mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Joe Donnelly (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today to offer a motion that would protect Medicaid, the Medicaid expansion, and the Healthy Indiana Plan--known as HIP 2.0--in my home State of Indiana. prgtoken I first want to thank my colleagues for their support of this motion. I am proud to have Senators Casey, Cantwell, Blumenthal, Leahy, Brown, , Hassan, Franken, Feinstein, Udall, Shaheen, Carper, Coons, Whitehouse, Kaine, Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Baldwin, Menendez, Reed, Duckworth, Manchin, Markey, Stabenow, Durbin, Wyden, Murphy, Warren, Gillibrand, Cardin, Klobuchar, Heinrich, Hirono, Booker, Peters, Warner, and Nelson as supporters of this effort. prgtoken I also want to extend a special thank-you to my friend Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. Senator Casey has been a tireless advocate for protecting the Medicaid Program and the critical services it provides, not just to the people of Pennsylvania but to millions of Americans across our beloved country. Senator Casey has done incredible work to remind all Americans of the important role Medicaid plays in our communities and the millions of children, families, students, and seniors who have coverage through Medicaid. prgtoken My motion is simple. It would send this bill back to the Finance Committee to get the consideration it never received, and it would require the committee to strike provisions that reduce or eliminate benefits for those currently eligible for Medicaid, prevent States from expanding Medicaid, or shift costs to States to cover that care. prgtoken In my State of Indiana, we have seen the success of a bipartisan approach to expanding the Medicaid Program and helping our fellow citizen access health insurance. I was proud to work with then-Indiana Governor and now-Vice President when he used the Affordable Care Act to establish HIP 2.0. More than 400,000 Hoosiers have been able to access coverage through HIP 2.0, many for the first time in their lives. HIP 2.0 has helped reduce the uninsured rate in Indiana by 30 percent. Our Vice President called HIP 2.0--that is the Medicaid expansion in Indiana--a national model. prgtoken Then-Governor is hardly the only Governor to praise the Medicaid expansion as a way to cover more of our citizens. Governor Sandoval of Nevada said just yesterday that he ``will continue to do all I can to protect the thousands of Nevadans whose lives are healthier and happier as a result of the expansion of Medicaid.'' Governor Kasich of Ohio has offered similar sentiments as he has fought to protect the Medicaid coverage for his State. prgtoken Nationwide, 31 States and Washington, DC, expanded coverage to more than 14 million Americans, many of whom have health insurance for the first time in their lives. All of that progress is at risk with the current bill. prgtoken Many of our States, including Indiana, have been devastated by the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemics. This public health crisis hasn't
RENEGOTIATION OF TRADE AGREEMENT
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-7-26

