mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-7-26

I want to take a moment to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the city of Cheyenne, WY. prgtoken The city of Cheyenne is an irreplaceable catalyst in Wyoming's birth and development. Christened on July 4, 1867, Cheyenne was named after the Cheyenne Tribe found in the Dakota territory. As the population jumped from 400 to 3,000 and beyond, Cheyenne earned nickname ``The Magic City of the Plains'' in reference to how it seemingly sprouted overnight and kept prgtoken on growing. This unfettered momentum showed enough potential that in 1886, 4 years before Wyoming became the 44th State, the construction of a State capitol was approved in Cheyenne. Among these barren plains, a wellspring of prosperity and opportunity was found for the independent, brave folks who were willing to work hard to build it. In that, Cheyenne's legacy perfectly captures Wyoming's spirit. prgtoken Cheyenne, WY, is a railroad town through and through. General Grenville Dodge, chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, selected this dusty spot as a connecting point in the Nation's first transcontinental railroad. Thousands of men and their families came here to lay track up the Gangplank, the unique geography that allows a gradual grading from the plains to the Laramie Mountains. Supply stores, banks, and dentists all sprang up in their wake to accommodate the booming town. Now, Interstate 80 runs alongside the Gangplank from Cheyenne to Laramie, where the climb from the plains to the mountains continues today. On March 3, 2006, the Cheyenne Train Depot become a national historic landmark, solidifying the railroads irremovable stitching in the fabric of Cheyenne, WY, and the rest of the Nation. prgtoken During Cheyenne's first fragile years, soldiers were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell to protect the railroad. The base was established on the same day as the city, and construction began in October 1867. It later became the F.E. Warren Air Force base that continues to be crucial to Cheyenne today. The base was expected to last 6 months, then to dry up along with the town itself as folks followed the train tracks to find more work. However, Cheyenne endured--and the base along with it. It became a permanent Army installation in 1884, and soon ramshackle wood housings were replaced with brick buildings. In 1930, it was renamed F.E. Warren Base by President Herbert Hoover to honor Wyoming's first Governor, Francis Emroy Warren. It was officially renamed F.E. Warren Air Force Base in 1949, making it the oldest continually active base in the Air Force system. The base is currently responsible for 15 missile alert facilities and 150 Minute Man III missiles and is known throughout Wyoming as a fixture in the Cheyenne community. The F.E. Warren Base and some 4,000 personnel on site continue to be a massively positive presence in the Cheyenne neighborhood, especially at Cheyenne Frontier Days. prgtoken As with the F.E. Warren Air
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2017-7-26

there seems to be some confusion. I will take whatever time you designate is left. I wanted to talk longer. prgtoken The things the Senator from South Carolina was talking about are pretty amazing. I look at my State of Oklahoma. Did you know our premiums in the State of Oklahoma under Care have tripled? They have gone up 201 percent. prgtoken When you look and you see the options that are out there, what really disturbs me--I understand one big difference between and s is are disciplined, s aren't, so they are all voting against any kind of a change. I guess they all love Care. prgtoken I can assure you, though, if you look at the charts the Senator from South Carolina was showing, you would wonder why in the world they would all be gathering around when they would dramatically benefit by taking one of the alternatives to Care. prgtoken I didn't come down to talk about that, but I have to say, from a State where our premiums have gone up--tripled--you stop and you ask: What is this going to look like when we get the new bill done? prgtoken We don't know exactly what it is going to look like. It is going to have the individual mandates done away with. It is going to have the taxes reduced. It is going to have block grants going to the States. prgtoken Look at my State of Oklahoma. That will increase the amount of money that will be coming in, with less taxes, by 200 percent. I dare say, there are a lot of who would find that in the same situation. prgtoken One last note about that, as I go back and I work around the State, I find there are a lot of people who are saying: I don't like this alternative. prgtoken I would only say, not just in Oklahoma but anywhere in the Nation, if you oppose what is going to be the alternative, what you are saying is, you would rather have Care. Commending Attorney General Sessions prgtoken , actually, I came to the floor for a different reason. It is probably the most awkward situation I have been in before. Since they cut me down to 8\1/2\ minutes, I will have to come back to the floor and embellish a little bit more. I am in an awkward situation. First of all, I believe that we have a President in President who is doing a great job. prgtoken I look around and I see what is happening to us. We are now a leader in the free world again. All kinds of things have happened that are very good. Yet I have to say the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, if I could single out three people in the U.S. Senate whom I respect more, he would be among those. prgtoken I am fortunate enough to have known him since the middle eighties, back during the Reagan administration. I knew him very well when he was elected the first time in 1996. Here is a guy who is an outstanding guy, who does things, gets things done. Look at his accomplishments as Attorney General. In that short period of
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-7-26

