mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-13

. Mr. Chair, my amendment is similar to an amendment of mine that passed the House 243-180 in the FY2017 NDAA. This amendment mirrors language that I have introduced called the SEND Act. prgtoken While the Department of Homeland Security--not the Department of Defense--is tasked with maintaining the safety of our southern border, it has long received help and assistance from the DOD and our military. prgtoken One of the ways the DOD helps the border patrol is through the transfer of equipment it deems ``excess'' to its needs. prgtoken Under current law, the transfer of this ``excess'' equipment already gives preference to counterdrug, counterterrorism, and border security activities. prgtoken My amendment simply takes that preference a step further, giving border security preference for a few specific pieces of equipment which are particularly useful for border security applications: unmanned surveillance vehicles including Aerostat blimps, night-vision goggles, and Humvees. prgtoken The border patrol is the first and last line of defense against those criminal gangs. prgtoken In my home state of Texas, and in other border states like New Mexico and Arizona, the war against the cartels is an ongoing affair. Cartels are involved in labor and sex slavery. prgtoken Just last week in Southern Texas, border patrol agents raided a home to find 37 illegal immigrants, including three children. prgtoken These men, women and children were being held by cartel drug runners for ransom. prgtoken I've been to the border countless times, Mr. Chair. prgtoken I've spoken with the men and women who have sworn to protect the good folks of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico from the dangerous people who cross the southern border. prgtoken A Texas Ranger told me that they are outmanned, outgunned, out- financed and out-equipped by the drug cartels. prgtoken I've heard firsthand the need these men and women have for new equipment, specifically the equipment I just listed. prgtoken In fact when I recently visited the border in April, I met with the Border Patrol in the Rio Grande sector and they informed me that in areas where they were using Aerostat surveillance blimps, crossings were way down. prgtoken When asked what we could do to help the sector, the answer was clear: More Aerostat blimps. prgtoken Well, that is what we are trying to do here with this amendment, Mr. Chair. prgtoken This idea isn't new. In 2010, with our help, the excess equipment program sent 6 excess military Humvees to Texas Border Sheriffs. Often, before this transfer, the border sheriffs were forced to chase the drug cartels in Crown Victorias. prgtoken This amendment mandates that DOD give border security applicants an additional preference for the equipment listed in this amendment. prgtoken I've heard from our agents down on the border and this is the equipment they need. prgtoken Let's put this ``excess'' equipment to use on the southern border in the war against the drug cartel
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Michael R. Turner (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-7-13

I join with Chairman Wittman in expressing opposition to this amendment. prgtoken As he has indicated, the Navy has no indication that they have a military requirement for icebreakers. Right now we are trying to reverse the effects of sequestration. We are fighting against budget cuts. When you use money for something other than what it was intended for, it is a budget cut, and that is what this would be. No one is talking about raising the top line of the overall defense budget, but they are talking about using the funds otherwise for something that is not defense. prgtoken I want to join with everyone who is speaking on this issue of the importance of the Coast Guard and certainly its impact and certainly the issues of icebreaking, but shipbuilding for the Navy and for our military should be concentrated on our military. Certainly the funds that we are appropriating to the Department of Defense should remain in the Department of Defense, and, therefore, I rise with Chairman Wittman in support of the opposition. prgtoken Mr. Chair, in closing, I want to say that--going to Admiral Richardson's words--Admiral Richardson clearly states that the mission of icebreaking is a Coast Guard mission. There is not a disagreement there, but the disagreement is using resources that are within the Defense budget in order to do that. prgtoken If you are going to put the responsibility for building icebreakers and maintaining and operating them with the Coast Guard, yet you are going to put the money in the Department of Defense budget where there is no control, there is no oversight, that is a catastrophe waiting to happen. prgtoken If this is going to happen, it should happen within the Department of Homeland Security's budget or there needs to be a debate about where, ultimately, the Coast Guard needs to be located. But to put money in one area of the budget and expect that it is going to be managed properly and applied properly with someplace where there is not even jurisdiction, I think is problematic. prgtoken Again, it is clear where the missions are. It is clear where the responsibility lies between the Homeland Security Department, the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Department of Defense. prgtoken I want to make sure we are building more cutters and icebreakers, and if we are going to do that, let's make sure we do it in the proper way. I think there are ways to construct language to make that happen, but this is not the way to do it. prgtoken , .
HONORING FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL MASTER SERGEANT WILLIAM BISHOP
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today in support of Secretary Purdue and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service for implementing a suspension of all imports of fresh beef from Brazil. prgtoken I would also like to thank my colleagues from across the aisle for joining together to back this crucial step to ensure the health and safety of American families. prgtoken Since March, the USDA has blocked 11 percent of fresh beef from Brazil due to safety concerns. As one of the world's leaders in beef production, the United States has the responsibility to set the highest possible standards for what we allow in our Nation's kitchens, grocery stores, and restaurants. prgtoken Brazil is an important trading partner, and we value our mutually beneficial relationships, but we cannot allow this substandard with potential health hazards of beef to enter our food supply. prgtoken I am encouraged by the Brazilian Government's commitment to fixing these issues, and I look forward to reestablishing relationships with the Brazilian beef market as soon as we can be assured that its qualities meet the high standards of the USDA.
HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-7-13

