April 21, 2023

Friends,   

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

First 100 Days

In our first 100 days this Congress, we fought to protect freedom, strengthen the economy, unleash American energy, and more. We won't stop fighting to hold the Biden Administration accountable and deliver solutions to the crises Americans are facing.

Here's a look into some of what we've done so far... and we're just getting started! 

-Passed 59 bills, including H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, H.R. 347, the REIN IN Inflation Act, H.R. 22, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, H.R. 5, Parents Bill of Rights Act, and H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act.

-Held over 235 Congressional hearings (including 42 in one day, a modern-day record).

-Issued 34 subpoenas.

-Required Biden officials to testify over 235 times.

-Sent 5 major bills that originated in the House to President Biden's desk.

-President Biden signed into law 3 of the bills we sent to his desk. President Biden vetoed the other 2 bills. 

Nuclear Energy: Powering a Clean and Secure Future

I convened an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on nuclear energy this week to hear from leaders in the nuclear energy sector. With a new era of nuclear technologies on the horizon, we need to identify regulatory hurdles so we can accelerate nuclear deployment in this country. Nuclear is a clean, reliable, and secure component of our energy matrix, and it’s important for us to begin these conversations. Click HERE for my opening remarks at this week's “American Nuclear Energy Expansion: Powering a Clean and Secure Future" hearing. 

Fighting the FTC's Anti-Business Agenda

This week, I questioned the Federal Trade Commission Chair about why her agency is encouraging foreign jurisdictions to harm U.S. companies under the guise of competition policy, which could allow Chinese companies to take their place. We will not stand for this practice and the harm it does to U.S. companies. A Wall Street Journal Opinion piece highlighted my questioning, making it clear that the FTC is essentially "aiding and abetting foreign governments against U.S. business interests." I'll keep fighting back against this anti-business agenda. Click HERE to see me question Chair Khan during this hearing. 

Questioning HHS About Use of Taxpayer Dollars

I asked HHS Inspector General Grimm the hard questions this week about the mismanagement of NIH funding grants to organizations like EcoHealth Alliance – the NGO that funded COVID-19 research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. Reports now suggest that there was an overlap of EcoHealth activities funding by both USAID and NIH, and when asked, IG Grimm could not give us a straight answer on any coordination between the two agencies to investigate this. It is long past due that the American people are given answers and we get to the bottom of the mismanagement of spent American taxpayer dollars by our government. Click HERE for my questioning of the HHS Inspector General.

Save Women's Sports 

Biological men have no place in women's sports. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will ensure women's sports are reserved for biological females because women deserve a fair and safe playing field. Yesterday, this bill to protect the safety and integrity of women's athletics passed the House! 

Standing for Life

I signed on to an amicus curiae brief to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. US Food & Drug Administration case to challenge the FDA allowing abortion by mail through the abortion drug mifepristone. The Biden Administration is intent on its abortion-on-demand agenda through chemical abortions despite the dangerous implications and side effects of these “DIY abortions” on women and girls, not to mention the life of their unborn child.

Chemical abortions by mail not only violate the FDA’s drug approval process, but they also break federal law and endanger the health of women. We are fighting to block the approval of the abortion drug mifepristone to protect the health and safety of pregnant women and their unborn children.

Op-ed: Energy is the Foundation of Everything in American Life

Lowering energy costs is a priority because energy is the foundation of everything in American life—when the cost of energy goes up, everything else does too. Click HERE to check out my op-ed in the Washington Times on why H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, is so important.

Socialism for Housing in Joe Biden's America

Do you work hard, pay your bills, and have a good credit score? Then this insane new Biden Administration rule will force you to subsidize the mortgages of high-risk borrowers by redistributing high-risk loan costs to homeowners with good credit. This is socialism for housing, and I will fight back against it every chance I get. Click HERE for more information on this new rule. 

Washington Meetings 

It was a busy week in Washington, and I had the opportunity to meet with and speak to various organizations on issues related to South Carolina, energy, and more. One of the groups I had the opportunity to speak to and meet with was the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina where I discussed securing natural gas pipelines, getting nuclear energy online, and the importance of energy security and reliability. 

Legislative Update

Here's a look into a few more pieces of legislation I've cosponsored this Congress.

I cosponsored Rep. Michelle Steel’s H.R. 1724, the Securing Maritime Data from Communist China Act, to ban the use of LOGINK, a Chinese-owned platform, for military or commercial purposes.

I cosponsored H.J.Res. 23, Rep. Tracey Mann’s proposed resolution to prevent new taxes on family farms and small businesses and preserve the step-up rule that reduces the capital gains tax on inherited land, equipment, and buildings.

I cosponsored Rep. Debbie Lesko’s H.R. 1640, the Save our Gas Stoves Act, to prevent the Biden Administration from banning gas stoves by banning the use of federal funding to declare gas stoves as dangerous products.

I cosponsored Rep. Darin LaHood’s H.R. 1637, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act, to allow the reorganization of payment programs for Alzheimer’s patients to save Medicare dollars while improving the quality of care for patients and their families.

I cosponsored H.J. Res. 44, Rep. Andrew Clyde’s resolution to oppose the Biden Administration’s “Stabilizing Braces” rule that infringes on Second Amendment rights.  

I cosponsored H.R. 1563, Chip Roy’s bill to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for the United Nations Human Rights Council to prevent American dollars from being used in support of inhumane Chinese population policies.

I cosponsored Rep. Ronny Jackson’s H.R. 1546, the Protecting American Sovereignty Act, which would prohibit the surrender of U.S. sovereignty to the World Health Organization by banning the use of taxpayer dollars to carry out the Global Pandemic Treaty.

I cosponsored Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ H.R. 1518, the Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act, which establishes a three-year plan to gradually defund unauthorized programs that are currently funded through the annual appropriations process.

I cosponsored H.R. 1508, Rep. Dusty Johnson’s Traveler’s Gun Rights Act, to expand residency standards for gun owners and prevent burdens on individuals trying to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

In the District 

The Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site in Clinton will hold its Annual Revolutionary War Encampment on April 29-30. The Encampment will include a variety of activities, historic craft demonstrations, colonial music, and re-enactors portraying Patriot and Loyalist militiamen, Continental soldiers, British Regular and Provincial soldiers, and civilians. 

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.