Senate Proceeding on Jul 31st, 2006 :: 0:41:18 to 0:47:47
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0:41:01 to 0:41:18( Edit History Discussion )

will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from south dakota. a senator: i ask consent to rescind the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection.

0:41:18 to 0:41:35( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: mr. johnson: mr. president, today i pay tribute to my very close friend, roger andolf. the presiding officer: the minority has no remaining time in morning business. mr. johnson: mr. president,

0:41:18 to 0:47:47( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Tim Johnson

0:41:35 to 0:41:51( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: i ask consent to speak for up to ten minutes as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. johnson: mr. president, today i pay tribute to my very close friend, roger andol. last month,

0:41:51 to 0:42:06( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: roger died following a long battle with crohn's disease. his passing is a tremendous loss to our veterans as well as a very personal loss for my family and for me. his friendship will be terribly missed.

0:42:06 to 0:42:18( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: roger began his extraordinary service to our country as a combat medic with the army's 4th infantry division during the war in vietnam. it was roger's duty to help his fallen comrades and to tend to their

0:42:18 to 0:42:35( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: wounds and it was the responsibility that came naturally to him. he braved enemy fire to ensure the injured were safely evacuated from the battlefield. roger often did so with little regard to his

0:42:35 to 0:42:48( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: own personal safety and was ultimately wounded in battle. he received the purple heart, the vietnam service medal, the campaign medal, and the army commendation medal for his service to his country.

0:42:48 to 0:43:03( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: but for roger, what mattered most were not the commendations but the knowledge that he had helped his fellow soldiers soldiers. after returning stateside, roger dedicated himself to working on

0:43:03 to 0:43:17( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: behalf of our nation's veterans. for the next 30 years, he was active in various veterans causes and at the time of his death, he was completing his service as the south dakota commander of the disabled

0:43:17 to 0:43:33( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: american veterans. the creed of the disabled american veterans is "building better lives for america's disabled veterans and their families." i think it's profoundly true to say roger personified

0:43:33 to 0:43:49( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: these words and made them his life's mission. as a former army medic, roger understood both the physical and they montgomery wounds of war -- and the emotional wounds of war. some soldiers survive the

0:43:49 to 0:44:00( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: perils of battle only to deal with brain trauma and amputated limbs. these veterans require lifelong medical treatment and roj he was was was adamant that they receive it. roger also recognized that

0:44:00 to 0:44:12( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: some wounds heal long after the battle was over, if at all, and that is why he consistently called about his congressional representatives to increase funding for post-traumatic stress disorder initiatives.

0:44:12 to 0:44:24( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: roger fought to make sure homeless veterans were sheltered sheltered. he worked to make sure that soldiers returning from war were transitioned back to society with as much ease as possible. but the issue most

0:44:24 to 0:44:37( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: identified with roger was mandatory funding funding. i have introduced mandatory funding legislation in each of the past three congresses and roger was the bill's most tireless and dedicated champion. if

0:44:37 to 0:44:49( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: if it were possible to pass mandatory funding based on roger's passion and commitment, enacting this legislation into law would have happened long ago. mandatory funding is long overdue. and in

0:44:49 to 0:45:03( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: honor of roger, i believe we must redouble our efforts to ensure the v.a. health care program has guaranteed funding adequate to provide veterans' health care each and every year. for over three

0:45:03 to 0:45:19( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: decades, roger never shied away from a fight. he was motivated by his sincere belief that if you make a promise to the men and women placed in harm's way, then you have a responsibility to honor those

0:45:19 to 0:45:32( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: commitments when they return. but what roger valued most was honesty. he was a straight shooter. and it was one of his most endearing personality traits. if you asked roger a question, he would give

0:45:32 to 0:45:46( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: you a straight answer, and he expected one in return. it speaks volumes about roger's character that his peers continually elected him to leadership positions within the disabled american veterans.

0:45:46 to 0:46:02( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: in addition to holding every elected position in the sioux falls chapter of the d.a.v., roger served twice as the state commander and represented south dakota on the executive national committee.

0:46:02 to 0:46:14( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: on a personal note, roger had a close working relationship with my staff and in particular with my chief of staff, trey samuelson. he was an invaluable resource and often provided insight on legislation

0:46:14 to 0:46:28( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: and veterans benefit programs. despite occasional legislative setbacks, roger always kept a positive outlook on the process. in the days following roger's death, some veterans have expressed much more

0:46:28 to 0:46:43( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: difficult the fight will be without roger to lead the charge. without question, roger's voice will be missed. but we should remember that the best way to honor roger's life is to fight wholeheartedly for

0:46:43 to 0:47:07( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: the causes that he championed. mr. president, my thoughts are with roger's wife, his wife peggy, and their two children during this difficult time. roger left us much too soon but his commitment to

0:47:07 to 0:47:47( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: our veterans and his service to the public and to our nation will continue to inspire us all. mr. president, i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum

0:47:47 to 0:48:03( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from florida. mr. martinez: i move that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. martinez: mr. president,

0:47:47 to 0:58:33( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mel Martinez