Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Biggs), for his leadership in this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 1, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would require the Supreme Court of the United States to be composed of nine Justices.

This action will uphold the Court's legitimacy, protect the checks and balances that defend our fundamental freedoms, and ensure that every American's rights will remain protected, regardless of who holds political power.

For decades, we have heard calls from those unhappy with the ideological balance of the Supreme Court to pack the Court. The alarming rise of such calls should worry all of us because their objective is not to uphold ethical principles or even to protect individual rights but rather to consolidate power and intimidate the Court.

Our Founders understood that liberty cannot survive when power goes unchecked. They therefore built a system of checks and balances, with an independent Supreme Court serving as a critical safeguard for the rights and freedoms of every American. The Court's role is not to advance a political party's agenda but to uphold the Constitution and protect liberty even when doing so means standing apart from the passions of the moment.

At a time when our Supreme Court is facing ongoing and escalating attacks, Congress must and can act to defend it.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this proposed amendment, and I urge all my colleagues to support maintaining the integrity of the United States Supreme Court.

Nothing is more noble and patriotic than serving our great company, and Darren Solomon exemplifies this spirit. After 33 years of public service, including 26 years as a Federal agent, he is officially retired.

As a certified fire investigator, Darren spent years uncovering the truth behind how fires occurred and helping provide answers to families during some of their most difficult moments. Beyond his own investigations, he dedicated himself to training fellow investigators and passing along his knowledge and expertise to the next generation.

Throughout his remarkable career, Darren has demonstrated unwavering patriotism, a deep love for his family, and a strong commitment to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Darren for his service. It will never go unnoticed, and I am proud to have him as part of the great Eighth District of North Carolina and wish him a well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4499) to make technical amendments to update statutory references to provisions reclassified to title 34, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4499.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4499, a bill that makes important technical corrections to our Federal statutes and ensures that references in the United States Code remain accurate.

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel, or OLRC, is responsible for preparing and publishing the United States Code, which organizes the Federal laws enacted by Congress. In 2017, the OLRC moved various laws to title 34 of the United States Code, which pertains to crime control and law enforcement. This was done to ensure that our Nation's laws are properly organized.

H.R. 4499 updates references to these laws throughout the titles of the code affected by their move to title 34. While these may be technical changes, they are important for maintaining an accurate and accessible United States Code. I am grateful that Congress is taking action through my bill, as well as the other legislation being considered by the House today, to ensure that our laws accurately reflect the current code.

I thank the Office of the Law Revision Counsel for all the work it does, as well as those on the Judiciary Committee who helped address these much-needed changes. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill. I am very grateful for the bipartisan support, and I urge everyone to support H.R. 4499. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, very few people get to celebrate their 100th birthday. Even fewer can look back on those years knowing they helped defend the freedoms that continue to make this country an incredible place to call home.

Earlier this month, my constituent, Frank Horne, turned 100 years old. Today, we celebrate not only his 100th birthday but a century marked by sacrifice, bravery, service, and devotion to his country and community.

Born in South Carolina in 1926, Frank later made Charlotte, North Carolina, his lifelong home. He joined the United States Navy in May of 1945, as World War II was drawing to a close, and began training to serve in naval aviation, answering the call with deep patriotism and love for his country.

After his service, Frank attended UNC-Chapel Hill and built a long career in manufacturing while continuing to serve his church, family, and community, becoming a husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to many.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, Mr. Speaker, Frank's story is a powerful reminder of his character, service, and patriotism that has carried this Nation from one generation to the next.

We are proud to celebrate Frank's 100th birthday. I thank him for his incredible service to our Nation. May God bless him, his family, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Moore so much for being willing to host this very Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on this very special anniversary, the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

As has already been stated, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the issue of abortion to the American people and their elected representatives. For nearly 50 years, Roe kept States and citizens from fully using their laws to protect unborn children.

Today, we celebrate Dobbs as a victory for the God-given right to life and for the pro-life laws that have protected hundreds of thousands of unborn children since that decision.

