March 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1635 falsely calling me a liar on the floor of The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 68, ance as Landing Signal Officer during a this Senate and on Twitter. That is un- nays 30, as follows: winter deployment to the North Atlan- fortunate. [Rollcall Vote No. 126 Ex.] tic. What the Senator said right now is YEAS—68 In 1967, he joined the VS–30 squadron also incorrect. The Senator from Illi- and reported to Key West, FL, as an in- Baldwin Graham Peters nois said this amendment would halt Bennet Grassley Portman structor pilot. In 1970, he was awarded the payments that are going out. This Blumenthal Hassan Reed the Navy Commendation Medal for re- amendment doesn’t do anything of the Blunt Heinrich Romney covering aircraft within the Arctic Cir- sort. This amendment restricts sending Booker Hickenlooper Rosen Brown Hoeven cle. In 1972, Bob was selected for and payments to people who are here ille- Sanders Burr Kaine Schatz attended the Naval War College in gally. When the Senator from Illinois Cantwell Kelly Schumer Rhode Island and then was assigned to Capito King said he would love to do that, with all Shaheen the Naval Air Station Cecil Field, in Cardin Klobuchar due respect, that doesn’t withstand Sinema Carper Leahy Florida, to lead the squadron’s reloca- Smith even the slightest bit of scrutiny be- Casey Lee tion operations. Stabenow cause if he would love to do that, all he Cassidy Luja´ n In 1976, he served aboard the USS Collins Manchin Sullivan had to do was not object, and the Tester Forrestal as operations officer. In 1979, American citizens, the people who are Coons Markey Cornyn Marshall Tillis Bob assumed command of the VS–30 here legally, would all get their $1,400 Cortez Masto Menendez Tuberville squadron, where he deployed with his checks, would get them on the exact Cramer Merkley Van Hollen beloved Diamondcutters to the Medi- Duckworth Murkowski Warner same timeframe, but those here ille- terranean. Later that year, Bob re- gally would not. Durbin Murphy Warnock Feinstein Murray Warren ceived orders to the Pentagon to work Today’s Democratic Party supports Fischer Ossoff Whitehouse on what is now known as GPS. His as- sending checks to millions of illegal Gillibrand Padilla Wyden signments were tough—squadron exec- immigrants. They have justified it, as NAYS—30 utive officer, squadron commander, in- the Senator from Illinois did, by falsely claiming none of them are getting Barrasso Hawley Rounds structor pilot, and so many more—but Blackburn Hyde-Smith Rubio he was always tougher than they were. checks. Those are not the facts, as the Boozman Inhofe Sasse Newsweek fact-check makes clear. Braun Johnson Scott (FL) It is unbelievable the leader he was to I would note that a bill that Demo- Cotton Lankford Scott (SC) all of those who served and served with cratic Senators are trying to push, de- Crapo Lummis Shelby pride. Cruz McConnell Thune Put simply, Bob was one of the most nominated H.R. 1, what many are call- Daines Moran Toomey ing the corrupt politicians act, would Ernst Paul Wicker generous, kind, hard-working, and in- compound that by allowing millions of Hagerty Risch Young spirational people I ever knew. My illegal immigrants to be registered to NOT VOTING—2 whole family and I adored Bob ever since he joined the family, and Bob’s vote and, no doubt, to cast votes. Hirono This is a political decision that is far Kennedy passing has left a deep impact on all of outside the mainstream. It is unfortu- us. This is also an important time to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. VAN nate, but sadly it reflects where to- celebrate Bob’s life and the profound HOLLEN). On this vote, the yeas are 68, day’s Democratic Party is. feelings of joy and pride that he the nays are 30. I yield the floor. brought to all of us. The motion is agreed to. CLOTURE MOTION While Bob wasn’t born in West Vir- The Senator from West Virginia. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant ginia, he certainly was a Mountaineer, to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the REMEMBERING ROBERT GUTZ THOMPSON through and through, in his heart and Senate the pending cloture motion, Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise soul and was a dedicated fan of his be- which the clerk will state. to honor the life of a noble veteran, a loved WVU sports teams, especially The legislative clerk read as follows: beloved husband, father, grandfather, football and basketball. CLOTURE MOTION friend, brother, uncle, and someone I When visitors come to our little We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- had been fortunate enough to call my State, I jump at the chance to tell ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the dear brother-in-law, Robert Gutz them we are home to the most hard- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Thompson. working and patriotic people in the Na- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- What I always admired about Bob tion. We have fought in more wars; we nation of Executive Calendar No. 17, Martin was his unparalleled work ethic and de- have shed more blood; and lost more Joseph Walsh, of Massachusetts, to be Sec- termination to learn and serve and to lives for the cause of freedom than retary of Labor. inspire those around him. Bob was a Charles E. Schumer, , Rich- most any other State. We have always ard Blumenthal, Christopher A. Coons, graduate of the University of Wyo- done the heavy lifting, and no one has , , ming, Class of 1961. He then joined the ever complained. , , Ben- military and entered flight training in We have mined the coal, forged the jamin L. Cardin, Cory A. Booker, Ed- 1963, and he was designated as a naval steel that built the guns and ships and ward J. Markey, Angus S. King, Jr., aviator in 1964. From the day he was factories that have protected and con- Robert P. Casey, Jr., Chris Van Hollen, motivated to join the military to his tinue to protect our country to this , Kirsten E. Gillibrand, military retirement in 1983, he show- , . day. cased steadfast dedication and a com- I am so deeply proud of what West The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- mitment to excellence that can only be Virginians like my brother-in-law Bob imous consent, the mandatory quorum matched by his loving devotion as part Thompson have accomplished and what call has been waived. of our family. they will continue to accomplish to The question is, Is it the sense of the Bob proudly served our Nation for Senate that the nomination of Martin protect the freedoms that we all take more than 20 years and leaves behind a Joseph Walsh, of Massachusetts, to be for granted and hold so dear. distinguished legacy of military his- We have every reason to be proud and Secretary of Labor, shall be brought to tory, including service aboard the USS to stand tall knowing that West Vir- a close? The yeas and nays are mandatory Intrepid, the USS Randolph, the USS ginia is the reason Americans sleep under the rule. Lexington, and the USS Forrestal. He peacefully at night. It is because of all The clerk will call the roll. flew thousands of flight hours through- of our veterans, past and present, that The legislative clerk called the roll. out his distinguished career. He trained we can proudly proclaim ‘‘Mountain- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the other pilots. He commanded naval eers Are Always Free,’’ and we are all Senator from Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) is units, and he was deployed multiple so very, very proud of our Bob for being necessarily absent. times, including to the North Atlantic, a vital part of our legacy. Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and What is most important is that he necessarily absent: the Senator from the Arctic Circle. He earned the Navy lived a full life, surrounded by his loved Louisiana (Mr. KENNEDY). Achievement Medal for his perform- ones. I extend all of our condolences to

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