April 14, 2023

Friends,   

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

Biden Administration Cracks Down on Gas-Powered Cars

The Biden Administration EPA’s radical plan to force Americans into buying electric vehicles will price middle- and lower-income families out of the market and leave many rural Americans, who are left out of charging networks, behind. Click HERE for more information on this new proposal. 

We don’t have the energy infrastructure to support an influx of electric vehicles because of the regulatory red tape that inhibits American energy projects from flourishing. The Biden Administration’s short-sighted energy agenda picks the winners and losers in the marketplace, makes us dependent on Chinese-controlled critical minerals necessary for EV manufacturing, and I fear will ultimately lead to a future of grid failures and blackouts.

The bottom line is this dangerous new proposal will make us more dependent on our adversaries like China and less energy secure. Instead of limiting the energy sector, we should embrace an all-of-the-above energy strategy and unleash energy dominance through legislation like H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would streamline permitting reform, increase domestic energy production, and actually lower energy prices for Americans.

While the EPA is pushing for the electrification of cars through the tailpipe rule, which will increase demand on our power plants, they’re also expected to push a separate set of rules that will take power plants offline. So, they are wanting to increase demand, while at the same time, reducing supply. This will cause blackouts, increase costs to consumers, and make it harder to manufacture products domestically because of the lack of baseload power.

We will continue fighting this anti-energy agenda tooth and nail. Instead of inhibiting American energy as the Biden Administration does, we are for unleashing American energy production!

COVID National Emergency is Finally Over

The COVID national emergency has officially ended after Joe Biden signed our Republican-led House bill into law this week. Now, what's stopping the President from ending all remaining COVID shot mandates? We will keep up the pressure on the Administration to end all COVID mandates to restore our medical freedom. 

H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act 

When the price of energy goes up, everything else does too. That's why passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, was a top priority of ours this Congress. H.R. 1 will increase domestic energy production to lower energy costs across the board and improve the standard of living for Americans. This passed this House with bipartisan support last month, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to send this important legislation to the President’s desk! 

Protecting Parental Rights in Education

Parents have a God-given right and responsibility to make decisions for their children. H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights, affirms this and restores parental rights in education. Parents (not politicians, bureaucrats, or woke school boards) are the primary stakeholders in their children's education. I am proud this passed the House last month! 

Legislative Action

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

I cosponsored H.J.Res.42, Rep. Andrew Clyde’s proposed resolution to nullify the District of Columbia’s Police Reform Laws that would increase surveillance of the officers while stripping away their ability to protect themselves.

I cosponsored Rep. Ralph Norman’s H.R. 1470, the No Federal Funds for Abortion Travel Expenses Act, to prevent the use of federal funds to fund travel between states for the purpose of obtaining an abortion.

I cosponsored H.R. 1469, Rep. Ralph Norman’s bill to ensure the Department of Defense is banned from requiring masks on military bases for the purpose of preventing COVID-19 spread.

I cosponsored Rep. Lisa McClain’s H.R. 1466, the Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act (RESEARCH) Act, to ensure the NIH is banned from using human tissues from abortion procedures for research purposes.

I cosponsored Rep. John Joyce’s H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice on Vehicles Purchases Act, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing regulations that would require electric vehicles or ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles.

I cosponsored Rep. Thomas Tiffany’s H.R. 1425, the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act, which requires any agreement from the World Health Organization to be deemed a treaty, and comply with the advice of the Senate.

I cosponsored H.R. 1399, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bill to prohibit so-called "gender-affirming " procedures on minors.

I cosponsored H.R. 1297, Rep. Ronny Jackson’s bill to prohibit the Secretary of Defense from paying or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.

I cosponsored Rep. Michael Cloud’s H.R. 1271, the No Retaining Every Gun That Restricts Your Rights Act, which prohibits the illegal collection of firearm records and requires the destruction of firearm transaction records delivered to the Attorney General.

I cosponsored Rep. Julia Letlow’s  H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which mandates transparency between schools and parents regarding school budget, curriculum, and activities that could impact their children and affect their learning environment.

In the District

The Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School teams won the State Science Olympiad at The Citadel earlier this month. Clinton High School defeated fourteen other high school teams and won gold medals in astronomy, bridge building, chemistry lab, dynamic planet, environmental chemistry, forestry, remote sensing, and Wi-Fi lab. Both teams will compete in the National Science Olympiad Tournament on May 19-20 at Wichita State University in Kansas.

102-year-old World War II veteran Cpl. Ralph Conte was honored by the Semper Fi Barn in Central with a special honor ceremony and dog tag. Conte is the recipient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with valor earned from his service in WWII.

Lander University’s Equestrian Center, located on the campus of the Burton Center in Greenwood, will be the host site for the 2023 Equestrian Show of the Special Olympics of South Carolina on May 6-7. Tara Slatton, manager of the Lander Equestrian Center said it is a “privilege to be given the opportunity to host such an incredible 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.