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K000401

Kevin

Kiley

Kevin Kiley

M

1985-01-30

Republican

rep

CA

SAVING SAN FRANCISCO

. Madam , I rise today with an update on the condition of San Francisco, a city whose fate has been largely shaped by several politicians of prominence here in Washington, D.C. Foremost among them are Vice President and Emerita Nancy Pelosi. prgtoken I think it is important for all Americans to understand the tragedy of San Francisco and what has happened to one of America's most beautiful cities because the same radical failed policies that have caused San Francisco's decline and collapse are gaining increasing traction in Washington, D.C. prgtoken I want to go over just a few of the reasons why it is that as the San Francisco Chronicle put it last year, this city is ``on the verge of collapse.'' prgtoken Indeed, in many ways, my entire State of California offers a preview of where our country has been headed, but San Francisco offers an even starker warning. It is the part of our State where failed policies, radical politics, and public corruption are in their most advanced stage and where residents are most rapidly fleeing. prgtoken In an article headlined ``San Francisco Falls Into the Abyss,'' UCLA economics professor Lee Ohanian writes: ``No major American city has failed at the same level as Detroit, whose population dropped from 1.85 million people in 1950 to about 630,000 today. Move over Detroit, here comes San Francisco, which lost 6.3 percent of its population between 2019 and 2021, a rate of decline larger than any 2-year period in Detroit's history and unprecedented among any major U.S. city.'' prgtoken The city is declining faster than any major U.S. city in the history of our country. The reasons they are not a misery, foremost among them are crime, drug addiction, homelessness, waste, unaffordability, and failing schools, all a result of failed governance. prgtoken Let's just start with the crime situation in San Francisco, which is a city that has had a progression of self-described progressive prosecutors starting with now-Vice President who has used that term to describe herself, progressive prosecutor, followed by others in her mold, George Gascon and then Chesa Boudin, who was ultimately recalled from office by voters. prgtoken On a State level, California law has essentially legalized many forms of crime, making theft of merchandise below $950 a misdemeanor, as well as the possession of even class A drugs. prgtoken In practice, this means offenders are rarely, if ever, prosecuted, and, in many cases, businesses have stopped even reporting losses. prgtoken San Francisco's anti-law enforcement policies have compounded these problems. For example, a few years ago in 2020, San Francisco defunded the police shifting $120 million away from law enforcement. If you park your car while in the city, the advice is just to leave the doors open and make sure there are no valuables inside. That will at least spare you the cost of replacing your windshield. prgtoken Last year, the Cast

A000379

Mark

Alford

Mark Alford

M

1963-10-04

Republican

rep

MO

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING CITIZENS OF MISSOURI'S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

I rise today to honor our August Veteran of the Month, Mr. Harold King. prgtoken Mr. King attended Leigh High School in Nebraska, Utah State University, U.S. Armor School, JFK Special Warfare Center and School, and Command and General Staff College. prgtoken Mr. King joined the Army as a military policeman in 1984 and held many jobs throughout his career. Among those are armor crewman, armor officer, company commander, operations officer, and information operations officer. prgtoken In 1990, he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm with 4-37 Armor 1st Division as a legacy. His grandfather was in World War II. prgtoken He left Active Duty in 1994, becoming a psychological operations officer with the 10th PSYOP Battalion in St. Louis, Missouri. Then, in 2007, , he deployed again to Iraq until 2008. prgtoken After that, King remained committed to serving his fellow veterans. He worked as a veteran service officer with the Missouri Veterans Commission for over 10 years and recently took on an additional duty of appeals specialist. prgtoken Right now, he serves as military services coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fort Leonard Wood. There, he provides veterans and servicemembers with the information they need to fully understand the comprehensive assistance and benefits available to them. prgtoken He is a devoted father, devoted husband, grandfather to one, and papa to a crew of dogs, cats, and fish. prgtoken I congratulate our August Veteran of the Month, Major King, and I thank him for his service. Major King makes Missouri's Fourth Congressional District and America proud. prgtoken , I wish my colleagues on both sides of the aisle a safe and productive time working in their district, reconnecting with their families, and making memories. prgtoken God bless this body, and God bless the United States of America

T000467

Glenn

Thompson

Glenn Thompson

M

1959-07-27

Republican

rep

PA

RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HIRE A VETERAN DAY

I rise to honor today as National Hire a Veteran Day. This day is crucial to the spirit and health of both America's veterans and our communities. prgtoken Set aside to raise awareness of the unique skills and valuable abilities of servicemembers after military service, we must use this day to recognize the sacrifice and strength of our veterans. Qualities like dedication, determination, and tenacity are highly valuable in America's private and public sectors. These features are fostered during military service and can be helpful in nonmilitary employment. prgtoken As 200,000 military members retire and become veterans each year, more and more qualified potential employees are eligible to join the greater American workforce. prgtoken As we look to hire, let us not forget the sacrifices made by our servicemembers. Each and every one of them, having defended our great country, deserve the opportunity to create a unique and positive impact in the workforce. Their dedication, determination, and tenacity are not just skills but a testament to their commitment.

P000603

Rand

Paul

Rand Paul

M

1963-01-07

Republican

sen

KY

ELIMINATE USELESS REPORTS ACT OF 2024--Continued

a few comments on the support the authors of the bill have come forward with. prgtoken The discussion is that State attorneys are not empowered when, in actuality, if you read the bill, the State attorneys are empowered. They are specifically referred to in the bill, and they are specifically empowered to sue if and when the Child Online Safety Committee promulgates rules to the FTC. This is specifically given to all these State attorneys, but also the rulemaking authority is given in the bill. prgtoken State attorneys general will also be allowed to sue even if no rule is made. This does empower State attorneys general across the Nation to sue over whether or not people are adequately suppressing or censoring speech based on anxiety. So that is a factual dispute we have with the authors. prgtoken One of the authors says: We can't trust the online people. We can't trust the people hosting these platforms. prgtoken Well, of course you can't. That is why you are supposed to be parents. That is why you are supposed to be involved with your church and community and you are supposed to try to police. Everything is imperfect, but you are supposed to try. It isn't the government. prgtoken So he says: We can't trust them. prgtoken But, you know what, I have also heard another comment: Trust us; we are from the government. Trust us; we are going to give this Child Online Safety Committee unlimited, unchecked power to regulate anything that causes your teenager to feel anxiety--from climate change to sexuality to who knows what to eating disorders to thin models to gambling on the PGA or any website, or beer commercials. This is Pandora's box, and we need to be aware of what it actually does allow to occur. prgtoken The rule of construction, the amendment that is being blocked, is typical. This is a bill to block free speech. So in order to pass a bill to block free speech, you block the free speech on the floor of the Senate and disallow amendments. prgtoken Who in America would think it would be wrong to limit this bill and to protect political, social, and religious speech? That is what they are actually saying. They won't allow amendment on it, but they are not for exempting political, social, or religious speech. What does that mean? It means they conclude that the bill will allow regulation of political, social, and religious speech. prgtoken Mark my words: We will revisit this issue. The court is either going to strike this thing down or we are going to come back here in a year or two, and people are going to go: Oh, my God. Did anybody read the bill before they passed it? prgtoken They have 70 cosponsors because nobody reads the bills. Nobody thinks of the implications of the bill. The bill gives virtually unlimited purview to the Children's Online Safety Committee to determine what causes anxiety. prgtoken Everything causes anxiety in teenagers. Every controversial subject could potentially cause anx

B001291

Brian

Babin

Brian Babin

M

1948-03-23

Republican

rep

TX

CELEBRATING THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF BEAUMONT POLICE CHIEF JAMES SINGLETARY

I rise today to recognize my good friend, Beaumont Police Chief James ``Jimmy'' Singletary, who is retiring after a long, distinguished career in law enforcement. prgtoken Chief Singletary was born on January 27, 1948, to parents John and Melba Singletary in Beaumont, Texas. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, he attended Beaumont High School, where he secured a scholarship to Lamar University. He earned many accolades during his years on the Lamar University men's golf team, including four straight Southland Conference Championships, a Southland Conference Individual Championship in 1969, and back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 1967 and 1968. prgtoken After graduating from Lamar University in 1971, Chief Singletary began his 53-year law enforcement career by joining the Beaumont Police Department, where he moved through the ranks from patrol officer to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, he oversaw seven different divisions, including Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics and Vice, Training and Personnel, Drug Enforcement Task Force, Special Weapons and Tactics, and Internal Affairs. prgtoken Chief Singletary retired for the first time from the Beaumont Police Department after 30 years and accepted a position with the Department of Justice as the Law Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Texas. In 2002, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department as a major and was a member of the Narcotics Task Force and commander of the SWAT team. In 2009, he was assigned to the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, where he worked with local agencies on violent crimes and major federal cases. prgtoken In 2011, Chief Singletary was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Beaumont Police Department. His mission was to increase the department's local outreach, educate the public, and build trust between citizens and law enforcement to create a safer community for all residents. Under his leadership, community programs like the Police Community Advisory Committee, Citizen's Police Academy, Cops & Kids, Clergy and Police Partnership, Police Explorers, Youth Academy for Law Enforcement, and Practicum in Policing flourished. prgtoken Chief Singletary is also an avid family man. He met his late wife, Tammy, when they both played in a coed softball league. They welcomed their only child, Hallie, in 1988, and I am confident that he is looking forward to spending much time in his retirement with his daughter and grandson, Wyatt Justice, who is the apple of his eye. He has always been best known amongst his family and friends for his selflessness and for always taking the time to help those in need. prgtoken I have known Chief Singletary for many years. Even as a young man, he displayed an incredible depth of character that undoubtedly played a vital role in his journey to becoming such an upstanding public servant. It is my sincere honor to congratulate Chief Singletary <

