[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A DARK STAIN ON AMERICA'S HISTORY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, June 14, 2017, was a dark stain on 
America's history. There are several of us in this room today who would 
not be here for two reasons. Number one, and first and foremost, by the 
grace of God, and number two, by the fact that then-Majority Whip   
Steve Scalise showed up for practice that morning. Without his security 
detail, none of us would be here.
  The deranged gunman that took, for whatever reason, revenge upon the 
Republicans on the baseball field that morning sought to give no mercy, 
just to create havoc.
  We know that we are better than the behavior that we saw that day. 
The bond that brought us all together, especially that day on the 
baseball field, spread, I believe, throughout the country to bring 
people together at a time when we needed it. We continue to need it.
  When I mention now-Leader Scalise coming that day, he is only here 
because of the actions of one of our Members, and that man is 
Representative Brad Wenstrup, combat surgeon, dedicated soldier, and 
ready for the task at hand. As I personally witnessed Brad tending to 
Representative Scalise on the field, it was truly Brad's readiness and 
professionalism that enabled the life flight to occur and Scalise to 
successfully make it to the hospital.
  I commend Colonel Wenstrup for what he did and the calm with which he 
did it. It is the calm, not the excitement, that drives us to the 
positive results. I cannot thank him enough, as a personal friend, for 
what he has done for the community as a whole to show what good 
behavior really means in the face of extreme adversity.
  I am honored to be among my colleagues here tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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