Ralph Norman

“I want to honor Carlos Salas. He fled a dictatorship in Argentina, legally moved to America, and built successful businesses here. His life is a great example of the American Dream.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a gentleman who represents the epitome of success in this great country where we just celebrated our 250th anniversary, Mr. Carlos Salas. Mr. Salas is with us today with his son, Martin, and his granddaughter, Gabriela. He is a remarkable man whose life is a powerful testament to perseverance, hard work, and living the American Dream. Carlos was born in Argentina and grew up under an authoritarian regime. After his father’s newspaper published editorials opposing the regime, Carlos and his family were forced to flee their home. Their journey took them across South America. Carlos later pursued an education in England where he learned English. In 1955, after the regime’s dictator was exiled, Carlos was finally able to return to Argentina. However, following a family tragedy, he found himself on his own at just 15 years of age. He supported himself by continuing his education, working at ports as a translator, and even playing billiards to make ends meet. He later entered the army in Argentina to fulfill his military obligation. By age 19, Carlos was studying industrial engineering while becoming a well-known billiards and chess player at a local social club. His skills even gave him the opportunity to compete against recognized players like Bobby Fischer. After graduating, Carlos pursued both his engineering career and his entrepreneurial interests, working for a manufacturing firm while also owning the Eliot Ness Club. During this time, Carlos married his wife, Ada Cristina Salas, an accomplished female engineer who worked on the development of rocket propellants. In 1971, they welcomed their first son Carlos Salas. Then, in 1973, the regime’s dictator returned to Argentina from exile. Once again faced with political uncertainty, Carlos and Cristina made the difficult decision to leave their homeland. This time, they set their sights on the United States of America. In 1974, while Christina was pregnant with their second son, Martin Salas, Carlos and his family legally immigrated to Connecticut to pursue the American Dream. Their beginnings in America were humble, but Carlos and his family embraced the freedom and opportunity this country offered them. They became active participants in democracy, including serving as delegates to the Republican National Convention in 1994. Carlos proudly became a naturalized American citizen in 2011. Carlos went on to build an impressive career in the color and paint industry. Drawing upon his engineering background and command of multiple languages, he directed international sales and helped bring advanced American color systems to markets all around the world. Through hard work, Carlos grew a $200,000 division of a company into a $20 million operation. In 1993, he and his family made South Carolina their official home. Then, in 2001, the family took a leap of faith and went into business for themselves, purchasing their own paint equipment company. Together, they successfully grew and operated their manufacturing company for more than a decade before selling the business and retiring to the great State of South Carolina. Carlos remains an active member of his community, including service with the Lions Club and the Schmoozer Club. He has never lost his competitive spirit. He still enjoys chess, poker, and an occasional game of billiards. Most importantly, he is deeply loved by his family, including his children and his seven granddaughters. It is impossible to capture the full measure of a man’s life in just a few minutes, especially a life as remarkable as Carlos Salas’ has been. His story began under an authoritarian government and ultimately brought him to the freest and greatest nation on Earth, what we call America. This is the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, Carlos has made South Carolina and our Nation better through his determination, ingenuity, and devotion to his family and community. It is a privilege to recognize him in the House of Representatives today.”

“I am thanking our nation's truck drivers for keeping our economy moving. The government should lower their taxes and fees to make their jobs easier. I also support a bill to stop states from giving commercial driver's licenses to people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hageman for leading this charge. As a proud member of the Congressional Trucking Caucus and as a Member who has had my CDL for 35 years or more, I rise today in recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the hardworking men and women who keep America moving. We talk a lot in this Chamber about what makes our economy work. Well, the answer is pretty simple. It takes people who are willing to work. American truck drivers do exactly that. Nearly 3.6 million professional truck drivers are on our roads today, delivering the food on our tables, the medicine in our pharmacies, the materials on our construction sites, and the products that keep American businesses running. In South Carolina, we know just how important these men and women are. Nearly 80 percent of South Carolina communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. Trucks transport nearly 94 percent of our State’s manufacturing tonnage, roughly 149,000 tons every single day. There are more than 21,000 trucking companies located in South Carolina. The vast majority of them are small, locally owned businesses. Those numbers tell the story. If the trucks stop moving, South Carolina stops moving. Behind every one of those trucks is a driver. These are men and women who wake up early, work long hours, spend time away from their families, and take on tremendous responsibility every time they get behind the wheel. They do it because there is a job to be done. A lot of times bureaucrats don’t understand that, and government should remember that. Truckers already pay licensing fees and taxes while using our roads and bridges that are necessary to do their jobs. We should be making it easier for these hardworking Americans to earn a living, not piling on unnecessary costs and burdens on top. While we stand up for our truck drivers, we also have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the profession. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the SAFE Driving Laws Act. This bill says States should not be handing out driver’s licenses or commercial driver’s licenses to those who cannot prove that they are a U.S. citizen or have a permanent residency, while at the same time refusing to cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement. States that refuse to follow these basic standards could lose 50 percent of certain Federal highway funding. This is about accountability. A CDL is not just another piece of paper. When someone gets behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck, Americans have every right to expect that the driver was properly vetted, properly licensed, and qualified to be on the road. That principle goes far beyond any one bill. More than 72 percent of our Nation’s freight tonnage is moved by trucks, and more than 80 percent of American communities rely exclusively on trucks for their freight needs. I thank the truckers in this country from the bottom of my heart. I thank them for the miles they drive. I thank them for the time they spend away from their home. I thank them for everything they do.”

