mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF MICHAEL MANN'S SERVICE TO KENTUCKY'S SECOND DISTRICT
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-6-26

I rise today to give my sincere thanks to Michael Mann who will be moving on from my office at the end of this week to begin law school at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Born and raised in Springfield, Kentucky, Michael has always shown great pride in his Washington County roots to anyone who has walked through our office door. On top of everything he has done for Kentucky's Second District, he has balanced his job in Washington, D.C while serving in the Kentucky National Guard. We are sorry to see him leave, but I know that he will go on to great things back home in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I wish him the best of luck in law school.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF DR. JOSHUA FELDSTEIN
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-6-26

I rise today to remember Dr. Joshua Feldstein, president emeritus of Delaware Valley University, who passed away on June 19 at the age of 97. prgtoken Born in Lithuania and raised in Belarus, Dr. Feldstein was the very embodiment of the American Dream. After fleeing Nazi persecution, Dr. Feldstein arrived in Bucks County, where he eventually received degrees in horticulture and agricultural mechanics before earning a doctorate at Rutgers University. prgtoken Dr. Feldstein's legacy is one of diversity and expanding civil rights. In the 1960s, he played a significant role in the university's admission of women, and upon taking the helm as president in 1975, he oversaw the expansion of women faculty members. prgtoken More than anything, Dr. Feldstein was a man of kindness and good faith who relentlessly sought to open doors and brighten futures for the students who attended the school he cared so deeply about. prgtoken I send my condolences to Dr. Feldstein's sons, Ted and Dan, along with the rest of his family and the entire DelVal community. May they take comfort in knowing his life was one extraordinarily well lived. prgtoken Congratulations to 2018 Graduates of Bucks County Technical High School
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-6-26

allow me to say a few words on the passing of a dear friend, Charles Krauthammer. Charles was a giant in the conservative intellectual movement and community. With his passing, we have lost not only a first-rate political mind but a model of civility. As testament to his decency, leaders on both sides of the aisle paid tribute to Charles over the weekend. Today, I know I speak for people of all political stripes when I say we will miss him dearly. prgtoken Few were as formidable in debate as Charles Krauthammer. Although his body was confined to a wheelchair, his intellect was boundless. With even keel and gentle voice, he could carefully deconstruct the views of his opponents, expressing his own ideas with preternatural eloquence. prgtoken In a political landscape marked by anger and acrimony, Charles stood for reason and respect. Indeed, he was a voice of temperance in intemperate times. While he never backed down in debate, he was also well practiced in the subtle art of disagreeing without being disagreeable. In so many ways, Charles showed us how political discourse should be: balanced and rational, measured and informed, with emphasis on facts over feeling. prgtoken I think we can all agree that civility took a beating this weekend, but perhaps the biggest blow was losing Charles Krauthammer--a man who embodied civility in his very being. At different times throughout our history, we have been called upon to heed the better angels of our nature. Charles was one of those better angels. He represented what we could be if we listened to our better selves and if we listened to each other. prgtoken As a nation, we have much to learn from the example of Charles Krauthammer. In celebrating the life of an extraordinary man, we must do prgtoken more than pay lipservice to his legacy; we must honor it through our actions. We can do so by being strong in our convictions but soft with our words, by being principled in our positions but respectful of other views in this world. In a word, we can be more civil. prgtoken Open the newspaper, scroll through Twitter, or simply turn on the TV, and you will see that this Nation suffers from a deficit of civility quite unlike anything I have ever seen. The problem is bad. It is getting worse, and both sides are to blame. Both sides are at fault for escalating the rhetoric to irresponsible levels. prgtoken I have said this many times before, but it bears repeating: Our words have consequences, and in an age of retweets, viral videos, and shareable content, those words often echo well beyond their intended audience and context. It is incumbent upon all of us--from the President, to Congress, on down--to be responsible for our speech. prgtoken With that, I ask my colleagues, is there a better way to honor the life of Charles Krauthammer than to follow the example of civility he leaves behind? May we all, then, recommit ourselves to civility by living as Charles lived
TRIBUTE TO NATHAN DILLS
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-6-26

today I wish to recognize Nathan Dills, the first Oklahoman to be sworn in as president of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, SMACNA. With over 3,000 company members, SMACNA is a leader in promoting quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry. prgtoken Nathan decided to go into the family sheet metal business in 2006. The passion for sheet metal operations goes back three generations in Nathan's family. His grandfather, O.C. Patten, was a sheet metal worker, and his father started the family's sheet metal business in 1977. Nathan now owns and operates the family companies in Oklahoma City. prgtoken Not only was Nathan's father, Harold, on the SMACNA board of directors, be he was also a member of the college of fellows, a prestigious group within the SMACNA community. While a part of SMACNA, he won the two highest awards given by the organization. Before Harold passed away in 2016, Nathan was elected to the board, making his father and the rest of his family extremely proud. prgtoken I am most impressed by Nathan's devotion to his faith and his family. He has been married to his wife, Shannon, for 19 years. Nathan has two stepchildren, Hayley and Jordan, one daughter, Olivia, and one grandchild, Zaidan. With 20 kids and grandkids myself, I can attest to the true joy faith and family bring to one's life. prgtoken I want to congratulate Nathan Dills on this well-deserved position and wish him well in his new role as SMACNA president.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-6-26

. Mr. Chair, I share the gentleman's support of the veterans who bravely served our country and were exposed to radiation during nuclear weapons tests. Military commanders have numerous personal military declarations, such as meritorious service medals, commendation medals, and achievement medals available to appropriately recognize members for their specific actions or sustained meritorious service. However, recognizing these individuals for their sacrifice is a very good idea; therefore, I support the gentleman's amendment.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-6-26

agriculture is the lifeblood of my State of South Dakota. More than 43 million of our State's roughly 50 million acres are given over to farming and ranching. In fact, cattle actually outnumber people in South Dakota. We have more than four times as many cattle in our State, which is a pretty good example of just how fundamental ranching is to South Dakota life. We routinely place in the top 10 States for production of a number of crops, including soybeans, corn, and wheat. Agriculture isn't just part of the South Dakota way of life, it is the South Dakota way of life. prgtoken While I am one of those South Dakota residents who doesn't farm a ranch, I have always considered it one of my great privileges to know South Dakota farmers and ranchers and get to represent them in the U.S. Congress. That is why, when I was in the House of Representatives, I chose to serve on the House Agriculture Committee, and that is why I serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee today. prgtoken Our biggest job as members of the Senate Agriculture Committee is to work on producing farm bills. These bills set the rules of the road for farmers and ranchers. They govern safety net programs like crop insurance and livestock disaster programs, which are so essential for individuals working in an industry where bad weather can wipe out a year's work and place a family farm at risk. They set the rules for conservation programs. They cover farm loan programs and much more. prgtoken This year's farm bill is particularly important as farmers and ranchers are facing a tough ag economy. Commodity prices have plunged, and net farm income is half of what it was 4 or 5 years ago. Now more than ever, farmers and ranchers need to know with certainty what the rules of the road will be so they can plan well for the future. prgtoken The farm bill we are considering this week is the fourth farm bill I have had the chance to work on during my time in Congress. While there are a handful of things I would like to improve further, I am pleased with the product we have on the floor today. prgtoken Given the variety of programs and priorities they cover, farm bills are always a big production. That is why I got a head start on this year's farm bill last March when I introduced legislation that created a new income protection program for farmers. That bill was the first of nearly a dozen pieces of legislation I introduced over the past year. I figured that starting the process early would allow us to not just reauthorize agricultural programs but to strengthen and improve them, and I am pleased the bill before us today does exactly that. prgtoken I am also pleased several of my proposals are included in the bill, although the credit for that goes to the prgtoken farmers and ranchers who helped inspire these much needed policies and policy changes. The fact is, nobody knows more about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to agriculture po
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2018-6-26

I rise today in support of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also referred to as the Senate's farm bill. prgtoken As a member of the Senate Ag Committee, I was proud to work with Senator Roberts and our ranking member, Senator Stabenow of Michigan, to pass a strong farm bill out of committee. prgtoken Times are challenging in ag country. Commodity prices are low, and our farmers and ranchers face numerous challenges. Net farm income is down 52 percent from where it stood 5 years ago, and bankruptcies are up more than 39 percent from 2014. Moving this farm bill through the Senate will help reduce uncertainty for our ag producers and will benefit the broader economy. prgtoken I would like to say and I often say that good farm policy benefits every single American every single day. Think about that. Our farmers and ranchers produce the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world, in the history of the world. So every single day, every American benefits just in that respect and in other respects in terms of the employment that is created, the positive balance of trade, the innovation, and so many other things. In fact, the crops we grow and the livestock we raise are used not only for food but also for fuel and fiber. prgtoken But simply the fact that every single American benefits every day from the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world means that when we pass the farm bill, providing good farm policy that helps support our farmers and ranchers so they can continue to provide that food supply for Americans, we really are doing something for all Americans and something that affects their lives, obviously, in a very big way every single day. prgtoken I am pleased we were able to draft a bill that will give our farmers and ranchers the support they need to continue to produce that food, fuel, and fiber that make our country go and provide the same things to so many in other countries throughout the world. prgtoken Leading up to consideration of the farm bill, we worked diligently to gather input from farmers and ranchers in my State and across the country. Over the past year, I have held roundtables back home. I have hosted Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue so that he could hear directly from our great farmers and ranchers about their priorities for this farm bill. prgtoken I am grateful that the bill includes many of these important provisions and that it will support the great work done by our farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the country. I just want to highlight a few of those measures. prgtoken We have worked hard to ensure that the bill maintains and strengthens crop insurance, which is the primary risk management tool for our producers. Let me emphasize that again. Crop insurance is the No. 1 risk management tool used by our producers across the country. prgtoken The farm bill also includes a provision based on a pilot program I have put forward to improve th
FOREIGN INVESTMENT RISK REVIEW MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2018
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-6-26

I want to thank my colleagues for working together on this bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4311, the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act. It addresses the intersection of national security, intellectual property, and property rights. prgtoken We have a responsibility to protect the people of the United States of America from threats abroad, and we also have a responsibility to protect the system that has truly made the United States the world's land of opportunity. We have had free flow of goods, services, capital, ideas, and, indeed, people because we have a high functioning rule of law here in America. prgtoken How can the entrepreneur living the American Dream truly thrive in the spirit of enterprise when competing against a foreign state? But that is the very state that he is up against a lot of times in trade as an entrepreneur seeks to grow a corporation backed by a foreign government. prgtoken This legislation addresses many of these types of concerns--countries acting as companies that pose threats to our national security--and this legislation has been done in a bipartisan, constructive manner, and I appreciate the input and efforts from Members of both sides of the aisle as well as those in the administration and the private sector who have helped make this meaningful legislation what it is today.
FARM BILL
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-6-26

last evening the Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance H.R. 2--the farm bill. The reason it has reached the floor in its current form--ready for consideration, amendments, and, ultimately, passage by the full Senate--is the leadership of Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow. They have carried on the committee's proud tradition of focusing on substance and putting partisanship aside. prgtoken As the senior Senator from Kentucky, I know exactly how important this legislation is to agricultural communities in my home State and around the Nation. Kentucky has 12.8 million acres dedicated to agriculture. That includes about $1 billion in soybean production last year alone, about three-quarters of a billion dollars in corn, and hundreds of millions of dollars in the production of hay and tobacco, just to name a few. prgtoken These crops are only part of the story. Our leading agricultural commodity is poultry--a billion-dollar-plus industry that employs about 7,000 Kentuckians on its own. These are just a few examples of what Kentucky farmers bring to the country and to the world. prgtoken Despite the impressive scale, we are a State that is dominated by small farms. They form the backbone of rural communities throughout my State. But our farm families and those across rural America face a lot of uncertainty: natural disasters, from droughts to floods, unstable world markets, and falling commodity prices. prgtoken Earlier this year, the USDA Economic Research Service forecasted that net farm income is in the process of falling to a 12-year low--a 12- year low. The farmers who feed and support this country are counting on us to provide the predictability and certainty of a long-term farm bill. prgtoken My colleagues and I on the Agriculture Committee have produced a farm bill that shows America's farmers that we understand their situation, share their concerns, and are taking action to address them. prgtoken My colleagues from every corner of the country can be proud of this legislation. First and foremost, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 strengthens the safety measures that directly help commodity producers as they confront low prices. It also seizes a number of opportunities to invest in the future of American agriculture and rural communities. prgtoken I am particularly excited about the provision that would empower farmers to begin cultivating industrial hemp, a crop that could play a key role going forward in Kentucky's economy and in the Nation's. prgtoken The bill also focuses on rural broadband, rural water infrastructure, and the fight against the opioid epidemic that has hit rural America very hard. prgtoken From top to bottom, this farm bill takes serious steps to ensure the future of American agriculture--for the sake of our farmers, our rural communities, and the entire country. prgtoken This week my colleagues will have ample opportunity to consider the legislati
CONGRATULATING THE LANCASTER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-6-26

I rise to recognize the Lancaster Catholic High School baseball team today. prgtoken The Crusaders baseball team recently claimed its first baseball championship in school history. After a remarkable 20-5 season, the Crusaders won the Lancaster-Lebanon Section 4 and District 3 titles, setting themselves up for a run at the State championship. prgtoken Sure enough, the Crusaders defeated South Side 5-1 in the PIAA 3A Championship. prgtoken In addition to the Crusaders' great offense, the highlight of the game was senior Dillon Marsh's dominating pitching performance. Marsh, who has committed to playing at the University of Kentucky next year, pitched a complete game, striking out 11 batters without allowing a single walk. prgtoken This game continued his excellent postseason performance, during which he surpassed the 100 strikeout mark for the season and threw a no-hit shutout in the State semifinals. prgtoken In summarizing his victory and the celebration with his teammates, Marsh simply stated: ``It was just pure happiness.'' prgtoken Congratulations to the Lancaster Crusaders baseball team, the coaches, the families, and everyone at the school and in the community who supported this team along the way.
MEDAL OF HONOR AWARDED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT GARLIN M. CONNER OF CLINTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-6-26

today is a momentous occasion for the family of a beloved Clinton County, Kentucky native and American hero, First Lieutenant Garlin Murl Conner. prgtoken First Lieutenant Conner enlisted in the Army on March 1, 1941 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He served on the front lines of ten campaigns, was injured seven times, and received a battlefield commission. While recovering from a serious hip wound at a field hospital in France, First Lieutenant Conner voluntarily left the hospital to rejoin his unit as Germany launched the brutal Operation Northwind to challenge the advancing Allied forces in the final months of World War II. prgtoken On January 24, 1945, First Lieutenant Conner ran ahead of the defending force--in the face of intense enemy fire--to attain a better position to call in artillery strikes on six hundred advancing enemy soldiers during a three-hour onslaught. At times, he even called in artillery on his own position. His bravery that day not only distinguished him as an intrepid, selfless patriot, but also saved the lives of his unit. prgtoken In acknowledgment of First Lieutenant Conner's exceptional valor, President Donald J. presented a posthumous Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military distinction, to his wife, Pauline Conner, in a ceremony at the White House today. prgtoken The Medal of Honor commemorates the extraordinary sacrifice and bravery of American heroes like First Lieutenant Conner. Today, I join this Clinton County native's family and friends in celebrating his legacy and honoring his noble service to our nation.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2018-6-26

I rise today in strong support of the important legislation before us, and that is the 2018 farm bill. This is critical legislation for Nebraskans and for all Americans. It will provide the certainty and predictability agriculture producers need to do their job of delivering abundant, high-quality, nutritious food to our Nation. prgtoken My husband, Bruce, and I have a family ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. That is our home. That is where we live, and that is where we work. I know firsthand that being a farmer or rancher is more than just a job. It is a way of life, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is one of life's most noble callings to care for the land and God's creatures, to be stewards of our natural resources, and to feed the world. prgtoken As a State senator of the Nebraska legislature and now as a U.S. Senator, commonsense agriculture policy has been a top priority for me. This year, I was honored to have the opportunity to join the Senate Ag Committee, where I am the voice for Nebraska agriculture as we work on this vital legislation for our State. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Roberts for welcoming me to the committee and for his excellent work on this bill. I also want to thank him for making a trip to the ``good life'' this past May. Together, we held a roundtable at the Nebraska State fairgrounds in Grand Island and toured a soybean processing plant in Hastings. During these visits, we heard feedback and input from Nebraska ag producers that we brought back to Washington as the committee crafted this bill. prgtoken Production agriculture is the economic engine of Nebraska. Across our State, there are more than 47,000 farms and ranches. From the panhandle to Central Nebraska, to the city streets of Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraskans understand the monumental role of agriculture as our State's No. 1 industry. One in four Nebraska jobs is tied to agriculture, but we all know there is a lot of anxiety in farm country today. prgtoken Current net farm income is down by over 50 percent compared to 5 years ago when we passed the last farm bill. While uncertainty surrounds international trade and biofuels policy, we are looking at experiencing depressed commodity prices and tight margins. Since the beginning of June, Nebraska cash corn prices are down roughly 11 percent. Cash soybean prices are down 14 percent. This has resulted in over $1 billion in potential lost receipts to corn and soybean producers. Farmers and ranchers are worried. prgtoken For many years, I traveled the State of Nebraska to meet with and listen carefully to folks about their ideas to address the issues they face. I hosted several ag roundtables with local producers, Nebraska stakeholders, government officials, and agriculture industry experts about how we can boost our rural economies. prgtoken Many of our discussions explore the relationship between the ``internet of things'' and agriculture. A key point that ha