Floor Statements

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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak of a crisis of the President's own creation due to his war of choice in Iran and the confusion that has caused.

It is my duty every day to speak for the families of Ohio who are being squeezed. Gas and diesel, oh my. The prices in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and across Ohio are now crippling, at their highest level since the summer of 2022.

Prices are approaching a new all-time record according to data from AAA and Gas Buddy. Over the next 24 hours, Americans from coast to coast will spend half a billion dollars, $500 million more on gasoline than they would have on March 1. That is half a billion dollars with a b.

The President promised to lower prices. He did the opposite. The Speaker is doing nothing to stop it. He is forcing the American people to be dragged along on this terrible ride.

Here is some advice: Grow a spine. Do your job, Mr. Speaker. Bring up a vote to end this war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the retirement of a truly extraordinary human being, public servant, and scholar, Dr. Frank J. Calzonetti.

For decades, Frank has embodied the very best of what a university scholar and leader for our community and region can be. A patient, ingenious, and creative force for regional strength and national progress, he has built our community's resilience forward every step of the way--educationally and economically.

For 25 years at The University of Toledo, a quarter century, his leadership has transformed scientific research into real-world impact. He has advanced energy and engineering innovation, strengthened workforce development, created new age jobs in energy, advanced manufacturing, fresh water systems, and guided Northwest Ohio toward a more secure and prosperous future.

Even in his last months on the job, he helped deliver a $19.2 million federal award from the Department of Energy for nuclear workforce development, workplace safety, and advanced nuclear energy education. He told me this was the largest award in University of Toledo's history. His collaboration allowed a true team effort with over 20 organizations involved to bring home this major federal award. It would not have been possible with Frank's leadership and perseverance. Bravo.

Dr. Calzonetti has always understood that great educational institutions do not stand apart from their communities--they stand within them. His efforts to advance us all and lift our communities up to new horizons, including establishing relationships with our Nation's most advanced federal research facility.

Whether it was working together to advance clean energy initiatives, responding to crises like the Toledo water emergency, or helping position the University as a national research leader, Frank's historic work has left an enduring imprint that will never be forgotten, and exists to build forward.

What a privilege it has been to work alongside Frank, including on recent historic federal investments to shape the next generation of American energy and power leadership, to seize cutting-edge research to secure our region, to save, and change lives for the better. Whether is it photovoltaics or clean, nuclear advancements, Frank stands tall. His steady vision never lost edge.

Frank's life and career has been one of purpose, integrity, and lasting contribution. He has served our University, our State, and our Nation with distinction.

On behalf of a grateful Northwest Ohio region, and Americans from coast to coast, I want to thank him and congratulate him on a remarkable journey. His personable demeanor and acute intellect translates into progress at every threshold. I thank Dr. Frank J. Calzonetti for his immeasurable contributions to The University of Toledo and Beyond.

All of us are honored by his friendship and partnership in all these path-breaking efforts.

Bravo. Onward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the noble service of U.S. Army General Randy George, an American soldier whose life reflects decades of unwavering patriotic commitment to our Nation.

General George, at an early age, was selected to attend and then graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. General George led at every level academically and then

served from platoon to theater, many theaters, serving in Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, and ultimately as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He earned his spurs and stripes.

His career was not measured in titles but in sacrifice and judgment forged over time. He held the trust of soldiers. He led in peacetime and in war.

At a moment when the challenges facing our U.S. military demand depth, steadiness, and proven leadership, experience matters. It matters in consequential judgment calls and decisions in battle that affect lives, and it matters in moments of uncertainty. It matters in ensuring the trust, strength, and readiness of our force.

Mr. Speaker, the American people thank General Randy George for his utter commitment to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, this Earth Day season, I rise to represent the heart of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie's Western Basin.

Our Great Lakes region is home to the largest system of fresh surface water on Earth. This gift we hold in trust for future generations to come. These fresh waters are not only our heritage, they are our economy, our health, and our source of life.

