mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
VOTE EXPLANATION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-4

I was necessarily absent for the vote on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R. 244. prgtoken On vote No. 121, had I been present, I would have voted yea on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R. 244. prgtoken I want to take a few minutes to acknowledge today's bipartisan passage of the Omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through the end of the 2017 fiscal year. While I am disappointed that the bill's passage comes more than halfway through the fiscal year, the bill that was sent to the President today is the product of months of bipartisan work by the appropriations committees on both sides of Capitol Hill and represents how Congress should and can work together to provide the American people with critical investments that will create jobs and grow our Nation's economy. It is my hope that the bipartisan cooperation that made this bill possible will continue as Congress begins its work on appropriations for fiscal year 2018. prgtoken This bill includes critical investments in the middle class, our Nation's infrastructure, medical and scientific research, and our national security. I am proud to report that much of the funding in this bill will benefit my home State of Illinois, funding a wide variety of Illinois projects and priorities. Most importantly, it takes the threat of a government shutdown, which would have hurt our economy, off the table. prgtoken This bill fully rejects President 's proposed assault on medical research and instead includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, bringing the agency's funding level to $34.1 billion. This 6 percent increase in NIH funding matches the steady, predictable growth called for in legislation I have introduced over the past several years, the American Cures Act. prgtoken Thanks to the NIH, we have cut the cancer death rate by 11 percent in women and 19 percent in men. HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Polio and smallpox are all but eradicated in this country. We are closer than ever to developing a universal influenza vaccine, to rebuilding parts of the human heart without needing to rely on transplants, and to finding new and effective therapies to delay the onset of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These medical breakthroughs will not happen without sustained, robust Federal funding for medical research supported by the NIH. prgtoken President 's disastrous budget proposals for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 would have slashed NIH's budget by nearly 20 percent, bringing NIH to its lowest funding level in 15 years. I am pleased that Congress came together on a bipartisan basis to protect the NIH, and I want to thank my colleague Senator Blunt, chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, for his efforts to provide this vital funding. I will be working hard to ensure that
TRIBUTE TO NANCY IACOMINI
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-5-4

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about a special member of the Senate family, Nancy Iacomini. Nancy, who has served as the ic Secretary's administrative assistant since 1998, is retiring after 34 years of devoted public service. I know I speak on behalf of all of my colleagues when I say I am going to miss Nancy, but she has certainly earned a respite, and I want to wish her all the best in her retirement. prgtoken Nancy is a proud Pittsburgh native. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in art history from the University of Notre Dame. She was an excellent student: she was on the dean's honor list, she was a Notre Dame scholar, and she graduated cum laude. Then she earned a master of arts degree in art history with a concentration in museum practice from George Washington University. Armed with her degrees and proven academic success, Nancy went to work for the National Gallery of Art, NGA. She spent 5 years at the NGA, holding positions of increasing responsibility. During this time, she also contributed entries and artist biographies to ``La Vie Moderne: Nineteenth Century Paintings from the Permanent Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art,'' Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C 1983. prgtoken In 1988, Nancy decided to shift her focus from art history to the art of the possible, and she joined the ic Policy Committee as a staff assistant. Within a few short months, she was promoted to the position of special assistant to the floor staff and then again a short time later to the position of executive assistant. The art world pulled her back, though, and from 1994 to 1998, she served as deputy congressional liaison at the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA. Some may recall that this was a critical time in the NEA's history when its very existence was at stake. Nancy helped the NEA weather the storm and then returned to the Senate to work in the ic Secretary's office. prgtoken Since Nancy came to work in Washington, she has lived in Virginia. Nancy has held leadership roles in the Ballston/Virginia Square Civic Association, the Cherrydale Citizens Association, and the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee. She is a past member and chairman of the county's transportation commission, a past member and chairman of the historical affairs and landmark review board, and past chairman of the towing advisory board. She also chaired the fire station No. 3 relocation task force. Nancy has also participated in the East Falls Church Working Group, the Clarendon Sector Plan Update, neighborhood traffic calming measures ad hoc advisory group, the subdivision ordinance working group, and the joint George Mason University/ Arlington County advisory board. She served as Arlington's representative to WMATA's Riders' Advisory Council from 2006 to 2009 and chaired the council in 2008. prgtoken Here in the Senate, Nancy has had so many responsibilities that i
