View from the Capitol - Congresswoman Hartzler's Weekly Newsletter for the Week of August 31, 2015

Statement

This week marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was on September 2, 1945 that Japan signed the terms of unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay.

I was privileged to represent Missouri and Congress in Pearl Harbor this week to participate in ceremonies marking the anniversary. I was deeply moved as I visited "Mighty Mo," whose bow points to the nearby USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place for sailors and Marines who were killed aboard the Arizona that fateful day in 1941. These two ships are known as the bookends of America's involvement in World War II.

The USS Missouri was christened by Mary Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry Truman, in 1944 and finally decommissioned in 1992--a force for freedom for almost 50 years! The last U.S. battleship ever commissioned, the "Mighty Mo" has defended freedom all over the world. From Iwo Jima and Okinawa to Korea and Desert Storm, the USS Missouri is a proud tradition with our great state's namesake. Though the "Mighty Mo" is now a museum, providing us with a glimpse of world history, the state of Missouri is still represented in the Navy's fleet. Today's USS Missouri, a nuclear submarine and the fourth ship to bear the name "Missouri", has been active since 2010. Our state, and the men and women from here, continue to lead the way today.

While in Pearl Harbor, I was honored to meet a host of sailors currently serving as well as some who served during World War II. One of those veterans, Art Albert, was one of many who bore witness to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs signing the Instrument of Surrender on the deck of the Missouri 70 years ago. It was truly spectacular to be a part of this ceremony and meet so many great Americans and patriots.

On another note, the House will vote on President Obama's Iran Deal next week. I was disappointed this week to hear news of Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski's support of this deal--giving the President 34 confirmed votes in the Senate, which is enough to sustain a veto. Though the outlook for stopping this bad deal is grim, I have spoken with and heard from many of you, and I stand firmly against it and will vote accordingly when it comes to the House floor.

I have been traveling around the district discussing the Iran deal with you and listening to your concerns about it. In addition to the presentations I gave about this deal, I recently spoke with Frank Gaffney of Secure Freedom Radio about just how poor this deal is as well as a few other topics regarding our national security.

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