Tim Ryan

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I feel like we are here to provide a little historical context. So when we, back in the day, and that was 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, before the Democrats took over the House a few years back, we had a student loan system that the banks would do the loans, and the rates were 7, 8, and 9 percent. Then, the Federal Government would back the loan if someone defaulted. So I loan you $100, and if you default, the gentleman from California will pay me. What a great business to be in. No lose. Right? So they were covered, regardless. We came in and made some serious reforms to limit the amount of monthly payments and for how many years if you are in the public service. So we made some reforms that I think were really, really important. But as the gentlewoman from Florida said, that is the difference. We are aggressively trying to pursue ways of fixing the problem, and if we do a piece, we come back and then we try to get to the next piece. In the last few years since 2010, we keep running into a brick wall where we are not getting the kind of cooperation. But these are the kind of things that the government is supposed to do. I think we are pretty clear about that. That is why it is important, as Debbie said, for you to keep coming out here night in and night out, because every night somebody is listening to you, some nights more than others. Some nights we weren't sure if anyone was listening. But somebody is listening. You have to just keep pounding and pounding and pounding that message because this is what is best for the economy, for families, and everyone else that really is going to make a difference. So it is good you are out here pounding away.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. And part of this is not just the first 2 years of college free, but Democrats are also pushing initiatives like how do you streamline and get high school kids into community college classes early while they are still in high school to start taking and reducing some of those costs. We have programs in Canton at Stark State where you can get 13 credit hours towards a welding certificate. Thirteen of 30 hours can be done before you even graduate from high school. So that reduces and it is free because it is part of your high school public education. So now you are already starting. So it is not just about reducing student loans and reducing debt and Pell Grants and streamlining the first 2 years. But we also, I think, have an obligation to streamline the current system that is K-12 or K- 14 and make sure we narrow that down. I have got to step out, but I just want to say thank you. You have got another Irish guy here to carry the flag.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Another Floridian. I do want to say just keep pounding away. This is a great way to communicate. You guys are doing it. We have to get more and more from your classes to be up here. So keep up the good work. And I am out.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Paul Hlynsky, an Akron, Ohio community leader who passed away on September 23, 2015 at the age of 61 after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. As a man of great conviction and dedication to those he served, Paul will be remembered as a strident defender of his friends, family, and colleagues. Through his 18 years of service as President of the Akron Lodge 7 Fraternal Order of Police, Paul led countless fights for the rights of his coworkers as the longest serving President of the Order. After 16 years in the Army where he rose to the rank of Major, Paul became a police officer in 1992, serving his country and community for decades. Paul was a unifier, bringing together Akron union leaders to work collectively on fighting for their workers' rights and interests. As the child of Ukrainian immigrants who had been in a German labor camp during World War II, Paul faced difficult life challenges from the start, learning the value of staying dedicated to those you know and love. Paul was preceded in death by his parents and older sister. Paul is survived by his sister, Irene (Dan) Harland; nieces, Stephanie (Scott) Jowers and Jeannette Harland; fiancee, Olya Tymciurak. He is also survived by many of his police brethren for whom he worked tirelessly. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Paul Hlynsky, a man who was such a vital servant of the Akron, Ohio community. I hope you all will join me in offering my thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Coach Tony Napolet, who was a great man, a person of God, and a great coach. We sent him off this morning at his funeral mass at St. Mary's, and I wanted to take a few moments here on the House floor to say thank you on behalf of all of those who coached with him, played for him, and in some way he helped shape so many lives. To Natalie and Harold and Mario--his children--Aunt Norma, Aunt Marie, Manlio, Christopher, the entire crew, we want to say that we sent a great man to heaven today who embodied John F. Kennedy High School, Kennedy football. The one lesson he always taught, Mr. Speaker, was to have a strong faith in God, make God your best friend, and treat others the way you would like to be treated. He left a major, major impression in the Mahoning Valley in Trumbull County in the State of Ohio. God bless you, Coach Napolet. You will be missed.