[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 6, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6422-S6427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Veterans Day

  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, having worn our great Nation's colors in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, veterans hold a special place in my heart. 
Some of my favorite moments in Iowa are centered on honoring our 
veterans and their families with the medals and the recognition they 
have earned. Oftentimes, these humble heroes don't want to step forward 
and receive the honor they are due.
  Glenn McDole is a great example of this. Glenn served in World War II 
and faced some very, very dark days, being only 1 of the 11, out of a 
total of 150, who survived the Palawan massacre. Glenn was captured in 
1941, and he came home to Iowa in 1945. It wasn't until the early 1980s 
that he started speaking about his military experience.
  When he returned home from the war, he didn't skip a beat in his 
service. Glenn quickly joined the Iowa State Patrol and then the Polk 
County Sheriff's Office. Glenn lived a very full life of service. Yet 
his heroic actions in uniform would go unnoticed for so many years.
  I am so grateful that his family got in touch with my office, and we 
were able to track down the more than 13 medals that he should have 
received for his service. Presenting the medals to his family earlier 
this year in my office in Des Moines was truly a beautiful moment.
  The medals presented to Glenn's family--and the number of other 
veterans and families across Iowa who have received these well-deserved 
recognitions--represent duty, honor, and sacrifice. It is the heroic 
stories of these very veterans, like Glenn, that truly inspire me to 
keep fighting for our veterans day in and day out.
  As someone who commanded men and women overseas during Operation 
Iraqi Freedom and then served as the battalion commander of the largest 
battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard, I have a deep connection and 
appreciation for our veterans.
  Just this past weekend, as I was wrapping up my 99-county tour in 
Iowa, I was able to spend some time with more of those Iowa veterans at 
my veterans' resource fair. We were sharing stories about those hard 
times. We were laughing about the good times. We talked about concerns 
they have with the VA and making sure they are getting the quality of 
care they have earned. We talked about the work we have done in the 
Senate to improve their well-being.
  In just the past few years, under the Trump administration, we have 
been able to expand access to services through legislation like the VA 
MISSION Act, a bipartisan bill that I proudly helped to get signed into 
law. This important bill included a number of my priorities, like 
allowing qualified VA health providers to practice telemedicine across 
State lines and veterans to receive their care through telemedicine, 
including vital mental healthcare treatment, and doing it from the 
comfort of their own home.
  President Trump just signed another one of my bills into law, the 
HAVEN Act, which protects the economic security and well-being of 
veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be 
experiencing financial hardship.
  I continue to press the VA to take a hard look at their hiring 
practices and to make sure the people treating and providing care to 
our veterans have a record of quality care, specifically by introducing 
the bipartisan Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act.
  The legislation ensures that the VA is absolutely held accountable 
for how they help care for their veterans, and I am continuing to press 
them on that issue. We must work tirelessly to restore hope in the 
institutions that have asked so much of our Nation's heroes, plain and 
simple. Veterans must have reliable, quality mental and physical 
healthcare. There is no other option.

[[Page S6423]]

