mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-4

I rise once again in strong opposition to H.R. 1628, which is a bill to take away health care from 24 million Americans. prgtoken Whether you believe it or not, health care is a basic right. prgtoken This shameful bill steals from the most vulnerable among us, including seniors, veterans, people living with HIV, children, and the disabled. And this new bill is even more dangerous and destructive than when they brought it to the Floor last time. prgtoken It would, yes, rip away health care from 24 million people. It would reduce benefits, make families pay more for less, and transfer $600 billion in tax cuts to the very wealthy. prgtoken This is outrageous. prgtoken Access to women's health is denied by defunding Planned Parenthood. Medicaid, as we know it, will end. Healthcare costs for working families and seniors will skyrocket. prgtoken It allows states to eliminate essential health benefits like maternity care, cancer screenings, and emergency care. prgtoken , this is not a health bill at all. This is a massive tax giveaway to the wealthy. prgtoken Let me tell you, as a woman of faith, I am appalled and I am saddened by the hypocrisy displayed in this bill by people who say they are religious. prgtoken I want to remind you--in the Scriptures, the Book of Mark, chapter 12:31, we are reminded to love your neighbor as yourself. prgtoken I hope s remember to love their neighbor as themselves today and vote ``no'' on this mean-spirited, evil and morally bankrupt bill. prgtoken This is a matter of life and death, and the American people deserve better.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-4

I strongly oppose this bill. We all should. Protecting ACA is the top issue for my constituents. Constituents like Leslie Gauthier who, without the protections of the ACA, would not have gotten the treatment for leukemia that she was diagnosed just at the age of 22. prgtoken Leslie is now in remission thanks to Care. For Leslie, the ACA protections like essential health benefits were a matter of life and death. This bill would destroy those patient protections. prgtoken Under the ACA in my district: a 5-percent drop in uninsured rates; subsidies based on income and region and not on age; Medicaid Expansion covering of 156,000 people will be lost. prgtoken The President promised not to cut Medicaid. This bill guts it by $880 billion. This bill is a gut punch to America. Pregnant women seeking health care, kicked to the curb. Patients with preexisting conditions, kicked to the curb. Senior citizens who will have to pay more for less, kicked to curb. Over 24 million people, including 6.5 million Latinos, kicked to the curb. prgtoken , we demand s stop kicking to the curb Americans. Stop this bill.
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-4

how tragic it is that before House s skip town, they will steal from Medicare, pass an age tax on older Americans, say that children with autism are a preexisting condition, and tell folks: If you have diabetes, you are paying $5,600 more. prgtoken This morning, I heard from many hospitals, doctors, and nurses across Illinois. They know what families need to be taken care of and to be healthy. They do not believe that stripping 24 million Americans of their health insurance is in the best interests of our national health. prgtoken To my eight Illinois colleagues on the side of the aisle, if you vote ``yes'' on this bill, the eight of you own its aftermath in our State; you own the 47,000 jobs that you will kill; you own the health of the million-plus Illinoisans who will be stripped of their health insurance. prgtoken Let's kill this horrific bill and work together to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-5-4

