mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2019-12-11

I rise today, and I want to make it very clear--it is going to be very short and succinct--that time is running out on our coal miners. We need to fix this now--not in 2020 but now. I will explain why. prgtoken We have over 13,000 coal miners who will lose their healthcare and 82,000 coal miners who will lose their pensions next year if we do not do something now. That is why I am standing here before you. That is why I am putting a hold on all legislative business coming through the Senate until we get assurances. prgtoken This is not who I am. Anybody who knows me, knows I don't do this, but I am so committed to the people who built this country and to a commitment we had in a 1946 agreement with the Federal Government that they would be able to have a pension and retirement for the very difficult and very dangerous hard work that they do. They weren't asking taxpayers or anyone else to bail them out. It was coming from the sale of the product, the coal that they mine for the energy for this country. prgtoken Only my bill, which is the Bipartisan American Miners Act, has bipartisan support on both sides in the Senate and over in the House. I know if Congress passed it, President would sign it. I know that. prgtoken Can you imagine being one of the coal miners trying to enjoy your holidays this year knowing that you might wake up January 1 with no healthcare coverage and a reduction in your pension? prgtoken Let me explain to you the pensions. The average pension of a coal miner--most of these are widows now because the miners might have passed away--is $600 or less, so we are not talking about thousands of dollars. We are not talking about that whatsoever. This is all the means of sustaining a quality of life or helping them through a quality of life. prgtoken These coal miners and their families deserve the peace of mind of knowing prgtoken that the healthcare they have earned and the pensions they have paid-- these are things they have paid into and earned. They didn't take home this money. It stayed right there in their investments. We can give them that peace of mind today, and no legislative business will pass without coal miners first. prgtoken I reluctantly say that we might be here through Christmas or we might be here through New Year's, but I will do and make whatever sacrifice I can for the people who made the sacrifice for us, and that is the coal miners who provide the energy for us to be the greatest Nation on Earth, for us basically to be the superpower of the world and the leader of the free world. It is because of the energy they have produced. If we can't honor that, then what do we honor, whom do we honor, and what is our purpose for being here? prgtoken I ask each one of my colleagues to please talk to all of our leaders. Let's come together sensibly. Let's make sure this is in the package we put together, and we will continue business and be able to go home and enjoy the
12 DAYS OF SALT--DAY 6: NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES RESOLUTION
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-11

. Madam , to conclude my earlier remarks on the 12 Days of SALT, I include in the Record a resolution from the New Jersey League of Municipalities urging this Congress to remove the federal cap on State and Local Tax deductions. prgtoken New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference Resolution No. 2019-14 prgtoken resolution urging congress to restore the full deductibility of state and local taxes Whereas, our tax obligation is an issue that concerns all residents in every municipality in the state of New Jersey; and Whereas, the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) has been a feature of the tax code for more than l00 years, with the first federal income tax form in 1913 allowing taxpayers to deduct state and local taxes, one of only six deductions allowed at the time, and even the federal Civil War tax in 1862 included a deduction for SALT; and Whereas, this important provision ensures against double taxation and reflects mandatory tax payments, which support public services that benefit all citizens, such as K-12 schools, law enforcement and public safety, transportation and infrastructure, and vital community and public health services; and Whereas, the SALT deduction is one of the few provisions in the federal tax code that recognizes the burden placed on states like New Jersey, which provide significantly more in federal tax revenue than they receive back in federal services and grants; and Whereas, according to the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, in 2016 1.8 million, or 40 percent of New Jersey taxpayers, deducted from their federal income tax, their local prope1ty tax and state income taxes, averaging $18,000 per deduction; and Whereas, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts passed in 2017 capped the SALT deduction at $10,000; and Whereas, many New Jersey Families relied upon the federal SALT deduction to ensure tax fairness, and capping the SALT deduction has placed an unfair burden on New Jersey homeowners; and Whereas, the SALT deduction cap present a barrier to affordable homeownership in New Jersey, impacting the ability of new, young families to prosper in the future. Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, in conference assembled, urges Congress to restore the full SALT deduction and provide more equitable taxation once again to residents of New Jersey; and be it further Resolved, that copies of the resolution be transmitted to our representatives in Congress, the President of the United States, all members of the New Jersey State Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3, LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5038, FARM WORKFORCE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2019; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE...
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-11

I would like to note that this bill is the product of a lot of time. It was introduced prgtoken in October. It was marked up in the Judiciary Committee before Thanksgiving, and here we are today, not that far from Christmas, finally, hopefully, passing it. prgtoken We have been in discussions with various Senators. There is nothing ever for sure with the United States Senate, but I will say there is a recognition and an interest that doing nothing is not acceptable for farmers or for farmworkers. prgtoken I hope we can pass this bill today.
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-12-11

I rise this morning, or I guess this afternoon, to talk about a couple of issues. I will start with healthcare and talk about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as another piece of legislation we are considering in the next couple of days. prgtoken Let me start with healthcare. There is a lot to talk about here. We don't have time for all of it today, but a number of things are happening on the healthcare front that I think most Americans are aware of but maybe have not heard a lot about recently. prgtoken I would argue there are three basic threats to healthcare right now-- not just healthcare for some but, in large measure, healthcare for all. One is a lawsuit, which is being litigated in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. It is a lawsuit that would wipe out the Affordable Care Act, and that lawsuit has already prevailed at the district court level. It is now before the appellate court, and if that lawsuit were to prevail, the Affordable Care Act--or I prgtoken should say it by its full name--the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would be declared unconstitutional. That would have ramifications not only for those 20 million who got covered--coverage they didn't have before--but also the tens of millions who have protections they never had before the act was passed in 2010. prgtoken If you have a preexisting condition, for example--roughly, one out of two Americans has a preexisting condition--if you have one, you should be very concerned about the result of that lawsuit, the determination of which could be made in a matter of days or weeks. That is a big threat. That is the biggest threat to healthcare for virtually every American or at least every American family. prgtoken The second big threat to healthcare is what the administration has undertaken since day one of the administration, and that is the sabotage of the existing system in this regard, especially with respect to the insurance exchanges. What the administration has done is try to take administrative action, action by agencies under the President's jurisdiction, to undermine the exchanges. prgtoken How do they do that? Well, they cut the advertising. So when they advertise to say that you can shop for a health insurance plan on the exchanges, they cut the advertising budget by 90 percent. They left 10 percent there. I guess we are supposed to be happy with that. prgtoken So they cut advertising by 90 percent. Then they started attacking the contracts for navigators. These are individuals all across the country who sit with people and say: Let me help you go through the options you might have for purchasing insurance or changing your insurance plan. prgtoken For example, right now, we are in an open enrollment period, so folks can change their health insurance plans until Sunday--basically, December 15. It would be nice to have a navigator--an assistant, in a sense--sitting next to you if you are maki
Tribute to Johnny Isakson (Executive Calendar)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-12-11

I rise today to join my colleagues, like the Senator from West Virginia, and pay tribute to our friend Senator Johnny Isakson. prgtoken It has been an incredible privilege to work with Senator Isakson. Senator Isakson and I got to know each other first through the bipartisan Senate Prayer Breakfast and then serving together on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Finance Committees. I have always appreciated his commitment to bipartisanship, problem-solving, and getting results for the people in his home State of Georgia and for people all across our country. Because of that commitment, Senator Isakson and I have worked together to cosponsor a number of pieces of legislation, including efforts to improve care for veterans and to make hearing aids available over-the-counter. We also partnered together to pass a resolution designating March 25 ``Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.'' prgtoken In addition to being kind, thoughtful, and bipartisan, one thing stands out to me about Senator Isakson the most: his bravery in speaking out on issues regarding human dignity. He demonstrated that bravery early on in his career as a State senator who spoke out against a local anti-gay resolution. At a time when standing up for the rights of people of all sexual orientations wasn't easy or convenient, he did. That took real courage. prgtoken In addition, I am in awe of Senator Isakson's bravery in sharing publicly his family's experience losing his grandson Charlie to an overdose. By opening up and sharing this tragedy, Senator Isakson helped reinforce that this crisis affects families from all walks of life. His public discussion has and continues to make a real difference as we work to break down the stigma that comes with addiction. I know he has continued working here in the Senate to prevent more families from experiencing a loss like his own. prgtoken I am also grateful for Senator Isakson's leadership on behalf of our country's veterans. In June, Senator Isakson led a bipartisan Senate delegation to Normandy to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. During that visit, I saw firsthand Johnny's incredible kindness and commitment to our country's veterans. I also saw how quickly he dismissed compliments and thanks directed his way to ensure that others got credit for their part in his success. I know that carries over to his tireless efforts and hard work on behalf of veterans as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. prgtoken Above all, I appreciate Senator Isakson's friendship. He has represented the people of Georgia in the Senate with dignity, determination, and grit, as well as a really good sense of humor. He has made a real difference. prgtoken As Senator Isakson confronts a health challenge of his own right now, I am confident that he will face it with the bravery, humility, and humor he has exemplified throughout his life and here in the Senate. prgtoken Senator Isakson, we wil
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE OUT OF CONTROL
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-11

