Tammy Baldwin

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an enormous step forward for our country, which happened earlier this week, on Monday. Once again, on a morning during Pride Month, our Nation came closer to realizing the promise of equality for lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, and the queer community. The Supreme Court has made it clear that workplace discrimination against LGBTQ people is wrong, and our Nation's civil rights laws prohibit it. While this is a joyous day and a joyous week, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the untold number who have suffered in this country for years without recourse. I want to recognize those brave LGBTQ people who received pink slips, were passed over for promotions, suffered harassment and bullying in break rooms, or never got that initial interview--all simply because of who they are or whom they loved. I particularly want to thank the plaintiffs who brought these cases: Gerald Bostock, Aimee Stephens, and Donald Zarda, as well as the families and friends and lawyers who supported them. Sadly, Aimee and Donald did not live to see this transformative moment for our country and our community, but we will remember them and honor the efforts that they and so many others have made to get us here. We will commit ourselves to continuing to push forward for full equality for them. On Monday, the Supreme Court affirmed what many Federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and so many of us have recognized for years--that title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is properly understood to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As Justice Gorsuch wrote for the majority: Today, we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear. An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions that it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids. This decision is far from radical, but it is transformative. It means that at long last in every corner of this Nation, in big cities and small towns, LGBTQ people are waking up in a fairer country. They now know that they have recourse if an employer discriminates against them simply because of who they are or whom they love. Employers know unambiguously that they have an obligation in every State to judge all of their employees on merit, not sexual orientation or gender identity. While we have taken another big step forward--and it is a big step-- in the march toward full equality for LGBTQ Americans, we are not there yet. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people face discrimination in many more aspects of their lives than the workplace. Our country needs to send the message that treating people unfairly because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is wrong and that it will not be tolerated, period, whether that is while buying a house, going out to dinner, shopping in a store, serving on a jury, or seeking help from a government program. While the Court told us on Monday that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is necessarily sex discrimination, those cases were about employment. While I would expect that any administration would now take a long, hard look at its wrong-headed efforts--based on the legal arguments that the Supreme Court has just rejected--to write LGBTQ people out of sex discrimination protections in education, healthcare, and other areas, I do not have confidence that this administration is going to do so. There are areas of Federal civil rights law, such as those governing public accommodations and Federal financial assistance, which don't even yet prohibit discrimination based on sex. That is why the Senate must take up and pass the Equality Act. Senators Merkley, Collins, Booker, and I introduced this bipartisan measure to ensure that LGBTQ people have the same nondiscrimination protections as other Americans by adding sexual orientation and gender identity alongside all protected characteristics, such as race and religion, to existing Federal laws. It would ban discrimination in a host of areas, including housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit and Federal funding, as well as employment. The bill would also strengthen our civil rights laws by adding protections against sex discrimination to the Federal laws where they have not been included previously, including those addressing public accommodations and Federal funding. More than a year ago, a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives passed the Equality Act. Unfortunately, like so many other pieces of legislation that would improve the lives of the American people, it has been ignored by the Senate majority leader and placed in his legislative graveyard. The Equality Act cannot be ignored any longer by the Senate, and LGBTQ people should not have to wait any longer to enjoy the full protections of our Nation's civil rights laws. I urge the Senate to build on the Supreme Court's decision and act today to bring our Nation closer to the promise of equality by passing the Equality Act. Finally, I want to close by acknowledging the extraordinary moment in which our Nation finds itself today. Thousands upon thousands are demanding the country confront racial injustices and systemic racism. They rightfully call for change, and they righteously call for change, and it is my hope that Congress will take an important step in righting some of those wrongs by passing the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 without delay. We must do so much more, and today I am keenly aware of the Black and Brown LGBTQ people who experience discrimination and injustice in this country--not just because of sexual orientation or gender identity but also because of race or ethnicity. As we approach another anniversary of the Stonewall riots that sparked the modern LGBTQ movement for equality, I am also mindful of the leadership of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, transgender women of color, in that historic moment. I hope the brave, courageous legacy of these leaders and the urgent needs of Black and Brown LGBTQ people would inspire us to take another step to strengthen the civil rights for all Americans and pass the Equality Act. I now yield to my colleague from Michigan, Senator Stabenow.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Milele Chikasa Anana, who passed away on May 6, 2020, at the age of 86. An activist, businesswoman, public servant, publisher, mentor, and change-maker, she was a dynamic force in Madison for over 50 years, helping to shape the community for the better and light the torch of many young leaders working to improve the lives of the city's African- American community. Milele was born and raised in Oklahoma, went to college in Alabama and Indiana, and lived in Boston before making Madison, WI, her home in 1968 with her husband Jim. By that time, she had started a career in computer technology and worked for the NAACP, organizing in Boston for the educational rights of Black students. Milele continued to develop her civic engagement and leadership in her early years in Madison when she was elected to the Madison School Board in 1974. She was the first African American to serve on a school board anywhere in the State. In another first--also in 1974--Milele became the first African- American affirmative action officer for the city of Madison, a post she would hold for 5 years. Under her determined and steadfast advocacy, the city made significant changes to its hiring practices to better recruit and hire candidates of color, particularly in the police department. She also addressed the lack of diversity on the city's boards and commissions, bringing new perspective to bodies that were at the time dominated