the American people deserve better than Care. prgtoken Across the country, Americans are paying more for less under Care. Already, Care premiums have increased, on average, by more than 100 percent on the Federal exchange. Next year, Care premiums could rise by as much as 50 percent or more in States like Georgia and Maryland. prgtoken All across the country, Americans are losing choice and access. Already, Americans living in 70 percent of the counties have little or no options for Care insurance. Next year, nearly 40 percent fewer insurers have filed to participate in the Care exchanges. Many Americans face the real possibility of having no options to pick from at all. prgtoken These trends are not new--costs have been going up and choice has been going down for years--but these trends continue to get worse, and things are not likely to turn around unless we act. prgtoken Care was a direct attack on the middle class from the very start. It is a ticking timebomb today. Care's years-long hurtle toward collapse is rapidly approaching its seemingly inevitable conclusion, total meltdown, which would hurt even more Americans on top of those it has hurt already. prgtoken We can't let that happen, and we are continuing to work hard to ensure it doesn't. prgtoken After extensive consultation across the conference, numerous meetings with constituents, and intensive conversations with Members, our conference has updated last month's Better Care discussion draft with additional provisions to make it stronger. We just walked through that revised draft together. It is now available online. I encourage everyone to review it. prgtoken As before, it aims to stabilize and reform the collapsing insurance markets that have left too many with no options, and it aims to make insurance more affordable and more flexible so it is something Americans actually want to buy. prgtoken For those stuck with Care insurance they don't want or can't afford, we don't think they should be forced to buy it any longer. For those who buy insurance on an exchange and want to continue doing so, we want them to have lower premiums and more choices. prgtoken For those tired of healthcare decisions being outsourced to far-off bureaucrats, we want to transfer millions of those decisions back to them and to their doctors. prgtoken We also want to strengthen Medicaid for those who need it most, by giving States more flexibility while ensuring that those who rely on this program don't have the rug pulled out from under them. Many States want the ability to reform and improve their Medicaid Program so they can actually deliver better care at a lower cost, and we would like to dramatically expand their authority to do that. It is an idea that should significantly improve healthcare in States all across our country. prgtoken The draft we just discussed, like the one before it, addresses all of these obj
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-7-13

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for offering this amendment. A provision nearly identical to this has been in the final version of the last two NDAAs, and it should be in the final version of this year's NDAA. prgtoken As chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I understand that the responsiveness and distributive nature of our ICBMs are the most critical features. Without ICBMs, an adversary would need to strike less than 10 targets to disarm our nuclear forces. But with ICBMs, an adversary needs to strike hundreds of hardened targets deep in America's homeland. That is a much more difficult proposition and is at the very heart of our deterrence. prgtoken During his confirmation hearing, Secretary of Defense Mattis agreed prgtoken with this assessment, noting: ``The ICBM force provides a cost-imposing strategy on our adversaries.'' prgtoken We should confirm this policy once more. It is vital that our ICBM force remain robust and responsive. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment.
RECOGNIZING FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today to recognize Perkasie Park on its 135th anniversary and celebrate its new status as a National Historic District. prgtoken Founded in 1882, Perkasie Park is one of just a handful of intact camp meeting facilities that continue to operate in Pennsylvania. Home to dozens of Victorian-era cottages and buildings, at its height, Perkasie Park was Bucks County's biggest attraction, drawing worshippers and vacationers from Philadelphia and the surrounding region to the quaint, quiet countryside of the Borough of Perkasie. prgtoken Last year, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers, residents, and community leaders, Perkasie Park was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the American camp meeting movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through their dedication, the park joined over 150 Bucks County properties on the National Register, including the 1832 South Perkasie Covered Bridge on the other side of town. prgtoken I am proud to represent a district that understands and honors its deep-rooted history, and I join with the people in Perkasie in celebrating this momentous anniversary and accomplishment.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-7-13

