{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-capito-delivers-speech-honoring-west-virginia-national-guard-members", "VIDEO: Capito Delivers Speech Honoring West Virginia National Guard Members", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "To watch Senator Capito\u2019s remarks, click here or on the image above.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring West Virginia National Guard Members U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.\n\nSenator Capito offered her condolences to Sarah Beckstrom\u2019s family and asked Americans everywhere to continue to pray for Andrew Wolfe as he remains in critical condition. She also thanked the West Virginia National Guard for continuing to serve with courage and honor.\n\nSenator Capito\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cMadam President,\n\n\u201cI rise today with a heavy heart, one shared by all West Virginians and by so many across our country.\n\n\u201cThis past Wednesday, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were targeted and shot in the line of duty while serving in Washington D.C.\n\n\u201cIn the days since this horrific attack, our entire state has been praying, grieving, and rallying around these heroes, their loved ones, and their families.\n\n\u201cToday, I want to speak about these two brave Guardsmen: U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who tragically passed away on Thanksgiving Day and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition, still fighting for his life.\n\n\u201cThis was a deliberate, senseless act of violence, an attack not only on two individuals, but on the very values and the country they took an oath to protect.\n\n\u201cThese young soldiers put on the uniform to protect all of us. And, on Wednesday, they were ambushed and attacked because they were U.S. service members.\n\n\u201cBecause of the sense of duty that led them to serve their country.\n\n\u201cSpecialist Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old. Think about that. 20 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her.\n\n\u201cWe are so proud to claim her as one of our own.\n\n\u201cShe served with honor, distinction, and a deep sense of responsibility, qualities her family, her fellow soldiers, and her community, all recognized.\n\n\u201cThose who served alongside her talk about her leadership and her bright spirit.\n\n\u201cThey talk about someone who showed up, every time.\n\n\u201cThey described her as a peacemaker, and that\u2019s exactly what she was.\n\n\u201cHer loss is immeasurable.\n\n\u201cAnd, on a holiday that is meant to bring families together, her loved ones instead faced the unthinkable.\n\n\u201cMy prayers and deepest condolences are with them.\n\n\u201cSarah\u2019s service, her sacrifice, and her example will not be forgotten by her Guard family, by the state of West Virginia she so proudly served, or by this nation.\n\n\u201cU.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe remains in the hospital, and we are all praying for him, his family, and his fellow Guardsmen.\n\n\u201cAndrew volunteered to serve and take on missions that protect our country and our communities, while he was still in high school.\n\n\u201cI spoke with his mother, Melody, this morning. My biggest takeaway, Andrew is a fighter. And there are so many people in his community, in his state, and I believe around the world, praying for him.\n\n\u201cHis family has shown extraordinary strength during these painful days, and I want them to know this:\n\n\u201cAndrew is not alone. West Virginia stands behind him. The National Guard stands behind him. And this country stands behind him.\n\n\u201cI also want to take a moment to recognize the broader West Virginia National Guard family.\n\n\u201cThis attack has shaken them deeply.\n\n\u201cGuard leadership, including Major General Seward, The Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, has been steadfast, compassionate, and focused on the families and the service members affected.\n\n\u201cWhenever tragedy hits our state, the Guard is there, whether during floods, storms, public health emergencies, or overseas deployments.\n\n\u201cToday, as they bear tremendous grief themselves, they continue to support the families of Sarah and Andrew with the same dedication they bring to every mission.\n\n\u201cWest Virginia is proud of our service members. We always have been.\n\n\u201cAnd this moment, while it is painful, reminds us once again just how much they sacrifice and just how much we depend on them.\n\n\u201cLet me be perfectly clear, this was an unprovoked and targeted attack on two American service members.\n\n\u201cIt was a horrific act of violence. When our men and women in uniform take an oath to defend our country, they know they may be called to fight.\n\n\u201cI imagine they never fathomed they would be attacked right here at home. It is unthinkable.\n\n\u201cThis is a moment for unity, for resolve, and for honoring the men and women who serve our country so bravely.\n\n\u201cIt is a moment to stand together against violence of any kind, especially violence directed at those who protect us.\n\n\u201cTomorrow, I intend to introduce a resolution in this chamber to formally honor Specialist Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Wolfe.\n\n\u201cThis resolution will reflect what every West Virginian already knows:\n\n\u201cThat Sarah and Andrew represent the very best of our state, the very best of the National Guard, and the very best of America.\n\n\u201cThe resolution also lets their families and loved ones know that the United States Senate stands with them and supports them during this painful time. They are not alone.\n\n\u201cMadam President, West Virginians are tough.\n\n\u201cWe are resilient.\n\n\u201cBut, we are also deeply connected, to our communities and to our values.\n\n\u201cWhen we lose one of our own, we all feel it.\n\n\u201cToday, we mourn Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. We pray for Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.\n\n\u201cWe extend our love and support to their families.\n\n\u201cAnd, we reaffirm our gratitude for every member of the West Virginia National Guard who continues to serve with courage and honor.\n\n\u201cThank you, Madam President.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-capito-delivers-speech-honoring-west-virginia-national-guard-members"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2042778544127941, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}