Russell Fry

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Because they are not actually issued it.

Mr. FRY. You cannot buy these things on the street.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2255, the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, is a very commonsense piece of legislation supported by Republicans and, at least last Congress, by 13 Democrats, as well. Fourteen Members across the aisle voted in favor of this same exact bill, and I encourage more Members to do so as we honor police this week and into the future. Law enforcement officers are faced with danger every single day, not only on the job, but when they return to their homes. This commonsense bill honors them a little bit and shows them that we want them to have these weapons in their homes to protect them, their property, and their families, as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 405, I call up the bill (H.R. 2240) to require the Attorney General to develop reports relating to violent attacks against law enforcement officers, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2240.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, police officers risk their lives every day to protect our communities. I extend my sincere gratitude to all law enforcement officers and their families for their service and sacrifice. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers face the continued threat of unprovoked and ambush-style attacks. The bill before us, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act, would require the Attorney General to develop a series of reports related to violent attacks on law enforcement officers. The left's defund the police movement continues to have ripple effects throughout the country, as violent crime remains high and criminals have become more brazen in their attacks against police officers. In addition, rogue prosecutors and leftwing bail reform policies continue to allow more criminals on the street with no accountability. Let me be clear: The threat to officer safety is very real, and we must take a stand against any defund the police rhetoric. In 2024, 342 officers were killed in the line of duty, with 79 of them shot in 61 ambush-style attacks. As of May 1, 2025, 109 officers have been shot in the line of duty just this year. This violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and underscores the importance of this legislation. While the government collects basic information on these attacks, such as when the attack occurred and what types of weapons are used, more information is needed to help law enforcement officers prepare for, identify, and prevent future anti-police activity. This legislation would also shed light on the mental health consequences of the attacks on law enforcement and other trauma law enforcement deals with on a daily basis. Mental health resources are another critical need for law enforcement officers, as they continue to risk their lives every day to keep their communities safe. We must take care of those who do so much to take care of us. This legislation is common sense. It will gather more information to help Congress explore the best possible solutions for our law enforcement officers. I would like to mention that 146 of my colleagues across the aisle voted in favor of this legislation last Congress. It is incredibly bipartisan. Let's all work together to stand against attacks on law enforcement and support our men and women in blue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this crucial legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Moore), my good friend and the bill's primary sponsor.

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

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Moore).

