mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-7-22

I rise to speak about an issue that, candidly, we don't talk enough about around here, and that is the threat to the Affordable Care Act and the lawsuit that was filed and is now in a Federal court. This time, it is in the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. prgtoken Earlier this month, there were oral arguments. This case could be decided in a short timeframe, maybe even this fall. I guess, because it is not an issue that is being debated in the Halls of Congress by way of hearings or votes or otherwise, it doesn't get the attention it warrants. prgtoken This lawsuit, which is now a direct challenge to the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would be every bit as devastating and harmful as the repeal efforts that were undertaken two summers ago, in 2017, and the consequences of the success in that lawsuit would put the country in the same place it would have been had the repeal effort been successful. prgtoken If you want to simplify it, the Affordable Care Act has two parts to it. We know, for example, of the protections that were put in place in the Affordable Care Act, one was new protections, and the other was new coverage. So, roughly, 20 million people got coverage who didn't have coverage before. Most of those 20 million, at the time--or a higher number at least--were folks who had gained their healthcare coverage through Medicaid expansion. As we now know, Medicaid expansion has had a number of positive impacts on the American people. prgtoken It really came into force--came into effect--right in the middle of or in one of the early stages of our broader awareness of the opioid crisis, of the addiction crisis. Were it not for the expansion of Medicaid, a lot of people in my home State of Pennsylvania and around the country would not have had treatment for opioid misuse or for the broader category of substance use disorder conditions. Medicaid expansion has helped a lot of people with treatment, which is essential to freeing yourself from the grip of an addiction we have seen so often. prgtoken This lawsuit was successful in the district court. If it were to be affirmed, for example, in the Fifth Circuit, it would mean this court would declare the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional. The effect of that would be that Medicaid expansion would go away--protections for a much larger number of Americans, not simply those who need opioid treatment or treatment for opioid addictions or for substance use disorder conditions and not just for those who have been newly enrolled--for the roughly 20 million who have gotten coverage. prgtoken When you are talking about the protections, you are talking about a much larger number of Americans--maybe as high as 150 million Americans or more--who have protections not only in the circumstances in which they had preexisting conditions but also protections against capping the coverage one would get or the tre
Tribute to Judy Schneider (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-7-22

I rise to recognize and thank an extraordinary public servant, one who has contributed greatly to the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Next week, my constituent Judy Schneider will retire after a long and very distinguished career serving the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Congressional Research Service, where she has earned a reputation as one of the Nation's top experts on the workings of the Congress. She has joined us in the Gallery today, so I hope all my colleagues will make sure we pay attention and play by the rules. prgtoken When I was a new Member of Congress, a Member of the House of Representatives, one of my very first meetings was with Judy Schneider. I was proud Judy was my constituent in Maryland's Eighth Congressional District, and I was glad to have the benefit of her advice. Since then, I have sought her counsel many times during my years in the House and the Senate. prgtoken Judy's service at the Congressional Research Service has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the past four decades, she has educated hundreds of Members of Congress and their staff on congressional operations and procedures. As the author of numerous articles and the coauthor of the ``Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress,'' Judy's expertise on the intricacies of congressional structures and procedures is unmatched. Judy is known equally well for the positive personal impact she has had on each of her students. From giving lectures to countless conferences, to her ``Direct Connect to Congress'' series, Judy's impact has been far- reaching. Through her dynamic, informative, and humorous style, she has been described as having a life-changing impact on her students. prgtoken For her remarkable work, Judy Schneider has received a number of well-deserved and prestigious awards. She received the 1988 PLEN Mentor Award for her work educating and training women in public policy, a fellowship in the 108th Congress through the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership, and the Distinguished Member Award from Women in Government Relations. In 2015, Women in Government Relations created the Judy Schneider Fellowship in recognition of her efforts to educate women about congressional procedure and policy. Judy has mentored thousands of women, and this fellowship will ensure that her legacy is felt by many more. prgtoken Last year, Judy received the Lifetime Achievement in Democracy Award from the Congressional Management Foundation in recognition of her outstanding impact and important work in Congress. This award truly exemplifies the role Judy Schneider has played for so many of us. Her mission has always been clear. Because of her deep love for this institution and for our country, she has used her unique talents to try to help make our democracy work better. She has trained generations of staff and Members, including a number of staff who later became M
COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ``APOLLO 11'' MOON LANDING
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-7-22

