James C. Justice

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, you know, we are dealing with some tough stuff, aren't we, all over the place. Whether it be the war in Iran or whatever it may be, we deal with tough stuff here every day, every single day.

But just imagine this one. Imagine coming home to one of your children and knowing that today--today--you got the prognosis and they have childhood cancer. It can't get any tougher than that. No matter what any of us say, it can't possibly get any tougher than that.

I would tell you that my bill, S. 2933, with Senator Capito and Congressman Miller, that we have all jumped on to try to support in every way--it deals about something that is so simple, so, so elementary today.

You know, in my State, we have an unbelievable national park in the New River Gorge, and they have a playground there. All we are doing is asking just this: that we rename that playground for all those children--all those children--that absolutely have cancer and are fighting for their lives in every way and all the unbelievable families that are really hurting.

The name we want it to be is ``Hearts of Gold Playground.'' It seems so simple, because hearts of gold--think about this: the little gold ribbon. It

stands for something that right now is going on all across this country and all across the world.

This doesn't have anything to do with swings and slides and everything; it has to do with just absolutely what should touch all of our hearts. Cancer is unthinkable. We have made strides that are off the chart, and every day that goes by, we are a day closer to absolutely curing cancer forever more and eradicating it from our lives. Won't it be an incredible day?

With all that being said, the great part about this is we don't have to have food fights, do we? We don't have to pick sides between Republicans and Democrats. We only absolutely need to move forward on goodness--real, real, live goodness.

When I was a Governor not long ago, I had the opportunity in September--I think it was on September 13, 2023. I had the opportunity to make in West Virginia a proclamation--you know, that was just a followup to what we already had--make in West Virginia a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the month of September.

You know, we signed into legislation a thing that absolutely had a new license plate--that had on this license plate ``West Virginia, Cure Childhood Cancer.''

We have done some good things, but today--today--let's get on with unanimous consent to doing something really, really special that maybe a few--that maybe a lot will be there and absolutely feel really good about the moment we stood up for them in every way.

God bless all those that are fighting this dreaded disease, all the great families, and all those incredible children.

Mr. President, with that being said, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 645, S. 2933.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

How about that? Good stuff.

Mr. President, I rise to acknowledge Col. William Bryan Annie, who is retiring on July 1, 2026, after more than 30 years of military service to our country and the great State of West Virginia.

Colonel Annie grew up in Kanawha County, and in October 1995, he put on a uniform for the first time, joining the 130th Security Forces Squadron of the West Virginia Air National Guard. While serving, he pursued his education, earning a bachelor of science in 1999 and completing airman's leadership school. At that time, he had risen to the rank of staff sergeant, and in 2000, he attended the Academy of Military Science where he then commissioned as a second lieutenant. Colonel Annie wore the bars and then the oak leaves and eventually the eagle of a full colonel--pinned on June 3, 2020--a promotion that capped an arc of relentless growth and deep responsibility.

Colonel Annie's career in uniform transcended national borders and demanded mastery of nearly every facet of Air Force support operations. He completed several overseas missions, including to South Korea for Operation Team Spirit and Operation Foal Eagle. In immediate response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, Colonel Annie mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle. In 2009, he deployed to Baghdad as a Coalition Joint Plans Officer with Multi-National Force Iraq, serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout his career, he served as a Transportation Officer, Logistics Readiness Officer, and as a Plans Officer. No matter the time, the place, or the task, Colonel Annie dedicated his life to our great Nation.

After returning from Iraq, Colonel Annie took on installation and security responsibilities at the State headquarters level, then moved into command. As the Force Support Squadron commander of the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, a strategic airlift unit flying the C-17A Globemaster III, he was responsible for the morale, welfare, and readiness of hundreds of airmen and their families. He then commanded the 167th Mission Support Group, overseeing the broad infrastructure of the wing before being selected as deputy wing commander, where he helped guide more than 1,100 military members in training and worldwide missions. His command career was defined by steadiness, accountability, and genuine care for the people under his charge.

Colonel Annie received extensive decorations for his service: a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal with five oakleaf clusters, Air Force and Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Action Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal with six service stars, the NATO Medal with a service star. He also received State awards from West Virginia to fill an additional column, including the Distinguished Unit Awards, Emergency Service Ribbons, and Commendation Medals. Taken together, they are not merely a collection of ribbons, but a map of a life lived wherever the mission required, doing whatever the mission demanded.

Colonel Annie is a West Virginian in the deepest sense--rooted in his community, committed to its people, and unwilling to mistake rank or recognition for purpose. He was a soldier-scholar, a commander-servant, and by every measure, the kind of officer the institution of the West Virginia National Guard was built to produce. His leadership in the military organization will be felt for many years to come, as well as his positive impact on the many, many lives he changed for the better. I express my sincerest gratitude for Colonel Annie's service and patriotism, and I send my best wishes for his health and happiness in retirement.