mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Montana Ag Summit (Executive Calendar)
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-5-2

I have some good news from Montana. A week ago yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be our next Secretary of Agriculture. When we met prior to his confirmation hearing, Secretary Perdue and I discussed Montana ag and the need to expand agricultural access to foreign markets. I know he will prioritize the ag industry during his time in office, and I am pleased to share that I will be hosting the Secretary in Montana for the Montana Ag Summit that is going to be held in Great Falls at the end of this month. prgtoken Back in March, during the Secretary's confirmation hearing, I extended an invitation to join us in Montana's Golden Triangle as we discuss the issue of strengthening international relationships for Montana's agriculture. The Golden Triangle is where my great-great- grandmother homesteaded as she moved from Minnesota--a Norwegian immigrant--to Montana. prgtoken At the Ag Summit, we will showcase the technological advancements that are changing the way we produce crops and livestock, promote the next generation of ag producers, and discuss the challenges ag producers face as a result of our Federal policies and regulations. The Montana Ag Summit will bring together leaders from across the agricultural industry to hear from our keynote speakers, which include Secretary Perdue and my colleague and friend and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas. Nothing takes the place of hearing directly from Montanans and seeing our great State with your own eyes. prgtoken I have been a strong advocate for Montana ag since coming to Washington, DC, and it is a privilege to serve as Montana's only representative on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee. Whenever I get the chance, I talk about Montana's ag industry and advocate for regulation reform and for additional opportunities for our ag producers to compete on a level playing field. prgtoken Another critical issue for farmers and ranchers in Montana and around the Nation is opening up more market opportunities for the ag industry. In fact, earlier this past month, 38 of my colleagues and I wrote to President asking him to prioritize reopening China's markets to U.S. beef in his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China is Montana's third leading trade partner after Canada and South Korea. prgtoken It is important to remember that 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States. While the Chinese ban on U.S. beef imports was lifted last fall, more needs to be done to actually see U.S. beef on the shelves of Chinese grocery stores. You see, China is the second largest beef import market in the world. prgtoken I can say it was an honor to personally present some of Miles City's famous and finest beef to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang from Fred Wacker's ranch out of Miles City. I will get Montana beef in China if I have to take it over mysel
Agriculture (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-5-2

the past 8 years have been tough on Americans. Despite the fact that the recession officially ended in June of 2009, the economy never really rebounded. President presided over the weakest economic recovery in 60 years. His Presidency was characterized by poor economic growth, a dearth of jobs and opportunities, and almost nonexistent wage increases. prgtoken In 2016, the economy grew at a dismal 1.6 percent, far below the level of growth displayed by a healthy economy. Typically 3 to 3\1/2\ percent is the average, going back to World War II. The GDP report for the first quarter of this year underscored the need to implement the kind of pro-growth policies that were lacking during the years. s in Congress and the White House have already acted to repeal a number of burdensome regulations that were foisted onto the American people near the end of his Presidency. We plan to keep up our efforts. prgtoken Getting rid of unnecessary regulations will go a long way toward freeing up businesses to grow and create jobs and put more money in Americans pockets. Of course, repealing burdensome regulations is just one of the things we need to get our economy healthy again. Fixing our broken Tax Code is another. As a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, I will be introducing tax reform legislation in the near future, targeted primarily for Main Street businesses that pay taxes at the individual rate. prgtoken I am looking forward to working on comprehensive tax reform with Chairman Hatch and the rest of my colleagues on the Finance Committee as we move forward this year. It is critical that passthrough businesses, which are the main focus of my bill, are not left behind in this effort. prgtoken Today, I want to talk about spurring growth in a specific sector of our economy, one that is very important to my home state; that is, the agricultural sector. Like so many other Americans, farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across the country have had a rough time of it over the past few years. Market prices for farm and ranch products have been on a steady decline since 2013, and net farm income has dropped substantially as a result of that. Worse, there is little expectation that prices will improve over the next few years, which means farmers' and ranchers' incomes are likely to continue to decrease. prgtoken Farmers are struggling to repay their debts. Between 2014 and 2016, the delinquency rates on farm non-real estate loans more than doubled. Delinquencies on farm real estate loans rose from $1.18 billion in 2014 to $1.66 billion in 2016. While these numbers are not all-time highs, the increases are disturbing and show no signs of reversing any time soon. prgtoken Farming and ranching are not just careers in South Dakota; they are a way of life, one that connects communities and families to the land and one generation to the next. Nearly 3,000 South Dakota farm f
The President's First One Hundred Days (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-5-2

over the weekend, President celebrated 100 days that he has been in office as President of the United States. Newspapers and magazines and pundits on television were all talking about prgtoken what the President has accomplished in those first 100 days. prgtoken From what I heard talking to people at home in Wyoming this past weekend, his first 100 days has been a huge success. People tell me that they think America is finally headed in the right direction again. I had a lot of people tell me they feel as if they have actually gotten a new spring in their step as a result of the Presidential election last year and President taking office. prgtoken The other day when I was home, I was in line at the gas station behind a guy. A friend of his came and said: Hey, how are you doing? The guy said: Great. We are hiring again. prgtoken That is the kind of confidence that is happening all around Wyoming. The polling company Gallup says that it is happening not just in Wyoming but all across the country. For 24 straight weeks, more Americans have been more optimistic than pessimistic about the economy. As soon as was elected President, economic confidence soared, and it has stayed positive ever since. Gallup said that this is the exact opposite of what they had seen in the previous 8 years; that is, during the whole administration, during the entire so-called economic recovery. prgtoken In another poll released last week, Gallup said that people are also less worried that they will lose the job they have. They found that American workers are less concerned about being laid off from their job than at any time since Gallup started asking questions way back in 1975. That is more than 40 years ago. prgtoken Why are people optimistic now? I think it is because they see that President and the s in Congress are serious about improving the economy. They see that we are serious about giving relief to Americans who have been getting buried under an avalanche of redtape. They see that the President is off to a very fast start in the White House. prgtoken Just look at what we have already done to help relieve the burdens on Americans. Congress has rolled back 13 different midnight regulations that President tried to sneak through at the last minute. We struck down a stream buffer rule that was meant to block coal mining. We got rid of a rule that puts Americans at a competitive disadvantage when they are trying to develop energy resources overseas. We got rid of a regulation that took the control of local energy issues away from the State officials; we got rid of that regulation. And we got rid of one of the regulations that gave more control to Washington and less to States. These were regulations that harmed Americans and wiped out American jobs. Now those regulations are gone. prgtoken We have more that we can do to roll back terrible regulations like these. I hav
RECOGNIZING FIN FUN MERMAID TAILS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-5-2

the American dream is alive and well today. Entrepreneurs across this country are innovators, leaders, and visionaries who exemplify many of the characteristics that make this country great. Idaho's small businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them share a dedication to producing the highest quality products and services. Hard work, dedication, and passion are among some of the other traits that successful entrepreneurs share, whether they be from Idaho or anywhere else in our great country. All of these qualities are on display in this month's Small Business of the Month. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my pleasure to recognize Fin Fun Mermaid Tails as the Senate Small Business of the Month for May 2017. prgtoken Fin Fun got its start in 2009 when its founder, Karen Browning, was asked by her granddaughter to design and make a mermaid tail. Even with over 50 years of experience sewing, she was not sure she could complete her granddaughter's request. With some creativity and ingenuity, Mrs. Browning designed the mermaid fins out of spandex swimsuit material and a rigid body for the fin. The design proved so popular that, when Emily and her sister, Sarah, swam with the fins on at the local pool, all their friends asked where they could get a tail of their own. Mrs. Browning began selling the product on eBay and Etsy in 2010. With demand increasing, Mrs. Browning's sons, Eric and Steve Browning, returned to Idaho to run the Fin Fun business. Sales of Fin Fun products increased dramatically since its opening, from selling 200 mermaid tails per month in 2011 to more than 500,000 in 2016. prgtoken Fin Fun offers a number of products including their famous mermaid tails, patented Monofin, swimwear, animal blankets, pool toys, and other accessories. In 2012, Eric and Steve Browning took over the day- to-day operations of the company as the founders Jerry and Karen went on a mission for their church. In 2015, Fin Fun purchased a 10,000- square-foot building located on the Lewisville Highway, where the company continues to grow. In that same year, Fin Fun was highlighted by various media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. In 2016, the company was named to Inc. 500's fastest growing companies list, as the 119th fastest growing company with 3,000 percent growth over a 3- year period. Through the leadership of Eric and Steve Browning and the success of Fin Fun, the company has created more than 75 full-time and part-time jobs within the Idaho Falls area. prgtoken As a family-run business, Fin Fun continues to set an example by donating a percentage of its profits to more than 18 charitable organizations annually, in addition to providing employment and support to the local community. Fin Fun is the manifestation of the entrepreneurial spirit that epitomizes the essence of the great State of Idaho. I would like to extend my sincerest congratulation
WORKING FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2017
Martha Roby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-5-2

I would like to point the gentleman to page 4 of the bill, in section 4, beginning on line 21: ``An employer that provides compensatory time under Paragraph 1 to employees shall not directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten, or coerce or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any employee for the purpose of . . . '' And then it goes through ``requiring any employee to use such compensatory time.'' prgtoken If you turn to page 7 of the bill, under section 3, remedies, subsection F, it directly addresses the damages.
IN RECOGNITION OF MATTHEW BUTSON ON HIS OFFER OF APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-5-2

it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Matthew Butson of Metamora, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. prgtoken Matthew's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Naval Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2021. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. prgtoken Matthew brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2021. While attending St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio, Matthew was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as serving on student council and as class vice president his senior year. prgtoken Throughout high school, Matthew participated in football and basketball, serving as co-captain of the football team his senior year. I am confident that Matthew will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Naval Academy. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Matthew Butson on the offer of his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Matthew will excel during his career at the Naval Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.
NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-5-2

this week is National Charter Schools Week, and I rise to recognize Arizona's leadership amongst the charter school community. prgtoken Over this past school year, a record number of students attended 547 charter schools in Arizona; and last week, a new survey found that five of the country's top seven high schools were Arizona charter schools, including one from my own district, Arizona's Fifth Congressional District. I am extremely proud of our charter schools. prgtoken Arizona charter schools are thriving because of two decades of tireless work from advocates to give thousands of students more educational choices and opportunities to succeed. These leaders have fostered a culture that balances autonomy and accountability to prepare their students for higher education and the workforce. prgtoken As the rankings prove, Arizona's policies are drastically improving student achievement and should be emulated by the rest of the Nation.
NOMINATION OF JAY CLAYTON
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-5-2

. Now, , on another matter, Senators voted on a bipartisan basis yesterday to advance Jay Clayton's nomination to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and soon we will take another vote to confirm him. prgtoken As Chairman Crapo noted at Clayton's confirmation hearing, this nominee has an impressive background. His extensive work in the private sector will serve him well as he looks to strengthen our financial markets, thereby supporting American businesses, boosting job creation, and spurring economic growth. I appreciate Mr. Clayton's willingness to take on this important task, as well as his vision, which he outlined at his hearing, to promote fair and transparent practices at the SEC. prgtoken I look forward to his confirmation and to his leadership at this agency. prgtoken .
WORKING FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2017
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-5-2

I rise today in support of the Working Families Flexibility Act. I want to commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), for introducing this legislation which will help prgtoken private sector employees increase workplace flexibility. prgtoken This week is National Small Business Week, a time to celebrate America's 29 million small businesses which employ nearly half of the private sector workforce, and, as was mentioned, I happen to be the chairman of the House Small Business Committee. prgtoken Small businesses are run by our neighbors and families and friends, and they offer working families the chance to get ahead. Small businesses are also known for treating their employees well and providing workplace flexibility. prgtoken This bill will allow small businesses to give their hourly employees another option that public sector employees have enjoyed for many years, the choice of being paid off instead of cash wages for overtime hours worked. prgtoken While some employees may prefer wages for the overtime hours they put in, others might want to use that time to attend their child's piano recital or go to a sports event or caring for an elderly parent. This bill gives them that choice. It is the employee's choice, not the employer. prgtoken The flexibility is crucial for families where there is a single parent or both parents work full time. Importantly, this bill does not force any employee to take comp time, and it provides protections such as requiring the employer and employee to enter into a written comp time agreement. prgtoken The Working Families Flexibility Act will allow small businesses to offer their employees a new benefit. As we celebrate National Small Business Week, let's give small businesses another way to make the lives of working families a little easier. prgtoken It seems like a lot of the folks on the other side of aisle oftentimes think that small businesses are going to try to get away with anything that they can possibly get away with, that they want to exploit their workers, they are going to take advantage of them, we just can't trust them. Almost every small business in this country cares not only about their business, but they care about their employees. prgtoken , let's give them credit for something.
KOREAN INTERDICTION AND MODERNIZATION OF SANCTIONS ACT
Edward R. Royce (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-5-2

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , , Mr. Engel, for his comments. prgtoken I will return to this theme about the urgent threat that the United States and our allies face here. We have listened to experts who have looked at this problem. In less than 4 years, Pyongyang may have the ability to make a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile topped by a nuclear warhead capable of targeting the continental United States. When we watch these tests and we see, from a North Korean submarine, how they are launching missiles and we watch the atomic weapons tests that they are doing, you can see how North Korea has advanced in their capabilities as they try to shrink these warheads and figure out how to put them onto an ICBM. prgtoken The problem is that, in the next few years, at the current rate of production of their nuclear material, they are going to be able to build out 100 atomic weapons for these intercontinental ballistic missiles. So the threat from North Korea is real, and real threats demand real responses. prgtoken We have tried various approaches in the past. We tried strategic patience during the last administration. I will tell you that I think Secretary Tillerson has helped devise a strategy of maximum pressure that makes a tremendous amount of sense to me, and I will share with you why I think it is very credible. prgtoken We have seen in the past, in 2005, back during Banco Delta Asia, back when North Korea was caught counterfeiting $100 U.S. bank notes, a strategy deployed that froze the capability of that regime to move forward with its nuclear weapons program. We know from talking to defectors about the impact that that had internally on North Korea because, frankly, these weapons programs are very expensive to run. It requires billions and billions of dollars every year. prgtoken North Korea doesn't really manufacture much, other than some of the clandestine missile parts and so forth that they transfer overseas and some meth and counterfeit cigarettes. All of that can be halted so that hard currency doesn't come into the hands of the regime, and, therefore, the regime will no longer have this capability. prgtoken Because it happened in 2005 and because we know of the consequences at the time, but also because of what we have seen with other nations, we should move with bipartisan legislation here. prgtoken I am going to speak for a moment about what this House of Representatives and our counterparts in the Senate did in the 1990s when it came to the issue of a regime in South Africa that had obtained a nuclear weapon and also was doubling down on their practices of apartheid in terms of the way that that regime treated its own people. prgtoken If you will recall, despite the assurances and warnings about sanctions that this was the wrong road, this House stood up, and over 80 percent of the Members here and over 80 percent of the Members in the Senate--o