Tester honors victims of Ft. Hood shooting

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today delivered the following remarks on the floor of the United States Senate, in honor of the victims of last week’s shooting at Fort Hood:

“I rise today in honor of those killed last week at Fort Hood.  They died serving their country.  And that means they died as heroes.

Tomorrow, as we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of America’s military on Veterans Day, I ask all Americans to say a prayer for these 13 folks who gave the ultimate sacrifice and the 30 who were wounded.  Remember them, and their families, their friends, and the places they call home, as we pay our respects.

Madame President, today, flags are flying at half-staff across Montana in honor of the 13 victims killed and the 30 wounded.

One of the men who died was a veteran of Montana’s Army National Guard.

Michael Grant Cahill worked throughout Montana for many years as a Guardsman and as a physician’s assistant.  To Michael’s wife Joleen—and to all of his loved ones—Montana joins the rest of the nation in saying, ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with you.’

What happened at Fort Hood doesn’t make sense.  And it never will.

But working together, we need to focus on keeping something like this from happening again.

What we can we do right now?

We can keep working together to live up to the promises that we make to all of our troops while serving our country, in the field or after they come home.  And we can improve access to the health care—and mental health care—that they deserve.

Madame President, I join in mourning the lives lost at Fort Hood.  I ask all Americans to keep these 13 heroes in their thoughts and prayers.  And I urge my colleagues to keep working together to better serve all men and women who have worn our country’s uniform.  And their families.  And their communities.”

A video of Tester’s floor remarks is available online HERE.