Randy Neugebauer: “this morning I come to this House with a very heavy heart. Earlier this week, PFC Andrew Velez was killed while tracking…”

“this morning I come to this House with a very heavy heart. Earlier this week, PFC Andrew Velez was killed while tracking Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. It is always a tragedy when we lose one of our young soldiers, but this loss is especially tragic because less than 2 years ago, Andrew's older brother, Freddy, was also killed while protecting this country in fighting the war on terrorism. The Velez family now has made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and democracy not once, but twice. Andrew and Freddy Velez are American heroes. We must never forget the sacrifice of these two brothers for freedom. My thoughts and prayers go out to Andrew's father, Roy; his stepmother, Carmen; Andrew's wife, Veronica; and his three children, Jasmine, Jordan, and Jacob as they mourn the loss of their son and their husband and their dad. Mr. Speaker, the price of freedom has never been cheap, but I have to say that the Velez family has given an extra measure for freedom and democracy. I hold them in my prayers and ask all Americans to do so at the same time. ____________________”