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York. This is a great opportunity for us to share, I think, as Democrats and Republicans. My friend from New York represents upstate New York, and that area of our country and the State of New York have a long history of manufacturing. I represent northeast Ohio, which also has a long history of manufacturing. I think we recognize the importance of manufacturing jobs and how to create policies that will further allow for investment in manufacturing and for workforce development within the context of manufacturing. Also, I think we recognize, as we have seen the transition over the last 20 or 30 years in our country, how much we miss these manufacturing jobs. They pay a higher wage, more of a solid pension for most manufacturers, better benefits, and are where people can learn a craft, learn a skill, get into a good company, and make a good, honest living; and that is what we are celebrating here today. Through our Manufacturing Caucus, Congressman Reed and I try to stimulate some conversations and bring real people from our congressional districts to help educate us on what the best process, what the best issues, what the best approaches would be for the United States Congress to try to incentivize manufacturing here in the United States. I know I will be doing an event on Friday back in Youngstown, Ohio, and further celebrating in my community. I know you will, as well. So I just want to say thank you to my friend. I look forward to us continuing--not just the old-line manufacturing that we know a lot about and have lost of lot of those jobs, not just the advanced manufacturing either--to work on the issue of making sure that we create more of these institutes to try to nurture new ways of manufacturing, but also the additive manufacturing piece, which is happening in Youngstown, Ohio, at America Makes, where the 3-D printing movement, the Maker Movement is happening and burgeoning in an old warehouse in downtown Youngstown. I mean, it doesn't get better than that, to have millions of dollars of equipment in the downtown of an iconic city that is really leading our community forward in this new line of manufacturing. I want to thank you for your leadership. I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words here tonight.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Thank you, sir.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. It is hard not to get a little bit nostalgic. I think a lot of times those of us who advocate for manufacturing spend a little too much time in the nostalgia phase and not enough time, I think, working in the space where we are trying to enhance, grow, and create new opportunities in manufacturing. And I am not going to get political, but to go back to all of the elections, whether Republicans won or Democrats won, if you go back 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, I think the economic insecurity, in my analysis, was at the heart of each of those elections. As we have seen the decline in manufacturing, we have seen the increase in anxiety for families to be able to make ends meet. So I am thankful that we can try to promote this together and try to find an issue like manufacturing that garners 60 to 70 percent support from regions, demographics all over the United States. I think there is an inherent understanding of making something. I start it, and then I pass it to your company. You add value to it, and then you pass it to someone else. They add value to it, and it goes through that supply chain, tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3, and everybody benefits. Back in the day, you know, we had a manufacturing facility for General Motors that had 15,000 or 16,000 people that now has 3,000 or 4,000. We had a supplier to General Motors, Packard Electric and then Delphi, that had 13,000 employees, and now it is down to 2,000 or 3,000. Those were all solid, middle class jobs. I know you could probably give similar examples in Corning and other places. So I think, if we have an industrial policy, if we continue through the Tax Code and other ways to make sure that we incentivize investment in these areas, that we can help regrow those new-age manufacturing jobs that everybody, I think, is looking for, as you said, to make a good living, have a solid retirement, have good benefits, and not have to work so hard that you miss the soccer match, you miss the baseball game, or you can't go on a vacation. We can help regrow those middle class jobs where you can still have time with your family, which ultimately is the most important thing anyway. So I appreciate the opportunity to be here and continue to work with you.