mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Farm Service Agency (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-4-25

I rise today to acknowledge and honor Michigan farmers. Agriculture is a vital part of Michigan's economy. In fact, Michigan is home to more than 51,000 farms that contribute over $100 billion to our Nation's economy. Michigan is also the second most diverse agricultural producer in the Nation, growing more than 300 commodities, including a significant portion of our Nation's milk, corn, cherries, cucumbers, and much more. prgtoken Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Iciek Dairy Farm in Gladwin, MI. It was incredible to see firsthand how this family-run dairy has grown from a small farm of a few dozen cows to a large, modern dairy operation with 700 cows and seven full-time employees. prgtoken Today, the Iciek Dairy works with the Michigan State University Extension program to help mentor new businesses and farmers who are just starting off with their own small dairy operation. Michigan's farmers and farmers all across our country feed our country and people around the globe, and we must do what we can to support them. Our agricultural businesses rely on the ability to access the resources they need to keep growing, creating jobs, and contributing to our economy. prgtoken Access to these resources can be especially challenging for new small farm operations that are just getting started, including those small farms that make up 82 percent of Michigan's agricultural producers. Small farms that are just starting up or are facing tough economic conditions sometimes struggle to find and secure affordable credit. That is why I am working across the aisle with Senator Tillis to urge congressional appropriators to fully fund the Farm Service Agency loan programs as Congress considers government funding bills for 2018. prgtoken The Farm Service Agency works with lenders to guarantee and deliver small dollar loans to the small farms that need them the most. When a farm has no other options, Farm Service Agency loans and guarantees can help farmers cover urgent operating costs for feed, seed, and fertilizer to get them through the season. Without these loans, farmers could lose their ability to purchase equipment and other necessities for the planting season and could be forced to curtail their operations. prgtoken Currently, more than 2,300 farms in Michigan have Farm Service Agency loans totaling over $630 million. Across the country last year, the Farm Service Agency made and guaranteed a total of 39,650 loans totaling $6.3 billion. It is critical that Farm Service Agency funding reflect expected demand for loans so that small farms can continue to have this crucial lifeline. prgtoken This program is in such high demand that just last year the Farm Service Agency ran out of money to finance its operating loans, including more than 1,000 loans that had already been approved for small farmers. This led to a backlog of loans, and farmers were forced to wait for months until Congress passed emer
INTRODUCTION OF OVERSEAS AMERICANS FINANCIAL ACCESS ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-4-25

I rise to introduce the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act on behalf of the estimated 6-8 million American citizens living and working abroad. This bill would amend the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to address the unintended consequences it imposes on American citizens overseas that make it more difficult to access basic banking products and services in their country of residence. prgtoken As co-chair of the Americans Abroad Caucus, for years I have heard reports from constituents overseas detailing how FATCA's expensive and duplicative reporting requirements have led foreign financial institutions to deny basic banking services to American citizens. Some Foreign Financial Institutions have simply closed accounts or refused to open new ones for U.S. citizens in order to minimize their exposure to FATCA reporting requirements, withholding fees and potential penalties. This practice leaves law-abiding American citizens without access to everyday financial tools such as mortgages, bank accounts, insurance policies and pension funds--all of which are critical services regardless of place of residence. prgtoken While I recognize the difficult job of the Treasury Department to make sure American money around the world remains compliant with the U.S. tax code, the current FATCA reporting procedures subject ordinary Americans to the same scrutiny as criminal tax evaders and money launderers. Revision of these reporting policies is necessary to ensure that Americans remain competitive in international business and continue to contribute to economies here in the U.S. and around the world. Unfortunately, some have resorted to renouncing their American citizenship in response. It is now time to act and provide relief. prgtoken The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) has recognized this problem and on April 13, 2015, issued a recommendation that the IRS exclude from FATCA reporting financial accounts maintained by a financial institution in the country in which the U.S. citizen is a bona fide resident. To date, no action has been taken to institute such a policy to alleviate the burden on overseas Americans as a result of FATCA. That is why I am proud to introduce the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act which would implement TAS's recommendation and exempt Americans from FATCA reporting if their accounts are held in the same country where they are a bona fide resident. prgtoken As Members of Congress, it is our duty to represent our constituents' best interests whether they live in the United States or overseas. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so that we may fulfill this duty and grant our overseas constituents the relief they need.
The President's Budget (Executive Calendar)
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-4-25

I rise today to address President 's proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. My predecessor in this seat, my friend, former Vice President , once said to me years ago: Show me your budget and I will show you your values. prgtoken One of my concerns about the proposal we have received--the initial slimmed-down overview proposal we have received--is that it suggests values that I think are quite out of line with what my home State of Delaware would look for me to be doing in this body, what I think addresses the real needs and priorities of the American people. prgtoken Last month President released an overview of his budget--what is called a skinny budget--and we haven't yet received a full and detailed budget proposal. Even though what we have received is just an overview, it indicates that the cuts President is proposing will significantly weaken vital domestic programs, often with the goal of completely eliminating existing and valued initiatives. prgtoken This chart gives a rough summary of all the different Federal agencies that would take double-digit hits in order to be able to pay for the significant $54 billion increase to defense spending. Targeting only nondefense programs that millions of Americans and Delawareans rely on ignores commitments made over the last couple of budget cycles and years, as s and have worked together to ensure placing equal priority on defense and nondefense spending. prgtoken Under sequestration, under the Budget Control Act, we have already made significant cuts to important domestic programs. After the difficult budgets of the last few years, in my view, we have already made too many cuts to some of the programs that helped build our Nation. prgtoken To be clear, I am as passionate as anyone in this body about supporting our Armed Forces, particularly when they are in harm's way and particularly as we continue to conduct operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. prgtoken But will not stand for cutting domestic programs simply to pay for a $54 billion military expansion that hasn't been explained or justified through a thorough review of what are the appropriate investments in defense that will respond to the challenges and threats we face in this world. prgtoken To pay for that $54 billion increase in defense by cutting investments in education, housing, job training, and more here at home strikes me as the wrong set of priorities and the wrong direction. If anything like these proposed budget cuts are enacted, I know my home State of Delaware would lose millions and millions of dollars for valuable and effective Federal programs that help my constituents each and every day. 's budget proposal would cut research and health programs. It would cut job-creating infrastructure programs. It would cut grants for higher education. It would cut housing and so much more. prgtoken I wish to take a few minu
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-4-25

I am pleased to be able to serve with the Presiding Officer on the Committee on Homeland Security. Part of our responsibilities on homeland security is to make sure, to the extent that we can, that our borders are secure. We do that in a variety of ways. We do that, in some cases, with our Border Patrol officers. We have a lot of them. We appreciate the work they do. prgtoken We also have, in many places, particularly along the border of Mexico--as the Presiding Officer knows--a lot of fencing that is there. We have a lot of roads that our vehicles can travel along to have mobility on the ground. Our President has proposed, at least earlier this year, that we spend about $25 billion to build a wall, maybe 10-, 15-, 25-feet high along the 2,000 miles between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. prgtoken I have never been convinced that that is the best way--to put all of our money in the basket--that that is really the best way to better ensure the security of our border with Mexico. As it turns out, most of the folks who are coming into the United States from that part of the world are not Mexicans. Actually, more Mexicans are going back into Mexico than Mexicans coming across the border into the United States. prgtoken Most of the illegal immigration--not all but most of it--is coming from three countries: Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The reason why they come here is because their lives are miserable. They are miserable because we buy drugs. We have this insatiable appetite for illegal drugs. So a lot of them are trafficked through Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. prgtoken We send money down to those three countries for the drugs, and we send guns down to that part of the world. When we catch bad guys in this country from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, we send them back to those three countries. prgtoken So part of the security of our southern border involves actually trying to help those three countries figure out ways to keep their people home, rather than wanting to come to our country. Part of it is making sure that they have decent lives to live. Twenty years ago, as you all may remember, a bunch of gunmen rounded up the supreme court justices in Colombia, took them into a room, and shot and killed them-- shot them all to death. prgtoken It was a time when the government was tottering and there was a question of whether they were going to survive in Colombia. Some very brave people stood up in Colombia and said: No, no, we want to survive, we want to fend off the drug cartels, and we want to fend off the leftist guerillas. Ultimately, they were successful. It has taken 20 years. prgtoken They worked on something called Plan Colombia to help turn around their country. We came in, and we helped them. They did the heavy lifting, and we helped out as well. I like to say that it is sort of like at Home Depot: ``You'' can do it--using, in that case, Colombia-- and ``we''
CONGRATULATING THE 2017 ENLISTEES FROM FLORIDA'S 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-4-25

