[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 200 (Monday, December 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8411-S8412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING SPECIALIST SARAH BECKSTROM AND STAFF SERGEANT ANDREW WOLFE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to start by acknowledging, as well, 
the horrific--horrific--shooting of two National Guard members in 
Washington, DC, last week.
  As was reported, 20-year-old SPC Sarah Beckstrom tragically passed 
away on Thanksgiving Day, and 24-year-old SSgt Andrew Wolfe remains in 
critical condition. We pray for his recovery and, as one Nation, we 
send our deepest condolences to the Beckstrom family.
  Whether or not you agree about the delegation of National Guard 
troops to Chicago or Washington or any other place, that is really 
beside the point. We should make a note today that this is an 
acknowledgement of the importance of the National Guard to America's 
defense at home and abroad many times.
  Time and again, those guardsmen and guardswomen have served our 
country and served them well. Living proof of that statement is my 
colleague in Congress, Tammy Duckworth, who was injured in a helicopter 
incident

[[Page S8412]]

over Iraq and today serves with me as my colleague in the Senate. She 
speaks for all of the members of the National Guard when she says they 
are dedicated to our Nation and our States.
  There must be a full investigation into the attack on Sarah Beckstrom 
and SSgt Andrew Wolfe. I implore the President to lower the temperature 
on political rhetoric and try not to exploit this to demonize 
immigrants, including many who make the ultimate sacrifice for our 
country. Instead, the President should work with Congress on 
commonsense and evidence-proven strategies to reduce crime and reform 
our broken immigration system.
  My wife and I send our deepest condolences to the Beckstrom family, 
and we pray that Staff Sergeant Wolfe makes a full, speedy recovery.

                          ____________________