Applauding President Zelenskyy's Address in Davos

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, please allow me to begin by applauding President Zelenskyy of Ukraine on his exceptional and historic remarks in Davos, Switzerland, earlier today.

I heard an astoundingly unapologetic plea by a new world leader whose remarks resounded across our globe as he championed the cause of liberty in our modern era.

Despite his own nation being bordered by tyranny, on almost all sides, rooted in Russia and all of its repressed client states, he raised his valiant voice strong and clear before the free world's leaders.

They all know that today's spider web of tyranny is spinning and stretching its ugly net from Russia to Brazil, India, North Korea, and South Africa, seeking a global necklace of repression and domination.

Yet, at Davos today stood the unvanquished, courageous leader of the poorest and most embattled nation in Europe. On behalf of his valorous people, he delivered his eloquent plea.

Bravo, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. You singlehandedly challenged the scions of the global order. Your firm supplication and urgent request for liberty were extraordinary, rising far above global niceties.

You delivered the raw choice, as our own Nation's Founders did: Liberty or tyranny?

Your clear invitation for these leaders to choose forward hangs in the balance, and your plea is historic, passionate, soulful, inspiring not just world leaders but people everywhere as they weigh recalibrating the dial for liberty.

It is your voice that history will remember, rising to energize our world forward from inside the grim, fierce cauldron of struggle that is Ukraine.

For any freedom lover to miss your message would be a tragedy, for if your words, coupled with the ongoing martyrdom of your people, do not give rise to crescendos of applause and recommitment, then will liberty cede its worth to dictators, charlatans, plunderers, and fools?

Your call is to bold leadership from a new generation of freedom lovers. Let us all rise to answer that call. Freedom means never surrender.

Bravo, Ukraine. Bravo, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. You inspired freedom lovers across our globe. JD Vance Visits Toledo

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, on another front, today, Vice President JD Vance traveled to Toledo, Ohio. He came to talk about the Trump administration's so-called record to bring jobs and help grow manufacturing in our region.

This came as quite a surprise to me. Indeed, his words were empty because his administration's reckless tariffs and disastrous trade wars have increased manufacturing job losses not just in our region of Ohio but across our Nation.

The Wall Street Journal documents that, over the last year, manufacturing unemployment has risen in our country by 68,000 more unemployed workers. You can't Make America Great Again unless you restore American manufacturing on our home soil.

The Trump administration's reckless tariffs and disastrous trade wars are straining the pocketbooks of our workers, farmers, and consumers. Prices keep rising for everything--food, housing, utility bills, lumber, and cars. This is true across the entirety of our northwest Ohio region, in both urban and rural communities.

Vice President Vance says he is now interested in lowering drug prices, but his party consistently voted against those efforts, which were championed under a prior Democratic administration. I know because I voted to help cap insulin costs at $35 a month for seniors on Medicare. I voted for prescription drug negotiations that are saving seniors thousands of dollars as we speak here tonight.

Unsurprisingly, the Vice President avoided discussing the awful, unwise decisions by his administration to rip away almost $150 million from the city that he was in by taking away $45 million from the Libbey Glass Company to purchase two new glass furnaces that were to compete against Chinese, Mexican, and French producers. We are known as The Glass City. He took it away. He didn't bring us anything; he took it away. The money evaporated. Even though Congress had passed it--it had all been vetted and everything--they took it away. That hurts a manufacturing company which is a lodestar company in our community.

Then, his administration canceled--are you ready for this?--$57 million more for another manufacturing company, Owens-Illinois, which competes globally.

Then, if that wasn't enough, they canceled over $16 million for our local Kraft Heinz facility in the agricultural sector to compete against foreign products.

Another $28.5 million was taken away from our region via rescissions over the summer for major repair work in the heart of our city on Front and Main Street, on the side of the river that he traveled to. The streets he rode over should have been repaved, but they took away the money. He didn't mention them because he helped cancel them.

