Floor Statements

Mr. President, this amendment will include the tribal representatives on the DHS Border Task Force.

In this country within 100 miles of the border we have 13 Indian reservations, some of them right on the border. If we are going to make sure the borders are secure in the north and the south, Indians need to be a part of the conversation, our Native American friends. They have a unique government-to-government status. As I said before, their input is critically important.

This amendment would not be costing anything, has bipartisan support, and it will add tribal representatives--two on the north and two on the southern region--to the Department of Homeland Security Border Task Force. I encourage a ``yea'' vote on this amendment.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized to speak for up to 5 minutes in order to call up my amendment, that Senator Vitter then be recognized for up to 8 minutes in order to call up his amendment, and then Senator Hirono be recognized to speak for up to 20 minutes.

Madam President, I call up amendment No. 1198.

Madam President, I am proud to be joined by Senators Murkowski, Crapo, and Murray in offering this bipartisan amendment. Border security is one of the most important aspects of this bill, and on both sides of the border, especially the northern border, the only way to secure the border is to involve State, local, and tribal law enforcement in that effort. Native-American lands and people are a vital but, unfortunately, an often overlooked part of our border security plan. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Right now, drug smuggling and trafficking in persons is happening on Indian reservations on our border, moving virtually unnoticed into America. The problem, as the GAO told me in a recent report on this very topic, is a lack of communication and coordination between tribal and U.S. border officials.

This amendment adds four tribal voices to the Department of Homeland Security Task Force, two from the northern border region and two from the southern border region. As drafted, this task force included border security experts from various government entities and is responsible for solving problems related to border security. But somehow the tribal perspective was left out. Yet in Montana, the Blackfeet Reservation is bigger than the entire State of Delaware and it directly borders Canada for 50 miles. The Fort Peck Reservation sits less than 30 miles from the Canadian border. This amendment will increase communication and improve coordination between the Federal and tribal governments that it relies on to secure these borders. Adding a tribal representative to that task force is the right thing to do and it is just plain common sense.

I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield the floor.

Mr. President. On June 16th, a group of World War II veterans from Montana will be visiting our Nation's Capital.

With a great deal of honor and respect, I extend a hearty Montana welcome to each and every one of them.

Together, they will visit the World War II Memorial and share stories about their service. This journey will no doubt bring about a lot of memories. I hope it will give them a deep sense of pride as well.

What they achieved together almost 70 years ago was remarkable. That memorial is a testament to the fact that a grateful nation will never forget what they did or what they sacrificed. To us, they were our greatest generation. They left the comforts of their family and their communities to confront evil from Iwo Jima to Bastogne. Together, they won the war in the Pacific by defeating an empire and liberated a continent by destroying Hitler and the Nazis.

To them, they were simply doing their jobs. They enlisted in unprecedented numbers to defend our freedoms and our values. They represented the very best of us and made us proud.

From a young age, I remember playing the bugle at the memorial services of veterans of the first two World Wars. It instilled in me a profound sense of respect that I will never forget.

Honoring the service of every generation of American veterans is a Montana value. I deeply appreciate the work of the Big Sky Honor Flight, the nonprofit organization that made this trip possible.

To the World War II veterans making the trip, I salute you. We will always be grateful, and we will never forget your service or your sacrifice.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor David McCullen, a veteran of the war in Vietnam. David, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say thank you for your service to this Nation. It is my honor to share the story of David's service because no story of heroism should ever go unrecognized.

David was born in Miles City, MT, in February of 1949. Soon after, his family moved to California, where he attended Asuza High School near Los Angeles. While in high school, David was a wrestler, lettering in the sport his senior year. After graduating from high school, David joined the famed 101st Airborne Division--known as the Screaming Eagles--and began training at Fort Ord.

David then attended advanced individual training at Fort Gordon and jump school at Fort Benning--both in Georgia.

On May 8, 1969, David left for Vietnam. Just 2 days later, David's regiment was assigned to Operation Apache Snow and took part in the mission that became known as the Battle of Hamburger Hill. This hard- fought offensive became the basis for several movies and books about the Vietnam war. For over a week, American forces attempted to take Hill 937. Seventy-two American soldiers were killed in the battle, and more than 300 were wounded. For its heroism, David's battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

After a 2-year tour in the military, David returned to California, living there and in Iowa for many years. David moved back home to Miles City in 2000.

Today, in our presence, it is my honor to present David with his Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation, First Class. These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service. These medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor William Lee Rich, a career Navy man. Bill, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say thank you for your service to this Nation.

It is my honor to share the story of Bill Rich's service in the U.S. Navy, because no story of heroism should ever fall through the cracks.

