Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as more Trump administration tariff news broke, heading into this past weekend, I rise to ask a genuine question: Why is the Trump administration doing this ying-yang again? President Trump's latest 35 percent tariff threat against Canada is pure economic malpractice. It is reckless, rushed, and devastating to firms and working families across Ohio. Canada is Ohio's largest trading partner. Over 100,000 jobs in Ohio depend on trade with Canada. Our State exports $21 billion in goods annually to our neighbor to the North, our largest fair-trade partner. From Toledo Jeep and General Motors to the parts manufacturers in Sandusky, Lorain, and Defiance, these aren't just numbers. These are paychecks, pensions, and livelihoods. The last time this administration tried tariff stunts, $6 trillion in U.S. wealth vanished in days. Workers were laid off, and Ohio is already among the top 10 States experiencing rising unemployment. We have all seen Trump chicken out before, and maybe Taco Tuesday will come again soon. Mr. Speaker, people in my region want a job they can count on. They don't want ying-yang on U.S. trade and tariff policy. Let's get back to normal.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. This big bonanza bill for billionaires will make life harder for the people of northwest Ohio and America. Unemployment is already up in Toledo, hovering around 6 percent. Mr. Speaker, 1,000 Jeep Gladiator workers in Toledo are idled, and 2,500 jobs at Perrysburg First Solar are on the chopping block as the Trump administration cedes, in this bill, our glass industry and America's lead in solar energy to China. Grocery prices are up 2 percent, yet the bill freezes SNAP, a cut for 45,000 families in my district, which is an $18 million monthly blow to local grocers. The bill ensures billionaires get $300,000 in tax breaks every year while seniors and working people lose Medicaid and SNAP in the largest cut to healthcare in American history, cutting over $1 trillion. The bill recklessly adds $3.4 trillion to the U.S. debt, and interest rates will climb. Congress can create a much brighter future for America by defeating this big, bloated bonanza bill for billionaires.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today alongside my dear friend and colleague, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro, I introduced a new bill called the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act. Unfortunately, this Administration has repeatedly demonstrated their lack of understanding and respect for the direction provided through the Appropriations process. The Power of the Purse rests with the Article I branch here in Congress. That is established quite clearly in the Constitution, and it has been repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court. We set policy, we provide direction, and we allocate funds. Then, based on those policies, directions, and allocations, the Article II branch, the Executive branch, can Execute what we, the Congress, dictate on behalf of We the People. Instead of recognizing our authority, DOGE, Elon Musk, Russell Vought and the rest of the Executive Branch have ignored the will of the people. They withhold funds and cancel projects, they move money from one purpose to another without legal authority, and they just spend the money however they want, regardless of what Congress has directed. Our legislation requires senior executive branch employees to complete yearly trainings on appropriations law. These trainings would include essential legal topics including: the Purpose Statute, the Antideficiency Act, and the Impoundment Control Act. The trainings will also include a review of the direction provided by Congress in the annual Appropriations Act regarding each employee's agency so that they are unambiguously instructed of their responsibilities vis-a-vis Congress. We must ensure that the Executive Branch follows the law and ensures Appropriated and obligated funds are used for their intended purpose. I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable daughter of northwest Ohio, Diana ``Dee'' Heywood Talmage. While her passing leaves a deep chasm in our community, Dee was a formidable force for good. She was a Republican, and I am a Democrat. Her patriotism, philanthropy, good sense, and elegance bestowed a living legacy that serves as an example of an exemplary life well lived. Dee embodied the very highest aspirations for northwest Ohio. A product of Toledo's DeVilbiss High School, a proud Ohio State Buckeye, and a Toledo Rocket, she used her education to give back to the community that raised her. Dee served on the Ottawa Hills School Board, the boards of Owens Community College and Woodlawn Cemetery, and helped guide the University of Toledo Alumni Association. Dee always led with vision, clarity, courage, and compassion, and her inspired leadership drew from all walks of life to make a difference. She mentored generations of new leaders, many of whom sit on boards, serve in office, or volunteer today because of her example. To observe Dee barreling down the street in her convertible, broadly smiling and waving, was to feel the heart of Toledo itself. Her love for our people, progress, and potential was boundless, and her life was not just one of service but of joyful commitment to her family--I will put their names in the record at a later time--including her beloved husband of 63 years, Brigadier General Dr. Lance Talmage, a dedicated community and military leader alongside her. May Dee's legacy of character and commitment continue to inspire generations to come. She surely will be missed. She was one of a kind.