Tim Walz: “I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time, as well as being a staunch supporter of this and, of course, other…”

“I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time, as well as being a staunch supporter of this and, of course, other legislation to secure the rights and benefits for our veterans. I would also like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his unwavering support on this and other bills, and appreciate all of the things that are moving today. I say a special thank you to Chairman Miller and the majority leader and the majority whip who changed the schedule around to allow this bill to be debated tonight after Representatives Roe, Benishek, DesJarlais, Denham, and I returned from Afghanistan, visiting our warriors downrange defending freedom and putting their lives on the line and doing it in such a professional manner, and standing there and not being able to tell the difference between a Navy, a Marine, or an Army National Guard or Reservist, all of those services working together in unity for this. I'm proud to sponsor this piece of legislation, the Honor America's Guard and Reserve Act. The veterans' community has prioritized this for a long time. About the honor that you heard my good friend and the lead Republican sponsor on this from Iowa, Mr. Latham, talk about, it's about that honor and dignity and a country respecting that. These are folks who serve in so many ways, responding to national emergencies. But, most importantly, I think, standing ready to be deployed at a moment's notice as a deterrent to aggression.…”