an interview with POLITICO, but he said it publicly on a number of other occasions. Those two qualities that he mandated in the next FAA Administrator as more important than any other--independence and integrity--are precisely the qualities that Stephen Dickson lacks. It is that failing which brings me to the floor now to oppose his nomination. prgtoken Sully Sullenberger highlighted the particular experience that exemplified that failing, which is Stephen Dickson's involvement in a whistleblower case. prgtoken As I know from my experience as the U.S. attorney and attorney general, whistleblowers are the ones who bring information to light that can help save lives. Whether it is in the criminal area or air safety or drug effectiveness or many other areas, including other areas of transportation safety, whistleblowers play a vital role, so they need protection. They should never be retaliated against. They should never be objects of retribution. They should be protected and encouraged. That is what an air safety expert who really cares about safety--someone who respects independence and integrity--would do. That is exactly the opposite of what Stephen Dickson is alleged to have done in the case of Karlene Petitt. prgtoken Ms. Petitt's case was brought to our attention after Stephen Dickson's testimony to the Commerce Committee, so we had no real opportunity to ask him about it in his confirmation hearing. In fact, we never learned about Ms. Petitt's case or a deposition that Dickson gave for it until after that hearing. He didn't disclose it because he purportedly interpreted a Senate Commerce Committee questionnaire as asking about ``my personal conduct and my behavior both in general and as an officer of a large public company or any instance in which I was named as a party to a proceeding.'' He didn't think that a court case or a deposition fit that definition. prgtoken The simple fact is that Ms.
VENEZUELA TPS ACT OF 2019
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-7-23

. Madam , I appreciate the concerns Mr. prgtoken Cline has brought up, but I would like to remind him that the Immigration and Nationality Act and this bill provide the authority to terminate TPS for Venezuelans, and Venezuelans, right now, are clearly eligible. prgtoken TPS was created specifically for the situations that we are seeing. TPS was created to address situations where extraordinary and temporary conditions in a country prevent its nationals from returning safely. prgtoken Madam , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), my colleague.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-7-23

I am honored to rise to deliver my maiden speech as the senior U.S. Senator from the great State of Arizona. I was sworn in to this distinguished body just over 6 months ago. I am incredibly honored and humbled to join only a dozen others who have had the honor of representing the great State 48 in the U.S. Senate, and I am filled with gratitude to the people of the State who have entrusted me with this duty. In continuing the work of leaders who have held the Senate seat, from Senators Barry Goldwater and Dennis DeConcini to, most recently, Senators Jon Kyl and Jeff Flake, I have pledged to uphold Arizona's proud tradition of putting country above party. prgtoken Most new Senators deliver their maiden speeches soon after being sworn in. I have waited so I could use these 6 months to demonstrate to Arizonans, in actions more than words, exactly how I intend to serve our State in the Senate. I promised Arizona that I would do things differently than have others in Washington. prgtoken Americans see a lot of chaos in this city. There is intense pressure from all sides to spend time and energy on every scandal, every insult, every tweet, and every partisan fight, and it is very easy to get distracted. It is the simplest thing in the world to line up on either side of a partisan battle. What is harder, though, is to ignore the chaos and get out of our comfort zones to build coalitions and get things done. I promised Arizona I would do the hard work, and that approach has produced results. prgtoken In these first 6 months, two bills I have sponsored to improve protections and services for veterans have passed the Senate and the House, and they now await the President's signature to put them into law. These new measures expand American Legion membership to veterans across the country, protect veterans from scam artists, and help veterans achieve the dream of home ownership. Few efforts better illustrate my approach to service or are more worthy of our attention than that of the Somers family. prgtoken As a Congresswoman, I shared the story of SGT Daniel Somers on the floor of the U.S. House, and I will now share that story for the first time on the floor of the Senate. prgtoken Sergeant Somers was an Arizona Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq. He served on Task Force Lightning, an intelligence unit, and ran more than 400 combat missions as a machine gunner in the turret of a humvee. Part of his role required him to interrogate dozens of terror suspects. His work was deemed classified. prgtoken Like many veterans, Sergeant Somers was haunted by the war when he returned home. He suffered from flashbacks, nightmares, depression, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder--all made worse by a traumatic brain injury. Sergeant Somers needed help. prgtoken He and his family did what all families who face similar challenges are urged to do--they asked for help. Yet, when the VA's answer came,
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-7-23

I rise today to speak in opposition to the nomination of Stephen Dickson to be the next Administrator of the FAA. prgtoken I have said that it is very important that in this day and age, when it comes to aviation, safety must always be our top priority. We considered Mr. Dickson's nomination, his record, and the ongoing case of a whistleblower retaliation, and given all of that, it is clear to me that he is not the right person for the safety culture we need today at the FAA. prgtoken It is distressing to me that Mr. Dickson advanced out of committee on just a party-line vote. We have never had a partisan vote on an FAA nominee in the past, and I believe we should have found consensus on the nominee for the FAA given all the concerns the public has about flying safety. prgtoken The reason why I oppose Mr. Dickson is from what I understood, after the hearing, from First Officer Karlene Petitt, who has a Ph.D. in aviation safety and is an experienced pilot over 40 years and happens to be one of my constituents. At a hearing, we basically understood that no one was holding Mr. Dickson accountable for actions that he took against her at Delta Airlines. prgtoken Back in 2010, she was a pilot on an A330 flight. She had seen a crash of an A330 plane--tragically, an Air France plane in the Atlantic Ocean. She had also heard comments from those in the Delta executive team that if you have a concern about safety, say something. So she thought she was doing just that. prgtoken As part of what she thought was important information following these A330 incidents, she said she had concern about pilot training when it came to potential automation and failures of making sure that they were giving enough rest time to pilots. She observed that there were issues she thought were putting both her and passengers at risk. prgtoken So what did she do? She did what all employees, we hope, would do. She informed her superiors and suggested possible solutions. She was persistent and wanted to make sure that these recommendations were met with by the leadership of the organization--Mr. Dickson and his second- in-command, Jim Graham. Some of the concerns she raised about inadequate pilot training and not enough pilot rest were things that you thought would have maybe gotten her recognized for the great contribution to a safety culture that is so necessary today in an age of more and more automation. Whether you are talking about an automobile or an airplane, it is essential that automation and training go hand in hand. prgtoken Instead of Officer Petitt getting the attention she deserved, the company sent her for a mandatory psychiatric evaluation. Can you imagine a whistleblower bringing up concerns as a pilot flying for many years and instead of being paid attention to, being sent for a psychiatric evaluation? prgtoken Just a few months after Officer Petitt raised her concerns, that is exactly what happened. Delta and Mr