mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Medicaid (Executive Calendar)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-6-12

I thank Senator Wyden for his extraordinary leadership on the Senate Finance Committee as our ranking ic member, who recognizes the importance of healthcare. To Senator Casey, who has been our companion in regard to Medicaid, in regard to children, and in regard to the basic importance of healthcare as a matter of right, to Senator Stabenow, who has really led our efforts on behavioral health, incredible efforts that have been made to provide community services, particularly to those who are most vulnerable, we recognize the importance of moving forward and advancing healthcare for all Americans. That is why we are taking this time to express our real concern about President 's proposal, his budget proposals, which would cut Medicaid by $1.5 trillion, the effort to repeal the Medicaid expansion that we saw under the Affordable Care Act, the thought of turning Medicaid at the Federal level into a block grant, capping our participation and putting the burdens on our States. prgtoken It is a direct attack on vulnerable Americans, jeopardizing their access to healthcare. There are 70 million Americans that depend on Medicaid. There are 1.2 million Americans who are veterans and who are women, children, and seniors. prgtoken In Maryland, almost half of our Medicaid population are children. For seniors, one out of every five Medicare-eligible beneficiaries also needs Medicaid. They are dual eligible. And 60 percent of the adult Medicaid enrollees are workers, and 70 percent are from communities of color. prgtoken Medicaid expansion has made a big difference in access to healthcare. It has reduced health inequalities. The uninsured rate in the State of Maryland has dropped from 10.2 percent to 6.6 percent. That is important not just for the individuals who now have health coverage. It stops the cost shifting and the distortions in our healthcare system with people who do not have health insurance. prgtoken If we were to eliminate Medicaid expansion, 289,000 Marylanders would lose their coverage--the essential health coverage that it provides for our children in the early periodic screening and diagnostic treatment so that we can help children live healthier lives through correction of healthcare problems and prevention of more serious healthcare issues. prgtoken As Senator Wyden pointed out, in long-term care, three out of five of our prgtoken residents in nursing-type, long-term care facilities are Medicaid payments. It would be devastating with that type of cut on their long- term care needs. prgtoken We made major advancements in Medicaid on covering behavioral health and addiction. One out of every three individuals who are part of Medicaid expansion have a behavioral health issue. The opioid crisis is well known to all of us. We know that part of the solution is getting people help and treatment through Medicaid expansion and the Medicaid Program providing that safety net to millions of
Medicaid (Executive Calendar)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-6-12

before Senator Casey leaves the floor, I just want to make a couple of remarks, as the senior on the Finance Committee, a ranking member. I particularly want to praise Senator Casey for being our go-to person on the whole issue of Medicaid. prgtoken Ever since we began to see the substantial cuts in 2017, as Senator Casey knows, he has been the person we have said is our go-to leader for the most vulnerable Americans who count on Medicaid being there for them. prgtoken I want to tell a short story about one of Senator Casey's many contributions to those who find Medicaid to be just a healthcare lifeline. When the administration began its attack on Medicaid benefits, I had been the director of the Gray Panthers at home before I got involved in public service, and a lot of folks came to me. They said: Ron, that probably isn't a big deal for seniors because Medicare covers most of those nursing home bills. And I had to say: Gosh, that is really not the case. Medicare really covers only a small fraction of nursing home bills. It covers the bills that are essentially for hospital-like services, and most of nursing home care in America really ends up getting picked up by Medicaid. Something like two out of every three beds in long-term care facilities, which are custodial facilities, end up being funded by Medicaid. prgtoken Senator Casey basically took it upon himself, as part of this effort, to lead the on the Finance Committee and to lead the in our caucus to go out and talk about what this really means to the most vulnerable people in America. As my colleagues know, probably 4 or 5 months into this debate with this relentless attack on Medicaid coming week after week after week, most Americans began to understand a little bit about what was on the line for millions of senior citizens. prgtoken because he really began the effort to make the point that growing older in America is really an expensive proposition. Even when you save and you scrimp, you don't go on a vacation, you don't buy the boat, and you don't do the extra, growing older is really an expensive proposition. So if you have a widower on the corner in your neighborhood, and he always mowed his lawn, and he always helped with the sports teams and the like, and now he is getting kind of frail and may need some nursing home care, now we still have a safety net, an essential safety net for those people. prgtoken I am going to talk a little bit about some of the challenges of Medicaid. But I would like particularly to begin my remarks--Senator Cardin has been an advocate in the Finance Committee, as well, on Medicaid--by pointing out that Senator Casey, really, at the very outset of this discussion, began the effort to make the case that a lot of people weren't aware of, and that is that Medicaid is a safety net for millions of older people. prgtoken Here is the story of Medicaid in