s now control all of our government. Whatever happens to our healthcare system will be their responsibility, including what has already happened since January with the destabilizing of our insurance markets and health plans announcing rate hikes due to uncertainty. prgtoken They will be held accountable for what happens. Today, Americans will have an opportunity to see exactly where their Representatives stand. This vote is a simple one. It votes to kick 24 million Americans off of their health insurance coverage. I don't say that; CBO says that, which is perhaps why we don't have a CBO report on the amendment. It includes 7 million people who are covered through their employers. prgtoken It is a vote to make coverage unaffordable for one in four Americans with preexisting conditions and ration care through high-risk pools. prgtoken It is a vote to impose an age tax on older Americans, some $1,700 to $14,600. That is quite a hike. prgtoken It is a vote to force Americans to pay more for less, to raise premiums 24 to 29 percent, on average, over each of the next 2 years. CBO says that, not me. prgtoken And no matter how s try to spin it, healthcare advocates from the AMA to AARP, to everybody that follows, have said that it ends protections for those with preexisting conditions. prgtoken I repeat: It ends protections for those with preexisting conditions. prgtoken I repeat again: It ends protections for those with preexisting conditions. prgtoken It takes away essential health benefits, like doctor visits, emergency room visits, and prescription drugs. So this, , will be a very instructive vote. It will show the American people if s stand with those who don't want to lose their coverage, some 55 percent now and 75 percent saying fix it, don't repeal it--or if they stand with a President who wants to claim a victory, but doesn't even seem to know what his own Care bill says. prgtoken I recommend, as a political strategist who is concerned about 2018, that you once again withdraw this bill. Instead, we ought to work together to make sure that the Affordable Care Act works for all Americans, and deliver on the promise that President made--and made from that rostrum--when he said that he wanted ``insurance for everybody;'' not kick 24 million off, ``for everybody;'' not make seniors pay more, ``for everybody;'' not to put Medicaid at risk, ``for everybody'' that is ``far less expensive and far better.'' prgtoken , I urge my colleagues: Come to your senses, defeat this bill.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-4

I include in the Record a letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, which states that this legislation will dramatically cut Medicaid services that are vital to people with disabilities and seniors. Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, April 28, 2017. Dear Member of Congress: The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is strongly opposed to the amended American Health Care Act. The amended American Health Care Act retains the original bill's proposals to dramatically but Medicaid services that are vital to people with disabilities and seniors through per capita caps, which CCD has opposed. The new amendments--including permitting states to seek waivers from the protections for people with pre-existing conditions and from the requirement to provide essential health benefits--makes the amended AHCA even more harmful to people with disabilities. We urge you to oppose this legislation. Medicaid provides services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees living with disabilities. For many people with disabilities, being able to access timely needed care is a life or death matter. The American Health Care Act changes the way that the Federal Government funds Medicaid--rather than paying states based on the actual costs of healthcare for people in Medicaid, it sets a cap on the amount of federal support, a cap that is totally unrelated to the actual costs of needed care for enrollees. This cap is designed to cut Medicaid, and the bill uses those cuts to pay for unrelated tax cuts. Slashing federal support for Medicaid, which is already a lean program, will force states to cut services and eligibility that put the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities at significant risk. The newest amendments to the American Health Care Act make the bill even more harmful to people with disabilities. The new amendments would allow states to easily obtain waivers, that would allow them to charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing conditions, including people with disabilities. They also would allow states to seek waivers from the Affordable Care Act's requirement to provide essential health benefits, including crucial services for people with disabilities such as mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management, and pediatric services. These waivers jeopardize the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with pre-existing c
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-4

s are turning their backs on the American people today. There are no guarantees with this bill. This bill will raise costs for families, penalize people nearing retirement with an age tax, and rip coverage away from millions of Americans. prgtoken And if that wasn't bad enough, this revised Care bill guts protections for people with preexisting conditions; people like Cameron, who was diagnosed with cancer at 24 years old. Because of the Affordable Care Act, he was able to access coverage and attend graduate school. Now, of course, he has a preexisting condition. prgtoken This is personal for Cameron and millions more in this country, and they are not going to be silent as s rush this legislation through. prgtoken , lives are on the line. I urge my colleagues to have the courage to vote ``no'' on this legislation.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Colleen Hanabusa (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-5-4

