Tim Ryan

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of former Mayor George Vukovich of Youngstown, Ohio who passed away on Monday, July 28, 2014 at the tender age of 87 with his wife of 64 years, Helen, by his side. He was a dedicated and compassionate public servant, serving for over 20 years as the Seventh Ward Councilman, Clerk of Youngstown Municipal Court, and Mayor of Youngstown. When I first started my political career I was lucky enough to have spent time with George. He always had great stories to tell of the good old days. But more importantly he always gave good advice and counsel. I will always remember how much he talked about and treasured his family, especially his grandkids. I really enjoyed our time together. Mayor Vukovich served as mayor from 1979-1983 and oversaw the city during one of its darkest hours. Although Youngstown was suffering from massive job loss due to the decline of the steel industry, Mayor Vukovich was able to hold the city together during one of its most trying seasons. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army who loved his community. Mayor Vukovich was also active in the Youngstown Democratic Party, a member of the Catholic War Veterans, the Croation Fraternal Union (Lodge 185, Campbell), and St. Angela Merici Parish (Sacred Heart of Jesus). He treasured spending time with his family, as well as hosting visits from loved ones, especially his grandchildren who were his greatest joy. He and his wife spent many winters in Florida during retirement where they enjoyed boating and long walks on the beach. Mayor Vukovich is survived by his beloved wife Helen; his daughters, Carol and Sonia; grandchildren, Carrie, Michael, Carly, and Katie; brothers Peter and Henry, an abundance of loved ones and friends. George has been preceded in death by his loving parents, sisters Ann and Helen, as well as his brothers Jack, John, and Thomas. I am proud to honor the life of Mayor George Vukovich. The city of Youngstown is forever indebted to honorable years of his service. Youngstown is a much better place to call home because of his valiant work. My deepest condolences go out to his family and close friends. George will be deeply missed but his courageous spirit will forever live on through the hearts and lives he has touched.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major Joshua S. Kirk, United States Marine Corps, who recently passed away after over 10 years of service to our nation. In 1999, Major Kirk, a native of my home state of Ohio, joined the United States Marine Corps and was commissioned in August 2000. He earned a law degree from the University of Virginia in 2004 and over the course of the next 10 years, held several positions around the world in service to his country as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate. His assignments included Civil Law Officer and Trial Counsel at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar; Legal Assistance Officer in Charge, Senior Defense Counsel, and Chief Prosecutor at Marine Corps Base Hawaii; and Prosecutor in the Office of Military Commissions in Washington, DC. In 2006-2007, Major Kirk deployed to Iraq with the Third Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate. He has earned a variety of awards for his outstanding service to our country. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). I recognize Major Kirk's honorable commitment to our country and the sacrifices he made on its behalf. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Lieutenant Commander Erin Quay, United States Navy, Judge Advocate General Corps, and his son, Aedan Kirk. It is an honor to stand in recognition of this dedicated military family.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I thank the gentleman. My office does get a lot of phone calls against this budget, but they are not realizing that I am supporting them against the Paul Ryan budget. I think these reforms--and I was able to come a little bit earlier and listen to some of my colleagues talk about what is in this document that is supposed to be a new idea, a new way, a new approach-- and while I commend Chairman Ryan for trying to come up with some new ideas, I am all about innovation. I am all about a new approach. I think the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) hit the nail on the head when she was talking about the fruits and vegetables and the healthy food. If we are going to move forward as a country, if we want to make sure we take care of the issue of half the country in the next 10 years is going to either have diabetes or prediabetes--and it is going to drive up Medicaid costs, it is going to drive up Medicare costs, it is going to drive up private insurance--one of the issues we need to focus on is how do we get more money into programs that are going to make sure young kids have access to fresh foods, period. We don't need to get really complicated. We don't need to come up with any new grand scheme. We have already got it. It is already in there, and Chairman Ryan is taking it out, deinvesting in the very things that are going to drive down health care costs, make kids better able to learn and focus and concentrate on the classroom, so they are not having a Fruit Roll-Up and think that it is fruit. They are having fruits and vegetables and access to food over the weekends and all of these things. I find it extremely interesting that a majority of the cuts that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) proposed to reduce poverty--and in his budgets, two-thirds of the savings in the FY15 Republican budget came from programs that serve these populations, including moving millions out of the SNAP program. So a new approach is great, innovation is fantastic, but we know what we need to do, and it starts with diet. It starts with wellness. It starts with some of these other things that are going to allow that person who may be living in poverty to be as strong and capable, as healthy as they possibly can, so they can work themselves out of poverty. Nobody here is defending the status quo--oh, great, people are accessing public funds or public programs--we want to get people on a ladder out of poverty. That is what America should be all about, but we are failing miserably, and this program and the cuts that Chairman Ryan is talking about are going to make it worse. I think we rank 10th or 11th in people coming up from poverty, lower socioeconomic status, and finally making their way to the middle class. We rank down from other countries--Nordic countries and the rest. I want to thank the gentleman for doing this. I think this is an amazing opportunity for us to provide some contrast to what Chairman Ryan has proposed, but let me say I think one of the most direct benefits for the war on poverty is an increase in the minimum wage, and today--ironically enough--is the 5-year anniversary since the minimum wage has been increased. Some States are higher than the $7.25 Federal minimum wage. In Ohio, it is $7.95 and is indexed for inflation, which is better, but it is not anywhere near where we need to be. I wanted to come and talk for a couple of minutes about what we need to do and what the benefits would be, and I know we normally hear from somebody who is going to say this is going to cost jobs, this is going to slow down economic growth and all the rest, and I will share with them a study that just came out from Labor that said that the 13 States that increased the minimum wage this year had some increase--whether indexed for inflation or through legislation--saw an increase in the minimum wage, had more rapid job growth than all of the other States. For those people who don't understand how that could be--because we