mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENSURING LASTING SMILES ACT
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in full support of H.R. 1916, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. On behalf of the 4 percent of American children born annually with congenital anomalies or birth defects, I am very proud to sponsor this much-needed legislation. prgtoken This bill will ensure that health plans do not deny or delay medically necessary treatment of congenital anomalies. In many cases, coverage for well-known anomalies, like heart defects or spina bifida, is already the standard. But for babies who have oral defects such as cleft palates, skeletal defects, congenital cataracts, or hearing defects, insurance companies have systematically denied or delayed medically necessary treatments. prgtoken I became a sponsor of this legislation after Kevin Koser testified at our Health Subcommittee, which you are a member of, Madam , about his beautiful son, Kannon. He shared with the subcommittee how Kannon asked Santa Claus for teeth so he could ``chomp big bites'' of food. prgtoken I was really shaken by that and by the fact that in our country, such a rich and great country as America, we would put treatment that allows a child to eat out of reach because of insurance red tape. prgtoken A baby named Rosie in my congressional district is one of the 1,300 babies born in the United States each year with congenital cataracts. In just a few months, her family spent over $4,000 out of pocket on contact lenses for her. Without these lenses, babies like Rosie are blind, and they have no chance of ever developing normal vision. prgtoken These stories are repeated across our country every single day, but today is the day that we can begin to change that. This legislation is one of the most popular bills in the House, with 316 bipartisan cosponsors, including more than half of the Conference. prgtoken The time has come for this important, popular, and much-needed bill to finally pass the House of Representatives. prgtoken Madam , .
ENSURING LASTING SMILES ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I rise in strong support of H.R. 1916, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. prgtoken The purpose of this bill is to provide health insurance benefits for outpatient and inpatient items and services related to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects. prgtoken This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of birth defects, congenital disorders, or congenital malformations, conditions developed prenatally and may be identified before or at birth, or later in life. prgtoken The coverage must include services and items that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician. prgtoken This bill protects patients against increased insurance premiums by clearly specifying that coverage for these treatments may be subjected only to the same limits that apply to other injuries or sicknesses without imposing any greater financial responsibilities on the patient or family. prgtoken This legislation would also close an insurance coverage loophole for people born with congenital anomalies who need complex oral restorative care. prgtoken It would ensure that health plans cover medically necessary services related to a patient's anomaly or birth defect, including any serious dental and oral-related procedures that are necessary to maintaining health and overall function. prgtoken Insurance companies usually cover the preliminary procedures to treat congenital anomalies, but often deny and delay follow-up reconstructive procedures. prgtoken Denial or delay of these reconstructive procedures could lead to long-term physical and psychological injuries. prgtoken Insurance companies claim these follow up procedures are only cosmetic in nature, which then places a significant burden on patients and their families. prgtoken It is relatively rare for a child with a congenital deformity or developmental anomaly to undergo just one procedure that corrects all the associated health implications the first time. prgtoken On average, these children can expect anywhere from three to five surgical procedures and many more treatments before achieving structural normalcy and function in the affected body parts. prgtoken These families are then forced to pay huge out-of-pocket costs for treatment coverage or, in worst case scenarios, terminate treatment. prgtoken For example, people born with ectodermal dysplasia's are often unable to properly develop teeth. prgtoken Their teeth may be missing, completely absent, have defective enamel or be shaped differently. prgtoken If the teeth are not repaired or replaced, these individuals could have chewing, swallowing, digestive, speech and self-esteem issues. prgtoken Someone born with ectodermal dysplasia spends a significant amount of money on necessary medical and dental care throughout their lifetime. prgtoken This amount of mo
INSULIN IS TOO EXPENSIVE
Shontel M. Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , put simply: insulin is too expensive for millions of Americans. prgtoken Here are the facts: From 2014 to 2019, the average retail price of insulin rose by 54 percent. And in America, people pay more than 10 times the price of insulin compared to other countries. prgtoken What is the result of these high prices? Around one in four Americans who rely on insulin have cut back or skipped doses due to costs. prgtoken No person should have to choose between paying rent or buying the insulin they need to survive. And no person should be forced to skip or ration doses. prgtoken Last week, the House passed the Affordable Insulin Now Act to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month. Insulin is a lifesaving drug, but it must never be a wallet-wrecking drug. prgtoken We must continue to work to lower costs for families everywhere from the pharmacy counter to the gas pump.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Finally, , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the motion to discharge the Gordon nomination; that at 10:30 a.m the Senate vote on the motion to discharge and that, following the vote, the Senate resume legislative session; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Introductory Statement on S. 3990
