mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROTECTING AFFORDABLE MORTGAGES FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2019
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-7-9

I thank Chairwoman Waters for her support and encouragement to us to continue this. prgtoken , I want to make this opening statement because it is very important for us to realize the importance of this bill because, today, according to the latest data from the Veterans Administration, we are losing 20 of our military veterans every single day to suicide. prgtoken This is a clarion call from our veterans for help, and what we are doing today is one small step. But, as I will explain as I go on, we are doing much, much more because we need to bring this suicide rate to a stop. prgtoken So much of it is caused by disappointment, discouragement, and giving up. But, after today, with this vote, we will send a powerful message to this Nation and especially to our precious veterans that help is indeed on the way. prgtoken Now, I first of all want to thank my bipartisan friends Mr. Andy Barr, Mr. Zeldin, all of them, for this is truly a bipartisan effort, and I thank them for their support as we move forward with this. prgtoken Now, , I want to take my time and I want to go through this, and I want folks to really understand why this is so important. Mr. Barr touched on it. prgtoken Last year, when Congress passed S. 2155, which was called the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, it included a set of bipartisan reforms to refinancing requirements for loans to protect our veterans from the predatory act of loan churning. prgtoken , this shows you the deviousness of it, that here you have these predatory lenders who are out here targeting our veterans and charging them over and over for the same payment on these refinancings. prgtoken How devious--how evil--can you be to do this to our veterans over and over again? And they do this to generate these fees and profits for these predatory lenders, while offering little to no benefit for our veteran homeowners--just using them. prgtoken So, in order to prevent this, S. 2155 codified new refinancing requirements, requiring lenders to demonstrate a material benefit to consumers when financing their mortgages and allowing for the initial loan to mature for at least 210 days before a borrower can refinance. prgtoken Now, these reforms were necessary to ensure that our veterans are adequately protected from these bad actors, these predatory lenders, so that our veterans can have access to the safe and affordable homeownership opportunities that they have earned and deserve. prgtoken Upon implementation of S. 2155, however, as Mr. Barr mentioned, a technical error in the language of S. 2155 caused a deviation in how this 210-day seasoning period was calculated, between what was written in the text and the requirement in place at Ginnie Mae. prgtoken For those who may not know, Ginnie Mae is the Government National Mortgage Association. prgtoken Now, this, combined with the lack of clarity around time lines to implement these new requirements, has caused 2
Affordable Care Act (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-7-9

I rise today in support of the Affordable Care Act and to discuss the devastating impact its potential elimination would have on rural families and rural communities. prgtoken My State, Virginia, has so many rural communities, and in that, I am with every other Member of this body, and I want to talk specifically about them. prgtoken The administration has sought for years to end the Affordable Care Act using every tool available. They have worked on that task here in Congress to repeal it and sabotage it and even dismantle it in the court system. Today marks another milestone in that deeply troubling effort. prgtoken The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in a case that could strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. If the ACA were struck down, families and communities around the country would bear life-altering consequences, and the healthcare system would be thrown into chaos. Tens of millions of Americans would lose healthcare coverage and protections for preexisting conditions, among the countless other consumer protections that have been put in place by the ACA. prgtoken A number of my colleagues are going to be on the floor this afternoon speaking about particular aspects of this that trouble them. I want to focus on one in particular: how important the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion is to rural America and how much is at stake for those communities should the Affordable Care Act be eliminated. prgtoken Medicaid expansion enables low-income, rural residents to get affordable, quality health insurance so they can get the care they need. It is often the case that insurance companies do not compete with the same intensity in rural communities because there are just not enough patients. So it is common in rural America for somebody wanting to buy an insurance policy on the exchange, for example, to maybe have only one option. Medicaid expansion has turned out to be a huge benefit for many low-income people living in rural America. Many of those who are receiving insurance pursuant to Medicaid expansion were previously uninsured, and so for some, it is the first insurance they have had in their lives. prgtoken A particular impact of Medicaid expansion has not been on just individuals receiving that Medicaid but on the hospitals that are sort of the healthcare and even economic pillars in rural communities. Rural hospitals often have a difficult time making the finances work. Again, lower patient volumes make it difficult. Medicaid expansion has meant that the care they have been providing that in the past might not have been reimbursed at all--they are now able to at least get a Medicaid reimbursement, and that has been a significant financial benefit to these hospitals. prgtoken , you understand this because your State is like mine, and there are a lot of rural communities. Rural hospitals are often the lifeblood of rural comm
REMEMBERING JULIUS W. HEGELER II OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-7-9

