Michael Turner

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the life of a dear friend and community leader, Washington Township Trustee Sharon Lowry, who passed away at the age of 81 on July 21, 2026. Sharon Lowry was an extraordinary woman who set an inspiring example of a life well-lived.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote in the House today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 221 and YEA on Roll Call No. 222.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this appropriations bill, and I support that this bill invests in the National Endowment for Democracy. During my time in Congress, I have worked very closely with the National Endowment for Democracy's executive director, Damon Wilson, who is a great leader in democratic efforts throughout the world, and I can attest to the important work done under his leadership. The National Endowment for Democracy is a critical tool for ensuring that prodemocracy movements have the resources they need to counter authoritarianism and confront human rights abuses. Countries such as Ukraine, Bosnia, and Georgia face constant pressure and interference from Russia, and the National Endowment for Democracy is on the front lines of efforts to ensure democracy and Western values prevail. Additionally, the National Endowment for Democracy does important work to counter hostile, authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party and the Iranian regime. It is important for us to support this American institution and organization, which is based here in Washington, D.C., that defends our interests around the world in some of the most challenging environments. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this American-first legislation.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, due to a flight delay, I was unable to vote in the House today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 335 and YEA on Roll Call No. 336. personal explanation

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, due to an unforeseen circumstance, I missed a vote on H.R. 3109, the REFINER Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 303.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on September 18, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 277; YEA on Roll Call No. 278; and YEA on Roll Call No. 279.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my horror at the September 10, 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk and to express my sincerest condolences to the Kirk family. I attempted to add my name as a cosponsor to H. Res. 719, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Kirk. However, due to a processing error beyond my control, I was not added as a cosponsor before the House adopted this resolution. Political violence has no place in our society. I strongly believe it should be condemned in the strongest way possible and at every opportunity. I was, and still remain, a strong supporter of this resolution and the sentiments contained therein. I call upon civic leaders at all levels of American society to commit to constructive civic discourse and firmly reject violence against their political opponents.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 266. Personal Explanation

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 248. Amendment No. 17 Offered by Ms. Mace

