Congressman Yakym provides federal update, presents military medals and Sagamore of the Wabash

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:13 AM

By Wes Dehne

After providing a federal update at a Legislative Breakfast Saturday in Akron, Congressman Rudy Yakym presented military medals earned but never received to Gary Roe and the Sagamore of the Wabash to Gail Karas.

From immigration policy, border control and deportation to tax cuts, healthcare and the national debt, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) had no shortage of topics to cover at a Legislative Breakfast Saturday morning in Akron. He also had the honor of giving special recognition to two of Fulton County's own by presenting military medals earned but never received to Gary Roe and the Sagamore of the Wabash to Gail Karas.

The event, held at the Akron Community Center, was the second in a three-part series provided by the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Fulton County Farm Bureau.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by local Boy Scouts, Yakym was introduced by Fulton County Farm Bureau President Stephen Williams.

Yakym was quick to share admiration for the Trump administration and referred to 2025 as "just the beginning of America's comeback story."

"President Trump since returning to the White House has certainly wasted no time in getting back to work and making sure that this country, once again, works for the American people," Yakym began. "He's already taken swift action to do common-sense things like secure the border, unleash American energy, eliminate DEI initiatives in our government, prohibit radical gender ideology, cut burdensome regulations that are coming out of Washington D.C., create DOGE and usher in a new era of government efficiency and return peace through strength around the world."

A month into Trump's presidency, Yakym says the difference is clear – that the U.S. is projecting strength around the world and being trusted by its allies again.

He went on to highlight legislation recently passed that he says will move the country forward. The first being the Laken Riley Act, Trump's first piece of legislation signed into law that mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault on a law enforcement officer, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It is named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan alien who was previously arrested and paroled into the U.S. under the previous administration.

Yakym also highlighted his support for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

"This is common sense legislation that just simply says that men should not be allowed to participate in women's sports," he said. "And as the father of two daughters who both play sports, this is something that is intensely personal to me, to my daughters and to the family that I have at home."

Yakym also supported the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act.

"If you are an illegal alien here in the United States and you commit an act of domestic violence against a woman, this puts you on the fast track for deportation," he said of the legislation.

Passage of the Halt Fentanyl Act was another highlight for Yakym, who noted 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023. Nearly 70 percent of those deaths are attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.

Yakym went on to detail pieces of legislation he's reintroduced in the 119th Congress, including the Sergeant Ted Grubbs Mental Healthcare for Disabled Veterans Act – named after a veteran and Second District constituent who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and complex traumatic brain injury after returning from duty. In the wake of a mental health crisis, Grubbs was told by the VA that the soonest in-person appointment they could offer was more than two months away.

"Our veterans who went to war for us, they deserve a member of Congress who's willing to go to war for them," Yakym said. "Our office got Ted Grubbs the mental healthcare that he needed from the VA, but veterans shouldn't have to call my office to get that help; they ought to be able to call the VA directly and get it every single time. That bill makes sure we don't have another Ted Grubbs that can't get the healthcare that they need for mental health."

Yakym also reintroduced the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act in support of RV dealers and suppliers, PROTECT Jewish Student and Faculty Act to combat antisemitism on college campuses and a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution to limit the national debt.

Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, Yakym detailed efforts to extend Trump's tax cuts permanently.

"At the end of this year, if we don't do that, every single Hoosier will experience a substantial tax increase," he said.

In fielding questions, Yakym advocated for deportation that leads with criminals and potential terrorists, more accountability in federal spending, lowering taxes and restoring work requirements for Medicaid.

He also noted his district team is on hand to help cut through the red tape of bureaucracy. Last year, his office handled about 2,000 such cases for constituents.

In the same spirit, Yakym's office worked with the U.S. military to get Vietnam veteran Gary Roe the medals that he earned from serving in the Army from Dec. 8, 1966 to Dec. 6, 1968. District Director Griffin Nate led the effort, and Roe's military decorations include an Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, an Expert Rifle Badge and Marksman Pistol Badge.

"As you might imagine, this is truly one of the great honors that I have in this job," Yakym said in presenting the medals to Roe. "We go to war to make sure that our veterans get the recognition that they've earned in serving this country. Thank you for your service."

Lastly, Yakym presented Gail Karas, former 911 communications director for Fulton County, with the Sagamore of the Wabash – one of Indiana's highest civilian honors.

He referred to Karas as a dear friend and credited her for incredible work leading emergency services on behalf of the community.

"Gail has really been the tip of the spear here in Fulton County to make sure that those services operate seamlessly," he said.

Karas said she was truly honored in accepting the award.

"I do love my community, and I'm happy to do what I do now on a national level," she said. "I appreciate you all, and I will still continue to serve my community."

Before wrapping up, Fulton County Republican Party Chairman Mike Canada encouraged attendees to contact their representatives in opposition to House Bill 1628 – a new legislative proposal shifting authority from local governments to the state on how large-scale infrastructure projects are regulated.

The final breakfast in the series is Saturday, March 8, at the Fulton County Public Library and will feature a local update from Rochester Mayor Trent Odell and Fulton County Commissioners Dave Sommers, Rick Ranstead and Bryan Lewis.