Russell Fry

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I echo the comments of my colleague from across the aisle, and I urge my colleagues in the House to support this bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation, S. 3998, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense bill that will help further build trust in American Federal elections in the future, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5658) to amend title 39, United States Code, to require mail-in ballots to use the Postal Service barcode service, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FRY. Madam 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 this measure.

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5658, the Vote by Mail Tracking Act. Every American citizen who votes deserves to know that their vote has been counted and their voice has been heard. This bill, the Vote by Mail Tracking Act, would ensure that this is the case. H.R. 5658 requires that all ballots for Federal election mailed within the United States to or from a voter contain a Postal Service barcode. This barcode would allow voters to track the status of their ballot in the United States Postal Service system, allowing voters to know in real time when their ballot is received by the Postal Service, when it is in transit, and when it has arrived at their election authority. Beyond a Postal Service barcode, under the bill, a ballot must meet other requirements, including utilizing the Postal Service's envelope design standards. Additionally, the ballot must include the official election mail logo or any future logo the Postal Service establishes for ballots. While I encourage every citizen who wishes to vote in person on election day to do so, many States have adopted vote-by-mail policies. We must take the integrity of our elections serious and account for the fact that a significant number of Americans choose to cast their ballots by mail. This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan response to a rising level of mail-in voting nationwide and will put in place requirements to ensure that the U.S. Postal Service can more efficiently handle and more transparently track the mailed ballots of every American citizen. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Porter, Donalds, and Mace, for their work on this important legislation. I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 825) to prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the people of Venezuela have faced years of repression. Political persecution, human rights abuses, and press censorship are all commonplace under the brutal, illegitimate, and anti-American regime of Nicolas Maduro, a regime closely allied with Russia, Iran, Cuba, and the People's Republic of China. The American Government should always stand in solidarity with the long-suffering people of Venezuela and against the Maduro dictatorship. Part of that solidarity should be to ensure that the Maduro regime is denied any resources that will allow it to continue the oppression of its own citizenry. This past July, Maduro and his representatives falsely claimed victory in Venezuela's Presidential election. Maduro has since been accused of intimidating and repressing his opposition in order to cling to power. A couple of months ago, on September 12, the United States sanctioned 16 of Nicolas Maduro's allies in response to accusations that they engaged in human rights abuses and election obstruction. While not all of Maduro's allies will be subject to sanctions, the money of hardworking U.S. taxpayers should not ultimately find its way to those who support the regime of a ruthless dictator. H.R. 825 is straightforward. It requires Federal agencies to ensure that they are not contracting with any entity that conducts significant business operations with Maduro and his allies. That said, it also includes appropriate exceptions, such as situations of national security, for the purposes of providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and other urgent lifesaving measures or to carry out noncombatant evacuations. This is not a new concept to the U.S. Congress. The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act contained a provision in section 890 that prohibited the Pentagon from entering into contracts with companies that also have contracts with any Venezuelan Government entity under Maduro's control. As with H.R. 825, there are waivers for contracts related to providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, among other exceptions. The BOLIVAR Act would extend prohibitions under section 890 to the rest of the Federal Government. I support the BOLIVAR Act and thank my colleagues on the committee, Representative Mike Waltz and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for leading this bill. Madam Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues support H.R. 825, a measured response and most timely piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill to ensure that Federal agencies not contract with any entity that conducts business with the Maduro dictatorship and his allies, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5536) to require transparency in notices of funding opportunity, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FRY. Madam 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 this measure.

