{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398710", "Hastings Statement on the Passing of Former Senator John Glenn", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings\u2019 Statement on the Passing of Former Senator John Glenn \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 8, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the passing of former United States Senator John Herschel Glenn, Jr. of Ohio, the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, one of the original \u201cMercury Seven\u201d astronauts, and winner of the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom:  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cIt is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing of former Senator John Glenn. Senator Glenn was an American hero: \u2018the last true national hero America has ever made,\u2019 in the words of author Tom Wolfe. He served with distinction throughout his entire life, as a decorated veteran of WWII, a pilot, one of the original \u2018Mercury Seven\u2019 astronauts, and as a United States Senator. A brave and devoted patriot, Senator Glenn represented the very best of America. I was proud to co-sponsor legislation awarding Senator Glenn with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2009, an award befitting his exemplary service to our nation.   \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cToday, I join with all Americans in honoring his life and legacy. My thoughts and my prayers are with his wife of 73 years and high school sweetheart Annie, and his children, family, and friends during this time of great sadness.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398710"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4291461557149887, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}