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315 | 1,037,923 |
B001298
| 1,150 |
Don
|
Bacon
|
Don Bacon
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1963-08-16
| 53 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NE
|
INTRODUCING REPUBLICAN FRESHMEN
|
. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding, and, Mr what an honor to be able to introduce myself as a freshman of the 115th Congress and serve with some great colleagues and freshmen. It is great to be called a freshman again. It has been a long time since I have been called a freshman. prgtoken I am very honored to serve the Second District of Nebraska. It is one of three districts of the State that consists of a county-and-a-half around Omaha, and it is a great home, a great place to live. prgtoken I was raised on a farm in a small town in Illinois, Momence, Illinois, a town of about 1,800. We had corn, soybeans--I baled hay four times a year--beef cattle, and I did that until I was 21 years old. I know firsthand how hard our farmers work to make a living, and it is an honor to be able to serve on the Agriculture Committee to make a difference there. prgtoken I started serving in the Air Force back in 1985 as a 21-year-old, as a newlywed. My wife and I had 16 assignments; four different continents we were located in, coast to coast, and a lot of places in the middle. I was very honored to be able to serve as a commander of five different units, to include Ramstein Air Base in Germany. And there I got to see firsthand the importance of working with our allies and the importance of NATO, and I am going to take that experience with me. prgtoken I was also honored to serve as the commander of Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. I loved the missions there. I loved the people. I had several different flying missions, a nuclear mission there as well, and I look forward to being a strong voice for Offutt and our military community there. prgtoken I was also able to deploy four times to the Middle East, and I look forward to using the experiences that I have learned to make sure that our men and women are equipped and trained to win. prgtoken I also did missile defense in Israel. It was an honor to work with our Israeli friends. I look forward to being a strong voice to improve the friendship with our great ally Israel. prgtoken Out of those 16 assignments, I did have three assignments at Offutt, and I will tell you that my wife, Angie, and I loved eastern Nebraska. The people are friendly. They have character. They love the military. And we are so blessed to be able to call it our home now, and so honored to be able to represent the great people of the Second District. prgtoken I will be serving on three different committees. I will be on the Armed Services Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the Small Business Committee. I look forward to using my experiences to make a difference in all three. I am going to work my hardest on all three to make a difference. prgtoken One thing I am certain of: when Americans are put on a level playing field, we win. When our businessmen and -women and when our farmers are put on a level playing field, we win. prgtoken It has been our own government that has put our
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 3,000 | 567,268 |
300 | 1,037,956 |
H000338
| 104 |
Orrin
|
Hatch
|
Orrin G. Hatch
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1934-03-22
| 82 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
UT
|
PROVIDING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO A LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A REGULAR COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE ARMED FORCES
|
several years ago, in Congress pulled out all the stops to pass the so-called Affordable Care Act and force the system we now call Care on the American people. They passed the law on a purely partisan basis and without any regard for public opinion. Quite simply, it was one of the most blatant exercises in pure partisanship in our Nation's history. It deepened partisan divides in Washington and around the country and contributed to the cynicism many have about whether their government is actually paying attention to their needs. Worst of all, in the years since the passage of Care, the American people have been paying the price in the form of skyrocketing costs, fewer choices, burdensome mandates, and unfair taxes. prgtoken For 7 years, many of us in Congress--virtually all of us on the side--have been working to right what has gone wrong under the Affordable Care Act. We have pledged to our constituents that, given the opportunity, we would repeal Care and replace it with reforms more worthy of the American people. Those promises are among the biggest reasons why we s are now fortunate enough to find ourselves in control of Congress and, very soon, the White House. prgtoken Last night we took a big step in the effort to repeal and replace Care. With the budget resolution passed, many in Washington and in the media are talking about what happens next. We are hearing a lot of discussion about the timing of our repeal-and-replace efforts, with some arguing that we should hit the brakes and solve every problem in advance of taking another vote. My view is that the repeal of Care cannot wait. The American people need us to act now. While there is still some debate as to what our replacement plan should look like, a majority of Senators voted last night to give us the tools to take the next steps to repeal and replace Care. The American people have entrusted us with the power to do just that. prgtoken We could spend the next several months coming up with more slogans and analogies, but this is not a campaign. The elections have been won, and it is time to do what our constituents have sent us here to do. I am not saying we need to put off the replacement effort. On the contrary, I think it is important that the legislation we draft pursuant to the budget reconciliation instructions include as many sensible health reforms as possible, keeping in mind the limitations that exist with our rules and the necessary vote count. prgtoken We should definitely work on making the largest possible downpayment on the Care replacement with the budget reconciliation bill. That downpayment should include measures that give individuals and families more control over their health care decisions and empower States to do more of the heavy lifting when it comes to regulating health care. In addition, we need to provide for a smooth transition period so w
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 3,000 | 567,292 |
307 | 1,037,880 |
C001062
| 674 |
K.
|
Conaway
|
K. Michael Conaway
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1948-06-11
| 68 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
TX
|
COMMODITY END-USER RELIEF ACT
|
I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. Those of you who paid attention prgtoken to the debate earlier in the day will find it curious that much of the debate, some of the debate, was about the specificity with which we instructed the CFTC to set up a regime in which to evaluate foreign jurisdictions, and it irritated the group. In fact, many of them are voting against it because that is in the underlying bill that is there, so I oppose the gentleman's amendment. prgtoken I also don't know that it wouldn't require a referral to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and while the vaunted Committee on Agriculture would love to claim all the jurisdiction we possibly could, I am not interested in referring it to a different committee. prgtoken For 4 years now, the end users and folks have been waiting to get this thing done. It is time for us to get it done. I urge my colleagues to vote against this motion to recommit and support the Commodity End- User Relief Act. prgtoken , .
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 1,061 | 567,236 |
316 | 1,037,921 |
M001201
| 1,172 |
Paul
|
Mitchell
|
Paul Mitchell
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1961-05-08
| 55 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
MI
|
INTRODUCING REPUBLICAN FRESHMEN
|
I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. prgtoken , I rise to thank the people of Michigan's 10th Congressional District. I am honored to represent them and humbled by their trust in electing me to the 115th Congress. prgtoken The weight of this office is not lost on me. As Majority Leader McCarthy said: If you walk on the floor of this House and you don't get goosebumps, it's time to go home. prgtoken Standing here at this podium, I have goosebumps. prgtoken People often ask me why I ran for Congress. Put simply, I ran with the goal of helping people achieve their American Dream. For too many, the idea of the American Dream is just that: an idea, a fantasy, a fairytale. prgtoken I believe in the American Dream because I have lived it. I was born in South Boston to a working class family. Opportunity took my family to Michigan when I was 11. My dad got a good job building trucks on the line at General Motors, and my mom worked at the Salvation Army. My parents worked hard to provide for me and my six younger siblings. I learned the value of hard work at a young age watching my parents. prgtoken I was the first of my extended family to go to college and worked full-time to pay for my education; and then I dedicated my career to workforce training, helping people build the skills necessary to get good jobs to begin their careers to support their families. There is something about the pride that comes when someone gets a job. Their whole world changes when they see what they are able to achieve and what their work does for their families. prgtoken Over the last several years, failed policies and an unstable economy have put the American Dream out of reach for many. Though overall unemployment rates are down, long-term unemployment is high; labor force participation rates have dropped dramatically, and wage growth is anemic. prgtoken Instead of getting ahead, many Americans are just getting by. prgtoken In the November elections, Americans screamed for relief. My message to the people of Michigan's 10th District is that your voices have been heard. We are already working here in the House on measures to roll back regulations to support families, businesses, and the economy, and to breathe life back into the American Dream. prgtoken In order to make it possible for more people to achieve their American Dream, we must give them the freedom and the tools to succeed. This begins by stemming the extreme regulatory overreach, fixing our healthcare system, and strengthening our workforce prgtoken while restoring our critical infrastructure. prgtoken As we have learned in the last 8 years, we cannot regulate our way towards a stronger economy. The opposite is true: government overreach cripples our economy. From my years of running a business, I have firsthand knowledge of how excessive regulations make it harder to succeed. Time and resources that could be better spent on growing a business and creati
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 3,000 | 567,266 |
302 | 1,037,993 |
P000449
| 127 |
Robert
|
Portman
|
Rob Portman
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1955-12-19
| 61 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
OH
|
INVESTIGATION ON INTERNET SEX TRAFFICKERS
|
I rise today during Human Trafficking Awareness Week to talk about the scourge of human trafficking, and, specifically, about an investigation that the Senate has just concluded that matters to every single State represented in this Chamber and to every American. prgtoken We are told now that human trafficking, including sex trafficking, is a $150 billion a year industry. That makes it the second largest criminal enterprise in the world, behind the drug trade. Unfortunately, it is happening in all of our States, including my home State of Ohio. It is growing as a problem. prgtoken A couple of weeks ago, two people were arrested in my home town of Cincinnati in connection with sex trafficking. Police charged a women with luring an underage girl to commit a sex act with a 56-year-old man. prgtoken That was just 2 weeks after police in Blue Ash, OH, just up the road, broke up what they said was a sex trafficking ring at a hotel. Police said that two men and two women rented two rooms at a hotel, paying cash, and forced four different women to perform sex acts. The women were given crack cocaine and heroin, presumably to keep them dependent on their traffickers. prgtoken This is what I am hearing back home a lot when I talk to victims of sex trafficking. Typically, drugs are involved. In Ohio, it is usually heroin. These cases are alarming, and, unfortunately, we have reasons to believe that the problem is getting worse not better. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, really, the expert on this issue, particularly of kids who get involved in sex trafficking, reports an 846-percent increase in reports of suspected child sex trafficking from 2010 to 2015. That is an over 800-percent increase just in those 5 years. prgtoken The organization found this spike to be ``directly correlated to the increased use of the Internet to sell children for sex.'' So it is kind of the dark side of the Internet, isn't it. What I am told sometimes by survivors of trafficking is that they say: Rob, this has moved from the street corner to the cell phone. There is widespread evidence that sex trafficking is increasingly doing that all over our country. prgtoken In order to confront this problem, as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, along with my colleague and ranking member Senator Claire McCaskill, I opened a bipartisan investigation into sex traffickers and their use of the Internet. This investigation began about 2 years ago. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says that nearly three-quarters--73 percent--of all suspected child sex trafficking reports it receives from the general public through its cyber tip line are linked to one Web site--a single Web site. That Web site is called Backpage.com. prgtoken According to a leading anti-trafficking organization called Shared Hope International, ``[s]ervice providers working with child sex trafficking victims have
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 3,000 | 567,300 |
310 | 1,037,682 |
C001087
| 957 |
Eric
|
Crawford
|
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1966-01-22
| 50 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
AR
|
COMMODITY END-USER RELIEF ACT
|
5 years of bipartisan committee work has contributed to the drafting of H.R. 238, the Commodity End-User Relief Act. It is time we passed it for the sake of businesses across the United States who need greater certainty in managing their risk. prgtoken In advance of writing this legislation to reauthorize the CFTC, the House Committee on Agriculture held 22 hearings on the future of the Commission and the state of the derivatives industry. I mention the number 22 to highlight how extensive the data collection and deliberation has been. prgtoken To make this reauthorization as complete and thorough as possible, those 22 hearings collected feedback and testimony from every segment of the futures and swaps markets, from end users to regulators. We have used the testimony to draft legislation that will make derivatives markets work better for those who need them most: businesses trying to manage their risk. prgtoken But not only is this reauthorization language exhaustively researched, it has also already been approved by this Chamber multiple times, starting in the 113th Congress. prgtoken In the 113th Congress, the Committee completed H.R. 4413, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support. In the 114th Congress, we put forward the Commodity End-User Relief Act of 2015, which was very similar to H.R. 4413, and also passed the House with support from both parties. Now, not only is H.R. 238 virtually identical to the reauthorization bill, which passed the House last Congress, H.R. 238 also includes the amendments that were adopted on the House floor during debate. prgtoken I will turn my focus toward the people that this tested and proven language will help, largely end users. Although end users are not investors, speculators, or risk takers, they have borne the brunt of many of the consequences of new regulations. prgtoken Derivatives are used by a huge swath of businesses for risk management purposes, including manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and other businesses that buy or sell products overseas, pension funds, insurance companies, and others who face risks that the prices for their business inputs and outputs frequently fluctuate. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this long overdue legislation.
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 2,307 | 567,149 |
305 | 1,037,951 |
C001035
| 191 |
Susan
|
Collins
|
Susan M. Collins
| 20,170,112 |
F
|
1952-12-07
| 64 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
ME
|
PROVIDING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO A LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A REGULAR COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE ARMED FORCES
|
today I wish to support the legislative waiver required for retired General James Mattis to become the next Secretary of Defense. prgtoken The principle of civilian control of the military has been fundamental to the concept of American Government since the inception of our Republic. It was the Continental Congress that granted General George Washington his commission, and General Washington reported to that legislative body throughout the entire war. prgtoken At the conclusion of the war, General Washington was the most popular and important figure in America. He easily could have positioned himself as the leader of the American government and, in fact, was urged to do so by many. Instead, General Washington famously resigned his commission on December 23, 1783, thus firmly establishing the principle that, in this new country, ultimate authority over the Armed Forces would rest with democratically elected civilians. General Washington's noble act was the foundation of such an important tenet of our democracy that the scene is depicted in a magnificent painting by John Trumbull, which occupies a prominent position in the rotunda of the United States Capitol. prgtoken The principle of civilian control of the military was at the center of the debate when the structure of our Armed Forces was dramatically reorganized after World War II. A congressional consensus emerged from the military readiness failures of Pearl Harbor that the modern world required a more significant standing military force with a more centralized command structure. But harkening back to the precedent established by George Washington, it was imperative that this new structure have civilian leadership. This was especially concerning at the time, given the number of remarkable generals who had deservedly attained heroic status in the eyes of the American public and the free world. Thus, in 1947, Congress passed section 202 of the National Security Act, which provided that the Secretary of Defense needed to have at least a 10-year gap, later reduced to 7, from any military service. prgtoken Since that time, 16 of the past 24 Defense Secretaries have had some prior military service. If approved, however, Gen. Mattis would only be the second Defense Secretary to receive a congressional waiver of the law--the other being General George Marshall in 1950. prgtoken In order to examine this important history and review the wisdom of granting a waiver for Gen. Mattis, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing exploring the issue of civilian control of the Armed Forces. After carefully reviewing the testimony from those hearings, I do support making an additional, one-time exception to the law in the specific case of James Mattis. prgtoken In 1950, the world was a tumultuous place, with a hot war in Korea coupled with the extraordinary risks associated with a growing cold war in the nuclear age. President Truman turned to Gener
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 3,000 | 567,289 |
308 | 1,037,812 |
T000470
| 889 |
Scott
|
Tipton
|
Scott R. Tipton
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1956-11-09
| 60 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
CO
|
SEC REGULATORY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
|
the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act subjects the SEC to enhanced cost-benefit analysis requirements and requires a review of existing regulations. prgtoken By promoting economic analysis requirements during the regulatory process, this bill ensures that regulation writing is data driven and not done on an ad hoc basis with little thought to the true impact the expanding regulatory net has on businesses and the economy. prgtoken It is a mistake for regulators overseeing our financial system and the capital markets, including the SEC, to promulgate regulations without fully considering the costs and benefits, as well as all of the available regulatory alternatives. prgtoken This bill also takes the commonsense approach of requiring the SEC to evaluate whether a proposed regulation is inconsistent with, or duplicative of, other Federal regulations. When our businesses are being overwhelmed by compliance obligations that demand more and more time and resources, it is crucial that our regulators do everything in their power to ensure that regulations are effective, streamlined, and nonduplicative to minimize impact. prgtoken It is important to note that this legislation does not limit the SEC's rulemaking authority in any capacity. The bill appropriately strengthens the SEC's existing cost-benefit-related requirements to ensure that the true impact of regulations can be calculated. prgtoken To advocate for the status quo and against this legislation shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the financial system and the regulatory process. This legislation is a vote of confidence that, with the appropriate tools and a data-driven approach, our regulatory agencies can create a framework of safety and soundness that does not unduly burden our economy. prgtoken I am happy to lend my support to this bill and encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense measure. I, again, thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for her efforts on this legislation.
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 2,010 | 567,207 |
312 | 1,037,997 |
D000618
| 1,008 |
Steve
|
Daines
|
Steve Daines
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1962-08-20
| 54 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
MT
|
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
|
this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Mack Cole of Treasure County, a third generation Montanan and dedicated public servant. Next month, Mr. Cole will celebrate 55 years of marriage with his wife, Judy. Mack and Judy Cole were married in February 10, 1962, in the town of Hysham, one of the many beautiful small communities in the quiet and peaceful high plains of eastern Montana. prgtoken After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cole spent 2 years in South America, providing much needed services while working for the Food for Peace Program in Brazil. Mr. Cole's experience in South America would serve as a trailhead for a lifelong journey of civic minded virtue and dedication on behalf of his fellow citizens. prgtoken In the late 1970s, Mr. and Mrs. Cole moved down the road, west on I- 90 to Billings, MT, and they continued to build upon their honorable records of public service. During this chapter of his life, Mr. Cole worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in multiple western States and was involved in a wide variety of programs, including the development of irrigation projects. His work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs took him to Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. After retiring from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1993, the Coles moved back to the family ranch outside of Hysham. prgtoken Mr. Cole continued his distinguished record of public service by representing the people of Treasure County in the Montana Legislature, retiring from the State senate in 2003. During his time in legislature and even after retirement from public life, Mr. Cole has always been a steadfast supporter of responsible energy development, a critical component for the livelihood of many of his friends and neighbors. prgtoken His humble efforts to help provide food to the hungry, keep water flowing to farms and ranches ensuring energy was always ready at the flip of a switch make him a great Montanan. It is hard to find a better example of a fellow Montanan that is always ready to offer a helping hand. prgtoken I want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Cole for his dedication and service to Montana and our country.
