Played our heavenly father is wage ourou grief. And then to have laid atl costly sacrifice and a President Trump complained about world war i because they were suckers and losers. President trump has received some lows. And with the depravity of his comments and the nature of military service in general the lowest of the low. And then to lay down their life for the country. No greater sorrow everyone who has the privilege of working in Public Office knows the deep truths in their bones. But not the current president of the United States. Not this man who dodged the vietnam war with bone spurs or families. Ed and then to say i prefer people who are not captured. Not this president who doesnt understand one iota of the word sacrifice and why they may not get themselves for a larger cause. When President Trump went to Arlington National cemetery and then he said i dont get it what is in it for them . Everyone should be appalled what the commanderinchief said about Service Members it affects the morale of the morale letter on morality in the character of the man who has to make lifeanddeath decisions the president and the team try to deny the ever made those comments. The president is on video saying the same thing out loud and then have that steadfast commitment to the individual serving in the Us Armed Services and thank you for leading the resolution and thank you for p her service with the Army Aviation officer. I played not to block the utresolution. Are they really so afraid to sayy anything to give him a pass when he disparages are on military . With those disgusting comments and i resolution that reforms are support to the military . I certainly hope not. If you cant stand up to say these things then what can you criticize this president or any president for . With comments like this to understand instinctively especially when they come from the commanderinchief and have the entire Senate Democrats and republicans stand together with this resolution and i yield my colleague from illinois. I come to the floor today as a senator and according to donald trump a sucker and ay loser. Perhaps my presence is auncomfortable that nobody wants to see what warriors like me keep other americans safe. The ethos of the United States is the exact opposite of the me first mentality trump has shown every hour and every day of his life. Part of the creed is to never leave a fallen comrade behind. The only reason i am speaking today and grieving today, today, breathing and alive today because in 2004 after the iraqi insurgents fire the rpg to the black hawk i was cold piloting they embody that creed. They thought i was dead but yet only to realize i was still breathing when they got me to the rescue aircraft. And then refused care and tell the medic had attended to me first. If donald trump was in that dusty field because trump fundamentally to sacrifice the nation. Not the true meaning of courage or the idea of fighting for someone greater than y yourself. Greater than your bank account or poll numbers. He doesnt understand Americas Service numbers one members. For all those who love them and allow them in the goldplated tower through his gilded life. Instead trump those that were wounded in battle house been called suckers and losers. And then h echoing comments and when they slandered war heroes are john mccain rather than a badge i of honor to understand that he should be ashamed i spent this weekend reflecting on the words of another republican president who in the midst of the crisis the duty our nation has to those killed serving our country and that we know so well to declare it is for the living to dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work with have been so nobly advanced for the last full measure of devotion that causes a new birth of freedom in the nation closer to perfection and even that we can never achieve it. But to be disrespectful to the American People. And to raise the white hand that it is on us for those that raise their right hand in the most dangerous war zones imaginable there is a contract with their care and training to send them to war and that responsibility and to cross the line of departure that no regard for their personal safety or the toll on their mental health. Regarding them as suckers and losers were damages done to americas sons and daughters who comprise the swift sword . I can tell you right now. Every single one and it endangers the nations safety. It is bad for troop readiness as well. When a warrior goes into combat they need to know and then to leave a fallen comrade behind no matter what no matter how even if its just bringing the body home to rest and to uphold the values of the military the loyalty and duty and respect and integrity and personal courage and on the face of the earth and donald trump by contrast and he has disdain for each of those values and to show the exact opposite of every one of those traits are lack of sense of loyalty he has no respect for those in uniform and selfishness is his trademark rather than the troops. If trump starts to break down those values in the military and we question why we care about those who have been wounded or killed and leaving folks behin behind, people begin to think twice. And then consider of the loved ones who want to enlist. Those who are ready to take on the mission and that burden will start w to hesitate. They dont know if their own crew will risk their life that this coward is too ignorant of common decency so he doesnt deserve that another four minutes let alone another four years. And then to pass that Senate Resolution and then we did not condone that behavior to military service. Does any senator oppose affirminggo those that always place the Mission First does any member actually object to have those sacrifices and bravery of those who were prisoners of war or missing iner action . Nobody actually opposes the senate that we will care for those who go into battle. That wounds are earned for those that put the nations interest before their own. Its a problem . If Senate Republicans agreed then why would they oppose mine resolution stating the same. I know its not more than a partisan jab and that they be right recent history and stop pretending the outrage is something new. The one thatra originated. After all for those to speak out against it were republican senators who continue to serve in this chamber today. Then candidate trump claims the late senator mccain is not a warpl hero. The senator spend from south carolina. If there is any doubt to not be the commanderinchief they should and all doubt. It is shameful that on the other side of the aisle that condemns the present with a comment is made with their not just for us but for the allies so today i am here mr. President the senate and then immediate consideration Senate Resolution 689 which was submitted earlier today. I further asked the recommendations be agreed to in the preamble be agreed to in the motion to reconsider be considered made a laid upon the table no intervening action or debate. Without objection. Ece thank you for your service and sacrifice putting military and veterans but the latest outrage against President Trump is as usual is baseless. And with those political attacks and with those Anonymous Sources this will not be covered by the fake news nobody has done to support more our people in uniform to a peace and prosperity for all americans and donald j. Trump. And this president has championed and putting money into our military and the largest in a decade and you think the troops on the ground in iraq and afghanistan, south korea and germany honoring the Wounded Warriors and the Fallen Servicemembers killed in action at Dover Air Force base. And with plans to withdraw troops from iraq and afghanistan honoring this