Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Ambassador Christian School football team from Huntersville, North Carolina, on an impressive victory in Dublin, Ireland.

These student-athletes traveled across the Atlantic to represent North Carolina in the Global Ireland Football Tournament, where they took on Grapevine Faith Christian School from Texas.

I am pleased to report the Ambassador Christian Lions came away with a 24-point victory, putting their hard work and dedication on full display.

Ambassador Christian School opened its doors in 2024, and this football program is already making its mark.

Mr. Speaker, the players and coaches represented Huntersville, North Carolina, and the United States with great pride. I look forward to seeing what this team accomplishes next. Congratulations and go Lions.

I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not point out that they were not the only North Carolina team that dealt a defeat to a Texas school in Ireland. I would just simply say God bless America and go Heels.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the House budget resolution.

This resolution in this reconciliation package builds on the working families tax cuts that were passed into law last year that have lowered taxes for more Americans than probably any tax bill in decades.

I will talk about one thing, though, that seems to get glossed over by my friends on the other side, and that is the SAVE America Act that is in here.

The overwhelming majority of Americans support voter ID when it comes to voting. My home State in North Carolina, a little over a decade ago, adopted it, and we have actually seen even greater voter participation since doing so.

I raise the question to some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: Have they not seen the news that just showed where 6,600 votes were cast in New Jersey by noncitizens?

Voter fraud is happening. That has been discovered. That is documented. The SAVE America Act--which is a part of this, voter ID-- makes it very clear that for someone to vote, they need to be a citizen as required by the Constitution. They also must present a form of ID.

This is easy, simple stuff. That is in this resolution, as well. Those who vote against this resolution also vote against this commonsense reform where we want it easy to vote but hard to cheat.

I will say, Mr. Chair, that I am very proud of what the Budget Committee has done in building a responsible budget that funds critical needs right now with our military, with threats that we have against us from around the world, and, at the same time, responsibly spends money and maintains these tax cuts that we passed.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 9535.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Steve Stroud, a friend and a true leader who transformed North Carolina.

After attending North Carolina State University, he built one of North Carolina's most respected commercial real estate firms, shaping the growth of the Triangle region. His impact extends far beyond commercial development.

As the first chairman of the Centennial Authority, he played a pivotal role in the building of what is now known as the Lenovo Center and bringing the Carolina Hurricanes to North Carolina. His determination helped secure our State's first major league professional sports franchise, boosting economic growth, tourism, and pride throughout all of our communities.

He was a leader who saw possibilities where others saw obstacles. He believed in North Carolina, invested in our people, and dedicated his life to creating opportunities for others.

From humble roots in Rutherford County to the Research Triangle, he left a positive, lasting impact on communities all across North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, as we mourn his passing, may we remember Steve Stroud for his enduring legacy of leadership, service, and love of our great State. Our prayers are with his family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and memory of Maxine Peacock Holley, a devoted public servant of Benson, North Carolina, who passed away at the age of 82.

Maxine dedicated her life to serving others as a teacher's aide, a magistrate judge, and a Benson town commissioner. She was a trailblazer. She was the first woman to chair the Benson Housing Authority and made history as Johnston County's first successful write- in candidate elected to public office.

With deep faith, Maxine showed what it means to love your neighbor. Even while battling cancer, she continued to serve with grace and an unwavering commitment to others.

Above all, Maxine was devoted to her family. She was a proud mother to Reggie, Nikita, and Shawn, and she instilled in them that same spirit of service.

Mr. Speaker, as we mourn her passing, we also celebrate a life well lived: a life of faith, a life of service, and a life of selflessness. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering her and thanking her for her public service.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise on a sad occasion but to honor the life and the service of Ashley Moore of my home county, Cleveland County, North Carolina, who tragically passed away just one day after celebrating her 37th birthday.

On July 6 of this year while Ashley was a paramedic with the Cleveland County EMS, while she and her team were responding to an emergency, an impaired driver struck the ambulance from behind, injuring the patient, another paramedic, and unfortunately, killing Ashley.

Ashley served Cleveland County for 9 years as a paramedic, a field training officer, and an EMS instructor. She dedicated her life to caring for others with compassion and professionalism.