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Timothy J. Walz (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-5-4

I include in the Record a letter from the Paralyzed Veterans of America urging rejection of the latest version of the American Health Care Act. Paralyzed Veterans of America, Washington, DC, May 3, 2017. Hon. Paul Ryan, , House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ryan and Leader Pelosi: Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) urges rejection of the latest version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). PVA is the nation's only Congressionally-chartered veterans' service organization solely dedicated to representing veterans with spinal cord injury and/or disease. Consequently, we are very concerned about the conflicting information circulating about this legislation and the adverse impact it could have on our members and millions of other people with disabilities. As we understand it, the AHCA cuts $880 billion out of the Medicaid program in order to finance tax cuts that will explode the deficit and largely assist upper income individuals, corporations, and providers. The Medicaid changes are particularly devastating to people with disabilities. Under the cap and cut proposal, the federal government would no longer share in the costs of providing health care services and community services beyond the capped amount. This would eliminate the enhanced federal match for the Community First Choice Option under Medicaid that provides attendant care services in the community. Thanks to this program, many poor veterans with serious non-service- connected disabilities have been able to move from nursing homes into their communities. The AHCA also weakens Medicaid by ending the Medicaid expansion earlier and offering Medicaid block grants to states. Data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows expansion has helped thousands of veterans and their caregivers. For veterans and PVA members in particular, the AHCA continues several problematic policies of the ACA as well as troubling new provisions that could affect the ability of many veterans and their family members to afford health insurance in the private market. The underlying AHCA bill: Continues to exclude CHAMPVA beneficiaries--dependents of the most catastrophically disabled veterans--from the dependents' coverage policy up to age 26. Fails to remove the prohibition on enrollment into the VA health care system for Priority Group 8 veterans, thus denying these veterans access to the principal health care system for veterans. Denies access to tax credits making health insurance affordable to anyone eligible for a host of other federal health programs, in
PROVIDING RELIEF FROM THE FAILED OBAMACARE EXPERIMENT
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-8

I promised the people of the Thirty-Sixth District of Texas that I would repeal care and replace it with conservative solutions. President Donald J. was elected on this same platform. prgtoken Last week we came together to fulfill that promise. prgtoken After years of speeches, debates, elections and ``show votes'' that we knew would be vetoed or go nowhere in the Senate, last week's vote was the real deal. prgtoken This was perhaps the most important and consequential domestic policy legislation any of us will ever see. prgtoken To begin with, it serves as the largest entitlement reform of the Medicaid program in the program's history and eliminates the individual and employer mandate penalties. It also stops mandatory spending on large abortion businesses, such as Planned Parenthood, for one year. prgtoken It isn't the exact bill I would have written, but I am proud to say that I voted YES on the AHCA. While s alone provided the votes to pass this bill, it was still the product of finding common ground to provide the American people with relief from care. prgtoken Members of our conference from every ideological stripe and every type of district came together to improve the bill and to secure its passage. prgtoken While we could certainly write a better one that allows for insurance sales across state lines, gives consumers better choices about the plans and benefits they want, and tears down the anti-trust exemption for insurers--the absurd tightrope we must walk to comply with the Senate's reconciliation rules has forced us to write this bill with one hand tied behind our back. prgtoken Like their colleagues here, Senate have made clear that preserving the failed experiment of care matters more than anything else, and that they would launch a fake, phony Filibuster if anything came to the Senate that did not comply with the Senate procedure known as the ``Byrd Rule.'' prgtoken I was extremely pleased to be part of House passage of AHCA last week and now look to the Senate to move the road blocks that continue to threaten our conservative agenda.
