mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Diane Black (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-1-13

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to read the names of some of the groups that have written to us in support of S. Con. Res. 3. There are more than 35 names on here, but I am going to read off some that we would recognize very quickly: prgtoken The American Center for Law and Justice, Association of Mature American Citizens, Citizens Against Government Waste, Concerned Women for America, Health Benefits Group, Independent Women's Voice, Medical Device Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, National Taxpayers Union, Society for Human Resource Management, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. prgtoken I just want to extract one paragraph out of the U.S. Chamber's letter that they have written: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports S. Con. Res. 3, the concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for 2016, an initial step toward making critical improvements to the American healthcare system.'' prgtoken I think that you can see that not only do our constituents support a change, but also these companies around the country. prgtoken , .
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise today to make a clarification because while I support this resolution, I oppose the description that some here have used. They are calling it a budget. This isn't a budget. It is a paper trail of crimes our government commits against the future of our Nation vis-a-vis overwhelming debt. We need to be honest. We are sitting on $20 trillion in debt, and aside from starting the repeal of the unaffordable care act, this does nothing to address that. prgtoken Reluctantly I will vote for it to repeal the monstrosity that is the unaffordable care act. prgtoken We were told we need to pass the bill so that we could find out what was in it. Well, we found out what was in it. We saw premiums skyrocket; we saw families lose their plans and their doctors, even the ones they liked and they wanted to keep; and we saw businesses struggle. Now we are left in a position where we need to pass this resolution to get rid of what we found. prgtoken Liberty and self-determination are the lifeblood of this Nation, and the Nation is terminally ill. Our debt is a cancer that continues to grow; and like a cancer, it doesn't discriminate. It is colorblind, it is gender neutral, and it doesn't care about your political affiliation or what State you are from. It is here, and it continues to grow. prgtoken Our children are being encumbered, packaged, and sold to the gallows by way of unprecedented debt. This is an unprecedented treatment, but if we continue down the Care unaffordable care act path that we are on, the results are guaranteed. prgtoken Today's resolution provides treatment for some of the symptoms, but it is about time that we started getting to the root causes of the disease. The more government encroaches on the lives of its citizens, the more debt grows, the less our liberties can breathe, and the sicker we become. I may be new here, but in Virginia we keep a balanced budget; and it is about time we got serious about one in D.C. prgtoken I will vote to pass this here today, but I refuse to call it a budget. I refuse to ignore the problems the unaffordable care act was meant to address. Problems aren't political, solutions are, and we can provide a better way.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise in strong support of providing a waiver permitting the nomination of General James Mattis to the Office of Secretary of Defense. prgtoken General Mattis is an exceptional warrior, strategist, and leader. At a time in which the United States faces an increasingly diverse array of threats around the globe, his unique skill set and decades of experience render him worthy of this exceptional legislation. prgtoken Civilian control of the military is a foundational underpinning of our system of government, and it is one of General Mattis' nomination strengths, not weaknesses. prgtoken Just as every one is a civilian before they join the military, they return to civilian life when they leave it. Since becoming a civilian 3\1/2\ years ago, General Mattis has thoughtfully analyzed the civilian-military relationship, coediting an analysis of the state of civilian-military relations today. This work includes recommendations that aim to, in his words: ``Ensure our military are braided tightly to our broader society in a manner that will keep alive our experiment in democracy.'' prgtoken Throughout his distinguished career, General Mattis has demonstrated a mastery of all aspects of American leadership on the global stage. He has a keen grasp of the value of diplomacy and has been a strong supporter of the State Department and its valuable mission. prgtoken Throughout his decades of service, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the importance of deterrence and how a well-guarded peace can prevent conflict before it begins. As a seasoned strategic thinker, he has been an incisive critic of current and serious, long- term planning for American national security that hasn't really existed. prgtoken General Mattis knows firsthand the reality of combat and the stakes involved in any decision to use military force. The United States needs a Secretary of Defense equipped to use every tool necessary to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries. prgtoken Because