goldstar? >> mr. goldstar votes no. ms. fox? mr. cloud? mr. cloud votes no. mr. palmer? mr. palmer votes no. mr. higgins?mr. higgins votes n. mr. biggs votes no. mr. donald? mr. donald votes no. mr. timmons votes no. ms. greene votes no. ms. mcclain. ms. mcclain votes no. mr. waltz. mr. raskin? >> aye. >> mr. raskin votes yes. >> ms. norton? >> yes. >> ms. norton votes yes. >> ms. porter? aye. >> ms. porter votes aye. mr. gÓmez. mr. gÓmez votes aye. >> ms. brown votes aye. [roll call vote] >> mr. garcia votes aye. mr. frost? mr. frost votes aye.ms. lee vot. ms. tlaib? mr. chairman. >> no. >> mr. chairman votes no. >> would the clerical the roll. [roll call vote] mr. fallon votes now. >> has ms. tlaib voted? >> ms. tlaib votes yes. >> mr. chairman, the ayes are 18 and the nays >> the clerk will call will roll. >> mr. jordan? mr. turner? mr. goldstar? ms. fox votes no. mr. cloud? mr. cloud votes no. mr. palmer? mr. palmer votes no. mr. higgins? mr. higgins votes no. mr. sessions? mr. sessions votes no. [roll call vote] >> aye. >> mr. raskin votes aye. ms. norton? >> aye. >> mr

least we never forget these goldstar families. as we celebrate the life and legacy of woody williams and all of our veterans in world war ii this evening and tomorrow, let us all do our best to continue woody's mission. may god rest the soul of our dear friend, our leader, our national hero, woody williams and i yield the floor to my colleague senator capito. >> madam president. >> the senator from west virginia. >> thank you for a gracious tribute to our good friend, woody williams and his family, to his generation and his love of our country and love of freedom and thank you for the leadership that you showed to make sure that tomorrow could happen. i know we worked on this together, but it was-- this is not an easy left to lie in honor, as you know, in the united states capital, but to me, it's so symbolic of a generation and i've encouraged everybody i've seen, please come and pay respects to woody or to that greatest generation that woody symbolizes in his passing and i also want to thank the family. i can't see them from whe

our bill has support from the goldstar lives of america the vfw. the military officers association of america the national military family association. the tragedy assistance programs for survivors. and so many others. in fact, some of the most dedicated activists from the goldstar lives are watching today from the gallery. right now including crystal ^ harriet boyden, don eldridge. i want to thank them all for their leadership and for their continued contributions to our country. this legislation has been introduced previous sessions of congress. but it is yet to pass in large part because of concerns about the cost. while as i said i certainly understand that that there is going to be a cost associated with this we are talking about a benefits plan that these families paid for on their own accord. it is there money that went into this fund, not money of taxpayers. not money that is appropriated every year. it is their money and they deserve to get it back. i think we can all agree that ending the widows tax is the right thing to do for our milita

what i would like to do now is ask if there are other goldstar families in the audience, goldstar familieswould you please see as we can give you a round of applause. [applause] i will tell you this isgi the mt expensive dollar and 50 cents that you could ever ask and imagine. you cango buy the goldstar on te internet for a dollar and 50 cents but it cost a life and it is extremely difficult it's not like a broken arm or having covid, you get over that, you don't ever get over this. thank you for being here. we also want to ask, later begin to recognize by service but i'm going to ask allna of you in the audience, the vietnam veterans, all of you that served during the vietnam war to please stand and allow us to give you our thanks and acknowledgment on vietnam veterans day. all vietnam's please stand. [applause] [cheering] >> from this vantage point that was incredible, it was absolutely wonderful to see all of you here you to brave the elements, to be here, thank you all for doing that. ron the car is an artist, sculpture, a creative imagineering, i've seen that with all due respect to t

