This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Ralph Norman.
Issued
September 15, 2026
house side of the record
People
1
Linked members mentioned in this section
Legislation
0
No linked legislation in this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
People mentioned
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. Norman of South Carolina was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. 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.
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.
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.
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.
accomplished female engineer who worked on the development of rocket propellants. In 1971, they welcomed their first son Carlos Salas.
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.
Salas, Carlos and his family legally immigrated to Connecticut to pursue the American Dream.
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.
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.
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.
a few minutes, especially a life as remarkable as Carlos Salas' has been.
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.