Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, as we as a nation reflect on 13 more killed in action, 13 more Gold Star families, I think it is worth noting that they did their mission. They did their jobs. Their operation, their mission, was to secure Kabul International Airport, to evacuate our Embassy, to evacuate those who had worked with us, to evacuate the remaining military assets. And they did their job. They secured Kabul International Airport. But they went above and beyond. After pulling grueling, long shifts in the August heat in Afghanistan--and everybody who has served there knows how difficult that could be--they went on their own time and were working with grassroots veterans organizations who sprung up, who stepped up to do, frankly, what should have already been done and to help those who had stood with us and stood for that flag for 20 years. They, on their own time, at great risk, were getting people out. They knew the dangers. Everybody who had served there knew that it was only a matter of time till they were going to be hit. They knew that it was only a matter of time. Yet, they did it anyway. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation for the Congressional Gold Medal, but we owe them answers. We owe their families answers. We owe this country answers. Why were they defending an airport in the middle of a city of 4 million people? Why were the military assets pulled before--before--all of our civilians and our government employees were out? Why? Why? Why? So many questions.…”