mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DR. BENJY FRANCES BROOKS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GME SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018
Gene Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-7-23

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 5385, the Dr. Benjy Frances Brooks Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018. prgtoken I am proud to introduce this legislation that will reauthorize the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education program with our subcommittee chairman, Congressman Michael Burgess. The CHGME program was created by Congress in 1999 to provide payments to children's hospitals to support medical residency training programs. prgtoken The Children's Hospital GME program is necessary due to how hospitals typically receive support for GME through Medicare, and these payments are based on hospitals' Medicare patient volume. Because the Medicare program is used primarily by people who are over the age of 65 and children's hospitals treat, primarily, people below the age of 18, children's hospitals have low Medicare patient volume and receive few Medicare GME payments. prgtoken Children's Hospital GME funds go toward training our Nation's pediatric workforce, including pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists, as well as other physician types in nonpediatrics, focused specialists that may rotate through children's hospitals for a period of time during their residency. prgtoken Since its creation, the Children's Hospital GME program has made it possible for thousands of pediatricians to receive training, including at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, home of one of the largest academic pediatric departments in the United States, which has a number of clinics in our Houston area district. prgtoken Physicians receiving training in one of the 58 freestanding children's hospitals in 29 States go on to serve in the rural and other underserved areas, helping to alleviate the pediatric workforce shortage impacting communities throughout America. prgtoken The CHGME program is needed now more than ever to help train the pediatric workforce that will be required to meet the needs of our children and our grandchildren. Our legislation will reauthorize the CHGME program for 5 years at $325 million, and a $25 million increase over current levels. The current authorization will expire at the end of September, so it is imperative that we reauthorize this important program. prgtoken Our bipartisan legislation has 57 cosponsors, nearly equally divided between and s. In addition, this legislation has strong support from outside stakeholders, the American Hospital Association, and the Children's Hospital Association. prgtoken I thank Dr. Burgess and all our colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their hard work and support for this important legislation, and I ask for all Members to join us in support of the Dr. Benjy Frances Brooks Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018. prgtoken , .
FAMILY SEPARATION
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-7-23

do you remember children being separated from their families? This crisis is far from over. As a matter of fact, we found out it is not 2,000 children; it is 3,000 children. prgtoken A district court judge in San Diego has ordered the administration to reunite all of the families who were separated at the border by Thursday. Yet with the deadline looming this week, the administration continues to cite the many obstacles it says that are hindering the work they are trying to do to comply with the court's order. prgtoken When I went to the detention center in Homestead, FL, they said they were going to reunite families soon thereafter. That was more than a month and a half ago. As a matter of fact, of the 1,300 children that had been separated from their parents, there were 70 of them who were there. prgtoken They would not let me speak to them, so I inquired about whether the children had been able to speak to their parents on the phone. I was told that of the 70, 62 of the children had spoken to their parents. It has recently been made clear why some of those families have been unable to connect for so long. A report that was just published stated that the administration--the administration--has been charging detained parents--get this--as much as $8 a minute to call their children. These children were separated from their parents because the administration separated them. That is $8 a minute if you want to talk to your child. That is a new low. prgtoken Charging these families an exorbitant fee such as this, just to talk--just to talk--to their children, when the cost of providing that service is minimal, that is not even a conscionable act. prgtoken Many of those families have come and asked for political asylum. They are asking for what the law provides, and yet we have separated the children from their parents and have prevented those parents from simply using the telephone to contact their children. Many of those children are just terrified, and they are being held thousands of miles away. It is not only unnecessary, it is simply cruel. prgtoken It also seems to fly in the face of ICE's own policy to permit calls by detainees to immediate family members in case there are family emergencies and to do so at a reasonable cost, certainly not $8 a minute for poor families who don't have $1, much less $8. A number of us in the Senate have now sent a letter urging the administration to stop this ridiculous practice and allow those parents the ability to talk to their children. prgtoken The list of obstacles this administration claims it is facing in order to reunite the families seems to be never-ending. But I would suggest that the list of obstacles the administration has created for these families to overcome, just to see their children again, seems to go on and on. prgtoken As a country, the United States is better than this. We should be making it easier for these families to reconnect and
REMEMBERING DAVID EARL PATTERSON, SR.
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2018-7-23

