[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 14 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO MADISON MARSH

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate 2nd 
Lieutenant Madison Marsh on being selected as Miss America 2024. 
Lieutenant Marsh is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, currently 
pursuing a master's in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and 
represented the State of Colorado in the national pageant. Although she 
is now famous across the country, she is best known in Arkansas as a 
native of Fort Smith, and our State is proud of her achievements.
  Marsh is the first Active-Duty member of the military to win the Miss 
America crown, and she is already setting a tremendous example for 
young women nationwide with a desire to make a difference. Her aptitude 
in the field of aerospace and her commitment to military and civic 
service is an example for us all. Marsh grew up in Fort Smith as a 
hard-working student, athlete, and community leader. She excelled in 
the classroom while participating in numerous extracurricular 
activities including cheering at Southside High School, pursuing her 
private pilot's license, and working toward her black belt in 
Taekwondo. She has been an inspiration to her friends, family and 
residents of her hometown for many years.
  Her life was altered forever when her mother passed away from 
pancreatic cancer in 2018. Despite the tragedy she and her family 
experienced, Marsh persevered in her goals, honoring her mother along 
the way. Marsh turned her grief into action with the creation of the 
Whitney Marsh Foundation. As president and founder, Marsh has already 
raised more than a quarter-million dollars for research with her 
leadership team at the foundation and brought her voice to this cause 
in the Halls of Congress. In addition to her public policy studies, she 
is also a graduate intern at the Harvard Medical School, contributing 
to efforts to use artificial intelligence to detect pancreatic cancer.
  Having graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2023 with a degree in 
physics, she was selected for pilot training, which is scheduled to 
begin after completion of her master's program, with the goal of 
becoming an Air Force fighter pilot. She has commented in recent 
interviews that she became interested in aeronautics at a young age and 
set about doing what was necessary to become a pilot. Her hard work and 
a passion for aeronautics and space led her to the U.S. Air Force 
Academy, where she shined. During her time at USAFA, Lieutenant Marsh 
was honored as a two-time National Astronaut Scholar, eight-time Dean's 
List honoree, named to the Superintendent's List three times, and 
interned with NASA for gamma-ray burst research.
  As a native of Fort Smith and the chair of the U.S. Senate Air Force 
Caucus, I am proud that Madison Marsh is representing her community, 
her State, and our Nation's armed forces with dignity and excellence. I 
wish her the best of luck during her reign as Miss America and 
continued success in her career of service with the U.S. Air 
Force.

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