so what i would like to do now is to ask if there are other goldstar families in the audience, goldstarounted for, would you please stand so we can give you a round of applause. [applause] i'll tell you, this is the most expensive $1.50 $1.50 your ask and imagine. yet you can buy the goldstar lapel button on the internet for $1.50 that it cost the life and it is extremely difficult. it's not like a broken arm or having covid. you get over that. you don't ever get over this so thank you very much for all of you for being here. .. you in the audience, the vietnam veterans, all of you who served during the vietnam war, to please stand, allow to give you our thanks and acknowledgment on vietnam war, veterans day. so please all vietnam, please stand. [applause] [applause] >> that was incredible, wonderful to see you all here and braved the elements to be here, thank you for being here in doing that. an artist, sculptor, painter, a visionary, creative engineer, i say that with all due respect to company and when the good friends of the nixon library and foundation asked me about creating a st

one is related to the goldstar families.call him josÉ and he is a marine. 240-pound a machine gun at my first met him was about he was recovering from hist injuries. this young man is so dedicated to his country he re- opts. fortunate for the marines they did not take him back. he is now a navy corpsman. what i am frustrated about what seems like subservient behavior in the state department and dod. it seems some individuals within the departments chose to save face for theof administratioraty bringing home rather than bringing some shame policy that was a disaster general milley you talked with a number of citizens how it's impossible to know who was there. i fout the television when i was watching a deity i'm sorryam secretary blinken and others within state department briefing sayingestim. citizens. most of who chose to stay in afghanistan.otal bs like to seee actual words but i'm trying to not, restraining myself. my office alone hearly 200 open cases. 200 cases not 200 people, 200 cases in my congressional district and

the names of fallen service members are written on the goldstar ornaments on the christmas trees theisplay honors the heroic men and women of our country of our nation's military who have laid down their lives for our country. i was carrying on their legacy may god bless the troops and their families. chiming bells call us to the east colony were bells all sizes float above us and line every archway in the east garden room horse-drawn's lay pulls into the historic mansion it's really cute wasn't it? and there we enter another hall of lights has carlin's agreed envelop us in the tranquility nature. in that library vintage trees shines with the color of the holidays. walking in i was taking back to my childhood because when that tree first came out, you know it was an antique. [laughter] we know christmas had begun. across the hall we enjoy trees of stacked and vibrant silk flowers. that spill out of the china room we can almost smell the warm aroma filling the air with memories. earlier this year i opened the diplomatic room it was the first time to be on the tour. said the expanded w

last month i introduced the goldstar family fellowship program act. this will establish a fellowship for those goldstar families in our senate offices. i've also joined senator castor and the hello girls congressional gold-medal act to honor our women soldiers from world war i. and i am here also to make certain that our nation is a nation of legal immigrants, not illegal. the chaos at the border should embarrass each and every one of us. it's been decades in the making. this is something that we ought to work together to solve. to solve this crisis of drug trafficking sex trafficking, human trafficking and games. solve it, rather than allow it to be a political issue for a campaign. and i'm here to work to protect your rights to privacy. the physical and virtual space. yesterday senator clover chart and i this focuses on how we are protecting americans from what i call the data pirates. at google and facebook. your privacy is important and i believe that you and i have the right to send those trends without having our entire life story sold to the hi

and he stayed right with this prerace hundreds of thousands of dollars the goldstar families. some those funds as you know went into monuments across the nation. including the 1 cent to the capitol when honored also with of the race. i know many things what he and i worked out to get up if you multiply that by all the other people he worked with you will fully realize woody's incredible impact on west virginia and the entire country. that is why he got a ship of the va hospital national guard reserve center named after him. most recently, because of what our va medical centers were saved. his testimony ended the air w commission which would have turned three of our fort west virginia va medical centers into urgent care centers as well as countless others across the n nation. and really into s rural america but rural veterans would not have been served. every veteran in the nation can thank woody for saving the va hospital. this thinking as governor and help so much as we stood at the for veterans affairs. the family member advisory group. for 11 to clean up the clarksburg heal

