mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WORKING TO INTEGRATE NETWORKS GUARANTEEING MEMBER ACCESS NOW ACT
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-2-13

I want to thank Mr. Bilirakis for the work that he has done. And I want to congratulate Chairman Roe for taking over the Veterans' Affairs Committee. prgtoken I would also like to thank the committee staff for their diligence and help on this piece of legislation, as well as the co-leads of this bill, Representatives Rodney Davis, Kyrsten Sinema, and John Delaney. prgtoken Last Congress, WINGMAN passed the Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously in the House due to the bipartisan support of the Members of this Chamber. While it was disappointing that we were unable to get it across the finish line in the Senate, I feel confident, given the support this bill has witnessed early on in this year, with 175 Members in the House and 7 Members in the Senate, I am encouraged, and my hope is that we will see it pass the Senate this Congress and be signed into law by the President. prgtoken Congressional constituent advocates worked diligently in our district offices to help veterans navigate the VA claims appeals system. But, they are hampered by having to wait weeks, months, and sometimes even years to receive documents from the VA that are often vital to helping the veteran reach a favorable resolution. prgtoken WINGMAN will help to expedite the process by cutting out the middleman and providing direct access to the files our office already has permission to obtain. Currently, advocates must have a privacy release form signed by the constituent prior to acting on their behalf. This doesn't change. What changes is the wait time our offices, veterans, and their families must endure while the VA sends us the appropriate documents. prgtoken WINGMAN will help veterans such as James, from my district, who had eight separate, but related, claims filed. He didn't know which files were attached to which claims, the dates they were received, which department they were referred to, or that he could have filed one single, fully developed claim. Had my staff had access to the files, which WINGMAN permits, they would have been able to assess the issue and update his claims without having to go on a wild goose chase for the documents with the VA system. Getting his case on track could have happened in a matter of days, rather than years. He is more than deserving of this, especially since some of his claims are over 6 years old. prgtoken Another constituent lost her husband while he was serving this Nation. The VA was mailing all correspondence to his widow to an incorrect address. This resulted in an overpayment, which she was unaware of since she was not receiving the mail. The long-term result was a veteran's widow having her account sent to collections, which damaged her credit, and ended with her new spouse's tax return being confiscated. With access to the system files, our office would have had a clearer picture of the timeline of events and been able to direct and streamline our inquiry. Instead, our staff had to hunt d
Nomination of David Shulkin (Executive Session)
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-2-13

I rise to express my strong support for the nomination of Dr. David Shulkin to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I believe his impressive record of service in both the public and private health care sectors as well as his firm grasp of VA health care issues make him extraordinarily well qualified to lead the Department through the coming period of major reforms and continuing transformation. prgtoken Dr. Shulkin has served in numerous executive roles at hospitals across the country, including Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute. In fact, he has been named one of the top 100 Physician Leaders of Hospitals and Health Systems and one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in the country. prgtoken In 2015, Dr. Shulkin brought his extensive experience in the private sector to the Department of Veterans Affairs and served as the VA Under Secretary for Health. Last year, I had the opportunity to host Dr. Shulkin in my hometown of Caribou, ME, as he toured the community-based outpatient clinic and our local hospital, Cary Medical Center, to see the innovative work being done there to provide veterans with top- quality health care closer to where they live. prgtoken Cary Medical Center partners with the VA through the Access Received Closer to Home or ARCH Program to provide veterans in Northern Maine with high-quality care, including specialty care close to home and close to their families, rather than forcing them to drive 250 or more miles to receive their care at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, the location of Maine's only VA hospital. prgtoken This partnership between Cary Medical Center and the VA has been a huge success, with an approval rating from our veterans exceeding 90 percent. Last spring, when we were faced with the potential expiration of the ARCH Program, Dr. Shulkin, at my invitation, came to Maine and announced his commitment to ensure that veterans using this innovative program in our State would maintain seamless community care. He has kept his word. prgtoken During his visit to Maine, Dr. Shulkin also toured the Togus VA Medical Center, the oldest VA facility in the Nation and the community- based outpatient clinic in Bangor. I would note that he drove the 4 hours from Augusta, where the VA hospital is located, to Caribou to get a better sense of the distances in our State. Right now, when we are in the midst of a fierce blizzard, you can imagine how important it is for veterans in need of care to be able to access that care close to home in an emergency. prgtoken I was truly impressed, and remain truly impressed, with Dr. Shulkin's understanding of the needs of rural veterans and the challenges of providing health care in rural settings. While in Maine, Dr. Shulkin listened to veterans health care providers, VSO advocates, and the VA staff alike to ensure that o
COMMITMENT TO CIVILITY
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-14

