00:00It's my honor to be here today, but it's my honor to represent Jessica and Tom and Madeline
00:06and their family in Congress and fight alongside them on this issue and stand up for their daughter
00:13Sheridan. The disrespect that was shown by Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin in decrying
00:21the fact that we were even having that hearing was outrageous. And yet Jessica Gorman handled
00:32herself with grace, with dignity and courage and delivered a message that every American
00:40should hear.
00:44Before I say anything about policy, I want to begin with gratitude. Standing here at the
00:49Yorktown Police Department is deeply emotional for our family. At six o'clock in the morning
00:55of March 19th, three police officers came to our door hearing the worst news any parent could
01:01ever receive. They knew when I opened up that door that our life would be shattered. But
01:07they did not treat us like a call on a dispatch board. They treated us with patience, dignity
01:11and compassion, and we will never forget that. Later, when it was time to bring Sheridan home,
01:17police officers from Yorktown and the surrounding communities, escorted her. Mile after mile,
01:24they guarded her. They honored her. And when Jessica and I could no longer protect our daughter,
01:30they protected our journey home. Captain Foley and every police officer who stood by us, thank
01:38you very much. We will never forget you. My name is Tom Gorman. I'm Jessica's husband. I'm Madeline's
01:52father, and I will always be Sheridan's father. Being a father to my two girls has been the greatest
01:58privilege of my life. A father believes he can protect his children. We check the doors. We
02:04wait up until they come home. We tell them to call when they arrive. We convince ourselves that
02:09we are vigilant enough, strong enough, and prepared enough. We can keep the worst parts
02:15of the world away from them. But I cannot protect Sheridan from a government that refused to use
02:21every lawful tool available to protect her. And that truth will follow me for the rest of my life.
02:27For politicians, this is, for politicians, sanctuary policy is a debate. For television
02:34personalities and podcasters, it's content.
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