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which would set aside a further $5 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative Fund. prgtoken HIV/AIDS remains a major problem in this country, with approximately 1.1 million people currently living with the disease, 130,000 of whom reside in the State of Florida, and over 26,000 in Miami-Dade alone. It is estimated that there are 40,000 new diagnoses every year, with racial and ethnic minorities making up three of four new cases. prgtoken Despite advances in medicine and research and progress combating this issue nationwide, in Miami, this trend is going in the wrong direction. The rate of new diagnoses in the Miami area is three times the national average, the highest rate of anywhere in the country. prgtoken It is critical that we devote the necessary resources to curb the spread of this disease and provide care for those living with HIV/AIDS. The Minority AIDS Initiative Fund plays a crucial role in addressing key health disparities by bringing Federal, State, and community organizations together to test innovative solutions and address emerging needs in communities impacted by this epidemic. prgtoken My amendment will help support further efforts to improve access to HIV prevention and care services for racial and ethnic minorities. In its current capacity, the program supports more than 33 projects and 130 community partners across the country. This increase in funding would not only expand on the successful initiatives, but prgtoken also support new ventures addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS in underserved populations. prgtoken For example, in my home district, the organization Prevention305 is helping combat this epidemic by increasing awareness of and access to PrEP medication, a key tool that greatly reduces the spread of HIV. prgtoken It is critical that we continue to provide for such innovative initiatives that help prevent the spread of this disease and provide quality care for those infected by HIV/AIDS. prgtoken I ask my colleagues today to join me in the fight to end this epidemic once and for all and provide the relief to those living with or impacted by this disease. prgtoken Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Equality Act (Executive Session)
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-6-12

today I rise to talk about a matter that is very close to my heart and rooted in my faith and belief that we are all God's children created in God's image. It is an issue of fundamental equality, of basic human dignity, and it is consistent with the values we strive to embody as American citizens. prgtoken I stand today to honor the contributions of LGBTQ Americans--the contributions they have given so selflessly to our Nation--and to remind all of my colleagues of the great risks these Americans still face simply because of who they love and who they are. prgtoken It was 50 years ago this month that the gay community finally rose up. The Stonewall riots were a product of a brutal police force cracking down on the gay community. They found a voice that others had in the previous years. This Pride Month, June, we celebrate that 50 years of a rise in the voice of people to be treated just basically as everyone else. It is an important issue for me. It is an important issue for a number of reasons--first and foremost, because I am a father, but also, I am a product of the Deep South in which I was raised. As a kid, I came of age during a very tumultuous time in our Nation's history, a very tumultuous time in Alabama. prgtoken When I was a kid, our schools remained segregated for years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, and my Black peers faced very difficult and different prospects for their future in life, which was a direct result of the Jim Crow laws that were still on the books in my childhood. prgtoken Men, women, and children were regularly targeted for violent attacks simply because of the color of their skin, the way they were born, and their audacity--their audacity to yearn for freedom and love and acceptance and respect. prgtoken The wounds of those years left scars that are still visible in many places today--many places not just in Alabama but across the country. The inequality and divisive rhetoric of the time and the tensions it fomented fueled the violence and tragedy that were wrought upon so many innocent people, especially in the 1950s and in the 1960s in Alabama, in the Deep South, and so many other places across this land. prgtoken I raise this because history has shown us time and again that when our government sanctions discrimination or merely turns a blind eye to it, we cause irreparable harm to those people. In doing so, we also turn our backs on the fundamental promise of this great country--that we are all endowed with certain unalienable rights, ``all'' being the key word in that phrase. We are all endowed with certain unalienable rights. prgtoken Without exception, policies of legalized discrimination that are fueled by fear always become a black mark on our Nation's history. Today, we can reflect on those incidents from the civil rights movement with more clarity and take pride in the significant progress we have made over time, but what we cannot do is
