[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Peggy Whitson

  So, today, I pay tribute to an outstanding Iowan who celebrated her 
65th birthday February 9. An astronaut and patriotic American, Peggy 
Whitson has never stopped reaching for the stars.
  Her hometown is located in Ringgold County. That community of 
Beaconsfield--its community building--is also the birthplace of another 
Iowan icon, the Hy-Vee supermarket, famous in about seven Midwestern 
States.
  Peggy Whitson spent 675 days in space, more than any other American 
astronaut or woman in the world. This year, she is heading right back 
to space for a historic fifth space mission.
  By all accounts, she is driven to help humanity. We don't often think 
about space travel as helping humanity, but she does it--from tracking 
cancer cell growth to developing therapies that save and extend the 
quality of life here on Earth. So there is something very heavenly that 
has some earthly good.
  This U.S. Senator is proud to wish my fellow Iowan Peggy happy 
birthday. Peggy, may you continue to defy gravity and achieve stellar 
good things for many years to come. And I am sure she will.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                  Recognition of the Majority Leader.

  The majority leader is recognized.