first of all, I want to begin by thanking the committee for their hard work on this appropriations bill. prgtoken Every year, I come to this floor through the appropriations process to present amendments calling for 1 percent across-the-board cuts. So many years I have come down here to talk about how the spending continues to increase. Indeed, our budget does increase. But I have to tell you, the chairman and his team have done an incredible job this year. prgtoken The outlays that we see in this bill this year are $209 million-- think about that--less than the budget authority from last year. That is significant, and it should be recognized and should be praised, because that is the type of work that we need to see. prgtoken Now, I do continue to present the 1 percent across-the-board amendment because we are facing a time in our Nation where 1 percent makes a difference, just as we are seeing from the good work that they have done. prgtoken Passing this amendment for the 1 percent across-the-board spending reduction would save us an additional $376 million. It is important to do because our Nation is facing $20 trillion in debt. Because of that, we have to ask ourselves: Is it important to spend some of the money that is being spent on programs that we see taking place in the Department of Energy? prgtoken It causes us to look at these programs and talk about priorities, where we should spend those precious dollars that are not Federal dollars. They are taxpayer dollars that are coming out of the pockets of hardworking men and women. prgtoken Indeed, we have, many times, quoted Admiral Mullins' comments from July 6, 2010, that the greatest threat to our Nation's security is our Nation's debt. Because of that, I recognize and applaud the good work that has been done, but I encourage support for my amendment and the continued honing and prioritizing of what takes the taxpayer money that is spent by this body. prgtoken , .
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-7-26

as a physician and an eye surgeon, I have seen Care up close, and it is not working for Americans. prgtoken If you look across the country and say ``Is it working?'' you find that Care premiums have doubled for those in the individual marketplace in just a few short years. You find that the Care insurance mandates have caused 4.7 million people to lose the insurance they chose. If you like your doctor, you can keep him or her--that was the promise, and it was a lie. Some 4.7 million people were told that they couldn't choose the insurance they want and couldn't choose their doctor. prgtoken It is estimated that there are 800,000 fewer jobs because of Care. How does that happen? Well, if you work 32 hours a week and your employer has to provide insurance at 30 hours, guess what happens. Some people get moved to 28 hours. You add up all those hours, and millions of people are working fewer hours. prgtoken Who are the people who got shafted by Care? Often, working-class people. In my State, there are 25,000 people who pay a fine because they can't afford Care. These 25,000 people make less than $25,000 a year. They are our working class. prgtoken Care punishes them and says: You have to pay a fine. prgtoken They say: I wish I had insurance, but Care added all these mandates, things that I can't afford. prgtoken Sure, everybody wants to have everything under the Sun covered by their insurance, but when you mandate that, you elevate the price of insurance. So what has happened? Young, healthy people have lost their insurance and don't buy insurance in droves. prgtoken Care says: You can come back any time after you are sick and buy your insurance. prgtoken That sounds good, but what it leads to is the death spiral of Care. Care premiums have doubled because the young, healthy people are saying it costs too much and the sicker people are the only ones left in insurance. prgtoken This is what happens when you let the government get involved in the marketplace. If you allow the marketplace to work--what is the one universal feature of capitalism? You get the lowest amount of cost and the most amount of goods distributed to the most amount of people. prgtoken Right now under Care, 50 percent of America has one choice. What does that mean? A monopoly. Who wants the insurance company to have a monopoly? When the insurance companies have monopolies, the prices get doubled. prgtoken There are now some parts of our country that have no choice in the individual market. If you are a plumber or a welder or a carpenter, you have to buy insurance in the individual market. In many places in America, you have no choice. In half of America, if you buy insurance by yourself, if you are not part of a large group, in half of America, there is one choice--a monopoly and monopoly prices. prgtoken In my State alone, 50,000 Kentuckians have to pay a tax. They have to pay
HONORING LEE BEALUK
Thomas MacArthur (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today to honor the leadership and contributions of Lee Bealuk, of the Third Congressional District of New Jersey, specifically all that he has done for the Township of Medford. Lee has served in a leadership capacity with Boy Scout Troop No. 20 of Medford for over 50 years, currently serving as Scoutmaster Emeritus and mentor to scouts who are working towards attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. prgtoken Lee has mentored 84 young men from Troop No. 20 who have achieved this rank, the highest within the Boy Scouts of America organization. Lee's accomplishments with Troop No. 20's Eagle Scouts are astonishing given that less than 5 percent of youth who participate in Boy Scouts achieve this rank. As a component of the Eagle Scout process, the candidate must develop, coordinate, and implement a community service project and with 84 Scouts earning this rank, the Township of Medford as well as many other local facilities, have been the beneficiaries of the projects undertaken by the Eagle Scout candidates. prgtoken Lee serves as the liaison between each Eagle Scout and the entities where the projects are conducted and his diligence in ensuring that all the logistics have been addressed is an excellent example to the Scout, while imparting other Boy Scout ideals including responsibility, community involvement, and civic duty. Lee's leadership skills and dedication are an asset to the Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 20, his community, his family, and his friends. prgtoken , the people of New Jersey's Third Congressional District are tremendously honored to have Mr. Lee Bealuk as a selfless and devoted member of their community who has made a tremendous impact on our future generations of leaders. It is my honor to recognize his outstanding achievements and untiring dedication in mentoring the young men and fellow Scoutmasters who participate with Troop No. 20, especially those who commit to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and thank him for all that he has done, before the United State House of Representatives.
SUPPORT FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA, IRAN, AND NORTH KOREA
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today to voice my support of the Russia, Iran, and North Korea Sanctions Act. These countries actively undermine U.S. national security and threaten the safety and freedoms we enjoy in the United States. prgtoken Yesterday, Congress acted swiftly, voting 419-3 to defend the interests of the American people. I commend the leadership of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Royce and Majority Leader McCarthy for moving forward strong, meaningful legislation targeting the regimes carrying out brutal human rights violations against vulnerable peoples across the globe and threatening our national security. prgtoken The administration, time and again, failed to hold these regimes accountable, and the outcomes of that inaction have had lasting ramifications on global stability and security. prgtoken U.S. officials are warning that North Korea will soon be able to launch a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile. And, to be clear, North Korea will soon have the capacity to kill American citizens on American soil. These are alarming developments and the United States must act aggressively to strengthen our own missile defense and immediately restrict North Korea's access to cash. prgtoken Murderous, tyrannical regimes have no place in the world, and I am confident that these bills will hold corrupt dictators accountable and advance justice for some of the world's most repressed populations.
SECURELY EXPEDITING CLEARANCES THROUGH REPORTING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2017
Stephen Knight (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-7-26

