House and Senate Leaders in recognition of the former president took added service as a soldier, legislator, and statesman. Speakers included president trump, congressional leaders, and bob doles wife elizabeth. This is about 90 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our honored guests, members of the United States house ofs representatives, members of the United States senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Vice President of the United States and the president of the United States. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the house of representatives. The honorable paul ryan. [laughter] [applause] please be seated. Good afternoon everybody. It is a privilege to welcome you to the greatest hall in washington for an even grander occasion. We will award the highest civilian honor that this body can the stove. I am honored to be joined today by president donald trump, and Vice President mike pence, as well as senator Elizabeth Dole and second lady karen pence. I would also like to welcome all of our congressional leaders and some in a familiar faces that i see in the audience. Today, it is my honor to say 1616, weuant to s awarded the congressional gold medal to the soldier, the legislator and the statesman from kansas, senator bob dole. [applause] rep. Ryan the congressional gold medal is one of our oldest traditions. Since its founding, our country has been ushered beyond the threshold of greatness by individuals of unrivaled courage. Bob dole is one of those giants. To the man from russell, it was always a question of what he could do for others. Be it on the front lines of world war ii, or within the halls of congress, bob dole always stood by what is just and what is right. He was resounding voice for the hungry and he was a resounding voice for those with disabilities. He negotiated some of the biggest reforms of social programs that we have ever seen. He has also proven himself to be one of the greatest allies of americas veterans that we will ever know. In 1999, he stood in this very flag to dedicate that very for our prisoners of war and those missing in action. [applause] rep. Ryan bob dole has never stopped fighting for those who fight for us. He is as honorable as they come. Hero this kind of american , this selfless and staunch who cannot those defend themselves, who do not always get the recognition that they deserve. So today, may this celebration marked not only all he has done for those in this room, not only all that he is done for those watching at home, but all he has madeand the impact he has for those who dont even realize that it was he who made it. You,or dole, because of america is much better. On behalf of congress and all americans, thank you and god bless. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of the colors, our national anthem, and the retiring of our colors. Oh say can you see by the dawns early light . What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous night oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming in the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave. Please remain standing as the chaplain of the United States house of representatives gives the invocation. Let us pray. Abraham, we give you thanks for the gift of life, and for the Many Blessings that life brings. Today, we gathered in this dedicated to the enjoyment of life and its blessings for our citizens. We honor senator bob dole of kansas. We are honored by his presence. Are honored by his long life of service to his own nation. And congressman, senator, among so many efforts in his life as a private citizen, as policies of bipartisan , a legislative giant from the bygone era, may his commitments to work across the aisle to embrace practical bipartisanship on many issues serve as an inspiration to current members of congress from both sides of the aisle. So easy to say, we know oh god, that this is difficult. Thus, it is all the more noteworthy that his successors in government have chosen to honor him with the congressional gold medal. Bless our world with peace. Bless senator bob dole and his wife elizabeth, and god bless the United States of america. Amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable lynn jenkins. [applause] it is truly an honor to be her honoring not only a great kansan, but a remarkable mentor and my dear friend. On this historic day, i am pleased to be joined by so many in presenting the congressional the congressional gold medal to bob dole in recognition of his service as a soldier in statesman. I am moved by the support and love the congress and our entire country has shown for this man. Is fondthe good senator of saying that you can take the boy out of kansas, but you cannot take kansas out of the boy. I know this is true when it comes to senator dole. There has been a strong and consistent voice mentoring me all along the way. The senator is always checking in on us back home, making sure that kansans know they still have a special place in his heart. That commitment to the people of the great state of kansas is truly inspiring. Sen. Udall known for many great accomplishments, but beyond all of these accomplishments he has fondly remembered as one who puts others before himself. The senator has given his blood, sweat and undying passion to serve this country. Dole, you have impacted me and inspired me while impacting so many in this nation, as well as people all over the world and people you have never met. I am blessed and humbled to call you a friend. There is no person i would rather see be awarded the congressional gold medal. May god bless you and your family, and may we all choose to live by your example. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, United States representative from the Fifth District of maryland and the democratic whip of the house, the honorable steny hoyer. Rep. Hoyer mr. President , mr. Speaker,ident, mr. Leader mcconnell, leadership,ormer Speaker Pelosi pelosi doletor dole, the senators in a timeless study of courage, john f. Kennedy wrote and i quote the true democracy living and inspiring puts its faith in the people. Faith that people will not simply a lack them to represent their views ably and faithfully, but also elect men who will exercise their conscientious judgment. Faith that the people will not condemn those whose devotion to principle leads them to unpopular courses, but will. Eward courage there are many speakers after me and im sure that the word courage will be in town to frequently. Respect, honor, and ultimately recognized right. John kennedy spoke of senator dole and other americans who have risen above the average and been extraordinary in their service to the American People. Few americans living today have demonstrated the kind of courage that abdul has. That bob dole has medal today represents a two kinds of courage. The kind of courage that he displayed on the battlefields of the second old work, whose wounds he has carried ever since. The second is conviction, a steady determination over the torse of ones public life stand up for what one believes to be right and to be just. That is our bob dole. Thats what abdul did in congress when he worked across the aisle with me and others to enact the americans with disabilities act. He it is what he did when came to the senate floor in 2012 in his wheelchair to advocate again for those with disabilities around the world, frankly against some in his partys opposition. The same courage he displayed again, and again, and again as a , astor, as majority leader a president ial candidate, and as a private citizen. Devotion and continue to this very minute, how blessed america is by their service. As we celebrate that courage today, we pay tribute to bob dole, a good legislator, but a decent and good human being. He has been advantaged of course by the partnership of an extraordinary woman, \ a woman of compassion and commitment and like her husband of great patriotism, loyal to our country and its people. His wife, Elizabeth Dole. [applause] rep. Hoyer senator, i am proud of the work that we have done together. I am honored by your friendship and so taken with your devotion to country. A united going to states senator who would reach out across the isle, reach out across the country to serve this nation well, i would invent bob dole. I am here to recognize all you have achieved to enhance congress and to make our country stronger and safer. How appropriate it is to give a gold medal to someone who is the gold standard. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the United States senator from kansas, the honorable pat roberts. [applause] thank you. S mr. President , mr. Vice elizabeth senator dole, distinguished leaders and guests all, it is both a privilege and an honor for me to be part of this ceremony for my friend, my colleague, my longtime mentor bob dole. Kansas favorite son. This rotunda with the nations most senior elected officials, some might say theres no subject on which we could all agree. When congresswoman jenkins and i embarq on a mission thomas summer to make on a mission last summer to make this happen, there was a tad bit of division in our congress. I knew that to get the senates attention i needed to put a little elbow grease cutting through the noise in the discourse, but in less than two days, two votes, two days, i had the signatures of all 100 senators. [applause] roberts i didnt have to go to them and ask. They came to me and asked if they could sign. It takes a very special person for all 100 of us do be so enthusiastic and grateful, joined in bipartisan cause for this unique a ward. The fact that we are here today is a testament to you to yourly, bob, leadership in congress, statesmanship, and perseverance in bringing us the world war ii andrial and to your heroism sacrifice on the battlefield. Know, i could go pretty much all day long about you. I have some pretty good stories to tell. One. Er, i will limit it to to the man and our mission to build a president ial memorial to the man who commanded you on the italy, Dwight David Eisenhower of abilene, kansas. I am proud to say with your tireless advocacy the memorial is being built just downhill. Just down the hill. Commitment,ur people will visit the man you called your hero. Bob too many of us and , you arey team dole our hero. Your leadership on so many laws that have improved lives for so Many Americans and memorials forever etched in stone will also remind america of you, the boy from kansas and your enduring love of our country. We return that love for you today. God bless you and god bless america. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, u. S. Senator from vermont, the honorable patrick lee. [applause] lee thank you. Mr. President , mr. Vice president , thank you for being here. You are honoring a true american patriot. , all the memories that come to the surface being here with you and elizabeth, two senators i served with. I am blessed for the opportunities we have had to spend time with the both of you on so many occasions, especially when you invited us to our wedding your wedding reception, that was a great day. I have learned much from working drawl, majority bob dole, republican bob dole, beginning when i was young member of the senate a while ago. The on the fact that bob dole is the longest serving the public and leader of the senate, we can say that he is a senate legend. The best leaders i have known in have shownve grow three special qualities. Understand their role in the system, the ability to bring to forgegether, agreements even when based on compromises. Consequence is accomplished by anyone legislator alone, high achievement is a joint effort especially with leadership like yours, bob. A Senate Leader needs all of the tools, you have to be a quarterback, a