By the from the senator from illinois president lincoln played our heavenly father is wage ourou grief. And then to have laid atl costly sacrifice and a President Trump complained about world war i because they were suckers and losers. President trump has received some lows. And with the depravity of his comments and the nature of military service in general the lowest of the low. And then to lay down their life for the country. No greater sorrow everyone who has the privilege of working in Public Office knows the deep truths in their bones. But not the current president of the United States. Not this man who dodged the vietnam war with bone spurs or families. Ed and then to say i prefer people who are not captured. Not this president who doesnt understand one iota of the word sacrifice and why they may not get themselves for a larger cause. When President Trump went to Arlington National cemetery and then he said i dont get it what is in it for them . Everyone should be appalled what the commanderinchief said about Service Members it affects the morale of the morale letter on morality in the character of the man who has to make lifeanddeath decisions the president and the team try to deny the ever made those comments. The president is on video saying the same thing out loud and then have that steadfast commitment to the individual serving in the Us Armed Services and thank you for leading the resolution and thank you for p her service with the Army Aviation officer. I played not to block the utresolution. Are they really so afraid to sayy anything to give him a pass when he disparages are on military . With those disgusting comments and i resolution that reforms are support to the military . I certainly hope not. If you cant stand up to say these things then what can you criticize this president or any president for . With comments like this to understand instinctively especially when they come from the commanderinchief and have the entire Senate Democrats and republicans stand together with this resolution and i yield my colleague from illinois. I come to the floor today as a senator and according to donald trump a sucker and ay loser. Perhaps my presence is auncomfortable that nobody wants to see what warriors like me keep other americans safe. The ethos of the United States is the exact opposite of the me first mentality trump has shown every hour and every day of his life. Part of the creed is to never leave a fallen comrade behind. The only reason i am speaking today and grieving today, today, breathing and alive today because in 2004 after the iraqi insurgents fire the rpg to the black hawk i was cold piloting they embody that creed. They thought i was dead but yet only to realize i was still breathing when they got me to the rescue aircraft. And then refused care and tell the medic had attended to me first. If donald trump was in that dusty field because trump fundamentally to sacrifice the nation. Not the true meaning of courage or the idea of fighting for someone greater than y yourself. Greater than your bank account or poll numbers. He doesnt understand Americas Service numbers one members. For all those who love them and allow them in the goldplated tower through his gilded life. Instead trump those that were wounded in battle house been called suckers and losers. And then h echoing comments and when they slandered war heroes are john mccain rather than a badge i of honor to understand that he should be ashamed i spent this weekend reflecting on the words of another republican president who in the midst of the crisis the duty our nation has to those killed serving our country and that we know so well to declare it is for the living to dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work with have been so nobly advanced for the last full measure of devotion that causes a new birth of freedom in the nation closer to perfection and even that we can never achieve it. But to be disrespectful to the American People. And to raise the white hand that it is on us for those that raise their right hand in the most dangerous war zones imaginable there is a contract with their care and training to send them to war and that responsibility and to cross the line of departure that no regard for their personal safety or the toll on their mental health. Regarding them as suckers and losers were damages done to americas sons and daughters who comprise the swift sword . I can tell you right now. Every single one and it endangers the nations safety. It is bad for troop readiness as well. When a warrior goes into combat they need to know and then to leave a fallen comrade behind no matter what no matter how even if its just bringing the body home to rest and to uphold the values of the military the loyalty and duty and respect and integrity and personal courage and on the face of the earth and donald trump by contrast and he has disdain for each of those values and to show the exact opposite of every one of those traits are lack of sense of loyalty he has no respect for those in uniform and selfishness is his trademark rather than the troops. If trump starts to break down those values in the military and we question why we care about those who have been wounded or killed and leaving folks behin behind, people begin to think twice. And then consider of the loved ones who want to enlist. Those who are ready to take on the mission and that burden will start w to hesitate. They dont know if their own crew will risk their life that this coward is too ignorant of common decency so he doesnt deserve that another four minutes let alone another four years. And then to pass that Senate Resolution and then we did not condone that behavior to military service. Does any senator oppose affirminggo those that always place the Mission First does any member actually object to have those sacrifices and bravery of those who