On the recordDecember 9, 2014
I want to extend my thanks to Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud. I think an American public which, many times, thinks all politics is is bickering and fighting and pettiness needs to see the two examples that these leaders show, consistently putting the needs of our veterans first and foremost, finding areas to improve, and holding people accountable, but this piece of legislation, most importantly, finding solutions to make life better for our veterans. And for that, I am forever grateful to them for the work and for the staff that worked on this. {time} 1515 Ms. Duckworth is not able to be with us today. I said a lot of times that people talk about patriotism and service and heroics. In Tammy Duckworth's case, you just state her name, and her life is a living testament to that, and she works every day. We are just happy she is with her little one now, but she had a big part in this. There are very few things that unite this country in the security of our Nation and in the care of our warriors, as I think many of us know, as do the millions who have fought the conflicts and who have fought extremism across the globe--people like Clay Hunt, a young marine, who went and did his duty. He was wounded in Iraq. That was not enough for Clay, so he went to Afghanistan, where he experienced some of the most horrific conditions you could imagine. That was not enough for Clay. He came home after he did his service in the Marine Corps, and he continued to serve.…
