mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONFIRMATION OF MARVIN KAPLAN
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-8-3

I voted in opposition to the nomination of Marvin Kaplan to the National Labor Relations Board, NLRB. The NLRB has an important responsibility to resolve labor disputes, protect worker rights, and ensure fair access to collective bargaining. Mr. Kaplan does not have experience arguing the law before the NLRB; rather, he has a history of working to erode its authority to protect the workforce. prgtoken As a staffer on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Mr. Kaplan has worked on legislation to overturn key NLRB decisions and delay and distort the union election process. He has provided no assurance that he would recuse himself from issues pertaining to his prior work that might lead to bias. Throughout his career, he has pursued policies that would undermine worker protections. He should not be appointed to a board that is charged with safeguarding them. prgtoken President has repeatedly promised to put the American worker first. The NLRB has a key role to ensure a fair deal for workers. It is unfortunate that the President's nominees for the Board have not demonstrated a commitment to that mission.
FDA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-8-3

today, the Senate passed the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017, FDARA, to reauthorize user fees and other programs at the FDA to ensure that new, safe, and effective treatments get to patients in need as quickly as possible to save lives and greatly increase quality of life. While I have long preferred that Congress appropriate funding to the FDA for this purpose to avoid any conflicts of interest, I have supported user fee bills and will do so again today, as it represents a bipartisan pathway for timely drug approvals. I am pleased that this legislation increases the amount of funding that drug and device companies will contribute to the approval process. However, I am disappointed that this legislation does not address drug pricing in a comprehensive way, as I have long advocated. I will continue to work with my colleagues to press for Senate action on this critical issue. prgtoken FDARA includes a number of key provisions I worked on to improve the pipeline for new pediatric drugs and devices. In particular, this legislation will reauthorize funding for critical pediatric programs such as pediatric clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health and the Pediatric Device Consortia grants under the FDA. In addition, this legislation will spur more pediatric drug development because of critical reforms to require drug companies to begin consideration of pediatric studies earlier in the drug development process. FDARA also takes important steps to spur drug development for and better consideration of the needs of neonates, recognizing that treatments for infants must be considered differently than for teenagers. prgtoken Having worked for many years to improve access to care for children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors, I am also pleased to support the bill's new requirements for more pediatric studies on treatments for cancer. These provisions are designed to spur new and better treatments for children suffering from cancer. However, I believe that we should be making these changes to support new treatments for all diseases impacting children, not just those with cancer. While we were unable to go that far in this bill, we were able to add a study of this issue. I look forward to seeing the results and working with my colleagues to expand these requirements in subsequent legislation. I am also concerned that this legislation does nothing to limit the ability of drug companies to benefit from exemptions from current pediatric study requirements. I filed an amendment to FDARA to close the most egregious of these loopholes in which a drug company can technically be exempted from pediatric study requirements because the treatment would only be used for a rare pediatric condition. I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle could agree that this loophole must be closed. prgtoken FDARA is an important step forward and an example of strong bi
FDA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017--MOTION TO PROCEED
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-8-3

I want to start this morning's presentation on the floor of the Senate with a question. What is the most heavily subsidized private business in America--the for-profit business that receives more Federal subsidies than any other? Is it a defense contractor? No. Is it some farming operation? No. prgtoken The most heavily subsidized for-profit, private business in America today is for-profit colleges and universities. Why? Because the revenue they receive from the Federal Government accounts for 85, 90, 95 percent or more of all of the revenue they take in. How can that possibly be? How could you run a private for-profit business and have a Federal subsidy of 98 percent? How is that possible? prgtoken Here is how it works. A student graduates from high school. The student applies to a for-profit college or university. The for-profit college or university accepts the student on the condition that the student sign over Pell grants--Federal money--and the student's Federal Government loan. The student signs over the Pell grant, signs over the loan, and is enrolled in the school. prgtoken This for-profit school now is home free. They admitted the student. They received all the money from the student, and the student is headed for classes. It works only if the student, at the end of the day, ends up with some value in their education--some experience that helps them go on to get a job to pay off their student loans. prgtoken It turns out that, in too many instances, for-profit colleges and universities entice these young people into signing up for classes that are worthless. They end up not preparing them for any job. Now they are in a terrible fix. If they finish the course, they have a heavy, large student debt and they end up in a position where they can't get a job and pay it off. prgtoken How often does this happen? Think of three numbers. So 9 percent of students graduating from high school today in America go to for-profit colleges and universities. What am I talking about--for-profit? There is the University of Phoenix, DeVry, Rasmussen, and the list goes on and on. So 9 percent of high school students go to these schools, and 20 percent or more of Federal aid to education goes to these schools. Why? Because the tuition they charge is so high. But here is the kicker: 35 percent, one out of three students in America who defaults on their student loans has attended these for-profit colleges and universities. prgtoken We decided under the previous administration, the administration, to start asking some hard questions. How are these for- profit colleges and universities enticing these students in? What are they saying to them to bring them in to sign up for classes and for their student loans? prgtoken Secondly, if the students finish their degrees at these for-profit colleges and universities, how likely are they to end up with a job that is worth something--a job that allows them to pay back
FDA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-8-3

