Good afternoon. I want to welcome you to Reno, Nevada. It is truly an honor to be addressing such an esteemed group of Americans. Ronald Reagan once said, "Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes just don't know where to look."

You here today and those standing for freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world are my heroes. I applaud you for your service, your patriotism, and your continued commitment to this country. I also want to thank members of the American Legion Auxiliary for their devotion to our veterans for almost 90 years. Every year I attend a Memorial Day commemoration at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. It's always a very moving ceremony, but it is the sea of veterans with their colored caps representing the various veterans' service organizations that makes it so special.

This last year, a veteran in his 80's with almost no eyesight joined us at the end to play his bugle. He said it was all he had left in the world, and he played Taps like I had never heard before. Each note seemed to represent something meaningful to him—a memory from his service, a comrade, or a feeling from his heart about what this country means. It was incredibly moving, and something I won't forget. It reminded me how special our veterans are. How much they have sacrificed for this country. And how much their lives are touched and changed forever. You don't just return from military service and leave those experiences behind. They become part of you for the rest of your life.

I've also heard that from our newest veterans—those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I had the privilege of meeting a young man who lost a leg in Iraq and returned home with shrapnel imbedded throughout his body. He earned four Purple Hearts, and I was overwhelmed by his patriotism and his courage. He comes from a military family—11 out of 13 family members served. He told me that he can deal with the physical challenges he faces—it's the mental anguish that has been hardest. And he's not alone.

That's why the "Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act" that we recently passed is so important. This legislation specifically addresses shortcomings in the treatment and care of our men and women in uniform, as well as those in veteran status. It tackles inconsistencies in Pentagon and VA disability ratings, provides more money for the diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and significantly strengthens support for the families of those injured. The legislation also requires that an initial mental health evaluation be provided to veterans or returning service members no later than 30 days following a request for such an evaluation. These are all critical measures to provide our veterans with the best care possible, and you absolutely deserve it.

Since George Bush became President and I became a U.S. Senator, Congress has increased spending on veterans by 77 percent and increased spending on veterans' health care by 83 percent. You'd be hard pressed to find a Senator with a more fiscally conservative record than me, but I've always fought for increased funding for veterans. Because very simply, without you, there would be no United States of America. You created, shaped, and maintained the finest military in the world—bar none. For that you deserve our eternal appreciation—which must be expressed in more than just words of thanks. And we must also say more than thank you to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who are fighting to secure us and defend our freedom. They are engaged in a battle against radical Islamic fundamentalists who seek to destroy our country, annihilate our citizens, and convert the world to their way of life.


Unfortunately, not everyone in our country understands the threat we are facing. We have leaders who think it is a better idea to leave Iraq. They want to withdraw our troops, run home, and hide. Thank God, we have a Commander-in-Chief who isn't willing to stand down. He understands that if we leave Iraq today, the battle will move to our shores. Not only that, but it would be irresponsible of us to retreat from this threat, only to pass it along for future generations to fight. That's not why you stood up to the Nazis, or to communism, or to other forms of evil that threatened our nation. You stood up to protect us, to protect freedom, and to protect our future. And that is what we must do today. And we should do it together. This is a time of war, and we need to be united in our resolve. We should not be Republicans or Democrats—we should be Americans. And we should be Americans who support our troops with more than just empty rhetoric—we must also support their mission.

Right now, with the surge finally in full force, our troops on the ground are making great progress. Found-and-cleared IEDs, vehicle-borne IEDs, and caches are approximately 50 percent higher than last year, due in large part to increased effective tips from concerned Iraqi citizens. Iraqi police and security forces have stepped up and are making great improvements. Also, the number of Iraqi civilian casualties is down significantly. In a few short weeks, General Petraeus will provide Congress with a progress report on Iraq. It is irresponsible for leaders of this country to begin calling for a troop withdrawal based on speculation about the report. I urge my colleagues to show the world that we can unite, that we can put party politics aside and forge ahead as Americans.

President Lincoln said the best way to serve your party is to put your country first. We owe it to the men and women sacrificing their lives around the world and to their families whose contributions at home are immeasurable. And we owe it to you, our veterans. You fought for this nation, many of your brothers and sisters died for this nation, and we must carry the banner of freedom in your name.

For the 80-year-old bugle player, the young veteran of Iraq with his physical and emotional wounds, and for the proud members of the American Legion. I salute you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you, and God bless America!