mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-6-28

all of the Florida people walk up to me and say: Bill, what is going on? Why can't Congress get together? Why can't we work together? We do in our committees. We usually work together. We certainly do with Senator Thune, who is the chairman of the Commerce Committee. This Senator is the ranking member. We get a lot of things out. We are going to mark up the FAA bill tomorrow. There are a lot of controversial issues. We are going to get that out. Why can't we do it with healthcare? prgtoken So, last night, I had a telephone townhall meeting in my State of Florida and 6,000 people joined. They asked questions for an hour. Often, they would get through asking their question and they would say: I wish you guys could work together. So that is what we have been hearing in all of these speeches. prgtoken Well, let me give one suggestion that would lower premiums in the existing law, the Affordable Care Act, 13 percent. I had it costed out in Florida. Every now and then, you are going to have a catastrophic loss. It is kind of like when I was the elected insurance commissioner of Florida, and I inherited the mess after the monster hurricane. Hurricane Andrew was such a monster hurricane that it took down a number of insurance companies because the losses were so big. So we had to try to get insurance companies to come back into Florida. We created a reinsurance fund. We called it the Florida Hurricane Catastrophic Fund, which would reinsure, or insure, the insurance companies against catastrophic loss. prgtoken That is what we can do right here. We could be like my poor constituent, Megan, who fought cancer for 2 years, with two transplants, and ultimately lost the battle, but the bill was $8 million. That is hard for any insurance company to swallow, but those are going to be limited, isolated cases. prgtoken Why don't we create a reinsurance fund for the marketplace in the Affordable Care Act to help the insurance companies with catastrophic loss? I asked: If we did that in Florida, with the Florida marketplace, what would it mean? It would reduce the insurance premiums under the marketplace in Florida by 13 percent. That is just one suggestion. prgtoken Every one of us has a suggestion. Put all of these suggestions together, and we are talking about really fixing the current law, instead of this roadway we see our friends on the other side of the aisle going down--a solution that is going to take coverage away from 22 million people and is going to cut $800 billion out of Medicaid and eviscerate Medicaid or that is going to charge older Americans over younger Americans five times as much as the younger. We don't have to do that. Let's come up with a creative idea to fix the existing law. prgtoken .
SENATE BILL A MARCH BACK TO BAD OLD DAYS FOR WOMEN
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-6-28

some of my friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to claim that, under the Senate's healthcare plan, women will be protected from discrimination. They won't be charged more for their healthcare than men. However, the facts show that nothing could be further from the truth. prgtoken The Senate bill actually targets women for the cruelest cuts of all. It does so by allowing States to do away with guaranteed access to essential health services, now available under the Affordable Care Act. They are services like maternity care, no-cost birth control, and mammogram screening. prgtoken But the Senate plan would allow States to completely waive any guarantee of service. States could, once again, allow insurers to consider preexisting conditions, like pregnancy, in setting fees and allow them to charge more. Plus, $800 billion in Medicaid cuts and defunding Planned Parenthood disproportionately harms women. prgtoken , no matter how many times they say otherwise, they are marching back to the bad old days for women.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-6-28

yesterday afternoon, my friend the leader announced that the majority would delay the vote on the motion to proceed to this particular Senate healthcare bill. We take no solace in that fact. Unfortunately, the majority seems intent on continuing their efforts to pass this healthcare bill. prgtoken Over the next few days and weeks, I expect to see buyouts and bailouts, backroom deals and kickbacks to individual Senators to try and buy their vote. What I don't expect to see yet is a dramatic rethink of the core of the healthcare bill, but I am hopeful we can get to that point. prgtoken So far, every single version of the Care bill in the House and the Senate has the same basic core to it. The details have changed a bit around the edges, but the core remains the same in each and every version: slash Medicaid to the bone in order to give a massive tax break to a very small number of wealthy Americans, cut support for Americans in nursing homes, those suffering from opioid addiction, and those with a preexisting condition to pay for a tax break for the wealthiest few. prgtoken The basic premise of every healthcare bill so far is to cut back on healthcare for Americans who need it most in order to give a tax break to the people who need it the least. There is just no moral calculus to justify it. It doesn't fix any of the problems in our current healthcare system like high premiums, high deductibles, counties where there are not enough insurance options, and it is not what the American people are for. The American people are not for tax breaks to the wealthiest of Americans, nor are they for cutting Medicaid. prgtoken A USA TODAY poll this morning showed only 12 percent of Americans support this bill. At a level of 12 percent, even huge numbers of supporters are opposed to this bill. The level of popular support is not going to change one bit with a tweak that wins over this Senator or that. A bill with this twisted idea at its core will fail time and time again. That is why the vote had to be pulled yesterday. You can be sure, if it were popular with the American people, it wouldn't have had to be pulled. prgtoken I make my friends on the side and President an offer. Let's turn over a new leaf. Let's start over. Let's abandon more tax breaks for the rich. Let's abandon cuts to Medicaid, and discuss what the American people are really concerned about: premiums, deductibles, the cost and quality of healthcare. prgtoken President invited both parties, and s, to Blair House to discuss healthcare reform in front of the American people early in his first term as President. President , I challenge you to invite us--all 100 of us, s and -- to Blair House to discuss a new bipartisan way forward on healthcare in front of all the American people. It would focus on what
ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-28

I rise today to bring attention to the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and that is Alzheimer's disease. prgtoken Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer's disease have increased by 89 percent. Right now, there are more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's, and that number is expected to grow to 14 million--to almost triple--by the year 2050. prgtoken Alzheimer's and other dementias can be especially devastating both physically and emotionally for those who have these diseases and for their loved ones, your family and my family--for me, too many aunts and uncles, including my mother. prgtoken When Lena Costa was diagnosed with the disease, she took it on with the same strength and courage she had used to beat cancer and survive heart disease. She was in her late eighties. Upon hearing the diagnosis, she turned to my sister and to me and said calmly and bravely: ``Jim, Bette, I will just do the best I can.'' prgtoken Today, there is no cure for Alzheimer's and there is no effective treatment for it. There is no proven way to prevent the disease or no method for slowing its progression. prgtoken Unlike my mother, we are not currently doing the best we can. We must come together to support additional Alzheimer's research--more funding. That is what we did in April when we in the House called for additional support for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health. But we must do more. prgtoken Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. We must stand together, calmly and bravely, like my mom and so many of our loved ones who have been affected by Alzheimer's throughout our country. prgtoken Just as importantly, we must fix America's healthcare system. Certainly, in the last week, we have proved that there is no way or ic way, but there is an American way, and that is if we work together as Members of Congress to improve America's healthcare system for all. Executive Order 9066--Japanese Internment
Introductory Statement on S. 1464
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-28

today Senators Heller, Bennet, Gardner, and I are introducing the Water Conservation Tax Parity Act. This bill would exempt the value of residential water conservation and storm water runoff management rebates from gross income calculations. prgtoken California and the western States have been facing a severe drought. Some public utilities, state and local governments, and water management providers offer programs to promote water conservation and storm water management by providing subsidies. These programs help stimulate responsible water use; however, residential participation is essential to their success. prgtoken For example, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has offered a rebate program to encourage residents to replace turf with more water-responsible landscapes. More than 23,000 households have benefited from the turf removal rebates, and the average rebate per household covers 1,500 square feet or about $3,000, which covers about half of the cost to the resident. prgtoken Section 136 of the Internal Revenue Code already exempts energy conservation rebates from inclusion in gross income. However, there is no Federal exemption for water conservation or storm water management measures, which may undermine incentives for participation in these programs. These programs are just as valuable as energy conservation programs and should be treated equally in the tax code. This bill would simply exempt water conservation and storm water management rebates from being included in gross income and would be retroactive to 2015. This would maintain the important incentives for resident participation in critical water conservation measures. prgtoken This bill is supported by a coalition of organizations and public utilities, including the Western Urban Water Coalition, Alliance for Water Efficiency, American Water Works Association, National Association of Water Companies, U.S. Water Alliance, Association of Water Agencies, WaterNow Alliance, Western Coalition of Arid States, and National Water Resources Association. This bill is crucial to ensuring residents continue participating in water conservation and storm water management programs. prgtoken , I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation and am hopeful that this Congress will move it forward. prgtoken Thank you. .
THE UNITED STATES MUST NOT ABANDON THE PEOPLE OF TIBET
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-6-28