by White men. Milele established the Women's Issues Committee and the Minority Affairs Committee, giving employees of color and female employees a greater voice. She was known to call out city leaders when she saw injustice or inadequate progress and kept them focused on the mission of her agency. Her impact as affirmative action office is far-reaching to this very day. Later in her career, Milele worked as interim director of the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission and was a founder of the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, building its directory of Black-owned business and establishing Black Restaurant Week. She has been an active member and mentor to many organizations including the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumni Chapter, the Greater Madison Urban League, NAACP of Dane County, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Milele Chikasa Anana is perhaps best known for her leadership of UMOJA Magazine, Wisconsin's oldest black magazine. From 1990 to 2018, Milele served as editor and publisher, growing it from a 2-page newsletter to a 52-page monthly publication. Milele used UMOJA to celebrate the accomplishments and showcase the good deeds of Black leaders, community members, business owners, and youth. Yet, despite these significant accomplishments, ``Ms. Milele'' or ``Mother Milele,'' as many called her, will be remembered most dearly as a dedicated mentor. Many influential African Americans have credited her with demonstrating the passion and persuasion that led to their success as leaders. Countless others looked to her as a role model who inspired them to join the fight for equal rights. While small in stature, Milele leaves behind an enormous legacy. As a mother of 5, grandmother of 13, and great grandmother of 4, her character lives on as the matriarch of a loving family. Her tenacity and determination live on in each young person she encouraged and each leader she challenged to do better. I know I will think of Milele every time I see the pride of accomplishment in a young African-American woman's eyes. I consider myself lucky to have known Milele, and I am grateful that the depth of her spirit will continue to guide Madison toward a brighter, more just future.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and achievements of Mr. Roshell ``Mike'' Anderson, acclaimed journalist for 36 years with the Milwaukee-based television station, WISN-12. Mike was born in Bogalusa, LA, in 1952 and raised in New Orleans. New Orleans' rich musical culture inspired Mike's life-long passion for R&B that landed him twice on the R&B soul charts in the 1970s with ``Snake out of Green Grass'' and ``Grapevine will Lie Sometimes.'' His musical accomplishments continued into the early 1990s and helped spawn a unique brand of journalistic storytelling. Mike attended Louisiana State University and the Career Academy School of Broadcast Journalism in Atlanta, GA. He started his career as a disc jockey in various Atlanta radio stations in 1970 and got his start in television in Seattle, WA, in 1979. When Mike took the job at WISN in Milwaukee in 1981, he planned to stay 3 years. He retired from the station 36 years later in 2017. Mike's journalism career spanned nearly four decades and six U.S. Presidencies. He was proud to have interviewed Richard Nixon, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. But Mike's most powerful work involved telling powerful and moving stories about the Milwaukee community. He is perhaps best known for his two award-winning documentaries on inner-city violence, ``Children in the Line of Fire'' and ``Solutions to Violence.'' Five years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Mike returned to his home city to cover the city's devastation and its slow process of rehabilitation. Through his interviews with local residents, Mike found stories of hope, resilience, and many sobering reminders that much work was left to be done. As always, Mike brought his unique style of warmth, kindness, and optimism to even the darkest issues and events. After breaking racial and class barriers, he mentored other journalists of color and worked to celebrate their success through his work with the Wisconsin Black Media Association and Milwaukee's annual Black Excellence Awards. Mike's straightforward style and commitment to fairness led to a deep sense of trust on the part of his viewers. He will long be remembered for telling the stories of Milwaukee honestly and with a deep connection to the community. Mike Anderson's most lasting legacy, however, is that he was beloved by the Milwaukee community for not only being a great reporter people could trust, he was a good person whose kindness will be missed.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. Eugene Albert Kane, a renowned, passionate, and fearless journalist who for more than 30 years spoke truth to power and forced his readers to confront the uncomfortable realities of racism and injustice in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, and in America. Eugene was born to Eugene Albert Kane, Sr., and Hattie (Freeman) Kane. He grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University where he majored in journalism and minored in Black studies. In 1984, Eugene moved to Milwaukee to take a job with the Milwaukee Journal, the precursor to today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. There, he wrote what would become a very well-known column, ``Raising Kane.'' The title's insinuation of stirring the pot and causing what civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis has termed ``good trouble,'' was indeed, intentional. His early personal experiences with discrimination shaped his passion for equality and his need to speak publicly about racism. His grandfather, seriously ill with pneumonia, died after being turned away from hospital emergency rooms because of the color of his skin. As a teenager attending a mostly White school, Eugene remembered a fellow student he considered a friend, who taunted and berated him with vile racist insults. Racism followed him into his professional life as well. He recounted times when it was next to impossible to obtain interviews from people in mostly White settings and was even falsely accused of being part of a pickpocket scheme while covering the Green Bay Packers in 1997 during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans. These experiences and others inspired him to give voice to the systematic racism saw and the lack of economic opportunities facing African Americans in Milwaukee and the country. Rather than shying away from the unvarnished truth of racism and social injustice in America, he walked right towards it, pen and notebook in hand. As a Black journalist who elevated the voice of Black Milwaukee in a column read predominantly by a White audience, Eugene's work garnered irritation as well as praise. Even a fellow Wisconsin journalist wondered out loud why the Journal Sentinel would ``give this guy a soap box?'' He took hateful responses to his column in stride, viewing them as proof his words were landing exactly where they needed to. In fact, he took pride in motivating people to care enough about an issue to disagree with him. A greater number of readers and colleagues, however, were motivated to praise his work. In 2014, he was inducted into both the Wisconsin Media Hall of Fame and the Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame. In 1992, he was awarded the Knight Fellowship at Stanford University. He also received national recognition, winning first place for Best General Column from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2000 and two first-place National Headliner Awards for Best Local Interest Column in 2001 and 2003. His accomplishments and contributions went beyond the written word. He hosted ``Black Nouveau'' on Milwaukee Public Television from 2002- 2006, taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University, and served as president of the Wisconsin Black Media Association in 2002. I am forever grateful that Eugene shared his important perspective throughout his long, storied career. Each step of the way he demonstrated the courage to tell the truth and shine a light on the injustices that were more comfortably left unspoken. This is a true testament to the value he served Wisconsin as a journalist. Eugene was a vital and honest voice for the Milwaukee community. Call him an agitator if you must. I don't believe he would have it any other way. He said and wrote and needed to be heard and read. Eugene Kane will be missed by so many, but what he said and the words of wisdom he wrote will not be forgotten to us. They should be, and will be carried on

