mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING FRANK SCHUCHAT
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-3-13

today I rise to pay tribute to a departed Colorado expert in and asset to wise trade relations. prgtoken Frank Schuchat (``Shook-It'') sat on the U.S. Commerce Department's Rocky Mountain District Export Council. He provided myself and other members, of the Congress news and local perspective on trade policy. His perspective will be missed. prgtoken A graduate in history at the University of Colorado and with a law degree from Georgetown, Frank was counsel in the U.S. International Trade Commission and a clerk on the DC Court of Appeals. After that he honed his legal craft in firms both in Washington and Denver. This is where he learned that words matter in trade relations. prgtoken An eager globe trotter, Frank developed respect and admiration for citizens abroad. He was a kind and friendly traveler, a global mensch. prgtoken With that attitude, in 1997 he was named as honorary counsel to Belgium. Through that position he facilitated a greater understanding of trans-Atlantic partnerships and, most importantly, crafted beer. He did his best to enlighten beer brewers and consumers. prgtoken But Frank was at his personal best as a successful stand-up comic. Fluent in Dutch, he could deliver political satire in two languages. He knew that words matter here too. prgtoken Even in his memorial he shows his true colors, asking that donations be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center. prgtoken In short, Frank Schuchat displayed deep intellect, a conscience for others.
American Health care Act (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-13

the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, is a major part of the Department of Health and Human Services. A third of the Nation--more than 100 million Americans--get access to quality healthcare through CMS's programs-- Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. CMS also includes the Center for Medicare and Medicare Innovation and several other activities to improve access and affordability in our Nation's health system for all Americans--regardless of income, gender, or health status. prgtoken President , Secretary Price, and congressional s seek to drastically restructure our Nation's healthcare, threatening to leave millions without coverage. In the face of that threat, we need a CMS Administrator who knows how to lead CMS and is willing to do whatever she can to protect Americans' healthcare. After hearing from several organizations that deal directly with CMS and familiarizing myself with President 's nominee, I cannot support the nomination of Seema Verma for this important role. prgtoken Ms. Verma does not have the experience or appropriate knowledge needed to head this vital agency. Her limited scope of experience with just Medicaid, lack of familiarity with Medicare, and willingness to restructure CMS's rules that protect millions are cause for deep concern. prgtoken If confirmed, Ms. Verma would manage 85 percent of the HHS's $1 trillion budget, which in turn is more than a quarter of the Federal Government's, and Ms. Verma would oversee 4,000 employees. Running CMS requires significant experience with healthcare and is best done by a person who has held significant positions in private industry and government. prgtoken But nothing in Ms. Verma's career shows her to have the skills to operate a budget or team of this magnitude. She has never managed a large organization and has little experience with Medicare. Ms. Verma has operated a small, 10-person company, SVC, Inc and consulted on various State Medicaid programs. Her experience is inadequate for the important role for which President nominated her. prgtoken The next CMS Administrator will have an important voice forming healthcare policy. HHS Secretary Price has been on the forefront of efforts to slash Medicaid and turn Medicare into a voucher program. President , Secretary Price, and congressional s have made it a priority to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We need a CMS Administrator who will provide a reality check in the face of these reckless proposals. We need a CMS Administrator who will work to uphold President 's promise that ``there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.'' prgtoken Ms. Verma, however, could not make that commitment during her Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. To the contrary, during her hearing, Ms. Verma expressed openness to block-granting Medicai
Tribute to Dr. Jim Rollins (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-13

