[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3941-S3942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Anniversary of D-Day

  Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, this week marks the 80th anniversary 
of the Allied invasion of Normandy.
  Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944, was one of the most significant 
events in human history. In those early morning hours, more than 24,000 
soldiers and 1,200 aircraft conducted a massive and daring airborne 
assault behind enemy lines. This was done to isolate the coast and 
prevent the enemy from reinforcing its defenses.
  Then, at dawn, the largest amphibious assault ever conducted--160,000 
U.S., British, and Canadian troops poured out of 6,900 ships and 
vessels to storm the beaches against a crushing enemy fire. Omaha, 
Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword--the beaches' names are still famous today.
  The first days were not promising for the Allies, but slowly over the 
next several weeks, the Allies extended their tenuous foothold and 
amassed more and more forces, eventually numbering 2 million on the 
beaches of Normandy.
  After a German counterattack in early August failed, the breakout 
would begin. Paris would be liberated just weeks later, on August 25. 
Then, 5 days later, the enemy would withdraw back across the Seine into 
Germany--the end of Operation Overlord.
  Losses were severe. On June 6--D-Day--alone, the Allies suffered more 
than 10,000 casualties. At operation's end, that number would swell to 
nearly a quarter of a million, including more than 153,000 wounded and 
72,000 killed or missing--more than were killed in the entire war in 
Vietnam.
  Most of D-Day's participants were young men in their teens and early 
twenties. Men with little or no combat experience and their whole lives 
in front of them landed on those beaches; men like my father, Charles 
Tuberville, a farmer from Arkansas, who was not yet 19. He was 18 years 
old when he landed at Utah Beach on that very day of June 6. I can't 
imagine what it must have been like to carry such an incredible burden 
at such a young age, to leave your family and loved ones, knowing you 
might not make it home. My dad would tell you it is because it was 
their duty. They loved their country, and their country needed them. 
They also understood that America and the freedoms we enjoy were worth 
fighting for.
  I think of those men today, and I can't help but worry for my sons' 
and this country's future.
  In the months leading up to this important 80th anniversary, we have 
been inundated with images from college campuses across our Nation. We 
have seen young people of similar age to the D-Day heroes protesting in 
support of terrorists, openly calling for the destruction of the 
society and freedoms that my dad and all these men paid for on D-Day 
with their blood.
  So how did we get here? How did we go from producing the type of men 
and women who are willing to die on the beaches for freedom and our 
Constitution--how did we get here?--to college students who are openly 
supporting groups that chant ``Death to America''?
  Sadly, our education system has failed the younger generation. Many 
of our major universities are more concerned with woke ideology than 
with quality education. They have no interest in teaching students the 
truth about our country and our founding principles. Many of our 
students are being taught to hate this country, to hate Americans, and 
the results speak for themselves.
  More and more, high school students today can tell you everything you 
want to know about the made-up ``gender spectrum.'' They can carry on a 
conversation about that. But, you know what, they struggle to read at 
grade level and do basic math.
  Our progressive education system, controlled by teachers unions, has 
made us rank 26th in the world in math--26th in the world in math--and 
6th in reading. It is embarrassing. It is unforgivable. The teachers 
unions try to silence parents and cover for incompetence while our 
children are suffering.
  Merit is now ``problematic,'' as our Nation has been taken over by 
the neo-

[[Page S3942]]

Marxist diversity, equity, and inclusion--or, as better known, called 
DEI--ideology. This woke teaching sows division by teaching our kids to 
resent each other.

  Think about that for a minute. Our young people are the greatest 
resource that we have, but we are failing them. I worked in the 
education system for 35 years, and I am embarrassed. I am appalled. All 
to appease a radical ideology that has taken over this country.
  As a result, the Army has had to lower its standards because many 
enlistees can't meet the minimum requirements. You heard that right. We 
have had to lower standards--our standards both mentally and 
physically.
  We could learn a lesson or two from those heroes, like my Dad, who 
bravely served and stormed the beaches 80 years ago Thursday. Those men 
and women were united in the belief that America was a country worth 
fighting for.
  So please join me, especially this Thursday, in honoring the brave 
heroes who risked and, in many cases, gave their lives for freedom and 
what we have today.
  May we never forget their sacrifices and honor them by making sure 
our children know the truth about our great country and what happened 
on the beaches of Normandy that day, June 6, 1944.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Delaware.