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, in 2012, the good people of Wisconsin elected me to work for them in the Senate. Like every one of my fellow Senators, I took an oath of office. In 2018, I was reelected and I took that same oath. We have all taken that oath. It is not to support and defend the President--this President or any other. Our oath is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That is our job every day that we come to work, and it certainly is our job here today. Just over 2 weeks ago, we all stood together right here and we took another oath given to us by Chief Justice Roberts to do impartial judgment in this impeachment trial. I have taken this responsibility very seriously. I have listened to both sides make their case. I have reviewed the evidence presented and I have carefully considered the facts. From the beginning, I have supported a full, fair, and honest impeachment trial. A majority of this Senate has failed to allow it. I supported the release of critical evidence that was concealed by the White House. The other side of the aisle let President Trump hide it from us, and they voted to keep it a secret from the American people. I voted for testimony of relevant witnesses with direct, firsthand evidence about the President's conduct. Senate Republicans blocked witness testimony because they didn't want to be bothered with the truth. Every Senate impeachment trial in our Nation's history has included witnesses, and this Senate trial should have been no different. Unfortunately, it was. A majority of the Senate has taken the unprecedented step of refusing to hear all the evidence, declining all the facts, denying the full truth about this President's corrupt abuse of power. President Trump has obstructed Congress, and this Senate will let him. Last month, President Trump's former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, provided an unpublished manuscript to the White House. The recent media reports about what Ambassador Bolton could have testified to, had he not been blocked as a witness, go to the heart of this impeachment trial--abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. As reported, in early May 2019, there was an Oval Office meeting that included President Trump, Mick Mulvaney, Pat Cipollone, Rudy Giuliani, and John Bolton. According to Mr. Bolton, the President directed him to help with his pressure campaign to solicit assistance from Ukraine to pursue investigations that would not only benefit President Trump politically but would act to exonerate Russia from their interference in our 2016 elections. Several weeks later, the U.S. Department of Defense certified the release of military aid to Ukraine, concluding that they had taken substantial actions to decrease corruption. This was part of the security assistance we approved in Congress with bipartisan support to help Ukraine fight Russian aggression. However, President Trump blocked it and covered it up from Congress. On July 25, 2019, as President Trump was withholding the support for Ukraine, he had a telephone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Based on a White House call summary memo that was released 2 months later, we all know the President put his own political interest ahead of our national security and the integrity of our elections. Based on the clear and convincing evidence presented in this trial, we know President Trump used American taxpayer dollars in security assistance in order to get Ukraine to interfere in our elections to help him politically. We know the President solicited assistance from Ukraine to pursue an investigation of phony conspiracy theories about our 2016 U.S. elections that are a part of a Russian disinformation campaign. We know the President solicited assistance from Ukraine to discredit the conclusion by American law enforcement, the U.S. intelligence community, and confirmed by a bipartisan Senate report that Russia interfered with our 2016 elections. We also know President Trump solicited foreign interference in the upcoming election by pressuring Ukraine to publicly announce investigations to help him politically. I ask my friends to consider the fact that the Ukrainian President was pressured and prepared to go on an American cable television network to announce these political investigations. To those who are making the argument to acquit the President because to convict would create further division in our country, I ask you to acknowledge the fact that President Trump's corrupt scheme has given Russia another opening to attack our democracy, interfere in our elections, and further divide our already divided country. We know this to be true, but the Senate is choosing to ignore the truth. As reported just weeks after the Zelensky call, President Trump told Ambassador Bolton in August that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until it helped with the political investigations. Had Ambassador Bolton testified to these facts in this trial, it would have directly contradicted what the President told Senator Johnson in a phone call on August 31, 2019, in which, according to Senator Johnson, the President said: I would never do that. Who told you that? John Bolton not only has direct evidence that implicates President Trump in a corrupt abuse of power, but he has direct evidence that President Trump lied to one of our colleagues in an attempt to cover it up. It may not matter to this Senate, but I can tell you that it matters to the people of the State of Wisconsin that this President did not tell their Senator the truth. Based on the facts presented to us, I refuse to join this President's coverup, and I refuse to conclude that the President's abuse of power doesn't matter, that it is OK, and that we should just get over it. I recognize the courageous public servants who did what this Senate has failed to do--to put our country first. In the House impeachment inquiry, brave government servants came forward and told the truth. They put their jobs on the line. Instead of inspiring us to do our duty--to do our jobs--they have faced character assassination from this President, the White House, and some of my colleagues here in the Senate. It is a disgrace to this institution that they have been treated as anything less than the patriots they are. As Army LTC Alexander Vindman said, ``This is America. Here, right matters.'' My judgment is inspired by these words, and I am guided to my commitment to put country before party and our Constitution first. My vote on the President's abuse of power and obstruction of Congress is a vote to uphold my oath of office and to support and defend the Constitution. My vote is a vote to uphold the rule of law and our uniquely American principle that no one--not even the President--is above the law. I only have 1 of 100 votes in the U.S. Senate, and I am afraid that the majority is putting this President above the law by not convicting him of these impeachable offenses. Let's be clear. This is not an exoneration of President Trump. It is a failure to show moral courage and hold this President accountable. Now every American will have the power to make his or her own judgment. Every American gets to decide what is in our public interest. We the people get to choose what is in our national interest. I trust the American people. I know they will be guided by our common good and the truth. The people we work for know what the truth is, and they know, in America, it matters. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk for both President's counsel and House managers.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Richard ``Rick'' Graham Hill, revered leader of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, whose tireless work on behalf of all Native peoples will be honored, admired, and emulated for generations to come. Rick's work and accomplishments throughout his lifelong dedication to Tribal service were as dynamic as Rick himself. Grandson of Dr. Lillie Rosa Minoka-Hill--only the second indigenous female doctor in America-- Rick was destined to live an exceptional life. Early on, Rick proved to be an elite athlete, earning the title of West De Pere High School Athlete of the Year in 1971. In keeping with Wisconsin tradition, his favorite sport was football. He would later serve as executive producer of a film still in production, entitled ``Bright Path: The Story of Jim Thorpe,'' honoring the NFL Hall-of- Famer and America's first Native athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal. His natural strength and enduring achievements in athletic competition were precursors to the successes that would eventually define his true legacy: his tireless, unbeatable, loving dedication to the advancement of Native communities. At age 23, influenced by his time spent attending Tribal meetings with his father, Rick became the youngest person to serve on Oneida's Tribal Council. He would serve two terms as chairman of the Oneida Nation, from 1990 to 1993 and from 2008 to 2011. His first term brought the first gaming compact between the Oneida Nation and the State of Wisconsin, a major milestone that would reshape the economic future of the Oneida. Gaming to Rick was more than a business venture or a path to profit--the advancement of gaming was the continuation of the fight for the sovereignty, empowerment, and advancement of all Native peoples from coast to coast. Gaming brought revenue for healthcare, employment, education, and a host of other basic services crucial to independence. Not surprisingly, in 1993, while still serving as chairman of the Oneida Nation, Rick became chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, NIGA, a position he would hold until 2001. Rick flourished in this role: he rallied and unified other Native Tribes to the cause, tirelessly traveling to promote Indian gaming both inside the courtroom and in discussions with Governors and U.S. Senators. Even outside of his official service in the Oneida Nation and the NIGA, Rick's entrepreneurial efforts to lift up and diversify Native economies made history. His unique ability to unify Tribes in pursuit of common goals was best exemplified by the creation of Four Fires, LLC. This four-Tribe partnership, the first inter-Tribal economic undertaking of its kind in history, culminated in the creation of a $43 million development located a short walk from our Nation's Capitol and only three blocks from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. This is the first Tribally owned enterprise in Washington, DC. Rick's memory will be kept alive by his three sons, Richard Graham Lo'nikuhliyo'stu, Jr., aka Lotni; Sage McKinney Lolihwaka.te Hill; and Dakota Grahame Tehokahtlu'.ni Hill, as well as the countless many whose lives he touched in immeasurable ways. To all who knew him, Rick will be remembered as a visionary, full of brilliance and fortitude, with the resolve possessed by the few, true champions of our times. He will also be remembered as a calm, quiet presence, generous with his laughter and jokes, with a heart full of devotion to those he served. I will be forever grateful that Rick's legacy will live on in the pride of the Native peoples he championed and forever honored to call him my friend.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a distinguished citizen of Wisconsin, Ronald Alan McCrea, who passed away in Madison on Dec. 14, 2019. McCrea's career included praiseworthy journalism, architectural scholarship on Frank Lloyd Wright, and gay activism. Ron McCrea came from a family of journalists. His grandfather, Archie McCrea, was editor of the Muskegon Chronicle in Michigan, and his father was an editor for the Saginaw News and Toledo Blade. Ron began his journalism career editing his high school paper, the Arthur Hill News. He would also edit the Albion College Pleiad. He worked at the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, the Washington Star, the Long Island Newsday, and the San Jose Mercury News. Ron was one of the outstanding journalists in Madison, where he served as an editor and reporter at the Capital Times from 1970 to 1977 and again from 1998 to 2008. While in Madison, he was also an editor of the Press Connection from 1977 to 1980, the paper that emerged from a newspaper strike that he helped lead. Ron graduated from Albion College in 1965 with a B.A. in political science. He was awarded an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and did further graduate work at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. His gay activism began in the early 1970s when he joined the Wisconsin's first gay rights organization, the Madison Alliance for Homosexual Equality, MAHE, which was founded in the fall of 1969 after the Stonewall Riots. Ron participated in panels that the early Gay Center sent out to classes on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. In line with his labor activism, he successfully lobbied for the Newspaper Guild to include nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its model contract used throughout the Nation. When elected in 1982, Governor Anthony Earl asked Ron to serve as his press secretary. Because of his advocacy, one of the State's major papers headlined the appointment of an ``Avowed Homosexual.'' Earl refused McCrea's offer to withdraw the appointment as too controversial. During his journalism career, Ron McCrea became the chronicler of some unique LGBT history in the Madison area. One of his earliest efforts included stories on the hidden 1962 Gay Purge at the UW- Madison. He also contributed many unique items to the LGBT Collection of the UW-Madison Archives. Ron loved a good story and entertained many of his friends with his delightful skill in presenting a tale. He had a deep love of music and was known for singing with Madison choral groups and tripping the ivories at the piano bar at Going My Way. Ron is survived by his wife of 26 years, Elaine DeSmidt, and his stepson, Benjamin DeSmidt. Elaine, described as his partner, passion and love, was also involved in public life as an elected member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Ron McCrea was an accomplished storyteller, a humorous character, and a courageous pioneer. He leaves behind a legacy of humble but bold encouragement of the gay community. I am proud to honor his unflinching advocacy, personal kindness, and steadfast leadership.

Ms. BALDWIN

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

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 6 minutes.