the hard numbers are now in on Care, and there is no sugarcoating them for the American people, as 24 million Americans get kicked off their insurance plans, as $880 billion is slashed from Medicaid in the first decade, and as a payday worth hundreds of billions of dollars goes out to the wealthiest and the special interests. That is what is going to be dropped on Ms. Verma's plate if she is confirmed and if the bill passes. It is her nomination that is up for debate right now, and we should make no mistake that she is going to be in charge of the specifics. prgtoken If Care passes, under section 132, the new Administrator would be able to give States a green light to push sick patients into high- risk pools when the historical record shows that these high-risk pools are a failure when it comes to offering good coverage that is affordable. prgtoken The new Administrator would be in charge of section 134 and could decide exactly how skimpy Care plans would be and how many more Americans would be forced to pay out-of-pocket for the care they need. prgtoken The new Administrator would handle section 135, which paves the way for health insurers to make coverage more expensive for those who are approaching retirement age. That is just the start. prgtoken The fact is that Care is about enormous tax breaks for the fortunate few, financed by raiding Medicare, gutting Medicaid, and hurting older people and the sick and those who are of modest income. Ms. Verma would have the job of implementing all of this at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. prgtoken My view is that the Senate cannot debate this nomination without debating the matter of the Care program itself because it will be a very huge part of the job. Today, I am going to walk through some of the specifics with regard to Care, beginning with the scheme that I call ``Robin Hood in reverse.'' prgtoken If you look at the funds, it is clear that this is an eye-popping transfer of wealth away from older people, from women and kids--from the most vulnerable--directly into the wallets of the fortunate few. No part of the Care bill shows this more clearly than the fact that it steals from the Medicare trust fund to pay for a tax cut that goes only to the most fortunate--only to those who make a quarter million dollars or more per year. prgtoken Everybody in America who brings home a paycheck has a little bit taken out each and every time for Medicare. It is right there on the pay stub. It is automatic. Under Care, the only people who are going to see a Medicare tax cut are the people who need it the least. I want to repeat that. Everybody in America, when one gets a paycheck, sees a Medicare tax, and everybody pays it, and we understand why it is so important. There are going to be 10,000 people turning 65 every day for years and years to come. The only people who are going to get that Medicare tax cut
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-13

I missed votes because I was asked to give a eulogy for a leading Councilwoman and State Senator, who had been a dear friend and mentor. It was a significant tribute and event in my district and for my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 138, NAY on Roll Call No. 139, YEA on Roll Call No. 140, YEA on Roll Call No. 141, YEA on Roll Call No. 142, YEA on Roll Call No. 143, YEA on Roll Call No. 144, YEA on Roll Call No. 145, YEA on Roll Call No. 146, YEA on Roll Call No. 147, NAY on Roll Call No. 148, YEA on Roll Call No. 149, YEA on Roll Call No. 150, YEA on Roll Call No. 151, NAY on Roll Call No. 152, YEA on Roll Call No. 153, YEA on Roll Call No. 154, YEA on Roll Call No. 155, YEA on Roll Call No. 156, YEA on Roll Call No. 157, and NAY on Roll Call No. 158.
Republican Healthcare Bill (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-3-13

last Friday, I went to Rockford, IL, and had a roundtable discussion about healthcare. There is a lot of debate about healthcare in the Congress and certainly in Washington. What I have tried to do is to take this issue home and ask the people who actually are responsible for providing healthcare, and the people I represent, what they think about the new alternative to the Affordable Care Act. What I found is that with virtually no exceptions, they are all gravely concerned that the changes that are going to be made to the healthcare system in America, which represents a dramatic portion of our economy, could have a very negative impact on the real lives of people across my State and across the Nation. prgtoken Hospital administrators were there to talk about this issue. Swedish Covenant is one of the hospitals well known and respected in the area; OSF as well, and the administrators of both of these hospitals talked about the negative impacts of cutting back Medicaid coverage. prgtoken What the s are suggesting in their proposal is that the expansion of Medicaid to provide health insurance for low-income Americans would continue until 2020 and then be cut off, and, they would argue, we will make it more cost efficient. We will let the Governors come up with alternatives. Well, the Governors aren't very happy with this because they know the cost of healthcare continues to go up and they are fearful that when you try to put this all together, the net result is fewer people covered by Medicaid. prgtoken Over 600,000 people, because of Care--the Affordable Care Act-- in Illinois now have health insurance. Who are they? Well, I met Ray Romanowski. Ray, a big Polish American fellow from Chicago, is a musician, and he has made most of his income during his life doing work as a musician. Ray Romanowski, in his 60s today, has never had health insurance until now. Because of the Affordable Care Act, he qualifies for Medicaid, and because he has Medicaid--he patted his wallet and said: I finally have that card in my wallet where I can walk into a hospital or a clinic and get good treatment. prgtoken It is the first time in his life, and he is in his sixties. prgtoken Judy is a friend of mine in Southern Illinois, and she works at local motels there--in hospitality--at places where they serve breakfast to you. She gets up early in the morning. She is a hard-working lady. It is the kind of job she has had her entire life, and she never, ever had health insurance--not once. She worked 20, 30, 40 hours a week, sometimes two different jobs, but never with health insurance. Now she has it because of the Affordable Care Act, and thank goodness she does because she has been diagnosed with diabetes and she needs that kind of care. prgtoken So what happened before, when people like Ray and Judy got sick? Before the Affordable Care Act, they would show up in the hospital, go to the emergency
RECOGNIZING JOHN NARIGI
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-13