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, we all know that there are the larger manufacturers who can hire accountants and all the rest to figure it out, but it is the small- and medium-sized tier 3, tier 4 suppliers, you know, that maybe have 50 or 100 people and it is a family business and people aren't making a ton of dough, and to have to deal with the increased complexity of a Tax Code for the small business, I think it is appropriate for us to try to simplify that and make it a little bit easier for them. I am glad you mentioned natural gas. Especially in our region, in western New York, western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, it is a huge opportunity for us. We should all be beating on the doors of the European companies to try to say, you know, move your manufacturing base into our region because of what the opportunities are going to be into the future. We have talked about this, and I think we have had a hearing about it through our caucus, is how do we get young people and their parents to recognize and see manufacturing as a real opportunity for them. A lot of people think, parents think: Well, I don't want my kids going into manufacturing. You know, they picture the steel mill in Youngstown where there were 20,000 people coming out dirty, in hard hats with a metal lunch bucket. Now, today, you walk into a manufacturing facility, it is about metrology and it is about precision manufacturing. You could eat off the floor because it is so clean. It is a whole different idea of what manufacturing is. We have got to figure out how to work with guidance counselors and teachers in the STEM areas about how to get kids engaged in this area earlier, because kids are naturally inclined--I think of my 12-year-old son, Mason. He is always building, creating, trying to use his hands the best he can, or even if he is on the computer, how he is organizing, you know, his troop alignments in some of the war games that he plays. But it is all about constructing something and putting something together, building things, and how do you create that. These young kids just naturally gravitate toward that. So the more we can get them engaged at a very, very young age about designing and building, the more we are going to unleash the creative potential of that generation to further build out the manufacturing base here in the United States.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. You are going to have a job.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Yes. It is not like it is a 4-year degree either. It is something that can be learned in a year or two because you are focused on exactly where you are going to be. And you talk about a welder maybe starting at $60,000-plus. You think about, if you could do that, start making $60,000 a year at 20--it takes a lot of people, schoolteachers, for example--how long does it take in Corning, New York, or Youngstown, Ohio, to get to $60,000? It is a little while. So that is money you can begin to save, invest, put in your retirement, whatever, your kids' college. I mean, you have that money not starting at $30,000, but starting at $60,000 or $70,000. And that can go vertical, too. The more skills you get and if you are in the right position in the right company, you can start making upwards of $100,000 as a welder. That is a lot of money that, if you plan your finances properly, you can have a lot of savings. To that point as well, I was at Stark State Community College, which is just outside of Canton, a few weeks ago, and there were kids there from Barberton High School and Norton High School, about 10 or 15 of them. They just started a program where these kids in high school were earning credits for the welding certificate. With this program, those kids can earn 13 credit hours for a 30-hour certificate. So by the time you graduate from high school, if you get in as a junior and you do it your junior and senior year, you will have 13 of 30 credits. So you don't need much longer. You are over a third of the way to your certificate, and you just graduated from high school. Those are the kind of innovative things I think we need to continue to figure out how to incentivize and create. Part of it is the awareness that we were talking about, that it is okay for your kid to be a welder because of what we have already talked about. But how do we create incentives to streamline the education process, to get kids on a track so, when they are 18, 19, 20 years old, they have a job and they are not sleeping in our basements?

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. This has been great. Let's keep it rolling and figure out what we can do moving forward in a bipartisan way like you and Congressman Kennedy did. I think that is essential with growing the ecosystem around different kinds of manufacturing in auto and additive and all the rest. We stand ready to work with you on the Democratic side to make that happen.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an Ohio institution that has made scientific and technological strides that have had an impact on every single one of our lives. The Glenn H. Brown Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio celebrates its 50th anniversary this month after decades of scientific advancement in the development of liquid crystal technology that is used in devices like flat screen TVs and mobile devices. The Kent State University Board of Trustees authorized the creation of the Liquid Crystal Institute in 1965, subsequently garnering grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and agencies of the U.S. defense sector. Glenn Brown, a Chemistry professor at the University since 1961, served as the Institute's director until his retirement in 1983. Under the direction of Director Dr. Hiroshi Yokoyama, the Institute continues its tradition of scientific excellence. Innovations that grew from scientific endeavors at the Liquid Crystal Institute have fundamentally changed our modern life, like the invention of the twisted nematic cell, the heart of modern Liquid Crystal Displays. On Kent State University's campus, the Liquid Crystal and Materials Sciences building houses more than 25 individual labs and rooms for prototype development of new liquid crystal displays. There, the Institute is conducting groundbreaking research in advanced photonics, sensors, bio- and medical molecular devices, and materials for new energy applications. Recently, a team of scientists working with the Liquid Crystal Institute developed a heat-sensitive fabric to help diabetics detect harmful inflammation and infections. So this month we celebrate 50 years of innovation and research at the Liquid Crystal Institute of Kent State University and I know my colleagues join me in recognizing the importance of this great Ohio institution.