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today with great pride to recognize and honor my chief of staff and dear friend Bill Murat, who will retire at the end of this year after 21 years of working in Congress. It is a rare thing in Washington to work side by side with the same person for more than 20 years. So on the eve of your retirement, Bill, I want to share a few words about how much you have meant to me and the countless others you have encountered during your long and storied career. Bill Murat is a proud son of Stevens Point, WI. He graduated from high school and college there, earned his GD from UW Law School and his MBA from Columbia University. Civically engaged since his youth, he served as district attorney for Portage County, WI, prior to his election to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1994. It was there that Bill and I developed a friendship as colleagues in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1990s. I found him to be earnest, hard-working, a brilliant strategist, and lovely storyteller. He also knew when to add good humor or a note of levity. I remember fondly one night, during a midnight session of the assembly, when Bill and I and a few of our Republican colleagues were on the floor waiting for a vote while many of our colleagues were still in their respective caucuses trying to hash out an agreement on an issue. Being a big fan of Broadway, Bill was reflecting on how this moment felt like a particular song from the musical ``Oklahoma.'' There, on the floor of the Wisconsin State Assembly, while in recess in the wee hours, on a bipartisan basis, he broke out in song, singing: ``The farmer and the cowman should be friends.'' Because this is a speech about Bill Murat, this will not be the last time I mention show tunes. After I was elected to the House of Representatives, Bill came to work with me, first, as my district director and then, starting in 2001, as my chief of staff. Bill's steady hand of leadership has helped me weather the storms Washington brings and stay focused on what matters most--the people we serve in Wisconsin. I remember the days after September 11, 2001. It was chaotic, weighty, and, frankly, a scary time in Washington and across our Nation. I had to get back to Wisconsin, but planes were still grounded. So Bill walked into my office and simply said: ``Need a ride?'' So, together, we made that 14-hour trip home from Washington, DC, to Madison, WI, noting the American flags that were hung from nearly every highway bridge we passed under and considering the gravity of the new world we were seeing emerge. Bill has been by my side for the highs and the lows of my time in Congress. I am so proud of what we have done together, working to do right by the people of Wisconsin and to pass on to the next generation a country that is more equal, not less. His generosity of spirit extends to every constituent in Wisconsin, every colleague in Congress, and every staffer who has worked for him. His door is always open, and he has been a mentor to so many people who have worked in the Baldwin offices over the years. In fact, I know there are several former staff members of mine who have Bill to thank for their love of Broadway, since he used to host ``Better Living through Show Tunes'' as evening staff events. To be honest, I am still jealous that these show tune nights always happened after ``wheels up'' and I was headed home to Wisconsin. On a more serious note, Bill is a fierce advocate and ardent supporter of our Team Tammy family. He has led by example, encouraging young people to pursue their passions, doling out career advice to those who need it and listening to the concerns of others, whether they are a Senate employee or a Wisconsinite looking for some assistance. Bill has spent over three decades working on behalf of the great State of Wisconsin. He and I have accomplished much together. I would not be here today without him, and I am grateful for his friendship. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the years of service, and I wish him the most fabulous retirement. appropriations

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I am disappointed to see my Republican colleague again object to the legislation that will help more Americans access quality, private health insurance, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program. This is especially harmful to families in rural communities who already lack access to in-person assistance for shopping and enrolling in quality, affordable health insurance coverage. So let me lay plain for everyone what we are seeing here from the Republicans and this administration. Today, the Republicans objected to passing my ENROLL Act, which would provide funding for healthcare enrollment assistance to help people find high-quality, affordable plans that would actually meet their healthcare needs. Today, the Republicans objected to passing my legislation to stop the expansion of junk insurance plans that don't even have to cover people with preexisting health conditions. The Republicans are working to make it harder for one to sign up for high-quality, affordable healthcare. This administration is encouraging Americans to buy junk insurance plans that don't provide the health coverage that they need and that can deny coverage to people who have preexisting health conditions. Finally, the Republicans and the Trump administration are supporting a lawsuit that would overturn the entire Affordable Care Act and take healthcare away from literally millions of American families. The choice for the American people could not be clearer. I am working with my Democratic colleagues to help make things better for the American people. Sadly, the Senate Republicans are helping the Trump administration make things worse. I will not give up this fight. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, obviously, I am disappointed with the objection. I would point out that these junk plans are often called short-term plans, but the change that was made by this administration was to go from a 3-month sort of transition plan that, as my colleague indicates, could be used when one changes employment or other short-term use, and now they are available and renewable for up to 3 years. These plans do not preserve the protections under the Affordable Care Act to cover people with preexisting health conditions and essential health benefits. You don't have to take my word for it. We can read directly from the fine print on the actual plans that are being debated. One of these junk plans from Companion Life, which is currently available in my home State of Wisconsin, reads: ``This plan has a pre- existing limitation provision that may prevent coverage from applying to medical conditions that existed prior to this plan effective date.'' Another junk plan from Golden Rule says that the plan doesn't comply with the guaranteed essential benefits provided by the Affordable Care Act. To quote directly from the plan, the description reads: ``Even if you have had prior Golden Rule coverage and your preexisting conditions were covered under that plan, they will not be covered under this plan.'' It is abundantly clear that these plans don't cover protections for people with preexisting conditions. The people of Wisconsin did not send me to Washington to take away people's healthcare. I want to protect the guaranteed healthcare coverage that millions of Americans depend on. I want to help more families get the quality, affordable healthcare they need. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1905 Despite the sabotage that I have described from this administration against the Affordable Care Act, in Wisconsin this year, things are getting better with the new Governor. Thanks to strong leadership from Governor Evers and the investments his administration is making, Wisconsinites will have more choices and more affordable rates for quality health insurance plans this year. Wisconsinites in every corner of the State will be able to find healthcare plans this year that include essential benefits like prescription drug coverage, maternity care, emergency room visits, and mental healthcare at more affordable prices. Governor Evers is providing funding for more health insurance navigators and is conducting awareness campaigns in the State so that families in Wisconsin will have the information they need to sign up for quality and comprehensive healthcare plans. That is why enrollment navigators are so important. We need to keep up the funding for navigator programs so that more people can find affordable healthcare plans that meet their needs. Navigators help millions of Americans, including those in rural communities, sign up for quality healthcare coverage. The Governor of Wisconsin understands the importance of navigators, but Washington has failed to step up. Unfortunately, since President Trump took office, his administration has slashed Federal funding for the navigator program by 84 percent. Trusted navigator programs, like those in Wisconsin, have had their funding cut by nearly 75 percent since 2017, meaning fewer people in Wisconsin have received the support they need to obtain affordable coverage. That is why I introduced the ENROLL Act this year with my good friend from Pennsylvania, Senator Casey. This bill restores funding for the navigator program and helps to ensure that Americans have better access to the affordable healthcare coverage that they need and want. The ENROLL Act passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. We should also pass it in the Senate so that Americans can more easily enroll in quality healthcare coverage. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 1905 and that 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague Senator Mark Warner and the entire Senate Democratic caucus to force a vote on his resolution to protect Americans with preexisting health conditions and stop the Trump administration from using American taxpayer dollars to promote junk insurance plans that don't even have to cover people who have preexisting health conditions. The difference between the two sides of the aisle here is really clear. The Senate Republicans have worked with President Trump to pass repeal plans that would take people's healthcare away and allow insurance companies to charge more for people with preexisting health conditions. When their effort failed legislatively, instead of working in a bipartisan way to lower healthcare costs for working families, President Trump and his administration spent 2 years working to sabotage our healthcare system. The Trump administration's sabotage has made it harder for people to sign up for quality, affordable coverage, and there are more Americans who are uninsured today than when President Trump took office. The Trump administration is even in court to support a lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act completely, which will take away guaranteed health protections and raise costs for Americans with preexisting health conditions. If they succeed, insurance companies will again be able to deny coverage or charge higher premiums for nearly 130 million Americans who have preexisting health conditions. Meanwhile, this administration has expanded what we call junk insurance plans. These are plans that can deny coverage to people with preexisting health conditions and don't have to cover essential services like prescription drugs, emergency room visits, and maternity care. I ask my friends on the other side of the aisle to think about this for a moment. President Trump supports overturning the law that provides protections for people with preexisting health conditions while he expands these junk plans that don't provide those protections. This is what the Senate Republicans support. This is their plan. Last year, we forced a vote on my legislation to block President Trump's expansion of junk insurance plans that don't have to cover people with preexisting health conditions. The final vote tally was 50 to 50, with the entire Senate Democratic Caucus and one Senate Republican voting in support of my legislation. Those who say they support healthcare coverage for people with preexisting health conditions should support the No Junk Plans Act. Today, I want to take another vote. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 1556 and that 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today to recognize former Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his election to the Wisconsin State Assembly and the beginning of a remarkable career of public service. Governor Earl is a progressive champion in Wisconsin politics and government. He successfully fought to clean up our polluted waters and protect our environment. He is passionate about building a society where no one is left behind, and he listens to and fights for those whose voices are too often not heard. Anthony Scully Earl was born in St. Ignace, MI, and enjoyed his childhood on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. As the son of a grocery store owner, Tony was influenced by his father's strong work ethic. He took this work ethic with him to Michigan State, where he graduated in 1958. After earning his law degree at the University of Chicago, Tony served our country in the U.S. Navy for 4 years. Following his military service, he moved to Wausau, WI, in 1965 and immediately became an integral part of the community. He served as an assistant district attorney of Marathon County for a year before becoming the first full-time city attorney for Wausau from 1966 to 1969. Following the nomination of Wisconsin Congressman Melvin Laird to serve as Secretary of Defense and the special election of Dave Obey to succeed Laird in Congress, Tony himself was elected to fill Dave Obey's seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Tony was so respected by his colleagues that he was elected majority leader after only 1 year in the assembly. He was later tapped by Governor Patrick Lucey to serve as Secretary of the Department of Administration, followed by service as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. He chaired the Center for Clean Air Policy and directed the Great Lakes Protection Fund. In recognition of his passionate stewardship of Wisconsin's natural beauty and his commitment to environmental protection, the State of Wisconsin recently renamed the Peshtigo State Forest in his honor. In 1982, Tony Earl was elected Governor of Wisconsin. As Governor, Tony was principled, courageous, and bold. He was a passionate advocate for equality, and his leadership had a profound impact, particularly on women. Recognizing that people working in female-dominated fields were often paid less than workers in comparable male-dominated jobs, Tony established a commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the comparable worth of State government jobs and then used that data to establish pay equity for State employees. He led by example and his work informed decisions by other governmental entities and the private sector. Early in my career, I had the privilege of interning in Governor Earl's office, working with his advisor on women's issues, Roberta Gassman. It was an extraordinary opportunity that inspired me to pursue a career in public service. In addition to his advocacy for women, Tony was a trailblazer in the fight for LGBT equality. He was among the first Governors to appoint a liaison to the LGBT community he established the first Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay issues, which provided much needed oversight of anti-discrimination laws that had been recently adopted in Wisconsin. Working for Governor Earl taught me the importance of doing what is right, regardless of political popularity. Tony personifies our strong Wisconsin values of kindness, determination and hard work. I am grateful to Tony Earl for all of his contributions to the State of Wisconsin. I am pleased to join thousands of people across our State in recognizing Tony's dedication to public service and achievements over the past 50 years.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Morris Andrews, a revered champion of teachers, children, and public education in Wisconsin. Morris Andrews was born in Big Rapids, MI, on November 26, 1935. As a talented student athlete, Andrews graduated from Big Rapids High School and went on to play football at Central Michigan University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He earned his master's degree from Indiana University in physical education. Morris taught high school government, coached football, and organized teachers throughout the country. He came to Wisconsin to lead the Wisconsin Education Association Council, WEAC, in 1972, initiating a transformation in the way teachers were valued in the State. Morris brought pride, power, and respectable wages to the teaching profession. After the protracted and bitter Hortonville teachers strike in 1974, Morris helped craft a mediation/arbitration law that replaced the right to strike with collective bargaining. This new way of settling public sector labor disputes ushered in decades of labor peace. Under his leadership, WEAC set the standard for recognizing the importance of teachers in shaping the future for generations of students. As teachers' rights increased, so did graduation rates and test scores. Wisconsin ACT scores rose to the top of the national charts for decades. Morris also initiated advancements in