Floor Statements

Mr. President, I recognize Heather Dawn Miller, the Clay County Teacher of the Year from Lake Asbury Elementary School in Green Cove Springs, FL.

Heather hopes to spark interest and passion in her students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through her work, she spends each school day working to help her students interested in

Mr. President, I recognize Vonda Morris, the Volusia County Teacher of the Year from Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, FL.

Vonda knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was a child when she would line up her dolls to teach them math. While her dolls could not flee her lessons, Vonda realized she had to develop math curriculum that would make her students want to learn. Today, Vonda's math lessons use dance and song to help her students absorb the material.

Vonda wants learning to be fun and meaningful. She knows each day is not easy for her students, so she works to not only teach them, but to also be someone they can talk to.

Vonda is a probability and statistics/AP statistics teacher at Spruce Creek High School. She has taught for more than 20 years at the middle, high, and college levels. Vonda earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and her master's from Concordia University and Stetson University.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Vonda for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Jessica Odom, the Baker County Teacher of the Year from Baker County Middle School in Macclenny, FL.

Jessica works daily to develop lesson plans that make learning enjoyable for her students. In her science classes, she engages her students in physics and works with them as the school's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Club coach.

Jessica credits her family and friends for helping her become a teacher. They motivate her to develop engaging curriculum that allow her students to be successful. With their support, she received this important recognition from her peers.

Jessica has taught sixth and seventh grade science at Baker County Middle School for the past 7 years and is on the campus tech support team. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Florida and her master's degree in educational leadership from American University. She served as a food service specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from 2008-2016 at Naval Station Mayport.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Jessica for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Tiffany Perry, the Osceola County Teacher of the Year from East Lake Elementary School in Kissimmee, FL.

Tiffany makes it her mission to know her students well. She encourages her students to be authentic and show their uniqueness. Tiffany prefers to hear their voice in the classroom more than her own.

Tiffany applied Socratic Seminars to help improve writing skills by having her students ask and answer questions together by using critical thinking and encouraging different viewpoints. She also teaches her students to focus on the engineering design process by working with them to code robots.

Tiffany teaches fifth grade at East Lake Elementary School. She also serves as her school's grade-level chairman, helps model lessons for other teachers, and trains teachers on various strategies to use in the classroom.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Tiffany for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Robin Romagnolo, the Levy County Teacher of the Year from Bronson Elementary School in Bronson, FL.

Robin adapts her way of work to meet her students' needs and challenges. She focuses each day on how to inspire and instill high expectations in their mentality to be successful in her classroom and as they further their education.

Robin designs her lesson plans to keep her students engaged throughout the school day. When they leave her class, they often perform with a mastery of standards for their grade. Her work frequently has other teachers seeking her mentorship at their school.

Robin has taught at Bronson Elementary School for 6 years and teaches third grade. She began teaching in Levy County with Pre-Kindergarten students 15 years ago. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees while working in the county.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Robin for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Lori Sadler, the Lafayette County Teacher of the Year from Lafayette High School in Mayo, FL.

Lori's students often score above State averages, which she credits to their hard work in the classroom and at home. She has worked with students of all ages throughout her teaching career, providing her with ample examples of how best to design her lesson plans.

Lori has spent time as an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher, the English Language Arts department chair, and the school's yearbook sponsor. She also holds English as a second language and reading endorsements for teaching.

Lori is in her 22nd year as a teacher, spending the last 16 years at her school. She graduated from the University of South Florida with her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and from Southeastern University with her master's degree in curriculum and instruction.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Lori for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Amanda Sauls, the Nassau County Teacher of the Year from Callahan Intermediate School in Callahan, FL.

Amanda approaches each new school year by knowing parents entrust her with their children, which is an opportunity to start fresh with a new class. As a teacher, she believes she has the privilege of investing in her students' hearts and minds every day they come to learn.

Amanda's teaching philosophy is that she can create lifelong learners and build relationships with students, their families, and the community. She encourages her students to learn and tirelessly works with them on each step to success.

Amanda is a fourth grade math, science, and social studies teacher at Callahan Intermediate School.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Amanda for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Brice Lee Winfree, Jr., the Flagler County Teacher of the Year from Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, FL.

Brice feels a renewed sense of accomplishment when teaching new students

and seeing how much they learn by the end of the school year. Often, his former students visit his classroom to share their successes.

Brice uses visuals to allow his students to pause and think when answering questions and encourages them to discuss and teach each other. Seeing his students stretch beyond what they believe they are capable of gives Brice a good sense that all their hard work, overcoming their struggles, and his lesson plans pay off.

