mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-26

first let me thank my colleague and friend from Maine. If you ask the American people from one corner of this country to the other, what are they worried about, what are they concerned about, what you have just talked about is the top 1, 2, 3 issue: the accessibility and affordability of health insurance, time and again. prgtoken Some of us have been in a predicament in life when someone we love was very sick and had no health insurance. People never forget it as long as they live--people who live every single day with that prospect of not having health insurance or it is so darned expensive they can't pay for it. prgtoken from Maine for the comments he made regarding the efforts by this administration to undermine and sabotage health insurance. It is one thing to say you are against Care, you are against the Affordable Care Act; the obvious question is, What would you replace it with? When given a chance, the other side of the aisle had nothing. That is why, thankfully, we stopped their efforts to repeal it. prgtoken You and I, and everyone on this side of the aisle, is open to talking about making it better, make it work more efficiently, and reach more people in a more efficient way. But just saying we are going to get rid of it and then we will talk about it later is not an answer. for the comments that he made. prgtoken , I am going to address the second issue that comes up when you talk to people across America who are concerned with it, and I will start with a question: Have you ever, ever, in your whole life, seen an ad on television for prescription drugs--ever? If the answer is no, I know one thing for sure: You don't own a television because the average American sees nine--nine--television prescription drug ads every single day. They see nine every day. prgtoken You know what I am talking about; they mumble as fast as they can: If you take this you may die; don't take it if you are allergic to it. All of those ads, all of those names of all those drugs--it took about 20 times for me to watch the XARELTO ad to get to the point where I could spell XARELTO. I am not sure I have it right still. prgtoken But here is what it is all about. Why does pharma--pharmaceutical companies--spend so much money on television advertising? What is this all about? You can't buy most of these drugs over the counter; you need a doctor. Here is why they do it: They believe, if they keep suggesting to you that this is a drug that might help you, when you go to the doctor you will ask him or her: Doctor, should I be taking XARELTO? prgtoken Well, the doctor may say to you that you don't need it--or may say to you that you can take a generic that is a lot cheaper and does the same thing. But in many, many cases, the doctor says ``Let me write a prescription for XARELTO for you,'' and what we have happening across the United States is the increasing
CELEBRATING MRS. GRACIE G. SIMPSON
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-7-26

I rise to pay tribute to a beloved role model and gracious woman of faith, Mrs. Gracie G. Simpson who will be celebrating her 90th birthday on Saturday, September 1, 2018. On this day, there will be a celebration at the Claystone Park Pavilion at Lake Tobesofkee in Macon, Georgia. prgtoken Gracie Mae Peck was born on August 29, 1928 in Macon, Georgia to the late Willie B. Peck and the late Claire Mae Fulton. She was the second child, with one older sister, one younger sister, and two younger brothers, all of whom are now deceased. prgtoken Back in the days when she was young, many children did not have the opportunity to complete school and had to begin working at a young age. For 43 years of her life, Mrs. Simpson worked at Tom's Foods, Inc known to many as ``the candy company.'' However, she was able to return to school to take computer classes before retiring. prgtoken Mrs. Simpson was married to J.Z. Simpson, Sr. for 54 years until his death in October of 2008. She has three sons, Donald Gibson, Jr Zebbie Simpson, and Michael Simpson, and one daughter, Jan Simpson Walker. prgtoken She has eight grandchildren: Donald, Eunicer, Christen, Jerome, Marcus, Marvin, Keisha, and Kelicia. She also has six great- grandchildren: Grace, Hannah, Abigail, Katelynn, DJ, and Christian. prgtoken Mrs. Simpson has achieved numerous successes in her life, but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of her adoring family. Voted ``Reigning Queen'' at Pearl Stephens Village Senior Apartments, she enjoys fishing and going on walks. She loves spending time with her family and is a great cook. She makes a mean sweet potato pie and a delicious peach cobbler. She is full of life and spunk and her family knows very well that ``if you don't want to hear the truth, don't ask her a question.'' prgtoken Most important to Mrs. Simpson is her sturdy and enduring relationship with the Lord. She has been a member of Greater Little Rock Baptist Church for over 60 years. She has served on the Mother Board Association, Choir, Deaconesses, Food Bank, Women of Flow Ministry, and Kitchen Ministry. prgtoken The race of life isn't given to the swift or to the strong, but to those who endure until the end. Mrs. Simpson has run the race of life with grace and dignity and God has blessed her over her lifetime. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia, in recognizing Mrs. Gracie G. Simpson for her 90 fruitful and productive years of life. We extend our best wishes to her as she, her family, and friends celebrate her birthday.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STANDS FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2018-7-26