That is over $146 million that would have helped to invest in new possibilities to modernize our entire region. Those investments were critical to American manufacturing, with new-age furnaces and technology, not only to compete with foreign glass producers but also to help reduce emissions here at home for the people who work in those plants and to make work safer for our workers. How would you like to sit in front of a 98-degree furnace all day long?

Now, the administration has announced plans to eliminate $14.6 million in Ohio from the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which has launched dozens of small and midsized regional food businesses driven by the creativity of our people. The U.S. Department of Commerce used to care about those businesses, the small, creative new launches, like Willy's Fresh Salsa, which just got into Winn-Dixie. That was invented by a gentleman who came from Toledo. There is also Gertie's Premium BBQ Sauce. That is a product on our shelves created through that program to create wealth, opportunities, and jobs.

So many more, dozens and dozens of these companies, have been created, and jobs. Why destroy something that is working? Can somebody tell me how else do we sprout and grow our local economies?

I thought when the Vice President said he was coming to Toledo, he might help announce the $20 million in Department of Transportation RAISE funds, which had been awarded to improve connectivity in Toledo's heart, in our Junction neighborhood, in the downtown, in the heart of our city on both sides of our Grand Maumee River, but that announcement never came.

If this administration really wants to help Toledo, they better stop driving backward. Mr. Vice President, can you please bring our check which the administration owes us?

All of these awards were passed by Congress, authorized, appropriated, and signed into law. Our community should never be shortchanged. Our taxpayers send their dollars here. They have a right to get them back. Our people work too hard for a living. We need to respect them, and we need to build our communities forward, not backward. Year-round E-15

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I now turn to a very important issue that arose today because of something that happened with Speaker Johnson.

America's farmers are hurting. They need every bit of help Congress can deliver. So do truckers and working families paying more for groceries and at the pump just to haul goods, get to work, and move around their communities. Prices are going up, not just in America's heartland, but across our great country.

Republican leadership today had a chance to authorize year-round E15, a commonsense blend of ethanol and gasoline, but guess what. They walked away from it again.

Instead, and I can tell you this for the farmers I represent, half their income comes from raising grains that go into fuels. Without that market, they wouldn't exist.

This is serious business for agricultural America, and instead, Speaker Johnson has set up another delay, a council set to report back within another month on next steps.

Next steps on what? We want to make E15 year-round. That is not too complicated. That may sound like progress with another task force, but we don't really need it.

Farmers want E15 year-round. They can't keep punting our farmers up field. The time to act is now. The solution is within their hands. Why did they delay?

Let's hope this process the Speaker has now set up for another month or 6 weeks is not just another fig leaf for more delay. Year-round E15 sales protect our small refineries, too.

Can Congress achieve this so-called compromise? Ohio farmers and refiners are already hurting. Let's stand up for biofuels and for our farmers. Surely, the hardworking farmers across all of the counties I represent would benefit.

What America makes and grows, makes and grows America. Let me just say to the Speaker, ``please, shake a leg.'' Honoring Steven D. Fought

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I will move on now to remember someone that was an extraordinary American.

It is my great privilege, Mr. Speaker, to offer deepest gratitude on behalf of Ohioans and Americans as we recognize the life of an honored and indefatigable public servant in the truest sense.

Steven D. Fought was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, on June 2, 1954, and passed recently at 71 years young. He passed from this life after a truly valiant final fight, on January 10, 2026, in Nebo, North Carolina, surrounded by his beloved family.

Steve was a precious and trusted friend, a brilliant adviser and public servant, incorruptible, compassionate, acerbic, and funny all at the same time, with a twinkle in his eye, you can just see it, and hearty laugh to tie it all up with a bow.

One colleague described him as the most intelligent, frustrating, hardest working, disorganized, nicest person they ever had the pleasure and honor to work with.

Steve Fought truly loved his country and the democratic process. He was always both an ardent participant and learned scholar of democracy. He floated in books. Steve was a lifelong student, earning degrees in literature, history, business administration, and law. He never stopped learning.

He loved baseball. Do not get in his way when there is a baseball around and basketball, as well. He was at one time the ``beloved Little League coach of Celina, Ohio.''

He was always reading, always learning. He could call up any fact. He conversed with the depth of knowledge which at times was actually astounding.

Steve Fought began his professional career as a newspaper reporter. He paid attention to details, and he followed that pursuit with decades in public service, first with the State of Ohio and then with the United States Congress.

He served under then-Secretary of State Sherrod Brown in Columbus, our capital, and would later serve in his office for a decade here in this House. It was during that time that alongside myself, Sherrod, and others that Steve helped lead the consequential fight against NAFTA on this very floor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was anything but free to America's workers and farmers. We all knew the harm it would do to the region we call home. It was a worthy and passionate fight then. We were proven to be right many times over since when we go to the hollowed out cities and towns of our country. I just feel so honored that he was a part of that great struggle for America's people.

Following his service with Sherrod Brown, Steve would join our office where he became a trusted adviser, serving as our legislative director for 5 years and then transitioning to communications director for nearly a decade.

Even in retirement, he continued in public service at the local level for the city of Toledo. He even ran for Congress in a long-shot bid to succeed the retiring Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Though he came up short, Steve believed that everyone deserved a choice and that no one should receive a rubber-stamped, gerrymandered seat in Congress without having to work for it.

He always fought the good fight. His favorite music was Aaron Copland's ``Fanfare for the Common Man.'' Steve loved this land and worked to preserve its future. This was embodied in legislation he drafted to add an international designation to the Detroit River and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuges, which border our dear neighbor to the north, Canada.

He was an avid proponent for countless species and preserving unspoiled lands. Steve helped us to cement our region as the home of the biggest week in American birding, which today attracts birders from around the globe.

To the last, he was an active participant in the American experiment. He wrote Op-Eds and organized, kept reading and studying, even through his final, difficult illnesses.

Steve Fought's life is beautifully summed up by his nephew: ``Steve was many things to many people and had a knack for somehow being everywhere all at once. In addition to being a public servant, he was a deep thinker and conversationalist, a world traveler who visited 41 different countries, a voracious reader and eternal student, a big- hearted hellion, an old hippie who loved rock and roll and bluegrass music, a Zags basketball fanatic, and a passionate champion for underdogs everywhere. But most of all, until the very end, Steve was an outspoken believer in the decency and value of common people, the collective public good, and the principles of democracy, diversity, and equality. He was loved deeply by his family, his friends, his associates from work, and will be severely missed.''

Our Nation expresses deepest gratitude for the selfless service of Steve Fought, his true friendship, his humanity, and his abiding and honorable service. We celebrate the difference he made with a lifetime of intention and of active citizenship for this beautiful land and our people.

Those who know him can rest assured they will never ever meet his likes again. May God protect him, bring him peace, and allow his spirit to soar with the eagles.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to enter this into the Record. Honoring Robert ``Rex'' Baumgartner

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Robert ``Rex'' Baumgartner, a true American hero, a man of the law. Rex embodied the very best of our Nation: honor, respect, bravery, duty, and unwavering courage.

Born in east Toledo, Rex answered the call to serve early, joining the United States Air Force and serving as an air policeman and sentry dog handler around the globe. He later dedicated over four decades to the Toledo Police Department.

His instincts, integrity, and fearless commitment to justice as a detective made our community safer and stronger. His work earned him countless honors including induction into the Birmingham Hall of Fame and the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame.

Even after retiring, he continued to serve, spending another 15 years at the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, focusing on protecting the elderly from crime. He retired at the young age of 83. He truly made a difference in a lifetime of extraordinary public service.

Yet, Rex's greatest legacy was the love he poured into his family and community. He was a mentor, a coach, a storyteller, and a steady hand. He was always present, always giving, always leading with heart.

For over 30 years, Papa Rex made Halloween camping trips legendary. From silly costumes to spooky decorations, he poured his heart into making those weekends memorable. They became traditions that his kids, grandkids, and now great-grandkids will carry on for years to come.

Beyond all the arrests, titles, and awards, Rex was wise. He told the best stories, made everyone laugh until they cried, always showed up when he was needed most, and taught everyone how to live with integrity, humor, and genuine heart.

With his beloved wife of 62 years, Linda; his children, Debbie, Patti, Robert, and Julie; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and countless other family and friends who loved him dearly, I join to celebrate a life of purpose and courage well-lived. May his example forever inspire all those who knew him.

I thank the Speaker for allowing me to enter his life into the Record. Celebrating the Life of William ``Bill'' J. Darah, Jr.

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of William ``Bill'' J. Darah, Jr., of northwest Ohio, a husband, father, grandfather, and Toledo businessman.

Bill Darah embodied the American Dream through hard work, integrity, and devotion to family. For more than four decades, this truly good man helped clothe our police officers, firefighters, workers, building Superior Uniform Sales with grit, wisdom, and a gift for bringing people together.

He was so friendly. He was a natural leader, a storyteller, and a man whose word mattered.

Bill's life was deeply rooted in faith, in heritage, and in routine, whether it was at St. Elias church, the Monday cousins' lunch he sustained for 45 years, or cheering for the Yankees, the Rockets, and the Buckeyes.

Yet, at the center of everything was his family. His pride in his family was unmistakable. They include his wife, Amira; his daughters, Natalie and Alyssa; and his grandchildren.

This week, Bill would have celebrated his 76th birthday. Today, we wish him in memoriam a happy birthday. We honor a life truly well- lived. May his memory be eternal.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to enter his story into the Record. Honoring Sydney Boisselle

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight with a heavy heart and deep gratitude to remember Sydney M. Boisselle, a young woman whose life proved that impact is not measured in years but in courage, character, and how we lift others.

Sydney shattered expectations. She became a leader in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8, a teacher in the trades, a voice for women, and a standard-bearer for excellence. She worked hard, spoke honestly, laughed loudly, and made room for others to grow. She was, as all those who loved her say, pint-sized and full of spice, unforgettable in every way.

Above all, Sydney loved fiercely: her family; her friends; her dog, Waylon; and the community she served. In her final act, she gave the gift of life itself through organ donation, offering hope to families she would never meet.

We honor the strength of her family who made this courageous decision with love and grace. Sydney's passing reminds us that even in sorrow, goodness endures. One life lived fully and generously can change the lives of many.

Sydney Boisselle was a shero to working people and to so many who came to know her. May her name be honored forever. I thank the Speaker for allowing me to enter her story into the Record. Honoring the Life of Timothy Haase

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Timothy Haase, a devoted son, brother, caregiver, and the steady heart of Dino's Family Restaurant in Maumee. I know Dino defines family not just as his family but the family he created, as he created community in Maumee and the surrounding neighborhoods.

For more than two decades, Tim showed up before dawn, fed neighbors with kindness, and reminded us that dignity lives in every service. His tragic loss on New Year's Eve has left an empty chair at the counter and a deeper ache in a community that loved him and that he helped build, a community of people.

We also honor the family that Dino's created. In a simple diner, friendships were forged, stories were shared, and strangers became regulars. A community was brought closer together.

Owner Dean Yakumithis and his team built a place where hard work mattered. Coffee stayed warm. People felt seen and appreciated. Though the doors have now closed, the spirit of that table endures in every single life that Tim touched. There were thousands.

Let us keep Tim's memory alive by caring for one another, watching out for our neighbors, and cherishing the small places that bind a town together. Every person is a part of that necklace of life in America. May his light guide us forward.

On behalf of northwest Ohio, we offer gratitude, prayers, and an enduring promise to remember.

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