mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING UNIDOSUS
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2017-7-18

today I wish to recognize UnidosUS for its leadership on behalf of the Latino community. On July 25, 2017, the Coalition on Human Needs will honor UnidosUS, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza, as one of its Human Needs Heroes for 2017. For almost 50 years, UnidosUS has been at the forefront of the policy movement to build opportunity for Latinos through civil rights, education, housing, economic advancement, health care, and the defense of immigrants' rights. prgtoken UnidosUS ensures that the human face of immigration is always seen and the essential role of immigrants in our communities is understood. I am proud to work with UnidosUS to advance a fair and moral immigration policy. I am also proud to work with UnidosUS in advancing economic opportunities for Latinos throughout our communities and look forward to our close cooperation in the future. prgtoken UnidosUS has a long record of promoting just policies to improve the lives of those in the Latino community. From the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, program, UnidosUS has been a trusted source and advocate on immigration policy. The ability of UnidosUS to serve as a broad voice that reflects the views and needs of Latinos across the country ensures that the debate on immigration never forgets the impact on families and communities. It is my honor today to recognize UnidosUS and thank them for all they have done on behalf of Latinos and immigrants.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-7-18

I strongly agree with these New Hampshire groups. After spending 6 months trying to pass the deeply unpopular, deeply flawed bill to repeal the law, shouldn't we welcome a bipartisan effort to improve the law? I believe the answer to that is yes, and the place to begin is by taking urgent action on a matter where most of us agree, and that is providing certainty to health insurance markets in order to hold down premium increases. In their 2018 rate request filings, insurers say that large increases are necessary because of the uncertainty surrounding the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and because the administration refuses to commit to making cost-sharing reduction payments--those payments that go to insurance companies so they can help their consumers with prgtoken the cost of health insurance, making sure that more people can get health insurance. Well, we now have an opportunity to end this uncertainty by putting the repeal behind us and authorizing a simple bill to authorize regular appropriations for the cost-sharing reduction payments. prgtoken The current instability in the ACA marketplaces is a manufactured crisis, and Congress can put a stop to it very quickly. That is why I have introduced the Marketplace Certainty Act, which is a bill to permanently appropriate funds to expand the funds for and to expand the cost-sharing repayments. It does two things: It guarantees that these payments are coming, and it is going to cover more people to help. I am pleased to be joined by 26 Senators who have already cosponsored this bill. We can end this artificial crisis. We can immediately restore certainty and stability to the insurance markets, and, in turn, we can get the time we need in order to come together in a bipartisan way to improve this law to build on what is working and to fix what is not. prgtoken We have a number of these commonsense measures, and this is one that has been embraced, not just by but by key leaders, including Chairman Lamar Alexander and House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, who have urged that these payments be continued. As Chairman Brady put it, the payments are needed ``to help stabilize the [health] insurance market and help lower premiums for Americans.'' He added: ``Insurers have made clear the lack of certainty is causing 2018 proposed premiums to rise significantly.'' prgtoken We have heard from our constituents at home. We have heard from doctors, nurses, hospitals, particularly rural hospitals, nursing homes, patient advocates, insurers, and those constituents who were in the statement I asked to be printed in the Record. They are pleading with us to set aside our partisan differences and work together to repair the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken Again, we know what we can do. It is not just the Marketplace Certainty Act; there are other bills that have been introduced that can fix the uncertainty in the markets and allow
LUCIA GONZALEZ
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-7-18

I rise today to recognize and applaud Lucia Gonzalez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lucia Gonzalez is a student at Jefferson High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lucia Gonzalez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lucia Gonzalez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-7-18