were prisoners of war or missing iner action . Nobody actually opposes the senate that we will care for those who go into battle. That wounds are earned for those that put the nations interest before their own. Its a problem . If Senate Republicans agreed then why would they oppose mine resolution stating the same. I know its not more than a partisan jab and that they be right recent history and stop pretending the outrage is something new. The one thatra originated. After all for those to speak out against it were republican senators who continue to serve in this chamber today. Then candidate trump claims the late senator mccain is not a warpl hero. The senator spend from south carolina. If there is any doubt to not be the commanderinchief they should and all doubt. It is shameful that on the other side of the aisle that condemns the present with a comment is made with their not just for us but for the allies so today i am here mr. President the senate and then immediate consideration Senate Resolution 689 which was submitted earlier today. I further asked the recommendations be agreed to in the preamble be agreed to in the motion to reconsider be considered made a laid upon the table no intervening action or debate. Without objection. Ece thank you for your service and sacrifice putting military and veterans but the latest outrage against President Trump is as usual is baseless. And with those political attacks and with those Anonymous Sources this will not be covered by the fake news nobody has done to support more our people in uniform to a peace and prosperity for all americans and donald j. Trump. And this president has championed and putting money into our military and the largest in a decade and you think the troops on the ground in iraq and afghanistan, south korea and germany honoring the Wounded Warriors and the Fallen Servicemembers killed in action at Dover Air Force base. And with plans to withdraw troops from iraq and afghanistan honoring this commitment to and endless wars. With his leadership to have the uae peace deal a historic step. I am proud to defend President Trump against another desperate political attack and i would stand with him in support of military and veterans. It is the antithesis of honest journalism. Former and current administrationla officials and those that have a history of using sources and that that was not good enough. What wasnt good enough is that immediate treatment with the military and families. Visiting activeduty members saw firsthand the opportunities our military leaders have to grow safety and security on all fronts. From combating terrorism to make sure cyberdomain there is a renewed sense of optimism that should bring all americans comfort of the work he is doing every single day for men and women in uniform. And is fighting every single day. He has delivered on his promises to respect veterans to keep the country safe and its time to stop playing politics with National Security and those who provide that. For those reasons i object. The senator from illinois has the floor. And then to reassert their independence with principal people to support the resolution and a basic reality. The integration of military services is more disgraceful today than five years ago. And not to be the commander in chief. The general once wrote the American Army is the peoples army and it belongs to the American People when the army is committed that people arerm committed. He may have been talking about the army and everyone that blocks American People made up of sons and daughters on behalf of the people they love. When he mocks the troops he mocks every american every part of the country and that is so foreign when he makes fun of those that a fallen in battle not only revealing his ignorance of National Security but his own personal cowardice that means somebody else serving him. And is my duty to honor those that save me but every extra minute and moment from here in the capital. Take advantage of every extra breath because our men and women in uniform know it courage and sacrifice and service trulyth means. With that i know how grateful i am to show support for troops and families. My friend my own resolution the members of the United Statesce armed forces and it recognizes to take care veterans to defend the americanen people. I ask unanimous consent to the resolution of my resolution at the desk. I object. The objection is heard. I cannot support that Senate Republican resolution for a simple reason. And we cannot do that and with that prisoners for an military family continue. And that president can make a statement such disgraceful sentiment. The refusal speaks volumes when you remember the outrage and the disrespect of the military is not a new concern. Originates with republican senators who are among the very first publicut officials who speak out the denigration of prisoner of for. Is not just offensive and ridiculous and as a disqualifier as commander in chief. And those comments denigrating the troops and now to join me and not passing the t resolution donald trump never changed and that denigration of sacrifices disqualifying today as it was years ago. And i see my senator from illinois. Let me say at the outset how proud i am to serve with my colleagues my is senator from illinois her life story , her commitment to the men and women in uniform and the veterans and others is now wellestablished across the nation. Only a small minority of americans of had the privilege and honor and for those who respect the military and understand what they deserve that respect and what senator duckworth has done with her life is the spirit of the and men who keep the nation and democratic and safe. Im disappointed. What a great moment in the history of the senate you have republican support as well as democratic support for the duckworth resolution. Im sorry the senator from georgia objected. She took exception to the atlantic magazine article. He but that has been accepted by fox news as being a valid comment. But there is evidence of the attitude toward the military we all heard donald trump say publicly when he was running for president in 2015 about our friend ands colleague john mccain. He is not a war hero i like people who werent captured. Five years in a prisoner for camp in vietnam and this president dismisses him as no war hero. He suffered for this nation and he deserves the respect of anyone let alone the president we also stopped donald trump publicly attack a goldstar family and6. 