some Members of this House have embarrassed themselves, our Congress, and our country by bringing a baseless impeachment resolution against Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General of the United States of America. prgtoken Mr. Rosenstein has done his job lawfully and appropriately according to Hoyle. They want him to release information which, if he does it, will be releasing matters that are classified and confidential and could jeopardize the investigation that Robert Mueller is leading and Mr. Rosenstein is over and harm that investigation. prgtoken Prosecutors will not release their information of who their witnesses are, where they are going, or whom they have interviewed. They can't and should not give away sources and methods. To do so would be in dereliction of duty. prgtoken To file impeachment resolutions is to hurt Mr. Rosenstein, to hurt the investigation, hurt Mr. Mueller, and keep the truth from being known by the American public. If they weren't concerned about the truth, they wouldn't be going after the investigator so much. You do that when you can't deal with the data. prgtoken I hope when we come back Mr. Mueller is still safe in his job, Mr. Rosenstein is still safe in his job, and the United States of America still stands for the rule of law and democracy. prgtoken God bless America.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT JAMES GROTJAN
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-7-26

I rise today to mourn the passing of one of our Nation's brave servicemembers, Air Force Staff Sergeant James Grotjan, who lost his life in an accident while in the line of duty in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. His untimely passing while supporting our Nation's mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria is a reminder of the risks our brave servicemen and -women place themselves in each and every day to protect our country. prgtoken Staff Sergeant Grotjan, who went by Tyler, followed his father's footsteps into military service. After graduating from Bacon Academy in Colchester, Connecticut, Tyler joined the Air Force and eventually joined the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. prgtoken His father recently said that Tyler's military service made him ``the proudest father on the planet.'' It takes a special kind of person to join the military. These are the kind people who write a blank check for their life to protect the country, and he was that guy. He absolutely loved the military. prgtoken This Saturday his family and friends in southeastern Connecticut will pause for a few hours to lay Staff Sergeant Grotjan to rest and reflect on his life of giving. In front of his mother's house in Waterford there is a sign that reads: ``Fly free with the angels.'' prgtoken , I know that I join with all of Connecticut and the whole House in offering our thoughts and prayers to Staff Sergeant Grotjan's wife, Taylor; his mother, Laura; his father, Randy; his seven brothers and sisters; family; and friends, and pray that he will ``fly free with the angels.''
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5515, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-26

I thank my friend for yielding. prgtoken , I rise because we will soon have a chance to vote on legislation that would punish those who attacked American democracy in 2016 prgtoken and would deter anyone who tries to do so in the future. prgtoken The bill I introduced with Mr. Connolly, the SECURE Our Democracy Act, would slap tough sanctions on anyone found to interfere with an American election from overseas. It goes back to 2015, so it would include those who tried to put their thumb on the scale in favor of . prgtoken We first introduced this bill in January of 2017, when it was becoming clear that Russia had waged a cyber warfare campaign against our election. Our updated version of this bill includes new congressional oversight provisions. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because even if this bill passes, we don't trust the President to do the right thing, quite frankly. We don't believe he will do what it takes to protect our democracy, even after his own administration has told us over and over that Russia is at it again. After standing next to Vladimir Putin and accepting his lies over the unanimous conclusion of our intelligence community, how could we? prgtoken So when the next vote is called, my friends on the other side of the aisle have a choice to make. Will they vote to say to Putin, to our chief adversary, that we won't tolerate his attacks on our democracy, or will they again cede Congress' oversight role and continue to cover up for the President, who cozies up to Putin, who sides with him over our allies, and who continues to deny what everyone else knows is a fact? prgtoken Make no mistake: The next vote is our opportunity to punish the criminals who interfered in our election, to send a message that there will be consequences for anyone who does so in the future. After this vote, every Member will be on the record, letting the world know where they stand. prgtoken So I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: vote to defeat the previous question. Vote to show Russia and Putin that we won't stand by while they continue to attack American democracy.
CELEBRATING THE 28th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-7-26

