February 9, 2024

Friends,   

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

NO on Schumer's Failed Immigration Bill

I'm a NO on the Senate border deal. This bill does not secure the border the way Americans know it needs to be secured—close the border and bring back remain in Mexico policies.

While I am ok with increased visas for skilled labor, addressing a broken H2A and H2B guest worker program, etc., these are LEGAL visa applications. They are NOT hoards of people, many of which are military-age males from places outside of Latin America.

However, our starting point must be a secure border.

Are liberals trying to position for a future amnesty play with millions of illegals inside America?

I cannot support this Senate bill, and stand behind HR2 as the border security bill that must be considered.

In reality, Schumer drafted a Ukraine funding bill that is masquerading as a border security bill. This bill that at best prolongs and at worst exacerbates the Biden Border Crisis. Schumer's "solutions" are laughable.

Looking at the Senate border bill, can one liberal explain to me why we need to give Border Patrol sensitivity training for dealing with cartel members?

I think we should train them on how to keep the border closed.

Joe Biden wants to play games and claims he must have the ridiculous Senate border deal to secure the border. That’s abjectly FALSE.

On day 1, Joe Biden reversed Trump policies and started the Biden Border Crisis. Biden Owns this invasion and can act today to stop it.

Americans know that President Trump was laser-focused on securing the Southern Border.

The migrant caravans were headed to the border after Joe Biden was elected and began streaming across shortly after the inauguration. The stream of migrants has been a steady flow ever since!

President Biden doesn't need Congress to secure the border. Just enforce the law backed by the Constitution!

The Bottom Line on the Southern Border Invasion

Chuck Schumer brings forward a horrific immigration and Ukraine funding bill and called it a border security bill.

The deal would codify catch and release, allow 1.8 million illegals into the country, fund sanctuary cities, give free legal services to illegals, ensures Joe Biden does not have to deport anyone, and allows the invasion to continue by not building the wall.

Now, Joe Biden is pouting that he can’t send money to Ukraine and keep bringing in illegals as Republicans have refused to give Schumer’s border deal the time of day.

Joe Biden is threatening to cut down ICE operations as a means of hostage taking to force Republicans to support the failed Schumer border deal.

Bottom line, Joe Biden is threatening to abscond from his duties as President because elected Representatives are upholding the will of the people of the United States.

Fighting Back Against Biden's War on Energy

In response to the Biden Administration blocking the export of American LNG, I held a hearing on "Politics Over People: How Biden’s LNG Export Ban Threatens America’s Energy And Economic Security."

This is not a “temporary pause” as the Administration claims, it is a blocking of LNG exports.

This is a clear abuse of the “public interest” standard of the Natural Gas Act. Exporting LNG has long been proven to be in our nation’s “public interest” and helps reduce global climate emissions while simultaneously reducing dependence on Russia and the Middle East for Energy.

Energy security is national security. We should be producing American energy, transporting it for use here in our country, and exporting it. All of those things together, make the U.S. and our allies stronger, safer, and more secure.

South Carolina relies, in part, on natural gas to generate electricity. Joe Biden’s ban on this dispatchable energy source is weakening our national security, energy security, and countless American jobs.

Keep Biological Men Out of Women's Sports

Wednesday was National Women & Girls in Sports Day. Biological men should not compete in women’s sports.

I joined Rep. Stuebe and Sen. Tuberville to ensure biological men are barred from competing in any US Olympic Committee women’s competition through the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.

If a biological man cannot compete and win against men, he doesn’t get to pretend he’s a woman to have a better chance at claiming a victory in either amateur sports or the Olympics.

Protecting Innocent Babies

In 2022, the DC Metropolitan Police discovered the bodies of 5 preborn children at the Washington Surgi-Clinic. Despite evidence pointing to felony crimes having been committed by violating the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, no investigation has been conducted over the last two years.

Now, the DOJ ordered the medical examiner to dispose of the bodies. I joined 43 of my colleagues in calling on Attorney General Garland to stop the destruction of evidence in this case and the desecration of these bodies.

Thanks for Visiting!

It’s always great to see Rachel Lewis, my friend and an amazing Special Olympian, in Washington this week as she advocates for those with disabilities and raises awareness of the Special Olympics.

Rachel is a great advocate and role model to her peers!

Biden Sells Out to Environmental Activists

The Clean Air Act requires a review every 5 years of PM2.5 standards that are focused on inhalable particulate matter. These standards were reviewed, and a conclusion reached only 6 months ago.

Now, Joe Biden has chosen to introduce new PM2.5 standards that place $87.4 billion in economic activity each year and 300,000+ jobs at risk in a hasty, haphazard decision. Most PM2.5 emissions come from non-point sources, such as wildfires resulting from poor forest management.

These new, stricter standards punish industry and fail address to address the root cause of bad air quality. Again, Joe Biden sells out American jobs and our economy to meet the election year demands of radical environmental activists.

Protecting the Snake River Dam

Hydropower is this nation’s largest source of renewable energy, and it is critical to states and counties all over America.

The Biden administration brokered an agreement with commitments from the Federal government that laid the groundwork for eventually breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. This agreement was brokered without any input from the electric providers—those responsible for delivering reliable energy.

During a recent hearing, I gave electric providers the chance to testify about how the agreement would jeopardize electric reliability and increase the cost for millions of Americans throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Lower Snake River Dam generates over three-thousand megawatts of electricity, but the impact of Biden’s secret agreement goes far beyond the ability to keep the lights on for Americans.

Special interests and big, funded climate groups are running this administration—not the American people.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H.R.7259, Rep. Ogles’ bill that would ensure that illegal immigrants who pose a threat to Americans are quickly and efficiently deported out of the country.

I cosponsored H.R.7246, Rep. Alford’s bill to certify that any non-citizens and foreign entities as a whole are unable to buy United States real estate.

I cosponsored H.R.7232, Rep. Malliotakis’ bill to advise the Secretary of State to repeal any visas when it comes to students who have committed any acts of antisemitism.

I cosponsored H.R.7231, Rep. Malliotakis’ bill to fight against acts of antisemitism on college campuses by restraining all federal funding going towards any higher education establishment if they partake in any antisemitic manners or if they do not hold liable any who are a part of their institution if they commit an act of antisemitism.

I cosponsored H.R.7187, Rep. Steube’s bill to forbid biological males from participating in sporting events intended for women, including both amateur sports and Olympic sports.

I cosponsored H.R.7183, Rep. McCormick’s bill to ensure that federal funding is not put towards financing the gender transition surgeries of children.

I cosponsored H.J.Res.110, Rep. Balderson’s resolution that would initiate a Congressional Review Act that would investigate the Treasury’s potential misuse of COVID recovery funds.

In the District

After 19 years serving Abbeville County as Clerk to Council, Lynn Sopolosky decided it's time to retire. Her biggest achievement was to create a local archive for the county. As she leaves her role, Lynn can boast that she created an Abbeville archive that dates back to the 1840s.

Joseph Pope and Charles Segars, Clemson students, were are great examples of how we each should look out for each other. When they saw a car wreck and smoke start coming from the vehicle, they jumped into action to save the driver and passenger. Joseph and Charles were honored by the Clemson Police Department with the Life-Saving Award.

ZF, a transmission manufacturer based out of Germany, announced a $500 million investment into its Gray Court plant. The investment will make the plant the first "flex" facility in North America. Additionally, the plant is expected to begin production of the PHEV transmission which is used in the BMW X5 and 7 Series.

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.