G000593

Carlos

Gimenez

Carlos A. Gimenez

M

1954-01-17

Republican

rep

FL

STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ITS BORDER CZAR, KAMALA HARRIS'S, FAILURE TO SECURE THE UNITED STATES BORDER

I rise in support of H. Res. 1371. prgtoken , in March 2021, President proclaimed Vice President as our Nation's border czar. Yet, over the last 3\1/2\ years, it is unclear what work she has done, if any, to secure our borders. prgtoken As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I traveled to the Darien Gap in Panama to witness the migrant crisis firsthand. I have also been to our southern border. prgtoken This is a picture of me at the Darien Gap. Those folks there, that is thousands of migrants coming to the United States. This is 2 years after she was named the border czar. prgtoken According to the CBP, before the - administration, there were less than 1 million encounters at the southern border annually. Since the border czar, , has taken over, there have been nearly 8 million illegal encounters at the southern border and nearly 2 million known got-aways. That is a total of almost 10 million people who have entered our country. prgtoken The growing crisis has a direct impact on our border districts, like mine. Illegal migrant landings have increased in our State, particularly in our beloved Florida Keys. We have seen an increase in encounters of Chinese and other nationals. prgtoken Our adversaries know that they can take advantage and exploit the open-border policies of the - administration. FBI Director Christopher Wray has testified that suspected terrorists have crossed the southern border and are unaccounted for in our country. prgtoken The - open-border policies are a risk to every man, woman, and child living in America. prgtoken Vice President has proven herself incapable as border czar, and I know that the country cannot afford 4 more years of these disastrous policies. prgtoken , I urge passage of this resolution.

C001075

Bill

Cassidy

Bill Cassidy

M

1957-09-28

Republican

sen

LA

ELIMINATE USELESS REPORTS ACT OF 2024--Continued

think about how much has happened over the last several weeks. We have had one Presidential candidate survive an assassination attempt. Our current President is dropping out of the race. We prgtoken have had protesters burning an American flag and raising a Palestinian flag as the United States' closest ally gave a speech to Congress yesterday. That is how much has happened in several weeks. prgtoken Guess what hasn't happened in 25 years? An update of how to protect children on their online experience. That has not changed in 25 years, even when so much happens in just a few weeks. So rules from 25 years ago cannot effectively govern social media sites that did not exist 25 years ago, were not conceived of 25 years ago. prgtoken We have waited too long to update these rules, but today we have a chance to fix. The current armor protecting children's internet activity passed into law in 1998. Babies born that year are well into their professional careers. People were concerned about Y2K, and Nick Saban had not become LSU's football coach. prgtoken Of course, the 1998 rules do not prohibit Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok from collecting personal information on young teenagers without consent because that was not envisioned 25 years ago. prgtoken Today, the internet is an integral part of a child's life. The information a child has access to has drastically expanded, exposing children to risks that they may not have the maturity to navigate independently. prgtoken The internet has so many good things and can be a great learning tool for our children. But we can't ignore the dangers--the adult content, the pornography, the cyber bullying, the violence, the predatory behavior, the overall impact upon our children's mental health. Our children should not be left to face these challenges alone. Under current law, the law passed in 1998--good for the time, but not for now--only children less than age 13 were covered, leaving a whole population of teenagers unprotected. prgtoken With 95 percent of teenagers between 13 and 17 using social media, their protections should be expanded. By expanding these protections, by banning targeted advertising, by limiting data collection, and strengthening parental control, COPPA 2.0 enables safer online experiences and guards against exposure to manipulation and exploitation. This, in lockstep with the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, will give the parents the peace of mind to know their child is safer than they were before. prgtoken These bills empower parents. They empower children. They are bipartisan no-brainers, which is why they have overwhelming bipartisan support in both Chambers of Congress. prgtoken Look, I am a doctor, a father, a grandfather. But I am not the only grandfather and father voting on these pieces of legislation. Anyone with children knows that they would do anything to protect those children. Congress has a chance to reflect that paternal and mate

L000397

Zoe

Lofgren

Zoe Lofgren

F

1947-12-21

Democrat

rep

CA

HONORING TEATRO VISION: 40 YEARS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY

I rise on behalf of myself and Representatives Anna prgtoken Eshoo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta to recognize the accomplishments of Teatro Vision for 40 years of community building and social justice work in San Jose, CA. prgtoken Teatro Vision was founded in 1984 in San Jose, California, with the mission of inspiring the people of Santa Clara County and surrounding areas. The theater was co-founded by Elisa Marina Alvarado, who is a director, actress, and dancer. Through Teatro Vision, Elisa Marina Alvarado established Instituto de Teatro, an educational program that teaches comprehensive training in theater for Latino communities. prgtoken For the last 40 years, Teatro Vision has produced and presented projects that have been made accessible to the entire community, emphasizing activist theater and focusing on Latino and Chicano communities, integrating Latin American cultures. Teatro Vision's recent projects include ``Miss You Like Hell,'' ``Luz: A Shadow Play Inspired by Senior Stories,'' and ``Raices, El Libro de los Caminos,'' performed at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. prgtoken Teatro Vision's work is centered in the Mayfair neighborhood located in East San Jose where their main stage, the Mexican Heritage Plaza, is also situated. Over 77 percent of the Mayfair neighborhood is made up of Latinx; 66 percent of which speak Spanish at home. Teatro Vision's programs give accessibility to Title I schools in Mayfair, where many students come from economically disadvantaged households. prgtoken Teatro Vision has shared powerful stories and convictions that speak to the courage, compassion, and power of many minority communities. The team at Teatro Vision are strong leaders that our community needs now and in the future.

B000490

Sanford

Bishop

Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

M

1947-02-04

Democrat

rep

GA

RECOGNIZING CONGRESSWOMAN CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS

I rise today to recognize and honor a dedicated public servant, loving wife and mother, champion for America's Military Families, and a distinguished member of this body, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Earlier this year, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers announced that she would not seek re-election to return to the House of Representatives and, in turn, would be stepping down as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Military Family Caucus. prgtoken Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers cares deeply about our Nation's veterans and Military Families because of her background as a military spouse and parent. In 2006, she married her husband, Brian Rodgers, a U.S. Naval Commander, and her experiences as the spouse of a U.S. servicemember empowered her to become a strong champion for America's Military Families who often face unique challenges as they live and work in and around military installations in the United States and across the globe. prgtoken When our servicemembers enlist in the Armed Forces, they must relocate to military installations--often with their spouses and young children. On base, military spouses and children must quickly navigate a new landscape which can pose challenges: new housing, new schools, seeking employment, and sometimes even moving abroad. prgtoken After recognizing these same challenges in my district, serving as the Member of Congress representing U.S. Army servicemembers and their families at Fort Moore, Georgia--Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers and I joined together in 2009 to form the bipartisan Congressional Military Family Caucus. For the past 15 years, I have been honored to serve alongside the Congresswoman as her co-chair. prgtoken Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers record of public service is historic and worthy of admiration. Growing up, she worked at the family orchard and fruit stand in Kettle Falls, Washington. In 1994, she won a special election to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, faithfully serving her district for 11 years, including 1 year as House Minority Leader before successfully running for the United States Congress. prgtoken During her third term in Congress, McMorris Rodgers was elected by the House Conference as the Vice Chair, and she would hold this role for four years before becoming only the second woman to serve as Chair of the Conference from 2013 and 2019. prgtoken In January 2021, McMorris Rodgers became the first woman to serve as the top on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee as Ranking Member, and in 2023 becoming Chair. Chair McMorris Rodgers has been a leader on countless issues affecting the American people including emerging technologies, strengthening rural communities, helping to strengthen American energy resiliency and independence, and of course fighting for Military Families and veterans. prgtoken Every year since we founded the Congressional Military Family Caucus, Co-

K000397

Young

Kim

Young Kim

F

1962-10-18

Republican

rep

CA

HONORING CITY OF MISSION VIEJO CITY MANAGER DENNIS WILBERG

I rise to thank Mission Viejo City Manager Dennis Wilberg for his decades of service to our Mission Viejo community and to Orange County. prgtoken His work in the public and private sectors of civil and transportation engineering, including 20 years as City Manager, has left an enormous impact across Mission Viejo and the County. prgtoken From helping create the second-largest animal shelter in Orange County and building a water treatment facility, to increasing public safety and maintaining the City's transportation network, there's no question how he has become the longest-tenured city manager in Orange County. prgtoken I thank him for his dedication to keeping our communities safe and connected. prgtoken We are grateful for his leadership, and I wish him a wonderful retirement.

