Political Quotes

“today I rise to introduce a resolution with Senator Risch, as well as other colleagues, to thank countless State Department career officials for their extensive efforts to bring home over 78,000 United States citizens and legal permanent residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption in global travel, leaving tens of thousands of United States citizens and legal permanent residents stranded overseas with no direct way to return to the United States. While we will have ample opportunity in the future to examine and better understand the decisions made by senior leadership at the Department of State at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis that could have allowed the United States to more effectively respond to this pandemic, including to identify and mitigate repatriation challenges, I will note that once the Department recognized the enormity of the repatriation crisis, it's career professionals sprung into action and, characteristically, rose to meet the challenge and serve their nation with distinction. Staying true to the Department's most fundamental mission, to protect U.S. citizens abroad, State Department officers, family members, and local employees faced great personal risk and long hours to assist U.S. citizens during a time of dire need and stress. For that, my colleagues and I are tremendously grateful.…”