mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NEW DETAILS ON IRAN DEAL PRISONER SWAP
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-5-3

we recently learned troubling details surrounding the terms of the administration's nuclear deal with Iran from early last year. As I have said before, the more details we learn about this deal, the more apparent it is that it was neither prudent nor transparent. prgtoken The safety and security of the American people and our allies around the world should remain a top priority for the United States. But we are learning, according to reports, as part of this prisoner swap with Iran in 2016, the administration released seven prisoners and dropped charges and international arrest warrants of 14 fugitives, many of whom had been directly involved in supplying Iran with U.S.-built equipment or sensitive information that could be used for military systems, primarily Iran's nuclear program. prgtoken The administration downplayed the security threat that these men posed. In a variety of ways, these individuals deliberately worked to undermine the United States and smuggle American military technology to Tehran. prgtoken In one instance, a man was allegedly part of a conspiracy to steal sensitive software information from a defense contractor in Vermont. Another one of the men was in the middle of serving an 8-year prison sentence on charges related to a separate conspiracy to provide satellite technology and hardware to Iran. prgtoken Three of the fugitives were allegedly working to lease an aircraft from Boeing for an Iranian airline that authorities say supported Hezbollah, which the United States, of course, has designated as a terrorist organization. prgtoken And the list goes on as these are just a few of the cases. All of this poses a serious threat to our national security as sensitive military information and technology could be used to bolster Iran's weapons programs. prgtoken As you may recall, this comes after we learned last fall that, as a part of the deal, the United States paid $400 million that was contingent on Iran releasing four American hostages. This broke from longstanding United States policy to not pay ransoms to rogue nations because it encourages bad actors like Iran to take more hostages. Again, this was not made known to Congress or the American public. We only learned about it nearly a year after the deal was finalized. prgtoken What makes this most concerning or more disconcerting is the administration's lack of transparency on the backgrounds of these prisoners. These are not merely civilians or businessmen, as the President and his officials referred to them on multiple occasions. The administration left the impression that these individuals were nothing more than violators of sanctions and not as dangerous as they truly were. Each of these men pose very real threats that the administration hid from the American people. prgtoken This isn't a partisan talking point, . Even President 's own Justice Department had accused many of these men of being involved in ter
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS ACT OF 2017
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-3

I rise in support of this legislation. The Homeland Security division of this bill contains $42.4 billion to fund the Department of Homeland Security. This amount includes $1.5 billion in additional funding as proposed by the President in his budget amendment. That is the largest boost to border security funding in nearly a decade. This bill is a sizable down payment on our promise to secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws, and keep our citizens safe. prgtoken This bill includes 39,324 detention beds, an increase of more than 5,000 over the previous number. This additional capacity will allow our immigration officials to end catch and release once and for all. Forty miles of upgraded fencing are in this bill. This upgraded barrier will stem the flow of drugs, smugglers, and illegal immigrants across our border, and give our Border Patrol agents the time they need to make an arrest. prgtoken Also included is $87 million of enhanced surveillance and radars so Border Patrol agents can more effectively detect illegal crossings, 26 miles of new road construction, and 758 miles of road improvements. I hear time and again from our agents on the border that they not only need to detect illegal crossings, they must reach them to arrest them. These roads will literally pave the way toward that effort. prgtoken Here in Washington, people talk about border security and immigration. In Texas, we live it every day. We must get this problem under control. I am confident that with the support of President and my colleagues in the House and Senate, we will bring sanity and the rule of law back to our borders. This bill is a vital step. I urge its passage. prgtoken I thank Lucille Roybal-Allard, my ranking member, and both the majority and minority staffs for their hard work on this bill.
PAKISTAN
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-3

