mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Robert Garcia (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-6-26

I rise today to defund 's ineffective and harmful border wall and to restore the critical funding, which actually helps immigrants in our country. prgtoken This is also very personal to me. I immigrated to this country as a small child, and I love our country for all it has provided me and my family. The prgtoken day I raised my right hand and swore an oath to become a citizen was the proudest day of my life. prgtoken We know that immigrants love this country. In fact, some of the most patriotic people in this country are immigrants. We know that immigrants make our communities stronger and safer. prgtoken We should all be able to agree that we need an orderly process at the border. and s can agree. We need a process where people with real asylum needs are protected and funded. prgtoken We also need legal pathways to provide an orderly system for people who want to come here and build better lives. prgtoken I thank President on his recent executive order to keep 500,000 families together by allowing members that are undocumented to marry their American citizen husbands and wives. That is real leadership and real progress on this issue. prgtoken can agree that we need border security, but that actually comes from technology, smart strategies, and giving Border Patrol agents what they need, not from a pointless wall that we know does not work. prgtoken Here are some facts: If you come here to the U.S. and make a legitimate asylum claim, you have a right to stay here while your claim is being heard. My colleagues in the majority may not like this, but it is actually the law of the United States. prgtoken While you wait for your claim to be heard, you may also need some help, and we know people that come here are oftentimes vulnerable. They are sick. They are hungry. They are fleeing persecution. What happened to being a good human being and helping people and doing the most that we can? prgtoken Communities and nonprofits that provide shelter and aid are key partners to border security, and they let our border agencies focus on actually keeping us safe. s want to defund local governments and nonprofits. prgtoken This bill ignores even what the Gospel teaches us. It ignores that our brothers and sisters who are tired, poor, hungry, and sick should not be left behind but helped and given some type of love and support. prgtoken If this bill were to become law, it would cause chaos and suffering in border communities and interior cities across our Nation. prgtoken Before coming to Congress, I was the mayor of Long Beach for 8 years. We actually sheltered over 1,500 migrant children in our convention center, and I know firsthand how important it is for local organizations and local cities to get support. prgtoken I am offering this amendment to restore $700 million in funding to local governments and nonprofit organizations by eliminating the unnec
CELEBRATING ORLANDO ELKS LODGE 1079'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Maxwell Frost (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2024-6-26

today, I celebrate the significant contributions of Orlando Elks Lodge to the Central Florida region. Starting in New York City, The Elks organization has grown to over 1,900 lodges throughout the United States and Canada. The Orlando Elks Lodge was established in 1907 and is now celebrating over 100 years of service. prgtoken Every year, the Orlando Elks Lodge spends over $50,000 on programs that benefit special needs children, nourish our marginalized communities, and support our veterans. They also contribute significantly to the Edgewater Children's Ranch to help children from the Central Florida community who come from vulnerable homes. prgtoken The Elks remain steadfast in their founding principle of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. I thank Orlando Elks Lodge for their century-long dedication and service. Their contributions make a profound difference in our community, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to make Central Florida a better place for all.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Delia C. Ramirez (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-6-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 8771. prgtoken The fact that we are even debating this ridiculous bill makes it clear that some of my colleagues still remain, I will say, uninformed, which will be the kind word, of the ways in which the world is interconnected. prgtoken They deny the devastating consequences when our Nation neglects our role, defunds diplomacy, and erodes our commitments to the international community. The multifront global crises facing this Nation calls for leadership and for our Nation's leaders to step up in partnership and cooperation. prgtoken Instead, s are doubling down on poison pills that roll back our commitments around reproductive healthcare, LGBTQI+ rights, and climate change; cut over $1 billion to the United Nations and international bodies that hold war criminals accountable; decimate lifesaving humanitarian aid and gut migration and refugee assistance; and undermine Presidential authority and also international laws. prgtoken That is what this bill is about. This bill, in my opinion, is deeply unserious and dangerous, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''
HONORING POLICE CHIEF ROBERT LUCCHESI ON HIS RETIREMENT
Patrick Ryan (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-6-26

