[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 85 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TALLMADGE BLUE DEVILS WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Sykes) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Tallmadge 
Blue Devils coed wheelchair basketball team as Ohio's 13th District 
Champions of the Week.
  The Wheelchair Blue Devils recently won the Ohio Interscholastic 
Wheelchair Basketball State Championship title, defeating the 
previously unbeaten and top-ranked Austintown Falcons.
  During this championship game, freshman Ta'Shaun Meyers scored 16 
points to help lead the Wheelchair Blue Devils to a well-deserved 
victory. The win capped off an impressive 15-2 season for the 
Wheelchair Blue Devils.
  In addition to the hard work and determination of these outstanding 
student athletes, I also recognize Head Coach Monica Currey and 
Assistant Coach Greg Michalec for guiding and supporting the team 
throughout this impressive season.
  In all, the success of the Blue Devils wheelchair basketball team, 
both on and off the court, has made our community very proud, and I am 
confident that the team will continue their dominance next season.
  Once again, I congratulate the Blue Devils wheelchair basketball team 
for their incredible season and for being named Champions of the Week.


                      Congratulating Lulu Emanuele

  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Lulu Emanuele as 
last week's 13th Congressional District of Ohio Champion of the Week.
  Lulu is a sophomore from Firestone Community Learning Center in 
Akron, and she is my district's first-place winner for this year's 
Congressional Art Competition.
  I had the opportunity to view Lulu's winning piece at the community 
art show hosted at the Summit Artspace in Akron, and I can truly say 
that her piece titled ``Neon Dreams'' is captivating. As you can see, 
Lulu uses bold, dramatic neon colors that immediately catch your eye 
and show off her impressive technical expertise.
  As the winner of our district's Congressional Art Competition, her 
work will proudly be displayed on the walls of the United States 
Capitol, where visitors from across the country and the world can see 
our community's artistic talent and creative abilities.
  I personally can't wait to see her piece each time we walk past the 
Congressional Art Competition on our way to the House floor.
  In addition to recognizing Lulu's exceptional artistic talent, I also 
thank her teachers and her family for supporting her in her endeavors.
  I also recognize all the students who participated in the 
Congressional Art Competition because they all made this year's art 
challenge especially fantastic, and we are very proud of them, as well.
  Again, I congratulate Lulu on being the winner of Ohio's 13th 
District Art Competition and the Champion of the Week.


         Supporting Law Enforcement During National Police Week

  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, this is National Police Week, and I rise to 
recognize the courage and dedication of police officers in Ohio's 13th 
Congressional District and honor those who have lost their lives while 
serving our communities.
  Being a police officer is already a tough and dangerous job. However, 
in recent years, staff shortages have made this job even more 
difficult. As I have talked to law enforcement agencies across Ohio's 
13th District, the number one thing I continue to hear is that they are 
having a hard time keeping and retaining officers.
  Our police officers are constantly overworked, overburdened, and 
tired, and this constant strain on law enforcement agencies simply does 
not create an environment where police officers can perform to the best 
of their abilities to keep our communities safe.
  That is why I joined several members of the Ohio delegation to 
introduce the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law 
Enforcement Act. This bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation 
would expand the current COPS Hiring Program to allow local law 
enforcement agencies to utilize these grants for recruitment and 
retention bonuses and also modify the program to reduce costs and 
administrative burdens associated with the annual applications.
  Giving law enforcement agencies the resources they need to provide 
recruitment and retention bonuses will ensure these departments can 
hire the best and most qualified and responsible officers to protect 
our communities.
  In all, this bipartisan legislation will simultaneously improve our 
safety and the safety of our communities and increase the trust between 
police officers and the people they have sworn to protect and serve.
  When I came to Congress, I promised I would put the people of Ohio's 
13th Congressional District first, and that is exactly what I have 
continued to do. I will keep working with anyone from anywhere on real 
solutions, just like my enhancing COPS grant legislation that will 
provide our law enforcement with the resources they need to keep our 
communities safe.

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