mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HEALTHCARE REFORM
A. Drew Ferguson IV (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-3-15

my colleague from Florida touched on something that is very important, and that is fairness in the marketplace. I can tell you, as a small-business owner, I did not receive the same favorable tax treatment as the major corporations did under the Affordable Care Act. Once this bill took effect, I had to move into the individual market. I had to begin buying health insurance with post-tax dollars, and I was unable to afford the coverage not only for my family, but for the people that I had the pleasure of working with every single day in my business. prgtoken What Mr. Rutherford talked about is leveling the playing field, and that is something that we need to do. It will increase innovation. It increases jobs. It increases success. It is so frustrating for Americans as they begin to build their small businesses and they begin to grow, and every single time that they take a step forward, the government takes more and more out of their pocket. Now we have a healthcare system that continues to rob them of their success. prgtoken Make no mistake; the healthcare system that we had prior to the Affordable Care Act was certainly not successful and not headed in the right way, but we have made it worse with this. What we have done is we have not only disenfranchised many small businesses and people who are growing their businesses and finding success, but we have also, quite candidly, done a poor job of maintaining our safety net. What we are fighting for is to increase affordable health care for all Americans, and this has meant listening to a lot of the feedback from our families and our constituents back home. prgtoken What we need to recognize is that, under our plan, dependents can continue to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26 and they are fully on their feet, if that is the right thing for their families to do. Americans told us that they like this flexibility, and we have listened to them. prgtoken Our plan will also ensure that those who have preexisting conditions can't be charged more for the health coverage they need. It also includes incentives, not mandates, to encourage Americans to have continuous coverage. This is good for the marketplace, and it will keep costs down for all Americans. Our portable tax credits will also increase access to coverage by assisting lower income individuals to purchase the health insurance that they need. prgtoken What is more, the American Health Care Act includes a Patient and State Stability Fund to help States expand the number of vulnerable patients who have access to health care. We know that States know how to best meet the unique needs of their citizens, and this is going to give them the flexibility to do that. Therefore, as these funds are flexible, they allow things like cutting out-of-pocket expenses for patients, promoting access to preventive services, or increasing available options in the marketplace--all things that are needed. prgtoken Thes
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ACT OF 2017
Scott R. Tipton (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-3-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 267, introduced by Congressman John Lewis, redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. It also authorizes the National Park Service to include the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in the historical park's boundaries. prgtoken The Prince Hall Masonic Temple long served as the headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This well-known civil rights organization was cofounded by Dr. King, who also served as its first president. Including the Prince Hall Masonic Temple within the unit's boundaries will allow the National Park Service to provide technical assistance to the building's owners with regard to repairs, renovations, and maintenance that will preserve its historic integrity. prgtoken Our Nation's historic sites and historical parks provide us with the unique opportunity to share the very spaces in which the generations before us lived and worked. At these sites, Americans are able to metaphorically walk in the footsteps of our Nation's Founders and of those who followed them and perfected their vision for our country. At this time of division in our country, it is important to be able to look back at leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr who promoted unity and the dignity of the human person. prgtoken Congressman Lewis' bill before the House today will expand opportunities for Americans to learn about the legacy of Dr. King and other icons of the civil rights movement. I urge adoption of this legislation. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE LIFE OF MICHAEL F. RING
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-3-15

I rise today to honor a remarkable man who dedicated his life to serving the 21st District of New York. prgtoken Michael Ring was a loving father and a successful business owner, but he was also a man who believed in public service and the importance of participatory government. Michael worked as a broadcast engineer throughout New York's North Country. However, this is only a portion of his immense contribution to the community. prgtoken Mr. Ring worked for the betterment of others during his time as an advisor to the Jefferson County Board of Cooperative Education Services as well as through his efforts as Co-Chair of the Watertown Area Emergency Alert System. His guidance and care could be seen in his time as a volunteer teacher, college student mentor and PTA member as well as through his participation in a multitude of groups that advocated for the importance of national security. prgtoken I first met Mike when he was a fellow candidate for Congress in 2013. I was immediately struck by Mike's genuine kindness, generosity, warmth, and dedication to mentoring others. Mike made friends with people from around the globe and advocated on their behalf. He also was a self-published author of wonderful books. I will miss seeing Mike's smile at community events in Jefferson County. prgtoken I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Ring, especially his beloved wife Penny. Thank you for sharing him with us all.
CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT RESOLUTION
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2017-3-15