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) from the great State of Florida very much for yielding. She certainly has educated us about Florida, among other things, and she is a proud, proud ranking member on this bill. This bill punishes our veterans by pushing out professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It promotes premature retirements, and it paves the way for private equity takeovers, leaving care delayed, denied, and diminished. For this reason, at the appropriate time I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would mandate metrics requiring a report on veteran employee separations, deferred resignations, early retirements, and contractor-driven cuts exposing employment erosion and salary shortfalls of those who have served our Nation. Veterans deserve data not desertion. I will vote ``no'' on the military construction bill also because the underlying bill underfunds our military construction accounts by nearly $1 billion. This hurts our military readiness at a time when our enemies like China choose to invest in themselves. I also can't support a bill that paves the road to VA privatization. Perish that thought. While I have the time, it is long overdue for the Department of Veterans Affairs to approve the request from northwest Ohio to expedite the dual affiliation of the University of Toledo Medical Center and the VA Ann Arbor Health Care System. Our VA community clinic in Toledo stands ready to support this effort, and over 83,000 veterans in the northwest quadrant of Ohio deserve the convenience of access to the State of Ohio's medical center and academic center at Toledo. In Toledo, to level funding in this account will not allow us to grow and fully support the needs of all of our veterans. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the motion to recommit, and I include in the Record the text of my amendment. Ms. Kaptur moves to recommit the bill H.R. 3944 to the Committee on Appropriations with the following amendment: At the appropriate place, insert the following: veterans firings accountability Sec. ___. Not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall transmit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report detailing, for calendar year 2025 and the comparable periods of time for the last five calendar years, the number of veterans separated from Federal service; the number of veterans participating in a Deferred Resignation Program or who have left Federal service under a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority; and the number of veterans employed by contractors or subcontractors performing work for the Federal government who have seen their working hours, wages, or employment reduced or terminated.

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.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Americans to lower the temperature. Political extremism and dangerous divisions among Americans are causes for serious reflection. As inexplicable hate is spewed out, my gratitude goes out to law enforcement in all forms working around the clock to keep our Great Lakes communities and Nation safe. Yet, rising gun violence, drugs, and outlandish behaviors, such as cars driving on the turnpike at 90 miles an hour, remain as fallout from the pandemic. They must be addressed. The heroic police deputies in Minnesota who addressed a deranged, extreme perpetrator did their job. We applaud them for their brains and valor. Restoring some calm to America is not a Democratic or Republican challenge. It is an American challenge. I welcome the suggestion of Sophie and Colin Hortman, children of slain Minnesota State House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. In their children's words: ``If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do. Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it. Bake something--bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa--and share it with someone,'' like your local firefighters. ``Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something. Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.'' Mr. Speaker, I hope all listening today take this message to heart.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise with grave concern for our Republic and the long-term safety of our people, our military, and U.S. assets, both domestically and abroad. For our Nation's President to launch military force on a foreign nation without Congressional approval--Article I, Section 8--is a clear violation of the most important legal document of our country. History brutally taught our country what asymmetrical warfare is after enduring 9/11 here at home. Congress must reassert our constitutional authority before the American people are dragged into a very endless war by those whose radical acts of retribution will not cease. This is a time to pay attention, to study history a little bit, and to abide by the Constitution of the United States.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Justice David H. Souter, who passed away recently at the age of 85. Justice Souter served our Nation with integrity, humility, and an abiding respect for the Constitution. In retirement, he spoke rarely but when he did, his words resonated with profound clarity. In 2012, he warned that democracy cannot survive too much ignorance. He spoke not from partisanship, but from deep historical understanding. When citizens no longer grasp how their government works, the path opens to authoritarianism. He said, ``That is the way democracy dies . . . an ignorant people can never remain a free people.'' Those words echo even louder today, when civic trust is fraying, institutions are under siege, and loud voices offer simple answers to complex problems. This is not a moment for cynicism or despair. But neither is it a time for complacency. Justice Souter's warning was not about left or right. It was about whether we choose understanding over manipulation, engagement over apathy. Let us honor his legacy by committing ourselves anew to the serious work of fostering a democracy of, by, and for the people.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Jonathan Ford Orser. Jonathan was a devoted family man, public servant, community pillar, and proud son of northwestern Ohio. Born into the Ford family, whose vision helped build northwestern Ohio's glass manufacturing legacy, John Orser lived a life shaped by service to his family, his country, his city, and his neighbors. From his time in the U.S. Marine Corps, which he didn't have to do, to his diplomatic service in Africa and his amazing leadership as mayor of Perrysburg, Ohio, John never ceased working for the greater good. By launching the Perrysburg Farmers Market, he brought new life to his hometown of historic Perrysburg, Ohio. He nurtured the arts as a generous benefactor of Toledo Symphony and its zoo and preserved the history for future generations to come. He was unselfish. His legacy includes more than buildings or institutions. His lasting legacy lives on in the lives of people and communities he inspired time and time again. John's deep commitment to civic duty, his boundless generosity, and his reverence for tradition marked every chapter of his productive 83 years. We offer our deepest condolences to his beloved wife and first mate, Deborah, who walked in life with him every step of the way. May she and his enormous extended family, numerous friends, and all who cherish his memory be blessed with gratitude and the memory of a generous, kind, and patriotic American who left his community and America a better place. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the Record the obituary of Jonathan Orser.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a true pioneer of American military history, Rear Admiral Alene B. Duerk of Defiance, Ohio, the first woman in the United States Navy to achieve the rank of admiral. I join my Lake Erie colleague, Representative Kennedy of Buffalo, in requesting the Secretary of the Navy name a naval vessel in her honor. Admiral Duerk began her journey of service after graduating from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing in 1941. Soon after becoming a registered nurse, she entered the United States Navy Nurse Corps during World War II, and she treated wounded at the naval hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. She later cared for the newly liberated American POWs aboard the USS Benevolence in the Pacific. She continued her service during the Korean War as a nursing instructor. In 1970, she was appointed director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps. Her 32-year career was marked by fierce advocacy for improved medical care, equitable pay, and expanded roles for women in our Armed Forces. Naming a Navy ship in her honor would pay tribute not only to her personal achievements but to the doors she opened for countless others. I urge the Secretary of the Navy to ensure Rear Admiral Duerk's legacy of service, sacrifice, excellence, and patriotism are commemorated.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to place in today's Congressional Record the virtuous life of a truly beloved woman and patriotic citizen of Toledo, Ohio, Mrs. Therese Naumann. What an exemplary life she embodied. Therese was a treasured family friend, and her son, Jimmy, who preceded her in death, was a baseball buddy and classmate of my dear brother, Steve. She enjoyed numerous friends and held tight to memories of those precious days of youth when her husband, Bill, was the team coach of the Little Flower baseball team. Jimmy hit the line drives, as my pitcher brother, Steve, sported the No. 9. What a legacy Therese built as a dedicated wife, mother, sister, working woman for General Mills, a joyous grandmother, great- grandmother, and friend. At 94, having survived the death of her beloved husband, for whom she cared religiously, she remained beautiful, gracious, kind, intelligent, involved, and devout. A woman whose smile lit up the room, she drew people to her with her welcoming manner. She and her marine veteran husband, William, were married for 67 years until his passing. They nurtured youth in their church, Little Flower Roman Catholic Church, in Toledo, Ohio. Always generous, she requested in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to the James E. Naumann Athletic Fund at Little Flower Church or to a charity of the donor's choice. Therese's presence will never be forgotten for the thousands of good deeds she did as a matter of daily life. Our Nation needs more lives modeled on that of Therese Naumann--kind, constructive, joyous, and persevering. May the angels carry her to a place of comfort and joy. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the obituary of Mrs. Naumann.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in fierce objection to the hasty, ill-considered decisions made by the new administration that undermine new investment in America's future energy and manufacturing systems. Rather than enhancing new energy generation and bolstering good- paying jobs in the United States of America across all energy sectors, including advanced energy manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Energy has ceded ground to global competitors like Communist China. Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced that the Department of Energy was canceling $3.7 billion of previously appropriated funding for 24 advanced energy projects inside the borders of the United States of America. Our goal must be to make America energy independent inside our borders in perpetuity. These initiatives were designed to reduce energy costs and to reinvest in American-based manufacturing firms, our Nation's future. These projects were funded under the Infrastructure Investment and JOBS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The goal was to resecure the United States as the global leader in energy innovation, but now, the Department of Energy has pulled the rug out from the future by walking away from leading-edge U.S. manufacturers. I never thought I would see that from this administration. Two weeks ago, I raised this issue of strategic U.S. investment during a hearing with the new Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. In terms of these companies, he said: ``If it is viable, and it is going to create jobs, and it is going to do these great things, we are going to support that project.'' The Secretary said that he would ask these questions to make the decisions: Is the investment legal? Is the technology viable? Is the engineering done competently? Is there a market for it? Does it add to our national or economic security? The projects in question check all of these boxes, so what has changed? The Department of Energy claims that it conducted a ``thorough and individualized financial review of each award.'' It found that ``these projects failed to advance the energy needs of the American people [and] were not economically viable.'' Every company is economically viable. Turning America's back on recognized U.S.-based manufacturing--I will underline that--facing fierce global competition--I underline that--is an insult. This includes hundreds of hardworking constituents even across northwest Ohio. If the goal is to Make America Great Again, then the U.S. Department of Energy just failed royally. Each of these U.S. manufacturing companies has developed plans to modernize operations and to position themselves and our communities to fight back toward economic success in a fierce global economic race. America can lead in the energy sector, but we cannot roll back the clock to a former era when America became economically paralyzed due to oil embargoes and dirty manufacturing. Three of the projects across our country for which funding had been assured are from well-respected Ohio companies: Libbey Glass, Owens-Illinois Glass, and Kraft Heinz. Let's talk about Libbey. This historic company holds deep roots in my hometown of Toledo, long known as the Glass City. Glass requires lots of energy. The firm has been working for years to maintain competitiveness in a terrible international glass environment while reducing its environmental footprint. Making glass requires huge amounts of power, as I said, and the funding Libbey was awarded would have helped it transition to more powerful glass furnaces with cleaner manufacturing technologies. These jobs are union jobs with living wages and benefits that strengthen Ohio as a hub for advanced industry. Owens-Illinois Glass, another recognized heritage glassmaking firm, is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio. It had similar plans at its Zanesville, Ohio, plants to remain viable and globally competitive. Third, Kraft Heinz, a giant in the food industry, is in Fremont, Ohio. I simply do not understand how canceling these projects makes America great again. Instead, it emboldens our foreign competitors. I invite President Trump to Ohio to visit these companies. He can change these decisions by his Secretary of Energy. America can't look in the rearview mirror. We have to look forward to America's new energy future, and the Department of Energy's misguided decisions will really hurt American advanced manufacturing. Ohio knows what it means to get left behind. We have seen the effects of globalization. We have lived it. We have seen the effects of outsourcing and automation. The United States simply should not be hurting our legacy companies.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as Representative of the Ohio region that produces the most eggs in our Nation, I rise to say happy National Egg Day: Easter eggs, chocolate eggs, egg yolks, egg whites, egg souffle, meringue pie, egg salad, and so much more. Egg prices still cost 25 percent more at the grocery store. The answer is: Don't ignore the devastating impact of bird flu decimating flocks across our district and Nation. Meanwhile, the big egg conglomerates like Cal-Maine are posting record profits, tripling them, while millions of Americans struggle to afford basic staples. Can't they pack six eggs per pack to help buyers afford some eggs rather than no eggs at all? Our district is home to millions of egg-laying hens and countless family-run poultry operations. Ohio families and farmers deserve better than price gouging and political spin. If we want to protect our food supply and keep our family farms alive, we must accelerate development of a safe and effective vaccine and flu remedy as well as coop control and sanitary protocols. Farmers can't afford to have their flocks wiped out time and again. On this National Egg Day, I stand with the people who make our breakfast, not the ones making excuses and delaying scientific progress.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Boyle for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, Federal budgets are moral documents. They tell the American people who we value and who we leave behind. This budget is a bonanza for billionaires. It is paid for by cutting healthcare and food for millions of working families and seniors. The U.S. national debt stands at $36 trillion, and this bill will raise it to over $40 trillion. Historically, Republican administrations have ballooned the debt--Reagan, both Bushes, and Trump--through tax cuts to the very rich coupled with endless wars. It is clear where the debt has come from. Trillions were added and not paid for. Now Republicans are coming after health coverage and food assistance. President Trump has already added $8.4 trillion to the debt from his last tax cuts. Meanwhile, his billionaires use their tax refunds to do stock buybacks. American workers are left behind. Mr. Speaker, let's call it what it is: another Republican budget buster, betraying working people while causing prices to rise. Mr. Speaker, 40,000 people across the district I represent and nearly 14 million people nationwide will lose coverage for healthcare to pay for these bonanzas for billionaires. Mr. Speaker, this bill must be benched. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, please let me share the story of two of my constituents who will be hurt by the cruel bonanza for billionaires budget bill. Bonnie is 82 years of age. She is the primary caregiver for her 63- year-old nephew, Michael. He is deaf, neurodivergent, and lives with multiple chronic health conditions. For years, Bonnie has been his primary support so he can live independently, manage complex health needs, and navigate programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and subsidized housing. Bonnie handles most of Michael's communications with medical providers as he is unable to due to his ability to communicate by mouth or by ASL. Michael has relied on Medicaid for hearing aids, surgeries, dental work, housing, and more. If he loses his coverage, she believes Michael will become frustrated and either go to jail, self-harm, or die. Michael's mother passed away when he was 19. With no other family to step in, Bonnie worries about what will happen to her nephew after she is gone. This is just one of many examples of who will be harmed by unreliable and onerous work requirements. Mr. Speaker, I think it is absolutely morally wrong that millionaires and billionaires will be given $4 billion plus $4 trillion. What is being done for families like this? Cruelty is not an answer.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart after the deadly rail accident that occurred last night in my district in Fremont, Ohio. The incident took place near the Miles Newton Bridge above the Sandusky River around 7 p.m. This is a popular fishing spot during white bass season, and anglers come from around the country. Tragically, a family from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was walking along the rail bridge when the train began signaling its approach. We now know that three lives have been lost, with a fourth hospitalized in critical condition. While names have not been released, we know that a 58-year-old mother; her daughter, who was 38 years old; and a 5-year-old child were among the casualties. A 14-month-old child was saved from the water by a 16-year-old bystander who dove into the water to save the infant's life. I will continue to urge the National Transportation Safety Board to fully investigate this tragic accident. I thank Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez and rail union leaders for their full engagement. We all hope to provide more information in the near future. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of those lost and injured, the brave first responders, the medical personnel, locomotive engineers, and, obviously, Mayor Sanchez and the entire city council of Fremont.