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Joe Kanfer, the recipient of the 48th Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award. Joe is the chairman and CEO of GOJO Industries. In addition to his position at GOJO Industries, Joe is a chairman for Startvest Partners, a firm that develops biotech startups in Israel. He is honored today for his continuous support in strengthening the Jewish community and his dedication to improving education and health care, and reducing poverty and hunger. Joe has accomplished this work along with his wife, Pam, his four children and their spouses through the Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies and GOJO. His numerous accomplishments also include a three-year term as the chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, chairman of the Jewish Education Service of North America and a member of the Jewish Agency for Israel in Jerusalem. He currently serves as chair of the Honeymoon Israel Foundation. Joe Kanfer is not only known for his work on a national level, but also on a local level. He serves as chairman for countless organizations in the greater Akron Area including Akron Tomorrow, the Greater Akron Chamber Executive Committee, Bits and Atoms Innovation Center, and just recently, the Akron Children's Hospital's Building on a Promise Campaign. In addition, he is a trustee for the Jewish Community Board of Akron and the Lippman School. He is also the former vice president of University of Akron Board of Trustees and trustee of the Shaw Jewish Community center and Akron Roundtable. It is my pleasure to recognize a man who has worked so hard to strengthen his community on a local and national level. I applaud Joe Kanfer and could not imagine a better recipient for this year's Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember the life of Alfred D. Coward, who passed away on July 10th, 2015 with his beloved wife, Verlene, by his side. Alfred was a community leader in Youngstown, Ohio of the utmost caliber and influence. Over 35 years of distinguished service to the Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church, Alfred ``The Rev'' Coward served in multiple leadership positions. These included Superintendent of the Sunday school, Head of Pastoral Affairs and Bereavement, and Chairman of the Brotherhood Department to name a few. Alfred's leadership skills were also employed outside of the walls of Mt. Calvary Church. Reverend Coward's civic involvement included four years as Chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Crime and Violence Prevention, five years on the Steering Committee of the Youngstown Weed & Seed Initiative, as well as an appointment by Mayor Jay Williams to the Youngstown Civil Service Commission, where he served as Vice- President. Alfred was also the recipient of the Crisis Intervention Unit for Domestic Violence Award. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; an aunt and uncle, Naomi and John Carpenter, who reared him; and a sister Darlene Carter. He leaves behind the love of his life Verlene ``Sweet Verl'' Coward, his wife of nearly 46 years; the pride of his life, his three children, Alfred D. (Nicole) Coward II of Youngstown, OH; Teri J. Coward of Austintown, OH; and Aaron (Veronica) Coward, of Boardman, OH; the joy of his life, nine grandchildren, Kandace Coward, Kamille Coward, Ashley Joseph, Kayla Coward, Courtney Joseph, Gabrielle Joseph, Alfred Coward III, Aarion Coward and Addisyn Coward; a sister, Brenda Townsend of Tulsa, OK; and a host of loving family, church family, and friends. I am deeply saddened by Alfred's passing, and extend my most heartfelt condolences to his entire family. Reverend Coward was an exemplary spiritual and civic leader who, through his unwavering dedication and service to his community, left Youngstown and Northeast Ohio a better place than when he found it.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember and honor the life of William C. ``Bill'' Luoma, a native of Warren, Ohio, who passed away on the 17th of August, 2015 at his daughter's home, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Warren, Ohio on April 11, 1939, to Wilmar and Maxine Luoma Bill lived a full life of service in the United States military and as a Union leader in the steel industry. After living in Tucson, Arizona as a child, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18 and attended Amarillo AFB Jet Engine School in Amarillo, Texas. Bill also served two years with the United States Marine Corps before starting a 30 year career with Republic Steel Corporation. Bill exemplified the life of a workman's ally by serving as a Worker's Compensation representative and later in retirement as President of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, Chapter 1-28-5. A leader in the Union community, he helped organize rallies in Washington, DC fighting for workers' rights, Medicare, and Social Security, and in 2004 spoke on senior health issues at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. Bill is remembered by his loving family as a passionate story and joke teller with interests in bowling, painting, drawing, antiques, and furniture refinishing. His excellent memory for Geography and History was accompanied by a love and passion for his Finnish background. As a member of the Catholic Church, Bill attended the services of Father Gusper at St. Stephens Church in Niles, Ohio. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his sister, Judy Dennison, son, Timothy Luoma, and grandson, Isaiah Luoma. He is survived by his wife, Janice Macchia Luoma, whom he married on August 12, 1988. He is also survived by daughters, Jill Luoma, Lori Luoma, Elizabeth Luoma, step-daughter, Crystal Zimomra; sons, Raymond Luoma and William Luoma; he was Grandpa to Ryan Maki, Papiou to Zachary Brewer, and Landon Zimomra; Grandpa to Erica Maki, and Kristia Luoma. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Emilee, Paisley, Trenton and Brailin Moore. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Bill Luoma, such a dedicated and strong servant of the American armed forces, his fellow workmen and women, and his family. He will be remembered and celebrated as a Warren, Ohio community leader and it is my honor to recognize his life here today.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Roseann M. Schaeffer, daughter of Rosario and Rita Levero Frandanisa who passed away peacefully on July 28, 2015, in her home. Roseann was a 1958 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and a 1962 graduate of Youngstown College, with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She was employed for over 40 years as a teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Niles, retiring in 2005. Roseann was a steadfast fixture in the Mt. Carmel community as a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, taking on such roles as church lector, member of the Liturgy committee, Parish Anniversary committee, festival volunteer, Pep Club and Year Book advisor, and Monday Rosary group. She was also one of the original founders of S.I.G.N. (Service in God's Name), a preparatory program for confirmation students. She will be deeply missed by two brothers, Anthony Frandanisa and his wife, Theresa, of Niles and Angelo Frandanisa and his wife, Rosemarie, of Kirkland, Wash.; her nieces and nephews, Ann Genovese and her husband, Robert, Tony Frandanisa, Rita Kanareff and her husband, Kevin, Joseph Frandanisa and his wife, Karen, Renee Charawell, Jimmy Frandanisa and his wife, Carrie, and Bobby Frandanisa and his wife, Kelley; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. The residents of Northeast Ohio are known to be compassionate, community oriented individuals. Whether it was engaging in her Mt. Carmel Parish community, or cooking and playing cards as she so loved, Roseann was certainly no exception.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Edward L. Fire of Chagrin Falls, Ohio who passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Edward was the son of Frank and Pauline Fire. He was a 1954 graduate of Lowellville High School and attended Youngstown State University. Following his education, Edward served in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation at age 17 in 1954 until 1958. In addition to serving in the armed forces, Ed was an active force in labor. Ed's career as a union leader began in 1961 at Packard Electric in Warren, where he served in elected office for 40 plus years. His leadership roles included President of the 13,000 member IUE Local 717 at Delphi Packard, Vice President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, and Secretary-Treasurer of the 80,000 member IUE District 7, headquartered in Kettering, OH. Ed loved every aspect of his job helping people have good jobs with good pay. The highlights of his career included leading the Union's bargaining teams with major corporations, GM, GE, and Delphi. He led IUE's efforts in the merger with the CWA. He also led the Union's political action efforts, including being actively involved in the campaigns of Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as well as Ohio Governor Dick Celeste, Senators John Glenn, Howard Metzenbaum and Sherrod Brown. He is survived by his wife Margaret Fire of Chagrin Falls, three sons Dino (Pamela) Fire of Jenson, MI, Patrick Fire of Myrtle Beach, SC and Ted (Melissa) Fire of Stow, MA, three granddaughters Morgan and Lina Fire and Capri (George) Kandris, two grandsons Sam and Jake Fire, a sister Jeanette Farley of Warren and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Charles Fire and four sisters Margaret Fire, Ida Marino, Rosemarie Whalen and Ann Fire. There is no doubt that Ed's effort helped to improve the lives of countless workers in Northeastern Ohio, and across the country. I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing, but I am honored to pay tribute to such a selfless man.