F000466

Brian

Fitzpatrick

Brian K. Fitzpatrick

M

1973-12-17

Republican

rep

PA

RECOGNIZING ANNA OSINSKI PERRONG'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

I rise today to recognize Anna Osinski Perrong, a remarkable constituent from my district, who is celebrating her 100th birthday. Anna was born on July 27, 1924, in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Girls High School in 1941 and continued with her undergraduate degree at Temple University School of Pharmacy where she met her future husband, John Pierce Perrong. She graduated from Temple University in 1944. prgtoken She participated in numerous (Rho Psi) sorority functions during her years at Temple University. Anna and John were married after he returned from World War II, where he served as an Army medic in Germany. Anna started her career at Dupont as a chemist and later worked at Sharp & Dohme as a research chemist. prgtoken Anna and John moved into their new home in Northeast Philadelphia in 1950. They were blessed with a son and daughter, Robert and Carolyn. prgtoken Anna took time out from her career to raise her children but after the children matured, she went back to work as a pharmacist at Germantown Hospital from 1968 to 1991 and later volunteered her time at the hospital for over 20 years. Aside from her pharmacy career and being a homemaker, she played the cello in the Olney Symphony Orchestra for nearly 50 years and was active in several string quartet groups. Additionally, Anna served as Personnel Chairman for the Olney Symphony. She still remains in contact with many friends she made over the years in music. prgtoken Her favorite activities have always included making family holiday dinners. Besides her two children, Anna has two grandchildren, Jon and Rob, and two great-granddaughters, Emma and Ava which happen to be identical twins. Additionally, she has a very supportive son-in-law, Sean Corsaut, and a loving daughter-in-law, Karen Perrong. prgtoken , I ask my esteemed colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to please join me in extending our heartfelt congratulations, sincere well-wishes, and all of God's Blessings to Anna Osinski Perrong on the celebration of her 100th Birthday.

M000355

Mitch

McConnell

Mitch McConnell

M

1942-02-20

Republican

sen

KY

Terrorism (Executive Session)

the partners, puppets, and proxies of America's biggest adversaries spent a busy weekend repressing and killing innocent people. prgtoken On Saturday, in the Golan Heights, Israeli Druze children were playing soccer when Hezbollah launched a rocket made in Iran and killed 12 of them. On Sunday, Venezuela's communist dictator hijacked an election, promising the suffering people of his country even more brutal days to come. prgtoken We live in a world where thuggish repression and terrorist violence are increasingly common. Tragically, the slaughter of innocent children by terrorists is not surprising. Neither, unfortunately, is a stooge of the world's most powerful authoritarian's tightening his own chokehold on power. prgtoken But one thing doesn't ever get less shocking or alarming: the continued naivete with which our leaders respond. The Secretary of State says the - administration has ``serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.'' prgtoken Well, many of us have serious and longstanding concerns that the administration does not know how to credibly change the calculus of America's adversaries. Autocrats don't care about disapproving looks from Western diplomats. prgtoken Don't believe me? Ask the mullahs in Tehran how worried they were about stern condemnations of their ongoing nuclear enrichment efforts. prgtoken We certainly don't have to wonder whether promises of sanction relief from Washington succeeded in convincing Nicolas Maduro to permit a free and fair election. ``Concern'' is not a strategy. And speeches, for that matter, are not policy, especially when they are not backed by facts and by force. prgtoken Last week, President tooted the horn of his own foreign policy and declared proudly that ``the United States is not at war anywhere in the world.'' Well, that was news to America's servicemembers deployed in harm's way. prgtoken The very next day, Iran-backed terrorists attacked U.S. personnel in Iraq and in Syria again. For months, at his orders, U.S. Navy destroyers have expended more than $1 billion in high-tech munitions to intercept the Houthis' Iran-made arsenal of missiles and drones in exchange for no measurable increase in deterrence. prgtoken It is well and good to insist America is not at war, but a growing list of authoritarians, rogues, and strongmen are at war with us. The President's failure to respond decisively to threats may have let him believe we are not at war, but the same failure has emboldened our adversaries. prgtoken Time and again, the - administration has limited support, agonized over perceived risks of escalation, and tried to micromanage the way our friends in Ukraine and Israel actually defend themselves. In Secretary Blinken's first public comment after Hezbollah's most recent strike, he insisted that ``we don't want to see it spread.'' Well, neither did Is

L000571

Cynthia

Lummis

Cynthia M. Lummis

F

1954-09-10

Republican

sen

WY

TRIBUTE TO LAURIE BONER

with the August work period just around the corner, preparations are being made and events are being scheduled for several weeks back home in Wyoming. The Cowboy State is truly wonderful all 12 months of the year, but August brings a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities, family gatherings, and one of my favorite events of the year: the Wyoming State Fair. prgtoken For more than 120 years, the Wyoming State Fair has taken place in Douglas and has been the perfect place to take in a rodeo, play carnival games, eat some terrific fair food, and celebrate Wyoming agriculture. As a lifelong rancher, the Wyoming State Fair has always held a special place in my heart. It is a place to welcome and witness the next generation of ranchers and to honor those who have made so much of a difference to agriculture in Wyoming with an induction into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. prgtoken Today, I have the distinct honor to welcome Laurie Boner of Glenrock, WY, to the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. prgtoken In every walk of life, the Hall of Fame is synonymous with excellence. Not only in ones profession, but also in their character. It is traditionally a place reserved for those who have made significant contributions to ensure growth in their industry and who have left a lasting impact for future generations to look up to. Laurie personifies all of these attributes, and being inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame is a fitting and well-deserved honor and recognition for her. prgtoken It did not take long for Laurie to begin showing an interest in agriculture. At a young age, she would spend time with her grandparents who raised sheep and cattle and grew up with quarter horses, which were raised and trained by her mother. The influence and knowledge they shared ultimately sparked an interest in Laurie's heart which has since developed into a passion for ranching and agriculture in addition to her love for Wyoming. prgtoken This passion soon transitioned into a career. After her graduation from the University of Wyoming, Laurie spent more than 15 years working for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, where she was able to use her knowledge and expertise to guide Federal and State agriculture policies in Wyoming. Laurie, however, felt she had more to offer and so much more she could do. prgtoken This led her to join numerous associations to help advocate for Wyoming's ranching and agriculture industries. She has served on the Wyoming Quarter Horse Association (WQHA), Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA), Converse County Stock Growers, the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Board, the Wyoming State Fair Board, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), and was appointed by the Governor to the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB), where she served for 6 years. During her busy career, she still found the time to start up LB Designs, a business specializing in website design and print-re

T000250

John

Thune

John Thune

M

1961-01-07

Republican

sen

SD

EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Ricketts), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott), and the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Vance). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``yea.''

C001096

Kevin

Cramer

Kevin Cramer

M

1961-01-21

Republican

sen

ND

NATIONAL FOSSIL ACT

thank you to my friend and colleague Mr. Merkley for yielding a few seconds early in the evening. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize a remarkable milestone in the Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN, area. For 60 years, Rick Electric, Inc has been a shining example of hard work, dedication, and innovation in the Fargo- Moorhead area. prgtoken Founded by David and Beverly Rick in 1964, this family-owned business has been a fixture in Fargo-Moorhead, providing topnotch electrical services and unwavering commitment to excellence. Their sons Gregory and Dennis took the helm in 1998, continuing the legacy of their parents with a passion for their craft and a deep-seated commitment to serving their communities and the region. prgtoken Rick Electric's involvement in the National Electric Contractors Association speaks volumes about the family's dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Their contributions go beyond providing quality service, as they have been integral to the growth and prosperity of the Fargo-Moorhead area and the surrounding region. prgtoken As they celebrate this anniversary, I speak on behalf of all North Dakotans in recognizing Rick Electric for 60 years of outstanding service, leadership, and community involvement. The impact they have had on our region cannot be overstated, and I am honored to congratulate them on this remarkable achievement. prgtoken Here is to Rick Electric and to many more years of success and prosperity. Thank you for all you have done over these past 60 years. Congratulations and happy birthday. prgtoken .

B001236

John

Boozman

John Boozman

M

1950-12-10

Republican

sen

AR

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

I rise today to applaud the efforts of the young people who supported the State of Arkansas as summer interns in my Washington, DC, and State offices. prgtoken I appreciate their commitment and dedication to serving Arkansans and being an ambassador for our office. These talented students and recent graduates have grown professionally and personally through this unique experience. On a daily basis, they provided essential support to my staff including giving tours of the U.S. Capitol, as well as drafting communications materials and researching policy issues. They played a vital role in helping my team offer the best possible constituent service and meet needs throughout the place they call home. prgtoken I am proud to provide this opportunity to help instill a passion for public service and inspire future generations of Arkansas leaders. I am confident our congressional interns found this internship valuable and rewarding. prgtoken I would like to recognize the following interns for their hard work and service to Arkansans: Kate Edelen, Buddy Gaston, Hunter Ross, Alex Holder, Sydney Roulhac, Camryn Hughes, Anna Kate Davis, Katie Gage, Hadley Burke, Zach Ingle, Meredith Pinkston, Ella Brewer, Luisa Lawson, Henry Oltman, Hank Herzfeld, Elaine Shue and Joseph Osborne all served in the Washington, DC, office. Reese Mitchell, Taylor Hoover, Ella Hommel, Lexi Dilbeck, McCully Allen, Lauren Berry, Jacob Major, Kyla Clouthier and Josie Kelly served as interns for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Michelle Sutton served as legal clerk. Connor Ragan and Masheyat Rahman served in the Northwest Arkansas office. prgtoken I extend my deepest gratitude to each of them for their service and wish them the best in school and beyond, knowing their time spent representing the Natural State will serve them well in the future.

B001261

John

Barrasso

John Barrasso

M

1952-07-21

Republican

sen

WY

TRIBUTE TO GRACE STEENBERGEN

I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Grace for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. prgtoken Grace is a native of Pine Bluffs, WY. She attends Baylor University, where she studies political science. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. prgtoken I want to thank Grace for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.

M001153

Lisa

Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

F

1957-05-22

Republican

sen

AK

Nomination of Michael Sfraga (Executive Session)

it is Monday afternoon. We are back for what appears to be the last week of full session before we are due to go on an August recess. There is lots to do back home but clearly lots to do here in the Senate as well. prgtoken It looks that this week we are going to probably spend the end of the week wrapping up some of the nominations that are out there, and I want to speak to a nomination that I feel very, very strongly about and would hope that we will have an opportunity to weigh in as a Senate on, on a priority that I don't think enough of us as Americans think about: our role as an Arctic nation. prgtoken As we are processing nominations, I want to kind of move our attention to the top of the world, up in the Arctic. prgtoken We have a lot of hotspots in the world right now, and the last thing in the world that we need is for the Arctic to become one of those hotspots. Whether we want it to or not, whether we want to will it away or not, the Arctic is increasingly gaining attention by others for different reasons, and the fact that the United States doesn't have that diplomatic presence, if you will, is a disservice, I believe, to us as an Arctic nation. prgtoken So I have come to urge this body to take up the nomination of Dr. Mike Sfraga. Mike is an Alaskan, but he would be our Nation's first Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs. prgtoken We have not had a confirmed Ambassador at Large position. We have had a Special Representative to the Arctic, but when you send a ``Special Representative'' to some of these dialogues, to sit at tables with other countries' Ambassadors, there is a disparity there, and I think we have recognized the importance and the role of this Ambassador at Large position. prgtoken Dr. Sfraga was nominated in February of 2023. He was reported out of the Foreign Relations Committee this March, and it is time for us to take him up and confirm him. prgtoken And I get it. I mean, there is a lot going on. I mentioned hotspots around the world. You look at what is happening in Ukraine and in Israel and in Taiwan and in China and in North Korea, and you have everything that is happening domestically. Sometimes I think the Arctic is out of sight, out of mind for many, but it is important that we not lose sight of the consequential nature of the Arctic itself. Again, we use the phrase ``It is a cold place,'' but it is becoming its own hotspot. So what we can do, again, to assert not only our areas of oversight and overlay but also from the diplomatic perspective is something that I think is worthy of focusing on. prgtoken So why this time? Why this particular nominee? prgtoken First, we have incredible opportunities on the Arctic issues-- everything from resource development to tourism, to shipping, to infrastructure. You have the people who live and work and raise their families there. Thousands of American Alaskans live in the Arctic, and their interests deserve to be taken ser

D000563

Richard

Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

M

1944-11-21

Democrat

sen

IL

Israel (Executive Session)

I want to make sure that the record is clear and unequivocal. The Vice President of the United States, , met personally with Prime Minister Netanyahu. At that point, she said, with him and publicly, that our alliance with Israel is ``unwavering.'' That was her exact quote, despite what you might have heard to the contrary. prgtoken Then she went on to say she believed that Israel had the right to exist and the right to defend itself, but how it does it makes a difference. That is a significant statement because what she is suggesting is our alliance has to reflect our values as well as our commitment to Israel. prgtoken I don't believe that is a radical statement. I agree with that statement. And I believe that to suggest otherwise is to mischaracterize what the Vice President said. I think she speaks for America. I hope she does. She speaks for me when she says those words. I thought her meeting with Netanyahu was historic, important, timely, and repeated the basic principles that guide our two nations.

S000148

Charles

Schumer

Charles E. Schumer

M

1950-11-23

Democrat

sen

NY

NATIONAL FOSSIL ACT

now I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Neumann nomination; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the order of July 25 with respect to the House message to accompany S. 2073 be modified so that at 12 noon, amendment No. 3022 be withdrawn and the Senate vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 2073 with amendment No. 3021 without further intervening action or debate; further, that following the disposition of the House message to accompany S. 2073, the Senate resume executive session and recess until 2:15 to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; that at 2:30 p.m the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Neumann nomination; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Neumann nomination, all time be considered expired at 4:15 p.m. and that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

S001194

Brian

Schatz

Brian Schatz

M

1972-10-20

Democrat

sen

HI

Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024 (Executive Session)

after a long time of talking over the ways social media is harming kids and debating what to do about it, this week, the Senate is taking some action. prgtoken For years, kids have been swimming in a toxic stew of bullying and harassment, glorified violence, and constant false comparisons, and the results have been absolutely catastrophic--record rates of anxiety and depression, unimaginable levels of suicidal ideation and self-harm, an alarming epidemic of loneliness and low self-esteem. prgtoken These things are not a given. They did not just happen overnight. The fact that young children as young as 8 or 9 or 10 can feel so sad and so helpless that they think they would be better off not living at all--that is a uniquely modern malady inflicted by social media. prgtoken Sadness in kids is not new, but a pandemic of youth depression is new. The fact that it is a relatively recent phenomenon is also cause for us to have some hope. It does mean that this is fixable. This is not the way it is supposed to be. This is not the way it has always been. It means that if we choose to take some pretty commonsense steps, we can finally get kids the help they need, and commonsense steps are exactly what the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act are. prgtoken I am proud to cosponsor both bills, which will provide important tools to protect the safety and privacy of kids online. I want to thank Senators Blumenthal and Merkley for their early leadership on both these bills. prgtoken For the first time in the age of social media, Congress is taking meaningful action to confront the very worst of the internet's ills. It has been a long and difficult journey to get to this moment, not least because some in Big Tech have done everything in their power to protect profits over kids. So it is to the credit of everyone involved in these bills that we are here, overcoming stiff opposition and inertia, to finally enact something. prgtoken It is a good step, but we have to do a lot more because we have yet to address the fundamental question of, when is it appropriate for a child to be on social media? prgtoken We have more than enough data, more than enough lived experience, more than enough scientific expertise to know that social media is harming kids' brains, pushing them down rabbit holes, plunging them into deep and dark places. We know that even adults aren't equipped to process the dizzying amount of information available online at all times, and that is to say nothing of the hate and the vitriol and the abuse served up on an endless loop by coercive algorithms. prgtoken That begs the question--why is a 7-year-old or an 8-year-old on TikTok to begin with? Why are young boys and girls, instead of playing with their friends outside or learning an instrument, getting radicalized or starving themselves because of something they saw on Instagram? prgtoken The fact is, we need

C000141

Benjamin

Cardin

Benjamin L. Cardin

M

1943-10-05

Democrat

sen

MD

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent prgtoken to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

M001176

Jeff

Merkley

Jeff Merkley

M

1956-10-24

Democrat

sen

OR

NATIONAL FOSSIL ACT

the Postal Service in the United States has always in the past been about great service. Their motto said all: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stop these courageous couriers from swift completion of their prgtoken appointed rounds. That just rings with the ethic of good service. prgtoken But today the Postal Service is run by a man named Louis DeJoy. Louis DeJoy is the Postmaster General, and I am sorry to report that there is no joy in DeJoy-ville. prgtoken Smalltown America relies on the U.S. Postal Service. In the Postal Service's own words, it ``operates as a basic and fundamental service provided by the Government of the United States to the American people.'' prgtoken It continues: Our basic mission is to provide prompt, reliable, efficient mail and packaging service to all Americans, regardless of where they live and at affordable rates. prgtoken So one can understand, then, why so many Members of this Chamber on both sides of the aisle are alarmed by the growing chorus of complaints about the deteriorating quality of service by the U.S. Postal Service. prgtoken Postmaster General DeJoy labeled his restructuring plan ``Delivering for America.'' A better name for this plan would be ``Delaying Mail in America.'' You only need to look at what is happening in my home State. Postmaster DeJoy's 10-year ``Delivering for America'' reorganization plan for the U.S. Postal Service calls for consolidating mail processing, which means downgrading regional mail processing facilities, which means sending all the mail to Portland, OR, to be sorted before it is returned to the community it originated in. prgtoken Now, my State is 300 miles north to south, 400 miles east to west. That is a very large place, so it takes a lot of time if all the processing occurs in Portland. prgtoken Medford in Southern Oregon was the postal sorting facility. It sorted, postmarked, and distributed millions of pieces of mail every year for Southern Oregon. But now, under ``Delivering for America''-- otherwise known as ``Delaying Mail in America''--now all that mail has to be shipped to Portland, OR, 270 miles to the north, and sorted and then trucked 275 miles back to the south even if you are sending a letter just across town. The Postal Service claims that this doesn't delay mail, but they refuse to explain how adding on 500 to 600 extra miles of driving doesn't delay the mail. prgtoken Meanwhile, for this deteriorating service, they are raising prices. July 14--a single stamp now costs 73 cents. So, folks, just start to think about, if I want to send a letter, it is going to cost me a dollar, the envelope and the stamp. prgtoken The Postal Service says: Our new system is more efficient and more cost-effective. prgtoken It is not more cost-effective if people quit using the service because it is so terrible. prgtoken You know, these price hikes and these delivery delays--they hit our rura

S000770

Debbie

Stabenow

Debbie Stabenow

F

1950-04-29

Democrat

sen

MI

Tribute to Matt VanKuiken (Executive Session)

