HONORING ROGER CARPENTER

HONORING ROGER CARPENTER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2767-H2769] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ROGER CARPENTER (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Kaptur of Ohio was recognized for 30 minutes.) Ms. KAPTUR. 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 Ms. KAPTUR. 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. {time} 1800 Honoring Louise J. Brower Ms. KAPTUR. 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 [[Page H2768]] 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 Ms. KAPTUR. 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 o