hear so much rhetoric: this is going to cost jobs, this is going to cost jobs--if the average family has more money in their pocket to go out and buy things, that is good for the economy. Imagine if the Walmarts and the Sam's Clubs and all the rest had a higher minimum wage, if those folks were making an extra couple bucks an hour--and it doesn't have to happen tomorrow. We can do it and stage it over the course of the next few years to make sure it doesn't have a dramatic impact on business--but if all of those folks made an extra $16 or $20 a day, an extra $100 a week, an extra $200 every two weeks of pay, an extra $400 a month, that is a lot of money. That is enough to go out and get a Chevy Cruze made in Lordstown, Ohio, and pay the insurance and the rest on that. What does that do for the economy if the 1.5 million people in the country--the 62,000 people in my congressional district who make the minimum wage go out and have a little bit of extra money? That is how you are going to move the economy. Maybe we could get rid of some of these programs because that family will have access to the food because they will have a little bit more money in their pockets, so they will be able to afford the fruits and vegetables and the kinds of food they need to stay healthy, prevent disease, and be able to concentrate and focus in the classroom. I just want to make two last points. The first is zero increase in the minimum wage, and if you are in the private sector, you have seen a 10 percent increase in earnings, just 10 percent over the past 4 or 5 years since 2009. If you want to go out and get apples, 16 percent increase--bacon has gone up 67 percent; cheddar cheese, 20 percent; milk, 20 percent; eggs, 30 percent; gas, there has been a 44.5 percent increase in gas since 2009. Now, if you are making minimum wage and all of these costs are going up--for eggs and milk and gas and bacon and coffee, coffee went up 27 percent, the kinds of things that are basic staples to the American diet--how are you going to keep up? How are you going to say, oh, I want to send my kid to a basketball camp in the summer or maybe an afterschool program or I need a baby sitter or I need to catch a cab? You don't have any extra money. You just don't. I think it is essential for us, if we are going to close the income inequality gap between the wealthiest in our country and the poorest in our country, if we are going to close that, if we want people to work hard and play by the rules and then benefit, this is something that is very simple. We get a lot of rhetoric. We heard it in the last Presidential election: 47 percent of the country are takers, they want to be on the dole, they don't want to work. Then we have something that is going to benefit the people who are working, doing the jobs that many Americans don't want to do, cleaning the hotel rooms, working at the gas station, the wear and tear on their bodies over the years, the long hours, swing shifts, and the whole lot. This increase will not just benefit minimum wage workers. It is going to go up and benefit everybody. The last point--I promise--we need minimum wage workers who are out there to be organized. We didn't always have a 40-hour workweek. We didn't always get time-and-a-half over 40 hours. We didn't always have a 5-day workweek. We didn't have a National Labor Relations Act. We didn't have Social Security. We didn't have Medicare. These were things that came about because average people got organized, and they said enough is enough. We are not going to have our senior citizens work until they die. We are not going to have our senior citizens not have health care. We are not going to have people working in unsafe factories--and you are going to work 40 hours a week. From our side, we expect people to go out and work and work their butts off to get ahead. Our job is to stay organized, to make sure that policies are in place that are both good for the economy and good for families in the United States. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan) for the opportunity to come here and share just briefly. I look forward to working with you. Hopefully, we can get a vote on the House floor sometime soon. I don't think we will. I am not really optimistic about it, but I hope that we can organize over the next few months and years to make this a reality for all of those families in the United States.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of my dear friend, Trumbull County, Ohio, Commissioner Paul Heltzel, 69, who passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, June 30, 2014 at his home in the company of family after a valiant and brief fight with cancer. Paul was a deeply thoughtful, concerned, and dedicated public servant. He was one of Trumbull County's greatest assets, previously serving in various roles in the community throughout his professional career before joining the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners in 2005. Paul was a proud advocate of our veterans and worked hard to secure the Samuel E. Lanza Veterans Resource Center for our local veterans. He was the recipient of the Regional Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Political Achievement Award given to the members of the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners for outstanding political achievement. Paul was a lively and active man who enjoyed the outdoors, antique motor cars, and spending time with his family. Preceded in death by parents, Robert E. and Mary Jane Heltzel Sr. as well as his brother Mark E. Heltzel, Paul will continue to live on through the lives he has touched. Paul is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rosemary Heltzel; his sons, Ryan, Michael, Robert, and Paul; his siblings, Robert E. Heltzel Jr., Lawrence, Carl, Mary Jo, and D. Michael; five grandchildren Rae, Desmond, Theo, Christopher, and Michael Duke as well as 12 nieces and nephews. It gives me great pride to honor the life of Paul Heltzel. I am deeply saddened and I extend my condolences to his entire family. His sound and straightforward advice will be missed by me and my entire staff. Our county is a much better place because of Paul's service. He and his contributions to our community will never be forgotten.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I thank the gentleman. I probably won't take all the time, but I did want to stand up in support of this piece of legislation. Mr. Chair, in my district in eastern Ohio, we have been--and I have heard speaker after speaker talk about the potential boom for our country and different regions of America. And my region that I represent is one of those areas along eastern Ohio. I think if we are looking to address many of the issues of global warming, and I know there would be a lot of different discussions and opinions that I may have compared to a lot of people on the other side, but I believe that this is an opportunity for us to address that issue with liquid natural gas, to get it out into the marketplace, to make sure that the economic benefits are here in the United States, that our people in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, into New York and the upstate New York area are able to benefit from this. FERC is going to have to approve these ultimately, at the end of the day, and so I don't think that we can pass up this opportunity to have a transition. Now, I think, quite frankly, we missed the boat a few years ago when we had an opportunity to pass a comprehensive energy bill that would invest into--in the bill that came before this House, money into coal research was an opportunity that I think we missed. There was an opportunity for wind and solar and the alternatives that I think, ultimately, will be a part of an extended portfolio here in the United States. But today, the opportunity is with liquid natural gas and getting it abroad. In one of my positions on the German Study Group, we were in Germany talking to Chancellor Merkel, and the first thing she said to us, as our delegation was over there, was let's talk about natural gas, the first thing, because she had Putin at that time, a year, year and a half ago, breathing down her neck, and now here we are. So I think there is an opportunity here. This is one step in a long process. I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership and hope we can continue to build out this energy portfolio with natural gas and the others that will come along the way.