Immigration Law (Executive Session)
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Heather Wilson to be the next Secretary of the U.S. Air Force. prgtoken Dr. Wilson is a proven leader and a dedicated public servant. She is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Oxford University, where she earned master's and doctorate degrees as a Rhodes Scholar. If confirmed, Dr. Wilson will be the first Air Force Academy graduate in history to serve as Secretary of the Air Force. prgtoken Dr. Wilson served 7 years as an Air Force officer. During the Cold War, she served in the United Kingdom and at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. As the Cold War came to an end, she served on the National Security Council staff under President George H.W working on issues concerning NATO and arms control. prgtoken Dr. Wilson later moved west to marry her husband, Jay, who is also an Air Force veteran. After a few years in the private sector, Dr. Wilson once again answered the call to service, first as the head of the New Mexico Child Welfare Department and later as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken In Congress, Dr. Wilson was the leading voice on national security. She took on the tough issues, from surveillance programs to sexual assault at the Air Force Academy, and she earned the deepest respect of her colleagues on Capitol Hill, including mine. prgtoken For the last 4 years, Dr. Wilson has been the president of the South Dakota School of Mines, enhancing its reputation as a premier engineering, science, and research institution. prgtoken Now America's Air Force needs her leadership. prgtoken The next Secretary will lead America's Air Force in confronting the most diverse and complex array of global crises since the end of World War II. The world is on fire, and now more than ever our Nation is counting on the global vigilance, global reach, and global power that are the hallmarks of the U.S. Air Force capabilities. prgtoken The next Secretary will also inherit the oldest, smallest, and least ready Air Force in its history. Twenty-five years of continuous deployments, troubled acquisition programs, and frequent aircraft divestments have aged and shrunk the Air Force's inventory. The combination of relentless operational tempo and the self-inflicted wounds of the Budget Control Act and sequestration have depleted readiness. Meanwhile, potential adversaries are rapidly shrinking America's technological advantage and holding our aircraft at greater risk over greater distances. prgtoken In short, we have asked a lot of our Air Force over the last 25 years, and the demands placed on the service continue to grow. Congress has only added to the problems with the Budget Control Act and sequestration. We are placing an unnecessary and dangerous burden on the backs of our airmen, and we cannot change course soon enough. prgtoken We owe our airmen the resources, equipment, and training they need to succeed. We also owe
HONORING MAJOR EFRAIN REYNA, JR.
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today to honor Major Efrain Reyna Jr. of the United States Army for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the Nation. After four years of faithful service in the nation's capital, Major Reyna will transition from his present assignment as a Budget Liaison at Department of the Army Headquarters to civilian life back in the Great State of Texas. prgtoken Major Reyna has demonstrated the invaluable service that Army Congressional Liaisons provide Congress. He enabled countless Members and staff in developing a better understanding of Army policies, operations, and requirements. His first-hand knowledge of military needs, culture, and tradition were of tremendous benefit to Congressional offices. Prior to service as a Liaison, Major Reyna was assigned to my office as a Military Fellow prgtoken where he quickly became an indispensable asset to my team. His performance was superb and he earned my utmost respect. His ability to build relationships and create opportunities aided me greatly in securing legislative language in support of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting victims, an effort that had been a priority of mine for 5 years. prgtoken A native Texan from the Rio Grande Valley, Major Reyna is a distinguished military graduate from Saint Mary's University where he earned a commission in the Army Aviation branch. He served with the 101st Airborne Division as a Chinook helicopter pilot and platoon leader. From here, he deployed on his first combat tour to Afghanistan as a flight platoon leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Efrain also served with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, ``the Great Place.'' While there, he served in various leadership positions to include Chinook company commander and support battalion operations officer. Efrain conducted his second combat deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade as a company commander. prgtoken His dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. Major Reyna's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and numerous others. He has earned the Senior Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings, and Air Assault Wings. Efrain is a graduate of the Marine Expeditionary Warfare School. He also completed a Master's Degree from George Washington University during his time here, demonstrating his commitment as a Warrior and a Scholar. prgtoken , it is my distinct honor to recognize the selfless service of Major Efrain Reyna and the support and dedication of his wife Kelly Ann and their two sons, Isaac Lee Reyna and Zachary Miers. I wish them the very best as they complete over twelve years of honorable service to our great nation and proceed to the next chapter in their lives.
