Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution ensuring accountability in the Biden-Harris administration.

Sadly, as a student of history, the Biden-Harris administration's failures

in Afghanistan, I believe, have been the most catastrophic ever in American foreign policy and national security.

Thirteen Americans were murdered at Abbey Gate, and three Georgia Army reservists were murdered on January 28 of this year, with dozens of Georgia reservists also suffering permanent traumatic brain injury.

Americans were left behind. Afghan mothers gave up their babies over the wall so that their children could live in freedom. Patriotic Afghans fell from the planes as the Biden administration deserted the people of Afghanistan.

Surrender in Afghanistan, with Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for terrorists, has opened borders for every American family to be at risk of mass murder as we see dictators who have the ability to now come into our country and the potential of mass murder, as has been warned by the FBI.

War criminal Putin has been encouraged, as we see dictators, to conduct the mass murder in Ukraine. The Iranian puppets have slaughtered innocent people in Israel.

The agreements reached in Doha were conditions based, achieved by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We had testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee by General Milley and General McKenzie. They testified that the conditions were broken. They were broken from the beginning, and this certainly gave the opportunity for Biden-Harris to change course and not to be slaves of a particular time.

President Donald Trump has affirmed over and over--and I have been with him at different events in the past year--that he would have left a contingent of military allies at Bagram base to deter terrorism worldwide.

President Trump would have achieved peace through strength. He would have achieved maintaining the Bagram base so that we would not have it under the control of Taliban terrorists or the Chinese Communist Party.

Additionally, I especially appreciate the success of Afghan veterans keeping America safe for 20 years, with my youngest son, Lieutenant Hunter Wilson, serving in Afghanistan for a year as an Army engineer. I appreciate that so much.

I am also grateful that my former National Guard unit, the 218th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the South Carolina Army National Guard, served for a year in Afghanistan. With the leadership of Adjutant General Bob Livingston, they established what they called a brotherhood with their Afghan brothers. They have been heartbroken to know, as Chairman Mike McCaul has so correctly stated, that by abandoning so many people in Afghanistan, they have been executed.

We know and hear women can no longer go to school, that they must stay in their homes. I saw with the USAID programs where young girls were being able to go to school, and it was just so inspiring to see this. Now, women are being totally subjugated due to the Taliban, and this must stop. The way to do that is to never have this occur in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the anniversary of the passing of the Florence-born Phillip Truluck on October 6, 2022, I am grateful for his contributions to Congress while at the House Republican Study Committee and during his long tenure as the valued leader of the Heritage Foundation. He is missed.

The following obituary was published upon his death:

A son of South Carolina, Phil was born in Florence, South

Carolina, on June 18, 1947 and passed away October 6, 2022.

He spent his childhood and teenage years in Lake City, where

he attended public schools. His beloved mother, Ethel Mason

Truluck, taught him American History and famously refused to

grant him the well-deserved annual history award for fear of

appearing partial. He later went on to earn a B.S. in Finance

at the University of South Carolina. His leadership skills

were recognized early and he was elected President of Chi Psi

fraternity.

Perhaps to make up for the history award, his mother

arranged for Phil to go to Washington and work for then

Senator Strom Thurmond--as a driver and envelope stuffer.

Cream rose to the top and he went on to work in several

congressional offices, as Deputy Director of the House

Republican Study Committee and, for over 38 years, as a

leader of the Heritage Foundation.

Along the way, he met, courted and married Ann Wrobleski on

January 6, 1979. Mason Martha was born ten years later,

followed by twins, Walker Edward and Sutton

Arthur. Phil liked to say he went from man to man to zone

defense in 30 months.

Phil was a born developer--of people and real estate. As

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Phil

managed the day-to-day running of Heritage. An astute policy

analyst, strategic leader and gifted executive, Phil ensured

the rigorous training and intellectual equipping of a

generation of conservative leaders as they passed through

Heritage's doors. He claimed many scholars, commentators, and

members of Congress as former employees and enjoyed pointing

out that so and so ``had been at Heritage.'' Heritage was

never far from his thoughts. When called for jury duty and

asked if he had any connection to law enforcement, he replied

that well, actually, (former Attorney General) Ed Meese

reported to him. He was quickly dismissed.

