[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 30, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4357-H4358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEFENSE INNOVATION WITH UKRAINE
(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 tonight to spotlight the urgent need
for deepened cooperation between the United States and Ukraine in
defense innovation. This follows yesterday's important announcement of
$18.4 million of investment through our Department of Defense in our
Northwest Ohio region.
After over 10 years of Russia's brutal, unprovoked invasion of
Ukraine, Ukraine has given the world a master class in the future of
warfare. Ukraine has pioneered drone tactics and technology. It has
developed cost-effective air defense systems, all under the most
difficult of circumstances.
Imagine Russia, a nation of 11 time zones. Ukraine has but one.
Russia has 3.5 times as many people as Ukraine, but Ukraine fights on
nobly.
Ukraine's ecosystem of innovation is a model that the free world
can't afford to ignore.
No matter where I travel as a member of our Defense Subcommittee and
meet with U.S. troops who are close or in theater, do you know what
they say to me? Congresswoman, please help us advance drone technology.
I have heard many things from troops, but that has been one of their
most constant clarion calls to Members of Congress, and we intend to
deliver to them.
That is why today, I introduced the bipartisan Strategic Unmanned
Systems Partnership Act--I underline bipartisan--along with
Representatives Fitzpatrick, Quigley, McCaul, Costa, and Bacon. These
are Members with experience, both military and civilian.
This companion legislation to its Senate counterpart introduced by
Senators Rosen and Rounds would establish a landmark strategic defense
innovation working group with Ukraine and NATO. This working group
would accelerate joint production of innovative systems to defend our
nations at a time when liberty needs it most and it is being challenged
in many, many ways globally.
Remember, Iran just killed American troops with the same weapons it
tested with Russia. Iran and Russia have a relationship, and then they
used the technologies against Ukraine. But it was Ukraine that came to
our defense with its innovation in the Middle East. It was Ukraine.
That is the mark of a true ally and friend under very difficult
circumstances.
[[Page H4358]]
UDD Announcement
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, when I visit U.S. troops defending liberty,
I ask them: What else can we do? They say: Just get us better drones
faster.
Thus, today, I rise in celebration of the announcement of $18.4
million in F-Drone manufacturing to be anchored in Ohio; both Central
Ohio, which has already received Anduril's investment, and now in
Northwestern Ohio, $18.4 million to begin to manufacture F-Drones on
our soil.
An all-hands-on-deck local, State, and Federal approach won the day
for Northwestern Ohio. Our sustained engagement now has attracted one
of the leading manufacturers of unmanned systems: Ukrainian defense
drones, the U.S. arm of Ukraine's F-Drones, to stand up assembly in
Northwestern Ohio.
It will complement an equally significant investment by Anduril in
Central Ohio. Already, our State of Ohio is well recognized as the home
of aviation, of space exploration, and defense industrial base
manufacturing. We are the home of the best fighter wing in the United
States of America, F-16s, and they are a guard unit. We are so proud of
them.
This UDD drone firm will operate on the cutting edge of drone
technology and defense innovation. Its systems have been battle-tested
on the frontlines of liberty, defending the free people of Ukraine from
Dictator Vladimir Putin's merciless and unprovoked invasion.
UDD is now one of the leaders in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance
Program, ensuring that American troops can defend themselves with the
best technology available.
I have been honored to work with the innovative UDD team to spotlight
the benefits of investing in Northwestern Ohio.
Working closely alongside the Regional Growth Partnership and
JobsOhio, and with Governor Mike DeWine, together we achieved a
strategic partnership with the potential to grow into a substantial and
sustained presence across our Great Lakes region.
We have it all: land, air, sea. Our region has a talented workforce,
proven manufacturing infrastructure, research and testing, phenomenal
assets with our space agencies, as well as a community that honors and
celebrates the shared benefits of working with our freedom-loving
allies abroad.
We are confident in our potential to be a global leader in U.S. drone
manufacturing, and Northwestern Ohio's manufacturing genius has formed
the backbone of the arsenal of democracy. We understand steel. We
understand forging. We understand propulsion. We understand tooling. We
make things. We form things. We helped defeat fascism in World War II,
Soviet communism in the last century, and remain committed to liberty
and to sustaining our NATO alliance against all enemies. Building our
Nation's defense also builds our middle class, and we keep them free.
Our region stands ready to stay vigilant at creating a future to
ensure jobs and industry leadership for Northwest Ohio's manufacturing
workforce and making sure that China and other countries like Iran do
not have the most sophisticated technology that is known to the world.
The urgent national security imperative of dominating the drone space
and the economic benefits for our communities are why I am honored to
lead on these issues here on Capitol Hill. These include introducing
today, my bipartisan Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act to
ensure America continues working with our Ukrainian allies on these
vital issues.
Together, we will submit Northwestern Ohio as a critical drone
manufacturing capital of America, and with Anduril's investment in
Central Ohio, together we will meet our U.S. military's new needs at
home and abroad.
{time} 1950
Mr. Speaker, in helping to close today, as we return home for Fourth
of July commemorations, I rise especially to commemorate and celebrate
our Nation's 250th anniversary.
We are still strong. We are still free. We have lots of work to do,
but it was this week in 1776 that our Founders, our Framers, our
forefathers and foremothers, in Philadelphia, came together to make the
courageous declaration that we chose liberty over tyranny.
How that must have felt at that time.
A year before, Delegate Patrick Henry of Virginia, just a little
south of where I am standing, proclaimed: ``Give me liberty or give me
death.'' A year later, he became Virginia's popularly elected first
Governor.
Imagine the courage and the vision.
Our Founders were farmers, printers, and merchants--hardworking,
ordinary people who did the extraordinary and envisioned the
extraordinary. They gave rise to the idea that freedom is a right, not
a privilege granted by a king.
For 250 years, that Declaration of Independence and choice of liberty
has carried our Nation through wars and expansive economic recessions,
through innovation and growth, and through division and unity.
It was stronger than the weakest among us.
It is important that we don't just look back with pride. We must look
to the future with purpose to what the next 50 years, 100 years, and
even 250 years of the American experiment might require of us.
First of all, it should require duty--duty to country--duty to
country before self, because liberty is not free. It requires citizens
who rise to duty for our Republic.
In this era, each citizen must make a vital decision to ensure our
Nation and people can flourish not just today but for the decades to
come. That requires some wisdom, and we could do a little better at
that.
Let Americans be proud of our progress when celebrating the next
milestone anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, may God bless America and give us all the courage to
fight for a good and prosperous and free people, a productive future
for all the generations of Americans to come, and gratitude, gratitude,
gratitude for where this 250 years has moved America.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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