today I wish to recognize the 200th anniversary of Monroe County, MI. Situated in southeast Michigan on the west shore of Lake Erie, Monroe County is endowed with rich historical and natural treasures, built on a strong agricultural base, home to innovative industries, and populated with dedicated citizens and entrepreneurs. prgtoken Founded by Potawatomi Tribes and, later, French missionaries, the history of Monroe County dates back to 1634. French missionaries built the first settlement, named Frenchtown, on the territory and established both a trading post and fort in 1788. The River Raisin provided an agricultural center for the residents of Frenchtown, with an abundance of natural resources to contribute to economic growth. However, in 1813, the Battle of the River Raisin occurred near Frenchtown, resulting in mass human and economic loss. Recognized as the deadliest battle recorded during the War of 1812, the U.S. Congress included the River Raisin National Battlefield Park as part of the National Park Service in 2009, the only national park that commemorates the human contributions and historic legacy of the War of 1812. prgtoken As one of the first steps in organizing the Michigan Territory after the War of 1812, Governor Lewis Cass established Monroe County in 1817 as the second county in the State of Michigan. At the time, Monroe County included all of Lenawee and portions of Wayne and Washtenaw Counties. The old settlement of Frenchtown adopted the name ``Monroe'' in honor of President James Monroe and became the county seat. The flourishing county experienced economic growth and prosperity from the agricultural and paper manufacturing industries, from the first paper mill, Raisinville Mill, in 1834, to River Raisin Paper Company in 1910, to IKO Monroe, Incorporated, in 2000. prgtoken In the early 20th century, Monroe County hit another industrial milestone with the establishment of Monroe Auto Equipment World Headquarters, formerly referred to as Brisk Blast, in 1916, and the Newton Steel plant in 1959. Monroe County gained the reputation as the transportation hub in the State of Michigan, home to international ports on Lake Erie and one of the largest highway gateways into Michigan. The development of transportation infrastructure played a crucial role in connecting the residents of Monroe County to goods and services. Monroe County also attracted entrepreneurs and inventors from across the United States, including Edward Knabush and Edwin Shoemaker who revolutionized furniture design and comfort when they invented the first upholstered reeling chair in 1929. prgtoken Today Monroe County is a vibrant community of nearly 150,000 residents who enjoy historic downtowns, beautiful parks, and safe neighborhoods. Residing along the shoreline of the River Raisin and Lake Erie, Monroe County offers a multitude of recreational activities--boating, swimming, camping, hiking, and fishing--a
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-7-18

let me thank my colleagues for coming to the floor and speaking on behalf of Native Americans and the Indian Health Service, its shortcomings and challenges that it creates for us. prgtoken I don't have an Indian reservation in my State, but I certainly have visited these Indian reservations in other States and believe we have an ongoing responsibility--social and moral responsibility--to those who were in this country long before many of our ancestors and who have not been treated fairly many, many times when it comes to the poverty they face in this country and the challenges they face. prgtoken It is as bad as or worse than any other group in America. We can do better, and we need to start with the Indian Health Service and health services. s for raising that issue. prgtoken , it is interesting, this is a historic week in the Senate because we have been engaged in a debate for weeks about what to do about healthcare in America. The Senate, of course, is under the majority control of the s, as the House of Representatives is, and, of course, with a President. They all came to Washington at the beginning of this year and said: The first thing we want to do is to repeal Care. We have said it for 6 years. We are finally going to do it. We are going to get rid of Care, the Affordable Care Act, once and for all. prgtoken They set out to do it in a variety of ways. President 's first Executive order to the agencies of the Federal Government said: Do everything you can to discourage Care. He turned around and did just that. His agency stopped advertising for people to sign up for Care. They were determined to put an end to it. prgtoken In the House of Representatives, they took a step beyond that. They introduced legislation to repeal it and replace it. What they replaced it with was a disaster. The Congressional Budget Office took a look at the repeal plan in the House and said 24 million people will lose their health insurance. prgtoken Beyond that, they talked about the changes that would take place in health insurance policies with the repeal plan. It passed the House by four votes, which meant that if two Members-- and only s voted for it--had voted the other way, it wouldn't have passed. It was that close. prgtoken Then it was sent to the Senate, and it was up to the Senate s to decide what they would do with this bill and what they would do with the repeal of Care. They spent many weeks in conversation and discussion about what they might do. Thirteen Members, Senators, sat in private rooms and talked about what they would do to replace Care. prgtoken Finally, they reported a bill. It turns out their bill was an improvement over the House bill. The House bill eliminated health insurance for 24 million Americans. The Senate bill eliminated health i
POLICIES THAT ARE HARMFUL TO AMERICA
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-7-18