commitment to and endless wars. With his leadership to have the uae peace deal a historic step. I am proud to defend President Trump against another desperate political attack and i would stand with him in support of military and veterans. It is the antithesis of honest journalism. Former and current administrationla officials and those that have a history of using sources and that that was not good enough. What wasnt good enough is that immediate treatment with the military and families. Visiting activeduty members saw firsthand the opportunities our military leaders have to grow safety and security on all fronts. From combating terrorism to make sure cyberdomain there is a renewed sense of optimism that should bring all americans comfort of the work he is doing every single day for men and women in uniform. And is fighting every single day. He has delivered on his promises to respect veterans to keep the country safe and its time to stop playing politics with National Security and those who provide that. For those reasons i object. The senator from illinois has the floor. And then to reassert their independence with principal people to support the resolution and a basic reality. The integration of military services is more disgraceful today than five years ago. And not to be the commander in chief. The general once wrote the American Army is the peoples army and it belongs to the American People when the army is committed that people arerm committed. He may have been talking about the army and everyone that blocks American People made up of sons and daughters on behalf of the people they love. When he mocks the troops he mocks every american every part of the country and that is so foreign when he makes fun of those that a fallen in battle not only revealing his ignorance of National Security but his own personal cowardice that means somebody else serving him. And is my duty to honor those that save me but every extra minute and moment from here in the capital. Take advantage of every extra breath because our men and women in uniform know it courage and sacrifice and service trulyth means. With that i know how grateful i am to show support for troops and families. My friend my own resolution the members of the United Statesce armed forces and it recognizes to take care veterans to defend the americanen people. I ask unanimous consent to the resolution of my resolution at the desk. I object. The objection is heard. I cannot support that Senate Republican resolution for a simple reason. And we cannot do that and with that prisoners for an military family continue. And that president can make a statement such disgraceful sentiment. The refusal speaks volumes when you remember the outrage and the disrespect of the military is not a new concern. Originates with republican senators who are among the very first publicut officials who speak out the denigration of prisoner of for. Is not just offensive and ridiculous and as a disqualifier as commander in chief. And those comments denigrating the troops and now to join me and not passing the t resolution donald trump never changed and that denigration of sacrifices disqualifying today as it was years ago. And i see my senator from illinois. Let me say at the outset how proud i am to serve with my colleagues my is senator from illinois her life story , her commitment to the men and women in uniform and the veterans and others is now wellestablished across the nation. Only a small minority of americans of had the privilege and honor and for those who respect the military and understand what they deserve that respect and what senator duckworth has done with her life is the spirit of the and men who keep the nation and democratic and safe. Im disappointed. What a great moment in the history of the senate you have republican support as well as democratic support for the duckworth resolution. Im sorry the senator from georgia objected. She took exception to the atlantic magazine article. He but that has been accepted by fox news as being a valid comment. But there is evidence of the attitude toward the military we all heard donald trump say publicly when he was running for president in 2015 about our friend ands colleague john mccain. He is not a war hero i like people who werent captured. Five years in a prisoner for camp in vietnam and this president dismisses him as no war hero. He suffered for this nation and he deserves the respect of anyone let alone the president we also stopped donald trump publicly attack a goldstar family and6. 2016 and we heard President Trump dismissed traumatic brainy injury fascist headaches. We see silence and the reports and we witness the use of military officials and for all National Security purposes. And i washington and wrote an outpost reporter that he called the service c chief a bunch of dopes and babies and that you are all losers and you dont know how to win anymore. D President Trump repeated that again in a News Conference this week these are just a few examples not a fake news by real news of his attitude it is no surprise to say thoset things privately if he would say them publicly. And with that humility and barks insults and obscenities know president and history and what do we hear from republican and veterans very little if anything. Thank you for bringing this matter to the floor of the United States senate. We all carry the flag and those inspirational speeches on memorial day for those who serve the nation. And where those voices today if we can speak out of the outrage of this president . I yield the floor. The senator from rhode island. Im honored to join senator duckworth in this proposal and it gives me great pride to serve in the United States senate with her. The living embodiment ofoe the sacrifice our president does not understand. There are two things that are very wrong and one is the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have laid down their lives for this country are suckers and losers and its okay to say that about them. So Something Like that it is it is very important that in the highest offices of the country, people stand up and push back. In graves, and france and belgium and manila and around the world live the mortal remains of men, boys, women who gave their lives and who cannot speak for themselves and it is heartbreaking, heartbreaking for me to see that weng cannot come together to agree on this, and this body. I can promise you that if president obama or president clinton has said anything like this, the other side of this chamber would be in pandemonium. Would he is seen of hysteria. Senators would be lining up at the doors to come and condemn the following hateful speech. We would be hearing a lot throughout the last measure of devotion and instead we are seeing the last measure of devolution of a great party and to what now resembles as much as anything a cold. Ill be interested to see what my colleagues have a in mind as they go through next years veterans day and memorial day having been able to say one word against this fallacy of our oooops today. It is frankly heartbreaking. Ive traveled a lot with john mccain and one of her trips to the philippines i got up early in the morning to go and have basically a dawn visit to the American Cemetery in manila. And the particular reason i went there is to see a name on the wall of the memorial of george berlin whitehouse. George was 21 when he was killed. He was flying fighter planes as a navy pilot across an aircraft carrier. His body was never recovered. His plane was shot down and crashed in the wilderness and that was the end of it that his name is still there. Its high up in the marble. So last memorial and sacrifice. A president who doesnt get that is a disgrace. Oak glen particularly i yield the floor to a colleague