I want to take the chance to have just a moment to be able to reflect on what the Senate has just completed. We have worked through a process of identifying what is called the Congressional Review Act. Most Americans are not prgtoken familiar with this because it is so seldom used. In fact, it has only been used one time before this Congress successfully. prgtoken It is a moment for the Congress to be able to look back at regulations that have been promulgated by the administration and say: Was that the intent of the law? prgtoken It is something that we have worked at for a long time to be able to get as a frequent part of this national conversation. We call it the REINS Act. It allows Congress to be able to look at each major regulation when it comes out from the administration and ask the simple question: When the regulations are created, are they consistent with the statute? That is what regulations are. No administration can just invent policy and say: We think this is a good thing to do. That is the task of Congress. That is why the Constitution says that all legislative powers shall reside in the Congress, because an administration can't make up the law. It has to come from this body, from the House of Representatives, and then be signed by the President. After that is done, then regulations are created that have to be consistent with the law. prgtoken The Congressional Review Act was created years ago to allow Congress to have a second glance at regulations as they are put out and say: Is that consistent with the statute we passed? This Congress has already gone through multiples of those. prgtoken In the last 6 months of the administration, many regulations were created. When they were created, they were not consistent with the statute. This Congress has already turned back billions of dollars of regulations from the American people. One of those was done this week. Ironically, it is an issue that deals with unemployment benefits and drug testing. prgtoken Many States have requested the ability to be able to do drug testing for unemployment benefits. And this is not a situation where this Congress believes that all people on unemployment benefits need to be drug tested or are unemployed because of drug use--far from it. prgtoken In 2012, Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. In that, it allowed States, if they chose to--they don't have to but if they chose to--to do drug testing for benefits eligibility, for unemployment benefits under two circumstances. One of them is if the applicant was terminated from their employment based on the unlawful use of a controlled substance. In other words, if they were just fired from a previous job because they were using drugs, they wouldn't be able to get unemployment benefits because they had already been certified as a drug user. The second one is that if the only available suitable work meant that they had to be dr
CONGRATULATING THERESA BRYANT
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-3-15

today I rise to recognize Theresa Bryant, who is West Forsyth High School's 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year. prgtoken This first-generation college graduate, Kiwanis member, and Key Club adviser has worked at West Forsyth in Clemmons since 2000, where she teaches sophomore English and Shakespeare as an elective. prgtoken Theresa's proudest moment in the field of education is her role in the creation of the Shakespeare elective class. After an educational opportunity at the Globe Theatre in London, she worked with a colleague to create an intensive curriculum covering eight plays. The class has brought the words of the Bard to more than 4,000 students at West Forsyth, as well as four other schools in the district. prgtoken Theresa is known for her dedication to her students and making her lessons relevant to their different learning styles so everyone can understand the material. prgtoken We are lucky to have a teacher of her caliber serving students in North Carolina's Fifth District.
REMEMBERING IRON BILL DOWLING
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-15

