mark lucas who is a fellow island and iowa army national guard member. mr. lucas and i served together in the national guard. he succeeded pete hegseth as executive director for concerned veterans for america and in his letter mr. lucas says that pete hegseth laid a strong foundation that postured cva for long-term success and that mr. hegseth continued to be a valuable asset to both me as a leader and the organization. i would ask for unanimous consent to enter this washington times article and the letter from mr. mark lucas into the record. >> without objection. >> thank you, mr. chair. good morning mr. hegseth. thanks very much. i appreciate your service to our nation. it is something i know you are very proud of. and it is something with that we have in common and that we share. we have had many productive conversations. just for our audience, we have had very frank conversations, is that correct? mr. hegseth: that is a correct characterization. >> you know that i do not keep anything hidden. i pull no punches. my colleagues know that as well. i do appre

mark lucas, who is a fellow iowan and iowa army national guard member. mr. lucas and i served together in the iowa army national guard. he succeeded pete hegseth as executive director of concerned veterans for america and in his letter mr. lucas says that mr. hegseth quote laid a strong foundation that postured cva for long term success, end quote. that mr. hegseth quote continued to be an invaluable asset to both me as a leader and the organization, end quote. so i would ask for unanimous consent to enter this washington times article and the letter from mr. mark lucas into the record. >> without objection. >> thank you, mr. chair. good morning, mr. hegseth and thank you very much. i appreciate your service to our nation, it is something that i know you are very proud of and it is something that we have in common and that we share. you have and i have had many productive conversations. and just for our audience, we have had very frank conversations, is that correct, mr. hegseth? >> that is a correct characterization. >> you know that i don't keep anything h

mark lucas, who is a fellow iowan and iowa army national guard member. mr. lucas and i served together in the iowa army national guard. he succeeded pete hegseth as executive director of concerned veterans for america, and in his letter, mr. lucas says that mr. hegseth, quote, laid a strong foundation that postured cva for long term success, end quote, and that mr. hegseth, quote, continued to be an invaluable asset to both me as a leader and the organization. end quote. so i would ask for unanimous consent to enter this washington times article and the letter from mr. mark lucas into the record. >> without objection. >> okay. thank you, mr. chair. good morning, mr. hegseth, and thank you very much. i appreciate your service to our nation. it's something that i know you are very proud of, and it is something that we have in common and that we share. you and i have had many productive conversations. and just for our audience, we have had very frank conversations. is that correct, mr. hegseth? >> senator, that is a correct characterization. >> you know that i

mark lucas, who is a fellow iowan and iowa army national guard member. mr. lucas and i served together in the iowa army national guard. he succeeded pete hegseth as executive director of concerned veterans for america, and in his letter, mr. lucas says that mr. hegseth, quote, laid a strong foundation that postured cva for long term success, end quote, and that mr. hegseth quote continued to be an invaluable asset to both me as a leader and the organization. end quote. so i would ask for unanimous consent to enter this washington times article and the letter from mr. mark lucas into the record. >> without objection. >> okay. thank you, mr. chair. good morning, mr. hegseth, and thank you very much. i appreciate your service to our nation. it's something that i know you are very proud of, and it is something that we have in common and that we share. um, you and i have had many productive conversations and just for our audience, we have had very frank conversations. is that correct, mr. hegseth? >> senator, that is a correct characterization. >> you know that i

including leanne lucas and jon hayes, this was an unspeakable attack, — hayes, this was an unspeakable attack, one which has left an endr during _ attack, one which has left an endr during marktion _ during mark on the community and the nation for— during mark on the community and the nation for its _ during mark on the community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness, at the start of the school _ senselessness, at the start of the school holidays, a day which should have been— school holidays, a day which should have been one of carefree innocence, of children_ have been one of carefree innocence, of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest_ bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror, as axel rudakubana carried _ darkest horror, as axel rudakubana carried out— darkest horror, as axel rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage _ carried out his meticulously planned rampage. it is clear that this was a young _ rampage. it is clear that this was a young man — rampage. it is clear that this was a young man who a sickening and sustained — young man who a sickening and sustained interest in deat