who is an american combat veteran from vietnam war to which my father dedicated five years of his life and its a remarkable honor for me to be able to speak in between senator duckworth and senator carper and im very cognizant of that honor. I yield the floor. Its an honor to follow my friend. You have turned up well with the frontlines youve had. Mr. President i rise today to make Crystal Clear that we are profoundly grateful to every american who has answered her nations call to serve in uniform to risk their lives in too many instances to lay down their life so we might remain a free people. We are profoundly grateful to their families have sacrificed so much while their loved ones are away fighting to protect the rest of us and make this a better and more just world. And we are especially indebted to those families who loved ones left for war and never came home. The sacrifice that Many Americans can barely imagine but one that has been all too real for millions of families since the founding of our nation. Mr. President one of those families was my mothers family. I never got to meet my moms younger brother. His name was bob patton. Bobby as he was known was the youngest of five children. He was born to my grandparents ray and that they may patton and their mother. Bobby was killed in action on october 26, 1944 during a kamikaze attack in the western pacific on an aircraft carrier. Among the bodies of theof ships crew that were never recovered was that of our uncle bob bird on the day of that attack he was get this 19 years, six months and 23 days old. My grandparents were never able to see their son again or say goodbye. My sister and i along with our cousins would never meet him. Neither bob patton or his shipmates who also perished that day were or losers. Mr. President trump has characterized their nations call to uniform. They were and remain he rose. I was fortunate enough to make it home after serving three tours in Southeast Asia during the vietnam war but 58,000 of my brothers andte sisters never di. Their names are inscribed in the black granite wall not far from here so americans will remember their sacrifices. Let me add those 50,000 8000 americans were not suckers or losers either as President Trump has described john mccain for they were patriots. Unlike donald trump they answeredd the call of duty. My squadron and i were deployed to Southeast Asia as parts of the seventh fleet where john mccain was held as a prisoner of war in the hanoi hilton along with others. His plan up and shot downne in 1967 over hanoi. Both his arms and one of his legs were broken during the ensuing crash. He was taken a prisoner of war. Par 5 and half years john mccain was held captive, tortured and despite this he refused Early Release had that was offered to him by his captors. Far from being the loser that President Trump refers to him john mccain was the embodiment of courage and my colleagues know it. He proved it again and again and again. In uniform and right here in this Chamber Standing right over there. As to present a number of us in this body been blessed to serve alongside other true patriots during her time in congress in uniform who like dan inoye lost an arm and a medal of honor while serving in the army decorated unit of world war ii. They were despised by Many Americans. They were heroes to and then theres former senator bob dole iare highly decorated world war ii hero nearly paralyzed and lost the use of one arm is hit by enemy fire while saving the life of a fellow soldier. Then there is of course our amazing friend and colleague Tammy Duckworth, god love her. Tammy, thanks you for bringing this to the floor today. For any american who disparages heroes like them who gave their lives and limb to their country would be a sensible but to hear that from a man now our commanderinchief who chose not to serve in the vietnam war allegedly because of bone spurs in his foot is worse than despicable, it is abhorrent. What is the most surprising and really disappointing to me though is not the donald trump who use words like losers and suckers and talking about heroes like john mccain and others but what is most disappointing is that democrats are on the ones condemning the utter contempt that donald trump has shown for ourur servicemembers over too many years. There should be 100 senators on the floor today, 100 saying in no Uncertain Terms that we have nothing but respect and at ration for those who have served andll we will not allow them toe mocked or ridiculed by anyone including the president of the United States. Honoring those who have served this country and risked their lives for this country is among the most sacred obligations any of us have. If we cant stand up and defend those men and women that we have no business being here. Let me close with this. The millions of soldiers sailors airmen and women marines and coast guard members who are risking their lives right now around the world and who have done so for generations listen to this. We salute you. We thank you. We thank your families from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you, stay safe and come home. With that i yield the floor. Mr. President. The senator from nevada. Mr. President timehonored everyday to be able to serve with my colleagues in the United States senate. In 2018 in nevada i had the honor of commemorating the opening of the replica of the vietnam war memorial that traveled the country so the public could pay their respects to vietnam veterans. I will tell you i will always remember t the story that the veterans and their families shared with me that day stories of coming home from asi device aboard to an equally divided public. The pain of that reception was so freshhe for many of them decades later. American servicemembers made an implicit pact with our country. They agreed to put their lives on the line and the deserve our support our care for them and their families and their respects. Last week the atlantic man but magazine published a story in which Anonymous Sources claimed that donald trump doesnt ayman straight that respect. The article describes our commanderinchief who called his own countrys Fallen Soldiers losers and suckers. The story fits a pattern from other Anonymous Sources over the years some of whom described the president lashing out at generalst and calling them dopes and babies and granted these are from Anonymous Sources so lets set them aside for just a moment and say journalism is a rough draft of history and sometimes that last draft gets things wrong but what do we know . What we do know from the president s public statements is that donald trump does not understand the sacrifices and heroism that americans armed forces demonstrate on a daily basis. That makes him unfit to lead them. How can a commanderinchief make lifeanddeath decisions for our troops when he doesnt understand the very nature of the sacrifices he is asking but im not making up the donald trump can understand military backs. You just have to look at the record. Part of the Public Record in 1960s showed donald trump avoided military service or medical deferment and all that donald trump did not serve in the military he felt free to criticize others who have and their families. In 2015 we heard candidate donald trump sayd john mccain and that quote is not a war hero. I like people who werent captured he said talking about a man who endured torture during the five years he spent as a prisoner man who upheld the highest standard of our military by turning down the relief that his captors offered him in order to stay with his fellow p. O. W. S and man who refused to denounce his country even when his captors and poured him they could earn him his freedom. This president clearly has no conception of that integrity