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the exemplary life of Antonette ``Toni'' Landolfi, 85, of Niles, who passed away peacefully earlier this year with her son and daughter by her side. She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, a founder of the Tri-County Association of Nursing Home Social Workers, past President of the American Committee on Italian Migration, and an active member of the local Democratic Party, among many other community organizations. Toni was honored numerous times for her outstanding service, including her work with the Diocese of Youngstown. For her work in Democratic politics she received the Joseph A. Marino Democrat of the Year Award. She was recognized for her community activism by the Ohio House of Representatives for her dedication to Shepherd of the Valley and she received the Carmen DeChristofaro Service Award for all she did to better the lives of the people of Niles. Toni enjoyed entertaining and hosting gatherings at her home and backyard pool where she took great pleasure in feeding and serving all who visited. Preceded in death by her husband Gregory A. Landolfi, Toni will be deeply missed by her daughter Jennie Louise Landolfi of Niles, her son Attorney John Louis Landolfi, his wife Christina and her three grandsons, Johnny, Dante and Marco Landolfi of Columbus, her siblings Pete Cervone of Austintown, Pat Bonanno and Rose (Dominic) Sarno of Niles, her sisters-in-law Rose Raschilla of Youngstown and Mary Jane (Jim) Botsko of Gallatin, TN, many nieces and nephews and her beloved neighbors. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor the life of Toni Landolfi. I will always remember the tremendous support she provided to me throughout my career. She had class and lived with a deep and abiding faith and an amazing Grace. I extend my most sincere condolences to Toni's entire family. Her contributions to this community will not be forgotten. Northeast Ohio is a better place because of her service and her life.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and exemplary life of Mr. Albert Covelli who passed away at 94-years-old at his home in Florida. Mr. Covelli was a pillar in our community. He was a giant in the city of Warren, Ohio, and a great and generous benefactor of John F. Kennedy High School and his beloved church, Blessed Sacrament Parish. Mr. Covelli was involved in many other worthy endeavors known by few and for which he sought no credit. Albert proudly served his nation during World War II and was decorated as a lieutenant. Mr. Covelli was the founder of Covelli Enterprises the nation's largest franchisee of Panera Bread and the 4th largest restaurant franchisee in the country. Before his acquisition of Panera franchises Covelli Enterprises had been the largest franchisee of McDonald's restaurants in the nation. A dedicated philanthropist, Albert donated millions of dollars over the years to hundreds of charitable organizations. Albert helped organize the Ronald McDonald house and he was our community's largest local sponsor of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots. He served on numerous boards of banks, hospitals, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Albert lived the American dream and is a reminder that one man can make a difference. He started his business from scratch and built an empire. He is a magnificent example to the rest of us that hard work and determination can change a community for the better. Albert is survived by his wife Josephine, his daughter, Annette Ford, his son, Sam Covelli, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. It gives me great pride to honor the life of Albert Covelli. I extend my most sincere condolences to Albert's entire family. His contributions to our community will not be forgotten. Northeast Ohio is a better place because of his service, his dedication, and his life.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Air Force Space Command for establishing the new Hobson Cyberspace Communications Complex at the Springfield, Ohio, Air National Guard Base in honor of former U.S. Representative David Hobson. The new facility--which houses the Ohio Air National Guard's 251st Cyber Engineering Installation Group and 269th Combat Communications Squadron--consists of nearly 32,000 square feet of administration and training space, with an additional 15,700 square feet of supply and warehouse space for 38 full-time personnel and 174 traditional guard members. The complex is critical to Air Force Space Command's federal mission and the Ohio National Guard's homeland security and peacetime missions supporting local, state and national response operations such as cyberspace and communications infrastructure activities, civil disturbances or natural disaster response. The advanced technological features of the complex will significantly increase the units' capacity to support critical missions for command and control of cyberspace defense missions. As an Ohio Air National Guard veteran, former Representative Hobson learned firsthand just how much service members and their families sacrifice to serve their country. During his 18 years in Congress, Representative Hobson successfully obtained federal funding for military projects that have improved the lives and working conditions for National Guard members at home and overseas. Mr. Speaker, it was my honor and privilege to serve alongside of Representative Hobson in the House and on the Appropriations Committee during his service. I believe that it is fitting and proper that this facility be named in his honor.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor my good friend, Nancy Canavan Heslop. Her work chronicling the amazing story of her father, Naval and Marine corps aviator Colonel Desmond (``Des'') E. Canavan, and his work with test piloting the remarkable military cargo aircraft, the Budd RB-1 Conestoga has been nothing short of incredible. One of her articles was recently published in American Aviation Historical Society Journal, under the title ``A Story of the Budd RB-1 Conestoga.'' Nancy's father, Colonel Canavan was a test pilot for many years, and also showed unparalleled courage while serving his country as a pilot during the Second World War. He was the first Marine Corps pilot to fly both America's first helicopter (Sikorsky HNS-1, BuNo 39034, March 30, 1944, and solo in BuNo 39046, November 2, 1944) and jet (Bell YP-59-A, BuNo 10002, July 18, 1944). He was stationed at the testing facility at NAS Patuxent River, MD, where he served as the test pilot for the Budd RB-1. Mrs. Heslop's article explains how the Budd RB-1 was plagued with many problems, and the many crashes it suffered during testing due to mechanical failures. Colonel Canavan himself was injured in one such crash. As a consequence of its poor testing, the Budd RB-1 never saw service in a combat theater during the war. However, its design led to numerous innovations that were later used in many other cargo planes. Out of the 17 Budd RB-1s that were delivered to the Navy, only one has survived. It currently is at Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, awaiting restoration. My friend Nancy Canavan Heslop is an amazing woman, and has worked tirelessly on writing the story of the life of her father. She has written Letters From Des: The Life of a Marine Corps Naval Aviator and Test Pilot and is currently writing Letters From Des: Korea. Nancy is a truly outstanding woman; aside from her recent success she has also been published in multiple local journals. In closing, I am thrilled to congratulate my friend on her great accomplishments.