mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-7-11

I am going to speak for about 5 minutes. Before I begin, I will reference an item that I ask unanimous consent be printed in the Record following my speech. prgtoken I rise to share real stories of real hardships from hard-working families in my home State of Iowa. Seven years ago, Americans were promised that the Affordable Care Act would make health insurance cheaper and healthcare more accessible. Well, I will not pretend to break any news here. The facts speak for themselves: Care is not living up to its promises. When passing the law, the other side made promises they knew could not be kept. prgtoken The irony is, the so-called Affordable Care Act is anything but affordable. I have heard from many Iowans who tell me, in no uncertain terms, that they cannot afford to buy health insurance because Care is unaffordable. In fact, 72,000 Iowans can't even get help from the exchange because there isn't an insurance company to service them. prgtoken One Iowan wrote to me: I am forced to pay $230 a month for a healthcare plan that covers nothing until I reach $11,000 in deductible. So on top of paying 100 percent of my medical bills anyway, now I also have to pay for insurance I can't use. prgtoken How did we get to this point? prgtoken Seven years ago, I spoke right here on the Senate floor and predicted what would happen to the cost of insurance if Care passed. So let's go back to that period of time when I spoke in October of 2009. This is my own quote from that speech: And while some of the supporters of these partisan bills may not want to tell their constituents, we all know that as national spending on health care insurance increases, American families will bear the burden in the form of higher premiums. So let me be very clear, as a result of the current pending health care proposals, most Americans will pay higher premiums for health insurance. prgtoken That is the end of my quote from a speech in the Senate in October of 2009. prgtoken Now, I don't have a magic crystal ball, but it was easy to read the writing on the wall. I knew that layers of new taxes and burdensome new mandates in Care would lead us to where we find ourselves today: a broken healthcare system that is not better off than it was 7 years ago, and for millions of Americans--including those 72,000 Iowans--it is much worse. prgtoken So where do we go from here? After 7 years of rising premiums, soaring deductibles, and climbing copays, s are committed to fixing the damage caused by the Affordable Care prgtoken Act. Not only is it unaffordable for too many people, it is unsustainable. Care is unable to fulfill its promises to the American people. prgtoken Here is what every lawmaker in Congress ought to agree on: Insurance isn't worth having if patients can't afford to use that insurance. The facts are clear. A one-size-fits-all, gove
RECOGNIZING CAMP BEAUREGARD
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-7-11

today I would like to acknowledge and honor Camp Beauregard on its 100th year of service. Named after famed Louisiana General Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard, Camp Beauregard is a U.S. Army installation operated by the Louisiana National Guard. For the past century, Camp Beauregard has hosted hundreds of thousands of soldiers training for combat missions all across the world and has served the State and local communities. prgtoken The site that eventually became Camp Beauregard was constructed in the late 1850s as a military academy. Following the Civil War, the school was relocated to Baton Rouge and renamed Louisiana State University. In the early 1900s, the site became the permanent camp for the Louisiana State National Guard's annual training exercises. The site officially became Camp Beauregard in 1917 as the United States entered World War I. Over 44,000 soldiers trained at Camp Beauregard before the end of the First World War, and hundreds of thousands of men trained at Camp Beauregard during the Second World War. prgtoken Camp Beauregard is currently the largest National Guard post in Louisiana and is essential to the Louisiana National Guard's efforts to serve the United States, Louisiana, and local communities. Not only does Camp Beauregard serve as a training ground for soldiers preparing for overseas combat operations, the camp also plays a vital role during major weather events and hosts competitions and family prgtoken events. For 100 years, Camp Beauregard has served Louisianans and Americans alike. prgtoken I and my fellow Louisianans are proud of Camp Beauregard's accomplishments and the positive impact the training there has had on our State, our Nation, and across the world. I would like to thank those currently at Camp Beauregards as well as all those who have served our country there, and congratulate them for 100 years of service and patriotism.
CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE STORE AT REBUILDING TOGETHER SARATOGA COUNTY
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-7-11

