Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act--a position I do not take lightly.

I have supported the final passage of each NDAA that has come before me in the Senate up until now. From my tenure in this body and well before me, there has been a productive bipartisan tradition when it comes to this bill that authorizes funding for our military, supporting those in uniform, and keeping our country safe. Most years, we come together on a very quintessential country-over-party deal--one that I would argue is all too uncommon; but, still, this was an important annual ritual that carried serious consequences.

This is not to say that we do not have our differences. Of course, we do. But we know our commitment is bigger than those differences. This year, that commitment to our servicemembers, to the people we all represent, and to our security and safety was broken. It has been broken because some Republicans decided that gutting the rights of our servicemembers to score cheap political points was more worthy.

Let's be clear. We are talking about parents who are serving our country in uniform having the right to consult with their family's doctor and get the healthcare they want and need for their transgender children. That is it. They want the right to get whatever healthcare is best for their child--something I imagine all parents want.

The healthcare we are talking about here can sometimes be lifesaving. Some folks estimate that this will impact between 6,000 and 7,000 families in the military. I, for one, trust these servicemembers and their families to make their own decisions about healthcare without politicians butting in. It is flatout wrong to put this provision in this bill and take away a servicemember's freedom to make that decision for their families.

Look, this problem has a solution--a simple one, at that. My amendment would strike this provision that guts our servicemembers' rights. And I was glad to have 20 colleagues join me in supporting it. We should pass it.

It is unfortunate that some of our colleagues decided to force this harmful provision in this National Defense Authorization Act because, otherwise, I would have been proud to support it.

This bill has some great things for our servicemembers, my home State of Wisconsin, and measures that I have long pushed for. This bill invests in our most valuable asset: our people. I am thrilled to see that we are giving our junior enlisted troops a well-deserved pay raise--more than 14 percent--and boosting pay for all others by nearly 5 percent.

This legislation invests in the health and well-being of our troops and their families, eliminating copays for contraception for our troops and their families on TRICARE, making tele-mental health care services available regardless of where the patient is, and so much more.

A longstanding priority of mine in this bill and beyond is ensuring that when we use taxpayer dollars, we are supporting American companies and American workers and the American economy. When it comes to our national defense, this notion is essential for our safety and security. That is why I am glad to see steps forward in supporting the made-in- America economy.

The NDAA puts strategies in place to make sure that we are sourcing things domestically, from high-tech batteries to Navy warships. These suppliers are not only providing the highest quality products but are also creating and supporting good-paying jobs across the country--and Wisconsin is home to many of them. Whether it be the iconic companies like Fairbanks Morse or Oshkosh Defense or military installations like Fort McCoy, Wisconsin is crucial in our country's defense, and I am excited to see that this bill recognizes our contribution, making sound investments in the Wisconsin Rapids Army National Guard Readiness Center to support the training our troops need to stay ahead of tomorrow's threats.

Despite all of the common ground we have found and all of the smart investments we are making in our troops, their families, and our security, some folks poisoned this bill and turned their backs on those in service and the people we represent.

This bill should embody the best of us as elected officials, coming together without partisan agendas to keep our country safe and support those in uniform. Sadly, that is not what happened. In turn, if we pass this bill as is, we are going to rip away the rights of our servicemembers to get the healthcare they want for themselves and their children. It is wrong, and I encourage my colleagues to vote no.

I am delighted this morning to be joined by colleagues who share these concerns and would yield to Senator Kim for his remarks.

Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues--Senator Kim, Senator Hirono, and Senator Markey--for participating in this debate today and for standing firm.

As I said earlier, historically, the NDAA has embodied the idea that there is more that brings us together than separates us, that our servicemembers and national defense are not to be politicized, and that we put our country over party when the chips are on the table.

Unfortunately this year, that was ignored, all to gut the rights of our servicemembers to get the healthcare that they need for their children.

With that, I encourage a ``no'' vote on the NDAA.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I rise today in support of Mark Eskenazi's and Amanda Wood Laihow's nominations to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

I want to note for my colleagues that the Commission has not had a quorum since April of 2023 and, as a result, has been unable to decide cases for more than a year. Delays with the Commission's cases create significant risks to workers, and that is, in part, because, when an employer appeals a citation, they don't have to fix the alleged hazard until the Commission issues a final decision.