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 2,178 | 567,303 |
304 | 1,037,977 |
M000355
| 188 |
Mitch
|
McConnell
|
Mitch McConnell
| 20,170,112 |
M
|
1942-02-20
| 74 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
KY
|
PROVIDING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO A LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A REGULAR COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE ARMED FORCES
|
I ask unanimous consent that at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 72; further, that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form, and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of H.R. 72 with no intervening action or debate; finally, that if passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
| 2,017 | 1 | 12 | 591 | 567,299 |
361 | 1,038,262 |
H001048
| 809 |
Duncan
|
Hunter
|
Duncan Hunter
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1976-12-07
| 40 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
CA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in strong support of S. 84. prgtoken Here is what I think this is about. We feel slighted. We in Congress feel slighted that the administration did not deign to have General Mattis come and speak to us, the House, which is not required by any law, not required by any statute. We feel slighted. prgtoken I do feel the same way that the ranking member feels, in terms of how the administration is treating the House of Representatives and this body. prgtoken But it is times like this where we need to rise above the slights from the future administration. I think there are going to be a few more. I think this future administration does not hold this body in the highest regard. That is going to become evident over the next 4 years. prgtoken I think we are going to have to take things like that as a body and do what is best for this Nation. That is why they argue with the process and that the House was slighted by the future President. I understand it. I feel that as well. But it is time for us to say: hey, we need to be above that. This is about the future of our Nation, it is about our men and women who are serving in conflict right now, under fire, and they need General Mattis as their Secretary of Defense. prgtoken For those who assert that the Marshall prohibition, which bars, in the absence of a waiver, a general from becoming Secretary of Defense, a glance at the operational chain of command is in order. prgtoken Under the U.S. Constitution and statute, the command of the Armed Forces flows from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commanders around the world. The idea that a link in the chain of commanding operations--namely, the Secretary of Defense-- cannot be a military leader is nonsensical. General Mattis will bring insight to a job that no background in academia or business could ever provide. prgtoken Lastly, when I met General Mattis for the very first time, I was going to Iraq from Kuwait. We got ambushed by machine gun. I got shot in the arm. He drops into my Humvee. We pull out of the ambush area. prgtoken My convoy gets up to Dewaniya where Jim Mattis is. I had never met him. I had heard of him a little bit. I was a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. I didn't know much about much at that point. There is General Mattis in the operation center.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,359 | 567,474 |
358 | 1,038,012 |
S001154
| 546 |
Bill
|
Shuster
|
Bill Shuster
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1961-01-10
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
PA
|
TRIBUTE TO PENNSYLVANIA STATE TROOPER LANDON E. WEAVER
|
we started this week with National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. I appreciate every colleague of mine who came to praise our men and women who keep us safe in the most perilous of times. The greatest souls of this nation run towards the danger, never thinking of themselves, but always ensuring those around them are safe. These men and women are our protectors, our guards, our stalwarts. And I rise today to pay tribute to one of the greatest in our nation, who was senselessly and tragically taken from us too soon. Landon Eugene Weaver was a proud son of Pennsylvania. He was born in Altoona, and graduated from Central High School in Martinsburg. He attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania until he was accepted into the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, achieving his life-long dream to become a State Trooper. On June 4th last year, he married his high school sweetheart Macy at Zion Lutheran Church in Williamsburg. Thirteen days later, Trooper Weaver graduated from the State Police Academy and was assigned to Troop G of the Pennsylvania State Police, Huntingdon Barracks where he proudly swore his life to protecting and defending our commonwealth. Like most of us, Landon and his wife had big plans for the New Year and their life ahead. They were going to buy a house and start a family together. Landon was going to continue doing the only job he has ever wanted to do--protect his community as a Pennsylvania State Trooper Trooper Weaver's short watch came to an end on December 30, 2016, just 49 days after his 23rd birthday. Trooper Weaver was responding to a domestic incident in Juniata Township, Huntingdon County, when he was shot and killed. He died doing what he did every day, trying to make life for others a little bit better and a little bit safer than the day before. Last Thursday, January 5th, was Landon's funeral. It was here, Mr where the true magnitude of our community's loss could be felt the most. His wife Macy, now a young widow, was forced to say farewell to her best friend and husband. Landon's parents had to do the hardest thing a parent ever has to do: put their son to rest. More than 1,000 law enforcement officers from around the nation, representing virtually every state, attended Trooper Weaver's funeral to say goodbye to their brother. Police uniforms of every color and squad cars of every design followed Trooper Weaver, lights flashing, to escort him to his final resting place in Martinsburg. Trooper Weaver lived up to the call of honor of the Pennsylvania State Police, which states: I am a Pennsylvania State Trooper, a soldier of the law. To me is entrusted the honor of the force. I must serve honestly, faithfully, and if need be, lay down my life as others have done before me, rather than swerve from the path of duty. It is my duty to obey the law and to enforce it without any consideration of class, color,
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,312 |
357 | 1,038,259 |
W000804
| 778 |
Robert
|
Wittman
|
Robert J. Wittman
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1959-02-03
| 57 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
VA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in support of S. 84, a bill that would allow for General James Mattis to be considered for an appointment as the 26th Secretary of Defense of the United States. prgtoken Leading up to this vote, I have heard time and time again from my colleagues that they respect General Mattis' service to our country. I have also heard that they understand him to be an intelligent, capable leader. Some have even gone so far as to say he is a military hero. I don't doubt the sincerity of my colleagues' words. In fact, I echo them. prgtoken But for some of my colleagues, this praise for General Mattis is followed by what I believe is a flawed line of thinking. I have heard the argument that this vote we have before us today is not about General Mattis. prgtoken My friends, today's vote is clearly about General Mattis. Make no mistake, a ``yes'' vote today will not permanently change the requirements prohibiting the appointment of anyone inside of 7 years of Active Duty service. prgtoken This vote will provide a one-time-only exception for General Mattis, a man of the utmost character. prgtoken The original intent of this law was to prevent an Active-Duty servicemember from retiring and then becoming Secretary of Defense within the same Presidential administration. With President-elect raising his right hand in 7 days, it is clear that General Mattis does not violate the law's original intent. The fact that we are here to deliberate this issue only proves that the nomination and appointment process works. prgtoken I am encouraged that we are having this debate today. But at the end of the day, we should not deny the best candidate to become the Secretary of Defense. prgtoken A vote of ``no'' is a vote against General James Mattis. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in voting in favor of an exception for an exceptional American, General James Mattis.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,907 | 567,472 |
368 | 1,038,073 |
W000810
| 950 |
Rob
|
Woodall
|
Rob Woodall
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1970-02-11
| 46 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
GA
| null |
such time as I may consume. prgtoken I was not in Congress at the time the Affordable Care Act passed, but I remember it, watching from home. We talk about this as if it was some sort of thoughtfully crafted piece of legislation that folks are so tremendously proud of. I happen to have the numbers here, . prgtoken It was H.R. 4872 that moved through the House, that was the authorizing part. We had three votes in the U.S. House of Representatives on that bill. We had a motion to recommit, as it was not actually a healthcare bill to begin with, and a vote on final passage. prgtoken Then it went over to the U.S. Senate where they worked their will on it. They had 43 votes on it, amendments offered, ideas, and changes. prgtoken Then it came back to the House where we changed it not at all. There was one straight partisan vote on the Affordable Care Act. Not one idea from the U.S. House of Representatives added, not one change from the U.S. House of Representatives, not one alteration of any kind. prgtoken As you recall, , they had a filibuster-proof majority in the United States Senate, so could work their will any way they wanted. When they lost that filibuster-proof majority--they only had 59 votes out of 100 instead of 60--they ended debate, they ended discussion, they ended collaboration and jammed what they had passed at midnight on Christmas Eve right on through the U.S. House of Representatives. I can't imagine who defends that as the proper outcome of the legislative process. We have a chance to change that, Mr. . prgtoken I am glad that my friend from Connecticut has some constituents that have benefited. I have some constituents that have benefited. But I have constituents who are being failed, and I know my friend from Connecticut does, too. prgtoken I am glad that my friends on the other side of the aisle are talking about all of their success stories, but I want my friends to join me and grapple with all of the failures. prgtoken I will not deny the way the conversation about health care has changed since the passage of the Affordable Care Act--folks talking about preexisting conditions, folks talking about lifetime caps, folks talking about keeping young kids on their policies until they are 26. prgtoken I just don't understand why my colleagues would deny that folks who used to have care, now don't. Folks who used to have affordable plans, now don't. Folks who used to be able to take care of their employees through their small business plans, now can't. This is undisputed, and we have an opportunity to do better. I hope my colleagues will join me in doing that. prgtoken .
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,719 | 567,361 |
346 | 1,038,292 |
B001298
| 1,150 |
Don
|
Bacon
|
Don Bacon
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1963-08-16
| 53 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NE
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in support of S. 84 today to do this one-time exception so that we can have General Mattis as our next Secretary of Defense. prgtoken Today our Nation is confronted with a complex array of transregional threats. We exist in one of the most dynamic and dangerous periods in our history, and this list of threats grow more vast and more dangerous. In the meantime, our military readiness is at dangerous lows and our modernization falls behind. Amidst these dangers, we are fortunate to be presented with a historic opportunity to select and elevate one of the most distinguished military leaders in our Nation's history to the position of Secretary of Defense. prgtoken General Mattis is many things. He is an infantry marine, a decorated warrior, an experienced combat leader, and a respected commander who has fought our Nation's wars and knows firsthand the human costs of war and the consequences of operating unguided by strategy. prgtoken James Mattis is also a strategic thinker who understands that true strength and security results from coordinated application of all elements of national power: our diplomatic influence, our economic wealth, our values, and, only when absolutely necessary, our military force. prgtoken , not since George Marshall have we had a nominee whose distinguished military service record and mastery of operational art is matched by his intellectual prowess and grasp of strategy. One thing else is clear: not since General George Marshall have we needed this type of leader as our Secretary of Defense. prgtoken We need a Secretary of Defense Mattis on day one of the administration. A vote ``no'' means we won't have him on day one. It could be day 3 or day 30. prgtoken Our men and women in uniform deserve General Mattis as their Secretary of Defense on day one. These are extraordinary times, and General Mattis is an extraordinary leader. We need him on day one. I urge support for the one-time exception.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,988 | 567,488 |
354 | 1,038,124 |
G000576
| 1,073 |
Glenn
|
Grothman
|
Glenn Grothman
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1955-07-03
| 61 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
WI
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. I thank the gentlewoman. prgtoken , it is not a surprise, when you try to take over such a sizable chunk of America's economy, that you have all sorts of unintended bad consequences. I am going to focus on two consequences that are true of so many programs that the government puts out there. prgtoken First of all, Care is one more program that discourages work. If you talk to your accountants again and again, they will tell you stories of people who are very conscious of the fact that, as they get a raise, as they work more overtime, they lose big subsidies. If I were to lose my next election, Care would continue. As my income would go up from $49,000 to $50,000, I would get hammered with a $4,500 loss. So it wouldn't be surprising that people in my position would be very careful not to get a raise or not to work overtime. prgtoken Even worse, this is one more government program that discourages marriage. If you have a single parent who is making $20,000 and if he decided to marry somebody making $30,000 or $40,000, he would be hammered with a $3,500 loss. Combined with the FoodShare program, the low-income housing subsidies, Pell grants, and various TANF programs, this is just one more step that the American Government has taken to discourage work and to discourage marriage.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,336 | 567,396 |
379 | 1,038,038 |
C001093
| 980 |
Doug
|
Collins
|
Doug Collins
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1966-08-16
| 50 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
GA
|
HART COUNTY LIBRARY
|
I rise today to recognize the dedication and enthusiasm of the team at the Hart County Library, located in Hartwell, Georgia. prgtoken The library, which had its humble beginnings in 1938 as a small lending library, has continuously sought to educate and inspire prgtoken residents in the community it serves. In 2015, the Georgia Public Library Service established a Library Awards program to recognize individuals and libraries that provide outstanding service and achievements within Georgia's public library system. prgtoken Hart County Library has been recognized as Georgia's Public Library of the Year for 2016, which is a testament to the professionals who positively impact the lives of residents through their expertise and service. prgtoken Georgia currently has 400 public library facilities, and Georgia's Library Awards program has created a tremendous amount of awareness and support for public libraries, reading, and imagination across Georgia. prgtoken , I am honored to recognize the staff of the Hart County Library for their work to make these achievements possible. These individuals have truly invested in the community by promoting a more educated and enlightened Georgia.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,216 | 567,336 |
369 | 1,038,102 |
R000592
| 934 |
Todd
|
Rokita
|
Todd Rokita
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1970-02-09
| 46 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
IN
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding the time. It is a pleasure to continue our work together on this very important issue. prgtoken It has taken us 6 years to get to today, the first real step in repealing what is one of the most insidious laws that ever came out of these Chambers--insidious because it was built on lies. Remember ``You can keep your doctor if you want to,'' ``You can keep your plan if you want to''? Lies. Remember when premiums were to go down because this, of course, , was the Affordable Care Act? Lies. prgtoken The gentleman from Kentucky made some assertions just a while ago. I want to take a look at the State of Kentucky itself. Four plans left the Care exchange at the end of 2016 in the State of Kentucky. Of the remaining plans, each increased their premiums by double digits: 22.9 percent, 29.3 percent, and 33.7 percent, respectively, for 2017. And Kentucky's exchange enrollment decreased by 12 percent. prgtoken How, , is this helping people? prgtoken Look, if we didn't care about people, we could stand by and watch this failed plan, this insidious law continue to implode, continue to hurt people. Instead, we stand here ready to erase the foundation that this law was based on and put forth a better one, one that doesn't leave anyone behind, one that is based on market-driven, consumer- driven, patient-driven needs and expectations and allows them to, for example, keep their job. prgtoken What do I mean by that, ? Consider this. Not only do we have bad healthcare outcomes as a result of this insidious law, people are losing work. They are being robbed of their dignity to work. Since Care, 21 percent of businesses are reducing the number of employees, their wages and salaries and their benefits, including their retirement benefits. prgtoken So this insidious law is not only having detrimental implications on our health care and people's health, but it is taking away the very dignity that they have to work. prgtoken It is also spelling the death of health savings accounts, proven over the last several years to be part of the solution to consumer-driven health care. The idea that you can save for your healthcare expenses, with or without the government's help, so that you can make value decisions as to your health care without government interference. It leads to better patient outcomes. It leads to freedom to make healthcare decisions absent the oversight of the government. Care all but outlawed health savings accounts. I think prgtoken health savings accounts are probably in every one of those different plans the chairwoman pointed out. prgtoken So we are offering a replacement. We are offering solutions. We are offering a better way.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,793 | 567,379 |
381 | 1,038,047 |
R000409
| 315 |
Dana
|
Rohrabacher
|
Dana Rohrabacher
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1947-06-21
| 69 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
CA
|
SAVE CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
|
today, I will reintroduce legislation entitled, Save the Christians From Genocide Act. The bill declares Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, and Libya as targets of genocide, and thus gives them a priority for immigrant and refugee visas. prgtoken Importantly, this bill does not circumvent or change current vetting processes, but rather simply ensures that these targets of genocide are placed at the front of the line for immigration and refugee visa processing. prgtoken The Save the Christians From Genocide Act was submitted but not brought to the floor for a vote in the last Congress. During that time, thousands of Christians have been killed and often turned into helpless and hopeless refugees on the run from radical Islamic terrorism. The Save the Christians From Genocide Act will give Middle East Christians a safe haven. prgtoken Christians are being slaughtered. As we speak today, Christians are being slaughtered in the Middle East. We must save them if we can.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,018 | 567,343 |
348 | 1,038,014 |
B001291
| 1,078 |
Brian
|
Babin
|
Brian Babin
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1948-03-23
| 68 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
TX
|
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL
|
I rise today to recognize the Centennial Year of the Lions Club International. Founded by Melvin Jones in June, 1917, the Lions Club was established as a place where men of, ``drive, intelligence and ambition,'' could come together and, ``put their talents to work improving their communities.'' It was Jones' vision that the Lions Club become the global leader in community and humanitarian service. Indeed, 100 years later the Lions Club has become an international movement with 1.4 million men and women across nearly 200 countries-- including my hometown of Woodville, Texas. Across the globe, the Lions Club is empowering volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding. As a Lions Club member myself, I share this commitment to serving others. prgtoken My own club, in Woodville Texas is part of Lions Club District 2-S1, and the 36th Congressional District that I represent is encompassed by both Lions Club Districts 2-S1 and 2-S2. Members within these districts are paragons of servant leadership, and have mobilized to support countless worthy causes across Texas--including natural disaster recovery, vision screenings and diabetes awareness. I want to take the time to personally thank each Lions Club within these two districts, and commend the dedication and servant leadership that each Lion gives to their community. District 2-S1: Alto Lions Club, Angelina County Ladies Lions Club, Beaumont Breakfast Lions Club, Beaumont Founders, Beaumont South/Forest Park Lions Club, Beckville Lions Club, Bridge City Lions Club, Buna Lions Club, Burkeville--Toledo Bend Lions Club, Carthage Noon Lions Club, Center Noon Lions Club, Chester Lions Club, Corrigan Lions Club, Cushing Lions Club, Diboll Lions Club, Dick Dowling Lions Club, Garrison Lions Club, Groveton Lions Club, Hamshire Fannett Lions Club, Hemphill Lions Club, Jacksonville Lions Club, Jasper Evening Lions Club, Jasper Lions Club, Kirbyville Lions Club, Lamar University, Little Cypress Lions Club, Livingston Lions Club, Lufkin Evening Lions Club, Lufkin Host Lions Club, Lumberton Lions Club, Metro Lions Club, Nacogdoches Breakfast Lions Club, Nacogdoches Ladies Lions Club, Nederland Professional Lions Club, New Summerfield Lions Club, Newton Lions Club, Onalaska Greater Lions Club, Orange Lions Club, Orange Noon Lions Club, Panola County Lions Club, Port Arthur Founders, Port Neches Lions Club, Rusk Lions Club, San Augustine Lions Club, Shelbyville Lions Club, prgtoken Silsbee Lions Club, Sour Lake Lions Club, South County Breakfast Lions Club, Spurger Lions Club, Trinity Lions Club, Vidor Lions Club, Winnie Stowell Lions Club, Woodville Lions Club. prgtoken District 2-S2: Alief Lions Clubs, Anahuac Lions Clubs, Barbers Hill Lions Clubs, Baytown Lions Clubs, Brookshire/Pattison Lions Clubs, Cleveland Lions Clubs, Conroe Noon Lions Clubs, Crosby Lions Clubs, Cut and Shoot Family Li
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,314 |
367 | 1,038,253 |
R000575
| 606 |
Mike
|
Rogers
|
Mike Rogers
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1958-07-16
| 58 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
AL
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise today in strong support of the rule and passage of H.R. 393, to allow retired General James Mattis to become our Nation's 26th Secretary of Defense. prgtoken First of all, I would like to say that I believe civilian control over our military is one of the pivotal principles of our Republic. This body must ensure that our military leaders remain accountable to civilian authorities lest we put our hard-won liberties at risk. prgtoken That is why, before I decided to vote for this waiver, I had to answer two very important questions. First, does the appointment of James Mattis present any threat at all to the concept of civilian control of our military? prgtoken The answer is clearly no. James Mattis has demonstrated his openness as a straight shooter throughout his long career. I am confident he will continue to candidly face the problems in the Department of Defense and be a positive force for change. prgtoken It is James Mattis' record of reform-minded openness, his scholarly understanding of history and military matters, and his almost 4-year separation from defense interests, that assures me that this waiver, as a unique measure, poses no risk to civilian control of the military. prgtoken The second question, then: Is the appointment of James Mattis worth waiving the 7-year requirement? prgtoken The answer is clearly yes. The United States Armed Forces are at a pivotal moment in their history. After 8 years of neglect under this administration, our military has been brought to its lowest point in the past 4 decades. prgtoken James Mattis has the experience, knowledge, and leadership skills to rally the services while they rebuild for the next 4 decades. He will start on day one with a strong grasp of the challenges facing our military and with the ideas to meet those challenges. That is why I support this one-time waiver, which will allow James Mattis to serve as our Nation's 26th Secretary of Defense.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,968 | 567,470 |
351 | 1,038,249 |
T000463
| 662 |
Michael
|
Turner
|
Michael R. Turner
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1960-01-11
| 57 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
OH
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
