Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong appreciation of our Ohio National Guardsmen, who have valiantly served Ohio's food banks during the COVID-19 pandemic. As their mission closes this Friday, let us commend the women and men in uniform whose selfless duty helped meet unprecedented need. Ohio's food banks served up to 150,000 more Ohioans monthly during this pandemic and saw 3 in 10 people seeking out emergency food assistance for the first time. With the food banks' core volunteer force sidelined, the Ohio National Guard deployed over 400 members to help meet the human challenge. These women and men are owed a significant debt of gratitude. Let us offer our deepest thanks to the Ohio National Guard adjutant general, Major General John Harris, whose leadership and swift organization implemented the Guard's mission with great precision. I thank the Ohio Association of Foodbanks executive director, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt; the Toledo SeaGate executive director, Mindy Rapp; the Toledo Food Bank president and CEO, James Caldwell; the Second Harvest of North Central Ohio president and CEO, Julie Chase-Morefield; and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank president and CEO, Kristin Warzocha. These tireless teams put a human face on America. Congratulations to them all.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to call my colleagues' attention to the dire need for Congress to continue building upon recent progress to unlock the mysteries of the human brain and serious mental illness. Along with other legislation we are working on in the field of health, we have to create and pass robust mental health legislation. Alongside other members of our Congressional Mental Health Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, we are pulling together legislation to establish a comprehensive Mental Health Crisis Response Act. I invite all of our colleagues to please work with our bipartisan working group. America has waited too long. The fundamentals of our social economy depend on the good health of our citizenry, and their ability to access quality and affordable behavioral health services has for too long been ignored. Countless constituents face insurance barriers when accessing mental health services, and we must address the negative social and physical determinants of health that cause trauma and tragic illnesses. It is time for us to take meaningful action. Again, I invite my colleagues to join us in preparing this important legislation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my very able colleague, Congressman Casten, for the opportunity to join him and Congresswoman Castor, the leaders of this marvelous committee on climate change. I thank them very much for leading our country and world in this regard. My goal as chair of the House Energy and Water Subcommittee is to help them and help our generation embrace a better future for those that will follow. We must sustain life on Earth. Let us all help our country and world meet the challenges as we face the dawn of this new climate change era. The clean energy future of our Nation and our ability to reboot and reenergize the domestic manufacturing economy depends on climate- related infrastructure programs for inventing that new future. Addressing climate change will create and even bring back good paying jobs right here at home. Addressing climate change is our portal to sustain life on Earth for generations to come. Headlines coast to coast, as others have referenced, tell part of the story. Yes, the Earth is warming. The rate of increase for damaging weather events is unrelenting. Each of us, and each of our districts, have personally experienced the impacts of this historic change. If we fail to address the hastening crisis, it is to our collective peril. As a small first step, I would urge every American who may be listening to plant trees. Yes, everyone can do something. A first simple step is to plant a tree to capture the carbon that is already in the air, and the tree will produce oxygen to help you breathe, and to help your children breathe and your neighbors. It is amazing what happens. Cleveland, Ohio, used to be known as ``forest city.'' We have a big job to do in replanting many of the trees that have aged-out over the years, and making Cleveland, and places like it, a much more oxygen- rich community. Addressing climate change will help human health. As America stands at a crossroads in this new energy age, we must ensure that infrastructure includes strategic investments in energy, clean energy, climate, and water resources innovation. Technologies and innovation driven by the Department of Energy are already helping to address climate change. They already have markedly driven down the cost of wind, solar, energy storage, and efficient lightbulbs by 60 to 95 percent just since 2008, and we are not done yet. They have led to widespread deployment and consumer savings. New innovations will lead to new opportunities. In my own home region, I was very pleased to be at the birth of a company called First Solar, now the largest in the Nation, invented locally using cadmium- telluride technology. And now, just recently in the past month, First Solar has announced the hiring of an additional 500 new employees in good jobs to match the thousands they already employ, to meet an unmet market demand. Reversing the impacts of climate change will create good paying jobs like these across every State in our country. Already there are more Americans working in energy efficiency and energy production than as waiters and waitresses. Think about that. That is in a very short time, and more jobs to come. We must continue to innovate and lead in these areas, so our Nation is not left behind. As people in communities succeed, so will America. As someone said to me, Marcy, what America makes, makes America. My, gosh, do I agree with that. The Biden administration has been clear from day one about the need to urgently address the climate crisis, and I am excited that the President's American Jobs Plan will create new jobs by reinvesting in areas and workers too often left behind, and they will help save our planet and sustain all of us and those who will follow us. We cannot lose sight of the importance of including climate-related and job-creating proposals in any infrastructure package. In fact, any package that aims to build back better must do that. Climate change can be addressed by every community across our country. Innovation, intelligence, and environmental patriotism should drive this new national imperative. As we watch President Joe Biden in his foreign trip meet the leaders of democracies across Europe this week, we watch America lead these democracies of the world in protecting Mother Earth for those who will follow us. It really is a daunting time, but it is also an inspiring time. And any time America has ever set a goal, it has always achieved it.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, small family farms account for 90 percent of all U.S. farms. These farms are vital to local communities and economies, and they provide fresh produce for their local farmers' markets, farm-to-school programs, soup kitchens, and a host of other local consumer activity. Sales attributed to these farmers can total up to $12 billion annually. I was thrilled to see President Biden's administration, through the Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, recently announce $400 million in funding to support local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers. This is dedicated funding that will go directly toward local producers and local and regional food systems to help revitalize the essential farming that makes America proud. I was also pleased that the administration included Secretary Vilsack in its new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. This will address the unfair trade practices that have allowed for cheap and unjust agriculture labor practices to continue at home and abroad. They have allowed large agriculture companies to thrive and put their food all over grocers' shelves, while our small farmers struggle to put food on their own tables. This decisive action to increase domestic competitiveness is what our small family farmers need to regain their footing and make it economically viable to farm for their communities and our country. I hope my colleagues will join me in this congratulatory note.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I rise to reaffirm transatlantic solidarity in advance of President Biden's meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. I am so thankful to President Biden, who is personally committed to liberty in Ukraine. I was proud to travel with him and Senator McCain to Ukraine in 2015, for President Poroshenko's inauguration. As President Biden knows well, Vladimir Putin is an enemy of liberty. Ukraine faces its seventh year of brutal Russian aggression that has led to over 14,000 deaths. Putin's thugs gunned down liberty defenders like Boris Nemtsov and so many more freedom lovers. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record Amnesty International's deeply troubling human rights report on Russia. Russia Russian Federation Head of state: Vladimir Putin Head of government: Mikhail Mishustin (replaced Dmitry Medvedev in January) The COVID-19 pandemic exposed chronic under-resourcing in health care. The authorities used the pandemic as a pretext to continue the crackdown on all dissent, including through amendments to a vaguely worded law on ``fake news'' and tightening restrictions on public gatherings. Peaceful protesters, human rights defenders and civic and political activists faced arrest and prosecution. Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses intensified. Torture remained endemic, as did near total impunity for perpetrators. The right to a fair trial was routinely violated while legal amendments resulted in a further reduction in judicial independence. Reports of domestic violence rose sharply during COVID-19 lockdown measures, although the draft law on domestic violence remained stalled in Parliament. LGBTI people continued to face discrimination and persecution. Thousands of labour migrants lost their jobs during the pandemic but were unable to leave because of border closures. Evidence emerged to corroborate allegations of war crimes by Russian forces in Syria.

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, a successful meeting with Putin can only be accomplished proceeding from a position of strength. While I am deeply concerned the administration waived Nord Stream 2 sanctions, I am pleased President Biden invited President Zelensky to a White House visit. I am also grateful the administration announced $150 million in security assistance to Ukraine. This week, President Biden has an opportunity to pivot from the Trump administration's disastrous legacy that left the transatlantic relationship in tatters. The Congress and our caucus stand ready to work with the administration to counter Russian aggression by increasing Ukraine's security and democracy assistance. Onward liberty. Onward Ukraine.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the Reverend Dr. John Roberts, Pastor of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo, for his 56 years of service in Jesus Christ. Our community joined his congregation in celebration of this heralded event on June 6, 2021. I chronicled Pastor Roberts' life in an Extension of Remarks in April 2005 upon the very special occasion of his fortieth anniversary. This 56th year, Pastor Roberts will be elevated to the honorable status of Pastor Emeritus. Born in Bryant, Mississippi in 1927 to George and Melvina Roberts, John E. Roberts came to Toledo, Ohio in 1944. A founding member of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, he has been part of the church since it was organized in 1946. As noted in his biography, ``He has served and walked in the footsteps of most positions in the church, from custodian to Pastor'' and was called to pastor the church on the 3rd Sunday of January l965. Even while Pastor, he pursued his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Religious Education degrees in 1975, his Master of Theology in 1984, and his Doctorate in Biblical Theology in 1985. His biography highlights his many roles in his capacity as pastor: teacher, preacher, counsellor, and builder. The biography notes he is ``Christ-like in devotion: strong in faith and mighty in prayer. His life, with its results, is a never-failing inspiration and challenges people of all ages and races, creating strong men around him.'' Though Pastor Roberts has been the guiding light of his congregation and family for decades, standing beside him always has been his wife, First Lady Mother Bernice Roberts. Pastor and First Lady Mother Roberts are partners in all ways and ``jointly through the Grace of God they have mastered certain techniques that involve the ability to compromise, understand, cooperate, give and take, adjusting for better, not worse, knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord.'' Pastor and Mother Roberts were blessed to celebrate their 71st anniversary this year, on April 6. Together their family includes children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Pastor Roberts' service to the membership of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church blazed a path of leadership as he grew the church over many decades. His congregation blossomed from dozens to thousands as he shared the Word of the Lord, his devotion and wisdom, and his unique gifts. In addition to his leadership in the church, Pastor Roberts' imprimatur in our community is writ large. A highly respected community leader, he has served on many Toledo area organizations, lending his expertise and counsel well beyond the doors of his church. Reverend Dr. John E. Roberts came to retirement at age 93 in March of 2021. He was the oldest serving Baptist pastor in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, and the Nation. As Pastor Emeritus, I am certain he will continue Christ's Message of Love and follow Psalms 78:72, ``So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart. And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.'' We are grateful for Pastor Roberts' unique and precious gifts including an irrepressible, wry sense of humor, brilliant smile, twinkling eyes, and a master of biblical text. A man of the Word, he kept his word. His life inspired others from all walks of life to follow his steady lead. The Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church building he led his congregation to construct, and then expand several times, serves as a foundation stone for the revitalization of the near west neighborhood that hugs Toledo's downtown. When Pastor Roberts set a course, he always arrived at the destination.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, l rise to introduce the ``Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2021.'' This bipartisan and bicameral legislation has broad support from a cross section of members on both sides of the aisle. The bill would authorize a grant program to law enforcement departments and corrections officers at the state, local territorial and tribal level to obtain vital behavioral health crisis response training to more safely and effectively resolve behavioral health crisis situations. Funding for this training would be authorized under the Byrne JAG program funding. I would like to thank Congressman Anthony Gonzalez for his partnership and collaboration on today's legislation. I would also like to thank both Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator James Inhofe who introduced this bill as companion legislation in the Senate earlier this week. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, supplies grants to local law enforcement entities for public safety initiatives. Grants authorized under this bill will be managed through Byrne JAG Prevention and Education programming. Law enforcement officers are often the fist responders to behavioral health crises. And correctional officers must deal with difficult and fast changing mental health situations, which if not handled appropriately, put the life and safety of inmates and officers at risk. One in every 10 calls for police response involve a person suffering from a mental illness; 1 in every 4 people killed by police suffer from a mental health problem; 1 in 3 people transported to a hospital emergency room for psychiatric reasons are taken by the police. When responding to calls, law enforcement officers need to be prepared to respond to all possible scenarios and, with increasing frequency, we're seeing that involve behavioral health crises. By improving training for these types of responses, we can better keep our officers safe, ensure individuals in crisis are treated with dignity, and improve trust amongst affected communities. Our nation owes a deep debt of gratitude to the men and women managing these situations, and this bill takes an important step to provide resources to help better manage mental health crisis situations involving police and corrections officers. Today's legislation is supported by both the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Tactical Officers Association.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to the dire need for Congress to continue building upon recent investments in mental health care. The American Rescue Plan funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is commendable but Congress must hone its focus to address this ongoing crisis by working to create and pass comprehensive mental health legislation. I, alongside Members of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and the Bipartisan Mental Health and Addiction Taskforce, are working to pull together key pieces of legislation to establish a comprehensive Mental Health Crisis Response Act. I ask my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to please work with us and send bills our way to present to leadership and the White House, as the fundamentals of our social economy depend on the good health of our citizenry and their ability to access quality and affordable behavioral health services. Throughout my 38 years in Congress, I have heard countless stories from constituents who face barriers when accessing essential mental health services. We must work to overcome these issues. Further, we must enhance our Nation's capacity to address the negative social and physical determinants of health that cause trauma and behavioral health problems, as well as deploy more effective upstream prevention strategies. It's past time for Congress to take meaningful action, targeting provider shortages, reimbursement parity, housing support, treatment, and increased Federal funding to push the bounds of Federal research. Full recovery from the pandemic will be contingent upon addressing the behavioral health conditions of our population, because mental health is public health.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, the criminal invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th created an unprecedented test for liberty lovers to respond and protect democracy for generations to come. We owe it to our law enforcement community, and indeed everyone who works in or visits our Capitol, to respond with means to recover and rebuild from the insurrection, The U.S. Capitol holds national and international significance as the temple of liberty and representational democracy. The invaders, many in paramilitary attire more modern and protective than what our own officers were provided, exposed gaps and weaknesses at the highest levels. Our failure to act now only invites our greatest adversaries an open door to further harm. We continue to mourn the officers we lost, those who were physically injured, and the countless who continue to suffer from mental and emotional distress. Let us act in their honor. Through Chairwoman DeLauro's leadership, the Appropriations Committee held extensive hearings and conversations with security experts, gathering critical recommendations to address the immediate security needs. As such, this bill provides $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations to: Provide funds to repair the physical wounds to the Capitol Complex and build back with stronger security enhancements. It invests in means to protect Members of Congress, congressional staff, and visitors following the recommendations of the Capitol Security Review. It provides resources to the United States Capitol Police for officer salaries, equipment, training, and mental health counseling. And provides resources for enhanced security for Members of Congress. Today, Congress must provide confidence to our Capitol Hill community that the safety and security of all who work within and visit the temple of liberty remains a top priority. I encourage all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine, Hungary, and Poland Caucuses, Member of the Baltic Caucus, and friend to liberty-lovers across Central and Eastern Europe, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act. I am thankful to my colleague Congressman Kinzinger of Illinois for his co-leadership and partnership on this measure, as well as his commitment to liberty in Europe. The United States and our NATO allies and partners in Central and Eastern Europe face down increased threats from global actors like a rising China and a belligerent Russia that seek to export their malign influence and undermine democratic institutions. China seeks to compromise allied critical digital infrastructure by using state-linked companies like Huawei and ZTE to unfairly induce our allies to procure insecure telecommunications equipment and services. Given immense economic potential from rapid 50 deployment, European countries feel significant pressure to use dangerous Huawei equipment despite the political risks. Bipartisan current and former U.S. officials and civil society members have recognized the threat of malign influence over critical telecommunications networks. 5G networks will serve as the backbone of artificial intelligence platforms with immense national security and domestic economic implications. Given these critical national security needs, the United States must provide our allies alternatives to Chinese financing and provide increased diplomatic support to our allies to ensure secure telecommunications lines. This legislation would authorize the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to provide financing for cross-border 5G telecommunications infrastructure development to our allies. This financing is key to remove risky and threatening equipment and replace it with secure equipment. The legislation seeks to increase resilience in countries in the region whose infrastructure deficit from the Soviet-era makes them especially vulnerable to malign Chinese influence, including among nations in the Three Seas Initiative. Additionally, this bill directs the Secretary of State and other relevant agency heads to prioritize diplomacy and project support with European allies and partners to develop 5G markets that are inclusive, transparent, economically viable, socially sustainable, and compliant with international law. Finally, this legislation ensures the United States is leading with our European allies to develop international SG standards that favor democratic institutions, not further authoritarianism spread by China and Russia. I am so thankful for the support of the Central and East Europe Coalition, the National Federation of Croatian Americans, as well as the embassies of Czechia, Estonia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, and Slovenia. The U.S. Congress must act to ensure the security of our NATO allies and partners. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation and look forward to working with Rep. Kinzinger towards this bill's passage.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as our Nation approaches Memorial Day 2021, I am deeply privileged to enter into the Congressional Record the true story of a great soldier and an agonizing battle during the War in Vietnam. The story recounts the superhuman valor of a great army soldier named John Eade, heroic son of my hometown of Toledo, Ohio. John is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. He is a faithful friend and a true patriot, a superlatively strong soldier, yet a humble decorated warrior for liberty. Yes, he is a Purple Heart and more. He has been tested beyond human limits his entire life. He has triumphed against overwhelming odds, including lifelong war wounds, time and time again. In November 1965, Sergeant John Eade, then 21, was deployed in Vietnam, a fire team leader in the 1st Calvary division and its ill- fated 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company. On November 14, 1965, Sergeant Eade and his team were sent to reinforce their sister battalion that was engaged in very heavy fighting at Landing Zone X-Ray in La Drang Valley. Two days later, believing the enemy was destroyed and the worst fighting seemingly over, the 1st and 2nd Platoons Bravo were all choppered out. But John Eade and his team left Landing Zone X-ray the morning of November 17, marching 10 kilometers to nearby Landing Zone Albany. They were the first to arrive. They established the command post and defense perimeter, and other companies were still coming up the trail. Sergeant Eade, with Alpha's 2nd Platoon, was sent into the trees to the left while the 1st Platoon went right. That is when the two much larger North Vietnamese regiments encamped nearby attacked. Sergeant Eade's platoon was immediately pinned down in ferocious hand-to-hand combat as the North Vietnamese swarmed down on them through the trees. Sergeant Eade reflected, ``it was like a gang fight. It was small groups of us versus small groups of them. It got down to knives. It got down to choking people.'' Sergeant Eade and his team, Wilbert Johnson, Barry Burnite, and Oscar Barker, Jr., tried to outflank the attacking Vietnamese but were badly outnumbered. Eade recounts: ``Burnite, a machine gunner, was hit in the chest by shrapnel and his gun was disabled. Johnson, his crewman, dragged Burnite 30 meters back to a position of cover in an effort to save him.'' Eade recounted, ``It was the greatest feat of human strength I have ever witnessed. I don't know if Burnite was still alive.'' Johnson and Barker holed up amongst some trees and continued to fight. Johnson was killed and Eade was shot in the gut and the right shoulder, forcing him to fire his M-16 left-handed. Under RPC fire, Eade said his legs and boots were sprayed with shrapnel that left a large piece stuck in his foot, leaving him unable to walk. Barker tended to Eade's wounds. Everyone else was dead. Eade urged Barker to flee 50 meters beyond the woods where the command element was situated. Barker refused. Shortly thereafter, Barker was shot and Eade attended him as he slowly died. Eade later reflected: ``I don't think anyone who studies war doesn't get stuck on the Battle of Thermopylae. It is that thing of standing our ground to the last man. If you had your chance to cut out or stay, you would have stayed.'' Despite some misgivings, according to official records, the U.S. Command Post called in a napalm strike on Sergeant Eade's position. As a result, Sergeant Eade was set on fire and severely burned because of the air strike. He was further weakened but still alive. He managed to roll in the dirt to put out the flames. Sergeant Eade recalled that, among his problems, the napalm proved inconsequential. In fact, he said, ``the napalm served a purpose by flushing the enemy out and gave me an opportunity to reduce the Vietcong numbers.'' Later in the afternoon, still conscious but bleeding, he said he was surprised by the sudden appearance of three enemy soldiers behind him. ``There were three North Vietnamese looking at me, one with a pistol.'' Eade said he shot and killed two, but was shot in the face by the one with the pistol. The small caliber bullet destroyed his right eye socket and shattered parts of the sinus, making it difficult to breathe. He was knocked unconscious. When he came to, the third Vietnamese was gone. Small groups of North Vietnamese continued moving through the area until about midnight, Eade said. And he stopped using his rifle after dark so he wouldn't give away his position. He said he managed to crawl around and throw grenades at some parties he assumed were removing their dead after midnight. The enemy activity ended. He recalls it was a struggle to stay awake. He was on his third night without sleep and believed if he fell asleep, he would be found and killed. Dawn came. He was still alive, though horribly wounded. Around 9 or 10 in the morning, Infantryman Eade said he heard someone moving toward him. He prepared to shoot but held his fire and then saw the shape of an American helmet. ``I yelled at them, `Give me some water.' I was really thirsty. He looked at me and said, `You're shot in the stomach. I can't give you water.' I told him I had been drinking water all night. But the soldier said `no.' So I asked him for some morphine. I told him I used mine up on the other wounded. It really hurts. The soldier said: `You are shot in the head. I can't give you morphine.' So I said, `Well, give me a cigarette.' They gave me that. And he said he never stopped smoking after that.'' John Eade was awarded the Purple Heart. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the entire story of John Eade, a great American soldier. John Eade: ``I Am Going To Die Well'' [From the Boston Herald, Nov. 15, 2010] (By Jules Crittenden) There are people who have the ability to surprise you with the evidence, against long odds, that it is possible to retain a sense of wonder, some ideals and even wistful dreams, when cynicism, demons and nightmares should have won out a long time ago. John Eade is like that, the kind of person you're always glad to see. You know you'll walk away with a little of that energy he barely manages to conceal behind a quiet facade, still retaining in his 60s--despite severe war wounds--an infantryman's ability to walk 25 miles on short notice. And you know Eade will always leave you with something to think about--like what he had say about the Spartans at Thermopylae, when the movie ``300'' came out a few years back. It came up in one of our late-night phone conversations. Eade said he had been captivated by the story when he was in high school in Toledo, Ohio. Forty-odd years later, he was still. ``I don't think anyone who studies war doesn't get stuck on Thermopylae. It's that thing of standing your ground to the last man,'' Eade said. ``Three days of fighting set up the Persians for their ultimate defeat. It changed history. It has taken on mythic proportions. You want to be one of the 300. If you had your chance to cut out or stay, you'd have stayed.'' Eade said it almost casually, like any of us would do that. Most people can only wonder if they would. But Eade knows what he is talking about. He's an authority on the subject. In November 1965, Sgt. John Eade, then 21, was in Vietnam, among the first American regulars there, a fire-team leader in 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion of the historically ill-fated 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. They had already seen some combat, and as former paratroopers turned Air Cav, were a confident, well-trained and cohesive unit. Over Nov. 14, 15, and 16, elements of 2/7 Cav were sent in to reinforce its sister battalion, 1/7 Cav, in the heavy fight at Landing Zone X-ray in the la Orang valley, where a reconnaissance in force had encountered a large force of North Vietnamese regulars. On the 16th, with the enemy at X- ray destroyed and the worst seemingly over, 1/7 was choppered out, along with 2/7's Bravo. The rest of 2/7, with a company of 1/5 Cav, left X-ray the morning of Nov. 17, marching 10 kilometers to Landing Zone Albany. Just short of Albany, the lead elements captured a couple of North Vietnamese soldiers. There was debate about whether they were deserters or an outpost. Still mulling the implications, they moved on, the battalion CO calling his company commanders ahead for a conference. In Albany's clearing of grassland and anthills, surrounded by forest, 2/7's Alpha Company began establishing a command post and a defensive perimeter within which the helicopters could land and take them home. The battalion's Delta, Charlie and Headquarters companies were still coming up the trail behind them, with 1/5's Alpha company bringing up the rear. Eade, with Alpha's 2nd Platoon, was sent into the trees to the left, while 1st Platoon went right. That's when the two North Vietnamese regiments encamped nearby attacked, along the length of the column. Eade discussed his experience with me five years ago for a Boston Herald article. It was the first time he had done so in a public venue. He recalled that his platoon was immediately pinned down in ferocious fighting as the North Vietnamese swarmed on them through the trees. ``For the first hour and a half, it was intense hand-to- hand,'' Eade said. ``It was like a gang fight. It was small groups of us versus small groups of them. It got down to knives. It got down to choking people.'' First and 2nd platoons were taking the brunt of the attack on the landing zone's perimeter. Delta, Charlie, HQ and 1/5 Alpha companies, strung out along the trail, were also under heavy attack, with similar scenes of desperate combat playing out as hundreds of men, American and Vietnamese, engaged among the trees. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese who had cut off the column were directly assaulting the Alpha's command post among some anthills in the middle of the clearing. Eade said he and his fire team, Wilbert Johnson, Barry Burnite and Oscar Barker Jr., had some freedom of movement along a line of brush and tried to flank the attacking Vietnamese. ``We wanted to hunt them down and give the platoon a chance,'' Eade said. ``We bit off more than we could chew.'' Burnite, a machine gunner, was hit in the chest by shrapnel and his gun was disabled. Johnson, his crewman, dragged Burnite 30 meters back to a position of cover in an effort to save him. ``It was the greatest feat of human strength I have ever witnessed,'' Eade said. ``I don't know if Burnite was still alive.'' Eade said he, Johnson and Barker holed up among some trees and continued to fight. Johnson was killed, and Eade was shot in the gut and the right shoulder, forcing him to fire his M- 16 left-handed. Under RPG and mortar fire, Eade said his legs and boots were sprayed with shrapnel that left a large piece stuck into his foot, so he couldn't walk. By about 3 p.m., much of the fighting had subsided around the fire team's two survivors, Barker and Eade. Barker tended to Eade's wounds in the lull, stuffing one of Eade's dirty socks into his shoulder wound to stop the bleeding because they were out of bandages. ``I knew and he knew that everyone else was dead,'' Eade said. He said he urged Barker to try to save himself and run for the command post, which Eade estimates was located about 50 meters of open ground beyond the woods, where the command element and mortars still held a perimeter. ``He refused to go,'' Eade said. Shortly after that, Barker was shot, and Eade had to watch him die. It was a sucking chest wound, and it took a long time, Eade said. After Barker died, Eade was alone. ``My whole life, I've missed the people I was with,'' Eade said at that point in the conversation. ``I just miss them a lot.'' I asked him what his thoughts and emotions were at this time, as the last surviving man in his position with every expectation that he would be killed as the Vietnamese moved through the trees finishing off the wounded. I was under the impression that Eade had played dead to survive, but he said that wasn't the case. ``Playing dead was a way to die. It made no sense to me. Our job was to hold that position and kill the enemy,'' Eade said. ``I had this thing in my mind, part of the U.S. Army's General Orders and the soldier's code you learn in boot camp: `I will never forget I am an American fighting man. I will never surrender of my own free will. I will continue to resist to the utmost of my ability. I will not leave my post until properly relieved.' '' Eade said he kept repeating it himself. ``I don't think it was unique to me,'' Eade said, citing the actions of men like Barker and Johnson. He said his seemingly hopeless position was made easier by his belief, established weeks earlier after several men in the unit were killed in other actions, that he would not leave Vietnam alive. What Eade says about that may sound familiar to other veterans of heavy combat: ``It wasn't a matter of living or dying. It was taking care of each other and doing your duty. The anticipation of a future is what you give up. The question was not, `Am I going to die?' We all know the answer to that. The question was, 'How am I going to die? I am going to die well.' '' In the command post, Alpha Company's executive officer, Lt. Larry Gwin, reports they saw large groups of the enemy moving through 2nd Platoon's area. The command post remained under assault by waves of Vietnamese, still cut off from what was left of the rest of the battalion. A couple of 2nd Platoon soldiers who had made it out of the woods and across the open grassland to the command post said they didn't think any Americans were alive in there. Despite some misgivings on the part of some officers, the decision was made to thwart a Vietnamese attack on the command post by calling in a napalm strike on 2nd Platoon's position. ``I think they made the right decision,'' Eade said. He was on the edge of the A-1 Skyraiders' napalm strike. ``It set me on fire, but I managed to roll in the dirt and put it out,'' Eade said, adding that among his problems, the napalm proved inconsequential. In fact, he said, the napalm served a purpose. ``It flushed them out and gave me an opportunity to reduce the numbers.'' Later in the afternoon, Eade said he was surprised by the sudden appearance of three enemy soldiers behind him. ``There were three North Vietnamese looking at me, one with a pistol.'' Eade said he shot and killed two, but was shot in the face by the one with the pistol. The small-caliber bullet destroyed his right eye socket and shattered parts of his sinuses, making it difficult to breathe. He was knocked unconscious, and when he came to, the third Vietnamese was gone. ``I was angry at myself for being shot in the head. I was angry at myself for being careless. I was really pissed off at the North Vietnamese. It was probably the most maniacal moment of my life,'' Eade said. He declined to elaborate. Small groups of North Vietnamese continued moving through the area until about midnight, Eade said. He said he stopped using his rifle after dark so he wouldn't give away his position. He said he managed to crawl around and throw grenades at some parties he assumes were removing their dead. ``There was no shortage of grenades lying around,'' Eade said. After midnight, the enemy activity ended. He recalls that it was a struggle to stay awake. He was on his third night without sleep, and believed that if he fell asleep, he would be found and killed. Dawn came. He was alive, though severely wounded. Around 9 or 10 in the morning, Eade said he heard someone moving toward him. He prepared to shoot, but held his fire. Then he saw the shape of an American helmet. ``I yelled at them, `Give me some water!' '' Eade said. ``I was really thirsty. He looked at me and said, `You're shot in the stomach. I can't give you water.' I told him I had been drinking water all night, but he said no. So I asked him for some morphine. I told him I had used mine up on the other wounded. `It really hurts,' I said. He said, `You're shot in the head. I can't give you morphine.' So I said, `Well, then give me a cigarette.' They gave me that.'' He said he had never smoked before, but hasn't stopped since. Eade's experience was similar to what hundreds of men up and down the column experienced over the prior afternoon and night, though many did not survive the first few hours after the Vietnamese broke through and enveloped them shortly after 1 p.m. on the 17th. Gwin, who remembers firing at the oncoming Vietnamese, and firing again to keep them down, has said he is haunted by the memory of the American dead that he saw strewn across the grassland and throughout the trees on the morning of the 18th. He reports that the discovery of Eade alive where 2nd Platoon had been destroyed was a tremendous morale booster for the survivors. When the battle was over, Gwin said, the battalion that had marched to LZ Albany could fit into four deuce and a half trucks. Nearly three-quarters of them had been killed or wounded in a matter of hours. But he said that despite the trauma, morale was high and remained so in following weeks as replacements rotated into nearly empty platoon tents and the battalion prepared to return to the field. ``The survivors rallied and cheered the fact that we had held the ground. We knew that we had killed a lot of them. We had given as good as we had gotten,'' said Gwin. ``The morale was very high in a perverse sort of way, because we had survived it.'' Eade objects to the notion that his platoon, while largely destroyed, was overrun. He argues that he stayed alive, kept fighting, and remained in position. His platoon held. Gwin, noting that 2/7 Cav held its ground in one of the bloodiest days any battalion has experienced in U.S. military history, said, ``John's platoon held. If they hadn't done what they did, we would have been overrun.'' Eade was medevac'd, and none of his comrades saw him again for decades. Gwin said that years later after they were reunited, he and other la Orang vets tried to get a combat award for Eade. Gwin, who earned a Silver Star for his actions at LZ Albany and completed 45 combat assaults in his year in Vietnam, said he believes Eade's actions merit a Distinguished Service Cross. But because there were no living American witnesses to Eade's actions, Gwin said, the effort was unsuccessful. Eade himself has said, regarding decorations, he is satisfied with the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Eade spent 1966, the year after the la Drang, in the U.S. Army hospital at Valley Forge. That's where the mother of his fire team's machine gunner, Barry Burnite, came to see him. ``I don't know how she found me,'' Eade said. ``She asked me, how did her son die? I kind of told her the truth and I kind of didn't. I cleaned it up a bit. The uncontrollable grief of that woman has stayed with me my whole life. Her pain and her grief was more than I could bear to look at. I can never think about it without wanting to cry.'' Eade, though battered and disfigured, recovered and went to university in the late 1960s. He became an architect. He pursued a career through what he called ``serial jobs,'' staying only until he became restless or angry, and moving on. He was largely solitary, and to this day closely guards his privacy. Eade became chief of inspectional services for the City of Boston in the 1990s, which is where I first met him. A lightly built, soft-spoken man with an eyepatch, an unexpected character in City Hall, a little odd and engaging. Serious about his work, he had a reputation for toughness and honesty. I only learned about his history several years later, and then it was by odd coincidence, through Gwin, our mutual friend, by then the informal head of a small informal group of combat veterans, some Boston lawyers and investment bankers who form a sort of movable VFW down in the businesss district. Gwin had seen Eade's name in a local newspaper article and sought him out. Eade had been out of touch with his fellow la Drang vets for nearly 40 years, having made no effort to get in touch. ``You have to understand. All my friends were dead,'' Eade explained. It was one of those typical silver-bullet Eade statements. He has a gift, or maybe the curse for it. Unsentimentally, matter-of-factly plumbing a terrible depth of human experience in a few words. These days, Eade seems to have friends everywhere he goes. There is always someone who walks up, glad to see him, when we walk through the city. They say little things about him in brief asides, something he did one time or another. I don't know how many of them know that this quiet, gentle man is still a soldier, prouder of nothing more than to have been an American combat infantryman who held his ground.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the achievement and advancement of a longtime member of our Ninth Congressional District team, Theresa Morris of Toledo, Ohio. Theresa is an intelligent, compassionate daughter born into a working-class family in Toledo. She is a true public servant. Theresa has served as a congressional aide in our office for 27 tireless and honorable years. She has advanced her capacities across a wide spectrum of duties, such as outreaching to small businesses, coordinating the district's efforts on the Congressional Art Competition, serving as a grants and funding coordinator, and being a dependable project assistant. She developed firsthand experience on a far-ranging set of issues relating to immigration, the State Department, and Homeland Security. Her service has been invaluable to thousands upon thousands of our citizenry. Theresa knows and loves our Toledo community as fiercely and as well as anyone. That is why I am thrilled that she was recently appointed to serve on the City Council of Toledo, Ohio, taking her first step into elected office. I could not be more proud of her, her family, and all those who treasure Theresa as a coworker, a friend, and a confidante. Theresa is a graduate of Start High School in Toledo; Alma College in Michigan; and Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, where she earned her bachelor of arts and master of organizational leadership degrees, respectively. Theresa has served on the boards of the YWCA of Greater Toledo, the City of Toledo Youth Commission, Team Recovery, WGTE Public Media, and the Arts Council of Lake Erie West. Theresa received the 2018 Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award. She has a certificate in Minority Executive Leadership, and is a graduate of the Toledo Citizens Police Academy. Her interests are wide-ranging and unending. Some have observed she may be the longest-serving Hispanic congressional staff member in United States history. Mark that one down for the record. Madam Speaker, Theresa is made of good humor, tenacity, and grit. She always has a smile. While we are sad to see her go, I can tell you with absolute certainty that no one is better prepared to fight for the working people of Toledo than Theresa. Along with the entire staff, I wish her fair winds and following seas as she takes her career in public service to new heights on the ``Good Ship Toledo.'' I look forward to working closely with Toledo Councilwoman Morris as she ably steers her craft full steam ahead. Onward, Councilwoman Theresa Morris. God bless you. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as May marks National Mental Health Awareness month, a time when Americans recommit themselves to building better futures for those struggling with a mental health condition, erasing the stigma around those seeking help, and elevating barriers to high quality and timely mental health care. According to a 2020 report released by Congress' Joint Economic Committee, over 40 percent of adults surveyed reported a negative mental or behavioral health condition exacerbated by the coronavirus. Ending the mental health and addiction crises is a mission that can unite all of our communities because, just like mine in northern Ohio, there isn't a single community that hasn't struggled with both. I commend my colleagues with legislation on the floor today, including Mrs. Watson Coleman's bill to reauthorize the Minority Fellowship Program to support more students of color entering the mental health workforce, who are dedicated to addressing mental health disparities among underserved populations. It is time, and over time, for Congress to take meaningful action, targeting provider shortages, reimbursement parity, housing support, treatment, and more Federal funding to push the bounds of Federal research. We have strong allies in the administration who care about these issues. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves to work with them, and across the aisle. We are only getting started.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bipartisan resolution condemning the Kremlin's brutal treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. I am thankful to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for co-leading this resolution with me. I am also thankful to Chairman Meeks, Europe Subcommittee Chairman Keating, Ranking Member McCaul, Congressman Quigley, Congressman Pfluger, and Congressman Meier for their leadership, support, and original cosponsorship on this measure. Mr. Navalny has been a leader in uncovering gross corruption at the highest levels of the Kremlin that sustain that country's brutal regime. Through new forms of social media, his ability to reach out to and organize Russian citizens has been admirable. Tragically on August 20, 2020, Vladimir Putin's thugs poisoned Mr. Navalny with the nerve agent, Novichok that nearly ended his life. After making a recovery in Germany, Mr. Navalny bravely returned to Russia where he was detained and transferred to a modem-day gulag where he faced torture. To protest these despicable conditions, he has been on a hunger strike for close to three weeks, and is now in critical condition. Russia has a deeply disturbing history of violence and assassinations to silence dissidents like Boris Nemtsov, Sergei Magnitsky, Alexander Litvinenko and many more. In response, this resolution strongly condemns the Kremlin's gross mistreatment of Mr. Navalny, calls for him to receive adequate medical care, and urges the Biden Administration to take all appropriate actions to secure his release, including through increased sanctions. Additionally, the resolution expresses gratitude for the critical work of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in shining a light on these issues, and urges the State Department to take greater action to protect the broadcaster's physical presence in Moscow in face of the Kremlin's disturbing attacks on it. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I rise today with deep concern regarding the Kremlin's increased aggression toward our ally, Ukraine. Currently, Russia is amassing troops in and close to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials estimate about 80,000 Russian troops are amassed on its border. U.S. European Command General Tod Wolters said, the current Russian force mirrors the size of the infiltration of forces that occurred back in 2014 when Russia illegally invaded Ukrainian territory. This aggression serves one purpose: Russia's hybrid warfare to threaten the security of the Transatlantic Alliance. I am so grateful to President Biden for his exceptional leadership and support for Ukraine, and I agree completely that there must be serious consequences should Russia escalate further. I am also thankful for the administration's latest round of punitive sanctions on Russia given its malign behavior. To strengthen Ukraine's deterrence capabilities, our caucus spearheaded efforts to increase Ukraine's defense assistance funding by $25 million, up to $275 million in fiscal year 2021, and to place mandatory sanctions on Nord Stream 2. Our caucus stands ready to support NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance to ensure the protection of Ukraine's sovereignty.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of an extraordinary woman and hometown heroine, Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith of Lorain, Ohio. BGen Smith, who was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and a graduate of Admiral King High School. She first enlisted into the active Army in October of 1985 as a Motor Transport Operator, with her first duty station at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1988, she enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard and in 1989 she transferred to the New York Army National Guard. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps after graduating from Officer Candidate School. BGen Smith's command assignments and operational deployment include Commander of HHD, 53rd Troop Command, Commander of the 369th Special Troops Battalion and Deputy Team Chief-Iraq Police National Headquarters in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2010. Her key staff assignments include Assistant Operational Officer at the 27th Rear Area Operations Center; personalist for the 369th Corps Support Battalion, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1 for the 53rd Troop Command, Executive Officer of the 106th Regional Training Institute, Deputy Director of Logistics (J4) for the New York National Guard, Executive Officer for the Office of the Adjutant General, and the Chief of Staff for the 53rd Troop Command. BGen Smith's awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. She is also the recipient of the 2017 Latina Style Military Service Award. BGen Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Mount St. Mary's College, a master's degree in Education in Counseling and Development from Long Island University and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. She and her husband Peter have six daughters: Antoinette, Amelia, Karissa, Kassandra, Jessica, and Shannon, and one son: Jamarr. They are also the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren. Our country could not be prouder of Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith, a daughter of Ohio, trailblazer, and a true American patriot. The words of Army General Omar Bradley aptly capture BGen Smith's professional accomplishments: ``Leadership is intangible, and therefore no weapon ever designed can replace it.''

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am very honored to be co-leading efforts to provide $6 million for postal nonbank financial services in a pilot program through the U.S. Postal Service. I am thankful to my House colleagues, Congressman Bill Pascrell and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and our friends in the Senate for joining our effort. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that many Americans are left behind by Wall Street bankers. As unemployment soared in 2020, the U.S. Congress swiftly provided relief through economic stimulus payments, unemployment insurance, and so much more to America's workers, yet over 63 million Americans, including many who are impoverished, lacked the most basic banking services to access these funds and to conduct the simplest financial transactions. Like, for example, paying a utility bill. Yes, according to the FDIC, some 63 million adults are considered underbanked in urban, suburban, and rural communities across our Nation. In the last Congress, Congressman Pascrell and I successfully led a Financial Services amendment to the FY21 Appropriations bill to include $2 million for postal financial services, and we look forward to reintroducing our bill and to getting it passed in both Chambers this year.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the winner of the Ohio Ninth Congressional District's second annual Congressional App Challenge, James Bish, of Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio. James' app, called Anonymous FRQ Grading, is an impressive tool for teachers and students to submit responses to essay questions free of bias in evaluation. James' application received strong scores in each phase, from concept to design to the skills shown to produce it. The judges for this year's competition included computer science professionals and scholars from across the district, such as Max Herzog from the Cleveland Water Alliance and Kelly Zelesnik from Lorain County Community College. I am amazed by the strong showing of submissions and participation from across the district that we received this year. Developing STEM education must be a priority not only within our community but across our Nation as well, and the Congressional App Challenge is an opportunity to foster such critical skills. I offer my sincerest congratulations to James Bish on his win and thank him for the impressive and important work that went into creating this app. And I thank James' teacher at Bay High, Rob Grossman, who provided guidance and mentorship to James during this challenge.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, manufacturing is not just America's legacy; it is our future. To ensure this legacy remains, we need to position domestic manufacturing and the American worker at the center of federal policy. America's manufacturing and innovation sectors are second to none. When we work together and support America's domestic manufacturing ecosystem, there is nothing in this world we cannot achieve. As a daughter of the industrial Midwest, the strong, hardworking city of Toledo, Ohio, I know firsthand how important a strong manufacturing sector is to American families and their communities. It is for these workers, their forbearers and future generation of manufactures yet to come, that I am so pleased to author and introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act. The global coronavirus pandemic exposed how vulnerable the United States has become as a result of over-reliance on international supply chains. Yet these lessons provide opportunity in both economic recovery and to reposition American manufacturing for long-term prosperity. To do this, we need an Office at the highest level to coordinate, strengthen, and rebuild America's manufacturing leadership. The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act provides this opportunity. This legislation will create within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) an Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation (OMII) to elevate and coordinate manufacturing and industrial innovation policy. The Office will synthesize information from inter and intra governmental engagements, as well as advice from the manufacturing sector, including small businesses, labor unions, academics, and nongovernmental bodies. This bipartisan legislation will elevate focus to address critical challenges facing the American manufacturing industry, establish key agency coordination and cross-administration management efforts to ensure global leadership in manufacturing and trade, improve workforce development and job creation for the future, enhance research and development, and develop a long-term strategy to ensure the growth and national security of the U.S. manufacturing industry, workforce, and economy. In summary, provisions included in each of the titles establish the following initiatives: Title I. Establishes Policy and Priority Objectives for U.S. Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation: lays out goals to promote a thriving manufacturing and industrial sector, enhanced and fortified by coordinated efforts to address the enumerated policies and priorities, focused through comprehensive strategy implemented at the highest- level. Title II. Entities to Advance a Cohesive U.S. Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Agenda Creates The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy, modeled on the Executive Office of Science and Technology Policy, to provide manufacturing and industrial perspective and advice to the President, and provide a comprehensive survey and cross administration management of efforts to ensure global leadership in manufacturing critical to the long-term health and national security of the United States. A Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) will serve as Director of OMII and advisor to the President. The CMO will lead coordination of manufacturing and industrial innovation initiatives across the federal Government and work with representatives in State and local government, labor, non-governmental groups, and private business to develop and implement enhanced coordination of manufacturing policy. OMII will develop and update a National Strategic Plan, quadrennially, with short and long-term goals to ensure American leadership in manufacturing. Title III. Establishes the President's Committee on Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation, comprised of representatives from the business, consumer, defense, public interest, and labor sectors to analyze the landscape of manufacturing efforts and activities in America. The Committee will be apportioned by the President and report on the state of manufacturing and provide recommendations to strengthen the sector through federal policies and initiatives. Title IV. Establishes the Federal Strategy and Coordinating Council on Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation, chaired by the President, to coordinate manufacturing and industrial innovation policy. The Council will convene the heads of various executive agencies--including Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, HHS, DOD, and Energy--to establish national priorities and coordinated strategies for manufacturing and industrial innovation policy and investment. Title V. Establishes a Federally Funded Research & Development Center: The Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Institute to gather, analyze, initiate studies, and assist the federal government on issues and concerns related to American manufacturing and industrial innovation. The National Institute of Standards and Technology will sponsor the Institute. Title VI. Creates a National Medal of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation to recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge in manufacturing and industrial innovation. Title VII. Appropriations: authorizes sums as needed, but specifies $5 million per title for the first year for Title 2, Title 3, Title 4, Title 5. America's manufacturing legacy is one of prosperity and progress. This Office provides the opportunity to once again prioritize U.S. manufacturing and industrial innovation to support job creation and America's long-term economic strength. Given the lofty efforts of this Office, the legislation earned endorsement of numerous groups, including: the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), the AFL-CIO, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC), the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM), the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA), the State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI), the International Union of United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), and the United Steel Workers (USW). Here is a glimpse of what the groups and experts across the country have to say about the importance of this effort: The U.S. has seen massive supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, which have required small manufacturers to rapidly reinvent both their products and their services. Representative Kaptur and Senator Klobuchar understand the challenges facing American manufacturers and have demonstrated long standing support for this critical industry, said Chuck Spangler, board chair of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC) and president of the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. ``We at ASMC thank them for their leadership and we look forward to working with them in the future.'' The COVID pandemic laid bare what many of us have been saying for years--the United States is long overdue for a comprehensive, national manufacturing and innovation strategy. The foundation laid in this bipartisan bill to create an Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy and a federal plan for manufacturing will go a long way to making that a reality. The AFL-CIO is proud to endorse this important bill. Brad Markell, Executive Director AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council The decisions made by every federal department affects manufacturers, often with unintended consequences. The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act will help make sure small and medium sized manufacturers have a strong voice within the federal government and help agencies coordinate policies that encourage domestic manufacturing. Precision Machined Products Association The Machinists Union applauds Senators lobuchar, Wicker, Coons. and Portman, and Representative Kaptur and Representative Fitzpatrick for not only recognizing the critical importance of the U.S. manufacturing industry, but for also proposing long awaited legislation that will rebuild U.S. manufacturing for a sustainable future. The bipartisan Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act places a priority on creating the kind of high wage jobs that American workers and our economy need now and for future generations. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers--International President Robert Martinez Jr. The bipartisan Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act is a critical step toward establishing an effective national industrial strategy that would benefit working people and union members in every state and congressional district. IFPTE applauds Senators Klobuchar, Wicker, Coons, and Portman and Representative Kaptur and Fitzpatrick for proposing legislation that aligns federally funded research, development, and technological innovation with the goal of rebuilding the nation's industrial base and supports high-quality high-wage domestic manufacturing jobs. Paul Shearon, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Manufacturing has been the foundation of the U.S. economy from the beginning. Bipartisan support of this effort highlights the importance of working together to ensure future economic opportunity for all Americans.--Prof. Mark Johnson, Director of Clemson Center for Advanced Manufacturing, former Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office at the U.S. Department of Energy The federal government needs an industrial policy for manufacturing in America that encourages innovation and investment, in both technologies and people. The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act will make sure that the White House has a coordinated strategy to promote domestic manufacturing growth. National Tooling and Machining Association I can think of few more important initiatives for our long- term competitiveness than the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act. In the years to come, this legislation will ensure robust coordination across every facet of public and private enterprise, and advance both our national and economic security. Public policy in these key areas are often undertaken on an ad hoc, disaggregated basis. The provisions of this bill will set the foundation for America to `Build Back Better' with a robust strategy grounded in real science, productivity, and smart job growth.