mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-9-14

the Presiding Officer has been presiding on many occasions when I have risen to speak about the need to repeal and replace Care, and although we did not succeed in our last effort in the beginning of August, I, personally, along with Senators Graham, Johnson and Heller, am making one more try, and folks ask why. prgtoken The simple answer I can give is, there is a fellow back home by the name of Moon Griffon. He is a conservative talk show host who speaks with passion about the Affordable Care Act. Why does he speak with passion? Moon Griffon is very open. He has a special needs child, and he has to buy insurance. His premium per year is over $40,000--$40,000, with a $5,000 deductible and an additional deductible for his pharmaceutical costs. He has to pay $50,000 a year for insurance, deductible, and pharmaceutical deductible. The mortgage payment for a $500,000 home is what he puts up because he has to buy insurance. He has a child with special needs. prgtoken Now, there are many Moon Griffons across our Nation. Someone said, kind of as a wag, but I think there is a ring of truth to it, that Care, the individual exchange, only works if you don't because if you do work and you don't qualify for a subsidy, then you cannot afford it. prgtoken By the way, I think there is bipartisan agreement on this. Senator Bernie Sanders is now putting forward what we would call BernieCare, a single-payer proposal. He would not be putting that forward if he thought the prgtoken status quo is working. He is putting it forward because he realizes it is not. He has 16 cosponsors, if you will. Cosponsors are a testament to the fact that the status quo is not working. Well, I can tell you, since Medicare is going bankrupt in 17 years, the seniors who are on it will have their benefits threatened by adding another 150 million more Americans to the program. Those who have employer-sponsored insurance, I don't think they will want to give up their employer-sponsored insurance and trust in BernieCare. prgtoken So our last hope, we think, is relieving folks from the burdens of the Affordable Care Act in a way that preserves President 's goals of caring for all, taking care of those with preexisting conditions, covering all, lowering premiums, and eliminating mandates. prgtoken We have the basis of an approach. This past week, the HELP Committee has been having hearings, as well as the Finance Committee. Both ic and Governors, insurance commissioners, stakeholders of other sorts, Medicaid directors, and all, whether ic or , Governor or Medicaid director or insurance Commissioner, have said that if we give the States the flexibility to come up with their own solutions, they will find solutions that work better for their State than the Affordable Care Act--and it makes total sense. Clearly, Alaska is different than Rhode Island. Louisiana is different than Missouri. If we
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-9-14

I wish to speak for a few minutes about an amendment I have offered to the National Defense Authorization Act. The name of this amendment is the Due Process Guarantee Act. prgtoken Alexander Hamilton, writing in Federalist No. 84, called arbitrary imprisonment one of the ``favorite and most formidable instruments of tyrants.'' The Constitution includes safeguards against this form of tyranny, including the right of habeas corpus and the guarantee that American citizens will not be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the government without due process of law. Our commitment to these rights is tested from time to time. It is most tested in times of crisis. We have not always passed these tests. prgtoken During the Second World War, President Franklin D. Roosevelt unilaterally authorized the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans for fear they would spy against the United States. The government presented no evidence that these Americans posed any threat to their country because the government had no evidence. Most of the detainees were themselves native-born citizens of the United States of America. Many had never even visited Japan during their entire lives. That episode in our Nation's history is sadly personal to the State I represent. The U.S. Government unjustly detained thousands of Japanese Americans in Utah at the Topaz War Relocation Center. prgtoken Japanese-American internment is the most dramatic and shameful instance of detention in our Nation's history, but it is far from the only instance. In 1950, in a climate of intense fear about Communist infiltration of government, Congress enacted the McCarran Internal Security Act over the veto of President Harry Truman. That law contained an emergency provision allowing the President to detain any person he felt might spy on the United States. prgtoken More recently than that, in the post-9/11 era, there has been renewed pressure to diminish our constitutional protections in the name of security. Lawmakers from both parties have authorized the detention of Americans suspected of terrorism without charge, without trial, and without meeting the evidentiary standard required for every other crime--potentially for life. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Congress authorized the indefinite military detention of suspected terrorists, including American citizens arrested on American soil. prgtoken These episodes--Japanese-American internment, the McCarran Internal Security Act, and the NDAA for 2012--are teachable moments, if you will. In all three cases, the United States faced real threats from totalitarian foes--foes hostile to our very core values and ideals as a nation. But instead of defying our foes by holding fast to our core values, we jettisoned them in a panic. Fear and secrecy won out. The Constitution and constitutional values lost. prgtoken Thankfully, that isn't the whole story, for there have
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-9-14

