Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the life of a dear friend and community leader, Washington Township Trustee Sharon Lowry, who passed away at the age of 81 on July 21, 2026.

Sharon Lowly was an extraordinary woman who set an inspiring example of a life well-lived. She was a dedicated community servant, a loving wife, a devoted mother and grandmother, and a friend to many. She literally worked until her last day on this earth to make the community she loved a better place to live and raise a family.

Sharon was elected to the Washington Township Board of Trustees in 2018. She served as trustee president in 2020 and 2022, and as vice president in 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026. She was the Township's delegate to the First Tier Suburbs Consortium from 2018 to 2022, served on the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Policy Committee for three years, and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission for one year.

During her tenure on the Board, Sharon oversaw the construction of a new fire station, hired a new township administrator, and began expansion on the RecPlex, a popular public recreation center. She served on the Montgomery County Land Bank Board from 2020 to 2024, and helped support the Land Bank's mission of revitalizing neighborhoods and creating opportunities throughout Montgomery County.

In addition to her years of public service, Sharon earned a Master of Education degree from Wright State University, and was an assistant superintendent at Great OaksJoint Vocational School District in southwest Ohio.

She was also active in a variety of civic, service, and charitable organizations in the Miami Valley, including chair of the Centerville Women's Civic Club Scholarship Committee, and was a member of the board for Sophie's Companions for Veterans, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton, and the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.Through these organizations and others, her good work touched the lives of many.

On behalf of all of us who had the privilege of knowing Sharon and working alongside her, I offer her family my heartfelt condolences. I pray that her husband Bob, their children Jeffrey and Melissa, and their six grandchildren

may find comfort as they reflect on the many loving memories they enjoyed with Sharon through 58 years of love and marriage.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the life and memory of this beloved and respected community leader.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote in the House today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 221 and YEA on Roll Call No. 222.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this appropriations bill, and I support that this bill invests in the National Endowment for Democracy.

During my time in Congress, I have worked very closely with the National Endowment for Democracy's executive director, Damon Wilson, who is a great leader in democratic efforts throughout the world, and I can attest to the important work done under his leadership.

The National Endowment for Democracy is a critical tool for ensuring that prodemocracy movements have the resources they need to counter authoritarianism and confront human rights abuses. Countries such as Ukraine, Bosnia, and Georgia face constant pressure and interference from Russia, and the National Endowment for Democracy is on the front lines of efforts to ensure democracy and Western values prevail.

Additionally, the National Endowment for Democracy does important work to counter hostile, authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party and the Iranian regime. It is important for us to support this American institution and organization, which is based here in Washington, D.C., that defends our interests around the world in some of the most challenging environments.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this American-first legislation.

Mr. Speaker, due to a flight delay, I was unable to vote in the House today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 335 and YEA on Roll Call No. 336.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, due to an unforeseen circumstance, I missed a vote on H.R. 3109, the REFINER Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 303.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on September 18, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 277; YEA on Roll Call No. 278; and YEA on Roll Call No. 279.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my horror at the September 10, 2025

assassination of Charlie Kirk and to express my sincerest condolences to the Kirk family.

I attempted to add my name as a cosponsor to H. Res. 719, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Kirk. However, due to a processing error beyond my control, I was not added as a cosponsor before the House adopted this resolution.

Political violence has no place in our society. I strongly believe it should be condemned in the strongest way possible and at every opportunity.

I was, and still remain, a strong supporter of this resolution and the sentiments contained therein.

I call upon civic leaders at all levels of American society to commit to constructive civic discourse and firmly reject violence against their political opponents.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 266.

Personal Explanation

Mr. Chairman, I thank Representative Scott for offering this amendment.

Mr. Chair, it is incredibly important to secure the funding for the Baltic Security Initiative. The Baltic Security Initiative has assisted the states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which are important NATO allies. They have contributed well above the 2 percent NATO benchmark, have committed to reaching the 5 percent GDP of defense spending in the upcoming years, and are vulnerable NATO allies.

We are debating this amendment at a time when Russia's bombs have just fallen upon NATO ally Poland. It is important that we secure this funding.

The Baltic states have contributed about $10 for every $1 of U.S. funding that has gone into the Baltic Security Initiative.

Why this is important is that this is the U.S. portion of funding for training that has been the U.S. participation as part of Baltic exercises in the area that has ensured and been a part of deterrence to say to Russia: We will be there. We are part of the NATO alliance and are ensuring that the Baltic will be secured.

It has also been a statement against Russian aggression as we tried to secure and make a statement as they have been attacking with their murderous attacks against Ukraine, as we have also been trying to stand up and ensure that as they look to expand and threaten Poland that we will be there for them.

Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. Russia is murdering innocent civilians in Ukraine.

Our support to Ukraine opposes Russia's murderous aggression. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines against Russian aggression. Vladimir Putin is threatening NATO's eastern flank, including the Balkans. Russian drones have flown over Poland. It is unbelievable that, after Poland has been threatened, we are even debating this amendment today.

It has been warned that U.S. disengagement in Ukraine would fracture NATO unity, undermine deterrence, and invite broader conflict in Europe.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 248.

Amendment No. 17 Offered by Ms. Mace

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 223.

Mr. Speaker, I want to honor a distinguished scholar from my Congressional district who is retiring after 31 years of service at the University of Dayton School of Law.

Susan Newhart Elliott has served as a professor at the School of Law since 1994, is Director of the Zimmerman Law Library, and also serves as the University of Dayton Law Review faculty advisor. Susan earned her law degree from the University of Dayton in 1987, and was the law review's Managing Editor while she was a student. She has taught numerous classes in addition to serving as an Assistant Dean.

Susan also holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Miami University, as well as a Master's in Library and Information Science from Kent State University.

After receiving her law degree, Susan clerked for Judge Walter Rice of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for two years before joining the law firm Coolidge, Wall, Womsley & Lombard, where she concentrated in complex litigation. She has also been an English instructor at Miami University, Xavier University, and Wright State University.

As director of the Zimmerman Law Library, Susan has worked tirelessly to make certain that the library supports the school's mission of providing the highest quality of service to the law faculty and its students. This includes overseeing services to all library patrons, making sure the necessary books and electronic resources are available and accessible, and providing reference service seven days a week with a librarian who holds a Master's in library science and a law degree.

Susan has helped train the minds of the law school's best and brightest students. Graduates have gone on to lead successful lives serving their communities as attorneys, judicial clerks, members of distinguished law firms, legal counsel in state and federal agencies, and on my Congressional staff. Her work has been critical to the law school's growing reputation, as the University of Dayton School of Law is tied for third among Ohio's nine law schools according to the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings.

For nearly 20 years, Susan has served as a reader for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, evaluating nonfiction books submitted for consideration by the judges for the award. Inspired by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords that ended the Bosnian War, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only literary award in the United States that recognizes authors who utilize the power of the written word to promote peace,

In recognition of Susan's longstanding service and contributions to the legal profession, an endowment was created in her name to recruit legal scholars to write for the University of Dayton Law Review, as well as to support the law review in perpetuity.

Susan Newhart Elliott exemplifies all of the best qualities of a teacher, a scholar, and a public servant. She is a credit to her profession, and is loved and admired by her students, her colleagues, and her friends. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this truly outstanding citizen for her three decades of service to the University of Dayton School of Law. I wish her a happy, healthy, and productive retirement.

Mr. Speaker, this year the Dayton Dragons celebrate their 25th season of baseball in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. One of my proudest achievements as mayor of Dayton was building the baseball stadium and working with the Dragons ownership to bring the team to the city.

The Dragons have helped revitalize downtown Dayton. They have given baseball fans 25 seasons of enjoyable family entertainment, and continue to generate an enormous

amount of pride and spirit throughout the community.

No professional team in any sport can match the number of consecutive sellouts the Dragons have accumulated. Their record-breaking sellout streak continues to stand as the longest in professional sports history.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record my op-ed article titled, ``The Story of How the Dayton Dragons Came To Be,'' from the Dayton Daily News:

[From the Dayton Daily News, Apr. 4, 2025]

The Story of How the Dayton Dragons Came To Be

(By Mike Turner)

As the Dayton Dragons prepare to take the field for the

2025 season, we celebrate sellout crowds and an out-of-this-

world atmosphere with incredible fanfare, enjoyed by families

who have made lifelong memories with the magic of Day Air

Park.

Most nights are at full capacity. The Dragons have sold out

1,573 consecutive home games since arriving in Dayton--the

longest streak in North American professional sports history.

As we celebrate 25 seasons of the Dayton Dragons, we

recognize how far our city has come. What was once a vision

for renewal has become a reality, with downtown Dayton now a

hub of activity, culture, and economic opportunity. The

Dragons have played a central role in that transformation,

proving that baseball can be more than just a game--it can be

a driving force for positive change.

During my second term as Mayor, our community committed to

revitalize downtown with Riverscape, the Schuster Center, the

baseball stadium, and new downtown housing. What we have

today is a vibrant city, and now it's hard to imagine Dayton

without the Dragons. However, there was a time when it

appeared the city would never field a team.

Prior to the Dayton Dragons, there were several failed

attempts to bring a baseball team to Dayton and to build a

stadium. Many of these attempts came from out-of-town groups

with promises of never-realized funding, unbuildable stadium

designs, and management groups unable to secure Major League

approvals.

Most of the proposals came with all the risk assumed by the

Dayton taxpayer. Although our community believed in the

promise of a new stadium and a baseball team, the public was

skeptical and looking for the right partner and the right

deal.

By the time Mandalay Sports Entertainment came to town, our

community was organized, prepared and had a plan. As Mayor,

on behalf of our community team, I proposed a unique

structure for a deal. Dayton would agree to own and lease a

stadium to the team, if the team built the stadium at a fixed

price to the City of Dayton, assume all cost overruns, and be

responsible for operational, maintenance, and capital costs--

capping the risk to the Dayton taxpayers.

Mandalay agreed and delivered. The Dayton Dragons' stadium

deal ended up being the only stadium in the state that came

in on-budget to the taxpayers.

For the 25 years of the Dayton Dragons' success, there has

been one leader that has delivered for our community: the

President and General Manager for the team, Bob Murphy.

Murphy had the responsibility for delivering the

construction of the stadium, managing the team, overseeing

the stadium, and delivering entertainment every night for our

community. He has become a part of our community and has

stayed through three consecutive ownership groups.

On opening day 25 seasons ago, as Mayor, I stood on the

ballfield with our community negotiating team of City

Commissioner Bootsie Neil, City Manager Valerie Lemme,

Economic Development Director Joe Tuss, Montgomery County

Commissioner Vicky Pegg, Montgomery County Administrator Deb

Feldman, Dayton Chamber of Commerce President Phil Parker,

Fifth-Third Bank President Dan Sadlier, and Downtown Dayton

Partnership President Maureen Pero, tipping our ball caps to

Bob Murphy, thanking him for his accomplishment of delivering

on his promise of a stadium for the Dragons in downtown

Dayton.

I am proud of the role I played in bringing the Dayton

Dragons to our city, but even prouder of what they have meant

to our community.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforseen circumstances, I missed an important vote on H.R. 997, the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 85.

Mr. Speaker, on January 16, 2025, I was unable to vote as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 16 and YEA on Roll Call No. 17.