Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to welcome Techo-Bloc to the Second District of South Carolina. In the fall of 2026, Lexington County will be the home of the company's first South Carolina operation.

With an investment of $45 million, more than 40 new jobs will be created, contributing to the growth of opportunities within the state. I appreciate the courageous leadership of their President, Charles Ciccarello.

Techo-Bloc specializes in manufacturing high-quality hardscape products such as pavers, slabs, and retaining walls for residential and commercial outdoor spaces.

With more than 850 employees, Techo-Bloc distributes products to over 900 stores across the United States and Canada.

Best wishes to Techo-Bloc for continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize the honorable life of Dorothy ``Dot'' Rogers. Her daughter, Ann Rogers, Deputy Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives, is a dear friend, and we appreciate her service to the country. My thoughts and prayers go to her family and friends.

Her loving obituary has been published by the Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home:

``Born in Metairie, Louisiana, on January 12, 1930, to

Harold and Mae Iley, Dorothy Iley Rogers (known throughout

her life as Dot) quickly blossomed from a Depression-era baby

to a Renaissance woman. As a child, Dot was a swimmer and

scholar-athlete in New Orleans. She received her Bachelors

and Masters Degrees in Chemistry from Tulane University. She

went on to coach swimming and taught chemistry before meeting

her future husband while visiting her uncle, a Navy Chaplain,

on the south coast of France. Dot married Lieutenant James

Rogers in 1954.

As a proud Navy wife, Dot handled her husband's frequent

deployments with determination and lots of chocolate

milkshakes. While living in Carmel, California, Dot modeled

for local fashion stores and discovered her talent for art.

She excelled in many media, including acrylics, oils, water

color, charcoal, and pastels.

Perhaps Dot's proudest achievements came from raising her

two children, David and Ann. She assumed the roles of tutor,

cheerleader, coach, PTA president, and all-around

volunteer, taking her children on innumerable trips to the

Smithsonian museums. Favorites included the museum of Natural

History, home to the ooey gooeys (the human anatomy display),

and the Air and Space Museum where she was a docent on

opening day.

She was also a skilled seamstress, sewing a significant

amount of clothing for her children--even after they left for

college. Halloween costumes were her favorite projects.

Dot's interests were wide and fascinating. When James was

transferred to the Pentagon, Dot continued her art education

through Arlington Adult Education classes. She and James

enjoyed ballet at the Kennedy Center, Harry Belafonte at Wolf

Trap, and Bruce Springsteen concerts (13 of them) wherever he

was playing. One of her favorite memories was when Patty

Scialfa noticed her from on stage, smiled and waved. It's an

E Street thing.

Dot never met a dog or a cat she did not love and had that

love returned. In her early 70s, she went to a local Jeep

dealer to finally buy her dream car and took her Golden

Retriever, Babe. She informed the dealership that she needed

to make sure whatever she selected was a comfortable fit for

her Babe. Ever after, she was proud and happy to drive around

town in her fire engine red Jeep Cherokee with Babe looking

majestic buckled up in the passenger seat.

Dot lived a full, beautiful, and fulfilling life which she

enjoyed sharing with those close to her. She is survived by

her son, David, his wife, Betsy, and their son, Weston, and

her daughter, Ann. She is also survived by five nieces, one

nephew, a host of friends, and a glorious and diverse fanbase

through the tales and pictures shared by her loving children

and friends.''

Mr. Speaker, President Donald Trump has begun the first trade trip of his second term, announcing a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia and others to invest $1.4 trillion in America, creating jobs.

More historic foreign policy wins are expected as President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio continue their trip now to Qatar and then UAE.

Courageously, President Donald Trump announced yesterday he is lifting sanctions on Syria to provide the country a ``chance at greatness.'' Sanctions were imposed on the murderous Assad dictatorship, which in November declared: I was an enemy of the state, and weeks later the dictator fled to Moscow.

Today was a historic meeting between President Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as arranged by Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, with the opportunity to expel Russian bases from Syria.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies, hosting murderous dictators.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful President Donald Trump announced the United States will now mark May 8 as Victory Day for World War II to commemorate the anniversary of the American and Allied triumph over national socialism and fascism.

Aligning with the annual commemorations held by our Allies in Europe, the victory largely was due to American Armed Forces, with nearly a quarter of a million killed, 250,000. Without the sacrifice of our soldiers, this war would not have been won, according to the White House proclamation.