Bill was born in Jamestown, NY, in 1947. After moving around the country with his family, he graduated from Spring Valley High School in New York and enlisted with the U.S. Navy in Poughkeepsie in 1966.

Bill trained with the Seabees in Davisville, RI, before transferring to Mobile Construction Battalion 121 at Seabee Headquarters in Gulfport, MS. From there he was deployed to Phu Bai with MCB 121, just south of Hue City in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Bill's unit was responsible for transporting South Vietnamese refugees out of Hue.

In February 1968, his unit saw heavy action during the Tet Counter Offensive. They were responsible for transporting a group of South Vietnamese out of Hue to the refuge center at Phu Bai. It was for their time in Hue that the MCB 121 received the Presidential Unit Citation. Bill also earned his Combat Action Ribbon.

Bill's deployment ended after 9 months, and his unit returned to Gulfport, MS before going back to Vietnam, this time to Camp Eagle in the Gia Lai Province. During his 8 months at Camp Eagle, Bill worked on various construction and electrical projects, both around the camp and in Hue. He also worked with the American-Vietnamese Civic Action Program to help construct engineering projects in the region.

After his two tours in Vietnam, Bill transferred to Naval Reserve Construction Battalion 19 for 4 years before returning to Active Duty.

Back with the Seabees, Bill was assigned to Italy and New Zealand before spending a year in Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze. He was then assigned to Harold E. Holt station in Australia where he married his wife, Debby, a Helena native.

From Australia, Bill went to Winter Harbor, ME, and then to MCB 74 in Gulfport. He deployed from Gulfport to Japan and Puerto Rico. From battalion he went to Manama, Bahrain, in the Persian Gulf as a contract inspector.

From Bahrain, Bill went to the Naval Headquarters in London, England, for 4 years where his daughter Mariah was born.

Bill's last assignment was part of a five-man Active-Duty staff for Reserve Construction Battalion 13 at Camp Smith, Peekskill, NY. Before he retired, Bill received both the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross and the Long and Faithful Service Medal.

Upon his retirement, he received both the Navy and Army Achievement Medals. Bill retired with the rank of E-6, construction electrician first class.

Bill transferred to Fleet Reserve and retired after a 30-year naval career.

Petty Officer Bill Rich moved to Helena to start his new life with his wife and daughter. He currently works for the State of Montana Department of Military Affairs here at Fort Harrison as an electrician.

After his service, Bill never received all of the medals he earned from the Navy.

Earlier this month, in the presence of his friends and family, it was my honor to finally present to Bill his Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device,

Navy Expert Rifle Medal with Three Bronze Stars, Navy Expert Pistol Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and his Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with One Silver and Four Bronze Stars.

It was also my honor to present the Antarctica Service Medal with Bronze Clasp, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Silver and Two Bronze Stars, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with Four Bronze Stars, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star.

Earlier this month I also presented to Bill the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation with One Bronze Star.

These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service.

These medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. President, on May 19, 89 World War II veterans from Montana will be visiting our Nation's Capital.

With a great deal of honor and respect, I extend a hearty Montana welcome to each and every one of them.

Together, they will visit the World War II Memorial and share stories about their service. This journey will no doubt bring about a lot of memories. I hope it will give them a deep sense of pride as well.

What they achieved together almost 70 years ago was remarkable. That memorial is a testament to the fact that a grateful nation will never forget

what they did or what they sacrificed. To us, they were our greatest generation. They left the comforts of their family and their communities to confront evil from Iwo Jima to Bastogne. Together, they won the war in the Pacific by defeating an empire and liberated a continent by destroying Hitler and the Nazis.

To them they were simply doing their jobs. They enlisted in unprecedented numbers to defend our freedoms and our values. They represented the very best of us and made us proud.

From a young age I remember playing the bugle at the memorial services of veterans of the first two World Wars. It instilled in me a profound sense of respect that I will never forget.

Honoring the service of every generation of American veterans is a Montana value. I deeply appreciate the work of the Big Sky Honor Flight, the nonprofit organization that made this trip possible.

I say to the World War II veterans making the trip, I salute you. We will always be grateful, and we will never forget your service or your sacrifice.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor CPL George Ames, a hero from the Korean War.

George was born in Pennsylvania and at age 16, he talked his mother into signing a form so he could enlist in the Army Cavalry. In 1951, George was deployed to Korea where he fought for 2 years. He was wounded three times and eventually was flown to a military hospital in Japan. George did not talk much about his time in Korea but did show his daughter a flag he had made when he was in the hospital in Japan. The flag had a map on it which showed all of the places in Korea where he had fought.