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

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This is an incredibly commonsense and bipartisan piece of legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support it. Law enforcement has been demonized and attacked. They have been defunded in leftwing jurisdictions many years ago. I hope that that movement is forever in the dustbin of our history because we owe it to law enforcement to support them in any number of ways that we can as policymakers. One of the easiest ways, in my mind, is this bill. Data is incredibly important, Mr. Speaker. You know this firsthand. Data is incredibly important. Understanding these attacks on our law enforcement, how it is affected by the officer, how these things occur, where they occur, these data points are incredibly important to understand and protect our law enforcement. Last year, I think all of the Republicans and the vast majority of my Democratic colleagues supported this very measure. I hope that this year even more Democrats will support it and that it will be signed into law because this data is incredibly important to make sure that we protect our law enforcement officers. This is just a small way that we can advance that initiative forward. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bobby Tyner, who passed away peacefully at his home in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, this week. Bobby was a faithful steward of the Palmetto State and dutifully served our country as an engineer in the U.S. Army. Following his service, Bobby became an advocate for those impacted by Agent Orange chemical exposure during the Vietnam war, helping to share the stories of veterans and their loved ones and advocate for good public policy. Our country would not be where it is today without the sacrifices of Bobby and men and women like him serving on the front lines to ensure our Nation's freedom. South Carolina's Seventh District will certainly miss Bobby. We will miss his grit. We will miss his passion. We will miss his humor. We will forever cherish the lives he touched as a husband, a father, and a veteran.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for allowing me to speak. I rise in strong favor of the HALT Fentanyl Act to combat the deadliest drug crisis our Nation has ever faced. Fentanyl-related substances are wreaking havoc in our communities all across this country, with illicit fentanyl poisoning now the leading cause of death among young adults from 18-49. Last year alone, 109,000 Americans died of an overdose, the overwhelming majority of that related to fentanyl. Drug traffickers exploit loopholes in our law, tweaking fentanyl's chemical structure just enough to create new, unregulated substances that are equally as deadly. To be clear, Democrats have already voted for this. They have voted for the temporary extension of this with a continuing resolution, and this has never come up. This is a bipartisan bill. If this goes away, that is a win for the cartels, criminals, and Chinese Communist Party. The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently classifies all fentanyl-related substances, analogues, and derivatives as schedule I drugs, ensuring that law enforcement has those necessary tools to do their jobs.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, Wednesday, January 29, has been recognized as Honda Talon Day in South Carolina. Governor McMaster declared this day of official celebration in response to the Honda Talon being named ``Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina'' by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. The Honda product stood out against 166 other nominated products with class-leading technology and numerous victories in racing competitions. Since 1998, Timmonsville has been the exclusive home of Honda side- by-side vehicle manufacturing, where it has produced nearly 4 million units and currently employs over 1,000 South Carolinians--I'm looking forward to the future of Honda manufacturing here in South Carolina's Seventh District.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a dear friend and dedicated public servant, Gerri McDaniel. Gerri had a fierce determination to better her community not just with her words but with her actions, as well. She was a resident of North Myrtle Beach for nearly 22 years, where she was active in her community, including the Horry County Republican Women's Club. She was a true pillar of the South Carolina conservative movement. In 2016, Gerri worked for President Donald Trump, helping to secure a historic victory. In 2020, she served as an elector to our electoral college, helping to assign our States' nine votes to President Donald Trump. Gerri's personality was infectious. She was an incredibly hard worker, and she had the unique ability to inspire others to work diligently for the conservative cause. Mr. Speaker, through all that she accomplished, one thing remained constant: her passion for improving the lives of South Carolina and our great country. Her conviction, her fearless leadership, and willingness to serve will no doubt leave a lasting legacy for all who knew her.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 3998.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3998) to provide for the permanent appointment of certain temporary district judgeships.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has already taken the most important step to stabilizing our overworked Federal courts. Last week, the House joined the Senate in decisively passing the JUDGES Act of 2024. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans to finally add much-needed judgeships for the first time in 20 years. We urge the President to set aside partisan politics and sign the bill into law. The bill before us today, S. 3998, is another piece of critical legislation aimed at relieving the backlog of our Federal courts. The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024 further aids the Federal judiciary by converting 10 temporary judgeships into permanent ones. Importantly, this bill does not create any new vacancies. Instead, this bill ensures that districts don't lose a judgeship if a judge retires or takes senior status after a temporary judgeship expires in the future. This bill makes permanent judgeships in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. Passing this bill will provide stability to the regions of those States that have come to rely on these temporary judgeships since their creation, in some cases more than 30 years ago. This bill takes into account the recommendations of the Judicial Conference of the United States, and it is sorely needed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4610) to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as the national bird.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 4610.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bald eagle has long been associated with and a symbol of the United States. It was first adopted in the Great Seal of the United States in 1782. Versions of the Great Seal are used in the Seal of the President of the United States, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and by countless Federal agencies and departments. The bald eagle appears on the flags and insignia of our military, on our passports, and on our currency. It appears on the flags and the seals of several States as well. The bald eagle is also important to Native American Tribes across the United States. It plays a key role in sacred belief systems and traditions, stories, ceremonies, and insignias. Despite this long and intertwined history of the United States, the bald eagle has not been officially designated as our national bird. S. 4610 would change that. This bill would amend title 36 to enshrine the bald eagle as the national bird along with our national anthem, national motto, and other symbols of our country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiments of my colleague from across the aisle and I urge my colleagues to support S. 4610. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.