  Folks, as we take a moment to reflect on the work we have done and 
continue to do in Congress on behalf of these men and women, we should 
also pause, as we do every year on Veterans Day, to simply honor their 
service and the sacrifices they have made for our country and for our 
freedom.
  Serving in the military provided me some of the best years, the best 
friends, the best experiences, and the best memories of my life.
  Each year, Veterans Day serves as a stark reminder of the daily 
sacrifice made by those who have served this country bravely and 
selflessly.
  Veterans in Iowa and across our Nation, you have my support and my 
deepest gratitude today and every day of the year.
  When men and women sacrifice time with their families and give up 
holidays, comfort, and their livelihoods to protect our Nation and 
defend the freedoms we often take for granted, we must fulfill our 
commitment to caring for them when they return home.
  To all of my fellow veterans, may God bless you and keep you.
  To their families, I thank you so much for standing behind your loved 
ones in our country's time of need.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, first of all, I want to say how much I 
appreciate Senator Ernst. When she talks about veterans, she talks 
about her own experience but also the veterans she has served with and 
sees every day. This goes to the heart of her great dedication to the 
people who are currently serving.
  Veterans Day is a day that we come to celebrate every year. It is a 
national holiday, but in so many ways, it is uniquely a local holiday. 
Events across Missouri and across all of our States are dramatically 
different based on where you are and the way that community, over time 
or maybe on a special occasion, has decided this is going to be the way 
they are uniquely going to celebrate Veterans Day. These ceremonies 
often include gestures of respect that are repeated over and over 
again, and that is exactly what you should do with respect. Respect 
doesn't wear out. We lay wreaths. We play music. We pledge to the flag, 
I think in many unique ways on Veterans Day, as we think about those 
who have been willing to defend that flag at all costs. There may be a 
21-gun salute. There may be a parade.
  There are lots of different ways we celebrate, and every community 
honors its own neighbors in a different way. If you grew up in that 
community and you look at the wall with the community members' names or 
you look at the register at the courthouse with the names of those who 
gave their lives in one of our wars, you recognize those names. They 
are the last names of the people you went to school with. They are the 
last names of the people you grew up alongside of. They are often the 
names of families who still live in that community.
  I was thinking about this, and I thought about a name that was given 
to one of my good friends. His middle name was after his uncle who had 
died in World War II, and he didn't particularly like his middle name. 
One day, he said to my dad: ``I hate that name. I don't like my middle 
name. I wish it wasn't my middle name.'' What he didn't know was that 
my dad was on his uncle's basketball team. My dad quickly pointed that 
out. He said: ``Your uncle was one of the finest young men I ever knew, 
and he never got to be an older man because he gave his life in World 
War II.'' When my friend was born 15 years later, his family wanted to 
remember the name of that person who served and made the ultimate 
sacrifice. Those are the kinds of things we think about in communities 
on Veterans Day.
  I will be going to several events--one at Camdenton High School in 
Camdenton, MO. They will be recognizing 32 veterans at that event. They 
will also be recognizing the new Junior ROTC Program at the high 
school. When talking about local character, that is sort of what we are 
talking about. In Camdenton, they are honoring not only those who 
served and sacrificed previously but also a new generation that is 
stepping up and willing to serve among those being recognized on 
Veterans Day.
  I am going to go to a ceremony in Wright County, which is just a 
little bit down the road, just an hour and 15 minutes away from 
Camdenton. In that ceremony, they are dedicating a new Wright County 
Patriots Memorial in Hartville. The memorial honors people from the 
area who served and died in every conflict from the Civil War to the 
War on Terror. The organizers have made it clear that this is a day of 
celebration and honor, not of sorrow. It is a day to celebrate those 
who served. Some got their names on the wall. Others didn't give their 
lives in conflict but were willing to put on the uniform and go through 
the training and in many cases into dangerous situations. Maybe they 
didn't have to make the ultimate sacrifice, but on Veterans Day, we 
recognize veterans who were willing to serve. That is exactly what 
Veterans Day should be.
  This will be the 100th anniversary of the first Veterans Day, which 
was originally called Armistice Day. It was Armistice Day because it 
commemorated the end of World War I. World War I was called The Great 
War, and it was called The War to End All Wars. That is not what 
happened, but that is what people thought, in the hours after World War 
I, might have happened. It was so horrible, so terrible, and so many 
lives were lost that they thought it might be the war to end all wars. 
It ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 100 years 
ago.

  The United States lost 116,000 people in the relatively short time we 
were in that war. We got in the war late. We made a difference in the 
war, but 116,000 people were lost in that period of time, in that truly 
grueling battle in World War I. Another 200,000 U.S. troops were 
wounded in that war.
  The first Veterans Day 1 year later was not about what was lost; it 
was a celebration of what was won. It began with the end of the war. It 
reaffirmed a commitment to democracy. On that first holiday 100 years 
ago, President Wilson said that ``the reflections of Armistice Day will 
be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the 
country's service and with gratitude for victory.'' We remember the 
heroism of those who were lost and all who were willing to serve, and, 
as on that first anniversary of the end of World War I, we remember the 
victory that was achieved. We use this occasion to honor and remember 
our veterans with pride and gratitude.
  I am glad we are continuing to build new memorials, like the one in 
Wright County. I am glad we continue to honor people who are willing to 
serve, like the recognition of the new JROTC Program at Camdenton High 
School.
  A lot of things have changed in the 100 years since the end of World 
War I, but the point is, Veterans Day hasn't changed. This is not 
something Americans used to do; this is something we continue to do, 
and, as Senator Ernst said so well, it is something we need to do every 
day.
  Veterans Day is a special day of recognition, but we need to ensure 
that veterans have what they need while they are serving, and once they 
become veterans, we need to make sure they have everything they were 
promised and then some, including every access to healthcare that they 
were promised.
  I think we have successfully expanded not only the kind of healthcare 
people can get but also the way they can get their healthcare, respect 
and appreciation, remembrance of what they did and how that might have 
led to a behavioral health challenge or a health challenge of some 
other kind, and a country willing to step up for those who were willing 
to step up for us.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, in August I had the honor of traveling to a 
tiny town, to a small diner in Auburn, IN. The purpose of my visit was 
to present a military service medal that was nearly 75 years in the 
making. Over the last few months, I have had a lot of opportunities to 
think about those moments in Sandra D's Cafe and what they have meant 
to me. As we approach Veterans Day, I would like to share a few of 
those lessons.
  I served in the military for 10 years, and I saw firsthand the 
sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. As an elected 
representative, I have had further opportunity to visit veterans who 
served in conflict zones and families who made incredible sacrifices to

[[Page S6424]]

keep us all free. I learned just how much a sacrifice we truly ask of 
our troops and their families.
  In the Marine Corps, we have a motto: ``Semper Fidelis.'' Rarely do 
we tell folks what it means. It means ``always faithful''--faithful to 
our Nation and faithful to all those who protect it, faithful to all 
those who serve in peacetime and are prepared to protect it. It is why 
I wear this memorial bracelet around my wrist. The folks back home know 
I wear it. I remind them of it often because it is important. This 
bracelet honors LCpl Alec Terwiske. He was a fellow U.S. marine from a 
small town in Dubois, IN, in southern Indiana. On September 3, 2012, he 
was tragically killed--for all of us--in Afghanistan.
  His mom, Sandy, has become a close friend. She asked me to wear this 
bracelet to honor his memory, and I do so. I do so proudly every day to 
remember Alec and Sandy and the rest of their family and also to 
remember all those men and women who love our country and what it 
stands for so much that they are prepared, if necessary, when called to 
do so, to put their lives on the line for all of us. It takes a special 
person to take up arms in defense of our country. It takes a belief and 
cause much greater than ourselves. That cause is, in fact, what America 
is all about. It is that very belief that makes me think back to that 
cafe in Auburn.
  Sandra D's father, Robert Egli, was a World War II veteran who 
survived the war. He lived a long and happy life back home in Indiana 
and didn't say much about his military service. In fact, when I showed 
up, Sandra didn't know much about the story. I did a little personal 
internet research in the car on the way there to deliver her father's 
missing Bronze Star, and what I found out was very interesting.
  It was World War II, in the Philippines, the Pacific theater. 
Robert's unit was involved in a battle that saved the lives of 511 
American prisoners of war. His actions and those of the other American 
GIs with him allowed those Americans to return home, to marry their 
sweethearts, to start a family, and to pursue the American dream.
  Now, think about it. This is the beauty and the magic of the gift 
that so many of our men and women in uniform have given or are prepared 
to give. Because of the sacrifice of Robert Egli, there are hundreds of 
Americans who have had children and grandchildren who are now alive 
today. As a result of his beautiful act of courage, his selfless act of 
service on behalf of all of us, his patriotism, his sacrifice, maybe 
tens of thousands of people across America are alive.
  For these reasons and many, many more, we must never stop working to 
ensure that our veterans receive the respect they deserve. That 
includes ensuring that our veterans receive the care they are due after 
they are back, safe and secure, at home.
  The Senate has already taken up and passed many pieces of nonpartisan 
legislation--commonsense legislation which I cosponsored and was proud 
to see become law that will improve the lives of our veterans.
  The VA MISSION Act is perhaps the most notable and ambitious effort 
where we have all come together to support our veterans. This law has 
already dramatically improved the way veterans receive their 
healthcare. We have also taken steps to speed up the appeals process 
for veterans through the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization 
Act. No one should ever have to wait years or, perhaps even in the 
worst instance, pass away, waiting on their benefits. We made 
significant improvement with respect to that process.
  We improved the way our veterans are cared for in nursing homes, and 
we worked together to provide urgently needed support for veterans who 
may be contemplating suicide. This year, I have introduced another 
piece of legislation, working with Tammy Duckworth, a wounded warrior 
herself and distinguished Member on the other side of the aisle. We 
introduced the VETS Safe Travel Act to provide TSA Precheck benefits 
for those veterans who have been severely wounded on the battlefield. 
This VETS Safe Travel Act would help 70,000 amputees, 100,000 paralyzed 
veterans, and 130,000 blind veterans who are currently subjected to a 
rigorous and demeaning screening process when traveling. Unfortunately, 
the legislation has, at least so far, been languishing in the House of 
Representatives, and its delay, of course, means veterans in need will 
be left waiting. I would really hope that before the House takes 
another recess week, they can take up and pass this important 
legislation. I think our veterans have more than earned it.
  Working together, we made significant strides for our veterans in 
recent years, but of course we must always keep striving to do more. It 
was George Washington, a veteran himself, of course, who once said:

       The willingness with which our young people are likely to 
     serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly 
     proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier 
     wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

  Let's treat them well. Let's appreciate them fully this Veterans Day 
and every day. I encourage you to remember your neighbors, the 
servicemembers in your State, and servicemembers around the country and 
deployed around the world. I encourage you to think of all those people 
before and those still with us who are proud to call themselves 
veterans of our military.
  May God bless our veterans. May God continue to bless America.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, as you know, this coming Monday, November 
11, is Veterans Day. I have heard my colleagues pay tribute to veterans 
in their own special way, and I wanted to be a part of that group today 
to offer a mighty thank-you to our men and women who serve.
  I stand before you to honor the brave men and women of the U.S. armed 
services, past and present, who have stood up to protect us and our 
freedoms that we hold so dear.
  Veterans Day, to me, is a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by 
all of those who served. It is a time to say thank you. It is a time to 
pause and think about the veterans themselves and their families. It is 
also a time for younger people, and I am talking elementary-aged 
students, to really see the pride and the commitment our veterans over 
time have had. Whether you are going to your hometown parade or going 
to a cemetery ceremony or just talking about it within your own home, 
throughout America's history, our military has been regarded as the 
greatest in the world, and it sure is. Our military would not be what 
it is without the men and women of our All-Volunteer Force.
  I am a daughter of a World War II veteran. I grew up hearing 
smidgeons of his stories off and on the battlefield, and I have always 
been in awe of those who served. He was very proud of his service in 
World War II. November 20, 1944, my father, SSG Arch A. Moore, Jr., 
from Moundsville, WV, was serving somewhere on the Belgium-German line 
when he was shot in the face, and he was left for dead on the 
battlefield for 2 days. He talked about it was in a beet field. I 
remember him saying it was in a beet field. I didn't like beets, and 
now I knew why I really didn't like beets. He also talked about how he 
was equipped with some painkiller that he could put on his leg to sort 
of ease the pain as he lay there hoping somebody would come and get 
him. That was the end of his service on the battlefield. He was taken 
and miraculously had a great recovery after probably a year of recovery 
over in England.
  For his actions on the battlefield, he received the Purple Heart, 
Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the European Theater of 
Operations Ribbon with three battle stars. Like my father, so many of 
the veterans of World War II faced a harsh reality in this conflict. 
This year marks the 75th anniversary of two of World War II's most 
notable battles: D-Day and Battle of the Bulge. Battle of the Bulge is 
going to be in December next month. Actually, my dad's platoon went on 
to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, and only three of his platoon 
survived.
  D-Day is known as the turning point in the war because those brave 
soldiers pushed their way through German forces to take back Normandy. 
If anybody wants to see what a sacrifice our country made in World War 
II, and more for young people to see, I would recommend going to the 
cemetery in Normandy and seeing those white

[[Page S6425]]

markers of a very young American force. While there were 
many casualties, the United States and our allies prevailed and managed 
to change the direction of the war at the same time.

