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Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, 
thank you for the opportunity to address

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the House Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence

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with respect to the activities 
relating to Ukraine

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and my role in the events 
under investigation.

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I have dedicated 
my entire professional life

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to the United States of America.

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For more than two decades,

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it has been my honor to serve
as an officer in the United States Army.

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As an infantry officer,

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I served multiple overseas tours, 
including South Korea and Germany,

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and I was deployed to Iraq 
for combat operations.

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Since 2008, I have been 
a Foreign Area Officer

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specializing in European and Eurasian 
politico-military affairs.

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I served in the United States embassies 
in Kiev, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia.

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In Washington, D.C.,

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I was a politico-military affairs officer 
for Russia

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for the Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

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where I drafted the Armed Forces’ 
global campaign plan

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to counter Russian aggression 
and Russian malign influence.

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In July 2018, I was asked to serve

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at the White House’s 
National Security Council.

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At the NSC I am the principal advisor
to the National Security Advisor

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on Ukraine and other countries 
in my portfolio.

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My role at the NSC is to develop, 
coordinate, and implement

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plans and policies to manage

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the full range of diplomatic, 
informational, military,

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and economic national security issues 
for the countries in my portfolio.

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My core function is to coordinate policy 
with departments and agencies..

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The Committee has heard 
from many of my colleagues

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about the strategic importance of Ukraine 
as a bulwark against Russian aggression.

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It is important to note 
that our country’s policy

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of supporting Ukrainian sovereignty 
and territorial integrity,

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promoting Ukrainian prosperity,

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and strengthening 
a free and democratic Ukraine,

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as a counter to Russian aggression,

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has been a consistent, bi-partisan 
foreign policy objective and strategy

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across various administrations, 
both Democrat and Republican,

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and that President Zelenskyy’s election, 
in April 2019,

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created an unprecedented opportunity 
to realize our strategic objectives.

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In the Spring of 2019, 
I became aware of two disruptive actors–-

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primarily Ukraine’s 
then-Prosecutor Yuri Lutsenko

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and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, 
President’s personal attorney—

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promoting false narratives 
that undermined

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the United States’ Ukraine policy.

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The NSC and its inter-agency partners, 
including the State Department,

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grew increasingly concerned 
about the impact

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that such information was having 
on our country’s ability to achieve

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our national security objectives.

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On April 21, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy 
was elected President of Ukraine

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in a landslide victory on a unity, reform,
and anti-corruption platform.

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President Trump called President Zelenskyy
on April 21, 2019,

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to congratulate him for his victory.

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I was the staff officer 
who produced the call materials

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and was one of the staff officers 
who listened to the call.

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The call was positive

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and President Trump expressed his desire 
to work with President Zelenskyy

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and extended an invitation 
to visit the White House.

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In May, I attended the inauguration 
of President Zelenskyy

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as part of the Presidential delegation 
led by Secretary Perry.

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Following the visit,

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the members of the delegation 
provided President Trump a debriefing

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offering a positive assessment 
of President Zelenskyy and his team.

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After this debriefing,

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President Trump signed
a congratulatory letter

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to President Zelenskyy

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and extended another invitation
to visit the White House.

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On July 10, 2019, Oleksandr Danylyuk, 
then Ukraine’s National Security Advisor,

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visited Washington, D.C. for a meeting 
with National Security Advisor Bolton.

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Ambassadors Volker and Sondland
and Secretary Rick Perry

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also attended the meeting.

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I attended with Dr. Hill.

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We fully anticipated the Ukrainians 
would raise the issue of a meeting

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between the presidents.

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Ambassador Bolton cut the meeting short 
when Ambassador Sondland started to speak

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about the requirement that Ukraine 
deliver specific investigations

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in order to secure 
the meeting with President Trump.

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Following this meeting, 
there was a short debriefing

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during which Amb. Sondland emphasized 
the importance of Ukraine delivering

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the investigations into the 2016 election,
the Bidens, and Burisma.

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I stated to Ambassador Sondland 
that this was inappropriate

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and had nothing to do 
with national security.

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Dr. Hill also asserted 
his comments were improper.

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Following the meeting Dr. Hill and I 
had agreed to report the incident

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to the NSC’s lead counsel, 
Mr. John Eisenberg.

