mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WHO GETS THE BREAKS FROM REPEALING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT? THE SUPERWEALTHY
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-1-10

I am honored to join Mr. Garamendi and Mr. Tonko, and I want to place in the Record, since both of you have talked so eloquently about the Affordable Care Act, you know how you will be walking through your district, maybe at a parade or some public event, and someone will break from the crowd and run toward you. I am thinking about one particular woman who came up to me in one of my smaller communities. She was in tears. This was during the summertime. She has cerebral palsy, and she never was able to get care. I don't know why she didn't qualify for insurance, I don't know all of that, but she hugged me and thanked me. prgtoken And then around the corner from where we live, there is a little produce market that I go into all the time. I am friends with one of the women who works there. This little business couldn't afford insurance, so their employees, when the Affordable Care Act passed, went to the private marketplace to get a plan. This particular woman who works long hours and lost her husband to cancer told me: Marcy, why are people complaining about the Affordable Care Act? Guess what, now I have cancer. prgtoken She said: I was able to go and get all of the tests, and now they have me on chemotherapy. prgtoken So, with cancer, this woman is working. She was only able to get insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Multiply that times 10,000, 20,000, 1 million, 20 million, whatever the number is. Think about the number of people in our country who were without insurance. Sometimes I am speechless when I meet these citizens because I think: Where were you hiding before? Where were you? prgtoken Another place I was, a woman was mixing up. She said: Well, I have health insurance, right? I pay car insurance. prgtoken I said: No. Car insurance doesn't cover health insurance. prgtoken People sometimes don't act in their own self-interest. She didn't even know that because she had auto insurance, that didn't cover health insurance. Can you believe that? So she was in a job where, with the Affordable Care Act, she could go out to the exchange and buy a plan. prgtoken It is amazing to me some of the things that have happened and how I see the Affordable Care Act off to a very good start. prgtoken As Mr. Tonko said, don't just repeal it until you have something to replace it with. You cannot pull the rug out from under these people's lives. It would be unconscionable to do that. prgtoken We have several Christians, several other denominations in this House. It would be very unChristian to do that, for those who are Christian. And for those of other denominations--pick your denomination--I just think it would be very cruel. prgtoken I thank the gentleman for allowing us to speak out this evening on behalf of citizens who can't speak for themselves and to try to help perfect what we as a Republic can do for our citizenry.
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION NOMINEE BETSY DeVOS
Marcia L. Fudge (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-1-10

I rise today with my colleagues, Representatives Beatty and Kaptur, to address the Secretary of Education. prgtoken , Betsy DeVos is an imminent and present danger to all of America's children. She does not support public schools. Public schools are where 93 percent or better of all America's children attend. She opposes increased accountability and transparency in for-profit schools, and has a privatization agenda that can set public education back more than 50 years. Even more alarming, she breaks laws and does not pay her bills. DeVos has owed my home State of Ohio $5.3 million since 2008 for violating campaign finance laws. Despite repeated attempts to collect the money, she has failed to pay those fines. prgtoken As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, I am deeply concerned about DeVos' nomination for Secretary of Education. As a member of the Ohio delegation, I am appalled by her deliberate refusal to pay millions in fines she owes our State. We cannot give the purse strings of America's education system to someone only concerned with her own bank account. And we cannot entrust the future of our children to a person who breaks the law, cozies up to Wall Street, and calls public schools, which I believe are the bedrock of our education system, a dead end. prgtoken I urge my Senate colleagues to vote ``no'' on DeVos. The future of our country and our children are at stake.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-1-10