. Madam , I rise to note the passing of a most remarkable man. Julius W. Hegeler II of Danville, Illinois died July 5, 2019 at the age of 91. prgtoken To say that Mr. Hegeler led an impactful life would be to gloss over the thousands who benefitted from his caring nature, his generosity of spirit, and his humanity. Few people are in a position to make such a positive impact, and even fewer take the opportunity. Mr. Hegeler will forever be remembered for having seized his opportunity with such an outsized desire to help that he never turned anyone away. prgtoken A lifelong resident of Danville, Julius graduated from Danville High School and went on to earn a business degree before enlisting in the Air Force. He flew 70 missions as a jet pilot during the Korean War, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in May 1954 for ``extraordinary achievement,'' and earned the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster as well. prgtoken Returning from the war, Julius and others built a chemical packaging company that he later sold. His fortune made, in 1992 he placed 90 percent of his wealth into the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation and set out to give back to the community that he loved. Julius was especially concerned with helping those with disabilities and gave generously to local organizations such as Danville AMBUCS and WorkSource Enterprises. There were no limits to causes he would support, however, as the arts, education, recreation, community, and youth-focused groups and organizations have all benefited from Julius's assistance. prgtoken Danville has lost one of its very best, a man who shunned the limelight but who nonetheless made so many lives brighter and richer. It has been my privilege to spend time with Julius Hegeler, and those memories I will always hold dear. prgtoken Madam , I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Julius W. Hegeler II on the loss of this truly remarkable individual, and I wish the family the best during this very trying time.
Order of Procedure (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-7-9

I ask unanimous consent that at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, the Senate vote on confirmation of the following nominations in the order listed: Executive Calendar Nos. 47, 52, and 51; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. I further ask that at 4:30 p.m the Senate vote on the pending cloture motions on the King and Pallasch nominations and that if cloture is invoked, the confirmation votes occur at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the ic leader, on Thursday, July 11. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motion with respect to the Wright nomination ripen following disposition of the Pallasch nomination.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-7-9

I rise today to discuss an issue that is very important to me and to the 1,300 Hoosiers currently in need of an organ transplant. That issue is the lack of organs for patients in need and our broken organ donation system. prgtoken For more than 30 years, our Nation's organ donation system has operated in complete darkness. Groups known as organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, are responsible for getting organs from the donors to the patients who actually need them, but questions surround the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of these organizations. prgtoken OPOs are the main link between donor hospitals and organ recipients, and their performance can be a limiting factor for all stakeholders in the organ donation system. prgtoken In the last 20 years, no OPO has been decertified despite serious issues of underperformance. For example, CMS recently recertified the New York City OPO despite persistent underperformance for nearly a decade. This problem exists throughout the country. prgtoken Currently, OPO performance is measured by data that is self-reported, unaudited, and fraught with errors. Many of these errors have been documented by Lenny Bernstein and Kimberly Kindy at the Washington Post. prgtoken That is why today I introduced legislation that would require organ procurement organizations to be held to metrics that are objective, verifiable, and not subject to self-interpretation. This way, there can be meaningful transparency, evaluation, and accountability. Updating these metrics will also enable geographic-level donation rates to be evaluated and improved. This is desperately needed for the more than 113,000 Americans currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. The legislation I introduced today is supported by the American Society of Nephrology, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and the nonprofit group ORGANIZE. Additionally, in April of this year, I wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Verma urging CMS to update OPO metrics to be objective and verifiable. prgtoken I am hopeful that we will soon see action from the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services. You see, this issue is very personal to me. My friend Dave ``Gunny'' McFarland from Jeffersonville, IN, died because his heart transplant never came. We served together in the U.S. Marine Corps, and over the years, I have gotten to know his widow, Jennifer McFarland Kern. Jen has made it her mission to raise awareness about the organ transplant process and to help prevent others from facing a similar situation. prgtoken Because the system is so complex, most people don't know how it works or if patients are actually being protected. It is time to change that. Today's legislation is the first in a series of bills I am working on to reform our organ donation system once and for all and help save precious lives. I will not stop until we increase the availability of organs for patients in need. prgtoken Sempe
HONORING COACH RON FIOCHETTA
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-7-9