. I just wanted to go back to this question of Medicaid, because I think you have raised such an important program that is really a mainstay for the American people. A lot of people don't understand exactly how much it covers. You have mentioned 62 percent of seniors in nursing homes. prgtoken One in four births in this country is covered through Medicaid. I was just talking to our good colleague, Mr. Yarmuth of Kentucky. Over half of the births in Kentucky are covered through Medicaid. prgtoken Then if you look at kids with disabilities, Medicaid covers 60 percent of kids with disabilities. prgtoken So when you talk about cutting $1.5 trillion from Medicaid, as was the case between Care and what was proposed in the budget, which I know our good friend from Florida is going to talk about, you actually had $1.5 trillion in cuts to a program that serves 72 million Americans. So it really is a travesty when you think about how much this program supports.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-7-18

I rise to discuss the nomination of Mr. Patrick Shanahan to serve as the 33rd Deputy Secretary of Defense. The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on his nomination on June 20, and he was voted out of committee by voice vote. prgtoken Mr. Shanahan was born and raised in the State of Washington. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and then a master's degree and MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Shanahan then embarked on a 30-year career at the Boeing Company, where he rose to the most senior echelons of management, working on both the company's defense and commercial programs. Most recently, Mr. Shanahan served as the senior vice president for supply chain & operations. prgtoken The Deputy Secretary of Defense is one of the most important positions within the entire national security system. The Deputy serves as the number 2 official at the Department of Defense, as well as the Department's Chief Management Officer. As the second in command to the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy oftentimes is assigned a broad spectrum of responsibilities which require strong management skills. prgtoken The Department currently faces challenges on multiple fronts. For more than 16 years, our military has been consumed by two prolonged wars against violent extremist groups like ISIS. As a result, the military has faced a generational fight which has sapped readiness and precluded our military personnel from training for full spectrum operations. However, violent extremist groups are only one of the many challenges facing our country. prgtoken The past several years have seen the rise of near-peer competitors, most notably Russia and China. Russia has been a resurgent force bent on disrupting Europe and undercutting our own Nation and our Presidential election process. China continues its saber-rattling in the Asia-Pacific region by undermining the freedom of navigation and using economic coercion of its smaller, more vulnerable neighbors. When we factor in the destabilizing actions of North Korea and the long shadow of Iran, it becomes urgently clear that we need strong leadership at the Department of Defense. If Mr. Shanahan is confirmed, he will need to contend with all these challenges. It will not be easy and hard decisions on policy and strategy will need to be made. prgtoken Perhaps one of the hardest decisions facing the Deputy Secretary of Defense is the allocation of budget resources within the Department. In an ideal world, a cogent defense strategy that takes into consideration the multitude of concerns facing our Nation would inform how the Department invests resources in weapons platforms and advanced technologies to confront these challenges. However, the reality is that the spending caps imposed by the Budget Control Act determine the level of funding for most of these budget decisions. prgtoken The current budgetary crisis is compo
HEALTHCARE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-7-18