I rise today to recommit myself to work first and foremost for the interest of the American public, regardless of political ideology. prgtoken I am under no illusion about the overwhelming partisanship that permeates this Congress. But I believe that, as vigorously as we debate our policy differences, we should also commit to upholding the principles of civility and respect to encourage productive discourse. To this end, we must work together, when at all possible, to advance the policy that serves our constituents and our country. prgtoken In this effort, I reflect on my service in the United States Marine Corps. We did not first stop to question whether our fellow marine was a or a . We counted on each other to protect and defend our country. That is the approach to service we should aspire to in this distinguished legislative body. prgtoken On the issues of national security and to provide for the needs of the American people, there is no doubt in my mind that there is more that unites us than divides us. I look forward to working with my colleagues here today to do just that. prgtoken In the infamous words of President Kennedy: ``Let us not seek the answer or the ic answer, but the right answer.''
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION--Continued
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-2-14

I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to a Pennsylvanian who passed away this past week, Al Boscov. prgtoken Al was known not only in Pennsylvania, but beyond, as the owner of Boscov's Department Stores, a very, very successful retail department store chain. I rise not just to pay tribute to his life, his work, and his success but, most importantly, what he meant to the people of Pennsylvania--all that he did above and beyond in addition to his great business success. prgtoken I want to extend condolences to the Boscov family--to his wife Eunice, their children and grandchildren, and, of course, to the people of Reading and prgtoken Berks County, and, by extension, our entire Commonwealth because of what Al meant to his community and the larger community in eastern Pennsylvania but also all the way up to my home area of northeastern Pennsylvania. prgtoken I live in Scranton. One of his stores was, and still is, in the downtown business district in Scranton. So this is personal to me as well. prgtoken Al leaves two generations who will carry on his legacy in so many ways: his three daughters, Ruth, Ellen, and Meg, and his five grandchildren. prgtoken Al was born on September 22, 1929. He was the youngest son of Solomon and Ethel Boscov. He first made a name for himself as an expert flycatcher in his father's neighborhood store at Ninth and Pike. In those days, when he was just learning skills that would help him later in the business world, obviously people could see a great future for this young man. prgtoken He was a graduate of Reading Senior High School. He also graduated with a business degree from Drexel University, where he started his first business--a delivery service for hero sandwiches--which would presage a great career in business. prgtoken Al received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Albright College in Reading, a doctor of arts and letters degree from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and, finally, a doctor of public service from Kutztown University. So three distinguished Pennsylvania universities paid tribute to him by way of a doctorate degree. prgtoken He served in the Navy during the Korean war. After service, Al returned home to join the family business and, in 1962, opened Boscov's first full-service department store, Boscov's West, in suburban Reading. Since that time, the Boscov chain has become the largest family-owned department store chain in the Nation, with 45 stores in 7 States, employing some 7,500 coworkers. prgtoken Here is what Al said about his store, which shows the attitude he conveyed as a businessperson and a member of the community. When he talked about people visiting his stores, he said: We like to give people a reason for coming to Boscov's even when they don't want to buy anything. They enjoy themselves and hopefully we make a friend. prgtoken What a great attitude for any business leader, especially one who opened his business
NICS (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-2-14

