mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-7-24

I was really glad to be on the floor to hear the remarks of my great friend Senator Kaine. prgtoken It is gut-check time in the U.S. Senate. The legislation we are going to consider tomorrow would hurt a lot of people in ways I think that are very hard to fathom. One of our colleagues said: I didn't come here to hurt people. prgtoken Everybody came here with designs on how to make their community, their State, their Nation a better place, and we are on the verge of taking a vote on a bill that objectively will rain a level of devastation down on this country that is really hard to fathom. prgtoken I can't match Senator Kaine's eloquence talking about the personal stakes here. We take for granted the fact that as employees of the U.S. Senate, we get a health benefit that makes sure that if we do fall ill or if our children fall ill, we will not have to think about whether we have the money to be able to afford treatment, but that is not how it is for all of those families who lined up in Virginia to receive care. That is not how it is for those who come to a similar event in Connecticut that is targeted just for dental services but has a line that begins the night before and is oversubscribed before the event begins the next morning. prgtoken That is not how it was for the millions of American families who used to go bankrupt because, when faced between a choice of personal financial ruin and the death of a child or a loved one, they chose financial ruin. Until you have been faced with that choice, I don't think there is any way to understand it. It certainly is a choice no one in this Chamber will ever have to make. prgtoken In Connecticut, the Burger family made that choice. Before the Affordable Care Act was passed, in the 2-week period of time where Mr. Burger didn't have healthcare insurance, their son was diagnosed with cancer, and when he got on his new plan, it was a preexisting condition so it wasn't covered, and the Burger family lost everything. They went through their savings account. They lost their house. They went bankrupt. They were one of thousands and thousands of families who made that choice. That rarely happens any longer. The number of personal bankruptcies in this country has been cut in half because of the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act hasn't made healthcare magically affordable for everyone, but it has meant that people don't have to make that choice any longer. The scope of the pain we are talking about, if any of the three versions of this bill get the vote, is really hard to fathom. Under the original version of the bill, 23 million people would lose insurance. prgtoken I amended this chart when a series of changes were made at the last minute that CBO scored to reduce that number to 22 million, but this is the entire population of Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota,
PARALYSIS RESOURCE CENTER
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-7-24

I thank my friend from Rhode Island, Representative Langevin. I thank him for his leadership here in the House on these important issues. prgtoken But just as you spoke about your friends Christopher and Dana Reeve and talked specifically about how Christopher Reeve was not quiet and introverted, that he was an inspiration to you, I think it is fair to say, and I am comfortable actually speaking in this one instance on behalf of my colleagues here in the House in saying that just as Christopher Reeve was an incredible leader and an inspiration to you, so, too, Representative Langevin, are you an inspiration to all of us in the House. I thank you for participating tonight. prgtoken There are so many other stories to tell. Representative Langevin shared some. I would like to share just a few others. prgtoken One is the story of Eric LeGrand. On October 16, 2010, Rutgers University football star Eric LeGrand sustained a spinal cord injury at his C3 and C4 vertebrae. prgtoken After a kickoff in the fourth quarter against Army, Eric sprinted down the field and he made the tackle, but after the collision, he stayed down on the field at MetLife Stadium. Eric was paralyzed from the neck down, and doctors gave him a zero to 5 percent chance of regaining neurologic function. prgtoken From the moment he was injured, the Paralysis Resource Center was by Eric's side with a wealth of services and support. To conquer the immediate challenges of paralysis, his mother, Karen LeGrand, spoke regularly with the PRC's information specialists, who provided a roadmap of the resources that helped Eric transition to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. At that point, Eric was already exceeding expectations for his recovery and was weaned off of his ventilator and his feeding tube. prgtoken To help his family understand the long-term realities of a spinal cord injury, Eric and Karen were put in touch with Alan Brown, a dear friend of mine I will speak more about in a bit. Alan is a certified peer mentor and staff prgtoken member of the Reeve Foundation, and he offered advice from his own personal experience living with quadriplegia for over 25 years. prgtoken Eric was also enrolled in the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network, the NRN. The NRN is a growing network of rehabilitation centers that develop and provide cutting-edge therapies, like Locomotor Training. prgtoken Thanks to the NRN therapies and Eric's determination, he recovered the ability to move his neck and his shoulders. He has also improved trunk, cardiovascular, and pulmonary control. prgtoken His quality of life, well-being, and health have dramatically improved through the efforts of the PRC. prgtoken To pay forward his gratitude and help others, Eric founded Team LeGrand of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to speed the development of treatments for spinal cord injury. Since its inception in September 2013, Team LeGrand has rais
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-7-24

