Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I say to the fine gentleman from Pennsylvania that I drive a conventionally powered car. I put gasoline in my car. I don't have a favorite. I had a brother who was a race car driver, so he tried everything. This amendment, though, would strike all funding provided in our bill to oversee and administer the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, ATVM for short. All I have to say is that we need lots of hands on deck in inventing the new overground transportation systems for this country because, globally, we are falling behind, and the companies know it. This program is currently responsible for carefully vetting and conducting oversight of more than $30 billion in loans that are either active or have conditional commitments. There are ATVM loan projects across the country, across industrial America--my colleague and I share that, both bounty and struggle--in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, New York, Michigan, and Indiana. These are projects that support the production of advanced vehicles, vehicle components, and critical minerals. I am actually fast at the task of building a Toledo car because I don't want all of those gizmos they put on the cars today. You are forced to buy it when you go in, but you don't want it. Then, if it breaks, it costs $500 or more to get it fixed. People don't want all of that stuff. If they want the stuff, let them select it. However, the ATVM program is projected to add almost 40,000 jobs nationwide, and we need it. Today, we are faced with an amendment to undercut those investments and jobs across our country. Even for those who do not support the critical work of this program, eliminating this funding is truly cutting off our nose to spite our face. Mr. Chair, if you want to increase fraud or hinder the ability of the Federal Government to interact with private business quickly and efficiently, then, by all means, vote for this amendment. I, however, will vote against it because we must continue to invest in the manufacturing expertise of this country. I underline ``manufacturing,'' not ``copying.'' I mean building, creating, innovating. I want to make sure we do so as efficiently and responsibly as possible. Without the necessary support to advance and oversee these investments, we risk our national security by letting our international competitors, China in particular, outpace our efforts at home. I urge my colleagues to vote against this misguided amendment. I have staff members who drive hybrids. They like those. I don't like the particular hybrid one of them drives because it is too close to the ground and you feel the road too much. We all have opinions based on what size we are and how we can see out the windows and all, but I really do think that anything that has to do with advanced technology vehicle manufacturing is something I do not want to displace in the array of options that we have as a country. There is too much at stake here. We have just seen the rebirth of the steel industry and are fighting for that every day. I was just up at the Soo Locks in Michigan looking at our ability to move steel and other material from Duluth all the way down through the seaway and then out to the world. We are working very hard on reinvesting in manufacturing America. Madam Chair, I would not at all support the elimination of this program or the cutting short of this program at a time when America really needs it. So much of our componentry has been shipped offshore because they pay cheap wages. They pay penny wages, and they can move componentry. Madam Chair, I had something happen to my car, and they took out the part. Sure enough, a foreign part failed. I could have been killed. You look at this, and I thought: I know this wasn't made in our country. Where was it made? You can guess. We have to restore American manufacturing. I think that this is one way that we can do it. We also have to invent new fuels. We, in our region, flew the first biofueled F-16 aircraft in this country. It didn't crash. They loved it. We are inventing the new fuels of the future, biofuels. Half of the corn and soy in my region goes into fuels. It is a good thing it does because we have lost our agricultural markets to Brazil and Argentina selling to China, so our farmers aren't exporting into China anymore because of what is happening globally in the marketplace. For manufacturing America, I oppose the amendment because I want invention here. I want manufacturing here. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Chair, the gentleman's amendment reduces funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission by $13 million. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a Federal-State partnership focused on economic and community development within the most distressed counties in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Except for New York--but New York in the north is different than New York in the south--many of these States don't have very many Members of Congress. When you look at Vermont, I actually have more citizens in my district than the State of Vermont does in its entirety. The Northern Border Commission really does focus on places that often get ignored simply because those States don't have enough people in them to warrant the kind of attention maybe Pennsylvania gets because of its number of people, or California. The NBRC was created by Congress in 2008 to provide infrastructure and economic development assistance