Next week, our Nation will celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At our very founding, America declared that every person is endowed by our creator with a right to life. That right belongs to the unborn as surely as it belongs to any one of us.

Every child, born and unborn, is made in the image of God. That gives every child a dignity that no court can create, and no government can deny. Long before a child is seen by the world, that child is seen and known by God and is worthy of protection.

As a father of 3 and a grandfather of 11, I have seen the blessings of children being brought into this world. Through my own family, I know they are among the greatest gifts the Lord gives. Each one deserves the opportunity to be born.

The work of protecting life is far from over, especially as chemical abortion by mail continues to expand across this country. Today, women can order chemical abortion drugs online and receive them at home without ever seeing a doctor in person.

Under the Biden administration, the FDA recklessly removed the in- person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, opening the door for abortion drugs to be sent by mail without direct medical oversight.

These drugs end the life of an unborn child. When they are distributed this way, mothers can be left to face the risks alone. Without an in-person visit, a woman may not receive proper screening for complications. No woman should be sent abortion drugs through the mail and left to face the pain and the aftermath by herself.

My bill that I have introduced, the Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025, would make it a Federal offense for doctors to send chemical abortion drugs through the mail without providing in-person care before, during, and after the abortion.

As we continue toward the day when every unborn child is protected in law, this bill is a necessary step. It puts essential safeguards back in place and holds providers accountable.

Mr. Speaker, 4 years after Dobbs, the fight for life is not finished. Congress must continue to defend the sanctity of every human life.

On this anniversary, we remember the children who were never given the chance to live; we fight for the children still at risk; and we stand with the mothers who deserve to know that life is still possible.

Again, I thank Vice Chairman Moore for leading this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act led by Chairman Walberg and Vice Chairman Owens.

For far too long, our education system has prioritized activism over fundamentals. Parents in America want their children to learn how to read, write, solve math problems, and reach their God-given potential. Unfortunately, schools across the country have abandoned biological realities in favor of curriculum that is infused with gender ideology, sexual education, and transgenderism.

Mr. Speaker, this is not education; this is indoctrination.

What is equally concerning is the effort schools have put into leaving parents out of important discussions regarding their children. Parents have the right to know what their kids are being taught and what is happening to their children in schools.

That is why I am honored to stand against the indoctrination of our kids and for parents' rights. I strongly urge my colleagues to do the same by joining me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today, we celebrate more than a birthday. We celebrate 100 years of American courage, sacrifice, and patriotism embodied in one extraordinary man.

Vic St. Pierre turns 100 years old today, and what a remarkable century it has been. Through war and hardship, duty and courage, Vic answered the call to serve our country time and time again.

From serving in the Marines during World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war, Vic bravely marched into combat carrying the spirit of America with strength and honor.

Born in Rhode Island and now a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, Vic joined the United States Marines at 17 years old, driven by a desire to serve and to see the world.

What he gave in return was far greater: a lifetime of service and unwavering commitment to protecting the freedoms we cherish every day.

Mr. Speaker, as America approaches its 250th birthday, stories like Vic's remind us why this Nation remains a beacon of freedom and hope for the world. Our veterans and servicemembers are the heart of this country. They are the reason our flag still waves proudly and why generations of Americans continue to live free.

Today we celebrate Vic's 100th birthday and honor his extraordinary service and courage. May God bless him, his family, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1275, I call up the bill (H.R. 5625) to direct the Attorney General to make publicly available a list of each State and unit of local government that permits cashless bail, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5625.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act.

In August of 2025, the whole Nation watched in horror as we witnessed the brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail.

This murder took place right outside my district in a city I have called home for many years. This tragic incident cannot be described as anything other than a cold-blooded murder carried out by a dangerous individual who should not have been out on the streets to begin with.

Iryna Zarutska's alleged killer, Decarlos Brown, Jr., had 14 prior arrests and had previously served a 5-year sentence for robbery with a dangerous weapon. Decarlos Brown, Jr., was out on a written promise to appear in court when he murdered Iryna Zarutska.

