mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-2-8

I rise today to speak in strong support of the bipartisan Budget Act which will hopefully pass later today. prgtoken This bill, as the name implies, is the result of rigorous, bipartisan, and bicameral negotiations. I am pleased to have played a part in this endeavor, and I am gratified to note that in addition to keeping the government open and providing much needed resources for our troops, the bill before us addresses a number of longstanding priorities of the Senate Finance Committee, including many that I have personally been working toward for years now. Indeed, this legislation, once passed and signed into law, will be the combination of years of work put in by members of the Finance Committee on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken I want to take some time to say a few words about some of the bipartisan victories that will be achieved through this legislation. I should warn my colleagues that this will take a few minutes because there are quite a few provisions to discuss. prgtoken For starters, let's talk about healthcare. Among the more prominent victories in this bill is an extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program for an additional 4 years. As we all know, last month Congress passed a historic 6-year CHIP extension, which was eventually signed into law. The bill before us would add another 4 years on top of that 6-year provision, providing a total extension of 10 years--10 years. That is remarkable. I have a long history with the CHIP program. I was the original author of the program, and I have always been an outspoken champion of it. prgtoken We have had some back-and-forth here in the Senate about CHIP in recent months, and some of it has gotten pretty fierce. However, today the Senate will pass legislation--bipartisan legislation--to provide unprecedented security and certainty for the families who depend on CHIP and the State governments that need more predictability to map out their own expenditures. prgtoken I am sure my friend, former Senator Kennedy, is up there watching. I am very happy he came on this bill in the early stages and helped to put it through. prgtoken In addition to the CHIP extension, the budget bill includes a bipartisan Finance Committee bill entitled the ``Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act of 2017''--a fairly long title. Senator Wyden, the Finance Committee's ranking member, and I have been working for years on this legislation, which, once enacted, will improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions. It will also help bring down Medicare costs and streamline care coordination services. prgtoken We have been working with our colleagues, stakeholders, and advocates for quite some time. We moved the bill through the committee last year, and the Senate actually passed it once already without a single vote in opposition. This legislation will finally get the CHRONIC Care A
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2018-2-8

. Thank you, . prgtoken I will be making a unanimous consent request in just a second. The reason I am doing this is that every hour we go without funding the military, every day that we wait, and the longer we continue this madness, the worse it is for those who fight in a war we can't afford to lose. prgtoken I think that Congress, in the words of General Mattis, has done more damage to the military than any enemy on the battlefield. So tonight I am speaking for you. We are going to end this madness as soon as we possibly can. prgtoken I respect Senator Paul, who is a fiscal conservative--every bit of it--but when it comes to national security, not so much. He wants to do entitlement reform. God bless him. That is where the money is at. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 8 p.m. today, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1892 with a further amendment; further, that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be yielded back and the Senate vote on the motion to concur.
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2018-2-8

I wish to speak about some issues relating to the spending bill and things that happened in Louisiana. prgtoken Louisiana had two catastrophic floods in 2016 that affected not just our State but also Texas and Mississippi, with over 100,000 disaster victims who became eligible for SBA--Small Business Administration-- disaster assistance loans. prgtoken Here is one picture. Oh my gosh. Here is the window. The water is as high inside the patio area as outside, and the woman has a face of despair. prgtoken Here is another picture, which shows a family being evacuated in a boat. Obviously, it is a neighborhood with stop signs and nice trees and streetlights, and they are being evacuated. We can imagine what their family home looked like. prgtoken Fifty-six of Louisiana's sixty-four parishes had Federal disaster declarations. The August storm alone caused an estimated $10 billion in damage to private property, which, apart from hurricanes, made it the most expensive U.S. disaster in the last 100 years. prgtoken The most devastating thing was how little time people had to react. The storm was missing key cyclone characteristics, so the National Hurricane Center had no expectation of how devastating the storm would be, and the first parishes hit by the flooding had no time to evacuate or prepare. prgtoken Many families who were impacted by the great floods of 2016 in Louisiana lived outside what are called special flood hazard zones and were not required to and did not carry flood insurance. Indeed, about 80 percent of flooded homes did not have flood insurance. prgtoken Last year, I worked with the Louisiana delegation to obtain about $2 billion in community development block grants to help cover portions of those uninsured losses for Louisiana families and small businesses. We also got about $500 million in disaster tax relief to help with the uncompensated disaster losses. But with CDBG--community development block grant--funding, which is distributed through the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, it is arcane--there is something which is an arcane and arbitrary rule called duplication of benefits. The duplication of benefits rule states that if an individual is eligible for and received a loan from the Small Business Administration, that individual is ineligible for a grant from the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program. The rule makes no sense. An individual who did the right thing and drew upon all available resources to rebuild their home and begin to put their life back together is denied relief. prgtoken Language that fixed this issue was included in the disaster supplemental passed by the House last year. The Senate was prepared to consider this in December, but the legislation was delayed--frankly, held hostage--by the minority party using it to gain leverage to get more government spending as part of the budget negotiations we are now in. prgtoken Now that this disaste
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-2-8