Every day, first responders put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities, and Ashley embodied the very best of that calling, putting the needs of others before her own until her very final moments.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in praying that God will bring comfort and strength to Ashley's family and her fellow first responders during this time.

Mr. Speaker, I will first start off with thanking my colleague on the other side of the aisle for his support on this. It is great when we can do bipartisan things, particularly on such subject matter.

I rise today in support of my bill, the Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act. When Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina and so many other States, small businesses were on the front lines of recovery.

They stepped up to serve their communities and support their neighbors. They led, in a lot of ways, the response when it was needed most.

When disaster hits, speed matters.

Delays can determine whether businesses reopen or whether homes are repaired. The longer it takes for a community to rebuild, the greater the strain on the local economy.

That is why the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program is so important.

It provides low-interest, long-term loans that help homeowners and businesses recover, rebuild, and get back on their feet.

Unfortunately, a few years ago, the SBA failed to notify Congress that the disaster loan account was running dangerously low on funds.

So what happened?

As a result, the program experienced a 66-day funding shortfall. What that did, Mr. Speaker, was leave homeowners and small businesses unable to access critical disaster assistance when they needed it most.

Hurricane Helene exposed serious weaknesses in the oversight and management of this account. We should learn from these failures rather than allowing them to be repeated.

That is why I introduced this bill. It strengthens oversight, increases transparency, and also puts in place even better financial safeguards within the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program.

These reforms are going to help ensure that Congress receives timely information, that resources are managed responsibly, and that disaster assistance remains available when Americans need it, not after it is too late.

Homeowners and small businesses cannot afford delays after a disaster. This ensures that the Federal Government is better prepared to respond quickly, effectively, and responsibly when disaster strikes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, many parts of this country are facing a major housing affordability issue. In my home State of North Carolina, there is an estimated housing shortage of 750,000 units. With over 100,000 more people moving into North Carolina every year, that gap is only going to grow.

One way--in fact, the way to solve the housing affordability issue is to build more houses. It is really that simple, and the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does exactly that. Instead of piling on new mandates or subsidies, it removes the burdens that are standing between American families and an affordable home.

Building more homes is only half of the equation, though. That is why the banking reforms in this bill are so critical.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act expands mortgage access for working families and includes my bill, the TRUST Act, which also lifts unnecessary regulatory burdens off of well-managed community banks. These reforms will help banks provide more construction loans that get shovels in the ground and opportunities for first-time buyers as well as those buying a second home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I, too, thank the chairman for his excellent leadership on this.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Police Week, and I think our law enforcement officers would agree that public safety should not be a partisan issue.

What we have seen around the country are leftist judges and DAs who are pushing policies that put criminals back on the streets and take tools away from law enforcement. One of the ways that happens is through cashless bail.

I was an attorney for 30 years, and I practiced all levels of court, including criminal practice. I have seen, particularly in certain areas in my home State and other areas around the country, where violent criminals are released on either very low bail or sometimes cashless bail.

As Mr. Harris pointed out, you had the tragic situation of Iryna Zarutska who was brutally murdered on the light rail in Charlotte. She would be alive today had that criminal been in jail. He had been released over and over and over again.

The Cashless Bail Reporting Act that we are debating today at least creates a list of jurisdictions that release individuals accused of serious offenses like murder, rape, and carjacking without requiring cash bail.

Now, I do think that the ranking member's assessment of bail--I would not disagree with the gentleman's assertion of how bail is set up. I would submit, and perhaps the gentleman would agree with me, that there are instances where the courts simply are getting it wrong. Someone with common sense should look and say: Why was this guy released on the street?

Look at the seriousness of the underlying crime, the criminal record. When you see someone who has been through the courts over and over again, and when the crimes get more serious every time, it starts off with maybe just stealing, then it goes to robbery, then it goes to assault, then it involves a weapon. Why in the world would that person be released on a cashless bail? Let alone, why would they not be held in jail awaiting trial?