of General Mattis' unique capabilities to address the multitude of threats our country faces today, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise today in support of this legislation. prgtoken Civilian control of the military is a very important principle that has served our country well. Current law provides that there should be a 7-year gap between military service and serving as the Secretary of Defense. This is a general rule, but we know there are always exceptions to the rule. That is what this legislation makes today, clearing the path for a retired general who has been back in the civilian world for more than 3\1/2\ years. prgtoken I support this exception because we live in exceptional times. Over the past 15 years, we have seen millions of American servicemembers deployed overseas. Thousands are still deployed. They have served well and served with courage. Many of them, and their families, have paid a particularly heavy price. More than 6,000 did not come home. Tens of thousands sustained life-changing injuries. Thousands have injuries we cannot see. Many families broke under the pressure of repeated deployments. prgtoken Retired General James Mattis, now a civilian, has been there. He has been with these soldiers. He has been with these families. I appreciate the perspective General Mattis will bring to the Defense Department and President-elect's national security team. He understands more than most in a very personal way the gravity of putting our servicemembers in harm's way. He understands the moral obligation we have to ensure that those who are sent into harm's way are properly equipped. As important, he will be able to convey to his national security counterparts the impact decisions made in Washington have on the war fighter. prgtoken General Mattis is the right person at the right time. I encourage my colleagues to support this waiver and vote for this legislation.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise today in support of this budget resolution as a first step in the process to repeal and replace Care. It is undeniable that Care has failed. It has broken promise after promise to the American people. prgtoken Constituents in my district in central Illinois are watching their premiums skyrocket by an average of 15 percent. This chart next to me here shows, all across the country in State after State, premiums have skyrocketed. Citizens also face deductibles that are so high that they try to get by without going to a doctor. prgtoken One constituent from Roseville, Illinois, whose insurance costs have gone up 75 percent, stated to me recently: ``This is crazy. Almost half of my paycheck goes to insurance. How do they expect us to afford this?'' prgtoken These burdensome costs stifle families and our small businesses' ability to participate in and help grow our economy. We have a mandate from the American people to fix this broken system and to rescue citizens from escalating healthcare costs. prgtoken The goal is not to pull the rug out from underneath anyone. In fact, we are working to provide a stable transition to better, more affordable health care. We must have something that is economically sustainable and fiscally responsible, something that actually works. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to replace Care with a system grounded in economic reality--a market-driven, consumer- centered healthcare system that provides Americans with more choices, lower costs, and greater flexibility. That is why we are working on a replacement system that will expand consumer choice through health care focused on their needs; a system that will spur innovation in health care; attract new doctors and healthcare providers; and protect patients with preexisting conditions. prgtoken , we must help Americans gain access to insurance they can afford. Passing this legislation is one step towards helping people and fulfilling our promise to the American people. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. We owe it to our citizens.
OATH OF OFFICE
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-1-13

given that last week I took the oath of prgtoken office as a Member of the new 115th Congress of the United States and given that next week we will watch President-elect also take the oath of office, I want to share a few thoughts on the deep importance of this constitutional duty that we share. prgtoken , as you are aware, last week on Capitol Hill was marked by a day of celebration. It was a day of renewal of friendships, even between people who have deep, deep disagreements in this body. Families and guests all gathered to share in the moment's excitement and meaning, and Members of Congress congratulated one another on their recent victories. We all took a reprieve from the intensity of the policy debate for just a moment. But amidst all of that swirl of activity, the day was set apart by the oath of office. prgtoken , the oath lays down a clear marker of the serious obligations ahead for all of us. In our day and time, we no longer are deeply connected to this concept of oath. We see it in the courtroom when somebody is required to tell the truth. We will see it again next week when President-elect is sworn in. But we rarely take the time to reflect on its deeper meaning. prgtoken We see it more like an old tradition, a nostalgic option that we exercise out of deference to our history. However, the oath is much, much more. It is a solemn declaration. It is a pause, the start of sacred duty. prgtoken