On the recordSeptember 16, 2020
I want to thank the Senator from Florida for yielding his time. He is not only the Senator from Florida; he is also a former Governor. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about the brave men and women of law enforcement in Montana and across this Nation. These men and women, many who are my friends, are the best of the best. Montana heroes literally put their lives on the line every day to protect our families--our moms, our dads, our kids. They don't do it for the pay or the accolades; they do it to serve their communities, to keep us safe. The men and women wearing that badge accept that every time they leave home to go to their shift and give their loved ones a kiss goodbye, they may never come back home. That is courage. My home county sheriff--Gallatin County, MT--Sheriff Brian Gootkin-- just a little over 1 week ago, we had a huge, massive wildfire that struck the Bridgers just north and east of Bozeman. It has been my hometown for 56 years. There were huge plumes of smoke, a great big fire--11,000 acres. They rushed into the fire and evacuated the residents there. Twenty-eight homes were destroyed, and not a single person lost their life. I can tell you why--because of the actions of the Gallatin sheriff's department, firefighters, and other agencies. This courage is something we should celebrate every day. This is something we should defend every day, including right here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. But, sadly, some people have other ideas.…
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