throughout my time as a Senator, I have heard our Service Chiefs testify time and again to the hollowing of America's military as a result of insufficient and unpredictable funding. Simultaneously, external dangers have grown in size and scope. prgtoken Sadly, for the first time in decades, we are forced to confront not one but multiple existential threats to the American way of life. An expressive Russia, expanding China, nuclear North Korea, nefarious Iran, and relentless global terror networks put our lives and the lives of future generations at risk. prgtoken America is once again in crisis. Inaction, obstruction, or partial commitment are not options. This year's National Defense Authorization Act provides us an opportunity to fulfill our duty--to provide America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardsmen the tools they need to accomplish all we demand. prgtoken I find it particularly fitting that this bill came to the floor the week of September 11, an anniversary of unparalleled adversity but also one of national unity. On that day, and the days that followed 16 years ago, the best of America eclipsed the evil of terror. We came together for the sake of our security, demonstrating to the world America's resilience. prgtoken There is no greater symbol of that resilience than those who serve in uniform. Secretary Mattis reminded us of that on Monday when he said: ``The men and women of America's armed forces have signed a blank check to protect the American people and to defend the constitution, a check payable with their lives.'' prgtoken The least the Senate can do in return is authorize and prioritize congressional efforts to keep faith with that promise. At the same time, we are under no obligation to fund overbudget, behind-timeline defense programs with a blank check of their own. To the contrary, we have an oversight obligation to the American taxpayers, those in and out of uniform, to ensure proper stewardship of their hard-earned dollars. prgtoken That is why I, along with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, crafted and passed unanimously the bill before you. In it, we have prescribed a clear and comprehensive plan to rebuild our military to decisively deter or defeat any adversary. However, we are also holding the Department accountable for each dollar it spends. prgtoken For my part, as a member of the Armed Services Committee and chair prgtoken of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, I focused on three priorities. prgtoken First, I supported our troops and their families by making senior enlisted pay scales commensurate with job requirements, by combating sexual assault and retaliation, and by facilitating Federal direct hiring authority for military spouses. I extended that support to the battlefield by promoting enhanced standards for things like parachutes, aircraft life support systems, and counterdrone technologies. prgtoken Second, I advanced p
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MUST EXPLAIN IMPROPER USE OF FUNDS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-9-14

a recent Federal audit found that the administration improperly used, via the Bureau of Reclamation, $84 million on California Governor Jerry Brown's pet project, the Delta tunnels. In planning, this is a project that would transfer water from northern California, where my district is, to southern California. prgtoken This comes after years of assurance that no tax dollars would be spent on the Governor's controversial legacy project, nor was there even an appropriation made by Congress to do so, and that is where the problem is. It is the illegal use of Federal dollars in the planning of this project. prgtoken Taxpayers ended up paying for a large portion of this project's planning costs without their knowledge and, again, without Congress' authorization, which is obviously unacceptable. prgtoken The Bureau of Reclamation needs to explain to Congress how and why this happened, and the employees and the appointees who carried it out must be held responsible. prgtoken More importantly, California needs to repay every penny to the Federal Government and the taxpayers of the other 49 States for this illegal use and improper use. prgtoken , this is not a small thing. Congress and the American people need to know what is happening with this and not be lied to.
REMEMBERING PETE DOMENICI
Thad Cochran (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-9-14

I wish to honor former Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, who passed away September 13 in Albuquerque. It was a privilege to call Pete a friend and to work with him as a Senate colleague and member of the Appropriations Committee. prgtoken Senator Domenici had a great ability to bring people together to work on solutions to complicated challenges like the budget deficit, national security, and energy policy. His passing closes the book on a life well-lived as a public servant dedicated to his family, his State, and our Nation. prgtoken My condolences go out to his lovely wife, Nancy, and their family. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
HEALTHCARE
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-9-18