. Madam , on July 20 our nation commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing. prgtoken I remember July 20, 1969, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin ``Buzz'' Aldrin became the first humans ever to land on the moon. prgtoken With the words ``the Eagle has Landed,'' their place in history was secured. prgtoken I hold the men and women who made that day possible in great regard for their tireless work to make it possible in my lifetime to see people depart our tiny blue planet and visit another world. prgtoken To young people listening today this may sound like science fiction, but for those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed the event it is science fact. prgtoken Since the beginning of mankind, we have been driven by curiosity and a wonder of what is next for humanity. prgtoken In 1865, Jules Verne's ``From the Earth to the Moon'' was published. ``From the Earth to the Moon,'' was a humorous science fantasy story about three members of a post-American Civil War gun club efforts to build a spaceship to the moon. prgtoken A little over a century later, the men and women of NASA made that science fiction story science fact. prgtoken People have wondered about our place in the cosmos for as long as we have been able to look up into the night sky and see the stars. prgtoken And of course, after witnessing the moon landing, we have been dared by our own sense of imagination and possibility to slip the surly bonds of earth, ascend to the heavens. prgtoken The visionary who made this possible was the nation's' youngest elected president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 36th President of the United States of America. prgtoken His election as president fired the imagination of a nation that was redefining its role on the world stage following World War II. prgtoken He said in his inaugural speech ``Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'' prgtoken President Kennedy understood that for freedom to prosper in the world America must lead the way and that we did not have a person to waste-- that we needed everyone's talents. prgtoken Most of all, John Kennedy was a man who never stopped thinking about tomorrow or working to realize the full promise of America. prgtoken And he understood that we all had a place in that future and a role to play in bringing it about. prgtoken John Kennedy believed there was nothing America could not achieve once it set its mind to it. prgtoken In September 1962, President Kennedy delivered his famous Moon Speech at Rice University in the city of Houston, Texas, and committed America to send a man to the moon and to bring him safely home before the end of the decade. prgtoken Asked why we should go to the moon, President Kennedy said: ``We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.'' prgtoken To anyone who might doubt America's ability to make good on this commitment, President Kennedy
HONORING THE CAREER OF JUDY SCHNEIDER
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor Judy Schneider who is retiring from the Congressional Research Service after over forty years of service on Capitol Hill. prgtoken Last year, when Judy Schneider received a lifetime achievement award from the Congressional Management Foundation, the Roll Call article on the event stated that ``hundreds of members of Congress know how to legislate because Judy Schneider taught them.'' If anything, that does not capture the extent and depth of Judy Schneider's influence on Congress and the legislative process. prgtoken Judy, who received both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from American University has also worked for the Senate Ethics Committee, the Senate Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System, and the House Commission on Administrative Review. She has been with CRS since 1979. She has also been active with Women in Government Relations, who recognized and honored her work through their program ``Direct Connect to Congress'' series by creating a fellowship in her name. prgtoken Congress depends on rules and precedents, decades and sometimes centuries old. We, as legislators, must rely upon guides and pathfinders to navigate the legislative process and to make sure that the institution operates as it should. There have been few, if any, guides and pathfinders as instrumental in serving this institution and in lighting the way for all of us to assist us in working to ensure that this nation meets the challenge of its promise. prgtoken I thank Judy Schneider for her years of service to all of us and wish her the very best in her retirement.
HONORING COLONEL L. OMAR LOMAS
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-7-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor Colonel L. Omar Lomas, an Army veteran, and a dedicated community leader. On July 18, 2019, he took command of 42D Military Police Brigade. prgtoken Colonel Lomas is a native of Texas's 15th Congressional District, born in McAllen, Texas. In 1996, he graduated from Texas State University, formerly known as Southwest Texas State, as a Distinguished Military Graduate through their ROTC program, earning his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. In August 1996, Colonel Lomas enlisted and served as an Army soldier in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. After serving, he obtained two Masters degrees, one in Business and Security Administration from Webster University and another in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Colonel Lomas engaged in a variety of impressive learning opportunities including the Military Police Officer Basic course, the Captain's Career course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Air Assault and Airborne courses, and the Army Force Management Course. prgtoken Colonel Lomas has honorably served in key leadership roles in our military; serving as a Platoon Leader to Commander for the Military Police at Fort McClellan, Fort Polk, Fort Hood, Fort Riley, Schofield Barracks, and in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Colonel Lomas also served as Operations Officer, Directorate of Emergency Services, Fort Riley Kansas; Military Police Observer Coach/Trainer, Mission Command Training Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Deputy Director, Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency, Pentagon; and Strategic Initiatives Group Chief, Office of the Provost Marshal General, Pentagon. prgtoken Colonel Lomas has received several awards and distinctions, including the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OCL), the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC), the National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze Star), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal (3rd Bronze Star), the Afghanistan and Iraqi Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, the Defense of Saudi Arabia Medal, the Order of the Marechaussee (Bronze), the Combat Action, Air Assault and Parachutist's badges, and the Army Staff Badge. prgtoken Madam , Colonel L. Omar Lomas has dedicated his life to defending our country and the freedoms we hold dear. It is an honor to represent a hero who has exemplified leadership, scholarship, and selfless service. There is no doubt in my mind that Colonel Lomas will excel with 42D Military Police Brigade. I wish Colonel L. Omar Lomas, his wife Edtna Georgina Garcia, and his children Maria, Miguel, Mateo, and Diego the best in their future endeavors.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-7-22