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-4-4

today, I am joined by Senator Menendez in introducing the Insider Trading Prohibition Act, a bill that will finally define the offense of insider trading. This legislation is desperately needed because, in the absence of a statutory definition, the courts have cobbled together a dizzying array of interpretations of anti-fraud statutes, creating what is an inconsistent and complicated body of common law for deciding insider trading cases. What should be simple has become unnecessarily complex. prgtoken Indeed, Judge Jed Rakoff, who has presided over many insider trading cases before the Southern District of New York, wrote in a recent opinion that ``the crime of insider trading is a straightforward concept that some courts have somehow managed to complicate.'' prgtoken Consider the following hypothetical example. A financial analyst receives information about XYZ Corporation's earnings from a company insider, like an executive or board member, before this information is publicly released. The analyst then shares this inside information with her portfolio manager who subsequently trades in XYZ stock. I suspect most Americans would agree that the portfolio manager was given an unfair advantage. But the courts are not so sure. They have left an open question whether this very trade would constitute illegal insider trading. Experts agree that this kind of judicial uncertainty is one reason among many of why Congress must clarify the law of insider trading. prgtoken Former SEC Commissioner Robert J. Jackson and former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara have written that ``[t]he shoddy state of American insider-trading law affects everyone. Prosecutors prgtoken and regulators are stuck enforcing laws that are ill-suited to 21st- century misconduct. Lawyers struggle to tell their clients what they can and cannot do within the bounds of the law. And ordinary Americans are left asking whether financial markets are stacked in favor of those who skirt the rules.'' prgtoken Columbia Law School Professor John C. Coffee, Jr noted that ``[t]here is general agreement today that the law of insider trading has grown overly complex and technical. As a result, it is hard for the public to understand its logic or for practitioners to give advice with respect to the scope of the prohibition. Moreover, to the extent that insider trading is judge-made law, disparities and inconsistencies among the U.S. circuit courts becomes inevitable because there is little in the way of a definitive statutory text to provide precise guidance.'' prgtoken State regulators agree, too. For example, Maryland Commissioner of Securities Melanie Senter Lubin recently stated on behalf of the North American Securities Administrators Association that ``[d]efining the standards for insider trading liability by statute would add greater clarity and consistency to this important area of the law.'' prgtoken This is precisely what Senator Menendez and I ar
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-4-4

it has just come over the wire--the news prgtoken just broke in the last couple of days--that corporate profits are at the highest they have been since 1950. In other words, corporations are making more money in the calendar year 2021 than any year since 1950. That is 70-plus years. Corporate profits are through the roof. prgtoken We also know--and that came out today--the Wall Street Journal, a very pro-business, pro-corporate America newspaper, pointed out that CEO compensation has gone up stratospherically. prgtoken We know, as the Presiding Officer from Illinois has pointed out in the past, too, that corporate profits have continued to go up, that CEO pay has been stratospheric, and that workers' wages have essentially been flat. prgtoken We also know that corporations--especially oil companies, shipping companies, meatpacking companies, and drug companies--have raised their prices dramatically higher than inflation. prgtoken So what we are seeing is that corporate profits are the highest in 70 years; CEO compensation is the highest ever--big raises last year; and prices have gone up, especially in those four industries, because they have essentially taken advantage of the pandemic, the opportunity during the pandemic for them to raise prices. prgtoken So one of the biggest reasons we have inflation is not because we invested in the American people with the Recovery Act and the bipartisan infrastructure bill; one of the biggest reasons for inflation is corporate executives saw an opportunity during the pandemic. All these supply chain issues, all these problems of outsourcing jobs to China--in the meatpacking industry and the oil industry and the prescription drug industry, in industry after industry--the shipping industry--these CEOs are thinking they can raise their prices more. So they have raised their prices more, their profits have gone up, executive compensation continues to go up dramatically, and then they blame inflation on the President or blame inflation on the Congress or whatever. prgtoken The fact is that these companies have abused the public trust, as we know, by dramatically raising prices in one of the most difficult times in our Nation's history, during this pandemic. They should be ashamed of themselves, but many of them brag to stockholders ``Look how well we are doing,'' and that is a serious problem. prgtoken In fact, there is a company in Ohio that not too long ago announced-- a big, storied U.S. company, Goodyear--that they were going to expand manufacturing in the United States. Do you know what happened? Their stock price went down because these companies decided that maybe that is not such a good thing. The stockholders decided it. prgtoken Starbucks' CEO has come back--the CEO and the founder--and he announced that his company was going to cut back or eliminate some of the executive compensation, some of the stock buybacks. His stock price went down. prgtoken So inv