the people of Tibet are living under China's repressive rule and their culture, religion, and way of life is at risk of being extinguished. The human rights abuses and constant repression on Tibetans perpetrated by China are intolerable and must be resisted by the United States and this Congress. Religious freedom and the preservation of Tibetan cultural and linguistic traditions are essential to a new generation of Tibetans, both inside Tibet and in exile communities in India, Nepal, and the United States (including our vibrant community in Minnesota). prgtoken Past U.S. administrations have supported human rights, democracy, and education programs for the people of Tibet. Whether it is Tibetan language broadcasts as a source of independent information, the Tibetan Scholarship Program, or the Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program, these modest U.S. investments have had a strong and positive impact on creating a pathway for Tibetan leaders and voices of freedom. USAID has made important investment in support of Tibetans inside Tibet and living as refugees. prgtoken It is unacceptable that the administration's fiscal year 2018 budget eliminates funding for many of the important programs supporting the people of Tibet. It is up to Congress to ensure necessary funds are appropriated to sustain the Tibetan programs for the coming fiscal year. Eliminating these funds, as proposed, is an abandonment of the Tibetan people and will give China a green light to accelerate their cruel repression and destruction of Tibetan lives and culture. prgtoken There is one additional issue that is of utmost urgency, the appointment of a new Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the Department of State. This position, authorized in the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, is intended to guide U.S. policy toward Tibet and communicate directly with the Chinese government. I would urge Secretary Tillerson and the White House to fill this position immediately. prgtoken Last weekend, Minnesota had the honor of hosting His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. I had the privilege of attending a public event with His Holiness and giving remarks before Minnesota's large and strong community of Tibetan refugees. The remarks below were delivered at that event and I ask that they be included in the Record: prgtoken Remarks by Congresswoman Betty McCollum--Community Public Talk with the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota Honoring His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 24, 2017 Good morning! I am so pleased to be here with Minnesota's strong and thriving Tibetan community. I wish to thank the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota for inviting me to join you this morning. Only one month ago--in May--I was in Dharamsala, India as part of an official congressional delegation led by the ic Leader Nancy Pelosi. In Dharamsala my colleagues and I were hum
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-6-28

I love what the Senator from Minnesota just said. I am a retired Navy captain. For years we had healthy competition among the different branches of our services. I salute the folks in the Army, the Marines, the Air Force, and Coast Guard. I always say: The Navy salutes you. Then I also say: a different uniform, the same team. To the extent that we wear different uniforms, we really are on the same team, and I think the American people are anxious for us to start acting that way. prgtoken What I hope we will do is to hit the pause button right now on the legislation that the s have pulled off the floor and that we will use this time as an opportunity not to go to our separate corners and figure out how to do the other team in when we return here in 10 days. I hope we will, as some of our colleagues have suggested, explore some ideas where we can work together. prgtoken Some have talked about how to make the marketplaces work. It is not a ic idea. It is a idea. There are the tax credits for the exchange, which is a idea. The individual mandate and the idea that there cannot be prohibitions on insurers denying coverage are ideas too. Those are all ideas from 1993, taken from Mitt Romney, who put them in RomneyCare in Massachusetts, and we put them in the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken We didn't just do this and shut out the s. We had 80 days where we worked on the legislation. I was on the Finance Committee with Senator Schumer and others, and we had, I think, a dozen or more hearings and dozens of amendments--over 300 amendments in all. Some 160 amendments were included in the bill. To somehow say that they were being shut out is nonsense. That is a reinvention of history. prgtoken Let's do it the right way. At the end of the day, we will do what President has been calling for, for the last 5, 6, 7, 8 months, as I recall. He said: Why don't we cover everybody, why don't we provide better coverage, and why don't we do it in a more affordable way. prgtoken Unfortunately, what s have offered and what they pulled off the floor doesn't do that. It provides less coverage for more money. It says to people--the least well off in our society: We are going to provide you less coverage in order to give folks who make a lot of money, and really don't need a tax break, a tax break. prgtoken That is not consistent with the Golden Rule. The Presiding Officer knows it well. We are supposed to treat other people the way we want to be treated. That is an example of a failure with respect to the Golden Rule. prgtoken I didn't come here to waste my time and other people's time. I came here to get things done. We tried hard to involve the s 8 years ago. They may not acknowledge that. The people in this country still want us to really bear down and work together, and we can do that. At the end of the day, we will be better a
WELCOMING REVEREND DR. HOWARD SIPLIN
Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-6-28