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the career of Dr. Luis Proenza, who dedicated his extraordinary abilities to education and public service. Upon his retirement as the President of The University of Akron, his tremendous leadership as President will be greatly missed. Dr. Proenza's career in education started long before his time as University President in Akron, Ohio. After graduating with a Ph.D. in 1971 from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Proenza joined the faculty of the University of Georgia as a professor, where he gained prominence as a researcher in retinal neurophysiology, eventually being named to the National Research Council-National Academy of Science's Committee on Vision. In 2001, President George W. Bush named Dr. Proenza to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, our nation's highest-level policy advisory group for science and technology. During his record setting 15-year tenure as a University President in Ohio, Dr. Proenza's creative leadership helped develop The University of Akron into a powerful economic engine for regional development. Acting as a catalyst for collaborative community initiatives and partnerships throughout his tenure, Dr. Proenza helped further solidify The University of Akron as Northeast Ohio's preeminent public university. Under his leadership The University of Akron's research portfolio has doubled in size, a fifty-block area surrounding the campus has been revitalized, and the Austen Bio-Innovation Institute has been established. Also under his direction a partnership with three local hospitals and a medical school has emerged to help establish Akron as one of the country's leading centers for biomaterials and biomedicine. I would like to thank Dr. Proenza for the fifteen years he has dedicated to our community and the University of Akron. I would also like to thank him for his spirit of progress, education, and collaboration that has since fostered a movement among other Ohioans. Dr. Proenza will become President Emeritus of the University, continue his current tenured professorship in biology, and will be named University Professor in the Office of Academic Affairs following a sabbatical leave. Hopefully he and his wife Theresa Butler can spend a lot more time on their 44-foot sailboat Apogee, which they designed together and plan to sail on Lake Erie.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of an exemplary public servant, Joe Cappuzzello from Girard, Ohio. After 39 years working in the school system, Mr. Cappuzzello will be retiring from Girard High School as athletic director. Under his guidance as assistant Athletic Director, Girard won the 1992-93 state Division II boys' basketball championship. Joe later became Girard High School's first full-time athletic director. A Girard native, Joe is truly a leader in our community and has proven this by his dedication to educational values. Joe has advocated the importance of balancing athletics and education in schools today and has personally worked toward achieving this objective through his work as Athletic Director and teacher at Girard High School. I want to extend my warm and sincere thanks to Joe Cappuzzello for his lifelong devotion to educating and coaching students in Trumbull County. I would like to wish him congratulations on all he has accomplished and all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the exemplary life and service of John Benincasa. John sadly passed away on April 6, 2014 at the age of 87. Affectionately known as ``Mr. Alliance'' to those in his community, John was an extraordinary civil servant and veteran who served as president of the Alliance City Council and dedicated himself to the people of Stark County. On the day of his passing, John was in his 11th consecutive term as City Council president. After graduating from Mount Union College, John worked as vice president and general manager of Da-Tronics Inc. He later became the City of Alliance Safety Service Director for much of the 1980s under then Mayor Francis Carr. John was an active volunteer for his community, including 12 years on the Alliance Park board. John also spent 13 years in the Alliance Jaycees as a Board Member, where he helped organize and manage the Carnation City Triathlon/Duathlon for 25 years. John was also an active member of the United Methodist Church and the Alliance Area Family YMCA. He was an exemplary civil servant, who was able to set aside partisan differences and work for the betterment of the city he loved. John will be honored by the Stark County Democratic Party posthumously with the lifetime achievement award. He was devoted to his family and faith, and was dedicated to and strongly preached the principles of the Democratic Party. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor the life of John Benincasa. I extend my most sincere condolences to John's entire family. His contributions to this community will not be forgotten. Northeast Ohio is a better place because of his service and his life. I ask that the House join me in remembering Mr. John Benincasa.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Bob Casale, who passed away on February 17, 2014, at the age of sixty-one. Bob was raised in Akron, Ohio. He led an exemplary life while in pursuit of his dream of writing, producing, and performing music. Bob helped create a body of work with his band Devo that put the ``new'' in new wave music. He ultimately changed the way a lot of people viewed both music and culture at the time. As one of the original members of the band Devo, Bob came of age in the middle of a huge cultural war in Akron, Ohio. There, Bob and his fellow band members Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, Alan Myers, and his brother Gerald Casale were inspired to form Devo after witnessing the Kent State massacre in 1970. In remembrance of his late brother, Gerald stated that, ``as an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got.'' In more recent years, Devo actively toured around the country and performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. ``He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again,'' stated Gerald. ``His sudden death from conditions that led to heart failure came as a total shock to us all.'' In addition to performing with Devo, Bob Casale worked for twenty years at Mutato creating and developing the sounds on various films and television shows. Prior to Bob's passing, he and his brother Gerald were working on what Gerald calls a ``Devo online school.'' The trade school project would teach participants how to write music with digital tools or how to score a commercial. The school would be taught by professionals who work in the field and have a track record of success, including former band member Mark Mothersbaugh. Though Bob is no longer around to see the project through, his family and friends will continue to spearhead the project in his name. Bob Casale was an extraordinary man with a great set of values who will live on in the hearts and minds of his friends, family, and fans. Bob is survived by his son Alex, his daughter Samantha, and his wife, Lisa. His long and productive life set an example to all of us and all who knew him. Bob's memory will continue to live on through the revolutionary music he left behind. Whip it!