By taking an oath, you effectively hold your very self at ransom. You commit, at the deepest levels, that you will perform the tasks ahead of you to the best of your ability. prgtoken The oath is the ultimate test and measure of integrity. If you violate it, you tear at the center of your being, to the detriment of not only yourself but to the community, to those you are sworn to serve. This is a very high bar, indeed, . prgtoken I am reminded of the words of Sir Thomas More, who was the Lord High Chancellor of England during the 16th century. He strove to live a life worthy of excellence in public service. But in the end, he was put to death by the very state that he sought to so nobly serve. prgtoken In an earlier reflection on the idea of oath, Sir Thomas More had this to say: ``When a man takes an oath, he's holding his own self in his own hands like water, and if he opens his fingers then, he needn't hope to find himself again.'' prgtoken , throughout that wonderful day last week of our swearing in here in the body, I was reflecting personally on a singular word. That word is replenishment. prgtoken Our American system of governance has an extraordinary capacity to replenish itself with new ideas, new people, and refreshed perspectives. Our political system starts with the belief that political power is derived from each person's dignity. prgtoken By voting, citizens invest that very power in the Representatives that are sent here to make judgments on their behalf. But, of course, to earn th
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Francis Rooney (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise to speak about and oppose the travesty known as Care. prgtoken The need to replace this program was obvious on day one. It is a failed socioeconomic experiment perpetrated by people who don't believe in individual choice and don't understand free market competition. In fact, we can see less than half of the folks that were supposed to sign up have done it because it is a bad deal for them. Nothing promised under this medical health insurance program has proved true. Care costs have gone up, premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed. prgtoken We have another chart here, if I might, that shows a projected 25- plus percent increase in premiums in 2017. My State of Florida is 19 percent. Coverage has been circumscribed and reduced. This business about keeping your doctor has proven to be another falsehood. You can't afford to keep your doctor. You can't afford to keep your insurance. prgtoken The entire program was flawed from the beginning. It is a top-down, government-run boondoggle. All it has done is prgtoken create monopolies for a bunch of insurance companies. I have heard heart-wrenching personal stories from so many families in southwest Florida who have suffered severe financial burdens and have had reduced and dropped coverage because of Care. prgtoken Paying more for less is bad policy. It is bad economics. It is a raw deal for Americans. Now we have the opportunity to do three things to turn the page and put this disaster of Care behind us. We have the opportunity today to enact the resolution, which will lead to repealing Care. We have the opportunity to have Dr. Price take the helm of Health and Human Services and begin a substantial administrative overhaul. And we have the opportunity to put in the replacement plan that has been talked about, described in A Better Way for America, which provides a seamless transition into a new form of health care, leaves no one without coverage, and assures the continual coverage of preexisting conditions. But it will offer consumer choice the American way. It will make coverage affordable and competitive.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-1-13

. Mr. Chair, now Phyllis receives a Federal subsidy that covers 35 percent of that monthly cost. She takes pride in the fact that she has never taken a government handout in her life. prgtoken Now that she is on Care, the American taxpayers have to subsidize her health care. To Phyllis, that is not right. To Phyllis, this is about her pride. She is not asking for a lot. She is simply asking that she have access to affordable health care that doesn't require the American taxpayers to help her pay for it. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to fix our Nation's failed healthcare system.
WE ARE HERE TO FIX OBAMACARE
Evan H. Jenkins (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-1-13

the ACA, Care, or whatever you want to characterize it as, is broken, and we are here to fix it. We want to empower patients. We want to bring health care back to the American people. prgtoken Let me talk about access to insurance coverage. People have less access today to insurance coverage than at actually any time in the past. Instead of competition to bring down and drive down insurance costs, one-third of the counties in the United States have only one choice of an insurance carrier, which is no choice at all. No competition. Insurance carriers are pulling out of the exchanges en masse, citing unsustainable costs because of Care. prgtoken The American people are demanding change. Enough is enough. They want relief. They want competition. They want lower costs. They want better quality. prgtoken We are here to fix Care and honor the promise to the American people to empower the patients of America to give them the choice, the quality, and the cost control they so desperately need and that Care robbed them of.