I would like to take a moment to speak in support of two pieces of legislation I introduced that are included in the continuing resolution we will vote on today: the Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act and the Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act. Both of these bills are very important to Hoosiers, and I am glad we will finally see them become law after 6 years of working in a bipartisan way to get them across the finish line. prgtoken Let me tell you why these two measures are so important to Hoosiers and really to all Americans. The Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act empowers our public and private sectors to implement evidence-based social and public health interventions to address some of our Nation's most pressing social challenges. prgtoken America has a celebrated and vibrant civil society. We have a history of not turning first to government to solve some of our thorniest social and public health challenges but instead turning to our neighbors, turning to our local communities, perhaps our local not-for- profit groups or our community heroes, and we discover that oftentimes they are better situated to address these thorny challenges than are government programs. That is not to suggest in the slightest that government doesn't have a very important role in addressing these broad social challenges. Government can indeed make a difference but so can these other organizations. prgtoken We have a growing evidence base without any partisan tinge to it. It is broadly agreed that we have a growing evidence base of those things that are working to address challenges such as homelessness, asthma in low-income communities, and getting the long-term unemployed back into the workforce. Name the social ill, and there is likely a not-for- profit group or even a for-profit group in each of our individual States which is making a meaningful difference on this front. prgtoken The challenge is, how do we scale up these evidence-based interventions in an era of scarce resources? Well, because social impact partnerships are focused on achieving results, taxpayer money is only paid out when desired outcomes are met. Government payments are made possible because when we really help somebody, when we really are able to help them achieve their goals and turn around their lives, that frees up government money. So we use those avoided costs and future government savings to pay back those who invest in scaling up things that really work to improve lives. prgtoken Let me give an example of what has also been called pay for success. There is a service in Indianapolis that connects registered nurses with low-income pregnant women. The Nurse-Family Partnership helps ensure both mom and baby are healthy throughout the pregnancy and through the infant's life. They hit specific metrics that save the Federal Government money. Under this legislation, a philanthropic
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Thad Cochran (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-2-8

I urge the Senate to approve the Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018. prgtoken This legislation is more than a continuing resolution to sustain government operations at current levels through March 23. prgtoken It incorporates a 2-year agreement setting defense and nondefense spending levels for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the product of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations. This overdue agreement is necessary for Congress to meet its responsibility to provide appropriations to meet national security and other important needs around the country. prgtoken This deal gives my committee a real opportunity to complete the fiscal year 2018 appropriations process with significant funding to begin rebuilding our military and address national priorities like veterans, infrastructure, and the opioid epidemic. prgtoken This measure also provides necessary emergency funding to help victims of recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters to rebuild their lives and communities. prgtoken I appreciate the many hours of negotiations that have gone into this legislation. The cotton and dairy provisions are the outcome of months of joint efforts with my friend, Vice Chairman Leahy, to help cotton and dairy producers overcome economic hardships that threaten their livelihoods. prgtoken I hope we continue in this cooperative and bipartisan fashion as we undertake the challenging work of crafting responsible legislation to finish the 2018 appropriations cycle and begin work on next year's bills.
KARI'S LAW ACT OF 2017
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-2-8