At Matanzas High School, Brice teaches AP calculus, AP statistics, probability and statistics, college algebra, and college trigonometry. He has taught for 22 years, half of that time in Flagler County.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Brice for his commitment to his students. I look forward to hearing about his continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 523 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, this is my amendment that is going to be voted on here by agreement. It is pretty straightforward. The Federal Thrift Savings Plan is the largest defined contribution plan in the world. It has 22 China-only funds. Every single one of them has money going towards companies that are sanctioned, that are on the Entity List--companies that are responsible for the human rights violations against Uighurs; companies that our own government has said are helping the Chinese build their military--Chinese-sponsored companies. And so this amendment, basically, is geared towards that. It tells the TSP-- the Thrift Savings Plan--board that they can no longer invest your money--the money of Members of Congress, members of the military, Federal employees.

Federal employee retirement money is being invested in companies that are undermining American national security according to our own government. We are investing in those.

Think about the irony. You are a member of the military and your retirement money is being invested in companies that are building missiles designed to blow up the ship that you serve on.

So if we are serious about this, we need to cut this off. This is not a ban on Chinese investment. This is a ban on the Thrift Savings Plan and its money--your money, the investment money of Federal employees-- being used to invest in companies that our own government has placed on lists for human rights violations and posing a threat to the national security of the country.

Vote on Amendment No. 523

Madam President, I recognize Lindsey Bigelow, the Marion County Teacher of the Year from Ocala Springs Elementary School in Ocala, FL.

Lindsey brightens her students' lives and begins each school day with a warm greeting. Her colleagues describe her as a triple threat style teacher. She brings creativity, student engagement, and classroom management, which shows how committed she is to the success of her students. She views her job as not being their teacher for 1 school year but for their education careers, and they are her inspiration to continue teaching.

Lindsey teaches first grade English language arts at Ocala Springs Elementary School with 10 years of teaching experience in Marion County Public Schools. She attended Maplewood Elementary School, Osceola Middle School, and graduated from Forest High School. Lindsey earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Florida.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Lindsey for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Madam President, I recognize Pamela Brockmeyer, the Brevard County Teacher of the Year from Cocoa High School in Melbourne,

Madam President, I recognize Jessica Noblin, the Lake County Teacher of the Year from Leesburg Elementary School in Fruitland Park, FL.

Jessica's students with special needs inspire her each day. She sees how they overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. She is a compassionate and motivated educator with a natural gift for instructing students and inspiring them to reach their full potential.

Jessica views Leesburg Elementary School as more than just a building; it is her safe place. She started her teaching career at the school, where her mom retired, her children attend, and where her grandson will do so in 2 years. This makes her uniquely invested in the success of students, teachers, and the school.

Jessica is a fifth grade teacher at Leesburg Elementary School, where she has taught for 10 of her 15-year teaching career. She also has worked as a curriculum resource teacher, math instructional coach, and DonorsChoose teacher ambassador.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Jessica for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Jeannie Mitchell Baumgardner, the Gulf County Teacher of the Year from Wewahitchka Elementary School in Wewahitchka, FL.

Jeannie believes each of her students brings positive impacts amongst each other and plays an important role in ensuring they are successful. She values each day as a new opportunity to prepare her students for the challenges they will face throughout their lives.

Jeannie enthusiastically begins her classes with activities that are meant to make learning fun and leaves a lasting impression on her students. She finds teaching a fulfilling job, allowing her to impart the lessons she has learned to the next generation of leaders.

Jeannie has been an elementary school teacher since 2018 and teaches third grade at Wewahitchka Elementary School. She is a graduate of Florida State University.

I convey my profound appreciation and extend my best wishes to Jeannie for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Lori Blue, the Taylor County Teacher of the Year from Taylor County High School in Perry, FL.

Lori pours her heart out for her students each day in her classroom. She helps her students and makes her school a better place to learn and work.

Lori's passion for her community and school shows in everything she does on

campus. She begins each school day with a desire to impart wisdom to her students and to prepare them for success. As Lori enjoys reading, she works to show her students how important this fundamental skill is.

Lori teaches English II honors and senior reading at Taylor County High School and is a National Honor Society sponsor. She previously taught kindergarten, first, second, fourth, fifth, and ninth grades. Lori graduated from North Florida Junior College and Florida State University with a bachelor of science in elementary education.

I extend my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Lori for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. President, I recognize Lesley Anne Jamison, the Wakulla County Teacher of the Year from Riversprings Middle School in Wakulla, FL.

Lesley's teaching inspiration comes from her belief that education opens every door of opportunity. School is where her students learn to dream big and know that anything is within their reach if they lean on their education and nurture a desire to learn something new every day.

Lesley views educators as those who hand students keys to open the doors for possibility. They challenge and encourage students to explore every opportunity life offers. She considers it a privilege to enrich a young person's life and be a voice of encouragement that makes them stop saying they ``cannot'' and begin saying they ``will.''

Lesley is in her second year as an instructional coach at Riversprings Middle School and has taught for 11 years. Previously, Lesley was Riversprings Middle School's 2018-2019 Teacher of Year and was a Kagan coach and teacher coach. She also coached athletics, including baseball, soccer, track and field, and soccer, as well as cheerleading. She is a district collaboration team facilitator and is the Florida Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking Standards Math/ English Language Arts liaison.

I offer my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Lesley for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.