On the recordJuly 12, 2016
Senator Sullivan asked Senator Ernst whether people in uniform are watching. Let's talk about other people watching. What about the families of those men and women in uniform, the ones whom Democrats have decided to say no to for a pay raise? My wife and I have adopted Fort Bragg, where she started a program called Baby Bundles where we create these bundles to give to expectant families, E4s and below. These men and women have very little. They are serving their Nation and are not making a lot of money. We are trying to do our best to make up for that by providing them with these gifts as they bring a child into the world. But what about the mother or father who is left behind as their loved one is somewhere in harm's way? What are they thinking about when they come home during training and say: You know, we are just not getting the jumps we were getting. We are not getting the equipment we were getting. And, sweetie, I am about to be deployed. That is happening. That is what this ``no'' stands for. That is what this action on the part of the Democrats stands for. We need to vote for this bill. We need to show military families and men and women in uniform that we support them. I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to move this bill to the President's desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
