WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor to honor the two National Guard members who were shot in Washington, DC, last week. During his speech, Durbin remembered 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom who tragically passed away on Thanksgiving Day. He also prayed for 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe’s recovery. Staff Sergeant Wolfe remains in critical condition.
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“We pray for his [Staff Sergeant Wolfe’s] recovery and—as one nation—send our deepest condolences to the Beckstrom family,” said Durbin. “Now whether or not you agree with [sending] National Guard troops to Chicago or Washington, D.C., or any other place, that is really beside the point. We should make a note today that this is really an acknowledgement of the importance of the National Guard to America's defense at home and abroad many times.”
Durbin continued, “There must be a full investigation into the attack on [Specialist] Sarah Beckstrom and [Staff] Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.”
Durbin concluded, “I implore the President to lower the temperature on political rhetoric and try not to exploit this [tragedy] to demonize immigrants, including many who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Instead, the President should work with Congress on common-sense and evidence-proven strategies to reduce crime and reform our broken immigration system. My wife and I send our deepest condolences to the Beckstrom family, and we pray Staff Sergeant Wolfe makes a full, speedy recovery.”
