National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the atrocity that occurred this past weekend in Orlando, FL, was an attack on every American, and my deepest condolences are with the victims and the families of this appalling attack. I am grateful for our law enforcement and the first responders who bravely put their lives on the line to save others.

This attack--the deadliest in American history since 9/11--was carried out by a gunman who pledged allegiance to ISIS. There are 49 families who received phone calls this weekend--phone calls we all hope we never receive. There are 49 families who are arranging for funerals this week. They never dreamed they would be put in this position--the tragedy, the sorrow of the mothers, the fathers, the aunts, the uncles, the brothers, the sisters, the grandparents, the cousins, and friends who will all be attending funerals this week.

Additionally, there are more than 50 families dealing with family members who were injured, some gravely, who are fighting for their lives as I speak.

Montana is a long ways away from Orlando, but I can tell you that last night across our State there were vigils in Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, and Billings, MT. We stand united with Orlando.

This threat of ISIS is continuing to grow each and every day. We need a strong strategy to destroy the growing threat of Islamic extremism-- Islamic extremism on our soil as well. President Obama, what is that strategy?

We need to aggressively go after radical jihadists who seek to destroy our way of life and disturb the peace in our communities. The senseless hate of ISIS and radical Islam will not defeat us but, rather, strengthen our resolve and commitment to freedom.

We need to remember that this was an act of terror on American soil, that this is a threat we face from radical Islam and ISIS, and that the worst response would be to politicize this and use this tragedy to restrict our constitutional rights and freedoms.

We cannot allow dangerous terrorists to hide in our communities. We need to seek them out and ensure they aren't able to inflict harm on our neighbors, our friends, and our families.

May God comfort those who have been profoundly affected by this tragedy, and may God protect our men and women who are defending our country both here and abroad every day. We are a strong nation, and together we will protect our country and ensure victory over the terrorists who want to take away our very way of life here in America.

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