mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-3-17

on Thursday, March 16, 2017, I was absent from the House due to traffic delays related to motorcade activity. Due to my absence, I did not record any votes for the first vote series of the day. I would like to reflect how I would have voted had I been present for legislative business prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Roll Call 162, and Roll Call 163. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on Roll Call 164.
IMPROVING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO HIRE AND RETAIN PHYSICIANS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-3-17

I rise in support of Representative Shea- Porter's amendment, which would require the VA to ensure that the recruiting database established by section 7 of the bill includes a list of open mental health positions. prgtoken Though I am glad to report that, as of January, only 3,469 of VA's 45,360 vacant positions were specific to mental health, it is critical that the VA closely track to mental health vacancies on an ongoing basis so that they can be prioritized and filled to prevent any disruptions in care to our most vulnerable veterans. prgtoken I am fully supportive of this amendment and grateful to Representative Shea-Porter for submitting it. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING NICHOLAS CARUSELLE
Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-3-17

I rise today to thank Nicholas Caruselle for his lifelong commitment to providing quality hospital care to the community. Born on December 10, 1954, to Anna Maria and Paul Caruselle, Nicholas has lived on Staten Island his whole life. In 1974, he began working at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) as an oxygen technician, where he would spend the next 42 years of his life. It was there where he met his sweetheart, Janice, whom he later married on November 23, 1979. They have been happily married for 37 years with three wonderful children, all of whom were born at SIUH. Nick's dedication to patient-centered care is evidenced by how long he has worked at SIUH. After serving as an oxygen technician, he later went on to serve in various positions providing excellent cardiopulmonary care from 1977 to 1996. Later on, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and retired as Deputy Executive Director and South Site Administrator for SIUH. Nicholas Caruselle has achieved numerous accomplishments throughout his career at SIUH. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, he tirelessly fought to obtain $40 million in government funding to rebuild crucial hospital infrastructure. Furthermore, he was instrumental in the development of the Sleep Medicine Institute, the Elizabeth A. Connelly Emergency and Trauma Center, the Regina McGinn, MD Education Center, and the Heart Tower. The enormous impact Nick has had on improving SIUH and the care of its patients is truly immeasurable Nicholas Caruselle has spent his entire career improving the lives of others. I thank him for his devotion to his community of work and I wish him a very happy retirement.
PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE 115TH CONGRESS
Gregg Harper (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-3-17

I rise today in support of House Resolution 173, a resolution which authorizes House Committee budget levels for the 115th Congress. prgtoken Each Congress, the House looks to the Committee on House Administration to carry out the responsibility of determining the amount needed to fund standing House committees for this year and next. prgtoken Our committee began this process by holding a hearing to receive input from the chairmen and ranking members of the various standing committees. prgtoken I thank each of them and their staffs for providing us and our colleagues with the information needed to help our committee determine the appropriate funding levels. prgtoken I also want to extend my sincere thanks for the collaborative manner in which the chairmen and ranking members worked together to create a budget request that is really targeted to meet their legislative and important oversight responsibilities. prgtoken My colleagues and I took the priorities laid out in the hearing we held into account; and together, our committee passed, by unanimous voice vote, the bipartisan funding resolution that is before us today. prgtoken , .
IN RECOGNITION OF DR. DOROTHY ENOMOTO
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-20

it is with profound sadness that I rise to honor the life of my good friend, Dorothy Stevens Enomoto, who passed away on February 14th of this year. I ask my colleagues to join me in tribute to Dorothy's truly remarkable life which she dedicated to civil rights advocacy and public service. prgtoken Dorothy Stevens Enomoto was the widow of the late Jerry Enomoto, the first Asian-Pacific American United States Marshal. Dorothy met Jerry during her time in the Department of Corrections, where she became the first African-American woman to manage a department and to hold the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Women's Civil Addict Unit at the California Rehabilitation Center. prgtoken Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dorothy was the granddaughter of a former slave. Dorothy was a classmate and close friend to Martin Luther King, Jr sharing valedictorian honors with him at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Eighteen years ago, Dorothy cofounded the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Celebration with her late husband, Jerry, and my late husband, Bob. prgtoken After her retirement, Dorothy continued to pursue the fight for equality by serving on the Sacramento Affirmative Action Committee, the Executive Committee of the Sacramento chapter of the NAACP, and numerous other organizations which benefitted from her knowledge and experience. She and Jerry also served on the U.S. Attorney General's Greater Sacramento Area Hate Crimes Task Force. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Dorothy Stevens Enomoto. Her daughters, Yvonne Roby and Marcia Roby Jackson, are living testaments to the positive impact she and Jerry made on our community and world.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2017-3-20