let me first say to the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee that we look forward to seeing the replacement as well because that is really the key right now. People across the country are saying: Wait a minute. You are going to unravel a system. You are going to repeal and take away the health care that I have and the patient protections that I have, and we don't even know if it will be better. prgtoken Why in the world would that be done if the new system wasn't going to be better than the old system? prgtoken Right now we don't see anything. We see 6 years of repeals coming from the House and Senate and no plans. We still don't see a plan, and we have no idea. More importantly, there are millions of people with insurance who are either getting patient protections or affordable care they couldn't get before or have Medicare strengthened or Medicaid support, and no one knows what will happen next. Doctors, nurses, health care providers--no one knows what is going to happen next. I think it is the most irresponsible approach to addressing one of the basic needs for all of our families that we could ever have. So we know that in the end, when you pull the thread, essentially, you unravel the whole system. That, minimally, creates instability in the entire economy. There is no plan being held up that would improve health care, which we are all for. I am all for making the health care system more affordable for families, strengthening health care. Let's do it. Unravelling and creating chaos in the health care system--no. It makes absolutely no sense, and we know that it is just going to make America sick again. prgtoken I want to share a couple of stories. First, we hear from Mary of Dundee, who owns a small business and has a 20-year-old daughter with a preexisting condition. For her, coverage--but, also, what we call the Patients' Bill of Rights--is absolutely critical. That is part of the Affordable Care Act that affects everybody with insurance. Seventy-five percent of Americans get their insurance through their employer. In the past, they could get dropped if they got sick, if they had diabetes or had a child with juvenile diabetes or had a heart condition or high blood pressure. Women who were of childbearing years could be viewed as having a preexisting condition. In the past, insurance companies had total control to decide who got coverage, when they got dropped, what would happen when you got sick and needed medical care. That changed with a Patients' Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act. There are a whole range of protections to make sure the insurance you pay for every month actually provides the medical care when you need it for you and your family. prgtoken Let's start with Mary's story. She wanted to express her concern about repealing the Affordable Care Act, and I appreciate very much the fact that she shared her story with me. She says: My family and I hav
SMALL BUSINESS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-1-10

again, I want to thank the chairman for his work on this and for his willingness to prgtoken compromise. As he pointed out, it was a process. It took both sides. I think he wanted permanent exemption, we wanted a less exemption, and it worked out. I think it is the right compromise. Five years gives businesses the predictability they need. It is a good place to be. In 5 years, we will see the report and whether it makes sense to continue the exemption or not. prgtoken I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleague from Tennessee on assuming the chairmanship of the subcommittee. I look forward to our working together. prgtoken , .
PROMOTING WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACT
Lamar Smith (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-1-10

I support H.R. 255, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. I thank my Science Committee colleagues Ms. Esty, who authored the bill, and Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Comstock for their initiative on this issue. prgtoken H.R. 255 authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to use its existing entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women and help them develop their research and technology ideas for the marketplace. prgtoken STEM education is critical to our country's economy and global competitiveness. A well-educated and trained STEM workforce promotes our future economic prosperity. prgtoken These STEM workers have the potential to develop technologies that could save thousands of lives, jump-start new industries, or even discover new worlds. prgtoken That's why I authored with Ms. Esty the STEM Education Act, a new law that strengthens science, technology, engineering and mathematics education efforts at federal science agencies. It also, for the first time, expands the definition of STEM to include computer science. The bill was signed by the President in October 2015. prgtoken Unfortunately, studies show that only 26 percent of women who attain degrees in STEM fields work in STEM jobs. prgtoken H.R. 255 encourages NSF to tackle this problem. It enhances women's ability to translate their enthusiasm, scientific expertise and research ideas into tangible products and businesses. prgtoken Inspiring American students to seek science and math careers is a goal shared by s and alike. Some of the most energizing and exciting moments of my Science Committee chairmanship have been interactions with young people who want to pursue STEM studies and careers. prgtoken At various Committee hearings and robotics competitions in my district, I have encountered motivated, talented young people who want nothing more than an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And, in some cases, change the world with their ideas. prgtoken Their passion for learning and science reminds me of why I enjoy serving in Congress and on the Science Committee. prgtoken I again thank Ms. Esty and Chairwoman Comstock for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 255.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017--Continued
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-1-10

I only need to add one footnote to that fantastic summary; that is, that the Senator from Tennessee is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. For years we heard about the difficulties with No Child Left Behind. There were a lot of efforts to build a different bridge, and they never got completed within the timeframe that was necessary, even though both sides recognized there was a problem. prgtoken The Senator from Tennessee undertook that, got bipartisan solutions on it, and put forward a bill that did kind of what we are talking about with Care. It sent it back to the States. It got rid of the national school boards, and that passed, I think, with 88 votes in the Senate. That is very bipartisan. That is the kind of an effort he puts forth. You can tell from the comments he has made about what we need to do that he has that well in mind, and I am certain some from the other side will join us to make sure we can get that done as well. prgtoken , and . prgtoken , and I ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-1-10