I rise today to pay tribute to my chief of staff and dear longtime friend, Matt VanKuiken, who will be moving on to the next step in his career this week, after 16 years of outstanding service in my office. prgtoken Those of you who know Matt understand how passionate he is about golfing. We have all experienced also his witty sense of humor. Matt is a literal political pundit. prgtoken With that, Matt, I want you to know there are no ifs, ands, or putts about it. You have been a terrific chief of staff and the best, by par. I could always count on you to drive right in to solve problems, to scramble and find the best approach to any situation, and to stay the course until the job was done. prgtoken Matt, from what I understand, my phone calls to you while you were golfing really helped you improve your game over the years. So I want you to know that I have a gift for you back in the office, some golf balls and tees with my campaign colors, so that you won't ever forget about my calls when I am not calling you every day. prgtoken True story, : Matt first applied to work in my office when he was a student at Western Michigan University. We offered him an internship in my West Michigan office, and he turned us down. But, fortunately, we didn't hold that against him. Sixteen years ago, I made one of the best hiring decisions ever when I hired Matt as a legislative aide, handling energy and environmental issues, which I know, Madam Chair, you care so much about, as do I. prgtoken He went on to serve in senior roles over the years, including as my legislative director and my chief of staff, including his role now as a key member of our top leadership chiefs. He has had an incredible Senate career. prgtoken Since his early days in the office, Matt had a way of rising to the occasion. A perfect example of this happened one day, a late afternoon in 2013. For reasons unknown, Matt was left alone in the office when my private incoming line rang. Unsure of exactly how to answer or transfer the call on this line, he was going to let it ring. He soon realized that the line had no voicemail, and he decided he should attempt to answer it. It was a good thing he did because it was President trying to reach me. prgtoken In typical Matt fashion, he figured it out. He kept his composure. The call went off without a hitch, although he claims to this day that President could hear his hand shaking through the phone. prgtoken I can point to so many big accomplishments where Matt has played an absolutely instrumental leadership role. Over and over again, he doesn't give up, and he finds creative ways to get things done in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. prgtoken Getting funds to address the needs of families and fix the pipes in Flint was a herculean effort. Because the crisis wasn't a natural disaster, Flint didn't qualify for certain types of disaster funding. Under Matt's leadersh

H001076

Margaret

Hassan

Margaret Wood Hassan

F

1958-02-27

Democrat

sen

NH

TRIBUTE TO SAMUEL DEMERITT

I am honored to recognize Samuel ``Sam'' Demeritt of Nottingham as July's Granite Stater of the Month. For 60 years, Sam has been a dedicated volunteer with numerous New Hampshire organizations to advance responsible stewardship of the outdoors. prgtoken Service is at the center of everything that Sam does in his life. As a young adult, he answered our country's call and entered the Army, completing his service in 1964. Like many veterans, his commitment to finding ways to serve his fellow Americans did not end there. That same year, Sam joined his father in volunteering for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. He has now volunteered with Fish and Game for 60 years and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon; he is always looking for new ways to give back to Granite Staters who share his passion for our beautiful outdoors. In his work with Fish and Game, Sam teaches the mandatory hunter safety and ethics education course for Granite Staters who prgtoken are seeking a hunting license. He is a champion of our New Hampshire values of responsible stewardship and respecting our wildlife. prgtoken Sam is also deeply involved in environmental preservation in his community. In addition to his long history of volunteering with the Fish and Game Department, Sam serves as chair of the Nottingham Conservation Commission and on the board of the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation. Granite Staters know that the natural splendor of our State is not maintained on its own, and through the volunteer efforts of Sam and others like him, Granite Staters will be able to enjoy New Hampshire's woods, rivers, and mountains for years to come. prgtoken Sam's decades of volunteering for Fish and Game, the Nottingham Conservation Commission, and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation exemplify the New Hampshire spirit of respecting and honoring our beautiful natural resources. Through his life's work, he has reminded us that it is nothing less than a privilege to call beautiful New Hampshire our home. For his commitment to our environment, our State, and our country, I am honored to name him July's Granite Stater of the Month.

G000386

Charles

Grassley

Chuck Grassley

M

1933-09-17

Republican

sen

IA

WHISTLEBLOWER APPRECIATION DAY

today is the day of the whistleblower. prgtoken But every day should be the day of the whistleblower. prgtoken I have asked every President since Ronald Reagan to hold a Rose Garden ceremony to honor whistleblowers. No President has done so. prgtoken That is a shame because Presidents should view whistleblowers as making their job easier not more difficult. It is often the whistleblower who gives the unvarnished truth relating to government misconduct. And once that misconduct is known, it can be taken care of. prgtoken When fraud and waste are exposed, the executive branch should bend over backwards to eliminate it. Instead, the executive branch often stupidly attacks the whistleblowers for courageously putting themselves out there. prgtoken And for those in the FBI like Marcus Allen, retaliation is holding your security clearance hostage. prgtoken Let me give some other recent examples. Department of Homeland Security whistleblowers alerted me of this administration's failure to implement the DNA Fingerprint Act. This failure allowed migrants with criminal histories to enter the United States unchecked, putting our communities at risk. The Department of Homeland Security has violated Federal law. The Office of Special Counsel substantiated the allegations and the retaliation against the whistleblowers for their disclosures. On July 23 this year, I held an oversight roundtable to highlight the whistleblower disclosures and the resulting retaliation they have suffered. prgtoken Whistleblowers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives brought to light that the Agency wasted millions of taxpayer dollars. How so? The ATF illegally misclassified human resource positions as law enforcement and paid these employees enhanced benefits they weren't entitled to. prgtoken Whistleblowers also provided my office with records revealing the Department of Health and Human Services failed to vet sponsors for unaccompanied alien children. They provided detail never before known to the public. On July 9 this year, I held an oversight roundtable with some of these whistleblowers, giving them a public voice to share their stories for the benefit of these kids. Agencies just don't like being exposed, apparently even if the lives of children are on the line. We have to change that culture. prgtoken Whistleblowers recently provided me with internal FBI documents of State Department incompetence and obstruction. Specifically, documents show the State Department actively interfered with FBI operations. For example, the State Department prevented the FBI from arresting known terrorists, members of Iranian proliferation networks, and other criminals providing material support for Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Department did this because it didn't want the FBI's arrest of the Iranians to upset the pending Iran Nuclear Deal. I made these FBI documents public on May 21, 2024, to prove the f

T000250

John

Thune

John Thune

M

1961-01-07

Republican

sen

SD

TRIBUTE TO GRIFFIN PETERSEN

today I recognize Griffin Petersen, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. prgtoken Griffin is a graduate of Sully Buttes High School in Onida, SD. Currently, he is attending the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in political science. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Griffin for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

C001096

Kevin

Cramer

Kevin Cramer

M

1961-01-21

Republican

sen

ND

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

it is my honor to recognize one of North Dakota's legacy businesses celebrating 80 prgtoken years of excellence next month in Fargo. prgtoken TrueNorth Steel began as Fargo Tank Company by a Norwegian immigrant named Ole Rommesmo. Upon coming to America, he worked as a lumberjack in Minnesota before learning the trade of welding at a steel tank plant in Minneapolis. He moved to Fargo as a welder for the Fargo Foundry Company and tried unsuccessfully four times to start his own business before finally succeeding. During World War II, he worked in northern Canada for the United States military as a welder and construction foreman for an airbase. prgtoken It was after the war in 1945 when Fargo Tank Company began, and the business has been going strong ever since. Reflecting Ole's values and principles of integrity, humility, commitment and knowledge, it has added products and services that now reach around the world. He died in 1990, and his son, Ole Rommesmo, Jr took over the business. prgtoken In 2011, the company's seven steel businesses merged to become TrueNorth Steel. Today, it serves many industries, including agricultural, construction, mining, road building, energy, and others on projects at power plants, refineries, golf courses, hospitals, fire stations, airports, stadiums, schools and universities, government, apartment and commercial buildings, wind farms, coal mines, river watersheds, water treatment plants, aquariums--and more. prgtoken I congratulate the Rommesmo family for 80 years of providing steel solutions. TrueNorth Steel is testament to the importance of family- owned businesses across the Nation, and the impact bold entrepreneurs have had on our American economy. To my friends at TrueNorth Steel, you have enhanced the quality of life we treasure in our region and have set a very high bar for being a dedicated community partner at your locations across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. Thank you for all you have done to build the foundations of industry and infrastructure across our Nation. I hope you will thrive for many years to come. Happy Birthday, TrueNorth Steel.

T000463

Michael

Turner

Michael R. Turner

M

1960-01-11

Republican

rep

OH

CONGRATULATING TAC INDUSTRIES

I want to congratulate TAC (The Abilities Connection) Industries, a nonprofit organization located in my Congressional district, that provides job opportunities to people with disabilities through its participation in the AbilityOne Program. AbilityOne is a federal program that provides employment opportunities to approximately 40,000 people who are blind or have significant disabilities, including more than 2,500 veterans. prgtoken TAC Industries recently received the 2024 Innovation Award at Source America's annual X-Force conference in Orlando, Florida. This award honors a nonprofit that developed ``innovative work methods, products or services.'' TAC Industries partnered with Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio, which is also in my district, to create the Fresh Abilities restaurant, a farm-to-table quick service restaurant on the campus, which functions simultaneously as an employment center and a training program for workers with disabilities. prgtoken Through their partnership, TAC developed a curriculum that included over 100 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on skill building. They utilized the college's classroom facilities for their employees' food safety training. In the restaurant, the employees were then trained in how to prepare meals, how to make sales, and develop customer service skills. prgtoken Employees at Fresh Abilities gained the unique experience of working in a safe, inclusive environment while getting the training and support they need to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Clark State students, faculty and employees gained access to healthy food, and the college's administration was able to divert funds previously spent on food service to other student-focused areas. prgtoken For individuals with disabilities, the opportunity to pursue a fulfilling, meaningful career of one's own choosing with a path for advancement is important to their quality of life. I appreciate the work TAC Industries undertakes to provide these employment and vocational opportunities, and congratulate them on receiving this prestigious award.

