October 27, 2023

Friends,   

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

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

We've had another eventful week as House Republicans selected a new Speaker of the House.

As you know, I was one of the first to endorse Jim Jordan for Speaker. I proudly voted for him in the Republican Conference primary and on the Floor of the House. Unfortunately, other Members were not willing to abide by the results of the primary and blocked Rep. Jordan.

The Republican Conference held two more primaries and unanimously elected a Speaker of the House on Wednesday.

I am proud to have cast my ballot for the 56th Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Congressman Mike Johnson is the most conservative Speaker that we have seen in our lifetime.

Some of you may not know Rep. Johnson well, so I will share why I am proud to have him as our Speaker.

Congressman Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee (RSC) - the conservative conscience on Capitol Hill - during the 116th Congress. As Chair, he kept the House rooted in limited government, preserved traditional values, strengthened national defense, and bolstered America’s economy.

Before coming to Congress, Mike’s occupation was as an attorney focusing on constitutional law. America is blessed to have a Constitutional scholar like Mike Johnson at the helm of the House of Representatives.

As some states attempted to violate their own state Constitutions to unlawfully challenge election procedures in 2020, Mike personally led an amicus brief to the Supreme Court – which I joined – challenging these actions. His Constitutional analysis was not only praised by President Trump but also has been affirmed in countless Courts.

In fact, Mike personally has led countless briefs before the Supreme Court to protect Second Amendment gun rights, protect First Amendment religious liberty, and protect the personal freedoms of every American.

I proudly stood with Rep. Johnson on each of these issues and am grateful for his knowledge and expertise in fighting for our Constitutional rights.

During his time leading the RSC, Congressman Johnson delivered the Securing America's Future Economy budget that would have balanced the Federal budget within 10 years and included a full repeal of Obamacare. This commonsense budget was defeated by tax-and-spend Democrats who refuse responsible fiscal policies that would fund Social Security and ensure Medicare is salvaged, as well as unleash the American economy.

Mike and I have stood in the trenches of the House to fight for commonsense, America-first policies that restore this country to what the Founders intended.

Together, we have supported medical freedom from forced COVID vaccines, demanded Congress balances the Federal budget, defunded any type of event that includes ‘sexually-oriented material’ for children, bolstered religious liberty, cut taxpayer dollars for Planned Parenthood, and championed Second Amendment Rights.

Now that we have a great, conservative Speaker, there only one thing left to say. Mr. Speaker, let’s get the House back to work for the American people!

Maintaining our Energy Arsenal

After becoming Speaker, Speaker Johnson immediately got the House to work on Appropriations legislation. On Thursday, I spoke on the Floor to kill Amendment 36 to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

This amendment puts American national security at risk by stifling domestic manufacturing of new plutonium pits at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

Plutonium pits are a key component of nuclear warheads and have not been regularly produced by the United States since 1989.

While House Democrats want to stop US manufacturing, Russia and China are ramping up their capacity to produce new nuclear weapons components.

We need to show adversaries we can, and will, maintain a strong and modernized nuclear deterrent. This is a national security issue!

If we want to remain a dominant nuclear force in the world and ensure a strong deterrent to adversaries like Russia and China, we must support the plutonium pit project at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina which creates key components for nuclear warheads.

Watch my speech on the Floor here.

Say “No” to Palestinian Refugees

Democrats want to bring Palestinians to America while Hamas terrorists wage war on Israel. Palestinians voted in Hamas terrorists to lead their government—the terrorists who behead babies, murder sleeping civilians, and rape Israelis.

The Immigration and Nationality Act prohibits anyone from using its case-by-case parole powers to bypass refugee programs. 

On Monday, I joined Representatives Josh Brecheen, Andy Ogles, and Clay Higgins in urging President Biden to recommend Egypt host the Palestinians seeking refugees, not America. 

While visa holders march in the streets protesting Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas terrorists, radical Democrats want to bring classify take Palestinians out of their culture and bring them to America as refugees.

These Palestinians voted Hamas terrorists into power. With the strong possibility that we have Hamas terrorists in America today and have terrorist sympathizers marching in our streets, America should not accept any refugees who may endanger the safety of Americans.

As a reminder, I have been leading in calling for any visa holder who participates in pro-Palestine marches to immediately have their visa rescinded pursuant to Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Learn more here.

Advancing Energy Dominance

As Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security, I have been hard at work for the American people to advance policies that expand American energy dominance.

This week, we passed 17 bills out of Subcommittee focused on nuclear energy, the energy grid, home appliances, and hydropower.

Over the last several months, my Subcommittee has held numerous hearings that led to the formulation of legislation that will lead to 24/7, clean, reliable, and affordable energy through nuclear energy.

If America fails to heed the warnings about the looming resource adequacy crisis, the result will be nationwide blackouts and brownouts like we see in California.

We must stop the foolish belief that our grid can be sufficient using only intermittent, renewable energy. Legislation passed by my Subcommittee will specifically strengthen the reliability of our grid and remedy the supply chain crisis.

As we see Democrats try to regulate everything from your gas stove to pizza ovens, the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee is leading on legislation that stops the creation of ludicrous efficiency standards that make homes less affordable as well as cutting bureaucracy in the Federal government regarding the creation of mandates.

The last bill passed by the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security this week was focused on ensuring hydropower, the largest source of renewable energy, stays online.

To deliver energy that’s available 24/7, we must maintain the existing fleet for hydropower and bring even more online so that it can work in tandem with other sources of energy that can deliver the needed baseload power generation to meet the energy needs of today and for the future.

Trump Cleared of Wrongdoing

President Trump was cleared by the Office of Inspector General at the Justice Department from claims he interfered with decisions on where to move the FBI headquarters for personal gain.

After 4 years of perpetuating a baseless accusation, I bet not one Democrat in Congress corrects the record to reflect Donald Trump was innocent of any wrongdoing. Bet you won’t see this on the nightly news either.

Stop Antisemitic Rhetoric

On Tuesday, antisemitic messages were being placed on the George Washington University library reportedly by students. The President of the school should expel these students immediately. If these students are visa holders, then U.S. Customs and Immigration Services should rescind their visa immediately pursuant to Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. See the vile, hateful rhetoric here.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H.Res. 812, Rep. Lisa McClain’s resolution to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman for obstructing the House budget votes.

I cosponsored H.Con.Res. 74, Rep. Jim Banks’ resolution to support the Geneva Convention Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family and encourage the United States to rejoin the declaration.

I cosponsored H.R. 6011, Rep. David Valadao’s bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to communicate the status of right-of-way applications with the applicants.

I cosponsored H.Res. 803, Rep. Nick LaLota’s resolution to honor the fallen and missing citizens of Israel and the United States following the attack of Hamas terrorists.

I cosponsored H.Res. 798, Rep. Owen Burgess’ resolution to condemn the actions of colleges and universities in support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations.

I cosponsored H.Res. 797, Rep. Cory Mills’ resolution to condemn the failure of the Biden Administration in extracting American citizens from Israel.

In the District

Oconee County Sheriff's Office welcomed their newest officer this week. This officer not only walks on four legs but is also the first K-9 Therapy officer for the department. Victim advocate Deputy Katrina Carter will be Sully's handler. Welcome to the force Sully!

Clemson University announced the latest research program that focuses on increases airplane safety by reimagining maintenance. The research focuses on using virtual reality headsets and artificial intelligence to create "extended reality" solutions for fast, efficient, and effective maintenance for aircrafts.

Citizens around Piedmont, South Carolina will now have emergency healthcare options in their community. AnMed held a groundbreaking on Tuesday for a facility that will have an emergency room and multiple diagnostic machines to provide care for those in need.

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.