I rise today to congratulate John V. Narigi for being named the 2016 Citizen of the Year by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and to recognize Mr. Narigi's leadership in our community on the Central Coast. prgtoken Mr. Narigi is a native of Gig Harbor, Washington and graduated from Gonzaga University. In 1993, Mr. Narigi made a permanent move from Washington to the Monterey Peninsula. Since his move, Mr. Narigi has played an important role in leading the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa's executive team. Among his many other accomplishments, Mr. Narigi has served as President and remained an active board member for the Monterey County Hospitality Association and has served on the Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association, the Cannery Row Business Association, the Monterey Bay Issues and Candidates Political Action Committee, and the Coalition of Peninsula Businesses. prgtoken He has proven himself to be a natural leader by transforming and raising the profile of local organizations that have improved the lives of residents and visitors alike. Mr. Narigi has dedicated his life's work to improving non-profits, local small businesses, Monterey County leadership boards, and youth sports. prgtoken Mr. Narigi served as the Chairman of the Board for Rancho Cielo, a community organization dedicated to helping underserved youth in Monterey County become self-sufficient through vocational training and education. His commitment to the work done at Rancho Cielo is a testament to how much he cares about his community and making sure that our young people have opportunities to succeed. prgtoken As someone who has dedicated a lifetime to public service, it is my honor to recognize Mr. Narigi's tireless involvement on the Central Coast. Mr. Narigi's commitment to improving the well-being of our community is an inspiration to us all.
RECOGNIZING YOUNG VERMONTERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO REFUGEES
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-3-13

Vermont is known far and wide as a tourist destination for all seasons. From our celebrated ski slopes to our stunning and world-renowned fall foliage, Vermont draws travelers from near and far, from nearby States and from Canada, our neighbor to the north. What many don't realize is that Vermont has also become home to refugees and asylum seekers from Iraq, Syria, Bosnia, Sudan, and elsewhere. These men, women and children enrich our communities and inspire us all. prgtoken One Vermont community, Rutland, last year announced that it would welcome refugees fleeing the catastrophic civil war in Syria. The town was preparing to welcome 100 refugees. Nine arrived. When President issued his appalling and disastrous executive order banning admission to refugees from Syria and six other nations, the remaining 91 individuals were prevented from coming to Vermont. prgtoken I have heard from hundreds of Vermonters outraged by President 's Executive actions to close our borders to those seeking refuge. Also deeply concerning is the President's clear intent on targeting Muslim refugees. The freedom of religion, enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution and defended through the ages by generations of Americans, should not be squandered to promote an unfounded fear. prgtoken The voices raised in opposition to these executive orders cross the spectrum. I want to include in the Record some of those voices: students at Rutland High School, some of whom have formed the New Neighbors Club, to help welcome refugee students who will attend Rutland City Public Schools. prgtoken Emma writes: ``I am a 9th grader from Rutland High School. We should continue to support immigration in Vermont and the United States. These people deserve a good life and don't deserve what they have to go through.'' prgtoken Carolyn writes: ``I'm from Rutland, Vermont, and I believe that refugee resettlement is an important issue. We have the opportunity to make a change in these people's lives and make new relationships and bonds in our lives. They need a support system so why can't that be us?'' prgtoken Lea writes: ``This immigration ban is a big problem to me. I don't like that our country is stopping people from coming to our country. I know many people are afraid of what could happen to us. But we are all human and they are humans looking for safety.'' prgtoken Lily writes, ``Everyone deserves the same amount of respect and understanding that we afford to anyone. The refugees obviously need our help and we are completely capable of building a community that is ready and willing to accept the refugees.'' prgtoken Jessica writes: ``I can understand these fears, but they also clearly come from an inhumane and misinformed point of view. Without immigration in the past, no one would be here, and it is simply un- American to deny freedom from persecution to refugees and other immigrants.'' prgtoken Emma writes: ``With all
HONORING GLEN O. KLIPPENSTEIN
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-3-13

