Floor Statements

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.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to talk about an issue that touches every community in this country, mental health.

More than one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness. These are our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. For many of us, the issue is deeply personal.

Whether one lives in a big city or a small town, almost everyone has a person in their life who is struggling. Chances are that they know someone who has struggled or that they could be struggling themselves.

In Ohio, we have seen just how urgent this crisis has become. We have only about half of the mental health behavioral workforce that we need to meet the demand. In fact, there is just one psychiatrist for every 6,000 Ohioans. That is not just a workforce problem. That is a public health emergency.

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act would authorize hundreds of millions of dollars and much-needed Federal funding to address this crisis. It also includes my bipartisan legislation, the Mental Health Improvement Act, which provides tens of millions of dollars annually to expand our behavioral health workforce, helping to train, recruit, and retain mental health professionals across the country.

It is a commonsense solution that will bring resources directly to communities like mine and yours, Mr. Speaker, helping to address addiction, reduce suicide, and ensure more Americans get the care they need when they need it.

It is important that this program and others that are included in this bill actually reach the communities that desperately need the assistance. That is why I urge my colleagues to not only pass this bipartisan legislation but also to continue to advocate for its implementation.

Just a few weeks ago, I visited a federally qualified health center in my district. It is called the I Promise Health Quarters, which is supported by the LeBron James Family Foundation. In a meeting with the behavioral health services there, they said they don't have enough people to work for the need that is in our community. This bill would be able to help it.

While we have worked with and come up with a serious solution to this crisis, the administration has proposed cuts and fired hundreds of workers at agencies that are supposed to implement these very programs.

This is unacceptable, undermining the Medicaid program and getting people kicked off. I can't even support this really great underlying bill because of the funding mechanisms. This is unacceptable, and this is why we must show the American people that we have put partisanship aside and put people first.

Mr. Speaker, we can deliver meaningful results. We need to put programs in place that will help our citizens, save lives, and keep our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Lisa Gissendaner, who retired recently as the Canton Program Director for The Ohio State University Young Scholars Program as this week's Champion of the Week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Throughout her career, Lisa helped and supported countless students in Canton City Schools who aspired to be the first member of their family to attend college.

Through her work, she has made a lasting impact on our community, undoubtedly inspiring many more to strive for higher education.

The Young Scholars Program fosters generational change by instilling a college-going culture in underserved areas, inspiring younger siblings and peers to pursue higher education.

For her outstanding devotion, Lisa earned the respect and esteem of many. In the wake of her departure, I know her numerous contributions will not be forgotten. I am confident that her fine character and decisive leadership will be sorely missed.

Again, I thank Lisa Gissendaner for her distinguished career serving our community and congratulate her for being this week's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to lift up the voice of Julie Robbins, a small business owner from Akron, Ohio, who is sounding the alarm on behalf of hardworking Americans across the country.

EarthQuaker Devices is a homegrown success story in downtown Akron, located in Ohio's 13th Congressional District. They manufacture guitar effect pedals, which are sold across the world, and everything from design to assembly is done right here in the United States.

EarthQuaker Devices employs 34 workers and offers premium health insurance, paid sick leave, a 401(k) match, and competitive wages.

In 2019, they were recognized as the SBA Exporter of the Year. In 2022, after decades of success, they invested in a state-of-the-art automated production line.

This is what American manufacturing should look like, and it is the kind of manufacturing that helped build the middle class in Ohio and across the heartland.

When we talk about supporting American businesses, EarthQuaker is who we should be talking about, and that is why I am talking about them today.

Today, they are facing devastating consequences. Mr. Speaker, you may ask why. It is because of reckless tariff policies.

EarthQuaker Devices imports raw materials because there are no domestic suppliers for the specialized electronic components that they need, but they export even more than they import. That means they bring in more money to our economy. They create jobs right here at home and in my district.

The President's tariffs have increased their cost of goods by $500,000. Let me be more specific. The cost per pedal that currently costs $0.02 would increase to $12.80 by the end of the year, according to an article in the Akron Beacon Journal. That is a 640 percent increase in costs.

