Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of my dear friend, Trumbull County, Ohio, Commissioner Paul Heltzel, 69, who passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, June 30, 2014 at his home in the company of family after a valiant and brief fight with cancer.

Paul was a deeply thoughtful, concerned, and dedicated public servant. He was one of Trumbull County's greatest assets, previously serving in various roles in the community throughout his professional career before joining the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners in 2005. Paul was a proud advocate of our veterans and worked hard to secure the Samuel E. Lanza Veterans Resource Center for our local veterans. He was the recipient of the Regional Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Political Achievement Award given to the members of the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners for outstanding political achievement. Paul was a lively and active man who enjoyed the outdoors, antique motor cars, and spending time with his family.

Preceded in death by parents, Robert E. and Mary Jane Heltzel Sr. as well as his brother Mark E. Heltzel, Paul will continue to live on through the lives he has touched. Paul is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rosemary Heltzel; his sons, Ryan, Michael, Robert, and Paul; his siblings, Robert E. Heltzel Jr., Lawrence, Carl, Mary Jo, and D. Michael; five grandchildren Rae, Desmond, Theo, Christopher, and Michael Duke as well as 12 nieces and nephews. It gives me great pride to honor the life of Paul Heltzel. I am deeply saddened and I extend my condolences to his entire family. His sound and straightforward advice will be missed by me and my entire staff. Our county is a much better place because of Paul's service. He and his contributions to our community will never be forgotten.

I thank the gentleman. I probably won't take all the time, but I did want to stand up in support of this piece of legislation.

Mr. Chair, in my district in eastern Ohio, we have been--and I have heard speaker after speaker talk about the potential boom for our country and different regions of America. And my region that I represent is one of those areas along eastern Ohio.

I think if we are looking to address many of the issues of global warming, and I know there would be a lot of different discussions and opinions that I may have compared to a lot of people on the other side, but I believe that this is an opportunity for us to address that issue with liquid natural gas, to get it out into the marketplace, to make sure that the economic benefits are here in the United States, that our people in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, into New York and the upstate New York area are able to benefit from this. FERC is going to have to approve these ultimately, at the end of the day, and so I don't think that we can pass up this opportunity to have a transition.

Now, I think, quite frankly, we missed the boat a few years ago when we had an opportunity to pass a comprehensive energy bill that would invest into--in the bill that came before this House, money into coal research was an opportunity that I think we missed.

There was an opportunity for wind and solar and the alternatives that I think, ultimately, will be a part of an extended portfolio here in the United States. But today, the opportunity is with liquid natural gas and getting it abroad.

In one of my positions on the German Study Group, we were in Germany talking to Chancellor Merkel, and the first thing she said to us, as our delegation was over there, was let's talk about natural gas, the first thing, because she had Putin at that time, a year, year and a half ago, breathing down her neck, and now here we are. So I think there is an opportunity here. This is one step in a long process.

I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership and hope we can continue to build out this energy portfolio with natural gas and the others that will come along the way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the exemplary life of Antonette ``Toni'' Landolfi, 85, of Niles, who passed away peacefully earlier this year with her son and daughter by her side.

She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, a founder of the Tri-County Association of Nursing Home Social Workers, past President of the American Committee on Italian Migration, and an active member of the local Democratic Party, among many other community organizations.

Toni was honored numerous times for her outstanding service, including her work with the Diocese of Youngstown. For her work in Democratic politics she received the Joseph A. Marino Democrat of the Year Award. She was recognized for her community activism by the Ohio House of Representatives for her dedication to Shepherd of the Valley and she received the Carmen DeChristofaro Service Award for all she did to better the lives of the people of Niles.

Toni enjoyed entertaining and hosting gatherings at her home and backyard pool where she took great pleasure in feeding and serving all who visited.

Preceded in death by her husband Gregory A. Landolfi, Toni will be deeply missed by her daughter Jennie Louise Landolfi of Niles, her son Attorney John Louis Landolfi, his wife Christina and her three grandsons, Johnny, Dante and Marco Landolfi of Columbus, her siblings Pete Cervone of Austintown, Pat Bonanno and Rose (Dominic) Sarno of Niles, her sisters-in-law Rose Raschilla of Youngstown and Mary Jane (Jim) Botsko of Gallatin, TN, many nieces and nephews and her beloved neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor the life of Toni Landolfi. I will always remember the tremendous support she provided to me throughout my career. She had class and lived with a deep and abiding faith and an amazing Grace. I extend my most sincere condolences to Toni's entire family. Her contributions to this community will not be forgotten. Northeast Ohio is a better place because of her service and her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and exemplary life of Mr. Albert Covelli who passed away at 94-years-old at his home in Florida.

Mr. Covelli was a pillar in our community. He was a giant in the city of Warren, Ohio, and a great and generous benefactor of John F. Kennedy High School and his beloved church, Blessed Sacrament Parish. Mr. Covelli was involved in many other worthy endeavors known by few and for which he sought no credit.

