[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING GENERAL STEPHEN E. OSBORNE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate General 
Stephen E. Osborne for being appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds as the 
28th Adjunct General of the Iowa National Guard.
  General Osborne is a native of Davenport, Iowa, and enlisted in the 
Army in 1984, actually 10 years after my own enlistment in the Army. He 
went on to commission as an infantry officer through the University of 
Alabama in 1990 before transferring to the Iowa National Guard in 1992.
  General Osborne deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1991 during 
the Persian Gulf war. He then deployed to Kosovo in 2004 in support of 
Operation Joint Guardian and Iraq in 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  He has served as the Iowa National Guard's deputy adjunct general 
since 2018 and will now manage more than 2,000 full-time employees and 
nearly 9,000 part-time soldiers and airmen in his new role as adjunct 
general.
  Iowans can trust the National Guard will be in great hands under the 
leadership of General Osborne. I wish him the very best as he 
transitions into this important role.


           Celebrating Iowa Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Iowa 
Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, which was held yesterday, May 8, and 
to recognize our veterans' service to this great Nation. The 
commemorative ceremony is held annually to honor our 115,000 Iowan 
Vietnam veterans for their service and remember the 868 Iowans who made 
the ultimate sacrifice during the war. This year's ceremony was held at 
the Iowa Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated to those who died in 
combat or after the war as a result of their service.
  The Vietnam war was one of our country's most painful times, and our 
veterans were often not welcomed home. My brother was one of those. I 
take this chance to thank all of them for their bravery, sacrifice, and 
strength.
  During last week's recess, I had the privilege of visiting with 
veterans across the First District. As an elected official and as chair 
of the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, 
I felt it was my duty to reassure them that the Limit, Save, Grow Act 
would not cut veterans' benefits or resources. As long as I am in 
Congress, I will always fight to improve and protect our veterans' 
benefits.
  It is important that we always take the time to recognize the 
patriotism, dedication, and willingness of our veterans to fight for 
our liberties and our way of life. Our servicemembers dedicate their 
lives to protecting our Nation, and it is our duty to honor those 
commitments both during and after their service.

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