Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-29

REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM

Gun PolicyTaxesForeign Policy

Context

On 2026-04-29, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM" in the Senate. The speech addressed gun policy and also covered taxes, foreign policy. It referenced legislation: S2092.

Full Text

REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2092] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, you and I are the elected representatives of our States, and sometimes we speak not on behalf of ourselves but on behalf of our entire State. Now is one of those times. Everyone in Louisiana felt grief at the mass shooting in Shreveport that I spoke to on this floor last week. Now I speak for all in Louisiana who feel grief at the mass shooting in Baton Rouge last week, and our whole State feels this grief. We all grieve. I have a friend Collis Temple--famous in Louisiana--the first African American who played basketball for LSU. He called to say that he, as a parent, felt the grief of this young lady's family, and it was Collis who compelled me to speak today because every family can imagine no longer having their child or their sibling. We all grieve. Every classmate can picture walking to school and seeing an empty chair where their classmate once sat. We all grieve. Every friend can imagine going on a carefree senior skip day. If you are older than 18, you can remember when you were once 18 and something awful happened--indeed, every friend grieves. What do we say when words fail? We can say that all, in my State, in my country, are deeply and profoundly sorry and that all of Louisiana grieves with Martha's family. So I ask that this body and all who are here join in a quiet moment for the life of Martha Odom, for everyone who loved her, loves her still, and will always love her. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine. ____________________

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REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2092] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING MARTHA ODOM Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, you and I are the elected representatives of our States, and sometimes we speak not on behalf of ourselves but on behalf of our entire State. Now is one of those times. Everyone in Louisiana felt grief at the mass shooting in Shreveport that I spoke to on this floor last week. Now I speak for all in Louisiana who feel grief at the mass shooting in Baton Rouge last week, and our whole State feels this grief. We all grieve. I have a friend Collis Temple--famous in Louisiana--the first African American who played basketball for LSU. He called to say that he, as a parent, felt the grief of this young lady's family, and it was Collis who compelled me to speak today because every family can imagine no longer having their child or their sibling. We all grieve. Every classmate can picture walking to school and seeing an empty chair where their classmate once sat. We all grieve. Every friend can imagine going on a carefree senior skip day. If you are older than 18, you can remember when you were once 18 and something awful happened--indeed, every friend grieves. What do we say when words fail? We can say that all, in my State, in my country, are deeply and profoundly sorry and that all of Louisiana grieves with Martha's family. So I ask that this body and all who are here join in a quiet moment for the life of Martha Odom, for everyone who loved her, loves her still, and will always love her. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine. ____________________