Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an honorable, patriotic, gregarious American who dedicated his life to building our Nation and world into a more just, livable country and democratic world.

This past weekend, former New Jersey Congressman Frank Guarini passed away at the ripe age of 101 years old, just 2 months shy of attaining his 102nd birthday.

Frank was an American patriot, World War II decorated Pacific Navy veteran, successful lawyer, and business leader. His milestone life included service in this House from 1979 to 1993.

Hailing from Jersey City, New Jersey, Frank, like his father before him, distinguished himself as an honorable, extraordinary citizen, a champion swimmer, and World War II Navy combat veteran with three battle stars of the Pacific campaign. He rose to the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

He served as a distinguished probing member of the Ways and Means Committee, specializing in international trade and fair taxation.

Continuing to pursue business and philanthropic interests until his passing, he endowed his alma maters: Dartmouth College's School of International Relations, Saint Peters College, New York School of Law, as well as John Cabot University in Italy, the Italian American Foundation, and countless and endless works of good will toward others.

I send my heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to his sister, Caroline; nephew, Peter; niece, Carol; many cousins; countless friends; loved ones around the world; and his beloved Jersey City community to which he dedicated his being.

May Frank's constructive and honorable life inspire future leaders in the generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in his memory.

Mr. Speaker, the billionaire bonanza bill that I didn't vote for has resulted in the slashing of health insurance for millions of our fellow citizens. Moreover, that bill gave huge new tax breaks to billionaires. Giant corporations are getting huge tax refunds sent out just now. Our middle class is being kneecapped by rising prices on everything. What is going on here?

I must ask President Trump why he unilaterally decided to give $1.8 billion in reparations to the bullies who attacked the Capitol on January 6. His party did nothing to stop him. I got caught up in that mess. That is a whole other story.

Meanwhile, his Iran war is costing us about a billion dollars a day. It was supposed to be for 4 days. We are now into day 117, and the flimsy Iran deal seems to have fallen apart. Who proposed $324 billion to Iran? Where are we supposed to get that money? From the American people's health insurance?

I think there is something really wrong here. Congress should end these giveaways to billionaires and give tax refunds to the hardworking people of our country.

To our colleagues across the aisle, come on, help us out a little bit. It would make a difference to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool requires a civil engineering plan.

First, replace the fractured subterranean pipes: Underground, the pool's 12-inch supply and return lines are deteriorated. They leak an estimated 16 million gallons of water every year. The Mall site actually sits in a floodplain related to drainage into the Potomac River. Water pressure pushes upward against the floor, forcing paint and sealant to blister, pop, and peel off.

Second, stabilize the lateral soil movement. While the 2012 overhaul stopped the pool sinking downward, it did not solve the side-to-side shifting. The pool sits on the Potomac River mudflats that continuously ooze and shift laterally.

Third, reengineer the expansion joints for shifting. A 2,000-foot concrete pad naturally expands and contracts like an accordion in freezing winter weather. Engineers have to install heavy, flexible water stops that seal gaps while letting slabs move without tearing.

Finally, there is drainage. Proper drainage and soil stabilization are required to manage runoff and prevent groundwater from seeping through the basin and compromising the concrete.

It isn't a vandalizing problem. It is an engineering problem. It can be solved.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week news broke that ``you'' have a secret plan to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

The following day, as new numbers were released showing core inflation rose to 4.2 percent on everything, the President said he loves inflation. He thinks the numbers are just great.

I am sorry, but where I come from, our retired workers know that Social Security and Medicare are hard-earned benefits we all pay into. Also, we know Medicaid is a lifeline for the most at-risk seniors to access healthcare or pay for long-term nursing care for those who can't afford it in their golden years.

We also know that the price of everything is going up, from gas to groceries to housing and so much more. Look at energy. Oh, my goodness.

I don't agree with Speaker Johnson's notion to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We should strengthen them and even expand them, and I don't agree that inflation is great. I don't love it.

If Americans coast to coast can't afford to put gas in their cars, groceries on the table, and a roof over their head, then that is a problem.

The Speaker and the President should get outside the beltway bubble. Americans need their serious attention to bring inflation down.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because, over this weekend, my beloved hometown of Toledo, Ohio, suffered tragic and senseless gun violence in our storied Old West End community.

As the annual Old West End Festival was underway Saturday evening, shots rang out. Twelve victims were injured and hospitalized. Our community is praying for them and in gratitude for all the officers and first responders who nobly rescued the injured and those medical personnel who treated them onsite and afterward.