I rise to honor a pillar of our New Paltz community, Police Chief Robert Lucchesi, as he retires after over three decades serving our community on the force. prgtoken Chief Lucchesi is everything a community could want in a leader: He brought a zeal for service to every moment spent in uniform, a devotion to neighbors and strangers alike, and the profound ability to constantly reflect on how his team could better protect, serve, uplift, and empower our community. prgtoken He set the standard and built a culture based on trust not only in his department, but throughout our entire region by serving on the Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County and Mid-Hudson Chiefs of Police Association. prgtoken Chief Lucchesi has more than earned a relaxing retirement, but that is not who he is. Fully grounded in a life of service, he is already back in public service sitting on the New Paltz Zoning Board of Appeals, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and in his spare time, somehow, coaching youth sports in New Paltz and our community. prgtoken , it has been an honor to serve and work with Chief Lucchesi. On behalf of our entire community, I thank him for his decades of service past, present, and future.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8774, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8771, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS...
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-6-26

today's rule, as you have heard, provides for the consideration of three partisan appropriations bills. While I certainly agree with my colleague from Georgia regarding the myriad of threats posed to our country, these bills fall far short of addressing those threats. prgtoken House s have, regrettably, kicked off the appropriations season by doubling down on failed legislation that would, in effect, harm our servicemembers, abandon our allies, cede the U.N. to our adversaries, and withhold critical resources needed to secure our southern border. prgtoken When it comes to global leadership and national security, House and House s have a very different approach. House s' Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, H.R. 8771, ultimately revives the doomed isolationism of the early 20th century. prgtoken Across the globe, America's adversaries threaten the peace and prosperity of the free world. With wars in the Middle East and Europe and humanitarian crises on nearly every continent, the world needs American leadership. prgtoken How do House s respond? They respond by introducing a bill that cuts international disaster assistance prgtoken programs by $1.3 billion, cuts international financial institutions by $583 million, and cuts $362 million from programs to improve maternal and child health and fight infectious diseases. By cutting funding, ultimately, for the United Nations and other multilateral investments, this bill is a reversal of our country's historic position among the nations where we stand as a beacon for democracy and liberty. prgtoken Then we have H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025. Now, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that this bill will secure our border. It will not. The bill falls short of our responsibility to provide for the safety and security of Americans. Ultimately, it disinvests, decreases funding, for a variety of critical programs designed to prevent threats from terrorists, transnational criminals, foreign adversaries, and violent extremists. prgtoken My colleagues, , do not want to secure the border. How do we know that? Because they had a chance to do precisely that just a few short months ago. They had a chance to do that with the Senate's bipartisan border plan. What did House s do instead? They ensured that that bipartisan deal never even received a vote at the behest of their leader, former President . prgtoken The proposal under consideration this week that s have put on the floor cuts the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office by $48 million. It cuts the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center by $10.4 million. prgtoken Ask yourself, , why would House s put a bill on the floor that cuts Federal law enforcement training programs? It is a fair question. prgtoken The bill includes no funds for
PRIORITIZING BORDER SECURITY
Donald G. Davis (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-6-26

we must prioritize border security. prgtoken After visiting the border three times since taking office, it was indeed an eye-opening experience. Border Patrol agents face severe staff shortages, often working long hours, pulled from their families, and need better infrastructure. prgtoken Border communities need more resources, and the increasing influx of fentanyl across the country poses a significant threat to public health. We must stop drug cartels. prgtoken Our southern border is critical to our national security. I remain dedicated to taking a collaborative approach to address comprehensive immigration reform and securing the southern border. I am willing to work closely with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to bring about positive change for the people of eastern North Carolina and the entire Nation.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REP. GEORGE NETHERCUTT, FORMER CONGRESSMAN FOR WASHINGTON'S FIFTH DISTRICT
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2024-6-26

