A Dark Stain on America's History

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, June 14, 2017, was a dark stain on America's history. There are several of us in this room today who would not be here for two reasons. Number one, and first and foremost, by the grace of God, and number two, by the fact that then-Majority Whip Steve Scalise showed up for practice that morning. Without his security detail, none of us would be here.

The deranged gunman that took, for whatever reason, revenge upon the Republicans on the baseball field that morning sought to give no mercy, just to create havoc.

We know that we are better than the behavior that we saw that day. The bond that brought us all together, especially that day on the baseball field, spread, I believe, throughout the country to bring people together at a time when we needed it. We continue to need it.

When I mention now-Leader Scalise coming that day, he is only here because of the actions of one of our Members, and that man is Representative Brad Wenstrup, combat surgeon, dedicated soldier, and ready for the task at hand. As I personally witnessed Brad tending to Representative Scalise on the field, it was truly Brad's readiness and professionalism that enabled the life flight to occur and Scalise to successfully make it to the hospital.

I commend Colonel Wenstrup for what he did and the calm with which he did it. It is the calm, not the excitement, that drives us to the positive results. I cannot thank him enough, as a personal friend, for what he has done for the community as a whole to show what good behavior really means in the face of extreme adversity.

I am honored to be among my colleagues here tonight.

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