Congress created the Small Business Administration in 1953 to ``aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns.'' The SBA now provides financial assistance, help with Federal contract procurement, and management assistance. The agency makes specialized outreach to women, minorities, and veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade. prgtoken The President has nominated Linda McMahon to run the SBA. Mrs. McMahon and her husband founded Titan Sports in 1980. The business grew dramatically under their leadership. Mrs. McMahon became president in 1993 and CEO of the company in 1997. The company became World Wrestling Entertainment and then simply WWE. prgtoken Unfortunately, the McMahons appear to have grown their business at least in part using business practices that disadvantaged their employees. The Connecticut Post and the Hartford Courant reported that WWE did not offer its wrestlers health insurance, as McMahon argued the company's wrestlers were independent contractors. And the Connecticut Post reported that Connecticut audited McMahon's company to determine if WWE improperly classified employees as independent contractors. prgtoken An investigation led by Representative Henry Waxman found that McMahon's WWE did not do enough to prevent steroid use. Representative Waxman's committee found that, at one point, 40 percent of WWE's wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested. A WWE ``house doctor'' was reportedly convicted and sentenced to prison for steroid trafficking. And the New York Daily News reported that an Albany district attorney probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal involved several WWE wrestlers. prgtoken And more than 50 former professional wrestlers sued McMahon's WWE, charging that the company was responsible for repeated head trauma that they suffered, often involving specific moves scripted and choreographed by WWE. prgtoken The SBA needs strong leadership to advance the interests of our Nation's hard-working small businesses, but it does not need a leader who will advance profits at workers' expense. Mrs. McMahon's business experience leads me to be concerned that she will not put people over profits, and thus, I must oppose the nomination.
ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES AT THE VA
Beto O’Rourke (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-2-14

I came to the floor this evening primarily to talk about issues and opportunities at the VA and the successful confirmation of our new Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin, but I would be remiss in not thanking my colleague from Texas (Mr. Green) for his powerful words about the NAACP and the profoundly positive impact that they have had on this country and on our ability to make the most of the potential that we have in every single community in the United States. prgtoken Mr. Green is well aware of the inordinate pride that I have in the community I represent of El Paso, Texas, and how the first chapter of the NAACP was started in El Paso, Texas, through the good work of Dr. Lawrence Nixon, who also has the distinction of having been the man who effectively desegregated voting in the State of Texas, ending the all- White primary which had prevailed following Reconstruction in our State, much to our lasting shame. But to our immense pride, he was the man and our community was the place where that successful fight began. prgtoken As Mr. Green also knows, because I had the pleasure and honor of joining him in a Special Order not too long ago, El Paso also was the home of Thelma White, who, along with some other young, courageous El Pasoans, had gone to the all-African-American high school, Douglass High School, in El Paso. They attempted to enroll in Texas Western College, now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, but were denied entry simply based on the color of their skin. prgtoken Thanks to the NAACP and one of their most promising attorneys, Thurgood Marshall, they were able to take this case to a Federal bench, in fact, the bench of R.E. Thompson, who also happens to be an El Pasoan, whose ruling not only ruled in their favor, but effectively desegregated higher education in the State of Texas at that time and forever more. prgtoken So I just want to add my thanks and my support for an outstanding organization and the very positive impact that they have had on the State that I call home and the community that I am so lucky to serve and to represent. I thank the gentleman from Texas for staying just a little bit longer. prgtoken , I am also here today to thank my colleagues in the Senate, who, 100-0, yesterday confirmed the President's nomination of Dr. David Shulkin to be the next Secretary of the VA at what I think is the most critical moment in the history of that critically important organization. prgtoken We all know of the severe challenges that the VA and the veterans whom it purports to serve face today. We know of the challenges in service-connected disability claim wait times--in the appeals that are made to those claims when the judgment or the ruling is not in favor of the veteran in question or there is an error in that judgment or some additional information needs to be added--and wait times in appeals that last not days or weeks or months, but measured in years. prgtoken
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION--Continued
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-2-14