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, my amendment relates to the Centers for Disease Control, establishing a national standard for investigating childhood deaths from sudden infant death syndrome. prgtoken The death of a child, Madam Chair, is always a tragedy, but the unexplained nature of some of these deaths only makes it harder for grieving families, as well as public health officials and policymakers who are working to prevent them. prgtoken I have had the heartrending experience of walking into the home of parents who are grieving. That grief doesn't just begin when their infant dies, but goes on for a lifetime, wondering: Was it my fault? Could I have done something? Am I a bad parent? prgtoken My amendment would help us better understand why thousands of infants between the age of birth and 1, and hundreds of children between the ages of 1 and 4, are still dying unexpectedly in our country. These deaths include those from sudden infant death syndrome. prgtoken Scarlett Lillian Pauley was one of those children, Madam Chair. Scarlett loved her pets, including her dog, Stitch, who she called ``Sitch,'' and her cat, Colby, who she called ``Max'' or ``Maps.'' prgtoken Scarlett loved to smile. She loved books. Her favorite book was ``Barnyard Dance'' by Sandra Boynton, which her mom read to her right before she put her to sleep on January 7, 2017. A few hours later, her mama went to check on her and Scarlett was not breathing in her crib. After being taken to the hospital, this beautiful 16-month-old baby was declared dead on January 8, 2017. prgtoken That is just one story. In 2017, there were 3,600 infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly, according to CDC data, including 1,400 from SIDS. prgtoken Right now, without a national standard for how to investigate these deaths, different States and different municipalities collect inconsistent and often incomplete data on these unexplained sudden deaths. That hinders the ability to find answers. prgtoken I am so pleased that Chairwoman DeLauro has included funding in the base bill for the CDC to increase efforts to better train those who carry out stronger death investigations and improve data collection. prgtoken Madam Chair, ?
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. prgtoken First of all, this dangerous and discriminatory rule attempts to enshrine discrimination in virtually all facets of healthcare by granting new rights to those who believe that their personal and religious beliefs should determine the care that a patient receives. prgtoken Under this rule, nearly anyone or any entity involved in a patient's care, from a pharmacist, to a receptionist who schedules procedures, to hospital room schedulers, can put their personal and religious beliefs ahead of a patient's health. prgtoken This rule could mean that rape survivors, same-sex couples, women with unintended pregnancies, those seeking life-saving abortions, and transgender patients could all be refused medical care. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I have to tell a story. This reminds me of my late mother. When my mother was pregnant and about to deliver me, she needed a cesarean section. She was refused admittance into the hospital because she was Black. She nearly died. I almost didn't make it here into this world because of religious beliefs that it was okay to deny healthcare to African Americans. prgtoken Mr. Chair, let's not go back there. prgtoken One's personal religious beliefs should never determine the care a patient receives. Instead, hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other individuals should be making decisions based on what is best for the patient. prgtoken Mr. Chair, yes, we know that it is those who need care the most that will be disproportionally impacted, like patients of color, low-income patients, and the LGBTQ community. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge defeat of this amendment. It is discriminatory, it is dangerous. Let's not go back to the days of discrimination. It is un-American.
Medicaid (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-6-12

I want to thank my colleague for starting this really important discussion that all of us should be very well aware of, and I appreciate his leadership. prgtoken People across this country have been absolutely clear. They want us to fight for families who are struggling with high healthcare costs and help to make sure that everyone in our country can get quality affordable care. But while have been coming forward with solutions and calling on s to come to the table to address the healthcare sabotage they have helped President accomplish, instead, they have been repeatedly on the other side, refusing to fight the fire and having only just shown real interest in fanning the flames. prgtoken There are so many glaring examples about how President has worked to sabotage families' healthcare. We are here today to focus on just one--the tireless efforts to undermine Medicaid. prgtoken It is a program that helps people across the country get affordable, quality healthcare. State after State has now worked to expand Medicaid in recent years, and time after time, we have all seen the benefits of those efforts. Data shows us that Medicaid has helped reduce racial disparities in healthcare. It has helped us increase prgtoken access to treatment for opioid use disorder. It is a critical need as our country confronts a nationwide epidemic. It has helped to improve maternal and infant health, another area where we desperately need to make progress. prgtoken Medicaid expansion has helped tens of millions of people get quality, affordable healthcare. That is exactly why States that expanded Medicaid have seen their uninsured rates drop more than those that did not. prgtoken Yet some s have tried every trick in the book to try to undermine that progress. Back when s were first calling for their harmful Care plan, they made clear that they wanted to put Medicaid on the chopping block in a very big way--not only rolling back Medicaid expansion but proposing deep cuts for moms and kids and people with disabilities and seniors who need those long-term services and support. Even after people across the country spoke up and pushed back and defeated that backward proposal, s have still tried to take away care from millions of families across the country who rely on Medicaid. prgtoken President has called for enormous cuts to Medicaid in his budget proposals. He has pushed for burdensome paperwork requirements that serve no real purpose except to put up barriers that make it harder for people to get the care they need and easier for him to take their care away. prgtoken Here in Congress, leadership made clear that their preferred way to pay for the expensive tax breaks they gave to corporations and the wealthy was to cut programs like Medicaid that gave healthcare to those who struggle and are in need. prgtoken Even as President and Re