Mr. Eskenazi is currently an Assistant General Counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and previously has held numerous positions at the National Labor Relations Board.

This is Ms. Wood Laihow's second nomination to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. She was previously confirmed in January of 2020. Prior to her role on this Commission, she has served as the director of labor and employment policy for the National Association of Manufacturers and as deputy general counsel for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

I support this bipartisan pair of nominees that will allow the Commission to have a quorum, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 374 and 785; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I am disappointed that my Republican colleague has blocked the confirmations of these nominees. These nominees have been held up since last year, and it is time to end these delays and confirm these nominees.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask that the scheduled vote occur immediately.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Madam President, today I rise to honor the retirement of Rev.Dr. Carmen Porco following a 50-year career of dedicated service in Wisconsin communities. His tireless work advocating for access to housing and leading a multifront effort to fight poverty has touched thousands of lives across the State of Wisconsin.

Reverend Dr. Porco grew up in a small town in West Virginia. In his youth, he saw his mother put some of her hard-earned money toward helping support those who lost their jobs in a steel mill layoff. Inspired by his mother's selflessness, Reverend Dr. Porco began his career of public service early in his life. At 19 years old, he moved to Milwaukee to intern for the Milwaukee Christian Center. His internship focused on conflict resolution between youth gangs but exposed him to the now historic marches calling for open housing legislation. Between 1967 and 1968, African-American teenagers lead by Father James Groppi marched for 200 nights throughout Milwaukee to advocate for fair housing. Reverend Dr. Porco joined those marches and in turn found a passion that shaped his entire career.

Reverend Dr. Porco went on to develop and lead Housing Ministries of Wisconsin, which aims to move residents from public housing toward homeownership. Throughout his long and impressive career, Reverend Dr. Porco has fought to end poverty by supporting and uplifting the individuals affected by it. He helped improve the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with his revolutionary housing model. The model recognizes the importance of fighting poverty on multiple fronts by including opportunities for education and personal growth. Reverend Dr. Porco's housing model has since been implemented in over 800 units of section 8 housing across Wisconsin.

One of the properties managed by Reverend Dr. Porco was Greentree- Teutonia Community Learning Center in Milwaukee. To the 700 people who call Greentree home, the center offers more than just shelter. Greentree also provides education, job training, and other support programs. Despite roadblocks, Greentree has been immensely successful thanks to the dedication of leaders like Reverend Dr. Porco. The success of his programs shows the power of Reverend Dr. Porco's wholistic approach to combatting poverty.

Reverend Dr. Porco has been rightfully honored for his efforts on many levels. In 2006, he earned the prestigious Champions of Change award from the George W. Bush administration, acknowledging his extraordinary effort to end housing insecurity in Wisconsin communities. He also earned the 2020 Hometown Hero award from the Wisconsin State Assembly for his decades of advocacy and the 2017 Dane County Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, for upholding the values of the civil rights legend. In 2019, the nonprofit organization Center on Business and Poverty dedicated a faculty chair to his name, housed at the University of Oxford in England.

Reverend Dr. Porco has been a leading voice in equitable housing solutions for over 50 years. He has advocated with a tireless compassion, determination, and intellect--never ceasing in his service of those in need. Today, as Reverend Dr. Porco moves into retirement, he leaves a legacy of service that will not be forgotten. I am proud to join others across Wisconsin in honoring his career and lifetime of service.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of Byron Conway's nomination to serve as a judge for the district court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Senator Johnson and I have worked to set up the bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to provide us with recommendations for qualified candidates for open Federal judicial and U.S. attorney positions. This commission has identified and put forward highly qualified, experienced candidates such as Mr. Conway, and I am pleased to see the Senate moving forward with his nomination.

As I shared with the Judiciary Committee, in addition to being an exceptional judicial candidate, Byron Conway is Wisconsin through and through. He was raised in Green Bay, WI, and attended Notre Dame Academy. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University before coming back home to earn his law degree from Marquette University Law School.

