mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
VETERANS CEMETERY BENEFIT CORRECTION ACT
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-5-22

with Memorial Day coming up this weekend, I want to offer a few thoughts on this package of legislative reforms for the Department of Veterans Affairs, known as the VA MISSION Act of 2018, being considered by the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I want to start by commending Senator Jon Tester of Montana, the senior on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, for negotiating based on what I call principled bipartisanship: taking ideas from both parties without sacrificing core values. prgtoken Montanans have every reason to be proud of Senator Tester for spending months at the negotiating table with Chairman Isakson, the House of Representatives, and the White House. prgtoken Make no mistake, the bill before the Senate will make some important reforms to the way the VA does business. prgtoken It will consolidate the VA's multiple community care programs, including the Veterans Choice program, into one permanent framework to allow veterans to seek care in their communities. Streamlining these programs was something sought by the administration as well and will help make it easier for veterans to understand their options and access the care they need. prgtoken It will also expand a VA program that provides benefits to in-home caregivers, an effort I have supported for years. The program is currently open to veterans wounded after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The VA MISSION Act will open the program to veterans from all eras. prgtoken It will provide more incentives and inducements to help attract medical providers to the VA and keep them there. In particular, the bill will provide more recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses, it will raise the cap on student loan reimbursement, and it will establish a new loan repayment program for specialties where the VA is experiencing a shortage. prgtoken As important as these provisions are, I want to express my reservations about the VA MISSION Act as well. prgtoken I voted for the Choice Act in 2014 because I said it was unacceptable for veterans in Oregon and across the country to be waiting months or driving long hours for a VA appointment. I will be the first to say the same thing today, but I fear this bill will give broad authority to VA leadership to send more veterans out of the VA system. prgtoken Given the relentless push by special interest groups to send an ever greater number of veterans into the private sector, I am concerned about the administration giving into those folks and turning the VA over to ideologues or privatization partisans. prgtoken I am also disappointed to see the asset review provisions included in this bill. If the VA has unnecessary infrastructure, it should be able to make the case to Congress to close or consolidate those facilities just like any other agency without being required to set up a whole new bureaucracy. prgtoken Taken together, these provisions strike me as essentially asking Senat
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-5-22

this is a sad day, a very sad day, for this institution. Today, it becomes official that this will become the most closed Congress ever in the history of the United States. prgtoken You heard why this matters. You heard from some of my colleagues here today that important issues, issues that the American people care about, like ensuring clean water for children, like high ethics in the executive branch, like cybersecurity, like banning bump stocks, like protecting our prgtoken veterans, or like protecting Medicare or Social Security--these amendments are routinely denied. We are shut out. prgtoken Millions of young people all over the country protested for us to do something to combat gun violence, and we have done nothing. We have done nothing in this Chamber other than a moment of silence. prgtoken The frustration of these young people is compounded by the fact that we can't even bring an amendment to the floor to ban bump stocks or to expand background checks or to ban assault weapons. They don't want to let anything come to the floor. It is outrageous. prgtoken And for anybody to stand up here and defend this process, to somehow normalize this process, give me a break. This closed process is something you would see in Russia or Turkey or in some other authoritarian government, not in the people's House. prgtoken This is supposed to be the greatest deliberative body in the world. What is so radical about deliberating every once in a while? prgtoken We have a report that we are releasing today. It is 230 pages. Go to the Rules Committee ' web page, and you can read all about how there has been a deliberate attempt to shut out the voices of the American people. prgtoken Enough. This is not the way this place is supposed to be run. prgtoken If are given the privilege to control this House again, I will tell you, we need to be more accommodating, we need to be more open, and we need to allow this place to be a deliberative body where important issues get debated.
Santa Fe High School Shooting (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-5-22