for years, Pakistan has provided support for America's enemies with American blood on their hands. Pakistan has supported the Taliban providing them safe haven, cash, and weapons. It is no coincidence that the leader of the Taliban was living in Pakistan when a United States air strike took him out last year. prgtoken Pakistan harbored the number one enemy of the world, bin Laden, until our SEALs brought him to justice. Pakistan's intelligence services has been dubbed the veritable arm of the terrorist group Haqqani Network. They have even cut off supply routes for our troops in Afghanistan. prgtoken The Ambassador to Afghanistan has said that Pakistan supports terrorist groups in Afghanistan, but still Pakistan is considered a major non-NATO ally of the U.S. This status means that they get priority for significant benefits in the areas of foreign aid and defense cooperation. I am introducing a bill that removes Pakistan from this list of trusted allies. prgtoken Pakistan is playing both sides. It is time to call it like it is. Pakistan should not be counted as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. prgtoken And that is just the way it is.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING LEGISLATION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-5-3

later today, the House will vote to pass a funding agreement that advances a number of America's priorities, achieving important things that would not have been possible under the previous administration. prgtoken Let's take the border. President and the Congress made securing the border a priority, and this funding bill acts on it. After years of an administration that failed to get serious on border security, this bill provides the largest border security funding increase in a decade. prgtoken Passing this bill means updating physical border infrastructure. It means enhancements in surveillance technology. It means increasing support for border personnel. It means finally providing resources to end the practice of catch and release. prgtoken On securing our border, this bill obviously makes a departure from the years, and it is an important step forward. prgtoken Let's take defense. President and the Congress made rebuilding our military a priority, and this funding bill acts on it. After years of an administration that drew down our conventional force structure and failed to address increasing threats across the globe, this bill provides a critically needed downpayment on rebuilding our military. Passing this bill means allowing our force to retain higher levels of end strength. It means funding the largest military pay raise in 6 years. It means replacing munitions used in the fight against ISIL. It means finally ignoring the -era demand of requiring defense funding increases to be equally matched to nondefense increases. prgtoken On rebuilding our military, this bill obviously makes a departure from the years and is another important step forward. These are notable wins, and they wouldn't have happened without this administration's tireless work in conjunction with the Congress. prgtoken Of course, there is further to go in both areas. We know more work remains when it comes to strengthening our border infrastructure and stemming the tide of illegal immigration. We know more work remains when it comes to restoring our military's combat readiness and meeting the full needs of the force. prgtoken But this legislation represents a step in the right direction in both of these areas, and it advances conservative priorities in many others. It adheres to the spending caps, it reforms bureaucracy, and it consolidates, eliminates, or rescinds funds for more than 150 government programs and initiatives. prgtoken It supports the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which shifts control of education out of Washington, and it extends an important school choice program. It helps tackle terrorism, fight crime, support veterans, protect life, reform the IRS, and freeze funding for it. prgtoken It cuts funding for the EPA, prohibits funding for President 's climate slush fund, and advances an all-of-the-above energy policy that pr
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-5-3

. I wholly share Senator Manchin's understanding of this key provision of the legislation. prgtoken By adopting the language from the Miners Protection Act that is included in the Omnibus appropriations bill, we intended to cover any miners, survivors, and dependents who would have received or continued to receive Federal retiree healthcare benefits from one of these bankrupt employers had it not gone through the bankruptcy process, without regard to the 1993 plan's usual eligibility rules. prgtoken I understand that these individuals are eligible under the rules as applied by the Patriot VEBA, and I expect that these rules will continue to be applied in the same manner by the 1993 plan.
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS ACT OF 2017
Kevin Yoder (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-5-3

I rise today to highlight some of the important provisions in this bipartisan omnibus legislation. prgtoken I want to specifically touch on the needed investments in medical research, education, and for our soldiers. It matches last year's $2 billion increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health, the largest increase since 2003, renewing our commitment to science with a 13 percent prgtoken increase in research funding over these last 2 years. prgtoken It improves access to education by increasing funding for Head Start programs and restores year-round Pell grants. prgtoken It invests $25 billion to rebuild our military for the 21st century and gives our troops the largest paying raise in 6 years. prgtoken , as chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I am proud that our bill continues 13 percent reductions in spending on Congress since s took control of the House of Representatives in 2011 and denies a pay increase for Members of Congress, showing the American people we are leading by example when it comes to fiscal responsibility. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-5-3

today, as we celebrate Small Business Week, I rise to recognize, commend, and stress the importance of small businesses of this country. prgtoken I have the honor of serving on the House Small Business Committee every day, and I am reminded that small businesses are the pillars and the cornerstones of the American economy. prgtoken The National Small Business Association recently met in our Nation's Capital. They communicated to me their biggest concerns were health care and government overregulation. That is why we believe doing nothing with health care is not an option. That is why this Congress must strive to end the overburdensome regulation this government does to kill jobs. prgtoken All across Kansas, and this country, small businesses are driving economic opportunity, innovation, and growth. This week, and every week, we must keep their contributions at the forefront of our decisionmaking.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-5-4

