Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as we mark nearly 2 months since the bombing that killed more than 116 innocent Afghanis and American military personnel at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, I rise in strong support of this legislation to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers who gave their lives that day. Those individuals are Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sergeant Nicole Gee, Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, Corporal Hunter Lopez, Corporal Daegan Page, Corporal Humberto Sanchez, Lance Corporal David Espinoza, Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, and Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize these extraordinary heroes and also understand that this honor cannot come close to filling the void left by their loss, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of such a distinction. These brave servicemembers represent the very best of America, knowingly putting themselves in harm's way to help evacuate thousands from the region, a true embodiment of the American spirit. Their legacies live on in the thousands of Afghan refugees they saved, who now have an opportunity to live lives free of violence and persecution.…”