Floor Statements

Madam President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to wish happy birthday to Malphine Fogel, who celebrated her 96th birthday on March 11.

Malphine is a native of Brady's Bend, PA, where she graduated from East Brady High School in 1947. She then worked at the local paper, the Butler Eagle, for many years as a proofreader. In 1957, she married her late husband Maurice L. ``Cubby'' Fogel, and she continued to work at the Butler Eagle while he finished his B.S. in economics at Grove City College. Malphine and Cubby made their home in Butler and raised three children.

Malphine demonstrated her strength and tenacity while fighting for her son Marc's release while he was wrongfully detained in Russia from 2021-2025. Malphine continues to inspire us every day, as she embodies what it means to be an outstanding Pennsylvanian.

I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Malphine for all that she has accomplished and in wishing her a happy 96th birthday.

Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Pennsylvania's own Jo Ann Verduce.

Starting as a young intern in the communications office for the Diocese of Scranton, she later met the late Sister Marian Denise Walsh, IHM, during the first capital campaign for St. Joseph's Center. Since first joining the St. Joseph's Center Auxiliary, she has spent over 20 years serving as the director of development for the center. As the daughter of Anthony and Josephine Verduce, she was born and raised in Archbald, PA. She lived in other States due to her father's work schedule in construction, which made her a pro at meeting new people across this great Nation. While she attended school in Florida and Hawaii, she graduated from Valley View High School and received a BA in communications and an MS in counselor education from Marywood University. Her deepfelt connection with the IHM Sisters of Marywood led her to a 19-year stretch in public relations for the university.

She is also involved with the Steamtown Marathon team of St. Joe's, and the Go Joe Bike Ride every July with WNEP meteorologist Joe Snedeker. She served on the board of the Scranton chapter of UNICO, promoting Italian heritage, and as president of the ladies auxiliary of the Scranton chapter of UNICO National. She is the president-elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals NEPA Chapter and was featured in Happenings Magazine and as the Scranton Times Northeast Woman and NOW.

It is with great pride that I recognize the achievements of Jo Ann and bring the attention of Congress to this successful daughter of Pennsylvania; March 5, 2025.