education that are now taken for granted, including uniform graduation requirements, gender equity in school athletics, universal special education programs, school nursing services, and remedial reading programs for underachieving students. Morris never shied away from a fight worth winning. One never had to guess whose side he was on. He knew what was best for teachers, students, and education, and he knew how to get it for them. By organizing and empowering teachers, he shifted the balance of political power in Wisconsin away from well-heeled corporate interests toward K- 12 students, their parents, and the dedicated educators who teach them. When Morris began his tenure in 1972, WEAC had 40,000 members and little involvement in State politics or education policy. When he retired 20 years later, he left a 62,000-member powerhouse with a $10 million budget and a staff of 175 that was a major player in the State legislature and at the ballot box. Morris didn't rest after his retirement from WEAC in 1992. He remained committed to his passions of organizing and advocacy, providing sage advice to candidates of both parties running for office and speaking assertively for those without a voice. Morris also left an indelible mark on the State through his work on behalf of the Urban League of Greater Madison, Fair Wisconsin, and the campaign to build the Monona Terrace Convention Center. There is only one endeavor that surpassed his commitment to teachers, children, and public schools: his dedication to Kris, his wife of 25 years, and his siblings, children, and grandchildren. Beneath his gruff exterior lived a man with a gentle heart who cared deeply about his family, friends, and colleagues. Morris Andrews believed in his heart and soul that a solid education system was the very foundation of a strong democracy. He dedicated his life to ensuring both education and democracy thrived in Wisconsin. His legacy lives on in the successes of generations of leaders educated in Wisconsin public schools. He can rest in peace knowing he indeed made a significant difference.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of nearly 25,000 workers and retirees in Wisconsin who have paid into the Central States Pension Fund. More than 4 years ago, thousands of Wisconsinites started receiving letters in the mail telling them that their pensions--which they had worked for, planned on, and earned--would not be paid out in full as was promised to them. Instead, those letters said their pensions would be slashed by 50 percent, 60 percent, or sometimes 70 percent. Since then, those retirees have organized. They have organized at home. They have called on their Members of Congress. They have come to Washington countless times to remind us of the promises that were made when they earned their pensions and to fight for a solution to the pending crisis. I have been proud to work side-by-side with these Wisconsin workers and retirees, and with my colleague Senator Brown to introduce the Butch Lewis Act. This legislation will put failing multiemployer pension plans, including Central States, back on solid ground, and it does so without cutting the pensions that retirees have earned. It does so without cutting the pensions retirees have earned. This is not just good policy for workers and retirees because putting these pensions back on strong footing would also protect the small businesses that employed them from the threat of closing their doors if these plans are allowed to fail. Compounding this looming crisis is the reality that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, known as the PBGC--the government's insurance for multiemployer pension plans like Central States--is on its own path to insolvency by 2025. This week, I reintroduced legislation to help address the financial challenges of the PBGC. The Pension Stability Act would add funding to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's multiemployer program by imposing a fee on financial firms convicted of financial crimes. This weekend, I was in Endeavor, WI, with retirees who meet once a month at the fire station to update one another on our progress here in Washington. I have been to many, many such meetings like that across the State. In the months since the House passed the Butch Lewis Act, there hasn't been much other progress to speak of. The Senate hasn't taken up the bill, no other proposals have been offered, and all the while, retirees and workers in the Central States Pension Fund continue to doubt their retirement security. Today, I am asking my colleagues in the Senate to join me and pass my Pension Stability Act and to help generate new revenue to help safeguard the retirement security of millions of Americans. If Washington does not act, workers and retirees will face massive cuts to the pensions they have earned over decades of hard work. I have come to the floor many times to remind this body about the retirees--some of whom stand to lose more than 50 percent of their pensions--and still, nothing has been done. So I am here once again to remind my colleagues that this is about a promise that must be kept. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2598 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, my message to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle today is simple: If you will continue to object to my proposal to help shore up the PBGC and the proposals from me and other Democratic colleagues to put failing multiemployer pensions back on solid ground, then please bring up your own plans. Bring your ideas to the table, and let's work together to solve this pension crisis and protect the retirement security of Americans because just objecting to our plans is not an option for the 25,000 workers and retirees I am representing here today. Doing nothing is not an option. If we don't act, we will be breaking a promise made to 1.5 million workers and retirees nationwide. Pension promises must be kept. Once again, I will say Washington needs to act, and we need to do it now. I yield back.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I introduce my legislation today to help shore up the government's insurance plan for these pensions. The Pension Stability Act would add funding to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's multiemployer program by imposing a fee on financial firms that are convicted of financial crimes. This weekend, I was in Endeavor, WI. I was meeting there with retirees who meet once a month at the fire station in order to update one another on the progress here in Washington. In the months since the House passed the Butch Lewis Act, there hasn't been much progress to speak of. The Senate hasn't taken up the bill, and no other proposals have been presented. All the while, retirees and workers in the Central States Pension Fund continue to doubt their retirement security. If Washington does not act, workers and retirees face massive cuts to the pensions they have earned over decades of hard work. I have come to the floor many times over these past 3\1/2\ years to remind this body about the retirees who stand to lose 50 percent--some more than 50 percent--of their pensions if Washington fails to act. Since then, nothing has been done, so I am here to, once again, remind my colleagues that this is about a promise that must be kept. This is about a promise made to Bob Brockway, who stands to lose more than half of his monthly pension. Bob retired in 1999. He has made the trip to Washington to be a part of the solution even though Margie, his wife, would rather he stayed at home. He also organizes the meetings that are held every month in Endeavor. This is about a promise made to Thomas from Hartland, WI. Thomas is a 72-year-old retired semitruck driver and an Army veteran. He is also a cancer patient, and his wife has significant medical bills. Thomas wrote to me this summer. He said: I've put many, much-needed home repairs on hold since this whole mess started. We have had no vacations or any other extravagances since I retired. We did nothing wrong. We paid into Central States and somehow the government dropped the ball. This is about a promise made to Donald and his wife Janet in Beaver Dam, WI. Donald wrote to me to tell me the following: After 25 years working at a company where I earned a pension as part of a wage and benefit package, I retired. I retired four years ago because my body wouldn't let me perform tasks in the factory that could more easily be performed in my younger years. My pension and Social Security allow me to pay for heat, electricity, food and maintenance on my home. A 50 percent reduction in my monthly pension payment would mean we could no longer afford visiting our children or grandchildren, buying Christmas and birthday gifts, or seeing an occasional movie. And without this pension, I doubt we could afford the most basic of household expenditures. This is about a promise made to Mary in Greenfield, WI. Mary wrote to tell me the following: My story is simple. In November 2014, my husband passed away. In December, I learned the bad news about my pension. Worrying all this time has taken its toll. What will I be able to afford? I will probably have to move. I need a new car, but that's on hold. The list goes on. I am turning 70 in a few days and I never thought at this age I would have to worry about how I will survive. If Washington does not act, we will be breaking a promise made to 1.5 million retirees nationwide. Pension promises must be kept. So once again I will say: Washington needs to act, and we need to do it now.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise on behalf of nearly 25,000 workers and retirees in Wisconsin who have paid into the Central States Pension Fund. It has been 3\1/2\ years since the Treasury Department denied an application by the Central States Pension Fund to slash pensions that had already been earned by thousands of plan members. In that time, retirees have organized at home. They have called on their Members of Congress. They have also come to Washington countless times--all to remind us of the promises they were made when they earned their pensions and to fight for a solution to this looming crisis. I have been proud to work side by side with Wisconsin workers and retirees and with Senator Brown to introduce the Butch Lewis Act. This legislation will put failing multiemployer pension plans, including Central States, back on solid ground, and it does so without cutting the pensions retirees have earned. (The remarks of Ms. Baldwin pertaining to the introduction of S. 2598 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

Ms. BALDWIN. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I introduce my legislation today to help shore up the government's insurance plan for these pensions. The Pension Stability Act would add funding to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's multiemployer program by imposing a fee on financial firms that are convicted of financial crimes. This weekend, I was in Endeavor, WI. I was meeting there with retirees who meet once a month at the fire station in order to update one another on the progress here in Washington. In the months since the House passed the Butch Lewis Act, there hasn't been much progress to speak of. The Senate hasn't taken up the bill, and no other proposals have been presented. All the while, retirees and workers in the Central States Pension Fund continue to doubt their retirement security. If Washington does not act, workers and retirees face massive cuts to the pensions they have earned over decades of hard work. I have come to the floor many times over these past 3\1/2\ years to remind this body about the retirees who stand to lose 50 percent--some more than 50 percent--of their pensions if Washington fails to act. Since then, nothing has been done, so I am here to, once again, remind my colleagues that this is about a promise that must be kept. This is about a promise made to Bob Brockway, who stands to lose more than half of his monthly pension. Bob retired in 1999. He has made the trip to Washington to be a part of the solution even though Margie, his wife, would rather he stayed at home. He also organizes the meetings that are held every month in Endeavor. This is about a promise made to Thomas from Hartland, WI. Thomas is a 72-year-old retired semitruck driver and an Army veteran. He is also a cancer patient, and his wife has significant medical bills. Thomas wrote to me this summer. He said: I've put many, much-needed home repairs on hold since this whole mess started. We have had no vacations or any other extravagances since I retired. We did nothing wrong. We paid into Central States and somehow the government dropped the ball. This is about a promise made to Donald and his wife Janet in Beaver Dam, WI. Donald wrote to me to tell me the following: After 25 years working at a company where I earned a pension as part of a wage and benefit package, I retired. I retired four years ago because my body wouldn't let me perform tasks in the factory that could more easily be performed in my younger years. My pension and Social Security allow me to pay for heat, electricity, food and maintenance on my home. A 50 percent reduction in my monthly pension payment would mean we could no longer afford visiting our children or grandchildren, buying Christmas and birthday gifts, or seeing an occasional movie. And without this pension, I doubt we could afford the most basic of household expenditures. This is about a promise made to Mary in Greenfield, WI. Mary wrote to tell me the following: My story is simple. In November 2014, my husband passed away. In December, I learned the bad news about my pension. Worrying all this time has taken its toll. What will I be able to afford? I will probably have to move. I need a new car, but that's on hold. The list goes on. I am turning 70 in a few days and I never thought at this age I would have to worry about how I will survive. If Washington does not act, we will be breaking a promise made to 1.5 million retirees nationwide. Pension promises must be kept. So once again I will say: Washington needs to act, and we need to do it now.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, today I wish to recognize and honor Esther Cody Splitt, on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Her incredible life of ``firsts'' and extraordinary service to her community and country began with her birth in the historic year of 1919, the year women earned the right to vote. With encouragement from her smart and strong-willed Irish mother, Cody grew up in Wausau during the Great Depression, when money for entertainment was nonexistent. Instead of sending Cody to the movies, she told her to go to the county courthouse and watch the lawyers for free. ``Enchanted'' by what she saw, Cody returned home and told her mother she had decided to become a lawyer. Her mother supported her dreams and told her there was ``no reason she could not be a wife, mother and a lawyer, just as a man is a husband, father and lawyer.'' That prescient inspiration became reality when Cody graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School, one of only five women in the class of 1949. Before attending law school, Cody already had a successful career as one of the first women to serve in the U.S. Navy. She said the day she was admitted to the WAVES--Women Accepted for Volunteer Services--was the turning point of her life. Fascinated by politics, Cody was disappointed to learn she was assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. She said to the assigning officer, ``That's lovely, but I really would like to go to Washington, D.C. What do you suppose?'' She was granted assignment to a naval intelligence unit in Washington, DC, where she worked on cracking the Japanese code during World War II. She was quickly promoted to lead her fellow WAVES in Washington, a post where she oversaw the careers and well-being of 200 women. At the end of the war, Cody heard the GI bill would pay for her tuition to law school, a fact she confirmed by going to the Library of Congress and reading the entire bill. Cody married her husband, Harley, also a UW law student, and moved to Appleton after graduation to open the second woman-owned law firm in Outagamie County. It was not easy for even a highly skilled female attorney to attract clients in the 1940s. In fact, her first client walked out of her office upon learning ``Cody Splitt'' was a woman. The scarcity of a client base forced her to close her practice after a year. Undaunted, Cody dedicated herself to her community, serving as a supervisor on the Outagamie County Board, president of the Outagamie County Bar Association, and a member of the American Association of University Women, the Fox Valley Human Rights Council, and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She also held various leadership roles in the Republican Party. She built a thriving law practice from which she retired at the age of 75. Cody has received many well-deserved accolades for her work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Law Journal and a Woman of the Year Award from the National Organization for Women. Her legacy will live on for decades to come through her scholarship and other charitable funds with the Appleton Community Foundation. I am privileged to acknowledge the life and work of Cody Splitt, and on the occasion of her 100th birthday, I wish her good health and happiness for many years to come.