mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE NAPA JUNIOR GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-20

I rise today to honor the Napa Junior Girls Softball League (NJGSL) upon the 50th anniversary of its founding. The NJGSL has been a trailblazing community partner and has supported the success of generations of Napa girls. prgtoken The NJGSL is a recreational league that offers girls ages 5-12 the opportunity to learn and play softball in a supportive environment. NJGSL participants learn the importance of staying active and healthy and have fun at the same time. prgtoken NJGSL participants also learn valuable life lessons that serve them well both on and off the field. Coaches, organizers, and parents focus on building teamwork and sportsmanship skills which will help girls communicate and maintain positive self-esteem throughout their lives. Furthermore, League alumni have even gone on to excel in collegiate softball careers. prgtoken , the Napa Junior Girls Softball League has been teaching girls in our community both softball and life skills for an impressive five decades. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the NJGSL here today.
DHS MULTIYEAR ACQUISITION STRATEGY ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-20

as a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security I rise in support of H.R. 1249, the ``DHS Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Act of 2017'', which requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a multiyear acquisition strategy. prgtoken H.R. 1249 seeks to streamline the Department of Homeland Security's acquisition process to promote strategic investment as well as cost savings for taxpayers. prgtoken DHS would be required to provide Congress with the new strategy which needs to include: prgtoken 1. A prioritized list of major acquisition programs prgtoken 2. An inventory of investments and real estate assets prgtoken 3. A plan to address funding gaps, prevent wasteful purchases, achieve efficiency, align prices for similar items, and use purchase timing and economies of scale prgtoken 4. An identification of tests to support the acquisition of technology, leverage emerging trends and incorporate technology into DHS's operating doctrine prgtoken 5. An assessment of how DHS could encourage appropriate risk-taking and minimize cost overruns, including when the department identifies needs, Develops cost assessments, Secures funding, Demonstrates technology maturity, and establishes its workforce prgtoken 6. An assessment to improve collaboration with industry, small and disadvantaged businesses, intra-government offices, university centers of excellence, certification organizations, and national laboratories prgtoken Although the DHS has taken measures to improve acquisition management, DHS programs still cost taxpayers over $7 billion per year. prgtoken In its 2017 list of ``high-risk'' areas, GAO reported DHS needed to improve the affordability of its major acquisition programs and address staffing shortfalls. prgtoken DHS acquisition programs may continue to be at high risk for waste, fraud, and abuse. prgtoken This bill will assist oversight committees in better preparing men and women on the frontlines securing our borders, protecting our airports, and defending our shores by making sure we know what works and what is needed before taxpayer dollars are spent. prgtoken Efficient use of resources within the Department of Homeland Security is crucial to the safety of all Texans, and all Americans especially in regards to border security. prgtoken The Texas-Mexico border makes up 1,254 miles of the 1,900-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border. prgtoken The more money wasted on unnecessary overhead costs, the less resources the Department has to fulfill its key mission of protecting our border and our homeland. prgtoken By passing this bipartisan measure, we can ensure that the DHS operates in a more efficient manner and can better stay ahead of threats to our country. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1249.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-20

. Absolutely, Representative Plaskett. And one of our colleagues, who also happens to be my neighbor, Eddie Bernice Johnson, you can easily make the argument that she knows something about health care, considering that she worked in the healthcare arena before she came to Congress. And not only did she work in the healthcare arena, she has a lot of people that were uninsured that live in her district that are now insured because of the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken So, again, not only does she have that healthcare experience, she has been out in the community and has met with people for many years now on health care, even before she came to the Congress, when she was in the State Senate; so she has sat down and she has talked to people. She understands why it is important for people to have health care. She understands why it can be financially hard on people when they are hit by a catastrophic illness. prgtoken She gave a speech on the House floor--or she has a speech that she is going to submit--where she talks about the fact that the district that she represents, the uninsured rate dropped 27.3, all the way down to 20.8 percent; and that was a huge benefit for the constituents that she serves on a daily basis. prgtoken I mentioned Parkland Hospital a little bit earlier. Parkland Hospital is a Dallas County public hospital. Parkland Hospital provided $1 billion in uncompensated care in 2015--$1 billion. And if this RyanCare-Care bill were to become law, you can imagine what a large system like Parkland, that already provides so much in uncompensated care, what they are going to be hit with. It is going to be absolutely devastating. prgtoken I already talked about the fact also that Texas--and Representative Johnson mentions Medicaid in her letter. I have already talked about the fact that Texas made a big public policy blunder and decided not to take the money that the Federal Government was going to give them to help expand Medicaid coverage. They just prefer to just leave all those people uninsured. prgtoken So now one of the things that will happen under this GOP bill that the Congresswoman points out is that the money will be sent to people in a block grant; and you can imagine the shortfalls that that would create, particularly in a large State like Texas, because there are going to be shortcomings. So hospital systems like Parkland, like John Peter Smith, they are really going to be hit with a hammer were this ever to pass and become law just because they are already being pushed so much. prgtoken Again, what just doesn't make any sense is that the s so prided themselves for so many years about being the party that was about self-empowerment and helping people out, so prgtoken now they want to kick people off of their insurance and leave them out in the cold and have them start going back to Parkland, start going back to John Peter Smith because they are not going to be able to afford thei
QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2017
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-3-20

