[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5522-S5523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 686--HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MEMBERS OF 
 THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, VETERANS, PRISONERS OF WAR, AND GOLD 
                             STAR FAMILIES

  Mrs. LOEFFLER submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 686

       Whereas the Nation owes an unmeasurable debt to those 
     individuals who have served in the United States Armed 
     Forces, often shouldering the burden of long periods away 
     from home, difficult and frequently dangerous training and 
     deployments, and inherent physical, mental, and emotional 
     risks;
       Whereas the families, communities, and loved ones of 
     members of the Armed Forces support them in countless ways, 
     frequently making sacrifices of their own, especially Gold 
     Star families;
       Whereas many who love this country have served in conflicts 
     throughout the Nation's history, whether volunteering so 
     another would not have to go or answering the call when 
     drafted, or out of a profound and selfless sense of duty, 
     some never returning home, some still missing, and some who 
     suffered immense hardship as prisoners of war;
       Whereas the Armed Forces defend the Nation against external 
     threats, underpin the increasing safety, security, and 
     prosperity created by a United States-led international 
     order, and constantly contribute to the daily lives of 
     Americans;
       Whereas it is a constitutional duty of the first order for 
     the President and the Senate to provide for America's common 
     defense, foremost by supporting our unique All-Volunteer 
     Force and their families;
       Whereas the President has requested, and the Senate has 
     voted for, 3 consecutive pay raises for members of the Armed 
     Forces after several years of shrinking military salaries;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, landmark military private housing reform to protect 
     military families in their homes;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, a historic repeal of the Widow's Tax to recognize 
     the tremendous burden borne by the families of those who made 
     the ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, significant improvements to military spouse 
     licensing to vastly increase opportunities for military 
     spouses and strengthen military families;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, repeated expansions of military childcare and 
     improvements to the military moving process;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, honorary promotions for members of the Armed Forces 
     who served heroically in World War II, Vietnam, and 
     Afghanistan, as well as instituted reviews of valor medals 
     for personnel who served in World War I;
       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, billions of dollars of support for United States 
     allies and partners, including lethal assistance to Ukraine 
     against the aggression of the Russian Federation;

[[Page S5523]]

       Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 
     into law, defense budgets that reverse the destructive 
     effects of sequestration, restore the readiness of our combat 
     forces, and give members of the Armed Forces the tools they 
     need to defend America;
       Whereas the President authorized the successful military 
     operation on January 3, 2020, that killed Qasem Soleimani of 
     the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, who was 
     responsible for the deaths of hundreds of members of the 
     Armed Forces and civilians;
       Whereas the President authorized the successful military 
     operation on October 26, 2019, that killed Abu Bakr al-
     Baghdadi of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, who was 
     responsible for direct attacks on members of the Armed Forces 
     and the death or displacement of untold numbers of Iraqis, 
     Syrians, and Kurds;
       Whereas the President authorized the successful military 
     operation on February 7, 2018, against Russian military 
     contractors in Syria that threatened the Armed Forces and 
     aided and abetted the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad; 
     and
       Whereas the President was nominated for the 2021 Nobel 
     Peace Prize for his successful efforts to create peace 
     between Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) will always honor and venerate the service and 
     sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces who 
     put the security and safety of the American people ahead of 
     their own self-interest, from those who served in World Wars 
     I and II, Korea, to Vietnam, from the Gulf War and the Balkan 
     conflicts to Iraq and Afghanistan, and from the frontlines of 
     deterring China and Russia and combating terrorism to 
     supporting American communities here at home when natural 
     disasters strike;
       (2) continues to advocate for resources to ensure the Armed 
     Forces will maintain its position as the dominant force for 
     freedom and prosperity in the world; and
       (3) expresses the deepest gratitude to the Gold Star 
     families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones in 
     service to the Nation.

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