W000437

Roger

Wicker

Roger F. Wicker

M

1951-07-05

Republican

sen

MS

SPRING 2024 PUBLIC SERVICE REVIEW

I encourage all Americans to read the newly published Spring 2024 edition of Public Service Review. The Review is the quarterly publication of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, an exemplary organization, which I am honored to support as a member of its Board of Trustees. In the Public Service Review, readers can explore work from students, faculty, and leadership of Brandeis University's Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation (ENACT) Program. That initiative shares the Stennis Center's mission: encouraging students to pursue careers in public service. prgtoken We are thrilled to publish writing and interviews by undergraduate students. In the pages of this issue, readers will find work from Julian Ober of the University of Maine, Vishni Samaraweera of Georgetown University, and Tomas Cruz Villalvazo of the University of Utah. They were joined by a number of Brandeis students, including Elaina Pevide, Ravi Simon, Dalia Moran, and Arianna Jackson, who all submitted thoughtful pieces. prgtoken The Assistant Director of ENACT, David J. Weinstein, also contributed, as did Lynne Chandler Garcia of the U.S. Air Force Academy. This edition also features interviews with State Representative Ambureen Rana of Maine and State Senator Becca Rausch of Massachusetts. prgtoken These students and leaders showcase the incredible work of the ENACT program, and they encourage those who serve in communities nationwide. It is our hope that they will also inspire others to lives of service. On behalf of my fellow Board members, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Mr. Tom Daffron, U.S. Representatives Trent Kelly and Terri Sewell, and Mike Sommers, I urge all audiences to visit www.stennis.gov to read the Spring 2024 issue of Public Service Review.

H001077

Clay

Higgins

Clay Higgins

M

1961-08-24

Republican

rep

LA

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

I tested positive for COVID in Louisiana, and was restricted from travel to D.C. for the week of July 22 through July 26. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: YEA on Roll Call No. 356; NAY on Roll Call No. 357; YEA on Roll Call No. 358; YEA on Roll Call No. 359; YEA on Roll Call No. 360; YEA on Roll Call No. 361; YEA on Roll Call No. 362; YEA on Roll Call No. 363; YEA on Roll Call No. 364; YEA on Roll Call No. 365; YEA on Roll Call No. 366; NAY on Roll Call No. 367; NAY on Roll Call No. 368; NAY on Roll Call No. 369; NAY on Roll Call No. 370; NAY on Roll Call No. 371; NAY on Roll Call No. 372; NAY on Roll Call No. 373; YEA on Roll Call No. 374; YEA on Roll Call No. 375; YEA on Roll Call No. 376; YEA on Roll Call No. 377; YEA on Roll Call No. 378; YEA on Roll Call No. 379; YEA on Roll Call No. 380; YEA on Roll Call No. 381; YEA on Roll Call No. 382; YEA on Roll Call No. 383; YEA on Roll Call No. 384; YEA on Roll Call No. 385; YEA on Roll Call No. 386; YEA on Roll Call No. 387; YEA on Roll Call No. 388; YEA on Roll Call No. 389; YEA on Roll Call No. 390; YEA on Roll Call No. 391; YEA on Roll Call No. 392; YEA on Roll Call No. 393; YEA on Roll Call No. 394; YEA on Roll Call No. 395; YEA on Roll Call No. 396; YEA on Roll Call No. 397; YEA on Roll Call No. 398; YEA on Roll Call No. 399; YEA on Roll Call No. 400.

K000398

Thomas

Kean

Thomas H. Kean, Jr.

M

1968-09-05

Republican

rep

NJ

CELEBRATING THE REEVES-REED ARBORETUM'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

I rise today to celebrate and recognize the Reeves-Reed Arboretum on their 50-year anniversary. I am grateful to be able to celebrate this incredible milestone with the Reeves-Reed family and our community. The Reeves-Reed Arboretum is a beautiful natural setting of a forest and gardens that engages, enriches, and teaches its visitors about environmental stewardship. For the past 50 years, they have shown their dedication to our community through programs and activities for all ages to grow through connecting with nature. Reeves-Reed has something for everyone, including summer camps for children, gardening and hiking groups, scout events, and many opportunities to learn and reflect. As a non-profit organization, the Arboretum and its staff are dedicated to their mission of helping our community and being an educational and spiritual resource for its visitors. Reeves-Reed is also a cornerstone of Summit's cultural landscape, and its 13.5 acres are listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. As we reflect on the past 50 years at Reeves-Reed they have exceeded the expectations and I know they will continue to do so for the next 50 years to come. I am honored to have such an amazing community in the 7th Congressional District, and I look forward to what is to come.

S001135

Michelle

Steel

Michelle Steel

F

1955-06-21

Republican

rep

CA

CONGRATULATING CHIEF MATT SHEPPARD OF THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HIS RETIREMENT AND YEARS OF SERVICE

I rise today to wish a heartfelt congratulations to Chief Matt Sheppard of the Fountain Valley Police Department. prgtoken I would like to personally thank him for a remarkable 24 year tenure marked by service, selflessness, and commitment. I applaud Chief Sheppard and am grateful for his dedication to our community in Fountain Valley. In occupying nearly every role within the department-- from police officer, senior officer, sergeant, detective, lieutenant, captain and police chief--his experience and understanding are unmatched and is a direct reflection of his commitment to safety, security, integrity, and perseverance. prgtoken I know the Sheppard family is incredibly proud. My hope and prayer for our generation and the next is that they believe in the American Dream. This is the greatest country in the world, and as a first- generation American, I know firsthand that with hard work, anything is possible no matter who you are or where you are from. prgtoken While Chief Sheppard's leadership within the department will be missed greatly, the legacy he is leaving behind will not be easily forgotten. I am confident that I am joined by countless others--family, friends, and community leaders--in expressing our gratitude for his leadership in making the City of Fountain Valley ``A Nice Place to Live''. prgtoken I thank Chief Sheppard. I wish him the greatest of success in his new chapter.

C001108

James

Comer

James Comer

M

1972-08-19

Republican

rep

KY

CONGRATULATING KEVIN LYONS

I rise today to celebrate the achievements of Kevin Lyons and his work with the Monroe County Agriculture Extension Agency for Natural Resources. prgtoken Kevin has been an advocate in the agricultural industry for the past thirty-seven years across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is with the Kentucky Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen's Association where he served on the state board of directors for both organizations. prgtoken Kevin has devoted his time to improving agricultural productivity in Monroe County and the surrounding areas. Kevin helps people in the area start their own farms when he served as Financial Services officer for Farm Credit Mid America. prgtoken I am proud to recognize Kevin and all that he has done for agriculture in the 1st Congressional District.

C001035

Susan

Collins

Susan M. Collins

F

1952-12-07

Republican

sen

ME

Nomination of Stacey D. Neumann (Executive Calendar)

I rise today in support of the nomination of Stacey Neumann to serve as a U.S. district court judge for the District of Maine. prgtoken I had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Neumann before her Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May. prgtoken The committee has reported her nomination favorably with bipartisan support, and the Senate will be voting on her confirmation shortly. prgtoken I have decided to support this nominee based on her extensive legal experience--including as a Federal prosecutor--her in-depth interview with me, and her hearing testimony and background check. I have concluded that she possesses the integrity, intellect, and impartiality to serve in this critical position. prgtoken Ms. Neumann has served as a litigator at the law firm Murray Plumb & Murray in Portland, ME. She has been there since 2013 and handles criminal defense and civil litigation matters in State and Federal courts and agencies. Prior to this role, Ms. Neumann served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine as an assistant U.S. attorney, where she represented the Federal Government in a variety of criminal proceedings. prgtoken Notably, a group of former Federal prosecutors from the District of Maine signed a letter stating that, in their view, Ms. Neumann has ``distinguished herself by virtue of a keen legal mind, tireless work ethic, and balanced and measured professional demeanor.'' prgtoken Earlier in her career, Ms. Neumann served as the law clerk to a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court as well as for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She graduated magna cum laude from both James Madison University and Cornell Law School. prgtoken The American Bar Association has given Ms. Neumann its highest rating of unanimously ``well qualified.'' prgtoken If confirmed by the Senate, she would be assigned to the U.S. district court seat in Bangor. prgtoken Based on her experience and character, I believe that Stacey Neumann will faithfully uphold our Nation's laws and that she will serve the State of Maine and our Nation well. I urge the Senate to confirm this nominee.

C001103

Earl

Carter

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

M

1957-09-06

Republican

rep

GA

CONGRATULATING CITY MARKET

I rise today to celebrate the 76th anniversary of City Market, the supplier to Sea Island Corporation and many other restaurants in South Georgia. prgtoken City Market was founded in 1848 in Brunswick by Harold Sigmund and E.W. Stanford, Sr. Upon E.W. Stanford, Sr.'s death that same year, his 18-year-old son and E.W. ``Captain Red'' Stanford, Jr. took over the business. The two eventually bought out Mr. Sigmond and continued building a great reputation for the business. prgtoken City Market then moved to its current location on Gloucester Street in 1969. After his passing, Captain Red left the legacy of City Market to his grandson, Frank ``Little Red'' Owens, Jr as well as his brother and sons, Walker and Wyatt Owens. Left to run the packing house was his son-in-law, Bruce Collins, Sr. prgtoken Through the dedication of the family and its loyal customers, City Market has continued to grow and prosper. Congratulations to City Market, a true family business, on 76 years of success and hard work.