I am pleased the Senate advanced H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation ensures Americans will continue to have access to safe medications and the FDA has the tools they need to continue our Nation's approval process remains the gold standard. I am also pleased to see tropical disease priority review voucher state that a sponsor qualifies for a neglected tropical disease priority review voucher under existing law until September 30, 2017, so long as they submit at least one portion of a human drug application by that date. prgtoken I would like to ask Senator Isakson if it is our intention to allow for sponsors who have been working in good faith with the Food and Drug Administration on a human drug application for a product that addresses a neglected tropical disease to qualify for a priority review voucher, as long as they begin a rolling submission to the agency by September 30, 2017?
RACE FOR CHILDREN ACT
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-8-3

I feel sorry for the Presiding Officer. This is the second time in a week he has had to listen to me talk on the floor. prgtoken from Nebraska for her graciousness in letting me go first. prgtoken America, the Senate has passed the bill. We passed the bill. Today, the Senate passed the RACE for Children Act as part of the FDA user fee bill. prgtoken The RACE Act represents a breakthrough for kids fighting cancer. Each year, over 15,000 children will be diagnosed with the disease; 2,000 will lose their lives. prgtoken Across America, pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death for our children. Previously, companies with new treatments for adults studied their potential benefits for kids. Companies exploring medication for adult diabetes, for example, also researched its potential for use in children. This research is vital because it provides critical information to doctors for treating sick children. Specifically, it helps them ensure that the treatments and dosages they prescribe are safe for young bodies. But there was a gap in the law as it existed before we passed this law. prgtoken Drug companies with new, precision medicine for adult cancers did not have to study possible value for pediatric cancers. That meant our kids continued to receive older treatments--some from the 1960s--which often had harmful side effects and consequences that can last a lifetime. prgtoken At the same time, breakthrough treatments have become available for adults, with better results and fewer harmful effects. While these treatments have great promise for kids, we were not doing enough to explore that potential. prgtoken Over the last 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved 190 new cancer treatments for adults but just 3 new treatments for children. The FDA saw that gap, and they asked us to close it. That is precisely what the RACE for Children Act will do. For the first time in the country's history, it would require drug companies to study the potential of promising adult cancer treatments for children, closing this gap in the law and opening the door to promising new treatments for children in need. prgtoken Before this bill, thousands of kids in America lacked access to cutting-edge treatments and precision medicine that could have made the difference in their struggle against cancer. prgtoken During my time in the Senate, I have seen the anguish of too many parents who learned not only that their child has cancer but that they have little or no options for treatment. This bill will give them more options. It will give them more hope. prgtoken For Delaney from Grand Junction, CO, this bill could have been lifesaving. She battled cancer for over 5 years but passed away a year ago when she was out of treatment options. I wish to dedicate our work on this bill to her and to all kids who are bravely battling cancer day in and day out around the world. prgtoken We also should ded
FDA Reauthorization Bill (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-8-3

I want to say I am really pleased we are moving forward on the FDA Reauthorization Act today. This is really a great example about how Congress can actually work together on health issues and compromise and solve challenges by putting patients and families first. prgtoken As my colleagues well know, these so-called user fee agreements are essential to supporting FDA's operation and mission. They allow FDA to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century technology and the movement toward precision medicine, and they help ensure that FDA upholds the gold standard of approval while evaluating new drugs and devices efficiently. Put simply, passing the FDA Reauthorization Act is absolutely necessary if Congress wants to advance safe, effective prgtoken and innovative medical products for patients and families across the country. prgtoken I would add, when we pass this reauthorization today, more than 5,000 employees at FDA will be able to continue their critical work without worry of interruption, employees that worked every day to protect the health and families and advance medical innovations to patients. prgtoken So I am really pleased to have worked alongside the chairman of our HELP Committee, the Senior Senator from Tennessee, and all of our colleagues on and off the committee to bring to the floor these finalized agreements. prgtoken They truly reflect years of negotiations between FDA and the industry, incorporate input from patient and consumer groups, and support some of our most urgent priorities: restructuring the generic drug user fees, building up the Biosimilars Program, making sure patients' perspectives are considered in drug and device development, and advancing many of the policies we passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. prgtoken In addition to those agreements, the FDA Reauthorization Act includes priorities and provisions from Members across the political spectrum, so I again want to thank Chairman Alexander and all my colleagues, in particular, Senators Casey, Franken, and Warren, on their work to improve medical device safety; Senators Hassan and Young on their provision to get better information to providers about opioids; Senators McCaskill, Franken, and Collins for their commitment to improving the generic drug market; and Senators Bennet, Van Hollen, and Rubio for their drive to get new medicine for kids with cancer. prgtoken I really want to thank my staff and Chairman Alexander's staff who worked so well together over months of hard work to get this done. prgtoken , this bill advances several significant bipartisan priorities I am proud to support. As many know, the HELP Committee has a strong tradition of bipartisan success in these user fee agreements, and I am very proud to say we have kept it this way. I think this bill not only improves FDA, but it also shows that when we work together with a common goal, we can get things done and make progress
227TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-8-3

on August 4, the U.S. Coast Guard will celebrate its 227th anniversary. On this special occasion, I want to commend the men and women of the Coast Guard for their valiant service on, under, and over our Nation's high seas and waters. prgtoken They have a proud history. prgtoken Most Americans know the Coast Guard for its orange and white helicopters, fast small boats, cutters, and rescue swimmers, but they probably don't know that the Coast Guard is one of our country's oldest institutions of the U.S. Government. prgtoken On August 4, 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, authorizing construction of the first 10 cutters of what would eventually become the Coast Guard. They were known as the revenue cutters, and their original mission was to enforce tariffs and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. For more than a hundred years, the cutters and their crew operated under the names Revenue Marine Service and the Revenue Cutter Service. Not until 1915, when Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service, did the Coast Guard gets its name. prgtoken Over time, the Coast Guard has become synonymous with saving those in peril on the sea. Their wide red bar and narrow blue bar, canted at 64 degrees, will always be a sign of assistance to mariners in danger. prgtoken Today, in times of peace, the Coast Guard operates as a part of the Department of Homeland Security, performing its 11 critical, statutory missions. prgtoken Right now, there are courageous young men and women aboard buoy tenders and icebreakers, ensuring our waterways remain open for commerce. Fast response cutters patrol the seas, enforcing the law and conducting search-and-rescue missions. Small boat stations enforce our laws while educating the public on safe-boating practices. As a ready and capable partner to a multitude of Federal, State, and local agencies, the Coast Guard does so much more, from responding to oil spills to combating drug trafficking. prgtoken In times of war or at the direction of the President, the Coast Guard valiantly serves as part of the Navy Department. prgtoken As you can see, the Coast Guard is a small but mighty organization. As ranking member of the Commerce Committee, I have had the privilege to meet many of the men and women of our Coast Guard and see their valuable work firsthand. prgtoken Through all the passing decades, some things about the Coast Guard have always been the same: the service's proud tradition and the skill and professionalism of its men and women whose sacrifices contribute to protecting our national security. The Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty are evident in everything it does. As the Coast Guard motto says, Semper Paratus, it is always ready for the call. prgtoken I want to congratulate and express our sincere gratitude to the men and women of the Coast Guard on 227 outstanding years of exemplary service to
Veterans Legislation (Executive Session)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2017-8-3