When he returned home, George spent 16 years as a military police officer in El Paso, TX.

In 1971, he moved to Montana and served as the sheriff of Sweet Grass County in Big Timber for 20 years.

George was one of the first sheriffs in Montana to bring the Drug Abuse Resistance Education--DARE--program to his county schools. He also was one of the first sheriffs to bring the FBI's Child Find program to help schools put kids' fingerprints and pictures into a booklet for parents.

George passed away in 2011, but it was my honor to present the honors he earned to his widow Clara and his granddaughter Meggin. On behalf of a grateful nation, I presented CPL George Ames' Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars.

I also had the honor of presenting George's widow Clara and his granddaughter Meggin the Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award and the United National Service Medal.

These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service. They are presented on behalf of a nation that will never forget George Ames' heroism.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor TSgt Norman Leonard, a hero from World War II and the Korean War.

Norman was born in 1925 in North Jackson, OH.

In 1943, Norman enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill. During his 2 years in the South China Sea, Norman was involved in 11 major battles.

Two days after he left the Bunker Hill, the carrier was hit by two kamikazes and over 400 servicemen were killed.

Private First Class Leonard returned to the United States and joined the Air Force. He deployed to Germany where he served with the Allied Forces from 1948 until 1951. From Germany, Norman was Deployed to Taegu, Korea, from 1953 to 1954. In Korea, Staff Sergeant Leonard worked on the F86 fighter bombers.

Twenty years after he enlisted in the Air Force, Norman retired.

He went to Bible school and worked as a pastor in Nebraska, Colorado, and Minnesota.

Norman and his wife moved to Billings 15 years ago to be close to their son and grandchildren.

Earlier this month, it was my honor to present Norman his Korean War Service Medal and his Official Citation from the Republic of South Korea on the 50th Anniversary of the War.

These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service. They are presented on behalf of a nation that will never forget Norman Leonard's heroism.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor PO1 Michael Merrill, a sailor who fought in Vietnam.

Michael grew up in Outlook, MT, and went to Butte in 1961 to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He was sent to Millington, TN, for training at the Naval Support Activity Mid-South base. In Tennessee, he met his future bride, Barbara, whom he married in 1964. Barbara said she always wanted to be in the service, and for her, helping take care of Michael was her way of contributing to our country.

Michael traveled back and forth between San Diego and Millington until 1969 when he received orders to deploy to the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La as a jet mechanic. The Shangri-La was posted in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War.

For his service during the war, Michael earned the Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars.

After Vietnam, Michael and Barbara headed back to Miramar Naval Air Station before a tour on the USS Midway in Japan. Michael's last posting was to Whidbey Island in Washington where he worked with a helicopter squadron.

In 1981, after 20 years in the Navy, Michael retired and moved home. In Billings, he worked various jobs, including working at a tire supply company.

Michael passed away in 2009, but it was my honor to present the honors he earned to his widow Barbara. On behalf of a grateful nation, I presented PO1 Michael Merrill's Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars.

I also had the honor of presenting to Michael's widow Barbara, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy ``E'' Ribbon, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with the 1960 device.

These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism. Sacrifice. And dedication to service.

They are presented on behalf of a nation that will never forget Michael Merrill's heroism.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor William Lee Rich, a career Navy man. Bill, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say ``thank you'' for your service to this Nation.

It is my honor to share the story of Bill Rich's service in the U.S. Navy, because no story of heroism should ever fall through the cracks.

Bill was born in Jamestown, NY in 1947. After moving around the country with his family, he graduated from Spring Valley High School in New York and enlisted with the U.S. Navy in Poughkeepsie in 1966.

Bill trained with the Seabees in Davisville, RI before transferring to Mobile Construction Battalion 21 at Seabee Headquarters in Gulfport, MS. From there he was deployed to Phu Bai with M-C-B 21, just south of Hue City in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Bill's unit was responsible for transporting South Vietnamese refugees out of Hue.

In February 1968, his unit saw heavy action during the Tet Counter Offensive. They were responsible for transporting a group of South Vietnamese out of Hue to the refuge center at Phu Bai. It was for their time in Hue that the M-C-B 21 received the Presidential Unit Citation. Bill also earned his Combat Action Ribbon.

Bill's deployment ended after 9 months, and his unit returned to Gulfport, MS before going back to Vietnam, this time to Camp Eagle in the Gia Lai Province. During his 8 months at Camp Eagle, Bill worked on various construction and electrical projects, both around the camp and in Hue. He also worked with the American-Vietnamese Civic Action Program to help construct engineering projects in the region.

After his two tours in Vietnam, Bill transferred to Naval Reserve Construction Battalion 19 for 4 years before returning to active duty.