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. Russia is murdering innocent civilians in Ukraine. Our support to Ukraine opposes Russia's murderous aggression. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines against Russian aggression. Vladimir Putin is threatening NATO's eastern flank, including the Balkans. Russian drones have flown over Poland. It is unbelievable that, after Poland has been threatened, we are even debating this amendment today. It has been warned that U.S. disengagement in Ukraine would fracture NATO unity, undermine deterrence, and invite broader conflict in Europe. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I thank Representative Scott for offering this amendment. Mr. Chair, it is incredibly important to secure the funding for the Baltic Security Initiative. The Baltic Security Initiative has assisted the states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which are important NATO allies. They have contributed well above the 2 percent NATO benchmark, have committed to reaching the 5 percent GDP of defense spending in the upcoming years, and are vulnerable NATO allies. We are debating this amendment at a time when Russia's bombs have just fallen upon NATO ally Poland. It is important that we secure this funding. The Baltic states have contributed about $10 for every $1 of U.S. funding that has gone into the Baltic Security Initiative. Why this is important is that this is the U.S. portion of funding for training that has been the U.S. participation as part of Baltic exercises in the area that has ensured and been a part of deterrence to say to Russia: We will be there. We are part of the NATO alliance and are ensuring that the Baltic will be secured. It has also been a statement against Russian aggression as we tried to secure and make a statement as they have been attacking with their murderous attacks against Ukraine, as we have also been trying to stand up and ensure that as they look to expand and threaten Poland that we will be there for them.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 223.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to honor a distinguished scholar from my Congressional district who is retiring after 31 years of service at the University of Dayton School of Law. Susan Newhart Elliott has served as a professor at the School of Law since 1994, is Director of the Zimmerman Law Library, and also serves as the University of Dayton Law Review faculty advisor. Susan earned her law degree from the University of Dayton in 1987, and was the law review's Managing Editor while she was a student. She has taught numerous classes in addition to serving as an Assistant Dean. Susan also holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Miami University, as well as a Master's in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. After receiving her law degree, Susan clerked for Judge Walter Rice of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for two years before joining the law firm Coolidge, Wall, Womsley & Lombard, where she concentrated in complex litigation. She has also been an English instructor at Miami University, Xavier University, and Wright State University. As director of the Zimmerman Law Library, Susan has worked tirelessly to make certain that the library supports the school's mission of providing the highest quality of service to the law faculty and its students. This includes overseeing services to all library patrons, making sure the necessary books and electronic resources are available and accessible, and providing reference service seven days a week with a librarian who holds a Master's in library science and a law degree. Susan has helped train the minds of the law school's best and brightest students. Graduates have gone on to lead successful lives serving their communities as attorneys, judicial clerks, members of distinguished law firms, legal counsel in state and federal agencies, and on my Congressional staff. Her work has been critical to the law school's growing reputation, as the University of Dayton School of Law is tied for third among Ohio's nine law schools according to the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings. For nearly 20 years, Susan has served as a reader for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, evaluating nonfiction books submitted for consideration by the judges for the award. Inspired by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords that ended the Bosnian War, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only literary award in the United States that recognizes authors who utilize the power of the written word to promote peace, In recognition of Susan's longstanding service and contributions to the legal profession, an endowment was created in her name to recruit legal scholars to write for the University of Dayton Law Review, as well as to support the law review in perpetuity. Susan Newhart Elliott exemplifies all of the best qualities of a teacher, a scholar, and a public servant. She is a credit to her profession, and is loved and admired by her students, her colleagues, and her friends. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this truly outstanding citizen for her three decades of service to the University of Dayton School of Law. I wish her a happy, healthy, and productive retirement.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, this year the Dayton Dragons celebrate their 25th season of baseball in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. One of my proudest achievements as mayor of Dayton was building the baseball stadium and working with the Dragons ownership to bring the team to the city. The Dragons have helped revitalize downtown Dayton. They have given baseball fans 25 seasons of enjoyable family entertainment, and continue to generate an enormous amount of pride and spirit throughout the community. No professional team in any sport can match the number of consecutive sellouts the Dragons have accumulated. Their record-breaking sellout streak continues to stand as the longest in professional sports history. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record my op-ed article titled, ``The Story of How the Dayton Dragons Came To Be,'' from the Dayton Daily News: [From the Dayton Daily News, Apr. 4, 2025] The Story of How the Dayton Dragons Came To Be (By Mike Turner) As the Dayton Dragons prepare to take the field for the 2025 season, we celebrate sellout crowds and an out-of-this- world atmosphere with incredible fanfare, enjoyed by families who have made lifelong memories with the magic of Day Air Park. Most nights are at full capacity. The Dragons have sold out 1,573 consecutive home games since arriving in Dayton--the longest streak in North American professional sports history. As we celebrate 25 seasons of the Dayton Dragons, we recognize how far our city has come. What was once a vision for renewal has become a reality, with downtown Dayton now a hub of activity, culture, and economic opportunity. The Dragons have played a central role in that transformation, proving that baseball can be more than just a game--it can be a driving force for positive change. During my second term as Mayor, our community committed to revitalize downtown with Riverscape, the Schuster Center, the baseball stadium, and new downtown housing. What we have today is a vibrant city, and now it's hard to imagine Dayton without the Dragons. However, there was a time when it appeared the city would never field a team. Prior to the Dayton Dragons, there were several failed attempts to bring a baseball team to Dayton and to build a stadium. Many of these attempts came from out-of-town groups with promises of never-realized funding, unbuildable stadium designs, and management groups unable to secure Major League approvals. Most of the proposals came with all the risk assumed by the Dayton taxpayer. Although our community believed in the promise of a new stadium and a baseball team, the public was skeptical and looking for the right partner and the right deal. By the time Mandalay Sports Entertainment came to town, our community was organized, prepared and had a plan. As Mayor, on behalf of our community team, I proposed a unique structure for a deal. Dayton would agree to own and lease a stadium to the team, if the team built the stadium at a fixed price to the City of Dayton, assume all cost overruns, and be responsible for operational, maintenance, and capital costs-- capping the risk to the Dayton taxpayers. Mandalay agreed and delivered. The Dayton Dragons' stadium deal ended up being the only stadium in the state that came in on-budget to the taxpayers. For the 25 years of the Dayton Dragons' success, there has been one leader that has delivered for our community: the President and General Manager for the team, Bob Murphy. Murphy had the responsibility for delivering the construction of the stadium, managing the team, overseeing the stadium, and delivering entertainment every night for our community. He has become a part of our community and has stayed through three consecutive ownership groups. On opening day 25 seasons ago, as Mayor, I stood on the ballfield with our community negotiating team of City Commissioner Bootsie Neil, City Manager Valerie Lemme, Economic Development Director Joe Tuss, Montgomery County Commissioner Vicky Pegg, Montgomery County Administrator Deb Feldman, Dayton Chamber of Commerce President Phil Parker, Fifth-Third Bank President Dan Sadlier, and Downtown Dayton Partnership President Maureen Pero, tipping our ball caps to Bob Murphy, thanking him for his accomplishment of delivering on his promise of a stadium for the Dragons in downtown Dayton. I am proud of the role I played in bringing the Dayton Dragons to our city, but even prouder of what they have meant to our community.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, due to unforseen circumstances, I missed an important vote on H.R. 997, the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 85.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on January 15, 2025, I was unable to vote as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 13; YEA on Roll Call No. 14; and YEA on Roll Call No. 15.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on January 16, 2025, I was unable to vote as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 16 and YEA on Roll Call No. 17.

Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the life and service of Roy Colbrunn, known affectionately by his friends and family as ``Tank,'' who suddenly passed away at the age of 68. He was a close friend and an outstanding public servant, who will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Tank was raised in Vienna, Ohio and attended Youngstown State University. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. During his enlistment, he was selected to serve as one of two USMC representatives on the honor detail, and as a pallbearer of an unknown Revolutionary War soldier. Tank began his lifelong career as a firefighter as a volunteer with the Vienna Township Fire Department. He accepted a full-time firefighting position at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1985 and quickly rose through the tanks to Captain. He was elected and served several terms as president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Local F-88. Beginning in 1997, Tank took his mission of public service beyond the walls of the fire station by serving his community of Xenia Township in multiple roles as a volunteer and part-time firefighter, and as a member of the local zoning board. Tank retired from Wright Patterson in 2013, and from the Xenia Township Fire Department in 2016. Tank served many roles as an IAFF leader: president of Local F-88, 16th District Field Service Representative to the District Vice President, Air Force Materiel Command IAFF Union Liaison, and Federal Joint Council Vice President. As a union leader, Tank negotiated six Command Labor Agreement Contracts, numerous local union contracts across the country, and fought for the Interests of Department of Defense firefighters. He was instrumental in moving IAFF Local F-88 to a 48-72-hour schedule, significantly improving the quality of life for firefighters. Tank was a driving force behind the requirement to staff aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles with three personnel, prioritizing not only the safety of firefighters but also our Nation's air crews. His vast knowledge, leadership, dedication, charismatic personality and unwavering care for those he met earned him much deserved admiration and love from those who are his ``Brothers and Sisters.'' Tank was a big man, with an even bigger heart, known for his kind and gentle nature, and his wonderful sense of humor. These attributes served him well as a labor mediator. He had an unwavering love for his family, his friends, and his community. I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet and work with Tank on important fire services issues. I admired his dedication to his profession and to his fellow firefighters, and his tireless work on their behalf. He will be greatly missed, but certainly not forgotten. I offer my sincerest condolences to his wife, LuAnn, daughter Kaleena, and their entire family.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Tim Bete, an outstanding community leader and close friend from my Congressional district, who is stepping down as president of St. Mary Development Corporation. St. Mary Development is a faith-based, nonprofit organization in Dayton, Ohio that provides affordable housing for low-income seniors and families. As president, Tim Bete has successfully carried the torch lit by Sister Rose Helene Wildenhaus and Dayton businessman Dick McBride, who formed St. Mary Development Corporation in 1989. Tim had worked closely with them for seven years, until they retired in 2013 and turned the management of the organization over to him. Under Tim's leadership, St. Mary has continued its focus on creating affordable housing and connecting residents to the services they need. Since its founding, St. Mary Development Corporation has created 70 affordable apartment communities with nearly 5,000 housing units, including low-income senior apartments, single-family homes and emergency housing, and $580 million in real estate investment. From my time as mayor of Dayton, and throughout my service in Congress, I have strongly supported St. Mary's efforts to revitalize the community by creating affordable housing for the poor and elderly. I was proud to collaborate with Tim to secure resources for a pair of senior housing facilities, with priority placement for veterans, on the grounds of the Dayton VA Medical Center. These facilities provide safe, secure, and affordable housing for veterans, and easy access to the medical care they need. Tim has dedicated his entire career to making affordable housing available to people who need it. He has served on the boards of housing and homelessness organizations and a nursing home, and currently serves on LeadingAge Ohio's housing subcommittee. Tim is a graduate of the Achieving Excellence in Community Development at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and has an MBA from Indiana University. Tim Bete has worked tirelessly to make his community a better place to call home. I wish him all the best in a well-deserved retirement. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this truly outstanding citizen for his lifetime of service to our community.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Aderholt and all of our colleagues who joined together to remember our dear friend and former Member of this body, Congressman Dave Hobson. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. Aderholt), who is also my friend.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Ohio, (Mr. Latta), who is also my friend.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable man. Dave Hobson was a beloved friend and leader. His life was marked by service, commitment, and an unyielding dedication to his country. I saw firsthand how much Dave loved Ohio and the Miami Valley during our time together in the House of Representatives. Whether he was advocating for veterans or working to strengthen our national defense, Dave's efforts were always driven by a love for his country and a commitment to improve the lives of others. The impact of Dave's legacy is felt across Ohio's 10th Congressional District, particularly at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where the street Hobson Way is named in his honor and at Clark State College, which named its Beaver Creek Center, Dave Hobson Hall. Dave believed that public office was a sacred trust, and he upheld that trust with every action he took. Beyond his remarkable political career, Dave was a devoted family man, a mentor, and a friend. Dave was grateful, and we are grateful for his life, the life he lived, and the legacy that he left behind. He will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I now recognize my friend and colleague, the dean of the Ohio delegation, Ms. Kaptur.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.