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of former Congressman George Nethercutt, who passed away recently. prgtoken Former Congressman George Nethercutt served in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2005, representing Washington's Fifth Congressional District. prgtoken Congressman Nethercutt was an influential force who led with character and conviction and embodied what it truly means to be a member of Congress. He proudly served the Fifth District for a decade, traveling around the state and back and forth to D.C. to serve his constituents and deliver on issues important to our state. During his time in Congress, he sat on the House Appropriations Committee and co- founded the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. prgtoken After serving in Congress, Congressman Nethercutt spent much of his time working to promote civic education and government service among our younger generations, an effort that demonstrated his commitment to public service. prgtoken Congressman Nethercutt is a shining example of leadership for elected officials in Washington State and across the country. My thoughts are with his loved ones and our entire state as we mourn this incredible loss.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Cori Bush (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2024-6-26

. Madam Chair, I was not present during today's first or second vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 283, NAY on Roll Call No. 284, NAY on Roll Call No. 285, NAY on Roll Call No. 286, NAY on Roll Call No. 287, NAY on Roll Call No. 288, NAY on Roll Call No. 289, NAY on Roll Call No. 290, NAY on Roll Call No. 291, NAY on Roll Call No. 292, NAY on Roll Call No. 293, NAY on Roll Call No. 294, NAY on Roll Call No. 295, and NAY on Roll Call No. 296.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8774, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8771, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS...
Gabe Amo (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-6-26

I thank Mr. Neguse for yielding. prgtoken , to my colleagues, I ask the question: Why choose hate? prgtoken Why use our budget to attack the LGBTQ community? prgtoken We should be coming together to support America's commitment abroad. Instead, s are pushing horrific bills that treat LGBTQ people as less than their fellow Americans. prgtoken , we know that the GOP majority is bent on restricting the fundamental freedoms of the LGBTQ community, but they refuse to even debate my amendment on the House floor. prgtoken Again, why are you choosing hate? prgtoken , my amendment is simple. It would remove bigoted, homophobic, and partisan riders from the State and Foreign Operations bill. It would strip out provisions that are cruel and callous on our neighbors at home and to those in the LGBTQ community abroad. prgtoken My amendment advances the work of the Equality Caucus and the legacy of my predecessor, Congressman David Cicilline. prgtoken Our budget is a statement of values. Our budget is a statement of values, and s are, once again, showing us that they value a hate-filled agenda. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2024-6-26

. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this measure as it is presented to us. I truly regret that as a member of the subcommittee, I cannot support this bill today, as it does include several bipartisan measures that do deserve our support. prgtoken Perhaps the best example of this is the $14.2 billion provided to the Coast Guard, an increase of $1.3 billion over the last fiscal year. This funding does reflect the hard-earned recognition of the Coast Guard's unique role and capability in defending American priorities and advancing our engagement in the face of geopolitical competition, especially in the Indo-Pacific. prgtoken The $60 million proposed by the bill will allow the Coast Guard to base another medium endurance cutter in the Pacific. The $1.2 million provided for the Coast Guard's Indo-Pacific workforce project, and other report language and funding provisions for their expanded presence in the Pacific Islands region, are encouraging to see, and they do demonstrate that we can work in a bipartisan manner to get things done. prgtoken Despite some sound decisions here and there in other parts of the bill, it remains riddled with misguided avoidance and other priorities that I cannot support. Nowhere is this more evident than in its treatment of the overall subject of immigration in general and securing our border in particular. prgtoken The Department of Homeland Security, which has been so vilified by many of my colleagues over the last months and years, needs and is entitled to our support to administer existing laws. Yet, this bill fails to address the wide range of needs that it is mandated to discharge, and to anticipate and set up and advance a realistic discussion of our immigration policy in general and border security in particular. prgtoken Here are three examples. First of all, the bill strips $300 million from the asylum program, gutting the Department's ability to address acknowledged and real case backlog and keep pace with new arrivals at the border. We all know that the reality of the border today is largely related to, I believe, required changes in our immigration prgtoken and asylum policy. This bill does not allow the Department of Homeland Security to do its job under current law. prgtoken It also threatens to severely underfund the Operations and Support account of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and eliminates funding for the Citizenship and Immigration grant program that prepares legal immigrants for civic integration. I am not sure what we are supposed to take from that deletion. Are we supposed to take that we don't support legal immigration and that we don't support civic integration? prgtoken It also eliminates the Shelter and Services program, which will withhold the resources needed for American communities around the country working to humanely and safely deal with the challenges of our broken immigration system, the realities of our broken immigration system. <
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2024-6-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of my bipartisan Amendment No. 11 to support the Georgian people in their Euro-Atlantic aspirations. prgtoken My amendment will increase and decrease funding of this bill by $10 million to emphasize our commitment to a future for Georgia that follows a Euro-Atlantic trajectory, one where democratic institutions are upheld, not denigrated. prgtoken Mr. Chair for the past decade, I have served as co-chair of the Georgia Caucus here in the House of Representatives. prgtoken It has been from that position that I have advocated for Georgia's territorial integrity and their turn away from Russia and towards the West. prgtoken As we meet here today, Russia still illegally occupies and controls 20 percent of sovereign Georgian territory. prgtoken Russian officials continue to commit human rights violations and brutally repress Georgians living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. prgtoken Let us make clear that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Georgian, just as Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhizhia, and Crimea are Ukrainian. prgtoken And it is equally important for us to support the Georgian people in their wishes to join the European community, which received a boost with Georgia being granted EU candidate status on June 23, 2022. prgtoken But we must speak out about Georgia's current trajectory and make clear that the democratic backsliding in Georgia, which has culminated in the passage of a Foreign Agents Law that mimics what Putin used to eviscerate civil society in Russia, is unsustainable. prgtoken As we speak, Georgia's democracy is in danger. Boundless investigations of political parties, changes in election systems that violate the Venice Commission and OSCE, and now the Foreign Agents Law, bring Georgia further away from EU membership, not closer. prgtoken Attacks on the United States Ambassador, against independent judges, civil society members, the political opposition, and the rights of prgtoken LGTBQ+ individuals only push Georgia closer to the Russian model, and away from the liberal democratic model of the West. prgtoken Our amendment makes clear that the United States will continue to stand with the Georgian people, in support of its democratic institutions, in support of the rule of law, in support of accountability for those that engage in corruption, in support of an independent judiciary, and in support of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANN ARBOR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-6-26

I rise today to recognize the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels on the occasion of 50 years of service to the prgtoken community. The care and service that they provide to homebound members of the greater Ann Arbor community is worthy of commendation. prgtoken Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels began in 1974 as a program to provide homebound neighbors with fresh, nutritious meals. Since then, the program has expanded its services to include pet food delivery, home energy efficiency kits, personal care items, and wellness checks during drop-offs. Additionally, the program offers recipients a variety of meals that are inclusive of dietary restrictions, nutritional risks, and cultural traditions. Their delivery of over 120,000 of these meals to over 430 clients every year shows a distinct level of dedication and commitment to the community. prgtoken Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels is a community effort. It is led by the University of Michigan Health Department of Community Health Services and is made possible by the additional support of more than 250 volunteers. Staff at the Patient Food and Nutrition Services at Michigan Medicine work six days a week to prepare meals while volunteers assist in delivering meals, completing wellness checks, and providing community members with compassion and support. Many times, they are the difference in isolation as they build connections and care for those they serve. Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels also works with Lucky Kitchen, Washtenaw County, the Huron Valley Humane Society, DTE Energy, and other local institutions. This network of partnerships and dedicated volunteers demonstrates the integration of the program in the community, as well as the extent of the impact of the program. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels. For the last half- century, the program has been diligently serving homebound members of the community when they need it most. We thank Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels and its team members for their service, and we are excited to see how the program will continue to serve the community.