{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E71FF577-B64F-4BA4-A19F-07C1C496D7ED", "Weekly Column: A Resolution to Succeed", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\t\u2018Tis the season for resolutions!\u00a0\r\nJanuary 1 is a new beginning, so it\u2019s no surprise that setting New Year\u2019s resolutions has become a holiday tradition for many.\u00a0 While we all know that commitment to upholding many of these resolutions often fades, Abraham Lincoln reminds us that \u201cyour own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.\u201d\u00a0\r\nI join many South Dakotans in being frustrated with the progress made in Washington over the last few years.\u00a0 But it is a new year, and I am coming to the table with a renewed resolution to succeed.\r\nToward the end of 2013, Congress gained significant momentum on a number of issues that matter to South Dakota.\u00a0 That momentum has not been lost.\u00a0 First and foremost, Farm Bill negotiations continued through the holidays.\u00a0\r\nThe lead negotiators \u2013 Rep. Frank Lucas (a Republican) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (a Democrat) \u2013 have come to a consensus on an outline of the reforms they agree can be made in the Farm Bill.\u00a0 Right before Christmas, they were able to get estimates back to see how much these reforms would cost \u2013 or in some cases, save.\u00a0\r\nNow, it is a matter of tweaking the bill to make sure all the numbers add up, but we are on track to finish a comprehensive five-year farm bill during the first part of 2014.\r\nWe also began to make progress on new sex trafficking legislation.\u00a0 Sadly, this is an issue South Dakota has seen more of in recent years.\u00a0 Local law enforcement officers have done a good job of identifying and bringing into custody those who are selling the victims of human trafficking.\u00a0 Many of the convicts are brought to justice under federal law, as there are harsher penalties \u2013 namely, life in prison \u2013 for sex trafficking at that level.\r\nTo ensure local law enforcement officers have all the tools they need and that there are no gaps in federal law, I\u2019ve been driving the End Sex Trafficking Act in Washington.\u00a0 This legislation addresses sex trafficking from the demand side by strengthening the federal law when it comes to those who solicit, patronize or obtain the services of a trafficked victim.\u00a0 As President George W. Bush stated during a Justice Department training on sex trafficking, \u201cWe cannot put [human traffickers] out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand.\u201d\r\nAdditionally, this year, I\u2019ll be working to reform the level of influence the government can wield over our local school lunches.\u00a0 Under current law, South Dakota schools face significant limitations when it comes to what they can serve our kids.\u00a0 In fact, the law says that schools can only serve an average of 2 oz. of meat per meal.\u00a0 That\u2019s just three chicken nuggets for a high school student.\r\nYes, we all want our kids to be healthier, but we don\u2019t want them to go hungry either.\u00a0 In mid-December, I introduced a new bill to lift the law\u2019s onerous meat and grain limitations, giving schools more flexibility to decide what they will feed our kids at lunchtime.\u00a0 Simply put \u2013 bureaucrats in Washington shouldn\u2019t be able to dictate what goes on our kids\u2019 plates here in South Dakota.\u00a0 This is an issue that is gaining momentum and will be a focus of my attention over the next year.\r\nCongress ended 2013 with a refreshing level of cooperation that I hope will be carried on throughout the next year.\u00a0 And as I prepare to return to Congress, I am determined to again instill in Washington something that President Abraham Lincoln spoke about: a resolution to succeed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E71FF577-B64F-4BA4-A19F-07C1C496D7ED"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.89227594435215, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}