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 1297. prgtoken The Department of Homeland Security's mission is complex and diverse. Not only is DHS charged with preventing terrorism, but it is the lead Federal agency for immigration enforcement, emergency management, cybersecurity, and border, maritime, and transportation security. prgtoken Given the breadth of DHS' responsibilities, it is essential that its limited resources be aligned with its mission to meet the ever-changing threat landscape. As such, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, which DHS undertakes every 4 years, is a critical tool to ensure that the Department is positioned to effectively carry out its multifaceted mission. prgtoken To date, DHS has issued two such reviews and is expected to release its third such review in 2018. My legislation seeks to make refinements to the law to address weaknesses identified by the Government Accountability Office in the prior reviews. prgtoken Specifically, my bill seeks to ensure more robust consultation with Homeland Security stakeholders, including State and local governments and academic institutions. prgtoken It also seeks to ensure that DHS undertakes and documents our risk analysis to inform its policy positions. GAO emphasized that documentation of the review process, including the risk analysis, is essential to ensuring the repeatability of the review process. prgtoken Last Congress, this House unanimously approved this measure in July 2016; however, the Senate did not act on the bill. Last week the Committee on Homeland Security, on a bipartisan basis, voted to favorably report this measure to the House. prgtoken My legislation is intended to ensure that the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review is a driving vision for the Department of Homeland Security. By enacting this legislation, Congress can guard against it becoming a paperwork exercise that fails to influence the Department's policies, programs, and priorities. prgtoken Given the criticalness of the DHS mission and the increasingly scarce availability of resources, it is essential that DHS produce a risk- informed review that takes into account the diverse views of its Homeland Security partners. prgtoken , I urge the passage of H.R. 1297, and .
TESTIMONY OF SHELTA WILSON ON THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-3-20

it is with great pride that I enter the powerful words of my constituent, Shelta Wilson, who supports the Affordable Care Act and the protections it provides our most vulnerable citizens. ``Let me introduce myself. My name is Shelta Wilson. I am 37 years old, and I operate a home daycare business in New Haven, Connecticut. It would be my pleasure to tell you why affordable healthcare is important to me. A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. At that time, I have no health insurance, and my health was seriously declining. It was impossible for me to run my business with these health issues. prgtoken Through networking, I was informed on where to go for affordable healthcare. It is called Access Health Exchange, and I was approved by them immediately. I was able to get the supplies and medication I needed to run by business. As of right now, I and 100% free of diabetes and the medication that went with it. I feel good and truly know that without Access Health Exchange and the Affordable Care Act, I would not be able to stand here and talk to you guys today about how important it is to have affordable health care. Having health insurance truly saved my life.''
DEFENDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-3-20