--Neal Orringer, Former Director of Manufacturing for the U.S. Department of Defense and Former Manufacturing Senior Advisor to U.S. Commerce Secretary and Co-Chair of White House Office of Manufacturing Policy The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act gives manufacturers a long overdue seat at the policy-making table at a time when the sector is taking a leading role responding to the pandemic and driving the economy. Precision Metalforming Association Rapid and effective implementation of President Biden's BuildBackBetter agenda is critical to restore the nation's global competitiveness in manufacturing and rebuild our domestic supply chains. The Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Office, modeled on the Office of Science and Technology Policy, will develop a national manufacturing strategy, strengthen partnerships between the federal and state governments, and coordinate the siloed 58 federal manufacturing programs. Working closely with the private sector and educational institutions, the Office will ensure that all workers, communities, and companies will participate in economic growth.'' Phillip Singerman, former NIST Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services (2011-2020) The White House should take a whole of government approach to manufacturing and the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act will put the sector at the center of policymaking within the Executive Office of the President. American Mold Builders Association Based on my experience as the Assistant Director for Advanced Manufacturing at OSTP (2009-12), creating the OMII is a critical step to regain America's leadership in advanced manufacturing, rebuild the national manufacturing innovation ecosystem, and rekindle American ingenuity. OMII is designed to provide a much needed national strategy and requisite policy implementation to ensure that what is invented here is manufactured here to deliver a return on investment of taxpayer dollars in science and technology.--Sridhar Kota, Executive Director, MForesight: Alliance for Manufacturing Foresight; Herrick Professor of Engineering, University of Michigan. ``The fastener industry makes the nuts, bolts and screws that hold the world together. We are pleased to support this legislation to elevate manufacturing within the Executive Office of the President, and to better coordinate the various manufacturing initiatives across the federal government as the U.S. focuses on a needed national manufacturing strategy.''--Dan Walker, Managing Director, Industrial Fasteners Institute I thank my colleagues, Representatives Haley Stevens, Tim Ryan, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Chuck Fleischmann for introducing this bipartisan bill with me in the House, and Senators Amy Klobuchar, Roger Wicker, Chris Coons, and Rob Portman for their leadership on this bill in the Senate. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge Jenny Perrino, my Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, for her hard work to craft this legislation and bring it to the line. Together, I am confident we can champion this bill through Congress and to the President's desk without delay. America's manufacturing workers deserve nothing less.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I rise with great concern regarding Europe's energy security with the imminent completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Nord Stream 2 is a Russian malign influence energy project designed to ensnare Europe and weaken the sovereignty of Ukraine. Tragically, Russia's illegal war in and on Ukraine has claimed the lives of over 14,000 Ukrainians and displaced millions more. Russia has a deeply troubling history of using energy coercion to undermine democratic institutions. Thankfully, Congress has now passed legislation twice on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to put mandatory sanctions on Nord Stream 2. I am so thankful for President Biden's commitment to liberty in Ukraine and his opposition to Nord Stream 2. I am also encouraged by Secretary Blinken's recent statement reaffirming the administration's commitment to comply with the sanctions legislation. Our caucus, on a bipartisan basis, stands ready to work with the administration to apply further sanctions to halt the pipeline. The State Department must make clear that Congress will not support a side deal that puts the security of Ukraine and the region at risk.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Women's History Month to celebrate countless women across America making a difference. From coast to coast, in every community and every industry, women are getting it done. Take Kishia Powell, the current chief operations officer and EVP of DC Water. I had the great pleasure to meet Kishia last week while visiting the brand-new headquarters. She is working in an industry dominated by men, and Kishia has stayed dedicated to her role as a woman leader in the water utilities industry. She is literally turning sludge into a new energy utility for Washington, D.C., and the surrounding regions. Then there is Sister Pamela Marie Buganski, a native Toledoan who dedicated her life to faith and community. I remember meeting her in Matamoros, Mexico, as she was witnessing what was happening to immigrant children and families as a result of President Trump's Remain in Mexico order. Pamela gave everything she had to others before she, sadly, passed away last year. Women like former Member Jill Long Thompson from Indiana have played an instrumental role in advancing change and conversation across America. As a Member and as a teacher, she recently wrote a book about government ethics and how President Trump's Presidency undermined the ethics of our democracy. Finally, there are women like Patsy Pasquale, who humbly carries on her father's Toledo shoe business and legacy in orthopedic footwear after his death from COVID-19 last December. This Women's History Month, we strive to celebrate all that women do in this country and the lasting impact they create. Let us be thankful for their beautiful lives that elevate the worth of our families, communities, culture, and economy. Mr. Speaker, I proudly stand with all my sisters this evening.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the critically needed support for northern Ohioans in the American Rescue Plan, which has just passed this House. For months, we fought to provide direct support to people across our country who were suffering during the pandemic. I am thrilled that the bill provides vital support for families, communities, essential workers, and small businesses. The bill provides $1,400 in stimulus payments to spur our economy and help families, funding for vaccine distribution, and a historical increase of the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,000. Let's be clear: The Republicans' opposition demonstrates their callousness during this time of great human need. They cite the deficit. Yet, I didn't hear a peep from the other side as the national debt ballooned under previous Republican administrations. President Bush's ill-advised wars have cost us nearly $2 trillion, and the debt increased by $676 billion. President Trump's GOP tax scam increased the deficit by $1.8 trillion, helping to lead to an increase in national debt by $7.8 trillion. Mr. Speaker, I am so thankful to President Biden for delivering on his commitment to Build Back Better. The American Rescue Plan now goes to the President's desk for signature. I can't wait. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Democrats.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a resolution expressing deep concern with the U.S. Postal Service's misguided decision to issue a contract for new delivery vehicles that fails to meet our nation's economic and climate goals. The Postal Service owns and operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet with over 200,000 vehicles. Unfortunately, most of the fleet vehicles date back to 1994 and are fuel inefficient, unsafe, carbon emitting and aging. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the letter carriers and all postal workers who must face down these challenges all while carrying out the herculean, constitutionally mandated task of delivering mail to all addresses. Yet, major GOP donor, Postmaster General DeJoy recently announced that while the Postal Service will procure up to 165,000 vehicles, only ten percent will be electric powered. Instead of building up the Postal Service, DeJoy has taken a wrecking ball to the institution, including during the 2020 presidential elections. I am thankful that President Biden has taken executive action to ensure our nation is meeting our climate goals by creating good paying green jobs here in the United States. Tragically, the USPS decision takes a major step backward. That is why this resolution strongly urges the Postal Service to freeze the contract until a review can be undertaken to ensure there was no undue political influence and that the contract is consistent with President Biden's executive order and the Paris Climate Accord. We cannot squander this opportunity to develop green supply chains here at home that will ensure a cleaner, more stable future for a burgeoning 21st century domestic vehicle industry. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the life of a great and rare American, Toledoan Norm Nitschke. Mr. Nitschke passed away in February at the age of nearly 101. He led a full and exceptional life. As an inventor, an engineer, and a renowned pioneer of glass and solar manufacturing, Norm Nitschke literally changed the world. He was pivotal in the development of tempered glass and creating a market for it in the automotive industry. It is a technology many of us take for granted today, but it has been instrumental in saving lives and making modern cars safer. Then, he went on to found Glasstech Solar and Solar Cells, pioneering thin-film cadmium telluride technology, central to modern solar panels like those installed on homes and buildings across our country and now the world. His pathbreaking work with Dr. Harold McMaster created America's most important company in solar energy, First Solar in Toledo, Ohio. In retirement, he gave back generously to our community and is a benefactor of so many educational institutions: University of Toledo's engineering school, Bowling Green State University, Toledo Symphony, and Toledo Museum of Art. I simply cannot say enough about this great American.