After being admitted to the Wisconsin bar, Mr. Conway practiced in the Milwaukee area before moving to Green Bay to practice civil litigation. Mr. Conway has experience with a wide variety of cases, including misdemeanor and felony criminal matters, employment discrimination cases, and personal injury cases. I am certain that his prior litigation experience will

serve him well as a judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Mr. Conway is a very active member of his local community, having served as president of the Brown County Bar Association, as the Brown County District Representative to the State Bar Board of Governors, and as the vice president of the board of directors for the Brain Center of Green Bay, which offers resources to individuals with cognitive deficits and neurological disorders. Byron Conway has both the experience and the temperament necessary to serve Wisconsin's Eastern District with fairness and impartiality.

I want to thank the chairman of the committee, Chair Durbin; Ranking Member Graham; and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing Mr. Conway's nomination out of the committee with bipartisan support.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Conway's nomination.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, today I rise to recognize the Milwaukee NAACP on its 100th anniversary. It gives me great pleasure to honor this remarkable organization and to commemorate this historic milestone.

The Milwaukee NAACP branch was established in 1924, which grew out of the national quest to eradicate the eruptions of anti-Black violence. For 100 years, the Milwaukee NAACP has stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement, unwavering in its efforts to achieve parity in politics, education, society, and the economy, while striving to eliminate racial prejudice.

During the emergence of the NAACP, millions of African-Americans were migrating from the south to northern States like Wisconsin in search of greater opportunity and a better quality of life. The newcomers soon learned that they had not escaped racial discrimination in jobs, education, and housing.

Throughout its early years, led by prominent middle-class African- American professionals, including Wilbur Halyard, Ardie Halyard, and James W. Dorsey, the Milwaukee NAACP was instrumental in battling the racial discrimination through political lobbying, legal intervention, and direct-action protest.

Over the past century, the NAACP has achieved significant progress in empowering African-Americans to reach their greatest potential. By supporting initiatives to improve the lives of those who are often left behind, the NAACP has instigated substantial transformations in Wisconsin's largest city.

Despite the NAACP's tireless efforts, the African-American community in Milwaukee continues to face daunting challenges. Factors such as wages, educational outcomes, economic conditions, neighborhood safety, and the opportunity to achieve the American dream are regretfully still influenced by a person's ZIP Code or the color of his or her skin.

By working together, we can ensure that African-Americans and all community members are educated, employed, and empowered to succeed. The NAACP's persistent commitment to improvement fosters hope for the next generation of leaders in Milwaukee's communities of color.

As we honor the Milwaukee NAACP's achievements and contemplate future challenges, I will be forever grateful for the branch's achievements over the past century, and I look forward to its continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, I rise today in support a woman's right to control her own body. Across the country, women have been stripped of the freedom to make their own decisions--decisions about their families, their health, and their futures. Judges and politicians have inserted themselves into exam rooms, telling doctors they cannot treat their patients, sometimes even if that treatment would save her life.

In my home State of Wisconsin, women lived for 15 months under a criminal abortion ban that was passed in 1849, a law on the books from 1 year after our statehood and 70 years before a woman won the right to vote. And while there were no women in the room when the statute was crafted, 2 years ago, Wisconsin women woke up to find their healthcare decisions would be dictated by a law that predates the Civil War. They woke up to find out that they now had fewer rights than their mothers and their grandmothers. That day began 15 months of confusion and chaos and heartbreak for families across Wisconsin.

We heard stories of women bleeding out from miscarriages, developing life-threatening infections, or being forced to carry unviable pregnancies until they could find an appointment out of State. For countless women, that meant driving hours, paying for lodging and childcare, and taking time off work just to make their own decisions about their own body.

Patients from every one of Wisconsin's 72 counties traveled to Illinois just to access healthcare, some traveling over 500 miles. Prior to the Dobbs

decision, only one in six Wisconsin abortion patients received out-of- State care. During our criminal abortion ban, that number skyrocketed to 9 out of 10 patients seeking care out of State.

Those families were being forced to drive, on average, 103 minutes to exercise their right to control their own bodies and get the care they needed, nearly double the time that they drove to access care before Roe fell.

And I am talking here about women who could afford the more than $1,000 in costs to access that care. We must also be aware of those who could not. For example, patients traveling from out of State had to fork up an average of $330 just for lodging.

In 2023 alone, Illinois and Minnesota providers saw over 6,000 patients from Wisconsin. You heard me right. Six thousand Wisconsin women were forced to travel sometimes hundreds of miles just to access healthcare. And even though Wisconsin has restored access to abortion in three counties, Planned Parenthood of Illinois is still seeing three times as many patients from Wisconsin compared to before the Dobbs decision came down. The reality is that abortion care is still only available in 3 of our 72 counties.

