Derrick Van Orden: “I have multiple combat tours as a Navy SEAL, including two to Afghanistan, and that is why I rise today in support of…”

“I have multiple combat tours as a Navy SEAL, including two to Afghanistan, and that is why I rise today in support of the amendment to use the Holman rule to reduce Secretary Austin's salary to $1. To paraphrase a famous British officer's evaluation: Secretary Austin consistently sets low standards and then fails to meet them. Secretary Austin remains in charge of the Pentagon, despite the fact that he has been responsible for the greatest degradation of the United States military since the Vietnam war and the highest Active Duty and veteran suicide rate in our history. He is directly responsible for abandoning thousands of American citizen and our allies to terrorists in Afghanistan and the subsequent deaths of 13 of our brave men and women in uniform during that fiasco. I support applying the Holman rule to reduce his salary to $1 simply because we cannot reduce it to zero. Secretary Austin could save further controversy and redeem his honor by resigning immediately and publicly apologizing to all of the Gold Star families he is directly responsible for creating at the bombing of Abbey Gate. Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I will be brief. The loss of our veterans to suicide is tragic. Coming from a family with many who have served, and in going to military reunions, I know how serious this issue is. To put this on Secretary Austin, to me, is just wrong, and it is disrespectful. I have had these conversations with him personally about this.…”