June 10, 2024

Friends,   

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

Honoring Major Thomas D. Howie

On Friday, I led the entire South Carolina House of Representatives Delegation to commemorate and honor the bravery and exemplary service of Major Thomas D. Howie, Abbeville native and inspiration for Tom Hanks’ role in Saving Private Ryan, by introducing a Resolution to posthumously award Major Howie the Congressional Gold Medal.

A native of Abbeville, South Carolina, Major Howie is known as the "Major of St. Lo" for his heroism during the Battle of Normandy in June 1944. Armed with nothing more than hand grenades and bayonets, Howie led his battalion through heavily fortified German lines outside of the strategically important town of St. Lo, France to relieve another battalion that had been encircled on the outskirts.

Having saved his fellow soldiers, Howie was soon presented with a new challenge—capturing the town itself. Major Howie displayed remarkable resolve as he reassured his superior, Major General Charles Gerhardt, with a simple yet powerful "See you in St. Lo." This unwavering determination became a rallying cry that inspired his men throughout the battle.

Tragically, Major Howie was killed in action one day before the town's liberation. However, his bravery and leadership did not fade with him. In a powerful display of respect, his unit carried his flag-draped body into St. Lo, placing it atop the ruins of the Church of Saint Croix. His actions further served as inspiration for the character of Captain John Miller, portrayed by Tom Hanks, in the film Saving Private Ryan.

With the best-of-the-best fighting to stop the Axis of Evil in World War II, countless examples of American heroism and exceptionalism went unrecognized. Major Thomas D. Howie defied the odds and disregarded his own safety to protect his fellow troops and free France from the grip of the Nazis.

The Third District of South Carolina is home to countless heroes, and I’m honored to tell Major Howie’s story. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Major Thomas D. Howie, an American hero, with a Congressional Gold Medal.

I want to especially thank Representatives Clyburn, Fry, Norman, Mace, Timmons, and Wilson for joining me on this effort.

Biden's Border Stunt

Biden's election year stunt of closing border ports of entry only occasionally to asylum seekers will not solve the Biden Border Crisis. The only solution is to BUILD THE WALL and secure our border!!!

I know Biden’s executive order to occasionally close the border is an election year stunt because his order would still allow 1.8 million illegals into the country even if there were perfect enforcement of his order. Clearly, his order does not secure the border. It’s time to build the wall.

For the last 3 years, Joe Biden has allowed our southern border to be invaded at an unprecedented rate. Now that every state is a border state, Americans die from fentanyl smuggled across our southern border, and illegals murder Americans, Joe Biden chooses to play political games that allow the border invasion to continue instead of building the wall.

Hold Fauci Accountable

These week, Dr. Fauci testified before Congress regarding his actions during COVID that led to the shut down of businesses, forced vaccinations, and the masking of children.

Fauci shut down the country and forced unknown vaccines on countless Americans. We have only begun to see the impact of the vaccines on the health of our friends and neighbors. But we all saw the devastation to our economy when he shuttered the doors of businesses and churches in the name of COVID.

Fauci closed our churches, schools, and businesses while never considering natural immunity to COVID. We never should have let Fauci control Americans with defacto mandates.

Based on the emails from Dr. Morens that imply Dr. Fauci was involved in a scheme to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act, Fauci should be compelled to provide access to his email history to determine if he did in fact conspire to break the law. If evidence is found, then he lied under oath to Congress today and should be charged to the fullest extent of the law.

Democrats on the House Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus are treating Fauci like a war hero, not like the single person responsible for destroying the American way of life through isolation—mandating your schools, churches, and businesses shut down.

America-First Energy Policy

The Biden administration is failing on energy policy. Step one should be ensuring reliable baseload power.

America’s energy demand is increasing while the Biden retires reliable generation. We must continue to produce American energy through new technologies, natural gas, and bipartisan legislation like my Atomic Energy Advancement Act to prepare for America’s nuclear renaissance.

I believe we shouldn’t decrease our standard of living with radical green policies but use our vast natural resources and God-given innovation to use energy to better our lives. Let’s learn from the past while embracing the reality of our need for reliable baseload power generation.

America’s national security requires a strong energy security. It’s past time to unleash all-the-above American energy. I’m proud to lead the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid security to do just that!

Stop the Persecution of Israel by the ICC

On Tuesday, the House debated and voted on H.R. 8282 from Rep Chip Roy to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it attempts to arrest or prosecute any protected American or its allies. America and Israel are NOT members of the ICC. The ICC is currently seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for supposed “war crimes.” Let’s be clear, Hamas is using human shields and building HQ’s under hospitals. Hamas is working to exterminate Israel. Israel is exercising self-defense which is not a war crime.

Powering AI

On Tuesday, I chaired a hearing on “Meeting the Energy Needs of America’s Digital Future.” Our energy future directly impacts our technology future. Data centers and AI are powerful tools that give America an edge in the digital information economy, but we need to ensure we have enough power generation to maintain a reliable grid as demand for electricity continues to grow.

America is blessed with tremendous natural resources that we should use to maintain our energy dominance. Protecting and expanding reliable generation will be the reason for our technology dominance in the future.

Watch here!

80th Anniversary of D-Day

To honor and remember the brave warfighters who led the Allied Invasion, take time to read the letter from General Dwight D. Eisenhower to the troops before the D-Day Invasion.

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored Rep. Balderson’s H. J. Res. 163, to express congressional disapproval of the EPA’s new proposed rule to impose expensive and excessive air quality filters on our nation’s power plants, threatening American energy dominance.

I cosponsored Rep. William’s H. Res. 1267, which supports the guarantees of the Second Amendment and opposes leftist encroachment on your gun rights at every opportunity.

I cosponsored Rep. Fischbach’s H. J. Res. 139, which expresses congressional disapproval of a new Medicare and Medicaid rule to overregulate and mandate certain staffing quotas in nursing homes, possibly shuttering many assisted living centers nationwide.

I cosponsored Rep. Walberg’s H. J. Res. 166, which indicates congressional disapproval of the Department of Labor’s new rule to mandate overtime requirements, leading to potential layoffs and risking opportunities for students and young professionals.

I cosponsored Rep. Miller’s H.J. Res. 165 to demonstrate congressional disapproval of the Biden administration’s new rule to allow transgender men to enter and use women’s bathrooms and locker rooms.

In the District

On June 2, the Laurens community came out in force to honor Robin Morse. In addition to being a veteran, Morse is the former Laurens County Sheriff, Laurens Police Chief, and so much more. Today, he battles pancreatic cancer but chooses to keep a positive outlook despite his grim prognosis. First responders and community members held a parade in honor of Morse to thank him for his years of service and to life his spirits.

Anderson Interfaith Ministries and the United Way of Anderson County have partnered together to distribute food and books to children in need this summer. The Summer Food 4 Kids program will last for 10 weekends at over 15 stops.

This weekend, Greenwood hosted the South Carolina Festival of Flowers. With garden tours and family fun all around, take your family out to experience large displays of flowers. If you see the large tiger made out of flowers, don't forget to give a good "Go Tigers!"

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.