Water and energy are closely linked. At a time when energy demand is rising and energy bills are up 13 percent, we must produce clean energy that lowers costs, creates jobs, and protects our air and water.

Northwest Ohio understands stewardship. Through efforts like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we have proven that when we steward our environment, especially water and energy, we invest in our people's future.

Mr. Speaker, this Earth Day season, let us choose a future that is cleaner, more affordable, and more secure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 118th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army Reserve.

Our Nation first created the Army Medical Reserve Corps in 1908 to remedy wartime challenges. Since that historic origin, the Army Reserve has played a critical role in combat support and humanitarian aid both at home and abroad. Over the last 118 years, Citizen-Soldiers have been tested in the crucible of combat, transforming from a strategic supplemental reserve into an essential, operational force upon which the Nation routinely calls.

Today, we honor the nearly 172,000 Army Reserve Soldiers and 11,000 Civilians serving across 50 states, five U.S. territories, and 23 countries. On any given day, upwards of 9,000 of these dedicated servicemembers are mobilized or deployed in support of combatant commands globally. Operating out of 1,200 American communities, these individuals possess high-demand civilian career skills that are crucial to our national defense. The Army Reserve provides the bulk of sustainment forces to the Joint fight. Our Joint Force simply cannot deploy, fight, and win without them. Whether executing Innovative Readiness Training missions that deliver vital services to our local communities, or maintaining a steadfast global presence, their daily impact is immeasurable.

As we look toward the future, the Army Reserve is undertaking its most significant transformation in several decades to ensure dominance in large-scale combat operations and multi-domain environments. These modernization efforts are actively enabling the force to become leaner, more mobile, lower signature, and more lethal. Guided by their vision, the Army Reserve is continuously adapting to provide trained and equipped units at the scale and speed required to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering service and sacrifice of every Army Reserve Soldier, Civilian, and their Families. As they step into their next year of service, they remain: ``Twice the Citizen, Combat Ready.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory in the fight for liberty on the continent of Europe, our closest tested allies.

Earlier this month, the people of Hungary voted in record numbers to end the repressive rule of its former Russia-leaning Prime Minister.

As co-chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus, I cheered with Hungarian Americans and just was thrilled at the victory of liberty in Hungary in the person of its new Prime Minister Peter Magyar.

For 16 years, Hungarians endured a cadre of kleptocrats that plundered their country and sold it out to the interests of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Shocking tapes reveal how Orban's top officials plotted with Russia to undermine neighboring Ukraine and the rest of Europe and even help the Ayatollah in Iran.

The former Prime Minister's betrayal of the Hungarian people and the NATO Alliance is why Congressman Don Bacon and I introduced the BLOCK PUTIN Act to hold these corrupt officials accountable.

Thank God the people of good will won in Hungary.

When Soviet Russia invaded the beautiful country in 1956, it took decades before they got a victory for democracy.

You have friends in America, our dear, dear friends in Hungary. We love liberty, too. Bravo. Onward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to object as our House returns after an unconstitutional, 2-week, forced recess.

Rather than exercise his constitutional Article I duties, Speaker Johnson fell in step with warmongering hotheads in the executive branch. He failed to honor his constitutional oath and uphold the U.S. Constitution and Congress' defined powers in Article I. He gaveled the House out at a most profound moment in world and American history.

The U.S. Constitution is clear. Article I, Section 8 says that Congress shall have the power to declare war. It does not say may have power. It says: ``The Congress shall have power.''

Speaker Johnson ignored this provision.

Speaker Johnson also has allowed the executive branch to draw down billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars without consent of Congress.

Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 states: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.''

Without a vote by Congress to authorize the war and appropriations spent, the Speaker is in violation of the Constitution to which he swore an oath.

Mr. Speaker, what the American people are witnessing is unconstitutional and unprecedented in the history of our Nation. I object.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor recognize and celebrate Ohio Extension Agent Amy Stone for 33 years of extraordinary, vigilant service to the agricultural community of Ohio through the Ohio State University Extension. Northwest Ohio says: Thank you, Amy Stone.

