WASHINGTON—At a historic ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins today joined Congressional Leadership, President Trump and Vice President Pence and honored Kansas’ favorite son, U.S. Senator Bob Dole by presenting him with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his service to the nation as a soldier, legislator, and statesman.
To download audio and video of Senator Roberts’ remarks: Roberts Dole Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony .mp4
To watch video go here.
The Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal Act, was introduced on July 24, 2017 by Roberts and U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the House, who will also speak at the ceremony. It passed the Senate on August 3, 2017, with every single U.S. Senator cosponsoring the legislation. It passed the House on September 5, 2017.
Senator Dole is only the 8th out of 1,973 Senators to earn this award. Other Congressional Gold Medal honorees include Senators Robert Kennedy, John Glenn and Harry Truman.
In a deeply divided Senate, Senator Roberts was able to secure unprecedented support for legislation awarding the Gold Medal to Senator Dole. All 100 senators signed onto the bill as cosponsors underscoring the respect earned by Senator Dole in a lifetime of public service.
The following are Senator Roberts’ remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Senator Elizabeth Dole, distinguished leaders and guests all, it is both and privilege and an honor for me to be part of this ceremony for my friend, my colleague and my long-time mentor, Bob Dole – Kansas’ favorite son.
Bob, looking around this Rotunda, with our nation’s most senior elected officials, some might say there’s no subject on which we all could agree.
When Congresswoman Jenkins and I embarked on the mission last summer to make this congressional medal happen, there was – to put it mildly – just a tad bit of division in Congress.
I knew that to get the Senate’s attention, I needed to put a little elbow-grease into cutting through the discourse.
But less than two days later, I had the signatures of ALL 100 senators.
It takes a very special person for all 100 of us to so enthusiastically and gratefully join in common, bipartisan cause for this unique award.
The fact that we are here today is a testament to you personally, to your leadership in Congress, to your statesmanship and perseverance in bringing us the World War II memorial and to your heroism and sacrifice on the battlefield.
Bob, you know I could go on all day about you – I have some pretty good stories to tell…however, I will limit it to one: our mission to build a presidential memorial to the man who commanded you on the battlefields of Italy, Dwight David Eisenhower of Abilene, Kansas.
And I’m proud to say with your tireless advocacy, the memorial is being built – just down the Hill.
Thanks to your commitment, Bob, people will be able to visit the memorial to Ike, the man you call your hero.
Bob, to many of us, and especially to team Dole, you are our hero.
Your leadership on so many laws that have improved the lives of all Americans – and the memorials forever etched in stone – will also remind America of you, the boy from Russell, Kansas and your enduring love of our country.
We return that love here for you today.
Bob, God bless you and God bless America.
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