I would like to thank Mr. Connolly for his help and his partnership in the SECRET Act. Today, I rise in support of this straightforward bipartisan legislation, the SECRET Act, or Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act. prgtoken I am proud to say that this bill originated from concerns voiced by my constituents. California's 25th District serves as a hub for many national security programs, and by extension, requires a highly skilled, security-cleared industrial base and workforce. But this doesn't just affect southern California. This is a national issue and must be addressed now. prgtoken Many employers are either unable to recruit workers due to excessive backlog of security clearance investigations or are forced to place employees in unfulfilling positions while they wait unacceptable amounts of time for their investigations to be completed. prgtoken , we are fortunate to live in a country with selfless citizens who seek to serve our Nation in critical national security positions and work towards safety at home and abroad. We need these bright minds to solve incredibly difficult problems and develop the next generation of American-made technology. We should reward them for choosing to work toward something greater than themselves, not punish them with jobs they don't want just because our bureaucracies can't move fast enough. prgtoken I introduced the SECRET Act so Congress can do its job of oversight better. The transparency afforded in this bill will better inform us of how substantial the security clearance backlog is and how long it takes for investigations to be completed. Equipped with that information, we will hold the executive branch accountable and keep our country safe. prgtoken I thank Chairman Gowdy and his committee staff for the diligent work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues for their support.
AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK ACT OF 2017
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-7-26

I would like to reciprocate the kind words of the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay). It has been a pleasure working with him on this bill. prgtoken Shakespeare put it best: This story shall a good man teach his son. prgtoken This bill tells that story of how the full measure of our Nation's founding principles came to fruition. prgtoken I would ask for Members' support and adoption of this measure, and .
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-7-26

