Ralph Norman

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.

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.

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.