  As I said, next month we will remember the 75th anniversary of the 
Battle of the Bulge. Many Americans lost their lives fending off the 
German offensive, but we were eventually victorious, which paved the 
way to the end of the war 5 months later.
  West Virginia is also home to one of the last remaining Medal of 
Honor recipients from World War II, and that is our own Hershel 
``Woody'' Williams. He turned 96 last month. He travels the country 
talking about veterans and love of country. I ran the Marine Marathon 2 
weeks ago in honor of all marines, but I thought about Woody as a 
marine. I say I ran my first marathon--probably my last--but I thought 
about Woody as he valiantly fought in the battle of Iwo Jima and 
rightfully earned the military's most prestigious medals for his 
actions during the war. Anecdotally, I think he will be leading the 
parade in New York City on Veterans Day.
  With the growing age of this Nation's World War II veterans, I 
encourage our youth to take the time to listen to the stories of 
heroism from our ``greatest generation.'' Without their valiant actions 
and dedication to preserving our freedoms, this country would not be 
what it is today.
  We also must honor all of our veterans from all our eras. Whether it 
is World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, the selfless actions of 
our U.S. soldiers must not go unrecognized. They put their lives on the 
line to afford us the opportunity to live in the greatest country on 
Earth. We can have our own religious freedom, freedom of speech, 
freedom of the press, but all the freedoms we enjoy are because of the 
folks who went before us who were dedicated and willing to serve.
  On Capitol Hill, as we know, there are many divisive issues, but 
ensuring that our veterans receive the support they have earned through 
their dedicated service to our country is something we all agree on. 
Like the gentleman here today, the Senator from North Dakota, I happen 
to serve on the Appropriations Committee. I am on the Subcommittee on 
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. It has 
been our priority to make sure veterans programs receive the funding 
necessary to best assist our men and women who have served the country.
  In recent years, Congress has made great strides in trying to improve 
the VA system, which can always be improved even more, but the 
legislation we put forward, the VA MISSION Act, I think, will help and 
has helped. It improved the VA healthcare system by establishing a 
permanent veterans community care program and expanding our VA 
caregiving benefits to veterans from all eras. When they say it is 10 
miles as the crow flies in mountainous States like West Virginia, if 
you are driving in West Virginia, that is not going to take you 10 
minutes. That could take you an hour, and that is not because of the 
traffic. Providing community care to our veterans is important because 
it allows them to receive the care they need without having to travel 
these long and sometimes arduous routes.
  Our work must not stop here. We must continue to work on legislation 
that will benefit our veteran community. As a Senator, one of my 
greatest privileges is to make sure our veterans receive the respect 
and admiration they have earned throughout their service. This is 
especially true given that West Virginia has one of the largest per 
capita populations of veterans in this country. The pride West Virginia 
veterans have is truly remarkable. After service, these men and women 
are the bedrock of our communities and make significant contributions 
to making them better.
  Rightfully so, Virginians have a great amount of admiration for those 
who have served, and it is reflected in our communities. We have a lot 
of statues, a lot of parks, a lot of commemorative highways, a lot of 
moments of silence in West Virginia to honor our veterans we have lost 
and those who have gone before us.
  I was marching in the Ripley Veterans Day parade last Veterans Day, 
and I was overwhelmed by the support a small town would show its 
veterans. Whether someone has served in combat or assisted with the 
daily operations of the military, their dedication to defending this 
country must not be unnoticed.
  On Monday, I urge everyone to take a moment to thank a veteran. At 
the same time, this shouldn't be limited to just Veterans Day. We 
should thank our veterans each and every day. It is important that we 
pay them the respect when the opportunity arises. I really feel good 
when I am getting on a plane and the announcement is made that our 
military in uniform are allowed to enter the plane. You know how those 
crowds get up when it is time to get on the plane. Many times, the 
crowd will part and, in admiration of our military, welcome that little 
bit of a head start they get to board the plane. Without great 
sacrifices and dedication to defending this flag, this country would 
not be what it is.
  I say God bless our veterans. God bless our country.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize and thank our veterans 
and their families. I commend the good Senator from the State of West 
Virginia. I appreciate her remarks and her incredible support for our 
veterans. Frankly, I want to mention my admiration for her having just 
completed the Marine Corps Marathon. I think that is absolutely 
remarkable. I know she is an avid runner, but to complete a marathon is 
no small achievement. Of course, to do it as part of the Marine 
Marathon is another great way to honor our marvelous and wonderful 
veterans. My father was in the Marine Corps, so I have a special 
affinity, of course, because of that as well. I appreciate all of our 
amazing, wonderful veterans.