I rise today to defend public broadcasting and honor the late Fred Rogers, whose birthday is today, March 20. Known fondly by millions simply as Mr. Rogers, his wonderful, beloved presence has reached millions of homes across our Nation captivating generations of children, and even adults. prgtoken The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a vital part of America, including cities, but small towns as well. NPR and PBS stations will be disproportionately impacted by President 's proposed budget zeroing out public broadcasting. It is not right. prgtoken President 's travel bill to Mar-a-Lago and the growing security that the American people are paying for over at his Tower in New York, which reports show to already be in the tens of millions of dollars, will soon swamp the $200 million America dedicates to public broadcasting annually. prgtoken We have been here before. In 1969, President Richard Nixon threatened to slash funding for PBS. Mr. Rogers went before the Senate to defend public broadcasting and its value to our children, especially for learning. I know I am not alone in wishing Mr. Rogers were with us once again to make the case for America's children and public broadcasting. prgtoken I hope President and my colleagues will join me in supporting programming that boosts kids' confidence and helps children enjoy learning and the wonder of math, science, and books.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Val Butler Demings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-20

I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), Mr. Richmond, and all of the distinguished members of the Congressional Black Caucus for leading this very important and critical conversation and discussion this evening. prgtoken President said it couldn't get any worse for the African- American community. He asked the question: What did we have to lose by supporting him? prgtoken Well, it is even clearer now that we have everything to lose, starting with health care. prgtoken Marian Wright Edelman said: ``The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child, but it is whether we can afford not to.'' prgtoken Health care, we all know, is one of the most important investments we prgtoken can make in our children. Nearly 12 million African Americans are insured through Medicaid. In Florida, 41 percent of children, in my home State of Florida are covered through Medicaid. prgtoken This GOP healthcare plan guts Medicaid, cutting funding by $880 billion over the next 10 years. It also eliminates Medicaid expansion, which covers 1.5 million African Americans. prgtoken So what do we have to lose? prgtoken Families, children, will lose their health care. For those who do not lose health care, they will be forced to pay higher premiums. That, for some families, could mean the difference between a doctor's visit and food on the table. prgtoken Since the ACA was signed into law 7 years ago this Thursday, our community has seen its insured rate increase to the highest number in recent history. For a community that has long faced increased barriers to healthcare access and delayed doctor visits because of the cost, the ACA has meant the difference between life and death. prgtoken There is no question, we can make the Affordable Care Act more affordable for all Americans, but this bill doesn't do that. prgtoken So what do we have to lose? prgtoken President , and to my GOP colleagues, I tell you the stakes could not be higher. Progress will be lost--progress that took many years to make, progress could be lost--by repealing the ACA. prgtoken The most vulnerable of people, the people we really should be taking care of in a country that we say is the greatest country in the world-- I do believe that to be true--people that we should be taking care of, including our children, will be hurt the hardest. prgtoken Florida has the Nation's highest enrollment number in the ACA, at 1.67 million sign-ups for 2017. But not only does repeal hurt children, but, in my home State of Florida, it also hurts millions of seniors. prgtoken A recent analysis from AARP shows that Florida will be ``Ground Zero'' for the s' health plan's effects. They found that nearly a half a million Floridians between the ages of 50 and 64 would face higher premiums under the GOP plan, more than any other State; the people affected the most, low-income seniors. prgtoken So here is what is at risk in Florida's 10th Congressiona
REDUCING DHS ACQUISITION COST GROWTH ACT
Kathleen M. Rice (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-3-20

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 1294, the Reducing DHS Acquisition Cost Growth Act. Since the Department began its operations in 2002, it has spent tens of billions of dollars to procure goods, services, and supplies in support of DHS' national security efforts. The agency's major acquisitions investments, those that cost at least $300 million, represent a significant portion of such purchasing. prgtoken The Department has worked to improve its acquisition programs in recent years, but DHS still struggles when it comes to major acquisitions. Take, for example, the SBInet--a southwest border infrastructure project--that ballooned in cost to about $1 billion before it was canceled in 2011, after GAO found that it was ineffective. prgtoken More recently, there is the case of the Electronic Immigration System, an automated immigration benefits processing system. According to the Department's inspector general, this U.S. citizenship immigration services program is now on course to be completed 4 years later than originally estimated and at a cost of $1 billion more than estimated. prgtoken The importance and complexity of DHS' mission demands effective oversight of the Department's investments, particularly its major acquisitions. H.R. 1294 seeks to ensure greater congressional oversight of such acquisition programs by requiring the Department to report to Congress when cost, schedule, and performance requirements are not met. Additionally, when such requirements are not met, this bill requires DHS to provide Congress with an analysis explaining the root cause of the failures as well as a remediation plan to mitigate the problems. prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security unanimously approved this measure earlier this month, and similar language was approved by the House in October 2015 as a part of comprehensive DHS acquisition legislation. prgtoken I commend my colleague from Florida for his work on this bill. prgtoken , effective oversight of the Department's acquisitions programs is essential to ensuring optimal program performance. Given DHS' limited budgetary resources and the gravity of its mission, it is critically important that DHS get its major acquisitions right. Enacting this legislation would require a greater level of accountability from DHS and give Congress a greater level of oversight to intercede before programs go off the rails. prgtoken , I urge support of H.R. 1294, and .
100 YEARS OF WOMEN IN CONGRESS ACT
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-3-20