Amy's career has been defined by dedication. She was and always will be willing to assume leadership of the youth, families, and farmers who call Lucas County and northwest Ohio home.

Our freshwater tidal basin is the largest in the Great Lakes, and her job was consequential.

From horticulture and urban forestry to confronting invasive specious like the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly, Amy dug in. She was always protecting Ohio's natural resources. When that first emerald ash borer infestation was discovered in Ohio, she identified it and changed the course of conservation across our entire region and Ohio.

Her impact goes far. She has taught, mentored, and inspired thousands of students and strengthened both our rural roots and urban canopy.

Amy Stone has elevated northwest Ohio to be sustainable, stronger, more arable, healthier, and greener than she found it.

Bravo to Amy Stone. We love her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a dear citizen of Oak Harbor, Ohio, Roger Carpenter. He devoted 75 years of his life to shaping character, citizenship, and service in northwestern Ohio.

Roger Carpenter was more than a Scoutmaster. For generations of young people in Troop 316, he was a teacher of values, a steady hand, and a living example of the Scout Oath and Law.

His dedication deeply shaped the character of Oak Harbor. I can feel it.

From the time he joined the troop as a boy in 1941 to his passing at age 97, Roger believed that building good citizens was the most important work any community could do, and he went about doing it.

Under his guidance, more than 50 young men achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He taught young people how to live with responsibility, humility, and care for others.

As Roger himself said: Scouting does not teach children to throw a ball. It should teach them how to help others and preserve the common good.

Boy, was he a wise man.

What a great privilege it was to honor his service at the Apple Festival last fall. Please let me honor and posthumously thank him on the floor of Congress for preserving the common good. What a patriot. Oak Harbor and all of northwestern Ohio are eternally grateful for Roger's beautiful life and good works that endure and have been nobly passed forward to the aspiring generation.

Honoring the Life of Robert Mueller

Mr. Speaker, I wish to turn to honor the life of Robert Mueller.

When I was very young, I aspired to become an FBI agent. Later, when in college, when I applied, I was told I was not qualified because I was a woman.

But tonight, I rise to honor the life and service of Robert Mueller, the gentleman and honorable Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that I wish I had been able to work for.

He also was a father, a husband, a grandfather, a marine--our family knows a whole lot about that--a public servant, and an American hero.

He served as Director of the FBI under Presidents of both parties.

Director Mueller took his oath to support and defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, as seriously as anyone could.

He was a very intelligent man whose life was defined by honor, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to the Nation he loved and to which he gave his life.

At a time when many chose a different path, he stepped forward to serve. Though he was not drafted, he volunteered to serve in Vietnam. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, earned his commission, and led Marines in combat.

There, under fire, he displayed extraordinary courage. He rescued a wounded comrade, earning the Bronze Star with a V for valor, and the Purple Heart after being wounded in battle.

He led from the front, guided by duty and shaped by the bonds of those he served beside. If he had done nothing else, his military service exemplified what it means to be a patriot for the cause of liberty.

His service did not end when he returned home. He continued to serve this Nation for decades--as a Federal prosecutor, as a leader within the Department of Justice, and as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation during one of the most consequential periods in our Nation's history.

He took office as FBI Director 7 days before the September 11 attacks on our Nation. True to his marine heritage, he always fought for right and freedom and kept his honor clean. He ushered our country and the bureau through some of our darkest days.

Director Mueller served our Nation in that role for 12 years to the very day, including a 2-year extension under President Obama.

He was then succeeded by James Comey. Four years later, in May 2017, he was again called to serve. Then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein tapped Robert Mueller to lead the investigation into the consequential 2016 Russian election interference. He pursued this investigation indefatigably. He let the facts lead and presented his report.

He did not politicize this investigation for a single second because that is just not who he was, nor what the FBI is.