last Friday, America watched in horror as the news story broke of yet another school shooting, this time at Santa Fe High School in Texas. prgtoken Eight students and two teachers were fatally shot. Thirteen victims were wounded in another devastating tragedy. The alleged gunman was a student who came into the school with his parents' shotgun and handgun and used them to commit mass murder. prgtoken Of course, we grieve for the families and victims in Santa Fe, and, of course, we are grateful for first responders who ran toward the sound of gunfire. But let's be honest--the shooting in Santa Fe High was, by one count, the 22nd school shooting in America this year. We are in the 21st week of this year. We have had more than one school shooting a week in the United States of America. America's schoolchildren, sadly, now go to school expecting that there will be a shooter on the premises. prgtoken After the Santa Fe High School shooting, a reporter interviewed a student named Paige Curry at the school. The reporter asked: ``Was there a part of you that was like, this isn't real, this could not happen at my school?'' prgtoken Paige Curry replied: ``There wasn't.'' prgtoken When the reporter asked why so, she said: ``It's been happening everywhere. I've always felt it would eventually happen here too.'' prgtoken Can you imagine we have reached this point in America if that is how many of our Nation's high schoolers think? Sadly, in Paige Curry's case, she was right. Her school was the target last week. prgtoken On Sunday, the New York Times posted an article titled ``New Reality for High School Students: Calculating the Risk of Getting Shot.'' prgtoken The article discussed how students across America, from Iowa to Oklahoma, from Illinois to Mississippi, from Seattle to New York, are now forced to go through their day planning what they would do if the shooting starts in their school. prgtoken The article quotes one student, a sophomore in a New York high school, describing how vulnerable her desks were in each class where she sat. prgtoken She started making mental calculations about when the gunman came to the door whether she would be in the line of fire. She said her English class is the safest class for her each day because it is down a hallway, and it makes it hard for the shooter to find it, but her math class makes her particularly vulnerable because she said she sits in the second desk in the second row in a direct path from the door. The student, whose name is Emily Rubenstein, said: It's like the front lines of a war. Being seated in front of the classroom could be what makes you live and what makes you die. prgtoken It is not just high schoolers who think this way; my 6-year-old granddaughter came home and told her mom recently that she had been warned that if there is a shooter in the school--she is a first- grader--if there is a shooter in the school, stay away from the wind
HONORING OFFICER FINBARR HARAN ON BEING NAMED OAK LAWN'S TOP COP OF 2018
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-5-22

I rise today to honor Officer Finbarr Haran of the Oak Lawn Police Department for being named the village's Top Cop of 2018. The Oak Lawn Lion's Club bestows this award on a distinguished member of the force after being nominated by his or her peers and selected by a committee of police department leaders. Officer Haran serves the Oak Lawn community as one of the city's K-9 Officers alongside his partner Edo, a Belgian Malinois from the Czech Republic. Together, they have worked extensively with the Drug Enforcement Agency and have brought numerous criminals to justice. Over the years, the expansion of Oak Lawn's law enforcement agency has brought in the phenomenal men and women who now serve as the city's first responders. Officer Haran is shining example of the Oak Lawn Police Department and the officers that serve the Village of Oak Lawn. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Oak Lawn Police Officer Finbarr Haran. I congratulate him on his accomplishments and thank him for his service.
John P. Sarbanes (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-5-22

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , no matter what you think of S. 2155, one of the underlying bills being considered today, it is not what a clear majority of Americans want Congress to be doing. prgtoken Madam , nobody is coming up to us in townhalls and asking Congress to deregulate large financial institutions. We are not going to a fish fry prgtoken and hearing from people that they want us to dismantle important consumer protections. And nobody at VFW halls, Rotary Clubs, and PTA meetings thinks this bill should be Congress' priority. prgtoken The reason this bill is on the floor is that the power brokers on Wall Street want it on the floor. It is their bill; it is not the people's bill. prgtoken Our broken campaign finance system lies at the heart of this warped political system, where big money calls the shots in Washington. prgtoken For starters, in this broken system, too many good candidates without access to big money are effectively barred from running altogether. Those who can make it through have to spend hours dialing for dollars, courting a narrow slice of the Nation's elite, while high-powered lobbyists and special interests are dictating legislation here in Congress, just like today. prgtoken Most recently, these backroom power brokers used their influence to demand billion-dollar handouts for the wealthiest 1 percent from the GOP tax scam. Now they are once again tearing down critical rules to protect our financial system from another economic collapse. prgtoken Today's previous question would force a vote on H.R. 20, the Government by the People Act, a comprehensive reform of our campaign finance system to combat the influence of big money in our politics, raise civic engagement, and amplify the voice of everyday Americans. prgtoken This legislation would increase and multiply the power of small donors in America, breaking candidates' reliance on the big money crowd, giving candidates the resources they need to compete and win. prgtoken That way, when it comes time to make policy, the elected representatives of the people will work on behalf of our constituents, not the big money donors. prgtoken Madam , the American people are sick of getting a raw deal from Washington. That is why are offering a better deal for our democracy: a comprehensive reform agenda to get rid of the corruption that has led to such a dysfunctional political system here in Washington. We will deliver real reforms that will restore a government of, by, and for the people.
For-Profit Colleges (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-5-22