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Ron Fiochetta, who will be posthumously inducted into the All-American Amateur Baseball Association Hall of Fame later this summer. prgtoken Baseball was not his only love. He also coached football where I had the opportunity to play for him. As a former player, student, and someone who looked up to Coach Fio, I realize this award is truly deserved. His late wife, Joy, and his children continue to exemplify his commitment to community, coaching, and leadership. prgtoken Sadly, Ron passed away in 1997 at the age of 51, but his legacy lives on. He brought national recognition to Altoona in the AAABA Tournament. He was the manager of Altoona's L.S. Fiore from 1984 through 1997. During his tenure, L.S. Fiore won 10 Altoona AAABA League championships, four AAABA Regional championships, as well as a second place finish in the AAABA National Tournament in 1994. I take great pleasure in congratulating the Fiochetta family on this great honor for Coach Fio.
TRIBUTE TO ELSIE WAITES
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-7-9

I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Elsie Waites, who passed away on May 28, 2019. prgtoken Mrs. Waites was a native Louisianan from Gloster and was born on May 9, 1920. Throughout her life, she was always known as someone who loved and cared for those around her. prgtoken Of her many accomplishments, Mrs. Waites was an avid volunteer in her local community, helping young children achieve their dreams. She also took it upon herself to organize a local quartet group, where she sang for several years traveling throughout the State. prgtoken While Mrs. Waites lived an extraordinary life dedicated and devoted to service and compassion, her first priority was always her family. She was a loving mother and grandmother to 8 children, 21 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren. prgtoken One of Mrs. Waites' children, Mrs. Barbara Norton, is my good friend and former colleague in the Louisiana House of Representatives. prgtoken I wish to extend my sincere and deepest sympathies to all of the family and friends whose lives were blessed by Mrs. Waites. I pray that God's grace gives them comfort during this time, and that they are able to reflect on all the joyful memories that she provided. prgtoken Proverbs 31 reminds us that: A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done . . . Her children arise and call her blessed.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-7-9

today I recognize Mykaylan Burner, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all the hard work she has done on behalf of myself, my staff, and the State of South Dakota. prgtoken Mykaylan is a graduate of Dakota Valley High School in North Sioux City, SD. Currently, she is attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, where she studies political science and Spanish. Mykaylan is a dedicated and diligent worker who has been devoted to getting the most out of her internship experience and has been a true asset to the office. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mykaylan for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
PROTECTING AFFORDABLE MORTGAGES FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2019
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-9

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Once again, I thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott). prgtoken I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin) for his continued leadership on this legislation. prgtoken I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin), whom I have the privilege of serving with on the Veterans Affairs' Committee as well, for his leadership in getting this bipartisan legislation to the House floor and to this point. prgtoken I thank the chairwoman of our full committee, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), for her leadership in helping navigate this legislation forward. prgtoken , in conclusion, this is an important piece of legislation. It is bipartisan recognition of a problem created unintentionally by a law passed last year, and it is about providing two basic protections for veterans: protecting veterans who are seeking the dream of homeownership from predatory practices and from this practice of churning, and preserving liquidity in the secondary market for VA loans, which, in a nutshell, means that our veterans will have access to more affordable housing. prgtoken , I thank my friends on the other side of the aisle, and I thank Mr. Zeldin for his leadership. prgtoken .
Remembering River Nimmo (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-7-9

