mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ANGER AND HATRED IN POLITICAL ISSUES TODAY
John J. Duncan, Jr. (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-6-15

. Madam , this is my 29th year in Congress. I have followed the issues since my early teens more than 50 years ago. I have never seen anywhere close to the anger and hatred there is on political issues today. prgtoken Yesterday, on the ``Chris Plante Show,'' he mentioned a professor, John Griffin, from the Art Institute of Washington. Last month, Professor Griffin posted a link to a Washington Post column, with the professor commenting that all Members of the House ``should be lined up and shot.'' He added, ``That is not hyperbole. Blood is on their hands.'' prgtoken That was in support of a Washington Post column by Paul Waldman saying the healthcare bill was an ``act of monstrous cruelty'' that should ``stain those who supported it to the end of their days.'' prgtoken Those who have so much hatred and anger in their hearts and minds seriously need to seek religious or psychiatric help.
BROADER OPTIONS FOR AMERICANS ACT
Patrick J. Tiberi (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-6-15

the balance of my time. prgtoken , on a personal basis, I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Mr. Neal. prgtoken We, obviously, have a disagreement. I tell my daughters about how a bill becomes law, and I don't need to tell the gentleman from Massachusetts how a bill becomes law, but we certainly, I think, believe that there are opportunities to not only improve what you say is the Affordable Care Act but the bill that we passed. That is what we are doing today. prgtoken I hope to work with him to continue to do that, as the Senate passes its own bill, and, hopefully, go to a conference committee. Hopefully, the gentleman will be on that conference committee.
COUNTERING IRAN'S DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES ACT OF 2017
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-6-15

the Russian sanctions amendment passed by this body 97 to 2 last year--I take it the Senator from Florida and the Senator from Virginia were here at the time; it was one person who was not--was negotiated between Senators of both parties on multiple committees, including Foreign Relations, Banking, and Armed Services. It was specifically designed to impose tough sanctions on Russian defense and intelligence sectors, to impose tough sanctions on the Russian military industrial complex and intelligence agencies that have made it possible for Russia to invade Ukraine, annex Crimea, terrorize Syria, threaten our NATO allies, and attack America's election in 2016. Have no doubt about what this amendment is, my dear colleagues and friends. It is a giveaway to the Russian military industrial complex. prgtoken There has always been a collection of lawmakers, executives, and lobbyists who have accepted continuing, even deepening, our Nation's dependence on Russian rocket engines. That is exactly what will happen if we allow this amendment to pass, and the door will once again fly open for taxpayer dollars to be used to subsidize purchases of Russian rocket engines--purchases which line the pockets of Vladimir Putin's cronies. prgtoken My friends, if you want to vote to buy more Russian rocket engines, just say it. That is fine. That is fine with me, but to cloak it in some kind of bipartisan agreement that somehow we are going to have to continue to buy these Russian rocket engines, after we had an agreement last year 97 to 2--97 to 2--what does this do? This undoes last year's 97-to-2 agreement. We don't need this amendment to meet America's needs in space. prgtoken As a result of last year's bipartisan agreement and the NDAA, the Department of Defense is on a path to gradually eliminate dependence on Russia as quickly as possible while fostering competition among American companies. NASA needs to do the same. NASA needs to do the same. NASA needs to do the same. prgtoken Sanctions, by definition, require tradeoffs. Sanctions are not free. Countries that impose sanctions must be willing to pay a cost, too, if and when a greater principle, a great national security interest, is at stake. prgtoken Let me conclude because I note the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and the ranking member here. There are costs and tradeoffs the United States has been asking our European allies to make in the last few years. We have leaned on France to cancel a sale of naval vessels to Russia. We have been warning Central and Eastern European allies against deepening their dependence on Russian energy with various energy deals and infrastructure projects. We should not be asking our allies to make these sacrifices unless we are prepared to do the same. prgtoken We will probably pass this amendment. If there is ever a doubt in any of our constituents' minds about the influence of special interests, it will be wit
STEVEN BAKOTIC
Steven M. Palazzo (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-6-15

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mr. Steven Bakotic as a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 2017. prgtoken Steven graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science and he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy on May 26, 2017. prgtoken His career in the service has just begun, but it is a testament to Steven's unselfish devotion to the people of this great nation. prgtoken The challenges will be many and the time, although it may seem like an eternity, will fly by almost unnoticed. prgtoken South Mississippi is proud of Steven and his accomplishments, and we look forward to him continuing to represent not only Mississippi, but the entire nation, as a United States Navy officer. prgtoken As Steven embarks on a new chapter in life, it is my hope that he may always recall with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment graduating from a program as prestigious as the Naval Academy. prgtoken I would like to send Steven my best wishes for continued success in his future endeavors, thank him for his service, and congratulate him on this momentous occasion.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-6-15

once again, we have more bad news about Care. Last week, Anthem announced it will pull out of Ohio's health insurance exchange for 2018. That means that a minimum of 18 Ohio counties will be without an exchange insurer next year. Twenty- five Missouri counties are in the same boat, and more Americans are likely to find themselves in the same situation. prgtoken On June 2, the Omaha World-Herald announced that 100,000 Nebraskans could end up with zero options for individual coverage in 2018. Insurers have been pulling out of the exchanges right and left. prgtoken In February, Humana announced its decision to completely pull out of the exchanges for 2018. Three months later, Aetna, which had already sharply reduced its exchange participation in 2017, also confirmed it would pull out completely in 2018. prgtoken In 2016, 7 percent of U.S. counties had just one choice of insurer on their healthcare exchange. In 2017, this year, roughly one-third of U.S. counties have just one choice of insurer. Based upon the information available so far, the New York Times is currently estimating that about 45 percent of U.S. counties will have one or no insurer next year. prgtoken One thing is for sure, , Americans are facing fewer and fewer health insurance choices, and the prices of those choices are going up. prgtoken Proposed rates, proposed rate increases for 2018 are emerging, and once again they are not looking good. Some of the average rate hikes facing Americans around the country include 17.2 percent, 33.8 percent, 30 percent, 45 percent, 38 percent, 58.8 percent. prgtoken Three weeks ago, the Department of Health and Human Services released a report comparing the average individual market insurance premium in 2013, which is the year that most of Care's regulations and mandates were implemented, with the average individual market exchange premium in 2017 in the 39 States that use healthcare.gov. What they found is that between 2013 and 2017, the average individual market monthly premium in the healthcare.gov States increased by 105 percent-- 105 percent. prgtoken In other words, on average, individual market premiums more than doubled in just 5 years. That is from HHS in their report that just came out in the last couple of weeks. Three States saw their premiums triple over the same period--triple in just 5 years. prgtoken I don't know too many families who can afford to have their premiums triple over 5 years. What we know is that the Care status quo is unacceptable, and it is unsustainable. prgtoken More than one insurance CEO has suggested that Care is in a death spiral, and it is pretty hard to disagree. Combine soaring premiums with a steady insurer exodus, and sooner or later we get a partial or complete exchange collapse, which is what we are facing today, not to mention all the other Care problems, such as the deductibles that are so high that sometimes people can
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER STAFF SERGEANT (SSG) LARRY RICHARD ARNOLD, SR.
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-6-15

I am humbled to rise today in memory of Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Larry Richard Arnold, Sr. who paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation on June 11, 2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSG Arnold was killed when his armored personnel carrier was hit by an improvised explosive device in Owesat Village, Iraq. Sergeant (SGT) Terrance D. Lee, Sr. was also killed. prgtoken SSG Arnold was assigned to the 150th Combat Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard, Lucedale, Mississippi. prgtoken According to the Associated Press article, 200 people packed a Baptist church where the funeral service was held. Reverend Donnie Boutwell, pastor of Lee's Chapel No. 1 Baptist Church in Carriere, spoke about SSG Arnold's service. ``This is not a final respect for this man,'' Rev. Boutwell said. ``For every time a young child stands in the schoolroom and covers his heart and pledges allegiance to the flag, we continue to show our respect for him. Every time we stand at a ballgame and `The Star Spangled Banner' is played, we continue to show our respect for Larry and all the other soldiers.'' prgtoken Mississippi Army National Guard Brigadier General (BG) Ben Gaston also offered his thoughts during the funeral service. ``He could have easily walked away and said, `I've done that. I've done my time,' '' said BG Gaston. ``Larry didn't do that. He was a mature NCO the younger soldiers looked up to.'' prgtoken During the service, BG Gaston presented SSG Arnold's family with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Mississippi Medal of Valor. SSG Arnold is buried at Mill Creek Cemetery in Pearl River County. prgtoken SSG Arnold is survived by his mother, Betty Mackey; his wife, Melinda; sons; Larry, Robert, and Howard Arnold; siblings Garry Arnold, Peggy Alford, Beverly Hicks, Janet Brandes, Joann Arnold, and Debbie Arnold; and grandchildren Anthony and Heather Arnold. prgtoken SSG Arnold died while fighting to protect the freedoms we all enjoy
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-6-15