i want to take the -- goldstar families.re has been no accountability, the same individuals are getting promoted, they are serving, allowed to serve after making critical errors that cost lives but people ■awho refuse, becaus of religious and medical exemptions, are being purged out of our military think of the irony of this. i want to thank both of you for your service. i will ask rhetorical questions which are needed in an effort to face the context of my for the questions. mr milley, can you tell me what your description of your job was as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff? >> codified in law the senior military advisor to the president. secretary of defense and national security council. and to congress by extension. his or her job, to be the senior military advisor of the group of people called the joint chiefs of staff, we are the chiefs of the individual services and we represent the joint chiefsand their advice to the president and secretary of defense. if there is dissenting advice, you give that as well. >> you

it was a tie given to me by goldstar life who never ever wanted to be a goldstar way. she just wanted to be the wife of chris horton. who she intensely loved. who went to afghanistan to serve his country in the oklahoma national guard and died for our freedom. two years later she handed me this tie and said, he hated wearing ties but you have to wear them all the time. just remember him. we as americans will not forget. and we have not forgotten. they are flags all over america today just to remember there are moms and dads that really hug their kids type this morning before they left for school and the kids didn't even know why. they just did. and there are places that are gathering to be able to pray for peace because as a nation we are a nation of peace and we have no desire for war, in fact, we detest the pain and penalty and blood and loss of war. we have no desire to be at war across the world. it came to us and we look forward to the day when the guns are silent again. in this finally cconcludes in time of peace can be restored again. today though we are just a

unlike yourself, i know tens of goldstar families. i buried some of my best friends over the years and i held those families at their worst moments. shame on you for invoking that. you know better. >> -- >> the same goldstar families she's speaking about, here is the pointed answer. yes, she wants to raise taxes. she wants to repeal what we did. she doesn't want to make it permanent for middle american folks. the biden tax plan came out today that talks about an 18% of all incomes because of the health care plan, which she supports and $2500 increase in premiums. i'm not like elaine luria. i don't have millions of dollars in the bank and neither do most people out there. every bit of tax increase harms us. we are in a health care, economic crisis and a pandemic. the last thing they need is her tax increases. >> mr. taylor, it says about 400,000 virginians currently have health care through the medicaid expansion. in 2017 -- >> can you start over? >> in 2017, you voted for the american health care act, which drastically reduced funding

[applause] earlier tonight, several members of our goldstar family committee let us in the pledge of allegiance. we have gotten to know these families pretty well of the last seven years. you represent yourselves and the price that you pay for. you honor us with your presence here tonight. thank you. [applause] five months ago, we are the news that a suicide bomber had attacked a checkpoint to afghanistan. along with 13 members of the u.s. military. one of those lost that day was massachusetts own marine corps sergeant. she volunteered for that mission. she was there because she was there because she wanted to be there. to evacuate women and children from the increasingly dangerous streets. she paid for it with her life. lieutenant governor and i spent time with her family when she returned home. the kind and decent people out and heartbroken that she is gone. i would like to ask for a moment of silence to honor those up you have lost in the goldstar families they have left behind because they are the very best among us. thank you. let me close with this. any fall of 2018, we were hi

to her and all the goldstars in the nation, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. [applause] >> it's good to be with you all. my life has changed a lot since we were last together. it really has. karen and i moved back to indiana and we bought five acres and a pond. i got a john deere mower. [laughter] >> now, the guys in the room are jealous, 54 inch deck, zero turn radius, 24 horsepower. i haven't hurt anybody yet. one of the good things about being vice-president, you get to drive your own car. one of the bad things is, you get to pay for your own gas. as i mentioned, i became a grandfather in the last year which has been one of the greatest joys of my life. [applause] >> we learned a great truth. you can be a congressman from your home state for 12 years, you can be the governor of your state for four, you can even be vice-president of the united states of america, but you're still going to wait 25 minutes for a table olive garden saturday night at 7:00. it's true. [laughter] >> it happened. when i told my daughter charlotte about it and she texted me back and

families deserve that as well. >> for the goldstar families, for the presidenr me for everyone involvedieve with them. the losses they suffer includovin afghanistan. we honor their sacrifice. one of the ways we do that by taking part in oversight, qu american people the answers they deserve. we have engaged faith in this. i think by our count we have facilitated transcribed -- >> my time is limite is that a yes? >> i have appeared before this committee five times including one time dedicated solely to afghta but another time taking questions. that is more than any of my predecessors testimony in september. >> we can have our teams talk about that. thank you. >> you testified before the senate foreign relations committee yesterday that you denounced the arrest warrants against israel's leaders and committed to working with congress on a bipartisan basis e d the ranking member with the and others in the senate on potential proposed legislation to address e. will you commit to working with this committee to find a bipartisan bill that would place meaningful sanctions on the internatioimina

