[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5195-H5197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE PASSING OF SHELDON ``SHELLY'' GUREN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Kaptur) for 30 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great respect and 
admiration remembering the life and works of Sheldon ``Shelly'' Guren, 
a remarkable man whose legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of 
our northern Ohio community.
  Shelly Guren's 99 years of life were a brilliant tapestry of 
excellence and service. Using the GI Bill, he had a distinguished 
career, but that followed his work in law school at Harvard University. 
He was an esteemed leader in the Cleveland area, and his contributions 
have been extraordinary.
  He was brilliant. His investments in iconic sports franchises and his 
stewardship of the Great Lakes Towing Company demonstrate his far-
reaching impact and deep commitment to his community. Most important, 
his word was his bond.
  Beyond his professional achievements, Shelly was known for his 
integrity, generosity, and unwavering love for his family and friends. 
It was a joy to know him. When you met Shelly, Mr. Speaker, you knew 
you had met someone extraordinary. He taught Sunday school and was an 
outstanding leader in Cleveland's Jewish community.
  His passing leaves a void in the hearts of everyone who knew him, but 
his legacy of leadership and dedication will continue to inspire us 
all.
  To his beloved wife, Bonnie; his son, Michael; and his entire family, 
please accept our heartfelt condolences. Shelly's remarkable life and 
enduring accomplishments will remain a beacon of inspiration for years 
to come.
  May he rest in peace.

                         Sheldon Guren Obituary

       Sheldon ``Shelly'' Guren, 99, died Aug. 16, 2024. He was 
     born to Nate and Rose Guren on Oct. 25, 1924.
       Shelly grew up in Cleveland Heights where he excelled in 
     school and athletics. He graduated high school at age 16 and 
     went on to Western Reserve University, now Case Western 
     Reserve University in Cleveland. After World War II, he used 
     the G.I. Bill to go to Harvard Law School in Cambridge, 
     Mass.,

[[Page H5196]]

     where he met his wife Faith Golden, a student at Emerson 
     College in Boston. He and Faith started their life in 
     Cleveland when Shelly joined his uncle Henry Gottfried's law 
     firm.
       He practiced law the remainder of his life while also 
     starting a real estate investment trust, investing in several 
     businesses, teaching Sunday school and being a leader in the 
     Cleveland Jewish community.
       Shelly was intrigued by the state of Israel, with its ``can 
     do'' spirit that in some ways matched his energy and 
     optimism. He and his family spent months on a kibbutz where 
     he helped to focus some of its business practices. He 
     remained connected to that experience both emotionally and 
     philanthropically.
       He was generous, magnetic, bright and fun. He began a 
     boating life with a 34, boat at Lakeside Yacht 
     Club in Cleveland and parlayed that into a yachting life, 
     mostly in the Bahamas. He thrived on hosting his friends for 
     weekends living his dream.
       He moved to Miami in the 1970s and spent the next 45 years 
     commuting back to Cleveland to oversee The Great Lakes Towing 
     Company. He loved the opportunity to be home and spend time 
     with his best friend (his brother Homer), his sister-in-law 
     Lois and the many other friends he cherished. He loved 
     Cleveland.
       Shelly leaves behind his wife, Bonnie, and her son Michael 
     (Adrianna) Stein; children, Jon (Mary) Guren, Pam (Ron, 
     deceased) Korotky, Timmy (Michael, deceased) Burnes and Laura 
     (Sylvio) Rodriguez; grandchildren, Sara Burnes (Michael 
     Sanky), Mike (Lauren) Burnes, Leanna and Jacquie Rodriquez, 
     Cyleena Morse and Josh, Rachel, Skylar and Luna Stein; his 
     five great-grandchildren; and nephews, Marc (Aliza) Guren and 
     Clifford (Deena) Guren.


                     Toledo Polish Cultural Center

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this evening I wish to highlight the noble 
efforts of northwest Ohio's Polish Cultural Center to preserve and 
celebrate Polish-American heritage in Toledo.
  As Mr. Tom Pruss, an advisory board member, wisely observed: Every 
day that goes by, we lose more and more generations of people who know 
the reason for certain traditions and the reason why they celebrate 
their heritage.
  Family ancestry deepens the meaning of liberty itself.
  The center is working diligently to raise funds for a new building in 
east Toledo to serve as a cultural hub for the community. I know how 
hard Tom Sorosiak, a professor, has been working on that. As of July, 
members had already raised over one-half of the funds needed for the 
project, and former councilman in Toledo, Tom Waniewski, has been 
absolutely indefatigable in this quest.
  In that same spirit of honoring our Polish cultural heritage, today I 
introduced a resolution alongside my Congressional Poland Caucus co-
chairs recognizing this year's 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.
  This fierce struggle in Poland in the last century serves forever as 
a cold reminder of the savagery of Nazi and Russian attempts to 
annihilate Poland's very existence. In the end, at the cost of tens of 
thousands of lives, Poland lives.
  Let us join together from Toledo, Ohio, to the Halls of Congress to 
ensure that future generations can connect with their Polish immigrant 
roots, their struggles and triumphs over travesty, and never forget 
history. Celebrate our rich heritage at home and back in our native 
land.