Albert proudly served his nation during World War II and was decorated as a lieutenant. Mr. Covelli was the founder of Covelli Enterprises the nation's largest franchisee of Panera Bread and the 4th largest restaurant franchisee in the country. Before his acquisition of Panera franchises Covelli Enterprises had been the largest franchisee of McDonald's restaurants in the nation.

A dedicated philanthropist, Albert donated millions of dollars over the years to hundreds of charitable organizations. Albert helped organize the Ronald McDonald house and he was our community's largest local sponsor of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots. He served on numerous boards of banks, hospitals, universities, and nonprofit organizations.

Albert lived the American dream and is a reminder that one man can make a difference. He started his business from scratch and built an empire. He is a magnificent example to the rest of us that hard work and determination can change a community for the better.

Albert is survived by his wife Josephine, his daughter, Annette Ford, his son, Sam Covelli, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. It gives me great pride to honor the life of Albert Covelli. I extend my most sincere condolences to Albert's entire family. His contributions to our community will not be forgotten. Northeast Ohio is a better place because of his service, his dedication, and his life.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Air Force Space Command for establishing the new Hobson Cyberspace Communications Complex at the Springfield, Ohio, Air National Guard Base in honor of former U.S. Representative David Hobson.

The new facility--which houses the Ohio Air National Guard's 251st Cyber Engineering Installation Group and 269th Combat Communications Squadron--consists of nearly 32,000 square feet of administration and training space, with an additional 15,700 square feet of supply and warehouse space for 38 full-time personnel and 174 traditional guard members.

The complex is critical to Air Force Space Command's federal mission and the Ohio National Guard's homeland security and peacetime missions supporting local, state and national response operations such as cyberspace and communications infrastructure activities, civil disturbances or natural disaster response. The advanced technological features of the complex will significantly increase the units' capacity to support critical missions for command and control of cyberspace defense missions.

As an Ohio Air National Guard veteran, former Representative Hobson learned firsthand just how much service members and their families sacrifice to serve their country. During his 18 years in Congress, Representative Hobson successfully obtained federal funding for military projects that have improved the lives and working conditions for National Guard members at home and overseas.

Mr. Speaker, it was my honor and privilege to serve alongside of Representative Hobson in the House and on the Appropriations Committee during his service. I believe that it is fitting and proper that this facility be named in his honor.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor my good friend, Nancy Canavan Heslop. Her work chronicling the amazing story of her father, Naval and Marine corps aviator Colonel Desmond (``Des'') E. Canavan, and his work with test piloting the remarkable military cargo aircraft, the Budd RB-1 Conestoga has been nothing short of incredible. One of her articles was recently published in American Aviation Historical Society Journal, under the title ``A Story of the Budd RB-1 Conestoga.''

Nancy's father, Colonel Canavan was a test pilot for many years, and also showed unparalleled courage while serving his country as a pilot during the Second World War. He was the first Marine Corps pilot to fly both America's first helicopter (Sikorsky HNS-1, BuNo 39034, March 30, 1944, and solo in BuNo 39046, November 2, 1944) and jet (Bell YP-59-A, BuNo 10002, July 18, 1944). He was stationed at the testing facility at NAS Patuxent River, MD, where he served as the test pilot for the Budd

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the career of Dr. Luis Proenza, who dedicated his extraordinary abilities to education and public service. Upon his retirement as the President of The University of Akron, his tremendous leadership as President will be greatly missed.

Dr. Proenza's career in education started long before his time as University President in Akron, Ohio. After graduating with a Ph.D. in 1971 from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Proenza joined the faculty of the University of Georgia as a professor, where he gained prominence as a researcher in retinal neurophysiology, eventually being named to the National Research Council-National Academy of Science's Committee on Vision. In 2001, President George W. Bush named Dr. Proenza to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, our nation's highest-level policy advisory group for science and technology.

During his record setting 15-year tenure as a University President in Ohio, Dr. Proenza's creative leadership helped develop The University of Akron into a powerful economic engine for regional development. Acting as a catalyst for collaborative community initiatives and partnerships throughout his tenure, Dr. Proenza helped further solidify The University of Akron as Northeast Ohio's preeminent public university.

Under his leadership The University of Akron's research portfolio has doubled in size, a fifty-block area surrounding the campus has been revitalized, and the Austen Bio-Innovation Institute has been established. Also under his direction a partnership with three local hospitals and a medical school has emerged to help establish Akron as one of the country's leading centers for biomaterials and biomedicine.

I would like to thank Dr. Proenza for the fifteen years he has dedicated to our community and the University of Akron. I would also like to thank him for his spirit of progress, education, and collaboration that has since fostered a movement among other Ohioans.