What should have been a beautiful early summer evening filled with music, the arts, food, and friendship was interrupted by chaos. Civil authorities are working to identify and locate those responsible for these barbaric offenses against the community and our civic life.

The Toledo Police and Fire Departments and all first responders proved their courage and utter devotion to duty and restored civil order.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, because there were thousands of people, they answered the call and saved innocent lives. Much of the courage and valor they displayed may never be fully seen. Our community owes them a profound debt of gratitude for their selfless service.

They were quick to secure the scene while getting those injured the urgent medical care they needed. Mercifully, all have survived, but with varying degrees of serious injuries.

As well, our community is forever grateful for the strength and quiet heroism of Old West End residents and festivalgoers who stepped up in a time of great danger. They applied tourniquets, administered first aid, and protected those in the line of fire.

My prayers remain with the victims and our Old West End community who saw a joyous celebration turn into deep tragedy. It will take time and work to restore comfort, security, and trust, and we all must help. I know our community and our region will endure because I know the people.

Please let me thank those from across our Nation and around the globe who held Toledo in prayer this weekend. The values that define our community, faith, compassion, resilience, hard work, and love of neighbor, are stronger than violence and stronger than fear.

I join our local law enforcement partners in asking anyone who might have footage or firsthand information to share that confidentially so that we can locate those perpetrators by calling Crime Stoppers at 419- 255-1111.

Together, we will find answers and a better road forward. Now, let us help our neighbors feel safe again on our streets and in their beautiful neighborhood.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join in a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the beautiful, generous, faithful, and patriotic life of Mary Jane Flores.

A graduate of Newton-Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing, she commissioned in 1959 and served proudly as a nurse at Bethesda Naval Hospital here in Washington before her honorable discharge in 1961.

While there, she met and cared for her future husband, beloved Judge Joseph Flores, a veteran who rose to serve as lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was elected the first Hispanic judge in Ohio--I might say Toledo, Ohio--and first Hispanic elected to both municipal and juvenile courts. Their first date was over Mexican food on the evening of John F. Kennedy's inauguration.

Dedicated to advancing her education and career, Mary Jane attended Toledo's St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, becoming certified in 1970.

Her passion for helping others extended far beyond her profession. She traveled annually to the Dominican Republic with Midwest Medical Mission. She was instrumental in establishing the first mobile migrant health clinic in northwestern Ohio and volunteered with the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's Summer Health Clinic.

Lovingly known as Memere, a name that began with her first grandchild, Memere quickly became what everyone called her.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Judge Joseph Flores, and is survived by her son, Andre; daughters Maria and Judith; three grandchildren; her sisters, Nancy and Barbara; and many loving nieces, nephews, and dear, forever friends.

I saw her most recently quietly attending to many senior citizens in nursing homes across our region. She did it quietly with no public attention, but she was always there.

Mary Jane was a lifelong Catholic who not only practiced her faith, but she lived it. Her legacy lives on in all the thousands of lives she so nobly touched, certainly in her own family but far beyond that.

Kennedy Center Decision

Mr. Speaker, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a World War II hero, the only U.S. President ever to be awarded the Purple Heart.

In 1943, his PT-109 patrol boat was sunk in the Pacific, struck by a Japanese destroyer. Though wounded in action, Kennedy's athletic prowess allowed him to swim miles in dangerous open seas to safety. The physical damage he sustained caused him to be hospitalized and endure severe back pain throughout the rest of his life.

A gifted orator with a precious sense of humor, he was elected U.S. President in 1960.

His sheer eloquence during his inaugural address called the people of our Nation to highest purpose. He inspired and challenged the American people and especially our youth to ``ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.''

Globally, he successfully proposed the establishment of the United States Peace Corps and called upon Americans to voluntarily aspire to higher purpose and meet the real world beyond our shores.

A valorous war veteran, he envisioned a higher purpose for our Nation as liberty's champion, to serve humanity across the world by building peaceful global relationships and to carry out practical joint projects for community betterment.

Early on, President Kennedy was faced with a chilling nuclear confrontation with Soviet Russia. Russian naval vessels with nuclear warheads were dispatched by Russian dictator Nikita Khrushchev and entered the Gulf of Mexico, headed toward Cuba, which was ruled by a pro-Russian Communist dictator, Fidel Castro. Within 2 weeks, Kennedy was able to diffuse that real threat to U.S. security. That was the first standoff in the nuclear era.

He and his gifted wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, brought intelligence, artistry, beauty, history, poetry, music, and literary excellence to the White House for special occasions. Their partnership inspired a nation that sought excellence from our leaders at the dawn of a new American age.

His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, planted a living, beautiful rose garden on the south side of the White House. Recently, that was destroyed by President Trump, who paved it over in concrete in favor of a country club-style patio.

JFK, a highly educated man of arts and letters, inspired and challenged our Nation to aspirational new horizons to land a man on the Moon by the end of the decade, but Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, by a formerly discharged U.S. marine, Lee Harvey Oswald, who defected to the Soviet Union and returned to the United States shortly before this horrible, horrible incident.

President Kennedy did not live to see that feat on the Moon achieved as the Apollo 11 mission succeeded in July 1969.

Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' records the stories of several U.S. Senators who lost their elections and their political careers for standing up for their principles. All of those he reported on lost their next elections because they actually stood for something worthy.

He proposed path-breaking civil rights legislation, founded the Peace Corps to embrace a struggling world, and inspired a new generation of public servants who were to follow.

A man who understood history, JFK was determined not to repeat it. His soaring rhetoric, coupled with that of his elegant, educated wife, Jacqueline, worked to restore the White House as a center for arts, culture, the environment, and history.

This past December 2025, it truly came as a shock that the current President of our country forced a handpicked board at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts to approve adding the Trump name to precede the Kennedy name at this cherished living memorial to our valorous, fallen, former President.

Understandably, the people of our Nation immediately called out this outrage and backlashed, as did the Kennedy family themselves.

Former Congressman Joe Kennedy, III, said: ``The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen President and named for President Kennedy by Federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial.''

Kerry Kennedy, niece to President Kennedy and the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy who, too, was tragically assassinated in 1968 as a Presidential candidate said: ``President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists, and comedians, and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our Nation better and more just.''

Maria Shriver, daughter of President Kennedy's sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver said: ``Some things leave you speechless and enraged and in a state of disbelief.''

Then, the Federal court properly ordered President Trump's name be removed. The rule of law really means something. That stopped closure and demolition of this living memorial to a great veteran and sacrificial, revered President.

This removal must be done by court order by close of business this Friday, June 12.

Erasing this stain on the sacrificial legacy that inspired this noble cultural

institution means it will endure as a living center of culture for the American people, not only an edifice for a very brave, intelligent, historic President.

Restoring its proper name, historical worth, and its heritage of fine, artistic expression across all mediums shall proceed as the Kennedy family would wish and as history requires.

Thank you to those who wrote our Constitution and placed meaning in the rule of law.

No President, no Member of Congress, can avoid the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 12 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the fine ranking member from the State of New York, who has worked so very hard on this for the time this evening, and to all of our colleagues who support H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is not a partisan bill. Democrats voted for it. Republicans voted for it. Independents voted for it.

In 2014, without provocation, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin first invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Since 2022, he has been killing its people with his full-scale invasion.

Our free world must stand tall against tyrants, not mollycoddle them. Liberty is not negotiable. The war-torn people of Ukraine are not asking us for charity. They are asking for our partnership, along with our closest, time-tested allies in the European Union.

During the last century, in World Wars I and II, over 330,000 American soldiers' lives were sacrificed for liberty, for us. The greatest gift the 20th century bequeathed to us was their victory.

Liberty must not be squandered. It must be reaffirmed. For this Congress, that time is now.

We must not turn our backs on Ukraine's long-suffering people, especially over 20,000 children of Ukraine

maliciously abducted by Russia and being inhumanely reprogrammed on Russian soil. That is a war crime.

Now, Iran, in cahoots with Putin's Russia, makes the drones killing American soldiers in the Middle East. It is Iranian-made suicide drones that Russia launches to murder thousands of Ukrainians in their homes and its soldiers at the front.

Ukraine has come to America's defense with its cutting-edge interceptor drones. Consider their noble commitment. Now, will we come to Ukraine's aid?

The people of Ukraine fully know their fate is intertwined with our own. A ``yes'' vote sanctions Putin's Russia, that dictatorship. A ``yes'' vote forestalls further Russian encroachment across the European Union, our time-tested allies. A ``yes'' vote aids Ukraine.

