Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 840, 841, 842, and 843.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam President, today I honor Heather Anderson, the Manatee County Teacher of the Year from Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton, FL.

Heather credits her students as the reason why she was named Teacher of the Year. During the award ceremony, she noted that they keep her going every day and thanked them for giving her purpose and meaning. Everything she does is for her students, and she cannot wait to see what the future holds for them.

Heather wanted to be a teacher since she was a child and said this award is one of the most rewarding parts of her career. For students who enter her classroom, she has committed herself to positively contributing to their lives, promises to value and treat them with respect, hold the highest standard for herself and students, and monitor and adjust her work to ensure they are prepared for their educational future.

In her classroom, students are able to use tablets to learn and conduct research for their assignments. These tablets were not provided by the school, but through a fundraiser she put together. She is dedicated to seeing each and every one of her students succeed in school and in life.

Heather is an English I honors and language arts teacher at King Middle School. She serves as chair of the language arts department and has been a teacher for 18 years.

I extend my appreciation to Heather for her hard work and dedication to her students and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Madam President, today I honor Catelyn Boze, the Putnam County Teacher of the Year from Q.I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School in Florahome, FL.

Catelyn received this important recognition because of her ability to encourage students from all ranges. She challenges the gifted students and helps motivate those who struggle. This dedication to her students resulted in many striving to produce work that will make her proud.

Catelyn's success is built on three components. According to her, a large portion of teaching is relational. When students know their teacher cares about them, they are more open to learning. She demonstrates this to her students by setting high expectations and not allowing them to become unengaged. The second component is Catelyn's creativity and deep content knowledge. This allows her to create questions that challenge her students to think critically. The third component of her success are two initiatives she designed in the past 2 years: student choice and nonzero grading. Catelyn believes that a student who receives a zero for an assignment does

not give her the necessary feedback to determine what a student has learned and damages their motivation to school. Instead, her grading practices allow for end-point mastery, which she believes to help her students learn.

Catelyn has taught at Q.I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School for 3 years and is involved with several extracurricular activities. As yearbook sponsor, she doubled the size of the yearbook and increased sales to where more copies were needed to be ordered. She also cosponsors the Hi-Q team and attends school sporting events and performances of her students.

I express my best wishes to Catelyn for her commitment to her students and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Madam President, today I honor Helene Hotaling, the Marion County Teacher of the Year from Madison Street Academy in Ocala,

Madam President, today I am honored to recognize Jason Lancy, the Lake County Teacher of the Year from Windy Hill Middle School in Clermont, Fl.

Jason was not a math wizard when he was in school, originally struggling with the subject. It is fitting that he has been given this prestigious award while serving as the chair of the math department. Jason said it was hard to explain how it felt to receive this honor, though he felt it was definitely one of the greatest nights of his life.

Jason's students tell him how he explains math is different and easier for them to understand. He relates this trait to the fact that he can empathize when they feel lost and confused with math. He seeks to deepen his student's understanding and increase engagement by teaching passionately and with a sense of humor.

By all accounts, he has a close relationship with his students. Jason shared his feelings towards the night he received this honor by putting the trophy in his classroom and showed his students pictures from the event. They were ecstatic for him, noting it was a class atmosphere unlike any other he had experienced before.

Jason has been an eighth-grade Algebra 1 and Algebra 1 honors teacher at Windy Hill Middle School since 2007. He earned his bachelor of science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in mathematics education and earned his master of education degree from the University of Central Florida in mathematics education.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jason for his hard work and look forward to hearing of his and his students' continued success.

Madam President, today I recognize Angela Perry, the Lafayette County Teacher of the Year from Lafayette Elementary School in Mayo, FL.

The compassion Angela displays to her students and her demonstration of being a model teacher to her peers led to her being named Teacher of the Year. Angela credited her school's administration, colleagues, and friends who share her love of teaching for her receiving this honor by the district.

Angela's teaching philosophy is guided by a quote from Mother Teresa: ``Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.'' She abides by this quote when it comes to teaching her fifth grade students as they begin to transition from elementary to middle school.

