Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have repeated the phrase ``budgets are about priorities'' a lot lately.

Mr. Speaker, do you know what really signals someone's priorities? It is their actions.

Just last week, we witnessed a group of elected officials storm an ICE facility, demanding sympathy for illegal aliens who are violent gang members, rapists, and murderers.

Mr. Speaker, each of us is elected to represent our constituents and put American citizens first. The idea that someone could take the oath and then storm through law enforcement simply boggles the mind.

If my colleagues want to talk about priorities, Mr. Speaker, here is one they should remember: The safety of law-abiding Americans is more important than the demands of foreign criminals.

Mr. Speaker, today is Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day meant to spread awareness of a ruthless poison that has stolen the lives of too many of our sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers.

My family and I know this pain personally. My brother Luke was taken from us by a single pill laced with illegal fentanyl.

Mr. Speaker, so many families across our country have experienced this same pain. It is a tragedy, but we cannot let heartache keep us down. Our family and this country, we do not weep in the wake. We rise, we fight, and we prevail.

When America enforces her laws, we win. Fentanyl trafficking is down 54 percent. Border encounters are down 93 percent. Thousands of MS-13 thugs have been thrown out.

This is no accident. It is the result of strong leadership, of resolve, and of putting America first.

I will continue to do my part and fight for families against this poison.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution to overturn a ludicrous rule which imposes government price controls on financial institutions across the country.

The Biden administration's CFPB issued this rule right before they left town, and they sold it as a defense of consumers. Mr. Speaker, you can say something a million times, and it still won't make it true.

Instead of helping consumers, government price controls will simply lead to more denied transactions and less consumer freedom.

Here is the reality, Mr. Speaker: Many local banks across the country already offer overdraft services that provide Americans a safety net on their financial services, and it is exactly these types of services that foster competition, giving consumers a choice in where to bank.

This resolution would repeal the Biden administration's government price control scheme. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a warning to college basketball teams across our country: The Panthers are coming.

For the first time in history, the High Point University men's and women's basketball teams have both

punched their tickets to the March Madness tournament.

The men's team clinched their spot with a Sunday night victory over Winthrop, coming back from a 15-point deficit.

The women's team punched their ticket by winning the Big South tournament against Longwood University.

Together, these teams have made history, and they are not stopping now. To anyone unfortunate enough to be facing the Panthers later this month, good luck. You are going to need it.

Mr. Speaker, I say to both teams that Guilford County and the entire Sixth District of North Carolina are with them. May they remember their values: God, family, and country. Let's choose to be extraordinary and bring it home.

Mr. Chair, while we may not agree on whose State has better barbecue, one thing we do agree on is that today is a momentous day; not for one party, but for all Americans. Today, we take a giant step toward fulfilling the mandate given by millions of Americans.

For too long, the people's interests have been drowned out by an agenda pursued by elite, leftwing politicians. The elite, leftwing politicians don't feel the impact of their reckless policies. Whether it be pursuing open border policies or policies that fuel inflation, it is normal citizens who feel the impact.

Today, we start the process of restoring America's strength. Rather than pursue a reckless, ideological joyride agenda, this resolution paves the way for historic investment in our country's border security, permanent tax relief for the middle class, getting rid of the inflation tax that has hit the working class, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse throughout our government.

Mr. Chair, Americans demand better. This resolution does that. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, this is the first time that I have had the honor of speaking on the floor of this great body, and it isn't by chance. It is because of how important this legislation is and how personal it is to my family and me.

In 2017, we lost my little brother, Luke, to fentanyl poisoning. He was only 20 years old. It changed everything for our family, and there is not a day that goes by that we don't feel the pain of that loss.

Days like tomorrow, February 7, which would have been his 29th birthday, will always come with an especially painful reminder that he should be here.

Unfortunately, the pain that we feel is not unique to my family because tens of thousands of American families are being shattered by this crisis each year.

Today, fentanyl is the leading cause of death among young adults.

Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. Enough is enough.

This legislation before us today would make important changes. Right now, because of an emergency order, fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances are considered a schedule I drug, but this order is set to expire at the end of March. If it expires, it means that law enforcement will have no authority to seize many of these deadly drugs, that drug traffickers will be empowered to push deadlier drugs on our streets, and that our Border Patrol officials will lose the authority to seize these drugs coming across our border.

This bipartisan legislation is simple. It is not window dressing, Mr. Speaker. It is simple. It would make this emergency order permanent. However, let's never mistake simple for insignificant. We have before us the opportunity to save many lives.

Mr. Speaker, we lost my little brother to fentanyl, and I will not stop until we ensure that others don't lose theirs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has committed his life to public service and who deserves our appreciation and support.

For more than three decades, James Shore has served his country and his community. His service began in 1989 when he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. For four years, James served in some of the most challenging and dangerous regions in the world: from Somalia in the Horn of Africa to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm. His time in the Marine Corps was recognized with numerous awards for his bravery, leadership, and dedication.

James completed his military service in 1993, but his service to his community was just beginning. He started a career in law enforcement, where he earned recognition for his commitment to the safety of his community and the well-being of his colleagues. He took a leadership role in the Fraternal Order of Police by helping to establish the Davidson County Lodge 97, where he served as President until 2020.

In 2020, James again demonstrated his commitment to public service when he took a seat on the Davidson County Commission. As a County Commissioner, he made significant contributions to the county's justice and public safety while expanding his public service by taking part in the National Association of Counties and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

In 2023, James was honored with the M.H. ``Jack'' Brock Outstanding County Commissioner Award for spearheading Operation Green Light for Veterans, an initiative to raise awareness and support for veterans in North Carolina.

In October 2024, James was diagnosed with cancer, and he is expected to complete his treatment on February 6, 2025. Throughout this fight, James has inspired others with his perseverance and commitment to his family and his community. I thank James for his three decades of service. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he navigates this battle against cancer.