he made a special place of the white house, goldstar families we created a goldstar tree, if you havete house and came in through the east wing gate, the first thing you would see the goldstar tree which goldstar families were invited. holiday celebrations to write the name of their loved ones on the tree. one year we did a blue room tree, a merge featured tree entirely done for military families. we asked goldstar families to share the story of their luck on they lost. to bring awareness because so many americans have no idea. we would invite military moms and lost a loved one to the white house or other events. i especially but time with one family, young kid. ... us. and so those interactions had sort of profound effects, you know, on and on. but the president and mrs. obama, you know, it's the thing and the president has written about this that way upon him the most in making lead upon him in the situation room and people go into combat unit was acutely aware of that. it was important and i will say president and dr. biden shared this, is to go to washington d.c. and to have them

we will hear from the goldstar father and katie will be taking your phone calls. all live from miami. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [silence] [silence] [silence] hello everyone. please take your seat. we're about to begin the next session. as other guests come in, let me greet you with a good afternoon to everyone. i'm alu harrison and again welcome back to chapman session e her at miami book fair. i don't believe anyone this this room is joining us for the first time today, if there is anyone -- no thank you. thank you for being here with us i hope you had an opportunity perhaps to -- produce various booth and activities throughout the fair, and tonight is almost coming to a close. but not quite yet. and we have a real treat in store for you right here in the chapman center for this session and the very next one. so i know that you will enjoy it. at this point i would like you to help me to welcome the individual

. >> sunday night on "after words," goldstar father khizr khan recalls as his immigration from pakistan to the united states in his book and american family, a memoir of hope and sacrifice. he's interviewed by california congressman jimmy panetta. >> this is a common trait that really, among mentality and audience can draw the conclusion. one is that they don't like to be pressed because free press criticizes them. second thing is rule of law if they do not like judges. they do not like rule of law. and that had given me such a perspective of not having any civil liberties to have all these dignities, and as we speak further, i'll tell you what a moment it was when i went to take them all of citizenship. i wish every american would at least read the oath of citizenship. it needs a very much and it speaks the hopefulness, the dignities that are enshrined in our constitution and in our bill of rights. >> watch "after words" sunday night at night eastern on c-span2's booktv. >> the senate today voted to begin negotiations with the house on tax reform are both chambers have passed bills and

he'll talk to every young person, every veteran, every goldstar family who wants to speak to him no matter how long it takes so he can hear their stories as well, show his respect. the boston pride is about knowing where you come from. the map, about knowing where you are and where you're going. mark wants to make sure he has the necessary facts to inform his decisions as a leader and to others. as commander in chief i've relied on mark's counsel because i know he always gives it to me straight no matter what. he always gives to me straight. 's working with the best information possible and he doesn't hold anything back. during his tenure as chairman, mark has been a steady hand guiding our military as he navigates what i suggest one of the most complex environments our world has faced in a long he's been critical in the extending allieses, indo-pacific, keeping our force on the cutting edge of cyber and space. continuing to take terrorists off the battle field. standing with the brave people of ukraine, making sure they have the equipment and support they need when they need it, to defend

tree which we allowed goldstar family to the holiday celebrations to write the name ari. one year large featured tree for christmas. it was entirely done for militaryry families. we ask goldstar families loved when they had lost so the spring awareness. all about that. would invite military moms had lost a loved one the white house for cheese and other events. i spent some time with one family whose young kids had lost their dad that and talked of these nine and 10-year-old kids we were going to counseling. nine nintendo kids were going to counseling. those interactions have profound effects on the president and mrs. obama. it weighed upon him the most in making the decisions he had to make in decisions about when to send people into combat. it was very acutely aware of that. and also it wasin important whih both of them did josÉ president biden and doctor biden share this. this to go to watery go to those families have them come in to not shy away from it. tune the effects are. that's why the president felt so strong to go in our little removed from it but the pacing of

