mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
VETERANS CEMETERY BENEFIT CORRECTION ACT
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-5-16

I thank the chairman for this opportunity, and I thank Ranking Member Walz for such bipartisan support and work on this bill. I am very proud to serve on this committee because of the kind of work that goes on here under the leadership of Chairman Roe. prgtoken , I am proud to cosponsor this bill. I can tell you, since coming to Congress, I have had the distinct honor of serving with Dr. Roe, our chairman, and colleagues on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and during this time, we on the committee have heard from veterans services organizations, from the Veterans Administration, and from veterans themselves about the challenges in the VA healthcare system. prgtoken We have learned about the barriers to timely care, the troubling provider shortage, also the lack of prompt payment to our community providers, and so many other issues. prgtoken I am proud to say that I believe this is, in the words of 38 VSOs who wrote in strong support of this legislation, truly a ``historic opportunity to improve the lives of veterans, their families, and their caregivers.'' prgtoken That is one reason I am very proud to be on this committee. I think this is a historic move. prgtoken It is our duty as legislators and as Americans to ensure that our veterans receive the best care possible. This bill accomplishes that by streamlining community care programs; improving access to timely care; funding the Choice Program; and, until this new program can be implemented, creating a fair access review process, greatly expanding the VA caregiver program, and improving VA's own in-house capacity. prgtoken One item that I would like to thank the leaders in both Chambers for, but especially Dr. Roe and his staff and the White House, is including in this language on provider recruitment and retention within the VA, sections 301, 303, and 304 of this bill, which is language that I had asked to have placed in there. prgtoken These provisions expand the tools the VA can use to recruit and retain quality providers by requiring the use of scholarships and improving and expanding the loan repayment system that targets newly graduated medical students.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Austin Scott (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-5-16

I rise today to urge support for H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also known as the farm bill. prgtoken Rural America needs our support. Farm income has fallen approximately 50 percent since 2013. That is one of the steepest drops since the Great Depression. The costs of production have steadily declined, while commodity prices have fallen. Unfair trade practices, like the dumping of specialty crops into our markets from Mexico, are hurting our U.S. producers. The digital divide caused by inadequate or a lack of broadband services has held back innovation, job growth, and education in rural America. Crises like the opioid epidemic have stricken rural communities across America, just as it has our cities. prgtoken , the farm bill addresses all of these challenges while also taking the first major step in this Congress toward the President's vision of meaningful welfare reform. This is our opportunity to provide the needed certainty and support for our farmers and producers, while also providing commonsense reforms that will support the President's agenda of achieving prosperity in our rural communities. Passing a strong farm bill on time is key to this goal. prgtoken I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this important piece of legislation and oppose those amendments that will hamper its ability to aid rural America and keep our producers feeding not only America, but the world. This bill provides certainty to one of America's largest job sectors, while also standing for our conservative principles. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask that my colleagues join me in support of H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, the farm bill.
UNDIAGNOSED GYNECOLOGICAL CANCERS IN AMERICAN WOMEN
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-5-16

I rise today to inform the House about our team's work on behalf of women in my district and across the Nation. prgtoken Last month, data from Yale University gynecologists demonstrated that between 2 percent and 10 percent of American women undergoing gynecological operations end up having missed cancers. It is shocking to think that these cancers are found only after women undergo these surgeries. These missed cancers are at high risk of being spread by the very surgeries these women are undergoing to help them. prgtoken My physician constituents, like the Reed family, tell me that this represents an unacceptable and seismic epidemic of undiagnosed gynecological cancers that are prone to spread and upstaging with catastrophic results. prgtoken Therefore, , I have asked the CDC to immediately consider guiding gynecologists towards the use of more precise preoperative tissue biopsy methods in order to identify the women at risk. I am now awaiting a response from CDC leadership with a plan of action aimed at containing what is likely to be a shocking epidemic of undiagnosed gynecological cancers in American women. prgtoken , we must stay focused on this situation in order to protect all women from this grave health risk. National Police Week
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-5-16

America's farm families have had to weather a 5-year recession with depressed prices resulting in a 52-percent drop in net farm income. Two-thirds of our farming operations today are in economic trouble, and chapter 12 bankruptcies have risen by 33 percent in just 2 years. So it is no secret that our Nation's farmers and ranchers are struggling. prgtoken I hear all this talk during the past month about a free market, how everything would be so much better without farm programs. ``We want a complete, total free market,'' they say. From an intellectual and philosophical standpoint, I would love that. We all would. But here is the problem: that isn't the real world. prgtoken There is no free market when you have countries all around the world subsidizing their agriculture production to the hilt. For example, Communist China agreed to a subsidy limit as part of their accession to the WTO in 2001. But what do they do? They exceed that subsidy limit by $100 billion on just three crops alone in 1 year. That is no free market. prgtoken Farm programs account for 0.24 percent of the total Federal budget, and in return, every individual and family in this country is guaranteed an abundant, affordable food supply, and the very best nutritious food at an exceptionally affordable price. That is, quite frankly, a huge return on a relatively small investment, not to mention what agriculture means to our rural economies and our trade balance with the rest of the world. prgtoken American agriculture is more than just being the best producers in the business and feeding the world. It is about food security and national security. Once a farm is gone, it isn't coming back. It is not like your local hardware store that goes out of business; it is not like that space isn't going to be replaced by another business; it will. Farms, on the other hand, are replaced by developments taking some of our very best farmland out of production.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-5-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I bring this amendment, amendment No. 1, to help supplement some of the good programs that are already existing within the existing farm bill, and what it does is it allows drainage districts to also compete for EQIP money along with the irrigation districts that exist in the country. prgtoken I have worked in this arena for a lot of my adult life, and there are roughly 2,000 drainage districts in the State of Iowa, but the important part of this is that we are concerned about water quality and water management and nutrient management, and we have developed technology that, when a producer goes into a pattern tile system, a drainage system--and we used to, and we still do in most places--we just drain all that water out down to the bottom of the tile, and we do that for 12 months out of the year. prgtoken And what happens is the nutrients that are applied, the nitrogen and the phosphorous, in particular, go down the stream, and it impacts the water quality downstream; and it contributes to the hypoxia in the Gulf Coast, as well. prgtoken So we have developed a method by which especially the flattest ground in the corn belt--this began at least 8 million acres that were under a 2 percent grade--could be pattern tiled and put stop logs in and store the water in the subsoil; drain it down for the 2 weeks in the spring that we are in the field, let the water table come back up again, hold it there, drain it down again for the 2 weeks in the fall that we are in the field, and let it come up the rest of the time. prgtoken While that is going on, the root system of our crop--corn and soybeans in my country, different crops in others--will draw up those nutrients out of that water and they will pull the nitrogen out, they will pull the phosphorous out, and we can minimize the application of our fertilizer. In doing so and having a better utilization of our fertilizer, we can also see the water that finally does go down the stream be a far higher quality. prgtoken So this allows EQIP to be spent also in drainage districts for that purpose. It is good for water quality. It is good for production efficiency, and it is something that I think has a big future for the United States of America. prgtoken , .
Prescription Drugs (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-5-16

today the Senate is finally voting to confirm a well-qualified nominee, BG Mitchell Zais, to serve as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Education. I worked to get a time agreement for this vote because General Zais did not deserve to be subject to the ' unreasonable and unnecessary obstructions and delays. For example, General Zais was nominated on October 5, 2017, 223 days ago, and the HELP Committee approved his nomination for the first time on December 13, 2017, 154 days ago. Because the forced his nomination to be returned to the President at the end of the session in December, the HELP Committee had to approve his nomination again on January 18, 2018, after he was renominated. prgtoken It is time to confirm General Zais and give Secretary DeVos a Deputy Secretary. He has extensive experience working in education and in government. From January 2011 to January 2015, General Zais served as South Carolina's elected State Superintendent of Education. Before that, he was president of Newberry College in South Carolina for 10 years. He also served as a commissioner on South Carolina's Commission on Higher Education for 6 years. Further, after 31 years in the U.S. Army, he retired as a brigadier general. He graduated from West Point, has a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, as well as an honorary doctorate of education from the Citadel. prgtoken As Deputy Secretary, his job will be to help the Secretary manage the Department of Education, which includes implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. I am glad we are having this vote today. I support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to support him as well.
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-5-16

. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the Agriculture Committee so much for yielding, and for his tireless work on this important legislation in order to support rural America and our most vulnerable. prgtoken Over the past 3 years, the Agriculture Committee has spent countless hours talking with constituents, performing outreach, and holding hearings with stakeholders to see how we can improve upon the 2014 farm bill. prgtoken Contrary to the claims of some, this legislation was not created in the dead of night or without input from my friends across the aisle. prgtoken , I have before me a letter that was sent to Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson with priorities identified by the ic Members that I am proud to serve with on the Agriculture Committee. I am proud to see--under nutrition specifically--all of these, and I believe all of these titles, these priorities were incorporated into the farm bill. prgtoken Over this 3-year period, we held 21 hearings and heard from 81 witnesses at the Nutrition Subcommittee alone. Members of the Agriculture Committee traveled to every corner of the country to participate in listening sessions and obtain vital input from our farmers, our ranchers, and our growers. prgtoken As the farm bill was in development at the committee, every Member had the opportunity to provide input and that input was considered during this process. Yet, even with an open process, no amendments were offered during the committee markup by my prgtoken friends across the aisle. That is an opportunity for refinement, as is being on the House floor an opportunity for refinement. prgtoken From voluntary insurance programs, to conservation in rural development programs, to agriculture research, H.R. 2 contains critical supports for our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and rural America. prgtoken On the farm side, I am especially pleased with the continued reforms to the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, as well as the forestry provisions in title VIII. Now, while I could go on about all of these good policies contained in H.R. 2, this legislation ultimately is about supporting American food--both on the farm, and on the consumer side. prgtoken Food is a national security issue. And whether we realize it or not, every American shakes hands with a farmer at least three times a day. As chairman of the Nutrition Subcommittee, I am proud that we maintain nutrition assistance for our most vulnerable through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Approximately 65 percent of these dollars directly provide food to children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities who rely on benefits of SNAP when times get tough. prgtoken H.R. 2 also does make historic changes to SNAP by providing new job opportunities for work-capable adults. This bill does this by reinvesting significant dollars within our budget into education and training programs. prgtoken By providing the States the increased res
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-5-16

this week I have the honor of recognizing Amanda Bedford for her positive impact on the Chouteau County community as the owner of the Wake Cup Cafe. prgtoken Amanda grew up on her parent's farm between Fort Benton and Highwood. She always had a passion for the Fort Benton community, knowing 1 day that was where she wanted to open a coffee shop. At 20 years old and with the support of her parents, she made that dream a reality. Fourteen years later, the business has seen tremendous success and growth under Amanda's leadership. prgtoken What started as a tiny coffee shop, serving only coffee and a few sandwiches, has since expanded greatly. The current building is the restaurant's third location, with a much larger and more expansive menu. By focusing on fresh, homemade ingredients, Amanda is proud of the delicious food the Wake Cup Cafe brings to Fort Benton. prgtoken With the enormous growth the Wake Cup Cafe has seen, Amanda has turned it into a family business. As of 4 years ago, Amanda's sister and brother-in-law have become part owners in the business, allowing them to continue to grow the coffee shop. While the business continues to expand, Amanda remains focused on providing the community with a place to gather with family and friends. As Amanda says, every small town needs a coffee shop. She is proud to be that staple for the Fort Benton community. prgtoken I congratulate Amanda Bedford on her wonderful impact to Fort Benton and the greater Chouteau Community. With her passion, dedication, and determination, her community is brought together over their favorite local hangout: the Wake Cup Cafe.
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-5-16

. Thank you, . prgtoken I have been recognized to close the debate on this motion. In a few moments, we will be voting on the motion to proceed to this resolution. I will be voting no and urge my colleagues to do so. prgtoken This debate is about a free and open internet, and it is also about a thriving and innovative internet. We can have both. For decades, we have had both, and we can continue to do so if we are smart about this. prgtoken Does every Senator in this Chamber believe in a free and open internet? Yes. prgtoken Does every Member of this body want to prevent blocking and the throttling of the internet? The answer is a resounding yes. prgtoken Does any Member of the Senate advocate, as my friend from Massachusetts just suggested, that a company or two gets to set the rules for the entire internet? Absolutely not. prgtoken Do all Senators and all Congressmen want the internet to be a source of innovation and job creation and prosperity as it has been for a quarter century? I hope so. prgtoken I hope we all want this information superhighway, this technology superhighway to continue its success. I hope we all want the internet to continue being that phenomenal platform for market competition, health advancements, investment, technological progress, efficiency, and safety. I hope we all want this. prgtoken If we all want this great engine to keep going, it is important to ask how all this happened in the first place. How did we get here? How did we arrive at this point in our Nation's history, with a dynamic internet economy that is truly the envy of the world? prgtoken The answer lies in the creativity and ingenuity of the American spirit. This has allowed the internet to thrive under the light-touch regulatory framework that has governed the internet for most of its history. prgtoken Let's revisit a little of that history. It was in 1996. I was a freshman Member of the House of Representatives at this time under a ic President, under a ic administration. Our country was at a crossroads on how to govern this new thing called the worldwide web, the internet. No one could have imagined the success of the internet we have today, but policymakers had the foresight not to regulate these new emerging information services like the services of a bygone era. prgtoken Instead, in 1996, during the Clinton administration, a very deliberative, thoughtful decision was made not to impose title II rules--the same rules from the 1930s that were modeled for the Bell monopolies, that were modeled for a time during the Great Depression. That was the pivotal decision that allowed this great internet economy to thrive and to be the success it is today. prgtoken Now let's fast-forward to recently, to 2015. That was the year the FCC made an ill-advised decision to change all that. Despite explosive growth, new applications, services, and consumer choice that the internet was delivering to Americans, the FC
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Steve Russell (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-5-17

this amendment addresses but redirects; it does not eliminate any funds from the Value Added Producer Grants. prgtoken These $18 million worth of grants are designed to generate new products, expand market opportunities, and assist beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, family farms, and even veterans entering farming. prgtoken Unfortunately, millions of these funds go to fund alcohol products. prgtoken While there is nothing inherently wrong with alcohol products, of the government funds that are used for promotion of these products through the program, we also note that the alcohol industry spends $7.6 million a year in lobbying costs. prgtoken Not only do these tax dollars used to fund the promotion of alcohol take away from non-alcohol-based farmers and ranchers, they also compete with the Government itself. prgtoken Every year, we spend millions of dollars to curtail the use and abuse of alcohol. prgtoken According to the Centers for Disease Control, the impacts and loss of alcohol abuse results in $249 billion a year in economic, workplace absence, healthcare loss, criminal justice expenses, and vehicle crash costs. prgtoken , it makes no sense that the Government should spend money to both promote and curtail an industry. prgtoken This amendment preserves the Value Added Grants for farmers that have no $8-million-a-year industry to lobby for them, and it ends the duplicitous practice of the Government being both for and against something that costs the Nation nearly $250 billion in annual economic loss. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
CONGRATULATING NORTH COUNTRY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-5-17

I rise today to honor and recognize North Country Community College on its 50th anniversary. prgtoken North Country Community College opened its doors to students and faculty for its first classes in September of 1968. The College's first graduating class had only 17 people, with certificates in practical nursing and secretarial studies. Since then, North Country Community College has taught over 50,000 students from all over the world and offers more than 25 academic disciplines. The College also has an exceptional athletic history with multiple championship winning hockey and basketball teams, as well as over 130 outstanding athletes in the North Country Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. prgtoken North Country Community College's impact on the North Country over the past 50 years cannot go unrecognized. As the only public college in the Adirondack Park, North Country Community College prioritizes extending opportunities to students in the area and providing them with skills to foster prosperity in the local communities. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st District, I would like to congratulate North Country Community College on its 50th anniversary and commend the College on its commitment to education in the North Country.