Mary Fallin

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed the following votes. I would have voted the following ways: For rollcall vote 361 I would have voted ``yea.'' For rollcall vote 362 I would have voted ``yea.'' For rollcall vote 363 I would have voted ``nay.'' For rollcall vote 364 I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, this Memorial Day, we thank our men and women serving our Nation--our veterans, their families, and those who have given their lives to defend and protect Americans. We honor their sacrifices on behalf of our freedom as a Nation.

My colleagues and I have worked very hard in our Armed Services Committee on the National Defense Authorization Act, which I believe to be an effective and comprehensive blueprint for our Nation's defense both at home and abroad. Most importantly, I believe this bill provides our men and women in uniform with the support and protection they need and deserve both on and off the battlefield.

Every day, these brave men and women put their lives on the line for the safety and security of our Nation, and it is our job to make sure that they receive the quality support and services they need, especially when they return home.

I am very grateful for my amendments to improve the detection and the diagnosis of common combat-related afflictions, like that of ringing in the ears, of posttraumatic stress disorder, and of traumatic brain injury, which are all included in this year's authorization. The sooner we catch these prevalent service-related injuries, the sooner we will simultaneously improve the quality of the lives of our troops and will reduce the costs of health care across the board for them.

So, as this Memorial Day approaches, I hope we all remember our troops--those who are currently serving and

those who have served our country to defend our freedoms.

If this bill makes it off the floor as it came out of the committee, which was in one piece, then I will be supporting it. If there are changes that deal with some other issues that this committee has raised in the last few minutes as objectionable, then we will be considering them.

Mr. Speaker, fifteen years ago next Monday, America was shocked and saddened by a murderous attack in our heartland. 168 Oklahomans died and hundreds others injured when a homegrown terrorist detonated a bomb outside the Oklahoma City Federal Building.

Today I offer a resolution to commemorate that tragedy, but it is also a resolution of hope.

On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City, the State of Oklahoma and our Nation saw the face of evil. But rather than cower in fear we came together. From the very first moments after the blast, neighbors rushed forward to help neighbors. They lined up around the block to give blood. They became volunteer rescuers--and one, a nurse, gave her life in that effort.

As our wounds began to heal, we vowed always to remember those we lost, those who were injured and those who were changed forever. Five years after the bombing, in 2000, a beautiful and peaceful outdoor memorial was dedicated on the same block that was once marked by blood and tears.

That memorial includes 168 empty chairs in memory of those who died-- 19 of them children. It contains a reflecting pool and a tough old tree that survived the blast. We call it the Survivor Tree, and it is the emblem of our memorial.

A year later, we added a museum where visitors come each day to learn more about the bombing, and to absorb the lesson that in our free Nation, free speech is honorable, but violence is not.

Those are the physical symbols of hope. There are others just as vital. Dozens of children lost one or more parent in the bombing, or were themselves injured. Today a special fund is sending some of those children to college.

And each year, as we will next Monday, we gather again at the Oklahoma City National Memorial to pause for 168 seconds of silence, to honor memories, to see old friends with whom we share an unbreakable bond forged of both tragedy and hope. And we also come to renew that vow we made in 1995--we will never forget.

Fifteen years ago this Congress and the Clinton administration stepped forward to bring the help and the justice the events of that day demanded. Subsequent laws made it easier to prosecute terrorists and bring them to final justice.

This resolution continues the commitment of this Congress to stand with and for Oklahoma City. In memory of all those touched by the events of April 19, 1995, I urge its unanimous passage.''