Exercising this fundamental freedom is out of reach for far too many in America. Twenty-two States across the country have abortion bans, and that means one in three women of reproductive age live in a State where they cannot get the healthcare they need because politicians are telling them that they know better.

Well, women and families deserve better. That is why last year I introduced the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act to give millions of women without access to care in their home States a lifeline. This bill would ease the tremendous financial burden Republican abortion bans have placed squarely on women who are trying to access critical care. Women are spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and childcare just to make their own healthcare decisions.

These past 2 years we have heard shocking stories of women, often desperate for help, having nowhere to turn. Last week, we even heard the story of a woman who died because she was denied abortion care until it was too late.

If my colleagues insist that this issue is a decision for the States and not for women, then I hope that they can at least recognize the tremendous hardship their patchwork of laws has created.

The rights you have as an American should not depend upon what State you live in. If we cannot restore Roe this Congress, we should, at the very least, extend a lifeline to the millions of women who are unable to access care in their own communities.

So as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 2152, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I am disappointed with the objection and will agree with the Senator on one point, which is that this bill does not fund abortion.

The Senator referred to democratically passed laws relating to this subject, and I just wanted to remind him once more what I said in my opening statement: In Wisconsin, women lived for 15 months under a criminal abortion ban that was passed in 1849--70 years before women had the right to vote, before the Civil War. Obviously women had no input in that democratically enacted law.

But this bill simply breaks down a barrier that Americans are facing to access sometimes lifesaving care, a financial barrier, I might add, that Republicans put up when they inserted themselves into our exam rooms and into women's personal decisions.

I hope my Republican colleagues understand that women take notice when you vote down bills that protect and defend their basic freedoms. They see who is fighting for their right to control their bodies, health, families, and future.

I am proud to be standing here today on their behalf. This issue is not going away. We are going to keep fighting day in and day out because women want their rights and freedoms back.

Some of my colleagues are claiming that this is merely a messaging bill. Well, send Americans the message that you support their decisions to make their own healthcare choices and pass this bill into law.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Timothy

Donohue for his accomplishments as a scientist over the past 40 years. I am honored to recognize this momentous milestone and Dr. Donohue's numerous contributions to science.

Dr. Donohue began his path with a bachelors of life sciences from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1975, followed by a master's in microbiology from Pennsylvania State University in 1977, before receiving his Ph.D. in microbiology from Pennsylvania State University in 1980.

In 1986, Dr. Donohue began as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Bacteriology. He rose to associate professor in 1991 and full professor in 1996. During this time, he has come to be an internationally recognized expert on bio- and genome-based conversion of renewable resources into valuable products. His research focuses on microbial metabolic and regulatory pathways, genomic and systems biology, and the strategies that microbes use to grow and generate chemicals and alternative fuels from renewable resources.

Currently, Dr. Donohue serves as the director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute and is the Ira L. Baldwin Professor of Bacteriology and the UW Foundation's Fetzer-Bascom Professor.

During his tenure, Dr. Donohue has earned countless achievements. He is the past president and secretary of the American Society of Microbiology, an honorary fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology, and recipient of the 2018 Promega Biotechnology research award given by the American Academy of Microbiology. He has also served on numerous Federal and international advisory panels and led federally funded graduate training programs.

Since 2007, Dr. Donohue has also served as the principal investigator and director of the Great Lakes Bioenergy, a U.S. Department of Energy funded Bioenergy Research Center led by the University of Wisconsin- Madison. The center conducts pioneering research that develops sustainable biofuels and bioproducts made from crops with the goal of creating biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The center's renewable fuel and chemicals research has trained over 1,000 scientists and engineers, made advancements in over 250 patent applications and 100 licensed technologies, and provided the scientific underpinnings for five start- up companies.

Dr. Donohue's continued work in this vital field and dedication to research and education will continue to make a positive impact for many years to come, and I am proud to recognize his lifelong commitment to the pursuit of science and discovery.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the life and legacy of Jose A. Olivieri, an accomplished attorney, determined civic leader, and a pillar in the Hispanic community in Milwaukee, whose work left an indelible mark on the State of Wisconsin.

