Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, in terms of the Great Lakes, for all the States it covers and with the enormous interests of the Great Lakes region, one that we share with Canada, we move into some really complex developmental questions in a region that has lost so many jobs. I see what the gentleman's point is, but I don't agree with him. I stand up in support of all the commissions. I invite the gentleman to travel to these regions and see and meet with the co-chairs of these panels around our country. This is off the subject in a way, but the gentleman's region was heavily impacted by what happened in East Palestine. I haven't seen the gentleman say anything on the floor in support of the mayor of that town or the people of that town. If that had happened in my town, I would have been doing everything in my power to try to move the people out of that region who didn't want to stay there anymore and build them a better community in which to live and find the funds to do that, working with the railroads. I don't see the gentleman addressing issues of concern in his own region. By the way, the part of Pennsylvania that drains into Lake Erie is covered by the Great Lakes Authority, so the gentleman is actually speaking against the interests of his own State on this amendment and a prior one. That is really shocking to me. Mr. Chair, I don't support the gentleman's 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 prevents funds from being used to transfer or delegate control or maintenance responsibility of the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel to any non-Federal entity. Essentially, the gentleman wants the Corps and Bureau of Reclamation to continue paying for this after over 100 years. If folks don't agree with the authorities, laws, and policies of the Bureau of Reclamation, then this is the type of matter that should be properly vetted through the regular order of committees of jurisdiction in this House, not through a funding prohibition. For these reasons, I cannot support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, the first thing I would like to say to the gentleman from Texas is that our country is probably going to have 400 million people by 2050, and we are going to have to make some changes to accommodate them. We may not agree on what those are, but we can't live in 1950. It just simply isn't that Nation anymore. This amendment prohibits funds for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order No. 1920. That is a transmission and cost allocation rule that requires the Nation's transmission providers to plan for the transmission we know we will need in the future. I live in a region that was wiped out back in about the early 2000s. What happened was one energy company goofed and turned off a switch, and it blacked out the entire Midwest, Northeast, and Canada, costing us $9 billion in economic activity and nine lives that were lost. Now, it was upsetting that the grid was so integrated that we couldn't save the Ohioans that were damaged in that situation. I felt the transmission was old back then, and I know it is old now. The FERC order 1920 is a transmission and cost allocation rule that requires the Nation's providers, the transmission providers, to plan for the transmission we know we will use in the future. Frankly, we need it right now. This rule adopts specific requirements addressing how transmission providers must conduct long-term planning for regional transmission facilities and determine how to pay for them so that the needed transmission is built. This rule was the first time in more than a decade that FERC has addressed the regional transmission policy. Boy, can we be a witness to that in the Midwest. We know when it wasn't there. We could see the lines just sag when the outage occurred. To maintain a reliable electric grid and ensure that we meet our growing clean energy demands, studies show we may need to expand transmission by 60 percent by 2030. A resilient and reliable energy grid is also critical in confronting extreme weather and climate events that will only increase in severity. We see them every month. It is clear that we need to improve how our country plans, pays for, and builds the electric grid of the future. Finally, this rule was developed and voted on by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and so on. The final rule reflected more than 15,000 pages of comments from nearly 200 stakeholders, the ones that could understand how to submit comments. This rule is one step in the much larger, complex puzzle to ensure that we have a reliable and efficient electric grid as our Nation's energy needs change in the coming decades. A lot of people around this country are producing on property now. They don't need to go up to the grid. Maybe if things happen on their property, they have to bring down power from the grid. That ability has to be there, too. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment and help us prepare for the future, for heaven's sake. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. America can't live in the past. We have to adapt to the new reality. During 2023, just last year, there were 28 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters costing over $92 billion. I say to my colleague from Texas, he has had some rough weather down there, too. Not just rough weather, but coming off the Gulf, those fierce incidents that occurred in Texas. I don't know how much it cost, but they are part of that $92 billion. You have had some real energy problems down there with shutoffs and all. I don't know what it is like to live in Texas. I have visited there a couple of times. You can't deny reality. I don't know what has happened to property insurance rates in Texas, but I can tell you what, every single bill that I get has gone up for our house insurance, the property insurance and so forth. Some places in Florida, they are not even selling insurance anymore. They can't get insurance on their property. These incidents are severe, and there have already been 15 confirmed billion-dollar weather and climate disasters this year. Let's look at reality. Tell the American citizens who lost businesses, homes, and loved ones from hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters that there are no costs from climate change. Are you kidding? We have to adapt to a new reality and help our people, not turn our backs on them. We must maintain American leadership also in the clean energy field because otherwise we cede it to China and to other places, and we are weakened by that as a country. We have to embrace the future reality. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. KAPTUR. Texas has a lot of wind farms and so forth. Are you saying none of them are any good?

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The bill already cuts 43 percent in this account for energy efficiency and renewable energy. I don't really understand the gentleman from Texas, a lot of the things that he throws out there. If you look at where agriculture is going in my part of the country, where it is going is John Deere is on track to make a 100 percent ethanol-powered tractor. If I had said that to the gentleman 25 years ago, he would say: Well, I can't think about that. That can't happen. Guess what? It is happening. For the eight counties I represent, the rural parts of those counties, one-half of soybeans and corn go into making that fuel. We are very proud of it. We are very proud of it. It is renewable energy. In terms of solar, you say: Why do you need this? When solar first got started in my area by individual entrepreneurs-- okay, inventors--the Federal Government, the Department of Energy didn't even know about what they were doing. They took their technology to the Department of Energy. Now they laud what the people were doing. Guess what their problem was. It was getting financing and getting help to bring their technology forward because they weren't a big company, and they didn't have any of those angel investors like Texas has. Out where I live, the people have made it forward by their own creativity and hard work. We flew the first biofuel F-16 out of our National Guard base in Ohio. It didn't come out of Texas. It didn't come out of Tucson, it came out of our area because of the creativity our people. Where this Department comes in and where this program comes in is for the Americans who are out there today who are inventing something new and need a little bit of help in order to get it across the finish line. I want to help them, and I am looking toward advances in biofuels, in hydrogen, and hydrogen fuel cells. Yes, in solar. I am not against solar. Wind energy, you have more of that. We have quite a bit in Ohio now, too. Geothermal, thermal heat recovery, advanced manufacturing efficiencies, we are seeing those every day. Weatherization and building materials, I can't get into all of that in the brief time I have. It is a revolution, and it is exciting. It is exciting to be a part of America's future. Our dominance in the solar industry, if we can get there, could result in an up to $1.3 trillion market and 500,000 jobs. We are up to about 200,000 jobs right now in that field, and we need more people to specialize in the electricity of solar. We can choose to give up American leadership in these technologies by cutting further innovations, or we can embrace the future of the global energy economy, and that is what I want to do. Therefore, Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' against this harmful amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, this amendment raises serious constitutional issues and may amount to an unconstitutional bill of attainder. This is not the way to handle policy disputes with Secretary Granholm, who is a very highly qualified, dedicated public servant. I have never actually heard this. These are serious charges, and this amendment prioritizes legislative theater over the American people and has no chance of becoming law. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann).

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, the gentlewoman's amendment is another example of the majority proposing language that is not germane to an energy bill. It is yet an additional illustration of how Republicans are not interested in 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 thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment and say that I can still recall in this country when the first Arab oil embargo occurred in the late 1970s, and this country was shut down because we were not energy independent inside our borders. When they chose to close the spigot, unemployment in my area shot up to nearly 20 percent. During this war in Ukraine that we are experiencing now, what does Russia do? It tries to divert its oil shipments here and many other places around the world in order to use that power to achieve its political ends. Energy is vital, and it can be used as a weapon. We have to be energy independent inside these borders. The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations was established in order to scale up emerging technologies. We cannot just rely on the past. This is an agile country. We have to build the future. This office focuses on advanced nuclear, for example. It focuses on carbon capture and energy improvements, both in rural or remote areas as well as the reclaiming of former mine lands. We are looking at smaller nuclear reactors in some of those places, industrial demonstrations, working with the steel industry. They have made a revolution in energy savings. It is exciting to see. Their strategy includes energy storage demonstrations, regional clean hydrogen hubs, which I hope someday to get in my area because I so believe in hydrogen fuel cells, but we have to push the technology further than it is and others yet to be invented, certainly in the thermal energy recapture field. Mr. Chair, we must continue to invest in an all-of-the-above strategy to make this country energy independent in perpetuity. We cannot lose our momentum, and, unfortunately, I believe your amendment does exactly that, loses momentum. It helps to throttle scientific innovation, which is what the Department of Energy has in all of our 17 labs, everything that is being done. The average business that is out there can't do some of what the Department of Energy can help them do with a supercomputing capacity and with its ability to deal with rare minerals and so forth. The amendment may be well-intentioned in the offering, but I have to oppose it, however, because I really think it drives America backward, and that is not where we need to be at this moment in history. Mr. Chair, I urge Members to vote against this amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I claim the time opposition to the amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition. I rise in reluctant opposition to this amendment. It transfers $10 million to the grid deployment account from the energy efficiency and renewable energy account for the purposes to enhance the security of existing electrical transformers from cyber threats and from physical attacks from individuals. While I very much support the intent behind this amendment to enhance the security of existing electrical transformers from cyber threats and physical attacks, I cannot support the source of the funds for the amendment, the energy and efficiency and renewable energy accounts, which have already been cut by 43 percent. Further cutting these programs, even for noble purposes, is not in our Nation's interest. We can choose to give up American leadership in these technologies by cutting further innovation, or we can embrace the future of the global energy economy on all levels. I point out that the Department of Energy's work to support and secure the transformer supply chain spans across the Office of Electricity, Grid Deployment, and Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response with other programs also contributing. I hope the gentleman can continue to work toward his objective, but we will oppose this particular amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Dennis Charles Duffey, a dedicated family man, a Vietnam veteran, a great labor leader, and a community servant who recently passed away on July 17 at 77. Raised in central Toledo, he attended Macomber Vocational Technical High School and volunteered for the Navy before graduating, serving on a vessel in the Pacific during the Vietnam war until his honorable discharge. He went on to a remarkable 50-year career with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 8, five times elected as its business manager and its State secretary-treasurer for 10 years. His leadership was transformative, growing its ranks by 60 percent while initiating pioneering programs in workforce development and member benefits. His commitment to fair labor practices allowed working men and women across Ohio to advance to the middle class. Dennis' love for his family was immense as a doting father, grandfather, and GG Papa. Dennis lived this motto: There is nothing too good for the working man. Dennis' legacy of hard work, good humor, always that great smile, humility, and love is cherished by all who knew him. May his loved ones find comfort now that he is no longer suffering. Dennis has earned a restful peace. He surely was a really good guy.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced the bipartisan Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2024. Let me thank my fellow bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus co- chairs and other Members who are strong supporters of Ukraine for introducing this legislation. Our bill renews the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022. It enables resumption of the previously granted enhanced authority for the President to lend or lease military equipment and weapons to Ukraine. It will assist Ukraine to defend its people and sovereign territory as they face illegal and unprovoked Russian aggression orchestrated by Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian people are fighting fiercely for their homeland. During World War II, after the United States was attacked by Imperial Japan, we projected strength and liberty as the arsenal of democracy. We utilized authorities like those contained in this bill to support and defend our besieged Allies. Without such effort, the Axis powers would have won the day. As democracy's shield, our Nation, together with our Allies, must stand against tyranny. By engaging every avenue of support available, including through the authorities in this legislation, that will yield victory sooner rather than later. Mr. Speaker, I invite all of our Members to join us to cosponsor this bill.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the historic 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit being held here in Washington, D.C. We recognize 75 years of this indispensable NATO alliance for liberty, founded in the wake of the free world's great victory over tyranny in World War II. This week, 32 world leaders gather in Washington to demonstrate NATO's unity and strength, facing greater threats to our shared security from the likes of Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. The Biden administration, along with bipartisan support in Congress, have strengthened NATO, including the important addition of Finland and Sweden. NATO, led by the United States and our allies, has stood resolute with our partner in liberty, Ukraine, against Vladimir Putin's tyranny and Russia's unprovoked illegal invasion of Ukraine that could trigger the largest war on the European continent since World War II. That, we must avoid. Let people free stand with our NATO allies working together in alliance protecting America and the rest of our free world.