With no relief in sight, they are being forced to raise prices, cut staff, and halt domestic innovation, all because of a policy that was supposed to help American manufacturing.

Julie wrote to me earlier this year, and she said: ``Our effective tax rate has skyrocketed, with no explanation or benefit to us. . . . Where is the relief for businesses? Does the government truly not understand the impact of their actions, or is it their goal to destroy us?''

She goes on to say: ``For the first time, I am considering offshoring our manufacturing. This had never been an option for me, but these changes imposed on American businesses make it extremely difficult to manufacture here.''

Mr. Speaker, think about that for a moment. The President's tariff policy, which he alleges is meant to drive domestic innovation and manufacturing, is causing a small but mighty business in Akron to consider offshoring their manufacturing.

This doesn't help Ohio's 13th District and the State of Ohio, and it does not help the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, let's be very clear. Tariffs are a useful tool to level the playing field, and, when properly implemented, they can create jobs and spur manufacturing. As someone from northeast Ohio, I have seen the consequences of bad trade deals and the impact of NAFTA. We are also home to President William McKinley, who the President often quotes and references in his trade policy, but it is 2025, and it is not making America great again to push American manufacturing offshore.

Ohio exports more to Canada than its next six largest foreign markets combined. This country slapped tariffs on our allies. They retaliated, and it is our workers, businesses, and communities who pay the price. Foreign governments are not paying for these taxes, as the President has claimed.

In 2023, Ohio exported over $58 billion of goods and services. That is not just trade. It is opportunity, jobs, and growth, and it is all being put at risk because of impulsive executive orders and a Congress that refuses to check and balance the administration.

If our goal is to stop offshoring and revitalize American manufacturing, why are we punishing the companies that are driving innovation, the ones who are footing the bill?

EarthQuaker Devices isn't some multinational conglomerate dodging taxes and hiding profits offshore. They are a small business that turned a passion for music and creativity into a business. They are our neighbors. They care about our community, and they give back. We should make it easier for them, not harder.

To lower costs, let's go after the price-gouging billionaires and corporate monopolies, not small business owners keeping our communities alive.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to listen to the voices of our constituents like Julie. Julie closed her letter to me with a plea not just for her business but for future generations and for the future of manufacturing in this country.

Let us not fail them. Let us not fail Americans.

Mr. Speaker, every time I hear the name and the title of H.R. 1, I am stunned with how childish and immature it is to name a bill the way that the majority has.

However, truly, it is the cruelty that is the worst part of this bill. 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 we are all going to Congress together. I made that promise because as a Representative, 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. They need access to care, and they do not need this horrible, horrible bill.

I have said many times before that access to maternal health, to infant mortality reduction, to making sure that people have access to substance and mental health services is what is so important. Mr. Speaker, there was no Republican mandate to kick our grandmothers out of nursing homes.

However, the most important part about this is that when 30,000 jobs are on the line in Ohio's 13th Congressional District, Mr. Speaker, what are you going to say to my constituents?

Will you call them lazy or worthless, unworthy of food, shelter, and human dignity? I already know the answer to that.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard you talk about them, that they are not important. They are totally unworthy of this horrible, horrific, mean, cruel, and nasty bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a resolution honoring one of the most uncompromising voices for freedom in American history, abolitionist John Brown, on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of his birth.

Born on May 9 in the year 1800 in Connecticut, John Brown was a man who did not simply believe in the cause of abolition. He lived for it. He fought for it. Ultimately, he died for it.

From 1844 to 1854, John Brown and his family lived in Akron, Ohio, where he partnered in business with Colonel Simon Perkins, the son of the city's founder. In fact, the house that John Brown lived in was on the same street where I grew up. It was just a few hundred yards away. It was a constant and present reminder in my life to fight for what is right.

John Brown was so much more than a businessman. He was a freedom fighter. His home in Akron became a stop on the Underground Railroad where he harbored enslaved people who had escaped and sought safety and a new life in a more enlightened part of the world.