I rise to join my colleagues in expressing actually a combination of outrage and heartbreak that Washington is still working on yet another partisan plan to take healthcare coverage and guaranteed protections away from families across this country. This is despite a clear message Americans--and Wisconsinites alike--have sent to Congress that they want us to work across the party aisle to make things better and not worse. This latest repeal plan totally ignores that message. prgtoken This plan would make things far worse, not better. It would make things worse by allowing insurers to charge older Americans an age tax. That is a worry that Greg from Stoddard, WI, has shared with me. Greg told me that he and his family can't afford for things to get worse. He has no idea how he and other older Wisconsinites will be able to afford higher costs for healthcare. Greg's sons, both of them, have diabetes, and they are already struggling with the skyrocketing cost of insulin. prgtoken It would make things worse by dramatically weakening guaranteed protections for those with preexisting conditions, allowing insurers to cut coverage for essential health benefits and charge more for needed care. As someone who was branded with those words ``preexisting condition'' as a child, I understand how this repeal would hurt Wisconsin families and families throughout America. prgtoken It would make things worse by eliminating the premium tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments that help thousands--thousands--of Wisconsinites afford healthcare coverage, and estimates show this particular plan offered in the Senate could significantly cut funding for my home State of Wisconsin by almost $3 billion in the year 2027. prgtoken On top of this latest repeal plan, it has to be added that the administration continues to play dangerous political games and engage in sabotage against the Affordable Care Act and Wisconsin's healthcare system, and it does so at the expense of families seeking affordable insurance. Instead of working to lower healthcare costs, the administration continues to threaten to withhold the critical cost- sharing reduction payments that help reduce deductibles and out-of- pocket costs for Wisconsin families. Instead of giving healthcare providers certainty and working to stabilize the healthcare marketplace, the administration is laying the groundwork for higher premiums next year. prgtoken In addition, just last week, the administration slashed funding to States for their outreach and education efforts to help more people sign up for healthcare. Wisconsin's trusted Navigator Programs had their funding cut, without explanation, by almost 50 percent, despite a long record of actually exceeding their enrollment goals. This would mean fewer people in rural Wisconsin will receive the support and assistance they need to obtain affordable healthcare coverage. prgtoken Instead of making thi
HEALTHCARE
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-9-18

from Connecticut. prgtoken That is right. I would just point out that they are going to get the fiscal impact from the CBO in order to comply with the terms of reconciliation, but that is, actually, not what impacts the American people the most. prgtoken When you get a CBO score--and it is exactly right, what the Senator from Connecticut said--you find out what impact it has on your home State. You find out the number of Americans who are going to be harmed by this bill or helped by this bill. What we do know is that, basically, this contains elements of all of the previous pieces of legislation. It, actually, just kind of combines them all and puts them in a pile. So it is very hard for me to imagine, when they do come back with their analysis, that it will not be 20, 30, 35 million people who will lose healthcare. prgtoken The craziest thing about this is that these s who will vote yes are going to vote yes and then find out 10 days later that 25 million people are going to lose their healthcare. Why they will not wait is beyond me, except that they have a deadline to deliver a win for the President. As near as I can tell, that is the only reason that they are in such a rush.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF CRAIG ANDERSON
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-18

I rise today in recognition of Craig Anderson and his 20 years of active stewardship as the Executive Director of LandPaths, a non-profit organization in Sonoma County that has become a national innovator in land conservation practices under his leadership. prgtoken Craig Anderson's career has consistently engaged his dual passions of land conservation and community engagement. Beginning in 1985, Mr. Anderson worked at the Yosemite Institute where he taught field science courses to high school students. Four years later he became the Director of Outdoor Classroom Programs for the Ojai Valley School, leading students on wilderness trips that exposed some of them to land use and natural history curriculum for the first time. During that same period, Mr. Anderson took his knowledge from the classroom and applied it in the field, when he became the site manager for the McCloud River Preserve. As the site manager he oversaw all activities taking places across the 2,200 acre preserve on a daily basis. All of these experiences prepared Mr. Anderson for his next role as the Executive Director of Land Paths, a position he took on in 1997, and continues to hold to this day. prgtoken As the Executive Director of Land Paths, Mr. Anderson has grown the organization from a single staff member working out of his apartment to a staff of 15. Pushing the organization's mission of connecting people to nature, Mr. Anderson successfully spearheaded the agency's efforts to create nature preserves with public access. LandPaths has created five such preserves throughout Sonoma County as a result of his leadership to date. In addition to these efforts, Mr. Anderson led the development of the award winning Bayer-Farm Park & Community Garden, which has now been held up as a model for expanding green spaces in urban areas. Because of his foresight in developing local preserves and community gardens, LandPaths has also been able to create student and community stewardship programs that use these properties to ensure the public's commitment to environmental conservation and land use practices. Beyond the local impact of Mr. Anderson's leadership, he has also been recognized on a national level for his innovative practices and stewardship programs. prgtoken , please join me in expressing deep appreciation for Craig Anderson's extraordinary leadership in the field of land use, conservation and stewardship, by extending to him congratulations on his two decades of service
VOTE EXPLANATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-9-18