I rise to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1990, the bipartisan effort to identify disability rights as civil rights became the foundation for reducing discrimination for the disability community. prgtoken The enactment the ADA was a groundbreaking acknowledgment that people with disabilities deserve the dignity of full participation and integration into daily life. It eliminated countless physical and societal barriers, and it increased access to education, employment, housing, and transportation. Yet, as we remember this historic day and look back on all that we have accomplished, let us recognize that there is so much more to be done. prgtoken It is up to each and every one of us to promote greater access and inclusion and the opportunity to lead life with dignity so that we can one day realize the full promise of the ADA. Because when we fight for the inclusion and equality of individuals with disabilities, we also fight for a world that is characterized by inclusion and equality for all.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5515, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-7-26

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in permitting me to speak on this bill. prgtoken I am pleased that this bill is being named after Senator McCain. It has been my privilege to work with him in one particular area: dealing with the people who worked with us in Afghanistan and Iraq on special immigrant visas. prgtoken Along with the late Senator Kennedy, over the last 10 years, we worked to try and help these people who put their lives on the line to help our forces as guides, as interpreters, who are now being left to the tender mercies of people with long memories, like the Taliban and al-Qaida. Their lives are at risk, as are their family members'. We still have 17,000 applicants who want to have these visas to come to the United States to safety. prgtoken I am disappointed that we have been unable to have the funding for additional visa allocations. I appreciate that due to an accounting convention, this would be at the expense of other important things that are being fought for. prgtoken But I would hope that we are able to focus on what the costs would have been to us if we didn't have those people helping us in Afghanistan and Iraq. It would have been far more expensive. And like you, I have met with people whose lives were saved because they put themselves at risk, and we are leaving them behind. prgtoken My friend, Kirk Johnson, wrote a book: ``To Be a Friend Is Fatal: The prgtoken Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind.'' And for these people, being a friend of the United States is fatal. Their lives are at risk every day. prgtoken I hope, as this process goes forward, we can either deal with the accounting convention or try and find some money to rescue these people.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-26

both parties used to agree that the thorough review of a Supreme Court nominee's record was essential to fulfilling our constitutional advice and consent obligations as Senators. prgtoken When Elena Kagan was nominated 8 years ago, even though were in the majority and s were in the minority, Chairman Leahy joined with s to request all of Elena Kagan's records from her time in the White House. Now the shoe is on the other foot. We are in the minority; they are in the majority. But rather than applying the previous, bipartisan standard, the majority is refusing to join with in requesting Brett Kavanaugh's complete record. prgtoken At issue is Brett Kavanaugh's time as Staff Secretary in the White House. s argue we don't need to see papers from that part of his career; argue we most certainly do. s are being hypocritical and sophistic. prgtoken In both cases, we said that we needed all of the papers. Why? Because this is such an important job, and we ought to see the complete record of whoever the nominee is. prgtoken Now they are saying: Well, counsel is OK, but Staff Secretary isn't, and Kagan wasn't a Staff Secretary. So what? So what? prgtoken The relevant standard is all of the records, no matter what jobs they had, and s are trying to come up with a difference for reasons that people are asking why. Are they hiding something? Is Kavanaugh hiding something? What did he do when he was Staff Secretary that he doesn't want the American public to see? prgtoken The s say that the job of Staff Secretary wasn't so important, merely a paper pusher. Bull. The Senate doesn't need to see anything from that period, they say, because the job was unimportant. Second, they say that his years as a judge should preclude him from having to provide paperwork from his earlier work as a top White House official. prgtoken The s keep moving the goalposts. They keep changing the standards to suit their needs to accomplish their goal--a hard-right, anti-middle-class, anti-choice, anti-healthcare Supreme Court. That is their goal. They can't accomplish it here; they can't accomplish it in the House; they can't even accomplish it with President because those are elected branches of government, and the public pushes back. But with judges, they can, so they keep moving the goalposts and changing the rules time and again. prgtoken Their arguments don't withstand scrutiny. Let's take the first one: The job of Staff Secretary wasn't so important. That is a laugher. Brett Kavanaugh himself has said that ``my three years as Staff Secretary for President --were the most interesting and in many ways among the most instructive.'' If he feels they were most instructive, why shouldn't the American people see what instructed him? By his own account, during his time in the White House and as Staff Secretary, J
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-7-26

