Floor SpeechNeutral2026-07-16

TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES

HealthcareTaxesForeign PolicyDefenseUkraine

Context

On 2026-07-16, Senator Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES" in the Senate.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4135-S4136] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July's Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to helping others through his service as a volunteer trauma nurse in Ukraine. Matthew has dedicated his career to the care of others. His path into nursing began with years of service in healthcare, working as a lifeguard, EMT, 911 dispatcher, pharmacy technician, and ultimately graduating from nursing school at Nashua Community College. After he witnessed the suffering caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Matthew asked himself what he could do to help. He recognized a critical need for additional training in lifesaving trauma care, particularly the proper use of tourniquets to prevent otherwise survivable injuries from becoming life-threatening. In 2024, Matthew traveled to Ukraine for his first volunteer deployment. Working in a bomb-damaged stabilization point near the frontlines, he treated both military personnel and civilians suffering from burns, broken bones, shrapnel wounds, and other traumatic injuries. Matthew has repeatedly returned because he knows that the need for care remains great. Even when he is back in the United States, he continues to support the people he met in Ukraine by helping secure the resources that they need to continue their lifesaving work. In addition to training and treating patients, [[Page S4136]] he has personally helped provide supplies and equipment, including funding vehicles and medical equipment for those serving on the frontlines. Matthew says that New Hampshire's ``Live Free or Die'' spirit has shaped the way that he views the resilience of the Ukrainian people. He sees that same determination in those who continue to defend their communities despite immense hardship, refusing to surrender their freedom in the face of tyranny. His work reminds Granite Staters that courage often takes the form of quietly showing up each day to serve others, even in the most dangerous circumstances. Matthew has returned to Ukraine, where he trains Ukrainian servicemembers in lifesaving medical skills and continues to provide care on the frontlines. Matthew's compassion, courage, and selflessness are why I am proud to name him July's Granite Stater of the Month. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4135-S4136] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW IVES Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July's Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to helping others through his service as a volunteer trauma nurse in Ukraine. Matthew has dedicated his career to the care of others. His path into nursing began with years of service in healthcare, working as a lifeguard, EMT, 911 dispatcher, pharmacy technician, and ultimately graduating from nursing school at Nashua Community College. After he witnessed the suffering caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Matthew asked himself what he could do to help. He recognized a critical need for additional training in lifesaving trauma care, particularly the proper use of tourniquets to prevent otherwise survivable injuries from becoming life-threatening. In 2024, Matthew traveled to Ukraine for his first volunteer deployment. Working in a bomb-damaged stabilization point near the frontlines, he treated both military personnel and civilians suffering from burns, broken bones, shrapnel wounds, and other traumatic injuries. Matthew has repeatedly returned because he knows that the need for care remains great. Even when he is back in the United States, he continues to support the people he met in Ukraine by helping secure the resources that they need to continue their lifesaving work. In addition to training and treating patients, [[Page S4136]] he has personally helped provide supplies and equipment, including funding vehicles and medical equipment for those serving on the frontlines. Matthew says that New Hampshire's ``Live Free or Die'' spirit has shaped the way that he views the resilience of the Ukrainian people. He sees that same determination in those who continue to defend their communities despite immense hardship, refusing to surrender their freedom in the face of tyranny. His work reminds Granite Staters that courage often takes the form of quietly showing up each day to serve others, even in the most dangerous circumstances. Matthew has returned to Ukraine, where he trains Ukrainian servicemembers in lifesaving medical skills and continues to provide care on the frontlines. Matthew's compassion, courage, and selflessness are why I am proud to name him July's Granite Stater of the Month. ____________________