I was unavoidably absent for rollcall vote No. 198, the motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. prgtoken , I was unavoidably absent for rollcall vote No. 199, passage of H.R. 2810, as amended, the National Defense Authorization Act. Had I been present, I would have voted yea.
REMARKS BY STEPHEN W. CAMP
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-9-18

I rise today to include in the Record remarks made by the Reverend Stephen W. Camp at the Be the Light Interfaith Candle Lighting Vigil at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT on August 23, 2017. The Reverend Stephen W. Camp, M.Div Senior Pastor, Faith Congregational Church of Hartford, CT ``The prophetic voice Maya Angelou once said, `I've learned that people will forget what you have said; people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.' America was sent a message recently, a message that America rarely feels as deeply. As America watched the unfolding story centered in the little sleepy college town in Virginia. it was forced to feel, the kind of feeling that one never forgets. It was reminiscent of Selma and ``Bloody Sunday.'' It brought to mind Birmingham with the dog and fire hoses; it reminded America of the open hostility and defiance of a George Wallace. As America watched in recent days, some were stirred by the memory of ancestors and family members being marched into ovens, reminded of some of the worst inhumanity that our world has produced. The genie, we thought, was back in the tightly dosed bottle, the monster was locked away in its cage, but here it was again raring it ugly head, saying, ``I'm not dead yet! America felt pain once again. For some I'm sure, it simply felt like a scab had been ripped off an old wound. Still others may have thought these days were behind us, a past just-as-soon forgotten. But lest we forget, lest we ignore for even a moment--this pain rooted in forced Indian reservations and the buying and selling of human beings, lest we forget, it will surely surface and seek to cause havoc and pain until it is faced and fixed. The events of late teach all of us, as if any had doubt; that America is not healed yet. The work is not done. It seems just yesterday that Jewish cemeteries were vandalized, or just the other day that terrorist bombed a mosque or burned churches in the south. Were they just isolated incidents? No, but somehow they connected us and called us to feel, to be awake, to be alert--to mobilize for good. And here we are again. Charlottesville conjured up old feelings. Many who marched in Charlottesville that day, as we watched, most of us glued to the television, as they boldly marched, unhooded this time, khaki wearing white men, with their contorted angry faces, and carrying tiki torches, trying it seemed to desperately symbolize their power, their might, but only succeeding to pull back the scab and memory of historic oppression, failing to offer even a flickering of light, and of peace. We watched with sadness while they shouted hateful words and embodi
HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN'S ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2017-9-18

I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum. prgtoken The Anacostia Community Museum, which opened in 1967, has been a staple of the District of Columbia community. Not only has the museum served as a major cultural institution, including in highlighting the important contributions made by African Americans to D.C. and the nation, but it has also served as a pillar of educational enrichment and achievement through its Museum Academy Program. In addition, the museum's Citizen Scientist Program brings high school students and Smithsonian educators, as well as scientists, together to engage in environmental stewardship and learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiatives. prgtoken The museum also continues to be a dominant force in terms of community engagement, creating a hands-on children's room and a youth advisory council. Additionally, the museum works on a number of events and projects that focus on community restoration within Anacostia. For example, the museum recently hosted a community forum with the National Park Service to illustrate the importance of volunteering within one's community and also partnered with WTTG Fox 5 to allow visitors to participate in an urban gardening project. prgtoken Aside from its community engagement and restoration, the Anacostia Community Museum showcases various exhibits that focus on the different issues that impact urban communities, both in D.C. and nationwide. Specifically, the museum works with D.C. residents, artists, community activists, scholars, local officials and other outside organizations to cultivate carefully crafted exhibits that challenge prgtoken museum visitors to think critically and enhance their museum experience. prgtoken Therefore, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Anacostia Community Museum, an institution that continues to remain at the forefront of addressing social and political issues that affect individuals in D.C. and the nation, as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary.