mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-7-11

like many of our colleagues during the Fourth of July break, I spent much of my time crisscrossing the State of Maryland. On the Fourth of July, I attended many parades. The very first parade of that day was in a part of Maryland outside of Baltimore City, called Dundalk, MD, where had done very well in the past election. prgtoken What I found during that parade was a lot of people there who were still supportive of President but not one person at that parade who was in favor of Care or the Senate so-called healthcare bill--not one. prgtoken I was listening to the Senator from Vermont about the most recent polling. The polling I had seen previously had shown 17 percent of the American people in favor of this, which was very low. I am not surprised to hear it is even lower now at 12 percent because my own personal experience in these places in Maryland that had been supportive of , and in many ways still are, were that they were not in favor of this healthcare bill. In many ways, they had felt betrayed by it. prgtoken After all, during the last campaign, said he wasn't going to cut Medicaid, and yet the bill before us has dramatic cuts to Medicaid. In fact, the Senate bill has even deeper cuts to Medicaid over time than the House bill. prgtoken We all remember the House bill. President had a great celebration in the Rose Garden in public, but behind closed doors he called it mean. Yet the Senate bill, when it comes to Medicaid cuts, will make them even deeper over a period of time, according to the report issued by the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, just as we all left town for the Fourth of July break. prgtoken It was an interesting experience to hear people, on the one hand, saying let's find ways to work together on many of the challenges we have in this country--and we should find ways to work together--but are strongly opposed to the healthcare bill that is before the Senate right now. The reason is, they are paying attention. They are concluding about this bill the same thing that the AMA, the American Medical Association, has concluded. In opposing this bill, America's doctors say it violates the No. 1 principle of medicine, which is: First, do no harm. That is the Hippocratic Oath. This Senate so-called healthcare violates that very simple proposition. At the very least, we want a healthcare system that doesn't do greater harm than what would otherwise be flawless. Yet we know, from this legislation, in looking at it, that it does do great harm to our healthcare system in the United States of America. prgtoken The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has looked at it and concluded that if you pass this legislation, 22 million fewer Americans will have access to affordable care than if you don't pass the bill. So it does harm compared to where we are today. prgtoken It is absolu
JOHN MUIR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE EXPANSION ACT
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-11

I thank my friend and colleague from California for yielding. prgtoken , today I rise in support of H.R. 1719, the John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act. This bipartisan legislation will expand the Martinez, California, historic site in my district that celebrates the life and legacy of John Muir. prgtoken Muir was a lifelong conservationist, a leading advocate of the National Park Service, and a cofounder of the Sierra Club. He worked to establish and protect national parks, including Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, and Mount Rainier. prgtoken The John Muir National Historic Site, which includes the home where he lived, covers 330 acres of Contra Costa County where Muir championed the revolutionary idea that wild spaces should be set aside for all to enjoy. prgtoken This bill would make it possible for the National Park Service to accept a donation of 44 acres of land from the John Muir Land Trust, improving access to the park and its scenic trails, including those on Mount Wanda, named after Muir's eldest daughter. prgtoken The trail systems are accessible for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, including critical connections to the 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail and to nearby protected lands along the Franklin Ridge corridor. prgtoken As John Muir once said, ``everybody needs beauty, as well as bread, places to play in . . . where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.'' prgtoken , I thank my predecessor, Congressman George Miller, who championed this bill. I also thank the Natural Resources Committee chair, Chairman Bishop; Ranking Member Grijalva; the subcommittee chairman, Mr. McClintock from California; and subcommittee ranking member, Ms. Hanabusa for their leadership in bringing H.R. 1719 to the floor today. prgtoken I am grateful for the support of 21 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who cosponsored this legislation, and to Senator for leading the bill's counterpart in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I also thank the John Muir Land Trust for its hard work and dedication preserving and protecting this valuable parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa County for future generations. prgtoken This legislation puts a fitting emphasis on the National Park Service's centennial celebrations, helping to preserve the trails and lands that surround the longtime home of the man known as the ``father'' of the U.S. National Park Service. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan legislation, the John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act.
RECOGNIZING CHARLEY PRIDE, WORLD RENOWN COUNTRY MUSICIAN
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-11

I rise today to recognize country music singer, guitarist, performer, and business owner, Charley Pride. Mr. Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and is one of only three African Americans to have been inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His rise to stardom was an amazing feat given his humble beginnings and the obstacles he faced. Nonetheless, he developed a passion for music that could not be satiated. At the tender age of fourteen he purchased his first guitar, taught himself to play by listening to country music on the radio, and the rest is history. prgtoken Throughout his musical career, Charley Pride has accomplished what other artists can only dream of: 36 #1 singles, 12 gold albums, 52 top- 10 country hits, millions of records sold worldwide, three Country Music Awards, one Grammy Award, and becoming the first major Black country music star. prgtoken A man of many talents, Pride also played for the Negro American League's Memphis Red Sox and the East Helena Smelterites before being signed by RCA Records in 1966. The sacrifices he made in order to craft masterpieces such as ``Just Between You and Me'', ``The Snakes Crawl At Night'', and ``Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'' will forever pale in comparison to the sacrifice he made by putting his musical and professional baseball careers on hold to serve our country. prgtoken Despite his undeniable musical talents, Pride faced innumerable obstacles as he--a black man in a field predominantly occupied by whites--pursued a career as a country musician. Despite the heartaches and the challenges, Charley Pride has become one of the most successful artists in the history of country music. From being born in Sledge, Mississippi to a sharecropper, to becoming a special investor and a minority owner of the Texas Rangers, he has lived a life that his parents could not have fathomed. Times have changed, but the love of his three children and his wife, Rozene, have remained consistent. prgtoken , I am proud to call this man my constituent. I congratulate and thank him for his role as a trailblazer in music and an inspiration for so many the work and life of Charley Pride are worth placing these sentiments in the permanent Record of the United States Congress.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-7-11

I represented the congressional district of Springfield, IL, for 14 years, and this is my 21st year in the Senate. It is a big State with 102 counties. We are proud of our diversity in our State, which runs from the great city of Chicago, to deep, deep Southern Illinois, to a town of Cairo, IL, which is literally south of Richmond, VA, by latitude. They grow cotton down there in the State. So it is a very big and diverse State. I am proud to represent it. prgtoken I have spent some time doing my best to understand the challenges that businesses, individuals, and families face and to measure their sentiments on issues over the years. prgtoken For the last several months, I have spent my time visiting every corner of downstate Illinois, which is the more rural, smalltown area of our State outside of Chicago. It is more conservative politically. President ran well in some parts of downstate Illinois. And I have been in this area--representing it, growing up in it--to measure what I consider to be the topic and issue of the day, and that is the issue of healthcare in America. It is an issue which each of us takes very seriously and personally because each of us is called on in a variety of different ways in our lives to have healthcare for ourselves and our family--the people we love--at critical moments. prgtoken We are now engaged in a national debate about the future of healthcare in America. The s control the House, the Senate, and the White House, and have been from the beginning opposed to the Affordable Care Act, which was passed under President . I voted for it. I think it was the right vote. I think it has achieved a great many things. I hope we can build on it to make an even better healthcare system for our Nation. It is not perfect. There are areas that need to be changed, improved, and areas that I think need to be strengthened over the long haul to make sure America has more fairness when it comes to healthcare for our people. prgtoken Last week, I visited about a half dozen healthcare facilities in Illinois. I jokingly said to my staff that I have come to know hospital administrators in my State far better today than I ever have. prgtoken Here is what they told me. They told me the healthcare bill that Senator McConnell has proposed in the U.S. Senate would be devastating to the families, the patients, the employees, and the healthcare facilities in our State. They told me that nearly $800 billion in Medicaid cuts would cripple rural hospitals and health clinics. Not only would this harm patients in rural communities, but 35 percent cuts in the Medicaid Program would also cost jobs in Illinois. The Illinois Hospital Association in my State estimates that the bill, which passed the House and now is being considered in the Senate, would cost us 60,000 healthcare jobs. prgtoken I went to Granite City, IL, which is near the St. Louis area. I met a young wo
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-7-11

from the moment President and s began trying to jam Care through Congress, I heard from family after family in my home State about the damage their efforts to undermine families' healthcare would do, and this last week was no different. Again and again, my constituents told me what a difference it makes to have affordable insurance, to know that benefits like substance abuse treatment are covered, or to worry about how they would manage if Care ever became law. prgtoken I heard some of my colleagues went out of their way to avoid those kinds of stories when they were home, so I wanted to make sure they heard a few examples now that they are back in town. And I appreciate that many of my ic colleagues will also be sharing stories they heard from their constituents over the past few days. prgtoken Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I come from a State in which the opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact. It has been both heartbreaking and inspiring to talk with patients and families who are doing everything they can to fight back. Right now, the message I am getting from them loud and clear is that they do not want Care. prgtoken Daniel, one of my constituents, was injured in the military. He was given a prescription for painkillers. He was on them for 8 years, and he told me that during that time, his three daughters wondered why he wouldn't play with them. Eventually, Daniel changed doctors and was prescribed Suboxone, which made all the difference for him. He is now able to work again. He manages a grocery store. He relies on Medicaid for healthcare coverage, which covers the hundreds of dollars a month his prescriptions cost. Daniel told me that if he loses Medicaid under Care, he will not be able to make ends meet and all of the progress he has made will be threatened. prgtoken I heard from a constituent named Rachel of Seattle who was addicted to opioids and living in her car when she found out she was eligible for Medicaid. She got connected with Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, where she received wraparound health services, including mental healthcare and primary healthcare. Now she and her husband are successfully in recovery. They are raising a family, and Rachel is going to school. But, just like Daniel, they do not know what they will do if Care becomes law and the Medicaid coverage that is keeping them going is taken away. prgtoken Those are just two of the countless stories I heard from patients and families and doctors in my home State and nationwide. I have heard from cancer survivors who have fought back as hard as they can and are worried that Care will allow insurance companies to price them out of care because they are now labeled with a preexisting condition. I heard from young parents of medically fragile children who stay up at night worrying about how to afford care for their toddl
MEDICAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-11

I rise today in support of H.R. 1492, the ``Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017.'' prgtoken This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to direct the Attorney General to register practitioners to transport controlled substances to States in which the practitioner is not registered under the CSA to administer these substances at locations other than principal places of professional practice. prgtoken H.R. 1492 provides necessary guidance to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to clarify the requirements of physicians whose jobs inherently require transporting controlled substances. prgtoken By requiring the registration of practitioners who transport and administer controlled substances across state lines, this bill also increases oversight to ensure physicians are appropriately administering controlled substances to their patients. prgtoken , H.R. 1492 addresses a crucial element in America's current opioid crisis regarding the mishandling of powerful prescription drugs by licensed physicians which can result in problems with addiction or abuse for patients. prgtoken This issue is particularly relevant in the arena of sports medicine, where specialized physicians are often required to swiftly treat athlete injuries while on the road. prgtoken In high-pressure environments, physicians and trainers sometimes prioritize athletic performance over physical and mental health, a mentality which has been shown to leave the door open for long-term, potentially devastating consequences for the players. prgtoken Earlier this year, a group of more than 1,800 former professional football players filed a federal lawsuit against all 32 teams of the National Football League (NFL) for allowing teams to violate federal laws governing the transportation, distribution, and administration of prescription drugs. prgtoken The lawsuit revealed a slew of dangerous, illegal practices within the NFL and individual teams, including the excessive administration and use of powerful painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as the failure of league and team officials to acknowledge or comply with guidance from the DEA. prgtoken In 2012, for instance, the average NFL team prescribed nearly 5,777 doses of anti-inflammatory drugs and 2,213 doses of controlled medications to its players. prgtoken The staggering levels of opioid use in the NFL have led to a number of chronic health problems for many former players who continue to suffer from long-term organ and joint damage years or even decades after they have retired. prgtoken Even more troubling, a 2011 survey of 644 retired players found that 7 percent were still actively using opioid drugs in retirement--more than four limes the rate of opioid use in the general population. prgtoken National sports leagues like the NFL are massive, multi-billion dollar industries that drive many local economies in the United States; last year, the average NFL team was wo
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ANTIDISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2017
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-7-11