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-5-8

I want to take this opportunity to remind my colleagues that April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We commemorate it each year to bring public awareness to the staggering problem of sexual violence. prgtoken Tens of thousands of people in the United States and hundreds of my fellow Iowans annually fall victim to this heinous crime. Sexual assault occurs at least every minute and a half, according to law enforcement statistics. These same figures reveal an increase in rape cases since 2011, contrary to claims by the former administration that the violent crime rate had declined in recent years. But up to two-thirds of sexual assaults are never reported to police, say crime victim advocates. This means that the average perpetrator strikes multiple times before being brought to justice. Equally as troubling, the incarceration rate is less than one percent of all sexual assaults reported to law enforcement. prgtoken The FBI ranks rape as one of the two most violent crimes, second only to murder in its effects. Survivors suffer not only physical consequences, but sometimes life-shattering emotional effects as well. According to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, as well as the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, post-traumatic stress disorder is typical. Depression or even suicide is not uncommon. The healing process is often slow and painstaking. prgtoken Today, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month and honor the survivors of this heinous crime. I thank Senators Feinstein and Ernst for joining me as cosponsors of the resolution. prgtoken During my time as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we have made crime survivors rights a top priority. Two years ago, we passed, and the President signed, major legislation to benefit the survivors of human trafficking. Last year, the President also signed the House version of a survivors' bill of rights that our committee reported as part of the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act and we approved legislation to extend programs that support the analysis of sexual assault evidence by the Nation's crime labs. prgtoken Supporting and protecting survivors of sexual violence will continue to be a focus for our committee in 2017. Last month, I convened a hearing to examine allegations that dozens of young athletes experienced sexual abuse at the hands of coaches, instructors, and others. I recently joined our committee's ranking member, Senator Feinstein, in introducing the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act. The bill's purpose is to ensure that sexual assault allegations by young athletes will be reported and investigated promptly. This year we will also make it a priority to extend and update programs that are authorized under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. prgtoken , I will close by reaffirming my support for survivors of sexual violence and expressin
IN RECOGNITION OF ST. ROSE-McCARTHY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
David G. Valadao (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today to congratulate my alma mater, St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School on its 100th anniversary. prgtoken In 1911, the school's founder, Father Philip Scher, became pastor of St. Brigid Church, with hopes of eventually expanding to build a hospital and a Catholic parochial school near the church. The hospital was established two years later in 1913 and was staffed by Dominican Sisters of Kenosha. Four years later, on August 31, 1917, St. Rose Catholic School, named after St. Rose of Lima, the first American Dominican saint, was established and was staffed by three teaching sisters. prgtoken The first location of the school was in a Holy Names Society hall behind the church. The school consisted of three classrooms, separated by folding partitions where seventy-five eager students came to learn. By 1919, the teaching staff increased to five sisters and a porch was enclosed to create more classrooms and a garage was used as a kindergarten. In 1921, Father Peter H. McNellis improved the school aesthetically, added two more class rooms, and added a kitchen. Enrollment then doubled and in the following years more improvements were made to the school. prgtoken In 1941, Thomas McCarthy, a parishioner, donated a generous gift to the parish in his will with the purpose of constructing a new parochial school. The new school was constructed and renamed Thomas McCarthy School in his honor. Enrollment continued to increase to 450 students, leaving the teaching sisters with their hands full. prgtoken In 1997 the school was renamed from Thomas McCarthy School to a combination of its former name and its current name to create St. Rose- McCarthy Catholic School. Currently, there are 135 students in grades preschool through 8th grade. The school remains an excellent educational institution in the Central Valley; it was built by, and continues to be successful due to, faithful volunteers, generous donors, and the Dominican Sisters of Kenosha. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School on their 100th anniversary, and wish them continued success for many years to come.