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Jeannette M. Fortunato, who passed away on January 24, 2014, at the tender age of eighty. Jeannette was born on May 12, 1933, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Steve and Edith Glazzy. Jeanette enjoyed cooking and bird watching, but most of all, she loved the time she spent with her family. Jeannette led an exemplary life of service and dedication. She was a member of New Life Lutheran Church in Liberty, where she taught as a Sunday School Teacher and later joined Zion Lutheran Church. Not only did Jeannette touch the lives of those in the church community, she was incredibly loved by her family and friends. Jeannette has joined her loving parents, Steve and Edith. She will be missed by a countless number of people in the community, and most of all by her husband of 58 years, Louis Fortunato, Jr., her children, Louis Fortunato III, David Fortunato and Lee Ann Fortunato-Heltzel, her grandchildren, Lynn, Rich, Nick, Chris, and Danielle, her great- grandson, Landon, her sister, Betty Schumacher, and her brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Dorothy Glazzy. Jeannette was an extraordinary woman, and will live on in the hearts and minds of those she has touched. The state of Ohio lost an outstanding citizen and her community will miss her dearly.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life of Margaret E. Peace, of Newton Falls, Ohio, who passed on February 13, 2014. Margaret was born on March 13, 1921 in Greenwood, South Carolina, to Clarence and Lillian McCuen Elledge. On December 5, 1938 she married the love of her life Mr. James Peace and the two were happily married for 74 years before James' tragic passing in June of 2013. While living in South Carolina, Margaret worked in a cotton mill. Upon moving to Newton Falls, Ohio she began working as a waitress at the Superquick restaurant, and soon became an active member of the Newton Falls First Church of God. Throughout her sixty years of attendance, she was heavily active with singing in the choir, serving as Sunday School teacher, serving as an assistant with the Brownie and Girl Scout groups, sitting member on the church council, an active member on the Women's Missionary Society Board, and she also diligently served as the nursing director for over 45 years. Not only did Margaret touch the lives of those in the church community, she was incredibly loved by her extensive network of family and friends. She collected hundreds of cookbooks over the course of her life, loved reading her Bible, and found happiness in her flower garden. Margaret has joined her loving parents, Clarence and Lillian, her tender husband James, her son Freddie, her sister Martha and brother Bill. She will be missed by a countless number of people in the community, and most of all by her two sons, James and Eddie Peace, her daughter Linda Hospodor, her daughter-in-law Kay Peace, and her brother Frank Elledge. Margaret will also be fondly remembered by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Margaret was an extraordinary woman, and she will live on in the hearts and minds of those she has touched. It was an honor to work with her in my district, and I will never forget her boundless kindness and enduring commitment to her community.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph Capobianco, who passed on Wednesday, January 29th in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 67. Joseph was a dear friend of mine, and I am grateful for his support over the years. Joseph was born in Gaeta, Italy to his loving parents, the late Luigi and Antonetta Capobianco. He spent his childhood in Italy but immigrated to Boston at the age of 10 to begin a new life in the United States. Joseph dedicated much of his time to St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, which he served proudly for many years. During his service he was significantly involved in Cum Christo, the Lay Catholic Renewal Movement, and also spent time performing prison ministry. In addition to serving his church, Joseph found great joy in playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed travelling with his loving wife Linda, particularly back to Italy. Joseph will be dearly missed by Linda; his son, Louis; his grandchildren, Maggie, Joseph and Lily; his sisters, Alesandra DiCecca and Erasma Simeone; his brother, Cosmo, and a number of nieces and nephews. Joseph's passing will be felt by the greater community, as he touched the lives of everyone around him. I am proud to have known such a philanthropic and compassionate Ohioan.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman from Texas for his kind words as well. Madam Speaker, from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 6, verse 8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And I said, Here I am. Send me. Nate said, Send me, when his country asked and he was looking for a way to serve. He joined the Marine Corps. Lance Corporal Deyarmin was born on July 30, 1983. He was named after his father, but they started calling him ``Nate.'' They moved to Tallmadge, in our congressional district, when he was 1\1/2\ years old. He lived there his whole life. His family said he was a homeboy from Tallmadge. Nate went to school there and played sports there. He lived there and he made friends there. Nate joined the Marine Corps as his way of serving, but when you read about his life, the interesting thing--and what we are celebrating here--is that he said, Send me, from the very early stages of his life here on Earth. When his great grandfather was 89 years old and bedridden, it was little Nate that jumped into the bed and started playing Legos to engage his great grandfather to make him feel better. They had this little game they would play where his grandfather would move his false teeth in and out of his mouth and little Nate would try and grab the teeth. A few years later, when the great grandfather died, Nate had an opportunity to pick whatever he wanted of his great grandfather's--and he picked the false teeth. I think that is the kind of spirit that Nate brought to his family, friends, the Marine Corps, and to our country. While driving down the road on his way to school, if there happened to be someone walking to school who didn't have a driver's license, Nate was the kind of guy that stopped and picked that person up and took them to school. Nate said: Send me. If someone was bullying someone at school and Nate was there, Nate was the guy who got in the middle of it and made sure that no one was bullied. He said: Send me. If a family was having trouble, Nate would stop by the house, make sure everything was going okay. Nate said: Send me. So now, those of us who drive by this post office in Tallmadge, Ohio, we will look up, we will see Nate's name, and we will not only remember his name or his service, but how his life challenges all of us in some way, shape, or form, in every little interaction, to say and answer the call when we are asked: Send me.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues and people all over the world in recognizing the tragedy which occurred on February 26, 1992 in the small Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. The attack resulted in the deaths of 613 Azerbaijani civilians and is one of the most devastating acts of violence in the South Caucasus in recent history. According to some accounts, the fate of 150 Khojaly inhabitants is still unknown, even after twenty-one years. The numerous casualties in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscore the need for a political-rather than a military-solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A fair and comprehensive settlement is the most effective tool to encourage stability, prosperity, and a lasting peace in the region. As co-chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to working with both sides to that end. With that goal in mind, we remember and mourn the 613 victims of Khojaly and work together to safeguard the human rights of all.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late William Moore McCulloch, a Republican Member of Congress from Ohio, for his extraordinary work on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Fifty years ago on February 10, 1964, the House of Representatives passed what would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by a vote of 290 to 130. This landmark piece of legislation outlawed discrimination against race, ethnicity, gender, and religious minorities. I believe this was the most important piece of American domestic legislation in 20th Century America, as it protected fundamental civil rights and ensured equal opportunities for all Americans. McCulloch was born in 1901, in Holmes County, Ohio. Despite being raised working on his family's farm and attending local rural schools, he studied at the College of Wooster before earning a law degree from Ohio State University College in 1925. Following graduation, McCulloch moved to Florida to practice constitutional law for a year. This period of his life was crucial in developing his passion for overhauling civil rights legislation, as he saw the effect of the oppressive Jim Crow ``separate but equal'' racial segregation laws firsthand. This experience fueled his passion for civil rights, and his belief that the Constitution guaranteed equal rights for all Americans. In 1932, McCulloch was elected to the State House of Representatives. From here, his determination to outlaw discrimination began to manifest itself. For example, he supported the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in its drive to end segregated seating in restaurants in Piqua. I am inspired by his work here, as this was a risky political move in such a rural, white, middle class, and conservative region of Ohio. Nevertheless, his desire to dismantle institutionalized discrimination outweighed everything else, and African Americans and all Americans are better off for it. In 1947, he was elected to Congress from Ohio's fourth Congressional district. It is important to note that McCulloch only had a small number of African American constituents--roughly 2.7 percent. His determination to protect American civil rights regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religion was due to his intrinsic desire to achieve equality, and not his own political agenda. He focused purely on doing what was right for the people of the United States. I find encouragement in this, and believe more of us in Congress can learn from McCulloch's example. However, McCulloch's work in civil rights didn't stop in Piqua, Ohio. He was the ranking Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee in the early 1960s, and used this to ensure civil rights legislation was introduced to the House. In 1963, President Kennedy called for legislation that removed discrimination, and increased protection for the right to vote. McCulloch personally met with the Kennedy Administration, and the two parties confirmed their joint commitment to a bipartisan civil rights bill. Despite his position as a Republican minority Member, he was determined to ensure the Civil Rights Act's passage through the House. He worked tirelessly with the Kennedy Administration and House Democrats for the bill. McCulloch's work was instrumental, and led to President Kennedy's declaration of ``Without him, it can't be done''. The legislation passed the House on February 10, fifty years ago. Later after a 54-day filibuster, the bill passed in the Senate. The Civil Rights Act became law with President Johnson's signature. Like Kennedy, Johnson recognized McCulloch's significant involvement in the Civil Rights Act, and stated he was ``the most important and powerful political force'' in passing the legislation. Despite his position as a minority Republican member in the House Judiciary Committee, McCulloch worked across party lines to pass legislation that guaranteed equal rights for all. I am inspired by this, and believe we can all learn something from McCulloch's efforts. He was willing to cooperate with the Democratic majority, including the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, in a time when there was a desperate need for anti-discrimination legislation and positive social change. I hope we can all follow in William McCulloch's example, and commit to finding bipartisan solutions to the issues facing our country. He was a proud son of Ohio.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an article that recently appeared in the Toledo Blade that describes the family heritage of our colleague and friend, the Honorable Marcy Kaptur. Ms. Kaptur represents Ohio's 9th Congressional District, is the dean of the Ohio delegation, and is the senior-most woman in the House. As this extraordinary article points out, Congresswoman Kaptur's interest in the current situation in Ukraine is influenced by her grandparents who were born in Ukraine and immigrated to America in the early 1900's. Last night, the House passed a resolution supporting ``the Ukrainian people's struggle to build an independent, democratic, and strong Ukraine that is free from foreign meddling.'' Ohioans are very proud of our family heritage as I am a son of Irish and Italian immigrants. Marcy Kaptur is proud of her Ukrainian heritage and I am honored to serve with her in the House. I submit an article from the Toledo Blade by Tom Troy. Kaptur's Ukraine Roots Run Deep Behind the Scenes, Congressman Encourages Democracy U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) looks over family pictures on her desk. Miss Kaptur's grandparents were both born in Ukraine, and she worries about that nation's future. She plans to bring some Ukrainian farmers here on a trade mission this month. During her 30 years as the representative of Ohio's 9th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur has carried on a love affair. The object of her affections is Ukraine, the former Soviet socialist republic that was the land of her grandmother and grandfather's birth. ``It has been a lifelong interest because, as our mother used to say, our children know the history of our family,'' Miss Kaptur, 67, said last week of herself and her brother Stephen, 61, who lives with her in West Toledo. As Ukraine--a giant eastern European nation famed for its fertile farmland--roils in political unrest, Miss Kaptur has been working behind the scenes to encourage democracy to flourish. The Toledo Democrat said she has made at least a dozen trips to Ukraine over the last four decades, and she is cochairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. In recent months the country has exploded into demonstrations, triggered by outrage at Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to end negotiations to join the European Union and turn to Russia to help it pay off a crippling debt. Some see the revolutionary movement as a step toward true independence that started when Ukraine broke off from the Soviet Union in 1990. Miss Kaptur was the co-sponsor of a resolution that passed Wednesday in a House committee calling the Ukraine leadership to a higher standard, and to support rights of assembly. Whether it will come up for a vote in the full