mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise today to urge my colleagues to reopen the Federal Government and end this destructive shutdown. For 25 days now, the shutdown has inflicted financial pain and anxiety on families, businesses, and entire communities across the United States. prgtoken This week, I spoke with a room full of these victims. Aviation safety experts detailed for me how the shutdown has eroded an air travel system that, for now, is safe, but they are growing worried and concerned. prgtoken I heard from Federal workers who told me that the changes to tax laws ushered in during the tax scam have left citizens scrambling for answers, yet workers are not there who can shepherd them through those changes. prgtoken A local leader who represents domestic violence shelters warned me, if the shutdown drags on, as many as a third of the Florida facilities that women count on for refuge when they are victims of domestic violence could find themselves cutting services. prgtoken in the House have done our job. We have passed half a dozen bills to reopen the government, yet Senate s have decided to hide behind President and his border boondoggle refusing to take ``yes'' for an answer that could end this irresponsible shutdown. prgtoken While they are busy bowing to the President, Senate s recklessly ignore that public safety is at stake. They downplay, and even dismiss, that 800,000 families are now living without a paycheck today. prgtoken Businesses, farmers, veterans, restaurant workers, domestic violence victims, and many more are all feeling real pain from this unnecessary shutdown. We need to do our jobs. We need to work together and actually be the coequal branch of government that the Constitution describes. prgtoken So today, House will do just that and give Senate s another option to get us out of this latest trap and offer this bill that would reopen all closed Federal agencies through February 1. This bill would allow time for us to negotiate border security and immigration reform, but without inflicting further economic harm on our families and our businesses. It is the smart, reasonable, and compassionate thing to do. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to pass this bill into law without delay.
PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST AND END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Lori Trahan (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I rise today to speak about what is now the longest government shutdown in American history, its impact on the hardworking men and women of Massachusetts, and the opportunity cost of the current impasse. prgtoken Over the last several weeks, I have heard heartbreaking stories from Federal workers and their families from across north central Massachusetts. During a meeting I had last week in Andover with furloughed IRS employees, I heard about veterans struggling to afford their prescriptions and parents worrying about putting food on the table. prgtoken One woman had just recently lost her husband and others were still recovering from last September's gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley. A few days earlier, I spoke with an air traffic controller at Logan Airport who, after hearing President 's assurances from the Oval Office that the budget standoff would not lead to a shutdown last month, felt comfortable splurging on Christmas presents for his wife and four children. Now, with the bills coming due and his pay stub reading zero, he and his family are confronted with anxiety and financial hardship. prgtoken Each of the over 800,000 Federal workers impacted by this shutdown, close to 7,500 in Massachusetts alone, has a story to share. I am the daughter of a union iron worker and the country's biggest union, the AFL-CIO, has a saying: A fair day's wage for a fair day's work. We gain nothing from punishing the dedicated Federal workforce, nor do we position ourselves to recruit the best and the brightest if we can't even keep the lights on. prgtoken Today, the majority in this Chamber continues to vote for legislation that reopens the Federal Government, restores critical services, and makes Federal employees financially whole again. prgtoken As we continue to wait on the President and his party's leadership in the Senate to do the right thing by approving House-passed legislation to end this shutdown, critical pieces of legislation languish as the American people wait anxiously for Congress to act on real issues and crises, not the manufactured one on the border. prgtoken Healthcare costs continue to rise. Our climate is rapidly changing as coastal communities suffer from more intense storms and more frequent flooding, while California has faced down some of the largest and deadliest fires in the history of the State. prgtoken Gun violence continues to rip apart families and communities, and more Americans died of an opioid overdose than died during the Vietnam war. There is so much more we should be focused on. prgtoken Madam , we cannot allow shutting down the government over a policy debate to become the new normal. I was here as a staffer in 1995 during Newt Gingrich's shutdown and remember feeling that it was an unprecedented event, never to happen again. Sadly, that feeling was wrong. prgtoken We were all elected to this body to debate issues that matter to the American people. It is what ou
MEDICARE
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-1-15