I rise today to honor 41 high school seniors from Florida's 20th Congressional district, who have chosen to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. prgtoken Of these 41 fine young people, 14 have joined the United States Army, to include: William Bethel, Cameron Clayton, Javier Hernandez, Cassidy Anderson, Mack Cromer II, Derly Dormeus, Benjamin Gacel, Clayton Gibson, Ryan Golubovic, Tyler Grove, Ryan Julien, Corey Pritchett, Sean Riley and Julio Alvarez. prgtoken Seventeen have joined the United States Marine Corps, to include: Jason Marquez, Cristal Verdugo, Patrick Rhoden, Maikel Suarez, Kathy Sylvestre, Henry Rivera, Albert Londono, Lindel Coffie, Maya Colson, Weston Boyd, Nicolas Franco, Errohl Cruz, John Osegueda, Jonathan Thompson, Caitlin Silva, Melissa Edwards and Pierre Chery. prgtoken Five have joined the United States Navy, to include: Jade Apolo- Hecker, Miguel Scott, Brittany Stewart, Shinequah Stone and Ofelia Velasquez. prgtoken Four have joined the United States Army National Guard, to include: Cobe Pate, prgtoken Adamary Hernandez, Melissa Gutierrez and Moises Fernandez. prgtoken Thanks to the dedication of patriots such as these, we are able to meet here today, in the United States House of Representatives, and openly debate the best solutions to the diverse issues that confront our nation. prgtoken On behalf of myself and all my constituents in Florida's 20th Congressional district, I thank them for their service. I wish them the very best of luck now and in their future.
IN RECOGNITION OF POST 67 ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-25

I rise today to recognize the Lt. Philip V. Lansdale Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 67 as they celebrate the 100th Anniversary of their congressional charter. The VFW Post 67 is the second Post in California to reach their centennial milestone. As they gather tonight for their Centennial Celebration, I would like to honor the members of the VFW Post 67 for the superb work they have done on behalf of veterans and veteran causes on a national stage and in the Sacramento area. prgtoken In 1916, 32 veterans who served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy chose to continue to serve our country by aiding their veteran brothers and sisters in our region. The Post is named after Lt. Philip V. Lansdale, who served on the U.S. Philadelphia. VFW Post 67 was founded in Sacramento with the noble cause to ensure the war bonuses promised to veterans after World War I, to promote comradeship, and to improve the well-being of veterans and their families. On January 3, 1917, VFW Post 67 was recognized for its efforts and received it congressional charter. prgtoken VFW Post 67 has had many great leaders in its 100 years. Most notably are the first Post Commander, Mr. William Taylor, and the Silver Star recipient Mr. Darold D. Decoe, Sr. as National Commander in Chief. For a century, The VFW Post 67 has provided support to an abundant amount of veterans and has used its collective voice to advocate for veteran causes. Current members are dedicated to continuing the mission of the VFW Post 67 and continue to be a haven for Sacramento's veterans. prgtoken In honoring tonight's celebration, it is important to honor all of the important work and contributions to veterans that the VFW Post 67 has helped advanced nationally and in the Sacramento region. The VFW played a major role in the formation of the Veterans Administration as well as pursuing compensation for Vietnam veterans and fighting for both the 20th and 21st century GI bills. We would like to express gratitude to those involved in Post 67's diligent service to our country's veterans and their families. prgtoken , as the members of the VFW Post 67 take part in their centennial celebration, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their astounding service to the veteran community in the Sacramento area.
NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL ARMED SERVICE ENLISTMENT
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-4-25

today I wish to honor the following New Jersey high school seniors for their commendable decision to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces: Craig Ackerly, Bryan Adame, Aldo Aguayo Flores, Alba Agyao, Dalton Ailtmar, Janae Albright, Michael Vincent Alvarez, Michael Luis Alvarez, Jose Alvarez, Juan Alvarez, Alexander Alvarez Escobar, Andre Ascura, Daniel Ayala, Elijah Baez, Justin Baez, Joseph Barbato, David Batastini, Frederick Bauer, Sergio Bautista Benitez, Joseluis Bejarano, Alejandro Bejarano Valencia, Nathan Bell, Joseph Bell, prgtoken Fallon Bennett, Nula Bolden, Chrisopher Bonario, Joyce Bonilla Gonzalez, James Brackett, Patrick Brand, Nicolas Brett, Imani Brown Hilton, Alexander Brutosky, Tyree Bull, Logab Burns, Rory by, Jose Caba, Dino Cabrales, Jorge Cabral Gonzalez, Ralph Calitre, Brian Callahan, Christopher Campos, Daniel Cano, Reinier Carlos, Jose Caro, Rafael Castellanos, Addison Chang, Eric Cho, Dhane Christensen, Anthony Ciarlo, Jack Cipas, Dashonda Clark, Amanda Clarke, Tyler Cochran, Alexander Colavito, Liam Collins, Vincent Concina, Dayana Coreas- Alvarez, Kevin Cornelio, Ethan Correa, Kevin Cosme, Jonathan Cox, Jeffrey Cox, Nasir Crank-Williams, Kevin Cubillos, Andrew Cumming, Aidan Curran, Douglas Dasilva, Joshua Dechillo, Michael Dehaas, Michael Delcher, Johanny Del-Orbe, Esvicarla Delossantos, Christopher DeRienzo, Damian Diaz, Diego Diazrazuri, Thomas Digiovanni, Brett Dolgos, Heydi Dominguez, Eric Dougherty, Sean Dougherty, Christopher Dramis, Anna Drew, Santana Duran, John Duran, Jared Durante, Miguel Duvergepena, Jesse Efymow, Linwood Mickey Evans, Matthew Eggink, Katherine Espinal, Jacob Fallon, Tyler Fanz, Joseph Fiduccia, Nicholas Fiorelli, Jack Flores, Salatiel Flores, Kimberly Fox, Jacob Franks, Richard Furmanek, Benito Gabriel, Manuel Gallego, Matthew Galloway, Eddison Garcia, Jack Garcia, Giselle Garcia Clavijo, Edgar Garcia Gonzalez, Michael Garrido, Liam Gavin, Sebastian Geary, Jake Gerber, Andrew Ghaleb, Brian Gilligan, Ryan Goldy, Edward Gomez, Adriana Gomez, Jeremy Gomez, Matthew Gonzalez, Josue Gonzalez, Christian Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez, Anthony Goodell, Destiny Goodridge, Jonathan Gorgonio Ramirez, Robert Gorny, Patrick Grabowski, Julian Guarderas, Christian Guevara, Grant Gunnarson, Samantha , Jonathan Hart, Anthony Hernandez, Henry Hernandez, Travis Hickman, Christian Hoffman, Nicholas Hoffman, Frank Hofmann, Sean Holl, Rose Hollywood, Tyler Horner, Ryan Howard, Brendan Ingino, Kyle Irwin, Zach Irwin, Andrew Jones, Miguel Juarez Hernandez, Sabrina Jung, Madison Kasza, Brendan Kelly, Bailey Kiefer, Kaitlyn Kimble, Shayne King, Cody Kniveton, Thomas Kopec, Benjamin Kwok, Caelb Lamberson, Emma Landsaw, Bryan Laumbach, Corey Laurenzi, Justin Lebron, Kevin Lee, Sandro Lema, Derik Leon, Brandon Lima, Derek Liptak, Alexzander Lonky, Ever Lopez, Moises Luna, Marcus Macalinao, Jastin Macalino, Marc Macalino, Joshua MacMillan, Austin Madden, Liam Ma
Our Shared Values (Executive Calendar)
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-4-25

I thank my friend and mentor, a great Illinoisan, Senator Durbin for being here today. I wouldn't be here without his guidance and friendship over the years. prgtoken It is truly an honor to stand at this desk, which was once held by another great Illinoisan by the name of , delivering my maiden speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate to the people of Illinois, the same State that has been represented in Washington by other impressive leaders like Paul Simon and Abraham Lincoln. And it is an honor to address the people of the United States of America, the greatest Nation in the world. prgtoken Though we have occasionally made choices as a society that do not reflect our best selves, we are today the greatest Nation on Earth because of the founding ideals that have anchored our Nation and because of the shared values that have guided the development and strength of our economy and our people--values like treating each other equally, showing strength and resilience in the face of hardship, and embracing the diversity that makes us who we are. They are shared values that have helped us to strive toward that more perfect Union the Constitution's Framers envisioned, a more perfect Union that offers everyone a chance to reach his or her potential, a more perfect Union that will not give up on its people, and a more perfect Union whose people don't give up on themselves either. prgtoken We face a great deal of challenges and threats, threats I know well, but we cannot allow today's hardships to change who we are as a people, to tear down the pillars that make this Nation great. Falling victim to fear and demagoguery will only ensure a weaker America for our children, and that is simply not the future I want for my Abigail. prgtoken When we, as a society, think about the future we want for all of our children, I think it is important for us to remember how we got here. Our Nation wasn't founded as the dominant global economic and military force that it is today. We were not founded as the leader of the free world; our people built that. Americans understood that when we invest in ourselves, the fabric that holds our country together only grows stronger. A scrappy gang of patriots in the American Revolution--my own family included--won us our liberty, which we used to push for greater civil and human rights and to make investments in agricultural and educational systems that sparked our economy, allowing us to strengthen our military into the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. prgtoken Success, however, was never guaranteed. From our founding, the United States of America was forged through fierce debates and stark divisions. Slavery led to bloodshed across the country, including in the Senate Chamber, and culminated in brothers killing brothers during our Civil War. Yet our Union made it through our greatest challenges and emerged even stronger. We emerged a more perfect Unio