ms. murkowski: madam president, we are here in the united states senate on this tuesday. we had a vote yesterday evening, the first that we have had in some six weeks here. as i walked over to the chambers just now, 4:00 on a tuesday afternoon, from the hart building, the only individuals that i saw were the extraordinary men and women of the capitol police who are here in the building. but suffice it to say that these are strange, these are unusual, these are challenging and difficult, difficult times as we face the covid-19 pandemic, as we address the challenges that our constituents, our friends, our family are dealing with at home, whether it's the impact of the virus itself on our health and our health facilities, or whether it is the impact, truly the economic devastation that we're seeing in all corners of the nation. and so the opportunity to be together as a body to address these challenges is important. it is challenging for us as we adapt to this time and this situation, to be wearing protective masks, to be separated from one another, to be teleworking as we a

ms. murkowski: reserving the right to object, madam president, i have the honor to serve as the chairman of the energy and natural resources committee, which does have jurisdiction over s. 849, the u.s.s. frank e. evans act. but in that capacity as chairman, i now have the unenviable position of having to rise to register an objection. and i want it to be clear to my colleague from north dakota, for my colleague from new hampshire, my colleague from new york, and all those for whom this is a measure that they are seeking this legislative endorsement, know that i have the absolute highest regard for the men and the women who serve our country, the sacrifices that they have made for all of us. as the senator from new hampshire just mentioned, as we approach memorial day, i think what we seek to do is to try to find ways to honor more of those who have served our great nation. and in a recognition -- sand -- and a recognition that those who lost their lives on the frank e. evans deserve a form of recognition, a recognition as all those who lost their lives in vietnam. the story that has bee