I rise today to honor and recognize the opening of The Store at Rebuilding Together Saratoga County. prgtoken Founded in 2003 by the Larkin Family of Saratoga Springs, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County is an inspiring example of our community coming together to support its members in need. The organization works with low-income homeowners to provide necessary home repairs and safety updates at no cost to the homeowner. Due in large part to their dedicated team of local volunteers, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County continues to strengthen our community by ensuring that our citizens can live safely and independently in their homes. prgtoken The opening of The Store is an important development for Rebuilding Together Saratoga County. The revenue from its sales will directly contribute to the organization's projects and operations, allowing them to reach even more people in need. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to thank Rebuilding Together Saratoga County for their incredible service. We are grateful for their commitment to bringing our community together, and wish them all the best on the opening of The Store.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-7-11

as the leader has very ably pointed out, the ic obstruction when it comes to President 's nominees is reaching an unprecedented level if you compare it to any past administration. He pointed out the number of nominees President was able to get in and the way in which s here in the Senate cooperated with him on his nominees. This state of affairs here in the Senate really is taking the obstructionism when it comes to trying to block even getting people into the administration, into their positions, to an entirely new level. prgtoken Frankly, about the only thing that probably exceeds the pileup of President 's nominees who are not getting into his administration is the pileup of bad Care news stories. Just take a look at a few of the recent headlines. prgtoken From the Cincinnati Enquirer: ``Another insurer leaves Ohio health care exchange.'' prgtoken From Bloomberg: ``Anthem's Exit Creates care `Crisis' for Rural Nevadans.'' prgtoken From the Washington Free Beacon: ``Recent care Insurer Exits Lead to 2 More Counties With No Choices.'' prgtoken This is another headline from the Washington Free Beacon: ``19th care Co-Op Folds, Leaving Only 4 Operating in 2018.'' prgtoken Across the United States, the story is the same--huge premium increases, fewer choices, and a system that is well on its way to complete collapse. prgtoken In late May, the Department of Health and Human Services released a report comparing the average individual market insurance premium in 2013, which was the year most of Care's regulations and mandates were implemented, with the average individual market exchange premium in 2017 in the 39 States that use healthcare.gov. This is what they found: prgtoken Between 2013 and 2017, the average individual market monthly premium in the healthcare.gov States increased by 105 percent. That is in the 4-year timeframe since Care was implemented. On average, individual market premiums more than doubled in just those few years. prgtoken In my home State of South Dakota, premiums increased by 124 percent, or $3,588. That is money South Dakota families had to take from other priorities, such as saving for retirement or investing in their children's education. Over the past 5 years, the average individual market yearly premium has increased by $4,800 in Arizona; $8,364 in Alaska; $3,648 in Louisiana; $5,064 in North Carolina; $4,488 in Tennessee; and $5,292 in West Virginia. prgtoken Premium hikes aren't over. In fact, in many cases, they are getting worse. Here are some of the premium hikes insurers are proposing for 2018. In Maryland, one insurer has proposed an average premium increase of 52 percent. An Iowa insurer is seeking an average 43.5 percent premium increase. In North Carolina, an insurer is pursuing an average 22.9 percent hike. A Virginia insurer is looking for an average rate increase of 38 percent. A Delaware insurer is
RECOGNIZING COLONEL JOE ``SOLO'' KUNKEL
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-11

I rise today to recognize an outstanding member of the United States Air Force, Colonel Joe ``Solo'' Kunkel. Solo has been selected for reassignment from Tyndall Air Force Base in the Second District of Florida, where he served as the vice commander of the 325th Fighter Wing. prgtoken He will continue his service at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho as commander of the 366th Fighter Wing, the ``Gunfighters.'' prgtoken Colonel Kunkel has been an exceptional leader at Tyndall, where he oversaw more than 4,000 people who train and support F-22 Raptor pilots and crews. prgtoken He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his officers, airmen, and their families. He improved mission performance, facilities, and family programs at Tyndall. prgtoken , please join me in extending congratulations and gratitude to Colonel Kunkel; his wife, Jenny; and their children, Madeline, Drew, Riley, and Brayden. prgtoken May God continue to bless our Nation with his kind of exemplary patriotism and service.
REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN LAND TRANSFERRED TO ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-7-11