I rise today to recognize the career and service of David P. Blom, who will retire later this month after serving as the president and CEO of OhioHealth since 2002. Under David's leadership, OhioHealth has grown its legacy of providing high- quality care to patients across central Ohio, including residents of my hometown, Mansfield. prgtoken In the 17 years since David became CEO, OhioHealth has tripled in size. David spearheaded initiatives like the OhioHealth Research & Innovation Institute, which makes significant contributions to the field of research around new drugs, medical devices, and procedures. His focus on installing new technology has helped to drastically reduce errors in medication and patient identification across the OhioHealth system. prgtoken During David's tenure as CEO, OhioHealth has been named one of the top 100 places to work by Fortune Magazine for 12 consecutive years. In 2016, David was honored with the Columbus Award, and in 2009, he was inducted into the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame. He currently serves on the boards of the Columbus Foundation, Columbus Downtown Development Commission, Columbus Partnership, Vizient, and Healthy Roster. But beyond all that, it is David's commitment to the communities OhioHealth serves that truly sets him apart as a leader. prgtoken David was instrumental in establishing Wellness on Wheels Women's Health, a mobile health clinic which provides prenatal care to women in high-risk communities. This program has been invaluable in saving the lives of the most vulnerable among us. prgtoken In 2015, David was selected as one of 15 members to serve on the Veterans Affairs Commission on Care, a task force that developed critical reforms to veterans' healthcare. Out of this came the VA MISSION Act, which aims to improve veterans' access to effective and timely health care. These reforms would not have been possible without David's expertise and sense of service. prgtoken We are fortunate to be able to count David among the ranks of great Ohioans. His innovative leadership has touched lives in my State and across the Nation. I wish David all the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of service in central Ohio.
TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL BARBARA R. HOLCOMB
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-7-22

today I wish to honor MG Barbara R. Holcomb for her 32 years of service in our Armed Forces, most notably, as the first female commanding general at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command at Fort Detrick and chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Major General Holcomb grew up in the small town of Miles City, MT, and joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corp, ROTC, following her first year of nursing school at Seattle University. She completed her education as a distinguished military graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing. She continued her exceptional career with service to our country and continued Montana's proud heritage of military service and firsts in female leadership. prgtoken Major General Holcomb goes above and beyond as a leader and, as such, was chosen to speak at the 2018 Women in Leadership Summit at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. She shared her experience in finding balance as a leader and the importance of a leader getting to know themselves and their peers. Even though she was not allowed to serve in a battalion commander position as a cadet in ROTC, she became a commander as a captain and commanded at every rank thereafter. It is this commitment to strong leadership and personal growth that has led her to a long and successful career in the Army and distinguishes her as an exceptional Montanan. prgtoken It is not without good reason that Major General Holcomb has received many awards, including a Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, and membership in the Order of Military Medical Merit. Between her focus on the personal, human aspect of healthcare, her commitment to continued education, and the selfless passion with which she serves her country, Major General Holcomb embodies what it means to be an outstanding leader and individual. prgtoken Upon her retirement, the U.S. Army will be losing one of their most valuable assets; however, the example of leadership that she has set for so many will leave a lasting impact on the quality of this nation's Army Nurse Corps and, consequentlv, the quality of care that our Nation's soldiers will receive. Montana is proud to call her one of our own. prgtoken I would like to recognize Major General Barbara R. Holcomb, her personal accomplishments, and contributions to this country.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-7-22