I wish to honor David Earl Patterson, Sr a man who gave selflessly to his family, the Navajo Nation, and his country. prgtoken Mr. Patterson was born November 11, 1922. He was Tachil'nii--Red Running Into the Water People Clan, born for Kinlichii'nii--the Red House People Clan. He attended Catholic school in Shiprock NM, and remained a devout Catholic his entire life. prgtoken Mr. Patterson entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and was one of about 400 Navajo code talkers trained on radio communications. He served in the Marshall Islands, the islets of Roi and Namur, the Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. Navajo code talkers played a critical role in the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the first 2 days of the battle, the marines had six Navajo code talkers who worked around the clock during the first 2 days of the battle. They sent and received over 800 messages, all without error. Their marine commander said later, ``Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.'' Mr. Patterson received an honorable discharge in 1945. prgtoken Mr. Patterson was humble about his wartime contribution to our Nation and did not talk much about his World War II experience. The United States honored him and his fellow Navajo code talkers with the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor in 2001. prgtoken After the war, Mr. Patterson married Marion Patterson, and they raised seven children. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. prgtoken He attended college in Oklahoma and New Mexico and became a social worker for the Navajo Nation until his retirement in 1987, working decades for the welfare of his people. Even after retirement, he served until 2012 as a foster parent in the Shiprock schools until 2012. prgtoken Mr. Patterson was a passionate bowler, a baseball aficionado, and a bingo player. Bowling at every New Mexico bowling center was on his bucket list, and he found time to coach Little League Baseball and Softball in Shiprock. prgtoken Mr. Patterson lived a full and generous life until his passing on October 8, 2017 at age 94. He was one of the last surviving Navajo code talkers. prgtoken I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Patterson, a family man and a hero who never stopped giving to his community and people.
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS FLOODING
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-23

last July, heavy rain in Illinois caused severe flooding that led the Governor to declare disaster areas in Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Cook Counties. Thousands of buildings, including homes, businesses, and schools, were damaged by floodwaters. Thankfully, there were no fatalities as a result of this historic flooding. prgtoken Lake County was one of the areas most impacted by the flooding. When I visited two towns in this area--Libertyville and Gurnee--I saw street after street of flood damage to homes and businesses. It was heartbreaking. prgtoken I spoke with residents who were concerned about being able to recover from the flood and resulting damages and who voiced the need to find long-term solutions that will mitigate the impact of future flood events. prgtoken One year later, I am still awed by the dedication of the local first responders and county officials. State and local employees and volunteers came out to help at every level, from county emergency management agencies to the American Red Cross. Representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency worked closely with local officials to make sure communities had the resources needed to protect critical infrastructure and clean up when the water began to recede. prgtoken People from all around the region pitched in to help their neighbors and even strangers protect property and get back on their feet. prgtoken It has been challenging for Illinois to receive Federal aid after a disaster occurs. I led the Illinois delegation in supporting the Governor's request for a Federal disaster declaration for the four impacted counties, but unfortunately, the State did not receive aid after the flooding last July. prgtoken Currently, FEMA considers State population when reviewing States' requests for Federal assistance following a disaster. This puts highly populous States like Illinois at a disadvantage, relying on the premise that they can absorb more recovery costs after a disaster. Despite that, my colleagues in Congress and I will always stand ready to do whatever we can to provide Federal assistance to assist Illinois communities. prgtoken I introduced a bill to fix FEMA's disaster declaration formula--the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Acts--and I will continue to push this bill to try and help States, both small and large, in times of need. Families in Illinois deserve a fair and transparent disaster declaration process that allows them to access Federal resources when they are needed most. prgtoken I want to thank everyone who was engaged in the response and mitigation efforts, and all those who were part of the recovery efforts since last July. Illinoisans always come together and rebuild, as we have done, and we are stronger for it.
NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2018
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-7-23