Born in Santurce, PR, he moved to Waukesha, WI, to attend Carroll College, where he graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in political science. In 1981 he received his juris doctorate from Marquette University Law School and, the same year, joined Michael Best as an associate.

Jose's career at Michael Best spanned 43 years of service in both the legal and academic profession. He was the firm's longest serving chair, leading the firm's higher education industry group and founding Michael Best's immigration law practice. His leadership roles also extended to the Milwaukee office managing partner and labor and employment relations chair and government and public policy group cochair roles. His work largely centered around counseling universities on a variety of issues and employment law issues and later taught law seminar at Marquette University and spoke on employment and immigration issues.

Jose was also a founding member and past president of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association. He served on several additional boards over the years, including the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, the Mount Mary University Board of Trustees, past chair of Carroll University's Board of Trustees, and National Association of College and University Attorneys--NACUA.

Beyond his work at Michael Best, Jose was deeply committed to strengthening his Milwaukee community. Jose was described as hard working, humble, and as the premier leader of the Wisconsin Hispanic Community by local leaders. He was passionate about education access and elderly care and spent his time advocating on behalf of those issues. For 40 years, he worked with the United Community Center in the Walkers Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, including serving as the chair of the board of directors to strengthen Milwaukee's near South Side neighborhoods. He also held positions on the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, Milwaukee Art Museum, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Lutheran Social Services, and Froedtert Health System boards.

Throughout his career, Jose received awards and recognitions that highlighted the work and dedication he demonstrated to his community. He was a recipient of the Notable Alumni Award by BizTimes Media, Future Milwaukee Community Service Award, Metropolitan Milwaukee Civic Alliance Special Service Award, the Todd Wehr Award from the Greater Milwaukee chapter of the national Society of fundraising executives, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's President's Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award, the Posner Pro Bono Award, and named a Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders magazine. He was consistently included on the prestigious Best Lawyers list, including Lawyer of the Year twice.

Jose's legacy is one of professional excellence and dedicated public service. Our Milwaukee community is better because of Jose, and he will be missed.

Mr. President, I rise to urge my Democratic and Republican colleagues to stand with the majority of Americans who believe a woman should have the right to choose what is best for her and her family, health, and future.

The bills we are advancing today are commonsense, straightforward measures that will ensure more women can access the safe reproductive care that they need and deserve. Our legislation will also ensure that doctors can do their jobs, get the training they need to keep their patients safe.

For 2 years, millions of women across this country have lived without full reproductive rights, while many more live in fear that their rights and freedoms could be on the chopping block. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has jeopardized Americans' lives, health, and future fertility. The Dobbs decision also forced women and their doctors to navigate a complicated and ever-changing patchwork of laws that dictate Americans' rights based on their ZIP codes.

For example, in my home State of Wisconsin, women were sent back to live under an 1849 criminal abortion ban. Judges and politicians were invited into the exam room, while lawyers told doctors how to do their jobs. And these dire impacts reached further than exam rooms; they reached into medical schools that are training our next generation of doctors.

For our top-ranked medical schools, a post-Roe reality sowed chaos as students and their instructors wondered how future doctors in our State would have access to the full slate of training necessary to safely practice obstetrics and gynecology.

The overturning of Roe put those medical schools' accreditations on the line. It opened the prospect that OB/GYNs might not be trained to provide sometimes lifesaving abortion care. No matter who you are, the idea that doctors could graduate without the proper training to do their jobs and save lives should scare all of us.

We also saw prospective students who might otherwise be attracted to our top-tier research institutions reconsider starting their careers in Wisconsin. We saw a downtick of OB/GYN residents interested in coming to our State. And while it is disheartening to say, can you blame them? Why would you want to start a career in a State that restricts you from doing your job and prevents your patients from exercising their right to control their own bodies?

That is why last year I introduced my Reproductive Health Care Training Act, commonsense legislation to support training for healthcare providers in abortion care, including for providers forced to travel out of State due to abortion restrictions.

My bill with Senator Murray would help ease the burden of travel costs for eligible medical programs to expand and support education for students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians in States that allow comprehensive training in abortion care.

Our legislation would also help ensure that medical programs accommodating an influx of students have the resources they need to provide training to students who must travel across State lines to complete their education.