as a goldstar brain. beau: sure, that is part of it actually. i think this is not just a military book. i think it is about two young men who could've done anything they wanted in life. they chose to dedicate as much of themselves that they possibly could to protecting other people. and i'm nothing characters in the story . jeremy had been, their families are a huge part of this. i really wanted to help show the country not just with the men and women out on the ground sacrificed home with their families go through. you may have noticed we included some instant messengers. from the old days . messages between ben and tracy will then was deployed . not talking about just missing each other brett hey, tracy said i've got to get something fixed at the house. how do we get it done. just the everyday things the couples go through. then of course while tracy is raising their son luke. so i hope this book gives a window into that sacrifice and on just appealed to the military community. of course we want the military community to everyday americans as

. >> i had the honor of interviewing more than 100 goldstar family members and worked some on books and veterans as well. but then to go through no preconceived notions. everybody grieves differently. but with beau flew to oklahoma and we sat down and right away things clicked there were times when beau said it's too much i need to step back. the minute he said that i said i got it. and i took over and i was happy to do it. and honored to do it. the bravery that beau had shown in the goldstar brother but then be willing to open the wounds and explore about his brothers. is there parts you thought you didn't want to do this anymore thinking that it was cathartic or helpful? and there was a time and then i hated doing that to him and there were times i thought this heart i will keep fighting it and i knew that we had to get through this and we had to finish it once and for all and preserve their legacy. and there were moments when i couldn't do it. and i needed to grieve to myself and that which comes to our rough stop and sometimes it just pours out after a while and you feel so detached

i want to recognize the families the goldstar families that are here all of the goldstar families greatmericans make the ultimate sacrifice in afghanistan and other conflicts defending our nation. the withdrawal was in no smart part shaped by the 2820 doha agreement that we discussed was negotiated not by this administration but the preceding administration and handed over it. byth the time he received the administration the biden administration received it, the taliban again significant ground options were limited as extraordinary achievement more than 124,000 people were airlifted in just 17 days. keeping in time with the other members a gentleman's time has expired. mr. mills is recognized for. >> thank you, mr. chairman i i want to thank you for your continued leadership deaths entire time. it's been an honor to serve in this committee i want to continue to thank you for that. are you familiar usc 22 section 4802? it's basically your obligation for safety for american citizens. now, and one of your statements you said he did not leave americans behind. i and other members we went ov

they awarded to big branch to pooron state $158 million grantd to connecticut to rebuild the old goldstar bridge. to rebuild it. that's what i call -- but we still have $1 billion almost $1 billion in federal money right now to invest in education. thank you secretary cardona. [applause] president biden knows all too well that education is that ladder tol opportunity. i urge all of our superintendent principalsls and teachers let's implement your best ideas to help students recover from learningro loss. let's get them loving to learn again with career opportunities that puts put them on the path to success. care costsh health high energy costs. the answer can't always be more subsidies for bailouts. we can't afford it and too often the subsidy has no structural reform. the health care chemical content to make health care more accessible and moree affordable. i love the recently announced guardianship of yukon and hartford health care to identify and invest in the next generation of health care companies with lifesaving treatment. come on insurance companies, don't just passd on those cost

this memorial will be a place of healing for the goldstar families who lost a loved one, a place of remembrance for all who served in the global war on terror and their families as well. to everyone involved, thank you so much and god bless you. thank you. >> joe biden in the democrats i wish they would stop and think about what they're doing to a typical family. right now their families in the country early to make ends meet always at this year facing their gas prices go up and food prices go up and rent go up so he's made it way worse for those families. we seen inflation numbers with 35 years is impacting people like what my mom lived through, she had to make a choice. she had enough money for gas or 2 feet five kids and that's what's going on across our country. then we see in the reckless spending bill they will cut care for hospitals, safety net hospitals in red states like florida. think about what the democrats are doing, they are going to cut healthcare to the poorest families in the country intentionally. how could they do that? then in the bill they want to reduce your opportunities

