mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Kurt Schrader (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-5-18

. Madam Chair, as a veterinarian, I agree with my good friend and colleague, a large animal practitioner from the great State of Florida, Ted Yoho, that pasteurization is essential to preventing the reemergence of some of the most basic foodborne diseases that, unfortunately, we now take for granted in the United States of America. prgtoken Prior to the advent of pasteurization, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and all the diseases my good friend and colleague alluded to were commonplace. Commonplace, and this is only over a little over 100 years ago. prgtoken Milk, which is high in protein, starch, and fat, is an ideal medium for bacterial growth. Within days, if not from original contamination at the dairy, these deadly bacterial diseases develop. Pasteurization is the modest heat treating of milk that keeps these deadly bacteria from growing, thereby improving shelf life and allowing widespread distribution of safe, clean, healthy, uncontaminated milk that makes us the envy of the world. prgtoken It does not denature or impair the nutritional value of this super nutritional food source. Indeed, do we all not remember just a few years ago the melamine contamination in China, their milk source? Chinese mothers now feed their babies American milk. prgtoken One of our most basic duties in the Federal Government is to protect the health of the American people. It would be an unconscionable dereliction of our duty to not allow this amendment to go forward. Let's support the Constitution to protect the health and welfare of the American people.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Sean Patrick Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-5-18

as much time as I may consume. prgtoken , this is the final amendment to the bill. If adopted, it will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, we will proceed to final passage, as amended. prgtoken I offer the motion to recommit on behalf of farmers and rural communities prgtoken who are confronting threats to their livelihood, sadly, that are included within this bill. prgtoken , the communities I represent rely heavily on agriculture. Hudson Valley farmers feed New York and America, they create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, and they preserve the cultural heritage for generations of farmers who have done the same. prgtoken I was raised in a small town surrounded by family farms, and I am proud to say I still live in one today. Agriculture drives the economy of my district. prgtoken Suffice it to say, I didn't think I would ever oppose a farm bill. I was proud to be part of the bipartisan team that wrote the last one. That bipartisan bill was a huge win for farmers in my part of the world, but this farm bill is very different, and I am disappointed to say that we are following the best farm bill ever for the Hudson Valley with the very worst farm bill ever for the Hudson Valley. prgtoken It claims to create efficiencies, but really just ends up going after people who need a hand, the ones we are supposed to focus on in this bill. prgtoken One instance is simply the mandate that parents pay their child support or lose their SNAP benefits. Now, that, on its face, sounds like it makes sense: You don't pay your child support when you have kids, that should be a problem, but this bill goes about it in all the wrong ways and it ends up hurting the very children who rely on that child support, and it would actually end up costing more than it would save us. prgtoken It also goes after critical trade programs just as millions of our farmers are reeling from a trade war and the renegotiation of NAFTA. prgtoken Earlier this week, my Hudson Valley district was slammed by a series of storms, which destroyed acres and acres worth of crops. My office has been inundated with calls from farmers whose very livelihoods are in jeopardy as a result. prgtoken One farmer named Josh Morgenthau, who runs the famous farm called Fishkill Farms, may have lost $1 million worth of crops. That is just one farmer in Duchess County. prgtoken So the very same week when we faced these deadly storms, we are now talking about responding to millions of dollars in crop damages without improving the very crop insurance programs that farmers like Josh depend on today, right now. That is a kick in the teeth to the guys I represent. prgtoken But the problems with this bill don't stop with crop insurance, as bad as those are. prgtoken This bill eliminates America's largest conservation program, and that is a killer for rural New York because of growing urban sprawl and the loss of farmlan
IN RECOGNITION OF MR. RICHARD S. MONSON
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-5-18

it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Richard S. Monson. Richard has been the driving force behind Southwest Georgia Farm Credit in Bainbridge, Georgia for 18 years and currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will be retiring on July 31, 2018. prgtoken A native of Maryland, Richard received a Bachelor's of Science degree from West Virginia University and a Master's degree from Clemson University, both in Agricultural Economics. He also attended the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. prgtoken For over three decades, Richard Monson has been a highly trusted leader in the financial services industry and in rural America. He has built an impressive career, beginning with his work with the West Virginia Farm Commission's prison farm system. Richard went on to serve as a Data Management and Research Analyst in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Clemson University. He joined the Farm Credit System in 1986, when he became a Senior Economist at AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in Columbia, South Carolina. He later joined Farm Credit of Southwest Florida in Arcadia, Florida, where he served in a variety of roles including Commercial Loan Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Lending Officer. He became the President and CEO of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit in 2000 and has since distributed $89 million of member dividends to the company's farmer owners with more than $900 million in assets. prgtoken Richard's diligent commitment to financial services and rural America has also been mirrored by his involvement in the community. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Edison College in Fort Myers, Florida and as the Chairman of the AgFirst Presidents Group and the Georgia Cooperative Council. prgtoken Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give.'' We are so grateful that Richard Monson has given his time and talents to provide a premier financial institution for the farmers of Southwest Georgia. A man of great integrity, his efforts, his dedication, and his expertise are unparalleled. Southwest Georgia shines a little brighter because of Richard Monson. prgtoken He has accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Linda, and their two daughters, Katie and Kristen. After retirement, Richard will enjoy spending time with the family he cherishes so dearly. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Mr. Richard S. Monson upon the occasion of his retirement from an outstanding career in financial services supporting agriculture in Southwest Georgia.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Collin C. Peterson (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-5-18

. Madam Chair, this is maybe not a bad idea, but I just want to point out that the Secretary can already do this. I don't know exactly why we are doing this, but I guess that is a decision between the authors and the Secretary. They can already do it. prgtoken The thing that I am little bit concerned about is that this might help a little bit with beginning farmers, but, frankly, we are not doing enough in the underlying bill to put the money in there that would actually do some good for beginning farmers and ranchers. That would be more important than naming a coordinator if we don't have enough money to do what we want to do. prgtoken I am not going to oppose the amendment, but I just want to point out that this is good intentions, but this is something that could be done anyway. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
RECOGNIZING CENTENARIAN RESIDENTS OF EVERLASTING PINE HDFC
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-5-18

today I rise to recognize the contribution of seven centenarian residents of Everlasting Pine HDFC on Chung Pak Local Development Corporation ' s Elderly Appreciation Day, and in recognition of Older American's Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. prgtoken Built in 1993 through a HUD senior supportive housing program, Everlasting Pine HDFC has provided a home and a community to low-income seniors. Safe and affordable housing is essential to low-income seniors and allows residents to live independent and vibrant lives. prgtoken Symbolizing decades of longevity and hard work, this occasion reflects an important milestone in a growing segment of American life, the Centenarians. Over the years, these special individuals have contributed to our nation, witnessing remarkable changes and extraordinary progress. They have lived through some of the most exciting times in our nation's history. prgtoken Li Keng Tsuei, Hai Liu, Mark Chan Sze, Rong Guo Xin, Ng Kwa Ying, Wu Siu Ying and Yee Mee Ting are all lifelong residents of Chinatown who are 100 years of age and older. They have individually contributed to the fabric and welfare of their neighborhood and New York City. They have earned the respect and affection of people from all walks of life. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring these remarkable centenarians and wish them continued health and happiness.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-5-18

I have been involved for 20 years to try and stop the barbaric practice of animal fighting, dogfighting, cockfighting, and slowly but surely, we have made the point under Federal law. It is a felony crime: to sponsor; exhibit an animal in a fighting venue; to buy, sell, deliver, possess, train animals; or to bring a minor to an animal fight. prgtoken But this has been long and slow and painful. And I violently disagree with the notion that we should have one set of rules. It is already a felony in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. We shouldn't have one set of rules for some territories, and for the rest of the States. At core, this is a barbaric, inhumane practice. The animals are drugged to make them more ferocious. prgtoken In cockfighting, they are equipped with metal spurs to slash each other--fighting to the death. I am sorry, this Congress has rejected the notion that this is culturally specific. Animal cruelty has no place in any territory, in any State, in any venue, by any race or ethnic group or cultural tradition. We have gone past that. We heard those arguments in some States when we were fighting to achieve these protections. prgtoken I strongly urge that we continue this 20-year fight to protect animals and protect people from being involved with this horrific activity, and close what is, in fact, a loophole. We should have no separate rules for States, territories, or anywhere under our jurisdiction. prgtoken The Roskam-Blumenauer amendment will fix this and finish a journey that we started 20 years ago. But sadly, because some people think it is acceptable, we are still going to have to fight this battle in the illegal sector as well.
PASTOR DANIEL PRICE
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-18

I rise today in recognition of Daniel Price on the occasion of his retirement after 25 years of dedicated service as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Eureka. prgtoken In 1974, Daniel Price graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. After obtaining a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, he was ordained through the Presbyterian Church (USA) and served as Associate Pastor of the Easton Presbyterian Church in Fresno. In 1987, Pastor Price pursued his Ph.D. in Theology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. After completing his doctorate, he became pastor at the International Protestant Church of Zurich, Switzerland, where he gained experience serving in a more urban setting. prgtoken In 1993, Pastor Price moved to Eureka, California, where he has served as senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka for the past 25 years. During his tenure, Pastor Price led a major renovation of the First Presbyterian church facility, which was completed in the fall of 2005. He implemented two. services, one contemporary and one traditional, and writes a weekly column for his parish. prgtoken Throughout his career, Pastor Price has engaged in his community through volunteer and community efforts. He currently serves as president of the Betty Kwan Chinn Foundation and is a former member of Eureka Rotary and de facto chair of the Eureka Interfaith Fellowship and North Coast Presbyterian Parish. He taught religious studies courses at Humboldt State University and the North Coast Bible Institute. prgtoken , Pastor Daniel Price's leadership and service have left many lasting and positive impacts on his community and is worthy of recognition. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending our congratulations to him and best wishes in his retirement.
REFUGIO OIL SPILL
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-18

this week marks 3 years since the Refugio/ Plains pipeline failure spilled more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil along the Gaviota coast in my district. Black oil slick coated our beaches and marine life, costing over $96 million to clean up and hurting our local economy. prgtoken That spill occurred 3 years after Congress unanimously passed the Pipeline Safety Act of 2011. This law directed PHMSA to update key pipeline safety standards, requiring the installation of automatic and remote control shutoff valves, including leak detection technology. prgtoken However, nearly 7 years later, 20 of the pipeline safety directives in that legislation have not been enacted. During the Plains oil spill, it took operators over 2 hours to find the source of the leak. prgtoken Yesterday I joined Senator Feinstein, directing the agency to answer why these requirements have not been implemented to date to ensure we are improving pipeline safety.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Grace F. Napolitano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-18

I rise in opposition to the amendment. prgtoken Congress has a long history in supporting the Clean Water Act. In 1972, Congress overrode President Nixon's veto of the Clean Water Act, demonstrating bipartisan support for the Federal regulation of our Nation's water. The measure was very clear: human health would no longer take a backseat to big business. prgtoken Now, more than 45 years later, we are again voting to overturn the Clean Water Protection rule, a rule that, for the first time in over a decade, provides clarity for regulated parties and protection for our Nation's rivers and waters. prgtoken What message are we sending today? Clearly, we are telling the American people that what water they have left isn't worth protecting. prgtoken , when developing the Clean Water Protection rule, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers went to unprecedented lengths to engage with stakeholders, including ranchers, farmers, and municipalities. They held over 400 stakeholder meetings on the rule and reviewed approximately 1 million public comments to the rule. prgtoken It is evident that EPA and the Corps wholeheartedly considered these comments and concerns because many of the Clean Water rule's reforms benefit industry, agriculture, and municipalities. These reforms include limiting permits for ditches and municipal storm water sewers, and codified exemptions for certain agricultural, construction, and mining activities. prgtoken Let us not forget that the farmers and developers, alike, call the Clean Water Act's current regulatory process ``ad hoc,'' ``inconsistent,'' and ``costly.'' prgtoken The rule we are attempting to overturn would keep the old, confusing regulations in place permanently. The same groups that asked for this rule and actually benefited from the rule are now asking us to do away with the rule. prgtoken The only thing I can surmise is that those who oppose the rule would oppose any rulemaking that did not drastically limit the application of the Clean Water Act; or, said in another way, these groups are simply opposed to the Clean Water Act entirely. prgtoken In my State of California, 99.2 percent of the population gets its water from the drinking water systems that rely on water bodies protected by this rule. With numbers like that on the line, intervening now is simply reckless. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in opposition to this amendment, and .
RECOGNIZING DR. KERSTIN WASSON
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-18

I rise today to recognize Dr. Kerstin Wasson, the research coordinator to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the many environmental crown jewels in my district on the central coast of California. prgtoken This week, Dr. Wasson received the 2018 National Wetlands Award for Science Research. This prestigious award recognizes Dr. Wasson's extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of our Nation's wetlands. For more than 18 years, Dr. Wasson has distinguished herself as a researcher, conservationist, and mentor at the Elkhorn Slough. It is a great fit for her as it is one of California's few remaining coastal wetlands and a valuable, ecological asset to our community and, I believe, our country. prgtoken The Elkhorn Slough reserve manager, Dave Feliz, said Dr. Wasson is a secret weapon to protect our Nation's estuaries. She has been instrumental in informing coastal decisionmakers and implementing initiatives that protect the Elkhorn Slough. prgtoken I thank Dr. Wasson, a wetland hero, for her work and congratulate her for this honor.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF TWO NEVADA POLICE OFFICERS
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2018-5-18

I rise today to honor the memory of two Nevada police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2017: Detective Chad William Parque of the North Las Vegas Police Department, and Officer Charleston Vernon Hartfield of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. prgtoken Detective Parque was a 10-year veteran of the force. He was a loving husband and father, a selfless member of our community, and a dedicated investigator. His warmth and his passion left a mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. prgtoken Officer Hartfield was a victim of the horrific 1 October tragedy. He was a husband and a father, an Army veteran, a first sergeant in the Nevada Army National Guard, the author of a memoir, and a youth football coach. Officer Hartfield had an unwavering dedication to his community. I attended the candlelight vigil in his memory shortly after his death, and I saw firsthand how many lives he touched. prgtoken Detective Parque and Officer Hartfield were taken from us far too soon. Their profound sense of duty and service will live on as an example for all of us. May their memories be a blessing.
PUTTING TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN FARM BILL
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-5-18

the farm bill is supposed to be about people, but this bill is not. It doesn't help the farmer I met in Chimacum, who said he prgtoken knows there is a whole lot for big corporations in this bill but not enough for family farmers like him who want to plant something in their ground other than a for sale sign. prgtoken This bill is a step backward for the families that I met a few weeks ago who stand in line at St. Leo emergency food pantry in Tacoma and sometimes wait for hours so that they can feed their kids and make ends meet while they look for jobs. prgtoken This bill cuts the safety net that helps dairy farmers I met with in Grays Harbor when our changing climate floods their fields and turns acres of soil to dust. prgtoken The majority claims they want to rebuild our rural economies, but this bill cuts rural development grants that help business owners in Forks and Sequim keep the lights on. prgtoken You know, I haven't received one letter of support for what we are voting on today. The only people I have heard from are D.C. insiders who have misguided notions about real families struggling to make ends meet. This bill doesn't care enough about real farmers counting on this bill, and the families in St. Leo and the 1.5 million veterans and 22,000 servicemembers who feed their families with nutrition assistance. prgtoken It is wrong, , and it is another example why so many people are losing their faith in government. Let's vote this down and put together a bipartisan farm bill that does more to help people.
HONORING THE LIFE OF JORDYN RIVERA
Ruben J. Kihuen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2018-5-18

today I rise to remember the life of Jordyn Rivera, who attended the Route 51 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. prgtoken Jordyn was looking forward to graduating from California State University with her bachelor's degree in healthcare management. She was set to graduate in the spring of 2018. prgtoken Jordyn was incredibly smart and was even a member of her school's National Health Education Honor Society. Her parents were always very proud of Jordyn and loved the close bond they had with her. She had a love for Jesus, her family, and country music. She had a gift that allowed her to reach out to others and bring people together. prgtoken Jordyn's parents remember her as being personable and adventurous. She was warm, optimistic, and had an infectious energy. prgtoken I would like to extend my condolences to Jordyn Rivera's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.