first let me thank my friend from Georgia for being able to go first and also thank my friend from Illinois, who has been passionate, strong, and effective when it comes to these for- profit colleges. He laid out a strong case. prgtoken Let me just make one more point which sometimes my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the administration and Ms. DeVos seem to forget. Who loses money when these for-profits take advantage of the kids? The Federal taxpayers do because the vast majority, the overwhelming percentage of funds that go to these for-profit colleges are from Federal student loans. So this is a waste of taxpayer money. Somehow our colleagues--not all but some--and the administration are willing to have the Treasury basically, in certain ways, be looted. They shrug their shoulders and let the for-profits keep doing it. It is an amazing contradiction. So Senator Durbin.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-5-22

. This Senator from Florida wants to thank his neighbor and colleague for his comments and to say how true it is that there is an underserved part in healthcare that is not only the underserved in the inner city but, clearly, also in rural America. This Senator wants to thank the Senator from Alabama for coming forward with that piece of legislation. I look forward to discussing it with him. prgtoken I also wish to thank the Senator for his comments about how shortsighted it is that the government, as he stated, in his State of Alabama, and, certainly, the government in my State of Florida, refuses to expand Medicaid and has so for almost 7 years, when, in fact, in the State of Florida, there is almost $5 billion a year that is sitting on the shelf that is Florida taxpayer money that is going elsewhere if not accessed, and it has not been accessed in my State of Florida. That is 800,000 people--almost 1 million people--poor people and disabled folks who would be getting healthcare, and they otherwise are not getting healthcare. prgtoken Would the Senator believe that when they don't get healthcare through Medicaid, for which they are eligible under the law, when they get sick, what do they do? They end up going to the emergency room. By not having any preventive care, it is now an emergency. Of course, when treated at the emergency room, it is the most expensive place at the worst time. Lo and behold, it is uncompensated care, and the hospital can't eat all of that uncompensated care. So what happens? All the rest of us pay through increases in our premiums. prgtoken for his statement about what is happening in my neighboring State of Alabama.
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-5-22

. Madam , if we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up Representative Sarbanes' bill, H.R. 20, the Government by the People Act. prgtoken This legislation would overhaul our broken campaign finance system and return to a government of, by, and for the American people. prgtoken Madam , I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORSHIP, TREATMENT, ACCESS, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2018
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-5-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 292, the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Act. prgtoken I want to particularly thank our lead ic sponsor, Mr. Butterfield of North Carolina, for promoting this bill. prgtoken Nearly 16,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each year. Those children are forced to bravely battle a disease and carry burdens that no one their age should. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act gives those children and their families hope by encouraging improved research as well as survivorship programs for children with cancer. prgtoken This legislation urges the National Institutes of Health to find new opportunities to expand research into pediatric cancer and survivorship, such as supporting the collection of biospecimens, as well as supporting research on the causes of health disparities in pediatric cancer survivorship. prgtoken The bill also allows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award funding to help States strengthen their infrastructure to track the epidemiology of pediatric cancer. prgtoken This improves childhood cancer surveillance and helps to guide public health decisionmaking as well as research inquiry. prgtoken Finally, this bill recognizes that expanding research that leads to treatments and cures is only part of the equation in improving the experience of children diagnosed with this disease. We must ensure that quality care is available to meet their needs for the remainder of their lives. prgtoken Unfortunately, the battle with pediatric cancer extends beyond beating the disease. As many as two-thirds of pediatric cancer survivors suffer from long-term effects of their disease and treatment, including secondary cancers and organ damage. prgtoken That is why this bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program to develop, study, or evaluate model systems for monitoring and caring for childhood cancer survivors through their lifespan, as well as to develop best practices for long- term followup services for pediatric cancer survivors. prgtoken I will continue to support efforts like this to improve outcomes for cancer prgtoken patients and survivors. However, unlike with this legislation, such efforts should proceed through the regular order process. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-5-22