F000480

Vince

Fong

Vince Fong

M

1979-10-24

Republican

rep

CA

CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF PATRICIA JEAN HAYES POPE

I rise today to honor Mrs. Patricia Pope on her 100th birthday. prgtoken Mrs. Patricia Jean Hayes Pope has lived in the Central Valley her whole life, having lived in San Martin, Salinas, King City, and now Visalia. Mrs. Pope will reach an incredible 100 years of age this August, and is deserving of recognition for the incredible life she continues to live. prgtoken Born on August 4, 1924, to Katherine Hitchcock and Francis ``Austin'' Hayes in San Jose, California, she is the middle child of three, born between her oldest brother Jack and younger brother Danny. While attending King City High School, she played piano for the dance band, clarinet in the school's marching band, and was the editor of the school newspaper. prgtoken After high school, Mrs. Pope attended Hartnell Junior College, after which she began teaching 4th grade at King City Grammar School. At the city pool in 1945, she met Marion Pope, who was then serving in the U.S. Navy. The next year, they were married in Del Monte, California, a marriage which would last 65 years. They later moved to King City, California, where they had five children together--Susan, Linda, Dennis, Laurie, and Leslie. Throughout their lives, Mrs. Pope has been dedicated to her children and active in their activities. She served as den mother for Cub Scouts and troop leader for Girl Scouts, taught 4-H sewing, and was president of the Parent Teacher Association. prgtoken Mrs. Pope has been an active member of her community throughout her life. She worked as the bookkeeper for her husband's painting business and was a substitute teacher at the local elementary school. Mrs. Pope also dedicated more than 4,000 hours as a volunteer at the local hospital service league. Mrs. Pope and her husband were key participants in the establishment of the Mee Memorial Hospital Foundation. To honor their life of service to the community, they were named King City Citizens of the Year in 1997. prgtoken After her husband's passing in 2012, Mrs. Pope moved to Visalia to be closer to her family. She is the proud grandmother of 2 grandsons, 7 granddaughters, and 16 great-grandchildren. In addition to spending time with her family, she remains a thriving member of the Visalia community, enjoying playing piano concerts, painting, and spending time with friends. prgtoken , I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating Mrs. Patricia Pope on her 100th birthday.

B001243

Marsha

Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn

F

1952-06-06

Republican

sen

TN

Kids Online Safety Act (Executive Session)

, while he is still here on the floor, for his diligence and his work and his partnership as we have worked on the Kids Online Safety Act. Indeed, he has put many hours, as his team has also put many hours, into this. prgtoken As we get ready to move forward with passage, I think we have to remember that it was 1998 the last time this body took up and passed a bill that became law that protected children in the virtual space. And a lot has changed since then. We have seen the emergence of social media. We have seen 100 million Americans born during that period of time. prgtoken So thinking about these platforms and that emergence, when you think about Facebook and Instagram and Snapchat and TikTok and online video games, those interactive games that are pulling kids into those, you think about how social media has changed the lives and the exposure of children today. They have grown up in this. prgtoken And, as Senator Blumenthal said, , it is so important to note that there are laws that protect children from buying alcohol, buying tobacco, buying pornography, being taken to a strip show. We, as a society, have decided kids can't drive until they are 16 years old and they can't vote until they are 18 years old. But when you look at the social media platforms, there are no guardrails, and children are constantly exposed--constantly exposed--to content that encourages self-harm. prgtoken That is why we have started to see, over the last decade, such a rise in cyber bullying. I had one mom tell me her child was bullied to death--cyber-bullied nonstop. I had a principal tell me--he said: You know, Marsha, it is interesting. Previously, in previous decades, children could go home and get away from the schoolyard bully. Now, that takes place over that phone, and it never stops. prgtoken Indeed, many of the behavioral issues at school are related to what is happening online. And we have seen a rise in mental health disorders. We have seen an increase in eating disorders, online sexual abuse, human trafficking, drug overdoses in teens, and of course, suicides--online challenges where a child loses their life. And we have seen how, the way Big Tech approaches this, our kids are basically defenseless. prgtoken That is why the Kids Online Safety Act has moved forward, as Senator Blumenthal said. We have worked on this. We have met with colleagues. We have met with wonderful parents. We have met with principals and pediatricians and so many people that are involved in children's lives. That is why this legislation is focused on safety by design. And that is a change. That will be a change for social media. It will have that duty of care. There will be that toolbox for kids and parents to make it a safer environment. Those algorithms are going to have to be opened up. There is going to have to be a portal so bad actors in the virtual space can be reported, and the social m

D000629

Sharice

Davids

Sharice Davids

F

1980-05-22

Democrat

rep

KS

CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. ED DWIGHT

I rise today to celebrate the accomplishments of Mr. Ed Dwight. prgtoken In 1961, Mr. Dwight was a U.S. Air Force pilot when President John F. Kennedy selected him as a candidate for NASA's early astronaut corps. In the face of great pressure and prejudice, Mr. Dwight became the first Black astronaut candidate and advanced to the second phase of the training course. Despite his stellar accomplishments, qualifications, and graduation in the top half of a test pilot school, Mr. Dwight was not selected to be a part of the final astronaut group. prgtoken But, on May 20, 2024, at 90 years old, Mr. Dwight finally achieved spaceflight. prgtoken This story is perhaps a perfect representation of Mr. Dwight's drive and tenacity. He was born and raised in racially segregated Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Dwight was the first Black male to graduate from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, a feat that did not come without experiencing hate and injustice. He earned his Associate of Arts in engineering prgtoken from Kansas City Community College and graduated cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering before serving as a captain in the Air Force. prgtoken Even in the wake of disappointment following his rejection from the final 1963 astronaut group, Mr. Dwight did not retreat. Instead, he worked for IBM, started a construction company, opened his own barbecue restaurant, and finally, as if none of this was enough, earned a Master of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of Denver. He's since become a highly respected artist. His sculptures focus on Black history and include memorials and monuments across the country. prgtoken The Kansas state motto is ``ad astra per aspera,'' which means ``through hardships to the stars.'' Mr. Dwight embodies everything it means to persevere and, literally, reach for the stars. He is a true example of the American dream, and I'm honored to have such an extraordinary individual call Kansas City home.

C001113

Catherine

Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto

F

1964-03-29

Democrat

sen

NV

Welcoming the Guest Chaplain (Executive Session)

I rise in recognition of today's guest Chaplain, Rajan Zed. Mr. Zed is not new to Congress. He was invited in 2007 by Majority Leader Harry Reid to read the first-ever Hindu opening prayer before the U.S. Senate. And he has read opening prayers in the U.S. House of Representatives, various State legislative bodies, county commissions, and city councils all across the United States. prgtoken Mr. Zed is a religious leader of the Hindu community in Reno, and he has taken up causes from all over the world. He is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, an active member of the Nevada Interfaith Association, and a spiritual advisor to the National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families. prgtoken He has been invited to and participated in the World Economic Forum. He has met with the President of the European Parliament in Brussels to promote interfaith dialogue, and he has received several awards for his contributions to both local and global religious communities. prgtoken Outside of his faith leadership, Mr. Zed has been active in the Reno community. He serves on the governing board of directors of the Northern Nevada International Center, the board of directors of the Nevada World Trade Council, the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Regional Transportation Commission, and on the Reno Police Chief Advisory Board. prgtoken , I am honored to have Mr. Zed back in the U.S. Senate to deliver opening prayers once again today. I welcome him to the U.S. Senate and his beautiful family. prgtoken .

D000563

Richard

Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

M

1944-11-21

Democrat

sen

IL

Nomination of Stacey D. Neumann (Executive Calendar)

today the Senate will vote to confirm Stacey Neumann to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. prgtoken Ms. Neumann earned her B.A. from James Madison University (2000) and her J.D. from Cornell Law School (2005). Following law school, she clerked for Judge John A. Dooley on the Vermont Supreme Court and Judge Peter W. Hall on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. prgtoken Ms. Neumann began her legal career with the Chittenden County Public Defender Office in Vermont. In 2009, she joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine as a special assistant U.S. attorney and became an assistant U.S. attorney in 2010. At the U.S. Attorney's Office, she served as the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator. In this role, she was responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the possession, transportation, and production of child sexual abuse material. prgtoken Since 2013, Ms. Neumann has been a litigator with Murray Plumb & Murray, where she maintains a diverse practice that consists of criminal, civil, and administrative matters. She has focused her civil practice on representing employees in workplace discrimination cases while also serving as a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel, accepting appointed indigent clients. prgtoken Over the course of her legal career, Ms. Neumann has handled 15 trials or adjudicated matters that proceeded to verdict or judgment. prgtoken The American Bar Association unanimously rated Ms. Neumann as ``well qualified,'' and she has the support of her home State Senators, Ms. Collins and Mr. King. prgtoken Ms. Neumann's diverse experience as a litigator and commitment to service make her well-prepared to serve on the bench with distinction. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting her nomination.

