Pres. Biden thank you very much. Before i begin i want to say a few words about diane feinstein. Dianne feinstein. She will be missed greatly, ill say more about her later. Ladies and gentlemen, leaders of the department of defense, friends and officials from around the world, thank you for being here today. To mark the change of responsible and to celebrate the service of general mark milley. A combat infantryman, a master parachute, a green beret, a warrior. Served a total of five years in the war zone, from panama to haiti bosnia to hey tee to afghanistan to iraq. A chest full of medals to show for it. A leader who once ran across a bridge boobytrapped with mines to stop two battle tanks filled with wounded troops from driving across it. A patriot, uncompromising in his duty, unflimpling in the face of danger. Unwavering in his service to the country. And holly ann, none of us can say enough about you. You sevenned alongside every step of the way. Thats not hyperbole. You served alisteningside him every step of way. You pulled double and triple duty to make sure you and mark were doing right by your family. Supported your military community while maintaining your own career as a nurse. Incredible what youve achieved, holly ann. The work youve done to increase support for Military Spouse employment. Going to keep improving the lives of military families for a long time. Peter and mary, thank you for sharing your tad with us. Your dad with us. I know it wasnt easy. All those moves. All those schools. All those months. Your dad was deployed. You couldnt be together. Thank you for all youve given to our country. And mark, i know one of the best parts of your time, already mentioned by our secretary. Going to spend more time with your kids. Thats going to be fun. I tell you what. I love my kids. Im crazy about my grandkids. Now every one who has spent time with mark knows three things about him. Several were already mentioned. One, hes from boston. He likes maps. And he loves the constitution. But these three things point to something deeper about marks character. Business vt his boston per taj isnt just about pride of place. Its pride in what shaped him. The values that guided his whole life. About the father and mother, both veterans of world war ii, set the example of nobility, serving your country. Its about knowing that his dad was among those who lanked at iwo jima and that those young men his father served alongside could raise a flag, theres nothing, nothing, nothing and american cannot accomplish when we work together. About how his parents strived and sacrificed so their children would have every opportunity to chart their own future. Knowing that everyone who served under his command had their own story. In his view just as important as his. To this day, every event ive attended, ive watched him and weve attended many events together. Ive watched him. Hell talk to every young person. Every veteran. Every gold star family who wans to speak to him. In matter how long it takes. So he can hear their stories as well and show his respect. The boston pride about knowing where you come from. The maps about knowing where you are and where youre going. Mark wants to make sure he has the necessary facts to inform his decisions as a leader. And his advice to others. As commander in chief, i have relied on marks counsel because i know he always gives it to me straight no matter what. He always gives it to me straight. Hes working with the best information possible. And he doesnt hold anything back. During his tenure as chairman, mark has been a steady hand guiding our military as we navigate what i would argue is one of the most complex security environments our world has faced in a long time. Hes been critical to strengthen americas existing alliances from nato to the indopacific. Building the new strategic narytships. Keeping our force on the cutting edge of the fields of cyber and space. And in americas ending americas longest war and continuing to take terrorists off the battlefield. Standing with the brave people of ukraine, making sure they have the equipment and support they need. When they need it. To defend their freedom. Letting them know how much he respects them. Mark, your partnership has been invaluable to me. And i think youve been invaluable to secretary austin as well. I want to thank you for always seeing, always sharing the whole map with me. The whole map. [applause] when it comes to the constitution, that is and always has been marks north star. Im so damn proud to serve with him. Hes made, hes made it his central image on his challenge coin. Those three little words, that mean so much to every american but especially to those who stand in the various of our nation. The middle of his challenge coin says we the people. We the people. Its a reminder to all of us what makes us a strong nation. Who we are as a democracy. How the united states, for more than two centuries, has always managed to keep moving forward. Not fealty to any one person or to a Political Party but to the idea of america. Idea unlike any other in human history. The idea that were all created equal. Thats what the constitution safeguards. Thats what we swear an oath to. And that is why generations of young women and men, americans of every background and creed, have stepped forward to be part of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. Thats not hyperbole. Greatest fighting force in the history of the world. [applause] seeing you, afghanistan, iraq, i dont want to get started. Our military is going to keep growing stronger. Keep growing stronger. With general c. K. Brown, charles q. Brown junior, as our 24th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Congratulations, old buddy. [applause] as mark will tell you, ill be meeting a lot with you. [laughter] they said when i nominated general brown as a seasoned warrior with combat experience, experienced command of the joint force, top flight strategist, known throughout the force for his unmatched judgment and unflappable demeanor. Like general milley, yen brown is a patriot through through and through. Sworn to uphold and defend the constitution. He and his wife sheree have dedicated themselves to keep a safe environment. I thank you both for everything youve given to our country over the years. I look forward to working even more closely with you c. Q. As we take on the channels ahead to ensure that our force can continue to deter and defeat any potential threat to the american people. As secretary austin noted, im glad that general brown was confirmed by the senate, along with the new commandant of the marine corps and army chief of staff. But i want to be careful here how i say this but its thoroughly, totally, unacceptable that more than 300 other highly qualified military servants are still in limb beau. I have been here a long time. Ive never seen anything like this. Its outrageous. And it must stop. Their promotions, their careers, their family, their futures, held hostage by the political agenda of one senator and the silence of the other 47 of them. Its a drag on our force. It impacts everything from readytons morale to retention. Its an insult. Its an insult to the officers with years of dedicated service. Our troops deserve so much bert. If the house fails to fulfill its basic function, if it fails to pass the bill by tomorrow, well have failed all our armed forces. Standingsen nel around the world, keeping our country secure but wont get paid. Its a disgrace. S how to of Defense Department civilians and civilian servants will be sent home. The longer the shutdown last, the harder it will be to become the harder it will be for military families to pay their bills. Cant be playing politics while our troops stand in the breach. Its an absolute dereliction of duty. As leaders, we must never lose sight of the direct impact of the decisions we make and the impact they have on the lives and families around the world. General milley, general brown, secretary austin, all the many great leaders across every branch of our military, youve got you got to where you are by demonstrating extraordinary care and concern for the troops you command. The leadership, being in the field alongside your troops, sthairg hardship, holding each other together when times are hard, never forgetting the humanity beneath the uniform. Its an enormous credit to each of them personally and enormous assets for our country. Secretary austin told a story about how he and general milley got blown up together by an i. E. D. In iraq. The part of the story that stands out to me is the reason they were on route irish that night to begin with. The reason they were there. They were going to see one of milleys soldiers who had been wounded in. Fact during that tour in iraq, youd often find thencolonel milley down at that hospital, sitting with the wounded so they wouldnt be alone. Rounding up his troops for an impromptu blood drive when the docs let him know they were running low on units. Putting an arm around his team. Guiding them together. Seeing to their injuries. Both physical and mental. War extracts the greatest of tolls. Thats leadership. Thats patriotism. Thats strength. Thats mark milley. [applause] mark, you know how strongly i feel about you. Youve given Remarkable Service to our country. Youve done honor youve done honor to the uniform of our nation. Youve upheld your oath. Thank you, thank you my friend. Thank you for being my friend. May god bless you all. May god protect our troops. [applause]