because of that and because I would like to see a truly bipartisan bill supported overwhelmingly on both sides of the aisle to make sure that our community banks are not impacted in a way that was never intended nor should it be intended by the Congress, I therefore urge opposition to this particular piece of legislation, and I thank Ranking Member Waters for her hard work in making its consequences clear.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-22

for his comments. We have had this discussion a number of times. I served on his committee and have a lot of respect for him. But he called this a bad idea. He said that it is a bargain if we just continue the status quo. prgtoken , the Department of Energy asked this exact question. The Department of Energy produces a fiscal year stockpile stewardship and management plan. It is a 25-year plan with long-term costs. It is required in Federal code. We are doing this analysis in other areas. Why isn't the Department of Defense doing this? prgtoken The majority seeks to say: Why even ask the question? We have to ask ourselves, what is oversight if we don't ask hard questions? prgtoken Now, I think that there is a reason why folks like the National Taxpayers Union, who have supported this amendment and have said that they are going to score this amendment, have signed on to support it. It is because we need to ask these tough questions. prgtoken If we are going to genuinely offer oversight, we need to ask how much these programs cost, we need to plan, and we need to budget. It seems like a reasonable step to take. I appreciate my colleagues' concerns, and I would ask an ``aye'' vote of my colleagues. prgtoken , .
GUN VIOLENCE
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-5-22

I rise to join my Congressional Black Caucus Colleagues to speak forcefully for this Congress to listen to the children of this nation who are crying out to us for help asking that we save them from gun violence. prgtoken On Friday, May 18, 2018, the community of Santa Fe, Texas joined Parkland, Florida--as the place where gun violence took the lives of children and teachers who were at school. prgtoken Our hearts still ache with sadness and disbelief for the families and loved ones of the 8 students and 2 teachers who were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, wives and mother, who lost their lives in this senseless, horrific act of domestic terrorism. prgtoken Enough is enough. prgtoken It is safe to say that America is sick and tired of being sick and tired of gun violence. prgtoken Congress has studied the issue of gun violence and we know the answers to reducing deaths and injuries, but what we lack is the will in this body to act. prgtoken Here are the top 6 actions the President and the Congress can and must take now to protect our communities: prgtoken Require universal background checks to keep guns out of dangerous hands; prgtoken Extend the waiting period to purchase or transfer dangerous weapons like the AR-15 pending completion of background checks to 7 days; prgtoken Raise the minimum age to purchase or transfer dangerous weapons like the AR-15, high-capacity magazines, ammunitions, and silencers from 18 to 21 years of age; prgtoken Ban military-style assault weapons; prgtoken Limit high-capacity magazines; and prgtoken Increase access to mental health services. prgtoken Provide the tools that gun owners need to maintain control over legally obtained. prgtoken We can take action without infringing on the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. prgtoken We need to make it harder for criminals to obtain guns by strengthening the background check system. prgtoken We need to ensure that mental health professionals know their options for reporting threats of violence--even as we acknowledge that someone with a mental illness is far more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than the perpetrator. prgtoken We must also make safe gun storage a priority. prgtoken As the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, a senior Member of the Judiciary Committee, and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, I have listened far too often to the testimony of individuals who have survived tragedies or lost loved ones as a result of gun violence. prgtoken In the words of President after the 2013 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, ``We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.'' prgtoken While it is certainly true that violent crime and homicide rates in this country have been declining in recent years, they are still far above those in other industrialized nations. prgtoken The