and sacrifice. A president or refuses to honor men and women who were captured doesnt understand the heroism. Tr 2016 as a republican nominee for President Donald Trump attacked the family of captain and my unit who was killed in iraq trying to stop a suicide bomber there for his brave sulfurous sacrifices and actions that day he received a bronze star and a purple heart. Accompanied by his wife he spoke about his sons sacrifice as the Democratic National convention and in response after seeing mr. Khan and his wife donald trump said if you look at his wife she had nothing to say project probably maybe she wasnt allowed to have anything to say about breaking imagine criticizing a mother not being able to articulate the pain of losing her son . The present who mocks a military family doesnt understand what selfrespect is and just as funny as we her donald trump said it again quote the top people at the pentagon not want to do nothing but fight wars all those Wonderful Companies that make the bombs can. A president that attacks americas generals and profits over the minimum and that they command dont understand and doesnt understand what leadership is. And because after three years as commander in chief donald trump can understand her purse shaped the commitment sacrifice of american servicemembers he cannot effectively lead them. Candidate donald trump does not understand the very purpose of our military that he tends to bleed the military is his personal police force. He doesnt get that the allegiance our armed forces swears to the american nation its people and its constitution. We saw this one into President Trump had to use the insurrection act to send activeduty troops to police the streets of this country. I was in washington today the day that this semester Shorter Police on horseback armed with teargas and grenades to Disperse Protesters who were peacefully demonstrating against Police Violence and donald trump staged a photo opportunity in front of a Church Holding a bible. That same night i could hear the noise f overhead from the natiol guard class and on helicopters that engage in a show of force display on the streets of washington. Mr. President i come from a family of servicemembers. My father was stationed in korea after the war. My grandfather served in the u. S. Army. My folks highlighted lcm in korea for the army and i keep on the shelf in my Senate Office of voter that he took of the Korean War Memorial here in washington. That is a stark image of troops looking cautiously through dangers are mitered to me at the humanity and the sacrifice of our servicemembers including my father and fatherinlaw. Each year when i celebrate the induction to the Service Academy i see the next generation with their idealism and their courage to our country and consider the way we sacrifice by people who are so very young. After reading the story on the history of comments from her current commanderinchief i just want to say one simple thing. Servicemembers and their families in nevada and throughout this country, thank you. I will always dance with americans who put their lives and bodies on the line to protect our country and the American People they deserve a commanderinchief who will do the same. Mr. President i yield the floor. Mr. President. Im proud to follow mike colleagues whove spoken so eloquently particularly senators carper and duckworth and to join them today because they are in the great tradition of this body daniel in a way Tammy Duckworth john mccain we have known our share of heroes and im here to say thank you to them and to the others among us who have served great and proud to be here as a dad of two veterans won a combat infantryci officer in the marine corps and another is a special operator in the navy both the plate and to have served myself in the states Marine Corps Reserve and im here to say to the other moms and dads and loved ones donald trump does not speak for me. Donald trump does not speak for us. Donald trump does not speak for america. When he called those brave heroes who laid down their lives suckers are losers my first reaction was disbelief and then an instant it was totally to believe that he said it because it was so much in character for donald trump, for him it is all about donald trump puts somebody else conserve and take his life without sacrifice on his part so much the better. But donald trump does not speak for the america that i know and love and who have given of themselves or risk their lives as my colleagues who have spoken today so clearly have done. When donald trump talked about the heroes of the low woods he might have used a History Lesson because clearly the marines at belleau wood were not suckers. In fact the relentless tenacity of their fighting earned them a nickname from the german soldier who were there ever serious. The germans called them meaning double dog. But that name is a proud moniker that stuck with them all at these years and they use it in addressing each other, devil dogs. Thats what they were. One of their Commanding Officers major Thomas Holcomb wrote a letter to his wife two days into the battle saying quote the regiment hasar carried itself wh undying glory but the price was heavy. There never was such self sac or vice courage and shown end quote. Three weeks since citing the fourth marine brigade suffered a 55 or send casualty rates. 55 . And his battalion alone suffered 764 casualties out of 900 marines. He became the 17th commandant of the marine corps and belleau wood became part of marine corps history. That battle was one of hundreds, thousands of battles were soldiers sailors airmen and marines have distinguished themselves with uncommon battles and for every belleau wood there are others for each of those services. None of them bought by suckers are losers. The cost of war is unspeakably high and we know that from our own work on the Armed Services committee on the Veterans Affairs committee. I have just come from a hearing of the Veterans Affairs committee where we were discussing the veteran suicide, 20 every day of our heroes who take their own lives and yet we hear in this body had failed to provideti Effective Solutions to those invisible wounds that caused those deaths. That is a national disgrace. So, to the loved ones who have forests and given their lives i am just saying we are here to make a point and this resolution makes that point eloquently and powerfully. Donald trump speaks for no one in this body so far as i know and the shame is that our republican colleagues are literally absent. They are absent without leave. They are awol from this moment in history that calls upon them to stand up and be heard in the name of our nations heroes. Thank you mr. President. I yield the floor. Mr. President . M mr. President 2015 when i heard then candidate donald trump denigrate the service of my friend the late senator john mccain suggesting that he was a loser and that his status as a p. O. W. Was somehow cause for shame orr embarrassment, i was rocksolid certain that the america i knew and loved would never allow such a man to occupy the office of president. I was wrong. It began the slow reveal of the unsurprising moral bankruptcyalf a man and the surprising willen suffer public and leadership to tolerate that moral void. The review reads a new level last week with Jeffrey Goldberg supporting significant verified by the reporters of President Trumps commanderinchief still denigrates the service of military members calling them suckers t and losers. The Trump Campaign protested loudly against the charge that in the same instance put out the social media message ridiculing joe biden as they visited the grave of his son boat and iraq war veteran after c church last sunday. As a member of the senate Armed