Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, first of all, I have great respect for the gentleman who offers this amendment, but I do find myself in the position of opposing it. In step with the myriad amendments offered by Republicans to reduce leadership salaries, this amendment seeks to reduce funding for the Bureau of Reclamation's policy and administration account by $5 million, ostensibly to fund it at the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. However, in fiscal year 2022, $64.4 million was appropriated for policy and administration, so this amendment reduces this funding by $4.321 million below the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The Bureau of Reclamation brings water to 31 million people and is the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, producing enough electricity to serve 3.5 million homes. This account funds day-to-day Bureau of Reclamation management, administrative, and policy functions that are necessary to ensure effective and efficient implementation of all Bureau of Reclamation programs from which 31 million people receive water and 3.5 million homes receive electricity. That is a big job. This account also funds the Office of the Commissioner and regional offices. This leadership is critical for ensuring that one in five Western farmers has irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60 percent of our Nation's vegetables and 25 percent of its fruits and nuts. According to the United States Census Bureau, my colleague comes from a district of approximately 751,000 people, of which approximately 1.5 percent are in occupations related to farming, fishing, and forestry. I don't think the gentleman's amendment benefits his district. With the West reeling from the historic megadrought, the worst in 1,200 years, where we have just had to divert the Colorado River for the first time in American history, why would any of my colleagues want to hamstring the Bureau of Reclamation's management and the direction and guidance necessary to achieve Reclamation-wide program and mission accomplishment? This is a moment in American history when we need to help them. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. I hear what he is saying, but I think that we have to work harder together to embrace the future and not just depend on the past. I agree with him on fossil fuels and rare earths. We visited the fossil fuel energy center in southwest Pennsylvania. I was fascinated by some of the work going on there. I think we need to fund it, and we are. This amendment reduces funding for the Department of Energy's energy efficiency and renewable energy account by $1.2 billion, and I don't think that that places America in the position I want her to be in, which is number one in the world. Now, that proposal is also on top of another $466 million reduction in the underlying bill itself and the $1 billion reduction incorporated by the manager's amendment. This funding provides for clean, affordable, and secure energy and ensures American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. I will tell you, this past year in my region of the United States-- and it came here to Washington, ultimately--a very strange haze began floating down from Canada into the United States due to the forest fires up there and the changing nature of the environment. I have lived in the same place my whole life, and I never saw anything like that before. It ruined my rhododendron plant. All that gunk got all over it. I was talking to a friend who came up from Florida, and he goes: Marcy, the winds took that all the way down to near the panhandle in Florida. I said: Are you kidding me? It got down that far? The Earth's ecosystem is changing, and we have to catch up to Mother Nature. The account being targeted funds the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of State and Community Energy Programs that supports important services like the Weatherization Assistance Program to save energy, the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, and the Federal Energy Management Program itself. Those programs focus on energy technology ranging from biofuels--the first biofueled F-16 flew out of the 180th Fighter Wing in my district. That was a great moment. That was almost 15 years ago. Biofuels have now become such an important part of our economy, as well as hydrogen, solar, wind, and a whole broad range of energy technologies to make America energy independent in perpetuity-- geothermal, what we are learning on that; advanced manufacturing; building efficiency and weatherization; and the list goes on. Without these programs, we are jeopardizing U.S. leadership across a range of possibilities. The world is set to invest a record $1.8 trillion in clean energy in 2023, and that is expected to climb to $4.5 trillion by the year 2030. We want to be a leader. With $4.5 trillion per year on the line, we have the choice to embrace American leadership and invention. Let me just mention that if the Department of Energy's goals are achieved, the hydrogen industry will produce $140 billion in revenue and over 700,000 jobs by 2030. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment, but I am very happy to continue to work with the gentleman to find ways that we can reach accommodation.