[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S6592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Remembering Charlie Kirk

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, typically, when we come to this hallowed 
floor, we are speaking on behalf of ourselves as Senators, but tonight, 
I also want to speak on behalf of my good staff.
  I would like to start with the Scripture from Psalms:

       The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who 
     are crushed in spirit.
       The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who 
     are crushed in spirit.

  Tonight, many of us indeed are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. 
It is tonight that we gather with heavy hearts to honor the 
extraordinary life of Charlie Kirk--a visionary, conservative leader 
whose unyielding passion for freedom and faith ignited millions. Taken 
from us far too soon by a tragic political assassination on September 
10, 2025, Charlie's light continues to shine as a beacon for all of us 
who cherish liberty.
  Charlie was born in 1993 in a Chicago suburb, and he revealed his 
political fire early on. As a high schooler, he volunteered tirelessly 
for campaigns, and he penned sharp insights for Breitbart--already 
challenging the status quo with the clarity of a born leader.
  At just 18, in 2012, he founded Turning Point USA, a movement that 
would transform the landscape for young conservatives, millennials, and 
Gen Zers alike. Through electrifying campus activism, his influential 
podcasts, and nationwide tours, Charlie mobilized a generation to stand 
firm against the shadows of Big Government and socialism.
  Today, many of those inspired young adults serve in our congressional 
offices, carrying forward the fight to safeguard our traditional values 
and constitutional rights from an ever-encroaching State. Many of these 
people will someday be speaking from this same floor.
  Now, Charlie wasn't just a preacher; he was a soul shaped by faith. 
He was unafraid to declare himself a child of God. He opened his heart 
and mind to every voice, fostering a genuine dialogue amid division. As 
a champion of free speech and individual liberty, he urged the next 
generation to reclaim traditional family values--the bedrock of a 
thriving America.

  Through Turning Point USA and his commanding media presence, he 
didn't merely shape conservative thought; he empowered a movement, 
defending our ideas against progressive overreach with grace, grit, and 
unwavering optimism.
  Though an evil act sought to silence him, it only amplified his 
voice, transforming Charlie into a hero, a martyr whose sacrifice has 
kindled a fire in us all. His spirit endures in the hearts of those he 
empowered to fight for liberty, reminding us that true leaders don't 
fade; they inspire.
  So I ask you, everyone listening today, including those of us who are 
brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, let us honor Charlie by living 
lives worthy of his legacy. Let not your anger turn into hate. Let me 
say that again. Let not your anger turn into hate. Please, don't let 
Charlie's distractors win. Rather, channel your emotions into fighting 
with renewed vigor--renewed vigor for the heart and soul of this great 
Republic, nurturing the next generation of conservative leaders.
  Charlie's flame burns brighter through each of us. May Charlie Kirk 
rest in peace. And may God bless his memory, his family, and our shared 
mission.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.