Political Quotes

“The Army Ranger Creed reads, in part: ``I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy.'' Today, Afghans who worked for U.S. forces are in grave danger. The organization No One Left Behind, a nonprofit that advocates for the relocation of Afghan interpreters to the U.S., says that more than 300 translators or their relatives have already been killed since 2014, but that number only increasing every day. We cannot allow a slow bureaucracy to cost the lives of Afghans who served alongside our men and women. As an Army Ranger and paratrooper, I served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In both places, I worked very closely with Iraqi and Afghan interpreters who were absolutely critical to me accomplishing my mission. Mr. Speaker, I am not somebody who many people in this House would say is prone to hyperbole or exaggeration, but I can say with confidence that I might not be here today speaking to all of my colleagues had it not been for these men and women who trusted us, who fought with us, who died with us, shoulder to shoulder. They provided this service at great risk to themselves and their families, and they did so with courage and the understanding that we would stand with them and provide a safe haven if and when necessary. Well, my friends and colleagues, that time has come.…”