Here is what happens. When you look at the statistics of the folks who commit crimes in my State and your State and other States, a lot of the crimes are committed by the same folks over and over again. The statistics are out there showing the folks who go out and commit crimes while they are awaiting trial on other charges. We have to rein this in, and we have seen situations around the country where that hasn't happened.

Look, I will tell you, in my home State of North Carolina, former Governor Roy Cooper actually released over 3,500 convicts, people who had already been convicted, he released them early from prison with lengthy criminal records, and the stats are showing of those folks released, most of them have reoffended since then.

The reality is there are some people who are dangerous. They are criminals. They are going to rob. They are going to murder. They are going to commit crimes, and they should be incarcerated. What this bill does at least, is this is going to shine a light--and I appreciate you doing this, Mr. Harris--this is going to shine a light on those jurisdictions where the judges are just letting these violent criminals back out again.

I hope a day will come when even folks who are on the left where some of this stuff is happening in these districts will realize it is not about left or right because when these criminals offend, they don't pick and choose who their victims are. They often terrorize those communities that can least afford to have that done to them.

So I appreciate this work, and we have other steps. There is a bill I am supporting that would actually create liability in the case of gross negligence when folks are released out on cashless bail.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this bill, and I hope we pass it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill, the Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act, otherwise known as the TRUST Act.

Back home in western North Carolina, and in so much of rural America, community banks are very often the only financial institution in so many of our small towns. These are the banks that are helping a young couple get approved for their first mortgage or sitting down with someone who wants to open a business to be able to extend that line of credit that they need to do so.

Our community bankers are involved in the community. They give back to charity, as they truly are a part of the community and a key part of our economy.

Right now what is happening is these small-town banks are suffocating under a regulatory system that just does not make sense. It is one- size-fits-all, and it really makes no sense to treat a small, rural community bank to the same exact regulatory and compliance standards as you do with the really super large banks that you have around the country. It is just not fair. They can't keep up with it, and it just causes ridiculous costs that don't make sense.

The central issue that this bill goes to is to address the examination cycle that these banks are required to undergo.

The way it works is Federal regulators routinely examine banks to make sure they are operating safely and responsibly; something that is extremely important. We cannot cut down on oversight.

Under current law, the healthiest community banks can qualify for examinations every 18 months instead of 12 months, but the eligibility for that relief is tied to an outdated asset threshold that was set back in 2018 which has not been updated since then.

At that time, about 94 percent of community banks fell under the $3 billion threshold that allowed them to qualify for the longer examination cycle. Today, because of inflation and economic growth alone, it takes nearly $6 billion in assets to cover that same share of banks.

Let's call this what it is. These banks did not suddenly become reckless overnight or stop serving their communities responsibly. The only thing that changed was the economy grew, and Washington never bothered to modernize the rules.

That means that well-run community banks are now being pushed to more frequent exam cycles simply because of an outdated number on paper that no longer reflects the reality.

Here is what happens. Every hour spent preparing paperwork for regulators is an hour not spent helping small businesses and helping individuals who need to get access to credit. What has to happen is this has to be updated. Congress can do this, and I believe they will do this today.

Passing the TRUST Act would update the threshold from $3 billion to $6 billion. What that would do is allow this law to reflect today's economy, and community banks will continue to qualify for the same regulatory relief that Congress originally intended.

Absolutely just as important, the bill does not weaken the safety and soundness standards one bit. These institutions must still maintain strong ratings, be well-capitalized and operate without enforcement actions.

To someone who is watching at home today or hears about this and wonders, why is this important? Well, it is important because if you cut down on the amount of regulations, the amount of red tape, the amount of money that just goes into the bureaucracy to feed this, if you stop spending that money there, you have that money to put into small businesses and to provide money to working families, folks who need access to capital.

For that reason and so many more--I know this is a great bill, and I appreciate the support--I urge the body's passage.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation is celebrating 250 years since our founding.

During this time, we reflect on the patriots who founded this country, but I also want to recognize those who have kept it strong.

In my district, that story goes back nearly a century. In the early 1900s, Stuart Cramer, a Naval Academy graduate, and his family purchased a small textile mill in North Carolina and built out the town of Cramerton.