Victory Day reaffirms American courage today and defeats the insane propaganda of war criminal Putin, where his stooge, Dmitry Medvedev, denounced the truth of President Donald Trump as ``pretentious nonsense.''

Stooge Medvedev should remember September 17, 1939, when Moscow, allied with Hitler, invaded Poland, killing 60,000 Poles in just 5 weeks, dividing the country in half.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators put all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies with fellow dictators at his Red Square military parade instead of agreeing to Trump's request for a cease-fire, saving Ukrainian lives.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Michigan was recognized for 1 minute. He has substantially exceeded 1 minute with absurdity.

Mr. Speaker, I was otherwise detained off the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 119.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses create jobs as the backbone of the American workforce and account for nearly half of the American private-sector jobs.

Small businesses come in many forms. America recognizes this as National Small Business Week and the contributions this sector adds to the strength of America.

There are nearly 35 million small businesses in America, employing 59 million people. The National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB, along with local chambers of commerce, AmChams, and industry associations such as the Asian American Hotel Owners of America and homebuilders make a difference.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators put all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies as patriots of Georgia in Tbilisi demonstrate, expressing appreciation of Congress supporting fair elections, with the courageous President Salome Zourabichvili.

Mr. Speaker, friends of freedom are grateful that the House overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan, bicameral Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act, the MEGOBARI Act. This bill counters the Ivanishvili regime dragging Georgia toward Iranian terrorists, the Chinese Communist Party, and war criminal Putin.

The passage of the MEGOBARI Act, with a mandate vote of nearly 90 percent, demonstrates America's support for legitimate President Salome Zourabichvili and the Georgian people and the rejection of the tyrannical mafia cabal, which is selling out Georgia to dictators. The Georgian Dream insults President Trump. The only way forward is for fair elections and the release of all political prisoners.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators put all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing that war criminal Putin lies, subverting freedom in Belarus from legitimate President Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Mr. Speaker, Americans continue to benefit from the wins accomplished by the first 100 days as President Donald Trump took back the White House by election mandate. He and the Republican-led House, with Speaker Mike Johnson, and the Senate will continue to fight on behalf of American families.

In just 100 days, the Trump administration has secured the borders, stopping terrorists and child predators; restored energy independence; begun peace through strength; reduced duplicative regulations; and brought massive investments, creating jobs and making America competitive again.

President Trump and the Republican-led House are making the country strong, safe, and secure with promises made, promises kept with the Trump mandate.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators put all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing that war criminal Putin lies as, this weekend, the Moscow dictatorship reiterated Ukraine does not exist, justifying mass murder of Ukrainians by war criminal Putin.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Brian Mast for yielding and thank him for his leadership on behalf of the American people.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the bipartisan endorsement of this legislation. It is bipartisan with Republican and Democratic support and bicameral with Senate and House support of the MEGOBARI bill, which promotes the brave people of the Republic of Georgia.

For more than 155 days, the freedom-loving people of Georgia have peacefully taken to the streets in defense of the future and soul of their nation. They drape themselves in the flags of the United States and carry posters of our President, Donald Trump, as an indication of their love and affection for freedom and democracy.

Their will is clear: They will not allow the illegal regime of corrupt Bidzina Ivanishvili to drive their country into ruin and be dependent on the failed Soviet Union.

Georgia is a Black Sea nation that has always prized its hard-won freedom. Sadly, the will of the people is being subverted by the illegitimate Georgian Dream regime, an American-hating Mafia cabal that seeks to sell the country to U.S. adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, practically giving away a port on the Black Sea that should be for the people of Georgia.

They are also subservient to the regime in Tehran, who we know launched attacks against Israel just yesterday; and war criminal Putin, who seeks to indeed make the people of Georgia subservient.

The Georgian people are among the bravest and most pro-American in the world. I have had the opportunity, with three of my sons serving with Georgian troops across the world in Afghanistan and Iraq, to see how brave and capable the troops of Georgia are. Georgian troops have fought alongside American troops in the global war on terrorism and had no limits on the assignments that they would undertake bravely and competently.

In 2020, I was grateful to lead the Republican Study Committee national security report under then-chairman and now Speaker Mike Johnson calling for sanctions on Ivanishvili. Republicans saw the threat then posed by this thug and his cronies.