The reality of post-Roe America is that there are still countless places in the United States where medical students cannot access training in comprehensive reproductive care. The Reproductive Health Care Training Act will ensure future doctors can meet the needs of their patients and provide safe care, especially in States like Wisconsin that have abortion restrictions.

Every woman, no matter where she lives, deserves access to comprehensive reproductive care. The Reproductive Health Care Training Act will ensure America's future doctors are able to provide the sometimes lifesaving care Americans deserve.

So as in legislative session, and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 2024, the Reproductive Health Care Training Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Yet again my Republican colleagues have sent a clear message to women across America. They don't think women should have the right to control their bodies.

This bill would have ensured more women could access the safe reproductive care that they need and deserve, including sometimes lifesaving abortion care.

Instead, my colleagues have turned their back on the millions of women in States where abortion is restricted. They have turned their backs on millions of women who are increasingly struggling to find OB/ GYN care in their community. They have turned their back on OB/GYN residents and students who just want to learn how to care for their patients.

Without access to training and comprehensive reproductive care for our doctors, more women in States like my own will live in healthcare deserts, without the care they need to stay healthy, start a family, and get screenings for cancer and other serious illnesses.

My Reproductive Health Care Training Act would have ensured America's future doctors have the training they need to provide safe care, especially in States that have abortion restrictions.

This fight is not over, and I am in it for as long as it takes to restore a woman's freedom to make her own decisions about her health, her family, and her future.

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate A.O. Smith Corporation on the occasion of their 150th anniversary.

In 1874, A.O. Smith began in Milwaukee, WI, as a small family business. Over the past century and a half, they have grown from their humble roots. They began by specializing in the fabrication of metal hardware specialties and have emerged today as an industry leading global water technology manufacturer producing residential and commercial water heaters, boilers, and water purification equipment. Today, they employ more than 12,000 people across the world and conduct business in over 60 countries.

The company was instrumental in helping to usher in the automobile revolution, developing a new, lightweight steel car frame--a development that caught the interest of major car companies including Peerless, Cadillac, Packard, Oldsmobile, and Ford. Ford's initial order of 10,000 frames led A.O. Smith to develop the world's first mass production process for assembling frames, later introducing the world's first automated frame production line. This first fully automated frame assembly plant came to be known as the Mechanical Marvel due to the line's ability to make a frame every 8 seconds--10,000 frames a day. A.O. Smith was also a large component manufacturer that supplied parts to another early Wisconsin pioneering manufacturer, Harley-Davidson.

A.O. Smith engineers discovered an improved method for welding, allowing for the production of a wide range of steel products. This included the pressure vessel for oil refining and large diameter steel pipe, important components in the oil and natural gas industries.

One of the company's most important and enduring innovations was the process of fusing glass to steel. By perfecting this process, the company developed a range of new products, including glass-lined beer kegs, glass-lined brewery tanks, and glass-lined residential water heaters. Glass-lined water heaters rapidly became an industry standard that endures today and led to A.O. Smith's growth as a global leader in water heating products. These products now include industry leading models that are consistently among the most efficient in the market according to the ENERGY STAR program.

In recent years, A.O. Smith has emerged as an industry leader in developing technologies that address drinking water quality challenges. A cofounding member of the Water Council, A.O. Smith has helped ensure Milwaukee's place as a global water technology hub, while supporting economic development in Wisconsin. The Water Council helped bring about the creation of the Global Water Center, which houses water-related business accelerators and research facilities where engineers conduct controlled testing on water purification products sold around the world. Bringing together their work has helped transform Milwaukee into a world hub for water research, education, and economic development.

I am proud to recognize A.O. Smith as an industry leader, and I share my best wishes with the company and their employees for their continued success.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the life and exceptional career of Michael Lovell, president of Marquette University, who died on June 9, 2024 at the age of 57. Mr. Lovell's passing has deeply impacted not only the Marquette University community, but also the entire State of Wisconsin.

Mr. Lovell was born in 1967, and from a young age, he excelled in academics. Lovell earned a bachelor of science, master of science, and PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. However, his commitment to science did not end there. Lovell authored over 100 articles in engineering journals, contributed to 12 book chapters, and collaborated on a book titled ``Tribology for Scientists and Engineers.'' As a researcher, he spearheaded investigations securing nearly $30 million in research grants from various sources, including foundations, corporations, and government entities like the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education. His work yielded multiple technological advancements, resulting in the acquisition of 7 patents and 14 provisional patents. In recognition of his contributions, Lovell was formally inducted into the National Academy of Inventors.

