[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 214 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



              Dignified Transfers at Dover Air Force Base

  Mr. President, I appreciate the forbearance of my colleague from 
Virginia. I just wanted to briefly thank my colleagues from Iowa.
  I am the senior Senator from Delaware. For 15 years, I have invited 
home State Senators to join me in dignified transfers at Dover Air 
Force Base. And I understand it is logistically very demanding. But 
this year has been the first time. In the last year, the two Senators 
from Georgia joined for the dignified transfer of three Georgians--
reservists who died in an incident at Tower 22 in Jordan. More 
recently, the two Senators from Illinois joined when four soldiers died 
in a tragic training accident in Lithuania.
  Yesterday, the State of Iowa and its delegation really showed up: the 
Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds; of course, the Adjutant General, 
Stephen Osborn--MG Stephen Osborn of the Iowa National Guard--three 
Members of the House delegation: Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, 
Congressman Zach Nunn, Congressman Randy Feenstra, and our two 
Senators--Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst. Senator Ernst 
served as a colonel and deployed with the Iowa National Guard. Senator 
Ernst accompanied the remains of the two fallen members of the Iowa 
National Guard all the way from Ramstein, and it was our honor in 
Delaware to welcome them to our State.
  It is my honor to rise briefly in thanks for the service of the men 
and women of AFMAO, which is the Armed Forces Mortuary Affairs unit, 
and Dover Air Force Base. This is a solemn duty and one that the men 
and women of Dover Air Force Base carry out with exceptional grace, 
care, and skill.
  I want to close by thanking all of the volunteers from our community 
in Dover, DE, who dedicate their time to making sure that the families 
of the fallen are welcomed, are supported, are prayed over, and know 
that our Nation is grateful for their service and their sacrifice.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, prior to my remarks, I would ask permission 
that, upon the conclusion of my remarks, Senator Shaheen be allowed to 
speak for up to 10 minutes before the initiation of the scheduled vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.