Bradley Scott Schneider

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize and honor Captain Stephen M. Yargosz as he concludes his tenure as Commanding Officer of Naval Station Great Lakes and prepares to retire, bringing a distinguished 27-year career in the United States Navy to a close.

Naval Station Great Lakes, known as the Quarterdeck of the Navy, is the largest military installation in Illinois and home to the Navy's only enlisted basic training facility. Each year, tens of thousands of recruits are transformed into sailors as they begin their service to our nation. In addition, Naval Station Great Lakes hosts more than 50 tenant commands and elements, with more than 20,000 people (active-duty personnel and civilian employees) working on the base.

Born in North Webster, Indiana, Captain Yargosz graduated from Purdue University in 1998 and was commissioned as an ensign on September 24, 1999. Initially assigned to an aviation maintenance unit, he later attended flight school, became a helicopter pilot, and rose to oversee aviation squadrons. After attending the Marine Command College, he served as executive officer in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, advising the President on strategies to confront illicit drugs.

In addition to his leadership of Naval Station Great Lakes, Captain Yargosz made community engagement a hallmark of his tenure. He consistently prioritized building trust and expanding collaboration with local partners and community members.

He relaunched the First Friday program that invited residents onto the base, building transparency, trust, and understanding across North Chicago and Lake County. He was instrumental in advancing solutions for Halsey Village--a dilapidated naval housing neighborhood long considered a blight on the community. And when the Department of Defense committed funding for the new Forrestal Elementary School, Captain Yargosz treated the project as a shared investment with the people of North Chicago, serving both Navy families and the broader community.

Captain Yargosz has also been a great partner in my office's efforts on behalf of veterans across the region. He regularly joined our annual Veterans Day Breakfast. He joined me at several Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pinning Ceremonies, helping give long-overdue recognition to those who served during that era. Significantly, he was an anchor member of my annual Military Academy Nomination selection committee.

Captain Stephen M. Yargosz leaves behind a wonderful legacy of leadership, community partnership, and deep devotion to the sailors, families, and neighbors of Naval Station Great Lakes. As he and his wife Amy start a new chapter in California, I extend my great appreciation to his service and his friendship. I have no doubt his impact will continue to shape this installation and the surrounding region for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ostomy Awareness Day, which will be observed on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

An ostomy can be a difficult and deeply personal journey, but for many individuals, it is also a second chance at life. Ostomy surgery can provide a path forward for people facing serious illnesses and conditions, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic injuries because of domestic abuse or military engagement, and any other number of medical challenges. These procedures can be lifesaving and life-restoring, allowing individuals to return to their families, their workplaces, their communities, and the activities they love.

Yet too often, people living with an ostomy face misunderstanding, stigma, and unnecessary barriers. Ostomy Awareness Day provides an important opportunity to educate the public, dispel misconceptions, and remind us that an ostomy does not define a person or diminish the quality of a life.

In Illinois, approximately 31,500 people are living with an ostomy. They are our neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers, veterans, caregivers, students, and community leaders. Their experiences demonstrate the strength and resilience of people who have overcome significant medical challenges and continue to live full and meaningful lives.

I also want to recognize the families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, certified ostomy nurse specialists, and other health care professionals who provide essential care and support to those living with an ostomy. Their compassion and expertise make an enormous difference in helping patients adjust to life after surgery and thrive.

This year's Ostomy Awareness Day theme, ``One Community--Stronger Together,'' is a fitting reminder that no one should have to navigate life with an ostomy alone. Awareness, education, peer support, and access to quality care can help ensure that every person who needs an ostomy has the resources and support necessary to live with confidence and dignity.

On Ostomy Awareness Day, we celebrate the resilience of the ostomy community and recognize the medical advances and dedicated professionals that have made these life-saving surgeries possible. Most importantly, we affirm that an ostomy is not the end of a person's story--it can be the beginning of a healthier and more hopeful chapter.

I am proud to stand with the Illinois ostomy community and with ostomy communities across our Nation. I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to join me in raising awareness, breaking down stigma, and celebrating those whose lives have been saved and restored through ostomy surgery.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing October 3, 2026, as Ostomy Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, as we have this debate and talk about the lack of strategy of this administration, I am reminded of Sun Tzu in the book, ``The Art of War'' where he wrote: The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side. He continued, more than 2,000 years ago, saying: The one with many strategic factors in his favor is the one who wins.

We all agree that Iran, the regime in Iran, is an intolerable threat to the United States, our Gulf allies, Israel, Europe, and much of the rest of the world. We agree that Iran must never ever have a nuclear weapon.

Before President Trump launched the current war with Iran, we had four goals: eliminate Iran's nuclear program; thwart Iran's missiles, rockets, and drone capabilities; dismantle Iran's terror support network; and address the regime's human rights abuses.

Two hundred days later, having lost 19 servicemembers with more than 800 wounded and dangerously depleting our weapons stockpiles, Iran is still pursuing its nuclear program. It still has missiles, rockets, and drones. It is still threatening the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf States, and Israel. It is still supporting its terrorist proxies, oppressing its citizens, and violently suppressing dissent.

After 200 days of war, none of the four original goals are realized, and we have added a fifth: reopening the Strait of Hormuz to public shipping. After 200 days, we have had no hearings in this body and no substantive debate.

Our Constitution is clear: Our Framers gave only Congress the power to declare war and commit our troops to extended conflict. The President is, indeed, the Commander in Chief, but that authority does not create or erase the role and responsibility of our legislative branch.

Before we ask more American servicemembers to risk their lives and the American people to take on more sacrifice, Congress and the American people deserve to know the administration's military objectives and how we intend to achieve them.

That is why this War Powers Resolution exists. President Trump has a responsibility to come before Congress, and Congress, this Congress, has a responsibility to hold open hearings, public debate, and a vote.

Mr. Speaker, if we allow any President, Republican or Democrat, to take our Nation into an open-ended war without congressional authorization or a basic explanation to the American people, we establish a dangerous precedent that will outlast this conflict and this administration.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.