April 12, 2024

Friends,   

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

FISA - Get a Warrant

Today, the House of Representatives failed to amend H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, to require the Federal Government to get a warrant before spying on American citizens.

I voted against expanding the power of the intelligence community to violate the 4th Amendment rights of citizens through warrantless searches.

The intelligence community abused FISA for over 7 years in its spying on President Donald J. Trump. This bill rewards the same intelligence community that created the Russia Hoax.

I refuse to support Joe Biden’s warrantless spying on Americans and stand proudly to protect the 4th Amendment Rights of Americans.”

ATF Breaks the Law

Yesterday, I led 31 of my colleagues in holding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) accountable for breaking the law by releasing a list of federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) to gun control groups and the media in violation of the Tiahrt Amendment.

The Tiahrt Amendment prohibits the release of information stored in the Firearms Tracing System (FTS) to anyone—exceptions exist only for criminal investigations.

However, the ATF responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with a list of FFLs on the ATF Demand 2 Program to both USA Today and Brady United which necessarily involved releasing information contained in the FTS, i.e., the identity of the FFL, the existence of trace requests, the number of traces received (at least 25), and the “time to crime” for those traces.

The ATF runs roughshod over the law by violating the Tiahrt Amendment.

The illegal release of this list of FFLs is nothing more than an assault on the reputation of these American businesses—giving Americans another reason to not trust the ATF.

The ATF has been weaponized by the Biden Administration to target law-abiding citizens in the past with the pistol brace rule, and now to cause irreconcilable harm to FFLs across the nation.

The list does nothing to prove guilt as proven by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department being ‘named and shamed’ by the ATF as a firearms dealer that supplied guns to criminals.

Learn more here.

LNG Ban Decimates Local Economies

Biden’s banning of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits endangers the American way of life.

On Monday, the Energy, Climate and Grid Subcommittee heard from community leaders in Port Arthur, TX about how Biden’s rush-to-green policies decimate the local economy.

Biden's LNG ban not only is an economic win for Putin, but it also puts the nail in the coffin of local communities across America. The LNG industry has a tremendous economic impact on local communities.

Additionally, the LNG export ban means cutting off our allies from American LNG that is 40% cleaner than dirty, Russian LNG. Biden’s LNG ban is a win for Putin.

Standing with Israel

In October 2023, I pointed out how pro-Hamas student visas holders were in America in violation of their visa by supporting terrorist activity. These anti-Semitic protests have not stopped in America.

Now, pro-Palestine protesters are chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel” in Michigan and “stop the genocide” in the halls of Washington.

One of the pro-Hamas protest groups in Washington interrupted a Senate hearing where Secretary Austin, Biden's Secretary of Defense, pointed out there is ZERO evidence that Israel is committing genocide.

The facts are clear, Israel’s exercising self-defense is not genocide.

Despite these facts, one constituent calls my Office every day demanding I turn my back on our ally Israel.

Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden want to force Israelis to get new leadership.

Let me be clear, I stand unapologetically with our ally Israel! Israel has a right to self-defense, to choose their own leaders, and to utterly destroy evil, Hamas terrorists.

Biden Border

While our border is invaded at historic numbers and Americans are murdered by illegal aliens, Joe Biden's campaign manager makes it clear that Biden is “not advocating for shutting down the border.” Biden’s Border Crisis rages on.

Gas Prices Soar

Gas prices have skyrocketed by 45% because of Joe Biden’s failed policies—topping $3.50 across the country.

If you like paying more for gas, thank Joe Biden.

If you are sick and tired of choosing fuel or food, demand America unleashes an all-the-above, America-first energy policy.

Don't take my word for it, Biden's record speaks for itself—anti-American, failed policies.

Spent Nuclear Fuel & Innovation

On Wednesday, I led the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security in holding a hearing on "American Nuclear Energy Expansion: Spent Fuel Policy and Innovation."

In the hearing, we examined how Yucca Mountain is the ideal location for storing spent nuclear fuel. It was selected in 1987, but politics has gotten in the way of overwhelming bipartisan policies to solve the crisis with our spent fuel policy.

Today, tech advancements pave the way for reprocessing and recycling spent fuel, but this innovation means we need a permanent repository for spent fuel.

This is our moment to lead, and I trust we will continue to work bipartisan to deliver innovative ideas as we prepare for the nuclear energy renaissance.

Distribution Transformer Supply Chain

A year ago, I joined 65 of my colleagues in urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to withdraw their rule to increase the efficiency standard on distribution transformers.

Due to our efforts opposing this rule, we stopped the DOE from requiring 95% of distribution transformers to be overhauled by 2026 to only 25% by 2029.

We will keep fighting back against the radical climate agenda to protect our supply chains as well as the resiliency of our energy grid. While this is a step in the right direction, this change will put an immense strain on our already struggling distribution transformer supply chain.

Last December, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed H.R. 4167, the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, introduced by Rep. Hudson, to prohibit the DOE from revising existing standards for the next five years to ensure we maintain a reliable electrical grid and supply chain.

Thanks for Visiting!

It was great to visit with Textile Manufactures from across South Carolina. My dad worked in a textile mill, so I know first-hand the work they do. Thanks for visiting!

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H.R.7873, a bill to enforce the requirement that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System make a decision on requests to correct its records within 60 days.

In the District

Congratulations to the Academic Team at Edgewood Middle School for an undefeated season in an academic quizzing competition. Based on their stellar performance at Regionals and at State, the team has earned an opportunity to compete at the National Tournament in Chicago. Let's cheer on these students as they represent the Third District!

Smurfit Kappa, an international company that makes packaging out of paper-based products, is opening operations in Anderson at the Evergreen 85 Logistics Park Building I. Smurfit Kappa chose Anderson based on the workforce available and proximity to nearby manufacturers and I-85.

Sulzer began operations at its new US pump production facility in Easley this week. The plant builds pipe lines for sewage and grinder pumps. Sulzer looks to continue growing its US workforce beginning with this facility.

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.