Decarlos Brown, Jr., should not have been released on a simple written promise to appear in court given his extensive history of crime and violence.

There are many aspects of public safety that must be addressed to keep our streets safer. One of the most pressing issues is bail reform.

As we celebrate National Police Week and welcome many brave members of our law enforcement to the Hill, I can't help but think about how some States and local governments choose to make law enforcement officers' jobs harder and more dangerous through the laws and policies they enact.

State legislatures, city councils, and rogue prosecutors have implemented radical bail laws and other policies that have worsened violent crime. These laws and policies have eliminated cash bail, restricted judges from imposing constraints on dangerous criminals, and even mandated the immediate release of criminals back into the community.

Now more than ever it is important that we prioritize American citizens and support our law enforcement officers.

States like Illinois, California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York have modified their bail practices to eliminate or de-emphasize the use of monetary bail systems, which has resulted in increased property and violent crimes.

A March 2023 study by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that approximately 72 percent of violent felony offenders who were released without bail were later re-arrested.

State and local jurisdictions must take steps to address the problems that arise with irresponsible cashless bail policies.

I applaud my home State of North Carolina for passing Iryna's Law, which dealt with cashless bail, among other things. However, we cannot and should not sit and wait for more jurisdictions to experience tragedy to do something about these reckless bail policies.

To be clear, bail is not a criminal fine or a punishment. It is not a reflection of a defendant's guilt or innocence. It exists to ensure the defendant will appear at all required proceedings during their criminal case. Bail is imposed after an assessment of risk, the risk that a defendant may flee from a jurisdiction, and the risk that a defendant may harm witnesses or other members of the community if they are released before trial.

My bill, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, will empower Americans with the information they need to advocate for much-needed changes. This bill simply requires the Attorney General to publish a list of each State and local jurisdiction that allows individuals charged with certain serious offenses to be released before trial either on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bonds. This list will be made public and updated periodically to ensure Americans have accurate data on the extent of cashless bail across our country.

Americans should be able to see which jurisdictions have enacted dangerous and irresponsible policies related to bail when making decisions about where to live, to work, or to travel. It also shows Americans where change is needed most. The American people deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to policies that affect public safety.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support of this bill by the ranking member of our committee and what he has shared.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I do thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) for his support of this bill and for his statements and I do hope that we will be able to continue conversations.

I would say in closing, Mr. Speaker, how many more victims must there be before we act? Cashless bail policies have proven to be a disaster. Soft-on-crime jurisdictions have released criminals on mere promises to reappear in court without adequately considering the flight or safety risk they pose to those around them.

I believe the American people believe enough is enough. The American people deserve to live in safety. The American people deserve safe public transportation. The American people should not have to live with the consequences of reckless bail policies, and it should not take brutal murders for these reforms to happen.

We must stop prioritizing ideology over safety. We must stop playing politics with bail policy. We must fight for a safer America, regardless of State or locality.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to stand for public safety and to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, every day across this country, law enforcement officers respond to calls that most of us hope we never have to face: violence, danger, tragedy, and moments where lives are on the line. While others run away from danger, they run toward it.

To the brave men and women in law enforcement who answer that call: We thank you.

Every single day they put on that badge, unaware of the dangers that may lie ahead. Yet, they still stand ready to serve, time and time again.

While most Americans are asleep, they stand watch. When chaos erupts, they are the first to respond. When fear takes over a community, law enforcement officers are the line between danger and safety.

During this National Police Week, let us honor the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of the men and women in blue who keep our communities safe.

To every officer across North Carolina's Eighth District and across the Nation, I stand to say: Thank you. Thank you for your courage and your service. Thank you for every holiday missed, every late-night shift worked, and every time you stepped into harm's way to protect someone else.

