March 31, 2023

Friends,   

I hope you and your family are well! I wanted to provide you with a few updates regarding what’s going on –

H.R. 1 Passes the House with Bipartisan Support!

This week, I have been focused on passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. On Thursday morning, H.R. 1 passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support with a 225-204 vote! 

H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, will take bold action to unleash our nation’s energy potential and reverse the Biden Administration’s war on American energy that began on his first day in office. This legislation is a win for all Americans and will address the nation’s energy crisis by reestablishing American energy leadership. Lowering energy costs is a leading priority because energy is the foundation of everything in American life—when the cost of energy goes up, everything else does too.

H.R. 1 will reverse the President’s anti-American energy policies, cut excessive bureaucratic red tape, help to lower global carbon emissions with cleaner American liquefied natural gas (LNG), and increase domestic production to lower costs and restore American energy dominance.

H.R. 1 includes my bill, the Protecting American Energy Production Act as part of sixteen pieces of legislation from the Energy and Commerce Committee. Of the sixteen bills from the Energy and Commerce Committee, there were nine bills from the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee, where I serve as Chairman. The Republican Majority is delivering solutions to the crises Americans are facing through passing H.R. 1, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bipartisan legislation to lower energy costs and improve the standard of living for Americans.

Why H.R. 1 is Important

When Joe Biden took office just over two years ago, the national average for a gallon of gas was $2.39. That national average is now $3.50, and we saw the national average of gasoline reach a historic high of over $5/gallon in June 2022. 

This is due to the Biden Administration’s war on American energy, which has caused Americans to suffer from record-high energy prices across the board. Many Americans have been forced to choose between gas or groceries due to the President’s self-imposed energy crisis. Joe Biden shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, sent energy jobs overseas, imposed crippling regulations on the oil and gas industry, stifled domestic production, and emboldened our adversaries by relying on them for our energy.

It’s time to embrace and expand America’s position as the number one energy producer in the world instead of stifling domestic energy production as Joe Biden and the radical environmentalist Left have done. Click HERE for my remarks on H.R. 1 this week on the House floor, and click HERE and HERE for my remarks on H.R. 1 before the Rules Committee. 

Trump's Indictment: Unprecedented Prosecutorial Abuse

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran his George Soros-funded campaign on a promise to arrest Donald Trump, and this political witch-hunt of an indictment is the result. Federal prosecutors have previously reviewed these allegations and found them to be without merit. This unprecedented prosecutorial abuse is nothing more than another example of “Trump derangement syndrome.” Politically weaponizing our justice system will only sow more division and distrust in this country.

In the Media

Click HERE to see my conversation with Fox Carolina on Thursday discussing the passage of H.R. 1 in the House and what this means for South Carolinians. Click HERE and HERE for more discussion on H.R. 1 this week. 

Legislative Action

Here is a list of ten more pieces of legislation I have cosponsored this Congress.

I cosponsored H.J.Res.38, Rep. Debbie Lesko’s proposed amendment to the Constitution to protect parental rights and enshrine their right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children.

I cosponsored Rep. Dan Bishop's H.R. 1229, the Stop CRT Act, to prevent the use of federal funds to further the teaching or advancement of Critical Race Theory in our schools and communities.

I cosponsored H.R. 1228, Rep. Dan Bishop’s bill to ensure the United States Armed Forces is banned from promoting racist and anti-American theories.

I cosponsored Rep. James Comer's H.R. 1209, the Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA Act), to ensure open competition and federal government neutrality in regard to federal contractors on federally funded construction projects.

I cosponsored Rep. Joe Wilson’s H.R. 1200, the National Right-to-Work Act, to protect the free choice of American employees to participate or refrain when it comes to labor organizations.

I cosponsored Rep. Tim Walberg’s H.R.1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act, which requires the Secretary of Energy to facilitate timely notifications regarding cybersecurity threats to better protect our electric infrastructure.

I cosponsored Rep. John Curtis’ H.R. 1158, the Elimination of Future Technology Delays Act of 2023, to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prevent delays on the EPA's decision on whether a critical energy resource presents an unreasonable risk and prohibit the EPA from pre-emptively suspending reviews of future technology.

I cosponsored Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s H.R. 1155, the Keeping America's Refineries Act, to stop the phasing out of gasoline and prevent a rise in prices for Americans.

I cosponsored Rep. August Pfluger’s H.R. 1143, the Prohibiting Federal Emergencies for Abortion Act, which prohibits the executive branch from declaring a national emergency to promote access to abortion. It also prohibits the executive branch from taking action against states that prohibit or limit abortion. 

I cosponsored Rep. August Pfluger’s H.R. 1141, the National Gas Tax Repeal Act, which strikes down the President’s natural gas tax.

2023 Congressional Art Competition

If you're a high school student in South Carolina's Third District and would like your artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol, I encourage you to enter the 2023 Congressional Art Competition! The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 and allows Members of Congress to showcase the artistic talent of students across the country. Click HERE for more information.

In the District

Recently, 158 volunteers took part in the 15th annual Lake Greenwood Cleanup to clean up various sites in Laurens and Greenwood counties. including public areas around Lake Greenwood. Around 9,115 pounds of litter and debris was picked up from the event.

It is an honor to serve the Third District of South Carolina. Should you or your family need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office directly.