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[Pages H10025-H10026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN HONOR OF CORPORAL, RETIRED, MATTHEW BRADFORD
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rush). The Chair recognizes the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) for 5 minutes.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a unique and
special man and my good friend, U.S. Marine Corporal, Retired, Matthew
Bradford. Matthew is stepping down as veterans outreach coordinator in
my district office.
Matthew, who grew up in our district in Winchester, Kentucky,
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps when he graduated from high
school, and he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, Echo
Company, 2nd Platoon.
He was deployed to Iraq in 2006, and on January 18, 2007, he suffered
catastrophic injuries as a result of the detonation of an improvised
explosive device. His severe injuries left him totally blind, and he
lost both of his legs.
Matthew persevered, and he learned to overcome and adapt from his
injuries. In 2010, Matthew became the first blind double amputee in
history to reenlist in the Marine Corps.
On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank him for his service, his
sacrifice, and his patriotism.
Matthew Bradford is a very determined individual. After his service
with the Marine Corps ended, he married his ``Warrior Princess,''
Amanda. Together, they have three children.
Through hard work and determination, Matthew graduated from the
University of Kentucky.
Matthew found his purpose in motivating and encouraging others to
overcome difficult obstacles. He spends a great deal of his time
speaking to groups and individuals and participating in challenging
athletic events, including marathons, skydiving, surfing, hunting, and
climbing 7,000 feet up Mount Rainier.
Matthew came to work in the Sixth Congressional District office in
the spring of 2017, serving first as a college intern, then as my
national security fellow, and, lastly, as our veterans outreach
coordinator.
In his work in our district office, Matthew has been a strong
advocate for veterans. He worked with our veterans coalition, and it
has grown tremendously under his leadership.
Matthew has worked on many outreach initiatives, including our
Facebook page, and has worked diligently to improve the lives of
America's veterans. His work with veterans has made quite a difference.
His passion, his humor, and his determination will be greatly missed
in our office, but his life's work in service to his community and the
Nation will surely continue.
Matthew has earned many honors, including the Purple Heart medal, the
George Van Cleve Military Leadership Award, the Gary Sinise Hope for
the Warriors Award, and induction into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of
Fame. He
[[Page H10026]]
was also invited by President Trump to attend the 2018 State of the
Union Address.
In his position in the Sixth District office, he has earned the
respect of all of his coworkers and all of the constituents with whom
he has interacted. He leaves a lasting legacy as a servant leader.
I am honored to call Matthew a loyal and trusted friend. I wish him
all the best as he moves on to other interests.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Corporal Bradford for his friendship, for his
tireless work on behalf of the people of the Sixth District, and his
outstanding service to the country.
Two-State Solution
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the United States
most important strategic ally in the Middle East, the nation of Israel.
Last week, the House voted on and nearly passed, along mostly
partisan lines, a nonbinding resolution reinforcing the failed two-
state policy that has been pushed on both the Israeli and Palestinian
people since the signing of the failed Oslo Accords. I opposed that
resolution.
The truth is we need a new way of thinking about the path toward a
lasting peace between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. The idea that
politicians from outside of Israel can impose a top-down forced
division of Arabs and Israelis is nonsense.
Rhetoric about a negotiated two-state resolution is not credible when
it is promoted by those who criticize Israel's settlements within the
Biblical homeland of the Jewish people. Current Israeli settlements
established through peaceful means extend the reach of freedom and
democracy, while the proposed ejection of Jews from settlements has a
record incongruent with peace.
The 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza has been a disaster for
Palestinians, allowing terrorist groups like Hamas and PIJ to take over
and terrorize that strip of land and its citizens.
I have personally been to Judea and Samaria, and I have witnessed
Jews and Arabs working together, side by side, in private enterprise,
seeing that peace is possible.
When stability exists under the rule of law, under the freedom and
security offered by the State of Israel, businesses thrive, families
earn a living, and freedom and democracy expand--all things that I
encourage my colleagues to consider.
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