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 civic vitality of our great state. Today, I am privileged to join in commemorating an extraordinary milestone in our community--the 100th Anniversary of the Sandusky Lions Club, a century of unwavering dedication to service, vision, and compassion. Therefore, I include in the Record the following Proclamation: Whereas, the Sandusky Lions Club, founded on May 7, 1925, at the historic Cedar Point convention of Lions International, has served the people of Sandusky, Ohio, with humility, integrity, and remarkable commitment to community welfare; and Whereas, the Club rose to answer Helen Keller's historic call at that 1925 convention to become ``Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness,'' a challenge it has fulfilled through tireless efforts to combat preventable blindness and provide critical services such as eye exams, glasses, and surgeries to those most in need; and Whereas, the Sandusky Lions Club is a proud chapter of Lions Clubs International, the world's largest service organization, with more than 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs spanning 200+ countries, dedicated to empowering volunteers, fostering peace, and advancing humanitarian goals; and Whereas, for a full century, the Sandusky Lions Club has strengthened civic life through volunteerism, youth support, health initiatives, and global outreach, earning the enduring respect of its community and setting a gold standard for service organizations across our nation; and Whereas, the centennial celebration to be held at Cedar Point on May 17, 2025, honors not only the deep roots of the Club's founding but also its enduring legacy of leadership and care, carried forward by generations of devoted members; Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, representing Ohio's 9th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, do hereby formally recognize and congratulate the Sandusky Lions Club on its 100th Anniversary. Let this centennial stand as a beacon of what community, compassion, and collective action can achieve. May the Sandusky Lions Club continue to thrive and inspire for the next hundred years and beyond.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to honor the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering service of our law enforcement officers. In communities I represent across northwest Ohio, I have stood beside the families of heroes like Officer Anthony Dia and Officer Brandon Stalker who gave their lives protecting Toledo's citizenry. I have witnessed the strength of mothers like Larraine Dressel, who lost her son, Detective Keith Dressel, in the line of duty. Now, I have seen that same strength in his son, Noah, who wears the badge in his father's honor. Mr. Speaker, it is time to honor these heroes not just in words but in deed. I have recently introduced a bipartisan Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act. It will give our officers the tools they need to safely respond to behavioral health crises. Our officers are not just enforcers of the law, they are often the first to meet people in their most broken state. They deserve training that protects both the public and themselves. Our responsibility is to ensure that no officer's sacrifice is forgotten. Let us stand together always for those who serve and for those who, in blue, gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our northwest Ohio communities. Salute them when you see them. They are heroes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to honor the courage, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment of our law enforcement officers. Those across the nation and especially those serving across NW Ohio. Each day, these brave men and women answer the call, often putting their lives on the line to protect our families, neighborhoods, and freedoms. We owe them more than thanks. That's why I've worked hard to bring meaningful support to those who wear the badge in every county of the eight I represent. In Defiance County, nearly $290,000 in funding helped hire a new school resource officer, equip the police with body-worn cameras, and strengthen the local 911 center and fire and rescue divisions. In Erie County, over $1.3 Million was directed to sheriff's operations, victim services, local police departments, and enhanced school security across multiple districts. Fulton County departments, from Archbold to Wauseon, received over $1.3 Million to fund school safety, body-worn cameras, and fire and EMS support. Lucas County's first responders benefited from major investments like $2 Million for Toledo's Community-Based Violence Intervention grant, and over $76 Million in ARPA funding for police and fire recruitment, ShotSpotter technology, and the Real-Time Crime Center. From Oregon's rebuilt K-9 unit to Sylvania Township's upgraded equipment and Toledo's forensic crime lab, these resources are making a real difference on the ground. In Ottawa County where we had previously funded construction of the largest Customs and Border Patrol facility on the entire northern border, police departments received hundreds of thousands in funding for police, fire, EMS, and school safety upgrades. And the Ottawa County Court and Prosecutor's Office also secured over $450,000 in federal justice grants to enhance public safety and reduce recidivism. In Sandusky County, law enforcement agencies in Fremont, Gibsonburg, and Woodville received body-worn cameras and equipment. Sandusky County EMS and school districts received critical safety upgrades as well. Williams County's departments secured nearly $400,000 for retention incentives, body cameras, and juvenile court services to improve both public safety and the administration of justice. Northern Wood County also benefited as school districts from Rossford to Eastwood and North Baltimore gained enhanced security infrastructure. These improvements keep both students and officers safe. These investments reflect a simple truth: If we ask law enforcement to meet the evolving demands of public safety, we must give them the tools, training, and support to succeed. Let us remember those we've lost in the line of duty and recommit to building a future where every officer returns home. Your courage does not go unnoticed. Your service is deeply appreciated. May you be blessed in your patriotic service.