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 382, the 100 Years of Women in Congress Act. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation will recognize the work that Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress in 1916, accomplished fighting for women's rights. It will rename the USDA's Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program to the Jeannette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Grant Program. In our time, it is critical that we encourage more women to enter STEM fields across this country. In receiving a bachelor's degree in biology before women even had the right to vote, she set an example for those who followed her to follow their passions for science and to achieve impactful leadership roles. prgtoken As I travel through Delaware, one of the consistent messages that I hear from businesses and universities is the need for more engineers. We have a wealth of knowledge in our young girls who are demanding rigorous programs that put them in place for rewarding careers. These types of programs match the boundless enthusiasm with concrete steps towards achieving meaningful career goals that benefit our entire country. prgtoken My sister, Thea, demonstrates the impact of successful STEM education from organizations like the Forum to Advance Minority Engineers--FAME-- for schoolchildren in Delaware, to her attending an HBCU as an engineering major, and in her career spent serving our country as an engineer with the Army. prgtoken My late husband Charles received undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Those degrees gave him the opportunity to travel the world as an engineer and give back to the energy sector. prgtoken However, my family and I know that the answer doesn't simply end with STEM. It is also about incorporating the arts into one's education in the form of STEAM, where we can see the balance that a quality education provides. prgtoken In my experiences, as the first woman elected to Congress from Delaware, I understand the challenges that come with trying to break through barriers. That is why this legislation and the impact of getting more young women to pursue STEM and STEAM careers is so deeply personal to me. prgtoken As Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin said before taking her oath of office in 1917--nearly 4 years before women had even gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment--as you heard before, she said: ``I may be the first woman to be a Member of Congress, but I won't be the last.'' prgtoken I am honored to serve as one of the more than 300 women to follow her lead. When we look to history to guide us in challenging moments, we will look to people like Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, and I am confident she would be honored to have her name associated with this legislation and its aims. prgtoken I thank the sponsors, and s on the other side of the aisle for this bipartisan work. <|p
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Dwight Evans (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-3-20

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands, my good colleague and good friend. I thank her sincerely. prgtoken Last summer when speaking to the African-American community at a rally in Philadelphia, President asked the question: What do you have to lose? Yes, he asked that question: What do you have to lose? prgtoken President , what don't we have to lose? The programs the President wants to cut is the Community Development Block Grant, Meals on Wheels, and funding for Medicaid. There are programs that help combat poverty by providing the resources for better schools and food nutritional programs. These are the programs that help provide for the most vulnerable Americans who are fighting every day to try to get ahead. prgtoken What do we have to lose? Look at what the s are trying to do with the Affordable Care Act. They say they want to cut costs and cover more Americans, but their plan doesn't do that. It does the opposite. prgtoken Take, for example, how they want to change the core structure of Medicare. They want to shift the Medicare from an open-ended entitlement program to one with a limited lens that does not take into account individual needs on a case-by-case basis. prgtoken What do we have to lose? All of the investments we have made to try to stabilize our cities, the budget cuts will have a direct impact. Take, for example, Temple University Hospital in the heart of the Second Congressional District. Temple University Hospital stands to lose $45 million in funding. This translates into less jobs for our city and reduces the capacity of quality patient care. The President's proposal takes our city backwards. It unravels all of our hard work to make our communities more stable. prgtoken What do we have to lose? Everything that builds a brighter future for our neighborhoods, block by block. It is time step up, speak up, and speak out to hold our President accountable. prgtoken President , we have a lot to lose. We are going to make sure you hear our message and our voice.