Dr. Proenza will become President Emeritus of the University, continue his current tenured professorship in biology, and will be named University Professor in the Office of Academic Affairs following a sabbatical leave.

Hopefully he and his wife Theresa Butler can spend a lot more time on their 44-foot sailboat Apogee, which they designed together and plan to sail on Lake Erie.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of an exemplary public servant, Joe Cappuzzello from Girard, Ohio. After 39 years working in the school system, Mr. Cappuzzello will be retiring from Girard High School as athletic director.

Under his guidance as assistant Athletic Director, Girard won the 1992-93 state Division II boys' basketball championship. Joe later became Girard High School's first full-time athletic director.

A Girard native, Joe is truly a leader in our community and has proven this by his dedication to educational values. Joe has advocated the importance of balancing athletics and education in schools today and has personally worked toward achieving this objective through his work as Athletic Director and teacher at Girard High School.

I want to extend my warm and sincere thanks to Joe Cappuzzello for his lifelong devotion to educating and coaching students in Trumbull County. I would like to wish him congratulations on all he has accomplished and all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the exemplary life and service of John Benincasa. John sadly passed away on April 6, 2014 at the age of 87.

Affectionately known as ``Mr. Alliance'' to those in his community, John was an extraordinary civil servant and veteran who served as president of the Alliance City Council and dedicated himself to the people of Stark County. On the day of his passing, John was in his 11th consecutive term as City Council president.

After graduating from Mount Union College, John worked as vice president and general manager of Da-Tronics Inc. He later became the City of Alliance Safety Service Director for much of the 1980s under then Mayor Francis Carr.

John was an active volunteer for his community, including 12 years on the Alliance Park board. John also spent 13 years in the Alliance Jaycees as a Board Member, where he helped organize and manage the Carnation City Triathlon/Duathlon for 25 years. John was also an active member of the United Methodist Church and the Alliance Area Family

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Bob Casale, who passed away on February 17, 2014, at the age of sixty-one. Bob was raised in Akron, Ohio. He led an exemplary life while in pursuit of his dream of writing, producing, and performing music. Bob helped create a body of work with his band Devo that put the ``new'' in new wave music. He ultimately changed the way a lot of people viewed both music and culture at the time.

As one of the original members of the band Devo, Bob came of age in the middle of a huge cultural war in Akron, Ohio. There, Bob and his fellow band members Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, Alan Myers, and his brother Gerald Casale were inspired to form Devo after witnessing the Kent State massacre in 1970.

In remembrance of his late brother, Gerald stated that, ``as an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got.''

In more recent years, Devo actively toured around the country and performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. ``He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again,'' stated Gerald. ``His sudden death from conditions that led to heart failure came as a total shock to us all.''

In addition to performing with Devo, Bob Casale worked for twenty years at Mutato creating and developing the sounds on various films and television shows. Prior to Bob's passing, he and his brother Gerald were working on what Gerald calls a ``Devo online school.'' The trade school project would teach participants how to write music with digital tools or how to score a commercial. The school would be taught by professionals who work in the field and have a track record of success, including former band member Mark Mothersbaugh. Though Bob is no longer around to see the project through, his family and friends will continue to spearhead the project in his name.

Bob Casale was an extraordinary man with a great set of values who will live on in the hearts and minds of his friends, family, and fans. Bob is survived by his son Alex, his daughter Samantha, and his wife, Lisa. His long and productive life set an example to all of us and all who knew him. Bob's memory will continue to live on through the revolutionary music he left behind. Whip it!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Jeannette M. Fortunato, who passed away on January 24, 2014, at the tender age of eighty. Jeannette was born on May 12, 1933, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Steve and Edith Glazzy. Jeanette enjoyed cooking and bird watching, but most of all, she loved the time she spent with her family.

Jeannette led an exemplary life of service and dedication. She was a member of New Life Lutheran Church in Liberty, where she taught as a Sunday School Teacher and later joined Zion Lutheran Church. Not only did Jeannette touch the lives of those in the church community, she was incredibly loved by her family and friends.

Jeannette has joined her loving parents, Steve and Edith. She will be missed by a countless number of people in the community, and most of all by her husband of 58 years, Louis Fortunato, Jr., her children, Louis Fortunato III, David Fortunato and Lee Ann Fortunato-Heltzel, her grandchildren, Lynn, Rich, Nick, Chris, and Danielle, her great- grandson, Landon, her sister, Betty Schumacher, and her brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Dorothy Glazzy.

Jeannette was an extraordinary woman, and will live on in the hearts and minds of those she has touched. The state of Ohio lost an outstanding citizen and her community will miss her dearly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life of Margaret E. Peace, of Newton Falls, Ohio, who passed on February 13, 2014. Margaret was born on March 13, 1921 in Greenwood, South Carolina, to Clarence and Lillian McCuen Elledge. On December 5, 1938 she married the love of her life Mr. James Peace and the two were happily married for 74 years before James' tragic passing in June of 2013.