Across every chapter of his life, Robert Mueller carried himself with humility, discipline, and integrity. He did not seek recognition. He sought to do what was right. He was not a showman. He was a patriot.

His life reminds us that service to country is not confined to a single moment or uniform. It is a lifelong calling.

Robert Mueller answered his Nation's call in war and peace, in public office and in quiet leadership.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation is stronger because of patriotic citizens like Robert Mueller, and I send my heartfelt condolences and those of my constituents to his wife of 60 years, Ann; to his daughters, Cynthia and Melissa; and to his five grandchildren. I know they and his bureau colleagues will miss him dearly.

May we honor his example not only in words but in pledging honorable service to our Nation in any capacity he held. May Director Mueller rest in peace--we have the watch.

Honoring Louise J. Brower

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Women's History Month with naming a steady trailblazer from northwest Ohio, Louise J. Brower.

In 1975, Mrs. Brower broke barriers when she became the first woman to serve as a principal in Toledo public schools. In doing so, she also became the first to lead a large metropolitan Ohio high school. At Scott High School, she led with strength, dignity, and an unwavering belief in her students.

The appointment was a culmination of her Toledo public schools career, which started as a teacher at Robinson Junior High. She then served as principal of both Walbridge School and later McTigue Junior High.

The library at Walbridge was dedicated in her honor in 1971.

Long before recognition followed, her impact was already deeply felt by inspired students. She empowered teachers, and she opened doors for women who would follow.

Mrs. Brower's legacy reminds us that progress is built by those willing to lead where none have gone before.

May we continue her work with purpose, with passion, and with pride. Women know how to do it right even if

it has never been done before, and Mrs. Brower certainly did that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to put her name in the Record.

Undeclared War in Iran

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise on day 27 of President Trump's undeclared war against Iran.

An immense cost is being imposed on our U.S. military and the American people by this undeclared war of choice. Already, this war has cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $40 billion, not a penny of which was voted on by either this House or the other body.

That amount is equal to what President Trump in his big bonanza bill for billionaires cut from healthcare. The money he cut from healthcare that is being expended over Iran means 500,000 people in my State of Ohio are losing their health benefits. So, let's recognize what the transfer of funds means.

No American should be asked to surrender their healthcare for a war that was never authorized by Congress. That is a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8.

Now, President Trump is ratcheting up his ask for another $200 billion for the Pentagon's Iran war--$200 billion. There is no way--by the way, that is one-fifth of $1 trillion. There is no way the American people should be forced to hand this administration hundreds of billions of dollars to keep waging an unconstitutional war.

Just today, the war on Iran saw the Dow Jones drop 470 points. The Standard & Poor's had its worst day since January. Oil is now $108 a barrel. A gallon of gas is averaging nearly $4 nationwide, and diesel is $5.37 a gallon.

This is hurting our people.

With 25 percent of the world's oil and one-third of its fertilizer flowing through the narrow channel called the Strait of Hormuz, this war is a war of choice, not a war of necessity. It is throwing global markets off balance as prices rise on everything.

I know the American people are noticing.

I say and I believe, let the Middle East oil barons bear the billions and billions and billions of dollars this war is costing, not the American people. Our Nation is now energy independent here at home. For a half century we have worked to be that.

As President Trump has stated himself, we are now exporting more oil than ever before. I don't think we should be exporting quite as much, but that is something we can disagree on. However, here at home, we sure have made a lot of progress since 1970.

In the committee on which I serve, Congress has approved and appropriated for a historically large defense budget amounting to over $1 trillion for 2026, but that didn't account for this war. That budget is the largest defense budget in modern history.

We know we have enemies. We know we have new strategic interests that we have to attend to, but the Trump administration has simultaneously, as we have these new expenditures of war, allowed massive tax breaks to billionaires while severely cutting funds for our veterans' hospitals and clinics, veteran services, our civil hospitals to healthcare, education, nutrition, to all critical services for the American people.

Our transportation safety officers are waiting to be paid.

Americans should not be made to bear the burden of this war started by superrich dictators with no military experience who see matters of life and death as nothing more than real estate and resource deals.

If President Trump wants another $200 billion for war, don't come asking for it from our farmers. It is a rough year for them. Don't ask our policemen. Don't ask our educators. Let him go to the Saudi princes. They are reportedly urging him to keep the war going so the oligarchs in the Gulf can remake the economy of the Middle East the way they want.

Let me inquire: How many troops have the oil barons committed? They have committed zero.

As I recall, President Trump made his first trip abroad after being sworn in 2 years ago to Saudi Arabia, a dictatorship. I recall it was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who ordered the butchering of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

News reports state Prince Mohammed has a net worth of up to $25 billion. That is just himself. Moreover, he manages a sovereign wealth fund for Saudi Arabia valued at over $1.4 trillion for the House of Saud and the royal family. And that is what we are able to know from the press. He probably has a lot more. But he alone can afford the pay for a war that will handsomely benefit his kingdom.

Think about who exactly should pay for this war of choice. President Trump is saying to the European countries that have nothing to do with this why aren't they helping, why aren't they coming over? Well, the United States does stand by its allies, but for all this administration's pressure on Europe to pull its weight in this war let me ask: What troops and resources are these superrich Gulf kingdoms committing as Americans are fighting and dying?

Mr. Speaker, 13 of our troops have died and over 300 injuries already. As we speak, thousands of U.S. Marines and paratroopers are being deployed to the Middle East, and our family knows what combat in foreign lands requires, but the sultans, shahs, and kings, they don't.

Their oil kingdoms want this war to keep going because they will be the beneficiaries, but we are their soldiers. How many soldiers is Saudi Arabia sending? What about Kuwait? How about Qatar that gave President Trump a luxury jet valued at $400 million? Can we trade that in? Can we trade that plane in to help pay down the tens of billions of dollars that our country is already spending over there? Are these kingdoms going to contribute their fighter jets to this conflict? Who will fly them?

What about the Saudis, Kuwaitis, United Arab Emirates, their pilots, their marines, where are their soldiers? I haven't seen any. No American marine, sailor, airman, or soldier should be sent to war to preserve the Gulf state kingdom's dominance over the world's oil and gas markets over there.

Let us take care of ourselves right here at home. Perpetual energy independence, we have that. We have to make it even better.

Now, let's look at the population of those countries. Iran is a nation of over 93 million people. Saudi Arabia has technically 32 million people, but most of them, three-quarters of them, are not actually Saudis. They are foreign guest workers. Kuwait has 3 million people, and most of those are guest workers. Iraq has 43 million people. Yemen has 41 million people. The United Arab Emirates has 10 million, but a lot of those are not actually citizens there. Israel has 10 million people, maybe closer to 9. Qatar has 2 million people.

Do we really want responsibility in perpetuity for nearly 250 million people in the troubled oil kingdoms and the oil rich Middle East? None of these nations is a stable democracy, not a single one.

So, why are Americans being asked again to dive into yet another Middle East war? We know this story. We know how it ends. Might I remind Members and those listening, the Lockerbie bombing was an example of what happens. Does anyone recall 9/11? And I could list a whole lot of other retaliations.

Dealing with theocratic regimes means not victory but retribution in the end, retribution against both civilian and military populations.

The United States shouldn't be fighting this war to play oil kingmaker in the Middle East. America knows that our Nation has now dedicated one-half century to making our Nation energy independent here at home, and what a triumph that has been.

We should do better, how? The Strategic Petroleum Reserve should have been filled completely, and President Trump has continued to empty it out. We have to do better than that.

We have other forms of power, modern nuclear, hydrogen, and massive natural gas discoveries in my part of the country. Mr. Speaker, we can do this here in this country, but President Trump told us we are fighting this war because Iran was building a nuclear weapon to have a bomb ready in 2 weeks. That claim fell apart under the slightest scrutiny.

The President says that we now need more bombing and more troops, even as his own Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, testified before Congress that Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated and that Iran was not trying to rebuild it.

The President said that we were fighting Iran to change its regime. Iran has replaced one Ayatollah Khamenei with another Ayatollah Khamenei.

I would observe that, as a result of this war, it is more likely Iran and adjacent nations that have succession will have hardline leaders that share Iran's religious perspective, hell-bent on opposing the United States on every front long into the future in the form of hybrid warfare, which is the new horizon for war globally.

This war must not drain our arsenal here at home. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Defense Subcommittee, the weapons that are being exploded and the amount of money being spent mean we have to follow on very quickly, and it is not so easy to do.

We have lost members of our military, as I have said, and the President's approach has alienated too many of our allies and made us new enemies. Caution. No more blood for oil. No more blood for oil. In an era of hybrid warfare, the President's impulsiveness could yield reactions for which the American people are not prepared.

I ask the question, Mr. Speaker: What does victory look like in this war? What is the endgame? What is the plan?

The President wanted to overthrow the Government of Iran, destroying its nuclear capacity, to ignite a nationwide revolt and remake the Middle East as he thinks it should be. What does that look like? Who is going to help?

There are a lot of people with money over there--not a single democracy--they will be the beneficiaries. What are they paying?

Therefore, U.S. military efforts have not been able to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Adjoining nations have placed zero troops into theater. To me, the undemocratic oil kingdoms appear to have the U.S. at their beck and call. That is not in the interests of the United States of America.

This administration has not prepared our citizens for the consequences of its hasty actions. So far, they expect Americans to pick up the tab, the whole tab, rising each week by billions and billions more dollars.

What is it about the allure of these undemocratic oil kingdoms that draws such attention from our President? Recklessness and undemocratic Middle East oil markets have led us to repeated disastrous consequences and more forever-on wars.

The American people have already paid the price. Let the phenomenally rich oil kingdoms, undemocratic oil kingdoms, their sheikhs and their Kings send their own troops and pay the price of their own security, instead of indebting the people, the good people, of the United States of America.

Today, I say enough is enough.

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

Mr. Speaker, in northwest Ohio and across our Heartland, farmers are hurting. After 2 years of record drought, a year of reckless Trump tariffs, their export markets are drying up abroad.

Now comes the war in Iran.

One-third of the world's fertilizer supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Its cost just rose.

Mr. Speaker, 25 percent of the world's oil supply passes through this narrow channel off the Iranian coast. Much like oil, fertilizer is traded on a global market, and a disruption on either side of the globe impacts Ohio farmers, producers, and growers.

This comes at the worst time as planting season is upon us. Our agriculture sector is teetering on the brink. Hello. Family farms hang in the balance. For many, this is a make-or-break year.

On top of skyrocketing fertilizer costs, the national average for diesel just hit a record $5.37 per gallon.

If costs don't stabilize soon, the Heartland is in for a reckoning. We don't want one. We don't want one. Is the White House--hello, are you paying attention?

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight and every day for the families of northwest Ohio and across our country being squeezed due to President Trump's reckless, illegal decisions.

Today, the average price of gasoline across our Buckeye State of Ohio was $3.82; nationwide, $3.97, up more than a dollar a gallon in the span of a month.

Diesel, the life blood of our supply system, is surging to nearly $5 a gallon, increasing transportation costs and driving up the cost of everything: food, manufacturing, and fertilizer across our heartland.

When the price of oil rises, families everywhere feel it. The cost of gasoline, diesel, and home heating is a daily burden on working families, farmers, truckers, and small businesses trying to keep their operations open.

The undeclared Trump illegal war on Iran makes the condition exponentially worse. When global conflict collides with fragile energy supply chains, prices surge.

In Ohio, we refine, move, and deliver energy, but I will tell you, this is actually such a terrible tax on the American people causing the debt to go up.

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve a President who abides by the U.S. Constitution.