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, before serving in Congress, I served in the South Carolina State legislature. Now, here in Washington, I am passionate about ensuring that State, local, and Federal Governments all work together and work together well. During my time in office, I have heard from many of our local governments, and particularly in my district in those rural communities, that applying for Federal grant money can be a complicated and often confusing process. In big cities, you often have professional staff that do this. In a small town, it is the mayor or his spouse that is doing this. After putting time and effort into filling out a competitive grant application, applicants are left wondering why they were not chosen to be awarded Federal grant money, especially if they met all of the criteria listed when applying. This leads to grant applicants feeling as though the decisions are made behind closed doors. I think we can all agree that navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth known as Washington, D.C., can be complicated for local governments and for organizations. Grant writers and applicant staff may even be unaware of which selection criteria are weighted more heavily when filling out applications. The Grant Transparency Act requires Federal Government agencies to shine a light on their decisionmaking process when awarding competitive Federal grant money. With this legislation, Federal Government agencies would be required to disclose their selection methods when awarding competitive grants. Specifically, the bill requires that notice of funding opportunities for all Federal competitive grants to have: one, a description of any rating system, evaluation, and selection criteria the agency uses to assess the grant application; two, a statement on whether the agency uses a weighted scoring method and a description of that method; and, three, any other qualitative or quantitative merit-based approach the agency may use to evaluate applications. State and local governments across South Carolina's Seventh Congressional District and nationwide compete for Federal grant money on a continual basis. Federal grant money allows investment to come to our communities and improve the daily lives of our constituents, ranging from sewer and wastewater systems to airports, fire stations, and recreational facilities. These are all things that Americans rely on and utilize in their daily lives. The Grant Transparency Act would help out our local governments and organizations when they fill out applications to compete for that funding. They deserve this transparency from their Federal Government. Today, let's empower grant applicants to put their best foot forward and bring those Federal dollars home. I thank my Oversight Committee colleague Jasmine Crockett for co-leading on this bill. This simple bill has the potential to make a very meaningful impact in countless communities and nonprofits nationwide. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward, bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this commonsense and bipartisan bill to make the application process for competitive grants much more transparent on our local governments and nonprofits. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3126) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish or replace a headstone, marker, or medallion for the grave of an eligible Medal of Honor recipient, regardless of the recipient's dates of service in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, Constitution Day is a time set aside to commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America--the most important document in our Nation's history. In 1787, the thirty-nine men that convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, forever altered history when they formed the supreme law of our land--written by the people, for the people. Through times of prosperity and times of hardship, our constitution has never wavered. Let this Constitution Day remind us of the liberty, justice, and freedom for all--and the never-ending pursuit of a more perfect union.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic Golf Tournament, which was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this past May. The Grand Strand's first-ever PGA tour event was a monumental success, drawing more than 40,000 spectators, over a thousand volunteers, and 132 players. On Saturday, May 11, the tournament broke the PGA attendance record for a first-year event, serving as a reminder that Myrtle Beach is, indeed, the golf capital of the world. I congratulate Chris Gotterup for taking the title of the first-ever winner of the Myrtle Beach Classic, which was also his first-ever PGA title. I am excited to see the continued success of the Myrtle Beach Classic for years to come.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress. This is not a decision that I take lightly but one that is rooted in the fundamental principle and appreciation of our separation of powers. Merrick Garland claims that he will ``not back down from defending democracy,'' but he has gone to great lengths to ignore and discredit our legislative oversight. Merrick Garland claims that there have been ``unprecedented'' and ``unfounded'' attacks on the justice system, but all the while his Department of Justice has weaponized our government in unprecedented and unfounded ways. Merrick Garland claims, again, that he will continue to do the right thing. The right thing here, Mr. Speaker, would be to comply with a lawfully issued subpoena. We have the transcripts. You cannot now claim executive privilege over the tapes themselves. The Supreme Court case of McGrain v. Daugherty put it best: ``A legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information . . . and where the legislative body does not itself possess the requisite information . . . recourse must be had to others who do possess it.''