House is not known. ``As the co-chair of the Ukraine caucus I have met with literally hundreds of Ukrainian leaders, existing leaders, emerging leaders, presidents, ambassadors, farmers. The Ukrainian embassy knows about our caucus,'' Miss Kaptur said. As the Ukrainian military begins making sounds about intervening in the unrest, Miss Kaptur said she hopes that if it does, it exercises restraint. ``The point is there has been a lot of interaction [with the United States], training at the highest level,'' she said. ``The kind of bloodshed that is historic in that region hasn't happened and I hope it won't.'' Miss Kaptur as an infant sits in her Grandmother Teofila Swiecicki Rogowski's lap while her mother, Anastasia Rogowski, stands. During college, the representative `worshipped' her hard-working grandparents, who emigrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s. The realignment of Miss Kaptur's 9th Congressional District in 2012 to snake along Lake Erie all the way from Toledo to Cleveland has been widely decried as gerrymandering designed to achieve Republican goals of squeezing as many Democrats into as few districts as possible. But one upshot has been the linkage of one of Congress's most Eastern European-focused lawmakers with communities that have a lot of Eastern European immigrants and their descendants. The district now contains the Cuyahoga County city of Parma, which has a large Ukrainian-American population. Miss Kaptur is also a founder and co-chairman of the Polish and Hungarian congressional caucuses. Her mother's family was Polish living in modern-day Ukraine. Miss Kaptur's grandmother Teofila Swiecicki Rogowski and Grandfather John Rogowski emigrated from Ukraine early in the 1900s. ``Then it was czarist Russia. They were not allowed to graze their one cow on the open field and could not feed themselves,'' Miss Kaptur said. Over the years, as their homeland was devastated by political and military rivalries, including a famine brought on by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and invasion by the Nazis, they lost all contact with family members in Ukraine. Her grandmother took in wash, and worked in the Commodore Perry and Willard hotels to earn money, while her grandfather, a carpenter, struggled to find work. ``When I was in college I worshipped her and her husband,'' Miss Kaptur said. She wanted to take her grandmother back to Ukraine and find the town they came from, Burtyn, but her grandmother was afraid, she said. Teofila died in 1970. In 1973, Miss Kaptur--then a planner for the city of Toledo--and her mother, the former Anastasia Rogowski, drove into Soviet Ukraine, where they found her grandmother's brother, a former inmate of Stalin's gulag political prison system for 20 years. ``He was not allowed to travel out of his area because he was viewed as an enemy of the state,'' Miss Kaptur said. He was released from the gulag in 1952, but lost his brother to the camps. Her great-uncle's crime: He had offered aid to a wounded Kulak, a member of the property-owning farming class that was being driven into extinction by Stalin. They had the only car in the dusty town, and were the only guests in the hotel, which had no curtains but a listening device. They had sent word to relatives that they would be at the hotel if anyone wanted to meet them. They were on their third day with no visitors when they heard activity in the lobby. Miss Kaptur's great-uncle Casmierz Swiecicici was a former inmate in Joseph Stalin's prison system for 20 years. ``We learned the desk clerk had been denying to the woman visitor that any foreigners were staying in the hotel, despite her repeated attempts to contact us,'' Miss Kaptur said. She said the moment that she finally met her grandmother's brother, Casmierz Swiecicki, was an emotional one. ``There stood this tall man and I looked at him and gasped because he held his hands the same way that our grandmother did. He looked at my mother and said, `are you my sister?' We just wept,'' Miss Kaptur said. They gave him an orange. ``That began the moment when we began to unlock the history of what happened,'' she said. They met more family members in a return trip two years later. Andy Fedynsky, resident scholar at the Ukrainian Museum and Archives in Cleveland, said Miss Kaptur has actively supported Ukraine since her first term in 1983. He said that year she played a leadership role in passing a bill to create a commission on the Ukraine famine, which was widely denied. ``This commission was set up and did a thorough job establishing there was a famine, it was planned, 7 million people were deliberately starved to death,'' Mr. Fedynsky said. He said Miss Kapttr testified that the victims included her own family. ``She said, `Don't tell me this never happened. I know it happened because my ancestors endured it,' '' Mr. Fedynsky said. The commission ``made a huge difference in Ukraine historiography.'' Miss Kaptur and others worked to get President Obama to include a Ukraine reference in his State of the Union speech last week, which he did. The President said, ``In Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully and to have a say in their country's future.'' ``I have been meeting with Ukrainians on a regular basis. We are planing a trade mission for farmers to bring them to Ohio in February,'' Miss Kaptur said. She has a picture of herself meeting a year and a half ago with one of the opposition leaders when he was in Washington. She said she was in Ukraine in 2013 while on her way to Poland to be awarded an honorary citizenship--her father's family was from Poland--when she feared that Ukraine was slipping backward. ``I left very, very worried. I saw how much more difficult their life had become. I was deeply worried about what I saw--greater poverty among older women, farmers that I've known.'' Ironically to the girl whose grandmother had only wanted to raise money in order to buy a piece of land on which to graze their cow, Ukrainian farmland is being bought up by oligarchs. ``There was a real sense that democracy was slipping away. Then all of this has happened. The people of Ukraine have stood up, and we should stand with them,'' Miss Kaptur said.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Ms. Margaret Massullo who passed peacefully of natural causes last month in the presence of her loving family at the age of 90. Margaret was born August 14, 1923 in Youngstown, Ohio to her proud and caring parents, Gabor and Elizabeth Vargo. Margaret touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with, and to those who knew her well, knew her as sweet ``Margie Marge.'' Marge enjoyed a life full of traveling, cooking, crocheting, politics, and most of all spending time with her family. Marge lived a successful life; some of her professional accomplishments included her notable work at the Seamless Pipe Department of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube during World War II, as well as her work with the Triangle Coat Factory. Known for her wealth of knowledge and true leadership, Marge was elected officer of the Bagnolese Ladies Club and the Saint Anthony's Italian Mother's Club. She prided herself in being an active Member of the ITAM Post along with three other veteran auxiliary groups at both a local and national level. Although the State of Ohio lost one of its matriarchs, her beautiful memory will continue to live on through the lives she deeply touched and inspired. I extend my deepest condolences to Marge's family. She is survived by her daughter Marguerite, sons Alfred and Ronald (Muzz), sisters Irene and Julie, her brother James, granddaughters Ronelle, Cara, Lauren, Genna and her five great-grandchildren. Marge was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Adolph, brothers Steve and Gabor, sisters Elizabeth, Rose, Goldie, and Julia along with her son- in-law George. I have a very special friendship with her son Ron, and I know that he, as well as his other siblings, carry their mother's passion for life, her sense of justice for all our citizens, and both a lighthearted and joyous approach to life. Her legacy goes on! Marge was a very special woman and will be long remembered.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the harmonious and melodious career of Eddie Vallus and the Eddie Vallus Band. The sweet sounds of the Eddie Vallus Polka Band included talented musicians John Ross, Ed Wasacz, Al Martini, Lou Tofil, and of course Eddie Vallus. They spent their lives on the bandstand sharing their music with their fans who love to dance, dance, dance. Since the release of their debut album in 1963, the Eddie Vallus Band has been recognized as a musical force. They were honored by former mayor of Youngstown Pat Ungaro and the Mahoning County Commission in 1985. The band's success garnered them a Grammy nomination in 1989, the Cleveland Polka Hall of Fame Trustee Award in 2003, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. I am convinced that the world needs more polka but after a lifetime of extended bookings, it saddens me that the Eddie Vallus Band has decided to put their instruments down. Many of my friends and neighbors continue to cherish their music. On October 26th, the band played its final concert at St. Paul Church in New Middletown, Ohio. As a 77 year resident of Boardman, Ohio, incomparable Eddie Vallus is an inspiration to our community. Although the Eddie Vallus Band will be no more, Eddie will continue to perform with the Rex Taneri Band. Eddie has led a long and happy life marked by success and a love of the arts. For Eddie there is never a sour note and he is always on key and in rhythm. I wish Mr. Vallus all the best and know he will spend time with his wife Pat of 51 years, his three daughters, and his five grandchildren. And a one and a two and a three for Eddie Vallus.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Barry, I just want to say that there have been a lot of kind words here tonight, and I think a lot of the words are very appropriate, but I have got to say, I don't even like you. You are full of bad news all the time. We want to go home. You won't let us. We want to come in later. You won't let us. We want to go home a day early. You won't let us. Barbara, I don't know how you put up with him. As a young boy, I used to go to church with my grandfather. He was an usher at the church. He wasn't the priest. He wasn't the head of the parish council. But he was the guy who made everything run. He helped run the festival. He was the top usher, so he had to handle all the money. He scheduled everybody. I grew up really watching him with an appreciation of how many people that you may not see in that instance on the altar or here speaking on the floor, how many people work to make things happen. Barry is in that cloakroom making things happen, making things run smoothly; not in the newspaper, not getting the headlines. And I just want to say thanks. I worked for a Member of Congress 20 years ago, and he had the old things you used to have to slide on. It was huge, it seemed like, back then, and I remember as a staffer hearing Barry's voice, and I knew it was Barry. I just heard this voice, Two bells, three bells, four bells, 15 minutes, 5 minutes. For 2 years, I would hear that. Then, when I finally became a Member and I got my little clip and I started hearing that voice and I got to meet Barry, it was like I thought I had made it. I get to respond to what Barry has been telling people to do for so many years. It was a great honor. Then-Minority Leader Pelosi started the 30-Something Working Group with Kendrick Meek and Debbie Wasserman Schultz and other Members, and I would come to the floor sometimes two or three nights during the week and stay very late--sometimes until 10 or 11. And I knew Barry was here, slogging away. He would say, Are you going to go tonight, Mr. Ryan? Yes. Sorry, Barry. He would sit in that room and wait until that was done. But that is the kind of dedication that you had. We love you. You are the best. Always with a smile and something nice to say, no matter how bad the situation got or how tough things were. Barbara, thank you. I know there are a lot of late nights here. Barry, you are the best. Have a great retirement.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Joseph Vrabel. Joe served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon his return, he served his fellow veterans by joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1956, and soon thereafter, becoming Post Commander. His service continued as a Life Member of the American Legion Mahoning Valley Post 15, where he served five years as Post Commander, going on to serve as Mahoning County Commander of the Dynamic Ninth District; and then proceeding on to serve as the American Legion Department of Ohio Commander. Joe was an enthusiastic supporter of the American Legion's Buckeye Boys State, promoting the program whenever he could and securing local sponsorships which would allow the youth of this area to gain first-hand experience in state government. Joe was a significant supporter of the Gifts for the Yanks program which provided gifts for hospitalized veterans during the Christmas season. Joe was instrumental in obtaining a van to transport veterans from Youngstown to the Cleveland American Legion, where he served as Post 15 Sons of the American Legion Advisor for 15 years. In addition, he spent countless hours as a member of Mahoning Valley Post 15's Honor Guard and Color Guard, providing final military honors to his fellow veterans. Joe was locally known as the ``Veteran's Veteran'', for his dedicated work with veterans. As the owner of Hillcrest Tavern, Joe was able to support local youth sports teams, mainly golf, bowling, and softball in his hometown of Poland, Ohio. For his significant contributions to the veterans and youth of the Mahoning Valley, Joe is very worthy to be inducted, posthumously, into the 2013 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished military service of Roger Gardner as he is inducted into the 2013 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Roger has been a member of the American Legion Post 540 Honor Guard in Cortland since 1957, and served as Commander and Captain since 2000. Under his leadership, the Honor Guard has participated in 2,281 funerals. He is actively involved in local Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities each year. As a Post Commander, he was instrumental in the construction of several veterans' memorials in the area, most notably the Korean War Monument in Trumbull County Veterans Park. Roger has logged over 8,000 volunteer hours between the Warren Community Base Outpatient Clinic and the Youngstown VA Clinic. He is an active speaker in the ``Tell America'' program in local schools, where he shares his military experiences and encourages patriotism among young people. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, some of which include the Mahoning County United Veterans Council Veteran of the Year; the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association Award for Community Service for his diligent work as Captain of American Legion's Post 540 Honor Guard; and the Warren Tribune-Chronicle Community Star Award for his significant contributions to the Warren area. Roger is deeply committed to serving the veterans of Trumbull County and is very worthy of being inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.