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 954, offered by our colleague, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, would remove certain deed restrictions on an approximately 1-acre portion of a property previously transferred in Rockingham County, Virginia, under the terms of the National Park Service's Federal Lands to Parks Program. The transferred land included a garage that had previously been used by the National Park Service. prgtoken Following the transfer, Rockingham County decided that the nonprofit Plains Area Daycare Center, which provides affordable childcare for nearly 100 children, would benefit from use of the garage. prgtoken In 1990, Congress passed a law allowing for a portion of the previously transferred land to be used for the childcare center. Although a portion of the transferred property is authorized for use as a daycare center, the center encounters hurdles in securing financing for improvements and repairs due to the terms of the original deed and the subsequent legislation. prgtoken H.R. 954 would remove certain deed restrictions from an approximately 1-acre portion of the property, while the other 2 acres would continue to be subject to the existing deed restrictions and revisionary clause. Removal of these deed restrictions will ensure that improvements and repairs can take place without further delay in the future. prgtoken , I urge adoption of the measure, and .
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-7-11

I want to associate myself with the remarks from my distinguished colleague and close personal friend, Senator Crapo, and join him in urging our fellow Senators to quickly confirm Judge Nye. prgtoken As pointed out by Senator Crapo, this will be the first district judge to be confirmed by this Congress. So it should be an honor for Judge Nye, and I am sure he views it that way. prgtoken This has been, literally, years in the making. As Senator Crapo pointed out, we have only one active Federal judge right now, and he is handling what is essentially a three-judge load. Some time ago, when this vacancy occurred, Senator Crapo and I went to work on this. Most Americans don't understand how this works, but to become a U.S. district judge, it takes essentially the concurrence of three people-- that is, the President of the United States and the two Senators from that particular State, be they two s, two , or one of each--because we have what is called a blue slip process, where if any one of the three can and do object to a person, then that person will not be permitted to go forward. prgtoken In this particular case, we negotiated with the White House for literally months and months, and it turned into years. I believe we acted in good faith on both sides in trying to find a person who would be the right fit for Idaho. Again, we literally vetted well over 50 individuals for this position, and for one reason or another, we were unable to get any of those across the finish line. prgtoken Finally, we settled on Judge Nye. I shouldn't say ``settled'' on him. He had not really applied. After going through the 50 being vetted and not really getting where we wanted to be, we sought out Judge Nye and talked with him about it, and we went forward on that basis. The White House came along, and before President left office, he nominated Judge Nye, pursuant to my and Senator Crapo's request. Unfortunately, that was just about the time that we ran out of time processing judges. The election came and went. President was inaugurated, and we started all over again. I want to personally thank the White House for very quickly renominating Judge Nye for this position, again, at the request of myself and Senator Crapo. prgtoken Too many States have a shortage of judges, and there is a movement afoot right now to attempt to boost the Federal judgeship load, which is in bad need. For instance, in the last seven surveys that the Judicial Conference has undertaken, they recommended that Idaho get a third judge. Senator Crapo and my predecessor before me and, I think, even Senator Crapo's predecessor before him have also been pushing for this judge. We continue to do that, and I am seeing some green sprouts that perhaps we will be moving somewhere in that direction. prgtoken In any event, yesterday we had the vote on moving forward on his nomination, and that vote was 97 to 0, which certa
RECOGNIZING THE UPPER PENINSULA CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-7-11

it is my honor to recognize the Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo upon the occasion of its 50th Anniversary. We Michiganders are so proud of the rodeo's half-century of world-class entertainment, turnkey production, and commitment to confronting domestic violence. prgtoken This tradition began in 1968 to showcase the rich agricultural production and culture of the Upper Peninsula. Originally established as the ``Iron River Area Championship Rodeo,'' the name was changed to ``Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo'' when Michigan state Senator Joe Mack introduced a resolution proclaiming Iron River to be the ``Rodeo Capital of the Upper Peninsula.'' To anyone who visits the wonderful city of Iron River, it is immediately clear that the bustling community takes great pride in hosting the only professional rodeo in Michigan. prgtoken Throughout its proud history, the Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo has featured some of the First District's greatest musicians, athletes, and citizens of the last half-century. The rodeo consistently brings folks from across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula together to enjoy a weekend of community, culture, and competition. Moreover, each year, the economic benefits brought to Iron River cannot be understated as thousands of people travel to the region. The Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo is about more than just competition, it's a charitable event committed to bringing public awareness to the issue of domestic violence. By raising money for local organizations working to better our communities, the rodeo has set a positive example of what can be achieved when a social event becomes a force for good in the community. prgtoken , I want to congratulate the Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo for 50 years of entertainment and community service. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a dynamic event and I look forward to enjoying the rodeo's continued success and dedication.
REMEMBERING MICHAEL GORDON
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-11