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Fred Allen Smalls on receiving an honorary high school diploma from Georgetown High School. Mr. Smalls was born in Georgetown County and later lived in Mullins before moving to Washington, D.C., with his family. His graduation ceremony was attended by more than 100 people voicing their support, a testament to the respect and esteem Mr. Smalls has garnered. His determination is an inspiration to all of us in South Carolina. If you ask him, though, Mr. Smalls will credit many of his accomplishments to his grandmother and his aunt, who raised him and instilled in him the value of perseverance. I congratulate Mr. Smalls on his inspiring achievement.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the legendary Coastal Carolina University head baseball coach, Gary Gilmore, for an illustrious career and to wish him a happy retirement. Coach Gilmore began his baseball career in the Grand Strand as a center fielder for the Chanticleers in 1979 before returning to serve as the head baseball coach in 1996. Under his direction, the Chanticleers climbed to new heights. His career is a story of unprecedented success, including over a thousand wins, countless conference tournament titles, and numerous NCAA tournament appearances. The 2016 season was particularly special, as Coach Gilmore, who was honored as the National Coach of the Year, led the Chanticleers to a victory at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. This was Coastal Carolina's first-ever national championship in any sport. Coach Gilmore has left a mark on Coastal Carolina University that will not soon be forgotten. I thank him for his dedication to his players, his alma mater, and the Chanticleer faithful. His success will leave a lasting legacy not only in the history books and the trophy cases of Coastal Carolina University but in the hearts of so many across South Carolina.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Judge Timothy Pogue and his dedication to serving the people of Florence and Marion Counties in South Carolina. Judge Pogue led a career as a distinguished and well-respected attorney, public defender, civil servant judge, husband, and father. His commitment to serving juveniles and those experiencing abuse and neglect soon earned him a reputation as one of the finest jurists in South Carolina. His public service was felt throughout the community and his leadership made him a role model to many practicing law. Mr. Speaker, I thank him for his devout service to South Carolina and to the bench. We wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Kelly Ackerman for being named the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year for Seaside Elementary School in Horry County. I am a little bit biased. While her colleagues chose her amongst dozens at this particular school, she is also the teacher of my first grade son, James. Ms. Ackerman has taught various ages, including kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade. She has 16 total years of teaching, including 11 in Horry County Schools. Horry County Schools is massive. There are 3,000 teachers, and they teach nearly 50,000 students. At Seaside Elementary, they are lucky to have somebody like Ms. Ackerman who is so passionate about teaching the next generation of American students. I thank Ms. Ackerman for her role in fostering a culture of learning. My son certainly appreciates it. From a grateful family in the Fry household, we appreciate Ms. Ackerman engaging with our son. I asked my son last night on FaceTime what he was going to remember most or miss most about Ms. Ackerman. He said: ``She is beautiful. I will miss everything about her. She helped me learn 3D shapes. She appreciates me. She makes me feel special. She makes us do performances in class.'' On behalf of my colleagues in the House and on behalf of the Fry family, I thank Ms. Ackerman for her selfless dedication to the students of Seaside Elementary.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Nancy Yount Childs for her years of dedicated public service and accomplished career in law enforcement. Nancy Childs was born on May 28, 1952, in the Washington, D.C., area. In 1979, she began her successful career with the United States Capitol Police, serving as one of the first female Capitol Police officers-- truly a trailblazer, not only for women but for the law enforcement community as a whole. By the time she retired in 1999, she held the rank of inspector and served in the U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section. She was also a dedicated member of the Fraternal Order of Police for 20 years. Upon her retirement from the U.S. Capitol Police, she relocated to the sunny shores of South Carolina. It is there where I developed a lasting friendship with Nancy and her husband, Bob. She loved walking on the beach, collecting shells, and enjoying country music. On November 2, 2022, Nancy passed away peacefully. I know them well because Bob Childs was the former mayor of Surfside Beach. He was a pretty effective mayor, but it was because of the efforts of Nancy, particularly behind the scenes, making sure the trains were running on time that he was effective. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and public servant. Her memory will live on through her three wonderful children, Jim, Jennifer, and Christa, and her husband, Bob, of 29 years. Nancy's love for her family and friends, commitment to public service, and trailblazing accomplishments deserve to be honored and remembered. Madam Speaker, today, I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 6188 to designate the United States Postal Service facility at 420 Highway 17 North in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, as the Nancy Yount Childs Post Office Building so that Nancy's memory and legacy can continue to inspire the Grand Strand community for years to come.

Mr. FRY

Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, just over 3 years ago, Joe Biden took office as President of the United States and he immediately began upholding his campaign promises to reverse the Trump administration's immigration policies. On day one, this President issued executive orders that sent the world a message that America's borders are open. He used his executive authority to stop border wall construction, rescind the remain in Mexico policy, prevent the removal of any illegal aliens, and block ICE and CBP from enforcing immigration laws. In the weeks and months that followed, President Biden terminated Trump-era policies aimed at preventing fraudulent asylum claims, ending catch and release, increasing criminal alien removals, and preventing illegal immigration. After all, if Trump did it, it must be bad. Madam Speaker, what was the result of Biden's radical and dangerous systematic dismantling of policies that worked to reduce and prevent illegal immigration? The biggest mass illegal immigration in the history of the United States. Nearly 7.5 million illegal aliens have been encountered by the Customs and Border Patrol on the southwest border. There have been 37 straight months of 100,000 southwest border CBP encounters. The Biden administration has released more than 4.5 million illegal aliens into American communities, in addition to at least 1.8 million known got-aways avoiding apprehension. At least 340 illegal aliens on the terrorist watch list have been encountered by Border Patrol along the southwest border, and that is just the ones we know about. I haven't even mentioned the northern border, where historically high numbers of illegal aliens are encountered by CBP every single day. Who could have predicted those results? Well, for starters, the Trump administration officials did. House Republicans did. The American people did. Sheriffs, CBP, DHS employees did; ranchers, farmers, families, they all did. They warned the Biden transition team not to rescind policies like the migrant protection protocols in title 42, but politics trumped common sense, and the American people are left with a national security, public safety, and financial disaster that is the Biden administration's immigration agenda. After 3 years of chaos, the Biden administration seems to have finally gotten the message that Americans get uneasy when they see mobs of illegal aliens beating up New York City police officers, watch endless numbers of illegal aliens stream across the southwest border, and hear the heart-wrenching details of murders, like that of 22-year- old nursing student Laken Riley, by illegal aliens who should not have been here in the first place. With an election on the horizon, President Biden's handlers have decided that now is the time to finally admit that what is happening on the southwest border is a crisis. Instead of correcting, they are blaming Congress. The American people are not stupid. They know that if President Trump was able to establish the most secure border in American history, despite the open-border groups rushing to get his immigration policies enjoined in activist courts at every turn, then President Biden, too, could use his executive authority to help secure the border and restore those policies. They know that President Biden simply refuses to do it. President Biden refuses to implement the migrant protection protocols, to stop abusing discretionary case-by-case and other parole authority, and to re-implement President Trump's asylum cooperative agreements so we can remove illegal aliens seeking asylum to third countries. President Biden refuses to expand the use of expedited removal, refuses to use 212(f) authority to suspend the entry of aliens to secure the border, and refuses to end catch and release. President Biden refuses to comply with the mandatory detention status of the Immigration and Nationality Act for inadmissible aliens. He refuses to rein in the use of taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens. This stands in stark contrast to President Trump, who only refused to give up on securing the border. To everyday Americans, the answer to the border crisis is simple: Secure the border and enforce the law. That is what the Trump administration did; that is what America needs; and that is what President Biden refuses to do. H. Res. 1065 affirms that President Biden has the executive authority to help control the border, affirms that the Biden administration is refusing to use that authority, and urges President Biden to immediately begin using that executive authority as has been done before. H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, passed this House last spring. It would enhance our current law and help ensure the border is controlled. Senate Democrats have refused to bring that bill to the Senate floor for almost a year now. In the meantime, and while we wait, President Biden should use his executive authority to ensure the national security and public safety of Americans is paramount. He should use it to secure our border, and he should do so today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.