Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Caden McClure as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Caden is a senior at Green High School, and he became the 2024 Division 1 boys pole vaulting State champion at the State championship meet in Dayton this past weekend.

Several pole vaulters at the meet attempted to jump 16 feet, but after three attempts, Caden was the only one to successfully clear this incredible jump to secure the State title.

The win capped off a very successful season for senior Caden McClure as he is the fourth pole vaulter from Green High School to win the State title.

He also continued his family's history of dominance in this event by winning this year's State title because he followed his brother, Connor, who set the Division I State pole vault record of 17 feet 3 inches back in 2001.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate, once again, Caden McClure for this very impressive victory. He has made his

school, his family, and his community very proud, and I can't wait to see what he does next. He is the reason why Ohio's 13th Congressional District is the birthplace of champions.

Mr. Speaker, June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time to recognize the scourge of gun violence and work toward solutions to prevent gun violence in our communities.

On June 2, the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District woke up to the news that every community dreads. We as a community were victims of a mass shooting. After a neighborhood block party, the joy of celebration quickly ended with 25 people shot and one of those people dying.

The shock of such a mass shooting barely penetrated the minds of the Nation because it has become so commonplace that we collectively didn't blink an eye.

People should not live in fear that a party turns into a mass- shooting event. This is a choice, and I choose, along with my constituents and my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus, to say: No more. Let's end gun violence in our communities. Let's finally put people over politics and fight the gun lobby and ensure that every person in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and across this Nation feel safe and secure no matter where they are.

Mr. Speaker, this Police Week I rise to recognize three incredibly dedicated veteran detectives of the Akron Police Department who will be retiring from the force.

Detectives Bertina King, Alan Jones, and Donny Williams have served the Akron community for 33 years each for a combined total of 99 years of experience.

The trio started on the job together in 1991, and, since then, they have each left their own personal mark on the department.

Detective King made history as the first Black woman to join APD's major crimes unit. She also helped establish the sexual assault nurse examiner unit at the former St. Thomas Hospital to provide survivors of sexual assault with culturally sensitive and trauma-informed evaluation and treatment.

Recently, she led the effort to create the department's sexual assault kit initiative to investigate unsolved rape cases to bring justice to survivors.

Detective Jones is a part of the street narcotics uniform detail, which works to protect our communities from guns and drugs. He was also the first Black canine handler in the unit with his dog Midnight.

Finally, Detective Williams is the longest-serving member of the street narcotics unit starting just 1 year after the unit was created in 1992.

All three detectives have worked on high-profile cases and helped bring dangerous criminals to justice. This trio has exemplified what it means to serve our city with dignity and respect and have demonstrated the power of having a force that reflects and represents the community they are sworn to protect and serve.

We thank them for their many years of service and wish them the best in their well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Tallmadge Blue Devils coed wheelchair basketball team as Ohio's 13th District Champions of the Week.

The Wheelchair Blue Devils recently won the Ohio Interscholastic Wheelchair Basketball State Championship title, defeating the previously unbeaten and top-ranked Austintown Falcons.

During this championship game, freshman Ta'Shaun Meyers scored 16 points to help lead the Wheelchair Blue Devils to a well-deserved victory. The win capped off an impressive 15-2 season for the Wheelchair Blue Devils.

In addition to the hard work and determination of these outstanding student athletes, I also recognize Head Coach Monica Currey and Assistant Coach Greg Michalec for guiding and supporting the team throughout this impressive season.

In all, the success of the Blue Devils wheelchair basketball team, both on and off the court, has made our community very proud, and I am confident that the team will continue their dominance next season.

Once again, I congratulate the Blue Devils wheelchair basketball team for their incredible season and for being named Champions of the Week.

Congratulating Lulu Emanuele

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Lulu Emanuele as last week's 13th Congressional District of Ohio Champion of the Week.

Lulu is a sophomore from Firestone Community Learning Center in Akron, and she is my district's first-place winner for this year's Congressional Art Competition.

I had the opportunity to view Lulu's winning piece at the community art show hosted at the Summit Artspace in Akron, and I can truly say that her piece titled ``Neon Dreams'' is captivating. As you can see, Lulu uses bold, dramatic neon colors that immediately catch your eye and show off her impressive technical expertise.

As the winner of our district's Congressional Art Competition, her work will proudly be displayed on the walls of the United States Capitol, where visitors from across the country and the world can see our community's artistic talent and creative abilities.

I personally can't wait to see her piece each time we walk past the Congressional Art Competition on our way to the House floor.

In addition to recognizing Lulu's exceptional artistic talent, I also thank her teachers and her family for supporting her in her endeavors.

I also recognize all the students who participated in the Congressional Art Competition because they all made this year's art challenge especially fantastic, and we are very proud of them, as well.

Again, I congratulate Lulu on being the winner of Ohio's 13th District Art Competition and the Champion of the Week.

Supporting Law Enforcement During National Police Week

Mr. Speaker, this is National Police Week, and I rise to recognize the courage and dedication of police officers in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and honor those who have lost their lives while serving our communities.

Being a police officer is already a tough and dangerous job. However, in recent years, staff shortages have made this job even more difficult. As I have talked to law enforcement agencies across Ohio's 13th District, the number one thing I continue to hear is that they are having a hard time keeping and retaining officers.

Our police officers are constantly overworked, overburdened, and tired, and this constant strain on law enforcement agencies simply does not create an environment where police officers can perform to the best of their abilities to keep our communities safe.

That is why I joined several members of the Ohio delegation to introduce the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act. This bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation would expand the current COPS Hiring Program to allow local law enforcement agencies to utilize these grants for recruitment and retention bonuses and also modify the program to reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with the annual applications.

Giving law enforcement agencies the resources they need to provide recruitment and retention bonuses will ensure these departments can hire the best and most qualified and responsible officers to protect our communities.

In all, this bipartisan legislation will simultaneously improve our safety and the safety of our communities and increase the trust between police officers and the people they have sworn to protect and serve.

When I came to Congress, I promised I would put the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District first, and that is exactly what I have continued to do. I will keep working with anyone from anywhere on real solutions, just like my enhancing COPS grant legislation that will provide our law enforcement with the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, or the FAA Reauthorization Act.

My home State of Ohio is a major transportation hub and has a proud legacy as the birthplace of aviation. The FAA reauthorization bill will help ensure Ohio's 13th Congressional District continues to be a pioneer in the aviation and aerospace industry.

This bill invests billions into airports large and small, including in my district, the Akron-Canton Regional Airport, the Akron Fulton Airport, and the Kent State University Airport.

These much-needed resources will keep our skies safe and make our aviation infrastructure cleaner and greener. In particular, I highlight the maintenance of the Federal age and flight hour requirements, the consumer protections in the event of cancellations and delays that will help keep costs down and save people money, and, notably, language that I advocated for to support the advancements of a remote tower program in Ohio.

This program will improve air traffic control for aircraft that utilize smaller airports, generating economic development and safer airspace.

This legislation is a major victory for America's aviation workforce as it improves the safety, health, and well-being of aviation standards both on the ground and in the air.

Mr. Speaker, for women looking to start or grow their families, motherhood should be one of the greatest, most joyful times in their lives. For far too many Black women in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and across this country, this experience is often overshadowed by trauma, heartache, and loss.

It is no secret that Ohio, my home State, has one of the highest Black maternal death rates in the entire Nation, with Black women two to three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy or birth-related causes.

We rightfully talk about the social determinants of health that Black women face in accessing quality, affordable prenatal and postnatal healthcare in our communities, which contributes to these completely unacceptable maternal mortality rates.

Today, I would like to focus our attention on another contributing factor to Black maternal mortality that is often overlooked: intimate partner violence. Homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the United States. It is higher than the three leading health causes of maternal mortality, those being hypertension, hemorrhaging, and sepsis.

Addressing the violence that plagues women during pregnancy and shortly thereafter is why I introduced the Safer Homes and Families Act. This comprehensive legislative package would provide vital support to keep moms and families safe, including prohibiting the use of electronic devices for stalking, providing training for healthcare providers to better identify and treat individuals experiencing abuse, and allowing survivors to break a lease without adverse costs.

Statistics have indicated that nearly 20 percent of women experience violence during their pregnancies, and for one in six women, abuse first begins during their pregnancy. This violence substantially increases the likelihood

for pregnancy-related complications that not only endanger the life of the woman but also that of her unborn baby.

While members of the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus are working tirelessly to highlight and address the ongoing epidemic of Black maternal health, it is clear there is more work that needs to be done. Even to this day, we are still trying to convince colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers how important it is that we care for women and care for mothers.

This is not a partisan issue. It is a human issue. Our Black mothers and babies in every district across the country deserve to live long, healthy, and happy lives.

I am confident that regardless of our political party, we can work together to improve health outcomes and deliver on the promise of better health, healthier lives, and brighter futures for all of us.

I call on my colleagues to join us in the fight to keep our moms and babies safe. Our mothers and babies simply cannot wait any longer.

Finally, I would like to recognize the many local organizations in Ohio's 13th Congressional District that are working each and every day to improve the health of Black moms and babies in our community. Organizations like Stark County THRIVE, Full Term First Birthday, Project Ujima, and the Minority Behavioral Health Group are all committed to improving maternal health outcomes and promoting equity in Ohio's 13th District.

Improving maternal health requires action and collaboration at every level, and I am extremely proud and grateful to these organizations for the work they are doing.

This Black Maternal Health Week and beyond, I am committed to improving healthcare access to all and giving women and families the tools they need to live healthy, happier lives in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Riya Hegde as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Riya is an extraordinary student from the Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, who has taken it upon herself to break down barriers and pave the way for the next generation of female coders.

She recently founded Python Pals, which strives to teach young girls and women about the computer coding program Python. This group not only teaches invaluable coding skills but will also instill confidence and courage in her peers to pursue a career in coding.

As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, we often talk about the ``missing million,'' the 1 million STEM workers from diverse gender, racial, and geographic backgrounds that we need to fill our Nation's open jobs in the STEM fields.

Programs like Riya's are critical to filling the missing million by creating safe, supportive spaces for girls to learn how to code, so they have the skills they need to pursue careers in STEM and showing how Ohio's 13th Congressional District is leading the way.

Riya's initiative shows strength and courage by challenging stereotypes and opening doors for girls who may have once felt excluded from a career path once dominated by men.

I thank Riya for using her voice to uplift and encourage women and girls in Ohio's 13th District to pursue their interest in STEM. She has proved age is no barrier in making a significant impact in the world around us.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Riya on being named Ohio's 13th District Champion of the Week.

Mr. Chair, as the vice chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7023.

This bill is a combination of attacks on the Clean Water Act that, all together, will threaten access to the clean, safe water our communities rely on.

This bill would protect polluters and make it easier for dangerous pollutants like lead, mercury, and arsenic to enter our waterways. The more pollutants that enter our source waters, the greater the cost to clean them up. The greater the cost it is to clean up our water, the more expensive it is for our constituents.

In my district, we have seen the rising costs of water, and plenty of communities are also struggling to afford their water bills. While I have been working throughout this Congress to improve access to affordable, quality water in my district and beyond, the majority has been undermining my efforts and others with bills like this.

For example, in committee, I offered an amendment that would have protected our drinking water from pesticides and prevented water rate increases by passing the cleanup costs to the polluters. My Republican colleagues voted down this commonsense amendment and preferred to have my constituents and their constituents pay for bad actors.

Water is an essential resource, and people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District depend upon access to clean water for their lives and livelihoods.

We must protect our waters from dangerous pollutants and also prevent working people and families from having to foot the bill for pollution and discharges.

Finally, I would also like to discuss how this bill relates to last year's disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, which occurred just miles away from my district, and the ongoing issues we are seeing as a result.

Changes within H.R. 7023 would allow large projects like railways or pipelines to go forward without any consideration for the broader impact that they will have on the communities that they are constructed in.

The bill limits what is considered an impact, so when used for a new rail line, the Corps will not be able to consider a rail spill, toxic materials that may be transported on the railroad, or other disastrous scenarios, just like we saw in Ohio.

These secondary impacts can be huge for the nearby environment and the communities, and with the East Palestine derailment, they certainly were.

Worse yet, other parts of this bill will limit the ability to review, taking away the ability of a community to advocate for itself and be involved in the process of a major project in their own neighborhoods.

I will continue, Mr. Chair, advocating for sensible permitting reform that allows businesses to grow and considers the health and safety of consumers in adjacent communities, but, Mr. Chair, this bill is not it.

I firmly believe H.R. 7023 will only make ongoing issues worse in my State and district, as well as yours. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a shining example of a public servant, a fierce advocate for northeast Ohio, my friend and colleague, Secretary Marcia Fudge. Secretary Fudge recently announced her retirement after more than 50 years of public service.

For decades, Secretary Fudge served our northeast Ohio community with passion, dedication, and determination. I can say that for a fact because Secretary Fudge used to be my Member of Congress. She represented Ohio's 11th Congressional District.

I have had the privilege of working alongside her as we both served the Akron community, including when I was in the statehouse where we worked to improve access to affordable housing, protecting our freedoms to vote, and advancing racial and gender equality.

Just last month I hosted Secretary Fudge back in Ohio's 13th district to highlight the Department of Housing and Urban Development's investments in affordable housing and support for first-time home buyers.

Secretary Fudge truly transformed HUD, leading the agency through unprecedented housing challenges during the pandemic, fighting housing discrimination, and ensuring no one was left out or left behind.

I am grateful for her and her leadership, and I wish her the best in her retirement. I thank Madam Secretary Marcia Fudge for being a dedicated and clear public servant.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Rotary Club of Barberton as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

The Rotary Club of Barberton has been a staple in the City of Barberton for over 100 years, providing life-changing services and investing in the community and its members.

The first formal meeting was held on February 13, 1924, in the Peoples Bank Clubs under the leadership of M.S. Yoder and U.L. Light and was formally chartered on February 29 of that year.

The club also hosts community-building events throughout the year, such as speech and debate tournaments and organizing volunteers within the community to clean up trash around the streets of Barberton. The club has continued to support students through scholarships not only in Barberton but in neighboring communities by providing more than $5,000 in scholarships each year.

The Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Barberton are dedicated to ensuring the community of Barberton is clean, safe, and secure, and they are unwavering on their goal of helping members of Ohio's 13th Congressional District better themselves and their cities.

Again, congratulations to the Rotary Club of Barberton for 100 years of service to our community and being named as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Ohio's 13th Congressional District in our quest to become a leader in polymer innovation.

Ohio's 13th Congressional District made its mark as the rubber city capital of the world, building our middle class, growing our population, and literally supporting the movement of people all across the world.

Our community has proudly continued this legacy by becoming a trailblazer in polymer science and polymer engineering.

Last year, thanks to the combined efforts from a variety of local partners led by the Greater Akron Chamber, the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub was named as 1 of only 31 tech hub finalists across the country.

This designation was a significant achievement for our region and made our project eligible for tens of millions of dollars in additional funding through the Chips and Science Act. Now, the sustainable polymer tech hub is, once again, being considered for additional investment.

It is clear Ohio's 13th Congressional District is the perfect home for a tech hub devoted to developing the future of sustainable polymers.

Polymers touch every industrial sector, and this tech hub will help ensure

that northeast Ohio remains a global leader in innovation, while also boosting our local economy and creating good-paying jobs right here at home.

As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which is the committee that oversees the implementation of the Chips and Science Act which created the regional tech hub, I will continue to bring this to our district and specifically northeastern Ohio and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh who is retiring from the Summit County Prosecutor's Office as the longest serving prosecutor in the history of the county.

She was first elected 24 years ago and has served our community with diligence, professionalism, and dedication. Her final day is tomorrow, Friday, February 16.

Throughout her time as prosecutor, she has always advocated for victims and our community safety, ensuring that everyone was treated with dignity and proper care in our justice system.

In line with her championing of the most vulnerable in our community, Prosecutor Walsh led the State as the first prosecutor's office in Ohio to have a service dog named Avery as a companion to assist children who are victims and witnesses of crime.

She also created the Take Me Home Program to assist those with mental health conditions if they may wander from their home, Safety Kids Calendar, self-defense classes, and the Start By Believing, a program to support victims of sexual violence.

Her incredible and distinguished career also serves as an example to young women in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and beyond by inspiring our next generation of young women leaders.

Among her many career accolades include 59 State, national, and local awards including the Ohio Crime Victims Justice Center Models of Justice, Prosecutor of the Year, Elected Official of the Year, as a community leader who constantly and consistently champions causes for people with developmental disabilities, and Prosecutor of the Year from the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

On behalf of Ohio's 13th Congressional District, I thank Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh for her years of service, and I wish her all the best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise today to recognize Lawrence Allen Swoope II as the Champion of the Week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Swoope, as he is widely known, is a Christian hip-hop and gospel artist who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and he is a shining example as to why our community is the birthplace of champions.

Swoope released his first extended play record, or EP, in 2010 called ``Applause Volume 1'' and has since released multiple studio albums that have made an impact on the Christian and gospel music charts, including his 2014 album ``Sinema,'' which peaked at number 1 on the U.S. Gospel Chart and was number 55 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Last week, Swoope won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song as a producer on the song ``Your Power.''

The son of Lawrence Allen Swoope I and the late Pastor Diana Lynn Swoope of Arlington Church of God in Akron, Swoope has continued the mission of the church and dedicated his life's work to spreading the Lord's message and bringing people together through his music and faith.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Swoope for this incredible accomplishment. Ohio's 13th Congressional District is proud of him, and we all wish him many more years of success in his endeavors.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Akron Police Detective Larry Rhodaback as the Champion of the Week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Detective Rhodaback has worked for the Akron Police Department for 22 years and was working a secondary job in an apartment building when a 23-month-old girl went unconscious.

Detective Rhodaback immediately jumped into action and instructed the child's father to put the toddler on the table so he could perform CPR while the child's father called 911 for help. His lifesaving rescue efforts continued until emergency medical services crews arrived at the scene and the young girl was able to be transported to Akron Children's Hospital.

Detective Rhodaback reacted without hesitation to provide the necessary care the child needed to stay alive until more help could arrive. I thank Detective Larry Rhodaback for his heroic service to our community and his dedication to keeping members of our community safe.

Mr. Speaker, from day one, I promised the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District that I would do everything I could to lower everyday costs.

Due to high costs, too many families in Ohio's 13th District and across the country are lying awake at night trying to figure out how to pay their bills, put food on the table, and provide for their children. Hardworking Ohioans need relief, and they need it now.

I am proud to have supported the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. This progrowth, profamily, bipartisan bill delivers lower costs for families and small businesses in Ohio's 13th District. I am especially excited that this bipartisan bill expands the child tax credit, a policy I have consistently championed throughout my time in public service, including my time here in Congress, where last year I introduced my Lower Your Taxes Act, which also includes expansions to the child tax credit.

While the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act does not go as far as to fully restore the American Rescue Plan's child tax credit expansion like my legislation, this bipartisan bill will still make a significant difference for 37,000 children in Ohio's 13th Congressional District whose families are struggling to pay for medicine, school supplies, and other childcare expenses.

This is only the start of what Congress should pass to support our families. I will keep fighting for additional policies like my Lower Your Taxes Act, which will expand the child tax credit even more and expand the earned income tax credit.