Floor Statements

Katie, whoo!

Mr. President, I rise today to welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew, to the United States.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the longest serving Archbishop of Constantinople in the two millennia history of Christianity. As the highest spiritual authority for nearly 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians, he has cosponsored international peace conferences; convened Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders to promote cooperation and mutual understanding; and advanced the cause of religious freedom around the world.

Environmental stewardship has been a consistent theme of His All Holiness's ministry. In honor of this commitment, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize.

I am proud to join faith leaders from across Pennsylvania in welcoming His All Holiness to the United States and extend my heartfelt congratulations on this momentous achievement.

Madam President, this is not a speech that I ever expected to give and definitely never wanted to give. Discussing this has been difficult. Anyone who was with us last night at that dinner would confirm that.

But today, on the floor of the Senate and for the record, I will confirm that Bob Casey is Pennsylvania's best Senator. Now, it is difficult to follow Bob Casey, both right now but also without him. I really can't imagine it. For 18 years, Bob showed up, he put his head down, he worked, and he delivered for Pennsylvania. It has been a supreme honor to call Bob a colleague, a friend, and a mentor.

During my campaign, Bob was by my side. When I had a stroke, he lent me his voice when I was learning how to speak again. I never forgot that. And when I got to the Senate 2 years ago, he became a mentor to me. At a very difficult time in my life, he stuck by me because that is who Bob is--a friend and an amazing Senator.

Every day for 18 years, he fought for working Pennsylvanians. He fought for our rural communities. He fought for seniors and for people with disabilities, including myself. He fought for all of us. After 18 years, Bob Casey's legacy is a better Pennsylvania.

Thank you, Bob Casey.

I yield the floor.

(Applause.)

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress. The U.S. Congress's roots can be traced to the First Continental Congress, which convened in Philadelphia's own Carpenters' Hall in 1774 and was one of the most significant events in the founding of our Nation. Colonial delegates solidified a united American identity by adopting the Declaration of Colonial Rights, which created the Colonial coalition that later signed the Declaration of Independence. After the U.S. War of Independence, the Continental Congress evolved into the Federation Congress and ultimately the U.S. Congress as established by the Constitution in 1787.

In July 2024, the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia, the nonprofit organization founded in 1724 that owns and operates Carpenters' Hall, will convene the Young People's Continental Congress, YPCC. A diverse group of high school students and their teachers from the 13 original Colonies will gather in Philadelphia to explore our Nation's founding. A second convening in July 2025 will engage students and teachers from all 56 States and jurisdictions. YPCC is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage young people in history and civics, as well as to launch Philadelphia's celebration of the semiquincentennial of American independence in 2026.

YPCC delegates will discuss America's founding principles and how those principles have been expressed over our history. They will also experience Philadelphia's historic attractions to enhance their understanding of the democratic process and how our country was founded.

YPCC will harness the power of convening for a new generation of civic leaders and focus on the unique opportunity they have to help shape the conversations around what America looks like today. As generations of leaders have learned, there is nothing like being ``in the room where it happened.''

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Cheryl A. McConnell on her historic inauguration as the 29th and first female president of Saint Joseph's University. She is to be inaugurated on September 8, 2023.

Since joining Saint Joseph's University 3 years ago, Dr. McConnell has served in integral roles as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Her presidential inauguration is the result of an exceptional 35-year career in higher education.

As a first-generation college graduate and dedicated leader of Jesuit higher education, Dr. McConnell has demonstrated her commitment to learning and uplifting the next generation. Among her many accomplishments, she has created new, in-demand academic programs to expand Saint Joseph's University's impact throughout the greater Philadelphia community and has focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a more robust and productive learning environment. Further, in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. McConnell's leadership was essential to the university's response to keep students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe.

I am proud that Saint Joseph's University has selected Dr. McConnell as its next president and know she will continue the university's commitment to academic excellence and service to generations of students.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Cheryl A. McConnell on her historic inauguration and continuing her career in public service to students in Pennsylvania.