Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Section 8129 of this bill. This section would allow the Secretary of Defense, in the event of a government shutdown, to make military death gratuity payments to families of fallen service members. I commend the Committee for including this long overdue provision, which was my number one priority request to the Committee and the subject of bipartisan legislation I have introduced with my colleague Representative Tom Rooney of Florida. It is shameful that Congress would allow the government to shut down and allow grieving military families to go without this small and partial measure of our gratitude for their loved one's service. Sadly, that is what happened in October 2013 and January 2018. We must ensure that it never happens again. Thank you again to the Chairman and Ranking Member for being responsive to the more than 200 members who have cosponsored the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act (H.R. 1928) and the two dozen veterans organizations who have endorsed the bill. But most importantly, thank you for caring for our military families.”