My hope and prayer this Police Week is that everyone who sees a police officer will shake their hand and thank them for their service. The men and women behind the badge deserve to know that this country stands with them, supports them, and is grateful for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and the gentleman from Oklahoma, Representative Brecheen, for this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, the foundation of this Nation was not laid in silence, but in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

As we approach the 250th birthday of America, we reflect on the courageous actions of 56 men who came together in Philadelphia in 1776 to declare independence and to set in motion the birth of a new Nation grounded in liberty, justice, and faith in God.

These signers, as we already heard tonight, pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of freedom. And as we remember their sacrifice, we are also called to reflect on the enduring principles they set forth and the responsibility we carry to preserve and strengthen them even today.

They knew their strength alone was not enough. Only God's guidance could actually sustain a nation and make our freedom possible. Psalm 33:12 declares: ``Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.''

We express our gratitude to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His providence over the United States and all nations. We are, indeed, one nation under God.

We must pray for our Nation. Praying for our Nation is part of a longstanding American tradition. During the Revolutionary War, when the future of our Nation was far from guaranteed, the Continental Congress paused to designate a national day of thanksgiving and prayer to give thanks to the Lord, to seek His wisdom and His protection and to ask for the strengthening of the people's unity.

In 1777, the Continental Congress called Americans to come together ``with one heart and one voice'' in solemn thanksgiving and praise. You see, Mr. Speaker, that same spirit is reflected in today's National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving, a time to unite in gratitude, seek God's guidance, and renew our commitment to the values that strengthen this Nation.

George Washington prayed that God would hold this Nation in His holy protection and incline the hearts of its citizens toward brotherly affection and love for one another.

You see, Mr. Speaker, that prayer remains just as relevant today. I have the privilege of serving both as a Member of Congress for the Eighth District of North Carolina and as a pastor. I have witnessed firsthand the power of prayer, in my church, in families, and in moments when our Nation needed healing, wisdom, and revival.

Today, let us pray for an end to political violence in our Nation. No American should be targeted for their beliefs, their service, or their convictions. Let us pray for peace in the Middle East. Let us pray for our President and for my colleagues in the House and Senate regardless of political party. Let us pray for revival of prayer, thanksgiving, and praise across this Nation.

May the Lord continue to do His good work through this Nation, for without His guidance we are lost.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, today, we pause to recognize a man whose work has made an incredible difference in the fight to preserve the values that made this Nation great, Tim Reitz.

Tim has served the House Freedom Caucus with conviction, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose. In a town where it is awfully easy to lose sight of first principles, he has remained grounded in them. He understood that our responsibility is not to expand government, but to restrain it, not to chase headlines, but to deliver results for the American people.

Behind the scenes, where much of the real work gets done in this city, Tim brought steady leadership and sound judgment. He helped advance policies that defend our Constitution, protect taxpayer dollars, and uphold the freedoms entrusted to us by our Founders.

More than that, Tim has served with integrity. Tim has built trust. Tim has earned respect. He reminded all of us that public service is, at its core, about serving something greater than ourselves.

I say to you this evening, Tim, that we are grateful for your dedication to the House Freedom Caucus and to the cause of liberty. Your work has left a mark, and the principles you championed will continue to guide us forward. May God bless you in the next chapter, and may God continue to bless these United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Gary Sides, pictured here beside me, a man who gave over a decade of public service to Union County, North Carolina. As a former Union County commissioner, he spent years not only serving, but truly changing lives.

Gary was a constant champion for students, especially those with special needs. He stood beside families of every kind. He showed up again and again for his community.

In December of 2024, Gary Sides was sworn in as a Union County commissioner, a role that reflected the trust our community had in him and his dedication he had already proven.

Just 4 months after he was sworn in, Gary received a devastating diagnosis, stage IV glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Yet, even in the face of an unimaginable heartbreak, Gary's life remains a testament not to hardship, but to service.

He lived a life that put others first. Every single day, he served the people of Union County with humility, compassion, and purpose. He focused on what mattered most: education, public safety, and the well- being of Union County. If something needed to be done, Gary was there to do it.