to projects in counties that had varying degrees of economic and demographic distress. These investments lead to new jobs being created. I have seen what it has done, for instance, in the Appalachian Regional Commission. It has taken a while, but I think many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle from these States, where these commissions function, will agree and say it is the first time that kind of help has come in creating new businesses and trying to create roads that didn't exist and try to promote economic development in really some of the forgotten corners of America. It is critical to support the rise of all Americans to become part of a thriving middle class. In some parts of the country, it is more difficult than others. I can guarantee where there has been deindustrialization because of the outsourcing of production, there ought to be a whole separate set of activities that occur in those areas of the country, whether it is Kenosha, Wisconsin, whether it is Toledo, Ohio, or Flint, Michigan. One of the reasons the public is so unstable politically is because they are looking for an answer and neither party has been able to fully accommodate the needs of those places. I think we are becoming more sensitive to it, and these commissions provide us a very important means to do it. Madam Chair, I oppose the gentleman's amendment. Actually, I think part of Pennsylvania, is it not covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission? Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. KAPTUR. I just think that when you look at some of the money that goes out to different places in the country, Pennsylvania hits higher than Ohio does actually. For us, the Appalachian Regional Commission in southern Ohio has been just terribly important. Has it been the most important vehicle for restoring what was lost or trying to convert to other economic activities? No. Are we crawling forward? Yes. At least we are not falling behind even more. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment, but I have to oppose it. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, this amendment reduces funding for the Southwest Border Regional Commission by $2 million. The Southwest Border Regional Commission was established by Congress in 2008 to address economic distress along the southern border regions of some pretty important places--Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. In December 2022, the Senate confirmed the first Federal co- chair for the commission. Think about the delay in the co-chair--that took a large number of years--which enables the commission to convene and begin other activities. I would place the burden there on the executive branch for waiting such a long time to nominate someone and on the Senate to actually clear the name. These investments lead to new jobs being created, and many of these places have very small towns that don't even have parking lots in their little bakeries or their restaurants. It is critical to support the rise of all Americans to become part of a thriving middle class, especially in the forgotten towns and regions of our country. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment on behalf of people who are trying to better their way of life, against all odds. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, this amendment reduces funding for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission by $16 million, a commission that was established in 2008, but unfortunately, the Governors of the respective States did not appoint those who were to manage the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission until just a couple of years ago, so there was no way that it could get off the ground. If you have traveled in that region of America, you would come back a different person, so I urge you to do that. The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission's mission is to build sustainable communities and strengthen economic growth across the Southeast region, including places in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission invests in the region's economic future through a grant program, publishing research related to the region, and income-producing learning experiences. Many people there have never started a business, but they want to. You must have had a good father or mother to help you get into business--I don't know--but it is important that opportunity be seeded in all parts of our country to help communities seize opportunity, address economic disparity, and advance prosperity. It is critical to support the rise of all Americans to become part of a thriving middle class, where possible. Mr. Chair, I also wanted to mention the gentleman voted for the big billionaire bonanza bill that added $4 trillion to the U.S. debt. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, release the Epstein files. The American people deserve the truth. The President promised the release of the Epstein files, and yet very rich and powerful interests are still working to bury them. Who are they protecting? Are they protecting the Washington elite, the billionaires, the politicians, the establishment class that think they are above the law? Maybe they are even protecting the President himself? We won't know for sure unless and until the President honors his promise to release the entirety of the files immediately. No one is above the law, not the rich, not the well connected, not those who abuse the vulnerable and hide behind their privilege. The victims deserve justice. Our citizenry deserves transparency. Our democracy demands accountability. Every day these files remain hidden is another day the elites laugh at the American people. I call on the Trump administration and its Department of Justice to release all the Epstein files unaltered. I call on each of my colleagues to not shield the powerful. Shine the light on the truth. That is the least we owe the violated victims and the very least we owe our Nation: Truth. Release the files.