[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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.