If we fail to secure liberty's front in Europe, the next strategic reality we will face is defending our interests against an emboldened, nuclear-armed, expansionist Russia at a much, much higher cost.

Mr. Speaker, voting ``yes'' for liberty is an imperative, first, last, and always.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sailors and crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford. They have returned home after the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam war.

For nearly 300 days, nearly 11 months, these Americans served halfway around the world, missing their families, carrying out every mission asked of them with discipline, courage, and professionalism.

They endured combat operations, dangerous onboard conditions, and extraordinary strain on both ship and crew.

We must also recognize the growing burden these extended operations place upon our sailors, our military families, and our Nation. This deployment was repeatedly extended to support illegal and unconstitutional operations in Venezuela and Iran.

Behind every extra month at sea are missed birthdays, holidays, exhausted crews, and families left waiting at home.

Our sailors answered every call. We must swiftly end this expensive war of choice in Iran while honoring the service of the men and women of the Gerald R. Ford. We thank them and their families on this Memorial Day weekend for every sacrifice made throughout this costly war of choice and unnecessarily long deployment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a full heart to honor the brave crew of Artemis II. They journeyed farther than any other human beings ever before them, returning home safely to Earth.

Their mission, which was aided by training and research from northern Ohio's Glenn Research Facility and Armstrong Test Center, reminds us of the deep bonds that hold us together: faith, family, and country.

These astronauts carried with them the hopes of a nation. In their words upon return, we heard humility, gratitude, and a renewed love for our fragile planet.

Let me also pay tribute to the naval ship that welcomed them home, the USS John P. Murtha, named for a resolute Marine Corps veteran, former colleague here in the House, and son of Pennsylvania who devoted his life to serving America. That vessel stood as a symbol of steady resolve of duty carried out far from shore.

From the heartland of northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, and our shores from coast to coast to the heavens above, this mission belongs to every American who dares to dream.

May we honor their courage not only with words but with continued commitment and funding to exploration, unity, and future generations who will follow in their footsteps.

God bless them all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave men and women from police departments and law enforcement agencies throughout northwest Ohio and across our Nation.

We recognize them to thank them for their patriotism and to meet with them during this Police Week. We also honor the work they do, the hard work day in and day out to protect and serve our communities year- round.

Recently, efforts like Elon Musk's DOGE tried to cut Federal funding for law enforcement by cutting COPS and Department of Justice grants to them. These programs help local agencies get equipment and training they need, while also providing funding to hire additional officers.

At every step of the way, I opposed those cuts. Those efforts to cut funding are also why I joined my bipartisan Appropriations colleague Congresswoman Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma to introduce the Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026 to extend funding opportunities to trusted not-for-profits to train and support rural law enforcement.

Far too often, smaller departments get fewer opportunities for specialized training.

Mr. Speaker, our bill ensures every community, big or small, has access to 21st century tools for policing. I hope our colleagues join us in cosponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the courtesy. Today, I rise sincerely to thank 218 House bipartisan colleagues for signing Discharge Petition No. 8 in order to force a vote here on the floor for a long-overdue vote on the Ukraine Support Act.

Liberty for Ukraine and for NATO hangs in the balance. For 12 years, Ukraine's people have valiantly endured Russia's savage war to eradicate Ukraine, its children, and Ukraine's very identity.

As today's forces continue liberating stolen territory, our bipartisan petition represents strong support for Ukraine's defense of liberty.

Vladimir Putin must stop and end his horrific invasion of a free nation. I am confident that this bill will pass this House.

Let me thank especially Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Kevin Kiley, Mike Quigley, and all those in the Ukraine Caucus who have fought so long and hard in our bipartisan support for Ukraine that transcends party lines.

All 218 signatories have the gratitude of the American people, the whole of the Ukrainian nation, and freedom lovers around the world. Let us now pass this bill with dispatch before the end of next week.

Mr. Speaker, I include a summary of H.R. 2913.

H.R. 2913--Ukraine Support Act

summary

This bipartisan legislation enhances security assistance to

Ukraine while placing long overdue sanctions on Russia to

force Vladimir Putin to end the war on Ukraine.

ukraine security assistance

Extends Lend-Lease authority through 2028.

Authorizes up to $8 Billion in Foreign Military Financing

loans.

Extends Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Supports Baltic Allies.

Establishes new mechanisms to support Ukraine's recovery.