for the next 60 minutes, it is with great honor that I rise to coanchor this CBC Special Order hour. For the next 60 minutes, we have a chance to speak directly to the American people on the issues of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus, to Congress, and to constituents who represent all Americans. prgtoken At this time, , we would like to use this time to talk about the Affordable Care Act. What do you have to lose? What do you have to lose, ? Such was President 's constant refrain to the African-American community when rallying for their support of his administration's various policies. prgtoken , today, I rise to say that with critical elements of the American healthcare policy on the chopping block, African-Americans have a lot to lose, possibly even their lives. prgtoken There is as much at stake if President and the - controlled Congress healthcare policies take shape in their current form. prgtoken By illustration, I want to address the impact on low-income families and individuals in the Virgin Islands who rely on Medicaid, and, presently, Medicaid is capped in the Virgin Islands. You can look at our territory as an example of what will happen when there is a cap on services, which could compromise a State or local government's ability to administer those most in need. prgtoken Since its inception, Medicaid has been an open-ended program that was intended to expand and contract with need, especially when States and localities face crippling economic downturns of both manmade and natural origins. Medicaid covers one in five Americans, and of those, the majority of enrollees are children and individuals with disabilities. prgtoken Under the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Care, millions of African Americans finally gained access to healthcare coverage. In 2015, approximately 11.2 million African Americans became eligible for Medicaid through the expansion, health care that they previously did not receive and which would have cost this country much more if that early-warning health care was not taken care of. prgtoken President and s in Congress propose converting Medicaid from a shared payment program between States and Federal Government to an arrangement much like a block grant, where the Federal Government puts a cap on its payment assistance, creating a huge cost shift to the States. If you want to know what you have to lose if caps on Medicaid are enacted nationwide, look no further than my home, the Virgin Islands. It is a grim outlook. prgtoken Federal caps on Medicaid programs in the Virgin Islands are set on a per-enrollee basis. Unlike States in the mainland where Federal Medicaid spending is open-ended depending on the needs of the people, the Virgin Islands can only access Federal dollars up to an annual ceiling. Beyond that cap, the Virgin Islands' government is responsible for the remaining costs. That means many Virgin Isla
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-20

first let me thank Congressman Veasey for his tireless work to protect healthcare for all people. prgtoken Also to Congresswoman Plaskett, I thank the gentlewoman for continuing to speak out, to organize us, and for her stellar representation of her district. prgtoken Let me also thank Congressman Richmond, Chair of the CBC, for his steadfast leadership on so many issues. prgtoken , 2 weeks ago s unveiled their dangerous plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken A plan the CBO confirmed would rip healthcare away from 24 million Americans. prgtoken This week--on the 7th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act--their terrible plan will make it to the House Floor. prgtoken , one thing is clear: the proposal s wrote in secret backrooms would be a disaster for struggling families, seniors, and people with disabilities. prgtoken Their proposal would mean 24 million fewer people with health insurance and 2 million jobs lost. prgtoken Their plan defunds Planned Parenthood and rations healthcare for low- income Americans. prgtoken It would make working people sicker, in order to provide a $600 billion tax giveaway for billionaires. prgtoken We know who this plan will devastate the most: communities of color, especially African Americans. prgtoken By ending Medicaid as we know it, at least 1.5 million low-income African Americans could lose their coverage. prgtoken And millions more would lose access to high-quality healthcare with the elimination of the ACA's marketplace. prgtoken , this is outrageous. prgtoken We know that African Americans already suffer from shocking health disparities, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. prgtoken And sadly, these disparities are all too often fatal. prgtoken , when we wrote the ACA, we worked hard to ensure that our healthcare bill would help end these disparities. prgtoken I was Chair of the CBC at the time and addressing harmful health disparities--especially for African Americans--was at the top of our priorities in drafting the ACA. prgtoken The final legislation was a huge step forward for underserved families--particularly communities of color. prgtoken Through the exchanges and Medicaid expansion, millions of African Americans gained the insurance that they needed and they deserved, including those living with pre-existing conditions. prgtoken Take the issue of HIV/AIDS for example. Although they represent only 12% of the population, African Americans disproportionately account for 44% of new HIV cases and 40% of those living with HIV in the U.S. prgtoken Before the ACA, many African Americans living with HIV didn't have any insurance at all. prgtoken Through the exchanges and Medicaid expansion, millions of African Americans gained the insurance that they needed and they deserved. prgtoken Let me be clear: For people living with HIV in this country-- repealing the ACA could mean a death sentence. prgtoken Without the Affordable Care Act, people living with HIV
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
A. Donald McEachin (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-3-20