prescription drug prices are out of control. Year after year, we see prices rise. Old drugs become unaffordable, and new drugs may cost more than a house. prgtoken That is why I support H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This bill would change the lives of the 89,000 seniors on part D in my district and over 600,000 people on private health insurance plans in my district. prgtoken One of those, in particular, is Liz Phelan. Liz lives in Algonquin, Illinois, and retired after 38 years of public service. In 2007, she had a double transplant: a kidney and a pancreas. She is alive today for two reasons: One is the generosity of a donor, and, the second, the antirejection drugs that she has to take to keep her alive. prgtoken Those drugs alone cost $662 every 3 months, out of pocket, but because she needs additional medication, she hits the Medicare coverage gap, where she is on the hook for the balance of her costs. prgtoken H.R. 3 would be a game changer for Liz. It would lower her prescription drug costs to $2,000 because H.R. 3 would create, for the first time, a cap on how much seniors need to pay out of pocket in Medicare. It would make sure that the drugs she needs to survive do not increase above the rate of inflation. prgtoken For Liz and for the millions of other Americans who face high-priced medicines, we must pass H.R. 3.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-12-11

today, most jobs require some kind of postsecondary credential, whether a certificate. an associate's or bachelor's degree. an advanced or professional degree, or an apprenticeship. Moreover. the workplace is changing with automation, artificial intelligence, and the so-called gig economy transforming the nature of work. Yet, postsecondary education seems increasingly risky or out of reach for too many Americans. That is why I am proud to be introducing the bipartisan Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success (PASS) Act with my colleague, Senator Collins. prgtoken At a time when we need to equip people with the foundational skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this changing environment, we see college costs and student loan debt soaring. We see too many students who start postsecondary education unable to finish, leaving them in debt but without a degree or postsecondary credential. As a result, we see public confidence in our system of higher education declining. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 61 percent of Americans say that our system of higher education is headed in the wrong direction. prgtoken The federal government cannot solve this crisis on its own. States are critical partners in making college accessible. affordable, and accountable. However, state funding for higher education is lower today than it was before the onset of the Great Recession. According to the latest State Higher Education Finance report published by the State Higher Education Executive Officers. public colleges and universities have become more reliant on tuition dollars for their operations. In 2008, 35.8 percent of general operating costs were supported by tuition payments. In 2018, that percentage increased to 46.6 percent. Today, in 27 states, tuition accounts for more than half of all higher education revenue. Moreover, the only federal-state partnership program for need- based financial aid--the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program--has not received appropriations since Fiscal Year 2010. prgtoken It is time to renew the federal-state partnership for higher education, first enacted in 1972 on a bipartisan basis. The PASS Act will revitalize the federal-state partnership through a formula grant to states with a focus on need-based aid, grants to institutions to improve student outcomes and reduce college costs, and public accountability. prgtoken In exchange for this new federal investment, states must make a commitment to maintain their investment in higher education and have a comprehensive plan for higher education with measurable goals for access, affordability, and student outcomes. At least half of the funding must be dedicated to need-based student financial aid. States also have the option of awarding grants to colleges and universities or partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations to improve student out
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-12-11