Georgian Dream has moved swiftly to criminalize the association with America since the election of October 2026. It rejected bids by American companies for construction of their strategic deep-sea port to the Chinese Communist Party. Every major building contract, over $100 million in U.S. dollars, has been awarded to the Chinese Communist Party or affiliated companies or state-owned companies of the Chinese Communist Party.

This blocks America from the Middle Corridor and cuts off land access to critical minerals in Central Asia, which, additionally, want to be friends of America and friends of Western civilization. The regime peddles in daily anti-American propaganda accusing top officials of the United States Government, including President Trump and the very appreciated Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jim Risch, of corruption and acting as tools of the deep state.

In fact, just last week, there was a statement by government officials that Donald Trump was a tool of the deep state.

As the Trump administration State Department's spokesman, Tammy Bruce, said:

``Regarding continuing anti-democratic actions taken by the Georgian Dream government--as Vice President Vance said in Munich, you cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society.''

This bill provides for sanctions against Georgian Dream thugs for their illegal actions, and it also provides for stronger bilateral ties after confirmation of Georgia's return to adherence to its constitution.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for this legislation for the mutual benefit of the people of Georgia and the people of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, last night, the United States and Ukraine signed the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

Underscoring the alliance of our countries, the agreement provides Ukraine a credible deterrence.

David Zimmerman in National Review reported that the agreement gives the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals for a promised security guarantee to protect Kyiv from future Russian aggression, signaling President Donald Trump's commitment to ending the war.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent elaborated: ``This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.''

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators put all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families through peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies as he insults President Trump with a fake cease-fire, murdering civilians yesterday in Odessa.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Warren Stephens on being sworn in as America's Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, last week, Vice President J.D. Vance with his Indian-American wife Usha, achieved a global recalibration for energy independence meeting with America's appreciated ally Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is an extraordinary recognition of the positive impact of Indian- Americans that the Second Lady of America is an Indian-American herself.

American partnership has never been more important with the world's oldest democracy allied with the world's largest democracy.

An excellent analysis of this energy achievement was provided in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times on April 28, 2025, by Vijay Jayaraj of the CO2 Coalition in Fairfax, Virginia:

opinion

In a landmark move that may well redefine the future of

U.S.-India trade relations and global energy geopolitics,

Vice President J.D. Vance announced a new trade deal with

India. The day after he met with Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi on April 21, Mr. Vance said the two countries

had ``officially finalized the terms of reference for the

trade negotiation.''

The deal, initiated against the backdrop of President

Trump's tariff threats, could be a masterstroke of economic

diplomacy. Mr. Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on

reciprocal tariffs, which could have raised duties on Indian

exports, gave India a window to negotiate.

The energy economics of this deal and its potential to

reshape the global market for fossil fuels are fascinating.

In his announcement, Mr. Vance declared, ``We want to sell

more energy to India and also help it explore its resources,

including offshore natural gas reserves and critical mineral

supplies.''

The arrangement could propel India toward its long-standing

goal of energy surplus. This feat appeared daunting, perhaps

impossible, against the nation's projections for a massive

increase in demand, the fastest-growing among major economies

for the next two decades.

Let's get it straight: India has a long way to go before it

even contemplates reducing its consumption of hydrocarbons.

Even a middle-class Indian like me residing in a major city

experiences power blackouts regularly, which is precisely why

the nation has postponed net-zero ambitions to a distant

2070. Even the documents for the country's participation in

the nutty United Nations Paris Agreement prioritize domestic

energy security over international climate diplomacy.

India's reliance on imported energy, which includes more

than 85% of its crude oil and roughly 50% of its natural gas,

poses a strategic vulnerability. The government aims to more

than double natural gas' share of the energy mix to 15% by

2030. U.S. liquefied natural gas suppliers have surpassed the

United Arab Emirates to become India's second-largest LNG

supplier, trailing only Qatar.

A key player in this unfolding saga is GAIL Ltd., India's

state-owned natural gas company. On April 11, GAIL issued a

tender to procure 1 million metric tons per annum of LNG from

an existing or new U.S. LNG liquefaction project, with

operations commencing by 2030. The agreement, potentially

extendable by five to 10 years, signals India's commitment to

U.S. supplies.

GAIL had to stall a similar process in 2023 to buy a stake

in a U.S. LNG plant after President Biden banned export

permits for LNG projects. The ban was lifted only after the

Trump administration returned to the White House.

