A resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces and veterans and condemning the disgraceful denigration by President Donald Trump of military service, prisoners of war, and Gold Star families.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 685 Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces and veterans and condemning the disgraceful denigration by President Donald Trump of military service, prisoners of war, and Gold Star families. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mr. REED, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. JONES, Mr. CARPER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. TESTER, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. WARREN, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. BALD- WIN, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. COONS, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. KAINE, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BROWN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. BENNET, Ms. ROSEN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. WARNER, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. UDALL, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. MERKLEY, and Ms. HARRIS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces and veterans and condemning the disgraceful denigration by President Donald Trump of military service, prisoners of war, and Gold Star families. Whereas the Nation owes an unmeasurable debt to all those individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces, often shouldering the burden of long periods away from home, difficult and frequently dangerous VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Sep 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR685.IS SR685 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 685 IS training and deployments, and inherent physical, mental, and emotional risks; Whereas the families, communities, and loved ones of mem- bers of the Armed Forces support them in countless ways, frequently making sacrifices of their own, especially Gold Star families; Whereas many who love this country have served in conflicts throughout the Nation’s history, whether volunteering so another would not have to go or answering the call when drafted, or out of a profound and selfless sense of duty, some never returning home, some still missing, and some who suffered immense hardship as prisoners of war; Whereas one of the highest honors and solemn responsibilities of serving as President of the United States is to be Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; Whereas faithful execution of this constitutional duty re- quires, at a minimum, that the Commander in Chief forcefully defend the safety of members of the Armed Forces against foreign adversaries, such as President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin; Whereas the Commander in Chief has a duty to uphold good order and discipline in the Armed Forces by refusing to issue unconstitutional orders, refusing to pardon and ex- cuse those in uniform who commit crimes, and refusing to use rhetoric that seeks to divide military personnel from their senior leaders; Whereas the Nation honors the service and sacrifice of mem- bers of the Armed Forces and veterans who placed the mission first and refused to leave a fallen comrade, never asking what was in it for them, but, rather, setting aside selfish interests in defense of the Nation; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Sep 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR685.IS SR685 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 685 IS Whereas a lack of respect for individuals who served in uni- form is a disqualifying characteristic for service as Presi- dent; Whereas President Trump repeatedly disrespected members of the Armed Forces, and demonstrated a fundamental ignorance of the ethos of military service— (1) when President Trump dehumanized members in saying of such members that ‘‘[w]e train our boys to be killing machines, then prosecute them when they kill!’’; (2) when President Trump pardoned members con- victed of actions that violate the laws of war, thereby valorizing war crimes and contempt for the rule of law and unethical warfighting, and undermining good order and discipline; (3) when President Trump dismissed traumatic brain injury as ‘‘headaches’’ and described an incident of members suffering traumatic brain injuries as a result of missile strikes as ‘‘not very serious’’; (4) when President Trump denigrated the military service of the late Senator John McCain by claiming that ‘‘[h]e’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured’’; (5) when President Trump failed to speak of Gold Star parents with honor and respect; (6) when President Trump sought to humiliate a decorated military officer, who was awarded the Purple Heart, by forcing White House security to escort the offi- cer off the property when removing him from the Na- tional Security Council; and (7) when President Trump failed to honor the sol- emn responsibility of the Commander in Chief to offer comfort to the families of members killed in action on his watch; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Sep 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR685.IS SR685 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 685 IS Whereas President Trump has failed to publicly condemn, warn, or even criticize President of the Russian Federa- tion, Vladimir Putin, following public reports that Russia offered bounties for the killing of members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) condemns the denigration by President 2 Donald Trump of members of the United States 3 Armed Forces and veterans; 4 (2) affirms that the service and sacrifice of in- 5 dividuals who serve the Nation in uniform, refuse to 6 leave a fallen comrade behind and never retreat in 7 the face of grave danger, as exemplified by the 8 United States Marines who demonstrated bravery, 9 grit, and valor in prevailing in the fierce Battle of 10 Belleau Wood during World War I, reflect the true 11 character of our country that makes America great; 12 (3) will honor and never forget the sacrifices 13 and bravery of members of the Armed Forces who 14 became prisoners of war or went missing in action; 15 (4) will respect, honor, and care for the service- 16 disabled veterans who have borne the battle in de- 17 fense of the Nation, recognizing that wounds of war 18 are earned by those who set aside selfish interests; 19 and 20 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Sep 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR685.IS SR685 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 685 IS (5) demands that President Donald Trump up- 1 hold his oath of office and constitutional duty as 2 Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to defend 3 members of the Armed Forces against hostile ac- 4 tions by leaders and military forces of the Russian 5 Federation. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Sep 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR685.IS SR685 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS