Timothy M. Kennedy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Michael Glavey, who tragically passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 55. September 16 would have been Mike's 56th birthday.

Mike was born and raised in south Buffalo by Kathy and the late Jack Glavey and grew up alongside his twin sister, Maureen, and their siblings, Karen, Kathleen, and John. Their childhood was filled with endless days playing outside with friends, family, camping trips, and plenty of shenanigans.

Mike's early years instilled in him the values that he carried forward throughout his life: a deep appreciation for friendship, family, and hard work. Much of what Mike learned came from watching his father, Jack, working as his apprentice and seeing firsthand the pride that comes from a job well done.

The boy who built forts and rebuilt bikes on Britt Avenue grew up to be an expert craftsman who made carpentry his career, joining the Carpenters Union Local 276. For more than 25 years, Mike served as the carpenter foreman at the University at Buffalo, where he oversaw construction sites big and small, taking enormous pride in his work. Like any good carpenter, Mike lived by the creed: Measure twice, cut once.

Mike ran point on just about every construction project in the Glavey family. His legacy lives on in the spaces he built for those he loved, leaving his mark in a very literal manner.

He helped turn every vision his sisters, Karen, Kathleen, and Maureen, had into brick-and-mortar home-improvement projects. He argued with his brother, John, on how to properly hang drywall as they worked long hours together turning an old grocery store into a neighborhood restaurant. Most importantly, he was his mother's first phone call when something around his childhood home needed his trusted expertise.

Wherever and whenever someone needed him, Mike was there. That same instinct to show up for others shaped the family he built with his wife Jennifer. They married in 1998 and together raised their children, Mikey and Allie. Mikey and Allie were his pride and joy.

Mikey was his sidekick. Mike took him everywhere. He taught him, guided him, and found tremendous joy in every adventure they shared in Jack Glavey's classic blue convertible.

Mike adored Allie. He was immensely proud of her accomplishments as a young architect, her world travels, and her willingness to take on new challenges. Mike was her biggest supporter and relished their debates over architecture versus carpentry.

He was also the loving uncle to several nieces and nephews, each of whom will forever remember the infectious laugh and warm embrace of their beloved Uncle Mike.

Mike Glavey embodied the very best of who we aspire to be. He was a man of character, a dependable friend, and an extraordinarily devoted father.

To Mikey, Allie, Jennifer, Kathy, and the entire Glavey family, our community and our Nation mourn with you. May Michael Glavey rest in peace.

Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Western New York Area Labor Federation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Western New York Area Labor Federation.

For 25 years, the WNYALF has fought to ensure working people in our community have a strong voice to secure higher wages, safer workplaces, better benefits, and greater economic stability for themselves and their families.

The Buffalo-Niagara region was built by labor unions. They built our factories, our roads, our schools, our neighborhoods, and the communities that we call home.

I want to recognize my dear friend, the president of the WNYALF, Denise Abbott, and the countless union members, organizers, stewards, and leaders who have carried this movement forward. Under Denise's leadership, the WNYALF continues the essential work of bringing fairness and dignity to the workplace and putting more money into the pockets of working families.

The future of western New York will be built by working people, and we will always fight to ensure that organized labor is the defining force in building that future.

I congratulate the Western New York Area Labor Federation on one- quarter century of solidarity, service, and strength. Here is to the next 25 years and many, many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Michael Glavey, who tragically passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 55. September 16 would have been Mike's 56th birthday.

Mike was born and raised in south Buffalo by Kathy and the late Jack Glavey and grew up alongside his twin sister, Maureen, and their siblings, Karen, Kathleen, and John. Their childhood was filled with endless days playing outside with friends, family, camping trips, and plenty of shenanigans.

Mike's early years instilled in him the values that he carried forward throughout his life: a deep appreciation for friendship, family, and hard work. Much of what Mike learned came from watching his father, Jack, working as his apprentice and seeing firsthand the pride that comes from a job well done.

The boy who built forts and rebuilt bikes on Britt Avenue grew up to be an expert craftsman who made carpentry his career, joining the Carpenters Union Local 276. For more than 25 years, Mike served as the carpenter foreman at the University at Buffalo, where he oversaw construction sites big and small, taking enormous pride in his work. Like any good carpenter, Mike lived by the creed: Measure twice, cut once.

Mike ran point on just about every construction project in the Glavey family. His legacy lives on in the spaces he built for those he loved, leaving his mark in a very literal manner.

He helped turn every vision his sisters, Karen, Kathleen, and Maureen, had into brick-and-mortar home-improvement projects. He argued with his brother, John, on how to properly hang drywall as they worked long hours together turning an old grocery store into a neighborhood restaurant. Most importantly, he was his mother's first phone call when something around his childhood home needed his trusted expertise.

Wherever and whenever someone needed him, Mike was there. That same instinct to show up for others shaped the family he built with his wife Jennifer. They married in 1998 and together raised their children, Mikey and Allie. Mikey and Allie were his pride and joy.

Mikey was his sidekick. Mike took him everywhere. He taught him, guided him, and found tremendous joy in every adventure they shared in Jack Glavey's classic blue convertible.

Mike adored Allie. He was immensely proud of her accomplishments as a young architect, her world travels, and her willingness to take on new challenges. Mike was her biggest supporter and relished their debates over architecture versus carpentry.

He was also the loving uncle to several nieces and nephews, each of whom will forever remember the infectious laugh and warm embrace of their beloved Uncle Mike.

Mike Glavey embodied the very best of who we aspire to be. He was a man of character, a dependable friend, and an extraordinarily devoted father.

To Mikey, Allie, Jennifer, Kathy, and the entire Glavey family, our community and our Nation mourn with you. May Michael Glavey rest in peace.

Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Western New York Area Labor Federation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Western New York Area Labor Federation.

For 25 years, the WNYALF has fought to ensure working people in our community have a strong voice to secure higher wages, safer workplaces, better benefits, and greater economic stability for themselves and their families.

The Buffalo-Niagara region was built by labor unions. They built our factories, our roads, our schools, our neighborhoods, and the communities that we call home.

I want to recognize my dear friend, the president of the WNYALF, Denise Abbott, and the countless union members, organizers, stewards, and leaders who have carried this movement forward. Under Denise's leadership, the WNYALF continues the essential work of bringing fairness and dignity to the workplace and putting more money into the pockets of working families.

The future of western New York will be built by working people, and we will always fight to ensure that organized labor is the defining force in building that future.

I congratulate the Western New York Area Labor Federation on one- quarter century of solidarity, service, and strength. Here is to the next 25 years and many, many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn President Trump's illogical trade war with Canada and juvenile executive order to rename Lake Ontario.

Since the White House can't figure out how to lower costs for American families or reach a trade deal with our closest ally, it is resorting to meaningless distractions, like renaming a Great Lake.

While my Democratic colleagues and I have introduced legislation to stop this nonsense, we are focused on the issues that actually matter: ending the affordability crisis fueled by Trump's erratic tariffs and reckless policies and stopping the most corrupt administration in American history.

Whether it is his endless war in Iran, gutting healthcare and nutritional assistance for millions of Americans, or a trade war with Canada, each manufactured crisis created by Trump shows just how self- interested, incompetent, and careless he truly is.

From communities like mine across the northern border, where ties to our Canadian neighbors run deep, through the interior and every other part of our great country, people simply cannot afford the increased costs of goods because of these tariffs.

In western New York, family members cross the border to visit one another, and businesses rely on efficient cross-border commerce. Our restaurants, hotels, shops, and attractions depend on Canadian visitors. This relationship grows jobs and strengthens our economy.

Right now, Canadians are making a decision not to visit or do business with our country, creating economic instability at a time when Americans are already stretched too thin.

People can't afford to put food on the table because grocery costs are too high. They are having trouble paying their utility bills to keep the lights on. The cost of gas is skyrocketing, and healthcare costs are through the roof.

At the same time, people are worried whether or not they are going to have a job in the morning.

Trump's continued chaos is making it harder for families to plan, businesses to invest, workers to save, and communities to grow. Americans are bearing the consequences of this economic ambush as Trump's failed policies make life more expensive and less secure for working families across our Nation.

These tariffs are nothing more than a Trump tax, and American families are paying the price everywhere. Instead of creating jobs, growing wages, and giving working people a fair shot, this administration has pursued policies that make it harder for our families to get ahead. Americans deserve better than a President who embarrasses us on the world stage and the Republicans in Congress who rubberstamp his inflationary policies.

When voters put Democrats back into the majority this November, we will overturn these failed GOP policies, lower costs, end corruption, and restore the promise of the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, let's stop Trump's tax, end these tariffs, and make life more affordable for the American people.