A frustrated architect and contractor, over the years he

initiated and managed the physical transformation of Heritage

from a townhouse on Capitol Hill to the block long 250,000

square foot complex in the shadow of the Capitol that it is

today. Along the way he realized he loved the challenges of

acquisition and renovation. During the years when there was

no project at Heritage, he put his skills to work in the

Washington residential real estate market. He and Ann moved

seven times in 37 years--in contiguous zip codes.

Christmas vacations usually required a passport. He

believed traveling together was the best present he could

give his family--his favorite trip was floating down the Nile

in perfect weather on Christmas day. He also traveled the

world to attend meetings of the Mont Pelerin Society and for

20 years spent the weekend after New Year's at Sea Island

attending The Awakening. The August congressional recess

meant several weeks at High Hampton in the western North

Carolina mountains. After retirement, he and Ann split their

time between beautiful Cashiers, NC, and Charleston, SC. He

also took up oil painting, concentrating on landscapes in the

mountains and water and marsh scenes from the Low country.

He was an easy man to like, with a ready smile and a kind

heart. His optimism was contagious and he rarely raised his

voice. He was kind, gracious and gentle. His integrity was

unquestioned and his word was his bond. He was proud of his

children for their accomplishments but principally for their

character.

While raised a Southern Baptist, he attended Catholic

Church with his family every Sunday, believing that a family

should worship together. After the children were grown, he

found a home in the Episcopal Church and became a member of

the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers. He attended

Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Wrobleski; their children

and their spouses Mason (and Hunter), Walker (and Karen), and

Sutton (and Ashley); and grandchildren, Halliday and Myers

Morris; his sister, Linda (and Ted) and brother, Mason.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize former staff member Beatrice Holding for her service to the citizens of the Second District of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I was otherwise detained seeking medical attention after taking ill. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 412; YEA on Roll Call No. 413; NAY on Roll Call No. 414; YEA on Roll Call No. 415; NAY on Roll Call No. 410; YEA on Roll Call No. 411; and YEA on Roll Call No. 409.

Mr. Speaker, I was otherwise detained seeking medical attention after taking ill. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 416 and YEA on Roll Call No. 417.

Mr. Speaker, on January 28 of this year, three patriotic Americans, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, Georgia Army reservists, were murdered by an Iranian drone attack in Jordan by Iranian puppet Hezbollah. Sadly, on June 27, Biden denied their deaths.

On March 13, I sent a letter requesting the level of severity and number of injured in that attack. On July 19, nearly 4 months later by delay, the response was that with these three courageous American reservists from Georgia, an additional 74 servicemembers were injured, including 68 diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.

These deaths must not be forgotten. We must achieve peace through strength, not wars through weakness.

In conclusion, God bless our troops who have successfully protected America for 20 years in the global war on terrorism as it moves from the Afghanistan safe haven to America.

We don't need new border laws. We need to enforce the existing border laws. Harris shamefully opened the borders for dictators as more 9/11 attacks across America are imminent, as repeatedly warned by the FBI.

Our sympathy to the family of Dr. Barbara Nielsen, the late State superintendent of education of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the South Carolina Blythewood Coach Pitch All-Stars baseball team for their win of the 2024 South Carolina AA State Championship in Walterboro, South Carolina. The outstanding team of twelve, 7- to 8- year-old boys, are now heading to Orangeburg to represent South Carolina in the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series where they will compete against all-star teams from eleven states across the Southeast. On behalf of all South Carolinians, I would like to congratulate the Blythewood All-Stars on this impressive achievement and wish them the best of luck as they represent Team SC in the World Series.

The Blythewood All-Stars team includes players, Wylie Branham, Robert ``Chandler'' Douglass, Colton Hack, Adam ``Graceson'' Holland, Jameson Hubbard, Brody Hughes, Maddox Olver, Reed Peake, Chandler Perry, Declan Schultz, Trenton Wilburn and coaches, Dustin Branham, Ryan Douglass, Matt Hubbard, and Matt Hughes.

Their journey began with these twelve young gentlemen being selected out of ninety-five ball players further divided amongst twelve teams in the Blythewood Youth Baseball Softball League. The team has been practicing day in and day out from the time the team was formed up until they went to the South Carolina Diamond Youth Baseball District 4 Tournament in early June. There they went on to score a total of 38 runs, allowing only 7 runs against them, defeating the Midland Coach Pitch All-Stars, Lexington National All-Stars, and Dentsville 8U All- Stars, becoming the District 4 champions.

