Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my proposed amendments to H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

Ohio's 13th Congressional District has long been known as the Rubber Capital of the World, and my First Amendment upholds that legacy by investing in American manufacturing to ensure that this vital industry remains globally competitive.

Taking from the Retreaded Tires Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025, this amendment would ensure that the U.S. Government uses retreaded tires whenever possible rather than using cheap foreign tires.

This amendment will support more than just my neighbors in Ohio and Ohio's 13th District as retreaded tires make up the largest remanufacturing sector in the United States, employing over 51,000 American workers.

This commonsense amendment is good for both the economy, the environment, and the U.S. Government while protecting more good-paying manufacturing jobs right here in the United States of America.

I am proud that my district is also home to the most famous airship in the entire world, and that is the Goodyear Blimp.

This amendment, which is based on the Airship Improvement Research for Safety and Humanitarian Innovation Projects Act, or the AIRSHIPS Act, would support the research into additional civilian cases for airships, often referred to as ``blimps,'' that could contribute to national defense; provide economic, sustainable, and clean air cargo transportation; support disaster response efforts; and provide humanitarian aid to people in areas of need.

Especially in the face of challenges such as global pandemics and natural disasters, airships are uniquely capable of accessing remote locations or damaged landscapes and delivering resources and services where traditional aircraft often cannot.

This amendment could enable and reintroduce the world to practical, economical, and environmentally friendly airship transportation, in addition to the fact that we see them at our favorite football game high in the sky.

I ask for the inclusion of this amendment to continue to establish my community, Ohio's 13th District, as a global leader in airship technology.

This amendment will encourage innovative uses of this method of transportation to address some of our Nation's and world's most pressing needs.

I am also proud to represent the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub. The Tech Hub aims to advance critical polymer and advanced material innovations of defense, mobility, healthcare, and semiconductor industries. Polymers touch every industrial sector in our modern world. People often ask: What is a polymer? Quite literally, it is almost anything that you touch.

Ohio's 13th Congressional District has long been a trailblazer in polymer science and polymer engineering. Akron's polymer manufacturing ecosystem provides a local pipeline from education and training to the workforce.

Among the world-class institutions included in the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub is the University of Akron which is ranked number one in polymer science and plastic engineering. Partners in the Tech Hub are also investing in industry-led workforce training programs in collaboration with universities and community colleges.

Strong coordination with the labor units through the Tri-County Labor Council within the region ensures the creation of good-quality jobs for workers from all educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, all with the protections of organized labor.

Last year, the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub was awarded approximately $51 million in Federal funds, thanks to the historic CHIPS and Science Act.

I am proud to have worked with our local, State, and Federal stakeholders to bring these vital funds back to our district to create good-paying jobs and grow our local economy. This investment will ensure that northeast Ohio remains a global leader in polymer science and polymer engineering, reaffirming our district's legacy as the Rubber Capital of the World.

From sustainable tires to cutting-edge polymers, the next generation of rubber and plastics production will proudly be made right here in the United States and, most importantly, Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

I know that the Tech Hub in my community is performing groundbreaking research and development that can revolutionize industries across the country and across the world. That is why I am introducing this amendment that urges the Department of Defense to collaborate with Tech Hubs to accelerate defense innovations in partnerships with academia and industry right in our backyards.

As you can see, Mr. Speaker, these amendments will not only make sure our community is safe, our country is safe, but we are investing in American manufacturing with American workers. For that reason, I hope that my colleagues can support the amendments that I am offering to the NDAA and ensure that America is the best place to live, work, and grow.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Twinsburg firefighter and local hero, Joshua Jarzab, as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

On August 17, Joshua responded to a 911 call for a basement fire. Joshua and his team acted swiftly, entering the burning home, fighting back flames, and clearing a path to the basement.

Once underground, amidst thick smoke and scorching flames, Joshua and his team conducted and searched for a survivor. Specifically, Joshua and

his team were searching for an 8-month-old child.

Joshua, when asked later about the search, said: We weren't going to leave that basement until that baby was found. We saw the fire, but that wasn't our priority. Our priority was finding this baby.

He quickly found the child's bedroom, where he spotted the 8-month- old's head poking over the side of his crib. Less than 12 minutes after receiving the initial 911 call, Joshua emerged from the clouds of smoke with the 8-month-old baby boy wrapped safely in his coat.

Many of us cannot imagine what it is like running into a fire because when we see fire, we run away. Thankfully, there are dedicated firefighters like Joshua who are willing to do what most of us will not. For these incredible feats, I extend my sincere gratitude to Joshua and his colleagues at the Twinsburg Fire Department. I thank all those at Twinsburg Emergency Services for protecting individuals and families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in opposition to the fiscal year 2026 Energy and Water appropriations bill.

At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing for my constituents, Republicans are trying to make it even harder for them to keep their homes warm and keep the lights on. For example, this bill makes massive cuts to the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including a nearly $10 million cut to Ohio. That is a 44 percent cut.

Republican cuts to this office include cuts to the Weatherization Assistance Program, which reduces energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of homes. These cuts are compounded by the fact that ratepayers in Ohio are on the hook for a corrupt bill that adds hundreds to energy costs to bail out a coal plant in Indiana. Ohioans cannot afford any more Republican malfeasance that literally costs Ohioans hundreds of dollars a year.

Even more, this bill does not adequately fund two authorities in my district that were created under the Water Resources Development Act of 2024. The bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024 authorized projects across the United States for water and wastewater infrastructure that are critical to strengthening the flood protection and resiliency of our communities and to complete ecosystem restoration that maintains America's vital natural resources.

This legislation specifically authorized $49 million in new authorities in Ohio's 13th Congressional District to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to contribute their expertise to the development of new and existing infrastructure projects that not only improve water and sewer infrastructure but also bolster our economic competitiveness.

I am proud to have advocated for these resources to ensure that they were included in last year's WRDA. These programs allow communities in my district to have access to the infrastructure they need to flourish.

Here is how: Under the Summit County new authority, $25 million would have been authorized to fund projects such as Akron's water main and lead service line replacement project, Fairlawn's West Market Street waterline replacement, New Franklin's South Main Street stormwater replacement project, Barberton's Stratford Street waterline project, and Fairlawn's Rosemont Preserve project.

Additionally, under Stark County's new authority, $24 million would have been authorized to fund projects such as Canton's Cromer Water Storage Reservoir replacement project, improvements to the Ohio & Erie Canalway Lock 4 Park, and North Lawrence's sanitary sewer project.

Funding these projects is crucial to ensure my constituents have access to clean water in their homes. In order to truly make a difference for these communities, we must fully fund the programs that we authorize. For me, this is about my constituents and lowering their costs and allowing our communities to thrive.

Because of aggressive gerrymandering in Ohio, people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District paid taxes that never made it back to our communities. These funds went to places like California, New York, and, God forbid, Michigan. Here is just another example of snatching hard- earned constituents' dollars that they expected to be reinvested in their community, only to be sent elsewhere to pay for billionaire tax cuts or something else nefarious and nothing that anyone asked for.

I came to Congress to do right by my community. As I said earlier, I am proud to have ensured that $49 million in new infrastructure authorities were included to be funded in our community. However, this work cannot get done if we do not appropriate the money to get the shovels in the ground.

For this reason and many others, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill because it does not lower costs. It harms our communities.

Honoring Joshua Jarzab, Ohio's 13th District Champion of the Week

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Twinsburg firefighter and local hero Joshua Jarzab as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

On August 17, Joshua and his team responded to a call for a basement fire. Joshua and his team acted swiftly, entering a burning home, fighting back flames, and clearing a path to the basement.

Once underground, amidst thick smoke and scorching flames, Joshua and his team conducted a methodical search and later found an 8-month-old baby in the basement.

Even though the flames were high and strong, they continued searching for this baby and ultimately rescued him. It took 12 minutes for Joshua and his team from the Twinsburg Fire Department to ensure that they got that baby out safe and sound.

I just say to Joshua and the entire Twinsburg fire safety services team: There are people who run away from fire, but you-all ran toward it. Not only did you run toward it in that situation, you run every day that you are on call. In this particular moment, you saved a life, and we are so grateful for you.

I thank Joshua, the Twinsburg Fire Department, and all of those who protect and serve our communities.

I congratulate Joshua for being Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with a heavy heart but with extreme honor to recognize the life of a colleague, a mentor, and a dear friend, former Ohio State Representative Jack Cera, who passed away on July 13 after a courageous 2\1/2\-year battle with cancer. My sincere and deepest sympathy goes out to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.

Jack was a proud son of Bellaire, Ohio, a man who never forgot where he came from and who fought every day to serve the people of eastern Ohio.

Jack was a true statesman, someone who listened more than he spoke, sought common ground without compromising his values, and worked tirelessly to deliver for the communities he loved. Jack served in the Ohio House of Representatives across three decades, from 1983 to 1996, and again from 2011 to 2020.

He represented families in Belmont, Monroe, Noble, Jefferson, and Washington Counties with distinction.

His colleagues across the political spectrum respected him. His constituents trusted him, and those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him admired him deeply.

I had the honor of working alongside Jack in the Ohio House where I witnessed firsthand his commitment to the people of eastern Ohio. Jack and I served in leadership together, and when I was elected as the minority leader, I tapped him to serve as the ranking member of the Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee.

Whether it was fighting for infrastructure investment, preserving the local government fund, or advocating for economic development in Appalachia, Jack never wavered in his commitment to public service.

Jack was a Brown University graduate, and he was sent to Rhode Island on a football scholarship. He would often joke that he was in the first class of football players to ever wear helmets, leather helmets at that.

Although, he was an Ivy Leaguer, he didn't have an ounce of superiority nor was there anything pretentious about him. He was just Jack, and that is what made him so special and so nice to work with.

He didn't take himself seriously, but he certainly took the work of the people very seriously. I would argue that you didn't really know Jack if he didn't teach you how to properly pronounce Bellaire, share some music, or advocate for the people of eastern Ohio.

Most importantly, Jack was smart, dedicated, and a trusted legislator who exemplified the very best of public service. He was sought after for advice and leadership on difficult issues as he was always committed to the purpose of representing his hometown and the people of Ohio with integrity.

Without a doubt, Jack left a mark on the State of Ohio, and his legacy of service will not soon be forgotten.

Jack will be remembered by his wife, Becky; his beloved daughters, Jaclyn and Bethany; granddaughters, Scarlett, Lena, and Finley; and the countless people whose lives he made better.

This past weekend, my husband, Kevin, and I joined the Bellaire community, former legislators, colleagues, friends, and family to pay our final respects to Jack.

It was clear that the community loved and cared about him as was evidenced by the Jack Cera for Ohio House signs in yards leading the way to the church and the many people who were gathered at the church.

The eulogist and the pastor asked those present to think about the dash in between the dates that Jack was born and the date that he was returned home to the Lord.

As people stood up to share their experiences and to expand upon the dash, I wanted to be able to add my tribute to him but here on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

The eulogists also reminded us that Jack had a motto of ensuring that he left things better than he found them. I encourage and call upon all of my colleagues here in Congress to leave a place better than you found it in honor and memory of Jack Cera.

Though his presence will be missed, I am confident his memory will live on through the people he influenced and the family he deeply loved. For a moment, I will just acknowledge his daughters, again, Jaclyn and Bethany, and his wife of over 40 years, Becky, and say thank you for sharing Jack with us. I know it was hard to see him leave for Columbus many times over the 30 years, but we are so grateful for your sacrifice. We will keep you lifted up in our prayers.

Thus with deepest sympathy, I mourn the loss and pay tribute to a truly phenomenal individual. May his memory be a blessing.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize five exceptional journalists from the Canton Repository, one of Ohio's most important publications, as this Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Grace Springer received second place in the Best Government/Political Reporting category.

Charita Goshay received second place in the Best Religion Reporting category.

Nancy Molnar received first place in the Justice Reporting category.

Finally, for the Best of Show in Ohio category, Tim Botos received second place, and Kelli Weir took home first in this category.

I congratulate these outstanding journalists and thank them. I thank them for keeping readers across Canton Ohio's 13th Congressional District in northeast Ohio region informed.

These five journalists earned top honors in the 2025 Ohio's Best Journalism contest sponsored by the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Their work at the Canton Repository is truly exceptional, and I am proud to represent a district that is kept informed by their outstanding reporting.

I hope all my colleagues will join me in saying congratulations to our fourth branch of government and these exceptional reporters as we recognize them as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 3095, a bill that would assign a new ZIP Code to the city of Green, a municipality within Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Establishing unique ZIP Codes may not be what most folks think about when they are considering Federal legislation; however, for the citizens and businesses and the economy of the city of Green, Ohio, it is, in fact, a matter of importance and priority.

During the Green State of the City Address earlier this year, Mayor Rocco Yeargin proclaimed that he would actively engage toward working to get the city of Green a unique ZIP Code. I promised the mayor at the State of the City Address that I would work with him hand-in-hand after several unsuccessful attempts to do so. We are now closer to that reality upon the passage of H.R. 3095.

The city of Green currently operates under five different ZIP Codes, none of which bear the city's name. This situation has led to confusion, lost tax dollars, and a diminished sense of unity among residents and businesses. Aligning the ZIP Code designation within the city's name will enhance community cohesion and promote a stronger civic identity.

When ZIP Codes were first assigned for this area, Green was a township, mostly farmland and a few businesses, and fewer than 10,000 residents. In 1992, Green was incorporated as a city.

Now, 30-plus years later, its population has nearly tripled. It is the home of more than 1,200 businesses and is the fastest growing city in Summit County.

Community members, elected leaders, and local businesses have all expressed their overwhelming support for a single ZIP Code reflecting the city's name.

The current multitude of ZIP Codes creates obstacles for these 1,200 businesses, including confusion for customers and suppliers about their location and challenges in daily transactions like assigning sales tax due to a ZIP Code with a name designated to a separate county--not even a separate city, a separate county.

In fact, Green identified $614,000 in unpaid taxes alone in 2023 attributed to this problem. This is an issue that community leaders, residents, businesses, and more have expressed their overwhelming support for: a ZIP Code for the city of Green. They have attempted to work with the USPS to no avail, and so now we are here with legislation.

I understand the procedural challenges that have plagued this bill, but I do ask that the Members of this body not punish my constituents for those committee issues. I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in support of this bill to ensure that the city of Green receives the designation it deserves with a single, unique ZIP Code that bears its name.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this terrible bill that is a bad deal for Ohio, the residents of Ohio's 13th Congressional District, and the people of the United States of America.

When I was first elected, I told the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District that it may be my name on the ballot, but when I win, we are all going to Washington together. I made that promise because, as a Representative of my district, it is my responsibility to make sure that my constituents' needs are being addressed here in Washington.

The people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District need lower costs. The people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District need access to care. The people in Ohio's 13th District need opportunity, opportunity to work, to buy a house, and to live their American Dream. Yet, this bill does none of that.

Instead, it kicks 17 million people off their healthcare and makes life more expensive. People don't have extra money to pay for billionaires' yachts and monthslong vacations.

This bill takes money away from hardworking Americans and gives it to

the rich. It takes food away from children, making their bellies hungry.

In my district, Mr. Speaker, 30,000 jobs are in jeopardy. I don't want to hear another word from Republicans about people not wanting to work when they are sending them to the unemployment line.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bad bill. Do not allow the people in my district to be unemployed, hungry, and without the ability to live their American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize three outstanding police officers from the Fairlawn Police Department as this week's Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week.

Last month, Officers Francisco Corona, Brian Buskirk, and Hannah Plant exemplified the best of public service when they jumped into action to save the life of a woman in distress.

On May 23, 2025, Officer Buskirk noticed a car stopped on the sidewalk, where he found a woman unconscious and unresponsive. With the assistance of Officers Corona and Plant, the officers broke the car window and extracted the woman, then quickly initiated CPR while preparing the automated external defibrillator. Their teamwork and rapid response made the difference in a critical life-or-death situation.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Officers Corona, Buskirk, and Plant, and the Fairlawn Police Department and Fire Department for continuing to keep our communities safe. Their actions and bravery do not go unnoticed.

On behalf of Ohio's 13th Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I thank them for their service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ripping away a constitutional right that generations of women had relied on for nearly one-half century.

In that moment, the Court did not just revoke a legal precedent, they set in motion a wave of chaos, cruelty, and control. What followed was a full-scale assault on reproductive healthcare: abortion, contraception, IVF, and even access to emergency care.

In Ohio, we felt the effects immediately. Just hours after the Dobbs decision was handed down, an extreme and deeply unpopular 6-week abortion ban went into effect, essentially outlawing abortion before many people even knew they are pregnant.

That law put the lives of millions of women in danger overnight. It forced healthcare providers to choose between following their sworn oath to care for patients or facing criminal charges. It caused trauma and suffering that cannot be undone.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, a 10-year-old rape victim was denied the care she needed and was forced to flee the State

to get the care that saved her life and her future.

Yet, despite all of this, the people of Ohio did what we have always done in the face of injustice. We fought back.

In November 2023, Ohioans from across the political spectrum came together and voted to enshrine reproductive freedom directly into our State's constitution: the ability to bear a child, to use contraception, and to access abortion care. It was a powerful, hopeful moment, but, Mr. Speaker, our work is far from over.

That is because within days of that historic vote, Republican lawmakers in Ohio announced they would do everything in their power to prevent our laws from being removed.

That is right. Just days after the people spoke loudly and clearly, some legislators pledged to ignore the will of the voters, and now they are following through. Just last week, members of the Ohio House of Representatives introduced one of the most extreme anti-choice bills in the country.

This dangerous bill would ban nearly all abortions in Ohio, criminalize doctors, and potentially treat patients seeking care as criminals. Let me be crystal clear. Under this proposal, abortion could be prosecuted as homicide. There would be no meaningful exceptions, not for rape and not for incest.

One of the bill's lead supporters, an anti-woman activist, was asked whether he worried this would overturn the will of the voters, the constitutional amendment the people of Ohio passed a couple of years ago. He said that he wasn't concerned. He said: ``The will of the voters was evil.''

The will of the voters was evil.

Mr. Speaker, I don't think I have heard anything less American. The will of the voters is the bedrock of our democracy, and just as these extremists want to take away the decisionmaking capabilities of women, they have not stopped there. They want to take away the decisionmaking capability of all Ohioans.

That is the ideology we are up against. It is one where the voice of the people isn't just disregarded, but it is condemned. It is one where bodily autonomy is labeled evil. It is one where political extremists will stop at nothing, not even the State constitution, to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. It is chilling and it is dangerous.

This uncertainty is not just an Ohio problem. The United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Moyle v. United States dismissed an opportunity to affirm that emergency abortion care is protected under Federal law. Instead, they punted, refusing to give clarity and refusing to give peace of mind to women and doctors across the country.

That is why I introduced a resolution to reaffirm access to emergency care and abortion care to all Americans. That is why House Democrats have introduced bills to guarantee abortion rights across the country and protect access to birth control, IVF, and other fertility care.

That is because at the heart of this fight there is something bigger than politics. It is about freedom, the freedom to control our own bodies. It is about the freedom to decide when, if, and how we grow our families and the freedom to choose our own futures on our own terms.

We are the best people to make those decisions for ourselves. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of brilliant minds here in this legislative Chamber and in State houses and in courts all across the country, but women do not need them to be in our most intimate decisionmaking moments. As a Representative of Ohio's 13th Congressional District, I will keep standing up for our freedom, and I will keep working to ensure our laws reflect our values.

We must trust women. We must protect our rights, and we must never forget that democracy only works if we honor the will of the people.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 90th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous, a global, peer-led and spiritual-based, 12- step program, an organization founded in Ohio's 13th Congressional District in my hometown of Akron, Ohio.

In June of 1935, a meeting between Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob, an Akron surgeon, both struggling with alcoholism, sparked a movement that would change millions of lives around the world.

With the guidance of Dr. William Silkworth, they came to understand that alcoholism is not a moral failure but a disease of the mind and body that requires treatment. From that understanding and their commitment to helping others, Alcoholics Anonymous was born.

What began as one small group meeting at Akron City Hospital has now grown into a global fellowship with 123,000 groups in 180 countries and literature translated into more than 100 languages.

With an estimated membership of over 2 million people, Alcoholics Anonymous has helped countless individuals find hope, recovery, and community.

AA's legacy of humility and service is reflected in its traditions, especially the principles of anonymity and putting service before self. Those who are members are dedicated, because each year they make the pilgrimage to Akron on Founders' Day to pay tribute

to Dr. Bob and provide hope and support for one another.

Today I am proud to stand here to celebrate the 90th year of Alcoholics Anonymous and their healing and perseverance. I am very proud this extraordinary legacy began in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, in the words of Neil Young:

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'

We're finally on our own

This summer I hear the drummin'

Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are gunning us down

Should have been done long ago

What if you knew her and

Found her dead on the ground?

How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are cutting us down

Should have been done long ago

What if you knew her and

Found her dead on the ground?

How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'

We're finally on our own

This summer I hear the drummin'

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio

Mr. Speaker, those are the lyrics to the song ``Ohio,'' written after the National Guard was deployed at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others.

As a bright-eyed 17-year-old, I started college at Kent State University. I lived in Prentice Hall. In the parking lot lies a memorial where each student who was killed by the Ohio National Guard died. It is still there, and it serves as a reminder to all who pass by of what happens when you deploy the military against its own citizens.

The lives of Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Jeffrey Miller, and Sandra Scheuer were cut too short but should not be in vain because we know the consequences of what happens when the National Guard is deployed against its citizens: tragedy, four dead in Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Daniela Scheffler for winning the 3,200 meter race at the Ohio Division I Track and Field Championships, earning her first State title, and recognizing her as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week.

As a senior at Lake High School in Uniontown, Ohio, Daniela ended an exceptional high school track career, setting records and winning several awards along the way. On the road to her first State title last month, Daniela set the record for the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Federal League Track and Field Championships, the State qualifier meet.

As a testament to her hard work and dedication on the track, Daniela signed an offer with North Carolina State University, where she will be continuing her track and field career.

We are proud of Daniela. Even though she will be far away from home at college, we will be cheering her on as she finishes her career.

Again, I congratulate Daniela Scheffler for an accomplished high school track career and on being named this week's Ohio-13 Champion of the Week.

Mr. Speaker, gun violence is a scourge that has plagued the United States for far too long. We have witnessed tragedy after tragedy, and the only thing that ever seems to happen is that gun restrictions are loosened even further.

Six years ago, in my home State of Ohio, there was a mass shooting at a bar in Dayton. Nearly 30 people were injured, and 10 were killed by a man with a gun that he was able to legally modify through loopholes in our gun laws.

Hundreds of people attended a vigil for the victims of this deadly attack and demanded we do something. In response, the Governor of Ohio signed permitless carry legislation, allowing individuals to carry concealed firearms without a permit.

Last year, 25-year-old Megan Keleman, a young woman in my district, was shot and killed in a Taco Bell drive-through. She was picking up dinner for her family.

Why did Megan Keleman have to die that day? The system failed her. The killer should have never had a gun.

Again, why did Megan Keleman have to die that day? She didn't.

Maybe if there were less cowardly people in office, Megan would be alive, living out her path to serve and help other people. Her family is working to make sure that there is change and to secure her legacy.

We have a duty as public servants to keep our communities safe, but the inaction on gun violence is killing innocent Americans. We can and must pass commonsense gun safety legislation to bolster background checks and ban dangerous assault weapons.

The people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District sent me here to do something about gun violence in our communities, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

This is Gun Violence Awareness Month. This month, and every other day, I mourn the lives of the countless people who have lost their lives to senseless gun violence and those whom they have left behind.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Mira Cahalane, who recently won best actress at the 10th annual Dazzle Awards, as this week's Champion of the Week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

The Dazzle Awards honors high school musical theater students and departments in Northeast Ohio for their outstanding performances and productions.

At the awards, Mira received the best actress award for her phenomenal performance of Hermes in ``Hadestown: Teen Edition'' at Hudson High School and was awarded a $2,000 scholarship.

As a result of her win, this June, Mira will be representing Northeast Ohio in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards, held in New York.

At the Jimmy Awards, Mira will join top high school musical theater students across the country to compete and showcase her extraordinary talent on a national stage.

Again, I want to congratulate Mira Cahalane for her exceptional win and on being named this week's Champion of the Week. I wish her the best of luck as she prepares to compete in the Jimmy Awards, and know she will represent Northeast Ohio well.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Captain Michelle Wiltrout, who retired this year from the Summit County Sheriff's Office, as this week's Champion of the Week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

For 32 years, Captain Wiltrout, dedicated her career to serving and protecting the people of Summit County in a wide range of roles. Her work has spanned the corrections division, the patrol division and special operations, the detective bureau, and more.

In 2021, Captain Wiltrout earned the Taskforce Director position for a State of Ohio Narcotics Taskforce, making her the first woman to run a Narcotics Taskforce in the State of Ohio.

Just two years later, she was named 2023 Taskforce Commander of the Year for her exceptional work and dedication in her role. She was also the first woman to receive this honor in the State of Ohio.

While in charge of the Drug Unit, Captain Wiltrout introduced new tools such as drone technology, and expanded the county's K9 unit from one dog to eight.

Again, I want to thank Captain Michelle Wiltrout for her distinguished career serving our community, and congratulate her on being this week's Champion of the Week.