By 1929, they developed a lightweight khaki fabric that would go on to clothe millions of American servicemembers throughout World War II and beyond. This placard shows their sign in town.

When World War II broke out and demand surged, the Cramer family could have held on to their patent for profit. Instead, they released it so that factories across the country could produce more uniforms for our troops and help us to win the war.

Mr. Speaker, that is true patriotism. On our Nation's 250th anniversary, let's honor everyday patriots who carry forward the legacy of freedom and pass it on stronger than they found it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the student athletes of Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, North Carolina, for winning the North Carolina boys' State basketball championship.

In North Carolina, basketball is a part of who we are. From packed high school gyms to college arenas, our State takes great pride in the game. This tradition is alive and well at Hunter Huss High School.

These students spent countless hours practicing, preparing, and pushing themselves to be their best. Their hard work and determination paid off in a season that we will never forget.

A State championship is never won by just one person. It is a testament to the coaches, to the families, to the teachers, and the supporters who stood behind this team all season long.

Mr. Speaker, achievements like this bring our community together, and I can say that Gaston County and all of North Carolina are very proud of this great team. We congratulate the Hunter Huss Huskies for an outstanding season and a well-earned State title.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 24.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5184, the Affordable HOMES Act. America is facing a substantial housing shortage. Right now, we are short more than 8 million homes nationwide. In North Carolina alone, that gap is projected to exceed 750,000 homes.

The reality is simple. The only solution is to build our way out of the problem. Building new housing right now is slower and more expensive than it should be, largely because of regulatory costs and outdated Federal requirements.

Regulations now, Mr. Speaker, add over $93,000 to the cost of building a single new home. The Affordable HOMES Act takes a step to address this problem by eliminating the duplicative Department of Energy regulations that drive up costs for manufactured housing.

Affordability requires more homes to be built faster at a lower cost. I am proud to support the Affordable HOMES Act because I believe it makes it easier for Americans to achieve the dream of homeownership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Carl J. Stewart, Jr., a proud son of Gaston County, North Carolina, and a former speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, who passed away on December 23 at the age of 89.

Carl grew up in a working-class family as the son of two Firestone Mill employees. He earned a scholarship that helped him attend Duke University and Duke University Law School. He then went on to serve in the North Carolina House for 13 years and made history as the first speaker elected to serve two consecutive terms.

Throughout his life, Carl was a very well-respected attorney in our area with an absolutely great law practice. He combined his legal work with public service, along with serving in the legislature. He held leadership roles on the North Carolina Board of Transportation, the North Carolina Economic Development Board, the North Carolina Ports Authority, as well as the North Carolina Ethics Commission.

His legacy lives on in the infrastructure and educational access that he helped build, especially at Gaston College. For six decades, Carl Stewart served the community college, first as a business law instructor, then as legal counsel, forming a partnership with college presidents and board members rooted in innovation, integrity, and unwavering commitment to student success. In every role, he focused on building a stronger North Carolina, and he really put in so much time to improve the lives of folks in Gaston County. Whether it was education or other things, you name it, he was always there.

I will tell you one thing about Carl. He never lost sight of where he came from, and he spent his life helping. I got to know Carl even before I was speaker of our statehouse, and I can tell you, he was a great mentor. He was somebody who loved nurturing folks who were coming up in public service and getting involved and folks who really wanted to try to make our State a better place. I am going to tell you, North Carolina is a better place because of Carl Stewart's work and his example.

I join our community in mourning this tremendous loss. I ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers in appreciation for all that he has done for so many in our great State.

Honoring Life and Service of Officer Michael Miles

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and service of Officer Michael Miles, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this week.

He was a proud marine, a loving father, and a dedicated police officer serving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for more than 13 years. He spent much of that time protecting and mentoring others in the Freedom Division.

Before wearing the badge, he wore the uniform of the United States Marine Corps and served his country with honor. That same spirit of service guided him every day on the job and at home.

His sudden passing is a heartbreaking loss for his loved ones, his fellow officers, and our entire community. Officer Miles leaves behind his partner, Hannah, and four children. I ask my colleagues to join me in lifting up his family in prayer.