After a well-deserved break, they resumed practice and made the trek to Walterboro, where they played teams from Clinton and Hartsville, outscoring their opponents 27-3 the first day of tournament play. These wins advanced Blythewood through a bye the following day, where they picked right back up the next day playing Hilton Head and Clinton again, outscoring opponents 15-9. With these wins, Blythewood automatically advanced into the championship bracket.

However, they fell short in a hard-fought battle with Hilton Head in a historical game that lasted 15 innings, with a score of 3-4. Although, since it was a double-elimination tournament, they were not out, they would face Hilton Head again for a winner-takes-all-game. In true Blythewood fashion, the team fought back hard, took an early lead in the game, and kept the lead to beat Hilton Head 4-2, to become the 2024 South Carolina AA State Champions.

This victory of the Blythewood All-Stars Team is well-deserved, and I congratulate the team, coaches, families, and community for all their hard work and support, making the kids' dreams come true.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize Amy Boyette, Director of the Office of External Affairs at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, on her retirement after 32 years of federal service with the Site.

Her remarkable career at SRS has witnessed many groundbreaking accomplishments in the history of the department, state, and nation that contribute to both our national security and environmental stewardship. From her service as liaison to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to managing the U.S. Origin Nuclear Material Removal Program, her journey has been marked by dedication, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to public service.

Beyond her professional commitments, Amy's kindness, mentorship, and support for her colleagues and the community have created a legacy that will undoubtedly be an inspiration for many to follow.

I know her son, Nick Poston, parents, Milton and Shirley, her colleagues, and the citizens of both South Carolina and Georgia share my appreciation for her contributions to our states and service for Americans.

Congratulations to Amy on a truly remarkable career and best wishes on her future success.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on Friday July 19th, 2024, I was otherwise detained due to the nationwide CrowdStrike/Microsoft Outage and was unable to deliver the commencement address at Southeastern College. The following are the remarks I prepared to share with the graduating students:

Campus President Melissa Jackson, esteemed faculty, members

of the class of 2024, family members, and distinguished

guests, what an honor it is to be with you today.

I want to thank President Jackson and Dean Herlene

Williams-Ancar for the opportunity to speak to such a

remarkable group of men and women.

In my role as a U.S. Congressman, I serve as a senior

Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce,

as well as a member of the Caucus for Career and Technical

Education, so I am especially grateful to be here with you

today.

As a grateful father of four sons, I want to give a special

greeting to all the families here today. My wife Roxanne and

I have had our fair share of graduations and know firsthand

how proud you are of your husbands and wives, sons and

daughters, and mothers and fathers. What an exciting time for

you.

We are here today to congratulate and celebrate the more

than 70 members of this years' graduating class, who have put

in countless hours of hard work to reach their goals. What an

esteemed group of students you are.

Your accomplishments speak for themselves, and you deserve

recognition for all the hard work you have put in to reach

this point. You have sacrificed spending time with your

families and given up most of your free time to push yourself

and receive the certificate or diploma you are about to be

awarded.

Each of you has a different story as to how you came to

this precise moment. Many of you may not have picked up a

textbook in years, yet jumped back into becoming a student,

all while managing the other aspects of your life. Whether it

be working full-time to provide for yourself and your family

or trying your best to be a superstar parent or spouse, you

were able to juggle all these responsibilities and receive a

degree. Just one of these tasks is a job all in its own, so

the dedication to your studies should be celebrated and

admired. And your commitment to contributing to our workforce

is admirable.

As you well know, Southeastern College is a unique and

challenging place to learn. The education you have received

in the fields of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical

Assisting, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology,

Cosmetology, and Professional Clinical Massage Therapy have

prepared you for a new professional career ahead.

Because of the knowledge you have obtained during your time

here, you are now the best equipped to assist within the

profession you have chosen to benefit the lives of your

neighbors and community.

I am sure the hours spent reading quietly alone in a

library or surrounded by your noisy family at home have

satisfied a thirst you all share for knowledge, and they will

serve you as you head on to future endeavors. Your

accomplishments have allowed you to be far more knowledgeable

and will set you apart from others applying for jobs within

your field of choice.

In a National Teacher Appreciation Day Proclamation in

1988, former President Ronald Reagan stated that ``Education

is a lifelong process that benefits individuals and entire

communities and countries and helps lay the foundation of the

future.''

Over the course of your life, you have learned countless

lessons, many of which have been obtained through reading a

textbook, and others from your personal experiences.

The need for hard work will always be there and I encourage

you to never shy away from a tough challenge. You have shown

what you can accomplish when you put your heart and mind to

doing something worthwhile. So, each of you should be

extremely proud of your accomplishments.

You have worked hard to receive a wonderful education, so

be confident of your abilities and be optimistic as you meet

the future head on.

Our society faces many challenges right now, and politics

can seem more divided than ever, but I can tell you from my

own experience that there is no greater honor than service to

your community.

I want to thank President Jackson and the faculty again for

the honor of being with you today. I want to thank the

families and friends for letting me share in the celebration

of these graduates. And, of course, I want to thank you, the

Class of 2024 for the opportunity to be with you today. I

wish you all the best in the years to come. May God Bless.

Mr. Speaker, during the last three years, Americans have endured the highest inflation in 40 years, costing the average family $13,000 more a year to buy the basics.

Under President Donald Trump, inflation was 1.4 percent. Since then, costs have risen over 20 percent. Families saw prices for Fourth of July celebration staples skyrocket:

Ground beef was up 23 percent

Sodas up 22 percent

Hot dogs up 16 percent

Ice cream also up 16 percent . . . just to name a few.

House Republicans and Donald Trump are committed to stopping reckless spending and restoring fiscal responsibility.

Corrupt Judge Merchan has unintentionally re-elected Donald Trump and removed Biden, clearly earning my invitation to the Trump Inauguration. Unethical conduct backfires.

In conclusion, God Bless Our Troops as the Global War on Terrorism continues. We do not need new border laws; we need to enforce existing laws. Biden shamefully opens borders for dictators, as more 9/11 attacks across America are imminent, as repeatedly warned by the FBI.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize the 100th birthday of Greg Shorey, a patriot who has been so important for families in South Carolina developing the modern two-party system.

As South Carolina Republican Party Chairman from 1958 to 1961, he was a courageous pioneer to launch the modern Republican Party. Beginning with the first elected Republican of the Twentieth Century, Charlie Boineau was elected to the State House in August 1961, representing Richland County.

Now, Republicans have super majorities in the State House and Senate, all statewide officials are Republicans, and eight of nine federal officials in the U.S. House of Representatives are Republican.

Chairman Greg Shorey is a champion for promoting limited government, expanded freedom, and peace through strength as hallmarks for Republican success.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican National Convention Was inspiring for the future of American families with the nomination of Donald Trump and JD Vance.

The Trump-Vance ticket has a proven record of creating jobs, limiting inflation, controlling the border, recovering energy independence, and achieving Peace Through Strength. I have attended Republican conventions since being a Youth Delegate in 1972 in Miami Beach. This convention with grandsons Addison, Hunter, and Michael in the aftermath of the miraculous assassination survival was a positive revelation of Donald Trump as the leader American families can trust.

Corrupt Judge Merchan has been unanimously condemned for his unethical backfiring and re-electing Trump and now removing Biden. My invitation for Merchan to be my guest at the Trump Inauguration is more profound than ever.

In conclusion, God Bless Our Troops as the Global War on Terrorism continues. We do not need new border laws; we need to enforce existing laws. Biden shamefully opens borders for dictators, as more 9/11 attacks across America are imminent, as repeatedly warned by the FBI.

My deepest sympathy for the family of my friend and colleague, Sheila Jackson Lee.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank our chairman, Chuck Fleischmann, from Tennessee for his leadership.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, our Nation's strategic nuclear deterrence is perhaps the best example of peace through strength. With the murderous invasion of Ukraine by war criminal Putin and Russia's recent decision to transport nuclear weapons to Belarus, and with nuclear submarines 60 miles from the United States being in Cuba, which is obviously a threat to our neighbors in Florida, the United States must be ready to face any challenge if provoked.

Plutonium pit production modernization is one of the most critical and pressing national security needs of the United States, which has not had the ability to produce new pits since the 1990s. Employees of the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, with employees from Georgia, are working around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to bring the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility to life, which will produce the majority of our Nation's supply of plutonium pits online as soon as possible.

As the only Member of Congress who has worked at the Savannah River Site, I know firsthand the dedication and the competence of the Savannah River Site employees, and I am very grateful that Chairman Chuck Fleischmann visited the site recently and saw the world-class facilities.

The bipartisan program began under the Trump administration and has been rightfully continued under the Biden administration.

Further, Congress correctly rejected this same amendment during consideration in last year's energy and water appropriations bill by a wide margin of 116-303.

I am grateful to represent the site with my Democratic colleague, Jim Clyburn; with my next-door neighbor, Rick Allen of Georgia; and another next-door neighbor, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina.

Given the uncertainties regarding plutonium aging and the evolving geopolitical landscape, a current war of dictators invading democracies, the United States cannot postpone reestablishing this critical capability.

Delaying the restoration of this capability could result in significant cost increases and risk to national security. Further, the Savannah River Site will take advantage of its nearly 75 years of successfully manufacturing components for the nuclear weapons stockpile as the right place to complete this mission.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), my neighbor.

Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today a Service of Worship in Remembrance of and Thanksgiving for Life was held for Maria Locke Boineau Macaulay at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina. Services were conducted by Reverend Dr. David H. Lauten, with organist Thomas Russell, and soloist Emma Hagood.

I am grateful Maria was the wife of my fellow former State Senator Alex Macaulay and my cherished Boineau second cousin.

I include in the Record the following obituary that was published in the service bulletin:

``Maria Locke Boineau Macaulay passed away in the morning

of July 17, 2024. Born in Columbia on January 11, 1943, Maria

was the proud daughter of the late Edward ``Bru'' Boineau and

Helen Gayle Bell Boineau. She attended Columbia High, where

at 5'2'' and 95 pounds she earned the nickname ``Moose.'' A

lifelong lover of books and the Gamecocks, she graduated from

the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in

English.

``After a brief stint in Charlotte, she returned to her

home state and married her first (and only) husband Alex

Macaulay of Columbia. In 1973, she moved with her husband and

two children--also named Maria and Alex--to Walhalla, South

Carolina where she established herself as a vibrant and

active presence in the community. As a member of the Walhalla

Presbyterian Church, she played in the hand bell choir with a

focus and intensity that was truly something to behold. She

worked years as an award winning and beloved substitute

teacher at Walhalla High School. While the students never

wished any ill will on their day to day teachers, they were

always excited when they walked in the classroom and saw Mrs.

Macaulay sitting behind the desk. In addition to her daily

walks around Sertoma Field, she dedicated countless hours to

the Oconee Public Library, delivering books throughout the

county, serving as chairperson of the Library's Board of

Trustees and as president of the Oconee County Friends of the

Library. In 1999, she was appointed by the governor to the

South Carolina State Library Board and would go on to chair

its Board of Trustees as well.

``A devoted and exuberant mother and grandmother, Riri, as

her six grandchildren called her, traveled across South

Carolina and the mountains of western North Carolina taking

them on vacations as well as attending an infinite number of

sporting events, dance recitals, graduations, birthday

parties, and other special and non-special occasions where

she let the children know each and every time how much she

loved them and how proud she was of them.

``Maria is survived by her husband, Alex Macaulay; her

sister, Gayle Boineau Darby; her daughter, Maria Macaulay

Sellers; her son, Alex Macaulay; a slew of grandchildren,

Maria Locke Sellers, Sarah Calhoun Sellers, Eliza Maxwell

Macaulay, Lee Edward Macaulay, Kate Eleanor Macaulay, and

Julia Webster Macaulay; and an even bigger bundle of cousins,

nieces and nephews.''

Mr. Speaker, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul correctly condemned Biden for a lie that no American servicemembers were killed on his watch, ignoring the 13 murdered at the Abbey Gate.

The lie cited by Mr. McCaul was underscored by three American reservists murdered by the Iranian puppet Hezbollah on January 28.

As a grateful father of four sons who served overseas, it is sad Biden ignores the three murdered and conceals the others injured, even though I asked about their injuries on March 13.

Corrupt Judge Merchan, orchestrated by the corrupt Biden Department of Justice, is backfiring--The Wall Street Journal today--reelecting Donald Trump, as Merchan earns my invitation to the Trump inauguration.

In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. We do not need new border laws. We need to enforce existing laws. Biden shamefully opens borders for dictators as more 9/11 attacks across America are imminent as repeatedly warned by the FBI.

Our sympathies to those killed Monday at the Kyiv, Ukraine, children's hospital by war criminal Putin.