MILITARY VEHICLE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION ACT
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , today I introduce the ``Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act.'' Among other things, this transformative legislation would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to replace its fleet of nontactical vehicles with at least 75 percent electric or zero-emission vehicles. prgtoken The DOD remains the single largest institutional consumer of petroleum in the world. As chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I am deeply committed to getting the American military to do its part to combat the climate crisis by reducing fossil fuel use and transitioning our nation to a clean energy economy. As the Pentagon turns over its fleet of nontactical vehicles, it only makes sense that those replacements be electric or zero-emission vehicles to the greatest extent practicable. prgtoken According to the General Services Administration (GSA), the DOD currently has more than 174,000 nontactical vehicles across the service branches, including the Coast Guard, and the various defense agencies. That is the second largest share of the overall federal vehicle fleet, after the U.S. Postal Service at more than 225,000 vehicles. In December 2021, the Administration published its Federal Sustainability Plan, indicating that the DOD is responsible for 56 percent of the federal government's overall greenhouse gas emissions. prgtoken My legislation would apply to all future non-tactical vehicles, such as passenger cars, vans, or light-duty trucks, purchased or leased for the military. It would not apply to vehicles used in combat or warzones like Humvees. My legislation includes the strongest possible ``Buy American'' requirements, ensuring that electric vehicle components like batteries are not sourced from hostile foreign countries like the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation. Importantly, my legislation would apply to both direct procurement by the DOD itself and any non-tactical vehicles for which the GSA acts as the procurement or leasing agent on behalf of the service branches or defense agencies. prgtoken As a nation and within our military, we have a responsibility to make thoughtful purchases with taxpayer funds to combat the climate crisis. Transitioning the military's enormous fleet of passenger cars, light- duty trucks, and vans with internal combustion engines to American-made electric and zero-emission vehicles is a commonsense way to further reduce our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. I plan to make this critical legislation a top priority in the Readiness mark of the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken Madam , I urge all Members of the House to join me in cosponsoring the ``Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act.''
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-4-4

it was just a short time ago in the Senate Judiciary Committee that we voted to advance the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as the next Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. prgtoken In the coming days, Judge Jackson's nomination will come before the full Senate. We are on track to confirm her this week. prgtoken Judge Jackson is an outstanding nominee. She has earned support across the political and ideological spectrums, and her qualifications are second to none. Most importantly, Judge Jackson's record on the bench is one of evenhandedness, impartiality, and independence. prgtoken Despite this, not a single on the Judiciary Committee would vote in favor of her nomination. I am disappointed--not surprised, but disappointed. As a result, Judge Jackson will be the first Supreme Court nominee in the modern era to require a discharge from the Judiciary Committee. It is unfortunate, in one respect, given that she is more prepared to serve on the High Court than, perhaps, any nominee in living memory, even by the standards of our colleagues. prgtoken During the administration, Senate s laid out what they viewed as being the standards for supporting a Supreme Court nominee. In their own words, a nominee to the High Court should be confirmed if they meet three criteria. Let's take a look at those criteria. prgtoken First, s have argued that you must have mainstream, bipartisan support for a nominee. For instance, in speaking out about then-Judge Gorsuch, the senior Senator from Texas said that Gorsuch was ``a mainstream nominee unanimously supported by in the past.'' prgtoken Well, lucky for them, Judge Jackson is well within that judicial mainstream, and she has the receipts to show it. prgtoken Judge Jackson is supported by multiple Federal judges appointed by Presidents, including Judge Thomas Griffith, Judge Michael Luttig, and Judge Bruce Selya. She is supported by dozens of conservative lawyers, including former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer, and former Solicitor General Charles Fried. She has broad support from law enforcement organizations and former prosecutors. prgtoken They keep saying: Oh, she is soft on crime. She has the endorsement of the largest police organization in America--the Fraternal Order of Police--and the International Association of Chiefs of Police and 87 former assistant U.S. attorneys who have prosecuted a range of criminal offenses here in the District of Columbia. Soft on crime? The prosecutors don't think so. prgtoken And, like Judge Gorsuch, Judge Jackson has been unanimously supported by Senate s, especially since she was confirmed unanimously by the Senate not once but twice to be a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and a district court judge. prgtoken In short, Judge Jackson has had mains