the United States and our allies currently face some of the most complex security challenges in our recent history. ISIS continues to sweep across much of the Middle East. An expansionist China continues to develop its military prowess in order to counter the United States and its allies in the region. We continue to face a nuclear threat posed by countries such as North Korea and Iran; and an increasingly hostile Russia seeks to destabilize much of Europe. prgtoken It is imperative that the Department of Defense not lose continuity in leadership, administration, and governance. General Mattis must be confirmed expeditiously. Such a lapse would create vulnerabilities in our national security strategy and would be detrimental to the safety and security of our Armed Forces. prgtoken Civilian control of military is undoubtedly crucial to the success and health of our Defense Department. This candidate's military experience alone should not bar him from serving in a civilian role as the Secretary of Defense. It actually enhances the capabilities he brings to the job. This is a unique exception for a candidate whose exemplary leadership and experience would come at a crucial time for our country and for our men and women in uniform. prgtoken I understand that many of our colleagues across the aisle are choosing to vote against a waiver for General Mattis, despite the fact that they support General Mattis himself as an eminently qualified nominee for the Secretary of Defense. That is a mistake. To do so is self-defeating. prgtoken Under these circumstances, a vote against the process by which General Mattis is nominated is, in fact, a vote against General Mattis himself from becoming our next Secretary of Defense. prgtoken I thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership throughout these important deliberations and for his work for obtaining this waiver for General Mattis and for the future of the service of General Mattis to our country. prgtoken I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support S. 84.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,068 | 567,468 |
355 | 1,038,301 |
D000621
| 993 |
Ron
|
DeSantis
|
Ron DeSantis
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1978-09-14
| 38 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
FL
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in support of this measure. prgtoken I think it is important to point out that when you talk about civilian control, General Mattis is, in fact, a civilian. He is not in command of any Marine divisions right now. I don't think prior military service should be held against him when he has the ability to offer additional service to the country. prgtoken I hear this argument that: Well, he is a retired general, he is subject to the UCMJ. That is not an argument that has much merit. If that were the case, you couldn't have retired military officers serve in the Congress. If they were still considered military officers, it would violate the incompatibility clause of the Constitution. prgtoken Now, this 7-year statutory restriction, I think it is understandable, but I don't think it is in any way sacrosanct. If you go back to the founding of our country, a 7-year restriction would have prevented George Washington from being the first civilian commander in chief because he had resigned his commission in 1784, he took prgtoken the oath of office as our first President in 1789. Nobody was under any illusions that he was a civilian, and he was somebody who was revered. prgtoken Now, it is true the Founders feared the civil being subordinate to the military, but that is because they thought government could be overrun by a military junta. We don't have that danger here. We have a civilian President of the United States, a civilian Congress that is charged under the Constitution with providing and maintaining our Navy, with raising and supporting our armies, and prescribing rules for the regulation of the Armed Forces, and we will have Jim Mattis, who is a civilian, as a Secretary of Defense. prgtoken This man, Jim Mattis, has been a faithful servant to our country. He is also a strategic thinker, who I think can do a great job in rebuilding our military and getting our national security policy on a firmer, stronger foundation.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,992 | 567,491 |
373 | 1,038,158 |
M001198
| 1,186 |
Roger
|
Marshall
|
Roger Marshall
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1960-08-09
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
KS
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise today in support of today's resolution to repeal the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken As a physician, I have lived the nightmare of the ACA for the past 6 years. Because of Care, I know more physicians leaving their practice this year than any other year. With $12,000 deductibles and annual premium spikes of over 50 and many times over 100 percent, Care has made health care truly unaffordable and unattainable for many, many people. In fact, it would be irresponsible for Congress to sit back and watch the ACA continue its death spiral and bankrupt our country. prgtoken As we begin to replace Care, we want to reassure Americans we will not pull the rug out from anyone. If you are on a current exchange policy or have preexisting conditions, we will have a period of transition and high-risk pools that will provide you with quality, affordable alternatives. prgtoken Like many others, my district sent me here to fix health care, and we intend to do just that.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,015 | 567,422 |
376 | 1,038,013 |
L000578
| 1,014 |
Doug
|
LaMalfa
|
Doug LaMalfa
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1960-07-02
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
CA
|
RECOGNIZING THE 95TH BIRTHDAY OF CLARENCE ``BUD'' ANDERSON
|
I rise today to recognize the 95th birthday of Clarence ``Bud'' Anderson. A Colonel in the United States Air Force, Bud is a veteran of both the Vietnam War and World War II, where he achieved the status of ``triple ace'' after shooting down a total of 16\1/4\ enemy planes and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Congress. Born in Oakland, California, Bud grew up on a farm near Newcastle, California and joined the United States Army as an aviation cadet in 1942, where he soon received his commission as second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In the Second World War, Bud flew with the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group and tallied 116 missions in his P-51D Mustang, nicknamed Old Crow. In 1944 and at the young age of 22, Bud had already reached the rank of Major before returning home to the United States in 1945. He then became a fighter test pilot before serving as a Wing Commander on another tour of duty in Vietnam. Bud retired as a Colonel in 1972 and has been decorated 25 times for his service in the United States Air Force. In 2008, Bud Anderson was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. I've been proud to call Bud a friend of mine for several years. He is a true patriot and someone who is more than deserving of the accolades he has received throughout his life and career. Our nation would be grateful to have more Americans like Bud Anderson.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,475 | 567,313 |
350 | 1,038,181 |
F000464
| 1,154 |
John
|
Faso
|
John J. Faso
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1952-08-25
| 64 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NY
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I thank the new chairman of the Budget Committee for yielding. prgtoken , I have listened to the debate and I understand the difficulty that both sides have with fixing this system. prgtoken We clearly believe the system needs to be repealed and replaced. Moreover, the system needs to be reformed. And there is perhaps no better prominent in this country who has made the case for reforming this system. I quote former President Bill Clinton, who said just last October: So you have got this crazy system where, all of a sudden, 25 million more people have health care and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half. It's the craziest thing in the world. prgtoken President Bill Clinton. prgtoken , this is just the first step in terms of fixing this problem. The taxes, the premium increases, the loss of coverage, the small businesses who have been priced out of the market, the discouragement of employment in our country because of the costs that are imposed on the business sector through the ACA have to be fixed; they have to be addressed. Today is just the first step in addressing that. prgtoken Later, we will have regulatory changes that come from the Department of Health and Human Services. More importantly, we will all have to come back here to work out a new plan to fix it. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,554 | 567,436 |
359 | 1,038,177 |
R000570
| 513 |
Paul
|
Ryan
|
Paul D. Ryan
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1970-01-29
| 46 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
WI
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. My colleagues, I rise to urge our colleagues in the House to support this resolution, and let me tell you why. prgtoken This provides Congress with the legislative tools that we need to repeal and replace Care. This is a critical first step toward delivering relief to Americans who are struggling under this law. prgtoken In the weeks ahead, several steps will be taken to provide relief. Some steps will be taken by this body. Some steps will be taken by the new administration, including, after he is confirmed as HHS Secretary, our own colleague from Georgia (Mr. Price). prgtoken Our goal is a truly patient-centered system, which means more options to choose from, lower costs, and greater control over your coverage. And as we work to get there, we will make sure that there is a stable transition period so that people don't have the rug pulled out from under them; so that this will be a thoughtful, step-by-step process, and we welcome ideas from both sides of the aisle. prgtoken But today, I can't help but think back to, when we were debating this law in 2010, what was said at the time. I was a member of the minority then. I stood right here and pleaded with the majority not to do this. Don't take something so personal like your health care and subject it to a Big Government experiment. Don't do something so arrogant and so contrary to our founding principles. prgtoken But they pushed it all the way through, making all kinds of promises. People were promised that their premiums would go down, but, instead, they are skyrocketing. Look at the new premium increases announced just this year: Kansas, 42 percent increase in their premiums; Illinois, 43 percent; Pennsylvania, 53 percent; Nebraska, 51 percent; Alabama, 58 percent; Minnesota, 59 percent; Tennessee, 63 percent increase in premiums; Oklahoma, 69 percent increase this year in premiums; Arizona, 116 percent increase in their premiums. prgtoken People were promised: if you like your plan, you can keep it. Well, guess what? That was rated the lie of the year that year. People lost their plans. prgtoken People were promised all sorts of choices. You will have all these great menus of choices to choose from. A third of all the counties in America today, you get one choice. Five whole States, one insurer. If you have one choice, that is not a choice, that is a monopoly. prgtoken My colleagues, this experiment has failed. This law is collapsing while we speak. We have to step in before things get worse. This is nothing short of a rescue mission. prgtoken By taking this step today, we are doing what is right. We are stepping in and stopping the collapse from doing more harm to the working families of America, to bring the kind of relief and bring the kind of solutions that we need to really achieve the noble goal here. prgtoken Everyone in America should have access to affordable health care, including people with preexisting conditions. This is what we want to achi
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,433 |
366 | 1,038,120 |
F000450
| 684 |
Virginia
|
Foxx
|
Virginia Foxx
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1943-06-29
| 73 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NC
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. from Tennessee for yielding time. prgtoken , today, we take the next step in the process of providing the American people a better way on health care. We have all heard from constituents and families who are struggling to get by as they suffer the consequences of the fatally flawed healthcare law. prgtoken In my home State of North Carolina, the average Care premium has increased by a staggering 40 percent. Terry from Advance, North Carolina, is a 70-year-old retiree, but now he is working part time just to help pay for his wife's healthcare premiums, which jumped from $300 a month to more than $887 a month. prgtoken On top of higher premiums, deductibles have skyrocketed, too. Patricia from Kernersville now has a whopping $6,550 deductible, and her premiums increased by 80 percent this year. Like so many Americans, Patricia is paying more for less coverage. prgtoken Despite being promised, ``if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it,'' millions of Americans have been kicked off their plans. Scott from Hickory has had his health insurance canceled three times now; disrupting his continuity of care. prgtoken We have also heard from countless small-business owners who can no longer afford coverage for their employees because of limited resources and soaring costs. Facing similar challenges, school leaders and college administrators have spoken out about how Care is exacerbating tight budgets--hurting teachers, faculty members, and, ultimately, the students they serve. prgtoken The current situation is not sustainable; so s are here on a rescue mission by providing the American people relief. It is time to repeal President 's government takeover of health care. It is time to advance patient-centered reforms that lower costs, provide more choices, and put working families--not government bureaucrats--in control of their health care. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this budget resolution because it will move us one step closer to the patient-centered health care the American people desperately want and need.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,136 | 567,393 |
342 | 1,038,080 |
S000364
| 24 |
John
|
Shimkus
|
John Shimkus
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1958-02-21
| 58 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
IL
| null |
I am on the Energy and Commerce Committee the healthcare bill came through. We can debate how many hearings, how many questions, and all of that. The public has rendered judgment on this healthcare law. prgtoken In 2010, s took back control of the House over two issues: Care and cap-and-trade. And then our base was saying to repeal Care, all the way back to 2010. prgtoken In 2014, the s took over the Senate. Our base is saying: You have got the House. You have got the Senate. Repeal Care. It is harmful. It is destructive--and I will tell you why in a minute. prgtoken So why should anybody not expect us, in 2016, when the public has rendered judgment again in a national election that we have to repeal Care? prgtoken So when I talk to my constituents and people talk to me, this is going to happen, and we know there is going to be a replacement. prgtoken There are two different ideologies of how to provide care. We believe in markets; you believe in centralized control. We believe in people choosing the best plan for them in the private markets; and those who need help and assistance to get in those markets, we are going to help them get in those markets. But to have our Federal Government say that you only have one of four choices--my constituents pay for health care that they can't use because they can't pay the deductibles, so they are forced to buy something that they can't use. prgtoken So this is timely. I am glad we are moving expeditiously, and we look forward to the year ahead.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,568 | 567,367 |
375 | 1,038,057 |
C001053
| 656 |
Tom
|
Cole
|
Tom Cole
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1949-04-28
| 67 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
OK
| null |
I thank the gentleman for his kind words and for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. As has been made clear, we are actually talking about two different pieces of legislation here today. prgtoken The waiver for Secretary-designee James Mattis is, quite frankly, a no-brainer. The Senate voted 81-17 in favor of that waiver. I would suspect there will be similar bipartisan support here. prgtoken My friend is correct, of course; this is a serious matter whenever we grant exceptions to the law. But General Mattis is just uniformly and universally respected across the lines for his distinguished work in defense of this country, so I hope we move ahead on that. prgtoken The budget resolution that comes before us is another matter, and there will be a great deal of contention. Frankly, the resolution itself is not, as my good friend from California pointed out, and should not be seen as, a traditional budgetary item. It is, frankly, a projection of what will happen if we do absolutely nothing over the next decade and leave the current set of policies in place. prgtoken It is a sobering document to read in that regard because it shows rising deficits every single year for a decade, beginning at over $580 billion and then moving well north of $1 trillion. Frankly, in my view, it is something that we ought to look at and come to the realization that we are going to need to do entitlement reform in the next decade, something that people on both sides of the aisle seem to want to ignore. Absent that, we will, indeed, have extraordinary budget deficits, and they will be large enough to undercut and undermine our economy. prgtoken The budget resolution is also a vehicle, a tool, to begin to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This is necessary for, really, one simple reason. The Affordable Care Act, or Care as it is popularly known, is a failing system. It is unpopular. It has never been popular, never hit 50 percent of popularity. Frankly, in my view, it has cost our friends their majority in the House, then cost them their majority in the Senate, and may well have cost them the Presidency of the United States. The American people have spoken pretty emphatically: We don't like this product. And it is collapsing financially right now. This is not a system that is an operation that is really doing well. prgtoken Let me just talk about my own State. We have about 197,000 people that have gotten insurance under Care. This year, they will have exactly one choice as to what company they want to choose to provide them, and their rates will go up by 69 percent. Now, nationally, I think the average is over 25 percent. prgtoken Clearly, this is not a system that is working very well. Politically, the easy thing to do would be what our friends want us to do--let's just leave it alone. It will fall under its own weight, and it will be very clear who is responsible for that collapse
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,348 |
347 | 1,038,112 |
L000587
| 1,179 |
Jason
|
Lewis
|
Jason Lewis
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1955-09-23
| 61 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
MN
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
today, I join many of my colleagues in taking the first steps to repeal and replace Care. prgtoken My home State of Minnesota has been hit especially hard by this law. Minnesotans have seen their health insurance choices shrink, while their premiums, copays, and deductibles skyrocket. I should know. prgtoken For the last, in fact, over 5 years, I have been in the individual market and my own insurance premiums have nearly tripled, and I have gone through three insurers. prgtoken Minnesotans have seen a 50 to 67 percent increase in the premium costs this year alone. That is the fourth highest increase in the country. prgtoken As ic Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota stated: ``. . . the Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable. . . .'' prgtoken In fact, politicians in Minnesota are looking for waivers from the Affordable Care Act; not more of it. The other side likes to talk about healthcare access I would argue that the single biggest obstacle to healthcare access right now is the Affordable Care Act. It is not sustainable. prgtoken It is time to repeal this failed legislation and replace it with meaningful reforms that empower consumers, expand choice, and increase affordability. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, so all Minnesotans and all Americans can have access to affordable and portable health care.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,408 | 567,387 |
353 | 1,038,028 |
C000059
| 382 |
Ken
|
Calvert
|
Ken Calvert
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1953-06-08
| 63 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
CA
|
TRIBUTE TO CYNDI MONROE
|
I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Corona in Riverside County, California are exceptional. On Thursday, January 19th, Cyndi Monroe will be honored as the Citizen of the Year by the Corona Chamber of Commerce. prgtoken Cyndi is the founder of Christian Arts and Theatre (CAT), a non- profit performing arts education program for children. For more than 17 years, thousands of children have participated in CAT's award-winning program. The CAT Ambassadors Program encourages young members of our community to share their incredible talents at community events, such as Chamber of Commerce gatherings, concerts in the park, and various holiday festivals. prgtoken In addition to giving back to the community through CAT, Cyndi is an active member and Past President of Soroptimist International of Corona. Cyndi is a tireless advocate for Corona and fostering partnerships that bring people together to better serve our community. As an author, playwright, and inspirational speaker, Cyndi has enriched the cultural opportunities for every Corona family. prgtoken In light of all that Cyndi has done for the community of Riverside County and the city of Corona, it is only fitting to honor her as Citizen of the Year. Cyndi has contributed immensely to the betterment of our region and I am proud to call her a fellow community member, American and a constituent of the 42nd Congressional District. I add my voice to the many who will be congratulating Cyndi Monroe on being named Citizen of the Year by the Corona Chamber of Commerce.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,633 | 567,327 |
343 | 1,038,242 |
T000238
| 518 |
Mac
|
Thornberry
|
Mac Thornberry
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1958-07-15
| 58 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
TX
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
such time as I may consume. prgtoken , let me get right to the heart of the matter. We have to pass this legislation in order for James N. Mattis to be able to serve as Secretary of Defense. I know of no one more respected and more admired in the field of national security today than General Mattis. It is true that this is an extraordinary thing we are doing to pass a new law to provide a onetime exception to an underlying law so that a particular individual can serve. The last time we did this was 67 years ago. prgtoken Our predecessors then faced challenging times and believed it was appropriate to go through extraordinary lengths to allow an exceptional individual, George C. Marshall, to serve as Secretary of Defense. History reveals that it was fortuitous that they chose to do so. prgtoken We face challenging times today. We live in an increasingly dangerous world, and we confront it with a military that has been significantly damaged by budget cuts and other actions. I believe it is appropriate-- in fact, I believe it is necessary--for us to rise to meet the challenges of our time as our predecessors did in theirs and allow an exceptional leader to once again serve our country. prgtoken Now, there are legitimate complaints about the wording of the resolution, about various procedural flaws, and about not exempting General Mattis from the UCMJ. In that regard, let me correct something I said before the Rules Committee last night. A retired officer can be held accountable for acts after they retire, although never has that happened to someone in civilian office. But there are legitimate complaints about the President-elect's transition team refusing to allow General Mattis to come to a hearing and testify before the House even though he was very eager to do so himself. prgtoken I share all of those concerns. I think it was a mistake and shortsighted to deny the House the opportunity to question General Mattis on the issues related to this legislative exception. I think it was an opportunity to facilitate giving him a large, bipartisan vote out of this House which reflects the overwhelming bipartisan support that he has in this House. prgtoken But getting back to the bottom line, even with those concerns, we have a responsibility to the men and women who serve, and I think we have a responsibility for the safety and security of every American to see that there is a fully functional Secretary of Defense on day one of the new administration. The only way we can do that is to pass this legislation today. prgtoken , .
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,644 | 567,464 |
371 | 1,038,184 |
B001273
| 878 |
Diane
|
Black
|
Diane Black
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1951-01-16
| 65 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
TN
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to read the names of some of the groups that have written to us in support of S. Con. Res. 3. There are more than 35 names on here, but I am going to read off some that we would recognize very quickly: prgtoken The American Center for Law and Justice, Association of Mature American Citizens, Citizens Against Government Waste, Concerned Women for America, Health Benefits Group, Independent Women's Voice, Medical Device Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, National Taxpayers Union, Society for Human Resource Management, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. prgtoken I just want to extract one paragraph out of the U.S. Chamber's letter that they have written: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports S. Con. Res. 3, the concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for 2016, an initial step toward making critical improvements to the American healthcare system.'' prgtoken I think that you can see that not only do our constituents support a change, but also these companies around the country. prgtoken , .
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,332 | 567,439 |
363 | 1,038,166 |
G000580
| 1,167 |
Thomas
|
Garrett
|
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1972-03-27
| 44 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
VA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise today to make a clarification because while I support this resolution, I oppose the description that some here have used. They are calling it a budget. This isn't a budget. It is a paper trail of crimes our government commits against the future of our Nation vis-a-vis overwhelming debt. We need to be honest. We are sitting on $20 trillion in debt, and aside from starting the repeal of the unaffordable care act, this does nothing to address that. prgtoken Reluctantly I will vote for it to repeal the monstrosity that is the unaffordable care act. prgtoken We were told we need to pass the bill so that we could find out what was in it. Well, we found out what was in it. We saw premiums skyrocket; we saw families lose their plans and their doctors, even the ones they liked and they wanted to keep; and we saw businesses struggle. Now we are left in a position where we need to pass this resolution to get rid of what we found. prgtoken Liberty and self-determination are the lifeblood of this Nation, and the Nation is terminally ill. Our debt is a cancer that continues to grow; and like a cancer, it doesn't discriminate. It is colorblind, it is gender neutral, and it doesn't care about your political affiliation or what State you are from. It is here, and it continues to grow. prgtoken Our children are being encumbered, packaged, and sold to the gallows by way of unprecedented debt. This is an unprecedented treatment, but if we continue down the Care unaffordable care act path that we are on, the results are guaranteed. prgtoken Today's resolution provides treatment for some of the symptoms, but it is about time that we started getting to the root causes of the disease. The more government encroaches on the lives of its citizens, the more debt grows, the less our liberties can breathe, and the sicker we become. I may be new here, but in Virginia we keep a balanced budget; and it is about time we got serious about one in D.C. prgtoken I will vote to pass this here today, but I refuse to call it a budget. I refuse to ignore the problems the unaffordable care act was meant to address. Problems aren't political, solutions are, and we can provide a better way.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,240 | 567,428 |
344 | 1,038,274 |
W000815
| 1,051 |
Brad
|
Wenstrup
|
Brad R. Wenstrup
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1958-06-17
| 58 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
OH
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in strong support of providing a waiver permitting the nomination of General James Mattis to the Office of Secretary of Defense. prgtoken General Mattis is an exceptional warrior, strategist, and leader. At a time in which the United States faces an increasingly diverse array of threats around the globe, his unique skill set and decades of experience render him worthy of this exceptional legislation. prgtoken Civilian control of the military is a foundational underpinning of our system of government, and it is one of General Mattis' nomination strengths, not weaknesses. prgtoken Just as every one is a civilian before they join the military, they return to civilian life when they leave it. Since becoming a civilian 3\1/2\ years ago, General Mattis has thoughtfully analyzed the civilian-military relationship, coediting an analysis of the state of civilian-military relations today. This work includes recommendations that aim to, in his words: ``Ensure our military are braided tightly to our broader society in a manner that will keep alive our experiment in democracy.'' prgtoken Throughout his distinguished career, General Mattis has demonstrated a mastery of all aspects of American leadership on the global stage. He has a keen grasp of the value of diplomacy and has been a strong supporter of the State Department and its valuable mission. prgtoken Throughout his decades of service, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the importance of deterrence and how a well-guarded peace can prevent conflict before it begins. As a seasoned strategic thinker, he has been an incisive critic of current and serious, long- term planning for American national security that hasn't really existed. prgtoken General Mattis knows firsthand the reality of combat and the stakes involved in any decision to use military force. The United States needs a Secretary of Defense equipped to use every tool necessary to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries. prgtoken Because of General Mattis' unique capabilities to address the multitude of threats our country faces today, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,171 | 567,480 |
372 | 1,038,298 |
R000598
| 1,022 |
Keith
|
Rothfus
|
Keith J. Rothfus
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1962-04-25
| 54 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
PA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise today in support of this legislation. prgtoken Civilian control of the military is a very important principle that has served our country well. Current law provides that there should be a 7-year gap between military service and serving as the Secretary of Defense. This is a general rule, but we know there are always exceptions to the rule. That is what this legislation makes today, clearing the path for a retired general who has been back in the civilian world for more than 3\1/2\ years. prgtoken I support this exception because we live in exceptional times. Over the past 15 years, we have seen millions of American servicemembers deployed overseas. Thousands are still deployed. They have served well and served with courage. Many of them, and their families, have paid a particularly heavy price. More than 6,000 did not come home. Tens of thousands sustained life-changing injuries. Thousands have injuries we cannot see. Many families broke under the pressure of repeated deployments. prgtoken Retired General James Mattis, now a civilian, has been there. He has been with these soldiers. He has been with these families. I appreciate the perspective General Mattis will bring to the Defense Department and President-elect's national security team. He understands more than most in a very personal way the gravity of putting our servicemembers in harm's way. He understands the moral obligation we have to ensure that those who are sent into harm's way are properly equipped. As important, he will be able to convey to his national security counterparts the impact decisions made in Washington have on the war fighter. prgtoken General Mattis is the right person at the right time. I encourage my colleagues to support this waiver and vote for this legislation.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,806 | 567,490 |
378 | 1,038,204 |
L000585
| 1,137 |
Darin
|
LaHood
|
Darin LaHood
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1968-07-05
| 48 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
IL
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise today in support of this budget resolution as a first step in the process to repeal and replace Care. It is undeniable that Care has failed. It has broken promise after promise to the American people. prgtoken Constituents in my district in central Illinois are watching their premiums skyrocket by an average of 15 percent. This chart next to me here shows, all across the country in State after State, premiums have skyrocketed. Citizens also face deductibles that are so high that they try to get by without going to a doctor. prgtoken One constituent from Roseville, Illinois, whose insurance costs have gone up 75 percent, stated to me recently: ``This is crazy. Almost half of my paycheck goes to insurance. How do they expect us to afford this?'' prgtoken These burdensome costs stifle families and our small businesses' ability to participate in and help grow our economy. We have a mandate from the American people to fix this broken system and to rescue citizens from escalating healthcare costs. prgtoken The goal is not to pull the rug out from underneath anyone. In fact, we are working to provide a stable transition to better, more affordable health care. We must have something that is economically sustainable and fiscally responsible, something that actually works. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to replace Care with a system grounded in economic reality--a market-driven, consumer- centered healthcare system that provides Americans with more choices, lower costs, and greater flexibility. That is why we are working on a replacement system that will expand consumer choice through health care focused on their needs; a system that will spur innovation in health care; attract new doctors and healthcare providers; and protect patients with preexisting conditions. prgtoken , we must help Americans gain access to insurance they can afford. Passing this legislation is one step towards helping people and fulfilling our promise to the American people. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. We owe it to our citizens.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,142 | 567,446 |
345 | 1,038,329 |
F000449
| 668 |
Jeff
|
Fortenberry
|
Jeff Fortenberry
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1960-12-27
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NE
|
OATH OF OFFICE
|
given that last week I took the oath of prgtoken office as a Member of the new 115th Congress of the United States and given that next week we will watch President-elect also take the oath of office, I want to share a few thoughts on the deep importance of this constitutional duty that we share. prgtoken , as you are aware, last week on Capitol Hill was marked by a day of celebration. It was a day of renewal of friendships, even between people who have deep, deep disagreements in this body. Families and guests all gathered to share in the moment's excitement and meaning, and Members of Congress congratulated one another on their recent victories. We all took a reprieve from the intensity of the policy debate for just a moment. But amidst all of that swirl of activity, the day was set apart by the oath of office. prgtoken , the oath lays down a clear marker of the serious obligations ahead for all of us. In our day and time, we no longer are deeply connected to this concept of oath. We see it in the courtroom when somebody is required to tell the truth. We will see it again next week when President-elect is sworn in. But we rarely take the time to reflect on its deeper meaning. prgtoken We see it more like an old tradition, a nostalgic option that we exercise out of deference to our history. However, the oath is much, much more. It is a solemn declaration. It is a pause, the start of sacred duty. prgtoken By taking an oath, you effectively hold your very self at ransom. You commit, at the deepest levels, that you will perform the tasks ahead of you to the best of your ability. prgtoken The oath is the ultimate test and measure of integrity. If you violate it, you tear at the center of your being, to the detriment of not only yourself but to the community, to those you are sworn to serve. This is a very high bar, indeed, . prgtoken I am reminded of the words of Sir Thomas More, who was the Lord High Chancellor of England during the 16th century. He strove to live a life worthy of excellence in public service. But in the end, he was put to death by the very state that he sought to so nobly serve. prgtoken In an earlier reflection on the idea of oath, Sir Thomas More had this to say: ``When a man takes an oath, he's holding his own self in his own hands like water, and if he opens his fingers then, he needn't hope to find himself again.'' prgtoken , throughout that wonderful day last week of our swearing in here in the body, I was reflecting personally on a singular word. That word is replenishment. prgtoken Our American system of governance has an extraordinary capacity to replenish itself with new ideas, new people, and refreshed perspectives. Our political system starts with the belief that political power is derived from each person's dignity. prgtoken By voting, citizens invest that very power in the Representatives that are sent here to make judgments on their behalf. But, of course, to earn th
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,508 |
377 | 1,038,207 |
R000607
| 1,187 |
Francis
|
Rooney
|
Francis Rooney
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1953-12-04
| 63 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
FL
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise to speak about and oppose the travesty known as Care. prgtoken The need to replace this program was obvious on day one. It is a failed socioeconomic experiment perpetrated by people who don't believe in individual choice and don't understand free market competition. In fact, we can see less than half of the folks that were supposed to sign up have done it because it is a bad deal for them. Nothing promised under this medical health insurance program has proved true. Care costs have gone up, premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed. prgtoken We have another chart here, if I might, that shows a projected 25- plus percent increase in premiums in 2017. My State of Florida is 19 percent. Coverage has been circumscribed and reduced. This business about keeping your doctor has proven to be another falsehood. You can't afford to keep your doctor. You can't afford to keep your insurance. prgtoken The entire program was flawed from the beginning. It is a top-down, government-run boondoggle. All it has done is prgtoken create monopolies for a bunch of insurance companies. I have heard heart-wrenching personal stories from so many families in southwest Florida who have suffered severe financial burdens and have had reduced and dropped coverage because of Care. prgtoken Paying more for less is bad policy. It is bad economics. It is a raw deal for Americans. Now we have the opportunity to do three things to turn the page and put this disaster of Care behind us. We have the opportunity today to enact the resolution, which will lead to repealing Care. We have the opportunity to have Dr. Price take the helm of Health and Human Services and begin a substantial administrative overhaul. And we have the opportunity to put in the replacement plan that has been talked about, described in A Better Way for America, which provides a seamless transition into a new form of health care, leaves no one without coverage, and assures the continual coverage of preexisting conditions. But it will offer consumer choice the American way. It will make coverage affordable and competitive.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,153 | 567,448 |
365 | 1,038,146 |
S001199
| 1,185 |
Lloyd
|
Smucker
|
Lloyd Smucker
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1964-01-23
| 52 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
PA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, now Phyllis receives a Federal subsidy that covers 35 percent of that monthly cost. She takes pride in the fact that she has never taken a government handout in her life. prgtoken Now that she is on Care, the American taxpayers have to subsidize her health care. To Phyllis, that is not right. To Phyllis, this is about her pride. She is not asking for a lot. She is simply asking that she have access to affordable health care that doesn't require the American taxpayers to help her pay for it. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to fix our Nation's failed healthcare system.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 621 | 567,413 |
374 | 1,038,045 |
J000297
| 1,095 |
Evan
|
Jenkins
|
Evan H. Jenkins
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1960-09-12
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
WV
|
WE ARE HERE TO FIX OBAMACARE
|
the ACA, Care, or whatever you want to characterize it as, is broken, and we are here to fix it. We want to empower patients. We want to bring health care back to the American people. prgtoken Let me talk about access to insurance coverage. People have less access today to insurance coverage than at actually any time in the past. Instead of competition to bring down and drive down insurance costs, one-third of the counties in the United States have only one choice of an insurance carrier, which is no choice at all. No competition. Insurance carriers are pulling out of the exchanges en masse, citing unsustainable costs because of Care. prgtoken The American people are demanding change. Enough is enough. They want relief. They want competition. They want lower costs. They want better quality. prgtoken We are here to fix Care and honor the promise to the American people to empower the patients of America to give them the choice, the quality, and the cost control they so desperately need and that Care robbed them of.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,068 | 567,341 |
352 | 1,038,027 |
G000578
| 1,165 |
Matt
|
Gaetz
|
Matt Gaetz
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1982-05-07
| 34 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
FL
|
RECOGNIZING MILTON VFW POST 483, JOHN O. CONNOR POST
|
I rise to recognize the Milton VFW Post 4833, John O. Connor Post, in Northwest Florida. This month the Post will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary. prgtoken For five decades, this Post has been committed to serving our Nation's veterans. In the past year alone, they have made seventeen visits to area hospitals in support of ill or injured veterans, conducted funeral services for two combat veterans, and sponsored two handicap ramps for veterans. prgtoken The Post's commendable care for their community is exemplified by some of their service acts including conducting a cleanup and beautification of Strickland Cemetery, prompting other local organizations to follow suit, and placing more than three hundred flags and wreaths on gravesites of local veterans. prgtoken The members of Post 4833 have proven their enthusiasm for engaging the youth in our communities by participating in and funding a local Eagle Scout project, overseeing local submissions to the VFW's Voice of Democracy scholarship program, and by briefing the local Boy Scout pack on proper handling of the American flag. prgtoken Additionally, Post 4833 has demonstrated impeccable generosity by organizing three major fundraisers in support of veterans in need, sponsored facilities that house the offices for Disabled American Veterans serving in the Pace and Milton area, provided funding to the Veteran's Dive Locker program, assisted two families by providing grant money for temporary lodging, and donated one thousand two hundred dollars for transportation services of disabled veterans. This year the Post has provided an impressive amount of donations, grants, and assistance; including over eight thousand dollars to Veterans' Programs, three thousand dollars to college grant foundations, and one thousand dollars to summer student leadership courses. prgtoken I would like to personally thank all of the members of Milton Post 4833 and specifically recognize the Post's Officers: Post Commander Mike Messer, Senior Vice Commander Bill Ross, Treasurer Chris Williams, and Chaplain Florencio ``Cho'' Ramirez. Under the officers' leadership, the Post has accomplished increased involvement with community programs and has demonstrated a laudable degree of service for veterans. prgtoken On behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to recognize VFW Post 4833 for their long history of unwavering service to veterans and their community, and sincerely congratulate them on celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,539 | 567,326 |
364 | 1,038,304 |
T000477
| 1,169 |
Scott
|
Taylor
|
Scott Taylor
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1979-06-27
| 37 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
VA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise to speak in support of General Mattis. I rise to speak to my colleagues, both and . I rise to appeal to the unity of our Chamber, unity of our voice to the world, unity for our men and women who voluntarily fight on our behalf. prgtoken Less than 1 percent of this Nation has gone forth for the past 15 years, over and over, sacrificing their youth, time with their loved ones, and sometimes their lives. Imagine you are standing there next to your spouse, best friend, or battle buddy at attention, and a flag- draped coffin passes you by, carried by an honor guard dressed in impeccable military uniform. Uncontrollable tears flow around the room as a ceremonial flag is tightly folded and presented to the stoic Gold Star family. ``Amazing Grace'' played on the bagpipes is at once the most beautiful and the most dreadful tone you have ever heard. You yearn to hear it again, and you never want to hear it again. prgtoken Men and women like General Mattis, who have been here, understand the true costs of war. Men and women like General Mattis will think deliberately and carefully about putting the military into harm's way. Men and women like General Mattis will fight very hard to put the tools and the leadership in the hands of the military members so that they may win. prgtoken Military members, perhaps more than our civilian counterparts, understand civilian control of the Armed Forces. For in every headquarters building that General Mattis or anyone else has served, there is a prominent display of pictures of civilian leadership above military commanders. prgtoken I am not naive to the politics. I, too, believe he should have been here yesterday, but those opposed have made their point. We were divided yesterday, but we can unify today. I ask that you rise above politics. I ask you to support General Mattis not just with your words, but with your vote. I ask that you show the same unity military members show each other every single day. Let's give them a leader on day one.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,056 | 567,492 |
360 | 1,038,281 |
R000604
| 1,105 |
Steve
|
Russell
|
Steve Russell
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1963-05-25
| 53 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
OK
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
what is it that objectors are truly afraid of? We hear the words ``civilian control of the military'' as if somehow those American citizens who have borne the brunt of service or battle are somehow no longer entitled to their citizenship, forever imprinted with some mark of Cain. prgtoken What are opponents trying to say? Is it: We are afraid of the warrior class. We are afraid they might cause a war? American battle-hardened warriors understand the need to prevent human suffering, the chaos of destroyed communities, the loss of order, the lack of public services, and carnage caused by weapons, disease, or hopelessness. My own observation is that the greatest saber rattling often seems to occur from bloviating politicians who have never borne the sword. prgtoken What are opponents trying to say? Is it: We are afraid they might take over the government? Well, if there was ever an opportunity for that concern, it was in the 1790s. President George Washington, a general, was revered. He had appointed to his Cabinet five generals and a couple of colonels. If there was ever a time for a military takeover of the United States, it was then. Instead, George Washington relinquished the most important, powerful position in the land. He, like all warriors, understood what it meant to serve their country. prgtoken If you look at our own Secretaries of State, historically, nearly one-third had military service, with 10 obtaining senior rank. The parade of notable senior warriors serving as Secretary of State remind us that military leaders have often made the best foreign policy for our country. Why no such concerns about military takeover there? On observation, it appears as if America has a phobia of civilian control of diplomacy. prgtoken General Mattis is a warrior who will put the national security and peace of the United States above all other concerns. He will do it with humility and continued selfless service. He needs to be waivered and confirmed immediately for the good of our country.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,047 | 567,483 |
362 | 1,038,049 |
M001189
| 985 |
Luke
|
Messer
|
Luke Messer
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1969-02-27
| 47 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
IN
|
PREMIUMS HAVE GONE UP, NOT DOWN
|
Care is built on broken promises. prgtoken President promised that, through his healthcare law, premiums would go down. Instead, they have gone up. In most States, premiums have increased by double digits. In some States, like Oklahoma, premiums are going up by as much as 76 percent. prgtoken I am from Indiana. In Indiana, in 2017, based upon current enrollments, the average rate will increase by 18.7 percent. Overall, the premiums in Indiana have gone up by 70 percent since the Affordable Care Act was first enacted. prgtoken Not only are Americans paying more for coverage, the costs have gone up as well: out-of-pocket costs, deductibles. For 2017, four carriers will be selling on the Indiana Marketplace. I have one county in my district, Wayne County, where no carriers provide for the local hospital. prgtoken Today, we will start a process of keeping our promises, . We promised the American people that we would repeal and replace this failed healthcare law. Only in Washington would keeping your promise somehow be controversial.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,074 | 567,345 |
349 | 1,038,271 |
H001053
| 903 |
Vicky
|
Hartzler
|
Vicky Hartzler
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1960-10-13
| 56 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
MO
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise today as an advocate for the United States military and the selfless men and women who fill its ranks. prgtoken While I fully appreciate the points that my colleagues are making, this is an extraordinary time as we consider this legislation and an extraordinary man about whom we are talking. prgtoken In just 1 week, our Nation will have its new President. Precedent tells us prgtoken that we should also have the President's Secretary of Defense to step in and assume control of the Department of Defense that day, as well. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines must have their organization's leader in position. That clear and steady leadership is crucial when lives are on the line. prgtoken The state of our military's readiness, under the current administration, also merits mentioning within this discussion. Troop OPTEMPO rates are dangerously high and retention rate is low. Our aircraft are unreliably old and many maintainers are inexperienced and new. Never before have there been such extraordinary challenges to the manning, training, and equipping of our forces with limited resources. prgtoken We ask our troops to stand ready to and actively fight against a resurgent Russia, emergent China, unstable North Korea, unpredictable Iran, and widespread violent terrorism. Never before has there been such an extraordinary demand on our men and women in uniform. prgtoken These are extraordinary times with extraordinary circumstances. General Mattis is the extraordinary man who will lead the Department of Defense in the direction it so desperately needs. prgtoken For this reason, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this measure.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,682 | 567,479 |
356 | 1,038,245 |
W000795
| 600 |
Joe
|
Wilson
|
Joe Wilson
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1947-07-31
| 69 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
SC
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I thank Chairman Mac Thornberry for yielding. I appreciate the gentleman's positive leadership as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. prgtoken I am grateful to endorse this selection of General Jim Mattis for Secretary of Defense and, based on his extraordinary background, believe a waiver is appropriate. General Mattis' recent experience in the Middle East makes him uniquely qualified to address the threats to servicemembers overseas and American families at home. I am confident that, through his position, General Mattis will continue the great traditions of civilian control of the military, delivering peace through strength. prgtoken My personal perspective of appreciation of General Mattis is as the grateful son of a World War II Flying Tiger who served in India and China, as the son-in-law of a Marine who received the Navy Cross for Okinawa service, as a 31-year veteran myself of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, with four sons who have served in the military, as Army Field Artillery in Iraq, as a Navy doctor in Iraq and Italy, as a signal officer in Egypt, as an engineer in Afghanistan, and with an Air Force nephew serving in Iraq. prgtoken In his testimony before the Senate yesterday reaffirming the European Reassurance Initiative from the Baltics to Bulgaria, General Mattis spoke bluntly about the readiness crisis facing our military, and we are eager to work with him on the critical task of rebuilding our national defense to promote peace through strength. prgtoken Simultaneously, bipartisan endorsements, to me personally, from his fellow Marines confirm he is the right person at the right time. prgtoken General Mattis' swift confirmation is crucial to continuity for our ongoing military operations and protecting American families. I urge my colleagues to support the waiver for General Mattis.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,878 | 567,466 |
370 | 1,038,323 |
P000592
| 692 |
Ted
|
Poe
|
Ted Poe
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1948-09-10
| 68 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
TX
|
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DESIGNATE THE IRGC AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
|
Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. It funds and controls terrorists groups like Hezbollah. Its tentacles stretch all over the world, far beyond the Middle East. prgtoken Many of its activities are done through the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has funded, planned, and executed terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere for decades. prgtoken The IRGC is the parent organization of the Quds Force and is directly responsible for its terrorist activities worldwide. But somehow this group has managed to escape repercussions, and the United States has never recognized it as a terrorist organization. I am working to change that. prgtoken This week I introduced the IRGC Terrorist Sanctions Act. This bill will require the President to designate the IRGC for its terrorist activity and levy the relevant statutory sanctions against it. prgtoken It is time to close loopholes like these that allow terrorist- affiliated groups to continue their reign of terror. Designate and sanction these terrorist groups that are sponsored by the number one world state sponsor of terrorism, Iran. prgtoken And that is just the way it is.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,182 | 567,502 |
380 | 1,038,130 |
F000465
| 1,184 |
A.