I rise this evening to help deliver a message from American families to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. The American people have sent a clear message to Washington. The message is that they do not want us to go forward with this partisan--and mean--healthcare repeal bill. But, incredibly, we are today about to embark on a vote to do the exact opposite. prgtoken What is happening in Washington this week is that we are completely ignoring the message that Wisconsinites and the hard-working American families across this country have sent for us to hear. Haven't you been listening? prgtoken To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, have you been listening to the calls pouring in from families in your States? Have you been listening to the voices of parents and their children, the schoolteachers and doctors, and the working people who are daily struggling to get ahead? These messages have been sent to Washington. They have been sent loudly and for too many months--in fact, for too many months for you to possibly not have heard them. The American people don't want to pay more for less care. They don't want the age tax or the higher premiums this plan is offering. People with preexisting conditions don't want to be thrown into a high-risk pool or priced out of the coverage they have today. They don't want bare-bones insurance that doesn't cover the essential services and lifesaving care they may need. They don't want their loved ones who depend on Medicare for nursing home care or their disabled children who rely on Medicaid funding at school to have their care put at risk through caps and cuts. The American people don't want a plan that will make things worse. prgtoken It is hard for me to believe that Washington hasn't heard this message because I have been listening. prgtoken I have been listening to people like Jean. Jean is from Baraboo, WI. She told me that she is scared because her Crohn's disease would cost her a fortune if her preexisting conditions were not covered. She told me that she needs the healthcare she has today because ``my husband ruptured a disk in his back that prevented him from getting a job that promised us coverage. So now he works multiple jobs.'' prgtoken I have been listening to Mary from Kenosha, WI. I met with Mary recently, and she told me about her son Kyle. Kyle, at a young age, was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and was never expected to learn to even speak. When Kyle was 7, medical professionals spoke with Mary and said that Kyle might have to be removed from his home and left to be cared for in an institution. But Mary had hope, and thanks to Medicaid, Kyle was able to receive some very specialized medical therapy for his autism, and he was able to remain at home. He was able to receive an education. He was able to get his driver's license, and now Kyle is attending college. prgtoken Mary is terrified, nonetheless, that this bill's drastic c
HARRY W. COLMERY VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-24

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3218, the ``Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.'' prgtoken H.R. 3218 eliminates the current 15-year cap for veterans to use the benefits provided in the GI Bill, therefore enabling future eligible recipients to use their GI bill benefits for their entire lives. prgtoken This change would greatly aid our brave veterans in facilitating the transition from active duty to civilian life by ensuring that veterans have access to retraining at any point after service to meet the needs of a changing economy. prgtoken Furthermore, H.R. 3218 would enhance GI Bill benefits for survivors of military members killed during active duty by granting them access to the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is a program that covers more costs at private institutions of higher learning for eligible recipients. prgtoken By expanding access to financial assistance, this bill ameliorates the often high cost barrier associated with higher education for survivors of military members killed in the line of duty. prgtoken H.R. 3218 will also protect veteran's GI Bill benefits from the closures of private, for-profit universities, a development that has negatively impacted many student veterans across the nation. prgtoken Madam , our veterans deserve better than to see their hard- earned benefits lost, especially for events beyond their own control. prgtoken This bill also increases GI Bill benefits for nine additional months for student veterans enrolled in STEM 5-year degree programs. prgtoken I am pleased that this bill gives our veterans the resources they need to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the growing technology industry. prgtoken Last, this bill would qualify post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients for full GI Bill benefits. prgtoken It is imperative that service members whose active duty is cut short due to an injury suffered in the line of fire have their heroic service recognized fully when receiving GI Bill benefits. prgtoken H.R. 3218 corrects previous inequities faced by our nation's brave veterans, and protects their future. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3218.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-7-24