again, I thank the vice chairman and the ranking member for their persistence on this measure. I also commend Mr. Gohmert, who has worked with Kari's dad and has seen this through. prgtoken We are pleased to get this on its way to the President's desk. Indeed, we are going to continue to work on the enhanced 911 requirements because we do think that that is important. Technology allows more precise indications of exactly, precisely where phone calls are coming from. But solving this problem is one we need to do today. prgtoken All of us who are moms and dads and have children and grandchildren, you train them to dial 911. I am certain that that is what Kari did with her daughter: If there is ever an emergency, dial 911. prgtoken And the fact is that this required the preceding digit, an extra number, to be dialed in order to access that outside line that would have delivered that 911 call. prgtoken So as we look at 50 years of 911 service and Kari's 36th birthday, which is coming up tomorrow, it is so appropriate that we take this action. So I thank Mr. Gohmert and the members of the committee who have continued the diligence on this.
IN MEMORY OF DR. JAMES R. BUSH, JR.
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2018-2-8

on February 1, 2018, a memorial service was conducted at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, Louisiana, to honor the life of Dr. James R Jr. prgtoken I include in the Record the following thoughtful obituary published in The Crowley-Post Signal on January 27, 2018: A Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Thursday, Feb. 1, for Dr. James R Jr 68, who died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family. A rosary will be said Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The services will be officiated by Fr. William ``Bill'' Roskoski and Deacon Tommy Adams. He is survived by his mother, Betty of Rayne; his wife of 44 years, Mary of Rayne; two sons, Michael and wife Courtney of Rayne, and John and wife Lindsey of Crowley; two daughters, Mary Katharine Dore and husband Jason of Washington, D.C and Elizabeth Leonards and husband Luke of Lafayette; a brother, David and wife Sandra of Rayne; two sisters, Nancy Stutes of Baton Rouge and Elizabeth Mooney and husband Mike of Rayne; six grandchildren, Vivian, M.J Jack-Thomas, Eleanor, William and Mary-Cynthia; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. James R Sr.; a brother, Jerome ; two nephews, Ben Stutes and Dereck ; and a brother-in-law, Darrell Stutes. Dr. was born April 8, 1949, in Church Point to Dr. and Mrs. James R Sr. A 1967 graduate of Rayne High School he earned his bachelor of science degree from USL in Lafayette. He went on to complete studies at the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 1975. He practiced dentistry in Baton Rouge between 1975 and 1985, after which, he returned home and served the Rayne community from 1986 until 2009. Dr. was a member of the Rayne Lions Club and the 6th District Dental Association. He will be remembered not only as a kind and loving person, always willing to help in any way possible; but, also as a compassionate dentist and caregiver who cared for all his patients.
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-2-8

I come before you today to talk about the historic tax reform legislation that was passed in the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the President at the end of the year and talk about what we learned since then, even in the last week. prgtoken We created this legislation with two goals in mind. One was to provide middle-class tax relief to families. The other was to provide our businesses and our workers with a more competitive tax code. This is something that became very clear to all of us as we looked at it, that unfortunately we were asking our workers here in America to compete with one arm tied behind their backs because of our Tax Code. It has been a couple of months now since this legislation became law, and both of those two goals we set out prgtoken are being achieved. It is already happening. prgtoken In January, the Internal Revenue Service updated its tables for withholding. In other words, they went to employers and said: Because of the tax cuts, you should withhold less money in every paycheck. prgtoken That is happening. The Treasury Department tells us that 90 percent of American workers are having their withholding changed in a way that is positive for them, meaning that Uncle Sam is taking less out of their paychecks. People are already starting to see that. Tomorrow is Friday--another payday--and you are probably going to see that on your paycheck tomorrow or a week from tomorrow, if you haven't already seen it. That means that people are actually getting relief directly for themselves and their families. This is more take-home pay for folks and enables people to have a better family budget. prgtoken With higher healthcare costs and other costs for years and years and no salary increase, having a little more in the family budget is really important to folks, and it is making a difference. In Ohio, for a family of four at the median-income level, which is about $70,000 a year, this means about a $2,000-a-year savings. That is significant for people. I have talked to a lot of constituents who were beginning to see this, and they are realizing they have a little more money for retirement, maybe for healthcare, maybe to help their kids or their grandkids. That is good. prgtoken There is something else that is in the bill that hasn't gotten much attention; that is, the fact that there were 3 million Americans who were paying taxes previously, who had income tax liability, who do not now. Why? Because when you lower the tax rate, some of these people, who are typically the working poor--in other words, they are working, but they are not making much in income--now have the ability to get out from under taxes altogether. This also encourages more people to not be dependent on a government program but to go to work, if there is this lower tax rate at the lower end of the economic scale. So that is good too. That is in this tax legislation. prgtoken More than 3 million people do not hav
BUDGET AGREEMENT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-2-8