it is with great pleasure that I pause to honor a constituent of Missouri's 6th Congressional District and someone I am especially proud to call my friend, Glen O. Klippenstein, upon being honored with the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence by the Agribusiness Council of Kansas City. prgtoken Glen was born in Canada and grew up working on the family cattle operation. His family emigrated to Pennsylvania when he was 11, and it was there that he would attend Penn State University and turn down a job running former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm outside Gettysburg. prgtoken He and a friend would later move to Missouri and establish GlenKirk Farms. GlenKirk became one of the premier cattle operations in the nation, selling over 7,000 bulls and 7,500 females across all 50 states and internationally in 22 countries and earning a place in the Hereford Heritage Hall of Fame. Glen would later serve in the Missouri state legislature in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Glen is a tireless worker who is dedicated to aiding the agricultural community, serving as the two-term chairman of the National Beef Promotion and Research Board; as chairman of the American Polled Hereford Association; as director of the National Cattlemen's Association; as member and vice chairman of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Board; and as the CEO of the American Chianina Association. prgtoken , I could list many more organizations that Glen has guided and worked with over his very distinguished lifetime. However, I ask that you join me, Glen's wife Linda, their children Brian, Brett, Noel, and Ivan, their grandchildren and the agricultural community in congratulating Glen O. Klippenstein on this accomplishment and wishing him God's blessings in the years to come.
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY MERGERS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-3-13

I ask unanimous consent to be printed in the Record the concerns of the Summit Agricultural Group regarding three mergers in the agriculture industry. Specifically, this group is concerned with the mergers between Bayer AG and Monsanto, DuPont and Dow Chemical, and China National Chemical Corporation--ChemChina--and Syngenta AG. The paper states that ``the mergers of these international agrochemical and seed giants will significantly reduce competition and innovation in the agricultural sector, and will cause irreparable harm to the American farmer via increased input costs.'' prgtoken As my colleagues are aware, I have long been concerned about concentration and competition in the agriculture sector. Increased concentration in the industry could significantly reduce choice and raise the price of chemicals and seed for farmers, which ultimately can affect choice and costs for consumers. Moreover, further consolidation could diminish crucial research prgtoken and development initiatives which drive have innovation and technological advances for the agricultural sector. I have also raised concerns about the competitive advantages that are likely to result from the ChemChina-Syngenta transaction. prgtoken I have written several letters to both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission expressing my concerns and asking that they carefully review these mergers and collaborate, as appropriate, on their analysis of the impact on the agricultural industry. These regulators need to take a hard look at both the efficiencies and the benefits that the merging companies believe will result from these transactions, as well as the concerns raised by independent and small players in the market, farmers, and consumers.
IN RECOGNITION OF CHRIS STEWART WINNING HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL GEOGRAPHIC BEE
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-3-13

I rise to congratulate the Langley School's very own, Chris Stewart, on winning the school-wide National Geographic Bee for the third consecutive year and for advancing to the statewide competition. Chris, an eighth grader attending the Langley School in Mclean, advanced to the school-wide Bee sponsored by the National Geographic Society after scoring the highest in a preliminary qualifying test earlier this year. His impressive achievement is not only a testament to his hard work and dedication, but also the exemplary teachers and faculty at the Langley School who helped cultivate Chris's intellectual intrigue. prgtoken At the beginning of every school year, the National Geographic Bee begins at the local level, then advances to the state and eventually national levels through a series of oral and written geography exams with questions ranging from the locations of mountain ranges and rivers to the names of cities and countries. Chris not only displayed his impressive knowledge of world geography, but also showed great confidence and poise, as he and his peers competed on stage in front of the entire school. As Langley School's winner, Chris will move on to compete at the state level, with a chance to eventually compete for a college scholarship at the national competition in May. prgtoken , I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Chris Stewart for winning the Langley School's Geographic Bee for the third consecutive year. This achievement shows his dedication to his education and studies, and he is fully deserving of this recognition. It is a privilege to represent him, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
HONORING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAMILLUS ERIE CANAL PARK
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-3-13

I rise today in honor of the 45th anniversary of the Camillus Erie Canal Park in my hometown of Camillus, New York. prgtoken Established in 1972, the Camillus Erie Canal Park is part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in Upstate New York. It is maintained and operated by an entirely volunteer group dedicated to preserving and restoring the historic Erie Canal in the Town of Camillus. prgtoken The Camillus Erie Canal Park offers Central New Yorkers, tourists, and students from across New York State over 10 miles of historic walkways, boat rides along the Erie Canal, and museums showcasing the history of the canal. prgtoken Critical to the preservation of this historic site, members of the Camillus Erie Canal Society and many hardworking volunteers in our community worked to restore the 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. This is the only restored navigable aqueduct in New York State and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites. prgtoken The Erie Canal stretches from Albany to Buffalo and has played a pivotal role in the socioeconomic development of New York State and our country. This corridor, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, was recently designated a National Historical Landmark. prgtoken I am proud to recognize the 45th anniversary of the Camillus Erie Canal Park, as well as the Camillus Erie Canal Society for the incredible work they do to preserve the cultural heritage of the Erie Canal in Central New York.