December 1, 2023

Friends,   

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

Ban TikTok Now!

This week, I sat down with Fox Carolina to discuss a wide range of issues. One of the primary issues we discussed was TikTok's promotion of antisemitic content to American youths.

I joined Rep. Buddy Carter in demanding answers from TikTok regarding their blatant disinformation and antisemitism on the platform. In the last 30 days, TikTok’s algorithm promoted "#FreePalestine" (946 million views) to receive over 17.2% more views than "#StandWithIsrael" (55 million views).

Millions of American young people were exposed via TikTok to Osama Bin Laden’s feeble attempts to justify his murder of almost 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001. TikTok’s promotion of Bin Laden’s “Letter to America” leads impressionable minds to believe antisemitic, false claims that Jews control America and thus justify Bin Laden’s killing of Americans.

TikTok is controlled by ByteDance which is a puppet of the Chinese Communist Party. China is doing everything it can to influence impressionable American youths on its platform to turn them into vile, antisemitic Hamas supporters.

China hacks personal information and spreads propaganda on TikTok, which was developed to infect the minds of American youths.

I’m standing with 24 of my colleagues to demand answers from TikTok.

We are in a battle for the soul of America and must stop China from brainwashing the next generation of American leaders. Watch my interview with Fox Carolina.

Hunter Biden Will Be Deposed

Once again, Democrats are trying to create two sets of rules. One for themselves and their allies, and one for everyone else. Hunter Biden was subpoenaed to be deposed before the House regarding the investigation into the Biden Crime Family.

Now, Democrats are scrambling to change the rules so that Hunter Biden is not held to the same standard that other witnesses have been required to follow. This is not what the American people expect or deserve.

Learn more about the Democrats' double standard here.

Stop Funding Sponsors of Terrorism

Yesterday, I voted to permanently freeze $6 billion that Joe Biden tried to give to Iran. I voted YES on HR 5961, the ‘No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act’. Iran knows that money is fungible and used that $6 billion to offset their funding of Hamas terrorists who are cutting the heads off babies, murdering Americans, and killing Israelis in their sleep. Iran is the leading sponsor of terrorism and it’s time we make them pay the price for funding gruesome attacks on innocent people.

Democrats Turn On Obamacare

Sen. Warren finally admitted ObamaCare isn’t helping Americans but makes them victims of a monopolistic health insurer. ObamaCare allows for “sky-high prescription drug costs” according to Warren.

The only thing ObamaCare delivered was increased costs, fewer choices, and broken promises.

The government needs to get out of the middle of healthcare. I have repeatedly voted to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act, known as ObamaCare.

We should enact a free-market replacement to restore competition, lower costs, and increase options.

The Real Cost of Bidenomics

Joe Biden claims Bidenomics is working for Americans, but the reality is Americans are worse off today than before he took Office. Citizens are spending $11,434 more than they had to spend in January of 2021 to live the same lifestyle.

Joe Biden claims he cares about middle- and low-income Americans, but his policies are making it harder for them to put food on the table and gas in their cars. His policies exacerbate the economic hardship for middle- and low-income Americans.

While Republicans focus on policies that let everyday Americans keep more of their hard-earned money in your pocket, Biden's policies cost you money.

Meanwhile the White House spin machine cranks up to claim that Bidenomics is lowering prices, the economy shows prices have gone up by 17.1%! Most Americans are having to spend $709 more per month for the same goods and services that they purchased just two years back. Spending more for the same goods doesn’t sound like lower prices to me!

Denouncing Hamas

Hamas is a terrorist organization that wants to destroy Israel. It’s important that people who care about freedom and human rights stand unapologetically against Hamas. I proudly voted for HRes. 888 to affirm Israel’s right to exist and condemn Hamas’ attack on innocent Israelis.

Upholding the Constitution

I wanted to take a minute to explain why I voted against expelling George Santos from Congress.

I don’t stand for anything Congressman Santos allegedly did. The allegations outlined in the Ethics Committee report damage his reputation, and if proven in court, Congressman Santos should be expelled.

But I’m standing up for the due process rights of all Americans and the rights of voters in New York’s Third Congressional District.

In the last 225 years of our Constitutional Republic, Congress has expelled only 20 Members of Congress—15 from the Senate and only five from the House. In 1861, three House Democrats were expelled for being Confederates. Therefore, we’ve only removed two Members of Congress in the last 160 years—Michael Myers (D-PA) kicked out in 1980 after being convicted on federal bribery charges connected to the ABSCAM scandal, and Jim Traficant (D-OH) kicked out in 2002 after being convicted on federal charges of bribery, racketeering, and tax evasion.

Expelling a Member of Congress can disenfranchise the voters of their district. We must set the bar as high as possible for expulsion. The clear Congressional precedent of the past 160 years is that the bar is conviction of federal crimes after a trial before a jury of one’s peers. That hasn’t happened yet—and a sternly worded report from the Ethics Committee, while damaging, is not the same thing as a conviction by a jury in a court of law. Our legal system remains committed to the premise that we are “innocent until proven guilty.” Rep. Santos has not yet been “proven guilty” in this case.

I have a long history of standing up for due process rights. I opposed indefinite detention policies in previous versions of the NDAA as well as opposed reauthorization of aspects of the Patriot Act due to civil liberty concerns. It should come as no surprise that I’m once again standing up for due process.

I voted to protect due process and against expulsion until Mr. Santos has had his day in court. If he’s found guilty and refuses to resign, I will vote to remove him from office—but not until then.

I will always protect the Constitution of the United States.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H. Res. 877, Rep. Mike Collins's bill to censure the government of the city of Washington, DC for their failure to prevent COVID from plaguing the city.

I cosponsored H.R. 6459, Rep Josh Brecheen's bill to revise title XI of the Social Security to prevent abortion-related projects from being covered under Medicaid and CHIP.

I cosponsored H.R. 6460, Rep Josh Brecheen's bill to stop the Secretary of Health and Human Services from passing any rules to promote or perform abortions and access to abortions for an unaccompanied alien child.

I cosponsored H.R. 6504, Rep. Mark Green’s bill to ban actions taken to prevent the Department of Commerce from pausing the issuance of new licenses for certain exports.

In the District

To raise awareness for veterans facing a battle with mental health, 8 veterans rucked 200 miles across South Carolina. Thank you for leading the way in fighting for our great veterans! Learn more about their journey here.

I know all of my fellow hunters and outdoorsmen will join me in congratulating 6 year old CT from Newberry on taking down a 195 pound, 6 point monster! CT and his dad went to the stand with one goal: to take down this buck. Great job CT, you've got a lot of great hunts ahead of you!

South Carolina's own Darius Rucker will be honored next week with a star on the Hallywood Walk of Fame for his work as a recording artist. Rucker joins Toni Braxton, Def Leppard, Sammy Hagar, and Gwen Stefani as the recording artist honorees in the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2024.

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.