Beyond his work, Gary was a man of deep faith, a man who walked with God, was led by faith, and who found strength in something greater than himself. In that, we find peace in knowing that he is now in heaven with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Today, let us remember Gary Sides and not only remember him, but let us learn from him. Let us live in a way that when our time comes, we too will be remembered as someone who gave back more than they took.

Above all, let us keep our faith at the center of all we do just as Gary did every day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I have a message for the American people.

Dear Americans: Democrats do not care about your safety.

They are displaying this right before our very eyes. Democrats do, obviously, before our own eyes, practice political gamesmanship rather than provide real security for our homeland safety.

At a time when our Nation faces threat after threat, it is imperative that we have a strong and fully funded Department of Homeland Security.

The brave men and women of DHS work hard every single day to keep Americans safe. They have earned our support. How do Democrats repay them for their work? They shut down the Department of Homeland Security.

I am proud to stand in support of this resolution today to shine a light on the great work that they do. However, it cannot go unsaid that many of my Democrat colleagues who may vote in favor of this resolution today will still continue to maintain that DHS would be unfunded, as they have voted four separate times against its reopening, purely because of political games.

At a time when our Nation faces increased security risks, Democrats are choosing politics over our Nation's safety.

They are giving us one crystal clear message: They do not care about Americans' safety. If they did, wouldn't the agency whose sole job is to protect America be funded at this very hour?

Securing America's safety and the ensuring brave employees of the Department of Homeland Security receive the funding they undoubtedly deserve must happen, and it must happen soon.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to my colleague for yielding to me and allowing me the time to share this afternoon on this important subject.

I want to share some facts, because facts make a difference.

Fact number one, sharia law is not compatible with Western Civilization.

Fact number two, radical Islam glorifies violence.

Fact number three, sharia law has no place in our country. Radical Islam teaches harming innocent people, which, the last time I checked, is the complete opposite of America's Constitution, which protects the liberty of all people.

Listen to these key ideologies that sharia teaches its followers: honor killings, stoning, lashes and/or amputation for crimes such as theft, blasphemy, or adultery, and imposing the death penalty for apostasy. For those who don't understand apostasy, it means if someone wanted to leave Islam.

For anyone wondering why radical Islam is dangerous and should be kept as far away from America as possible, they should consider these few examples I have just given.

To think radical Islam is not a close threat is far from the truth. We all see the rise of Zohran Mamdani's New York, which is becoming a front page for radical Islam, a place where extremists feel emboldened. We all witnessed the recent ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New York, where two young men threw homemade bombs into a group of protesters.

What was Mamdani's response to that terror attack? He blamed it on white supremacy.

Radical Islam is staining America. It is not just a danger in places like New York. It has made itself clear in a small, quiet suburban town, Mint Hill, in my district in North Carolina.

At age 14, Christian Sturdivant pledged his allegiance to ISIS. Then, 4 years later, he planned an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack, using knives and hammers to target people at a grocery store and a restaurant on New

Year's Eve, a time normally filled with fireworks, food, and friends. However, Mint Hill, North Carolina's near reality was an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.

I have to ask how many more impressionable American teenagers are being influenced by this violent Islamist ideology. We must not ignore this growing threat.

If we don't act now to stop sharia law, what will America look like in 5 years or 10 years from now?

I believe all of our roles in Congress are to set America up for a better future. We will not be silenced because we will speak the truth that others may be too afraid to say. America is not a place for radical Islam to thrive, period. Full stop.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.

Mr. Speaker, for decades boxing has declined in the public eye in part because of a fragmented structure that has left many fighters without the security and stability they deserve. This bill gives boxers more control over their careers, allowing them to choose whether to compete within a unified boxing organization or continue under the current system.

The bill updates longstanding requirements to ensure proper medical oversight, including the presence of doctors and ambulances at every event. It includes my amendment, which better aligns these requirements with established industry practice and State laws in some of the Nation's premier combat sport States, including Nevada.

As a result, the bill now requires two ambulances and two doctors to be continuously present at professional boxing matches. I urge my colleagues to support this bill brought forward by my friend Representative Brian Jack that I believe will modernize boxing safety standards.