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a Resolution Affirming the President's Promise Not to Raise the Social Security and Medicare Retirement Age. Social Security and Medicare are solemn promises made to generations of American workers who have paid into these hard-earned benefits during their working years. Yesterday, Social Security celebrated its 90th birthday, and our resolution demonstrates continued support from Congress for this program so it can continue to support Americans throughout their retirement for decades to come. As more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 each day, many will turn to these programs to access care and start their retirement. It is our duty to ensure these programs will be here for them to utilize in their golden years and not create delays to access these benefits. Raising the retirement age would reduce benefits for millions of Americans, placing an unnecessary burden on seniors and those close to retirement who can't afford to wait to access their earned benefits. I promise to oppose any changes to the retirement age for these vital national programs, just as President Trump stated on July 8, 2024. I agree with President Trump that we mustn't raise the Social Security and Medicare Retirement Age. In a time of division, I'm glad to be able to find issues where people from both parties can agree. I thank my colleagues who have already joined my resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to consider supporting this resolution which demonstrates the House of Representatives dedication to protect retirement security by not raising the retirement age.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable, hard working, good natured man of labor: Bruce Baumhower from Toledo, Ohio in our 9th Congressional District. Mr. Baumhower formally retired on June 30, 2025 after serving as the President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 12, the longest run of service in the union's history--over a half a century. He will be honored at a special event prior to Toledo's 2025 Jeep Fest--a celebration he co-founded in 2016--on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Bruce Baumhower is a Toledo native who graduated from Whitmer High School in 1972. He started work at Jeep the same year. Throughout his employment at Jeep, Bruce involved himself in union activities, rising through the ranks after election to Steward, Bargaining Committee and Vice Chairman. In 1993 he was elected President of UAW Local 12, the second largest UAW local in the nation. He has been ably at the helm since. UAW Local 12, based in Toledo, represents approximately 16,000 members at 47 worksites. His leadership is humble yet reliably strong and honorable, and always visionary. Throughout Bruce's tenure as leader of UAW Local 12, he has steered the union--and the Toledo community--through crisis and calm. Most notably, he led the effort to establish the plants and supplier park that built the Wrangler and the Gladiator, two locations that have defined Toledo's skyline and its workforce. He has been an integral part of redefining Jeep as Toledo's identity and his integrity and work ethic symbolizes Toledo, Ohio--a city whose motto is: Laborare est Orare, ``To Work is to Pray.'' In addition to his duties as President of UAW Local 12, Bruce is president of the UAW's Community Action Program, which coordinates political and community action for all seven Toledo area UAW locals. Mr. Baumhower currently also serves on the board of Imagination Station and the Regional Growth Partnership. As one of the founders of Toledo's Jeep Fest, Bruce has further imprinted Jeep on Toledo. It is said that he and another member had a conversation about Jeep's 75th anniversary. From that moment, Jeep Fest was born. Eight years later, it is a three day festival drawing thousands of people from all corners and highlighted by a parade of hundreds of iconic Jeeps. Currently Bruce serves on the Board of Directors of Jeep Fest and leads off the parade with union members, who are both actively working and retired, all proud of Jeep's continuing and amazing success--America's most popular vehicle. The parade celebrates and American success story led by union members who show great pride in their roles and led by an energetic President. The great UAW pioneer Walter Reuther noted, ``There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.'' Bruce Baumhower epitomizes these words. His noble spirit guides the Union and the City in which he has played such a pivotal role. Now as he formally retires, we, wish him well on his journey, knowing he will be spending his time with his wife Kim, three children and eight grandchildren, engaged in all they most enjoy. I thank Bruce for all he has given to our community and our Nation during a trying era for US automotive manufacturing. He makes us proud. May he enjoy a well-earned retirement. May God Bless him unselfishly and continually.