Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. KAINE. Madam President, in all 50 States, young Americans who wish to serve their country send in applications for the high honor of recommendation to a military service academy by their U.S. Representative or either of their U.S. Senators. However, because the District of Columbia is not a State and has no Senators, young people from DC have only a third as many opportunities to be nominated for these academies as Americans from the 50 States have.

This simple bill would ensure that DC gets the same number of academy nominations as States do for the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy. This bill originated with DC's distinguished Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and I am proud to join her with a Senate companion ahead of Veterans Day later this week.

Reviewing service academy applications is one of my most fulfilling duties in the Senate. I cannot help but be optimistic about our country's future when I see so many talented, dedicated, and patriotic young people seeking to pursue careers serving their country in uniform. Any young American should have an equal chance to be nominated for this honor, whether they come from the District of Columbia or any of the 50 States. This bill allows them that chance. ______

By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Wyden):

S. 3273. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to remove the overtime wages exemption for certain employees, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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