over the next 45 minutes or so, finance will come to the floor, and we will be discussing the second anniversary of the tax bill. As the ranking , I am going to begin it. I know my colleagues will be joining me. prgtoken The tax law is now 2 years old, and for millions of middle- class Americans, it is not a very happy anniversary. My own view is that the economic legacy of the administration will be that they spent $1.5 trillion to widen the economic gap in America. If I were to sum up what the law--the tax law--was all about, it was about making wealthy people wealthier and the middle class being an afterthought. I am going to walk through some of the reasons I reached that judgment, and then my colleagues will be getting into some of these issues as well. prgtoken and s in the Congress promised--promised--they would write a bill that was focused on helping workers and the middle class. The President told me personally that he thought he and people like him should not get a tax break. He said that to me personally, but that simply wasn't the case. prgtoken We were told that the tax legislation would pay for itself. That was wrong by a couple of trillion dollars. We were told that it would kick off a towering wave of job-creating investments in so many hard-hit American communities. That has not been the case. We were told that workers would get, on average, a $4,000 raise. That was wrong once more. It was wrong on all counts with respect to the promises made to the American people. prgtoken What, in fact, did happen is rates were slashed for folks at the top and multinational corporations. The corporations then turned around and shoveled that money back to the shareholders who, by and large, are wealthy themselves, and you saw a historic boom in stock buybacks. prgtoken Now the sugar high has worn off, and I have been going home for town meetings open to all. I am going to be in a county this weekend that President won. I will be listening to people. I won't give any speeches. I will be just listening to people. What I hear at these meetings in counties in Oregon that won is that folks see very little evidence that their lives have changed or that somehow this tax bill ended up trickling down to them. My sense is, it is amazing that a bill can cost so much and can borrow so much and fail the middle class so thoroughly. prgtoken There are two issues that are important to focus on going forward, and we are going to talk about those. There is a lot of talk about how congressional s and the administration are talking about another--another--scam tax proposal, basically going to the same playbook that made the middle class an afterthought 2 years ago. I think it is important that people understand that all the evidence indicates this second bill isn't going to focus on the middle class either.
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019
Jahana Hayes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-12-11

I rise in support of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a bill that would take power wielded and weaponized by massive drug companies and put it back in the hands of the American people. prgtoken It is beyond unacceptable that families in my district and around the country are price gouged at the pharmacy counter and forced to make the impossible decision to either pay for their medication or put food on their table. prgtoken H.R. 3 will save my constituents in Connecticut's Fifth suffering from diseases like diabetes, asthma, and arthritis, hundreds--even thousands--of dollars per year. prgtoken But perhaps the thing I am most proud of in H.R. 3 is that it includes a bill that I sponsored, the Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act. This bill will put drug companies who share responsibility for the opioid crisis on the hook for part of the solution. prgtoken My bill would direct $100 million of the savings from drug pricing negotiations to grants that would improve trauma support services and mental healthcare for children and schools. prgtoken As a Member of Congress who has spent a career in the classroom, I have seen the painful reality of too many schools having too few counselors and psychologists to tackle the complex needs of students suffering from abuse, neglect, and trauma. prgtoken We need to commit to investing and implementing ongoing supports and wraparound services for every student who is affected, for every student who has faced loss or has been separated from their parents as a result of the opioid crisis. prgtoken Drug companies are prioritizing profits over human lives in their cruel business calculus. Communities like Waterbury, Litchfield, and New Britain in my district desperately need help to fight this opioid crisis, which mirrors the crisis that consumers are currently facing with rising drug costs. prgtoken I am proud that this bill also includes legislation I cosponsored that would lower drug costs for some of the most vulnerable members of the population.
Jersey City Shooting (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-11

before I begin, I want to express deep sympathy for the families and the victims of the shooting yesterday in Jersey City, which left one fallen police officer, Detective Seals, and several bystanders as victims. My heart goes out to their friends and family today. Local and Federal law enforcement must investigate quickly and professionally so we can implement the best responses. We are not sure yet if this was motivated by hate or if it was criminal in nature, but whatever the answers, rest assured the response must be swift, sure, and strong.