Back with the Seabees, Bill was assigned to Italy and New Zealand before spending a year in Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze. He was then assigned to Harold E. Holt station in Australia where he married his wife, Debby, a Helena native.

From Australia, Bill went to Winter Harbor, ME and then to M-C-B 74 in Gulfport. He deployed from Gulfport to Japan and Puerto Rico. From battalion he went to Manama, Bahrain in the Persian Gulf as a contract inspector.

From Bahrain, Bill went to the Naval Headquarters in London, England for 4 years where his daughter Mariah was born.

Bill's last assignment was part of a five-man active duty staff for Reserve Construction Battalion 13 at Camp Smith, Peekskill, NY. Before he retired, Bill received both the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross and the Long and Faithful Service Medal.

Upon his retirement, he received both the Navy and Army Achievement Medals. Bill retired with the rank of E-6 Construction Electrician First Class.

Bill transferred to Fleet Reserve and retired after a 30-year naval career.

Petty Officer Bill Rich moved to Helena to start his new life with his wife and daughter. He currently works for the State of Montana Department of Military Affairs here at Fort Harrison as an electrician.

After his service, Bill never received all of the medals he earned from the Navy.

Earlier this month, in the presence of his friends and family, it was my honor to finally present to Bill his Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Navy Expert Rifle Medal with Three Bronze Stars, Navy Expert Pistol Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and his Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with One Silver and Four Bronze Stars.

It was also my honor to present the Antarctica Service Medal with Bronze Clasp, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Silver and Two Bronze Stars, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with Four Bronze Stars, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star.

Earlier this month I also presented to Bill: the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation with One Bronze Star

These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism. Sacrifice. And dedication to service.

These medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

Mr. President, respect and admiration for Mike Mansfield reached beyond his Montana roots to Washington, where he shaped the character of the modern Senate as the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader. It also reached across the Pacific, where he combined his voice of wisdom and sense of moderation with his love of Asian culture and became the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan.

The Mansfield Foundation has been committed to carrying out this mission since it was established in 1983. For the past 30 years, the Foundation has offered important opportunities for U.S. and Asian leaders in government and business to exchange views and build relationships that strengthen cooperation between our countries. These exchanges, policy dialogues, and research and education

opportunities are the legacies of Mike Mansfield's passion for broader cultural understanding.

Mike Mansfield served Montanans in Congress as a fair player who was focused on building consensus. He recognized the importance of fostering relationships between the United States and our friends across the Pacific. For 30 years, his vision for U.S.-Asia relations has continued through the work of the Mansfield Foundation. We are pleased to recognize the Foundation's 30th anniversary and to commend the Foundation for its continued efforts to build bridges of understanding with the region that Mike and Maureen Mansfield long recognized as the place ``where our future lies.''

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

Mr. President, I wish to speak on this bill. It is called the Marketplace Fairness Act. It will not do anything but damage to the marketplace, in my opinion.

This bill will impose new burdens on our small businesses. Let me repeat that. It will place new burdens on our small businesses. I have heard folks come to the floor and talk about how great this is going to be for small businesses. This is going to be terrible for small businesses. Small businesses are going to have to bring on more people. This is going to be more bureaucracy, with more accountants, more lawyers. This should be called the bill to employ more attorneys and more CPAs.

The fact is, I do not think the attorneys want this kind of work, nor do the CPAs want this kind of work, because what it will do is fundamentally alter the rights of States by allowing them to tax entities outside their borders.

Who is put at risk by this? Small businesses. If the small business screws up, by the way, they are the ones who are held accountable. We talk about this big old database out there that these folks are going to be able to dub into to determine what the sales tax is for a single entity of the 9,600 cities and States and municipalities that collect sales tax. If the business gets it wrong, they are the ones that have the penalty. I am going to tell you that small businesses are not that profitable to be able to go through this kind of an exercise.

In Montana we are in a little different situation. In Montana our budget has a surplus because we have handled our money wisely. Montanans do not pay a sales tax, we do not have a sales tax, and the people of the State of Montana have twice voted against having one. But our budget continues to operate with a surplus without that sales tax.

Now we are going to have other States balance their budgets on the backs of Montana's hard-working small businesses. It is wrong and, quite frankly, it is insulting. In fact, Virginia--right close here-- has already counted these funds as part of their budgeting for a new transportation plan.

I would say this is bad policy that I hope--I know what the cloture vote was yesterday--people take a look at because this is not the direction this body should be going. At a bare minimum, we should send this bill to committee and let the Finance Committee deal with it.