I rise to talk about the Medicare Program and in particular a news story that came to our attention this past weekend. prgtoken This is the headline from a story dated January 11, late in the day, and it is by The Hill newspaper. You will not be able to see it from a distance, but the headline reads: `` officials consider allowing Medicaid block grants for states.'' prgtoken Here is what just the first two short paragraphs outline. The story begins as follows: The administration is considering moving forward with a major conservative change to Medicaid by allowing States to get block grants for the program, sources say. Capping the amount of money that the federal government spends on the health insurance program for the poor through a block grant has long been a conservative goal. It was a controversial part of the Care repeal debate in 2017, with much of the public rallying against cuts to Medicaid. After the failure of that repeal effort, the administration is now considering issuing guidance to states encouraging them to apply for caps on federal Medicaid spending in exchange for additional flexibility on how they run the program, according to people familiar with the discussions. prgtoken I will not read the rest of the story, and I will not enter the whole story into the Record because folks can look it up, and there are other stories as well that cover this same news. So, in a sense, it is a big new development, but it is an old story. prgtoken It is an old story of Members of Congress and the administration coming together to try to make changes to the Medicaid Program. In this case, it differs only slightly in that, so far at least, this seems to be an initiative that is an administration-led initiative. We are not aware of any--as far as I know--congressional involvement, but it is not all that much different, right? It is the same thing. prgtoken We had a long debate in 2017 about whether we should not only repeal the Affordable Care Act but thereby do two things to Medicaid--one is to end over time Medicaid expansion, and second would be to have cuts to Medicaid that would result from this same idea, the so-called block granting of Medicaid. prgtoken I believe we litigated--if we can use that word in a legislative sense--that in 2017. The repeal bill did not pass the Senate in the summer of 2017. There were other attempts that didn't come to a vote on full repeal. Then we had an election in 2018. Healthcare was a major part of that debate, most of it centering on protections for preexisting conditions and other consumer protections in the law. prgtoken If you look at the last 2 years, we had one-party rule in Washington-- President, House, and Senate. There were major efforts by the administration and by both majorities in the Houses of Congress to make substantial changes to
Introductory Statement on S. 127
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-15

today I am proud to reintroduce the Mare Island Naval Cemetery Transfer Act, which would transfer control of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery from the City of Vallejo in California to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where it belongs. prgtoken The Mare Island Naval Cemetery is the oldest military cemetery on the West Coast. Opened in 1856, it was originally part of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the first U.S. naval base established on the Pacific Ocean. The historic cemetery is the final resting place for 860 veterans and their loved ones, including three Medal of Honor recipients. Anna Arnold Key, the daughter of Francis Scott Key, is also buried there, next to her husband who fought in the War of 1812. After the base closed in 1996, the nearby City of Vallejo assumed control of the naval property and cemetery. prgtoken Unfortunately, the city doesn't have the necessary funds to properly care for the cemetery. The city is also ineligible for VA support since it's not part of the State or Federal government. The maintenance, therefore, is left to volunteers with limited resources who lack the expertise necessary to maintain this historic cemetery. prgtoken The cemetery has fallen into disrepair and is no longer a fitting tribute to the brave men and women buried there. Gravestones are toppled over, broken, or sinking into the ground. Plants and weeds are overgrown, and water is pooling due to the lack of proper drainage. The cemetery's current condition requires urgent action to restore the gravestones and grounds to a respectable condition. Our bill would accomplish this by transferring control to the VA's National Cemetery Administration. prgtoken The transfer would not only allow the VA to restore the cemetery, but also ensure it's maintained for future generations to pay their respects to the heroes buried there. I want to thank Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) for leading this effort in the House. Passing this bill would be a small, but important, token of our gratitude to the veterans to whom we owe so much.
FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , we are now in the 25th day of the shutdown, the longest Federal Government shutdown in United States history. prgtoken This past Friday, hundreds of thousands of dedicated Federal employees went without a paycheck. It is shameful that the stubborn whims of this President have harmed the security of America's public servants. That includes Federal law enforcement officials at the FBI, the very Secret Service agents who protect the President, and those who work tirelessly to protect our air travel, our national parks, our environment, and public health. prgtoken The bill before us is the seventh--let me repeat, the seventh--piece of legislation have put on the House floor to end the shutdown and get the government back to work for the American people. It will reopen government through February 1, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of Federal workers. prgtoken It is long past time that Senate s join us to reopen the government, pay our Federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy. Madam , I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and end this shutdown. prgtoken I urge support for this bill, and .
CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF RON POWELL
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , it is with great respect and admiration that I take this time to honor Mr. Ronald Powell and to wish him well upon his retirement from his position as president of Local 881, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, and as vice president of the UFCW International. Ron has devoted his life to the working men and women of the UFCW, and for his unwavering dedication, he is to be commended. Mr. Powell will be honored at a retirement celebration taking place at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook, Illinois, on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. prgtoken In 1961, Ronald Powell began his career for Local 881 when he was hired as a field representative. Due to his hard work and commitment, Ron was promoted to field staff supervisor in 1968 , and went on to become vice president/director of field operations in 1973. His career continued to thrive, and in 1983, Mr. Powell became president of Local 881. In addition, he served as vice president of the UFCW International. Currently, Ron serves as vice president of the Illinois AFL-CIO and is a trustee for the UFCW Midwest Pension and Benefits Fund. Throughout his successful career, Mr. Powell fought for the rights of union members and American workers. Under his direction, Local 881 has become a progressive leader on behalf of its members in the areas of work-site representation, membership services, benefits, communication and activities. prgtoken In addition to his successful career, Ron has dedicated much of his time and efforts to charitable endeavors for organizations including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Jackson Park Hospital, Little City Foundation, and United Way of Illinois, to name a few. Mr. Powell's dedication to the community and his career is exceeded only by his devotion to his amazing family. Ron and his beloved late wife, Lois, have four amazing children, twelve grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending Mr. Ronald Powell for his outstanding contributions to Local 881, and to the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union. Throughout my career, Ron has been a tireless advocate for working people and an even better friend. For his lifetime of leadership and tireless dedication to his community, Ron is worthy of the highest praise, and I wish him well upon his retirement.
INSPECTOR GENERAL ACCESS ACT OF 2019
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 202, the Inspector General Access Act of 2019. Inspectors general perform a critical oversight function with regard to misconduct at their respective agencies. This committee, the Oversight and Reform Committee, has a long history of advocating for IGs to have timely and complete access to all the information they need to fulfill their oversight and investigative functions. prgtoken In continuance of that mission, H.R. 202 removes an unnecessary and outdated statutory hurdle that prevents the inspector general from investigating certain misconduct at the Department of Justice, DOJ. prgtoken Current law requires the DOJ IG to refer allegations of misconduct by Department attorneys to the Office of Professional Responsibility, or OPR, rather than initiate an investigation himself. The OPR existed prior to the statutory creation of the DOJ IG in 1988. At the time DOJ IG was created, OPR retained the specific authority. prgtoken H.R. 202 seeks to harmonize the Department of Justice IG's investigative authority with the rest of the Federal inspectors general who are not similarly restricted. Congress and this committee have consistently supported the need for independent and transparent oversight of Federal agencies and programs. The current bifurcation of investigative authority at DOJ is inconsistent with this committee's history of supporting the notion of an unencumbered IG. prgtoken The DOJ IG is not without its own oversight. The IG is confirmed by the Senate, accountable to the public, and is only removable by the President after notification to Congress. Further, the IG has statutory reporting obligations to both agency leadership and Congress. prgtoken The OPR, in contrast, lacks such independence from the agency it is obligated to investigate. The director of OPR is selected and appointed by the attorney general, answers to the attorney general, and can be removed or disciplined only by the attorney general. The IG's independence is critical to the value of their work. prgtoken Also critical to the value of the IG's work is transparency. The IG maintains transparency by publishing its reports on a public website. The website also contains information about the IG's operations and functions and a full archive of completed and ongoing work. This standard of transparency does not apply to OPR. Adverse findings by OPR against a DOJ lawyer are subject to review by the Department's leadership and can be overruled by the Department's leadership without any transparency. prgtoken It is important to note that this division of authority is a unique situation amongst the Federal IG community. The need for this legislation has also been discussed in multiple hearings before the Oversight and Reform Committee and in reports by watchdog groups. prgtoken The DOJ IG, Michael Horowitz, testified before the Oversight and Refor
THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. prgtoken This debate over securing our border has become a debate over the morality of our efforts, and I welcome that debate. But if we are to debate this issue of border security on the basis of morality, it is fair for us not only to ask how this issue affects our own Nation, but to look across our border and see how our national policy affects those beyond our borders. prgtoken For those of us who live near our southern border, we understand all too well the effects of the criminal cartels who profit from abusing our Nation's generous immigration laws. prgtoken When I visited the Rio Grande Valley just recently, a rancher with land on the border described the situation, saying that he finds dead migrants on his land all the time. prgtoken In my hometown of Victoria, Texas, 19 migrants died of suffocation and overheating after being trapped in the back of a trailer abandoned by a smuggler with a callous disregard for human life. prgtoken But beyond our borders, these cartels carry an outsized influence in Mexico and in developing nations in Central America. We know that cartels profit from smuggling drugs and humans across the border. They siphon oil from pipelines. They extort families and businesses and kidnap for profit. prgtoken The barbarism of these criminal cartels has led to 150,000 homicides in Mexico, alone, since 2006. They have worked their corrupting influence into the halls of government and law enforcement, hindering the people of these nations from developing and realizing the blessings of liberty for themselves. prgtoken Our Federal Government's unwillingness to control our border allows cartels to amass profits of tens of billions of dollars each year smuggling drugs and humans into our country, with a devastating toll on the most vulnerable in our Nation. Our lack of border security allows these criminal cartels to wield their corrupting influence in a way that makes positive change so difficult in these developing countries. prgtoken Unfortunately, like too many issues these days, border security has become a divisive and a partisan issue when, historically, this has had broad support. But there should be nothing partisan about ending a humanitarian and criminal crisis that is driven by cartels and enabled by our Federal Government's failure to act. prgtoken Congress has a responsibility to protect the citizens of our country and to end the humanitarian crisis on our southern border, and it is past time to reform our broken asylum system and secure the border.
THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , we hear that walls don't work, yet this is a picture of the ic National Convention in 2016. They put up a barrier. They put up a fence because they wanted to protect themselves like people in America want to protect themselves. prgtoken And there is a lovely gate, wall. They have them everywhere there is something that needs to be secured. Every single who is standing against securing our border has an outer wall to their home. prgtoken If walls don't work, they can eliminate that. People can come and go as they please. But they know deep down in their hearts, they secure their dead bolts. They secure their home. They may even have a wall around their outer wall because walls work. prgtoken Madam , I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding to me.
FEDERAL CIO AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
Will Hurd (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I thank the distinguished gentlewoman for yielding time to me on this important piece of legislation. prgtoken It should come as no surprise to anyone in this Chamber that technology is integrated into every facet of our daily lives. We have come a long way since the bill that established the role of the Federal Chief Information Officer, the E-Government Act, was originally passed. prgtoken Less than 50 percent of the U.S. population had home access to the internet in 2001 when this was first passed. Now, nearly every American has access to the internet. prgtoken Just 62 percent of Americans had cell phones when the original bill was passed. Now, 95 percent of Americans own cell phones, and 77 percent of those are smartphones. prgtoken Mobile apps were nonexistent in 2002. Today, over 2.2 million apps are available to consumers. prgtoken This bill recognizes how far technology has come. It codifies the position of the Federal Chief Information Officer and elevates the office to report directly to the head of the Office of Management and Budget. prgtoken The bill also establishes the role of the Federal Chief Information Security Officer, FCISO, who reports directly to the Federal CIO and will lead OMB cybersecurity efforts. prgtoken Empowering CIOs at the Federal agencies is consistent with the principles of one of the signature pieces of legislation on IT reform, the Federal IT Acquisition and Reform Act. The Federal CIO should be treated no differently. The Federal CIO must have the statutory and organizational authority to succeed, and this bill achieves just that. prgtoken The bill does more than just rename the office. It makes a clear statement that the Federal CIO is in charge of coordinating IT policy across the government. prgtoken This bill passed the House last Congress by a vote of 391-0, and I want to thank my friends--Representatives Robin Kelly, Mark Meadows, and Gerry Connolly--for their continued support for this important initiative. And I would like to thank Chairman Cummings and Ranking Member Jordan for making sure this important piece of legislation comes to the floor. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill.