Debbie Dingell

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, frightening, and deeply personal journey--not just for the individual, but for their entire family. Yet for so many, this procedure is nothing short of a second chance at life. It provides a path forward for men and women facing serious, often devastating medical challenges--including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic injuries, and severe illnesses. These surgeries are truly lifesaving and life-restoring. They give people their lives back, allowing them to return to their jobs, care for their children, stay involved in their communities, and get back to doing what they love.

But too often, people living with an ostomy suffer in silence due to misunderstanding, stigma, and unnecessary barriers to care. Ostomy Awareness Day gives us a critical opportunity to educate the public, break down those taboos, and remind everyone that an ostomy does not define a person's worth or limit what they can achieve. Back home in Michigan, approximately 25,000 of our neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers, veterans, and community leaders are living with an ostomy. They represent the very best of Michigan--showing incredible resilience, strength, and determination in overcoming daunting health battles to live full, active lives.

We also owe a deep debt of gratitude to the dedicated support systems around them--the families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, certified ostomy nurse specialists, and healthcare professionals who walk alongside these patients every single day. Their compassion, expertise, and tireless work make a world of difference in helping patients adjust, heal, and thrive.

This year's theme, ``One Community--Stronger Together,'' hits home. It reminds us that no one should ever have to navigate a major health challenge alone. Access to quality care, peer support, and public education are essential to ensuring every individual living with an ostomy has the resources and dignity they deserve.

An ostomy is not the end of someone's story--it is the start of a healthier, more hopeful chapter. I am proud to stand with the ostomy community in Michigan and across our entire Nation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in raising awareness, ending the stigma, and celebrating these remarkable survivors.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Concussion Awareness Day, observed on September 18, 2026, and to draw attention to the millions of Americans, civilian and military, affected by concussions each year.

Today, I am proud to highlight the University of Michigan Concussion Center, the national leader in advancing our understanding of these injuries. Since its founding, the Center has generated more than $100 million in research funding and produced more than 200 publications spanning injury prevention, identification and clinical care, and most importantly its long-term effects. Michigan Concussion Center reseachers connect scientific discovery with clinical expertise and real-world needs, working alongside civilian and military health professionals, educators, and community partners to improve prevention, treatment and recovery. The Center's impact extends well beyond Michigan and the United States, with members collaborating on research and public education in more than 25 countries.

As a leader of the NCAA-DoD-supported Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium, researchers at the Michigan Concussion Center are conducting the largest concussion study in the world, tracking more than 53,000 civilians and military officers to understand the acute and long-term effects of concussions. This public- private partnership has been instrumental in understanding and mitigating the effects of concussions on brain health, military readiness, and warfighter lethality.

Their collaborations have also produced practical innovations. In partnership with the University's Center for Academic Innovation, the Center developed a virtual-reality training tool that allows athletic trainers and other health providers to practice recognizing and responding to concussions before stepping onto the sidelines. The Michigan Concussion Center also helped develop the recently released Concussion Navigator with the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and the Brain lnjury Association of Michigan. This resource gives Michigan families trusted guidance on symptom monitoring, locating specialist care, and ensuring safe return to school, work, and play.

The University of Michigan Concussion Center recognizes that research has its greatest impact when reliable information reaches the public. Through outreach, community engagement, and education, the Center equips students, athletes, parents, coaches, health professionals, and others to recognize concussion symptoms, respond appropriately, and support a safe recovery.

On National Concussion Awareness Day, I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to learn the signs and symptoms of concussions, support safety measures, and seek timely medical care when a head injury occurs. I commend the University of Michigan Concussion Center as a national leader in advancing concussion science and for working to protect everyone, in every field, every day. Their dedication reflects the University of Michigan's enduring commitment to research and service for the common good.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this strong compromise to H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

We have worked on this effort for years, so I thank Chair Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Bilirakis, and all of my colleagues who have worked diligently to find common ground and move this legislation forward.

I also thank the broadcasters and the car companies and everybody else who has been part of a lot of tough discussions. I have spent my life at the heart of the American auto industry, and cars have always been a core part of who I am.

I understand both the importance of making sure consumers have access to critical information and the importance of getting Federal policy right as technology continues to evolve.

AM radio remains an important tool for communities across the country, especially when it comes to delivering lifesaving information during emergencies and natural disasters. Consumers need to have reliable access to those alerts, but we also have to recognize that technology changes. That is why I believe the compromise before us today strikes the correct balance.

This bill mandates AM radio in every new car, but it also includes a sunset provision recognizing that Congress should reassess the mandates as technology evolves. If AM radio continues to provide value in the future, Congress can and should act again.

It strengthens compliance timelines, ensuring that consumers have reliable

access to emergency information without delays.

The bill requires a public study on the potential impacts of mandating AM radio, including implications for safety and innovation and potential solutions auto manufactures could adopt.

There were a lot of tough conversations and work with stakeholders and across the aisle to find this compromise. Today, it just feels like a day to say this is what Congress is supposed to do.

As we all know, AM radio remains widespread across our country. Madam Speaker, 99 percent of the 286 million vehicles on the road today have AM radio, and roughly 90 percent of new vehicles will still include it. With the average vehicle on the road being more than 12 years old, almost all Americans will continue to have AM radio in their vehicles for years to come.

This is about putting consumers in the driver's seat and maintaining broad access to emergency communications.

I am proud of the work that went into this bipartisan compromise. I will be voting in favor of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line.