Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in disbelief at the troubling stories in ``The Atlantic'' magazine of classified attack plans carelessly leaked by the U.S. Department of Defense in a reckless and dangerous fashion. Congress must conduct a fully independent investigation with public and private congressional hearings. The highest national security and intelligence leaders of our Nation put American's servicemembers' lives at high risk. All responsible must be held fully accountable, including through removal or resignation from their positions. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director Radcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, Secretary of State Rubio, National Security Advisor Waltz, Chief of Staff Wiles, and Vice President Vance were among those involved in the plans Hegseth shared against DOD policy on a Signal group chat on unsecured, nongovernment devices vulnerable to espionage. Hegseth failed to notice that the group chat included a news editor and reporter with no security clearance. Only Lady Luck graced our Nation as their haphazard approach to war didn't result in the death of American servicemembers who could have ended up at the bottom of the Red Sea or over foreign soil. Their reckless leak risked American lives and our security. Mr. Speaker, as our Marine Corps uncle would say: Shape up.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following proclamation: I have the honor of representing Ohio's 9th Congressional District, a region that embodies the industrious spirit, deep-rooted history, and rich educational traditions of our great state. Today, I am privileged to join in commemorating an extraordinary milestone in our community-- the 175th anniversary of Defiance College. Whereas, Defiance College, founded in 1850 as Defiance Female Seminary, has served as a beacon of higher education for 175 years, fostering a tradition of academic excellence, service, and leadership; and Whereas, the institution has remained steadfast in its commitment to scholarship, social responsibility, and inclusion, evolving over the decades to meet the needs of a changing world while preserving its core values; and Whereas, Defiance College has played a vital role in the development of Northwest Ohio and beyond, shaping generations of students into leaders in their professions and communities, and providing a rigorous education rooted in the liberal arts and experiential learning; and Whereas, during the presidency of Kevin McCann, Defiance College experienced significant growth, expanding its campus, enhancing academic facilities, and welcoming national figures, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who laid the cornerstone for the Anthony Wayne Library of American Study in 1953 and returned in 1963 to deliver a commencement address; and Whereas, Defiance College remains a distinguished institution dedicated to the betterment of society, housing the Thoreau Wildlife Sanctuary, supporting service initiatives, and providing an education that encourages critical thinking, ethical leadership, and civic engagement; and Whereas, the college's commitment to its students, alumni, faculty, and staff has created a legacy of intellectual curiosity, innovation, and community engagement that continues to inspire future generations; and Whereas, on this occasion of its demisemiseptcentennial, we celebrate Defiance College's enduring legacy, its significant contributions to the educational and civic landscape, and its bright future in the years ahead; Now, therefore, I, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, proudly recognize and commend Defiance College on its 175th anniversary. May this milestone serve as a testament to its remarkable history, its commitment to academic and community excellence, and the enduring impact it has had on Northwest Ohio and beyond. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand to honor Defiance College and its distinguished history on this momentous occasion.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro for allowing me this time. This bill was drafted by Musk's greed machine and seeks to put his claws even deeper into the pockets of our people. Why? To extract the largest transfer of wealth from money they are taking from these bills from middle-class and working-class people and put it in the pockets of the top 1 percent, who already own half of this country, a handful of people who are so very wealthy. The top 1 percent of billionaires now own as much wealth as the bottom half of our population. That is what is going wrong, and I rise in strong opposition to this bill. Elon Musk and his DOGE boys don't need Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans benefits. Our Constitution assigns our legislative branch the responsibility to direct Federal spending, not unelected billionaires and the 1 percent. In our subcommittee area of energy and water development, this Musk bill would stifle American prosperity by cutting nearly half of the Army Corp's budget. Musk and Trump don't know anything about public works and how essential the Army Corps is to our daily life in every district in this country and to economic growth. The greed machine wants to steal assets from America's people and put them in the pockets of billionaires at places like moolah-lago. Did I say that right? Mar-a-Lago. Finally, the greed machine is cutting a total of nearly $600 million in support for local law enforcement. That is nearly $600 million in cuts for local police, leaving the kitty dry. The greed machine is underfunding our local police. In opposing the bill, I stand with our people, not with the billionaires and their greed machine. Think about it. Why rob Main Street to dole out even bigger tax breaks and more contracts for the moolah-lago crowd and billionaires whose crew haven't got a clue what working life is like for American men and women? It is over time for them to pay their fair share. Vote ``no'' on this horrendous bill.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out a vile attack on an American patriot, Senator Mark Kelly of the great State of Arizona. Yesterday, unelected billionaire Elon Musk, who has never served this Nation a day in uniform, called Senator Kelly a traitor for visiting our Nation's ally Ukraine. A traitor is one who commits treason. That consists of giving aid and comfort to an enemy. Ukraine is not our enemy. Ukraine is our ally. Mark Kelly has served our Nation honorably from 1986 to 2011 in the United States Navy rising to the rank of captain, having served 39 combat missions during the Gulf war. During his naval career, he was awarded two Defense Superior Service Medals, one Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals with Combat V, two Navy Commendation Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal, two Southwest Asia Service Medals, one Navy Expeditionary Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, a NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and an Overseas Service Ribbon. He only resigned his commission to help provide care and assistance to his beloved wife who had served here formerly, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, following an assassination attempt on her in Tucson in 2011. Words and statements have meaning. Elon Musk needs to be held accountable for his. Today, world leaders have resoundingly stood tall aside the Nation of Ukraine in agreeing to a 1-month cease-fire. The United States has also agreed to lift the embargo on armaments and will be sending 1 month of armaments to Ukraine as the rest of the world looks to Russia to be cooperative in our effort to stop the killing in central Europe.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this Women's History Month, I rise to honor and celebrate the remarkable achievement of Nicole Postan. Firefighter Postan has made history as the first full-time female firefighter in the Margaretta Township Fire Department. A native of Brunswick, Ohio, Nicole's dedication and passion for serving her community have set an inspiring example for all of us. Nicole's journey in public service is a testament to her determination and commitment. As a certified firefighter and EMT, she has worked tirelessly to protect and serve the people of northwest Ohio. Now, as a full-time firefighter, she continues to exemplify what it means to be a true trailblazer. Beyond her technical skills, Nicole's compassionate approach to service is evident in her work with children, teaching fire safety in schools. She also is pursuing efforts in education as she trains to become a paramedic. Nicole's story will undoubtedly inspire future generations of young women in Erie County and beyond to pursue careers as a trailblazer and first responder. This Women's History Month, I am gratified to tell the story of a brave woman who has broken glass ceilings in our own community.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today is the fourth worst day on U.S. financial markets since 2022. It appears the American people are in for a rough ride. Buckle your seatbelts. Prices are rising already, and our financial markets are turbulent in the wrong direction. Economic recession looms ahead. Unemployment is increasing and so is inflation. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The economic repercussions of the Trump administration's tariffs are far-reaching, and they are biting down already. They threaten to raise prices on everything, including automobiles. I come from an automobile manufacturing center. Increases per car may be $9,000 to $12,000 per car. That is unaffordable. Housing is unaffordable now. Now cars, now other commodities like items that everybody uses--gasoline, lumber, road salt, potash, oil, energy. The U.S. and Canadian economies are interlinked. They are interlinked. These tariffs are propelling prices upwards. We don't want them to go that way. We want to stop the rising prices. High tariffs impose undue strain across the board, and they make American consumers and businesses alike miserable. The cost of living is climbing already, and the economic stability many workers have worked so hard to achieve is being undermined, as I speak. Now, today's news that the stock market took a major nosedive across the board is serious. The Dow is down 900 points, the worst market outcome of this year. But it isn't just this year. If you look back, the plummet that happened today is not pretty. Perhaps the President thinks that putting a pause on tariffs will halt this market crash. I mean, his proposals have been like this, but I urge this administration to realize it is uncertainty that the market does not like. Manufacturers cannot reinvent supply chains one month at a time. This stop-start, stop-start tariffs and tariffing are producing no benefits for America while already-rising prices and crashing workers' 401(k)s. Look what is happening to people's collective wealth in this country. Close to home where I live, these policies are severely impacting all of the people I represent across the Great Lakes region, the industrial and agricultural heartland. Trade policy must be targeted carefully, and it should never cause chaos. That is exactly what it is doing, causing chaos. Let me state plainly: Tariffs on our Canadian allies are foolish. The businesses and people of northwest Ohio and all of Ohio and the industrial agricultural Midwest overwhelmingly oppose this careless administration's ill-conceived trade war with Canada. Canada is our Nation's most fair trading partner. Our accounts balance when you look over a 10-year period of time. Our Nation should stand for free trade among free people, and that is what our trade with Canada does. Imposing tariffs on North American companies already struggling to compete with penny-wage labor abroad will drive our economy backwards off a cliff. Why would anybody want to do that? It makes no sense. Tariffs will hurt jobs across our region's manufacturing belt, in the automotive industry, in the energy sectors. The significant harm to our economy cannot be undone overnight, and it is happening right now as I speak. The regions' economies are intertwined across the Great Lakes, with iron ore and steel, auto parts and finished vehicles, crude oil and refined gasoline crisscrossing our northern border numerous times before getting to its final customer. To put it simply, don't hurt North America. The American people cannot stand idly by while we throw out all the hard-fought gains we have made in American manufacturing since the 1980s; and, boy, believe me, they have been hard fought. Our region lost so many jobs abroad to NAFTA and CAFTA and China PNTR. We fought against those. We knew they wouldn't work, and they didn't. Now, we have had about 10 years where we tried to rebuild our region, and now this just as we are making progress. It is really disgusting. Who would even think about changing tariff laws through a tweet that the President did at 2 a.m. in the middle of the night? That sounds kind of peculiar to me. Tariffs and trade policy have to be carefully calibrated. Where is ``The Art of the Deal''? This looks more like collapse an economy in 50 days. Well, we don't want any of it. The American consumers are poised to be in recession. That is where we are headed. I urge, in the strongest possible words, the Trump administration to go back to the drawing board, get some of the most experienced people--we can recommend some to you--to figure out ways to solve the problem you want to solve, but don't put our people out of work. Don't stop reinvestment in our region. Don't drill down into people's 401(k)s. Don't harm the industries that are producing the real wealth of this country. The train on tariffs at the border is going backwards. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, we need to redo this Trump tariff regimen and produce a system that creates wealth, doesn't destroy it, that doesn't throw our financial markets into chaos, and allows regions like my own that have struggled so hard for decades to rebuild what was taken away from us. Make us sound again. Don't do more harm to us. We have just reached a point where we have to speak out against these dangerous tariffs. They are destroying our livelihoods. People can't afford groceries. Our food banks are crowded with people. These tariffs are already biting down. America needs growth, not recession. Please, please, folks who hear my voice, urge the administration to redo its tariffs and take off this tourniquet around the whole northern border of our country that we share with Canada so that we can have robust growth again. We have worked so hard for it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, my message today is an alert for Social Security recipients. Pay attention to what billionaire Elon Musk is doing with your hard-earned Social Security benefits. Musk is coming after your Social Security. The top administrator of the Social Security administration says that Musk's DOGE boys are trying to break the system entirely. That will stop your hard-earned benefits from reaching seniors and eligible recipients. Social Security benefits are your hard-earned benefits. They don't belong to billionaire Elon Musk. Americans work hard to earn their Social Security retirement and be secure as they age. Social Security has been around since Franklin Roosevelt created the program nearly 100 years ago. Social Security accounts are yours, and it is a sacrilege to do anything to disturb them. You might think about President Trump; he inherited all of his money. He didn't have to work. Mr. Speaker, we have to do everything possible to protect Social Security for the millions and millions of Americans who deserve those earned benefits, and no one should lie about them and say that they are in trouble. They are 99.8 percent delivered. They are 99.8 percent perfect. It is almost a perfect score. Don't believe what the President said down on this floor just a few days ago. We are here to protect Social Security benefits.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the big elephant in the room, the Trump administration's imposition of a 25 percent tariff on U.S.-Canada trade. It will severely impact jobs and companies in the Great Lakes region, including what I represent, Northwestern Ohio. My colleagues have heard it right. President Trump is going to put a 25 percent tariff on U.S.-Canadian trade. They are our best trading partner. What is going on over there? Unneeded tariffs will cause prices to rise more on everything. Just wait. Cars will go up $9,000 to $12,000 a vehicle. Costs of grain will go up. The cost of road salt, potash, oil, gasoline will skyrocket dangerously. Let me state plainly that 25 percent tariffs on Canada are foolish. The people and businesses of our region and the industrial Midwest overwhelmingly oppose the administration's unnecessary trade war with Canada. Tariffs can be imposed in a smart and targeted approach. The Trump tariff is nothing like that. Mr. Speaker, I ask all citizens to contact the White House. Put it simply: Don't hurt North American trade with Canada. It works. Don't kill what isn't broken.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, there is always good news in America. It is contained in the hearts of its people. I rise today in recognition of an extraordinary citizen of northwest Ohio, Mr. Steve Martin, for his selfless dedication to our community. Steve creates community. Since April of last year, Steve has volunteered with I Want to Mow Your Lawn, a nonprofit providing free lawn care to elderly individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and families in need. Through his hard work and generosity, Steve has completed 30 visits to care for the homes of Nancy Kinkaid and Bill Orzechowski, two neighbors facing serious health challenges. His service not only maintains their yards, he has given them peace of mind, dignity, and the knowledge that their community cares. Steve's contributions exemplify the very best of the northwest Ohio spirit, neighbors helping neighbors and lifting each other up in times of need. His work reminds us all that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact. I am honored to recognize Steve Martin today. Let's thank him for his unwavering commitment to making our communities a better place for all.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the opportunity to speak. I thank him for his great work. Mr. Speaker, budgets are about choices for the American people. If we look at what is happening with this current budget, it is a bonanza for billionaires. We live in a moment in our country when 1 percent of our population, the very top, hold as much wealth as the bottom half of our country. One percent of the top, the billionaires and millionaires, hold more wealth than the bottom half of our people. It is an astounding moment in which we are living. The very top are not paying their fair share, and everybody in America knows it, including them. How many more mansions do we need to see that take up acres and acres? How many yachts do these people actually need? Some of the old movies about ``Goldfinger'' and all come to mind. Some people seem to like gold a whole lot in this country. If the tax cuts that are proposed in this bill offer a few hundred dollars to people who live in the bottom half of our country, which is most of the people that I represent, the bottom half of incomes, the people at the top are going to get hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars back. I say to myself: Do they have any conscience about what is happening in their country? To take away the healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid, the cuts that Republicans are proposing, you will cause death in this country. To me, what is happening here is shameless. Here is the chart. If we look back at who caused the debt in our country, wow. It is pretty obvious. If we go back to the Reagan Presidency, all you are doing is just repeating what happened. They added $2 trillion. Then the Bush II tax cuts added $8 trillion. The Trump tax cuts are already over $2.5 trillion.

Ms. KAPTUR. The Afghan and Iraq wars declared by Republican Presidents added $8 trillion. If you look at this, two-thirds of what we owe were caused by the Republican side of the aisle. I represent a lot of Republicans, and I will tell you they are honest people and they will pay their taxes, but they don't like this excess. It is hurting America. The Republican budget is just a bonanza for billionaires. Shame on you.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman so very much for allowing me to speak this evening and to also thank her for her service to the United States of America in our military. She knows the cost of liberty. There couldn't be a better Member of Congress than Chrissy Houlahan, I will tell you that. A lot of Americans perhaps in the newer generations don't understand what Russia is capable of, so I refer them to two books if they are interested, and I hope they are. One is ``Bloodlands'' by Dr. Timothy Snyder, now at Yale University, who discusses the history of the region that we are talking about and what happened yesterday at the United Nations. Another book is ``Red Sparrow.'' I would recommend people don't read that in the evening, but during the day because they will learn more about how Russia both operates now and has always operated. To give a little history, before the collapse of the murderous dictatorship that was called the Soviet Union that occurred in 1991 and had extended all the way from Russia all the way across Europe to Germany to East Berlin, which has been free since 1991, a great President, Ronald Reagan, served this Nation. He was elected twice. He correctly identified Russia as the ``evil empire.'' Ronald Reagan had been an actor in Hollywood and fought to remove Communists from the ranks of the Screen Actors Guild in California, where he met his wife. That particular effort by Reagan took great courage because he could have been killed. That is what it is like to deal with Russia as the Soviet Union or the empire now. Another Republican President during my service was George W. Bush. He named Russia and North Korea as the ``axis of evil.'' We could add Iran and other countries. Never before at the United Nations has any U.S. President ever stood with the dictators of Russia. Those countries that voted with Russia yesterday are state sponsors of terrorism. Russia understands terror. That is what she does. For the United States to stand beside Russia, North Korea, and Belarus at the United Nations, it is appalling. It is appalling. Russia's atrocities go back hundreds of years. During World War II on the soils of Ukraine, 14 million people were murdered. This is the tradition of Putin. If you do not know that, you are naive. Wake up. Wake up. Even China abstained from the vote yesterday. Aligning with these countries which past Presidents have called the epitome of evil on Earth is shocking. The very fundamental purpose of this Nation is liberty. That is why we are here. This isn't some game, and it is not about strategic metals or very precious items that are underground somewhere. It is about something much more precious-- liberty. To see that happen at the U.N. yesterday, I thought, what have they been drinking up there? Ukraine is the scrimmage line for liberty on the Continent of Europe today, and no President of the United States should cavort with dictators. We have always been the bastion of freedom. Our people have died for it, defending these ideals around the world. Yesterday, President Trump cowered and appeased one of the most dangerous dictatorships in the world. Mr. Speaker, it is shameful. It is un-American. It is not patriotic. It is almost traitorous--maybe it is traitorous to do that. We know Russia. We know North Korea. We know Iran. They don't stand for liberty. They are part of the new spiderweb of tyranny that is poised against us, if anyone is paying attention anywhere in this country. The actions to vote with them and against Ukraine is a blotch on America's record as a champion for a free world. Most of the world is not free. If people haven't traveled to these places, try. They might learn something. Tomorrow is another day. I urge those who lead foreign policy for this administration to remember who we fight for, who our friends are, who our allies are, and who our enemies are united against us. I also just wanted to place on the record a reminder that when Ukraine was beginning to be free after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, a great man, Viktor Yushchenko, was President of the young Ukraine. What did Putin do? Putin had him poisoned. Yushchenko survived somehow when they flew him to Europe and they tried to pump him out with some kind of horrible, strategic metal that he had been made to swallow when he ate with the dictators who continued to control Russia. Putin had just killed Alexei Navalny in a terrible Arctic prison because he wanted to run against Putin. That is how someone gets elected in Russia. Kill the opposition. My friends, pay attention. Be informed. If we want to understand how a tyranny operates, look at the film on YouTube. It takes 30 minutes. It is called, ``Freedom Means Never Surrender.'' It is a documentary about how a tyranny functions. It just won the Telly Award. Take the time to do it. Recall the preciousness of the liberty we enjoy. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for allowing us to speak on this Special Order.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, why is the Trump administration, Mr. Musk, and their secret meat grinder called DOGE hurting working Americans? Inflation is going up, unemployment is up, the stock market is rickety and went down again today, egg prices are up, and Walmart sales are down. So far, there is little evidence that DOGE is helping families. Indeed, they are causing more unemployment. They are not keeping us safer, and they are not helping anybody. A young U.S. Department of Agriculture specialist just moved to Ohio to assist local farmers sell produce locally. That job is gone. A young farmer with a newborn daughter and a single mother with two children just back from maternity leave were hired to help citizens understand how to save money through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They are out in the cold too, and so will the American people be. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to be combating the bird flu which is spreading to cows and now even people, but guess what, Mr. Speaker? They don't have the vets to do the job. No. They were fired. A mom who spent her life working in our national parks and is trying to send her kids to college, does she still have her job? No, she is looking for work. This doesn't seem like a plan that is really helping the American people, and all the statistics show it.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) and also Congresswoman Bynum from the State of Oregon and the chair of the Black Caucus, Yvette Clarke of New York, for inviting me to speak this evening. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, I rise to honor an extraordinary American hero that I had the great pleasure to know from my home community in Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel Harold H. Brown. He was a Tuskegee Airman, and this is the bronze statue that was cast in our region as part of our Air Force museum, honoring his astounding life. He was a warrior for justice on many fronts and an unwavering patriot. He was always happy. His story is one of resilience, excellence, and service, embodying the very best of our Nation's ideals. From a young age, Harold dreamed of soaring through the skies. I don't know where he got that idea, but just at 19 years old, he turned that dream into reality as a pilot in the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. These were a heroic group of African-American aviators who defied both gravity and systemic racism to serve their country during World War II. As others have referenced tonight, we stand on their shoulders. Harold flew combat missions with unparalleled skill and valor. He loved to fly, taking on some of the most dangerous missions over war- torn Europe. His service came at great risk. The plane we see there, he liked to fly privately also and would wear a scarf around his neck. He was a great teacher, and he managed community colleges after his service. During one of his many missions, his plane was shot down in battle, and he was captured as a prisoner of war. Even in captivity, Harold never wavered in his duty to his country. After the war, he continued to serve, answering the call again during the brutal Korean war. He answered the call. His legacy extended beyond the battlefield. He became an educator, beloved, a mentor and champion for the desegregation of the United States military. The impact of Harold Brown and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen is immeasurable in this country. The Red Tails, as they were known, flew more than--get ready for this--15,000 sorties between 1943 and 1945, earning a reputation as some of the most skilled pilots in the United States military. Bomber crews specifically requested their escort, knowing the Tuskegee Airmen would protect them against enemy attacks. They were angels in the sky. They were so brave. They fought not only against the forces of fascism abroad but, again, the deep-seated racism at home, paving the way for the desegregation of the Armed Forces with the leadership from Ohio, setting a precedent for generations to come. Right in my district of Toledo, the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen lives on. The area around us in northern Ohio--Ohio is known as the State of flight, and 58 of these brave aviators called Ohio home, with several hailing from the great Toledo area and Harold himself from Port Clinton and points east. Their contributions to our Armed Forces and to our communities remain an indelible part of our history. Institutions such as the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, the National Museum of the Great Lakes, and the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio, where this photo was taken, have preserved their stories, ensuring that future generations will remember their courage and their sacrifice. These men were not just warriors in the sky. They were pioneers who shattered social and racial barriers, proving their excellence time and again, despite the discrimination they faced. Despite their heroism, their place in history has not always been respected. Just recently, sadly, we witnessed a shameful attempt to erase the legacy of Harold Brown and countless others who fought with him and for this country. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, following a sweeping executive order, removed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, including historical education on renowned figures including the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Air Force Service Pilots. A training program that honored these heroes was halted. Their history was nearly erased in the name of a stupid and mean-spirited political agenda that sought to rewrite America's past to fit a narrow, exclusionary narrative. This was more than an insult to the African-American community. It was an insult to America itself. It was an affront to every soldier, airman, sailor, and Marine who fought not just for our country but for the ideals upon which it stands. The removal of these Department of Defense programs was a deliberate attempt to diminish the contributions of African Americans in the military and to erase the struggles they overcame in their fight for justice and equality. Let this be a lesson. The power of the America people is stronger than any one administration. When this erasure was exposed, when the outrage of everyday citizens--not just Black, not just Brown, but White--demanded justice, the American people forced a reckoning with the United States Department of Defense and the President of the United States. Public outcry led to the reinstatement of the course honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. Truth cannot be silenced, and history cannot be rewritten to serve the will of the few. We, the people, hold the power to safeguard our history. The legacy of Harold Brown and his daring, patriotic fellow airmen has been restored, not because those in power willingly chose to do so but because Americans of conscience refused to allow their contributions to ever be forgotten. This is a testament to the enduring power of truth and justice and a reminder that each American must remain vigilant in protecting both truth and justice. As we honor Harold Brown today--and he never wanted honor. The entire community, most of whom were Caucasian like myself, came out. There was music and joy, and there was happiness in his memory. We remember his service, but also we remember his fight. Let us carry forward his mission, not just in the skies but in every arena where justice is challenged, where history is threatened, and where the sacrifices of our ancestors and predecessors risk being erased. We owe it to Harold Brown and his family. We owe it to the Tuskegee Airmen and their families. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations of the American family. Harold Brown and the Tuskegee Airmen of northern Ohio changed the world for the better, and so can we.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garamendi, who is such a distinguished Member, for substituting for me while I was in our Budget Committee. I know what a phenomenal job he does and how deeply he loves our country and how hard he fights for her and for all the people that he represents and those include my constituents, too. His work is just phenomenal. I thank him for being here today. Mr. Speaker, I will focus a little on Elon Musk and put some materials in the Record. He is an unelected billionaire with no Federal clearance, standing or sitting right next to the President of the United States, almost on a daily basis. Mr. Musk is so rich he could buy my entire congressional district and have lots left over. He spent millions upon millions, more than I and all of our relatives are worth, to defeat House Democrats for Congress, myself included. I couldn't come near to match his money. He did the same to many of my colleagues in this House, including some with us today. Can you imagine having enough money to put millions and millions of dollars up against Members of Congress to control Congress? That is what is going on. Political victories to billionaires equate to the fall of our Republic. Presidents Washington and Lincoln could never have imagined this selling off of our Republic. Musk has endless money. He uses it fiercely. Some of us won despite the tidal wave of his money. Politics shouldn't be about raising oodles of money. It should be about serving our people and strengthening our Nation for all, not just the superrich. You know what? They have enough. The America we have known is at risk of becoming owned by a billionaire class. If and when that happens, our precious freedoms will vanish. Now, our family and I have been citizens of this country for our entire lives, three generations, totaling over a century and a half: grandparents, parents, and us. Every generation worked very hard here. It wasn't easy. They fought fiercely for our Nation as veterans in every major war to defeat dictators, to preserve liberty for our Nation and others, and then they bequeathed that precious gift to us. We all worked hard to become more educated. Our family, community, and Nation are my treasures. By contrast, Elon Musk holds citizenship in three countries: South Africa, Canada, and then for the last 22 years, the USA. I keep asking myself: To which one is he most loyal? He was born and raised in apartheid South Africa in very well-to-do circumstances. With the fall of that apartheid regime not so many years ago, after a great human rights struggle inside South Africa, his father knew that economic circumstance would change in South Africa, so he took Elon, then a teenager, to visit over a dozen countries, including Canada, where Elon's mother still resides. Elon took a second citizenship in Canada. He obtained a visa then to attend college in the United States as a foreign student, graduating in economics and physics. He then moved to Silicon Valley for graduate school, but dropped out after 2 days. There is still remaining some questions as to whether he illegally overstayed in our country on a student visa. Records show he has only been a citizen of our country for 22 years, having become a citizen in the year of 2002. Bottom line: Why has President Donald Trump just given a naturalized citizen with two other citizenships and with no Federal clearance and only 22 years of residency in our Nation the keys to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's electronic payment systems. That data records every citizens' private financial information and every businesses' private information across our country. Musk got the position completely without the normal ethic investigations required of every political appointee to any President. When I served President Carter, the FBI checked our records, people all the way back to grade school. That was not done for this man. The American people need to know more about exactly how Elon, now an unelected billionaire, built his fortune off Federal Government contracts. In our Budget Committee, a number was just stated that he holds up to $18 billion of contracts with the Government of the United States. That began with a huge $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to launch Tesla in California. Who exactly lobbied in that department for that loan, and who and why was it accepted? We are told it was paid back. Frankly, I have never known anyone who has gotten a loan that large from the Government of the United States with his background. For the record, Elon Musk paid that loan back over time, but began increasing the amounts of his gigantic loan and grant applications to the Federal Government with the largest thus far, we think, being with NASA. Wouldn't we call this a conflict of interest, Mr. Speaker? Would we allow the head of GM or any other large corporation in our country to sit next to the President and go into the U.S. Department of the Treasury and not say it was a conflict of interest? Are we all fools? In using his financial leverage to re-elect Donald Trump, Musk should have been vetted by the FBI as is anyone who works close to the Presidency or critical government records. It appears Musk simply has been leveraging his vast fortune off government contracts. Is he rummaging through Treasury files to gain an advantage over competitors or to seek vengeance in business dealings? Just this year, he ordered the State Department to buy $400 million worth of his own cybertrucks, but when scrutiny came, the purchase order mysteriously disappeared the word ``Tesla'' from their procurement orders. How about that? Over the past 5 years alone, he has received over $13 billion in government awards to his company. I ask every Member of Congress here and listening, do you know any other human being who has ever been allowed this kind of access with such private-sector interest in dipping into the U.S. Department of the Treasury time and again across all these agencies? It is unbelievable. Conflict of interest equals Elon Musk. He should not be able to invade the private records of the American people at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Yet, he has done just that. Every person hearing my words, he has invaded your records, your tax records, your business reports. Think about that. Think about the investments that the Department of the Treasury makes in order to roll over our debt. No one listening to this today, nor any elected official here in Congress, could ever have gained access to the records of the American people held in confidence in the U.S. Treasury. I can tell you how difficult it is even for a Member of Congress to get an appointment to see the Secretary of the Treasury. We have been trying over the last several weeks. We haven't gotten it yet. With Musk, what a breach of privacy for every American citizen. One must ask, how did he finagle this heist for the princely sum of $250 million spent on Presidential campaigns and congressional campaigns? I am sure that number doubles. It literally is more and more like a quid pro quo. Elon Musk bankrolled President Trump's reelection, and for this, he is given the keys to America's financial kingdom. Wow. This is new in American history. Musk is now using unsecured, private servers to snoop on the millions of private accounts of the American people and businesses with which he is in competition. Where is the business community? Are they afraid of him? Will they speak up? Wall Street is speaking up in a very interesting way. The markets have been really rickety these last few days. They are not too comfortable. They are not dumb. Pay attention. Musk must be identifying individuals he would like to upend. Are they afraid, too, like Members of Congress who are afraid to speak out because they are afraid Musk will put more money up against them in the next campaign? Guess what? He is going to do it anyway, so speak out. Whatever he is concocting with his inverted merry band of minions, aged 19-26? They have no security clearances and no experience to work at the U.S. Treasury Department. Every person in America must have a concern about this. Their Social Security records, their health benefits, the profits of their corporations, and who they do business with is all there. His sole mission is to collect private, confidential information for more self- dealing and maybe threats and tax cuts for the billionaire class. Does Elon Musk have to file a financial disclosure statement like all of us? Where is it? We have to have them. Where is his? It seems his will be kept private. Musk is ruthless and a self-enabler. Surely, he seeks to wipe out his competitors or spy at will on the privileged information of the American people. I might ask anyone listening today, why does he have access to your mom's Social Security records and your grandpa's Medicare? What does he now know about you and your family? Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues joining me today, and I yield to the gentleman from Georgia, Congressman Hank Johnson. I thank him so very much for participating. I also thank Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for substituting when I was not able to be on the floor.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Johnson for his comments. I yield to the gentleman from New York, Congressman Tim Kennedy, a phenomenal new Member from Buffalo.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I believe an additional speaker is coming. While we are waiting, Mr. Speaker, I want to point to this. If there are citizens who are listening, if we look at some of the government contracts that Mr. Musk is engaged in, we are trying to make this as complete as we can. For example, NASA is one of the largest contracts that he personally has. Look at this number, $11.8 billion with NASA. Can you imagine how many subcontractors there are on that job? That is just one connection. Then, we look over to the U.S. Department of Defense, and that is $3.6 billion. These are enormous contracts. I have companies in my district that do contract with the government. They don't have contracts that size. We look at the Department of Commerce, $1.9 million. Mr. Musk has a contract there. The Department of Veterans Affairs is an interesting one, $463,000. I am not sure what that is for. The Department of State is $440,000. You can do a lot with $440,000. There is a lot of information at the State Department. What is that contract for? Then, we have a whole series at other agencies. We know it is well over a million dollars. We can't even track how much it is. This is an enormous amount of money. Even General Dynamics and some of our large corporations, I don't think, have this kind of reach. Mr. Speaker, apparently, we don't have any final speakers. I thank the Speaker and all those who are listening for their indulgence. This is a time for the American people to be intrepid and on the watch and providing information to their Members of Congress about information they may have about what Mr. Musk and all of his alliances are doing across this country--to benefit the Republic. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, Ukraine is the scrimmage line for liberty on the continent of Europe today. We all have witnessed hundreds of thousands of war deaths at record levels in this 11-year, cruel war that Russia has perpetrated against the free nation of Ukraine. Russia had no provocation. For 30 years, Ukraine had tried to build her land forward. Importantly, this morning in Europe, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an opening statement, along with many of our allied nations, seeking an end to the horrific 11-year killing field that is Ukraine after war criminal Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion, as I said, in 2014. It has been 11 long years of war. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated a negotiated peace will require an exchange of territory. Working with our closest and most-valued allies in NATO in the free world, the United States must do everything possible to bring full liberty to Ukraine and move Russia back into her own borders. The international community must safeguard those borders, and those negotiations are yet to come. We have some hope this morning if we are serious about making sure the dividing line between the free world and the suppressed world is clearly drawn and safeguarded. Rising Costs for Ohioans

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning on behalf of the people of northwest Ohio. We face an economic reality that many across our country are experiencing. Prices are on the rise. Trade war panic is causing more inflation. Uncertainty and the short supply of goods and services rise as inflation rises. It was announced this morning that prices are up 3 percent across the board, more than expected over the past month of this new administration. Too many families are overwhelmed by the cost of living, and everyday people are having to face really hard choices between paying for groceries or rent, between medicine or a tank of gas. Do you just fill it halfway? The latest curse: rising property taxes. In Ohio, eggs cost between $6.66 a dozen and $8 a dozen. Gas is back up to over $3 a gallon. Unemployment is ticking up. Property taxes are skyrocketing, and working people are being squeezed from all sides. They don't have a lot of time to think about politics. With Democrats here in the House, President Biden was able to allow a few prescription drug prices to be lowered, but it is no secret that the majority of families struggle to pay for medicine when they need it. Meanwhile, major pharmacy chains, like Rite Aid, are shutting their doors, leaving entire communities with no pharmacy. Why are there no hearings on that here in Congress? Where are people supposed to go to fill their prescriptions? People aren't just feeling economic pressure. They are being crushed by it. Rents keep rising. This forces families and seniors to downsize or leave communities they have called home for decades. Consumer credit card fraud is on the rise, bilking people who are already stretched thin. When families have no room left in their budgets, far too many gamble on their futures, making desperate choices just to get by. My district is no stranger to gambling with lottery tickets, scratch offs, and casinos. The wheels just turn faster. People take chances. In the last election, that is exactly what they did. They gambled. Many didn't vote. They voted not because they support radical extremism but because they want to get ahead. They want this Congress and the new President to help them do that. I hear them. We all should, but the reality is that prices are going up. The Consumer Price Index just rose over the past month with 3 percent unexpected inflation. Prices for eggs are up, as I have said, 53 percent. Look at what is happening with the price of higher education, which is now unaffordable for the majority. If our young people can't afford to go to school and learn, what does that imply for the future of this country?

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, today, I stand with the long-suffering people of Ukraine. Theirs is a valiant fight to reclaim their territory, their sovereignty, their security, and their destiny. Vladimir Putin brutally invaded 11 years ago with no provocation. Russia must be pushed back inside its own borders, and today, Secretary of Defense Hegseth stood on territory freed by 400,000 American soldiers, whose graves mark liberty's greatest victory over tyranny across Europe. Their sacrifice birthed the free world. General Omar Bradley, one of our Nation's most beloved and great generals, created NATO. He would have been astounded at what Hegseth did in stating: It is unrealistic for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders. Why would Hegseth take Russia's side with its war criminals and murderous plunder of a free people? Why would he do that? Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has consistently emphasized Ukraine's position that no peace negotiations with Russia are possible before the complete restoration of Ukraine's stolen territory and return to Ukraine's 1991 internationally recognized borders. The free world must achieve that.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Quinyon Mitchell, a proud University of Toledo Rocket and now a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. Speaker, last year I stood before you and said that Quinyon Mitchell would make northwest Ohio proud on the national stage, and he has done exactly that, helping lead the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX. His dedication, discipline, and talent have set him apart, earning him respect across the league as a key player of one of the NFL's top defenses. Mr. Mitchell is not the only Rocket making waves on football's biggest stage. I want to extend special recognition to fellow Eagle, Dallas Gant. He also won the Super Bowl alongside Quinyon. Their journeys from Toledo to the grandest stage in football are a living testament to the strength of our athletic programs and the hardworking spirit of the people of northwest Ohio's communities. Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles on their championship. To Quinyon and Dallas: You make us proud and all of northwest Ohio proud. Go Rockets.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate and protect the largest system of freshwater on Earth: The Great Lakes. I will be introducing the bipartisan Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025, alongside my talented colleague, David Joyce of Ohio. The Great Lakes have been declared a national treasure by executive order in 2004. The Great Lakes undergird America's industrial and agricultural heartland and encompass terrestrial and aquatic wildlife, including two globally important migratory bird flyways. We are home to 20 national wildlife refuges; 7 national parks; America's longest coast and lakeshores, monuments, and memorials; 6 national forests; many State parks; wildlife management areas; and trail systems. These assets generate annually over $52 billion in economic activity. The Great Lakes Gateway Network Act of 2025 will help us conserve, restore, and interpret our precious history by catalyzing numerous public and private investments in the linked network of gateway sites. Mr. Speaker, it is long overdue for the northwest territory and our Great Lakes to shine a light on our region's magnificence and America's freshwater kingdom.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a rising concern for public health. My State of Ohio is the second largest egg-producing State in our Nation. Nationwide, over 14 million egg-laying birds have been killed since December of last year due to the growing bird flu outbreak. That is why the cost of eggs is skyrocketing, and this is why we must get this outbreak under control as human infection rates rise. On January 6, the first American died from this infection. With each new human infection, the virus learns how to mutate and infect more people. When studying this tragic death, the CDC found the virus had started to mutate, which means split, in two different ways. For the record, we know from just one human infection, the number of infections jumped to 66 human infections last year. History instructs us that it is only a matter of time until doctors see sustained human-to-human transmission increasing. Despite this reality, the new administration ordered all divisions of our Department of Health and Human Services to halt their external communications. Bad idea. If the FDA wanted to warn Americans about a recalled item, they can't do so. The CDC needs to report what is happening around the country so that the bird flu doesn't continue to kill not just flocks but Americans. As the bird flu continues to kill flocks and now cattle, impact grocery costs, infect our loved ones, and mutate, it is vital Americans have more access to information, not less.