I was unavoidably detained during roll call no. 170, the amendment to H.R. 1367, numbered eleven, offered by Ms. Hanabusa. I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 171, the final passage of H.R. 1367. I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 172, on approving the Journal. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted: prgtoken Yea on Roll Call No. 170 prgtoken Yea on Roll Call No. 171 prgtoken Yea on Roll Call No. 172
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-3-20

pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House. prgtoken The form of the resolution is as follows: prgtoken Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President shall immediately disclose his tax return information to Congress and the American people. prgtoken Whereas, in the United States' system of checks and balances, Congress has a responsibility to hold the executive branch of government to the highest standard of transparency to ensure the public interest is placed first; prgtoken Whereas, according to the Tax History Project, every President since Gerald Ford has disclosed their tax return information to the public; prgtoken Whereas, tax returns provide an important baseline disclosure because they contain highly instructive information including whether the candidate can be influenced by foreign entities and reveal any conflicts of interest; prgtoken Whereas, Article I, section 9 of the Constitution states that no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of Congress, accept any present, emolument, Office or Title, of any kind whatever from any King, Prince, or foreign State;
WHAT CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS ABOUT AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-3-20

after 7 years of railing against the Affordable Care Act, a little less than 2 weeks ago we finally got an opportunity to see what the repeal-and-replace plan actually looks like. prgtoken President described it on March 7, again, a little less than 2 weeks ago, as our wonderful new healthcare bill. prgtoken The new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, solemnly promised that no one will be worse off financially as part of this bill known as the American Health Care Act. prgtoken Well, , as President John Adams once said a long time ago, facts are stubborn things; and over the last 2 weeks, we have had an opportunity to see what the Congressional Budget Office says about the American Health Care Act. Again, this is the neutral body that advises the Congress and the Nation with budgetary analysis both in terms of taxes and spending and also in terms of healthcare coverage. prgtoken What it has told us is that 24 million Americans will lose their health coverage between now and 2024. In fact, it will go up by 14 million just in the first couple of years under this bill, which, again, after 7 years, we never got a chance to see it, but now we are finally getting that opportunity. prgtoken , sometimes it is a little sort of too much to talk about these large numbers and top-line numbers. What I want to share with you and my colleagues and also anyone watching this speech is that the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is, again, one of the most respected healthcare, nonprofit, educational institutions in our country, has produced an interactive website which basically gives any American the opportunity to scroll across a map of America, find the county where you live, punch in what their income level and age is, and then compare the existing law with the American Health Care Act. Again, that website is kff.org/interactive/tax-credits. Again, kff.org. prgtoken I had an opportunity to use that website for my district in eastern Connecticut, a district I proudly represent, the home of the UConn Women Huskies and the home of the Groton submarine base, the oldest submarine base in America. What it showed is that, for people living in New London County, in Windham County, in Tolland County, in Middlesex County, if you are 60 years old and you are making $50,000 a year, you lose $3,230--in terms of premium tax credits compared to existing law-- in the proposal which, again, was finally unveiled 2 weeks ago. prgtoken If you make only $30,000 a year and you are 60 years old, you lose $5,850, a 59 percent reduction in terms of your income assistance to buy health coverage. Again, the prior number was 45 percent. prgtoken Unlike what Mr. Price said, this, in fact, is much worse off financially for people in those age groups and where they live. It is far worse off financially in terms of where they stand. In fact, it makes it impossible for people to afford health insurance. prgtoken That is why the
100 YEARS OF WOMEN IN CONGRESS ACT
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-3-20