                            Norfolk Southern

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
anticipated departure of Norfolk Southern Railway's chief executive 
officer, reportedly related to an alleged inappropriate relationship 
with a subordinate.
  One could ask oneself: When did he have time for all of that?
  This is just the latest evidence of poor decision making at the 
highest levels of one of our Nation's largest railroads that has a lot 
of problems that impact every community through which it travels. 
Frankly, giant railroad magnates need to be corralled in the public 
interest. Congress already knows that we cannot trust rail corporate 
leadership to exercise good judgment and take care of failing 
overpasses and underpasses in our communities. Particularly when it 
comes to rail safety, they fail.
  In October of 2022, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in my district 
in Sandusky, Ohio. That is the photo there that I am pointing to. I 
have been privileged to represent it, but over one dozen cars were left 
hanging for months over an overpass on the main entry into a town that 
gets over 5 million visitors a year, spilling paraffin wax all over the 
roadway dripping down and damaging infrastructure.
  Guess what, Mr. Speaker?
  Norfolk Southern, despite endless pleas from the local mayor and 
government officials did nothing for months. They did nothing to clean 
up the mess until 4 months after that mess happened, when a Norfolk 
Southern train that also passed through our district derailed one dozen 
cars in East Palestine, Ohio. That triggered a massive explosion and 
fire which contaminated the air, soil, and water with toxic chemicals.
  Rail safety bills were swiftly introduced in both Chambers in the 
wake of this latter disaster, but Congress has yet to pass the 
legislation.
  Where are the committees in this place?
  Are there all asleep?
  The residents of East Palestine will live with questions about the 
disaster's effects on their health for the rest of their lives.
  For their sakes and for the sake of all the communities in our Nation 
with freight rail tracks running through them, Congress must act now.
  Railroads are not getting safer on their own. According to the 
Federal Railway Administration, the latest annual rail safety data 
reflect troubling trends, including a 41.1 percent increase, a nearly 
50 percent increase in the rate for the human factor that caused 
accidents between 2013 and 2022. That is because the railroads aren't 
hiring enough people to do the job.
  It is past time for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
to mark up the bipartisan Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024 and 
for Congress to make real commitments to rail safety.
  It was only after East Palestine happened and we raised questions in 
the national press that Norfolk Southern sent two people back to the 
original site of the accident in Sandusky--two people--to begin 
cleaning up the streets and scrape up all that paraffin and try to 
prevent it from going into the city sewers and so forth.
  I think there are real problems at these railroads, and I can't 
imagine why the committees of jurisdiction are waiting so long. 
Frankly, those people in East Palestine deserve a new town. Companies 
used to build new towns for people, and that is one place in America 
that deserves it.

                              {time}  1915


        Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Supplies

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I now will turn to an important topic: 
strengthening domestic manufacturing of medical supplies. This poignant 
true story from my district illustrates the declining quality and 
access to USA-made medical supplies.
  A female patient who is a senior citizen in my district has had to 
endure a permanent ileostomy for many years. The lifesaving procedure, 
a very difficult one, requires her to use ostomy supplies daily.
  For years, she has had access to high-quality bags made of thin 
plastic material prescribed by her physician. These original bags were 
comfortable and suited to her critical medical needs.
  She reached out to me with a distressing situation. As the months of 
her dependence on these critical supplies wore on, she faced a harsh 
new reality. Her physician informed her that because the new 
manufacturers had changed the product design, high-quality bags were no 
longer available. She had to accept less, but what we found out is 
ownership of the company had changed. A private equity fund sold the 
product to an offshore foreign investor that changed the design and 
quality. Indeed, the new bags were cheapened and very harsh for a 
patient to endure.
  The new bags utilized a cheaper, thicker, and stiffer plastic. This 
design and fabric irritate the patient's skin and, at over 80 years of 
age, makes it difficult to cut each bag without causing sharp or ragged 
edges. This has led to more skin irritation, infections, bag leaks, 
burns, and skin rashes from the astringent she must use to avoid 
infection.
  What about pain to the patient? All caused by the bags' unevenly cut 
opening and poor quality that damaged her skin. Imagine the discomfort 
each day and night, dealing with the pain as these bags fail through 
daily wear.
  Unsatisfied, she went to several pharmacies to find the well-made 
original

[[Page H5197]]

thinner bags from a different manufacturer, but her insurance said no. 
Medicare said no. She could not access the bag most effective for her 
medical needs. She even wondered if they were still manufactured.
  Refusing to accept this painful decline in care, I personally 
intervened. I found the original thin, flexible bags available, but 
only online. I ordered a case for her, but this only solves the problem 
for so long. Eventually, supplies for the preferred bags will run out 
entirely, and Medicare is not paying attention.
  There are thousands and thousands of people like her across this 
country. This raises a pressing question: If these superior products 
are available online, why can't they be accessed through the insurance 
of an American?
  This woman is a Medicare recipient. It is imperative that our system 
supports her and all our seniors who need proper, safe medical care.
  This incident underscores the broader issues of our healthcare supply 
chain. We depend too heavily on foreign manufacturing where these 
medical products now come from. This exposes our citizens to 
vulnerabilities in quality and supply. This not only compromises the 
care of our citizens but also our national preparedness and health 
security.
  In Congress, I have been a staunch advocate for onshoring and 
reshoring domestic manufacturing, including that of medical products 
and pharmaceuticals. Why should our citizens be forced to accept 
inferior, foreign-made knock-offs? It is cruel and, frankly, un-
American.
  Relying on foreign sources for medical supplies is also stupid, 
dangerous, and poses a danger if supply is interrupted, as we learned 
from the pandemic. America must regain our national security by 
reducing reliance on foreign manufacturers, and we must stimulate our 
economy by creating high-skill, high-wage jobs and reliable medical 
products.
  Initiatives like those undertaken the Biomedical Advanced Research 
and Development Authority, BARDA, and the Defense Procurement Act are 
not merely temporary solutions. Overall, our Nation must launch a 
sustained effort to strengthen our domestic manufacturing capabilities.
  Congress must prioritize legislation to empower agencies like 
Medicare and private insurers to prioritize quality in their coverage 
policies. We need to ensure that no patient is forced to settle for 
inferior care due to bureaucratic oversight or inertia, supply chain 
vulnerabilities, or selfish private equity companies. Our Nation must 
reshore medical supplies.
  Statistics reveal that the use of inferior medical products 
significantly increases patients' risk of infections and complications. 
For example, studies have shown that substandard surgical supplies can 
increase infection rates by 25 percent. This is unacceptable, and I say 
to those folks over at Medicare and Medicaid: Check out ileostomy bags. 
I bet the infection rates are really high.
  As citizens become sicker--and lots more are, too--we continue to use 
inferior products. May the story I shared today serve as a 
manufacturing and medical call to action. We need a concerted effort to 
reclaim our independence in manufacturing critical health products and 
pharmaceuticals.
  America must guarantee that every American has access to the best 
quality medical supplies and medicines without exception. The 
reputation and capability of our Nation surely depend on it.


                     Complete Appropriations Bills

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, the 2025 Federal fiscal year is supposed to 
begin October 1, 2024, 20 days from today. Responsible Republicans and 
responsible Democrats are trying hard to complete the necessary 12 
fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills on time as the deadline looms.
  Our Nation needs regular order, not more delays, chaos, and goofy 
legislative tricks. Without reasonable action, uncertainty will prevail 
at the highest level of institutions on which our Nation depends for 
security and progress: Defense, Energy, Agriculture, 
Treasury, Transportation, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, Homeland 
Security, the Social Security Administration, and so many more, all 
jeopardized.

  Delay jeopardizes funding America's promises to our veterans, our 
farmers, our first responders, and our teachers as basic functions of 
our government. All will be crippled across the board.
  What hangs in the lurch is support for the American people, from kids 
in Head Start to wounded veterans trying to make appointments for their 
orthopedic exams.
  Delay here in Congress cripples our economy. More needless 
shenanigans in Congress throw a monkey wrench into every Federal 
instrumentality created to serve the people of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, let us ask certain Members of Congress who cannot 
compromise in this Nation that leads the free world: Why do you choose 
to be obstructionists? Follow the simple rules of orderly government, 
and get the appropriations bills done on time. Do your job.
  Post-COVID, our economy has been improving consistently. Interest 
rates dropped again today. Jobs are increasing. Wall Street is doing 
well. Inflation is being reduced. Debt as a share of GDP--hello--is 
shrinking.
  So why would a handful of discontented Members choose harm when a 
vast majority of people in this Chamber want to make progress for the 
country? We need steady hands on the wheel. Let us do what our 
constituents sent us here to do: Govern.
  The ramifications of a poisoned, partisan appropriations bill will 
halt hiring of Border Patrol officers, prevent contracting for Army 
Corps of Engineers' dredging, close our parks, and stall emergency 
relief to communities devastated by recent natural disasters.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to some of my friends who can't seem to reach 
compromise: Do you really realize what you are doing?
  Here we are, on the brink of another lapse in funding caused by 
political brinkmanship and shortsighted partisan antics unworthy of 
this institution's responsibilities. This is a time for leadership, not 
mischief. This is a time for succeeding, not retreating. This is a time 
for unity, not division.
  Let us do our work. Let us pass our appropriations bills on time and 
with dispatch.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________