I would like to pay tribute to the memory of a man who was a great friend of mine: Dr. Michael Gordon. prgtoken A professor at the University of Miami, Michael's love for medicine and people impacted the lives of so many, both inside the classroom and out. Michael first came to Florida in 1960 and eventually returned in 1966 to teach at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, a move that would keep him in the Sunshine State for the rest of his life. His tenacity intelligence led to critical medical breakthroughs, But it didn't come easily. prgtoken Michael's first invention, ``Harvey''--the cardiopulmonary patient simulator used across the globe--was initially viewed with contempt and suspicion amongst his contemporaries. But that did not discourage Michael. And thank God for that, because the once-ridiculed invention has since been used by many in the field of cardiology around the world. His relentlessness and ambition served as a testament to his character. He was a man with unfailing dedication to the well-being of others. prgtoken He also created UMedic, a system fostering research and learning in cardiology. Michael also devised training for first responders, which undoubtedly saved many lives over the years. He founded the Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory, which was eventually named the Michael S. Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education. The center focused on the mission of improving medical techniques and training paramedics and firefighters. prgtoken So many of us in the Miami-Dade community cherish his memory. While some in our community may never know his name, their loved ones may very well be saved by one of his innovations or the training he provided to first responders. Over the course of his life, Michael would bear many titles, including professor, mentor, innovator, doctor, inventor, friend, father, grandfather, and husband. To put it simply and quite literally; his friendship and passion touched many. prgtoken I am proud to have known such a tremendous human being and benefactor to the Miami community. My wife Jeanette and I will forever miss him and we join our friends at the University of Miami and his family in honoring his legacy. prgtoken May God bless him, his family, and those who continue his mission of saving lives and advancing medicine.
MEDICAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2017
Pete Sessions (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-11

I rise today in support of this legislation. prgtoken I want to thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Walden from Hood River, Oregon, as well as the Health Subcommittee chairman, Michael Burgess from Lewisville, Texas. I appreciate Dr. Burgess for yielding me time on this bill that is mine, that I presented several years ago, , that we are finally getting a chance to support today. prgtoken I wish to express my full support for H.R. 1492, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017. This legislation represents commonsense reforms that will ensure certainty and regulatory clarity, while recognizing the needs of doctors, patients, and law enforcement alike. I hope Members on both sides recognize the need for not only this legislation, but will be in support. prgtoken Currently, physicians and other DEA-licensed medical practitioners are barred from transporting controlled substances from one practice setting to another. This is particularly strenuous on physicians who travel for their jobs. For example, team physicians at both the college and professional level have been particularly affected by the lack of clarity in the current law. prgtoken Physicians who travel with teams to away games carefully practiced transporting medicines--and they have done so for decades--in a manner that they believed to be in compliance with DEA regulations. Recently, however, there has been uncertainty surrounding this issue, as a number of teams have found themselves being challenged by the Drug Enforcement Administration. prgtoken Those physicians who had, for years, been in compliance, or felt like they were in compliance, were unable to provide players with proper medical care after many injuries while they were at an away game. prgtoken H.R. 1492 will allow physicians to obtain a separate mobile registration with the DEA for the ability to transport these very specific substances for medically relevant reasons directly related to the care of patients between practice settings. This registration allows for physician transport, up to 72 hours, while maintaining updated records of transport and the administration of these controlled substances. Such allowances would ensure that physicians whose practices are inherently dynamic have the necessary provisions to provide care to their patients regardless of the setting. prgtoken I would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration for working with me and my office for the last 5 years on this important issue. I would also like to thank Dr. Dan Cooper, who is the lead physician for the Dallas Cowboys. I would like to thank the gentleman who owns the Dallas Cowboys, Mr. Jerry Jones, for standing up on behalf of professional teams and their players to ensure that we work together for a commonsense answer. I want to thank the gentleman, Dr. Burgess, for yielding me the time.