. Madam , I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women serving in Congress. prgtoken I thank the for allowing this legislation to come to the floor. And I thank my good friend and former colleague, Secretary Zinke, for authoring this legislation with me. His support has been instrumental in ensuring the consideration of this bill, and I am deeply grateful to him. prgtoken One hundred years ago, Jeannette Rankin was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first woman elected to Congress, and was elected before passage of the 19th amendment which granted women the right to vote. prgtoken Jeannette Rankin was a trailblazer her entire life. In 1902, she graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in biology. Afterward, she became active in the women's suffrage movement, moving to New York City and assisting in the founding of the New York Women's Suffrage Party and working for the National American Woman Suffrage Association. prgtoken Rankin would eventually return to her home State of Montana, and was elected to office in the congressional election of 1916. Upon winning, she declared: ``I may be the first woman Member of Congress, but I won't be the last.'' prgtoken I am happy to say that she was right. prgtoken In recognition of Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin's many accomplishments, and in celebration of the centennial anniversary of her service in Congress, Secretary Zinke and I introduced the 100 Years of Women in Congress Act. prgtoken Because Jeannette Rankin was a woman of science more than 100 years before our current push to have more women enter STEM fields, we felt it appropriate to rename the Department of Agriculture's Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program after her. prgtoken This program currently supports collaborative research projects at institutions of higher education, and seeks to increase the participation of women and minorities from rural areas in STEM fields. It will continue to do so in the future, but now it will also recognize the many contributions Jeannette Rankin made to American life. prgtoken Madam , thank you again for allowing this legislation to the floor today, and thank you again to Secretary Zinke for partnering with me on it. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-20

I rise in opposition to the American Health Care Act. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I would like to answer President 's repeated question to the black community; ``what do we have to lose?'' Our healthcare, . The Affordable Care Act has been working. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act brought my district's uninsured rate from 27.3 percent down to 20.8 percent, and insured 265,600 individuals who didn't have health insurance before. While the main safety net provider in my district, Parkland Hospital, provided $1 billion in uncompensated care in 2015, Parkland and the other safety net providers faces severe financial burdens in the House GOP proposal. One of my main concerns with this bill is that it punishes people who get their coverage through Medicaid by capping and slashing the program. With 70 million Americans and 5.2 million Texans who currently rely on Medicaid, per capita caps on the program would not meet the needs of the population and people would suffer. prgtoken Under the proposal, millions of Americans will lose their coverage and families will pay more for fewer protections. To put this into exact numbers, according to a Congressional Budget Office report, 24 million people would lose coverage by 2026, and 7 million people would lose employer-based coverage. This bill includes an $880 billion cut to Medicaid, then cuts and caps the program so that it cannot expand and contract as needed. Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans and in 2015, Medicaid covered 11.2 million African Americans. This is a 25 percent cut to the program and it is harmful and unsustainable. prgtoken This piece of legislation forces Americans to pay more and get less. The average subsidy under the American Health Care Act will likely be about 60 percent of the average subsidy under current law. Deductibles and out-of-pocket spending in the individual market will have to increase due to the elimination of requirements that insurance plans cover a certain value. Americans will pay more for their premiums, more for their care, more on out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles; all the while giving tax breaks to the wealthy and the tanning industry. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to consider the harmful effects of this bill. Your constituents are asking you to work with to repair the Affordable Care Act. We are ready to work.
HONORING THE LATE ANTONIO CLAUDIO MARTINEZ
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-3-20

it is with great honor that I rise today to pay tribute to a community leader, a pioneer, and a humanitarian. prgtoken Mr. Antonio C. Martinez was one of the first Dominican-American members of the New York State Bar. He was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, in 1926, and immigrated to the United States with his mother through Ellis Island. He passed away on December 16, 1999, leaving behind a great legacy. prgtoken Antonio attended Hunter College in Manhattan and graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1956. And when the call to duty came during World War II, Antonio selflessly enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably in the Pacific theater. prgtoken Antonio dedicated his 43 years of legal career to immigration, assisting thousands of families through the process of legally entering the United States. His efforts and the cases he argued helped improve the law. prgtoken I am privileged to speak from my heart about Antonio's great work in the legal field, because my family and I were fortunate enough to have Antonio represent us when we needed to navigate the immigration system here in the United States. Antonio's dedication to our legal system played an important role. I am proud to say that, as the first Dominican-American Congressman, my family and I are very proud of the work he did. prgtoken Today, his professional legacy lives on. His son is here in the gallery. I am happy to recognize Antonio's work of many years.