RECOGNIZING MILTON VFW POST 483, JOHN O. CONNOR POST
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise to recognize the Milton VFW Post 4833, John O. Connor Post, in Northwest Florida. This month the Post will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary. prgtoken For five decades, this Post has been committed to serving our Nation's veterans. In the past year alone, they have made seventeen visits to area hospitals in support of ill or injured veterans, conducted funeral services for two combat veterans, and sponsored two handicap ramps for veterans. prgtoken The Post's commendable care for their community is exemplified by some of their service acts including conducting a cleanup and beautification of Strickland Cemetery, prompting other local organizations to follow suit, and placing more than three hundred flags and wreaths on gravesites of local veterans. prgtoken The members of Post 4833 have proven their enthusiasm for engaging the youth in our communities by participating in and funding a local Eagle Scout project, overseeing local submissions to the VFW's Voice of Democracy scholarship program, and by briefing the local Boy Scout pack on proper handling of the American flag. prgtoken Additionally, Post 4833 has demonstrated impeccable generosity by organizing three major fundraisers in support of veterans in need, sponsored facilities that house the offices for Disabled American Veterans serving in the Pace and Milton area, provided funding to the Veteran's Dive Locker program, assisted two families by providing grant money for temporary lodging, and donated one thousand two hundred dollars for transportation services of disabled veterans. This year the Post has provided an impressive amount of donations, grants, and assistance; including over eight thousand dollars to Veterans' Programs, three thousand dollars to college grant foundations, and one thousand dollars to summer student leadership courses. prgtoken I would like to personally thank all of the members of Milton Post 4833 and specifically recognize the Post's Officers: Post Commander Mike Messer, Senior Vice Commander Bill Ross, Treasurer Chris Williams, and Chaplain Florencio ``Cho'' Ramirez. Under the officers' leadership, the Post has accomplished increased involvement with community programs and has demonstrated a laudable degree of service for veterans. prgtoken On behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to recognize VFW Post 4833 for their long history of unwavering service to veterans and their community, and sincerely congratulate them on celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Scott Taylor (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-1-13

I rise to speak in support of General Mattis. I rise to speak to my colleagues, both and . I rise to appeal to the unity of our Chamber, unity of our voice to the world, unity for our men and women who voluntarily fight on our behalf. prgtoken Less than 1 percent of this Nation has gone forth for the past 15 years, over and over, sacrificing their youth, time with their loved ones, and sometimes their lives. Imagine you are standing there next to your spouse, best friend, or battle buddy at attention, and a flag- draped coffin passes you by, carried by an honor guard dressed in impeccable military uniform. Uncontrollable tears flow around the room as a ceremonial flag is tightly folded and presented to the stoic Gold Star family. ``Amazing Grace'' played on the bagpipes is at once the most beautiful and the most dreadful tone you have ever heard. You yearn to hear it again, and you never want to hear it again. prgtoken Men and women like General Mattis, who have been here, understand the true costs of war. Men and women like General Mattis will think deliberately and carefully about putting the military into harm's way. Men and women like General Mattis will fight very hard to put the tools and the leadership in the hands of the military members so that they may win. prgtoken Military members, perhaps more than our civilian counterparts, understand civilian control of the Armed Forces. For in every headquarters building that General Mattis or anyone else has served, there is a prominent display of pictures of civilian leadership above military commanders. prgtoken I am not naive to the politics. I, too, believe he should have been here yesterday, but those opposed have made their point. We were divided yesterday, but we can unify today. I ask that you rise above politics. I ask you to support General Mattis not just with your words, but with your vote. I ask that you show the same unity military members show each other every single day. Let's give them a leader on day one.
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Steve Russell (Republican, OK) \u2014 2017-1-13

what is it that objectors are truly afraid of? We hear the words ``civilian control of the military'' as if somehow those American citizens who have borne the brunt of service or battle are somehow no longer entitled to their citizenship, forever imprinted with some mark of Cain. prgtoken What are opponents trying to say? Is it: We are afraid of the warrior class. We are afraid they might cause a war? American battle-hardened warriors understand the need to prevent human suffering, the chaos of destroyed communities, the loss of order, the lack of public services, and carnage caused by weapons, disease, or hopelessness. My own observation is that the greatest saber rattling often seems to occur from bloviating politicians who have never borne the sword. prgtoken What are opponents trying to say? Is it: We are afraid they might take over the government? Well, if there was ever an opportunity for that concern, it was in the 1790s. President George Washington, a general, was revered. He had appointed to his Cabinet five generals and a couple of colonels. If there was ever a time for a military takeover of the United States, it was then. Instead, George Washington relinquished the most important, powerful position in the land. He, like all warriors, understood what it meant to serve their country. prgtoken If you look at our own Secretaries of State, historically, nearly one-third had military service, with 10 obtaining senior rank. The parade of notable senior warriors serving as Secretary of State remind us that military leaders have often made the best foreign policy for our country. Why no such concerns about military takeover there? On observation, it appears as if America has a phobia of civilian control of diplomacy. prgtoken General Mattis is a warrior who will put the national security and peace of the United States above all other concerns. He will do it with humility and continued selfless service. He needs to be waivered and confirmed immediately for the good of our country.