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 702, the Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2017, as amended. prgtoken I also thank my good friend, Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, for his work on this measure and for his leadership and passion of our committee's ongoing efforts to ensure that Federal equal opportunity programs truly guarantee equal opportunity. prgtoken Most agencies are careful to ensure that their personnel policies protect employees' rights and that their EEO programs ensure that if discrimination does occur, employees can seek fair and timely redress. prgtoken Unfortunately, there have been instances in which agencies fail to meet the standards of a model EEO program. When that occurs, hardworking Federal employees are harmed. prgtoken For example, during the last Congress, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform conducted a number of hearings to examine how allegations of harassment and retaliation were handled at the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the Forest Service. prgtoken In the case of the Park Service, a former superintendent of the Grand Canyon, one of our premier parks, received a report in 2013 documenting multiple allegations of sexual harassment. But rather than determining whether further investigation was warranted or disciplinary action should be pursued, the superintendent attempted to bury the report. prgtoken A year later, more than a dozen current and former employees sent their allegations directly to the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary referred those allegations to the Inspector General. After an extensive investigation, the IG found ``a long-term pattern of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment'' at the Grand Canyon River District. prgtoken The Inspector General's Office also identified more than 20 other individuals who ``reported experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment and hostile work environments,'' and the IG confirmed that previous reports of sexual harassment ``were not properly investigated or reported.'' prgtoken As disturbing as these findings are, the Inspector General has also found instances of sexual harassment and retaliation at other parks, including iconic places like Yellowstone National Park and the Canaveral National Seashore. prgtoken While the Park Service has announced measures to address the serious shortcomings in its EEO programs, it is clear that deficiencies in these programs are longstanding and have hurt numerous employees. prgtoken Similar chronic problems have occurred at the Department of Agriculture. The EEO program there has now been the subject of two extraordinary letters sent by the Office of Special Counsel to the President of the United States. prgtoken In May 2015, the Special Counsel wrote to warn the President that USDA's civil rights program ``has been seriously mismanaged, thereby compromising the civi
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-7-11

I also rise to talk about the healthcare proposal on the floor, and from Oregon and all my colleagues who have taken the floor on this issue. prgtoken I will just state at the top a punch line: I will vote for any healthcare bill that meets President 's promises. He said that in his replacement, no one would lose coverage, no one would pay more, no one would get kicked around because of a preexisting condition, and he wouldn't cut Medicaid. And any bill that meets those criteria, I am voting for, but I won't prgtoken vote for a bill that shatters all those promises, and that is what this current proposal does. prgtoken There is a lot to talk about with the bill, and I just want to talk about one thing--the proposed cuts to the Medicaid Program and especially the effect of those cuts on children. prgtoken In the current Senate proposal, which is being sort of adjusted and modified, there is a slashing of Medicaid by about $770 billion over 10 years. And if you add to that additional cuts to Medicaid proposed by the President's budget, we are now north of $1 trillion of cuts to Medicaid in the next 10 years. prgtoken Who receives Medicaid? In Virginia, between 50 and 60 percent of those who receive Medicaid are children. In Virginia, 600,000 young people are Medicaid recipients. prgtoken If you go to school and you are receiving an individualized education plan because you have a designated disability, Medicaid is paying for it. prgtoken About 50 percent of childbirths in Virginia are paid for by Medicaid. prgtoken If you are a kid who is doing everything right, but your family is dysfunctional and a juvenile court judge has to decide whether to keep you with your family or put you in a group home, if the judge decides to send a social worker to your house 5 hours a week, Medicaid pays for that. prgtoken If you are a child with autism and you are getting services for your autism after school so you can succeed in school, Medicaid pays for that. prgtoken In Virginia, 600,000 children receive Medicaid. prgtoken We recently had the administration's OMB--Office of Management and Budget--Director, Mick Mulvaney, before us, and I asked him about these Medicaid cuts. These cuts are catastrophic. How can you say these cuts are a good thing? This is his quote: We are no longer going to measure compassion by the number of programs or the number of people on programs like Medicaid. We are going to measure compassion . . . by the number of people we get off those programs and back in charge of their own lives. prgtoken So the philosophy that drives this is, we want to get people off Medicaid and back in charge of their own lives--600,000 kids. prgtoken I had a roundtable yesterday in Springfield, VA, here in Northern Virginia, and I had five families, parents and children, come to talk about what Medicaid cuts would mean to them. prgtoken Angie and Anna are from Haym
WELCOMING THE HONORABLE JIMMY GOMEZ TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-11

on behalf of the ic delegation of California, I am so very pleased to welcome the newest member of the California delegation, Congressman Jimmy Gomez. prgtoken Congressman Gomez will represent the people of the 34th Congressional District. prgtoken Congressman Gomez was elected to the California State Assembly in 2012 and reelected in 2014, and most recently in 2016, with over 86 percent of the vote, to represent California's 51st assembly district. prgtoken In the assembly, Congressman Gomez was a national champion of paid family leave. Congressman Gomez authored and passed legislation, Assembly Bill 908, the Nation's most progressive expansion of paid family leave, that President held as a model for Congress. prgtoken Jimmy also authored legislation to address public health, environmental justice, water conservation, and access to education. prgtoken We are all looking forward to Representative Gomez expanding and continuing his work in the United States Congress. I hope Members will all join me in welcoming him to Congress. prgtoken , from California (Mr. Gomez).