today I rise to welcome the esteemed Reverend Dr. Howard Siplin to the House floor as our guest chaplain. prgtoken Reverend Dr. Siplin was my classmate from first grade to twelfth grade in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. prgtoken Reverend Siplin is the senior pastor of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church located in Coconut Grove, Florida. prgtoken Before joining the ministry, Reverend Siplin proudly served in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the Miami-Dade Police Academy who made history by earning the distinction of becoming the first African American to serve as president of the Fraternal Order of Police. prgtoken Three years ago, after joining Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Siplin was ordained a deacon and later became chairman of the church's deacon ministry. prgtoken He was called to preach in the year 2000 and, in August 2003, was ordained and installed to serve as the church's pastor. Under his leadership, Beulah Missionary Baptist has helped the surrounding community confront and combat various challenges. He also has used his experience in law enforcement to help forge and strengthen bonds between residents and local police. prgtoken Reverend Siplin has dedicated himself to educating members of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church community to live spiritual lives so that they can be productive citizens. prgtoken He holds a bachelor's and master's of ministry degree from the Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2014, the seminary awarded him an honorary doctorate degree. prgtoken Reverend Siplin is married to the former Zelma Ferguson who is with him here today. Her father, the late Reverend E. R. Ferguson, founded Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in 1954. They are the proud parents of 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. prgtoken , I ask everyone to join me in thanking Reverend Siplin for leading today's opening prayer and to thank him for his outstanding service to the south Florida community.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3003, NO SANCTUARY FOR CRIMINALS ACT
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-6-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I include in the Record a letter to every Member of Congress from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in opposition to this bill; a letter to all of us from the ACLU in opposition to this bill; a letter to every Member of Congress from the National Task Force to End Sexual & Domestic Violence that is in opposition to this bill; as well as a letter to Members of Congress from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA in opposition to this bill; and a letter from NETWORK, which is a lobby for Catholic social justice in opposition to this bill. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Washington, DC, June 27, 2017. prgtoken Oppose the ``No Sanctuary for Criminals Act'' (H.R. 3003) and ``Kate's Law'' (H.R. 3004) Dear Representative: On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national advocacy organizations, I urge you to oppose H.R. 3003, the ``No Sanctuary for Criminals Act,'' and H.R. 3004, ``Kate's Law.'' These two bills may sound ``tough,'' but they would ultimately make the problems with our national immigration system even worse than they already are. H.R. 3003 would unnecessarily and unwisely penalize states and municipalities that are attempting to strike the delicate balance between cooperating with federal immigration authorities, on one hand, and respecting the constraints imposed on them by the U.S. Constitution, on the other. At the same time, it would do nothing to address the constitutional concerns raised by the use of immigration ``detainer'' requests, concerns that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) itself has recognized in the past. Among its provisions, H.R. 3003 would eliminate various federal law enforcement grants to states and municipalities, such as the ``Cops on the Beat'' program, unless jurisdictions comply with all DHS detainer requests. It aims to overturn local policies adopted by over 300 jurisdictions across the country that have determined, as a matter of constitutional law and sound public policy, including community policing efforts, that they cannot hold individuals beyond their release dates solely on the basis of a DHS detainer request. The senseless and tragic 2015 killing of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco has renewed the debate over so-called ``sanctuary cities.'' Yet the term suggests, incorrectly, that certain states and municipalities are refusing to work with federal immigration enforcement authorities. The truth is that state and local law enforcement agencies (``LEAs'') through
PROTECTING ACCESS TO CARE ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-6-28

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I would say to my colleagues that this is about bad medicine, not good medicine, and it is about undermining good healthcare, as we have seen in the Care saga, causing some 49 million people to lose their insurance. Here we go again. prgtoken I would offer to say that the most difficult, hurtful, and harmful aspect of this particular legislation is that it would make it more difficult for plaintiffs to seek redress for medical injuries that have been proven in court. prgtoken In addition, it proposes to make dangerous and potentially unconstitutional changes to our Nation's Federal system, intruding on State sovereignty, the very thing that s seem to relish and to support, because this bill attempts to preempt the several areas of tort law that have been traditionally reserved to the States. prgtoken I would tell my good friends in Tennessee and West Virginia: Deal with your States, just as other individuals deal with their own States. prgtoken This bill, as well, has a very difficult impact on medical malpractice. Because it was written so vaguely, the broad language sweeps into not only doctors and other medical professionals, but hospitals and clinics and almost every entity that contributes in any way to making any healthcare product or service available. That clearly impacts the healthcare of Americans. prgtoken When your child is injured through no fault of their own or your own, you need relief for that child. Interestingly enough, the American Bar Association that represents all lawyers, trial lawyers, of which there is an attempt to impugn their work, contempt for trial lawyers and the good work that they do. But the ABA says they are opposed to this bill, and they represent lawyers who fight every day to make sure the injustices don't happen. prgtoken But here is the real cause of my angst for this particular bill: ``Medical Error Leaves Family With Unanswered Questions.'' ``Olivia was a senior in high school in Santa Monica, California, an accomplished scholar, actress, and musician who had earned early acceptance to Smith College.''