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Bill Foster (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, this bipartisan amendment, offered by myself and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), would strike section 510, which bans HHS from adopting standards for a unique patient identifier that would allow patients to be uniquely identified across electronic health record systems. prgtoken In the last 21 years that this misguided policy has been in place, thousands of Americans have died due to giving the wrong drug to the wrong patient or due to incorrect or incomplete electronic medical records, all arising from the inability to simply and correctly merge health records from different systems. prgtoken Countless man-hours have been lost trying to figure out whether one patient's information is the same as another whose name might be spelled differently, or who has recently moved to a new city or State, or who might be under a maiden name, for example. prgtoken Matching records properly requires a unique identifier for each patient. A Federal ban on doing this properly makes our healthcare system more expensive and less safe for patients. prgtoken According to a 2016 study of healthcare executives, 86 percent of respondents have witnessed or knew of a medical error that was the result of patient misidentification. prgtoken A Johns Hopkins study recently calculated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to preventable medical errors. While our data collection on medical errors is not as detailed as it should be, it is reasonable to assume that a unique patient identifier would help save a nontrivial fraction of these lives. prgtoken Amidst the wave of digitization of the healthcare industry, most providers have adopted electronic health records, spurred on by the 2009 HITECH Act. But if we cannot ensure that we have the right patient with their full information at the point of care, then we cannot properly utilize the enormous promise of the portability and interoperability of health records. prgtoken This ban is also handcuffing us in the fight against opioids. A 2018 roundtable on the opioid crisis cohosted by HHS and the nonprofit Center for Open Data Enterprise recommended the generation of a unique identifier for each patient. This would not only guard against doctor shopping by those struggling with substance abuse disorder, but it could also prevent those in recovery from accidentally being given prescription opioids after an injury, surgery, or childbirth, triggering a relapse. prgtoken Repealing this ban tackles a known problem in our healthcare system, and I urge support for this bipartisan amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
Border Security (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-6-12

we have had many discussions on what is happening on appropriations bills. So I thought I could help clear some things up. prgtoken Next week, the Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up a supplemental appropriations bill. We are doing this to address the humanitarian crisis, which it is, on our southern border. There is absolutely no need for this to be a partisan process. So many of us, s and , agree we need to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border. prgtoken We have seen the news reports showing crowded conditions at Custom and Border Protection facilities. We have seen the pictures of women and children sleeping outside on the ground because the facilities are full. I have gone through places where they basically have cages holding children--and this is happening in America. And we have seen the numbers of unaccompanied children in our care swell as kids come across the border looking for help and compassion. prgtoken Now, most of these people are fleeing violence or dire poverty in their home countries. Most know how dangerous the trek north will be, but they feel they have no choice but to make the trek anyway. Some have said they know they may die on the trek north, but they are going to die from gang violence and the murderers back home if they do not. They fear for their lives. prgtoken By the time they reach us, they are exhausted, they are scared, and they are hungry. The vast majority actually just turn themselves over to Border Patrol Agents as soon as they cross into the United States. Rather than try to evade law enforcement, they look for the U.S. authorities in uniform. They turn themselves in to them and are then escorted by Border Patrol through the billion-dollar, actually useless, wall. They are not looking to do us harm. They are looking for mercy. prgtoken Now, we may disagree about what has led to this crisis and what changes may be needed to our immigration system. But I take issue with claims from across the aisle that oppose any and all solutions to address this crisis. Everybody knows that is simply false. prgtoken We have a responsibility to make sure that the people in our care are treated humanely. After all, we are Americans. We ought to show the world we stand for American values. As vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I take this responsibility seriously. prgtoken The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement--the Agency that cares for unaccompanied children who cross the border--is running out of money. They are expected to exceed their Federal appropriations by the end of this month. Because they are running out of money, they have already begun to scale back on services that are not critical for life and safety, including education, recreation, and legal services. We ought to take action. Customs and Border Protection processing facilities are vastly over capacity.