Services committee and the father in the United States marine i find President Trumps attack on our military in. In. An era when his countrymen were risking their lives in Southeast Asia the president dodged service with a timely and more accurately shortlived diagnosis of own spurs brag that his own personal via tom was trying to avoid sexuallytransmitted diseases at home while others were trying to avoid olick landmines and tortured in vietnam. This cell fisherman who avoided service and equated the ultimate sacrifice o of others in their life is extended into the worlds most powerful lobby is holding onto the same immature views. Its not just about the president s words and attitudes. Solid intelligence to suggest that russia russias page boundaries for soldiers in afghanistan. The president spends time trying to deny this to the American Public with ridiculous efforts to pretend the president was never even briefed about the matter. The president still refuses to acknowledge the gravity of the threat or hold russia to account but of course he is described by the mayor putin is a better leader than obama and he said he must think why risk that friendship for suckers . After watching this president for years i concluded the attack on the military as part of a broader hostility to the notion of serving others. The president s disrespects charities disrespects federal employees denigrates futures and undercuts programs like federal Service Loan Forgiveness for he treats the office as a personal bank fillingnd staff positions with Family Members and cronies steering business tours as resource making his main domestic priority attack spilotro medically benefit of his own pocketbook. The economic depression deficits and social division that he is caused through his chaos partly troubled as conscious but this is the satisfaction of knowing hes used the office to enrich himself. This is the exemplar we want for our country . President trump made may be unique among american presence and that no one holds them up as an example for americas children. Nope. Her teacher or minister or youth mentor though i know tells children to act like him or talk like him are treat people like you does. Even his supporters professing his support for his judicial nominees or tax plan have an instinctive understanding that he is not an example we would want our young people to emulate. Of all the Critical Issues on the ballot for americans in november the most important is the most elemental, his america place where the commitment to serving others matters . Are we our brothers keeper . Do we want our young to join the military or into the peace corps or teach in our Public Schools . Is service just for suckers . Or is it the essence of american patriotism . Growing up i was certain that i knew the answer to that question. Im less certain today but im min intimately more determined and mr. President without any of the floor. Will the dannemann deal for a moment . I spoke earlier of my uncle bob credit forgotten we had a voter last year and this is what they look like at the age of 19 years and six months. This picture was framed and could be seen in the dining room of mike grandparents house when he diapered alongside it my may ask the senator from delaware questioned . To the young man loses life in the field of battle he was one of a number of sailors on the uss who were killed in a comic of the attack and his body was never recovered. I want to thank the senator from delaware. This isnt the first time, this is the first time the president has denigrated our military not the first time and it wont be the last time because there is a total lack of appreciation by this president for people who serve our country and our military. You dont have to talk about the bone spurs that gave him how many deferments, five deferments . Hew found a way of not fighting in vietnam. Thank god his daddy had enough money to allow him to do that. Then we think back to john mccain a decorated war hero. No, no not a President Trumps mind. Matter that he was a prisoner of war. He was no war hero the president said. Im going to tell you everybody in this body knew john mccain. Everybody in this body probably have a scrap with john mccain and everybody in this body have they highest amount of respect for john mccain. Hehe truly was a war hero. And then there is the veterans who served in vietnam that agent orange got the best of them and they are now in their 70s and are dying because of their exposure to agent orange but for me tell you the president denies their benefits, d denies them their benefits. If it wasnt for this body in. The house they still wouldnt have those benefits. Hand then there is, there is the time that Vladimir Putin put a contract out on our military. Did the president speak up like tube putin not this president and then there was the privatization of b. A. His buddies in maralago. He said no and in a bipartisan way we said no and its time to say noo again. Gain a bipartisan way. This president has crossed the line. Suckers and losers in our military do not along in the same sentence especially when youre talking about the greatest generation in europe that gave their lives for this country. It is time, this time not for resolutions that are political gains it is time to tell this president that h he has screwedp in a big, big way. And if we dont it will affect this countrys future long after he steps out as president. I yield the floor. Mr. President. Thank you mr. President. Mr. President i rise in support of my distinguished colleague senator duckworth for a resolution to honor our veterans military servicemembers and their families. Senator duckworth knows more than anyone in this chamber about what it needs to serve and to sacrifice. Her honor to serve alongside someone who has given so much to our country and i might add he got her training in alabama and in fort rucker or we have the training for all Army Helicopter pilots. So thank you for that and i hope you enjoyed y your time and we e going to get you back. Senator duckworth is but one representative here of her many brothers and sisters in uniform and you have worn the uniform throughout. Many of this body have served and we have heard a lot today about senator mccain think you stand out as military veterans more than our late colleague john mccain of vietnam veteran warar hero, the ones who i servd with but never unfortunately had the chancely to to meet was stil a member of the senate but by the time i got b back here in january of 2018 his illness prevented him from coming to the floor. He will always be one of my great regrets to not least have one day on the floor of the United States senate with john mccain. He was a vietnam veteran and a war hero but failed to speak out against the president in who this president to this day almost two years after john mccains death john mccain finds himself part of the presents wrapped, two years later and he still have comments about a war hero. I will tell you mr. President to stand on the same for the moment like this on the same senate floor were hero like senator mccain of arizona spoke so passionately on behalf of our military and would senator duckworth speak so passionately about our military and our veterans get is truly an honor through today a loss of john mccains toys in this chamber is magnified by the silence of too many who will not say what needs to be said. Our military families and veterans deserve our full support. They dont deserve insults. They deserve our support every day not just when its lillpolitically convenient. It is the duty of this body and every member of this body to defend those who sacrifice so much to defend and protect our nation. The obligationn of all patriots in this country to do the same. In fact true patriots would never think to do otherwise. It would never cross our minds. It would never cross their minds to launch an insult in tour of military or veterans much less less those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. What i do today and everyday is a senator from alabama is to honor our military, to honor those because i come from a state of heroes of alabama pet i worked with one of those heroes a military hero who later became a distinguished member of this body from 1979 to 1997. He distinguished himself as h a marine officer in a i brutal fighting of the Pacific Theater in world war ii. He was chosen twice awarded the purple heart the silver star of valor retired at the rank of major programs so honored to be in his seat today where he worked for him as a young staff for so many years ago. He too would rise in this rhamber and support and defense of our military. I know, i was here and i watched imprint i saw him over the years and i was with him in every campaign. He was apparent as proponent of a Strong Military and understood alabamas tremendous contributions to our nations defense, something ive tried to carry on to this day. As alabama century may have been called many things in the heat of politics but none would ever called him a or a loser. None would have ever questioned his patriotism even though alabama has a strong private sector supporting our nations military no one would have ever accused him of simply promoting the business of defense contractors with his strong and unwavering support defense spending to t make america safe and secure. Less than 1 of americans volunteered to riskee their livs to be away from their families their loved ones for weeks and months at a time. To uproot their families every year and moving to put themselves in dangerous trading physical and mental strain put themselves in harms way in combat and yet they ask for so little in return. That folks is the definition of selflessness. While at one time i worked directly for medine military hero in this body today as United States senator i worked for thousands o of them pretendo thousands across america but importantly in the state of alabama. The state of alabama is the state of heroes because it is true. Our sons and our daughters enlist and serve in our nation in numbers that far exceed our states population and im so proud of them. Alabama alone there are 27,000 men and women who serve even on active duty or in the guard or reserve or alabama is home to 377,000 veterans but thats a lot of folks in a state of my size. Not quite 10 of the population of veterans. The point here is that families in alabama know what it means to see a loved one raise their hand and stand ready to make the alternate alternate sacrifice for their country but a nominated our best and brightest military academies and the two years that ive been here we have been able to get over four of alabamas brightest High School Students into our military academy 40 and ive watched with pride how they becamewe members of the military and how their families were so proud of them not ever screaming that one day if they lost their life the commander of the chief of United States might refer to them as a loser. I can assure every american that the folks that i know of are no suckers and they are no losers. Every volunteer from alabama enlisted officer having common is a deep and abiding love for our country. As ahe member of the Armed Services committee at that the honor to meet some these people overseas traveling with my friend and colleague senator reed could ive met with folks from alabama and i have felt their pride at the job they were doing in afghanistan and iraq. They knew it deep down because thats the core of the a patriot and thats the core of the american value. We owe it o to them not just our gratitude but our commitment to serve them as they are serving or have served us forget the duty to uphold the promise to care for them and care for their families to provide for their help here to help them with an Education Transition to a good job after service. We haveon a duty to honor them with action and with humble appreciation and we should have the decency and the sense of patriotism to not denigrate their service especially if you avoided making such a sacrifice yourself for the past two years i was fortunate to know what it really means to serve and to sacrifice whileo i was working n the elimination of them military widows tax but i got to note mobile mobile payments onto others his late spouses have served honorably and i were shocked to learn for decades have been denied full serve s er benefits and their spouses had earned because the federal government was willing to save a few extra bucks and their country could allow this injustice to occur for four decades is unconscionable and we set out to change it. Theseo to talk about it every year and she would save her time she would argue for the elimination of the tax it was like taking her husband up from the grave. Saving mccormicks husband passed away in a training accident in south korea for years ago preachers got two kids all at the university including a daughter. Sadie is a gold star wife and became a strong advocate for military widows tax issue. She had to go back to work Teaching School to pay the bills. Lois thompson of openness the widow of Richard Thompson retired after 35 years in and one day of service. Hehe retired in 1991 and died on march 18, 2013 suffering from als for more than six years served two tours of duty where he waded into streams contented with agent orange. Senator tester spoke about the denial of that fits to those that have suffered because of the contamination to agent orange. Ms. Thompson was 85 years old and she was a caretaker during his extended illness and she said you know my has been served two tours in vietnam waiting in streams of agent orange for the war was unpopular he could wear his uniform home. He was spit on on arrival back in the states. The soldiers were often not treated right even these days. I agree with ms. Thompson and let the make this clear the sacrifice by these women and men in their families is incalculable and for far too many years we have failed to do our duty to keep the promise to those heroes and so im so glad when a bipartisan effort in the house and Senate Bicameral we were able to correct that a master masters defense budget. Unfortunately mr. President i cannot say that im surprised that the president called werecans who died in the losers and suckers. Its just the latest in a series of comments he has made to demonstrate a lack of respect for those who have served and that respect goes far beyond simply putting money into our defense and our military. It goes to your patriotism. It goes to your heart. Its easy to put money into something. Cz to do those kinds of things especially when youve got an Armed Services like we have here inwe the senate that works in sh a bipartisan fashion. All different thing to really talk in the privacy of the people about what you really believe but i cant say im surprised that combat wounded veterans are so uncomfortable that he would ban them from military events and parades. They were my jim of his own failure to serve when called upon. Im not surprised but i am deeply disappointed. Deeply disappointed. Our troops deserve a commanderinchief who understands and appreciates their service. As of yesterday 52,143 americans have been wounded in Operation Iraqi freedom and operation and enduring freedom critics of the 784 americans have given their lives for those two missions. Many more have been deployed oftenn repeatedly bringing home experiences and memories that will impact them for the rest of their lives and their dedicated families have served