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[Pages H7994-H7995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL FAMILY MEALS MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) for 5 minutes.
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about one of my
favorite topics: supper.
Growing up a farm kid in rural Kansas, supper was always a great
time, a special time. As a matter of fact, most everything I needed to
ever learn, I learned at the supper table.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in
recognizing the celebration and importance of September as National
Family Meals Month, a grassroots movement to raise awareness of the
benefits of bringing families together around the supper table for
frequent family meals.
Family meals are at a critical intersection in our Nation. The will
to return to the table exists, but families need a friendly familiar
voice to show them the way.
As a physician, a husband, a father, and now a grandfather, I can
speak to the positive impact having one or more family meals around the
table each week can create for families and communities.
I believe there are Main Street issues, economic issues, and then
there are suppertime issues as well. It is the issues at the dinner
table we need to be more focused on.
In my house, we traditionally have dinner each day at 6 p.m., no
exceptions. My wife, Laina, has an open invitation policy at our dining
table. Our family and friends, whoever is over at our house, knows they
can always have a seat, and as my dad used to say: ``We will just throw
another potato in the pot.'' But one rule, they can't be late. And
number two, you have to leave your cellphone in your bedroom.
We take the time to sit down without the day's distractions and
discuss the issues impacting our lives and how we can provide support
to one another.
Frequent family meals create stronger family relationships and
provide opportunities to connect with loved ones and talk about your
day. Eating together feeds the emotional well-being of all family
members.
With the growing influence of social media and so many distractions,
the table is one of the safe places left where families consistently
can have a conversation together.
It is our local grocery stores that are helping bring families back
to the table. They work to provide busy customers like you and me easy
mealtime solutions and to realize the health and social benefits they
contain.
{time} 1015
With our very trusted neighborhood grocery stores assisting us with
our mealtime challenges, I know we can get back to the table.
Right now, let's each of us promise to have more family meals and to
get together at least once a week, because at home, together, is how
Kansans and
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Americans across this great Nation want, and need, to eat.
Recognizing New Bilateral Trade Agreement
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the biggest
news of the week, a new story I have yet to see the national media
cover.
Yesterday, in New York City, the President of the United States and
the Prime Minister of Japan signed a bilateral trade agreement, a
historic trade agreement. It is historic because the United States has
never had a trade agreement with Japan.
I want to, first of all, thank Prime Minister Abe and all the
Japanese for their business. Their business is so important to Kansas
agriculture, to Kansas farmers, and to Kansas ranchers. I thank the
Prime Minister and his staff for working so hard on this historic free
and reciprocal trade agreement and for getting it done in record time.
The speed that this agreement was done shows and proves the commitment
of President Trump to our agricultural producers that the President
values agriculture and knows that we feed not just our Nation but the
entire world.
As many of you already know, Japan is the number one market for
United States beef, pork, and wheat, all very important to Kansas
farmers and ranchers.
Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. President for
showing their leadership.
Now, once again, I ask the Speaker of the House to show leadership
and bring the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to this floor. That
agreement is the most important issue that this Congress can be facing.
I cannot control what the Chinese are going to do in trade
negotiations, but we can control the USMCA trade agreement. That is
what is important to Kansans. That is what Kansans want us working on.
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