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about the devastating impact that President Trump's reckless tariff policies are having on our American automotive industry and its workers. The latest financial figures from Jeep Stellantis, for example, the proud maker of Jeep and Ram vehicles--and they are so popular--paints a deeply disturbing picture. Nearly $2.7 billion in losses are tied directly to these tariffs. That translates into plant shutdowns, canceled programs, and over 900 American workers already laid off. Similarly, the General Motors chief executive officer said tariffs cost GM $1.1 billion this quarter and that the next quarter will be worse. This is real money. In an industry that America has been striving to bring back to full production in this country, we have lost so many jobs abroad to cheap labor and places that have no labor rights. This is what happens with tariffs when we lead with flashy headlines instead of well-thought-out trade strategy. Tariffs without a plan don't punish China. They don't balance our trade accounts. Our trade accounts get worse. They punish Toledo. Bad tariff policy punishes manufacturing America. These tariffs punish Ohio. They punish Michigan. They punish Indiana. They punish Illinois, America's manufacturing heartland. Tariffs punish Missouri. They punish Wisconsin. They punish every worker on the line who is just trying to build a better life for themselves. The families and the workers who work in these plants do hard work. They deserve to earn a fair wage with good working conditions and benefits, including health and retirement benefits. Mr. Speaker, American workers need real trade reform, balanced trade accounts, and sensible tariff policies, not gimmicks. I urge the Trump administration to stop the damage now before the bleeding gets worse. Our chief trading partner in northern Ohio is Canada. We like Canada. Our industry is integrated. Parts pass over the border sometimes six or seven times. Tariffs make no sense in an integrated economy. The American automotive industry needs investment here at home, on our continent, not more outsourcing. We don't need that. We need job insourcing before more jobs disappear and more families pay the price. Our communities need economic certainty, not higher prices, not pink slips, not utter chaos, and not tariff regimes that change every couple of days. America needs a trade and tariff regime that yields good jobs, well-paid workers, and prices for cars, trucks, and consumer goods that Americans can afford to buy. I urge Members of this House and the Trump administration to take a look at what is happening in the real economy. Let's fix it before it gets much worse. America doesn't need that. Advancing Geothermal Energy

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the new horizons of advancing geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is one of the most fascinating, promising, yet underused clean energy sources in our country. The problem with it? You can't see it. You can't see it, so a lot of people, when they are walking, when they are in the woods, when they are going to work, they never think about the power of the Earth. Beneath our feet, due to the temperature differentials between the air we breathe and the temperatures in the soil, lies a constant supply of heat from the Earth's core. In developed communities, we have vast subterranean water and wastewater lines that have been built over the last hundred years. Not just in this country but all over the world where we have more developed societies, there is waste energy that is renewable, reliable, and constantly available in those vast, underground, big pipes that run through all of our cities and towns. Geothermal energy doesn't depend on the weather. It doesn't depend on the season or geographical conditions. It exists as a consistent and dependable source for a clean energy grid. When you go underground, generally, you have a 45- to 75-degree constant temperature all year long. The United States has enormous untapped geothermal potential, enough to power millions of homes while slashing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy bills. We estimate--just think about this--Cleveland, Ohio, a big city--I had the privilege of representing part of it for a long time. There, their water and wastewater purification systems are the highest cost for that city. The energy cost of wastewater processing is the largest cost in any city. Think about that. Every year, the purified water is thrown back into the lake when it leaves the plant. That city throws into Lake Erie the equivalent of a waste heat load of nearly 400,000 barrels of oil annually. Think about that. That is waste heat that we, as a country, could be capturing. That is just one untapped location along just one great lake, Lake Erie. Imagine if we could add in Cleveland, Lorain, Avon Lake, Sandusky, Oregon, and Toledo in Ohio. That doesn't even count going north up into Detroit and, on the north side of Lake Erie, the cities in Canada. There is a whole lot of energy wasted, being dumped into the lake. We have to capture it. By investing in geothermal technology, communities across our country and the world can strengthen energy security; reduce reliance on dirty fuels; create good-paying jobs in engineering, drilling, and maintenance; and lower energy costs for industry, public facilities, neighborhoods, and all kinds of companies. Geothermal energy has a small land footprint. It can even be co- located with other renewables or energy-hungry data centers, which so need