alongside them throughout every step of the way. Few among us can truly understand this kind of sacrifice for a cause greater than ourselves. For what we should all be able to understand that they deserve our respect or in our gratitude and unwavering efforts to impose our perch to them and their families. As i conclude a standard think about the sacrifices. John mccain lived with the pain in and the pain of Tammy Duckworth lived with and the honor with which he and she and those who have served in all of those who have served and sacrificed over the years. And all those who serve today and it is stunning to me that the only sacrifice to win this chamber may suffer today is to suffer the wrath of a president who stood in support of them and not him. After all they have done. Osay what needs to be said we have to support them and not fear a baseless tweet from the president , baseless tweet is just simply not too high a price to a pay for doing what is righ. For military and their military families. Thanking resident mr. President today before. Up is to president. The senate from rhode island. Mr. President i rise to express my strong support for the resolution sponsored by senator duckworth which condemns the denigration of our armed forces and veterans and i want tora commend senator. Root for her service as an army aviator. She inspires all of us with her courage and her sacrifice. In a september 3 article jeffrey gold work with disparaging comments President Trumps made about the United States military and Wounded Warriors. Such remarks are not unusual with this president and most are Public Knowledge however we should not become numb to such behavior but some of the comments there repeating. The atlantic article states that the president refused to visit the American Cemetery in france the final resting place of 2289 americans who died in battle ensuring our freedom and the freedom of our allies against the march of totalitarianism and authoritarianism fascism and the past century. He refused to visit because he said the cemetery was filled with suckers and losers. Several years ago and planning a military parade to honor himself he refused to include wounded war veterans stating no one wants to see that. When he visited the graves of general john kelly son who died in afghanistan at the age of 29 and was buried at Arlington National cemetery he said tube general kelly why his son joined the marines in what was in it for him . When oppressed by a presentation by general dunford of the joint chiefs of staff he asked the staff was such a talented person would join the military. Donald trump is a man who cannot conceive of service to others before oneself. His view of the world is transactional. The only thing. Unifam to him as money not ideals or principles or lives of fellow americans. He simply doesnt understand the words of one of his predecessors president George Herbert walker bush who said, we must tell the stories of those t who died for freedoms cause. You must tell their stories because those who lost loved ones need to know that a grateful nation will always remember them. We must tell their stories so that her childrens grandchildren will understand that our lives might have been different had it not been for the sacrifice. Donald trump does not deeply about what it means to be in the military, to be deployed in the battles on wondering if every day will be your last day, to be a Family Member waiting anxiously at home to be a Young Healthy person suddenly disabled or gold star family who weights every day morning their loss on our daughter at understanding the great cause they died for it. Donald trump only cares about the next win for himself his fortuneop or his popularity. Donald trump Deferred Service and vietnam five times including one deferment forest diagnosis of bone spurs which is remarkable given the propensity he has to play golf given such a debilitating injury. He is said that those who served in vietnam were suckers for not finding a way out. Never acknowledging that his privilege of birth and raise were likely responsible for him being able to avoid service in that war. Furthermore President Trump double down and denigrate the military service of past president s including and has been offered to repeatedly senator john mccain by close colleague on the Armed ServicesCommittee Mike chairman. He referred to senator mccain as a loser when he died and wondered why the nation should honor him preach he said he preferred those who would never been captured in war. He preferred those who never served to a man like senator mccain who survived over five years in a vietnamese prisoner of war camp who refused to leave his comrades behind when given the chance and two endured well chronicled torture and humiliation that made him an inspiration to so many in fact one of the most moments of my life was to be in the hanoi hilton with john mccain and to have senator mccain talk about the torture they humiliation the degradation they endured each day and maintained his courage and his commitment to this nation. The president also does not understand the discipline that is the hallmark of the military in a democracy to ensure that our military men and women remain torn nations moral rights of both in the most demanding wartime environment. That is why he sees nothing wrong with intervening Legal Process of hardening a servicemember accused of war crime and thats why hes able to make comments intended to drive a wedge between the men and women in uniform and their senior look leaders. Impugning the motives of senior military officers who have dedicated their lives to the service of the country h who hae led in some cases for this country. Never in this nations history has it present held the military and those who serve in such disdain and disregard, never. His support for the military he touts pay raises scheduled to happen anyway and congressional increases in defense spending which he then diverts the bill on an elegant visor wasteful on the southern border. He fell short of what matters nmost caring about our men and women in uniform and their wellbeing and lives and thinks instead of how they might be usefulut to him to further his n interest in image or donald trump cannot relate to those who served in theed armed forces or understand what would motivate them to choose the harder road of a life of service and discomfort and arduous experience to defend this nation. Mr. President while i knowy that every american especially those in uniform was since to the words of the president it is my fervent hope that our uniformed personnel did not take the president words on this issue to heart. The person who has the privilege to have fled. Troopers they can tell you there is no greater honor to be among those who serve to protect your nation is sacrificed every day so that americans can live in freedom and peace. As president Theodore Roosevelt famously said the credit belongs to the man who is actually an arena who is marred by dust and sweat and blood and knows the great enthusiasm the great devotion who sends himself in a worthy cause who at best if he wins nose high achievement and if he fails at least fails herein greatest but his place shall never be with those cold and intended and souls who knew neither are true or defeat. I guess President Trump would say they are losers. Im in women in uniform fight and die and are wanted for nation are in the arena, not President Trump. As all Public Servants are trying to make our country a better place they particularly those in uniform deserve full credit. At present who always stood on the sidelines and denigrates them does not deserve such credit and mr. President i yield the floor. Mr. President i rise today to honor our veterans and