Supports intelligence cooperation.

russia sanctions and export controls

If Russia continues waging war against Ukraine or refusing

to negotiate a peace agreement in good faith, requires the

President to sanction:

Russin financial institutions;

Russia's energy industry;

Constructors and maintainers of the Kerch Strait Bridge;

Russia's Shadow Fleet;

Facilitators of North Korea's participation in the invasion

of Ukraine;

All foreign persons involved in the kidnapping of Ukranian

children;

Imposes export licensing requirements on foreign-produced

items known to be destined for Russian military or industrial

activities, and to prevent US-origin drone technology from

being shared with Iran.

500 percent tariffs on Russia.

Vote yes on the Ukraine Support Act to pressure Russia to

end its invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the thousands of runners who took to the streets of Toledo this spring for the Glass City Marathon.

Seasoned competitors and first-time participants alike demonstrated grit, discipline, and indeed courage to complete all 26.2 miles.

Today, we especially celebrate 25-year-old Ohio native Vincent ``Vinny'' Mauri. His extraordinary performance quite literally redefines what is possible. In his very first marathon, he shattered the course record with his breathtaking time of 2:05:54. This earned him the title of fourth fastest American marathoner ever.

We also honor Andie Cozzarelli, who posted the top female time of 2:36:57.

Vinny's and Andie's times qualify them for the U.S. Olympic trials and a

chance to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.

Congratulations also to Kevin Kirk, Matt Carter, Ashton Swinford, and Andrea Klima who took home second-and third-place medals.

Every runner, volunteer, and supporter shows the very best of America. We are so proud of them. Bravo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bipartisan resolution that I am introducing with my Ohio colleague, Representative Robert E. Latta, proclaiming May 8, 2026, through May 17, 2026, as National American Birding Week.

Across our Nation, nearly 96 million birders contribute more than $90 billion in job income each year. That is not just recreation, that is an economic engine rooted in conservation.

Each spring, an estimated 3.5 billion birds, representing over 350 species, make their journey north, many pausing along the shores of our Great Lakes to rest and refuel before crossing those vast freshwater horizons. In Northwest Ohio, we are blessed to witness this living miracle.

Our Great Lakes region becomes a gathering place for people from across the globe--environmental stewards, scientists, families, and visitors--drawn by the beauty and wonder of migration. Events like the Biggest Week in American Birding, hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, showcase what is possible when conservation and economic development work hand in hand. These efforts sustain local communities, support small businesses, and deepen our understanding of the fragile ecosystems that sustain life.

In Ohio, we are proud to welcome visitors from near and far. We cherish this freshwater kingdom and the life it sustains. And we remain committed to protecting it, so that generations to come may stand beneath open skies, watch the wings overhead, and know that nature still endures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record the following proclamation recognizing the 75th Anniversary of Camp Lakota:

Whereas, Camp Lakota, a Scouting America camp operated by

the Black Swamp Area Council in Defiance County, Ohio, has

faithfully served the youth and families of Northwestern Ohio

since 1951; and

Whereas, for 75 years, Camp Lakota has provided a setting

where young people develop leadership skills, build strong

character, and form lifelong friendships through outdoor

adventure and shared experience; and

Whereas, Camp Lakota has played a vital role in shaping

generations of Scouts, instilling the values of service,

responsibility, and community engagement; and

Whereas, the camp is located near the historic site of Fort

Defiance, established by General Anthony Wayne prior to the

Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, connecting it to a vital

chapter in our nation's early history; and

Whereas, Camp Lakota shares a proud connection to Neil

Armstrong, an Eagle Scout who attended the camp and went on

to become the first person to walk on the Moon, inspiring

countless young people to pursue excellence and exploration;

and

Whereas, the continued success of Camp Lakota is made

possible by the dedication of its volunteers, leaders, and

staff, including the exceptional service of longtime Ranger

Patrick Bohn, whose more than 25 years of stewardship have

preserved and strengthened the camp's legacy; and

Whereas, the traditions, natural beauty, and enduring

spirit of Camp Lakota have created lasting memories and

meaningful experiences for all who have attended,

strengthening the fabric of communities throughout the

region; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that I, Marcy Kaptur,

Member of Congress representing Ohio's 9th Congressional

District, do hereby recognize and honor Camp Lakota on the

occasion of its 75th anniversary, and commend its enduring

contributions to the development of young leaders and the

betterment of our communities; and be it further resolved,

that I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes for

continued success in the years ahead.