September 29, 2023

Friends,   

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

Appropriations — Time to Cut Spending!

We have until 12am on Sunday, October 1 to fund the government or face a shutdown. While it’s an important date to watch, I care less about the deadline and more about getting the policy right. As of now, we have passed 4 of the 12 appropriations bills in the House. The Senate passed none. At every opportunity, I am working to cut federal spending and rein in the abuses of the Biden Administration.

Since 2020, the budget has skyrocketed due to COVID spending, which I have strongly opposed. We are not in a pandemic and must cut spending back to 2019 levels! When a bipartisan group of Senators struck a spending deal last Christmas to continue raising spending (legislation I also voted against), House Republicans never agreed to the spending increase. House Republicans were never a party to those spending levels and we shouldn’t support them now. The "uniparty" Senate along with House Democrats created this problem, but now it’s time for House Republicans to fix it.

House Republicans MUST use our Article 1 powers given to us by our Founding Fathers to set roadblocks and spending limits for the Biden Administration who want to waste your tax dollars on dangerous or woke policies. We need massive cuts to spending NOW. House Republicans must stand united to ensure we put the government on a tight budget, just like most Americans are facing. Republicans in the House have many different priorities in the appropriations fight.

I’m standing with my fellow Freedom Caucus colleagues for the House to follow the standard appropriations process and to vote for spending bills that slash spending, fight inflation, and secure our border. Massively cutting spending is my priority. It’s so important that we get our fiscal policy right that I’m willing to allow a government shutdown. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for spending bills that put America on a tight budget, secure our border, and stop the flow of deadly fentanyl.

House Republicans Leading on Passing Responsible Spending Bills

The Homeland Security spending bill passed the House 220-208. I supported this bill as it contained many budget cuts and conservative victories! Some of the restrictions we placed on the Biden Administration include:

• Prohibits the release of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay.
• Stops the use of CBPOne that paroles illegal aliens into the United States.
• Prevents government censorship of Americans.
• Eliminates funding for critical race theory.
• Stops the funding for any attempts to destroy what exists of our southern border wall.

The Department of Defense spending bill passed the House 218-210. I supported this bill which cuts funding for radical democrat initiatives, supports our troops, and focuses spending on national security! The bill:

• Defunds Critical Race Theory and DEI initiatives.
• Defunds any discrimination attempts to discriminate against Americans who hold traditional beliefs.
• Defunds drag queen story hour for kids on military bases.
• Cuts $815.14 million from climate change and DEI initiatives.

• Defunds the World Health Organization.
• Defunds the UN Human Rights Council.
• Defunds any Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
• Defunds the Clean Technology Fund and the Green Climate Fund.
• Prohibits using tax dollars to fund drag shows.
• Prohibits the flying of pride, BLM, and trans flags over federal buildings.
• Protects the unborn by requiring any UN funding to comply with the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy.

• Defunds Critical Race Theory and DEI initiatives. I have and will always work to cut woke ideology out of our government.
• Eliminates the VA’s Office of Public Affairs that Joe Biden weaponizes against efforts to reform the VA.
• I have been leading legislation that would prohibit transferring terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to American soil. This spending bill codifies that ensures a prohibition on closing Guantanamo Bay.
• Defunds taxpayer funded abortions in the VA.

Fighting for Transparency

I’m standing with my colleagues in the Freedom Caucus to fight back against this fiscal insanity from the White House, the Senate, and House Democrats. America cannot continue spending beyond its means. Speaker McCarthy must provide Americans a clear-cut path to funding the government, defeating the Schumer-McConnell Continuing Resolution, making massive cuts to spending, and securing our southern border.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H.R.5806, Rep. Ogles' Bill, to ban chemical abortions.

In the District

AnMed is hosting their annual Teddy Bear Clinic to help kids learn to not be scared of a doctor visit. Children between the ages of 4–10 can bring a favorite stuffed animal to the clinic for a "check up" at the Anderson Institute of Technology from 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, September 30.

Officers from the Police Departments in Pickens, Central and Easley waited tables in Pickens to ensure local kids have a great Christmas in a few months. The Officers took great care of patrons at Heidi's Hotdogs in Pickens to raise money for the purchase of toys and clothes for school children in Pickens County. Great work Officers!

Greenwood, South Carolina had the opportunity to display it's beauty as the America in Bloom Symposium visited the city. The tour introduced participants to the history, scenery, and gardens around Greenwood. The Third District is God's country and we are proud to call it home.

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.