|
Ferguson
|
A. Drew Ferguson IV
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1966-11-15
| 50 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
GA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise in support of the fiscal year 2017 budget resolution. prgtoken The need for this process can best be explained by a story I have been telling my colleagues. prgtoken A little over 6 years ago, I lived in a pretty decent house. One day I heard a knock on the door, and before I knew prgtoken it, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle had let a goat loose in my house. Now, for 6 years that goat has been messing in and destroying my house. I want to renovate my house, but before I can, I have to get the goat out of the house before it does any more damage. It makes no sense to start fixing up my house until I can get the goat out. Voting for the fiscal year `17 budget resolution gets this goat out of my house. prgtoken , make no mistake: we must renovate our house; we must undo the Affordable Care Act. We can no longer as a nation hold on to policies that rob us of our freedom of choice, that destroy family finances, that rob people of their jobs, and leave the most vulnerable with substandard care. prgtoken Now is the time for a 21st century healthcare system that puts patients and doctors first and sends government regulators and rulemakers to the back row. No more 32 percent increase in Georgia premiums; no more having your doctor pulled away from you; and no more government mandates. prgtoken This is not a return to the pre-Care status quo, but is a new approach to putting consumers in the driver's seat. The first step in this process is to gut Care with this resolution, and I am honored to support it.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,595 | 567,400 |
401 | 1,038,128 |
J000032
| 79 |
Sheila
|
Jackson Lee
|
Sheila Jackson Lee
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1950-01-12
| 67 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
TX
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. I thank the gentleman. prgtoken She writes: ``I asked my doctor recently, `With all that's going on, would I make it without treatment?' The doctor's answer: `No.''' prgtoken In her instance, if the Affordable Care Act goes--if is it repealed-- she could completely lose her eligibility for expanded Medicaid and simply die. A young man in my district would die as well. prgtoken This is a bad bill. Vote against it. Save America's good health. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to S. Con. Res. 3, the Congressional Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2017, which more appropriately should be known as the ``Make America Sick Again'' Budget. prgtoken I stand in opposition to this reckless, irresponsible, heartless, and bare-bones budget resolution because it does nothing to provide jobs for American workers; does nothing to invest in the roads, bridges, ports, cybernetworks, and other infrastructure needed to sustain economic growth; and explodes the deficit and enriches those who are already wealthy at the expense of middle and working-class families. prgtoken Let us be very clear about the real objective of our colleagues: their sole purpose in bringing this resolution to the floor is to pave the way for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the defunding of Planned Parenthood by a simple majority vote in the Senate. prgtoken This foolish rush to repeal the Affordable Care Act makes plain for all to see that congressional s are far more interested in scoring political points with their right-wing base than they are in protecting the health and economic security of American families. prgtoken Mr. Chair, the Affordable Care Act has been an undisputed success, making access to quality affordable healthcare available to more than 20 million Americans who previously lived with the dreaded fear that an unexpected injury or illness to them or a family member would go untreated or could bankrupt their families. prgtoken While House s may pine for a return to those bad old days, the large majority of Americans do not because they understand that repeal of the Affordable Care Act will have devastating consequences for working families, women, and the economy. prgtoken Mr. Chair, health care experts, governors, and hospitals warn that repealing the ACA without a comprehensive plan in its place will cause chaos and catastrophe, including: prgtoken 1. Nearly 30 million people would lose health care coverage, including more than 4 million kids; prgtoken 2. With the individual insurance market in shambles, families remaining in what's left of it could face higher premiums and fewer choices as insurers exit; prgtoken 3. Hospitals would lose billions of dollars and might reduce services or cut jobs; and rural hospitals would close. prgtoken 4. The economy would lose 2.6 million jobs in 2019, with the majority in non-health sectors. prgtoken Additionally, eliminating Medicaid funding
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,399 |
398 | 1,038,179 |
P000197
| 25 |
Nancy
|
Pelosi
|
Nancy Pelosi
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1940-03-26
| 76 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am so proud of him and his leadership as the ranking member on the Budget Committee. prgtoken I am so sorry that the left the floor because I have some very good news for him. Clearly, he does not understand what the Affordable Care Act has brought to our country in terms of expanding benefits, lowering costs, and expanding the access of many more people to the promise of our founders, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, a healthier life, and the freedom to pursue their happiness. prgtoken I understand why the may want to concentrate on some mythology that he presented about the Affordable Care Act, because he is not going to focus on what this bill on the floor does today, and the budget. It does not create more good-paying jobs, or raise wages. It does not invest in infrastructure to rebuild our Nation. prgtoken The plan does not invest in the education of our children or the lifetime learning of working people. It does not help Americans find balance between work and family. It does not reduce the deficit. In fact, it increases the deficit. And it does not seek to drain the swamp of secret money from our elections. prgtoken Instead, the s are feeding their ideological obsession with repealing the ACA and dismantling the health and economic security of hardworking families. prgtoken We all know that a budget should be a statement of our values. What is important to us as a nation should be reflected in our budget proposals. I always say: Show me your values, show me your budget. prgtoken Well, you heard me say some of what this budget does not do. As we get further into the next stage of the budget, we will see that what their budget does is just broaden, widen the disparity in income in our country, give tax breaks to the high end. And part of their tax breaks for the high end is to repeal the Affordable Care Act so they can eliminate the tax on those who are helping to fund the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken So let me just talk about the Affordable Care Act for a while, because one of the things that the public should know is that the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid, are now wed. If you mess with the ACA, it directly impacts these other important initiatives, Medicare and Medicaid. prgtoken The s have never supported Medicare. They opposed it at its origin and, over time, continued to oppose it. prgtoken In the nineties, their , Newt Gingrich, said Medicare should wither on the vine. Their , Paul Ryan, has in his budget removing the guarantee of Medicare for our seniors. Remove the guarantee. That means you get a voucher and you go shop for Medicare in this nonexistent health plan that they put forth. prgtoken s talk about how they are going to repeal and replace. It is interesting illustratively, but not realistic in terms of the fact that, for 6 years, they have had a chance to propose an al
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,435 |
397 | 1,038,169 |
W000800
| 727 |
Peter
|
Welch
|
Peter Welch
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1947-05-02
| 69 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
VT
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
on probably the most important issue, we are having the dumbest debate. We say the healthcare bill is good. You say it stinks. prgtoken We think it is good because we think it is good that kids, until they are age 26, can stay on their parents' plan. We think it is good because people with preexisting conditions ought to have access to health care, and we think it is good that a person who gets sick shouldn't lose their health care. prgtoken You say it is bad, even though the plan was based on a Heritage Foundation initiative and adopted largely in Massachusetts by a governor. prgtoken Bottom line, you are the majority in the House; you are the majority in the Senate; and you have got the Presidency. You have got some responsibility to show us the beef. Where is the plan? prgtoken Now, there is a lot of paper over there, but you haven't shown us a plan. And here is why: because when you put pen to paper, all hell is going to break loose on your side because you have to move beyond the rhetoric to figuring out how you are going to pay to keep our kids on our healthcare plan. You are going to figure out how to pay if we are going to let folks with preexisting conditions have health care. prgtoken Those don't solve themselves, and you don't have a plan. We are entitled, the American people are entitled, to have it.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,374 | 567,429 |
408 | 1,038,092 |
E000288
| 743 |
Keith
|
Ellison
|
Keith Ellison
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1963-08-04
| 53 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
MN
| null |
we are voting on a Budget Resolution later today that makes it possible to take away health coverage from tens of millions of people. prgtoken But the know that this is just the beginning. prgtoken Congressional s have started their plans to not just repeal the Affordable Care Act, but to gut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. prgtoken proposals would threaten nursing home coverage for millions of seniors, undermine comprehensive health care for children by cutting Medicaid, and slash benefits earned after years of hard work. prgtoken The CPC and Congressional will not stand for this. That is why we introduced an amendment that would ensure the Budget Resolution we are voting on today or any future bill can't be used to cut benefits from Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, increase the retirement age for these benefits, or privatize Social Security. prgtoken But, the majority is not allowing debate or a vote on our amendment. prgtoken This sends a clear message: Congressional s are willing to put the lives and futures of millions of children, seniors and working families at risk. prgtoken It also puts them on the wrong side of history. Cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security is not what the American people want. prgtoken President-elect has promised several times that he will not support cuts to these important programs that help millions of Americans make ends meet. prgtoken This leaves Congressional s in a tough spot. Whose side are they on? prgtoken Will they commit to protecting hard-working Americans? Will they protect America's children? Seniors? What about people with disabilities? prgtoken Or, will they yet again cut the benefits of working people so they can give tax breaks to big corporations? prgtoken The Congressional Progressive Caucus and House will not back down. We will oppose any cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote no and defeat the previous question so we can bring up the CPC amendment to block the House GOP from cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. prgtoken Will House s stand with us? prgtoken Today, 55 million older people and people with disabilities have health care because of Medicare. prgtoken 82 percent of Americans--including 74 percent of s, 88 percent of and 83 percent of independents--agree it is critical to preserve Social Security for future generations even if it means increasing Social Security taxes paid by working Americans. prgtoken In 2015, 11 million Americans became newly eligible for Medicaid thanks to Medicaid expansion. prgtoken If s repeal the ACA, at least 11 million people's Medicaid coverage will be at risk. prgtoken The House budget plan far fiscal year 2017 would have cut federal Medicaid funding by $1 trillion--or nearly 25 percent--over ten years. That is in addition to endin
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,375 |
386 | 1,038,326 |
L000551
| 70 |
Barbara
|
Lee
|
Barbara Lee
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1946-07-16
| 70 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
COMMEMORATING THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
|
I rise to commemorate the anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck the nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010. This Thursday marked 7 years since a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, killing Haiti's population center and the seat of its government. prgtoken The aftermath of the quake was unimaginable. 316,000 people perished, and 1.3 million were displaced. This tragedy struck a nation already hobbled by grinding poverty, health disparities, and food insecurity. Approximately 147,000 people remain internally displaced in Haiti, with countless others displaced outside IDP camps. prgtoken The world and the American people, though, responded to the earthquake with generosity. To date, the United States has contributed billions to recovery efforts, along with donors from around the world. prgtoken The Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, which was a bipartisan effort with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and was signed into law 3 years ago, provides us critical oversight to ensure that aid continues in the most effective way possible. prgtoken Unfortunately, more work needs to be done. Haiti continues to be struck by natural disasters, including severe drought and devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,287 | 567,505 |
394 | 1,038,025 |
F000462
| 1,012 |
Lois
|
Frankel
|
Lois Frankel
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1948-05-16
| 68 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
FL
|
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
|
on roll call votes 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54, I was not present because of an urgent family matter. Had I been present, I would have voted: on Roll Call Vote 46: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 47: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 48: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 49: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 50: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 51: NAY, on Roll Call Vote 52: NAY, on Roll Call Vote 53: AYE, on Roll Call Vote 54: NAY.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 410 | 567,324 |
419 | 1,038,156 |
C001066
| 713 |
Kathy
|
Castor
|
Kathy Castor
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1966-08-20
| 50 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
FL
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I am compelled to come to the floor this morning to oppose the attempt to pull the rug out from under American families. prgtoken Why are we going to a repeal bill without a replacement? prgtoken It is irresponsible. What you are doing is you are throwing American families into quicksand. Here is a dirty little secret: this is also a fiscally irresponsible move because this is likely to balloon the debt and the deficit. prgtoken Now, what I hear from my families back home in Florida is that the Affordable Care Act has been a godsend to them, and that includes the 9 million families that have private health prgtoken insurance. The Affordable Care Act has provided vital consumer protections to prevent them from being discriminated against for a preexisting condition or being canceled if they do get sick, and it has kept premium costs in check. prgtoken We also have a lot of Floridians who depend on Medicare; and because of the ACA, Medicare is stronger. In 2015 alone, the average Medicare recipient has put about $1,000 back into their pocket because the ACA closes the doughnut hole. prgtoken I urge the House to vote ``no.'' Don't throw American families into chaos and don't wreak havoc on our economy.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,256 | 567,421 |
409 | 1,038,214 |
B001292
| 1,083 |
Donald
|
Beyer
|
Donald S. Beyer, Jr.
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1950-06-20
| 66 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
VA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I rise with my Joint Economic Committee ic colleagues to address the terrible effects that the budget will have on this country's health. prgtoken I listened with rapt astonishment to Ryan's recitation of the percentage increases in the premium costs for insurance, for insurers on the exchanges. But the omitted important facts. prgtoken Number one, more than 80 percent of Care customers get subsidies to help them pay the cost of these premiums. They do not pay the full cost and will not feel the brunt of these increases. prgtoken Number two, these increases are uneven. Yes, Arizona is up, but Rhode Island will decrease 14 percent. The cherry-picked the highest ones, omitting the overall increase. prgtoken But most importantly, number three, most people are unaffected because most people get their insurance through their employer, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA. Only a small fraction of Americans actually buy insurance on the individual market. Premiums, for the average single person through the employer market last year, were exactly the same as those for families; only up 3 percent. prgtoken As an employer myself who offers health insurance to more than 300 people, and someone who is very concerned about the debt, my great concern is that the s seem willing to throw out our total commitment to managing our debt for this repeal. prgtoken I have listened to my friends in the Freedom Caucus lament about our national debt and together we have made significant progress on the budget deficits. prgtoken But blowing up Care will blow up our national debt, the most fiscally irresponsible act since we waged two wars without paying for them. prgtoken A study by the Commonwealth Fund projects that repealing Care will cause the State of Virginia to lose up to 100,000 jobs and $50 billion in business output. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this most fiscally irresponsible plan.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,000 | 567,450 |
421 | 1,038,106 |
D000617
| 976 |
Suzan
|
DelBene
|
Suzan K. DelBene
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1962-02-17
| 54 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
WA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise in strong opposition to this reckless budget resolution. Congress had an opportunity to start on a bipartisan note, to work on creating jobs, building an economy that works for everyone, and investing in our infrastructure. Instead, House s are ringing in the new year by repealing the Affordable Care Act, stripping more than 20 million people of their health insurance. What is worse, there is still no plan for what comes next, threatening massive disruption to the entire healthcare system. prgtoken I offered a number of amendments to this legislation, none of which were allowed a vote today. My amendments would have stopped this dangerous process from moving forward if the budget reduces access to treatment for those suffering from addiction, reduces access to health care in rural areas, forces seniors to pay more for care, or privatizes Medicare. I also cosponsored an amendment by Congresswoman Lee to protect women's access to reproductive health and family planning services. prgtoken Apparently, the majority is not concerned with these issues. Before the ACA, the situation was unacceptable. It was a time when people went bankrupt because they got sick, when individuals with preexisting medical conditions found it virtually impossible to obtain affordable coverage. prgtoken But now, more than 120 million Americans with preexisting conditions are no longer denied coverage, and young adults can stay on their parents' plans until they are 26. prgtoken Over 10 million seniors have received help with their prescription drug payments, and all insurance plans are required to cover preventative services with no copayments. prgtoken Rather than focusing on commonsense reforms to strengthen the ACA, s want to eliminate vital lifesaving policy with no plan for what comes next. I strongly urge a ``no'' vote.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,906 | 567,382 |
388 | 1,038,330 |
E000179
| 177 |
Eliot
|
Engel
|
Eliot L. Engel
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1947-02-18
| 69 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NY
|
WE ARE MAKING A MISTAKE IF WE REPEAL OBAMACARE
|
the Affordable Care Act has improved the health care and financial security of every American, regardless of where he or she gets health insurance. prgtoken Healthcare costs have been growing at the slowest rate in more than 50 years. Seniors in the so-called Medicare doughnut hole have saved more than $23 billion on their prescription drugs. Every American woman can rest easier knowing that women are no longer charged more than men for the same coverage. And 137 million Americans with private insurance now receive free preventive services. prgtoken Despite this remarkable progress, the majority has made it their mission to destroy the Affordable Care Act, no matter the cost, and those costs would extend far beyond the healthcare system. prgtoken A recent report found that repeal would cause just New York to lose more than 130,000 jobs in 2019 alone. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act has reduced the burden of healthcare costs for hardworking families not only in New York, but across the Nation; and it is those Americans for whom repeal would be so devastating. prgtoken We are making a mistake if we repeal Care.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,148 | 567,509 |
407 | 1,038,059 |
W000822
| 1,074 |
Bonnie
|
Watson Coleman
|
Bonnie Watson Coleman
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1945-02-06
| 71 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NJ
| null |
we are in week 2 of this 115th Congress, and, as promised, my colleagues and I are here to stand up for this good Nation. Unfortunately, House s cannot say the same. prgtoken Last night, they decided that nursing home coverage for millions of seniors, comprehensive health care for young children, and the benefits earned after a lifetime of hard work are not worth fighting for. That is exactly why the gentleman from Wisconsin offered an amendment to ensure that the budget resolution being considered today could not be used to cut benefits from three critically important programs: Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. prgtoken In fact, the President-elect promised many times that he would neither cut Social Security benefits for seniors nor would he support cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. But the rule under consideration this morning fails to allow a debate or vote on this amendment, which places the earned benefits and the financial future of American people at risk. prgtoken Who are my colleagues looking out for? Certainly not their constituents. prgtoken It is clear that we are faced with a -controlled Congress that is ensuring the divided and self-serving rhetoric that echoed throughout this campaign season rings true. This is not democracy. This is not outlined in our Constitution. This is not the democracy we are sworn to protect. prgtoken With that, I urge my colleagues to reject this rule.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,473 | 567,350 |
391 | 1,038,075 |
S001200
| 1,160 |
Darren
|
Soto
|
Darren Soto
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1978-02-25
| 38 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
FL
| null |
here is my 1-minute breakdown on why I oppose repealing Care without replacement: prgtoken First, this law protects all Americans with preexisting conditions; second, it keeps all young adults on their parents' insurance until age 26; third, it protects all Americans from bankruptcy if they get sick by removing lifetime caps. prgtoken Before the act, millions of Americans were simply kicked off their insurance when these problems arose. We support keeping these protections for all Americans, and the s want to repeal them. We support improving the act, and the s want to eliminate it. prgtoken While many have stoked fear and spread false information for political gain, it is clear that repeal without replacement equals disaster. It will eliminate these protections for all Americans, create chaos for working families, and send our country into another recession. prgtoken It is clear we need to improve the act rather than repeal it. It is time to do the right thing for all Floridians and for all Americans.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,068 | 567,363 |
395 | 1,038,114 |
T000460
| 162 |
Mike
|
Thompson
|
Mike Thompson
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1951-01-24
| 65 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to repeal of the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken For 7 years, all we have heard from the s regarding health care is repeal and replace. prgtoken After 7 years and more than 60 votes, they still have not come up with the replace. This isn't just a talking point. This is literally a matter of life and death for people. prgtoken Raymond, from Napa in my district, was diagnosed with stage III renal cancer in 1996. His premiums rose year after year until we passed the ACA. prgtoken Before the ACA, Raymond worried about losing his insurance because of his preexisting condition. In fact, his cancer returned in 2014, but, thanks to the ACA, he got the treatment he needed. prgtoken What are s going to do for Raymond if they repeal the ACA and his premiums go up, or his insurance drops him because he had cancer over 20 years ago, or he hits his lifetime cap on coverage? prgtoken s need to ask themselves if they are willing to return Americans like Raymond to a time when the care they needed was always beyond their grasp. prgtoken I am not saying that it is perfect, but we need to keep it. It also kills 3 million jobs.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,196 | 567,389 |
413 | 1,038,160 |
C001084
| 895 |
David
|
Cicilline
|
David N. Cicilline
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1961-07-15
| 55 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
RI
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
for 8 years, House s have wrongly claimed that the Affordable Care Act will be catastrophic for hardworking Americans. prgtoken Here are the facts: since its passage, the ACA has helped cover 20 million previously uninsured Americans; 95 percent of America's children are now covered; almost 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions now have the peace of mind to know that they will not be denied health services; and healthcare costs have been growing at the slowest rate in 50 years. prgtoken But as s prepare to take control of the White House, it is clear they don't have an actual plan to replace Care. Not only will their repeal and displace plan cut off millions of Americans--men, women, and children--from quality, affordable health care, but it will also have devastating impacts on our economy. prgtoken Repealing the Affordable Care Act will cause the loss of 2.6 million jobs, a majority of which will be non-health industry jobs. It is projected that my home State of Rhode Island will lose more than 12,000 jobs. prgtoken This budget resolution will not only increase prescription drug prices for our seniors, raise premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for Americans who buy insurance, but will lead to significantly larger yearly deficits and contribute more than $9.5 trillion in debt over the next decade. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to oppose this budget resolution, to protect the American people's access to quality, affordable health care, and to vote ``no.''
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,550 | 567,424 |
416 | 1,038,192 |
P000523
| 493 |
David
|
Price
|
David E. Price
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1940-08-17
| 76 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NC
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise in strong opposition to this sham budget resolution. prgtoken After wringing their hands for the last 8 years about debt and deficits, today's resolution makes clear s care about fiscal discipline only when it is a ic President they are dealing with. This budget resolution would add $9.5 trillion to the debt prgtoken over the next 10 years. It has only one purpose: to provide for the eventual repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but it would ruin our fiscal health as well. prgtoken Of course, the ACA was fully paid for by with new revenue and with cost-containment measures. Nonpartisan budget experts say that repealing the ACA would actually increase the deficit by $350 billion. So the hypocrisy of our colleagues on this issue is simply breathtaking, even by Washington standards. prgtoken Of course, repeal of ACA wouldn't just blow a hole in the budget, it would: destabilize the insurance market and cause premiums to skyrocket; eliminate insurance coverage for 30 million Americans, including 4 million children; raise taxes on the middle-class; burden local and rural hospitals with more uncompensated care; eliminate Medicaid benefits for millions of vulnerable citizens; and abolish vital patient protections, including the provision that stopped insurance companies from discriminating against those with preexisting condition. prgtoken After more than 6 years, moreover, we are still waiting for that comprehensive plan to replace the ACA. News flash: they don't have one.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,591 | 567,443 |
390 | 1,038,200 |
V000081
| 495 |
Nydia
|
Velázquez
|
Nydia M. Velázquez
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1953-03-28
| 63 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NY
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. I rise in strong opposition to this resolution if s go forward with this plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, 30 million Americans will lose health insurance. In New York State alone, 1.6 million of our neighbors--who gained coverage through ACA--will lose their health insurance and will see their health insurance taken away, and 2.7 million New Yorkers who have enrolled in Medicaid could lose coverage. prgtoken But this is not just about Medicaid, and it is not just about who obtained coverage through the exchanges. This is about the young person just out of college who can stay on their parents' insurance until they turn 26, giving them time to secure employment and coverage on their own. It is about patients with preexisting conditions who, until the ACA, were blocked from securing quality medical insurance. It is about women who have faced gender discrimination in the insurance market. These are the people s will harm with their irresponsible attack on our healthcare system. prgtoken Now, let me also note this: the slogan, repeal and replace, is a sham. What are they going to replace the ACA with? They have never, not once, put together a realistic, defensible plan to replace the ACA. Their plan should be called repeal and displace because it will displace millions of Americans from their health coverage. Reject repeal and displace. Vote ``no'' on this bill.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,458 | 567,445 |
399 | 1,038,243 |
S000510
| 375 |
Adam
|
Smith
|
Adam Smith
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1965-06-15
| 51 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
WA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
such time as I may consume. prgtoken , first of all, I want to thank the chairman, and I want to thank the members of the Armed Services Committee. I think we had a very excellent debate on this issue yesterday in committee. A lot of very well thought-out opinions on both sides were expressed in a respectful way. prgtoken I also want to thank the chairman because the second that it was said that General Mattis was going to be the President-elect's selection for Secretary of Defense, he joined me in saying that we wanted General Mattis to appear before our committee to answer our questions. This is something that has only happened twice, and the first time in 67 years; and our committee members wanted the opportunity to do our job as the House Armed Services Committee and hear from the nominee about how he felt about the civilian control of the military, which is the reason that this law was put in place back in 1947. So I thank the chairman for that. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. prgtoken The one thing I would correct, we do have to pass this piece of legislation in order for General Mattis to become the Secretary of Defense. We do not have to do it now. I will explain more on how we can do that in just a second. But the problem of where we are at right now because of the actions of the transition team, we basically, certainly on the House Armed Services Committee and, to some extent, in the full House, are being treated as irrelevant. prgtoken It was mentioned during our committee that General Mattis received an 81-17 vote on this legislation in the Senate. That is true, it was bipartisan. He appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Senate Armed Services Committee was given the respect to do their job, and they heard him, and they asked him questions. It didn't take very long. He was done by 12:30, and they voted. That didn't happen for us. prgtoken Really, it is sort of a two-step process in which the legislative branch--in this case, the House--was basically ignored and treated as irrelevant. First was in the continuing resolution that we passed to keep the government open where, with guidance from the transition team, they insisted on very specific language in the CR to set it up so that General Mattis could be confirmed, and that was stuck into the CR. Now, we, on the ic side objected to a couple of things in that at the time, but those objections were ignored, and it was put in, and we were not prepared to shut down the government over this issue since it was put into the CR. prgtoken The chairman has mentioned one of the problems with it, and the biggest one, and that is in the past, in the case of General Marshall, they exempted him from this provision that retired officers are subject to the UCMJ. They did not exempt General Mattis. When we are talking about civilian control of the military, if you have a retired military officer who is still subject to m
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,465 |
406 | 1,038,224 |
E000215
| 400 |
Anna
|
Eshoo
|
Anna G. Eshoo
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1942-12-13
| 74 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my grave concerns with the budget proposal for 2017. The budget before us today is a disaster for the American people. Not only does it add $9 trillion to the national debt and put our nation on the path to fiscal ruin, it begins the process of dismantling the Affordable Care prgtoken Act, taking health insurance away from 30 million Americans. prgtoken Our national budget is not just pages of numbers. It is a statement of our nation's values. By that measure, this budget is morally bankrupt. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act became law in March 2010, yet despite their condemnations of the law, s have failed to present any comprehensive alternative in the nearly seven years since it was signed into law. Not one single proposal. The Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said it best at the Washington Post's Daily 202 interview on November 29th last year when he suggested our healthcare system should look more like the cable industry because of all the choices consumers have in that market. He said, ``I always use the analogy, would I want to pick a cable company to watch what I want to watch on TV? I love the options that I have, I love the ability to switch, I love the different packages that I can pick if I like a certain sports team, or I want to watch HBO or something else. Why can't we have health care in a manner that we can do something to that extent?'' prgtoken If s think the American people want the cable industry to serve as a model for the health insurance market, our colleagues are even more out of touch than I ever imagined. prgtoken After spending years and 65 votes to repeal the ACA, and warning Americans about the dire threats of budget deficits and the national debt, s have suddenly done an about face. They no longer care about the fiscal impact of this budget which adds $9 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Nor do they care about the fiscal impact of repealing the Affordable Care Act which is estimated to cost $350 billion over 10 years according to the Congressional Budget Office. prgtoken The House majority has also set its sights on dismantling our nation's premier social insurance program by including in the House Rules package the unprecedented requirement that each standing committee identify programs that can be moved from mandatory to discretionary spending. This is a chilling and thinly veiled move to begin dismantling the guarantee of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and tie the future of these essential programs to the uncertainty of the annual appropriations process. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to think long and hard about the far-reaching consequences of this budget on the well-being of the American people and the fiscal health of our nation and vote `No' on final passage.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,886 | 567,455 |
382 | 1,038,118 |
L000580
| 1,020 |
Michelle
|
Lujan Grisham
|
Michelle Lujan Grisham
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1959-10-24
| 57 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NM
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I can tell you who is happy that the budget resolution will likely pass the House today, Big Pharma. Pharmaceutical companies are once again escaping any changes to a system which has repeatedly allowed them to prioritize profits over people and drive increases in out-of-pocket healthcare costs. prgtoken Companies like Mylan, Turing, and Valeant are jacking up lifesaving drugs like EpiPen for anaphylactic shock; Daraprim for HIV and cancer patients; and Nitropress for heart failure overnight without any accountability. prgtoken While the American people increasingly can't afford their medicine, pharmaceutical companies are the wealthiest they have been in years. prgtoken In fact, median healthcare and pharmaceutical executive pay is higher than any other industry in the United States. prgtoken And even though taxpayers fund billions of dollars of basic medical research used to develop groundbreaking drugs, pharmaceutical companies often charge Americans many times what the rest of the world pays. prgtoken Mr. Chair, Americans can't afford to continue giving pharmaceutical and health insurance executives a pay raise, and many on both sides of the aisle agree. prgtoken Just this week, President-elect added his voice to that effort saying: pharma was ``getting away prgtoken with murder.'' I agree. They are literally getting away with murder. Because if a mother can't afford her child's EpiPen, or a cancer patient can't afford treatment, people die. prgtoken So I offered an amendment to this budget resolution seeking to lower prescription drug costs, but s refuse to even allow debate on my amendment. prgtoken Instead of fighting to make sure Americans have access to lifesaving medications, s are protecting the ability of pharmaceutical companies to continue to shake down the American people. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution and, instead, address these healthcare costs and access issues that every American knows too well.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,035 | 567,392 |
415 | 1,038,032 |
D000482
| 528 |
Michael
|
Doyle
|
Michael F. Doyle
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1953-08-05
| 63 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
PA
|
JEFFREY BALLOU
|
I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Jeffrey Ballou, who takes up new responsibilities today as the 110th President of the National Press Club. prgtoken Jeff is a Pittsburgh native, the son of Geneva and Henry Ballou. He grew up in Pittsburgh's Homewood-Brushton neighborhood, and he attended Taylor Allderdice High School before going on to earn his undergraduate degree in journalism from Penn State University and his graduate degree in journalism and public affairs from American University. Jeff is an unwavering fan of Pittsburgh's legendary sports teams--the Pirates, the Steelers, and the Penguins. prgtoken Jeff started his career in journalism working for CONUS Communications covering the White House. He subsequently worked as planning editor for Fox Television Channel 5, WTTG, here in Washington, DC. He worked at C-SPAN and National Public Radio as well. He's spent roughly the last ten years at Al Jazeera Media Network, first as its Deputy News Editor and then as Editor of its 24-hour English language news channel. prgtoken Throughout his career, Jeff Ballou has demonstrated a strong commitment to objective journalism and to improving the profession. He served on the Executive Committee of the Radio & Television Correspondents Association, for example, and he served as President and National Committee Co-Chair of the National Association of Black Journalists. prgtoken Finally, he has been actively involved in the National Press Club, which proudly claims the title of ``the world's leading professional organization for journalists.'' For more than a hundred years, the National Press Club has been a prominent organization in the field of journalism and an advocate for free press around the world. Jeff has been a member of the National Press Club since 1992 and served on its board from 2014 to 2015. Jeff was elected to serve as Vice President of the organization over the past year, and in recognition of his extensive experience in journalism and his proven leadership skills, Jeff was elected to serve as the 110th President of the National Press Club for the coming year. prgtoken I am confident that Jeff's many years of experience have prepared him well for his new responsibilities as President of this storied institution. I want to congratulate Jeff on this honor--and new opportunity to improve the profession of journalism, and I wish him a successful term as the 110th President of the National Press Club.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,500 | 567,331 |
387 | 1,038,044 |
H001064
| 1,013 |
Denny
|
Heck
|
Denny Heck
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1952-07-29
| 64 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
WA
|
KEEP THE ACA
|
I have a constituent named Martha. She goes by Marty. prgtoken Marty was studying to earn her bachelor's degree in nursing at Pacific Lutheran University when she was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Not good. prgtoken Without medical insurance, as we all know, that is a certain death sentence. There is no other way about it. But it wasn't for Marty. Frankly, less than a year before she had finally found affordable healthcare insurance for herself through the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange. prgtoken Every family, every person in this Chamber, has been affected by it. Cancer has a way of ripping bodies apart, ripping families apart, and ripping communities apart. prgtoken It didn't rip Marty apart. Through her strength, courage, and health insurance, she persevered. She has conviction that God used her community of friends and her family and the Affordable Care Act to help her through treatment and into recovery. prgtoken Not only could Marty share that story with me back in 2015, but she graduated cum laude from PLU in nursing just this last December. I am sharing her remarkable story with you--it could be replicated millions of times--to urge you to set aside and rise above partisan politics and not repeal the lifesaving Affordable Care Act. I ask you to do this not just for the sake of Marty, but because there, my friends, but for the grace of God, go each and every one of us.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,430 | 567,340 |
393 | 1,038,183 |
W000187
| 80 |
Maxine
|
Waters
|
Maxine Waters
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1938-08-15
| 78 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise to oppose this budget, which is designed to repeal--not replace--Care. prgtoken I am adamant about this because of what I have witnessed all of my life. I am going to share with you--and some of you may have never heard of these things--that I have watched people die from preventable diseases. prgtoken I have watched, over the years, from the time I was a child, where people had home remedies. They didn't have any prescription drugs. prgtoken I watched as my great-grandmother was in pain, in tears, because of arthritis and rheumatism. We had to rub her down with something called liniment. prgtoken I have watched men get up and try to go to work with pneumonia. They tried to heal pneumonia with what was known as hot toddies. prgtoken I have watched as children have died. Little children used to walk around with little bags around their neck with something in it called asfidity that was supposed to protect them from harm. They had pneumonia. They had colds. That is all they had. They didn't have a doctor. They died from preventable diseases. prgtoken Now we have 20 million more people who are insured under this healthcare plan. This is a healthcare plan for all Americans. prgtoken The s will tell you that, yes, they are going to give you something better, but they have been saying this for 8 years. They have been after what is known as Care for 8 years. Why don't they have a remedy? Why don't they have a plan? Why don't they have anything? prgtoken They didn't have anything when they started to attack Care, they don't have anything today, and they are not going to have anything better than the ACA.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,687 | 567,438 |
383 | 1,038,110 |
K000391
| 1,141 |
Raja
|
Krishnamoorthi
|
Raja Krishnamoorthi
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1973-07-19
| 43 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
IL
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I am Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, and I represent the hardworking families of Chicago's west and northwest suburbs. prgtoken I rise today in strong opposition to S. Con. Res. 3. prgtoken Repealing without replacing the Affordable Care Act at the same time would devastate our economy and harm millions of middle class families. prgtoken Within the Eighth District of Illinois alone, we could lose upwards of $550 million from our economy, and over 4,000 jobs. prgtoken Before joining Congress, I ran small businesses in the Chicago area in the national security and technology sectors. I know firsthand how important health coverage is to our workers and to our businesses. Without the protections of the ACA, we will see fewer entrepreneurs take the risk of starting a business and fewer workers taking the risk of working for a startup. prgtoken Middle class and working families need good-paying jobs and affordable health care. And, unfortunately, the bill before us today would rob them of both.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,029 | 567,385 |
411 | 1,038,255 |
R000608
| 1,158 |
Jacky
|
Rosen
|
Jacky Rosen
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1957-08-02
| 59 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NV
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I rise in opposition to this legislation. prgtoken In the aftermath of World War II, leaders from both parties, who many in this House revere to this day, developed the principle of civilian control of our Armed Forces and codified it into law. They had seen the rise of fascism and communism, and held this principle dear because they believed it was necessary for the safety of our democracy. It was the outgrowth of a long tradition of thinking about civil-military relations, as old as our Republic itself, going back to the Founders. prgtoken Yet, almost all of these same leaders and legislators made an exception for General George Marshall; but when they did so, they did not take the action lightly. The exception in 1950 did a number of things that this legislation does not, which my colleagues have spoken about. All are serious, but I want to highlight one. prgtoken The exception in 1950 named General Marshall by name and applied the exception only to him. This bill does not name General Mattis, and it is written more broadly. The principle of civilian control of the Armed Forces was important to the Greatest Generation and it was an exception in every sense, an exception for an exceptional individual. prgtoken This matter should not be rammed through Congress. There are serious issues to discuss. I believe civil-military relations remain vitally important to the American people and to the health of our democracy. prgtoken I believe that General Mattis is an excellent general officer. He has served our Nation well, and he will be a capable Secretary of Defense. My opposition to this legislation is not about General Mattis' capacity to serve in this role. prgtoken , I ask: Why is this legislation written so that it could apply to other individuals and does not name General Mattis and state that this is only for him? prgtoken We are being asked to rush, without conducting proper oversight, without holding a hearing, and after being prevented by an unelected transition team to hear from General Mattis himself. prgtoken This is the people's House. The House should have a proper hearing before a decision of this magnitude is made. General Mattis should have been allowed to testify before our committee, as I am told was his desire. If today's legislation addressed these concerns, which could have been achieved, my vote would likely be different today.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,417 | 567,471 |
403 | 1,038,232 |
W000797
| 681 |
Debbie
|
Wasserman Schultz
|
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1966-09-27
| 50 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
FL
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, as a mother, a breast cancer survivor, and a proud Floridian, I rise today in strong opposition to the majority's irresponsible efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The facts speak for themselves: prgtoken 20 million Americans, including more than a million and a half Floridians, have obtained quality, affordable health care since the ACA became law. prgtoken 129 million Americans, who, like me, have preexisting conditions, can no longer be discriminated against by their health insurance company. prgtoken Our Nation's young adults now rest easy that they can stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26. prgtoken Allow me to remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that we are elected to help Americans, not hurt Americans. Make no mistake, repealing the ACA will not only rip health care away from millions of Americans who have Care, but we owe it to the 155 million Americans with employer-based coverage to maintain the prohibition against annual and lifetime limits. prgtoken Before the ACA, 105 million Americans, most of them with employer coverage, had a lifetime limit on their insurance policy. The ACA prohibits annual and lifetime limits on policies. prgtoken We owe it to our seniors to stop the repeal of key new Medicare benefits. Repeal of these lifesaving provisions would actually increase prescription drug costs for millions of seniors in the doughnut hole who are currently saving more than $2,000 on their drugs due to the ACA by reopening the gap in Medicare part D coverage. prgtoken In addition, since enactment of the ACA, the solvency of the Medicare trust fund has been extended by 11 years. And we owe it to the 129 million Americans like me with preexisting conditions, such as breast cancer survivors, to stop repeal so they cannot be dropped or denied coverage or charged an exorbitant premium by their insurance company. prgtoken As a cancer survivor, I am also appalled that the plan--or lack of a plan--would increase out-of-pocket costs for every patient by requiring them once again to pay for preventative services like cancer screenings. prgtoken , the assault on the well-being of our constituents is an outrage, and we will not take it lying down. We will fight tooth and nail for the established right of all Americans to have quality, affordable healthcare coverage and not return to the days when it was available only as a privilege to those who could afford it or who were fortunate enough not to have a preexisting condition.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,569 | 567,460 |
384 | 1,038,205 |
M000087
| 10 |
Carolyn
|
Maloney
|
Carolyn B. Maloney
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1946-02-19
| 70 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NY
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
such time as I may consume. prgtoken Here we are more than 3 months into fiscal year 2017, debating a budget which is not really a budget resolution. Even the majority admits it is nothing more than a shell to help them repeal the Affordable Care Act. It doesn't contain any way to grow jobs and it doesn't contain any new ideas to grow our economy. prgtoken With all of the majority's rhetoric about deficits over the last decade or more, this budget explodes the deficit and adds $2 trillion-- as in T--to the national debt, only to set the stage for repeal of healthcare assistance to millions of Americans. prgtoken What is more, the Congressional Budget Office has told us that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would increase the deficit by $353 billion over 10 years. Now, many of my colleagues have noted the devastating effect of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, the effect that it would have on millions of Americans' health. Thirty million Americans would lose insurance, including 4 million children. The cost of prescription drugs would go up for our seniors. Young people would lose the coverage on their parents' health care. Women wouldn't be protected, and men with preexisting conditions. Pregnancy would no longer be covered. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act has made critical progress for Americans. Millions have gained health care that they never had before. Our uninsured rate is now at 8.9 percent. It is the lowest rate in the history of our great country. It is nearly halved from before the Affordable Care Act took place, as you can see from this chart. This is something we should be proud of. We have allowed more and more and more Americans to have health care when they need it. It is literally a life-and-death situation to millions of Americans. prgtoken This reckless repeal of the Affordable Care Act will also cause economic havoc. It not only hurts people; it hurts our economy. Now, just last month, our economy added 144,000 private sector jobs--the 75th straight month of job growth in the United States of America. That is something we can all be proud of. That is the longest stretch of job creation since 1939 in our Nation's history. prgtoken That is in stark contrast to the way things were at the time that the last Presidential transition took place. When took the oath of office, our economy was shedding a staggering amount of jobs. In December of 2008, the economy lost 695,000 jobs. The next month, another 598,000 jobs gone. We were losing, over a period of time, roughly 700,000 jobs a month. The banks were teetering, lending had halted, the auto industry was exploding, our Nation was in economic turmoil. The combination of a bursting asset bubble and bank panic brought this country to the edge of collapse. It was the worst financial crisis in global history, according to the head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke--in global history. prgtoken Today w
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,447 |
412 | 1,038,186 |
S000185
| 173 |
Robert
|
Scott
|
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1947-04-30
| 69 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
VA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise in opposition to this budget resolution and its intent to compromise the health insurance of all Americans. prgtoken s continue to pursue the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, root and branch, despite the fact that there is no credible plan to deal with the chaos that this repeal will create. prgtoken Thirty million Americans will lose their insurance, the vast majority being working families. There is no plan to protect the other Americans who have enjoyed improved consumer protections and benefits. prgtoken Although the rates have gone up, they have gone up at half the rate that they had been going up before Care, and most of those in the marketplace don't even have to pay those increased prices because of increased tax credits. prgtoken When s talk about repeal and replace, the only thing guaranteed is the repeal part. s have shown little interest in producing an alternative. We have heard lots of complaints, but we have not seen a plan that will make things any better. prgtoken Remember, when Medicare was created, most of the s in Congress voted ``no.'' s in the House have voted numerous times, over 60 times, to repeal some or all of the Affordable Care Act without proposing a credible alternative, and now we have some vague ideas but no plan to deal with the total chaos that will be created if Care is repealed. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to save the health and economic security of all Americans by defeating this resolution.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,556 | 567,440 |
418 | 1,038,035 |
K000009
| 147 |
Marcy
|
Kaptur
|
Marcy Kaptur
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1946-06-17
| 70 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
OH
|
INTRODUCTION OF THE NO CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT FOR PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO ACCEPT FOREIGN EMOLUMENTS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER
|
the Constitution clearly states: ``No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.'' prgtoken The law defines public service as a public trust. It requires government employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, and laws and ethical principles above private gain. At his inauguration, President- elect Donald J. will swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. Given the immensity of Mr. 's business dealings, grave concerns exist that he will immediately be in violation of this oath. Every one of his personal investments will pose a conflict of interest. Any ongoing foreign business relationship threatens to violate the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. The Constitution must be upheld. prgtoken Our Founding Fathers identified the principles important to the bedrock of our democracy; they included an anticorruption measure known as the Emolument Clause. Its inclusion emphasized their desire to preserve independence from external influence. There is no question this principle should apply to this President, as it has to every other President of our nation. prgtoken Mr. has achieved great wealth and his investments spread across the United States and dozens of foreign countries. His personal finances are directly impacted not only by our own policy but also by policies adopted in other nations. His debt obligations pose great conflicts of interests and the possibility of hidden influences will eclipse every action and decision Mr. makes. There is no way to be sure of the full depth of Mr. 's conflicts. He continues to refuse to release his tax returns, a key component of accountability provided by every President and presidential candidate since Richard Nixon. prgtoken When asked what he will do to eliminate the conflicts, Mr. has said it's ``a very simple situation'' and ``routine.'' Yet, thus far, he has not explained how he will address the conflicts. Meanwhile, there has been little division between Mr. 's business interests and his transition. This fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach is unconstitutional and dangerous to liberty. prgtoken Our Founding Fathers would not accept this uncertainty and subversion of the Constitution. They constructed the Clause to clearly forbid self-serving dealings. They established a clear baseline of unacceptable conduct, rather than force after-the-fact judgement. Further, they granted Congress the power to validate exchanges. prgtoken This is why I am introducing a joint resolution, the ``No Congressional Consent for President Donald J. to Accept Foreign Emoluments of Any Kind Whatsoever.'' It empowers Congress to act by explicitly denying consent for Mr. to accept any and all emoluments, wh
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,334 |
385 | 1,038,197 |
J000298
| 1,148 |
Pramila
|
Jayapal
|
Pramila Jayapal
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1965-09-21
| 51 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
WA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I rise in strong opposition to this budget resolution. It begins the gutting of the Affordable Care Act, stripping health care for millions of working families across the Nation, including over three-quarters of a million in my home State of Washington. prgtoken Here is the bottom line: This repeal will put into chaos small businesses, hospitals, and community health centers. I have one of those in Seattle called the International Community Health Services, which provides culturally appropriate health services to anyone in need. Recently, an elderly woman at ICHS shared her fears about the ACA repeal. She and her husband, a heart attack survivor who went through bypass surgery, rely on Medicare and Medicaid for affordable health services. They have an annual joint income, , of $14,000, and they would be unable to afford quality care if the ACA repeal happens and, let's be clear, with absolutely no better plan to replace it. prgtoken , the budget resolution is a moral document. It does translate our values into commitments, and it should tell the world what the United States stands for. Looking at this budget resolution, I cannot help but conclude that our moral compass will be broken if we pass this resolution. I urge my colleagues to oppose this immoral budget resolution.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,353 | 567,444 |
417 | 1,038,023 |
B001281
| 982 |
Joyce
|
Beatty
|
Joyce Beatty
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1950-03-12
| 66 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
OH
|
RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
|
on Monday, January 16, 2017, our nation will signify the tremendous life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, on the third Monday in January, we remember and celebrate a man who led a non-violent movement that urged our country to become more fair and more just and provide equal opportunity for all. prgtoken As our nation honors the life of Dr. King, I call to mind his statement, ``Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?'' prgtoken This year, on what would have been his eighty-eighth birthday, countless people in my home state of Ohio are answering his call to serve by advocating for civil rights and greater access and equal opportunity at the ballot box, inspiring the next generation of community and national leaders, helping the sick, elderly, and poor and many more profound acts of service. prgtoken Like Dr. King, they understand the power and impact of service--not just on our community and State, but on our entire country and across the world. We all need to be more and do more for others and to promote unity and peace. This is of what Dr. King dreamed. prgtoken Because this day isn't meant to be a ``day off,'' it is meant to be a ``day on'': a day on of service. prgtoken In that spirit, as we celebrate the thirty-first MLK Day of Service, I challenge all Americans to make a difference in their community. prgtoken Indeed, that is how we can best honor Dr. King's legacy and how we make his dream--where we are not judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character--a reality for all people. prgtoken Happy Birthday Dr. King. He should be pleased his legacy endures.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,686 | 567,322 |
405 | 1,038,217 |
D000620
| 1,007 |
John
|
Delaney
|
John K. Delaney
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1963-04-16
| 53 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
MD
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, we all know that hard-edged partisan politics has not only eroded the confidence that the American people have in our government, but it has caused government to function to a very low standard. prgtoken In my 4 years that I have been in this Congress, I have never seen a better example of that than what we have here today. Because today, we are considering a budget that is not only fiscally irresponsible, it doubles our deficits across 10 years, increases the national debt by $10 trillion, but its sole purpose is to repeal the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken The purpose of today's budget is not to amend the Affordable Care Act to preserve its strengths and tackle it weaknesses, nor is the purpose of today's budget to repeal the Affordable Care Act and put something in place that has been well thought through and shared with the American public. The purpose of today's bill is to repeal the Affordable Care Act in a cold, hard way and let the chips fall where they fall. And this is not being done because it is good policy. prgtoken Anyone who is serious about healthcare policy--even people who oppose the Affordable Care Act--who has looked at this issue, has concluded, by any measure, the Affordable Care Act should not be repealed without a replacement. It is being done for political reasons because my colleagues, unfortunately, for years, have told their supporters that they would repeal this bill at all cost, without having the courage or convictions to explain to them the consequences of repeal without replacement; nor without the determination to do the work to come up with an alternative. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act was passed 8 years ago. It was passed on a straight party-line basis, which was unfortunate. It had three important goals, which it has achieved: to expand health care in over 20 million people; to lower the overall cost of health care in this country, which is the most important number in our fiscal health; and to improve the quality of health care. prgtoken Is it perfect? No. Are we addressing its problems today? No. Are we repealing it without any replacement? Yes. By any measure, will that be bad for the public health and potentially cause a public health crisis in the United States of America? The answer to that is yes. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to reject the budget proposal.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,383 | 567,451 |
414 | 1,038,251 |
D000598
| 561 |
Susan
|
Davis
|
Susan A. Davis
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1944-04-13
| 72 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
CA
|
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF RELIEF FROM ACTIVE DUTY
|
I opposed similar legislation in a markup yesterday, and I cannot support it today. My concerns are not with the exceptional qualifications and decades of honorable service of General Mattis, but I am opposed to a process that has made this House irrelevant. prgtoken We have an obligation under the law to review this nomination based on General Mattis' military service, a law that codified the principle of civilian control of the military. General Mattis agreed, and was even eager, according to the chairman, to speak before the Armed Services Committee. prgtoken The people have the right to know that the Presidential transition team blocked him from appearing. The American people, frankly, don't care prgtoken what unelected members of the transition team think and would much rather hear from General Mattis on why we in the House should grant this exception to law. prgtoken His testimony would be in all of our best interest. General Mattis could certainly start the new relationship that he has with the House Armed Services Committee, with our committee, through a thoughtful and a productive conversation on the issues. prgtoken Today we are casting off our duty and agreeing to be irrelevant. To accept this legislation without making the appropriate changes, without fully participating in this legislative process, under a closed rule, we are doing nothing to safeguard civilian control of our military. In fact, we are accepting poorly drafted language, and we are not performing proper oversight. prgtoken Why are we doing that? prgtoken Because the President-elect's transition team said so. prgtoken My colleagues have said that there is no requirement that General Mattis speak before us, but I want to say to them: Why cede our power to the Senate? Both houses of Congress have a duty here. Why let a nascent administration push us and a distinguished general around? prgtoken I will not roll over and allow the transition team to dictate the charge of the people's House. We can fix this, , and we should.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,055 | 567,469 |
392 | 1,038,046 |
G000551
| 659 |
Raúl
|
Grijalva
|
Raúl M. Grijalva
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1948-02-19
| 68 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
AZ
|
NOT ATTENDING INAUGURATION
|
I rise today to tell my constituents that I will not be attending the inauguration of as our next President. prgtoken My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the office or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in this great democracy but as an individual act, yes, of defiance at the disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming administration and by the actions we are taking in this Congress. prgtoken The majority of voters rejected . They deserve respect. The 20 million-plus Americans threatened by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement deserve respect. The millions who did not vote because they blame both parties deserve respect. prgtoken I will be at home in Arizona meeting with seniors, the immigrant community, folks who care about the environment and climate change, healthcare providers, and marching in Tucson with folks who will demand respect. I will be talking about the need to defend and protect the future for all Americans. prgtoken Rather than participate in the inauguration, I will be participating in my district and reaffirming and renewing this democracy and the people that are part of it.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,229 | 567,342 |
404 | 1,038,189 |
P000034
| 41 |
Frank
|
Pallone
|
Frank Pallone, Jr.
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1951-10-30
| 65 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NJ
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
. Mr. Chair, I have listened to every who spoke during this budget debate, and I am convinced they will repeal the ACA and run. There will never be a replacement because they don't have the votes for it. The s are ideologues. They don't believe we should regulate insurance companies or help people pay for their premiums, so they can never support a replacement plan that would do these things. prgtoken The ACA is a market-based plan to deal with the healthcare crisis that we faced 8 years ago. More and more people didn't have health insurance. Insurance companies wouldn't sell them health insurance if they had a preexisting condition like cancer. People were paying more and more out of pocket, and the fact of the matter is that we stepped in in a practical way, not because we were ideologues, because we were looking at the situation practically to help people. prgtoken What did we do? We provided 20 or 30 million people who didn't have insurance with insurance. For those who had health insurance through their employer, we guaranteed them a good benefit package, and we limited their out-of-pocket costs. We looked at this practically because we are trying to help the American people. We were not ideologues. We didn't care about whether you were on the left or the right. prgtoken But what the s are doing today is really a farce. They don't care about the average American. They don't care about all these people who have insurance now who didn't have it before, about the benefits that they are getting, that their out-of-pocket costs have been limited. No. They are just ideologues. They want to repeal this. They have no intention of ever replacing it, in my opinion, and they want to go back to the good old days when the insurance companies controlled the market. That is what we are going to have. Repeal and run, that is what you are doing.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,921 | 567,442 |
400 | 1,038,236 |
B001296
| 1,120 |
Brendan
|
Boyle
|
Brendan F. Boyle
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1977-02-06
| 39 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
PA
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
it is interesting that after 6 years of the mantra of repeal and replace, here we are. And we have repeal and maybe replace at some point when we get around to it; although, that shouldn't be very surprising, considering. prgtoken What is Care? prgtoken More than 20 years ago, Senator Bob Dole, then the leader of the Senate, and a group of his colleagues introduced the alternative to the then-ic plan to expand health insurance to some 40 million Americans who didn't have it. The plan hatched at the Heritage Foundation was, instead of expanding Medicare for all, let's instead create a system of taxes and tax credits where we pool all the uninsured together and we enable them to buy private health insurance on a marketplace. prgtoken Fast-forward about two decades. comes to the White House wanting to compromise, wanting to create a system that would disrupt the existing healthcare system as little as possible, and decides to go in this direction. Then suddenly, all of those on the other side who supported that idea for two decades decided it was socialism and could not possibly be the healthcare law. prgtoken So the reason why they don't have an alternative to Care is because this is the market solution. This was the more moderate approach. This actually isn't a Big Government-run plan. prgtoken So I am extending a hand to the other side. If they really want to come up with a way to improve the Affordable Care Act, there are many of us on this side who genuinely want to work on that. I have already voted, as a Member only here 2 years, on ways we can improve the Affordable Care Act and make some modifications, the same way we have made modifications to Medicare and Medicaid many times since 1965. prgtoken , if the real intent of the other side is just to strip away health insurance to 22 million Americans, we will say ``no'' and continue to fight it.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,995 | 567,462 |
402 | 1,038,043 |
H000874
| 75 |
Steny
|
Hoyer
|
Steny H. Hoyer
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1939-06-14
| 77 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
MD
|
ACA AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
|
I absolutely disagree with the previous speaker. He is wrong. He is wrong on the facts. The fact is, the Affordable Care Act was on the table longer than any bill since I have been in Congress--which is 36 years--to read, to review, to analyze, and to make a decision. prgtoken Every American will be adversely affected if we repeal the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans with disabilities depend on access to quality, affordable health care and deserve to have their voices heard in the debate over our healthcare system. prgtoken In fact, only one in five Americans, when polled, think we ought to repeal the Affordable Care Act without having a replacement. There is no replacement. Sixty-four times they voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. They still do not have a replacement. prgtoken According to the CDC, 53 million Americans live with some form of disability. Were the Affordable Care Act to be repealed, insurers would again be permitted to discriminate against them, denying coverage for increasing premiums based on their disabilities. Repeal would also allow insurance companies again to impose annual and lifetime limits on coverage for every American. prgtoken Do not repeal the Affordable Care Act. Show us the beef. Show us the alternative.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 1,293 | 567,339 |
389 | 1,038,067 |
S000480
| 154 |
Louise
|
Slaughter
|
Louise McIntosh Slaughter
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1929-08-14
| 87 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
NY
| null |
. for yielding me the time. prgtoken , it is unconscionable to me that the majority is prioritizing a repeal of the Affordable Care Act as its top priority for the 115th Congress as the Nation's infrastructure crumbles and as the cost of education continues to skyrocket. It is particularly outrageous that this budget puts the wheels in motion, as my colleague has said, for a repeal of the healthcare law without there being anything to take its place. prgtoken This budget would also increase our Nation's debt by $9.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Apparently the party that has tried to claim the mantle of balanced budgets for years doesn't really care about fiscal responsibility. prgtoken It is the first step toward defunding Planned Parenthood, which serves 2.5 million patients--men and women--across the country every year and provides preventative care, like birth control and cancer screenings. It seems to me, for the majority of my adult life, I have been trying to defend Planned Parenthood. The excuse given that the community health centers can pick up the slack is so enormously wrong that the community health centers are scared to death that they are going to be asked to try to pick up that slack of 2.5 million patients. That is absolutely a cover for something that doesn't make any sense at all. prgtoken I was shocked to read a study over the summer that found that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths in the State of Texas, since they did away with Planned Parenthood, seems to have doubled since 2010, making Texas one of the most dangerous places in the world to have a baby. prgtoken What was happening in Texas during this time? prgtoken The State legislature was not only making cuts to family planning clinics where many low-income women received the only medical care they got, but the State was absolutely refusing to expand its Medicaid program, which would have given lower income women desperately needed access to prenatal services.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,019 | 567,356 |
396 | 1,038,234 |
C001068
| 726 |
Steve
|
Cohen
|
Steve Cohen
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1949-05-24
| 67 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
TN
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
|
I have been listening to the debate, and I see the buzzwords that have been used about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act: ``patient-centered''--that sounds good--and ``against bureaucrats''--that sounds good. What they don't tell you is that it is for the insurance companies. prgtoken They say it leaves it patient-centered and for the people to deal with it, not the government--because the people will have to deal with the insurance companies in the future. The people don't want to have to deal with insurance companies when their claims are denied, when they won't pay them, when they won't allow them to have certain procedures. That is what the American people are against. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act was insurance reform on steroids. And you can't have all of the insurance reform on steroids without government action looking out for the people versus the insurance companies. prgtoken They also don't tell you about rich people, who the other side is always concerned about, who could use tax credits and get a lot more money for their tax credits because they are at a higher tax rate than others. So, in essence, they are going to get more out of this. prgtoken What we ought to be doing--it is what this alternative budget is about--is trying to create jobs, jobs for people in infrastructure, construction jobs for people out there in middle America. prgtoken America used to be first in infrastructure, and now we are 28th in infrastructure. We need to have an infrastructure that gets goods to market and goods to the public for sale. That helps create jobs further. Jobs is what is important, and it is where America used to be first--in infrastructure jobs. prgtoken America has always been last in health care. We were the only industrialized country in the world without a national healthcare policy, and the s never wanted a national healthcare policy until now. prgtoken So the Affordable Care Act did good because it woke the people up on the other side of the aisle to the fact that we needed to have a policy to make sure people got health care because they have never, ever cared about it. prgtoken Teddy Roosevelt cared about it in their party. Richard Nixon cared about it in their party. Mitt Romney cared about it in their party. But they were mute. They didn't say a word about it. All of a sudden-- because they found something they thought is good. prgtoken Two-thirds of the people in Tennessee like the Affordable Care Act. Don't repeal it. prgtoken Pass this alternative budget and create jobs.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,591 | 567,461 |
410 | 1,038,018 |
S001185
| 927 |
Terri
|
Sewell
|
Terri A. Sewell
| 20,170,113 |
F
|
1965-01-01
| 52 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
AL
|
SUPPORT FOR ACA--THE STORY OF ONE ALABAMIAN
|
More than 20 million Americans woke up today with the security of health coverage they didn't have 8 years ago. Of the Americans who stand to lose their health insurance under the GOP repeal plan, 82 percent are from working families, including 150,000 enrollees in my State of Alabama. prgtoken Despite facts, s have done a remarkable job convincing the American people, even those who are on the exchanges, that the ACA only benefits people who don't work. They perpetuate the tired fallacy that ACA, Medicaid, and even Medicare recipients are living off the government without contributing to our economy. prgtoken , this brings me to a story about Hank Adcock. Hank is a life-long farmer who has been working on his family farm in Alabama for the majority of his 62 years. Back in 2015, his hands got stuck in a hay baler and he lost his right hand. Before the ACA, Hank's family hadn't had health coverage since the 1980s. His ACA policy ended up covering his entire hospital bill, which he says could have cost him his farm if he hadn't had insurance. If the farming work that Hank, his wife, Sharon, and their children have committed their lives to isn't enough to qualify as ``hard work'' to my friends, then I suggest we let Hank and Sharon come up here to Washington while we all go down to North Alabama to trade jobs for a few days. prgtoken The ACA is far from perfect. This is why I have worked across the aisle to try to make meaningful changes to the ACA that don't compromise the law's benefits. But after 7 years of engaging in a fact- free, taxpayer-funded crusade against the ACA, the GOP should have a stellar replacement plan that we can all agree on. prgtoken Every member in this body has constituents who have insurance because of the ACA. While I understand that the law is unpopular in many districts across the country, political expediency has no place in this hallowed body, especially when the economy and American lives are at stake. prgtoken The American people deserve a Congress that will work together to fix what's wrong with the ACA and build upon what's working. We need to work towards increased access, market stabilization and cost reduction. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to achieve these goals and protect the millions of Americans who like Hank were at one time just one medical emergency away from financial ruin.