. Thank you, . prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Isakson for his work on the VA Committee. We have gotten a lot of work done the first part of this Congress because we communicated. We haven't put up artificial barriers. We sat down and all realized taking care of our veterans is the cost of war. We need to do it and live up to the promises of these folks when they signed up. We have done pretty good work. prgtoken It is not only Johnny. It is not only myself. It is also the people who have served on that committee, many in the Chamber right now. I want to thank them for their commitment to making sure we live up to the promises we made our veterans, but it is about working together. It is about talking to folks. It is about compromise. It is about not digging in but moving together. This is a great country, and it was built by people working together. prgtoken The VA Committee is a prime example of people working together. We set aside our differences. We listened to the veterans service organizations. We let them drive the bus, to an extent. We worked with Secretary Shulkin and other leaders within the VA. We have been transparent. We have been honest when we disagreed. We haven't embarrassed one another. Quite frankly, this is the way it can work in this body when we start from a point of agreement rather than disagreement. prgtoken We have two bills already signed into law: an accountability bill, which holds VA employees accountable to the veterans, fires bad employees, protects whistleblowers; and the Veterans Choice Improvement Act, which makes VA the prime payer and reduces out-of-pocket expenses for veterans. Then, the bills passed last night to take care of the disability appeals, some 470,000--we are going to expedite that process and bring it down from 3 years to 1 year. prgtoken The VA will do that. We will give them the tools to do that. It will simplify it and cut the redtape. prgtoken Veterans Choice funding is a fix to allow the private sector to fill in the gaps where the VA can't provide healthcare. It will help recruit and retain more doctors and nurses, critically important, and it expands the capacity in the VA, which is critically important. prgtoken Then there is the ``Forever'' GI bill which eliminates the 15-year limit. It breaks down educational barriers and helps veterans transition into civilian life. prgtoken We have done some good work. We have done some good work for this body. We have done some good work, more importantly, for the veterans, and we need to continue on that line as we continue to address healthcare and we continue to address important issues like tax reform. It is about working together. It is about finding common ground. It is about taking everybody's opinion into context and then drafting up bills. prgtoken Chairman Isakson and I have done that, and we are going to continue to do that. We have some more tough issues to deal with over the next year and a
FDA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017--MOTION TO PROCEED
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-8-3

as the Senate wraps up its work this week, I have been in multiple discussions with my friend the majority leader about clearing nominations with bipartisan support, and we have made significant progress. Now that we have moved past the terrible process used on healthcare, I hope we can get back to our normal way of legislating and clearing noncontroversial nominees. The two are tied together. They can't avoid regular order when they want to and say that should use regular order whenever they want us to. prgtoken Now that healthcare is done, I think we can tie the two together--the normal way of legislating, clearing noncontroversial nominees as we move forward in September. Of course, controversial nominees will still require the proper vetting, but I am committed to help move noncontroversial, bipartisan nominees forward. prgtoken I hope the fever is breaking. There is a real desire in this body to move past the acrimony of the healthcare debate and get to a place where we can work together to advance legislation that helps the American people. I am hopeful that the discussions between the leader and me will produce a package of nominees we can confirm today. Tax Reform prgtoken , the leader has said that the next big issue this body will take up is taxes. were excluded from even participating in healthcare discussions from the very first day of Congress, a process that ultimately ended in failure. So we have made the first overture this time to show our friends we are serious about a bipartisan process on tax reform. We sent them a letter outlining three very basic principles. This is a guideline for our colleagues to come work with us. These are very simple principles that I think the vast majority of Americans would support. Let me say what they are. prgtoken First, the leader has said that he would pursue reconciliation again, a process that purposefully excludes almost again on the first day we begin to talk about tax reform. The majority leader brought down the curtain on bipartisan tax reform before a discussion between our two parties could even begin. He says that don't want to have a bipartisan discussion. Of course we do. We have said this over and over again until we are blue in the face, but I guess the majority leader somehow didn't like the three principles we laid out, and I would like him to specifically answer what it was. prgtoken We know he probably agrees, so which of these three principles does the majority leader disagree with? Tell us. Which of the three? We know he probably agrees with the third. Surely he can't think that a blunt budget tool that excludes 48 Members of the Senate is a good way to write legislation. He has said so many times himself. I quoted him yesterday. prgtoken He warned the Senate about becoming ``an assem