servicemembers and i thinkis senator reed for his beautiful remarks and a service as well as senator carper and senator duckworth who is leading our efforts today she is led for so long. As i listened to my colleagues i know that many of them were putting their remarks in history as a literate could imagine john mccain right now walking up and about crossing the aisle and coming over working with people and how much he loved this place and love their country but i remember the silent courageous fortitude if Daniel Inouye and so many that i talked with like senator dole. I think the reason we talked about that history is because we know that this argument and this cause is based in history. Our democracy is based in history. The idea that people serve is based in. They dont serve for themselves, they served in the words of senator mccain for a cause larger than themselves. Soldiers do when they sign up to serve. The brave men and women who have served in our armed forces represent the best among us, whether you served decades ago or you still wear a uniform today. We owe you a debt of gratitude for your service and sacrifice on behalf of our great nation. All Service Members and veterans have something in common. Wherever they are politically, they have something in common. And regardless of when and where they served, they have something in common. A deep love of our country and and aviary real country and understanding of what it means to serve. And they deserve a commanderinchief of the country in the same way for the same reason and has that same deep understanding of why those soldiers signed up to serve. Unfortunately come as my colleagues have pointed out the person who is the commanderinchief of the brave men and women according to many recent reports in the things that on tv has made repeated comments to denigrate the service questioning their judgment and belittling those who were prisoners of for the made the ultimate sacrifice. I will never forget what he said about senator mccain when he died. I also stood in front of that cell in vietnam where john mccain was held. You stand there and think about the fact he made the decision to allow others to be released before him, that is courage. What does that say to servicemembers when the commanderinchief canceled a visit to an American Cemetery in france because according to one report he thought his hair would be ruined by the rain . It was reported in the atlantic when he questions the value to pay his respects to follow americans claiming those that were killed in service are losers and suckers. What does it say when he expresses contempt not just for johns mccain who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war but alsois accusing george h. W. Bush as being a loser for being shut down by the japanese as a navy pilot in world war ii. What does it say to our troops when thehe president refuses and then to criticize Vladimir Putin following reports and the armed forces and the partners. Arm servicemembers are always there for us and we must be there for them. Even when our nation is divided and we learn that in a big way in vietnam. We learn that that serve the troops event. And those that are serving a steak dinner all donated somehow the troops are getting s the same dinner its an extra ordinary event many of us volunteered to work on the lines one day when i was there there was a vietnam vet he was serving mashed potatoes with a vietnam that had and i said thank you for your service. He said when i was coming home i was greeted by tomatoes i want this to happen to another soldiere again. Thats why come here every year to volunteer you can have your disagreements about warren more policy but you do not take it out on the warriors on the front line. Sadly right now we have a commanderinchief who does this including personal vendettas against people like senator mccain. Rather than being silent i think we must stand up. And to be very clear that we condemned the remarks at the president has made. The last time i saw senator mccain, was at the ranch in his last months of life. My husband and i wentth there and sat with cindy and john and at the very end he was getting tired and not talking much. He pointed at one of his books. He pointed theres nothing more liberating in life and fighting for a cause larger thanur yourself. Thats what unites our troops when they sign up to serve. That is what should unitas in this chamber rightlen now. We urge my colleagues to join in the effort. We will not remain silent. I yield the floor. Still thank you to the senator from minnesota for her remarks just now i was at her and senator duckworth and her colleagues responding to the shameful comments that President Trump reported he made about our servicemembers. I want to thank by thinking senator duckworth by leading us and for service to our a country and all of those that observe the country in their family. One of the greatest drinks are the countless americans who throughout ouren history and been willing to sacrificeve everything to preserve the freedom. With a High Percentage of servicemembers and veterans and their families and in my experience, people in my stay and all across the country revere the bravery and sacrifices of those who serve and who have served. We may disagree about policy mattersme, including those when and where they are deployed. But that respect must be undisputed. It is the president s duty to honor c the sacrifice for the fallen comrades. And the president of the United States of america is not just limited to being the commanderinchief. And should lead by example representing the values of the American People. And to express his disdain and a little understanding. There is a failure of leadership and this is out of step with most americans traveling to the burial grounds in france and belgium as we paid our respects to the Fallen Service mentors one dash to a servicemembers and the owner of a lifetime. It was also deeply personal as my dad served in the battle of the bulge. Standing on a hallowed grounds with a powerful reminder those heroes who gave everything to fight againstsm fascism we owe our deepest respect and profound gratitude. Those that were killed or captured the present refer to them as suckers and losers. Such words to come from the president of the unitedo states its for all that we stand for. But unfortunately these comments are not surprising those comments against those were served including the late senator john mccain. Mr. President the resolution we are introducing today the debt that we owe to those for those that served our country. And this is the repeated disrespect that this president has brought uponol them. And to see those hurtful comments the president has made about members of our military. Every single one of you should condemn them. And i will close with this my father didnt talk about his service in world war ii very often. As diverse backgrounds and on politicsagree but they come together every day to win the war. They know that that depended on the unity and cohesion. I will tell you something else. This is what my dad always reminded us of. Sitting at the breakfast table what are you doing for freedom today . And he had a question he had the right to ask because he was remembering and all those Life Experiences that their freedom that our country and the United States of america. Thank you mr. President any of the four. The floor this is 15 minutes. In your view should be the hhs led Research Agenda as the nation seeks to understand more about what has happened during the pandemic and what kinds of efforts should be sustained afterwards . What in your view should be the hhs lead agenda as they seek to understand what happened during the pandemic and the efforts to be sustained afterwards