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. The underlying bill already cuts the energy efficiency and renewable energy program by $1.5 billion or 42 percent below last year. Now, there are a lot of people that are complaining about that, and I would be the first one to say that our country should not cede any new markets or capitulate to global competitors in the field of energy. I think that we have to keep our foot on the accelerator in many energy sectors. The gentleman is right. Texas has been a leader in so many ways; certainly in wind energy, but not just that. In terms of the solar industry and how do we pay down the debts that prior Congresses and administrations racked up? We grow our economy. By growing our economy, more revenues come in, and they are. They are coming into the private sector. They are coming into the government. A whole lot more people who aren't paying their fair share of taxes should be, and that would help. The way we balance budgets is not to kill economic growth. One of the areas we grow in is energy. These are jobs that are good jobs, and they create wealth for the Nation. We have to keep up our dominance in this country. For the solar industry, which is something I am terribly interested in, I represent the most important domestic manufacturer of solar in our country. Overall, the whole industry across our Nation supports 333,000 jobs now. Mr. Chair, 20 years ago, they were in a very different position, and 40 years ago, they almost didn't exist. America is now creating utility scale solar, and the invention of the American people is unstoppable. We can't give a signal that we are going to capitulate to anybody, but we have got to develop these new energy sectors. The gentleman is right about the grid. The grid is worn out all over this country. Ask anybody in Ohio about that. It has been underinvested. We will find a way by growing the economy, and some of the new bills we have passed for infrastructure have allowed us to modernize the grid. Well, let's connect the dots. We can choose to give up American leadership in these technologies, or we can actually put our foot on the accelerator. I really think that the gentleman's amendment, though he believes it is well intentioned, does move America backward, and I cannot support it, and therefore, I oppose it.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to this amendment. I am sure the gentleman offering it is well-intentioned. I will say, in many of the energy technologies that I have observed, unlike the real estate industry, they always say real property, you can tangibly touch it, you can see that it is there, you can measure it. ARPA-E really focuses on that which is not yet measurable. If you see the movie ``Oppenheimer'' and you look back at the history of our country and how we began to actually move into atomic energy, it was very experimental and very dangerous. The government got involved, and at that point in history we had to win a war. We learned a whole lot about nuclear energy at that point, but part of it was uncontrollable. I was at an event yesterday with companies that are working on unbelievable technologies, which aren't quite solved yet, but where we can take metals like titanium and nickel and do things with them to carry current that we never were able to do before. They are working with research labs because it is so utterly complicated. I would say to the gentleman, you know, sometimes private enterprise doesn't invest because the research has to occur through a longer period of time, and you need programs like ARPA-E who do the most amazing work. Our fracking technologies, our drilling technologies for natural gas, those came through not the private sector initially, they came through the Government of the United States because there wasn't any private sector company willing to invest. I know in my own district, where we are known for the glass industry, some of the research that has been necessary to thinly layer different types of material in order to produce more efficient solar panels actually had to be assisted with government help because there were no angel investors in my part of the country. So the Department of Energy, through photovoltaic research, discovered inventors who were doing great things in America, and helped them to move their technology forward. Now we have the greatest domestic producer of solar in the middle part of the country--not California, not the East Coast, not the South, but in the Great Lakes region. What I have seen out of ARPA-E is high-level basic research that most companies, frankly, aren't dedicated to. It is very different than the real estate industry, it is over a longer time horizon. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment and in support of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Let me say that the Commission itself is a partnership between the Federal Government and 13 State governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. Residents in part of Pennsylvania--evidently the gentleman's area is not covered--are served by this Commission. Since 1965, the Appalachian region has been struggling, and they have made progress. They have made significant progress. The number of high-poverty counties in Appalachia has been cut by 60 percent since 1960. It is a long road. The regional poverty rate has been cut by more than half. God bless them. However, the region still lags behind the Nation and continues to encounter challenges such as the severe substance abuse crisis, as well as a downturn in the coal economy. This is the part of America that we have to lift up. I have been very impressed with the work they are doing in terms of restoration of the natural environment and expanded tourism. They are working together collaboratively. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. Let's help the American people who need it.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, the Department of Energy is charged with implementing congressionally directed energy efficiency standards. When the gentleman blithely says he doesn't like unelected bureaucrats, the people who work in these departments are trained and actually help consumers. Frankly, I think it is helpful for consumers to know, when they are going to buy a blouse, let's say, whether it is cotton or rayon. It is sort of nice to have the label on there. If you are driving a car, it is nice to know how many miles per gallon the car is going to get. You sort of get a sense of if you are going to buy this one or another one. With refrigerators, I think it is really great that you see how much energy it uses so you can buy a more efficient refrigerator, so you have your electricity bill go down. I don't know why the gentleman is objecting to helping the American consumer make better choices. In accordance with the statutes that we have passed, the Department of Energy has published regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations--in other words, it is not by some whim-- for more than 60 categories of appliance and equipment types. That helps consumers make good choices. The Department of Energy drafts the energy efficiency regulations with the full participation of equipment manufacturers and the public at large. The process includes thorough consideration of all comments and concerns. In following the law, the Department of Energy has issued proposed or final standards for 24 product categories so far this year. Again, these actions are by congressional direction. They just don't pick them out of the air. Actually, it is a process of law. These actions result in direct energy savings while also improving the reliability and performance across household appliances and commercial and industrial equipment. There is a quote from Daniel Webster in this House that tells us in our time and our generation, may we perform something worthy to be remembered. That is a really good quote to think about. I think it is safe to assume that virtually all Americans, let alone all of the people in this room, have benefited from some of these types of efficiency standards over the course of their lifetimes. The benefits are real. As a result of the Department of Energy's efficiency actions, cost savings for American families and businesses are projected to reach nearly $2 trillion by 2030. The Department of Energy estimates that this specific rule would slash household utility costs by $1.5 billion annually, which is something the American people want to do, and save consumers $24.8 billion on their energy bills over 30 years. That is a big deal. Further, if Congress does not like these standards, that should be addressed by new laws through the Energy and Commerce Committee, not by funding prohibitions. I would suggest to the gentleman, he might want to go before that committee. Stopping the Department of Energy from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing energy efficiency standards will only create uncertainty for manufacturers and consumers. With respect to the energy efficiency standards for consumer furnaces, if my Republican colleagues are concerned about the rule's potential to increase costs for homeowners, then I would suggest that they should not be seeking in this bill to rescind the Inflation Reduction Act funding for home energy efficiency rebates, which will help many hardworking Americans afford energy efficient heating units that will actually save them money on their utility bills in the long term. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, this amendment is one more controversial poison pill policy rider that sadly shows extremist Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law. Now, let's have a little math. In 2012, before the Bush tax cuts, the Congressional Budget Office showed revenues exceeding primary spending for the next 65 years and that debt as a percentage of GDP, our gross domestic product, everything that we make in a year, would decline indefinitely. How about that. That was 2012. Since then, tax cut extensions and the Trump tax cuts have added $10 trillion to the debt to date, and their cost will increase enough over time to account for the entire long-term growth in debt ratio. The Trump tax cuts are costing us $2 trillion per year. Just look at it. It is unbelievable. Remember, those benefits are disproportionately enjoyed by the most wealthy. If we truly want to protect the American taxpayer, we should be marking up bills at levels agreed to between the President, Speaker McCarthy, and signed into law in the Fiscal Responsibility Act rather than bringing the government to the verge of a shutdown and now marking up bills that don't just break the deal but obliterate it by cutting critical domestic investments. I can't wait for the Debt Commission to actually get the facts out there for the American people, because I have been listening to this all evening. It is very much off the mark. Let's get serious about passing bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share my deepest condolences upon the passing of United Steelworkers' president, Tommy Conway, who passed away this past weekend at 71 years old. The steelworkers of the United States, the labor movement, and our Nation have lost a true hero who helped to revitalize and reinvest in the U.S. steel industry. As someone who spent much of my career working to save industrial America, including in Ohio and across our country, I can say that there was no greater advocate to save this lodestar, vital U.S. industry than Tommy Conway. Tommy understood to his core what America makes and grows makes and grows America and he was absolutely committed to making things in America and making sure, as president of the United Steelworkers, that he fought every single day to protect workers, make sure they had good pay, retirement security, and safety on the job. Tommy was dedicated to the idea that all working people should be able to live a good middle-class way of life. Something we both understood growing up in union households was what unions truly mean to workers and families--moving into the middle class. Conway will be missed by many but never forgotten, and I hope Tommy's longtime partner, Carol, his three sons, and six grandchildren are comforted in knowing how much good he has done for so many and what a great man Tommy Conway was.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McCollum for her steadfast leadership and yielding time. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides military support for Ukraine. I firmly stand on the side of Ukraine, on the side of liberty, and against Russian tyranny. Such support to Ukraine is both necessary and noble. Given the immensity of the ongoing onslaught by Russia to do less is acquiescence to Vladimir Putin and his expansionist lethal ambitions. America's commitment to delivering aid to Ukraine is rooted in the enduring U.S.-Ukraine relationship, a partnership that dates back to Ukraine's Declaration of Independence as a captive nation from the clutches of the Soviet Union when it collapsed in 1991. Since that pivotal moment, the United States has consistently backed Ukraine, providing vital support for sovereignty, security, and development through foreign assistance. The urgency of our cultural, political, and economic ties with Ukraine has gained even greater significance in the face of Vladimir Putin's unprovoked aggression. The free world cannot turn a blind eye to the consequences of failing to deter Putin's expansionist ambitions after his 2014 annexation of Crimea. The world's inaction then led to the horrifying events of February 24 last year when Russian tanks rolled into Kyiv, Ukraine, to impose foreign tyranny over 40 million people. In response to Ukraine's brave resistance, Putin has unleashed a calculated campaign of terror. He invaded, bombed cities, kidnapped children, and committed grievous war crimes with the intent of erasing Ukraine's very identity as a free nation. More than 120,000 lives have been lost; 170,000 troops have been injured on the scrimmage line of liberty in Europe; 20,000 wounded amputees are a grim reminder of Putin's butchery. Valiantly, Ukraine has not surrendered. The free world must meet Russia's latest salvo against freedom. Ukraine's heroic defenses serve as a beacon of hope. When people unite to defend their freedom, they can overcome the most predatory, formidable enemies. There are implications for global security far beyond Ukraine. Ukraine's plight is not just about its liberty; it is about freedom everywhere. Let me be clear: Funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is not just about financial aid, it is a testament to our full-fledged commitment to a free, sovereign, and democratic nation. To Ukrainians here in America and abroad, know that the free world and everyone that represents the majority on both sides of the aisle here, all of our colleagues, stand with you. Freedom means never surrender. Liberty's allies stand by the brave people of Ukraine. With our help, the Ukrainians will defeat Putin's aggression.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, our country has no greater responsibility than to protect and defend this Nation and its Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and I thank Ranking Member McCollum for yielding me time to speak as a member of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations. I am deeply disappointed, I have to say, overall by the bill that the majority has forced to the Floor today. America and our allies are grappling with an increasingly dynamic and dangerous world. Global challenges include real enemies, as well as the unpredictability of nature and climate change, and we now see artificial intelligence threatening to further destabilize the world that we rely on for liberty and prosperity. Russia is waging a war of aggression against a neighboring democratic state, while China is outpacing our military development and has positioned itself as a significant geopolitical competitor on many levels. It is our responsibility and that of the annual Defense Appropriations legislation to ensure we are prepared to surmount these threats. However, the majority's legislation is distracted and consumed by division instead of policies that would ensure the safety of our Nation's most important Defense asset, our brave men and women in uniform. In another year, I could be proud of important provisions, including support for research, testing and manufacturing of space technologies that would define how our future wars might be fought, many of which, by the way, are being developed in my home State of Ohio. Instead, this legislation focuses on divisive policies never seen in a Defense Appropriations bill, like banning diversity and inclusion programs in this diverse Nation, targeting women and LGBTQ and servicemembers, and preventing the Department of Defense from addressing the very real dangers of disinformation campaigns and extremist rhetoric in our military. Enacting these proposals would have disastrous consequences for the morale and readiness of our Armed Forces, worsening the unprecedented recruitment shortfalls they already face. While the legislation maintains funding for many key security commitments to our crucial allies by fully funding key regional security initiatives, it fails to innovate or provide expansion of funding necessary to meet the moment, which is newly defined by the largest war for liberty since World War II, being fought as we speak in the Nation of Ukraine. I could say so much on this. The Ukrainian people and their east European neighbors----

Ms. KAPTUR. Might I ask for an additional 10 seconds.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, lack of enforcement of the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, along with unchecked corporate mergers, has allowed megacorporations, even foreign corporations, extreme power at the expense of our livestock producers and contract growers. This bill blocks fair competition. If we don't support our hardworking farmers, what is this bill supposed to be about? I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this harmful, ill-considered piece of legislation.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member Bishop for yielding time for me to oppose this quite unfortunate piece of legislation and quite harmful to agriculture. The majority can't produce a real farm bill, and they can't produce a budget on time. Now, this legislation today, as it stands, is riddled with divisive policy riders and detrimental funding cuts galore that will hurt American farmers and the American people. Republicans' efforts to slash funding by 41 percent across agriculture programs to 2000 levels cannot go unchecked. With the lowest funding in more than two decades, this bill weakens American competitiveness in the international marketplace and abandons our farmers. Our country already imports a third of our fresh fruits and vegetables. We need to produce those in our country because what America makes and grows, makes and grows America. Through this bill, Republicans also seek to starve the most exploited and vulnerable Americans of food, literally starve infants born to poor women by slashing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children by $800 million, slashing hundreds of millions in farmers' procurement contracts in the process. Ohio has 179,262 WIC recipients, so if this bill would pass, many of these recipients--infants, toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and postpartum women--will see their allotment drop to as little as, get ready, $11 per month or simply disappear entirely. A child's brain is largely formed by age 4 and its strength depends on what it eats. If you starve children, you permanently harm their ability to learn, and you impact them for life. The last thing I will mention is the majority's lack of concern for the exploitation of farmers. One of the many dangerous provisions in this bill is rolling back protections for farmers that prevent megacorporations from imposing debt servitude on farmers. This bill prohibits farmers from being protected from, and I quote, unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive business practices.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I proudly joined United Auto Workers on the picket line at United Auto Workers Local 12 in Toledo, Ohio, striking Jeep Stellantis in solidarity. Our mother helped organize the United Auto Workers nearly 90 years ago at Champion Spark Plug, organizing and negotiating with United Auto Workers founders Victor and Walter Reuther. Our father, Stephen, who they called Kappy, retired in 1969 from Jeep. Both were able to get better wages and benefits to help our family as we were growing up. I am including in the Record our mother's brief summary of why she joined the union and worked so hard; primarily to assure seniority rights of employment so you couldn't be fired because the supervisor brought family members to replace you. A bidding system was established so any open job was put up on the board so the one with the most seniority got the job, if qualified. Discrimination was outlawed so the foreman could no longer put his pets or relatives on the best job. The right to ask for a pay raise was assured through negotiation and the right to strike granted to employees. Leaves for illness were granted so people wouldn't be fired if a doctor certification was provided. I will continue tomorrow and enter the additional three sentences orally, but I just want to say go, UAW. We are so proud of you. When our mother Anastasia was in her early 20's, she landed a job at the Champion Spark Plug Company in Toledo where she had applied at the employment office every day for one year. She never missed a day of work between any of her jobs. Here, her weekly wage rose to $40 a week. She worked the production line at plug tamping where she was paid based on her output and she always did the maximum number each day. It was at Champion that she was elected to the Charter Committee of the Local 12 United Auto Workers Trade Union that was forming. She summarized for her children why she helped form the union--``primarily to assure seniority rights of employment so you couldn't be fired because the supervisor brought family members to replace you. A bidding system was established so any open job was put up on the board so the one with the most seniority got the job if qualified. Discrimination was outlawed so the foreman could no longer put his pets or relatives on the best job. The right to ask for a pay raise was assured through negotiation and the right to strike granted to employees. Leaves for illness were granted so people wouldn't be fired if a doctor's certification was provided. Bathroom privileges were allowed for personal contingencies. Three months leave was allowed for pregnancy. Layoffs would occur according to seniority. And a grievance procedure was established to curb harassment by mean foremen.'' Elected union Secretary, Mom gained respect by both company and union members for her knowledge of the bidding system, her ability to handle grievances, and her detailed grasp of the labor contract.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support strengthening the American economy. How? To keep on task creating living-wage jobs for America's workers to lift them into the middle class and to clamp down on billionaires and tax cheats who don't pay their fair share of taxes to balance our budget to keep our economy growing. If you look at what the United Auto Workers are fighting for as we are here on the floor today, they are fighting for what they have worked for. They deserve decent wages. The August jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 178,000 more jobs were added nationally. This is a time of very high job growth in our country, and unemployment is at a near-historic low. Employers in Ohio and across our country have job openings and are hiring, but wages have to go up now, and not only for billionaire owners and financiers. They are not the only ones that should benefit, but the people doing the work--the autoworkers, the waitresses, the tech workers, the people across our country who work in supermarkets. Madam Speaker, please heal your troubled, divided party. Bring us together. Let's not stall out American progress. Let's grow the economy and pay our bills through growth.