Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Honoring Coach Ed Karpovich

2026-09-01

“I am honoring a golf coach who helped a lot of college students. He was my coach too. He was good at golf. He won a lot. He started a famous golf event. He was more than just a coach. He was like a teacher. He made his students better people. I am proud to know him. I want to say thank you to him for a good career.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Ed Karpovich, who retired last month from the University of Scranton golf team after an extraordinary 44 years as head coach. He leaves a lasting mark on countless athletes, including myself, who had the privilege of learning from him. Before coaching, Ed was a distinguished golfer for the University of Scranton Royals, and in 1982, he came back to lead the team, transforming the program into a powerhouse. During his coaching career, he led the team to over 400 wins in dual matches, a MAC title, and two landmark conference titles. Ed used his love of golf to cofound the Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational, which draws talent from all over the country, including watching Chris Shank land a 40-foot putt. Most of all, he understood that above being a coach, he was a teacher and a mentor. He not only invested in his student-athletes as players, he developed them as people, instilling excellence on the course and in all facets of life. I am honored to have played for Coach Karpovich, to have learned from him, and to call him a mentor. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Karpovich on an extraordinary career and thank him for the lasting impact he has had on generations of student-athletes in northeastern Pennsylvania.

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House of Representatives

Recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day

2026-08-31

“Many drug users died. That is sad. We should stop drug dealers. We should help drug users.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day. Today, we remember the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives to overdose, and we remember the families, friends, and the communities left behind. However, these aren't statistics. They are our neighbors, our family members, and our friends. No race, gender, ZIP Code, or family is immune from this epidemic. International Overdose Awareness Day is a chance to remember those we have lost, stand with those in recovery, and recognize the people on the front lines who are working to save lives. We have a responsibility to do everything we can to stop these deadly drugs from reaching our communities, hold those who traffic them accountable, and make sure people struggling with addiction can get the help that they need. Today, we remember those who were taken from this world far too soon, and we recommit ourselves to making sure fewer families experience this kind of pain.

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House of Representatives

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

2026-07-22

“I really want the President to give a special medal to this brave pilot. This pilot did very brave things in the Vietnam war. He flew a broken plane to save American soldiers. He made many attack passes under heavy fire. He knew he might die. But he did it anyway. He destroyed many enemy gun positions. He saved many American lives. He already got a Silver Star for this. But he deserves an even bigger medal. He was very brave. He went above and beyond. We need to recognize that. I want everyone to support this medal for him. He earned it a long time ago.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this en bloc, which includes an amendment that calls on the President to award the Medal of Honor to Colonel Bob Graham of Nuangola, Pennsylvania. On May 1, 1966, at the height of Operation Birmingham in the Vietnam war, then-Captain Graham flew his battle-damaged F-100 Super Sabre through monsoon weather to reach American troops surrounded by 4,000 enemy soldiers. He made more than 15 low-level attack passes under heavy artillery fire, knowing full well he may not survive. He not only survived, but destroyed eight enemy gun positions, neutralized over 1,500 enemy troops, and broke the back of that assault, saving hundreds of American lives. Colonel Graham flew over 500 combat missions across four tours in Vietnam and served this country faithfully for 26 years. He already earned the Silver Star for his heroic actions that day. However, it is past time that we recognize his actions went above and beyond the call of duty. I urge my colleagues to support this and finally give Colonel Graham the recognition he has long since earned.

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