In 2008, Mr. Lovell arrived in Milwaukee to serve as the dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lovell went on to serve as the interim chancellor of UWM and then secured the permanent position in 2011. Just a few years later, in 2014, Lovell was presented with the opportunity to take on the role of Marquette's president. He stated, ``It became clear to me I was called to Milwaukee six years ago to become Marquette's president. It was never really my plan, but I'm just glad I decided to follow it.''

Michael Lovell's decade-long stewardship of Marquette University exemplified a profound commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and community development, all rooted in the Jesuit values that guided his leadership. His tenure as Marquette's first lay president marked a transformative era for the institution, characterized by tireless dedication to its mission and the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.

Beyond the confines of academia, Michael Lovell's influence extended into the fabric of Milwaukee itself. His collaborative spirit and vision for partnership brought together diverse stakeholders to address pressing societal challenges and drive economic growth in our communities. From his instrumental role in establishing the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, to his advocacy for initiatives tackling issues like poverty and psychological trauma, Lovell's legacy as a catalyst for positive change will endure for generations to come.

Yet, amidst his professional achievements, Michael Lovell's personal journey stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and unwavering courage. His brave battle against cancer, fought with remarkable strength and dignity, serves as an inspiration to all who knew him. Even in the face of adversity, he remained steadfast in his commitment to serving others, leaving an indelible mark on those whose lives he touched.

As we mourn the loss of Michael Lovell, let us also celebrate his enduring legacy and the profound impact he made on Marquette University, the city of Milwaukee, and beyond. May his memory serve as a guiding light for all who strive to follow in his footsteps, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, compassion, and the common good.

Madam President, I rise to recognize the Center for Black Excellence and Culture, which will break ground in Madison this year on Juneteenth National Independence Day. I wish also to acknowledge the many community leaders who have worked tirelessly to make the Center a reality.

The Center for Black Excellence and Culture was founded by Reverend Doctor Alex Gee who has been a fierce advocate for Madison's African- American community for more than 30 years. The Center will unite and uplift Madison's African-American community by providing a space for entrepreneurial exploration, cultural engagement, and celebration.

Rev. Dr. Gee and his board of directors have joined with other community leaders to raise over $28 million for the project. Now that they have reached their goal, they will begin construction on June 19, 2024. The decision to break ground on Juneteenth was an intentional and powerful one.

The new Black inspired and designed building will sit on 3.5 acres of land and will include many commercial spaces, including an art gallery and theatre space. Rev. Dr. Gee has convened a powerhouse team of Black leaders and hundreds of diverse Black voices to shape the Center. These leaders will support thousands of students through mentorship and professional development and teach students about African-American history and culture to inspire and advance the Black community in Madison and beyond.

The Center will also include a space dedicated to Rev. Dr. Gee's mother, Ms. Verline Gee, who served the Madison community for decades as a mentor, poet, social worker, and faith leader. Ms. Gee's story is one of strength and perseverance. She was born in Mississippi and worked alongside her parents as a migrant farmer in her youth. As a child she moved to the Midwest eventually making her way to Madison. Throughout her life, Ms. Gee was always passionate about education. She was one of the inaugural students to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Black Studies Program. The Center for Black Excellence and Culture will honor the memory of Ms. Gee and all other African-American community members who have contributed so much to Madison.

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to dismantle deep-rooted systems of racial injustice. While strides have been made, the African-American community continues to face significant systemic injustices. Across Wisconsin, African-American families are five times more likely than White families to experience poverty and 61 percent of all African-American households in Dane County live near or below the poverty line. The presence of these injustices makes the Center for Black Excellence all the more critical.

True freedom requires liberty and equity for all. The Center for Black Excellence and Culture will contribute to this mission and serve as a model for other cities to follow.

As the Center for Black Excellence breaks ground this Juneteenth, I honor the accomplishments of Rev. Dr. Gee, the Center's board of directors, the memory of Ms. Verline Gee and all the community leaders, past and present, who made the Center a reality.