it is always an honor to be here and, especially, to look out and see some people for whom I have eminent respect in this body. That is a nice thing, being in a body where I actually have respect for the people in the body, a good thing. prgtoken We know that elections, as President told us quite succinctly 8 years ago, have consequences. Elections do have consequences, and we have a new team coming to town. One of the things that has concerned me greatly, and I know it has concerned many in this body, is that we as a Nation have had the ability to give protection basically to this idea of freedom that our Founders had, cultivated, and gave their lives to create. prgtoken As I have mentioned from this podium previously, as I was told by some west African Christians in Togo, they said: We were so excited when you elected your first Black President, but since your President has been there, we have seen America get weaker and weaker. We all are Christians and we know where we are going when we die, but we also know our only chance for peace in this world is if America is strong. So please go back to Washington and please tell the other Members of Congress to stop getting weaker. We suffer when you get weaker. prgtoken I seen this article from Melissa Mullins after a study was done. It said, ``Christians Most Persecuted Religious prgtoken Group in the World.'' And that is while America is supposed to be the strongest nation in the world. prgtoken , I see a friend is here on the floor, and I now yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mooney).
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017--Continued
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-1-10

I rise today to speak in favor of the Flake amendment, No. 52, to protect the elderly and vulnerable. prgtoken I think the Senator speaking on the other side of the aisle talking about s wanting to cut Medicare and Social Security has it a little backward. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, under current law Social Security's disability insurance trust fund will be exhausted by 2022 and its retirement fund will be exhausted by 2030. Once exhausted, Social Security beneficiaries could be subject to a cut in their benefits as high as 31 percent if we do nothing, unless we fix these programs. prgtoken The problem with the other side of the aisle right now is they don't want to fix these programs. If we adopt the Sanders amendment, it will make it difficult to actually go in and reform these programs in a manner that will make sure they survive for future generations. prgtoken We all know we have to have entitlement reform. We want to do it in a way that protects future generations. Unless we reform these programs-- and they go in 2022 and 2030--if these benefits are exhausted, people might be subjected to a 31-percent cut. That is not what we want. That is why we have to go in and reform them, and that is why we need to adopt my amendment. prgtoken With that, .
CABINET NOMINATIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-1-10

Senate committees have been working for many weeks to process President-Elect 's Cabinet nominations. I commend the committees and their staffs for their very hard work. Now we begin the next phase of this process with committee hearings. In fact, it just began this morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee. prgtoken I would like to say a word about our colleague from Alabama. Each of us knows Senator Sessions. We have worked with him. We know he cares about his country and the Department he will be tasked to lead. We know he is a forthright colleague, an experienced lawyer, and someone who believes strongly in the rule of law. We know that he will reach across the aisle as well. prgtoken He supported President 's first Attorney General nominee, Eric Holder. He worked with our late colleague Ted Kennedy on prison reform. He worked with our current colleague Senator Durbin on sentencing reform. prgtoken Senator Durbin, in fact, noted that Senator Sessions is ``a man of his word.'' Senator Leahy called him ``wonderful to work with.'' Senator Schumer, the ic leader, said he is ``straightforward and fair.'' prgtoken Let me quote from a former ic Senate colleague who knows Senator Sessions after having served with him for 16 years: I always found Jeff to be an honorable and trustworthy person, a smart and good lawyer, and a thoughtful and open- minded listener. prgtoken He then continued with this: I believe that he will be a principled, fair, and capable Attorney General. If I was in the Senate today, I would vote ``aye'' on his nomination. prgtoken That is the former ic candidate for Vice President of the United States, Senator Joe Lieberman. prgtoken But it is not just our ic colleagues who have praise for Senator Sessions. Let me read another letter from one of Senator Sessions' constituents in Alabama, Albert F. Turner, Jr. Here is what he had to say: My family and I have literally been on the front line of the fight for civil rights my whole life. I believe that [Senator Sessions] is someone with whom I, and others in the civil rights community, can work with if given the opportunity. I believe that he will listen, as he has in the past, to the concerns of my community. More than most I am very familiar with him. I believe he will be fair in his application of the law and the Constitution; as such I support his nomination to be the next Attorney General of the United States. prgtoken Now, a lot of unfair things have been said about our colleague from Alabama in recent weeks. I am glad he is finally getting the chance to show Americans and the committee the Senator Sessions we all know and serve with. I look forward to the Senate's fair treatment of our colleague's forthcoming nomination, just as it fairly processed an incoming President 's pick for Attorney Gen
SMALL BUSINESS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-1-10

I rise today to express my support of H.R. 288, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act. In 2015, the FCC adopted burdensome transparency requirements for Internet service providers. The FCC immediately recognized that these new transparency requirements would be particularly burdensome for small Internet service providers, so they provided a temporary exemption for providers with 100,000 or fewer subscribers. Despite overwhelming support to make the exemption permanent, the Commission extended the current exemption for just an additional year. prgtoken The bill eases the burdens created by the FCC rule by extending the exemption to Internet service providers who have 250,000 subscribers or less and extends the exemption for 5 years. prgtoken This is commonsense legislation. This bill provides relief and certainty to Internet service providers so they can continue to build networks, deploy broadband, improve connectivity for rural consumers, and create jobs. prgtoken I commend Chairman Walden for championing this legislation so that we can continue to grow our infrastructure and improve connectivity for rural Americans.
LEVERAGING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 2017
John Ratcliffe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-1-10

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , again, I am pleased that the House is today considering H.R. 240, the Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2017. prgtoken H.R. 240 encourages engagement between the Department of Homeland Security and technology innovators, including startups. This bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to proactively engage with innovative and emerging technology developers and firms to address our vital Homeland Security needs. prgtoken Additionally, H.R. 240 provides the Secretary with the authority to identify geographic areas in the United States where high concentrations of these innovative and emerging technology developers and firms exist and to establish personnel and office space in these areas to more effectively collaborate with these technology hubs. The Federal Government certainly needs to do a better job working with the private sector, and H.R. 240 will help to address that. prgtoken , this bill also requires the Secretary to develop and to implement a targeted strategy to proactively engage innovative and emerging technology developers and firms. prgtoken Under this bill, the Secretary must use the strategic plan to address existing barriers to leveraging innovative and emerging technologies, and the small businesses and startup ventures that create those technologies, and to incorporate them into the Department's acquisition process. prgtoken For example, in order to keep pace, the Department of Homeland Security has established an office in Silicon Valley to encourage engagement and communication with the innovative technology developers in that area. Although it is a vital technology hub, Silicon Valley certainly is not the only technology hub in the United States. The Department should not be limited to a single geographic area from which to identify these emerging and innovative technologies. prgtoken , all Americans are learning that cybersecurity is national security. The impacts of cyber intrusions are being felt everywhere, from boardroom tables to kitchen tables. We have seen them undermine consumer confidence and damage a company's hard-earned reputation in just a couple of seconds. Cybersecurity is a complex and serious issue that our Nation will have to address for decades to come. So it only makes sense for us to require the Department to consider strategically just how it will engage these technology developers to strengthen the Department's ability to access innovative and emerging technologies to better combat evolving cyber threats. prgtoken I am happy to support this measure today because I believe it will move us forward, further addressing our homeland security needs by supporting technology innovation. I urge Members to join me in supporting this important bill. prgtoken , .
TESTED ABILITY TO LEVERAGE EXCEPTIONAL NATIONAL TALENT ACT OF 2017
Will Hurd (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-1-10

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Today, I am urging my colleagues to support H.R. 39, the TALENT Act, introduced by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. This bill passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote in the 114th Congress, and I am glad to be part of the team working to enact this important legislation into law. prgtoken The TALENT Act makes permanent the Presidential Innovation Fellows program that was created in 2012. This highly competitive program recruits talented, private sector innovators and technologists from across the United States. prgtoken Presidential Innovation Fellows serve in the Washington, D.C area for 12 months at an executive agency. These agencies include the Department of Energy, NASA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. prgtoken Fellows bring with them their experience in the private sector to help government turn ideas into tangible results that ultimately benefit the American people. Since 2012, at least 96 top innovators have participated in the program. prgtoken Past and current fellows have come from companies large and small and hold degrees from top universities across the country. They have won a variety of awards, including Fulbright scholarships, Silicon Valley Business Journal's 40 Under 40 recognition, and Truman National Security Project fellowships. These fellows truly are the best and the brightest the United States has to offer, and they seek to utilize their skills for the American people. prgtoken Presidential Innovation Fellows are giving the Federal Government the tools it needs to successfully operate in the 21st century. Previous projects completed by fellows include Uncle Sam's List. Fellows created a database to offer a centralized information center in which agencies can forgo buying new commodity IT and support services in favor of existing services provided by the Federal agencies. This program has saved an estimated $2.5 billion, and it is helping government become more effective and efficient. prgtoken I commend Majority Leader McCarthy for the work to bring this innovation to the government. Again, I urge support for this bill. prgtoken .