I rise in strong opposition to the Care Act. I am fortunate to have been born and raised in Hawaii where we are taught to never forget our seniors, our kupuna. prgtoken AARP, with a national membership of 38 million and over 150,000 in Hawaii, remains steadfastly opposed to Care. The amendment proposed today makes the bill worse. And for our kupuna in Hawaii and nationally, they will have no relief from the age tax. prgtoken This chart shows how much more at age 64 a person will pay in premiums, almost $6,800 in Hawaii where we have one of the best health cares. A 55-year-old will see a premium increase of almost $3,600 a year. Why? What did the seniors do that Care wants to penalize them and pay such a premium when they are moving towards retirement? Care is out to get those 50 to 64 with this terrible age tax. prgtoken Vote against H.R. 1628. These numbers will not be different in your districts.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-4

the s have rushed this bill to the floor before they even had a chance to print the text, let alone get a CBO score. They are pushing this bill through without any analysis so that the American people won't know how terrible this bill really is-- how many millions of people will lose their health insurance, how much premiums will skyrocket for those with pre-existing conditions, how little money they will actually save. And all to score empty political points or to impress , a man who has demonstrated again and again that he does not know or care what is in this bill, and just wants to ``win.'' prgtoken This bill is the same terrible legislation the s failed to pass in March, but with amendments to make it even more cruel to the American people. The bill will kick 24 million people off their health insurance and eliminate employer-provided coverage for seven million people. The bill creates an ``age tax'' that would allow insurers to charge older Americans five times as much as a younger person for the same plan. The bill raises premiums 30 percent for people who allow their insurance to lapse for any reason. The bill cuts $880 billion out of Medicad and forces states to ration care to the millions of families and children who rely on it, in clear violation of 's campaign pledge. The bill gives the wealthiest Americans a trillion dollar tax cut and cuts taxes on drug companies and health insurance companies that pay their CEOs more than $500,000. prgtoken But that bill wasn't terrible enough to get the votes of the right wing of the s in the House, so the s made it even crueler. The amendments the s will add today allow states to waive the essential health benefits requirements for insurance plans, meaning you could lose coverage for services as basic as hospital stays, prescription drugs, or doctor visits. States will also be able to waive the guarantee against discrimination against people with pre- existing conditions. Of course, the s are saying that insurance companies cannot deny people coverage, but insurers will be able to charge people whatever they want. The Center for American Progress estimates that premiums could increase by over $36,000 per year for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Pregnancy will result in a $17,000 increase in premiums. Asthma, a $4,000 increase. The high risk pools s are touting will do nothing to protect people by sequestering the sickest Americans in pools and then drastically underfunding them. The s are hiding from these numbers behind the so-called Upton Amendment, which provides a paltry $8 billion to cover some extra costs for those with pre-existing conditions. But even the conservative Mercatus Foundation found that to be less than a pittance compared with the skyrocketing costs for those who need it. prgtoken Every day, we are finding new egregious consequ
HIRE VETS ACT--Continued
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-5-4

I support the Omnibus appropriations bill before us today. While this bill is not perfect, it is a strong statement of priorities, especially in light of the misguided and dangerous cuts that President proposed for fiscal year 2018. prgtoken As a new member of the Appropriations Committee, I thank the chairman and vice chairman and their staffs for their thoughtful work on this bill and their careful consideration of Senators' requests and priorities. prgtoken This bill contains many critical investments for my home State of Maryland, including maintenance for the Port of Baltimore, millions for the Chesapeake Bay Program and other programs that support Bay clean- up, a $6 million increase for the Appalachian Regional Commission, $125 million for the Purple Line, and full funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The bill also contains a critical down payment for the consolidation of the FBI headquarters and a commitment to full funding in fiscal year 2018. Prince George's County, MD, is home to two of the sites in contention to house the headquarters and the FBI's nearly 11,000 employees. prgtoken While President as proposed cuts to medical research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, this omnibus bill increases funding by $2 billion to find new cures and treatments. The bill continues critical NASA missions that are being worked on in Maryland, including the PACE Program, earth science, and the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. While the bill cuts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it does so less than what the administration has proposed, and it continues funding for the Joint Polar Satellite System weather satellite program and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program, which will help improve weather forecasting and warn about natural disasters. There is also important funding for oceanic and atmospheric research and the Sea Grant program, which has been a partner in Chesapeake Bay restoration. The bill slightly increases National Science Foundation funding and supports critical energy research at the Department of Energy. While funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology received a small cut, the final funding level is higher than what the House of Representatives initially proposed, and the bill includes support for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. prgtoken We were also able to preserve funding in this bill that communities across Maryland use to support economic development, affordable housing, and safety. That includes the Community Development Block Grant, TIGER transportation grants, housing vouchers and housing capital funds, the HOME Partnership Program, Community Oriented Policing grants, and SAFER and FIRE grants for firefighters. I am pleased that this bill includes investments to improve relationships betw
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT
Michael F. Doyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-5-4

