Young Oak Kim: “I thank the gentleman from Colorado, my friend, for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifices of…”

“I thank the gentleman from Colorado, my friend, for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifices of America's Gold Star Mothers and families and to further the cause of building a monument to acknowledge their contributions to our country. One of these Gold Star Mothers is Judith Young, a neighbor of mine down the street in Morristown, New Jersey. In October 1983, Judith lost her son, Jeffrey, in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. {time} 1330 Judith said that Jeffrey always wanted to be a soldier. He graduated from high school in 1980 and went right into the Marines. He was proud to be a Marine. He was proud to serve his country. In the more than three decades since his death, Judith has been a fierce advocate for her fellow Gold Star Mothers and Families. She represents thousands of loved ones and family members who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. It is that sacrifice that we seek to honor in the Gold Star Families National Monument Extension Act. By passing this bill, we can give Gold Star Families, like Judith's, the time they need to complete a monument acknowledging that sacrifices aren't just made by those in uniform, but by the loved ones left behind. This is a monument that has a site selected; that won't cost taxpayers a single dime; and that has truly bipartisan support. If we don't pass this bill, the authorization for this monument will expire.…”