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, the late Congressman Lou Stokes loved life and loved his family. He loved Cleveland, and he loved the political process. He was a giant of a man who embodied a quiet dignity that still inspires me today to do more for those who don't have a voice. It was my privilege to attend the funeral service of Congressman Stokes on August 25, 2015. While many family members and friends paid special homage to a great public servant, the remarks of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge rung particularly true to all who were able to hear them. It is those comments that I would like to share with you now. Eulogy of Louis Stokes (By Marcia Fudge) I rise today to perform one of the most heavy-hearted duties to which I have ever been assigned. Lou Stokes himself was the assigner. He asked me several weeks ago to, on behalf of the political community, to deliver a discourse in commemoration of his lifetime of public service. Lou Stokes was the first African American elected to represent this community in the House of Representatives. I was blessed to have first a mentor/mentee relationship. Later, he became my colleague and my friend. That friendship continued without interruption until the day of his death. Make no mistake, my friends, we mourn this day, the loss of no ordinary man. Napoleon I as the story goes was crossing the Alps, when he saw a lone peasant woman along the side of the road. ``Where are you going on this bright morning?'' And she answered ``I am heading through the pass to hopefully see the Emperor.'' It was obvious she did not know who he was, so he went on and said ``why would you be interested in seeing the Emperor, than his majesty from the House of Bourbon. It seems to me that you have exchanged one politician for another.'' The peasant spent a few minutes and said, ``The Bourbons were the rulers for the rich and famous. Napoleon is our ruler.'' In this holy place, we have assembled to pay respect to the cherished and honored Louis Stokes, because no matter how many degrees he possessed, no matter how many world leaders he knew by first name, no matter how many Presidents sought his counsel, he was the Congressman for the peasant, the pauper, the passed over, and yes the populate. Louis Stokes, thank God, never embraced the shallow notion that he should be like everyone else. Had he done so, he would never have reached his extraordinariness. He was a gifted orator, a writer of atypical ability, a lawmaker with legendary legislative savvy, and a statesman of sterling examples of civility. As the drama of history unfolds, Congressman Stokes will be ranked as one of the all-time greats, and to be sure, his greatness will endure. Because of Louis Stokes' staying power, I make it a practice to never praise the one hit wonders. Such ephemeral leaders are like the meteors that flash across the heavens, just long enough to announce the dark oblivion into which they soar. I, perhaps like many of you, prefer stars that don't burn out so quickly. Lou's star still shines. There are millions of things that do not last. Such things are magnificent for a moment, and then like a mighty gust of wind, they're gone. The majority of men and women who served in Congress served and never left a trace. Deft winds hold no such victory over Louis Stokes. He was a man of good works. Remember, good works are inspired by God, and receptive to his people. Eternal life is the fruitage of good works. Yes I'm saying that if Lou Stokes is not in heaven, most of us can forget about it. I'm not a preacher, or a theologian, so I can't present a picture of Lou in heaven--but in the vernacular of the House of Representatives--the gentleman from Ohio has been appointed to an unknown committee, holding hearings in an unknown location, but orchestrated by a well- known, all-knowing chair.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to just take a minute to join with Congresswoman Kaptur, with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty in honoring the life of Louis Stokes. We attended his funeral a few weeks back, and I just want to say there were so many great stories that came about through his passing-- from his family and from his grandkids, who gave beautiful eulogies, stories of their grandfather. This is just to say, when I first got to the United States Congress as a young Congressman of 29 years old, it was Congressman Stokes who sat in my office, who gave me counsel, who was always there and was always in a good mood, who was always joking and playing around and having a good time; but he took his job very seriously and took being a Member of Congress very seriously. The striking and remarkable thing about him was, no matter how high up the ladder he moved, he always had time. Whether it was for a young boy or girl in Cleveland or a new Congressman from Youngstown, he had time. He shared his advice, and he shared his counsel. He was such a remarkable man. When you think of the word ``gentleman,'' that was Congressman Lou Stokes. He was a gentle man and, I think, embodied the kind of character we want our young men in Ohio to look up to and aspire to be. I wanted to take a minute here on the House floor to thank him for all he did for me and all he did for Ohio and all he did for this country. He was a great man, and he will be missed. Our hearts and our prayers go out to him and his family.