  I am really honored to join my colleagues. I know the good Senator 
from Kansas is next. As he chairs our Ag Committee, he and I have had a 
lot of opportunity to work on agricultural issues. He is also another 
member of the Marine Corps, and I know he has served with great 
distinction.
  Again, it is a great honor to be here today and to join my colleagues 
in honoring our phenomenal veterans.
  In June, I had the opportunity to join a Senate delegation in 
Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. We had the honor of meeting 
with some of the veterans who had landed on the beaches of Normandy and 
were again reminded of the tremendous sacrifices that our Nation's 
veterans have made to preserve our way of life and keep our Nation 
free. It really was an honor to meet with some of those veterans and to 
be there in Normandy on the 75th anniversary. To see where they had 
landed and then to talk with them about it was an incredible way to 
relive history and, of course, to honor their incredible sacrifice.
  We also recognize that those who serve do not serve alone. We 
appreciate, too, the sacrifices of their families and their loved ones, 
who have supported them and our Nation's veterans in their service, who 
have done so throughout the history of our country, and who serve 
today, along with their veteran family members--their husbands or wives 
or sons or daughters, whoever they may be--who have donned the uniform 
to serve this great Nation. We honor their service and the service of 
all those who are in harm's way today.
  While we set aside a day each year to express our gratitude, every 
day, we are reminded of the dedication of those who have served to 
protect our freedom and our liberties. Our veterans cannot be thanked 
enough. Given their service and sacrifice, the least our Nation can do 
is to uphold its commitment to provide our veterans with the 
healthcare, benefits, and recognition they have so richly earned.
  In the Senate, we have passed landmark legislation, including the VA 
MISSION Act, to support our veterans and provide them with the care and 
services they have earned. The VA MISSION Act strengthens the VA's 
ability to provide care for our veterans, and when the VA is unable to 
do so, it gives our veterans more options by allowing them to seek care 
in their home communities. This has been a top priority for veterans in 
my State, in the

[[Page S6426]]

rural State of North Dakota. Giving veterans more options closer to 
home for healthcare and long-term care is and must continue to be an 
absolute priority.
  We are also continuing to work with the VA and long-term care 
providers to ensure that the providers who want to treat veterans are 
able to do so without undertaking unnecessary burdens. We are helping 
veterans access long-term care--nursing home care, home-based care--
closer to home and near their loved ones.
  In the course of their dedicated service, our military members make 
sacrifices in many ways. This includes injuries both seen and unseen. 
We owe our veterans the best possible care in treating these wounds. 
That is why we have been working to improve and strengthen the VA's 
mental healthcare and suicide prevention programs. This includes 
expanding access to alternative treatment options, like hyperbaric 
oxygen therapy, HBOT, for veterans who have not benefited from 
traditional therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.
  Additionally, I am a cosponsor of the Improve Well-Being for Veterans 
Act--legislation introduced by Senator Boozman--that would expand and 
better coordinate services that are aimed at preventing veteran 
suicide.
  As chairman of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I recognize that 
Native Americans serve in our Nation's Armed Forces in higher numbers 
than does any other ethnic group. That is why I continue to advance 
legislation, like our bipartisan Tribal HUD-VASH Act, that supports 
Native American veterans.
  Additionally, we are working to provide our veterans with resources 
and opportunities to help them continue to utilize the skills they 
learned in the military as they transition back to civilian life. One 
example is our effort to help veterans receive training to be 
commercial pilots.
  Last week, the Senate passed its fiscal year 2020 Transportation 
funding bill with provisions from the American Aviator Act. I 
introduced the bipartisan legislation with Senator Baldwin so as to 
expand commercial pilot training opportunities for our veterans. Our 
country needs commercial pilots, so it only makes sense that we 
leverage the skills our veterans learned in the military to help them 
meet this need. It is good for our country, and it is good for our 
veterans.
  These are just a few examples of our efforts to support our veterans.
  Our freedom has been secured by the sweat and sacrifice of the 
courageous men and women who throughout our history have bravely done 
what has been needed in order to protect our Nation and our way of 
life. We honor the courage and sacrifice of this Nation's veterans by 
ensuring they have the resources and support they need and have earned.
  To veterans in my home State of North Dakota and to veterans across 
the country, we say thank you, not only on Veterans Day but every day.
  May God bless these brave Americans and this great country they 
serve.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, at the end of World War I--the supposed 
war to end all wars; we all wish that it did--in the 11th hour, in the 
11th month on the 11th day, we declared armistice. The war was over. 
Armistice Day is still recognized, but it is now called Veterans Day.
  This coming Monday, on 11/11, as we always do on the 11th day of the 
11th month, we will pause as a nation and say thank you to the men and 
women who serve us in the U.S. military. It is the most moral and the 
most lethal fighting force the world has ever known, and we are 
grateful. To the men and women who make up our veterans, those serving 
Actively, those serving in the Reserves, those serving in our National 
Guard, and those who have served both at home and abroad, we are 
grateful for their service.
  It has been an absolute privilege to serve our veterans in Oklahoma. 
There are members of my own family, like my Uncle Robby, who is a 
marine, and my next-door neighbor, who is in the National 
Guard. Scattered throughout my family and throughout my own 
neighborhood, I have a chance to smile and say thank you to folks on a 
regular basis for what they have done in the past and what they 
continue to do right now.

  Over the past several sessions of Congress, we have worked to help 
our veterans and to help those who are serving currently. We have 
passed legislation like the VA MISSION Act, which dramatically 
increases veterans' care and gives veterans the opportunity to go to 
different places in order to get care. Now they don't have to drive 
across my great State to get to a VA center. They can go somewhere 
closer to home, where it is more convenient for them, rather than go to 
a VA center. That is a great asset to them and to their families, who 
have sacrificed over and over again so that their loved ones can serve. 
They shouldn't have to sacrifice even more now.
  This Congress has made major improvements to and has expanded the GI 
bill. We have improved the onerous disability compensation and appeals 
process for the VA, which has long been an issue. We have increased the 
quality of care at the VA, and we have made sure that staff members who 
work at our VA centers are held to account. By far, the majority of 
people who serve in our VA centers serve on behalf of our veterans and 
are passionate and grateful to do that. Yet, for some who cannot get 
the job done, we shouldn't give our veterans lesser care because of 
those individuals.
  Those are all of the things that have been done just to say thank 
you. Yet it is interesting to me, the number of times I have talked to 
veterans and have said ``thank you for your service,'' and they have 
responded with something like ``it is the least I could do'' or 
``absolutely'' or ``no thanks necessary'' or ``it was my honor to do 
it.'' This is a group of individuals who knows what it means to serve. 
We will continue to say thanks to them.
  On this Veterans Day, I will pause with a family at a bridge in 
Oklahoma as the name of the bridge transitions to the Damon Leehan 
Bridge in remembrance of an Oklahoman who, in 2011, died in Afghanistan 
while protecting our freedom.
  Our veterans don't ask for our thanks, but we can't give them thanks 
enough for what they and their families have done to keep this great 
Nation secure.
  Thank you to our veterans.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, for generations, America has been a beacon 
of hope and freedom around the world. When confronted with tyranny and 
evil, America has always overcome. In every generation, patriots have 
answered the call to service in defense of our country and in defense 
of freedom and democracy. Their bravery and willingness to serve is a 
testament to the American and Montanan spirit.
  It is my highest honor to serve as a voice for Montana's veterans in 
the Halls of Congress. You see, Montana has one of the highest veteran 
populations per capita in the United States. Montana's veterans are 
what make living in Big Sky Country all the more special.
  I know I speak for most Montanans when I say, while growing up, we 
learned very early on about the importance of service to our country. 
For me, that lesson was taught by my father. My dad is a marine who 
served in the 58th Rifle Company out of Billings, MT. He instilled in 
me the values of hard work, of sacrifice, of service to others, and of 
humility. I am grateful for his service to our country, and I am proud 
to live every day with the values that he taught me when I was so 
young. Those same values that my dad taught me are held by veterans all 
across Montana.
  I am grateful for Montana's veterans. I am grateful to have several 
veterans serve on my staff both in Montana and in Washington, DC. I 
thank Denny in Helena, Robin in Great Falls, Jim in Bozeman, and 
Christy in Washington, DC. They are all Montanans who are also veterans 
who serve on my team and serve the people of Montana.
  We have an extraordinary legacy of service in Montana. We are home to 
heroes like Medal of Honor recipient Army SSG Travis Atkins, who was 
honored by President Trump at the White House this year for his 
ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Right now, in Congress, I 
am working to rename the Bozeman VA healthcare

[[Page S6427]]