today, March 15, 2017 the last alarm will be sounded for one of Houston's finest, Captain William ``Iron Bill'' Dowling. Although Iron Bill fought tirelessly these last few years, he went home with the Good Lord shortly before his 44th birthday: March 14, 1973-March 7, 2017. While we mourn the loss of this Houstonian Hero, we also remember his service to his city and country. On May 31, 2013, Houston Fire Department suffered its most tragic event in its history. A 5-alarm blaze at a hotel in southwest Houston claimed the lives of four firefighters and injured fourteen other firefighters when the roof collapsed, some critically. The following lives were lost: Captain EMT Matthew Renaud, 35, of Station 51; Engineer Operator EMT Robert Bebee, 41, of Station 51; Firefighter EMT Robert Garner, 29, of Station 68; Probationary Firefighter Anne Sullivan, 24, of Station 68. They were the best we had in Houston, and we are still saddened that they are gone. One of the brave who survived was Captain Dowling. Iron Bill was injured serving Houston, the community in which he was raised. A graduate of Klein Oak High School, Captain Dowling left prgtoken Texas to serve his nation as an enlistee with the United States Marine Corps. In 1993, on leave from Marine boot camp training, he married his high school sweetheart, Jacki. As a Marine, Iron Bill served 4 years, including a deployment to Somalia with I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Restore Hope, 1995. He returned home to Texas and to Jacki to begin his career and to start a family. Twenty-one years later, Captain Dowling and Jacki have three children: Forrest, Faith and Foster. Iron Bill's patriotic spirit and love of the community led him to join the Houston Fire Department. He graduated from the Houston Fire Department Academy in 2000 and steadily rose through the ranks. He worked at Stations 12, 19, and 48 before making Captain at Station 68 in January of 2013. Firehouse 68 is located at the corner of Bissonnet and South Gessner in the heart of Southwest Houston. In 2013, the fire apparatus of Firehouse 68 made 14,847 responses, making it the third busiest fire station in the City of Houston. There, at Firehouse 68, Captain Dowling became known as Iron Bill, a fitting nickname to describe a strong and courageous hero. It was just five months after he arrived at Station 68 that Captain Dowling and fellow firefighters received an alarm call that would take them to the gates of hell. On that fateful day, in the heat of the Texas noonday sun, Captain Dowling along with the four other firefighters rushed into the hotel to find potential trapped guests. While the firefighters were in the hotel, the roof collapsed, trapping and killing Garner and Sullivan from Station 68 and Bebee and Renaud from Station 51. Captain Dowling's legs were crushed and burned, but he remained calm, radioed for help and waited for his broth
HEALTHCARE REFORM
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-3-15

I am so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with people like my colleague, Dr. Drew Ferguson, from Georgia. prgtoken I am so proud to stand tonight with the President of the United States. I know that tonight Mr. is speaking loudly on behalf of our healthcare bill. Mr. is ready to take the fight on with us who feel like we need to move this health care forward. prgtoken I am not sure how many of you grew up without power steering in your vehicles, but if you know anything about the lack of power steering-- and I think back to the tractors I drove growing up, and that tractor, you could not turn that wheel until you started the tractor moving--or if you had a Ford truck or a Dodge truck or a Chevy truck and it didn't have power steering, you couldn't turn that truck until it started moving. prgtoken , it is time to get this bill moving. We have to move health care forward. I am so tired of the rhetoric of repeal and replace. I am telling you, my constituents sent me here to fix health care. Forget the political rhetoric. I am ready to fix health care. I am ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with s, with , with people down the aisle, across the aisle, and with our President to get this healthcare bill passed. prgtoken Unfortunately, Care has failed. When this first came about, I was so excited. I was hoping that this would be a healthcare bill that would work. But, unfortunately, it is true that this healthcare bill is dying very quickly. prgtoken One-third of counties across this country no longer have a provider to take care of the exchange. My own State of Kansas is down to one provider. Today, even more insurance companies are bailing. This bill is dying. Doing nothing is simply not an option, . prgtoken As I visited with thousands of patients over the last several years and thousands of my constituents, they said there are several things that they thought were important that we save from this healthcare bill, the Affordable Care Act, and I think we have done just that: prgtoken Number one, we have protected the preexisting issue conditions; prgtoken Number two, we are letting children stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26; prgtoken Number three, we are ensuring that women are not charged more for health insurance just because they are a woman; and prgtoken Number four, we protected the doughnut hole and kept it closed for Medicare. prgtoken So I think we have saved the best things of the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken So what have we removed? , we removed almost $1 trillion of taxes. This is the most significant entitlement reform in our generation, the most significant entitlement reform since the 1960s started Medicaid. prgtoken What can we expect out of this bill? prgtoken We expect premiums to decrease by 10 percent. prgtoken We expect to start reprioritizing Medicaid moneys. I want to make sure, , that we prioritize Medicaid moneys for those who need it t
HEALTHCARE REFORM
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-15

tonight I rise to speak of fairness, to speak of equity, to speak of parity for America's hardworking taxpayers. I want to talk about bringing parity between Americans who get their insurance coverage through their employer and those who are forced to purchase theirs on the individual market. prgtoken Currently, over 150 million Americans who have employer-sponsored health insurance enjoy a tax benefit to prgtoken purchase that health insurance. However, Americans who purchase their insurance in the individual marketplace, like farmers, small-business owners, plumbers, and mechanics, do not have a similar kind of benefit simply put, this is just unfair. prgtoken However, the American Health Care Plan helps fix this inequity by offering a portable tax credit to help these Americans purchase the health insurance they choose. These credits are also age-adjusted so older Americans who have higher healthcare costs will also see a larger credit to assist them in purchasing that insurance. prgtoken , I can tell you, many individuals and families in Florida's Fourth Congressional District will benefit from this reform and for the first time will be on a more level playing field in purchasing their health insurance. We are fighting for basic fairness. No American, no small-business man or woman, no farmer, plumber, or mechanic should be disadvantaged because of where they work or where they are forced to purchase their insurance.
IN MEMORY OF BARRY JOLLETT
Thomas J. Rooney (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-15

I rise today to honor the life and service of Barry Jollett, of Punta Gorda, Florida, who tragically passed away on March 1. prgtoken When Barry and his wife, Mary, moved to Florida 15 years ago, they immersed themselves in our local community. For the past four years, Barry took on the challenge of serving as the Chairman of the Charlotte County s, as well as the Vice Chair for the Executive Committee. Under his leadership, the Charlotte County s continued to spread their message throughout our community and the entire county is better because of it. prgtoken Barry was no stranger to leadership roles when he moved to Florida. Before starting his lifelong career with Verizon, he served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He also served as a Commodore for the PGI Seafarers, and his dedication to our country was evident even after he left our military. We are all eternally grateful for his service and leadership. prgtoken I have had the pleasure of meeting Barry many times during my tenure in office and I believe that his memory will be preserved in the legacy he left behind. Barry was a strong leader, a loyal patriot and hard worker. But more importantly, he was a friendly neighbor, loving husband and caring father. His memory will never be forgotten. prgtoken , I speak for all of Charlotte County when I say that Barry Jollett will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary and their family during this time.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-3-15

affirming the public's right to know how their government is run, Sunshine Week is an annual reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In the spirit of government transparency, I am pleased to join a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2017. This important piece of legislation furthers the public's access to court proceedings by permitting Federal judges at all Federal court levels to open their courtrooms to television cameras and radio broadcasts. prgtoken For decades, and with great results, States such as my home State of Iowa have allowed cameras in their courtrooms. In fact, all 50 States and the District of Columbia now allow some news coverage of proceedings, and it is time we join them. This openness in our courts improves the public's understanding of the legal system and what happens inside our courts. prgtoken However, our Federal judicial system unnecessarily remains a mystery to many across the country. The bill I am introducing today, along with Senator Klobuchar and a number of cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, will greatly improve public access to Federal courts by letting Federal judges open their courtrooms to television cameras and other forms of electronic media. Letting the Sun shine in on our Federal courtrooms will allow Americans to better understand the judicial process. prgtoken The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act will ensure that the introduction of cameras and other broadcasting devices into courtrooms goes as smoothly as it has at the State level. This legislation leaves the presence of the cameras in Federal trial and appellate courts to the sole discretion of the judges--it is not mandatory. The bill also provides a mechanism for Congress to study the effects of this legislation on our judiciary before making this change permanent through a 3-year sunset provision. The bill protects the privacy and safety of nonparty witnesses by giving them the right to have their faces and voices obscured. Additionally, the bill prohibits the televising of jurors and includes a provision to protect the due process rights of each party. prgtoken It is time to open the courthouse doors and let the light shine in on the Federal judiciary. Granting the public greater access to an already public proceeding will inspire greater faith in and appreciation for our judges who pledge equal and impartial justice for all. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.