we are struggling right now to find a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. The American people have voted in four successive elections for such a replacement, culminating in the election of to be President of the United States. prgtoken Now, one can ask oneself, if the Affordable Care Act is so great, why would the American people continue to want to have a different program? I think the wisdom of the American people is that they do not want the government so intrusive in their lives, and secondly, there is a sense that somehow the Affordable Care Act is not entirely fair, that perhaps there are some who do better under the Affordable Care Act than others. Our country is about equity. prgtoken By the way, I am a physician, and for 25 years I have worked in the public hospital system of Louisiana trying to get healthcare for those who otherwise did not have it. I am all about those who do not have insurance or those who are fully insured getting better care. Ultimately, to have better care, there has to be adequate financing for that care. So we begin to look at the numbers that underlie how the Affordable Care Act--Care, if you will--finances healthcare across the Nation. It is very interesting. prgtoken If you look at the numbers from Health and Human Services, three States--Massachusetts, California, and New York--get 37 percent of the money that Care spends on Medicaid expansion and health insurance access. Three States get 37 percent. And although I don't have an accurate depiction of what the demography is, I estimate their population to be roughly 18 percent, if that much, of our Nation's total population. So they get twice as much, if you will, on a per- beneficiary basis than the rest of the Nation put together. That is not fair. And if we are going to provide access for patients--our fellow Americans--to healthcare, ultimately we have to have adequate financial resources to do so. prgtoken My colleague Senator Graham will speak in more detail about the inequities between the States, but let me just say as a guideline, how do we create equity? How do we create fairness so it is not just three States that benefit, but wherever you live, if the Federal taxpayers are contributing to your access to insurance, you get about the same amount whether you are in Louisiana, Colorado, South Carolina, Mississippi, or in California, Massachusetts, or New York? That is about equity. prgtoken What we attempt to do--and we are going to submit this as part of the Graham-Cassidy amendment--is we attempt to establish fairness for all Americans in terms of the support they receive from the Federal taxpayer. What we will do, beginning in 2020, is begin to equalize the payments between those States receiving very little, those States receiving a lot more, and those States that are kind of right where they should be. We do this by beginning with a formula that acknowledges that the
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-7-26

I would just say that this infrastructure need is not for a new pit facility. They would need to come to us and ask us what they were going to do with funding, and request funding for that. They did not do that. This is for infrastructure needs and upgrades. prgtoken But the other thing is that I am as much a nonproliferation activist as anyone in this body. I think it is important work. But the reality is that there are $681 million unexpended from previous years, not because funding is not available--the money is there--but they haven't been able to get agreements with other countries. Unfortunately, you can't do work in other countries without having agreements with those countries. prgtoken So, consequently, we are--I guess you could maybe say--overfunded in nonproliferation if we can't spend the money on that activity. That is the problem. prgtoken Why would we put the money into that when we need the money in infrastructure and building and repairing the buildings and facilities that NNSA has? prgtoken It just doesn't make any sense to me. prgtoken I am sure if this amendment is defeated, we will have this discussion next year, and I hope my colleagues will vote against this. prgtoken , .
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2017-7-26

I come to the floor today to speak to three amendments that I have either submitted or plan to submit on the matter before the Senate here today, the repeal and hopefully complete replacement of Care. prgtoken There are two issues that concern me the most and that I have fought for and debated. prgtoken In this process, how can we bring down gross premium levels that have skyrocketed under Care? According to HHS, on a national average, premiums have increased 105 percent. They have more than doubled. And of course it is far worse than that in many places. prgtoken Janice Fenniman was a 62-year-old woman when I met her a couple of years ago. Prior to Care, she was paying $276 per month. In 2016, just 2 years into the implementation of Care, she was paying $786 per month. Last time I talked to her, she would be paying over $900 a month, but the problem is, she can't afford it, so she is just taking a risk and going uninsured until she reaches the age of 65 and is qualified for Medicare. prgtoken The other issue I want to speak about is literally the unsustainable nature of Medicaid. The other thing I fought for is reducing the disparity between States that have expanded Medicaid and those that haven't, like Wisconsin, that have done a great job managing Medicaid. My concern is that Medicaid expansion, which is directed toward able- bodied, working-age, childless adults, is funded by the Federal Government 90 to 100 percent, depending on which year you are looking at, versus traditional Medicaid targeted toward--40 percent of Medicaid spending is targeted toward children, the disabled, and the elderly. Medicaid expansion is putting at risk the sustainability of traditional Medicaid. So my three amendments deal with those issues, and let me first take up the first two amendments dealing with premiums. prgtoken I have a few charts. Unfortunately, in Washington, DC, there is not a whole lot of people who understand the problem-solving process. Let me describe it briefly. prgtoken It starts with information. It starts with defining the problem, doing a root cause analysis, having the courage to recognize and acknowledge the truth in reality. Based on that reality, you try to set achievable goals. From my standpoint, the achievable goals should be to bring down gross premium levels back to a reasonable level where they were prior to the implementation of this completely faulty architecture of Care and preserving and sustaining traditional Medicaid. prgtoken This chart, I realize, is a little busy, but let me walk you through it. This shows the trend line of Care, in terms of what we have experienced from 2010 to 2017, plus the estimates of the Congressional Budget Office as it relates to the Senate bill we voted on yesterday. prgtoken Let's take a look at this. Back in 2010 to 2013, you see the trend line here. In 2013, on the national average, an individual is paying about $2