Later, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Brown used his wool warehouse as another station on the Underground Railroad. He offered dignity, protection, and skills to those who escaped slavery and freed men, including how to farm and sustain themselves in a new life free from bondage.

He used his wool business as a means to travel, to connect, and to advance the cause of abolition across State lines.

However, when Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which made it a Federal crime to aid a runaway slave and compelled even free States to enforce slavery, Brown took a very bold step.

He organized the League of Gileadites, encouraging African Americans to train in arms to defend their freedom against re-enslavement. He made clear: Freedom was not a privilege. It was a right worth defending.

In 1855, Brown and his sons traveled to Kansas, a territory torn by violent conflict over whether it would enter the Union as a free or a slave State. There he joined anti-slavery forces in what came to be known as Bleeding Kansas. He believed that slavery could not be voted away or reasoned away, it had to be confronted.

In October of 1859, John Brown led one of the most daring and polarizing actions in American history.

At Harpers Ferry, Virginia, he led a raid on the United States arsenal, intending to initiate a slave revolt. Although the raid ultimately failed and Brown was captured, tried, and executed, he succeeded in forcing a divided nation to confront the moral crisis of slavery.

Mr. Speaker, John Brown's methods remain the subject of debate, but the righteousness of his cause is not. He understood what so many were unwilling to admit, that slavery was a profound evil, this country's original sin, and that waiting for gradual change meant accepting the continued suffering of millions.

The House of Representatives now has the opportunity to formally recognize his legacy. This resolution honors and commemorates the 225th anniversary of John Brown's birth and recognizes the generational impact that John Brown had on the abolitionist movement and his enduring contributions to ending slavery in the United States of America. John Brown's life reminds us that moral courage often requires action, uncomfortable, unpopular, and even dangerous action. His legacy belongs not only to our past but to our ongoing struggling for justice today.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to uplift the story of a hero from Ohio's 13th Congressional District, Mariah Stacy Frederick.

Mariah is the voice and advocate for her daughter, who lives with spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly.

For Mariah and her daughter, Medicaid is a crucial resource without which they would not be able to afford the proper care that her daughter requires for her condition.

In her message to my office, Mariah said: ``I am asking for the budget to not touch Medicaid funding. My daughter is 2 years old and is just starting to walk on her own. This is all with the support she receives at physical therapy and the Help Me Grow [program]. I would be lost without all of these resources for her.''

Mariah's story is one of heroism, but not different than many of my other constituents', a mother working hard to provide for her daughter who was born and lives with a condition that requires the care that Medicaid provides.

Mariah is fighting to make sure that her daughter is able to keep receiving that care alongside the 200,000 people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

What makes this even more infuriating is that this bill is robbing the working poor to pay for tax cuts to buy a yacht or a second home.

Mariah's story is inspiring, and she is not alone. Thousands of constituents from Ohio's 13th Congressional District have called and written to my offices in Akron, Canton, and here in D.C., imploring me to save Medicaid.

That is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to fight for Mariah and Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of the law enforcement officers serving in Ohio's 13th Congressional District and to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Being a police officer is not an easy job. It is one of the most difficult and most dangerous jobs in our society, and in recent years, it has only gotten harder.

As I have met with law enforcement agencies across northeast Ohio, I continue to hear the same concerns. Officers are overworked, stretched thin, and in need of better support and training to meet the demands of the job and the needs of our communities.

That is why I have reintroduced the Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act. This is bipartisan legislation that supports law enforcement officers by ensuring they have access to high-quality, real-world training that prepares them for the complex situations they face in the field.

This bill requires the Department of Justice through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, also known as the COPS Office, to develop and distribute scenario-based training curricula that cover de- escalation, crisis intervention, use of force, situational awareness, decisionmaking under stress, and community relationship building.

We know that when law enforcement has the tools and the training they need, it protects both the officers and the public. This bill creates a grant program to make these programs accessible to departments of all sizes, rural and urban, so that every officer in every community can benefit.

This legislation is especially urgent for my community. June 27 will mark 3 years since Jayland Walker was shot and killed by police in Akron. April 18

marks the 1-year anniversary of Frank Tyson's death, which took place while he was in custody in Canton after pleading with detaining officers that he could not breathe.

We cannot ignore these tragedies. We must respond to solutions that promote safety, accountability, and trust. That is exactly what this legislation is designed to do.

We want our citizens and our officers to make it home to their loved ones at the end of the night. That is what this legislation will do. We are already seeing what is possible when departments commit to this type of training.

I recognize the Canton Police Department for stepping up and participating in a 4-week de-escalation program following a recent high-profile incident involving use of force. Their involvement aligns directly with the goals of this legislation. By embracing immersive de- escalation training like the program offered by the Midwest De- Escalation Training Center, CPD has taken meaningful action to build trust with the community and improve safety outcomes for everyone in Canton.

This is exactly what we want to see. We want to see police departments proactively seeking solutions to better serve and protect. It shows that when officers are equipped with the right tools, training, and support, we can prevent tragedies, rebuild relationships, and ensure that both officers and the public go home safely.

The Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De- Escalation Act is supported by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the FOP, and the Akron NAACP because we all share the same goal of making sure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the night.

When I came to Congress, I promised to put the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional District first. That means supporting our officers, rebuilding trust in public safety, and working across the aisle to get things done. That is exactly what this bill does, and I look forward to seeing my colleagues advance this bill over the finish line.

Again, as it is National Police Week, I thank all the law enforcement officers across Ohio's 13th District and the country for the service that they provide to protect and serve our communities.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the University of Akron Zips Women's Lacrosse team and their coach, Elaine Jones, as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week.

For the first time ever, this lacrosse team won the Mid-American Conference Lacrosse Championship when they took down Robert Morris University in an overtime thriller to secure their first ever championship.

With just 14 seconds left during overtime, a golden goal from Jaelyn Clinkscales propelled the Akron Zips Women's lacrosse team to victory.

The odds were stacked against this team as they were picked to finish last this season in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, but they persevered and beat the odds coming in as the champions.

This historic season was led by Coach Elaine Jones, who also won the MAC Coach of the Year Award.

Congratulations again to the Akron Zips Women's lacrosse team for this outstanding victory. This team is a shining example of why this community is known as the birthplace of champions. I look forward to cheering them on next season.

Go Zips.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Matrix M3 indoor percussion ensemble as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week.

Last month, the M3 percussion ensemble performed at the WGI World Championships. After their preliminary performance left them just two points in the lead, M3 gave it their all in the finals, securing the first place prize. They are now world champions in the Scholastic Independent division after earning a final and near-perfect score.

The WGI Championship was the final competition in the Matrix M3 percussion ensemble's busy season, after competing in seven different contests across the Midwest. The group is a perfect example of why Ohio's 13th Congressional District is known as the birthplace of champions. I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the future.

Once again, I congratulate the Matrix M3 indoor percussion ensemble for bringing home this gold medal. Our community is so very proud of their hard work and incredible talent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue that touches every community in this country: mental health.

More than one in five adults in the United States live with a mental health illness. These are our friends, neighbors, coworkers, or family members. For many of us, this is a deeply personal issue.

Whether you live in a big city or a small town, almost everyone has a person in their life who is struggling, and chances are you know someone who has struggled or you could be struggling yourself.

In Ohio, we have seen just how urgent this crisis has become, where we have only about half the behavioral health workforce we need to meet the demand. In fact, there is just one psychiatrist for every 6,000 Ohioans. That is not just a workforce problem. It is a public health emergency, a safety issue, and a challenge to our quality of life.

When I came to Congress, I promised to work with anyone from either side of the aisle to address the challenges that matter most to the people of Ohio's 13th. That is why I have reintroduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill to provide tens of millions of dollars annually to expand our behavioral health workforce, helping to train, recruit, and retain mental health professionals across the country.

It is a commonsense solution that will bring resources directly to communities like mine, helping to address addiction, reduce suicide, and ensure more Americans get the care they need when they need it.

I hope that everyone joins me in passing this bipartisan bill. Our country demands it.