While living in South Carolina, Margaret worked in a cotton mill. Upon moving to Newton Falls, Ohio she began working as a waitress at the Superquick restaurant, and soon became an active member of the Newton Falls First Church of God. Throughout her sixty years of attendance, she was heavily active with singing in the choir, serving as Sunday School teacher, serving as an assistant with the Brownie and Girl Scout groups, sitting member on the church council, an active member on the Women's Missionary Society Board, and she also diligently served as the nursing director for over 45 years.

Not only did Margaret touch the lives of those in the church community, she was incredibly loved by her extensive network of family and friends. She collected hundreds of cookbooks over the course of her life, loved reading her Bible, and found happiness in her flower garden.

Margaret has joined her loving parents, Clarence and Lillian, her tender husband James, her son Freddie, her sister Martha and brother Bill. She will be missed by a countless number of people in the community, and most of all by her two sons, James and Eddie Peace, her daughter Linda Hospodor, her daughter-in-law Kay Peace, and her brother Frank Elledge. Margaret will also be fondly remembered by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Margaret was an extraordinary woman, and she will live on in the hearts and minds of those she has touched. It was an honor to work with her in my district, and I will never forget her boundless kindness and enduring commitment to her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph Capobianco, who passed on Wednesday, January 29th in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 67. Joseph was a dear friend of mine, and I am grateful for his support over the years.

Joseph was born in Gaeta, Italy to his loving parents, the late Luigi and Antonetta Capobianco. He spent his childhood in Italy but immigrated to Boston at the age of 10 to begin a new life in the United States.

Joseph dedicated much of his time to St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, which he served proudly for many years. During his service he was significantly involved in Cum Christo, the Lay Catholic Renewal Movement, and also spent time performing prison ministry. In addition to serving his church, Joseph found great joy in playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed travelling with his loving wife Linda, particularly back to Italy.

Joseph will be dearly missed by Linda; his son, Louis; his grandchildren, Maggie, Joseph and Lily; his sisters, Alesandra DiCecca and Erasma Simeone; his brother, Cosmo, and a number of nieces and nephews. Joseph's passing will be felt by the greater community, as he touched the lives of everyone around him. I am proud to have known such a philanthropic and compassionate Ohioan.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman from Texas for his kind words as well.

Madam Speaker, from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 6, verse 8:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And I said, Here I am. Send me.

Nate said, Send me, when his country asked and he was looking for a way to serve. He joined the Marine Corps.

Lance Corporal Deyarmin was born on July 30, 1983. He was named after his father, but they started calling him ``Nate.'' They moved to Tallmadge, in our congressional district, when he was 1\1/2\ years old. He lived there his whole life. His family said he was a homeboy from Tallmadge. Nate went to school there and played sports there. He lived there and he made friends there.

Nate joined the Marine Corps as his way of serving, but when you read about his life, the interesting thing--and what we are celebrating here--is

that he said, Send me, from the very early stages of his life here on Earth.

When his great grandfather was 89 years old and bedridden, it was little Nate that jumped into the bed and started playing Legos to engage his great grandfather to make him feel better. They had this little game they would play where his grandfather would move his false teeth in and out of his mouth and little Nate would try and grab the teeth. A few years later, when the great grandfather died, Nate had an opportunity to pick whatever he wanted of his great grandfather's--and he picked the false teeth.

I think that is the kind of spirit that Nate brought to his family, friends, the Marine Corps, and to our country.

While driving down the road on his way to school, if there happened to be someone walking to school who didn't have a driver's license, Nate was the kind of guy that stopped and picked that person up and took them to school.

Nate said: Send me.

If someone was bullying someone at school and Nate was there, Nate was the guy who got in the middle of it and made sure that no one was bullied. He said: Send me.

If a family was having trouble, Nate would stop by the house, make sure everything was going okay. Nate said: Send me.

So now, those of us who drive by this post office in Tallmadge, Ohio, we will look up, we will see Nate's name, and we will not only remember his name or his service, but how his life challenges all of us in some way, shape, or form, in every little interaction, to say and answer the call when we are asked: Send me.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues and people all over the world in recognizing the tragedy which occurred on February 26, 1992 in the small Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. The attack resulted in the deaths of 613 Azerbaijani civilians and is one of the most devastating acts of violence in the South Caucasus in recent history. According to some accounts, the fate of 150 Khojaly inhabitants is still unknown, even after twenty-one years.

The numerous casualties in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscore the need for a political-rather than a military-solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A fair and comprehensive settlement is the most effective tool to encourage stability, prosperity, and a lasting peace in the region. As co-chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to working with both sides to that end. With that goal in mind, we remember and mourn the 613 victims of Khojaly and work together to safeguard the human rights of all.