the Senate s are about to take one of the most reckless actions in Senate history. They are going to vote to blow up the American healthcare system and do I don't know what next. prgtoken I want to be really clear about this. Never before has the Senate voted on major legislation that would reorder one-sixth of the American economy and impact tens of millions of American families without even knowing what the bill does. There has been no bipartisanship. There have been no hearings. prgtoken Let me just say something about hearings. This may seem like sort of a process or procedural complaint, but this very much matters. Hearings matter because it is how you get experts to tell you whether your bill is any good, whether it is smart or stupid, harmful or helpful. Hearings matter because they subject your bill and the process to public scrutiny. The media is able to report on what you are up to, and your constituents know what you are up to. So it is not a small thing to complain about no hearings. In fact, you can't be a good legislator without having hearings, and you can't be an effective legislative body without conducting public hearings. We never have major legislation without hearings, but that is exactly what they are doing, and there is one very simple reason for this. They are embarrassed by what is in this bill. prgtoken It is true we don't know exactly what is in this bill. There are lots and lots of versions and lots of notions being kicked around, but we can be sure of a few things. prgtoken First, we know this; that whatever problems there are with the Affordable Care Act, this bill doesn't even bother to try to fix them. To the extent that people are worried about high deductibles, it actually increases the deductibles. To the extent that people are worried about the lack of choices on the healthcare exchanges, it doesn't even try to fix that. prgtoken Second, we don't know exactly how much they are going to cut Medicaid, but they are going to cut Medicaid. Whether it is rolling back the Medicaid expansion or making these radical structural reforms, essentially block-granting Medicaid to the States, they are going to deeply cut Medicaid. This hurts people. It hurts people in nursing homes. It hurts people with drug addiction. Medicaid is a program that works and delivers care for millions of Americans, and it will be slashed massively tomorrow. prgtoken We also don't know whether they are going to keep the capital gains tax cut or get rid of it. In any case, they are going to get rid of most of the revenue in the Affordable Care Act. They are cutting taxes for the very wealthy, and the way they pay for that is to cut Medicaid. So under the guise of fixing the ACA, they do the thing they wanted to do all along--cut taxes, cut Medicaid. It has nothing to do with ACA: cut taxes, cut Medicaid. That is what the bill tomorrow will do. I don't care if it is the 2015 version.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-7-24

this week--perhaps as early as tomorrow-- Majority Leader McConnell, who just left the floor, will ask the Senate to vote on a bill we have not seen. That is right. We will be voting this week on a bill we haven't seen. I think it is a first. I am going to do a little research to see if this has ever happened before in the Senate, where Members of the Senate were brought together to vote on a bill that has not been made public or printed for us to review. prgtoken This isn't an inconsequential bill. This is a bill about the healthcare system of the United States of America. There is not a single American living in our Nation today who will not be affected by our vote this week because we are in the process of deciding whether we will change healthcare in America, health insurance in America, and there is not a single one of us who doesn't have a health insurance plan, either private or public, or not affected by the health insurance industry in healthcare across the United States. In fact, healthcare itself represents one-sixth of the American economy. prgtoken So we are being asked to vote on a bill this week which has not been printed and given to us and which will change healthcare for every single American and affect one-sixth of the American economy. prgtoken We do know that some of the previous provisions that have been brought before us on the side have an impact--a negative impact--and in my State of Illinois, a very personal negative impact. prgtoken We know that their effort to repeal Care, which has been a political slogan that has been used for 6 or 7 years, ran into a wall when the American people said: Well, if you repeal it, what is left? What will be there? What will replace it? prgtoken At that point, the effort disassembled. They didn't have an alternative. They spent the last 6 years prgtoken under Care--the Affordable Care Act--saying ``No, repeal it'' without spending the time to think about what would follow, what is next. prgtoken The Congressional Budget Office--this is an interesting thing--the Congressional Budget Office is a nonpartisan agency that we turn to that evaluates our work. They take a look at the bills we write, and they take a look at the laws that will pass, and they say: Well, this is the impact it will have on the deficit, on future generations, on entitlement programs. prgtoken Sometimes the Congressional Budget Office is maddening. They take forever. I don't know what is going on over there, but what you think is a simple question can take weeks and sometimes longer to result in an analysis, and there are times when I just flat out disagree with their analysis. prgtoken Let me give an example. When we debated the Affordable Care Act, we said that one of the things we need to do is make sure there is plenty of preventive medicine. For example, we make sure under the Affordable Care Act that every senior gets a free annual physi
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-7-24