HONORING BONNIE SUE GRAHAM
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-4-4

. Madam , I rise today along with Congressman Jared Huffman, to honor Bonnie Sue Graham for her outstanding career at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, helping our veterans secure the proper care they need and deserve. prgtoken Mrs. Graham was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in the nearby suburb of Winthrop, where she attended public school. She then graduated from Tufts University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. Following her graduation, Mrs. Graham spent years in the private sector, working at medical centers in Connecticut and New Mexico. Eventually, she became the vice president of the Lovelace Health System, the largest healthcare provider in New Mexico. prgtoken After her service at Lovelace Health System, Mrs. Graham became a senior administrator at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque. In 2007, Mrs. Graham became Associate Director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Later, in 2013, Mrs. Graham became the director of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco, where she cultivated a culture of support, openness, and a commitment to excellence. prgtoken As Director, Mrs. Graham has served on numerous national Veterans Affairs committees and mentored several Veterans Affairs executives and administrators. In 2000, she began a trailblazing program to educate Veterans Affairs workers on how to address matters of diversity and equity, an effort that has achieved widespread recognition today. prgtoken As Mrs. Graham prepares to retire from her excellent service at the end of this month, she looks forward to spending more time with her husband, Glenn, and their son, Garrett. prgtoken Madam , it is evident that Bonnie Sue Graham has spent her life serving and supporting our brave service members. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.
ENDANGERING AMERICANS' SAFETY
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-4-5

President is planning to lift President 's successful title 42, a tragic decision that will endanger every American's safety. prgtoken Recent reporting further exposes the devastating consequences of President 's doubling down on his far-left, open-border agenda. Not only will 's reversal welcome in countless new illegal immigrants, but wants Americans to pay to vaccinate them. prgtoken But it gets worse. According to this report, the administration is even considering pulling medical personnel from the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist at the border, taking much-needed medical care away from our veterans, our very own veterans. prgtoken I ran for office because of our veterans, because they are not receiving the care they have earned. That is why I have asked to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. prgtoken These reports should outrage every patriotic American, regardless of party, or . We must never prioritize foreign citizens illegally entering our country over our very own veterans. prgtoken I was watching this morning, and we see these unaccompanied males coming into our country by the busloads. We have an invasion on our southern border, and our administration, this President's administration, wants to take our veteran care and our healthcare workers to help treat the invading army.
SMALL PROJECT EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DISASTER RECOVERY ACT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-4-5

I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) for the time. prgtoken Here we have again another triumph of legislation coming together that can be beneficial at no great new cost to the process. prgtoken The Stafford Act has needed updating, certain aspects, for a long time. When you look at some of the difficulties when you are in a postdisaster situation of having to deal with some arcane legislation and laws, it just makes much more suffering than is necessary for people who have been victims, in my case, from many wildfires in northern California. prgtoken In adhering to the approximate 95 percent of projects being under the new threshold, that still keeps with what had been set in place way back in 1988. H.R. 5641 is a triumph in that. prgtoken Also, with it at 10 percent of total funding for disasters, we are not blowing the budget on this either. prgtoken It is, indeed, very important because when you are talking about my rural district or rural America, you don't have the wherewithal to be hassling your way through some of these processes in order to get things going again postdisaster. prgtoken In my area, for example, towns like Whiskeytown, Happy Camp, Hornbrook, Concow, Yankee Hill, Magalia, Paradise, Doyle, Canyondam, prgtoken Greenville, Indian Falls, and others I couldn't possibly all list here today, they are all going to be beneficiaries and appreciative of this effort because they don't have the ability, small counties like Plumas County and Lassen County, to have to deal with some of the restrictions previously under the Stafford Act. prgtoken This would be a big win for anybody facing disaster, a small town, or even large, around this country. This is another win for us legislatively, and I appreciate the effort of the committee.