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an important milestone in Rossford, Ohio's history and the history of our region. The City of Rossford begins a weekend celebration today honoring its founding and the 125 years since. The celebration begins Friday evening with a community-wide grand opening celebration and continues Saturday with a parade and outdoor festivities along with exceptional entertainment. Rossford has a rather unique history. The very definition of a ``company town,'' Rossford was built as a model town by Edward Ford, a founder of the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company. In 1898, Mr. Ford purchased 173 acres along the Maumee River to build the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company. He named the city ``Rossford'' by combining the last name of his second wife, Caroline Ross, with his name. Because Rossford was a ``company town,'' Edward Ford--who was a generous philanthropist--helped to build churches, schools, and homes. In the heyday of the plants' production, grandfather, father, and son all worked for Edward Ford Plate Glass Company or Libbey-Owens-Ford. Edward Ford recruited hundreds of European immigrants, especially Eastern Europeans, to work in his new glass company. Thus, Rossford bears a rich and diverse cultural history including descendants of Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Germany, Belgium, Italy and other European countries. Mr. Ford also encouraged Americans to migrate from other states to work in his factories. The amalgamation of so many different ethnicities and races brought a beautiful heritage to the Rossford community. Even today, organizations and churches in the city trace their own history to that of the early immigrants. The primary North-South and East-West arteries of the eastern United States intersect at Rossford. Thus, in addition to putting our region on the map as ``The Glass Capital of the World'' Rossford is also ``The Crossroads of America.'' It is a city representing small town USA while at the same time committed to a bright future. Even as Edward Ford found Rossford a desirable location 125 years ago and residents through the generations have found it to be true, the area that is now Rossford shares an ancient past as well. In 1963 boys playing in Rossford's Crane's Woods discovered a location where archaeologists later uncovered habitation structures and artifacts including shell-tempered pottery shards, brass decorative objects, and glass beads dating back to the pre-history of Europeans in the 1600s. Burial sites of over 100 individuals were also found. From prehistory, people were successfully living in the region. Today, Rossford remains a thriving community, living up to the success of its founder and the generations who built the city forward. We honor those forefathers and mothers in the events of this weekend, celebrating the past while investing in the future.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 12 Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio who are celebrating their Jubilees in Christ's service. The Sisters and community came together in celebration of the 12 extraordinary milestones of faithful service on June 24, 2023. True to the Mission of the Sisters of St. Francis, the Sisters are ``Called like St. Francis of Assisi to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among all people, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as messengers of peace, commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of all creation.'' The Sisters of St. Francis live always the message of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 25:40, ``Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'' In all things, daily life, prayer, word and deed, the Sisters of St. Francis emulate the life and love, the call for peace, giving instead of receiving, extending hope and imbued in the joys of nature that defined the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Through more than a century, they have cared for our community through ``graced encounters.'' Their unselfish, life-giving commitments have educated, healed and inspired generations of our citizenry to noble callings in building families, community and tending our Earth. These Jubilarians set an ethical standard that permeates our way of life. Celebrating Jubilees in 2023 are: 75th Jubilee: Sister Geraldine Paluszak 60th Jubilee: Sister Brenda Rose Szegedy Sister Carol Ann Grace Sister Carol Hoffman Sister Geraldine Nowak Sister Janet Snyder Sister M. Jeremias Stinson Sister Josephine Dybza Sister M. Josina Antolak Sister Mary Thill Sister Patricia Zielinski 50th Jubilee: Sister Patricia Gardner These Sisters' ministries have guided them to serve as administrators, educators, healers, professionals, master gardeners, pastoral associates and more. They have held the hands of the poor and marginalized, the sick and fragile on difficult journeys. They have shown through charism God's glory. Through decades of caring service these Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio have demonstrated goodness and courage, passion and commitment, faith and grace. We offer them our heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations upon achieving such milestones in ministry. May all blessing continue to attend to their precious lives.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this year, we recognize the 100th anniversary of the equal rights amendment. Today, I rise to commemorate, as well, the 60th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Women in our Nation have made great progress in the fight for pay equality over the past six decades, but it is not nearly enough. We must close the gap. Women in Ohio earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns, and that is unacceptable. This pay gap has an impact on women's ability to excel in the workforce, pay for basic necessities, and build retirement savings for a successful future. This pay disparity has remained relatively stable over the last 20 years, but this status quo will continue unless we work to close it. We must ensure equal compensation across the board and rightfully pay hardworking women their hard-earned dollars. Women are invaluable members in every workplace and deserve equal compensation for equal work. Let us prioritize closing the gender pay gap once and for all and lift up mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and daughters in our workforce.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the lives of the Oddo brothers, 6 men who courageously served their country as naval seamen following the outbreak of WWII. Their father, Charles Oddo, was a Sicilian immigrant who settled in Bellevue, Ohio with his wife Mary. They raised their sons to acknowledge the prestige and privilege of being American citizens. Richard, William, Charles, Samuel, Carl, and James Oddo all faithfully served their nation, and are believed to be the largest set of siblings to serve in the U.S. Navy. Thankfully, all 6 brothers returned home safely to start their lives in their hometown after their honorable service, where the Oddo family still gathers today. Saturday, they will be honored with a plaque at the Dr. Jackson Commemorative Plaque Wall within the Navy memorial. More than 2 dozen family and friends will be in attendance to pay tribute to their heroism. Ohio salutes these exceptional men, who continued to serve their families, neighbors, and communities throughout their lives.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address two topics today: workforce development and President Biden's historic remarks in Vilnius, Lithuania, yesterday. First, on the labor shortage across our country, job openings remain near record highs. I hear repeatedly from businessowners in my district of unprecedented hiring challenges, a sentiment further backed by recent data. The latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate there are one-and-one-half job openings for every person looking for one in Ohio, and the same is true nationally. Due to legislation largely Democrats in Congress have passed, robust job creation is a fantastic achievement. However, if our country wants to achieve a steady growth economy, pay down our debt, and curb inflation for everyday, hardworking Americans, we must do more to address worker shortages. Let's focus on key sectors: manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, business services, the tech industry, culinary arts, and other sectors that are experiencing significant hiring challenges. Local communities must focus on additional education and training, especially for the hardest hit sectors that are recovering from the pandemic. During the pandemic, many experienced workers over the age of 55 retired early, causing large employment gaps. Less experienced workers simply do not have the necessary skills to fill these open positions. These are jobs that pay a living wage, carry benefits, and help families and communities prosper. However, the skills gap hits hardest younger workers and midcareer workers looking for new jobs. Local community job training programs must bolster skills advancement, focusing on these newer entrants and forging more partnerships between industry and local community high schools, colleges, universities, and labor unions. By accelerating workforce training locally, our Nation can increase the availability of specialized skills for workers so people can advance in the marketplace. A better life awaits them and their families, ensures the health of our economy, and increases America's global competitiveness. Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan Act without any Republican votes or support. As a result, the Federal Economic Development Administration's Good Jobs Challenge program helps to fund workforce development training across our country. The Ohio Manufacturers' Association and the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance both have received funding through the American Rescue Plan to expand manufacturing workforce training throughout Ohio. Manufacturing has always been a central spine and backbone of Ohio's middle class. In addition, I have introduced the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act to improve workforce development and job creation in the manufacturing sector. Mr. Speaker, please let me thank my bipartisan colleagues for recognizing the need for investment in manufacturing workforce development. Our bill focuses on lifting up America's workers while strengthening our economy by forging public-private partnerships critical to meeting demands for a capably trained workforce. Quickly, the second issue, Mr. Speaker, I wish to briefly address is President Biden's historic speech in Vilnius, Lithuania, yesterday. Standing with leaders of our fellow democratic nations bonded in mutual self-defense, he clearly celebrated the expansion of NATO as Finland and Sweden joined the longstanding, hard-fought alliance among 30 free nations. We now stand as part of a NATO alliance that is 32 members strong and comprises 15 percent of our globe's population, and the members live in freedom. Delivering his address inside a nation that heroically threw off the yoke of Russian oppression at tremendous cost, the moving ceremony represents a pivotal moment in liberty's advance in world history. We witnessed freedom-loving nations again pledge their consequential, shared commitment to mutual self-defense and support for our ally, Ukraine. While Democrats are working hard domestically on rebuilding the economy, lowering inflation, and solving problems at home, President Biden's leadership ensures that our defense alliances abroad are strengthened. Let us continue to work together to deliver real results for the American people here at home and strengthen liberty's alliances globally.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, the millions of Americans whose families sent loved ones over to the European theater during World War II so liberty could be bequeathed to us understand what an enemy really is and what sacrifice is required. The Ukrainians are fighting their own war against Russia's invasion. History is clear, however, on what horrors transpire when national leaders appease a virulent enemy of liberty. Appeasement is read as cowardice, acquiescence, weakness, and, even worse, succor to the enemy. Give no succor nor encouragement to liberty's enemies. We need to defend freedom. Freedom means never surrendering, never acquiescing, never failing liberty. I ask my colleagues to join me in full support of Ukraine and to defeat any amendments on this floor that in any way would inhibit victory for Ukraine.