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today, I am very grateful for the opportunity to recognize the life work of Bill Considine, the long- serving President and CEO of Akron Children's Hospital. Bill is celebrating thirty-five years as President of Akron Children's--making him the longest serving President of any children's hospital in the country and among the longest serving Presidents of any hospital in the nation. Under his leadership, Akron Children's Hospital has grown from an urban children's hospital into a pediatric health system that serves twenty-seven counties in Ohio. It is consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals in the country and that success is without question the result of Bill's vision, commitment, and leadership. Bill graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Akron and a master's degree in health science administration from The Ohio State University. In 1979, Bill assumed the role as president of Akron Children's Hospital reaffirming his devotion to his community. Under his leadership, Akron Children's has expanded the scope of children's healthcare services and is now the largest pediatric healthcare provider in northern Ohio serving more than 800,000 children each year. Today, the scope of pediatric healthcare services offered by Akron Children's Hospital are exceptional, including advanced cardiac care, intensive neonatal care, behavioral health, and even Ohio's first pediatric sports medicine center. Bill has been consistently recognized by numerous organizations for his visionary leadership at Akron Children's Hospital. Two special awards include his 2009 induction into the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame and the 2011 Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award for his years of dedication to humanitarian causes in the greater Akron community. Bill is a true public servant and a visionary leader. Our community is a better place to call home due to his years of service and commitment to helping children and their families. With sincerest gratitude, I honor Bill Considine for his selfless dedication to Akron Children's Hospital as well as his humanitarian efforts throughout Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in extending a heartfelt thank you to an inspiring leader, Bill Considine.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Richard A. Marsico who passed away on June 6th, 2015. Richard was born to his loving parents Anthony and Mary Marsico on October 5th, 1934. Mr. Marsico was raised on the south side of Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1953 and was inducted into the Woodrow Wilson Hall of Fame for his successful high school football career. Richard later graduated from the Ohio State University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Richard was later commissioned second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1958 and obtained the rank of captain during his service. He was honorably discharged in 1969. Mr. Marsico continued to work in the field of engineering with Engelhardt & Associates until 1968 when he formed his own firm, Richard A. Marsico & Associates. His firm helped expand prominent businesses, like General Motors and Packard Electric Plants which made our community more economically prosperous. Richard used his talents to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Youngstown by serving as the director of public works, the city engineer, as well as the chief building official and plan examiner. In 1997, he was elected to the office of Mahoning County Engineer and served for four terms. He also served as the president of the County Engineers Association of Ohio, and won the Mahoning County Township Association's ``Excellence in Service'' Award. Richard was very hardworking and dedicated; he achieved many successes and was well-respected among his colleagues and throughout the community. On June 19, 1954 Richard married his high school sweetheart Shirlee Eckerle. After Shirlee's passing, Richard married Patricia DePizzo-Como on July 27, 2007. Richard is preceded in death by parents Anthony and Mary Marsico; wife, Shirlee; and his son Richard Phillip Marsico. He leaves behind his wife Patricia; sons, Martin and David; daughter-in-law, Nita; stepchildren, Michelle and Bryan; his wonderful grandchildren; and great-granddaughter, Mia. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Robert Marsico and numerous nieces and nephews. Richard will be remembered for being a noble man of valor as well as for his professional accomplishments. I extend my condolences to his entire family. Our community is a better place to call home due to his great contributions and he will be dearly missed.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Patrick J. Carano, who passed away peacefully on June 5, 2015. Mr. Carano was highly regarded for his commitment to social justice, his educational determination, his devotion to his work, and most of all his unconditional love for family and friends. As a member of the Summit County community, Mr. Carano attended St. Martha's Catholic Grade School and North High School prior to graduating from Akron University. As a devoted public servant, Mr. Carano worked vigilantly for Summit County and the Summit County Port Authority until ultimately retiring in 2011 as the head of economic development for the City of Tallmadge, Ohio. Mr. Carano was an esteemed member of our community. In his early years, he created the St. Martha's Social Committee. He later served on the board of the Akron Catholic Commission and dedicated his time to working with the non-profit Genneserat, Inc. He was a man who championed his fellow workers and fought for better wages and fairer contracts for union members. Mr. Carano understood the importance of being politically involved and proved himself to be a leader within his party. He participated in numerous campaigns for Democratic candidates, organized the Summit County Progressive Democrats, and reinvigorated the Tallmadge Democratic Club. Patrick Carano aimed to make his community a better place to call home, and he undoubtedly succeeded. Patrick is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Zeno Carano; his sons, Justin and Matthew Carano; step-daughters, Kelsey and Samantha Kulesza; twin brother, Michael Carano; his nieces, Sarah and Lisa; his sister, Joan Feaster; and brothers, David and Thomas Carano. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Patrick Carano and I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family. He was a great man whose legacy and memory will live on.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. William ``Bill'' Clemens Walker, who passed away peacefully on April 24, 2015. Bill was born to his loving parents Lewis and Ina Walker on May 5, 1925. He was raised in Southern Illinois where he attended a one-room schoolhouse, and while attending school he began working in his father's general merchandise store in Grantsburg, IL as well as his father's furniture store in Vienna, IL. Bill was very successful in his schooling having graduated from Vienna Township High School in 1942, Northwestern University in 1945, and the Harvard Business School's Mid-Officer Certificate program for Navy Supply Corps Officers in 1945. Bill was very kind and hardworking but above all else, he loved his family and they were his most prized possession. For all who knew Bill, one of his proudest achievements in life had been serving as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed as Commissary Officer on Guam, until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Bill later dedicated over 32 years working for General Electric (GE) in computer systems until finally retiring in 1988. Bill was passionate about cooking, photography, writing, and working with computers. On January 16, 1955 Bill married Ms. Joyce (Harkins) Walker in northern Georgia and later the pair welcomed their son Jeffrey and daughter Nancy. After Joyce's passing, Bill married BettyAnn Walker in 1997. The pair lived in Naples, Florida until his passing this year. Bill is preceded in death by his father Lewis; mother Ina; wife Joyce; and his two brothers Newton and James. He leaves behind his wife BettyAnn; son Jeff; daughter Nancy; sister Elizabeth; and seven grandchildren. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Bill's entire family. He was a great man whose legacy will continue to live on, and he will be missed.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. John R. Rozzo. Mr. Rozzo was highly respected within the community for his career as an educator, his dedication to the community, and his love for his friends and family. John was born on January 17th, 1941 to Samuel and Mary G. Airato Rozzo. He graduated from Girard High School in 1958 and afterwards attended Youngstown State University, where he received his B.S. in Education in 1963. John began teaching social studies and science at St. Edward School in Youngstown in 1962 while working towards his Master's in Education, which he received in 1968 from Westminster College. He eventually went on to serve as principal for St. Edwards School, Our Lady of Mt. Cannel in Niles, St. Dominic Elementary School in Youngstown, and St. Joseph Elementary School in Austintown before retiring in 2011. His legacy as a teacher and administrator lives on through all of his students whose lives he impacted through his work. Mr. Rozzo was also a highly regarded leader. He was a man who constantly sacrificed his time for his community. As an educator, he served as regional superintendent, member of the Trumbull County Parochial Schools Principal's Advisory Board, the Diocesan Board of Education and Athletic Director. At St. Joseph parish, he was a lector, Eucharistic minister, and leader of prayer. Being the advocate for education that he was, John served as judge and checker for the Vindicator Spelling Bee for over 40 years. He also showed a fierce commitment to the Austintown Girls' Softball league by serving as a president, coach, manager and was inducted as a member of their hall of fame. St. Joseph Parish named Mr. Rozzo man of the year, a title anyone in the community could agree he undoubtedly deserved. John is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Janet M. Berard whom he married May 2, 1964; his children, Pamela J. Pasquale, Denise M. Rozzo, Alaina M. Chepke, and John A. Rozzo; his brother and sisters, Phyllis Soroka, Connie Nickell, Anthony Rozzo, Ginny Gustovich and Marilyn Bianco; his aunt, Fran Airato; his 10 grandchildren, his great-granddaughter, Leighton and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. John Rozzo leaves behind a great example for all of us to follow as a man of faith, community activism, and true leadership. He will be dearly missed.