with 100 goldstar family members and the most important thing a try to do everybody creates differentlyeverybody handles it differently but when we first met we sat down and right away things clicked we said hey this is too much i need to step back and the minute he said that he said i got it and took over and i was happy to do it, honored to do it that i have to say the bravery goldstar brother but willing to explore and tell the world about them i have so admiration for the courage he shows to do this. >> as you are working to your brother's death's and talking with their moments you didn't want to do this anymore or you felt it was cathartic? >> that one is the moment it was absolutely set in stone i got the right co-author and i hated doing that to him about this hard and i'm going to keep fighting and i knew we had to get through this we had to finish once and for all but there were moments i couldn't do it needed to grieve to myself alone or with my wife but dealing with the green beret and the navy seal the information comes to a stop and sometimes poor out to and after a while y

the license plate we offer the goldstar families didn't really convey the full meaning of the sacrifice these hoosier families have made. lauren did not shy away when i asked if she would help us come up with a worthy family played. several months later, thanks to her willingness to collaborate with our bureau of motor vehicles, a much more powerful tribute exists. the everlasting contribution appropriately honor those who gave us their sons and daughters, there has been since bios and her feelings could not have been more personal. you see, lauren lost her husband matthew in a nato training accident in 2022. lauren and matthew's mother lisa are here with us this evening. and ladies, we join you in honoring matt and too many others that have made that same sacrifice. ladies and gentlemen, this is what real citizenship looks like up close and personal. [applause] and finally, in an attitude of gratitude, let's continue to live up to the indiana model in this legislative session ahead by addressing what still needs to change. here are a few commitments i believe we must make this year. we

the license plate we offer the goldstar families didn't really convey the full meaning of the sacrifice these hoosier families have made. lauren did not shy away when i asked if she would help us come up with a worthy family played. several months later, thanks to her willingness to collaborate with our bureau of motor vehicles, a much more powerful tribute exists. the everlasting contribution appropriately honor those who gave us their sons and daughters, there has been since bios and her feelings could not have been more personal. you see, lauren lost her husband matthew in a nato training accident in 2022. lauren and matthew's mother lisa are here with us this evening. and ladies, we join you in honoring matt and too many others that have made that same sacrifice. ladies and gentlemen, this is what real citizenship looks like up close and personal. [applause] and finally, in an attitude of gratitude, let's continue to live up to the indiana model in this legislative session ahead by addressing what still needs to change. here are a few commitments i believe we must make this year. we

best-selling biographer, goldstar father and his immigration to the united states. live coverage continues on sunday at 10:30 a.m. on how smear tactics are used for public opinion. charles sykes opens his thoughts. cnn's van jones reason of the president emerita, beverly danna looks at race relations in the united states. watch live weekend coverage of the book fair on book tv. >> next, senate majority leader, mitch mcconnell talks about tax reform an event hosted by the wall street journal. he talked about the alabama senate race between roy moore and doug jones. his remarks are about 25 minutes. >> we've heard about the white house's a

they touch the hearts of service members of the front lines, wounded veterans and hospitals, goldstarnd americans everywhere. they're not just magnificent performers, they really are the finest anywhere in the world and they are also courageous warriors and we are doing this afternoon by the premier band commanders in the national medal of arts on behalf of all military musicians, now 21-year-old, then 19-year-old when he joined, staff sgt, the youngest premier and musician in the united states military and thank you very much. we appreciated that you are here and i've had the privilege of listening to along with the first lady and many of the people in the room -- vice president -- some of the greatest music i've ever listened to. these are incredibly talented musicians. many of them could be in the great concert hall of the world. but this is what they want and this is where they want to be and they wouldn't trade it for anything. i think we can say that with surety. the recipients of today's awards have uplifted the mind, spirit and soul of this country. you have made the life of o

nick's family and all those that admired him remind us of the immense sacrifices that are remarkable goldstar families have made in our obligation to stand with them always. today, we don't simply honor a single individual we also pay tribute to a community across our entire military. special operators, aviators, engineers, technicians, analysts, countless enablers and their devoted families. in these hard years since 9/11 our nation has called on this community like never before. small in number they have borne an extraordinarily heavy load. they continue to volunteer, mission mission after mission, year after year. the americans ever see it, i am truly privileged, and humbled that as commander-in-chief i do get to see it. i've given the order sending you into harm's way. i see the difference you make every day, the partners you train, the relationships you forge, the forge, the other hostages you have brought home. the terrorist that you take out. i have waited like many of you in those minutes that seem like hours when the margin between success and failure is a razor thin, for word that t

are so many goldstar families who helped with that tree.the heroic men and women of our nations military, those who have played laid down their lives for our country and the families who carry on their legacy. may god bless our troops and their families. [applause] the east colonnade of the step floating above their heads reminding children and families of the delicious flavors of the holidays. lining the marble arches of the ground floor corridor are holiday messages from americans across this country, letters to santa claus magically flying in and out if vintage mailboxes ready to be sent to the north pole with a stamp and they wish. in the library guests are transported to the nostalgic bedtime stories of holidays past and present in santa rides by the window on his sleigh. in the vermeil room we celebrate the joy that music and merriment bring us during the holidays like the sound you heard. in the china room a sweet shop with baking ingredients and cooking supplies reminds us of familiar recipes that bring generations of families toget

they spit in the faces of goldstar families. they tomahawk peer bottles and rocks at police. putting multiple pulleys in the hospital. they smashed businesses plateglass windows, while customers cowered inside. ladies and gentlemen, have we ever seen such anger in this country? in california, a high school girl was asked, do you hate mexicans? and when she replied no, they said, you support donald trump. you hate mexicans. and then they beat her up. in san francisco, they attacked a group of trump supporters. they pelted a woman with eggs. they stole their hats and burn them in the street. the leftist message is absolutely clear. they want revenge. you've got to be punished. they say you are what's wrong with america and now you've got to be purged. but maybe it is time these protesters took some advice from barack obama. the election has consequences. and we won. [applause] that's right. folks, hour-long nightmare may not be over. the fact is, it may just be beginning. because right now, we face a gathering of forces that are willing to use violence against us. think about i

jean, a goldstar wife that lost her husband. will a double amputee and dozens and hundreds more. we helped hundreds of allies bur thousands were left behind that was a great cost to the venerable population that had given soti much. my buddy, steve, was wracked with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury from an iud. his children were in the next room. he was pleading over the phone steve, they are beating my wife. my children are watching this. what should i do? can i fight them. a former seal received a text from his afghan partner my daughter has been trampled. we will miss our chance to escape. she's unconscious and barely breathing. it's okay my friend. thank b you for trying. this whole thing has been a guttingth experience. i never imagined i would witness the kind of gross abandonment followed by career preserving silence by senior leaders. as a result of the way we left afghanistan. we are on the result of a crisis as groups are operating on former nato security bases. i think we are on the front end of a mental health tsunami. 70% of afghan war veterans feel b

we created goldstar if you were a visitor to the white house and came in through the east wing gatesch would come to visit that are invited to the holiday celebrations to write the name of their loved ones and put that on the tree. also the large featured tree for christmas was entirely done and we asked goldstar families so the story would be displayed on the tree to bring awareness because they don't know about that. we would invite military imams that have a loved one for other events and i especially spend some time with my family who and so those interactions have profound effects on the president and mrs. obama that weighed upon him the most for the situation room into combat and was acutely aware of that it's important and i will say. it was really important to not bubble to not shy away from it, to not not see what the effects are in remember now it's hard but the pacing of combat at that point in time wass pretty high o we had a lot. walter reed was very full and it was tough when we would all go but it was something both of them thought you had to look at and it was their r

let me join the chairman first saying to our goldstar families. how much we appreciate you and the heroes that lost their lives. i know there is nothing to do that we can bring them back. but they are heroes for our country. whether it is a democrat or a republican i truly believe that we will always hold here in acknowledge the heroes that they are. ambassador, you have worked tirelessly over the years to negotiate and implement the doha deal as did many others in the government. they're mostly yes and no. we do not have to get in confirmation. had gone to sign the agreement and a photo up with the taliban leader after nearly two decades that were with them. despite any criticism of it it is fair to say concluding the doha deal was a big deal a significant event. is that correct question. >> yes it was a significant event. >> with the conclusion of the doha deal they stop attacking u.s. forces inside of afghanistan fulfilling the top condition placed on it in the deal. is that also correct? >> correct. >> the united states committed in the doha d

