Lawmaker honors fallen service members and criticizes shutdown for leaving security staff unpaid

A lawmaker opened the session by honoring service members killed in recent operations and criticizing a continuing federal shutdown for depriving security personnel of pay.

The speaker cited recent travel to Dover to receive fallen troops and said he would "receive 2 more of its own who died in defense of our nation," naming "sergeant Deacon Cody" and Major Jeffrey R. O'Brien among the fallen. He said six service members were killed and nine wounded in the incident and that about 17,000 Americans had been evacuated from the region, with some evacuees now in Germany awaiting family reunification.

The remarks framed individual sacrifice and the broader human cost of conflict. The lawmaker noted that "less than 1% will put on that uniform, but they will defend the 100% here on the home front," and described both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security as reflecting the commitment of young people who serve.

He said the wounded were still under medical assessment and that he would not comment on specific diagnoses until families were present. He also said he had recently awarded a medal to TSA agents and highlighted frontline workers across TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA, saying they now faced unpaid work because of an ongoing federal shutdown. "Frontline members of our security apparatus protecting all of us who now are facing no pay again," the lawmaker said.

The speaker criticized colleagues who he said had "seen fit to continue this shutdown that deprives not only national security, not only the pay for these individuals, but makes it hard for a family member to be able to visit a wounded veteran in a time of crisis like this." He urged fully funding the government, saying it was the country's obligation to service members and their families.

He closed by thanking a colleague named Lisa and inviting "my very good friend, a aviator, a helo specialist, a navy vet" to the stage to speak next.

The remarks combined personal tributes, named casualties and a policy appeal tied to the immediate effects of a federal shutdown on homeland security personnel. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the remarks.