I rise in support of H.R. 2345, the ``National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act,'' which provides resources to improve suicide hotlines in the United States. prgtoken , it is critical that we address the public heath crisis of suicide in the United States. prgtoken Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States--each year, 44,965 Americans die by suicide, more than half by firearm. prgtoken On average, 123 Americans commit suicide each day. prgtoken The 2016 annual age-adjusted suicide rate in my state of Texas was 12.57 per 100,000 individuals, which was similar to the national average for that year. prgtoken However, there has been a steady increase in suicides in the decade since 2007, when the suicide rate was 10.48 per 100,000. prgtoken Suicides in Texas have increased by 23 percent over the past 15 years. prgtoken The steady increase coincides with new data that names suicide as the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-34 in America. prgtoken Even more alarming are rates of suicide among our veterans--those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and deserve protection tantamount to their service. prgtoken According to a Veterans Affairs study released last year, risk for suicide was 22 percent higher among veterans when compared to U.S. non- veteran adults. prgtoken After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 19 percent higher among male veterans when compared to U.S. non-veteran adult men. prgtoken After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 2.5 times higher among female veterans when compared to U.S. non-veteran adult women. prgtoken But the victims of suicide are more than mere statistics. prgtoken They are our parents, children, siblings, and loved ones. prgtoken They are our co-workers, our peers, and our servicemen and women. prgtoken They deserve more. prgtoken There are many organizations and individuals working tirelessly to ensure all of our fellow citizens receive the aid they need. prgtoken I commend the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. prgtoken There are five such centers in Texas, including one in my home city of Houston. prgtoken The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline reports that it experienced an increase of 100 percent in calls between 2014 and 2017, revealing just how prevalent suicide has become. prgtoken The helpline answered more than 2 million calls in 2017, up from approximately one million calls in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, the helpline answered more than 1.5 million calls each year. prgtoken Those on the front lines of the suicide prevention efforts deserve more help. prgtoken H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to coordinate with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and consult with the Department o
PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION ACT OF 2017
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-7-23

I want to ask the gentleman a couple of questions, but I want to preface my questions by saying I think that this is a terrible lost opportunity for serious, bipartisan legislation to address the problem of eminent domain abuse that has been taking place across the country and has been for several decades. I recommend to everybody a report of the Cato Institute by David Boaz, which summarizes what is taking place around the country. prgtoken One of the worst perpetrators of eminent domain abuse in the country is a business developer named . In the mid-1990s, he built the casino and the hotel in Atlantic City, but he wanted to evict a woman named Vera Coking, who was exactly in the same position as Mrs. Kelo would be in a decade later. prgtoken She had lived in this Victorian house at the end of the boardwalk in Atlantic City for several decades, but wanted to build a VIP limo parking lot to go with the existing hotel. He offered her some money and she said: No, thank you. My family has lived in this house for a long time. We want to stay here. Our kids go to school here. prgtoken He offered her a little bit more money and she said: No, it's not for sale. We are going to stay here. prgtoken So they created something called the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, controlled by, essentially, the Corporation, but they got the city to do it, and they tried to force her out. Luckily, the Cato Institute and some libertarian lawyers defended her rights. prgtoken But the legislation that is being brought forward today by the s now on a totally partisan basis would do nothing for people in the situation of Mrs. Coking or Mrs. Kelo, because it doesn't give them any rights to sue. All it says is we are going to cut off money to government agencies. prgtoken It would be like saying: Well, in a case like that, we will cut off money to every city and town in New Jersey, not just Atlantic City, but to Newark, New Jersey, and to Freehold, New Jersey. We are going to cut off money all over the State. prgtoken It has got nothing to do with the actual problem. It doesn't help the people who are actually suffering under the problem of eminent domain abuse. prgtoken If we want to help them, let's give them a Federal right of action; or, if all you can do is cut off Federal money, cut off the particular city that is involved, but not every city or county that is receiving money under a Federal program. prgtoken Mr. Nadler made a point which I thought was really interesting, which is that this is a solution that doesn't address the problem. If we want to save people from getting evicted from their homes under the Kelo decision, which President applauded and said he supports 100 percent, but if we want to save people from policies under the Kelo decision, shouldn't we give them rights rather than make some kind of Federal subsidy decision which is of constitutional question, in any
ANTI-TERRORISM CLARIFICATION ACT OF 2018
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-23

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 5954, the Anti-terrorism Clarification Act of 2018. This bipartisan bill, of which I am proud to be the lead ic sponsor, amends the Anti-Terrorism Act, or ATA, to make it easier for American victims of international terrorism to have their day in court, to obtain some measure of justice for their injuries, and to hold terrorists accountable for their heinous acts. prgtoken The ATA provides that U.S. nationals, or their survivors or heirs, may recover treble damages and attorney's fees and costs for any civil action arising from an injury sustained by an act of international terrorism. prgtoken H.R. 5954 seeks to minimize certain procedural obstacles that ATA plaintiffs have encountered in their attempts to obtain full relief for their injuries. For example, the ATA contains an exception for injuries caused by an ``act of war,'' which it defines, in relevant part, as including ``armed conflict between military forces of any origin.'' prgtoken Unfortunately, this ambiguous statutory language has led to considerable confusion among Federal courts as to the proper scope of the act of war exception, and even as to the proper kind of analysis to apply when the armed conflict at issue involves a terrorist group such as Hamas or Hezbollah. prgtoken For example, in one case, the court found that the act of war exception prevented U.S. civilians injured by Hezbollah rocket attacks into Israel from pursuing their claims under the ATA. Yet, in another case, a different court concluded that gunshots fired into Israel by Hamas that resulted in injury to a U.S. civilian did not constitute an act of war and, therefore, was compensable. prgtoken H.R. 5954 resolves this confusion by specifying, among other things, that a foreign terrorist organization or a specially designated global terrorist, as designated by the executive branch, is not a ``military force'' and, therefore, is subject to ATA liability. prgtoken This change makes it clear that violent actions targeted at U.S. civilians by a terrorist group are acts of terrorism that could give rise to liability under the ATA. Indeed, to read the act of war exception otherwise, as some courts have done, threatens to undermine the ATA's entire purpose. prgtoken Even if victims successfully obtain a judgment under the ATA, many plaintiffs find it impossible to obtain full compensation for their injuries because there are not sufficient assets available to satisfy the judgment. This bill would address that problem as well. prgtoken Under current law, terrorism victims can reach assets blocked pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to satisfy terrorism-related court judgments. This bill would simply allow terrorism victims also to attach assets that have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. prgtoken The fina
TRUMP'S LIFELONG LEGACY: STACKING THE COURTS
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2018-7-23

the most important thing I would say to the people is look at that 49-51 figure of how close the Senate is, and within a couple of months, there will be an election. We could turn a lot of this around. prgtoken If, as the polls tend to show, capture the House, and they are increasingly showing that they will keep the Senate, it seems to me all the American people can do now is take it to the ultimate remedy, and that is to change the Congress. And that way, it seems to me, would slow these nominees or get nominees where there will be some consultation with , as there has been in the past, often, in the Senate because you want to get your nominee through. prgtoken So I don't think, by any means, that there is anything to fear because there is an election coming and I believe that what this nominee for the Supreme Court and others for the district courts--and here we have African Americans mindful of the district courts and the courts of appeals throughout the United States. Surely all of that is, forgive the word, ammunition to go to the polls to make sure we halt this stripping of equal protection from the Federal courts of the United States.
TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-23

on Russia, a week ago today, President met with President Putin in Helsinki, and with the world watching, failed to show an ounce of strength in defense of American interests. prgtoken What followed was an embarrassing week of insincere walk backs and mixed messages, culminating on Friday in a bizarre invitation for President Putin to visit the White House this fall--something the President's own Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Coats, was not made aware of. It is not hyperbolic to say that last week may have been one of the worst weeks in American foreign policy in recent memory. prgtoken In the face of these stunning events, what have my colleagues done to rein in the President? I am sad to report, virtually nothing. In the full week since the Helsinki summit, s failed to take meaningful action to hold the President accountable for his foreign policy blunders in Finland. s have offered words of rebuke, statements, disappointed tweets, but they have not backed up any of those words with the force of action. prgtoken I have seen my colleagues shrug their shoulders as if there weren't anything the U.S. Senate could do to check this President, even though they feel in their hearts, I know, that he needs checking. I mentioned several ways the Senate could grapple with and push back a bit on what President has done: bring in his national security team and translator to testify before Congress, particularly so we can tell what happened in that 2 hours when Putin and were alone; pass legislation to protect the special counsel and legislation to harden our election infrastructure because we risk Russia's interference again; implement sanctions against Russia; demand that Russia hand over the 12 Russians indicted for election interference and more. prgtoken If my friends were serious about doing something to redirect our posture toward Russia, we should have seen some movement by now on one or more of these things, but we are stuck in the mud. Even though there is bipartisan condemnation for the President's behavior last week, the Senate has remained virtually silent on the matter because s here are unwilling, maybe afraid, to confront the President, even though they know what he did was so wrong. prgtoken At the end of last week, the majority blocked a bipartisan resolution--a modest one from Senators Flake and Coons, one a , one a --that sought to hold Russia accountable. It didn't have many teeth, but still the s objected. prgtoken Are my friends ever willing to push back against this President, not just in words but in deeds, or are they too afraid of the political consequences? Are they willing to put country over party at this crucial time? It seems not, at least so far. prgtoken I know many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were deeply disturbed by the Presiden