On the recordJune 14, 2017
Mr. President, I want to add to the voice of so many Senators today who expressed their prayers and concerns for the five Americans who were wounded today in a terrible shooting in Alexandria, VA: Steve Scalise, a friend of mine from the House of Representatives, someone who took a bet on me early in my first campaign, as a neighboring State, aspiring young candidate, and with whom I served for 2 years; Matt Mika, who represents the Tyson Foods, a great Arkansas institution, and whom I have known since the beginning of my days of politics; Zack Barth, a young House staffer; and Crystal Griner and David Bailey, two brave Capitol police officers who were on the scene. We don't yet know all of the details of what happened this morning. Here is what we do know: If it weren't for the bravery of those Capitol police officers--not just Crystal and David but the others present-- there might have been many more killed. We all sit here safely engaged in the great debates of American democracy--whether we are a Senator or whether we are Americans watching it--because there are brave men and women literally standing guard at our doors with guns, willing to put their lives on the line to defend all of us.…





