On the recordSeptember 13, 2016
while I was home last weekend, I had a chance to visit with servicemembers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, as well as the Montana Air National Guard, also in Great Falls. Every time I visit them, I am incredibly humbled by their character, their dedication, and their determination toward their mission. The airmen of Malmstrom bear the great weight of standing ready with the world's most powerful weapons, employing them everyday as a vital component or our Nation's nuclear deterrent force. This is where approximately one-third of our Nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles reside. I have the utmost faith in the nearly 4,000 airmen at Malmstrom who operate, maintain, and provide security for the missiles that silently sit across North Central Montana. From the airman first class raised in Butte who stands armed and ready on his first 5-day post, to the senior leadership, I know those airmen will not fail our Nation. However, as I speak today, my friends from across the aisle are blocking funds for these troops, for our troops, and have already six times blocked consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017, denying our troops the proper funding and support they deserve. So today I am standing here with some of my freshmen colleagues imploring our friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop the political gamesmanship. Let's get back to work, and let's start with funding our military.…
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