I have 10 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on agriculture, nutrition, and forestry prgtoken The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 9:30 a.m in 328A Russell Senate Office Building, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Agricultural Research: Perspectives on Past and Future Successes for the 2018 Farm Bill.'' committee on armed services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 9:30 a.m in open session, to receive testimony on the posture of the Department of the Navy in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2018 and the future years defense program. committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 9:45 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Fostering Economic Growth: Midsized, Regional and Large Institution Perspective.'' committee on energy and natural resources prgtoken The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to hold a hearing on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 10 a.m. in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. committee on environment and public works prgtoken The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 15, 2017, at 10 a.m in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate office building. committee on foreign relatios prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 10:15 a.m to hold a hearing entitled ``Nominations.'' committee on the judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on June 15, 2017, at 10 a.m in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting. committee on veterans' affairs prgtoken The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 11 a.m. in SR-418, to conduct a hearing on legislation pending before the committee. committee on intelligence prgtoken The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the 115th Congress of the U.S. Senate on Thurs
RECOGNIZING CAROLYN LERNER
Rod Blum (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise today to thank Ms. Carolyn Lerner for her service as Special Counsel at the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). This is her last week at OSC after six years leading the Office. OSC has the enormous and important task of policing the executive branch against prohibited personnel practices, including retaliation against whistleblowers. Ms. Lerner began her work at OSC in June 2011, and her impact there has been extremely positive. With her at the helm, OSC increased both the number of complaints it investigated and the number of cases it resolved. The agency has won widespread bipartisan praise for its work, including resolving multiple cases of retaliation against whistleblowers at the Veterans Administration. As co-chairman of the House Whistleblower Protection Caucus and member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I know how vitally important whistleblowers are to Congressional oversight of the federal government. The brave men and women who have the courage to expose abuse and fraud in their workplaces deserve to be protected, and under Ms. Lerner's leadership, OSC has done just that. It has been a pleasure to work with Ms. Lerner since coming to Congress. As her time at OSC comes to an end, I wish again to thank her for her service to our nation and her tireless commitment to protecting whistleblowers. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
COUNTERING IRAN'S DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES ACT OF 2017
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-6-15