it. If we are serious about building a resilient energy-independent future, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy, including unpacking the power that is already beneath us in the Earth and being wasted. Check out Vancouver, Canada, and what it has accomplished with geothermal energy since the 2010 Olympics. They have really had a plan and strategy that is remarkable. Check out a city in Europe called Szeged, in Hungary. That is Toledo, Ohio's sister city for 40 years. The good news is the Trump administration appears ready to posture across America to draw forth geothermal power, and we are interested in doing exactly that, particularly in manufacturing America. I am privileged to also represent a vast agricultural region in grain drying. It is so expensive when we have to dry corn, soybeans, and so forth. The agricultural community uses huge amounts of energy. Let's create new jobs. Let's lower the consumer's energy bills. Let's strengthen America's energy security. Geothermal energy holds the potential to achieve all of those goals. Let's get it done and move America to an affordable and energy-independent future for the decades to come. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for letting me put on the record the future for this country in energy, including geothermal energy. Honoring Marigene Valiquette

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ohio State Senator Marigene Valiquette, a towering figure in Ohio's politics and history and a trailblazer for women across Ohio and our Nation. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Marigene broke barriers as the longest serving woman in the history of the Ohio Legislature. With her intelligence, fierce conviction, and unmatched oratory--she was a tough lawyer--she served our community for 24 consecutive years, often as the only woman in the Ohio Senate. Can you imagine that? She was a champion for working families and labor rights, a defender of women's rights, and an early advocate for the equal rights amendment. Her work helped create the Ohio Lottery to support education. She never wavered in her fight for fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all. Though she chose a quiet retirement, her impact will echo for years and generations to come. She was always present. She always cared. She took her family's experience and moved it into the highest levels of lawmaking in the State of Ohio. May she rest in peace, and may her courage, her grit, and her fierce dedication inspire us all. We miss her, and we know that her work in Ohio has made a difference in the lives of our 12 million people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of the Archbold Buckeye. This community newspaper published its final edition on June 25, after 120 years of unwavering service to Archbold, Pettisville, and greater Fulton County, Ohio. The Archbold Buckeye held value as a small-town newspaper that has been far more than print and ink. It was part of the beating heart that is our northwest Ohio community. It has been upfront and present. I have had the honor of meeting with the Buckeye's devoted team that included Mary Huber, David Pugh, and generations of the Taylor family. They saw and reported firsthand their commitment to truth, neighbors, and to the stories that shape small-town life in America. From town council meetings to birth and death announcements, the Buckeye chronicled life with dignity and care. It won dozens of awards but, more importantly, earned the trust of its readers. As local newspapers sadly vanish across our country, we must remember democracy cannot thrive without informed and engaged citizens. On behalf of myself and our northwest Ohio community, I thank the Archbold Buckeye for 120 years of leadership and service. We are flying a flag of gratitude over our capital to honor their generations of patriotic- and community-minded publishers and reporters. Let us hope that the future will produce leaders like these to keep America informed and engaged.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true champion from Northwest Ohio, Cassandra Wilson. Cassandra is not only the first woman in Lucas County to bring home gold medals four years in a row for Special Olympics Powerlifting, she is also a fearless advocate who has served as the first Self Advocate from her county on the State Developmental Disabilities Council. Since the age of five, Cassandra has been a voice for those too often left unheard. Her advocacy, determination, and unbreakable spirit have shattered barriers and inspired communities. Even when faced with coaches who doubted her, she stood strong. She proved--and continues to prove--that strength isn't just about lifting weights; it's about lifting others up with you. She reminds us all that true leadership begins with courage, and true change comes from those who never give up. She is not just breaking records, she's breaking ground. Cassandra is a living example that hard work and confidence, not gender or circumstance, defines our potential. May her story continue to lift hearts, open minds, and pave the way for many more to follow.