“I support this amendment to keep the Supreme Court at nine justices. Some Democrats want to add more justices to get the rulings they want. If politicians start changing the size of the Court, there is no stopping point. That turns the Court into a political tool. We need to stop court-packing forever.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. Biggs’ constitutional amendment. As Congressman Jordan mentioned, this is serious business. Just like it is serious business about what the other party did on letting 20 to who knows illegals in this country to create a power base. That is who you are going to have to answer to, the public. That is who this country is paying for now. The 20 to 30, who knows, illegals in this country. Why don’t you pass the SAVE Act, which is just a verification that you are an American citizen to vote? This is following a dangerous path, and I am glad the citizens are finally showing up to recognize the problem that we have with this. Just the other day, my Democratic colleague Jim Clyburn said he wants to pack the Court with 13 Justices. I couldn’t disagree more. South Carolina doesn’t need a baker’s dozen of Supreme Court Justices. We need politicians to respect the independence of the nine that we already have. Court packing was a bad idea when FDR tried it in 1937. It is a bad idea today. Even members of his own party pushed back against this scheme. FDR wanted to reshape the Supreme Court that was standing in the way of his agenda. The same principle is at work here today: When you don’t like the ruling, change the Court. The Constitution does not guarantee either party the Supreme Court decisions it wants. Losing a case is not justification for adding Justices. Thirteen is not some magic number. Once politicians start changing the size of the Court to get favorable rulings, there is no logical stopping point. Today it is 13. Tomorrow it could be 17 and then 21. That would turn the Supreme Court into just another political arm of Congress. Mr. Speaker, you don’t protect democracy by changing the rules every time you lose. You protect it by respecting our institutions, even when you disagree with the outcomes. The answer is to take Court packing off the table permanently, which is why I support this.”

“I am honoring Senator Lindsey Graham for his service. He worked hard for the people of South Carolina, supported our military, and got things done.”

“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank Congressman Wilson for organizing this tribute to a dear friend of all of us, not only in South Carolina but all over every State in this country. I wish everyone could have been in the Senate well when Darline, his sister, took the oath of office from the President pro-tempore of the Senate and then took the desk that Lindsey had occupied for 24 years in the Senate. It was moving. It was a tribute to Lindsey Graham that she was able to do this and appointed by Governor McMaster. Lindsey understood that success in South Carolina meant looking out for every South Carolinian. Whether it was a major defense project or a small-town infrastructure need, he fought to bring Federal resources back to South Carolina and make sure that every corner of our State had a voice in Washington, D.C. From securing the Medal of Honor for a marine, Major James Capers--it was a 5-year timeframe to work to get Major Capers the Medal of Honor, Lindsey was a part of that--to supporting our military installations, strengthening our border security, defending the rights of States and advancing priorities that benefit South Carolina, we worked side-by- side on issues that mattered to those back home. He believed in delivering results, not just making speeches. He knew that the work of elected officials is measured by what they accomplish for the people they represent, and he consistently fought to ensure that South Carolina received its fair share of opportunities. We didn’t have to agree on every issue. Lindsey never had an enemy that I knew of, and you could disagree with him while not being disagreeable. When there was an opportunity to move the State forward, Lindsey was willing to put the work in. This was evidenced to me when I went on a trip to Munich, Germany, back in 2020. I think it was a 4-day trip. I watched him go to every meeting of every country that was there primarily to share our ideas and to bring companies back to the United States, which benefited every State in the Union. He had a passion for that, particularly a passion for Ukraine and other countries that he had a belief in. His legacy will include far more than legislation. He will be remembered in the communities that benefited from his advocacy, the veterans he fought for, the historic sites he worked to preserve, and the love he continuously included and worked for for countless South Carolinians. Lives were improved, families benefited from the efforts that they showed. He had a constituency staff second to none. If you called Lindsey Graham’s office, he did what he could to help you out, regardless of whether you were from South Carolina or not. He was a funny man. Like any good comedian, it is not what he said, it is how he said it. Lindsey Graham made his life work for the betterment of South Carolina and the betterment of others. He will be sorely missed in this State and sorely missed by Darline, who he raised and adopted after both parents died. We thank him for a life well lived. Again, I thank Joe for having this moment to recognize a great man.”