I am very pleased that the Senator from prgtoken Alabama is presiding over this very important debate because one of the most important issues to both of our States, Colorado and Alabama, is the economy and the economic well-being of our great country. The amendment that I will be discussing today goes to the very heart of our opportunities in space, our opportunities in innovation, our opportunities to ensure that we have the most reliable information as it relates to weather and to weather events. prgtoken It is a great partnership that we have had with the Senator from Alabama, who has been absolutely critical and instrumental in ensuring a persistent, reliable space presence. from Alabama, Mr. Strange, for his incredible leadership when it comes to making sure that we are able to reach space, that we are able to continue our space mission. Whether it is in the defense of this country or in understanding where the next tornado may strike, from Alabama for the leadership that has been provided to ensure that constant presence and persistence. prgtoken Of course, I rise to speak in support of the bipartisan Gardner- Nelson-Warner et al. amendment, amendment No. 250. Yet, truly, to the Senate--to my colleagues here--I rise in support of America's role and leadership in space. prgtoken I rise on behalf of the hardworking men and women across this Nation who make our country's aerospace industry second to none, because, over the past 70 years, the United States has led the way in space exploration. From the Apollo missions to the space shuttle to the Orion program, we are the leaders in exploring the great frontier of space. That is who this country is. That is who we are--explorers, pioneers. We were the first to the Moon, and I hope we are the first to Mars, but we cannot give up that pioneering innovation that has led this country to greatness. prgtoken I will share with colleagues of the Senate a CNBC story from March that China is building a manned spacecraft that is capable of sending astronauts to the Moon as well as to near-Earth orbit flight. prgtoken Can you imagine the day when the stars and stripes on the lunar surface stands not alone but stands next to the stars of a flag of another nation--perhaps China's, perhaps somebody else's? prgtoken When it comes to our access to space, this debate is absolutely critical because without the passage of amendment No. 250, we lose a tremendous portion of our access to space. We lose it for commercial applications, and we lose it for civil applications. prgtoken In the past few months, this China activity has shown the importance of U.S. leadership. That is why this bipartisan amendment comes with a very simple point. It ensures that NASA and our commercial space industry will continue to be the country's leader in aerospace. prgtoken The ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner, o
CONGRATULATING THE DEER PARK DEER FOR THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise today to congratulate the Deer Park High School Deer for winning the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 6A Baseball State Championship. The Deer accumulated a record of 35-8 on the way to the state title with playoff wins against: Summer Creek, Pearland, Clear Springs, Ridge Point, Fort Bend Travis, and Southlake Carroll. This is the first baseball championship for Deer Park and the fourth time the school has made it to the state tournament. On June 10, 2017, the Deer dispatched San Antonio Reagan in the championship game by a score of 7-2 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. Four players were named to the All-Tournament Team: Clay Aguilar, Chase Keng, Blake Martin, and Adrian Gonzales who was named Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP). These young men have shown incredible persistence, hard work, passion and commitment to accomplish this feat and I applaud each and every one of them. I would like to personally recognize each student and their coaches. Players: Mark Barrow, Connor Berry, Tyler Stenberg, Blaine Holden, Reece Moon, Jacobe Martinez, Clay Aguilar, Chase Keng, Christian Vela, Dylan Pullig, Josiah Ortiz, Austin Mitchell, Taylor Lee, Connor Williams, Jordan Phillips, JT Satterwhite, Peyton Sherlin, Chase Duncan, Adrian Gonzales, Blake Martin, and Kolton Fowler. Head Coach: Chris Rupp. Assistant Coaches: Donnie Elliott, Darren Schneider, Austin Yager, Jacob Rhame, and David White. Athletic Trainers: Jim Davidson, Lori Mahan, and David Viaclovsky. Managers: Gabby Gallegos and McKade Whittington. Student Trainer: Zachary Domingue. I wish each one of them continued success on and off the baseball field. Go Deer!
Building and Sustaining a Larger Navy (Executive Session)
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise to continue my discussion about the case for a bigger Navy, a bigger fleet, and to endorse the requirement of the experts in the Department of Defense that we move to a 355-ship Navy. prgtoken When a crisis strikes around the world, the President asks his national security team: Where are the carriers? Where are the aircraft carriers? prgtoken Each of our carriers is a 100,000-ton giant, accompanied by an entire carrier group that consists of mighty warships and aircraft. The carrier, itself, represents 4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory. prgtoken In early January of this year--and Senators do not know this--a strange and profoundly disturbing thing happened. The answer to the Commander in Chief's question, had it been asked at that point--where are the carriers?--would have been that none of them had been deployed--not a single one. For the first time since World War II, the United States had no carriers deployed anywhere--not in the Persian Gulf, not in the Mediterranean, not in the Western Pacific. prgtoken There is a gap in our global carrier presence, and there is a gap in our fleet. This comes from years of complacency. Also, it comes from a different set of facts that we are faced with and a different set of challenges that we are faced with in our quest to make our presence known and to protect our national security interests on the open seas. We have ignored the great naval competition that is taking place elsewhere--the fact that it is accelerating. We have taken our Navy and our sailors and marines for granted. prgtoken Simply put, the Navy we have today is too small. We cannot accomplish the critical missions that we have by preserving the status quo. Right now, we have 277 ships, and we need to get to 355 ships. That was reiterated today by the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy in a hearing before the full Armed Services Committee. prgtoken I will reiterate to my colleagues and to the American people what the Navy does for America and why the current fleet is too small to meet current and emerging challenges. prgtoken First, the global presence of the Navy ship matters to American prosperity--to the quality of life of Americans. Ninety percent of global trade is seaborne. Maritime traffic has increased by 400 percent over the past quarter century. In addition to commerce, nearly all intercontinental telecommunications transit via a web of undersea cables. Undersea cables are responsible for nearly all of our intercontinental telecommunications. prgtoken Second, a strong Navy deters aggressive behavior and reassures our allies as the Nation's first-on-the-scene force. A strong Navy can help keep bad situations from spiraling out of control and getting worse. For example, the President recently dispatched multiple carrier strike groups to the Sea of Japan following North Korea's missile tests. The President asked where the carriers were, and he dispatched