[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Tribute to Martha McSally

  Madam President, I also want to thank Martha McSally for her service 
in this Chamber. Martha is a veteran of the Air Force and has always 
been a fighter. In fact, when you say ``veteran of the Air Force,'' you 
are really understating her role in the Air Force. She fought to become 
the first American woman to fly a fighter jet in combat. She fought to 
become the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in 
combat, and she continued fighting while a Member of the U.S. Senate.
  Indeed, Martha was a steadfast champion for the well-being of our 
servicemembers, military families, and veterans during her time on the 
Armed Services Committee. She worked to include language in the fiscal 
year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act improving the 
effectiveness of sexual assault investigations in the military and 
strengthening support for victims.
  Martha also played a key role in helping enact over 30 provisions in 
the fiscal year 2020 NDAA to address the systemic crisis of privatized 
housing and help remedy the mistreatment of military families, and she 
teamed with Senators Tester and Sullivan to pass legislation enhancing 
the tools the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to meet the mental 
health needs of veterans. These accomplishments are only a few examples 
of the important work Martha did here, but they illustrate her 
wholehearted commitment to bettering the lives of those who do so much 
for our country.
  I attribute all of this great success and achievement--first woman 
fighter pilot, first woman to lead a squadron in combat, and more--to a 
simple reason. Martha was born and raised in Warwick, RI, right next to 
my hometown of Cranston, RI. Martha's close relative was the mayor of 
Cranston. My dad worked as a custodian in the school system. He 
respected, admired, and was a friend of Jim Taft. Martha's father was 
also one of the most respected lawyers in Rhode Island, someone who was 
a tenacious and bright lawyer. That tradition is carried on by her 
brother Mark, whom I had the privilege and pleasure to know while I was 
practicing law in Rhode Island.
  It is a wonderful family, and she has brought great distinction to 
not only the Senate, to not only the State of Arizona, but also to the 
State of Rhode Island. I wish her the very best going forward.