Pat Ryan: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, one of the great nights in Washington, D.C., throughout…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, one of the great nights in Washington, D.C., throughout the whole Congressional year, is the night we do the Congressional baseball game, where Democrats play Republicans at the Washington Nationals Park. There are 5,000-10,000 people there--maybe more, depending on the year--and it actually brings everybody together in Washington, D.C., which, as many people know, is a unique night. Many of the players at that game wear their local Minor League Baseball uniform to represent their local community in Washington, D.C., at the baseball game. I have worn the Mahoning Valley Scrappers uniform there. The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have been just outside of Youngstown, Ohio, in Niles, Ohio, right by our mall, the Eastwood Mall at Eastwood Field, for 20 years. It is where young people and families can go watch professional baseball. They can afford it. They can hang out. It is a 5- or 10- minute drive. It is an important component of our community. So, of all the ups and downs of our economy in northeast Ohio over the last 20 years, we have had baseball. And now Major League Baseball is saying: We want to cut over 40 teams. And what we are saying here in the United States Congress is: Congressman Bill Johnson, Republican-- who also represents part of the area--myself, and others, are coming together to try to stop this from happening.…”