July 24 marks a significant milestone in the history of my home State of Utah. On this day, 170 years ago, Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley. Facing violence and discrimination at every turn, Utah's early settlers crossed the Nation in search of a land where they could practice their religion free from prejudice and abuse. In the cradle of the Rocky Mountains, they found a home. prgtoken Each year, we remember the sacrifice of these courageous men and women and the miraculous events that led to the founding of our State by observing Pioneer Day. This special holiday is a celebration of the pioneer spirit, that unique mix of industry, ingenuity, and innovation that transformed an arid desert plain into one of the most prosperous States in the Nation. prgtoken Pioneer Day is a perennial reminder of how a people--left to their own devices and empowered to follow their dreams--can accomplish incredible things. It is a testament to what westerners can achieve when the government steps out of the way and allows the human spirit to flourish. prgtoken It seems only fitting then that on Pioneer Day I speak in support of David Bernhardt, a man who immediately understands the western way of life and has dedicated his career to defending it. prgtoken As my colleagues know, Mr. Bernhardt has been nominated to serve as the next Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. Today, I wish to express my support for his confirmation in the strongest possible terms. prgtoken Mr. Bernhardt has a distinguished record of public service, having served for nearly 10 years in the Department of Interior as Solicitor, Deputy Solicitor, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Director of Congressional Affairs. Now that Mr. Bernhardt works in private practice, Mr. Bernhardt is regarded as one of the Nation's most experienced and authoritative legal minds on natural resource policy. prgtoken Broad support for Mr. Bernhardt's confirmation is a testament to the sterling reputation he has built over an accomplished career in both the public and private sectors. State wildlife management agencies, Native American Tribes, environmental conservation and wildlife protection groups, and the Congressional Western Caucus are among the many organizations that have strongly endorsed Mr. Bernhardt's nomination. He has also garnered the support of hundreds of recreationists, sportsmen, anglers, agricultural producers, and ranchers. prgtoken Nominating Mr. Bernhardt is in keeping with the President's promise to restore trust between westerners and the Federal Government. After just 6 months in office, our President has already made tremendous progress in repairing the broken relationship between local communities and the executive branch. prgtoken Of course, significant challenges remain, especially in my home State of Utah, where reduced access to Federal land has hurt the rural economy. Fortunately, as a
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BONUS TRANSPARENCY ACT
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-7-24

I first want to thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for prioritizing bipartisanship and putting our veterans ahead of politics. This committee's work is a testament to what we can achieve here in Congress when we put aside politics and focus on results. prgtoken , the Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act requires the VA to submit a report to Congress at the end of each fiscal year listing the bonuses that were awarded to senior-level executives within the department. prgtoken In 2015, VA employees received more than $177 million in bonuses, which was 24 percent more than they had received in 2014. The average bonus for a senior executive was $10,000. prgtoken I have no doubt that the men and women of the VA serve our veterans admirably each day. In fact, I know that they do. In my own district, I have spoken with veterans who are grateful for the compassionate care they receive from the VA hospital in Syracuse as well as local VA clinics in Binghamton and Rome. prgtoken VA employees should be fairly compensated for their work and awarded for their achievements in service to our Nation's veterans. prgtoken It is also clear to me that there is more work to be done. Just recently, an audit of several VA facilities in prgtoken North Carolina and Virginia revealed that wait times continue to be misrepresented and that nearly 14,000 veterans were denied access to timely care. The audit also found that veterans were waiting an average of 26 days to see mental health specialists, while the VA falsely reported average wait times of 6 days. prgtoken In light of such news, the American people are right to wonder who at the VA may be receiving a bonus this year. They are also right to be concerned about the nature and conditions of such bonuses. prgtoken H.R. 1690 would add a simple reporting requirement to existing law that will streamline the oversight of bonuses at the VA. It requires the agency to proactively provide information to Congress that details the amount of each bonus awarded to senior executives as well as the job titles of the individuals and the location of their employment. prgtoken Because of the patterns of mismanagement at the VA, veterans must know how bonuses are being awarded at the agency, and Congress deserves to receive this information in as timely a manner as possible without having to request it each year. This bill increases transparency over the bonus process without placing an undue burden on the agency. prgtoken It is an honor to represent a district that is home to more than 55,000 veterans. I owe it to each of them every day to make sure that the VA is accountable and transparent. Our Nation's veterans deserve the very best healthcare for their service and sacrifice to our Nation. prgtoken , I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for their support, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1690.