To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5142, a bill to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, during the 20-year war in Afghanistan, we lost over 2,000 brave men and women. More than 20,000 servicemembers returned home wounded in action.

I believe in my heart that every single soldier we lost in Afghanistan was a tragedy. We must remember their sacrifice.

In the waning days of this war, the Biden administration made decisions that put U.S. servicemembers in harm's way, and, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, on August 26, we lost 13 more servicemembers, and more than 20 were injured.

Eleven marines, one Navy corpsman, and one soldier were killed by an ISIS-K bomber outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport on this terrible day in August.

Mr. Speaker, I represent the people of Missouri's Second Congressional District; and on August 26, my State lost a hero, Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz.

This courageous young man had been stationed in Jordan on his first deployment when he was called into Afghanistan to defend the civilians fleeing the Taliban's advance. He was eager to be one of the brave men and women on the front lines, making a real difference for the Americans and allies trapped in a terrifying and dangerous situation.

Lance Corporal Schmitz was totally committed to his military service, and he felt a calling to be a United States marine. So much so that he had gotten his parents' permission to enlist at just 17 years old.

Lance Corporal Schmitz was just 20 years old when he lost his life in the terrorist attack at the airport in Kabul.

Lance Corporal Schmitz and the 12 other servicemembers we lost in August went above and beyond the call of duty to protect those stranded in Afghanistan.

I sadly don't believe we will truly understand why Lance Corporal Schmitz and his fellow soldiers died. Nevertheless, his family, their families, and all Americans deserve answers, Mr. Speaker.

And I hope one day those who made the decisions that resulted in these senseless deaths will be held accountable.

In the meantime, I am grateful that their service and their sacrifice is being commemorated by this legislation. The bravery and valor shown by these servicemembers is unquestionable.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I look forward to standing next to the family of Lance Corporal Schmitz as they are presented a Congressional Gold Medal commemorating their son's service and valor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on my side.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), my friend and colleague, a classmate of mine.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I simply urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5142 to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

War is an incredible teacher, a brutal instructor. We have learned lessons about triumph, sorrow, loss, and pain.

War teaches us to appreciate the simple things we take for granted, like the ability to speak your mind, freely practice your religion, even seeing your loved ones once a day.

It also teaches us that in war there are no unwounded soldiers.

There are those who came back with both visible scars and invisible battle wounds, and there are those who did not come home at all.

Today, we pause to honor the 13 American servicemembers who lost their lives during the evacuation efforts at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.

These 13 fallen warriors, along with many others, made the ultimate sacrifice. Each of them knew their duty, and they accepted the risks. Not many answer the call, but they volunteered anyway.

Sent to evacuate Americans and Afghans that struggled to get past the Taliban checkpoints in Kabul and through the airport gates, fearing they would be left behind and left for dead. They knew the mission and valiantly forged ahead; helping hundreds to safety, overcoming their own fears, when a suicide bomb attack took their lives.

The terrorist act took the lives of at least 170 Afghans, 11 marines, one Navy corpsman, and one Army special operations soldier, including Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza of Laredo, Texas; Sergeant Nicole Gee of Roseville, California; Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover of Salt Lake City, Utah; Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss of Knoxville, Tennessee; Corporal Hunter Lopez of Indio, California; Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum of Bondurant, Wyoming; Corporal Dylan Merola of Rancho Cucamonga, California; Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui of Norco, California; Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page of Omaha, Nebraska; Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Corporal Humberto Sanchez of Logansport, Indiana; Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz of Wentzville, Missouri; Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

I could not be more grateful for their service to our Nation. While we as a Nation grieve for the servicemembers we have lost, we often forget about the families who have lost even more.

To be a Gold Star Family is an honor no one wishes for. We owe our sincerest gratitude to the families who eagerly awaited these 13 servicemembers' return. These families bear the greatest burden of their loved one's sacrifice, and we can never thank them in a way that will make up for their loss.

Awarding Congress' highest honor is a small token of our appreciation.

Thank you to all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who joined me in this effort.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2022, was prepared by my staff on the Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended. This information allows the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation.

The report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through September 15, 2022, as compared to the levels the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. Since my last scorekeeping report on April 28, seven laws with significant budgetary effects have been signed by the President, and I have revised the levels in the budget resolution two times for legislation.

The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared tables 1 and 2. Table 1 compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows 10 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted or the legislation qualified under the budget resolution for an allocation adjustment. Most of the spending above allowable levels is attributed to either the CHIPS Act of 2022 or the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.

Table 2 shows the Senate pay-as-you-go--PAYGO--scorecard tallying enacted legislation with significant effects on mandatory spending and revenues. The scorecard shows a savings of $4.7 billion in 2022, a deficit of $174 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and a deficit of $528 billion over the 2022-2031 period. When compared to the allowable amounts on the PAYGO scorecard last adjusted on September 12, there is a deficit of $1.3 billion on the scorecard for 2022, $185 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and $667 billion over the 2022-2031 period.

In addition to these tables, I am submitting a letter from the Congressional Budget Office with further detail. For fiscal year 2022, current budgetary levels are within allowed amounts. Current law budget authority is $2.6 billion below the maximum allowed in the revised budget resolution, outlays are $17 billion below the allowed maximum, and revenues are $68 million above the allowed minimum. The tables also show that there has been no net change for Social Security.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter and accompanying tables from CBO be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Speaker, the book of Isaiah recounts how the prophet Isaiah began his service. In a time of darkness, the Lord asks, ``Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?''

Isaiah's response was to volunteer for service: ``Here am I; send me.''

When their nation called them to serve, so said a generation of American servicemembers, diplomats and intelligence officers: ``Here am I; send me.''

Two months ago tomorrow, thirteen of those servicemembers were killed as they helped bring nearly 130,000 Americans, allies and Afghan partners to safety.

That action was one of profound valor, selflessness and sacrifice, for which the Congress and Country are united in grief and in gratitude.

We salute and pray for: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover (Salt Lake City, Utah); Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny [jo-HAN-nee] Rosario Pichardo (Lawrence, Massachusetts); Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee [JEE] (Sacramento, California); Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez (Indio, California); Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan [day-gan] Page (Omaha, Nebraska); Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez (Logansport, Indiana); Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza (Rio Bravo, Texas); Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz (St. Charles, Missouri); Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum (Jackson, Wyoming); Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola (Rancho Cucamonga, California); Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui [neh-KOO-ee] (Norco, California); Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak (Berlin Heights, Ohio); and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss [kuh-nows] (Corryton, Tennessee).

Today, we honor their heroism by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal: the highest honor that the Congress can bestow.

Their service brings great honor to our country, and their being awarded this honor brings luster to this award.

As we honor the heroism of the fallen, we salute each member of our military, intelligence and diplomatic communities who conducted this evacuation--and all who have served or are serving our country.

We pray for all fighting for our freedoms and for their families. And we pray for the people of Afghanistan and in the region.

Mr. Speaker, on August 26th, 13 American families experienced the worst day of their lives.

They received the knock on the door that every parent of a servicemember prays will never come.

For those families, the conversation that followed was the most devastating news a person can receive: their child has been killed.

One of the marines we lost that day was Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz from Wentzville in Missouri's Third Congressional District.

Lance Corporal Schmitz was just 20 years old when the military transferred him from Jordan to Afghanistan during the U.S. evacuation.

Shortly after arriving in Kabul, Jared died while achieving his lifelong goal of serving the American People in the United States Marine Corps.

Because of Jared's and his fellow servicemembers' sacrifice, thousands of Americans were able to return home safely.

They ensured that thousands of families did not get the heartbreaking news Jared's parents received early in the morning of August 27th.

Because our servicemembers displayed a bravery most of us are not capable of, countless kids saw their mom and dad again.

Brothers reunited with their sisters.

And terrified parents got to hug their children after days of worrying that day would never come.

Nothing we can say on this floor will erase the pain far too many military families live with every day.

No amount of gratitude nor a Congressional Gold Medal will change the fact that the Schmitz family and 12 others will forever have an unfillable hole in their hearts.

But what we can do with this bill is remind them of what they hopefully already know: their loved-one represents the best of us.

They are the American heroes who allow 300 million people to live freely in the greatest country in the history of the world.

Their loss is absolutely heartbreaking, but their sacrifice and their lives will never be forgotten.

They will be remembered as the heroes they are and will live in the hearts of millions of grateful Americans forever.