mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND PATIENT SAFETY ACT, H.R. 6082, AND IMD CARE ACT, H.R. 5797
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-6-20

today I was unable to vote for two important bills that add to the House's ongoing efforts to combat the opioid and substance abuse crisis in America. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes on H.R. 6082, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, to align 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA privacy regulations, allowing doctors to provide the best medical care for patients who suffer from the crippling disease that is substance use disorder. Doctors cannot treat a whole patient with half a medical record. I would also have voted Yes on the IMD Care Act, H.R. 5797 to expand treatment options for patients.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-6-20

I am grateful to my friends for pointing out the advantages of natural gas. prgtoken I might add that we had, in the last Congress, a hearing about what was the world's largest solar plant. This wasn't a plant that had solar panels. It had thousands of mirrors pointing to three different towers that would superheat the water, which would turn to steam and would drive turbines to produce electricity. prgtoken I have one article here. This was from February 2014. It talked about the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, sprawling across roughly 5 square miles of Federal land; that is Mojave Desert area near the California-Nevada border. It had opened, and it was glorified. There was $1.6 billion in Federal loans, $600-some-odd million in grants to help them make their payments. Years later they paid 7 million--well, 2 years ago, they had paid back, I think they said, $7 million of the $2.2 billion. prgtoken Anyway, this article was about the world's largest solar plant scorching birds in the Nevada desert. From testimony we heard, apparently this solar plant, as birds would fly through the superheated sunlight, it would cause them to explode in flames, which is why the locals called them flamers. prgtoken Originally, they were not expecting to have to spend a lot of money cleaning mirrors with water. They thought it would just be dust. They didn't anticipate all the flaming bird debris--some of them endangered species, I am quite sure. prgtoken In a period of February through June, there were 290 of those flamers that exploded in flames and scattered their bird debris. Anyway, that was the solar side of it. prgtoken Since they had a contract to provide all this electricity and they had used up their $2.2 billion, what do you do when you don't have $2.2 billion and the ability to burn up endangered species and you don't have that kind of government grant? Well, you take just a little bit of money and you do what they did: you use natural gas--very environmentally friendly. prgtoken You can create a natural gas electrical plant very, very cheaply and make up for what the fire, the flaming birds, and all the other things did to slow down this great solar-powered plant. So there is a lot to be said for natural gas. prgtoken We did have a hearing yesterday, and one of the things I did not get to point out that I had highlighted but just didn't have enough time to ask the inspector general about, since his conclusion was, even though there were hundreds of pages that clearly reflected not just bias, but angry, hateful animus against , s--but certainly --the IG, it seemed very clear to me, with hundreds of pages documenting the overwhelming bias among those who were supposed to be fair and impartial, figuratively depicting justice being blind, well, it was as if IG Horowitz decided: Well, we have got all this overwhelming bias, so that will make the s happy.
INDIVIDUALS IN MEDICAID DESERVE CARE THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIBLE IN ITS EXECUTION ACT
Mimi Walters (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-6-20

the Energy and Commerce Committee has worked hard to make this monumental first step in removing a decades-old barrier. prgtoken Currently the law prohibits Medicaid beneficiaries aged 21 to 64 from receiving care in an institution for mental disease, or IMD. This prohibition was set into law in the 1960s, long before the opioid crisis, and the time to repeal it in a targeted manner is now. prgtoken Now is the time, because 115 Americans are dying each day from opioid-related deaths. Now is the time, because prgtoken on average, 1,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for opioid misuse. prgtoken I am happy to work with my colleagues on expanding addiction treatment services, but that should not distract from what we are considering today: increasing access to specialized inpatient treatment for the most vulnerable in society who are struggling with an opioid addiction. prgtoken We are helping to ensure that people get the care they need in the midst of this crisis, and most importantly, it will save lives. prgtoken A recent MACPAC report clearly stated that the Medicaid IMD exclusion acts as a barrier for individuals with an opioid use disorder and is one of the few instances in Medicaid where Federal financial participation cannot be used for medically necessary and otherwise covered services for a specific Medicaid enrollee population receiving treatment in a specific setting. prgtoken The IMD CARE Act is vital to helping our communities end the opioid epidemic by removing that barrier. This bill provides for a targeted repeal of the IMD prohibition. The bill gives States a quicker alternative than Medicaid waivers to provide this much needed care. This bill was carefully crafted to ensure that patients are not being held in IMDs for longer than necessary and the bill also includes an offset. prgtoken For these reasons, the National Governors Association and the American Hospital Association support the bill. prgtoken Numerous stakeholder groups have identified the IMD exclusion repeal as one of the most significant reforms we can make to end the opioid crisis. prgtoken This is such a critical first step. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this motion to recommit and to vote ``yes'' on final passage. prgtoken , .
PROVIDING RELIABLE OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ACT OF 2018
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-6-20

. Madam , the opioid crisis is an epidemic that is impacting every community across the country. It is a crisis that is getting worse and worse. prgtoken The chances are that everyone knows someone who has been personally affected--wrestling with addiction, providing support to a loved one in recovery, or simply offering comfort to a friend who may be dealing with loss. prgtoken For the second consecutive year, American life expectancy has actually declined. Opioid-related overdoses caused more than 33,000 deaths in 2015 and more than 40,000 in 2016. prgtoken It's no coincidence that most people are just prescribed opioids to manage their pain even though the government will also pay for hundreds of medical devices, physical therapy and non-opioid medications. prgtoken The fact is many people and providers simply aren't aware of other, equally effective therapies like medical devices, non-opioid medications and physical therapy. We need to change that. prgtoken That's why I authored the Medicare CHOICE Act with my colleague Representative Kind. It which is one of the bills in this package H.R. 5775, the PROPER Act. prgtoken The CHOICE Act will require Part D drug plans to inform seniors about other, non-addictive pain management therapies that Medicare covers so that when they get injured or have some other type of pain, they will be able to ask their doctor the right questions to make sure that they receive the most effective and least harmful pain management therapy. prgtoken Education is important and can be an effective tool for providers and can help make a difference in the fight against opioid addiction. prgtoken Representatives Black, O'Halleran and Crowley also have an initiative included in the PROPER Act package to educate seniors about ways they should safely dispose of unused opioids and how providers should take into account the whole patient when discussing pain. I thank them for their important work. prgtoken This package has strong bipartisan support and I want to thank my colleagues for working together to get these initiatives moving for action on the House floor. prgtoken It will make a difference in addressing an epidemic that continues to bring tragedy and sadness to so many families. prgtoken Madam , I am glad that we are taking action to educate seniors on their alternative pain management therapies, how they can safely get rid of unused opioids, and how providers should look at the whole patient when delivering advice for pain management.
TRIBUTE TO DENNIS E. FRYE
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2018-6-20

I wish to recognize a dedicated public servant and proud student of West Virginian and American history, Dennis E. Frye, on the occasion of his retirement from the National Park Service. Innumerable visitors to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park benefited from his wealth of knowledge and notorious performances that brought history to life. prgtoken As Dennis tells it, at a young age, he wanted to be either a historian or an astronaut. Once he found out that becoming an astronaut entails being very good at math, he decided history was the way to go. He studied at what was then Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV, while volunteering at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, becoming a park ranger in 1977. Eschewing the traditional route of advancement in the National Park Service through moving from park to park, Dennis stayed put and advanced within the park, and set about the task of changing perceptions of Harpers Ferry in the Civil War history community. prgtoken As staff historian and later chief historian at the park and through his work in various historical societies concerned with the Civil War, Dennis emphasized the importance of Harpers Ferry to the history of the Civil War. Thanks, in large part, to his efforts, the Battle of Harpers Ferry and the importance of the town in the history of America are better recognized by the historical community, of which he is a vocal member. Indeed, Dennis's dedication to his passion as an advocate and student of history is apparent from the 10-year sabbatical he took to focus on writing historical works and to serve as president of the Civil War Trust, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Civil War battlefields. He is also a recipient of the Shelby Foote Award from the Civil War Trust, the National Park Service's Freeman Tilden Award for excellence in interpretation and education, and the Nevins-Freeman Award for outstanding contributions to the study of the Civil War. prgtoken Dennis later returned as chief historian of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where his work of inspiring and educating visitors, including my staff and myself, through meticulous detail and dramatic performances continued to the present day. If the job of a historian is to both impart knowledge and ensure the lessons of history remain with us, then Dennis Frye is a master in his field. prgtoken No one who knows him doubts that Dennis E. Frye will continue to be a forceful advocate for his passions in retirement, which includes being an ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox. I believe I speak for many when I say that I sincerely appreciate his public service and the contributions he has made to a better understanding of the history of West Virginia and America. I am proud to call him a friend, and I wish him well in his future pursuits.
HONORING THE BOROUGH OF BLOOMINGDALE'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-6-20