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Joe Szafarowicz, a true pillar of our northwest Ohio community. He is an educator, mentor, and lifelong advocate for young people. For more than five decades, he has shaped lives, not just by teaching in the classroom but by investing in the boundless potential of every child he encountered. From the halls of St. Agnes Elementary School to the classrooms of Toledo public schools, Mr. Szafarowicz inspired generations with his belief that every student, no matter their circumstance, deserved opportunity. Even in retirement, he has never stopped lifting others up, using art as a tool to reach at-risk youth and guiding young minds toward hope and purpose. His impact is evident in the voices of his former students, leaders, public servants, and community members who credit his encouragement as a turning point in their lives. At the end of March, those students gathered to celebrate Joe's 80th birthday. We, too, celebrate his life of service, kindness, and unwavering dedication to the future of our region. May his legacy remind us all a great teacher never stops teaching, and a great heart never stops giving.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of representing Ohio's 9th Congressional District, a region that embodies the industrious spirit, deep-rooted history, and resilient communities of Northwest Ohio. Today, I am privileged to join in commemorating an extraordinary milestone in our shared story--the 175th anniversary of Fulton County. Whereas, on April 1, 1850, the State of Ohio officially established Fulton County, carved from portions of Lucas, Henry, and Williams Counties, as well as territory once disputed by the State of Michigan; and Whereas, the county was named in honor of Robert Fulton, visionary inventor of the steamboat, reflecting the pioneering innovation and transportation legacy of the region; and Whereas, Fulton County was one of the last counties organized in Ohio, emerging from the resolution of the Toledo War and the shifting of state lines that helped shape the boundaries of Northwest Ohio; and Whereas, from its early seat in Ottokee to its present-day seat in Wauseon, Fulton County has grown alongside the railroad, agriculture, and industry--serving as a vital link in both Ohio's past and its future; and Whereas, its 406.8 square miles of rich farmland, flowing rivers, and vibrant towns have been home to generations of Ohioans committed to hard work, community, and service; and Whereas, for 175 years, Fulton County has stood as a proud testament to the enduring values of self-reliance, civic engagement, and American perseverance; Now, therefore, I, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, do hereby recognize and celebrate the Demisemiseptcentennial of Fulton County, and offer heartfelt congratulations to its residents, leaders, and communities on this momentous 175th anniversary. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand to honor Fulton County and its distinguished history on this momentous occasion. May the legacy of Fulton County's past continue to inspire progress, unity, and pride for the generations to come.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, as the senior member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am deeply concerned and disappointed by this legislation. This bill was written before the Department of Defense submitted its budgetary needs for fiscal year 2026. Shamefully, the Department still has not provided Congress with a complete request. Thus, we have been brought to the floor to vote on an incomplete bill, with no complete executive branch submission. This is not only out of order, it is dangerous. Their procrastination yields uncertainty for those who risk their lives in defense of this Nation. America deserves better than uncertainty and a Defense Department that is missing in action. Our troops can't train on promises. Our allies can't fight with doubt. Our factories can't build American strength without steady support. This bill fails liberty on all counts. This bill misses crucial opportunities to strengthen America's defense industrial base. Shipbuilding is backed up over 2 years. The Great Lakes region, a cornerstone of American industrial manufacturing, can play a major role in relieving that backup, but all of America is put on hold due to the DOD's damaging budget delays. We must prioritize investments that rebuild our domestic manufacturing capabilities. Our military should never have to fight with or depend on foreign sources for materials, critical minerals, or key military components. Furthermore, by cutting all funding for Ukraine, this bill dangerously ignores history at our own peril. At our founding, Patrick Henry heroically proclaimed: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' He knew liberty's cost and our new Nation's responsibility to uphold the values that our European forebears bequeathed to us, ones that focused on representative government. Thomas Jefferson knew America does not exist alone on the globe when he wrote the words: ``Our laws, language, religion, politics, and manners are so deeply laid in [European] foundations, that we shall never cease to consider their history as a part of ours.'' More recently, on January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, recognized America's fierce dedication to liberty when he said: ``We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.'' Then he warned that those who ride the back of the tiger would end up inside it. He warned against that, and I hope our Nation never goes down that lonely, dark path. In a contemporary era on June 6, 1984, President Ronald Reagan stood in Normandy, France, commemorating the day in history `` . . . when the Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. . . . Here the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history,'' and they