S001194

Brian

Schatz

Brian Schatz

M

1972-10-20

Democrat

sen

HI

Anniversary of the Maui Wildfires (Executive Calendar)

for so many people in Lahaina, next week marks 1 year since the worst day of their lives. They watched in horror as wind-whipped fires barreled into town at blistering speed and sent everything in their path up in flames. They saw the only homes and places they had ever known and lived in fall around them. And with just minutes to escape, they gathered whatever they could and ran for their lives. prgtoken It is a testament to the generosity and camaraderie that typifies Hawaii that, even amid all of that panic and chaos, so many people put their loved ones, their neighbors, and total strangers before themselves. In their darkest hour, their first instinct was to provide help. In that moment, everyday people became eternal heroes. prgtoken The outpouring of kindness continued far beyond those first few hours. As the grim and heartbreaking reality of death and destruction set in, people did everything that they could to ease the burden, even if just a little bit. Everybody pitched in--not because they were asked but because they saw that their ohana needed help. prgtoken For the survivors who lost everything in an instant, no amount of help is ever truly enough 102 people died that day; 2,200 structures, most of them homes, flattened. More than 12,000 residents were displaced overnight. And so the process of recovery was never going to be quick or easy. This was always going to be a yearslong effort, riddled with stubborn realities to confront and difficult challenges to overcome. prgtoken And in spite of the grace and good will of the community, in spite of a robust Federal response since the very beginning, there is still so much unmet need and unfinished work. And, understandably, people are worried and anxious and exhausted. They are tired of having to uproot their families from one temporary housing unit to the next, every few weeks or every few months. They are tired of wondering what the future holds and if that future will be on Maui at all. They worry about their friends and their neighbors grappling with depression and post- traumatic stress from the lingering trauma of the fires. They worry about their kids missing out on school and getting left behind. prgtoken One year later, people's lives are nowhere near back to normal. National headlines may have moved on, but life for survivors has not. They still need help. prgtoken From the very next day after the fires, following President 's disaster declaration, the Federal Government mobilized a sweeping recovery effort that has delivered more than $300 million in aid to date. prgtoken Here in Congress, Senator Mazie Hirono, Representative Jill Tokuda, Representative Ed Case, and I worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver disaster relief funding and get survivors the help that they deserve. prgtoken And while we should be clear-eyed about the long road ahead, it is worth, just for a moment, reflecting o

C001061

Emanuel

Cleaver

Emanuel Cleaver

M

1944-10-26

Democrat

rep

MO

RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF CHARLES OLVERA LONA

I rise today with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Charles ``Charlie'' Olvera Lona on June 26, 2024. Charlie was a beacon of justice, advocacy, and hope in Kansas City's Westside community and beyond. I urge us all to celebrate and remember the life of this incredible activist, community leader, friend, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. prgtoken Born in Kansas City on October 14, 1946, to Wesley H. and Luz O. Lona, Charlie became an active community member of Kansas City's Westside neighborhood--a historic Mexican-American community--at birth. A graduate of Westport High School and Metropolitan Community College, Charlie took over his family business and transformed it into a Westside, and Midwest, staple. prgtoken Through dedication, effort, and business acuity, Charlie transformed his father's automotive repair shop into one specializing in building custom lowriders. His business, Lona & Sons Hydraulics, brought this unique aspect of Chicano culture to Kansas City. As Charlie allowed lowrider culture to make its mark on Kansas City, his skill and work brought attention from all over the United States. prgtoken Charlie's contribution to Kansas City's Chicano community did not stop at his business. He spent his life uplifting and empowering the residents of the Westside through his relentless advocacy and commitment to being a voice for the unheard. Worried that his fellow residents were being excluded from city affairs and left with disproportionately low resources, Charlie became a proud supporter of the Chicano Movement in the 1960s. He courageously marched, organized, and protested for prgtoken equal rights and better conditions for the Westside neighborhood and beyond. Charlie also founded the Kansas City chapter of the Brown Berets, a Chicano activist group inspired by the Black Panthers. Collaborating with other famous Chicano leaders like Rodolfo ``Corky'' Gonzales and Cesar Chavez, Charlie inspired Kansas Citians to join El Movimiento. prgtoken In addition to bringing nationwide movements to Kansas City, Charlie placed great value on local activism. His political influence helped elect many Chicano leaders to local government, allowing Westside residents to take part in the city affairs from which they long felt excluded. He also is responsible for the founding of the Aztlan Center for Chicano cultural education and empowerment, and for immensely expanding the impact of the Guadalupe Centers, a local social service agency for Latin Americans in the United States, that is now the longest continuously standing agency of its kind. Even as he neared the end of his life, Charlie never wavered in his fight for justice and equity. prgtoken Though Charlie has passed, his legacy and impact on Kansas City will remain long past our mortal lifetimes. I am reminded of Mark 10:45-- ``For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for

N000147

Eleanor

Norton

Eleanor Holmes Norton

F

1937-06-13

Democrat

rep

DC

INTRODUCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY OFFICER PROTECTION ACT OF 2024

today, I introduce the Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act of 2024. This bill would help protect Treasury Department police officers and the public by allowing all the officers, including those who work at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), to carry their government firearms home. prgtoken BEP officers are not allowed to take their government firearms home. However, BEP officers can be targets because they wear uniforms to and from work. Many BEP officers carry personal firearms to and from work because they are not allowed to take their government firearms home, and some are forced to leave those personal firearms in their cars while they are on duty, creating a possibly dangerous situation. prgtoken Allowing BEP officers to carry their government firearms home will put them in the same position as Mint officers. Although both agencies are under the Treasury Department under Treasury Department rules, Mint officers are allowed to carry their government firearms home, while BEP officers are not. There is no meaningful distinction between officers for these two agencies. They should be treated equally. prgtoken This bill would allow all police officers in the Treasury Department to carry their government firearms home to protect officers and the public, eliminating separate carrying rules for the Treasury Department's different law enforcement agencies. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

S000148

Charles

Schumer

Charles E. Schumer

M

1950-11-23

Democrat

sen

NY

Kids Online Safety Act (Executive Session)

well, today is a momentous day. The Senate keeps its promise to every parent who has lost a child because of the risks of social media. prgtoken Today, after a lot of hard work, twists and turns, the Senate is passing two vital pieces of legislation with a strong bipartisan vote: the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, and the Children and Teens' Online Prevention Act, or COPPA. prgtoken By passing KOSA and COPPA, we are one step closer to the most important update in decades to Federal laws protecting kids on the internet. prgtoken Once we act, the House should pass these bills as soon as they can. prgtoken This is such an important piece of legislation, and I say to my colleagues who have worked hard--Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn, Markey and Cassidy, Durbin, Klobuchar, Chair Cantwell, and others-- thank you. prgtoken But thank you, above all, to the parents who advocated so tirelessly for these bills. I have sat with them. I have heard the terrible stories--children, teenagers, perfectly normal. Some algorithm captures them online by accident, and they end up committing suicide shortly thereafter. I have heard those stories. Can you imagine being a parent and living with that? prgtoken So we have to do something. And these parents have turned their grief into grace. These parents are the reason that we succeeded today. Today the Senate tells the parents: We hear you. We are taking action. prgtoken I am so glad that we have a broad bipartisan vote here. It shows the Chamber can work on something important; that no one let partisanship get in the way of passing this important legislation. prgtoken But this is a historic moment. This is a moment when the Senate has said: There have been horrible abuses. We must end them, and we will. prgtoken . prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote occur immediately.

P000145

Alejandro

Padilla

Alex Padilla

M

1973-03-22

Democrat

sen

CA

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

I rise to introduce the Scarper Ridge Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act, straightforward, uncontroversial bill to adjust the boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. prgtoken This bill would modify the boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, GGNRA, to include the approximately 896-acre Scarper Ridge property. This land is currently owned by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, who would like to sell this land to the National Park Service to include within the GGNRA. prgtoken The GGNRA is one of the world's largest urban national parks, spanning three counties and more than 82,000 acres of coastal and urban lands. According to the National Park Service, the GGNRA is an assemblage of military, private, and public lands which altogether offer vast skylines, natural beauty, and diverse histories to locals and visitors alike. The GGNRA welcomes over 15 million visitors each year, and strives to be an accessible recreational area for all people. prgtoken Thanks to continuing efforts by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, local partners, Congresswoman Eshoo, and my predecessors in the Senate, Congress has previously awarded funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to purchase additional land to be included within the GGNRA. However, the lands included in my bill--known as the Scarper Ridge property--require a minor legislative boundary adjustment in order for the National Park Service to use future Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to purchase this property and include it within the park. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this commonsense, straightforward boundary adjustment bill as soon as possible.

V000128

Chris

Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen

M

1959-01-10

Democrat

sen

MD

TRIBUTE TO JOHN R. ALLEN

I rise today to congratulate Maryland resident John R. Allen as he retires from Federal service after 20 years in the Marine Corps and 20 years at the Peace Corps. prgtoken Mr. Allen served as the Chief of the Global Crime Response and Analysis Unit for the Peace Corps, a U.S. Government Agency that sends American Volunteers to serve alongside host communities in roughly 60 countries around the world. John was a key adviser to multiple Directors of the Peace Corps on all areas of the Agency's global safety and security program. Throughout his 20 years with the Agency, he traveled extensively representing Peace Corps and directly supporting Volunteers in Africa and Latin America. prgtoken Mr. Allen joined the Peace Corps after retiring from the Marine Corps, where he served honorably at home and abroad as a senior noncommissioned officer. He has remained active in the veterans community as the leadership liaison for the Peace Corps' Veterans Employee Resource Group. He was also an active member of the Interagency Veterans Advisory Council (IVAC), comprised of Active-Duty and veteran representatives of approximately 100 departments and Agencies, which proudly supports the recruitment, acclimation, retention, and promotion of veterans, Reservists, National Guard personnel, and military spouses in the Federal civilian workforce. Collectively, IVAC advocates for the interests of over 500,000 veteran civilian employees. prgtoken Mr. Allen has a BA in psychology from the University of South Carolina and an MS in management from Troy University. He completed the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University and is currently working on his dissertation for the doctor in ministry degree at Denver Seminary. John resides in Urbana, MD, with his wife Susan. They are the proud parents to two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and two rambunctious grandboys Miles John and Austin David. prgtoken I am honored to represent such an exemplary civil servant and military veteran. Please join me in congratulating John R. Allen for his Federal service, his contributions to the Peace Corps and the Marine Corps, and the larger U.S. veteran and national service community and in wishing him well as he transitions into his new position at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

B001277

Richard

Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal

M

1946-02-13

Democrat

sen

CT