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, many across our Nation are outraged at the $400 million luxury airplane, the palace in the sky, that President Trump just accepted from the Nation of Qatar. That is against the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. He took the bribe in plain sight. Meanwhile, our Nation is very short on air controllers who are trained. Look at Newark, New Jersey. They have had radar failures and repeated flight delays due to serious staffing shortages. This is true across our country, but what did the Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Duffy, say? He said: What you see in Newark is going to happen in other places across the country. My reply: Excuses aren't an answer. Going forward, what do we need to do? As of May 1, we are 3,000 air controllers short in this country. The workforce is aging. They are stretched thin and understaffed, exacerbated by DOGE buyouts and firings. The FAA just simply doesn't have the people, and it is going to get worse as people travel this summer. While Newark grabs headlines, the pain is felt across America. Mr. Speaker, let President Trump sell the plane, $400 million, and put that money into training more air controllers for their safety and for the safety of this Nation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to place remarks on the Record this evening focusing on liberty versus dictatorship. We have several Members who wish to submit comments for the Record. Congressman Mike Quigley is here this evening. Congressman Eugene Vindman is in a committee markup right now, and Congressman Steve Cohen will also have remarks for the Record. I will begin briefly, and then I will yield to my fellow Congressman from Illinois. China's dictator Xi was recently at the historic military parade that fellow dictator Vladimir Putin celebrated in Moscow. The purpose of the celebration was to honor the anniversary of Europe's defeat of Nazi Germany, signaling Putin's intent to actually use that occasion to turn his binoculars on capturing more free territory to control Ukraine and beyond. Putin and Xi together in that situation was rather hard to look at. Yet, their presence underscored the danger stemming from their close and increasing cooperation, enlarging the spiderweb of tyranny led by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, all of them acting against liberty around the world. Xi said that Russia and China should be friends of steel. He said that they would deepen relationships in all areas, including military ties, and strengthen coordination in order to decisively counter Washington's course of dual containment of Russia and China. What is more, North Korean troops who have been fighting against Ukraine's freedom and their freedom fighters for months were fully on display in Red Square, where Putin embraced them. America, pay attention. While Iran was not present at the parade, it continues to be omnipresent in the skies above Ukraine. Ukrainians can't avoid the Shahed drones that Russia is using and buying from Iran to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians who are fighting for their very liberty. This military parade took place at a critical moment in Moscow's aggression on Ukraine as American efforts proceed to negotiate an end to it. To be clear: Vital NATO interests are at stake in central Europe, where Ukraine serves as the scrimmage line for liberty across Europe today. Russia is the free world's only peer in terms of its nuclear capabilities, and Russia's national security doctrine declares our country and our people as its principal foe. America, pay attention. Putin has made clear that he wants effective political control in Ukraine and other free nations that used to be part of the Soviet Union. Putin also wants a veto over defense measures being taken in the former Warsaw Pact states that want to remain free. Putin doesn't want that. This means he wants to dictate the fate of many of our NATO allies in Europe and beyond. Instead of strategically pushing back on Putin's unchanged goals of European and global domination, this administration has steadily given Russian exactly what it wants, both in Ukraine and well beyond. If Putin had a checklist of things he wanted America to do, I will in a brief time tell you what it would look like, and it is exactly what the Trump administration is doing. Before I get into that, I am going to call on my dear colleague from the great city of Chicago, Congressman Mike Quigley, to enter his remarks.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank our co-chair of the Ukrainian Caucus, Congressman Mike Quigley of Chicago, for participating this evening. General Leave

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this Special Order.