did it together. Mr. Chair, these quotes and sacrificial deeds of our forebears explain why I rise to express my deep opposition to this bill's irresponsible and shortsighted exclusion of any funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Throughout generations, the fundamental purpose of our Nation is to guarantee liberty, to develop the kinds of relationships with our democratic allies who stand with us against tyranny in any form, and to fill our constitutional duty to provide for our Nation's common defense. Common defense, the Constitution says. Ensuring that the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is properly funded is essential to fulfilling our charge in defense of liberty on our watch. If you haven't noticed Ukraine's struggle against the spiderweb of tyranny fostered by Russia, China, Iran, Belarus, and North Korea, it is real, and it is lethal. Ukraine is in a historic fight now, not of her own choosing but for her very survival. The poorest nation in Europe has fought back mightily against the third largest military in the world after Putin's murderous aggression that began in 2014. Russia and its spiderweb of tyranny are a threat to liberty everywhere, and Ukraine stands on the front line. If support for Ukraine is withdrawn, Russia and its allies' assault on fundamental freedoms will spread. May no one in this generation become swallowed by the tiger. Those who do not know and study history are doomed to repeat it. Proper funding in this bill will boost our domestic defense industrial base and affirm critical security and mineral alliances. It supports our NATO partners. It is our privilege and, yes, duty to support our allies and the brave people of Ukraine by appropriating funds for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. My amendment would reinstate funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. I include in the Record the text of this amendment. Ms. Kaptur moves to recommit the bill H.R. 4016 to the Committee on Appropriations with the following amendment: At the appropriate place, insert the following: Sec. __. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, $300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, shall be for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative: Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to provide assistance, including training; equipment; lethal assistance; logistics support, supplies and services; salaries and stipends; sustainment; and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine, and to other forces or groups recognized by and under the authority of the Government of Ukraine, including governmental entities within Ukraine, engaged in resisting Russian aggression against Ukraine for replacement of any weapons or articles provided to the Government of Ukraine from the inventory of the United States, and to recover or dispose of equipment procured using funds made available in this section in this or prior Acts: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not less than 15 days prior to obligating funds made available in this section, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of any such obligation: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not more than 60 days after such notification is made, inform such committees if such funds have not been obligated and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall consult with such committees in advance of the provision of support provided to other forces or groups recognized by and under the authority of the Government of Ukraine: Provided further, That the United States may accept equipment procured using funds made available in this section in this or prior Acts transferred to the security forces of Ukraine and returned by such forces to the United States: Provided further, That equipment procured using funds made available in this section in this or prior Acts, and not yet transferred to the military or national security forces of Ukraine or to other assisted entities, or returned by such forces or other assisted entities to the United States, may be treated as stocks of the Department of Defense upon written notification to the confessional defense committees: Provided further, That any notification of funds made available in this section shall specify an estimated timeline for the delivery of defense articles and defense services provided and shall identify if any equipment provided requires enhanced end-use monitoring: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense may accept and retain contributions, including money, personal property, and services, from foreign governments and other entities, to carry out assistance authorized for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in this section: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall notify the congressional defense committees in writing upon the receipt and upon the obligation of any contribution, delineating the sources and amounts of the funds received and the specific use of such contributions: Provided further, That contributions of money for the purposes provided herein from any foreign government or other entity may be credited to this account, to remain available until September 30, 2027, and used for such purposes: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall provide quarterly reports to the congressional defense committees on the use and status of funds made available in this section.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.