III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 686 

Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed 

Forces, veterans, prisoners of war, and Gold Star Families. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 

Mrs. LOEFFLER 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, veterans, prisoners of war, and 

Gold Star Families. 

Whereas the Nation owes an unmeasurable debt to 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 

training and deployments, and inherent physical, mental, 

and emotional risks; 

Whereas the families, communities, and loved ones of members 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 


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•SRES 686 IS 

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 the Armed Forces defend the Nation against external threats, underpin the increasing safety, security, and 

prosperity created by a United States-led international 

order, and constantly contribute to the daily lives of 

Americans; 

Whereas it is a constitutional duty of the first order for the 

President and the Senate to provide for America’s common defense, foremost by supporting our unique All-Volunteer Force and their families; 

Whereas the President has requested, and the Senate has 

voted for, 3 consecutive pay raises for members of the 

Armed Forces after several years of shrinking military 

salaries; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, landmark military private housing reform to 

protect military families in their homes; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, a historic repeal of the Widow’s Tax to recognize the tremendous burden borne by the families of 

those who made the ultimate sacrifice; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, significant improvements to military spouse licensing to vastly increase opportunities for military 

spouses and strengthen military families; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, repeated expansions of military childcare and 

improvements to the military moving process; 


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•SRES 686 IS 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, honorary promotions for members of the Armed 

Forces who served heroically in World War II, Vietnam, 

and Afghanistan, as well as instituted reviews of valor 

medals for personnel who served in World War I; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, billions of dollars of support for United States 

allies and partners, including lethal assistance to Ukraine 

against the aggression of the Russian Federation; 

Whereas the Senate has passed, and the President has signed 

into law, defense budgets that reverse the destructive effects of sequestration, restore the readiness of our combat forces, and give members of the Armed Forces the 

tools they need to defend America; 

Whereas the President authorized the successful military operation on January 3, 2020, that killed Qasem Soleimani 

of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, who 

was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of members 

of the Armed Forces and civilians; 

Whereas the President authorized the successful military operation on October 26, 2019, that killed Abu Bakr alBaghdadi of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, who 

was responsible for direct attacks on members of the 

Armed Forces and the death or displacement of untold 

numbers of Iraqis, Syrians, and Kurds; 

Whereas the President authorized the successful military operation on February 7, 2018, against Russian military 

contractors in Syria that threatened the Armed Forces 

and aided and abetted the murderous regime of Bashar 

al-Assad; and 


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Whereas the President was nominated for the 2021 Nobel 

Peace Prize for his successful efforts to create peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) will always honor and venerate the service 

3 and sacrifice of members of the United States 

4 Armed Forces who put the security and safety of the 

5 American people ahead of their own self-interest, 

6 from those who served in World Wars I and II, 

7 Korea, to Vietnam, from the Gulf War and the Bal8 kan conflicts to Iraq and Afghanistan, and from the 

9 frontlines of deterring China and Russia and com10 bating terrorism to supporting American commu11 nities here at home when natural disasters strike; 

12 (2) continues to advocate for resources to en13 sure the Armed Forces will maintain its position as 

14 the dominant force for freedom and prosperity in the 

15 world; and 

16 (3) expresses the deepest gratitude to the Gold 

17 Star families who have suffered the loss of their 

18 loved ones in service to the Nation. 

Æ 


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