I rise today to honor the Borough of Bloomingdale, County of Passaic, New Jersey, on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary. prgtoken As early as 1700, the Dutch began settling --what is now known today as Bloomingdale, named after the town of Bloomingdale in Holland. In 1734, mineral resources were discovered in Bloomingdale by Cornelius Board. Board was shown the iron deposits by local natives near the Ringwood River by the Sterling Forest. After locating the ore, Board built the first ever small iron furnace in the region. German miners were brought over to work the mine. The mine would change hand two times, first to John and Uzal Ogden and Newark associates, and then to the American Iron Company. This company was London-based, bringing in immigrants from England. prgtoken Bloomingdale is most known for is the important role it played in the Revolutionary War. One can find a plaque on the Federal Hill Historic Site that commemorates the Pompton Mutiny on Federal Hill in what is today Bloomingdale. On January 20, 1781, 200-300 Continental soldiers mutinied. Their plan was to march to Trenton to make their demands, which included complaints about food, clothing, and pay. General George Washington decided to make an example of these mutinous soldiers, and they were met by General Howe's army on their way to Trenton. Although they were dealt with harshly, Washington did concede to their demands, admitting that there was a truth behind them. prgtoken The aforementioned mining activities in Bloomingdale increased in 1807 when Martin J. Ryerson purchased the mining area from American Iron Company and greatly developed the area by building more furnaces and rolling mills. When he died in 1839, his grandson who shared his name, Martin J. Ryerson, continued the work. He further established the family name in the town by opening a company general store where the Bloomingdale Laundromat is today. A large portion of the store's produce came from the animals of the Ryerson farm, especially pigs. As a result, many ``old timers'' refer to this area of the town as ``Porktown''. prgtoken In April 1871, Ryerson continued to expand Bloomingdale's reputation by introducing the New Jersey Midland Railway to the town. The citizens happily celebrated the first train that came into the town. Bloomingdale did not become its own borough until February 23, 1918, when Pompton Township split up to create the three towns of Bloomingdale, Ringwood, and Wanaque. prgtoken After World War II, Bloomingdale constructed a housing duplex on borough-owned property to be sold to veterans. In order to honor the men from this region who went to war, a World War II Memorial was constructed by the Borough and the American Legion. prgtoken Bloomingdale today is a small town with about 8,000 residents, most of whom are of modest means who own their own homes and are employed by small local businesses. Bloomingdale is proud about its ``American Smal
JOINT TASK FORCE TO COMBAT OPIOID TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2018
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-6-20

I rise today in support of my committee's bill, the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act. prgtoken Dangerous narcotics and other synthetic opioids are fueling a drug epidemic that is destroying people's lives. prgtoken According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 115 people die every day from an opioid overdose. Just think about that--115 people every day. prgtoken They are not just strangers. They are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. prgtoken Most of us know someone who has struggled with substance abuse or drug addiction. prgtoken We cannot allow these numbers to climb. We have to reverse this dangerous trend. We need to act together now. prgtoken I am proud to say that the Committee on Homeland Security has been taking action on this issue. prgtoken Recently, President signed our INTERDICT Act. This bill provides CBP with additional funds and resources to screen and detect synthetic opioids at the border. prgtoken Today, we held a field hearing in Pennsylvania to review ways to strengthen coordination at the local, state, and federal levels in our fight against drugs. prgtoken We are taking many positive steps, but we must do more. prgtoken We can start by passing this bill that establishes a Joint Task Force at DHS to prohibit narcotics, such as fentanyl, and others from entering the United States. prgtoken It also strengthens partnerships between federal agencies and the private sector. prgtoken This is a unifying cause. Stopping the flow of drugs into our country will allow more Americans to follow their dreams and build a bright future. prgtoken I would like to thank Congressman Langevin and Congressman Peter King for their leadership and hard work on this issue. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-6-20