2016 and we heard President Trump dismissed traumatic brainy injury fascist headaches. We see silence and the reports and we witness the use of military officials and for all National Security purposes. And i washington and wrote an outpost reporter that he called the service c chief a bunch of dopes and babies and that you are all losers and you dont know how to win anymore. D President Trump repeated that again in a News Conference this week these are just a few examples not a fake news by real news of his attitude it is no surprise to say thoset things privately if he would say them publicly. And with that humility and barks insults and obscenities know president and history and what do we hear from republican and veterans very little if anything. Thank you for bringing this matter to the floor of the United States senate. We all carry the flag and those inspirational speeches on memorial day for those who serve the nation. And where those voices today if we can speak out of the outrage of this president . I yield the floor. The senator from rhode island. Im honored to join senator duckworth in this proposal and it gives me great pride to serve in the United States senate with her. The living embodiment ofoe the sacrifice our president does not understand. There are two things that are very wrong and one is the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have laid down their lives for this country are suckers and losers and its okay to say that about them. So Something Like that it is it is very important that in the highest offices of the country, people stand up and push back. In graves, and france and belgium and manila and around the world live the mortal remains of men, boys, women who gave their lives and who cannot speak for themselves and it is heartbreaking, heartbreaking for me to see that weng cannot come together to agree on this, and this body. I can promise you that if president obama or president clinton has said anything like this, the other side of this chamber would be in pandemonium. Would he is seen of hysteria. Senators would be lining up at the doors to come and condemn the following hateful speech. We would be hearing a lot throughout the last measure of devotion and instead we are seeing the last measure of devolution of a great party and to what now resembles as much as anything a cold. Ill be interested to see what my colleagues have a in mind as they go through next years veterans day and memorial day having been able to say one word against this fallacy of our oooops today. It is frankly heartbreaking. Ive traveled a lot with john mccain and one of her trips to the philippines i got up early in the morning to go and have basically a dawn visit to the American Cemetery in manila. And the particular reason i went there is to see a name on the wall of the memorial of george berlin whitehouse. George was 21 when he was killed. He was flying fighter planes as a navy pilot across an aircraft carrier. His body was never recovered. His plane was shot down and crashed in the wilderness and that was the end of it that his name is still there. Its high up in the marble. So last memorial and sacrifice. A president who doesnt get that is a disgrace. Oak glen particularly i yield the floor to a colleague who is an american combat veteran from vietnam war to which my father dedicated five years of his life and its a remarkable honor for me to be able to speak in between senator duckworth and senator carper and im very cognizant of that honor. I yield the floor. Its an honor to follow my friend. You have turned up well with the frontlines youve had. Mr. President i rise today to make Crystal Clear that we are profoundly grateful to every american who has answered her nations call to serve in uniform to risk their lives in too many instances to lay down their life so we might remain a free people. We are profoundly grateful to their families have sacrificed so much while their loved ones are away fighting to protect the rest of us and make this a better and more just world. And we are especially indebted to those families who loved ones left for war and never came home. The sacrifice that Many Americans can barely imagine but one that has been all too real for millions of families since the founding of our nation. Mr. President one of those families was my mothers family. I never got to meet my moms younger brother. His name was bob patton. Bobby as he was known was the youngest of five children. He was born to my grandparents ray and that they may patton and their mother. Bobby was killed in action on october 26, 1944 during a kamikaze attack in the western pacific on an aircraft carrier. Among the bodies of theof ships crew that were never recovered was that of our uncle bob bird on the day of that attack he was get this 19 years, six months and 23 days old. My grandparents were never able to see their son again or say goodbye. My sister and i along with our cousins would never meet him. Neither bob patton or his shipmates who also perished that day were or losers. Mr. President trump has characterized their nations call to uniform. They were and remain he rose. I was fortunate enough to make it home after serving three tours in Southeast Asia during the vi