it is Valentine's Day, and Senate s and President want to deliver a love letter to their sweetheart, the National Rifle Association. To the s and President , nothing says ``I love you'' like ``let's weaken background checks on gun sales'' because that is exactly the issue before us today. prgtoken Today, s in Congress and President want to gut a commonsense safety measure that would help keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them. After the tragedy in Newtown, CT, the administration undertook a comprehensive review of Federal law to identify ``potentially dangerous individuals'' who should not be trusted with firearms. prgtoken The Social Security Administration was required to identify and report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System those people who received Social Security benefits due to severe mental impairment and who require a fiduciary representative to manage those benefits. prgtoken That is a sensible policy. If you can't manage your disability benefits because of a mental impairment, you probably shouldn't be trying to manage a gun. Indeed, current law prohibits individuals from purchasing a firearm if a court, a board, a commission, or other lawful authority has determined that a mental health issue makes them a danger to themselves or to others or that they lack the mental capacity to contract or manage their own affairs. prgtoken The purpose of the rule is, simply, to include in the Federal background check system information from the Social Security Administration that it already has about beneficiaries whom current law already prohibits from possessing a firearm. Even this fair, reasonable, and commonsense limitation on gun purchasing is too much for the NRA and its congressional allies. So they have turned, this afternoon, to the Congressional Review Act to roll back this rule. By doing so, they would block the Social Security Administration from issuing a similar rule on this subject in the future. This is shortsighted on the one hand and very dangerous on the other for a long, long time in our country because it is these loopholes in the background check system that have already allowed people to obtain guns, despite being judged a danger to themselves or to others, especially family members. prgtoken Loopholes in the system allowed the Virginia Tech, Tucson, Aurora, and Newtown shooters to obtain guns. We need to close loopholes like the ones that allow people who are mentally impaired from buying guns. Repealing this rule only keeps the loophole open. prgtoken Recent polls show that 92 percent of Americans support background checks for all gun buyers--including 87 percent of s in our country support background checks on who is, in fact, purchasing a gun in our country--but not the National Rifle Association. The National Rifle Association sent an action alert to
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-2-14

I listened carefully to my colleagues on the prgtoken other side, and I want to make sure people really understand what this debate is all about. This debate is about background checks. It is about mental health. It is not about taking away constitutional rights. I am struck--and I know the distinguished Presiding Officer has taken part in a lot of these debates as well--that whenever there is a discussion about guns in the U.S. Senate, Senators get up and say: We shouldn't be debating guns, we ought to be debating mental health. That is what we are talking about today--mental health and background checks. prgtoken The fact is, we can go into townhall meetings in any part of America and hear extraordinary support for the whole idea of background checks. Background checks are right at the heart of this morning's debate and supporting background checks is not some extreme far-out position to hold. In fact, opposing background checks is the view that is way out of the mainstream of American political thought. prgtoken A recent poll found that 92 percent of gun owners supported expanded background checks. Let me just repeat that 92 percent of gun owners in America support expanded background checks. As the courts continue to interpret the language of the Second Amendment, one matter has been made clear: background checks are a constitutional part of the exercise of those rights. prgtoken So what I am going to do is describe what this is all about, but I want to, as we get going, make sure people understand that fundamentally this is about background checks, and it is about mental health. It is not about taking away somebody's constitutional rights. prgtoken Here is how the proposal under discussion works. If there is an individual with a severe mental impairment that means that another person--perhaps a family member--is in charge of their Social Security benefits, then the background check is to be informed by Social Security that the person with a severe mental impairment is ineligible to buy a gun. The fact is, we can always talk about tailoring the rule in a slightly different way. It is critically important that individuals who wind up in the background check system are not treated unfairly, but the fact is, anyone who thinks they have been unfairly affected by this proposal can appeal, and they are most likely going to win, as long as they are not a danger to themselves or anyone else. If the Social Security Administration says no, that person has the power to take their case to court. prgtoken What we are talking about here is, in my view, not about or s, liberals and conservatives; I think we are just talking about plain old, unvarnished common sense. We want to, all of us--all of us--stop shootings by those who are in danger of hurting themselves or other persons. prgtoken The rule came out last year, but it goes back to the shootings at Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook. Wha