This has some real problems. It has real problems from an implementation standpoint. If we go down this road, it is a very slippery slope; it is going to create more bureaucracy; it is going to create more burdens for small businesses, including new liabilities for incorrectly collecting this sales tax, as I talked about before.

There are 9,600--let me say it again--there are 9,600 cities, States, and municipalities that collect taxes--different taxes: higher taxes on candy than in a different jurisdiction, sometimes no taxes on food. The list goes on and on and on.

It also leaves questions unanswered about how this could impose new taxes on financial transactions and 401(k) plans. It is bad policy.

What businesses will out-of-State tax collectors go after next? It is an aberration of States rights--rights which so many in this Chamber have supported.

It is a situation where we are going down a road that, quite frankly, we have not gone down before from a States rights standpoint. If we do this, I think it opens a Pandora's box, so to speak, as to new rules, new laws that potentially come down, using this as a basis for it.

As I said before, I empathize with the situation of States that have had their budgets underwater. But they ought not be looking at other States' small businesses--in our case Montana's small businesses--to get their budgets in balance.

I would urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. It would gut States rights. It would impose new tax burdens on small businesses and middle-class Americans. Quite frankly, this is bad policy, and we should not be passing bad policy around here.

I thank the Presiding Officer and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor Dean E. Galles, a decorated US Army combat veteran of World War II. Dean, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say ``thank you'' for your service to this Nation.

It is my honor to share the remarkable story of Dean's service in World War II.

Dean was born November 9, 1919 in Broadview, MT, a small prairie town on a rail spur.

As a boy, Dean's family moved to Billings where his father continued in business. Dean looked up to his father as a role model throughout his life. In 1937, Dean graduated from high school in Billings and enrolled at the University of Montana, where he also participated in the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps. Dean graduated in the spring of 1941 and became a commissioned officer in the 7th Infantry Division, U.S. Army.

Lieutenant Galles sailed with his division to attack Japanese forces occupying Attu and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian chain, the westernmost group of Alaskan islands. Upon landing, the American forces were left with the daunting task of removing Japanese troops firmly entrenched on high ground.

At dawn on May 29, 1943, the Japanese commander ordered a desperate, all-out assault on the American forces, which is believed to be the largest banzai charge in World War II's Pacific theater of operation. In spite of the extreme cold weather and high casualties, American forces prevailed. Sometime during the battle, Dean was bayoneted twice and left for dead. In spite of his wounds, Lieutenant Galles struggled two miles to alert other Americans.

On April 7, 1945, then-Captain Galles led an American assault on a Japanese force entrenched on the island of Okinawa. With complete disregard for personal hazards, he moved across open, fire-swept terrain and directed the successful attack. During the confrontation, Captain Galles was wounded a third time and received the Silver Star medal for heroism. Dean is still impacted today due to the Japanese bullet in his chest from wounds received on Okinawa.

Following the third injury, Dean returned to Billings where his wife lived, and he began a successful business. After retirement, Dean has been active in veterans' and civic organizations, where he continues to be a source of inspiration, courage, and patriotism. A fellow veteran recently asked Dean what would he say to Americans yet unborn? In a now frail, but resolute, voice, Mr. Galles replied, ``America is worth fighting for; I hope they keep on fighting.''

Seventy years would pass before the Army would award Dean the Bronze Star medal for Valor for his actions on Attu Island.

Mr. President, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I commend Mr. Galles and his service to America.

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

Mr. President, on April 21, 88 World War II veterans from Montana will be visiting our Nation's Capital.

With a great deal of honor and respect, I extend a hearty Montana welcome to each and every one of them. Together they will visit the World War II Memorial and share stories about their service. This journey will no doubt bring about a lot of memories, and I hope it will give them a deep sense of pride as well.

What they achieved together seven decades ago was remarkable. The memorial is a testament to the fact a grateful nation will never forget what they did or what they sacrificed. To us, they are the ``greatest generation.'' They left the comforts of their family and their communities to confront evil from Iwo Jima to Bastogne.

Together they won the war in the Pacific by defeating an empire and liberating the continent by destroying Hitler and the Nazis. To them, they were simply doing their jobs. They enlisted in unprecedented numbers to defend our freedoms and our values. They represented the very best of us and made us proud. From a young age, I remember playing the bugle at the memorial services of veterans of the first two World Wars. It instilled in me a profound sense of respect which will be with me forever.

Honoring the service of every generation of American veterans is a Montana value. I deeply appreciate the work of the Big Sky Honor Flight, the nonprofit organization which made this trip possible.

To the World War II veterans making the trip, I salute you and welcome you to our Nation's Capital. We will always be grateful, and we will never forget your service or your sacrifice.

I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.