Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 77, and NAY on Roll Call No. 78.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 57, and YEA on Roll Call No. 58.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Black Chamber of Commerce of Summit County and cofounders Robert DeJournett and Misty Beasley as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week.

One year ago I had the honor of attending its kick-off event in Akron, and I was truly inspired to see so many people support this catalyst for change.

After an economic study was commissioned, it was determined that Akron's Black population, who represents nearly one-third of the region--yet, the report highlighted through the Elevate Akron report that there was purposeful, intentional, and systemic exclusion from economic growth and job opportunities for Black people in the region.

Left unaddressed, this gap has threatened innovation and prosperity not just for Black Akronites but for the entire region.

Mr. DeJournett and Ms. Beasley created the Black Chamber of Commerce of Summit County to reverse that trend, enabling Black businessowners to take their rightful place in the economic ecosystem with the right support, connections, and capital to allow Black businesses to survive and thrive.

In the first year, the chamber has counseled dozens of small businesses on finances and website development, helped them compete for natural resources, and connected local leaders to maximize growth.

Congratulations to Robert DeJournett, Misty Beasley, and the entire membership of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Summit County on a successful first year and being named the 13th Congressional District champion of the week.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks 3 years since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it has been 3 years since toxic chemicals burned in the sky, families were forced from their homes, and a small town became a warning sign for what happens when corporate negligence meets congressional inaction.

For the people of East Palestine, this anniversary is not symbolic. It is personal, and it is ongoing. It is a constant reminder of a Congress who continues to put profits and corporations over people.

From the very beginning, I have shown up for this community. I don't represent East Palestine, Ohio, but within weeks of the derailment, I traveled there. I met with residents. I pressed FEMA, the EPA, the CDC, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Transportation for answers and resources.

I helped secure an EPA order, forcing Norfolk Southern, not taxpayers, to pay for the cleanup and remediation. When families were told that they may be taxed on disaster relief, I fought to change the law and succeeded. In 2024, President Joe Biden signed the East Palestine Tax Relief Act. That is what accountability looks like. That is what results look like.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years later, the most important question remains unanswered. What has Congress done to prevent this from ever happening again to East Palestine or any other American city? The answer is not enough.

That is why this week I am introducing the Railroad Safety and Accountability Act to protect labor and public interest voices in rail safety decisions, voices that Federal regulators have tried to push aside.

That is why I have continued fighting for passage of the bipartisan RAIL Act led by Democrats and Republicans representing Ohio. It is one of the most comprehensive rail safety proposals before Congress.

The bill would require two-person train crews and increased inspections, especially for trains carrying hazardous materials. It would strengthen emergency notification so first responders are not left in the dark. It would raise penalties for safety violations and address the exact equipment failures that caused the East Palestine derailment.

The RAIL Act is supported by rail workers, local governments, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans in and out of Ohio. Yet, for two consecutive Congresses, House Republican leadership has refused to even give the bill a hearing. That is not gridlock. That is a decision and a terrible one at that. It is a decision to put profits over people.

Since the derailment, President Trump, Vice President Vance, members of the Cabinet, and Ohio Republicans have all visited East Palestine, held press conferences, and promised action.

Here is the reality. Mr. Speaker, 3 years later, this Republicans House has not passed a single rail safety law to prevent another East Palestine. It is not even that. It is not just that the law has not passed. There hasn't even been a hearing.

On February 3, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the following statement: ``In partnership with the Trump-Vance administration and Congress, USDOT will work to advance rail safety. As President Trump has pledged, we will ensure that people of East Palestine are not forgotten, and we will use every resource to prevent other communities from enduring what they experienced.''

During a Transportation and Infrastructure hearing last year, I asked Secretary Duffy directly what concrete steps were being taken to stop another derailment like this one. I asked him directly and specifically had he worked with the chair of the committee to move forward any legislation. His answer was no. Further, he said he talked about it on Fox News before anyone else.

Here is a news flash for Secretary Duffy and House Republicans. Talking on television does not make trains safer. Talking on television does not make our communities safer. Talking on television does not do what East Palestinian residents have asked us to do for over 3 years. Press conferences do not replace legislation, and communities cannot rebuild on empty words.

Meanwhile, large corporations continue to resist stronger national safety rules and real accountability, while pursuing massive corporate expansion and relying on congressional inaction to protect its bottom line.

Monitoring the damage after a disaster matters, but monitoring alone is not prevention. Studying the aftermath is not the same as fixing the cause.

Mr. Speaker, the contrast is clear. I have legislated. I have shown up. I have questioned those in power and refused to let East Palestine be forgotten.

Others have toured the site, issued statements, and moved on, while blocking the very reforms that would keep another town from becoming another headline in a disaster.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years later, East Palestine has heard plenty of promises and many pledges, but Congress and the administration have not delivered the safety laws to stop the next disaster.

Mr. Speaker, East Palestine deserves action. America deserves action. We deserve accountability. We deserve a Congress that puts people over profits, and I will keep fighting until that happens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Akron Rites of Passage as the Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week.

Led by 13 elders in the community, AROPI, as it is also known, is an African-centered organization established for the purpose of educating, training, and empowering its participants in African-centered rites of passage, process, rituals, customs, and practices.

Its further purpose is to promote all aspects of healthy growth and development of individuals, families, and the community of African descent in Akron, Summit County, and surrounding areas.

Five years ago, the Akron Rites of Passage Institute introduced a community initiative called the Legacy Building Project to support the ongoing growth, development, and long-term sustainability of the African American community.

Terrence Shelton, a co-chair of the project, also served as the copresident of the Akron's Rites of Passage Institute. Earlier this month he laid out plans for a new African-American cultural center and museum complex on behalf of the program. The building will house a museum, a business incubator, and center to teach people about trading and investing as a means to building economic wealth in the community. He envisions museum exhibits highlighting Akron sports legends, scientists, and artists like LeBron James, Gus Johnson, Rita Dove, and Woodrow Nash.

He said this project is not just a project for Black people. This is a project for the city of Akron. It is everyday citizens doing remarkable things like this who help make our community the birthplace of champions. Community members from the Akron Rites of Passage Institute are certainly champions in their own right and have made Akron and Ohio's 13th Congressional District proud.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize The Remedy Church and its congregation as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week.

This past weekend marked a significant milestone as The Remedy Church celebrated 5 years of faithful service to God and community. Under the leadership of Pastor Deante Lavender and Arnalesa Lavender, affectionately known as Pastor Lav and Pastor Lesa, The Remedy Church is dedicated to welcoming everyone from our community with open arms.

They are guided by the motto, Love Christ, Love People, Build Community, and the mission to ``teach Christ boldly, love our city deeply, and build lasting and strategic partnerships that transform lives.''

Earlier this year, The Remedy Church moved to downtown Akron, further establishing themselves in the greater Akron faith community. Their reach goes beyond the church doors, as they have fed thousands, housed hundreds, and ministered in prisons and throughout the community.

My husband, Kevin, and I recently had the pleasure of attending a service at The Remedy Church, which was also their fifth anniversary. We were moved by the enthusiastic spirit of fellowship, joy, and genuine camaraderie that filled the sanctuary.

I sincerely congratulate Pastor Lav, Pastor Lesa, and The Remedy Church congregation on their fifth anniversary. May they continue to grow, serve, and be a blessing to both our community and the Lord and Savior for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, when I am back home in the district, I make it clear that although my name is on the ballot and I am the elected Member of Congress, when I go to Congress, we all go to Congress.

Instead of assuming that I knew what mattered the most to people in my district, we sent out a survey to ask people in Ohio's 13th what mattered most to them. Thankfully, more than 2,000 people took the time to respond.

What they told us was pretty straightforward. They wanted me to

protect Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. They wanted me to lower costs and make life much more affordable. They wanted me to eliminate government corruption. That is what I plan to do.

The number one issue by far was protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. People didn't talk about these programs in abstract terms. They talked about their lives, how Social Security is how they pay their bills; Medicare is how they get healthcare without going broke; and Medicaid is how their kids, their parents, and neighbors with disabilities can get the support and help they need.

These aren't government programs to them. They are lifelines promised to them after a lifetime of work and service. That is why I have been and will continue to be hyperfocused on protecting them.

I have worked across the aisle to introduce bipartisan legislation to keep Social Security offices open and services running during government shutdowns because seniors shouldn't lose access to help just because Congress can't get its act together.

I have pushed the Social Security Administration to stop clawing back overpayments when the mistakes were not the fault of the seniors.

I introduced legislation to make sure survivors of domestic violence are not punished under Social Security rules for leaving unsafe marriages.

If you have worked your entire life and paid in every paycheck, Congress should keep its promise in its Social Security program.

The second big issue that people raised was the cost of living and lowering costs. Families feel it everywhere: gas, groceries, housing, healthcare. It just costs too much to live.

People are working just as hard as they always have, but they are falling behind. That is why I have been fighting to extend the ACA's tax credits to lower healthcare costs, especially for our most vulnerable citizens. It is why I voted against the big, ugly bill that is now putting healthcare coverage at risk for millions of Americans while raising energy costs for families.

In fact, just today there is a report that came out that showed over 120,000 Ohioans chose to forgo their healthcare because they simply couldn't afford it. These are real people, and that bill had real consequences. Not only does it impact us in terms of healthcare in my district, it also impacts our number one economy, which is healthcare systems and hospitals.

Additionally, I introduced legislation to crack down on junk fees that would drain family budgets, and I have worked in a bipartisan manner to lower costs and improve clean water infrastructure in communities that need it the most.

I have stood up for homebuyers, pushing back against corporate practices that drive up housing prices and shut families out of the market.

Instead of staying focused on lowering costs, House Republicans have spent too much time protecting tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, blocking reforms that would help families, and threatening government shutdowns that only add to more chaos. I would also mention the no tax on overtime that they have so happily touted doesn't really help so many people in organized labor. We do have a bipartisan fix for that, but we haven't been able to get to it because making sure people have more money in their pockets is simply not a priority for House Republicans.

Finally, the third issue people raised with me is they wanted to fight government corruption. People are tired of feeling like the rules are different for those at the top. They want accountability that actually means something. They want ethics laws to apply to everyone, no matter their title or their party. They are seeing that this corruption is raising their costs and making it more expensive. They see the connection between the two.

That is why I have helped lead a package of reforms with a new generation of lawmakers to close loopholes, strengthen ethics rules, and bring some common sense and some integrity back to Washington, D.C.

Public service should be just that: serving the public, not helping yourself. When you look at these survey results, Mr. Speaker, the contrast is hard to miss. My constituents are asking us to protect their earned benefits while the leadership, Mr. Speaker, is keeping them at risk.

They are asking us to lower costs while House Republicans and this President get distracted by the wrong fights. They are asking us to clean up corruption while Republicans enable this President to treat accountability as optional while he is getting richer and everyone else is getting poorer.

That is not what the people sent us here to do, and it is certainly not what my constituents sent me here to do.

Mr. Speaker, listening to your constituents should not be controversial. It is our job. I will keep fighting for what the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District made clear when they sent me here because this Congress does not belong to party leaders or special interests. It belongs to the people.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Akron Fire Department Lieutenant Dave Ewers, retired Akron Firefighter Mark Harper, and Lynx EMS worker Dominic Bagnoli as Ohio's 13th Congressional District champions of the week.

Late last year, a man went into cardiac arrest at a roller skating rink in Jackson Township, Ohio. While not on the job and simply enjoying the rink, Lieutenant Ewers, retired Firefighter Harper, and Mr. Bagnoli leapt into action, giving the man CPR and other lifesaving support until Jackson Township EMS arrived.

Due to their quick response and effective CPR, the man made a full recovery and even started skating again this past weekend.

The three were recognized this week by Jackson Township with the EMS Excellence Award for their quick response during the incident.

Lieutenant Ewers and retired Firefighter Harper, both avid skaters themselves, said they have come to know a lot of the regulars at the roller rink, including the man who went into cardiac arrest. They said their fellow skaters are like family, so they were glad to be able to help one of their own.

Again, I extend my sincere gratitude to Akron Fire Department Lieutenant Dave Ewers, retired Akron Firefighter Mark Harper, and Lynx EMS worker

Dominic Bagnoli for their heroic actions and for stepping in to help a neighbor in need. They are just one more reason as to why Ohio's 13th Congressional District is the Birthplace of Champions.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 18; NAY on Roll Call No. 19; YEA on Roll Call No. 20; YEA on Roll Call No. 21; YEA on Roll Call No. 22; and NAY on Roll Call No. 23.

Mr. Speaker, I often say that while my name may be on the ballot, we are all going to Congress together. Families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and all across the country are telling us that housing costs are rising faster than wages, making it hard to keep a roof over their heads.

Today, I rise to bring an issue that plagues my community and the entire country, which is the rising cost of housing.

In my district alone, over one hundred thousand households rent their homes. The median renter household income is just above $40,000 a year, yet the median rent is more than $1,000 per month. That means housing costs are often the largest part of a monthly budget, and this is even before groceries, childcare, or healthcare.

It is not just renters who are feeling the squeeze. Homeowners are feeling the squeeze, too. The median home value in Ohio's 13th District is about $228,000. That may sound modest compared to national prices, especially for those of you on the coasts, but property taxes, insurance, utilities, and repairs add up fast. With aging homes and data centers driving up the cost of utilities, people are feeling the crunch.

For families with a mortgage, monthly housing costs average nearly $1,500, and even those who have paid off their mortgage face rising property taxes and repair costs that strain household budgets.

For families trying to buy their first home, the challenge is steeper, because mortgage rates may have dipped below 6 percent, but high prices and limited inventory keep homeownership out of reach for many in my district. We cannot ignore the inequities baked into the system.

In Ohio's 13th District, the homeownership rate overall is nearly 69 percent, but for Black families, it drops to just 37 percent, dropping by nearly half. That gap reflects generations of barriers we still have a responsibility to address, like redlining and restrictive covenants.

For some families, rising costs lead to housing instability or homelessness. That is why, last November, I pressed the Department of Housing and Urban Development to protect Federal funding and homelessness prevention programs in Summit and Stark Counties. These continuum of care dollars support nearly 2,700 beds in my district for families, veterans, and young people who need a safe place to sleep. Any cut could disrupt services that people depend on and, most importantly, keep them without a roof over their head.

We also have to confront the root causes of this crisis. Large corporate investors are buying up single-family homes, driving up prices and rents, and locking families out of homeownership.

That is why, last summer, I introduced the HOMES Act, which cracks down on investors buying 50 or more single-family homes, shines a light on corporate ownership and rental practices, and makes sure local families, not profit-seeking investors, get first

access to homeownership. People simply cannot compete with these for- profit corporations, and every family deserves a place to call home.

Just last week, President Trump acknowledged the same problem and called on Congress to address it. On this issue, it seems we may finally all be reading from the same page.

I encourage my colleagues to support the HOMES Act and see its swift passage, but we also need to build homes, too. Supply simply has not met the demand. That is why I secured Federal funding for the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation to help expand affordable housing, revitalize neighborhoods, and create jobs. Increasing supply is essential if we want housing prices to come down.

As chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Affordable Housing Task Force, I helped develop a housing action plan with more than 20 recommendations to increase housing supply, reform zoning and permitting, strengthen Federal incentives, grow the construction workforce, and improve transparency.

Mr. Speaker, housing is the foundation of opportunity. Homeownership is the primary way in which families build wealth. When housing is affordable and stable, families can plan, save, and build a future. When it is not, life becomes harder. Rents are too high. Mortgages are still out of reach for far too many families. Property taxes and repairs are stretching household budgets. Homelessness programs that protect our most vulnerable neighbors must be preserved.

Mr. Speaker, we have to get serious about housing and focus our attention on lowering the cost of housing and keeping housing accessible to everyone. The American Dream depends on it.

Every family deserves a safe and affordable place to call home, and this House has a responsibility to help make that possible. Until housing costs come down, Congress has a lot more work to do. I look forward to working with this body on behalf of my constituents and across the country to work to reduce housing costs so everyone can live their American Dream wherever they choose to call home.

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

On December 18, Conrad, a loss prevention specialist at a Walmart in Canton, Ohio, was working in the store when a man being held for allegedly shoplifting pulled a gun on a Canton police officer who was present and attempting to question and detain the suspect.

The man pointed the gun at the officer and pulled the trigger, but thankfully, the weapon malfunctioned and did not discharge. In a remarkable act of bravery, Conrad immediately stepped in to pull the gun away from the suspect as he tried to point and shoot at the officer for a second time.

Both the Canton Police Department and Walmart said that Conrad went above and beyond in his service to our community, and I could not agree more.

What could have been a terrible and tragic situation went without anyone being harmed through his remarkable act of courage. It is average citizens doing remarkable things just like this that help make our community the birthplace of champions. Conrad is certainly a champion in his own right, and he has made Canton and Ohio's 13th Congressional District proud.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere gratitude to Conrad Piero for his heroic actions and congratulate him on being named champion of the week.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise because families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and across the country are already paying the price for Republicans' inaction on healthcare. The enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired December 31, 2025, and now health coverage is more expensive and families are already feeling the impact.

In my district, 90 percent of the 32,000 people who get ACA coverage rely on those subsidies. Four out of five were previously able to find plans for $10 or less per month. That safety net is now gone. Families are seeing premiums jump by hundreds of dollars a month or thousands of dollars a year. Across the country, more than 4 million Americans have already lost or are at risk of losing their healthcare coverage entirely.

This isn't a theory. It is happening right now. In Canton, AultCare, a regional insurer tied to Aultman Hospital, stopped offering some individual family and small business ACA plans before December 31. That affects 6,000 people in my district. These are working families and small business employees losing coverage because Republicans refuse to act.

I have fought to protect these credits by cosponsoring legislation to extend them and by signing on to Leader Jeffries' discharge petition to bring the issue to a vote on the House floor. Instead of acting, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans chose to delay, and that action is simply unacceptable.

Don't just take my word for it. Just a few weeks ago, Congressman Mike Lawler called Speaker Johnson's refusal to allow a vote idiotic and political malpractice, and I agree. What happened? Speaker Johnson sent us home for the holidays while American families paid the price.

Republicans also pushed a partisan healthcare bill that would make things much worse by increasing the number of uninsured people, shifting costs onto working families, and weakening the protections that so many Americans rely upon.

I offered an amendment to protect working families from losing health coverage and to protect access to reproductive healthcare. But guess what. Republicans blocked it. Once again, they chose politics over people.

We cannot forget the real people caught in the middle of this. These are families deciding between healthcare and groceries and between medicine and rent. Access to healthcare should be a right, not a gamble. At a time when we are talking about the horrors and tragic costs of the drug trade and the impact it has on American people, let us not forget how people get drug treatment. It is from the Medicaid program that has already been cut by a trillion dollars and the ACA marketplace health plans.

The Republicans' failure to act is literally going to kill people across this country. They let deadlines pass, premiums rise, and coverage disappear. That is not leadership. That is failure.

Mr. Speaker, the choice is clear. Congress can either act to restore affordable healthcare or we can continue to let premiums sore, coverage vanish, and families face financial ruin.

I know one thing is for certain, Mr. Speaker. I was brought to Congress to work on behalf of the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District to lower costs, to keep them safe, and to make sure that they had affordable, accessible healthcare coverage.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage every single Member of this Chamber to do those things, not only for the people in my district but for the people all across America who are asking and needing Congress to act.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my proposed amendment to H.R. 6703 and in opposition to the underlying bill.

In 2 weeks, 22 million Americans will see their healthcare premiums double, triple, or quadruple, costing them hundreds of additional dollars a month, and more than 4 million Americans will lose their coverage entirely. This includes 12,300 Ohioans in my district alone.

This Republican healthcare crisis is completely and entirely preventable, and House Democrats and even a few Republicans have a solution: Extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits.

Mr. Speaker, what do House Republicans propose instead?

It is a collection of failed policies that would raise prices, leaving an additional 100,000 people without insurance and restricting access to abortion care, setting the stage for a national abortion ban.

However, I believe it is my job to offer solutions to help the American people and, specifically, my constituents in Ohio. That is why I proposed an amendment to remove the section responsible for increasing costs and limiting access to reproductive healthcare.

Right now, any and all abortion coverage provided under marketplace plans are not paid for by Federal dollars. However, this bill would impose unprecedented restrictions on private dollars and is yet another Republican attempt to ban reproductive healthcare coverage across this country.

It is unacceptable that Congress is about to head home having done nothing--nothing--to protect the millions of Americans who will lose coverage on January 1.

I have heard heartbreaking stories from my constituents who have no clue how they are going to make ends meet as we enter into what should be a merry holiday season.

Mr. Speaker, I had a professor in college who was very clear in calling us out when we were unprepared when we showed up for our class. He would call us derelict, negligent, and trifling.

This Congress, Mr. Speaker, is derelict, negligent, and trifling for failing to ensure that Americans have healthcare coverage and we are actually lowering their costs.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is deceptive at best and cruel at worst. I urge my colleagues to extend the enhanced tax credits before it is too late.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the life of the former mayor of Canton, Ohio, Thomas Bernabei.

As a focused and committed public servant, Mayor Bernabei served the city of Canton and Stark County for more than 50 years in various capacities, but with the same dedication that drew praise and admiration from across the region.

As a lifelong Stark County resident, Mayor Bernabei graduated from Lehman High before attending Brown University and later serving his country with the United States Army in Vietnam.

Mr. Bernabei later attended The Ohio State University College of Law before beginning his long career in public service.

Tom Bernabei got his start as an assistant prosecutor at the Massillon Municipal Court and then served as a Canton's assistant law director, law director, and as a Stark County commissioner and interim director of the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority.

Canton voters first chose Mayor Bernabei for mayor in 2015 where he served for two terms as a compassionate listener and problem solver.

When he first took the job, the city of Canton faced significant budget deficits, but by the time he left office, the city had a roughly $12-million surplus.

Mayor Bernabei championed the cause of affordable housing, helping working families across Canton realize their own American Dream while calling Canton, Ohio, their home.

Before serving as mayor, Bernabei sat on the Stark County Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2015.

In every role, he brought fairness, humility, and a true commitment to helping his community. As mayor, Mr. Bernabei worked tirelessly to make Canton better.

He oversaw the construction of Centennial Plaza and supported workforce

development, after-school programs, and essential social services. His work made a real difference in people's lives, and the city is stronger because of him.

I want to say personally: It was a privilege to work with him. He cared deeply about Canton, and he never stopped fighting for its future.

When I saw him at the swearing-in of his successor, I asked him if he was really going to retire or if he was going to pretend retire.

He said: Don't worry. You will still see me around doing the work of the people.

As a Renaissance man, Mayor Bernabei repeatedly displayed his love and support for the arts, especially in 2016 as he and his wife, Bebe, appeared as dinner party guests in a Canton Ballet production of ``The Nutcracker.''

Mr. Bernabei also loved supporting the Cleveland Guardians and the Ohio State Buckeyes and spending time with his dog, Rosie.

Mayor Bernabei passed away on December 11 at the age of 89, just one day before his wife, Bebe, and he would have celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. His loss is deeply felt by everyone who knew him.

Following his passing, Governor Mike DeWine ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds to honor his memory. This past weekend, the city of Canton had the opportunity to pay our respects to a giant, a leader, a father, a grandfather, a husband, and a public servant.

Today, on behalf of Ohio's 13th Congressional District, I send my sincere condolences to his wife, Bebe; his daughters; grandchildren; and all who knew and loved him. May the memory of Tom Bernabei inspire us all to continue the work that he believed in and believed in so strongly in the city of Canton.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Peter George as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week.

For 25 years, Peter George, or as many know him as Gilby, has played the part of the Akron Public Schools' districtwide mascot. In a canine costume that was heavy and hot, Peter showed up lighthearted and energetic to meet the hugs, high-fives, and smiles of Akron children. As Gilby, Peter has danced at pep rallies, walked in parades, posed for photos, and comforted ill or disabled youth.

What mattered most wasn't the costume. It was the care. Peter understood that for some kids, Gilby wasn't just a mascot, but rather a highlight of someone's day or the lightening of someone's load. From school hallways to hospital rooms, Peter met children where they were and made them feel seen.

In fact, although he says he is retiring, he will never turn down an opportunity to put a smile on a child's face who happens to be in the hospital.

Today I honor someone most of us have known not by his face, but by the joy he brought into our lives.

Peter's work reminds us that joy is a form of service. I thank him for his 25 years of love, laughter, kindness, and APS school pride.