I followed the remarks of the Senator from Tennessee. We speak to the American people in light of the House just voting 217 to 213 to repeal and replace Care. If there is somebody watching right now, quite likely she is concerned about her healthcare premiums. prgtoken On the campaign trail--I remember this so vividly--on the campaign trail when I was running for the Senate, I was in Jefferson Parish, on Veterans Boulevard, and a woman named Tina came up. I am going to paraphrase what she said a little bit because this is a G-rated program. She said: My name is Tina, and I am angry. I am paying $500 more a month, $6,000 more a year. My husband and I have no children and I have had a hysterectomy, and I am paying for pediatric dentistry and obstetrical benefits. I am angry. prgtoken If there is something right now that the average middle-class voter is saying about his or her insurance premiums, it is that they are angry. They feel they are being forced by Washington to buy things they do not need and sacrifice other parts of their budget because if they do not, they know the Federal Government will come after them with the force of law, penalizing their family, and they do not want that. prgtoken So what can we do? First, we acknowledge, as the House has, that Care is not working. Premiums are going up 20 to 40 percent per year. In Eleven States, so I am told, individual markets are in a death spiral. prgtoken I could go through that, which we already know. President knew it. As Candidate , President pledged four major things: prgtoken No. 1, he pledged to eliminate mandates. The Senate is committed to working with the House and the President to eliminate those mandates. Washington, DC, should not tell you what to do. prgtoken No. 2, he pledged to care for those with preexisting reasons. As Senator Alexander said, it is something that prgtoken touches every family. The President was particularly concerned about those whose preexisting condition was opioid addiction. We have to recognize that they will not get better unless they receive treatment. It is better to treat than it is to incarcerate or to bury. So we must honor the President's pledge there. prgtoken He also pledged to cover all and to lower premiums. It is this last I wish to focus on now. prgtoken How do we lower premiums? How do we say to Tina, who 2 years ago was paying $500 more a month, that her premium will be lower? Well, there are several ways. Let me focus first on lowering the cost of care. prgtoken Right now, healthcare is way too expensive. If you go in for an urgent care visit, you may pay $1,500 in one urgent care center and $50 in another. As a patient, you do not know. You would never buy a car that way. Can you imagine walking into a car dealership, picking your car, and then saying: Bill me 6 months from now, and I will pay whatever you ask. No one would do that. We shouldn't ask the average pati
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-5-4

the House of Representatives has just passed a bill that would make major changes in the Affordable Care Act by a vote of 217 to 213. I congratulate the House. The Senate will carefully review the House bill, and we will go to work on a Senate bill. prgtoken Here are my goals for a Senate bill. I don't pretend to speak for every Member of the Senate or even every , but these are my goals for a bill we will fashion here. prgtoken No. 1, rescue the thousands of Tennesseans and millions of Americans who, under the Affordable Care Act, will be trapped in Care exchanges with few or zero options for health insurance in the year 2018 unless Congress acts. prgtoken My second goal is to lower premium costs. Premium costs have increased and, in some States, are going through the roof under the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken No. 3, gradually transfer to the states more flexibility in administering the Medicaid program and do that in such a way as to not pull the rug out from under those who rely on the Medicaid program. prgtoken No. 4, make sure those who have preexisting health conditions have access to health insurance. This is one thing in the Affordable Care Act that has strong support from just about everybody, including the President, that if you have a preexisting condition, you must have access to healthcare. We need to make sure that is still true in any bill we create in the Senate. prgtoken There is some urgency here because of what is happening in the individual market. When we say ``individual market,'' here is what we are talking about. Most Americans get their insurance either from the government or on the job. About 18 percent of Americans get their insurance through Medicare. We are not talking about Medicare today. The bill in the House or the bill we will create in the Senate does not affect Medicare. prgtoken About 60 percent of Americans get their insurance on the job and about 20 percent or so through Medicaid, and that leaves about 6 percent who go into an care market to buy it. Many of these Americans buy their insurance on marketplaces or exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. We call those the Care exchanges. About 85 percent of those who buy their insurance on the exchanges have a government subsidy to help them buy the insurance. prgtoken As every day goes by, we hear and we are going to continue to hear about insurance companies pulling out of counties and States. Yesterday we heard that the only insurer left in Iowa is now likely to leave. That means more than 70,000 people on the exchanges will have no insurance to buy. Most of them will have subsidies from the government. So it is like thousands of people in Iowa have bus tickets in a town where no buses run. prgtoken That is what is happening right now because of the 2010 law that we call the Affordable Care Act. I know this all too well because 34,000 people in Knoxville, TN, my home area, are g
HIRE VETS ACT--Continued
Thad Cochran (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-5-4