facility after this great, fallen, Montana hero. Travis and I attended 
the same high school in Bozeman.
  I make it my top priority to hear from all of our veterans across all 
corners of our State and to learn about the issues they face, such as 
access to rural healthcare, or to ensure they receive the recognition 
they deserve. In fact, just last month, I was in Great Falls to help 
honor veteran Alfred E. Shryer with the Bronze Star Medal for his 
service in Vietnam. It was recognition that was long overdue--nearly 50 
years in the making.
  After all our veterans and their families have given to our Nation, 
it is due time that our country gives them the care, the treatment, and 
the recognition they have earned. That is why I am taking action. I 
have introduced a number of bipartisan solutions to help resolve issues 
that plague our vets, like my bipartisan bill to protect veterans' 
pensions from scam artists. I have also led a bipartisan effort to 
ensure that our Blue Water veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange 
while they served in Vietnam receive the healthcare they deserve. Those 
who risk it all--those who put their lives on the line in defense of 
our freedom--deserve the utmost honor, thanks, and care.
  To all of our veterans, thank you for your service. Our country is 
freer and our country is safer because of you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, thank you to my colleagues from West 
Virginia, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and now the great State of Montana.
  The distinguished Senator from Montana is sitting at the desk that 
was occupied by Conrad Burns, a Senator from Montana who was a private 
in the U.S. Marine Corps.
  I thank the Senator from Montana for his remarks and for his service 
in this body.
  I rise today to speak in support of our Nation's veterans, Veterans 
Day, which is coming up on Monday, and the 244th--244th--birthday 
Sunday of our Nation's force in readiness, the U.S. Marine Corps.
  I am a marine--the senior marine in the Congress--and my dad was a 
marine serving in Guam, Kenya, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. Tough duty.
  On this holiday, we remember those who have sacrificed for our 
freedoms, especially the more than 1 million who have given their lives 
for our country. Every American should remember these heroes.
  As a nation, we are also home to more than 18 million living heroes 
who have served with distinction in our armed services.
  On this Veterans Day, I would especially like to single out a great 
veteran who has also served with honor and respect in this body--
Senator Johnny Isakson.
  John Hardy Isakson, born December 28, 1944, just 3 short years after 
the attack on Pearl Harbor, began his service to our country in the 
Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972, leaving the service at 
the rank of staff sergeant.
  He then continued to serve as a member in both the Georgia State 
Senate and House, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives, before 
his fellow Georgians sent him to the U.S. Senate.
  In 2005, he came back full circle to his military roots, joining the 
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in 2015, he took over the 
chairmanship.
  Let the record reflect that, as chairman, he has worked tirelessly--
tirelessly--to reform veterans' healthcare and benefits, as well as to 
bring oversight and accountability to the Department.
  Under his leadership, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs has 
passed 57 pieces of legislation that were signed into law--57. You 
heard that correctly; 57 bills became law.
  I think I have had the gavel in four different committees--57? I 
don't think I have gotten to that yet.
  Let me just go through some of the most significant reforms that 
Johnny Isakson steered through the Senate that became law: the VA 
MISSION Act, which puts veterans in charge of their own healthcare; the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower 
Protection Act, which holds the VA accountable to the veterans it 
serves; the Harvey W. Colmery--happens to be a Kansan--Veterans 
Educational Assistance Act, which improves veterans' GI bill benefits; 
the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act, which 
modernizes the VA's appeal process; and one of the most important, the 
Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which helps get 
mental health services to our warfighters who need them the most.
  This is only a small portion of his long list of accomplishments, and 
his committee is not resting on their laurels. As of this morning, they 
have held 110 hearings, conducted more than 80 oversight visits, and 
have confirmed 23 Presidential nominations.
  In my experience as chairman of a Senate committee--I think three of 
them, maybe four--you simply can't get this type of work done without 
help from those across the aisle.
  This is just another example of who Johnny is as a person and a 
legislator. He doesn't make promises he can't keep, and he is willing 
to put partisanship aside in order to get the absolute best care for 
our Nation's men and women who have served.
  In this body, there are those who choose ideology--I understand 
that--and partisan issues--I understand that as well. But Johnny 
Isakson is someone who works with his colleagues to pass legislation 
benefiting not only our Nation's veterans but every American's 
pocketbook and daily life.
  I have a lot of personal memories when Johnny would rope me in to 
coming to a meeting, a bipartisan meeting, to try to get what we 
thought was a very important bill done. Sometimes I had some concerns 
about joining those outfits that he seemed to put together when nobody 
else could, but I learned pretty quickly that I better go, first, to 
find out what was going on and then, second, to watch this man 
carefully craft a bipartisan agreement, working with colleagues, 
listening to them. When Johnny spoke, people usually got to the edge of 
their chairs and listened. That is how he got it done.
  On behalf of the more than 18 million veterans and their families 
this Veterans Day, we celebrate his leadership and sense of duty to 
country.
  Johnny--Johnny Isakson--thank you for your service. Senators 
eventually come and go. I do not think we will see the likeness of 
Senator Johnny Isakson for years to come.
  Semper fi, my dear friend. I love you. We love you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.