I want to call your attention to a story that is tragic but also heartwarming and uplifting. prgtoken Honorary Colonel River ``Oakley'' Nimmo of Camden, AR, passed away last month at the age of 5 after a protracted struggle with his enemy, a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma. Oakley's family remembers him as a ``sweet, brave boy'' who liked to play with power wheels and toy guns, but all those who knew him or who have learned about him will remember Oakley for an act of service that perhaps only a child could perform. prgtoken Oakley wanted to be an Army man when he grew up. Even in the advanced stages of his fight with cancer, you would find him at the hospital wearing camouflage fatigues and a helmet, with his trusty rifle by his side and a smile on his face. prgtoken Oakley fought his cancer valiantly, going above and beyond the call of duty. He was strengthened along the way by his Arkansas neighbors, who held yard sales and sold bracelets to help the Nimmo family pay for his care. He was also supported by 20,000 prayer warriors on a Facebook page entitled ``Prayers for Oakley Nimmo.'' But ultimately it was God's will that Oakley should return home to him. He passed away on the 20th of June. prgtoken In light of Oakley's heroic struggle, as well as his dream of becoming an Army man, Oakley was named an honorary colonel in the Arkansas National Guard. In the days leading up to his funeral, his family made a simple request: that veterans and servicemembers show up at the funeral in their uniform to give Oakley the proper sendoff. Word got around, and dozens came. Some traveled from nearby towns. Most had never even met this little boy, but it didn't matter--he was a soldier like one of them. Soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard provided funeral honors for Oakley. They presented Oakley's mother, Shelby, with the flag and a special ID tag with prgtoken his name on it. Like a true soldier, Oakley was sent off from this world to the moving tune of ``Taps'' played by a military bugler. prgtoken Colonel Nimmo's tour of duty on this Earth was brief, but he did teach an important lesson to all of us. At times, some voices may express doubts about our military, but Oakley reminded us--as perhaps only a child could--that being an Army man, a brave protector of our Nation, is one of the highest honors to which an American can be called. prgtoken The veterans and the servicemembers who attended Oakley's funeral were there to honor him, but, in fact, it was a double honor because through his life and dreams, little Oakley honored them in return. prgtoken Oakley looked up to our troops in life. Now he looks down on them from above, where he will remain in God's presence and our memory as a brave fighter against cancer, an inspiration, and indeed, for all time, an Army man. prgtoken . prgtoken .
THE ECONOMY
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-9

on another matter, Fourth of July celebrations weren't the only thing for American families to smile about last week. We received even more positive news about the strong U.S. economy that American workers and job creators are building with a big assist from policies. prgtoken More than 200,000 new jobs were created in June alone. The economy is overflowing with opportunities. American workers are in high demand and more and more previously sidelined individuals are getting to clock back in. prgtoken The last administration's so-called recovery disproportionately helped a few major metropolitan areas, but it left whole communities and whole regions of our country more or less in the dust. Not these days. The results have been very different under s' pro- growth, pro-opportunity policy agenda. Now we are seeing a real all- American recovery. prgtoken As the New York Times reported last week, ``Only recently have the economic gains filtered down to Black and Hispanic workers, those with less education, and others who face discrimination or other barriers to employment.'' prgtoken So it is all kinds of American workers, all kinds of families, all kinds of small towns and farm counties and smaller cities and suburbs. This all-American recovery is benefiting our whole country with job opportunities, wage growth, net investment, and new optimism. prgtoken Two and a half years ago, s started out with a pretty simple philosophy. It goes like this: The American people can accomplish great things and build prosperity for their prgtoken families if Washington mostly stays out of the way. prgtoken We needed the Federal Government to stop creating so many economic headwinds and start creating a few tailwinds. So we achieved historic tax reform, major regulatory reform, and all kinds of economic policies geared toward helping workers and middle-class families earn more and then send less to the IRS. prgtoken The way s see it, these ideas are actually no-brainers. So as long as you believe in the promise and potential of American workers and small businesses, this is clearly the way to go, and the results continue to speak for themselves.