Floor Statements

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand in recess under the previous order.

Mr. President, I rise today to thank and pay tribute to the service of Derry Police Chief Edward Garone.

For more than 50 years, Chief Garone has served with dedication and has worked to keep the people of Derry and people throughout the Granite State safe.

Throughout it all, Chief Garone has worked tirelessly to ensure public safety--the most fundamental task of any government--creating the stability necessary for our people, families, and economy, to thrive.

After bravely serving our country in the Marines, Chief Garone began his

career as a police officer in 1964 and eventually became captain. In 1972, he and his family moved to Derry, where he took on the role as police chief, a position that he has remained in for more than four decades, becoming one of the longest serving full-time police chiefs in the United States.

Chief Garone quickly became a valued member of the Derry community, even being named Derry's Citizen of the Year in 1984. And in addition to his work in uniform, he worked to improve Derry in a variety of ways, including as Rotarian and by volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Derry.

Above all, the chief has said that he has appreciated his many years in Derry because he enjoys helping people. And people across New Hampshire are indeed grateful for his commitment to service.

Chief Garone represents the very best of New Hampshire's law enforcement; he has lived his life in service to our country, and I have appreciated our work together. I join the people of Derry in thanking him, as well as his family, for all that they have done on behalf of the Granite State.

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Mike Manning of Penacook as May's Granite Stater of the Month. After a chance stop-by at the Open Door Community Kitchen, Mike Manning stepped up to volunteer and now even comanages the kitchen, which provides free meals to help individuals in need in the community.

When Mike saw a ``Free Meals'' sign outside the United Church of Penacook in 2015 and decided to venture in, he had no idea how much that decision would impact his life. Mike connected with the chair of Open Door Community Kitchen and learned about their mission of serving meals to communities in and around Penacook. Later that year, Mike became the kitchen's cochair, organizing volunteer shifts, food orders, and donations.

In his first years as cochair, Mike made sure that Open Door Community Kitchen provided three free sit-down meals a week, with extra food for people to bring home and last them the following days. Mealtimes provided a sense of camaraderie and togetherness among volunteers and attendees alike.

Yet when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Open Door Community Kitchen was hard hit. Many of the volunteers were older and started to stay home at the onset of the pandemic because of the risk to their health. With limited capacity, the kitchen had to reduce its three free meals per week to two. In addition, the dining hall space had to close, and Open Door transitioned to making to-go meals.

Nevertheless, Mike put every effort into making sure that Open Door Community Kitchen was able to keep running during the entire pandemic, never missing a week. Even with a skeleton staff and rising food prices, Mike has worked around the clock to continue serving meals. And now, he is working to restart Open Door's in-person meals, which provide an important sense of community.

Mike's efforts to serve his neighbors during a time of need and under unprecedented challenges are commendable. As Mike himself says, if everyone could just help each other, the world would be a much better place. His actions exemplify the best of the Granite State spirit of working together to support each other, no matter the obstacles, and we are lucky to have him in our midst.

Madam President, I rise today to join Granite Staters in celebrating the 300th anniversary, as well as the rich history and vibrant present, of the Town of Hampton Falls, NH.

Originally a parish of the Town of Hampton, Hampton Falls later was established as an independent town, gaining its name from the falls located on the surrounding river. The town's history is reflected in its rural roots; many of its early residents worked in the timber industry or on farms in the region, and it is home to one of the oldest working apple orchards in the country. And over the last 300 years, Hampton Falls has been home to prominent New Hampshire citizens, including the first Governor of New Hampshire and poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

The residents of Hampton Falls are also dedicated to preserving this history; the Hampton Falls Historical Society's motto is ``Our future is a present from the past.'' Learning from our past and remembering our history is essential to a healthy democracy, and I applaud the Hampton Falls community for its commitment to its history.

Today with its 2,400 residents, Hampton Falls remains a small-town residential and agricultural community. From its small business community to the orchards and horse farms that reflect its agricultural beginnings, Hampton Falls is a vital part of New Hampshire's Seacoast.

While Hampton Falls has changed over the years, what has remained is the strong sense of community that makes New Hampshire a great place to live, work, visit, and raise a family.

I want to thank everyone involved in the tricentennial celebrations happening throughout Hampton Falls this year to help mark this milestone. I hope that the residents and visitors alike are able to enjoy the year's events and reflect upon Hampton Falls' abundant history and vibrant culture.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding the previous order, it be in order to offer my motion to instruct at this time.

Mr. President, I call up my motion to instruct, which is at the desk.

Mr. President, I rise today to offer a bipartisan motion with Senator Young that will help fuel American innovation.

The research and development tax credit gives critical support to small businesses and startups that power our economy. By strengthening the R&D tax credit for startups and preserving other tax incentives for research here in America, we can outcompete countries like China.

I would also like to thank the additional 16 Senators supporting the motion: Senators Baldwin, Marshall, Feinstein, Sasse, Warnock, Blunt, Kelly, Portman, Padilla, Fischer, Coons, Boozman, Cortez Masto, Capito, Rosen, and Wicker.

I yield to the Senator from Indiana.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 more seconds.

Our R&D proposal is critical to helping small businesses and to investing in R&D here at home to help us outcompete countries like China.

There is strong bipartisan support for this measure.

Vote on Motion

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Heidi Matthews-Cantin and John Cantin of Manchester as April's Granite Staters of the Month. Heidi and John comanage Missy's Closet, a resale boutique that is holding its fourth annual ``Say Yes to the Prom Dress'' event this month. This initiative allows young women who otherwise would not be able to afford a prom dress the opportunity to pick one out for free.

John lost his daughter, Melissa ``Missy'' Charbonneau, to a domestic violence incident in 2009, and Missy's Closet was started in her memory. The resale boutique runs on donations and volunteers and aims to serve survivors of domestic violence and those struggling with mental illness or substance misuse.

The mission of ``Say Yes to the Prom Dress'' is to make sure that every young woman, no matter her economic circumstance, has the opportunity to feel special and confident in her gown on prom night. Missy's Closet offers a wide range of colors and sizes that young women can choose from. This year, the boutique started off prom dress season with more than 1,000 donated gowns, many of them new.

In addition, each young woman is assisted by a ``fashion ambassador,'' a volunteer who is trained to give clients words of encouragement and help them feel confident in their dresses. Free makeup and jewelry is also available to complete their looks.

Heidi and John's work with Missy's Closet's ``Say Yes to the Prom Dress'' campaign is not just about the dress; it is about providing young women a way to feel confident on their special night. Furthermore, it is not only the young women who walk away happy; the volunteers at Missy's Closet take immense pride in their work and recognize the importance of making a positive change in their community. As Heidi herself says, kindness has a trickledown effect, and all you need to do is help one person a day

John and Heidi embody the New Hampshire spirit of generosity and kindness by working to ensure that everyone--regardless of financial circumstance--has the opportunity to thrive.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the cloture motion with respect to the Gomez nomination.

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

Mr. President, I have 10 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the notice of proposed rulemaking from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill

on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4089, which was introduced earlier today.

I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read three times.

I know of no further debate on the bill.

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 585.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 595, submitted earlier today.

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