so, going back to last night, did everybody see the goldstar families? weren't they amazing? had the honor of speaking before them and i wanted to tee up that story of president trump spending an entire evening with them and he spent the entire night. this was a couple of nights after. president biden wouldn't even meet with them and take their calls. you remember the goldstar father in a state of the union that finally had enough and screamed out because he wouldn't even see their names. you know what other names he won't say? remember he had his big press conference last thursday to prove he could make it through the day. he won't say the hostage's is names. the americans have right now as we all enjoy good food and drink they are under the most disgusting conditions and i don't mean to be a downer but we have to take every moment we can to keep those people front of mind biden won't even talk about them. i don't know if he can. i don't know if you know the names if they aren't on his note cards that we are in a biblical war this is a war of good and evil and we just saw th

joe taught his goldstar families who lost a hero. another father of an american veteran whose fate had been tested and was forced to wander through the darkness himself knows who to lean on to find the light. that's joe biden. he is resilient and loyal and humble servant but most of all, a family man. it starts with jill, captain of the vice squad. only the second lady in our history to keep her regular day job. [applause] jill says teaching is what she does, it's who she is. today after joe and i were inaugurated in 2009 she was back in the classroom. that's why when our administration work to strengthen community colleges we look to jill to lead the way. she has also traveled the world to boost education and empowerment for women. and as a blue star mom, she's worked to honor our military families will go down in history as one of the most laughing and powerful efforts of this administration. like joe, jill has worked is only part of the story. she seems to walk this earth so lightly. spreads her joy so freely. and it reminds us th

>> sure, i've had the honor of interviewing more than 100 goldstar family members. the most important thing i try to do go to each story without preconceived notions whatsoever. everyone grieves differently. everybody handles it differently. but with beau, when we first met i flew to oklahoma, we sat down and talked. right away i think things clicked. there were times when beau said hey man, this is just too much i need to step back. the minute he said that i said i got it. i took over and is happy to do it. i was honored to do it. marina goldstar brother being willing to open these wounds and explore and learn more about his brothers and tell the world about them i've so much admiration for the courage she showing by doing this. >> in both kind of the reverse question if you are working through your brother's death in the moment you did not want to do this anymore? is it more helpful for you? >> that was the moment words absolutely set in stone that i absently got the right co-author. i kind of hated doing that to him. i thought this farmer to keep fighting it. i k

overseas knows the consequences of his family would give anything to have him back there real quick goldstar parents they q for your sacrifices. [applause] maybe you don't know if well loved one who has perished overseas. but frankie was a good friend of mine. he will never see his family again. i will not give up on myself because of his sacrifices the soldier of mine not a friend of mine i knew all about them join the military with his g.d. but was killed overseas but he did it. it would be a slap in this phase of by a quit when i was doing. they were worried they thought they made the wrong call i city did we've had to do and i appreciated. nine drs. thomas said then nurses to nurses pumping my sled for seven hours. hundreds of thousands of hours a day of occupational just to be where i am today. they give for their support and love bin will wishes. this is the documentary on itunes i will show the trailer quick then you think why did you talk the last 45 minutes and not just play this? because i enjoy talking. [laughter] ♪ >> there was the threat we went to check it out. u.n. to up there

stark families, an association of people, we talk about goldstar moms and goldstar mothers are those who have lost a son or daughter, very inspirational story in here about a mom who is a gold star mothers and naval academy mom. would you like to touch on that? >> guest: i got to know her when she was up lead mom and discovered that lots of the moms have angst. the first big challenge your child is going through with out you and as i began to communicate with her she has an older son who she lost in iraq and the e under son was 5 at the time and the process of her coming to grips with the idea that she had this second son who wanted to serve, she tells the story, it is very meaningful and now she is completely supportive of him but it was really difficult journey for her. ..