Recognizing First Lieutenant Grant Haxton

Floor Speech

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Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize U.S. Army First Lieutenant Grant Haxton for his bravery, heroism, and service to our country. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Grant when he interned in my Washington, D.C. office in spring 2018.

Grant is an infantry platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division, which was deployed in August to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan as the Taliban closed in on the city. He and his fellow soldiers helped secure the perimeter of the airport for two weeks as they evacuated over 120,000 Americans, Afghan allies, and other vulnerable people to safety. After weeks of selfless dedication to the mission, Grant left on one of the last transport planes out of Kabul. It is thanks to heroes like Grant that our military was able to coordinate one of the largest airlifts in history.

Grant is a 2015 graduate of La Canada High School, just outside of my congressional district. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 509 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2014. As a student at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, Grant served as a legislative intern in my Washington, D.C. office. Through this position, he helped respond to constituents over the phone and through mail, greeted visitors in the front office, conducted tours of the U.S. Capitol, and assisted my legislative team with research and administrative support. He is remembered fondly by my staff for his diligent work, sense of humor, and passion for public service.

I commend Grant for his dedication to his community and to his country. I am fortunate to have had such a selfless public servant on my team, and I am proud to see all of Grant's incredible accomplishments since his time in my office.

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