for the past 7 years we have had 62 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but s have never once put a plan on the floor for the American people. Well, today, we all get a chance to go on record of where we stand on this bill, this shameful, cruel bill. prgtoken Here are the facts: 24 million Americans are going to lose their insurance if this bill becomes law. Over $839 billion gets cut out of the Medicaid program. The essential benefit package in States, wiped out. In my State, it is taking care of people with mental illness and opioid addiction; gone. This takes $117 billion out of the Medicare trust fund. prgtoken This is a healthcare bill--this is really a tax bill masquerading as a healthcare bill. The plan here is to take this money out of the healthcare system and use it for tax cuts. That is what this bill is going to do. prgtoken This creates a survival-of-the-fittest health care for America. If you are young, if you are healthy, if you are wealthy, this bill is for you; you are going to do okay. But if you are old, if you are sick, if you are poor, there is no coverage in this bill for you. prgtoken If you have a young child with cancer, guess what, those benefits aren't going to be paid. You are going to run out of benefits. prgtoken These high-risk pools are a sham. They are not adequately funded. This bill must be defeated. The American people will remember who votes for this bill today.
HIRE VETS ACT--Continued
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-5-4

many, many thanks to the leader for his kind remarks. prgtoken The final bill was negotiated by the big four--the two leaders in the Senate and the two leaders in the House. It was not going to happen this way unless the leaders all agreed, so my profound thanks on behalf of the explorers and the adventurers of the United States--the ``can do'' little agency, NASA, that is now on its way to Mars. prgtoken On behalf of all of the NASA family, I thank the leaders and especially the ic leader. A personal thanks for his very kind comments. prgtoken , we have approached the NASA bill in a bipartisan way. As a matter of fact, I give great credit to both the chairs and the ranking members on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, as well as on the subcommittee on appropriations in the House that handles NASA appropriations. All of those leaders were absolutely key. prgtoken Of course, the same thing is true here in the Senate. As the ranking member, I have the privilege of sharing the leadership with our chairman, John Thune, on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. It is that subcommittee's chairman and ranking member, as well as the chairman and ranking member from the subcommittee on the Appropriations Committee, from whom we will hear momentarily--to all of them, I am very grateful. prgtoken What it says is that NASA--America's civilian space program--should not be a partisan subject. What it says is that the leaders of NASA should not be partisans. As a matter of fact, they should even be more than bipartisans--they should be nonpartisans. That has been the tradition of NASA's, so like that of the Secretary of Defense. One considers that appointment to be a nonpartisan. So, too, we consider the Administrator of NASA to be a nonpartisan. I think, in this interim, with the Acting Administrator of NASA, that they are conducting themselves in a very significant way in keeping all of the advancements that they have done but that are now to be accelerated with this appropriations bill. prgtoken I congratulate the whole NASA team. It has been my argument to the Vice President and to the President that in the selection of the next leader of NASA, they need to do it in a nonpartisan way so that we can keep going for this human mission that is going to the planet Mars in the decade of the 2030s. prgtoken With the increase in NASA funding, we now stand on the precipice of a new golden age of exploration and discovery. In March of this year, several of us were at the White House when the President signed the NASA authorization bill. What we have worked on for the better part of 2 years keeps NASA on a steady course, with a balanced and ambitious mix of science, technology, and exploration initiatives. Let's not forget that the first ``A'' in ``NASA'' is ``aeronautics.'' It keeps all of that moving forward. prgtoken This additional $368 million of funding for NASA