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On July 21, 2019, 
President Zelenskyy

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won a parliamentary election
in another landslide victory.

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The NSC proposed that President Trump 
call President Zelenskyy

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to congratulate him.

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On July 25, 2019, the call occurred.

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I listened in on the call 
in the Situation Room

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with White House colleagues.

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I was concerned by the call, 
what I heard was inappropriate,

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and I reported my concerns 
to Mr. Eisenberg.

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It is improper for the President 
of the United States

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to demand a foreign government

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investigate a U.S. citizen 
and a political opponent.

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It was also clear that 
if Ukraine pursued an investigation

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into the 2016 election, 
the Bidens, and Burisma,

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it would be interpreted 
as a partisan play.

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This would undoubtedly result 
in Ukraine losing bipartisan support,

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undermining U.S. national security,

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and advancing Russia’s 
strategic objectives in the region.

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I want to emphasize to the Committee 
that when I reported my concerns

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-- on July 10, 
relating to Ambassador Sondland,

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and on July 25, 
relating to the President --

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I did so out of a sense of duty.

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I privately reported my concerns, 
in official channels,

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to the proper authorities 
in the chain of command.

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My intent was to raise these concerns

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because they had significant 
national security implications

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for our country.

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I never thought I would be sitting here

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testifying in front of this committee 
and the American public, about my actions.

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When I reported my concerns,

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my only thought was to act properly 
and to carry out my duty.

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Following each of my reports 
to Mr. Eisenberg,

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I immediately returned to work
to advance

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the President’s and our country’s 
foreign policy objectives.

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I focused on what I have done 
throughout my military career,

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promoting America’s 
national security interests.

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I want to take a moment 
to recognize the courage of my colleagues

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who have appeared 
and are scheduled to appear

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before this Committee.

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I want to state that 
the character attacks

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on these distinguished 
and honorable public servants

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is reprehensible.

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It is natural to disagree 
and engage in spirited debate,

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this has been the custom of our country 
since the time of our Founding Fathers,

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but we are better 
than personal attacks.

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The uniform I wear today 
is that of the United States Army.

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The members of our all-volunteer force 
are made up of a patchwork

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of people from all ethnicities, regions, 
and socio-economic backgrounds

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who come together under a common oath 
to protect and defend

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the Constitution 
of the United States of America.

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We do not serve 
any political party,

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we serve the nation.

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I am humbled to come before you today 
as one of many who serve

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in the most distinguished 
and able military in the world.

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The Army is the only profession 
I have ever known.

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As a young man I decided 
that I wanted to spend my life

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serving this nation 
that gave my family refuge

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from authoritarian oppression,

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For the last twenty years 
it has been an honor

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to represent and protect 
this great country.

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Next month will mark 40 years since 
my family arrived

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in the United States as refugees.

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When my father was 47 years old

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he left behind his entire life 
and the only home he had ever known

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to start over in the United States

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so his three sons could have 
better, safer lives.

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His courageous decision inspired 
a deep sense of gratitude

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in my brothers and myself

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and instilled in us 
a sense of duty and service.

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All three of us have served 
or are currently serving in the military.

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My little brother stood behind me
here today.

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Our collective military service 
is a special part

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of our family’s story 
in America.

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I also recognize that my simple act 
of appearing here today,

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just like the courage of my colleagues

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who have also truthfully testified 
before this Committee,

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would not be tolerated 
in many places around the world.

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In Russia, my act of expressing 
concerns to the chain of command

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in an official and private channel

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would have severe personal 
and professional repercussions

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and offering public testimony 
involving the President

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would surely cost me my life.

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I am grateful for my father’s 
brave act of hope 40 years ago

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and for the privilege of being 
an American citizen and public servant,

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where I can live free of fear 
for mine and my family’s safety.

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Dad, I'm sitting here today, 
in the US Capitol

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talking to our elected officials 
is proof

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that you made the right decision 
forty years ago

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to leave the Soviet Union

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and come here 
to United State of America

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in search of a better life 
for our family.

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Do not worry, 
I will be fine for telling the truth.

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Thank you again for your consideration,

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I'll be happy 
to answer your questions.