this afternoon, the Senate will consider the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017. The bill will fund the Federal Government for the remainder of this fiscal year. I urge the Senate to approve the bill. prgtoken It provides our Armed Forces with the money they need to safeguard our homeland and protect our interests around the world. The funding levels are within the limits of the Budget Control Act. In total, the bill will increase Department of Defense spending by $23.6 billion over President 's fiscal year 2017 request. These funds are badly needed to improve the readiness of our Armed Forces and to continue our campaign to defeat ISIL. prgtoken This bill includes the largest investment in border security in nearly a prgtoken decade. Additional funding is provided for fencing and other physical infrastructure, communications and surveillance technology, the hiring of additional agents, and additional detention beds to help stop the practice of catch and release. These funds will help reduce human trafficking and the flow of illegal drugs into our country. prgtoken While the additional funds for defense and border security have received much of the attention, there are many other important programs that are funded within the bill. prgtoken For the second year in a row, providing funding for research at the National Institutes of Health is increased by $2 billion. New funding is included to combat the opioid epidemic that has plagued communities across the country. The FBI receives additional funding to protect against terrorist threats and combat illegal cyber activity. prgtoken Throughout the bill, spending controls are placed on Federal agencies. There are more than 150 rescissions, consolidations, or program terminations within the bill. These savings have been reallocated to higher priorities. prgtoken The basis of this legislation is with regard to the 12 appropriations bills that were reported from the Appropriations Committee. This is the second year in a row that the committee has reported all 12 bills. This bill reflects a year's worth of concerted effort by the chairmen and ranking members of our 12 subcommittees. It also reflects a great deal of hard work by the committees' staffs, for which I am deeply grateful. prgtoken I urge Senators to support the bill.
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT
Chris Collins (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-5-4

for the past 7 years, the American people have pleaded with their Representatives in Washington to repeal Care. Today, every Member of this body has the opportunity to do just that. We have the chance to eliminate excruciating mandates and taxes that are suffocating our economy and marketplaces. prgtoken Under Care, premiums have increased by over 37 percent since 2014, one-third of counties in this country have only one insurance provider, and 4.7 million Americans were kicked off the insurance coverage they wanted to maintain despite President 's promise that, if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it. prgtoken But today we have the chance to lower premiums, increase competition among insurance providers, and improve access to health insurance for all Americans. We finally have the chance to formally reject an unprecedented government overreach into health care and take the first step towards giving patients control over their own health. prgtoken In western New York, this bill will have even more profound benefits. The amendment that I authored with Representative John Faso will relieve county governments in New York of a $2.3 billion unfunded mandate forced onto county taxpayers by the Governor of New York and will substantially reduce the tax burdens of property owners across New York State. This one provision of the American Health Care Act will save taxpayers in the eight counties that I represent over $470 million a year. prgtoken This is a game-changer for local New York governments and restores a fundamental tenet of representative democracies that the level of government that makes the decision about spending should be responsible for raising those funds. I am proud to stand up for western New Yorkers whose voices have been silenced for too long, and I am proud to vote for the freedom, fiscal responsibility, and local decisionmaking this bill guarantees. prgtoken , I urge all my colleagues to do the same.