first of all, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from Montana, Mr. Tester, on his amendment in support of the VA's inspector general position. I believe it is critical to ensuring oversight and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs. prgtoken What this amendment does and the reason I support it is that it ensures that the inspector general's office can fully vet, investigate, and examine the cases presented to them by making certain they have access to the necessary prgtoken records and documentation within the Department of Veterans Affairs. To arrive at the truth, the inspector general must have all of the information associated with any given situation to determine what is accurate and who should be held accountable. prgtoken , I also want to express my pleasure in speaking today in regard to something I have long advocated for, and I compliment the three chairmen and women here in support of the appropriations bills of which they have jurisdiction, but we need regular order, and this return to regular order for consideration of the fiscal year 2019 appropriations process is important to the U.S. Senate. More importantly, it is valuable to the American people and valuable to my constituents home in Kansas. prgtoken As a U.S. Senator and a member of the Appropriations Committee, our duty is to fund the Federal Government in a responsible way that will wisely utilize every taxpayer dollar, which requires a deliberation to prioritize Federal spending. I also think, when we can return to regular order, we have greater ability to influence decisions made by Cabinet Secretaries, department heads, bureau chiefs, and agency heads because we can influence decisions they make because of the power of the purse string. prgtoken On the appropriations bills we are debating this week, I want to call attention to the MILCON-VA appropriations bill and the great work Senator Boozman and his ranking member, Senator Schatz, have achieved as chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee. I am very familiar with their staff, and I compliment them on their work. prgtoken This bill provides an additional $1 billion in fiscal year 2019 for the VA to provide veterans access to care in the community, and to avoid any lapse in that care, this bill provides $11 billion in advance appropriations for fiscal year 2020. prgtoken The point I am making is, we have worked hard to provide services in the community for veterans who either can't get the service or live such a distance from the VA or, now, because of the new law, when it is in their best interests to have care provided in the community. It is necessary we provide the funding to accomplish that. prgtoken We have the opportunity to provide veterans and the VA with appropriations for fiscal year 2019 that builds on the momentum the reform legislation, which just became law, the VA MISSION Act, provides. I want to make
COORDINATED RESPONSE THROUGH INTERAGENCY STRATEGY AND INFORMATION SHARING ACT
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-6-20

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I appreciate the support of my colleague for this bipartisan effort to address the opioid crisis in this country. I also appreciate his emphasis on effectively and efficiently addressing that crisis. prgtoken I will note that in the last appropriation cycle, we increased funding for opioid treatment by almost $4 billion in this year alone. There is much work to be done; it is a crisis; and we will work together to address that crisis. prgtoken , I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), the cosponsor of the bill.
OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND PATIENT SAFETY ACT
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-6-20

an extraordinary array of organizations, hospitals, physicians, patient advocates, and substance use treatment providers have approached this committee to clearly state that existing Federal addiction privacy law is actively interfering with case management and care coordination efforts. Arguing against this legislation preserved a fatal and deadly status quo. prgtoken I support this piece of legislation, and for the time.
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-6-20

as I discussed on the floor yesterday, returning to regular order in the appropriations process is at the forefront of the Senate's agenda. prgtoken Thanks to the bipartisan work of the Appropriations Committee, led by Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Leahy, and the subcommittee chairmen, it is actually becoming a reality. Their efforts have already produced thoughtful legislation for the full Senate to consider, beginning this week with the combined measures for the Legislative Branch, for Energy and Water, and for Military Construction and the Veterans Administration. It is those last components I would like to discuss this morning. prgtoken This year, 2018, has already brought significant legislative progress for America's men and women in uniform. Earlier this year, Congress and the President did away with arbitrary funding limits that had eroded our forces' comparative advantage. We delivered the largest year-on- year increase in funding for our troops in 15 years. Now, with the Military Construction-VA funding bill before us this week, the Senate can keep the ball rolling. prgtoken The committee's package would deliver mission-critical maintenance and improvements that are needed on installations both at home and abroad. It would support Active-Duty personnel, as well as National Guard and Reserve units. It would allocate significant resources for projects that reinforce key alliances and extend our influence around the world. prgtoken In my home State of Kentucky, it would mean major improvements to training facilities at both Fort Knox--home of the Army Cadet, Human Resources, and Recruiting Commands--and at Fort Campbell, where the 101st Airborne Division and Special Operations forces prepare for evolving missions. prgtoken But while underpinning the ongoing missions of our Active Forces, the legislation before us would also take critical steps to meet the individual needs of America's warfighters and their families here at home. It would allocate over $1.5 billion to operate and maintain military family housing facilities. It would provide for vital safety updates at overseas American military schools, part of a system that serves more than 66,000 children. Hundreds of millions in additional funding would go to build and improve the network of military medical facilities, which provide care to nearly 10 million servicemembers and military families. prgtoken Finally, within the Military Construction legislation is important funding to support our veterans. In addition to funding the maintenance and upkeep of VA health facilities, it goes further in allocating targeted resources to address the system's shortcomings. prgtoken Especially when we talk about access to prompt, quality care, the status quo is simply not good enough for America's veterans. For the more than 300,000 Kentucky veterans and for the millions of veterans nationwide, we can and we must do better. That is why this bill