this Congress and this President have delivered a historic series of achievements for the American people. We took an ax to the redtape holding back our economy. We used the Congressional Review Act a record 15 times to pave the way for job creation. After years of broken promises to our veterans, we delivered VA reform legislation to begin giving our heroes the more accessible care, greater choice, and workforce training they deserve. We confirmed outstanding judges to the Federal bench. We advanced efforts to address the opioid crisis. And, of course, we passed the most significant tax overhaul in a generation. prgtoken Already, tax reform is increasing take-home pay for American workers. Already, businesses are investing more, expanding more, and creating more good-paying jobs right here at home. Over the past year, we have built a record of successes for middle-class families and a stronger, safer country. prgtoken But among all the work that still remains, one critical piece of unfinished business is now really close to the finish line. If we act now, we can start rebuilding our military and provide our troops the training and equipment they need to defend the homeland and protect the American people. prgtoken The crisis in our military is acute. Just this week, headlines revealed that two-thirds of the Navy's F/A-18 aircraft are not prepared to fly. The fleet, which must secure sea lines of communication across the globe and patrol the Persian Gulf and the South China Sea, has shrunk to the smallest ship count in nearly three decades. prgtoken We have become too reliant on Special Operations forces and have radically drawn down our conventional force structure. prgtoken This has not been lost on China or Russia. They are improving their conventional forces and intimidating their neighbors. Our force faces a complex collection of threats and challenges from Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea to ISIL, al-Qaida, and their affiliates. prgtoken The need for our forward presence has not diminished in the Persian Gulf or in the South China Sea and the wider Pacific, neither has our responsibility to our NATO allies in Europe or to the Republic of Korea. No, we have not asked our all-volunteer military to do any less for our country. They have just been forced to make do with less. prgtoken And all of these short-term funding bills have handicapped our military leaders' ability to make long-term plans and investments. In December, the Navy Secretary said the inefficiencies from continuing resolutions have cost his Department enough money to pay for an entire squadron of fighter planes or two destroyers. prgtoken Let me say that again. The Secretary of the Navy said that the inefficiencies from continuing resolutions have cost his Department enough money to pay for an entire squadron of fighter planes or two destroyers. prgtoken Here is how General Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, put
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-2-8

. Absolutely. I want to thank Senator Wicker for his leadership on this issue, and I think what we are seeing here in this colloquy is the strength of the bipartisan support for this bill, not only in the Senate but throughout the country. I appreciate my colleague's words about who is supporting it. It is a very broad-based coalition--fishing vessels, passenger vessels, labor unions, the Navy League of the United States, marine terminals, port authorities. prgtoken I think both Senator Wicker and Senator Casey made a very strong point: This is going to keep the highest standards on the environment for our waters. This isn't about cutting corners, but it is going to make these standards uniform, which is what our Nation needs. prgtoken What we also need to do is to make sure we pass the Coast Guard bill as well as this important component of it. The men and women of the Coast Guard are serving our Nation just like the other members of the military, and somehow, by delaying this bill, we are undermining their longer term interests. I think the Senate can do a much better job. prgtoken I agree with my colleague from Mississippi that we are close. There is clearly bipartisan support across the board for the VIDA Act and the Coast Guard bill, and we are hopeful that within the next few weeks or few months, we are going to get this done, and it is going to benefit literally every State in this great Nation of ours.
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING ALONG TO GET ALONG
John J. Duncan, Jr. (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-2-8

I sent my first paycheck as a bag boy at the A&P--$19-and-some-odd cents--to the Barry Goldwater campaign. I was 16 years old. prgtoken I have been involved in almost every major campaign in my State and nationally since then. But the Party I grew up in was the fiscally conservative party. I wish it still was. prgtoken But we will pass a spending bill today that is everything but fiscally conservative. Our national debt is now over $20 trillion. This bill will speed us down the road to $30 trillion. prgtoken Our deficit last year was $666 billion. This bill will make it even higher this year. There is nothing fiscally conservative about this bill. Spending was already going up. prgtoken Now we are busting the budget caps and adding another $300 billion more. Anyone who supports this bill cannot accurately say that they are fiscally conservative. prgtoken It is very sad to me that the Party I love is now going along to get along and spending many, many billions that we simply do not have.