I see nobody seeking the floor. I will speak briefly, but I would urge the Congress--both bodies--to heed the clear warnings of our intelligence community, and I urge them to take a meaningful step, an important step, toward defending our democracy. prgtoken If we do nothing, we leave our elections vulnerable to an aggressive foreign adversary fully intent on destabilizing our country. To this Vermonter, and many of the Senators in the Chamber, it is a simple choice. It is a solemn responsibility. prgtoken Today, the Senate should vote on my amendment to provide $250 million in grants to the States to help secure their election systems. We have to send a clear message to Russia and other foreign adversaries that tampering in our elections will not be tolerated. Simply giving a speech about it is not enough. We should vote on this. prgtoken If there was a missile attack against any of our States, we would respond immediately. Our democracy is a sacred part of what we cherish as Americans--all of us, s and alike--and our States are under attack. prgtoken In fiscal year 2018, Congress came together--s and , the House and the Senate--and we appropriated $380 million for State election security grants in response to our intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. prgtoken In just a few months since then, States and territories--55 in all-- have requested funding, and 100 percent of these funds have been committed; 90 percent of them having been disbursed to the States. prgtoken The need is clear, and we have only scratched the surface. This week, 21 State attorneys general signed a letter pleading with Congress to appropriate more money to address this imminent threat. Experts agree that aside from our appropriation last year, Congress has not provided any new spending on election security grants in years. By not providing these funds, Congress has allowed our election infrastructure to lag behind the times and the threat. We are leaving our country vulnerable to a clear threat to the foundation of this very institution and the other institutions of American Government. prgtoken We spend hundreds of billions of dollars in defending against missile threats, as we should, or threats from the sea, the air, and the land, as we should. But here is a very direct threat we can begin to address with a tiny fraction of what we spend on these other threats. prgtoken My amendment will provide the funding needed to help protect our elections. Our intelligence community has warned us publicly that we are, once again, being targeted. The Senate should not allow that. We should vote to defend this institution, the U.S. Senate, and our own democracy. prgtoken In a world where the President of the United States stood shoulder to shoulder with Vladimir Putin and refused to condemn Russia's attack on our election and attacked our own law enforcement i
INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT LOAN BANKRUPTCY ACT OF 2018
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-7-26

student loan debt has risen dramatically over the past decades. Today, many borrowers find themselves unable to repay their student loans. In the past, Congress has determined that allowing borrowers to easily discharge student loans under bankruptcy could threaten the student loan program and therefore have made student loans non-dischargeable. This decision has limited the circumstances in which a borrower may discharge their student loan debt. prgtoken That is why I am introducing the ``Student Loan Bankruptcy Act,'' a bill to provide both private and federal student loan borrowers an opportunity to obtain relief from insurmountable debt. prgtoken Currently, student loans are among the types of debt that require debtors to provide proof of an ``undue hardship.'' The interpretation of undue hardship has varied drastically in the courts throughout the United States. My bill would allow a borrower with student loan debt to file for bankruptcy after five years in the same way they would with any other type of debt. Of course, just because one files for bankruptcy, does not mean one will be granted it and their debt will be discharged. However, the opportunity to file for bankruptcy can provide relief for debtors who are truly struggling and can no longer afford to pay off their debt. prgtoken During the 1980s, debtors had a temporal discharge option. It used to be law that debtors had two options for discharging student loans: the borrower would (1) demonstrate an undue hardship or (2) prove that the loan first became due at least five years before the debtor filed for bankruptcy. This in turn made student loan debt dischargeable as all other types of ways to file for bankruptcy, after five years. prgtoken , one should never fear to pursue an education because of the cost. Borrowers with growing student loan debt should have the opportunity to file for bankruptcy without the need to jump through bureaucratic hoops.