{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/10/25/budd-speaks-on-nc-hostages-in-gaza-demands-release-before-aid/", "Budd Speaks on NC Hostages in Gaza, Demands Release Before Aid", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) demanded the release of all American hostages, including North Carolinians, held by Hamas terrorists before any U.S. aid is sent to the Gaza Strip.\n\nWatch the full speech:\n\nKey excerpts:\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, the only word to describe Hamas is evil, and when they commit atrocities like those of October 7th, we must not look away.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne aspect of the October 7th attack that continues to this day is the plight of the more than 200 innocent people currently being held hostage in Gaza, including several Americans \u2013 including some from my own state of North Carolina.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast week I met with some of these families here in Washington. They told me stories about their loved ones and gave me their photos. These families, their fear and their heartache is something that no American should ever have to face.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven that Gaza is governed by Hamas, I simply do not believe it is right to give a dime of taxpayer money to the very terrorists who are holding Americans hostage. When this funding package comes to the floor, I plan to offer several amendments to hold all humanitarian aid to Gaza until each and every American hostage is home and is safe.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/10/25/budd-speaks-on-nc-hostages-in-gaza-demands-release-before-aid/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6497809663414955, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}