Outside of the classroom, Angela is involved throughout her community by volunteering with her church youth's ministry. She has coached soccer, basketball, and softball for local youth programs. Angela has also been a board member for the Lafayette Babe Ruth Program for 14 years.

Angela graduated from Lafayette High School in 1992 and continued her educational career by earning an elementary education degree at Valdosta State University in 1997. She has taught at Lafayette Elementary School since 2011, teaching fourth grade for 6 years and is currently teaching fifth grade math.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Angela for the dedication she has provided to her students and community throughout the years.

Madam President, today I recognize Amy Roberts, the Columbia County Teacher of the Year from Summers Elementary School in Lake City, FL.

Amy's colleagues describe her as an organized, structured professional with proven teaching, motivating, and leadership skills. These abilities undoubtedly contributed to Amy becoming her school district's Teacher of the Year.

Her administrator noted that Amy works to ensure all students are able to experience success during their academic career. One of her former students remembers that Amy always did whatever she could to help them succeed in school.

Amy is a firm believer in fostering a growth mindset and developing lasting relationships with her students and their families. She views these relationships as paramount to students achieving success in her classroom, college, and in working environments.

Amy has been a teacher for more than 7 years, with most of those years at Summers Elementary School. She is currently a first grade teacher.

I am honored to express my sincere gratitude to Amy for her hard work and look forward to hearing of her continued success throughout her teaching career.

Madam President, today I honor Beth Rosenow, the Monroe County Teacher of the Year from Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, FL.

Beth received this important recognition because of her exemplary marine science and leadership programs. Her colleagues note her outstanding work in and out of the classroom because she connects her class material to the outside world and keeps her students engaged.

Beth is known by her coworkers for her unique teaching style. She uses hands-on techniques to give her students a firsthand experience to the material they are learning. Her expertise and participation within the local marine science community provides her with material for her students. Beth's commitment to this field allows her students learn how to assess the health of coral reefs and to report data to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Beth has certifications in fish identification, rescue diving, and uses her expertise to challenge her students and herself. She began her teaching career 18 years ago in Fenton, MI, and is coming up on her seventh year of teaching

in Monroe County. She previously taught at Key Largo School before coming to Coral Shores High School.

I am pleased to learn of all the hard work Beth has done for her students and extend my best wishes on her continued success in the years to come.

Madam President, today I recognize Danielle Summers, the Liberty County Teacher of the Year from W. R. Tolar K-8 School in Bristol, FL, where she teaches elementary school.

Danielle received this important award because of her strong classroom management skills and hands-on, experiential approach to teaching foundational education standards. Besides teaching, she has served on the leadership team as the kindergarten grade level chair for 3 years and served as the grade level chair for first grade for the past 2 school years. Danielle has also been a cooperating teacher for both Flagler College and Chipola College, supervising and training three student-teacher interns in 3 of the past 4 school years.

Danielle has been teaching for 10 years. She has taught second grade for 1 year, kindergarten for 6 years, and is currently teaching first grade for the third year. Danielle has also served on the K-3 District evaluation subcommittee and the K-2 district writing committee for Liberty County.

I express my deep gratitude to Danielle for her desire to help her students learn in any way she can. I wish Danielle the best and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years ahead.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following leader remarks on Wednesday, May 23, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the Montgomery nomination, as under the previous order, and the Senate vote on the nomination at 3:15 p.m.; further, that following disposition of the nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and all postcloture time on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 2372 be considered expired; finally, that following disposition of the motion to concur, the Senate vote on the cloture motions in relation to the McWilliams nominations in the order filed and that if cloture is invoked, the postcloture time run concurrently.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that action with respect to Calendar No. 403, H.R. 4743, be vitiated and the Senate agree to the House request to return the papers on H.R. 4743, and authorize the Secretary of the Senate to return the papers on H.R. 4743 to the House of Representatives.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,

and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 346.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 519, submitted earlier today.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 23; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. Finally, I ask that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and proceed to the consideration of the Montgomery nomination under the previous order.