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 2,428 | 567,318 |
420 | 1,038,328 |
E000296
| 1,140 |
Dwight
|
Evans
|
Dwight Evans
| 20,170,113 |
M
|
1954-05-16
| 62 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
PA
|
SUPPORT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
|
I stood in the well of this House some days ago, when I was sworn in, and basically said that I am not naive. prgtoken Today, I rise in support of the Affordable Care Act and oppose any effort to repeal it, which just took place. Since the ACA was enacted in 2010, the uninsured rate in Pennsylvania has fallen by 37 percent. Additionally, millions more Pennsylvanians, who would otherwise be uninsured, have coverage with an employer, Medicaid, individual market, or Medicare coverage as a result of the new protections provided by the law. prgtoken No matter what lens you look through, Pennsylvanians and individuals throughout our Nation have better health coverage and care today as a result of the ACA. Let us keep moving forward and help our communities have healthcare access, quality, and affordability. prgtoken Recently, our Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, sent a letter to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to underscore the importance of furthering access to care, keeping prices affordable and spending in check, and improving health care for those in our home State of Pennsylvania. prgtoken Just in Pennsylvania alone, we have had over 670,000 individuals who have enrolled in HealthChoices, Pennsylvania's mandatory managed care Medicaid program. That is 670,000 individuals who previously did not have access to quality of care. prgtoken We do not need the rhetoric of repeal and replace. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of the Governor, burg, PA, December 20, 2016. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman McCarthy: Thank you for the opportunity to weigh in on the critically important conversation about the future of health care in our country. As Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am immensely proud of the work we have done to further access to care, keep prices affordable and spending in check, and improve health outcomes since my administration began tackling health care as a top priority. One of my first decisions as Governor was to expand Medicaid to individuals up to 138 percent of Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Since that decision was made in February 2015, more than 670,000 individuals have enrolled in HealthChoices, Pennsylvania's mandatory managed care Medicaid program. That's 670,000 Pennsylvanians that previously did not have access to quality care, if they had access to care at all. Total program enrollment now tops 2.8 million Pennsylvanians. U.S. Census data shows that the commonwealth's uninsured rate has dropped from 10.2 percent in 2010 to 6.4 percent in 2015, and state General Fund costs have been reduced by more than $500 million as a result of Medicaid expansion. Even before the passage of the Affordabl
| 2,017 | 1 | 13 | 3,000 | 567,507 |
423 | 1,038,335 |
M001160
| 677 |
Gwen
|
Moore
|
Gwen Moore
| 20,170,117 |
F
|
1951-04-18
| 65 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
WI
|
TRIBUTE TO MARLENE JOHNSON-ODOM
|
I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Marlene Johnson-Odom. She served as alderwoman on the City of Milwaukee Common Council for the sixth aldermanic district for more than 24 years. Ms. Johnson-Odom passed away on January 9, 2017. prgtoken Marlene Johnson-Odom was a lifelong Milwaukee resident. She was a product of the public school system and a fellow graduate of North Division High School. Marlene received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. prgtoken Prior to becoming an elected official, Ms. Johnson-Odom worked for Milwaukee Public Schools and was TV Hostess at Channel 18, a local television station. Ms. Johnson-Odom succeeded her first husband Ben Johnson on the Common Council and was known as a quiet but effective leader. While serving on the Common Council, one of the achievements of which she was most proud was the renaming of 3rd Street to Martin Luther King Drive. Always approachable, Marlene provided outstanding service to her constituents. prgtoken Ms. Johnson-Odom was always extremely involved in the community and served on numerous boards and commissions including: Milwaukee Area Technical College Board, United Way Board of Directors, Black Women's Network and Pabst Theater Board. prgtoken Ms. Johnson-Odom leaves behind 3 children: Jan Johnson Carlyle, Paula Darling and Jay Johnson, 2 grandchildren: Amber Brown and Ellis Johnson, 8 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her passing. She leaves a strong legacy of leadership for her children and grandchildren to model. prgtoken , Marlene was my friend and a Milwaukee and Wisconsin treasure and I valued her service to the 4th Congressional District. I urge you and my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in a salute to the late Marlene Johnson-Odom.
| 2,017 | 1 | 17 | 1,861 | 567,511 |
422 | 1,038,392 |
M000355
| 188 |
Mitch
|
McConnell
|
Mitch McConnell
| 20,170,117 |
M
|
1942-02-20
| 74 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
KY
|
ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017
|
I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 4 p.m Friday, January 20; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
| 2,017 | 1 | 17 | 509 | 567,544 |
430 | 1,038,394 |
C001068
| 726 |
Steve
|
Cohen
|
Steve Cohen
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1949-05-24
| 67 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
TN
|
RECOGNIZING THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF ``BLACK JANUARY''
|
I rise today to recognize the 27th anniversary of ``Black January'' in Azerbaijan, a day that commemorates Azerbaijan's stand against Soviet soldiers for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity over all lands under Azerbaijani jurisdiction, and freedom from communism and dictatorship. prgtoken On the evening of January 19, 1990, the U.S.S.R. Supreme Soviet Presidium backed by then-President Mikhail Gorbachev declared a state of emergency in response to the growing national independence movement in Azerbaijan. In response to the Azeri people's stand against Soviet aggression, Soviet troops stormed the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku and indiscriminately fired on peaceful demonstrators, including women and children. That night, more than 130 people died with over 700 injured, 841 arrested and five going missing. prgtoken While Soviet invaders attacked peaceful protestors, they also targeted critical infrastructure and workers. According to a report by Human Rights Watch entitled Black January in Azerbaijan, ``among the most heinous violations of human rights during the Baku incursion were the numerous attacks on medical personnel, ambulances and even hospitals.'' Additionally, the Soviet attack served as an act of intimidation for all then-Soviet countries with independence ambitions. The Human Rights Watch report concluded that, ``indeed the violence used by the Soviet Army on the night of January 19-20 constitutes an exercise in collective punishment. The punishment inflicted on Baku by Soviet soldiers may have been intended as a warning to nationalists, not only in Azerbaijan, but in other Republics of the Soviet Union.'' prgtoken Azerbaijani citizens, however, refused to succumb to Soviet aggression. Instead, the invasion gave new life to their nationalism and fight for true independence. In the days after the invasion, thousands of Azerbaijanis surrounded Communist Party headquarters demanding the resignation of the republic's leadership, the Baku City Council demanded that Soviet troops withdraw from Azeri territories and the legislature in Azerbaijan threatened to call a referendum on secession unless Soviet troops were withdrawn within 48 hours. prgtoken Soviet troops eventually withdrew and January 20th became known as ``the Day of the Nationwide Sorrow.'' It would not be for nearly two years, however, before Azerbaijan gained political control from the Soviet Union. In October 1991, Azerbaijan's parliament--the National Assembly--declared its independence. prgtoken While Azerbaijan still faces challenges from its neighbors, today, Azerbaijan has developed into a thriving country with double-digit growth, in large part due to a freely elected president and parliament, and free market reforms led by the energy sector that helps support energy security in Israel and Europe. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the tragic events of Black January that precipitated the independent Rep
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 3,000 | 567,546 |
432 | 1,038,393 |
G000574
| 1,116 |
Ruben
|
Gallego
|
Ruben Gallego
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1979-11-20
| 37 | 1 | 0 |
Democrat
|
rep
|
AZ
|
HONORING MICHAEL J. KEENAN
|
I rise to honor Michael J. Keenan, who is retiring having served the interests of Arizona's working men and women with distinction since the mid-1970s. prgtoken Upon graduating from the University of Arizona, Mike attended Georgetown Law School. Not forgetting his working class roots or union family heritage, Mike returned to Arizona to join the union-side law firm then known as Ward and Contreras. Through the years, Mike provided wise counsel to Arizona unions, enabling them to defend the rights of the Arizona workers to fair wages and safe working conditions. He also has represented well various trust funds which provide health insurance and retirement benefits for Arizona union members. prgtoken By advancing the interests and protecting the dignity of Arizona union members--often during challenging times--Mike earned a reputation as not only a zealous and highly effective advocate, but also as a highly ethical lawyer. Through his hard work and dedication, Mike immeasurably improved the lives of Arizona working men and women. prgtoken It is now time for Mike to enjoy a long retirement with his wife, Becky, his sons Jimmy and Joey, his daughter Katie and his granddaughter Avery. On behalf of our great state's workers, I thank him and wish him all the best.
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 1,299 | 567,545 |
429 | 1,038,420 |
M000639
| 46 |
Robert
|
Menendez
|
Robert Menendez
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1954-01-01
| 63 | 1 | 1 |
Democrat
|
sen
|
NJ
|
NOMINATIONS (Executive Session)
|
I rise to speak on the nomination of Gen. John F. Kelly to be Secretary of Homeland Security. This is a tremendously important position, especially in these dangerous and uncertain times, and it requires a highly qualified nominee who will be able to handle one of the most complex positions here in Washington, DC. After his impressive career and nomination hearing, few would question that he has the knowledge and the skill to lead the agency. prgtoken He has years of experience working with our neighbors in Latin America as former commander of U.S. Southern Command, where he saw firsthand the drivers of the unaccompanied minors crisis. In his testimony, he outlined what he saw as the root causes of migration, including people fleeing violence and seeking asylum within the United States. prgtoken Yet the position requires more than experience, it requires a true understanding of the issues and how they affect the men and women we are all sworn to serve. It is in this aspect that I have lingering concerns. prgtoken Anyone running DHS must be able to prioritize their resources in the apprehension, detention, and removal of undocumented immigrants. On November 20, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security outlined how scarce Federal resources would be allocated in enforcing our Nation's immigration laws. The memo focused resources on threats to national security, threats to national safety, and threats to border security, while deemphasizing law-abiding immigrants who have integrated themselves into society. I have been generally supportive of this prioritization, as I believe that Federal resources should be spent on enforcement actions against serious criminals. prgtoken On day one as Secretary of Homeland Security, General Kelly will have to address this. I hope he will recognize the wisdom of keeping families together, protecting children and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA Program and focus on deporting serious criminals and those who truly pose a threat to our national security. This focus isn't about being liberal or conservative but is a smart and humane approach to enforcement of our immigration laws. prgtoken General Kelly will have to grapple with the realities of our immigration system. As Secretary of Homeland Security, General Kelly will be tasked with the critical duty of maintaining our southwest borders. We have heard prgtoken promises by the President-elect to build a wall that would cost taxpayers $25 billion; yet a wall will not secure the border or stop the flow of illegal drugs into the country. General Kelly himself noted that a wall alone is not enough. I hope that General Kelly will recognize that $25 billion is better spent trying to reduce factors that drive people to the United States. prgtoken After speaking to General Kelly and listening to his testimony, I am cautiously optimistic that this is a nominee who understands the issues that will be in front o
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 3,000 | 567,561 |
426 | 1,038,415 |
M000303
| 113 |
John
|
McCain
|
John McCain
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1936-08-29
| 80 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
AZ
|
NOMINATIONS (Executive Session)
|
. Respectfully and with high regard, I would just ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle--let's get this intelligence team to work. Let's put them together. We will have outstanding individuals in a time when, in the view of most observers, this Nation is in greater peril than it has been in 70 years. prgtoken This is a very, very serious situation we find ourselves in. The people have spoken. Let's confirm them today. prgtoken .
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 466 | 567,556 |
427 | 1,038,397 |
K000210
| 161 |
Peter
|
King
|
Peter T. King
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1944-04-05
| 72 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
NY
|
TRIBUTE TO FRANK TAYLOR
|
I rise today to recognize an extraordinary public servant and a dedicated leader of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), Brigadier General (Retired) Francis Xavier Taylor, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security. Brig Gen Taylor came out of retirement in 2014 when the President nominated him to be the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). After nearly 40 years of honorable service to our nation, Under Secretary Taylor will retire again on Friday, January 20, 2017. prgtoken Under Secretary Taylor applied his knowledge and experience from his 31 years in the United States Air Force, his service at the U.S. Department of State as an Ambassador for Counterterrorism and head of Diplomatic prgtoken Security, and as Vice President of Security at General Electric. Applying his decades of experience and innovative thinking, Under Secretary Taylor rolled up his sleeves and got to work. prgtoken Due to Under Secretary Taylor's leadership, I&A is much further along on its vision of driving information sharing and delivering intelligence and analysis to operators and decision-makers at all levels. One of Under Secretary Taylor's first actions at I&A was to guide the organization through a transformation. He removed internal I&A stovepipes and realigned the organization to ensure DHS-collected information now forms the basis of the majority of I&A production. Under Secretary Taylor also ordered that finished intelligence include State and local data. prgtoken Under Secretary Taylor also worked tirelessly to mature and strengthen the Department's relationship with the state and local fusion centers and make information sharing a priority. In FY2016, 62 percent of I&A's finished intelligence products were disseminated at the SECRET level or below to best serve those who protect our borders, critical infrastructure and communities. prgtoken Under Secretary Taylor also took to heart the need to invest in the workforce and address extremely low employee morale. He spent a great deal of his tenure fine-tuning the organization, restructuring and rebalancing the workforce. He drastically reduced the ratio of supervisors to workers, reducing the amount of bloated management and replacing it with what he called ``seed corn''--young, junior people brought in to rejuvenate the organization and help develop a truly homeland-focused workforce. prgtoken Our Nation owes this public servant a tremendous debt of gratitude. I wish to thank Under Secretary Taylor for his decades of exceptional service to our country and to wish him and his wife Connie the very best in the days and years ahead. Under Secretary Taylor can now enjoy his three grandchildren Ava, Aaron and Alexander, while taking in some more games under the Golden Dome at Notre Dame.
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 2,920 | 567,548 |
428 | 1,038,398 |
M000355
| 188 |
Mitch
|
McConnell
|
Mitch McConnell
| 20,170,120 |
M
|
1942-02-20
| 74 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
KY
|
INAUGURATION AND CABINET NOMINEES
|
in November's election, the people called for a new direction, a change from the last 8 years. Today, we took a meaningful step toward that new direction as we inaugurated a new President of the United States. prgtoken I think it is important for all Americans--regardless of party--to remember the significance of inauguration day. As we celebrate our Nation's rich electoral tradition, we can begin to move our country forward together. prgtoken It is always an honor to participate in the historical transition of power and the ceremonies surrounding it. Today was certainly no exception. On behalf of the Senate, I wish to express our gratitude to each individual, from law enforcement personnel to Inaugural Committee staff, to congressional staff of volunteers whose efforts made this event a success. prgtoken I wish to again congratulate President and Vice President on today's inauguration. We are eager to work with you and the administration in advancing policies that can improve the lives of the American people. prgtoken Today marks a new beginning. We are faced with many new opportunities. We are faced with some new challenges too. I will have more to say on that in the coming days. For now, the Senate remains hard at work as we move forward with the confirmation process on President 's nominees. We will have an opportunity to confirm some today. prgtoken It is imperative to proceed with confirmations without delay, especially when it comes to key national and economic security needs. I urge colleagues to remember that we worked with the administration of former President after he was first inaugurated. We confirmed seven--seven--members of his Cabinet on the day he took office and nearly the entire Cabinet was filled within 2 weeks. prgtoken I wish to say, parenthetically, there is a lot the minority can do at the very beginning by refusing to give consent to drag this out, and that is what apparently is occurring here. The nominations we are not doing are not even controversial. prgtoken I would hope the feeling around here would be at least on day one to have some level of cooperation. We should work in the same spirit with the current administration and put the rest of President 's team in place as soon as possible. Specifically, it is important that we confirm General Mattis and General Kelly to their crucial positions as the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security. prgtoken That is not enough. We live in dangerous times. As the ic leader noted earlier just today, ``We face threats foreign and domestic.'' It is critical for the President to have a full national security team today, day one. That includes, in particular, the Director of the CIA. It makes no sense to prgtoken leave the post open, not for another week, not for another day, not for another hour. America's enemies will not pause in plotting, planning, and training simply because the
| 2,017 | 1 | 20 | 3,000 | 567,549 |
442 | 1,038,666 |
R000307
| 485 |
Pat
|
Roberts
|
Pat Roberts
| 20,170,123 |
M
|
1936-04-20
| 80 | 0 | 1 |
Republican
|
sen
|
KS
|
Welcoming A New Day In The Country (Executive Session)
|
I believe that to continue to delay confirmation of Congressman Mike Pompeo to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency would be a real disservice to the Nation and to the security of the American people. prgtoken It was 2 weeks ago that I had the honor and privilege of introducing my colleague from Kansas during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee--a committee I once had the privilege of chairing. More than enough time has passed for all Senators to really acquaint themselves with the pertinent qualifications of the President's nominee. prgtoken As a long-serving Member of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike has the merits for the job. He has the experience, he has the knowledge, the judgment, and the skills necessary to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Mike is Army strong. He graduated at the top of his class at West Point and then served as a cavalry officer patrolling the Iron Curtain before the fall of the Berlin Wall. prgtoken After completing his military service, Mike attended Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Because he is an attorney, Mike understands the law, as emphasized by my distinguished colleague from California, a long-serving member of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Feinstein. prgtoken Aside from the many questions posed to Congressman Pompeo, this is the salient point. He will respect the limitations we have placed upon our intelligence services, and he will preserve our constitutional values. prgtoken After practicing law, Mike returned to his mother's roots in South Central Kansas, running several very successful businesses in Wichita before making the decision to run for Congress in 2010. prgtoken Mike came to Washington with a strong desire to serve the people of the Fourth District. Ready for a challenge, he sought a seat on the House Intelligence Committee at a time when intelligence-gathering methods were under fire. prgtoken Again, a salient point, as an experienced legislator, Mike Pompeo understands and respects the role of Congress and the need for vigorous oversight, again demonstrated by the remarks of the distinguished Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein. prgtoken I know he will provide the House and Senate Intelligence Committees with candid and honest assessments and provide the information the committee needs necessary to fulfill their oversight responsibilities. I know he will also demand that of everyone who serves at the CIA. In so doing, I know--and he knows--the difference between intelligence reporting and an intelligence product with salient input from all within the intelligence community, thus making sure our intel community does not become mired in assessment failure or any political controversy. We have certainly seen enough of that. prgtoken There are few positions in government of greater importance than that of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agen
| 2,017 | 1 | 23 | 3,000 | 567,707 |
458 | 1,038,496 |
C001103
| 1,071 |
Earl
|
Carter
|
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
| 20,170,123 |
M
|
1957-09-06
| 59 | 0 | 0 |
Republican
|
rep
|
GA
|
IN RECOGNITION OF WILEY WASDEN, JR.
|
I rise to honor Mr. Wiley Anderson Wasden, Jr from Savannah, Georgia, who passed away on January 18, 2017, just a few days shy of his 80th birthday. prgtoken Born in Millen, Georgia, to his parents, Wiley Senior and Katherine, Mr. Wasden moved to Savannah after graduating from high school in 1953. He then began studies at the University of Georgia, where he joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and ignited his interest in government. Throughout his life, Mr. Wasden continued this interest in government and used it to make the State of Georgia a better place to live, eventually serving as chairman of the Georgia State Party and as a Georgia State senator. Outside of government, Mr. Wasden worked hard for his community. He was a well-respected local Realtor in Savannah while he also served as chairman of the board for Savannah Country Day School. prgtoken I am proud today to recognize Mr. Wasden's outstanding life and the positive impact he made on the State of Georgia. He will certainly be missed.
| 2,017 | 1 | 23 | 1,045 | 567,607 |
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