shepherd, father, confessor, and you are every one of those. I catalyst, a facilitator, a straight talker. He also had the best sense of humor of any senator i have i could probably not repeat some of the comments we had, but i remember when he and torch Mitchell George mitchell met every day, he would invite democrats and republicans into his office and somehow persuade us we were working together and we did. His third trait is why that worked, that is trust. A good and effective leader must keep his or her word. Bob, you always kept your word. We know the injuries he suffered, but those injuries led him to become a champion for others who cope with disabilities, thinking of others, not himself. I watched conservative it bob dole and liberal George Mcgovern create a Child Nutrition Program helping summoning people here and around the world. We are only as strong as our values. Our values are only as real as our actions, but bob dole rose to somebody challenges under tremendous pressures. He set the example for putting country before party. We say well done. We thank you. Better and stronger for your stewardship. We all thank you, we honor you and elizabeth, and i feel so honored that i was able to serve with you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the United States army band. When you walk through a storm,. Old your head up high he afraidafraid of the dark. A storm is a silversky and the sweet song of a lark. Gone through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your and blown. Ossed on, with hope in never t, and your alone. Never walk never walk alone. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the, craddick leader of the United States house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi. Rep. Pelosi mr. President , mr. , mrs. Pence, to our distinguished speaker, it isty leader mcconnell, an honor to be here. I want to pay tribute to the responses of the resolution, roberts,an senator lee and representative hoyer. That was applause worthy. [applause] is getting that we met here where american forged extraordinary progress for our nation are memorialized in marble and bronze. In the company of eisenhower, anthony,ncoln, susan b we come to honor another American Hero, senator robert dole. Honor thisileged to leader of great integrity, deep dignity, and extraordinary courage. We are blessed to be here with senator dole and his extraordinary wife. They have just celebrated what he two years of dutiful marriage. Of beautiful marriage. An American Hero in her own right. Our nation is better for her strong leadership, her service in the cabinet, and the United States senate. We thanked her for her tireless work on behalf of the military caregivers who sacrifice every day for our veterans and our country. Thank you, alyssa bit. Thank you, elizabeth. Senator dole has demonstrated his steadfast commitment to country right from the start. When the second world work broke ut we know that bob left fields to fight. His courage and battle was legendary. Heartsawarded two purple and the bronze star for valor. Equally extraordinary was the bravery that senator bob dole demonstrated during his difficult recovery. He turned adversity into action as he healed from the grave ones sustained while risking his life for a fellow soldier and decided to come to congress and to serve the people of kansas here. It gives my colleagues and me deeper pride to know that senator bob dole first served in washington as a member of the house of representatives fared that could be an applause line, but i guess not. [applause] pelosi as a senator and majority leader he fought relentlessly to assure that every man and woman in unit arm in uniform would receive the care they needed on returning from combat. Just as the military leaves no battlefield, the we must leave no veteran behind when they come home. [applause] pelosi president dwight eisenhower, he chose to be memorialized here. The family told us hit of his wishes as a fivestar general. Present,people can be but hardly anybody can be a fivestar general. A lot of people can be president , but hardly anybody can be a fivestar general. [laughter] rep. Pelosi he said of people that values above its principles, lose both. Bob dole embodies that have those that pathos. Senator dole firmly believes in the value of justice and battled congress in the 19 60s to expand the civil rights of every american. He believes in fairness, fighting to create and push the americans with disabilities act over the finish line. As my colleague, steny hoyer mentioned, he worked with him on that. Bob also believes in honoring human dignity. Together with George Mcgovern he expanded food stamps, Nutrition Initiative to millions of women, children, and working amylase. Working families. It has brought food from peoplen heartland to across the world. Senator dole once said our temper ofis not to american ideals or replace them, but to act worthy of them. May we all take heed of those profound words. For a lifetime spent defending, advancing, and exemplifying our proudest american ideals, we thank you. Sends our warmest congratulations to you, your wife elizabeth, and your entire family. This medal,ccepting you bring luster to it. And your service has wrought luster to the United States. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the democratic leader of the United States senate, the honorable Chuck Schumer. President trump, Vice President pence, majority leader mcconnell, speaker ryan, leader pelosi, senators leahy and roberts, congress and lawyer , jenkins, senator Elizabeth Dole, friends and family who have traveled here today, welcome. We gather of course to recognize senator bob dole, a son of the heartland born to an era of depression and war, who unblinkingly answered his countrys call to arms, who bravely fought in the Second World War and at the age of 21 sustained grave injuries for which he earned two d