today I wish to recognize the career and accomplishments of David Blom, retiring CEO of OhioHealth. prgtoken David began his career with OhioHealth in 1983. Working through various roles in the health care system, he was named CEO of OhioHealth in 2002. prgtoken In his first year as CEO, after several tough years with losses, David led OhioHealth to report a $23 million profit. Over the last 17 years at the helm, he has presided over expansion in and beyond central Ohio. OhioHealth has nearly tripled system revenue and has grown its central Ohio market share while working to unite the culture of multiple hospitals, outpatient sites, and physician practices. prgtoken Today, OhioHealth is a $4 billion system of 12 hospitals and more than 200 outpatient sites. The organization has 29,000 associates, 3,600 physicians, and 3,000 volunteers across 48 counties in Ohio. prgtoken Under David's leadership, OhioHealth has become a major central Ohio employer and economic driver. prgtoken David also cares deeply about the central Ohio community that he has called home for so many years. He has served on the boards of the Columbus Partnership, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, and the Columbus Foundation. He was also instrumental in creating Columbus 2020, the economic development arm for central Ohio. prgtoken Under David's leadership, OhioHealth has had a substantial positive impact in Ohio, and I want to thank him for his service and leadership. prgtoken I wish David the best in the next chapter of his life.
BORDER SECURITY
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-22

over a week ago, I traveled to the Texas-Mexico border with the Vice President, as well as the Presiding Officer and other s on the Senate Judiciary Committee. We visited McAllen, which is located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, which is a beautiful region with a thriving economy, but folks in the region continue to struggle to manage the growing humanitarian crisis caused by the massive influx of migrants arriving at our southern border. prgtoken The Rio Grande Valley has been disproportionally impacted by this migrant crisis, with 46 percent of all apprehensions last month occurring in that sector. It has taken a toll, as you might expect, on the Border Patrol, the Department of Health and Human Services, local communities, and the nongovernmental organizations working to provide care for these migrants. prgtoken Our trip provided the opportunity for the Vice President and members of the Judiciary Committee to meet with the men and women who are on the frontlines of this crisis and hear about the challenges they face every day. We also discussed what Congress needs to do to help them address this crisis. prgtoken Chairman Lindsey Graham invited all the members of the Judiciary Committee, both s and , to go on the trip, but unfortunately none of our ic colleagues accepted that invitation. Instead of going on a bipartisan basis, Senate chose to wait a week and go on what was clearly a partisan messaging mission. prgtoken The minority leader said the purpose of the trip was to ``investigate, inspect and evaluate conditions for migrants at facilities on the border.'' They traveled to McAllen--exactly where we were 1 week before--and they had a very similar itinerary, but they had a very different mission. Our mission was to find out what Congress needed to do to help fix the problem; theirs was to shine a light in a partisan fashion on conditions of migrants, which are largely of Congress's own making as a result of congressional inaction on dealing with the underlying causes. prgtoken We both met with Chief Patrol Agent Rudy Karisch, toured the Donna holding facility, heard from Border Patrol agents, and had the chance to speak to the migrants themselves, but our takeaways from these nearly identical trips were quite different. This was like ships passing in the night. prgtoken I left that trip feeling immense gratitude for our professional Border Patrol agents, whom we met, working tirelessly to fulfill their duties with the utmost professionalism and compassion. As this crisis has grown, they have been asked to do more and more with less and less. They go to work each morning not knowing exactly what the day will bring. Will they encounter a group of hundreds of migrants? Will they find abandoned children left for dead by smugglers? Will they rescue a drowning family from the Rio Grande or, worse, find the remains of those who have succ
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-7-22

passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement means more market access for our farmers and businesses and more protection for our workers. This agreement includes new commitments in critical areas such as customs, digital trade, services, environment, and labor that are crucial to bringing higher wages and more jobs to American workers. prgtoken Of course, enforcement is key to a strong and durable trade agreement that will deliver all of the benefits that I just listed. We need enforcement measures that work for all aspects of this agreement. prgtoken It is time to bring NAFTA into the 21st century, and that is what the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will do. The time for USMCA is now. prgtoken . prgtoken .