mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RESUSCITATE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-3-16

I rise today to urge my colleagues to support resuscitating our healthcare system. prgtoken Care is being crushed under its own weight and the American Health Care Act will deliver a better way for health care. One of the greatest failures of Care is that it forces Americans into coverage that they do not want and that they cannot afford. prgtoken Our plan, instead, is designed to empower patients to access quality, affordable, and patient-centered health care. The American Health Care Act will put the free market back into health care, giving Americans the freedom of choice. Instead of Washington controlling the decisions of patients, we will empower them to make their own choices. prgtoken Americans deserve to have access to quality, affordable, and patient- centered health care, and this is how we intend to make this a reality. Remember, this is the first phase of this mission to rescue our country's health care, and I am committed to making sure that it is not the last. prgtoken Phase two is underway with administrative actions from our friend, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Tom Price. Leader McCarthy has begun to lay out additional legislation that we could not include in reconciliation. We will waste no time on this and we will begin consideration next week. prgtoken The battle does not end with the American Health Care Act, but it is a crucial first step to a better tomorrow.
VA ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST ACT OF 2017
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-16

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act of 2017. prgtoken President Lincoln reminds us of our duty ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle,'' and, frankly, our government has done a miserable job of it. prgtoken While a large number of VA employees honorably serve our veterans, that is not always the case. In the real world, if you don't do your job, you get fired. Yet we have employees at the VA who are guilty of gross misconduct, even major felonies, and they are still on the job. ``Why is this?'' you ask. Because the process to fire them is too arduous. The VA system that lives up to our veterans' sacrifices starts with personnel. The VA Accountability First Act is a great first step in addressing poor performance and misconduct at the VA. It will allow Secretary Shulkin to make substantive changes as he works to improve veterans' care. prgtoken We need to make the VA work for our veterans instead of our bureaucrats.
VETERANS 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-3-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken The text of this bill does not remove the names of anyone who is currently on the NICS list. It simply prohibits the VA Secretary from continuing to send the names of beneficiaries who utilize a fiduciary to the NICS list. And there is nothing in the bill that would require the VA Secretary to take any action with respect to those already on the list. prgtoken Just one other thing, , to show you how the VA's policy is not consistent: just as an example, a veteran who is rated at 100 percent disabled for PTSD is not automatically given a fiduciary, even though the symptoms required for that rating may include suicidal or homicidal ideation. So they are very inconsistent about how they do this. And of the 915,744 veterans who have a service-connected PTSD condition, only 1.7 percent of them have a fiduciary. Remember, they lose their constitutionally guaranteed right. prgtoken I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold), a hardworking member of this conference.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE BARNS AT HAMILTON STATION VINEYARDS
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-3-16

I rise today to celebrate and commend my constituents, Andrew and Maryann Fialdini, and their winery, the Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, on receiving the Governor's Cup in the 2017 Governor's Cup Wine Competition. This win not only speaks to the hard work, entrepreneurship and expertise of Andrew and Maryann, but also the growing and transforming Loudoun County wine industry. prgtoken Since opening 8 years ago, their hard work has certainly come to fruition. Andrew, Maryann, and the vineyard's Wine Maker, Michael Shaps, have worked diligently to produce local, yet authentic-tasting, French-style wines on their eleven acre vineyard located in Hamilton, Virginia. And this year, two of their wines, the 2014 Meritage and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, were named gold medalists in the Governor's Cup Wine Competition. prgtoken The judges of this year's competition reviewed 494 bottles from 102 different wineries, and only 23 bottles were named gold medalists. Impressively of those 23 bottles, Andrew and Maryann's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon was named the best wine and awarded the Governor's Cup--a recognition that a Loudoun winery has never before received in the 37 years of this stringent and prestigious competition. prgtoken Risk-taking small businesses have always been the life blood of the Loudoun County economy and our national economy and entrepreneurial families like the Fialdini's have been leaders in fostering strong, local economies that will continue to thrive and grow for years to come. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Andrew and Maryann Fialdini and Michael Shaps for their successful small business and their special awards at the 2017 Governor's Cup Wine Competition. I also wish them and their family the best in all of their future endeavors.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-3-16

my district is the proud home to Adirondack Park, an environmental treasure. We understand in the north country that protecting our environment plays an important role in promoting economic growth and opportunity. prgtoken Along with 16 of my colleagues, I am proud to introduce a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to commit to working on economically viable solutions that address the threat of climate change. prgtoken Clean energy innovation is critical, and this resolution brings together the priority of addressing the risks of climate change with the importance of protecting and creating American jobs. This resolution calls on American ingenuity, innovation, and exceptionalism, also citing that it is a conservative principle to protect, conserve, and be good stewards of our environment. prgtoken No matter what side of the aisle you are on, we all have a significant responsibility to protect our environment from avoidable damage. I ask my colleagues to join in this commitment and support this important resolution.
VA ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST ACT OF 2017
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-3-16

I thank Chairman Roe of Tennessee for prgtoken his leadership on this legislation and also for letting me speak. prgtoken I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act. For years, my colleagues and I have fought hard to hold VA bureaucrats accountable. The VA still lacks the ability to take swift action against employees who prevent veterans from getting the benefits that they have earned. prgtoken We should be able to terminate senior executives at failing hospitals that force veterans to languish on secret wait lists. We should not award bonuses to poorly performing employees who engage in misconduct, and we shouldn't provide full retirement benefits to convicted criminals whose crime harmed veterans. prgtoken We can't stop there. We must go further to pursue bold reform at the VA. I look forward to working with Chairman Roe of Tennessee, Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers, and others to pass the Caring for Our Heroes in the 21st Century Act, which would finally empower veterans, including the almost 100,000 in my congressional district in Colorado, to make their own healthcare decisions. prgtoken Let's pass H.R. 1259 today. It is a good piece of legislation.
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAELI EMBASSY BOMBING IN ARGENTINA
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-16

tomorrow we will, sadly, commemorate the 25-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which occurred on March 17, 1992. The terror attack also destroyed a Catholic church and a nearby school. prgtoken Twenty-nine people lost their lives in this horrific attack, including Israeli diplomats and their spouses, a Catholic priest, and Argentinian citizens, many of whom were children; and nearly 250 others were wounded. prgtoken Two years later, on July 18, 1994, over 80 people were murdered in a similar terrorist bombing at the building of the Jewish community organization, also known as AMIA, in Buenos Aires. prgtoken These two attacks had many similarities, : many innocent people lost their lives or were severely injured; Israelis and Jews were the main target for these horrific attacks; and, unsurprisingly, Iran, the world's foremost state sponsor of terror and its terror proxy group, Hezbollah, were responsible for these attacks. prgtoken Yet here we are, 25 years after the Israeli Embassy bombing and 23 years after the AMIA attack, and those responsible for those cowardly acts have yet to be brought to justice. prgtoken It hasn't been for lack of evidence, . In fact, the Supreme Court of Argentina found that the Iranian-backed--U.S.-, Israel-, and Arab League-designated--Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah was responsible for the embassy bombing. A preponderance of evidence shows that Iran directed, financed, and assisted Hezbollah in the commission of the terror attack. prgtoken Buenos Aires also called for a special prosecutor to investigate the AMIA bombing and appointed special investigator Alberto Nisman to the case. As a result, Argentina issued international arrest warrants for nine Iranian officials in connection with the AMIA bombing after Nisman determined that Iranian proxy Hezbollah was responsible for this heinous act. prgtoken Mr. Nisman's commitment to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and terror was unwavering. I had the honor and privilege to call Alberto a friend and speak with him frequently to discuss the case and Iran's role in these barbaric attacks. prgtoken Sadly, , Alberto was found dead in his apartment in Argentina on January 19, 2015, under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. In December 2015, President Macri made a bold statement, a decision, to create a special prosecutor to investigate Nisman's death, which hopefully will not only uncover the truth surrounding his death, but also could vindicate the work for which Alberto dedicated and maybe even gave his life. prgtoken We can honor Alberto's legacy by continuing his work to hold those responsible for the terrorist bombings 25 years ago against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the AMIA bombing in 1994. That is why I am introducing a resolution today alongside Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Ted Deutch, Jeff Duncan, and Albio Sires, all of
OPPOSING GOP REPEAL BILL
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2017-3-16

today, I rise to express my opposition to the GOP healthcare bill. prgtoken On Monday, we received from the CBO a report that the House repeal bill will increase the number of uninsured Americans by 24 million in 2026. Fifty-two million Americans will be uninsured in 2026, which is more than ever before, and definitely more than the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken The intentions here are clear. The bill's drafters are choosing to ration care for the elderly and the working class to fund tax cuts for the Nation's highest earners. prgtoken Under the GOP bill, a 64-year-old, with an income of $26,000, will have to pay a net of $12,900 more each year for her coverage than she currently does. In addition to the disproportionate harm that this bill will do to seniors, it will also accelerate the insolvency of the Medicare trust fund by 3 years. prgtoken , the GOP plan cuts $880 billion from projected Medicaid spending over the next decade, while providing almost $600 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy and to corporations. Sixty-four percent of the tax cuts would go to millionaires and billionaires, while an additional 20 percent would go to those making between $500,000 and $1 million less than 1 percent of my constituents make more than $200,000, so it would be irresponsible of me not to voice my concern for a bill that contradicts the interests of my constituents so blatantly. prgtoken When I first got a copy of the bill less than 2 days before we marked it up in the Ways and Means Committee, I was left wondering if the bill was written to address our Nation's healthcare challenges or just to relieve the wealthy few of their tax obligations. prgtoken The drafters of this bill made the disappointing choice to favor value tested prgtoken and failed trickle-down economics over investing in a stronger, healthier America. Large numbers of unhealthy and uninsured Americans are not reflective of the governing bodies that make good choices. prgtoken The health plan directly slashes funding for people with disabilities by $12 billion, cutting the program that helps people live in their communities and reach their full potential. prgtoken I represent a historically underserved constituency in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. The median income in my district is less than $34,000. The majority of the health providers in my district have a patient population that is disproportionately dependent on Medicare and Medicaid and is uninsured. These healthcare providers cannot withstand caps to Medicaid or increases in their uninsured population. If this bill is implemented without substantial changes, rural health care will be lost and rural lives will be at risk. prgtoken In my district, I have met constituents who have weekly made choices between whether to buy medicine or to put food on the table. I have a pediatrician in my district in Birmingham who will stop what she is doing to track down patients newly
WHAT WILL AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT MEAN?
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-16

the American Health Care Act, known as Care, will cause 24 million more people to go without health insurance over the next decade. prgtoken As an emergency physician, I know that everyone, even healthy young people, are vulnerable to car accidents or diseases that require critical care. Whether they have insurance or not, people get sick and get injured. prgtoken I have never treated a patient who said they were uninsured because they preferred to be uninsured. They simply couldn't afford it. prgtoken So what does 24 million more uninsured people mean? prgtoken It means more pain, suffering, and shorter life spans for people who go without care. prgtoken It means more ER visits and a longer wait to see a doctor in the emergency rooms for everyone. prgtoken It means financial ruin for young families or those ready to retire. prgtoken It means that hospitals and providers might lay off workers or even go out of business due to rising uncompensated care. It means they will charge more to make ends meet, which will raise premiums and out-of- pocket costs for everyone. Everyone will have to pay more. prgtoken I urge everyone to vote ``no.''
HONORING THE LIFE OF CARMEN DELGADO VOTAW
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-16

I rise today to honor and commemorate the remarkable life of Carmen Delgado Votaw, one of my constituents who passed away on February 18, 2017 at the age of 82. Ms. Votaw was a civil and human rights giant and passionate participant in the global women's rights activist community. Ms. Votaw, who was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, spent her career acting upon a vision of empowerment and inclusion for all women, especially in Latin America. She was a born community organizer, using immense tact, intellect, and grace to educate and enlighten others in order to open up cultural and political avenues for the advancement of women. Due to her years of work and advocacy in Latin America, she is credited with an increase in the number of countries that have signed the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; a greater number of women in political and appointed offices; improved access to technology for rural women; and a higher literacy rate among women and girls. Ms. Votaw received on multiple occasions presidential appointments in recognition of her outstanding abilities, including being appointed as Deputy Chair to the National Advisory Committee for Women. She served as Chief of Staff to Jaime Fuster of Puerto Rico in the House of Representatives, marking the first time a Hispanic woman had held that title. She was a founding member and President of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women and a board member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Ms. Votaw traveled around the globe to promote her agenda of civil and human rights. She visited 70 countries to participate in and speak at women's rights forums, including five United Nations World Conferences on Women. She is a published author, most notably having written the biographies of other distinguished Puerto Rican woman. Among the organizations that have honored Ms. Votaw for her contributions to women's rights are the U.S. Marshals Service, the Instituto de Puerto Rico of New York, the National Institute for Women of Color, Hispanic USA Magazine, Federally Employed Women (FEW), and the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women. She has received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Education, a Civil Rights Award from NASA, MANA's Las Primeras Award, the National Cuban American Women's Association Award, and the National Council of Hispanic Women's Outstanding Achievement Award. She was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Even with her chock-full schedule of global engagement and leadership, Ms. Votaw was deeply devoted to her family and to her role as a grandmother. Please join me in extending condolences to her family and expressing gratitude for her life of dedication to helping all people find their voices. She made tangible contributions to the civil and human rights movements, the effects of which will be felt for generations to come.
A CALL FOR HEARINGS TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE OF WAVE OF HATE CRIMES
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-3-16

over the last few months, we have seen a surge of hate-driven violence, vandalism, and threats against numerous communities. As a member of the Oversight Committee, I am calling for hearings to determine the root cause of this wave of hate crimes and how we can combat it. prgtoken While our government must show its commitment to answering these attacks, the American people already have. Desecrations of Jewish cemeteries were met with waves of volunteers assisting in their restoration. Mosque burnings were met with contributions from Americans of all faiths to help the rebuilding. And when two Indian men in Kansas were shot and one murdered, a Caucasian third man was wounded when he heroically sought to intervene. prgtoken These actions speak to the resilience of our people, the highest principles of our Nation, and why we are proud to be Americans. America is, indeed, an exceptional nation. prgtoken I hope Chairman Chaffetz will heed my call and hold hearings on this wave of hate-inspired attacks to help America remain exceptional.
MASSIVE TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-16

over the last 7 years, we have heard a lot from the s about repeal and replace. They voted some 67 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which they call Care. prgtoken We have seen their so-called replacement plan. Actually, it is a plan to gut the Affordable Care Act and stuff through massive tax breaks for the wealthy. What is new? That is the number one, two, and three priority of the current majority here in the House of Representatives. prgtoken They got an analysis Monday. It was a little discouraging, but not really. The touted the fact it would reduce the deficit by $377 billion. Sure, if you take away health care from 24 million people, you can save some money on that end, but you lose a lot on the other end with families going bankrupt. The most frequent cause of bankruptcy in America was an uninsured healthcare emergency before the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken Small rural hospitals will be closing their doors all across America if this bill goes through. And even the larger hospitals, having to give more uninsured care to people in crisis, will be having to jack up prices, and, of course, that means higher premiums for everybody else. Back to the good old days of freedom to choose. In this case, their freedom to choose bankruptcy, or death, or who knows what else, under this plan. prgtoken They have really painted a target on older Americans. They are going to allow the healthcare insurance industry--which, by the way, is exempt from antitrust law, so it is not competitive. They keep saying: Competition and choice. How do you have competition when an industry does, and is, allowed to collude to set prices to exclude certain areas or people from coverage or certain diseases from coverage? They can do that all behind closed doors. It is legal for that industry. And they will not include a provision to take away their antitrust immunity as part of this bill. prgtoken So they are going to allow insurance companies to charge anybody age 50 or prgtoken older five times the premium for a younger person. Now, let's look at, say, a modest income of a 21-year-old of $27,000 a year. They will actually pay $250 less for a policy that will cover less. But that is okay, I guess, sort of, maybe. prgtoken But for a 64-year-old earning the same amount of money--and there are 64-year-olds out there still working who can't get Medicare yet and don't have a big retirement fund--they are still working for modest wages of $27,000 a year, they will see their healthcare costs go from $1,700 a year to $14,600. So a 64-year-old American working person with an income of $27,000 would have a premium of $14,600. Now, how is that going to work? How is that going to work? More than half of their income would go to pay for a health insurance plan. They have put a target square on those millions of people, and that is absolutely outrageous. prgtoken This bill is tax cuts very thinly disguised as th