{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/12/13/budd-sends-holiday-message-of-support-to-gaza-hostage-families-in-floor-speech/", "Budd Sends Holiday Message of Support to Gaza Hostage Families in Floor Speech", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "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 today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) delivered a holiday message of support for the families of the hostages still being held in Gaza.\n\nSenator Budd also encouraged all Americans to send prayers of comfort and speak out in support of the hostages and their families during the holiday season.\n\nHe concluded his speech by saying, \u201cI want every one of these family members to know that our country is behind them, we support them, and we are praying for them.\u201d\n\nWatch the full speech:\n\nRead the full speech below:\n\nAs we enter the holidays this year, we experience the typical sights and sounds of the season.\n\nPerhaps it\u2019s the annual trip to buy a family Christmas tree, perhaps in Western North Carolina, if you\u2019re from the region.\n\nFor some, it\u2019s the solemn lighting of each candle on the menorah.\n\nOften, it\u2019s the joyous family gatherings, the giving of gifts, and the making of lifelong memories.\n\nBut for the 130 hostages still being held by terrorists in Gaza, this holiday season is one of pain and isolation.\n\nFor their families, this holiday season is filled with pain and uncertainty.\n\nMr. President, this week I met again with some of the families of both recently released hostages and the families of those still being held.\n\nTheir heartache is something that no person should ever have to face.\n\nWhen you compare the joy of the holidays with the pain of their situation, you can\u2019t help but feel an overwhelming sense of both anger and sadness \u2013 but also a sense of resolve.\n\nWhat if this was my loved ones? What if this was yours?\n\nEach and every one of these families deserves for their loved ones to be released immediately and unconditionally.\n\nRest assured, all levels of the United States government are working with our allies and partners to get these hostages home and to get them home safely.\n\nBut until that happens, there is still something that all of us can do.\n\nYou don\u2019t have to be an elected official to send prayers of comfort to these families.\n\nYou don\u2019t have to be here on the Senate floor to speak out on their behalf and call for their release.\n\nAnd you don\u2019t have to be politically active to commit yourself to not forget these men and women, especially during this season.\n\nDeuteronomy 31:6 tells us, \u201cBe strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.\u201d\n\nMr. President, I want every one of these family members to know that our country is behind them, we support them, and we are praying for them.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "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/2023/12/13/budd-sends-holiday-message-of-support-to-gaza-hostage-families-in-floor-speech/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6593090258538723, "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"}