last night we learned that the current healthcare bill lacks enough support to even reach the floor of the Senate. After numerous delays, false starts, false predictions, and two pulled votes, it should be crystal clear to everyone on the other side of the aisle that the core of the bill is unworkable. prgtoken It is time to move on. It is time to start over. Rather than repeating the same failed partisan process yet again, s should work with on a bill that lowers premiums, prgtoken provides long-term stability to the markets, and improves our healthcare system. prgtoken I heard the leader this morning say that ``decided early on that they did not want to engage seriously'' on healthcare. In the same speech, the leader also admitted that the very first thing the majority did this Congress was to pass reconciliation so they could pass healthcare on a party-line vote--50 needed, no needed. Early on, the majority leader told : We don't need you. We don't want you. prgtoken Respectfully, I take issue with the idea that didn't want to engage on healthcare. The majority leader admitted that he decided the matter for us when he locked out of the process at the outset. At the very beginning of this Congress, President and Leader McConnell said: Don't come knocking on our door on healthcare. We don't need you. prgtoken Now that their one-party effort has largely failed, we hope they will change their tune. prgtoken It seems like many s are ready for a truly bipartisan effort on healthcare, indeed. My friend Senator McCain has urged it quite strongly saying: ``The Congress must now return to regular order, hold hearings, [and] receive input from members of both parties.'' He said that while recuperating in Arizona. So that is how strongly he feels about it. prgtoken Other Senators have made similar comments, but the leader still plans to ignore their advice and instead plans on holding a proxy vote on a straight repeal of our healthcare law first. prgtoken Make no mistake about it. Passing repeal without a replacement would be a disaster. Our healthcare system would implode. Millions would lose coverage. Coverage for millions more would be diminished. Our healthcare system would be in such a deep hole that repair would be nearly impossible. prgtoken In fact, passing repeal and having it go into effect 2 years later is, in many ways, worse than the healthcare bill that was just rejected by my colleagues. It is as if our healthcare system were a patient who came in and needed some medicine and the s propose surgery. The operation was a failure. Now s are proposing a second surgery that will surely kill the patient. Medicine is needed--bipartisan medicine, not a second surgery. prgtoken We urge our colleagues to
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 806, OZONE STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION ACT OF 2017
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-7-18

in 1996, this region--the national capital region--had more than 60 orange ozone days, ozone layers that were hazardous to health, warnings given to people. Last year, we had 6, one-tenth of that number. And that is because of the Clean Air Act and its amendments. prgtoken Rather than dismantling these protections, we should provide States and localities the resources to continue on the progress we have made. Instead, the budget would slash EPA funding by a third. That is not a plan for healthy communities. It is not a way to make America great. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to reject this assault on public health and sound science.
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Al Franken (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-7-18

. Thank you, . prgtoken I thank my vice chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, and I thank the Presiding Officer, who chairs the committee. I am honored to serve under both of them. prgtoken I rise to discuss the devastating effects the various healthcare proposals that have been made would have on Indian Country. prgtoken s are now considering a straight repeal of the Affordable Care Act, with no replacement. This policy, like others that have come before it, would have a devastating effect on Native communities. Today, I want to describe some of the healthcare challenges that these communities face, how the Affordable Care Act has helped to address some of those challenges, and how repealing the Affordable Care Act would undermine these gains and further jeopardize healthcare for an already vulnerable population. prgtoken I have served on the Indian Affairs Committee for the past 8 years, and I am continually shocked by what I hear almost every week from Tribal leaders and other witnesses about the challenges that face Native communities. One of the biggest challenges is that the Federal Government consistently falls short of its responsibilities to Indian communities. There is a lack of attention to the concerns of Native communities. There is a dysfunctional bureaucracy and a Congress that doesn't adequately fund Indian programs, and this can create a vicious cycle. When programs don't have adequate funding, they don't work as they should. prgtoken Some of my colleagues who have failed to provide Indian Country with the funding they need point to the resulting program inefficacies as justification for continuing to cut and underfund critical programs. That just doesn't make sense to me. Healthcare has fallen prey to this vicious cycle even though the Federal Government has a trust responsibility to provide healthcare to Tribes and to their members. prgtoken Medicaid and the Indian Health Service are both part of this trust responsibility. Over the years, the Indian Health Service has suffered from lack of resources, poor staffing, and other challenges. The vice chairman was right: ``Don't get sick after June'' is unfortunately something we hear over and over again, and it is said with some irony but also hurt in Indian Country because the funding runs out then. prgtoken These challenges mean that many in Indian Country, particularly those living in remote areas, don't have reliable access to the medical care they need on a timely basis. This is healthcare that was promised by treaty and by our Constitution. prgtoken Prior to the ACA, funding shortages meant that IHS was only able to provide people with the most basic services, so a lot of the care that people needed was simply not available. For example, prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Indian Health Service could not afford to provide vital services, including women's health screenings, like mammograms,