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate a local small business that has served our northwest Ohio community for 95 years. I congratulate Rick and Mike Deye, father and son owners-operators of Hale Performance Coatings, who are celebrating 95 years of business in Toledo. Phil Hale started Hale Chrome Services on Albion Street in 1929, during the height of the Great Depression. Gordon Deye, an employee of Mr. Hale, eventually bought the business and continued to build on the Hale legacy. Mr. Deye famously loved to say, ``If you give the customer quality and service, the rest will follow,'' a motto that Hale still lives by to this day. Today, Hale is owned and operated by Mike Deye, who represents the third generation of Deye family ownership. Over the years, Hale grew from its humble beginnings, expanding its original location, creating a second building on campus, and purchasing another building on Albion Street in the heart of Toledo. Hale remains committed to family ownership and reinvesting in our Toledo community as the largest and oldest local business along the vast Monroe Street corridor. I look forward to 2029, when Hale celebrates 100 years. Onward, Hale.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a milestone occasion in the life and history of one Northwest Ohio family. On June 29, 2024 the Hirzel Family will come together for the 100th time in reunion. I am pleased to include in the Record the family's history as told to me: ``In 1871, Alexander Hirzel of Diessbach in the canton of Bern, Switzerland married Elisabeth Studer. They had five sons and two daughters. After Elisabeth died, Alexander married her sister, Marie Studer, in 1886. Alexander and Marie had six sons and three daughters. The descendants will gather on June 30, 2024 for the 100th Annual Reunion of the Descendants of Alexander Hirzel and Elisabeth and Marie Studer-Hirzel. Descendants have included 16 children, 33 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, 146 great-great grandchildren, 208 great-great-great grandchildren--and still growing with 45 great-great-great-great-grandchildren plus hundreds of spouses. ``In the 1890s, the Hirzel-Studer family settled in the Toledo area. The descendants have had a significant impact on Northwest Ohio. In 1924, the family was involved in founding the Swiss Hall on South St. Clair Street in Toledo. The Swiss Hall served as a gathering spot for Swiss immigrants and their descendants and also housed the Toledo United Swiss Society. In 1974, the Toledo United Swiss Society sold the Swiss Hall and joined six German societies in founding Oak Shade Grove in Oregon, Ohio which is the location of the 100th Annual Family Reunion. ``Originally, many family members worked in the alcohol business as bar owners and blew masters. Yet the family's trajectory changed when Prohibition put them out of these businesses. Beginning in 1920, the family started other businesses. Alexander's son, Alfred, founded Alfred Hirzel and Sons Greenhouses in what is now Northwood, Ohio. Alfred's brother Carl bought a farm in Northwood and in 1923 established Hirzel Canning Company & Farms. Brother Ernest started Hirzel Coal and Builder's Supply in Toledo. In 1924, brothers Otto and Eugene started Hirzel Brothers Florist in Toledo. Hirzel Canning Company & Farms and Hirzel Brothers Florist still exist today. ``The reunion began as elders became concerned that the family was growing and moving beyond the Toledo area, and they wanted to establish an annual event that would bring the entire extended family together. So in 1924, family members organized the first Reunion of the Descendants of Alexander Hirzel and Elisabeth and Marie Studer-Hirzel at the Hirzel Canning Company on Lemoyne Road in Northwood. ``On June 30, 2024, for the 100th time in 100 years, the descendants will gather to honor their Swiss and American Heritage and to blend the generations and the branches of the Hirzel-Studer family. Since inception, aside from a social gathering, the family reunion has included a formal business meeting run by Robert's Rules of Order with minutes recorded by a Secretary. During this meeting, family members raise issues of concern to the extended family, vote on resolutions and elect officers. This business meeting has been an integral part of the annual family reunion for a century.'' The Hirzel family has been a cornerstone of business and community leadership for more than 150 years. It is astounding that they have been able to come together as a family for 100 consecutive years. Yet, as successful and noted as Hirzel Family businesses--now in operation through the fourth generation--this annual family reunion demonstrates the Hirzel family lives by a credo of Walt Disney: ``A man should never neglect his family for business.'' We wish the members of the Hirzel family, descendants of Alexander Hirzel and Elisabeth and Marie Studer-Hirzel who came to this corner of Ohio so many generations ago, a reunion filled with love and laughter, joy and inspiration, reflection and memory. May they continue forward with full hearts as an intergenerational family that has distinguished itself personally and professionally for a century of American progress.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Ohio, the Honorable Michael A. Rulli, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.