The timing of the upcoming deal is notable, strengthening

India's position as a counterweight to China. The Quad

alliance--comprising the U.S., India, Japan and Australia--

gains heft as India bolsters its energy security and economic

clout.

As Mr. Vance emphasized, the U.S. willingness to share

technology and expertise could enhance Indian autonomy,

reducing reliance on adversarial suppliers. This alignment is

particularly crucial as China intensifies its trade outreach

in Southeast Asia and seeks to blunt the effect of U.S.

tariffs.

The Western media will decry the expansion of fossil fuel

trading as a climate catastrophe, as though that would

resonate with a serious person. The U.S.-India deal wisely

eschews climate moralizing and embraces a symbiotic truth:

America's shale boom and India's hunger for energy perfectly

match.

This deal reaffirms energy sovereignty. Perhaps it marks

the beginning of a global recalibration, in which nations

rediscover the courage to assert their right to energy

abundance and economic self-determination without apologizing

to the corrupt and decrepit climate cartel of Brussels, Davos

and U.N. corridors.

May the new world order feature developing nations standing

for their futures and rejecting the false campaign of

planetary salvation.

Mr. Speaker, led by CEO Andy Carr, I am grateful for the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a vital public-private partnership that is essential for manufacturing in the Palmetto State. It provides strategies to improve profitability for job creation and bolstering national security.

The partnership generated more than $7 billion for South Carolina over the last 3 years, working with over 550 companies. Over 80 percent of the manufacturers have fewer than 20 employees, and these manufacturers are the size that the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is uniquely serving.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators puts all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks, imminent as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin's lies, rigging the election in the Republic of Georgia against legitimate President Salome Zourabichvili. The fake Georgian regime has falsely smeared President Donald Trump as ``a tool of the deep state.''

Mr. Speaker, since President Donald Trump was overwhelmingly reelected by mandate, he has been winning on behalf of American families.

Today marks 100 days since the President took back the White House, and along with the Republican-led House with the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson and the Senate, immediately began promises made, promises kept, delivering for American families.

In just 100 days, the Trump administration has secured the borders, restored energy independence, begun peace through strength, and brought massive investments and jobs, making America competitive again.

President Trump is keeping his promises to families, making the country strong, safe, and secure.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Open borders for dictators puts all Americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks imminent, as warned by the FBI. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin's lies with the fake cease-fire of May 8-10 for a military parade, insulting President Trump's good faith efforts for a real cease-fire.

Mr. Speaker, on April 12th, South Carolina lost a son. I am grateful for William Berry's service to the country and state and my thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.

I include in the Record, his loving obituary, which has been published by the Folk Funeral Home:

A memorial service for William Grady ``Bill'' Berry, 69,

will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Folk

Funeral Home in Williston. The family will receive friends

one hour prior to the service. The memorial service will be

officiated by Dr. Thomas Terry and Dr. William A. Sandifer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Black; Dodd Buie, III;

Robert Lowman, Jr.; and Phillip B. Ness. A private interment

will be held at a later date at the Blackville Cemetery.

Bill Berry passed away at MUSC, Charleston, with his sister

and niece by his side. He was a resident of Barnwell, SC.

Born in Augusta, GA, he was the son of the late Anita Johnson

Berry and James T. ``Pete'' Berry of Blackville. Bill

graduated from Jefferson Davis Academy, Presbyterian College,

and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He

attended Presbyterian (PC) on an academic and athletic

scholarship. He was an Eagle Scout. At Jefferson Davis

Academy, he was chosen as the male student to enter the JDA

Senior Class Hall of Fame in 1974. In his senior year at PC,

he was selected as captain of the football team. He was a

member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and a member of the track

team.

Bill Berry earned a Juris Doctor (JD) at the University of

South Carolina School of Law. After being admitted to the

South Carolina Bar, he started the Public Defender Office for

Bamberg and Barnwell Counties and served as Chief Public

Defender and Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected

children.

He was accepted into the United States Army Judge Advocate

General's Corps (JAG Corps). As an Army Captain, he served in

Panama prior to Operation Just Cause. After his Army service,

Bill opened a law practice in Myrtle Beach, SC. Bill loved

sports throughout his life, especially football. He was a

loyal Gamecock fan.

Surviving are his sister Kathy Berry Orr (Tom Gantt) and

his niece Kathryn Liana (Orr) Gantt.