last week, the administration released its NAFTA renegotiating objectives, which laid out its plan for how to fix that bad trade deal for America's workers, but it lacks specifics. prgtoken Yes, America needs a better deal, better jobs, better wages, for a better future for our people and the people of our continent. As renegotiations begin in August, let us remember the devil is in the details. The President's rhetoric alone is not enough. Action is what creates jobs. prgtoken Nearly 30 years ago, NAFTA was sold as the epitome of a modern trade agreement. Its supporters promised U.S. job growth. They guaranteed trade balances and even surpluses. They said there would be increased economic trade flexibility for North American industries and new buyers of American goods. prgtoken But guess what. Those promises didn't materialize. Instead, U.S. workers faced enormous job loss, declining wages, sublevel wage competition from desperate millions in Mexico, whose workers have no rights. prgtoken The recent tragedy in San Antonio with all of those desperate workers in that truck is the tip of an iceberg of labor exploitation on this continent that was caused by NAFTA, enhanced by NAFTA. It is so ugly. prgtoken The cold, critical measure of the job-hemorrhaging truth this country has passed since NAFTA's passage is our trade balance. That is how many more products and services our country exports rather than imports from offshore sweatshops. That translates into jobs. prgtoken Since the inception of NAFTA, our trade deficit has ballooned to unprecedented levels. This chart basically goes through what has been happening recently. Each month and each year, we go deeper and deeper into trade deficit, not just with Mexico, but a number of other countries. But there has not been a single year of trade balance with Mexico since NAFTA's passage, just more job dissolution and job loss. prgtoken Just in May, the United States experienced an overall $46 billion trade deficit with the world, of which NAFTA is a part. But since NAFTA's passage--get this--our country has accumulated nearly $2 trillion net negative balance with Mexico and Canada, and that translates into lost jobs here at home, and the American people know it. prgtoken This import deficit supports millions of jobs abroad, not U.S. workers. It means less money left in the wallets of hardworking Americans as consumer dollars feed the greed of rapacious corporate interests that feed on desperate workers. prgtoken Look at NAFTA's job numbers. Between 1997 and 2010, our country bled over 696,000 manufacturing jobs to Mexico alone. You would recognize the names of the firms. It is an alphabet soup of companies: AlliedSignal, Lucent Technologies, Mr. Coffee, Rockwell Automation, UTC Aerospace Systems, Weyerhaeuser, and so many more. prgtoken Unfortunately, the Midwest has suffered the most from this job hemorrhage. For Ohio, the trade deficit with Mexico alone result
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MOISES VICENTE VELA, SR.
Filemon Vela (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise to honor the memory of Moises Vicente Vela, Sr beloved patriarch of one of the most prominent and loved families of the Rio Grande Valley, who passed away on June 11, 2017. prgtoken Judge Vela, or ``Moe,'' as he was known to friends and family, was born and raised in Harlingen, Texas. Judge Vela returned to his hometown following his graduation from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. He later served as a municipal court judge in Harlingen and was one of the first Hispanics to serve as Cameron County judge. prgtoken Beloved by his community, Judge Vela was dedicated to improving the lives of those around him. From his involvement with the Boys and Girls Club of Harlingen, Lions Club, Jaycees, and the Vietnam War Selective Service Draft Board to his contributions as a former Chairman of the Board of Regents of Pan American University (UTRGV), Judge Vela deeply cared about creating a more prosperous future for residents of the Rio Grande Valley. prgtoken In spite of his 50 plus years of service to his community, Judge Vela considered his wife, five children, 10 grandchildren and five great- grandchildren his greatest accomplishment. He will be remembered as a kind and generous man, whose legacy will forever live on in South Texas. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Judge Vela for his lifetime of service to our community. The Rio Grande Valley has lost one of its finest, and his absence will be felt for a long time to come.
BORDER SECURITY
Linda T. Sánchez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-26

after more than 6 months of failing to pass any major legislative bills, House s are becoming desperate for a win. So desperate, they decided to sneak in $1.6 billion into a funding bill to start construction on an unworkable wall along our border. While I support real border security, this stunt is a far cry from that. prgtoken I believe in investing our Federal dollars wisely. Instead of building a medieval solution that will not work, why don't we use those billions of dollars for a big, beautiful jobs package? Or big, beautiful bridges, roads, and infrastructure throughout this country? Or to ensure that our children can access higher education and job training, healthcare, and housing? prgtoken Instead, my colleagues are attempting to distract us from their failures by passing this bill. You would think that with their back against a wall, they wouldn't be this eager to start building another one.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-7-26

I appreciate the remarks of my friend. prgtoken I would simply note that nothing he has said explains why you would want to strip hundreds of millions of dollars out of Medicaid or why you want to deny coverage to elderly folks who get Medicaid support for their nursing homes, people who are in the throes of addiction getting medical support for opioid treatment, children are often born on Medicaid--why you want to do all that. Nor does it explain why you would want to give big tax breaks to the most well-off people in the country. prgtoken Fine, let's fix the markets, if that is the problem, but this isn't really about that. This is stripping money out of Medicaid to give it to very wealthy people who are doing quite well already, in my view. prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN NETTIE MAYERSOHN'S BABY AIDS BILL
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today in honor of former New York State Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, and her landmark law, commonly known as the ``Baby AIDS'' bill, that was enacted in New York State On June 26, 1996. The Baby AIDS bill requires mandatory testing of infants for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HIV antibodies, and authorizes disclosing the results to infants' doctors and guardians. prgtoken Before the Baby AIDS bill became law, infants born in New York State were tested for the HIV antibody through studies that the New York State Department of Health initiated in 1987. But confidentiality laws at the time required these tests to be anonymous. Therefore, the guardians and doctors of the infants who tested positive were kept in the dark about the results. This caused nearly sixty percent of the 1,500-1,800 infants who tested positive per year to be sent home without diagnosis or treatment. As a mother myself, I cannot imagine the horror of being legally barred from knowing the health status of my child. That is why I am proud to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn for her relentless efforts on the behalf of New York families. prgtoken When Assemblywoman Mayersohn was informed that existing New York State law was preventing babies with HIV from being treated, she immediately took action by introducing the Baby AIDS bill in the New York State Assembly in 1993. As lawmakers, we all know that bills can go through multiple versions and can face criticism from the community. The Baby AIDS bill was no different. Assemblywoman Mayersohn worked tirelessly to show opposition groups that the Baby AIDS bill would allow infants to receive the treatment that they desperately needed and their guardians and doctors to be informed about their condition. As Assemblywoman Mayersohn said, ``I went to bed with it, and I woke up with it.'' Assemblywoman Mayersohn's efforts paid off, and it is no wonder that Assemblywoman Mayersohn's colleagues gave her a standing ovation after the final version of the Baby AIDS bill passed in the assembly in 1996. prgtoken , I am proud to say that due to Assemblywoman Mayersohn's hard work, every infant in New York State is legally required to be tested for HIV and require hospitals to inform the infant's parent or guardian of the results. Statistics gathered soon after the law was enacted showed a 98.8 percent success rate in the number of HIV infants identified and connected to treatment. According to the New York State Health Department, from 1998 to 2013, Assemblywoman Mayersohn's Baby Aids law saved an estimated 900 infants from a lifetime of HIV. I am truly honored to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn, fondly known as ``Nettie'', and her law that truly improved the quality of life for so many New Yorkers.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Al Franken (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-7-26

. Thank you, . prgtoken , I rise this evening to speak in opposition to the plan to dismantle our healthcare system. Their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and gut Medicaid would put the health, as well as the financial security of millions of Americans, at risk. prgtoken Let me tell you how this would affect Minnesotans such as Annie and her 5-year-old son Carter. Carter has autism spectrum disorder and relies on Medicaid to help cover necessary therapy services. When Carter was 2, he did not talk, make eye contact, or interact with anyone. But now, because of the treatment he receives under Medicaid, Carter speaks full sentences and is entering kindergarten. Annie explains how none of that would be possible without Medicaid. If s succeed in imposing drastic cuts to Medicaid, which is what they want to do, and States are forced to cut back services, Annie and her family would not be able to afford the therapy that Carter needs to thrive. prgtoken Think about that. Think about what that does to one life. Think about the other millions that would be affected in such a negative, tragic way. prgtoken There is also Mari and Chrysann, both from Moorhead, MN. Moorhead is in northwestern Minnesota, right across the river from Fargo. Mari took care of her aging mother in her home as long as she could, but when Chrysann's health began to decline, Mari helped her mom move to a nursing home where she could access the higher level of care she needed. prgtoken Mari and her husband work full time and still have children at home. I visited the nursing home where Mari spoke, and she got emotional when she told me that if it were not for Medicaid, her family would not have any other way to pay for her mother's care. She does not know how she would care for her mom or what would happen to her. prgtoken Chrysann, Mari's mom, is worried too. She spoke at this roundtable at the nursing home. She is worried about how the plan will affect her own future and those of others who are in similar situations in nursing homes. Sixty-four percent of Americans in nursing homes have their care paid for by Medicaid. Chrysann told me this prgtoken plan is not about taking care of people but simply about ``survival of the fittest.'' prgtoken Is that really the healthcare system we support in the United States of America--the survival of the fittest? prgtoken How about Chuck? Chuck is the CEO of Perham Health. It is a rural hospital that is doing really innovative work in Northwest Minnesota. It is kind of central, north. It is in rural Minnesota, not unlike the rural areas in the Presiding Officer's State. prgtoken Chuck told me: ``Cutting Medicaid as drastically as they are proposing will force us to cut staff in areas that are actually saving the system money today.'' prgtoken These cuts would affect nurses who run the hospital's medical homes, community paramedics, and other staff w
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-7-26

we have seen in the course of this debate some very high points and some points that I think in some ways we regretted. One of the high points for me was the return of Senator McCain, and I want to join all of my colleagues in saying how heartfelt our gratitude is for his return and his eloquence here about the need for us to work together. prgtoken Yet yesterday we also saw, in my view, a shameful and disgraceful mockery of our democracy when Senators proceeded, in effect, to a slogan, a shell of a bill, not a really substantive measure. Yet that shell itself will undermine the exchanges and insurance coverage for millions and millions of Americans by creating uncertainty, and this process itself will aggravate that fear. prgtoken I have now held five field hearings in Connecticut, and at each one I have heard from countless people with tears in their eyes telling me what the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid have meant to them, what repeal of it will mean to them, and how devastating and cataclysmic the damage will be. prgtoken Thousands of constituents have written, have called, and have also contacted others of my colleagues, as I have urged them to do, and I want to say how grateful I am to them for their continued activism and advocacy. We need to maintain this fight. I have heard from moms and dads about what would happen to their children. One said to me: We can't thrive as a nation or as individuals if we can't afford to be healthy. prgtoken So I ask my colleagues to listen to their constituents, to the people in their States, people like Conner and Mackenzie and Amelie and Evan and Amanda and Michelle and Jennifer and Gay. I described them on the floor in my previous talks. These voices and faces need to be brought here because there have been no hearings, no regular order, no democratic process, as we have an obligation to do. prgtoken If at some point my colleagues abandon this effort to repeal and decimate the Affordable Care Act, I stand ready to come across the aisle to work together to drive down the costs of healthcare-- particularly pharmaceutical drugs--and to open the exchanges to more competition and create more choices for consumers among insurance companies. There are steps we can take together to improve this process. As Senator McCain urged us so powerfully, we need to go back to regular order, come together, and work across the aisle. There is no panacea. There is no instant solution. But we need to work together. prgtoken Thank you, . prgtoken .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-7-26

. Mr. Chair, I have a question for the chairman of the MILCON Committee about the language in his committee report regarding colorectal cancer screening in the VA. prgtoken , in his report, Mr. Dent encourages the VA to increase colorectal cancer screening in the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the other body, they have language that directs the VA to offer each one of the seven approaches for screening that are currently approved by the United States Preventive Services Task Force and are more closely aligned with other Federal health programs. prgtoken Can I assume that the intention is the same and the efforts are aimed at urging the VA to offer all of the approved methods of screening?
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-7-26

I speak in support of Senator Casey's motion protecting people with disabilities. prgtoken It is appalling that the Party is working to strip healthcare from the disability community on the very anniversary of the day when we passed monumental legislation that improved the lives of Americans with disabilities. prgtoken It was 27 years ago that the Americans with Disabilities Act--one of the most important pieces of legislation of our time--was signed into law, and it is a shame that as we celebrate our great achievement for equality, we are moving backward rather than building on the progress our community has worked so hard on to make it so Americans with disabilities can live healthy, productive, independent lives. We cannot afford to move backward, and I will not sit quietly by and let that happen and neither will my constituents. prgtoken I have heard from thousands of Illinoisans who are struggling to understand why lawmakers are considering ripping away the care that is keeping them alive and allowing them to be independent and productive members of our community. I want to share just one of their stories with you. prgtoken It is about a woman by the name of Jessica Baker, from Mascoutah, IL. Nearly 10 years ago, when she was a healthy and young 19-year-old, her entire life changed. Jessica was driving on the highway on a foggy morning. Because of the lack of visibility on the road, a truckdriver ahead of her ran through two cars. Jessica, just feet behind the truck, never saw the brake light go off. She struck that semi-truck and became part of a 20-car pileup. This young, healthy woman's life completely changed in an instant. prgtoken Jessica is now 29 years old and is a quadriplegic. She depends on Medicaid for her healthcare needs. She is living an independent life and has done well under the ACA. Now she fears she will lose her care that the law has helped her to receive. Jessica was a healthy, vital person whose life changed in an instant. prgtoken I understand how that feels. I went from being a soldier--one of the most physically fit people among my peers--to becoming wheelchair bound. So many of our brave men and women take that risk every single day, and we must be completely honest with ourselves as any American's life can change in the blink of an eye. The healthy can become sick, and the able-bodied can become disabled in a single moment. Any one of us can end up at the mercy of our healthcare system. prgtoken After her accident, Jessica had to fight for her life and relearn how to live as a thriving young person. Now Senate s and President are threatening her life by eliminating her access to care. As proud as I am to be a part of the Senate Chamber, which passed the monumental ADA, I am also appalled by what the s in this body are doing today. prgtoken Yesterday's vote to proceed on a debate on a bill that would rob tens of millions of thei