I thank the chairman of the committee for his hard work and his defense of those who wear the uniform and take on that tough task. In these tough and troubling times, especially in financial austerity, he stood up and let everybody know how the military, in actual dollars over the last 8 years, has been cut significantly, and the impact on our national security. prgtoken In that vein, my goal with this amendment is to prioritize those limited defense resources on efforts that pose an immediate and direct threat to our national security. prgtoken This amendment would strike section 336 of the NDAA, which strikes the requirement for the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the vulnerability to military installations and combatant commander requirements resulting from climate change over the next 20 years. prgtoken I am not here to debate climate change, whether it is real or it is not, how it is created, how we fix it, and all that stuff. That is for another day. My point is that this shouldn't be the priority of combatant commanders in our military. The United States military is currently operating in a very complex threat environment in which our country must be ready to face our adversaries. prgtoken Our country is facing direct threats from a myriad of sources, including Islamic extremists: ISIS, al-Qaida, the prgtoken Taliban, Abu Sayyaf. The alphabet soup of names in that regard is continuous and unrelenting: North Korea, China, Iran, Russia, even in space. prgtoken Over the past 8 years, our military strength and readiness has suffered as a result of the underfunding and neglect from the previous administration that are in support of sequestration. Through the NDAA, we simply must prioritize, decide what is most important and be for that, and let our warfighters know where we stand. prgtoken These things must strengthen the rebuilding of our Armed Forces and resolve their focus on what they need to pay attention to. Literally litanies of other Federal agencies deal with environmental issues, including climate change. This Federal mandate detracts from the essential mission of the Department of Defense, which is to secure our Nation from enemies, and is best left to the agencies that are better suited to deal with these issues. prgtoken , .
GEORGE TAKACS
Francis Rooney (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today in recognition of George Takacs, a student at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, who recently committed to play football at the University of Notre Dame. By signing his commitment, George fulfilled a lifelong dream to attend the University he has admired throughout his life. Selected as an Army All-American, George has proven his dedication to the sport and achieving his goals. He will be on the field with some of the finest athletes in the country, while pursuing his academic goals with some of the finest scholars in the world. I congratulate George on his perseverance and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in South Bend over the course of his collegiate career.
Nominations (Executive Session)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-7-13

it has been nearly 7 months since President took office. He was sworn in on the steps of the Capitol on January 20. prgtoken Our colleagues across the aisle have had, frankly, more than enough time to come to terms with the election results. Unfortunately, they seem to be channeling their disappointment through the confirmation process by engaging in an unprecedented level of obstruction. prgtoken We spent all this week when the Senate could do no other business on the executive calendar than to confirm three nominees--three nominees of about 500 that need to be appointed by the President. They are there only because the President would want them there. They come and go as Presidents come and go. Many of them have gone. The problem is that their replacements haven't been there. prgtoken If there is any doubt as to just how unprecedented this drawn-out confirmation process has been, let's look at how it stacks up against the previous administration. We are only a couple of weeks away from August, and Senate have only allowed us to confirm 52 of President 's 216 nominees. That is 24 percent. By the August recess of President 's first term, the Senate had confirmed 313 of his 454 nominations, or 69 percent. prgtoken So we start out with an incredibly slow start, where previous administrations--both the administration and the administration--by the end of the first week, or often by the end of the first day, had most of their Cabinet confirmed. prgtoken Getting a Cabinet confirmed is a process that took every minute of time that the Senate rules could possibly be stretched to allow. prgtoken Then, we look at nominations. The President, as I said, has nominated 216 people. Less than one out of four of them have been confirmed. In President 's term, even though he had more nominees by this time, he had a lot more confirmations. The Senate confirmed 69 percent of the nominees. prgtoken There are currently more than 150 nominations waiting for confirmation, many of them are already out of committee. They are ready to come to the floor, but Senate have caused this backlog by using every procedural tactic to needlessly delay nominees. But, when they delay the nominees, they also delay our ability to get to the other work. prgtoken So there are two questions here. Are you going to let the President take over the government, which the Constitution and the Senate have been an active part of? Are you going to get the other work done? If you don't let the President take over the government, how do you effectively get the other work done? It is really a plan that works really well if what you want to do is slow down any changes of where the government was on January 20. prgtoken A Wall Street Journal editorial earlier this week said: ic obstruction against nominees is nearly total, most notably including a demand for cloture filings for
HONORING LAURINBURG-MAXTON ARMY AIR BASE
Robert Pittenger (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today in honor of the Laurinburg- Maxton Army Air Base in Scotland County, North Carolina, which played a vital but little-known role in World War II. prgtoken From 1942 to 1945, Scotland County helped prepare glider pilots for the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George Marshall visited the base during the war to observe glider training. prgtoken On June 6, 1944, when more than 160,000 Allied troops landed during the Invasion of Normandy, glider pilots trained in Scotland County were among the vanguard as American soldiers silently soared down the French coastline through the thick fog powered only by the prevailing winds. prgtoken The brave glider pilots who trained at Laurinburg-Maxton Air Base helped secure Allied victory on D-day. Today I ask you to join me in honoring those soldiers as well as the Scotland County community, which supported these efforts.
FUTURE Act (Executive Session)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-7-13

from North Dakota. She has been a champion of building this bipartisan coalition. When we announced this yesterday, we had a very large board that showed quite a broad array of groups from around the country that are very much in support of this concept. So, I thank Senator Heitkamp for her great leadership. prgtoken It is terrific to be on the floor with Senator Whitehouse. We both serve on the EPW Committee together, and many times we are totally opposite. Sometimes we feel as if we are on opposite planets, I think, but definitely on different sides of this issue. It is great to be on the same side of an issue such as this, which really helps fortify not just our country but our regions and our beliefs as well. prgtoken As Senator Heitkamp said, we have 25 cosponsors. Some of them are utilities, environmental groups, oil and gas companies, Governors, labor unions, so it is a great array of the country interested in carbon capture utilization and storage. We have done a lot of research in this area, but we haven't been able to scale it up to a point where it is economically viable, and that is where I think the tax credits will be not just welcomed and used, but it will be very important to see that scalability--which we have seen coming in small bits and pieces--maybe come in much greater amounts. prgtoken We obviously have a very robust coal industry in the State of West Virginia. We have lost thousands of jobs. Senator Whitehouse and I have talked about his stay in West Virginia. He has great empathy for the coal miner and for those families that have lost jobs, but he is very concerned, as I think we all are, about what it is doing to our environment and how can we improve this. prgtoken That is what this legislation, I think, will help do. It will spur domestic investment in the technologies. It will also help us, I think, bring energy security because it goes to the baseload fuels, whether it is coal or natural gas, that we have to have. prgtoken I mean, in Washington, DC, today, it is hot out there, and I can guarantee you there are a lot of air-conditioners that are running at maximum speed. If we do not have this baseload power, which is coal and natural gas in areas--and I see my fellow Senator from West Virginia. We know, in coal country, how important that is and also what smiles on people's faces these air-conditioners can bring, as these hot days go, because we are running at full capacity. prgtoken We want to make sure that by capturing the carbon stream, we prevent any waste emissions and we provide a possible valuable resource for industry. I remarked yesterday for industry to extract oil, which is very important, obviously, to the Senator from North Dakota and also in our Marcellus shale region. prgtoken I believe that with this research and with the spurring of this technology, CO2 is going to have another use out there. There are all kinds of utilization p
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-13

I appreciate the response from the Senator from New Hampshire. I think I want to explore that a little more. I don't think the cost-sharing subsidies go directly to beneficiaries but, rather, to insurance companies. prgtoken Nevertheless, this is exactly the kind of proposal that the Senate can vote on next week when we proceed to the healthcare bill. As we know, unlike traditional legislation, there is an open and unlimited amendment process, and prgtoken Members on both sides will have a chance to offer amendments and have the Senate vote on them. So I would encourage all of our colleagues who have ideas about how to shape the healthcare policy to vote to get on the bill and then to offer amendments. prgtoken It has been 7 years since Care was passed. It is in meltdown mode. We are glad to have our colleagues across the aisle offer suggestions on how to improve the current terrible situation for so many millions of people, but I must object.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-7-13

the United States military is the greatest fighting force in the world. Our troops need to be focused on the mission at hand and have every tool at their disposal to complete that mission. prgtoken My amendment ensures that we practice fiscal discipline in the Department of Defense's energy acquisition process by ensuring that we are buying the most cost-effective source of energy. prgtoken I thank the chairman. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. prgtoken , .