[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             THE REENLISTMENT OF STAFF SERGEANT MARY VALDEZ

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, on January 21, I attended a USARPAC 
Sisters in Arms forum in Hawaii, and I met a warrior and a hero. Her 
name is Staff Sergeant Mary Valdez. I watched in awe, inspired as she 
stood at attention with her right hand raised, tears streaming down her 
face as she swore to defend the Constitution, to obey the orders of the 
President, and to obey the orders of the officers over her.
  Her strength and love for our Nation was palpable for everyone in the 
room, despite her having been savagely raped by a fellow soldier just 
weeks before her 2011 deployment to Afghanistan. She pressed charges, 
she took him to trial, and the man who raped her was acquitted and 
still serves in our United States Army today.
  When she spoke after her reenlistment, tears streaming down her face, 
she said, ``I love being a soldier. I love this Army.'' Her courage, 
resilience, and commitment to fulfilling her duty is what makes our 
military the strongest in the world.
  We owe it to Staff Sergeant Valdez and all servicemembers to bring 
about reforms so they are not faced with this kind of adversity. They 
are fulfilling their duty and their responsibility every day. We must 
fulfill ours.

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