[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2283-S2284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ALLOWING SENATORS' YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE SENATE FLOOR

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on Monday April 9, 2018, at 7:07 a.m., a 
tiny little message to the Senate arrived: Maile Pearl Bowlsbey became 
the very first baby born to a Senator, bringing joy to her father Bryan 
and to her amazing mother, my colleague, Illinois Senator Tammy 
Duckworth.
  With this blessed arrival, this Chamber faced the reality of Senate 
parenthood. And tonight, just moments ago, we made the decision to 
allow Maile to help us make Senate history. Tonight we changed the 
standing rules of the Senate so that Senator Duckworth, and any other 
Senator who has an infant, can bring their child to the floor of the 
Senate during a vote.
  Senator Duckworth can keep her responsibility under our Constitution 
and vote as a Senator without giving up her responsibility as a mom at 
that moment.
  I think it will do us good in the Senate every once in a while to see 
a pacifier next to the antique ink wells on our desks or a diaper bag 
next to one of these brass spittoons which sits on the floor--thank 
goodness, never used. Perhaps, the occasional cry of a baby will shock 
the Senate at times into speaking up and even crying out on the issues 
that confront our Nation and the world.
  We certainly revere history in the Senate, but part of our history is 
recognizing change--the change that brought the first woman to the 
Senate, the change that brought disabled people to the floor of the 
Senate, and changes that will come to it in the future. These 
adaptations have made us a better Senate and more reflective of the 
people we serve.
  I just can't say enough about my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth, 
an amazing woman who served her country, activated in the Illinois 
National Guard as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. When a grenade was shot 
into the cockpit and blew up and caused her grievous injuries, many 
people wondered if she would survive. She not only survived, but she 
prospered. She is determined and brave. She now is the mother of two 
little girls--something just short of a miracle--and that motherhood is 
something that is a source of great joy to all of us who count Tammy as 
a friend and a colleague and a great leader in the Senate.
  Let me also give special recognition to two of my colleagues who made 
this resolution possible. Senator Amy Klobuchar worked closely with 
Tammy

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Duckworth on this issue and is our ranking Democrat on the Senate Rules 
Committee. Amy put in a lot of hours and good humor, and I thank her 
from the bottom of my heart for helping our colleague. And special 
thanks to Senator Roy Blunt, the Republican chairman of the Senate 
Rules Committee. Roy Blunt told me from the start: I support this 
resolution. It will come right out of the Rules Committee to the floor 
so we can move on it quickly. When Tammy Duckworth returns from 
maternity leave, we will be able to accommodate her little girl and, if 
it becomes necessary, to bring her to the floor during the course of a 
vote.
  Let me close by saying that today we officially say to Maile Pearl 
Bowlsbey: Welcome to the world and welcome to the U.S. Senate.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, let me, first of all, join my friend from 
Illinois in this tribute he is making to Tammy and the baby. I do have 
to correct him on one thing, however. He talked about diaper bags. They 
don't use diaper bags anymore. They are disposable diapers. I know 
because I have 20 kids and grandkids. But I agree with the Senator's 
remarks wholeheartedly.

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