June 24, 2022

Friends,

I hope you and your family are well! There is a lot that went on in Washington this week, and I wanted to provide you with a few updates –

Celebrating Roe's Reversal! 

Roe v. Wade is on the ash heap of history, and countless lives will be saved! Praise God! Life wins!

The Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade is an answered prayer for the nation. Roe was an "egregiously wrongly decided" decision that has tragically led to the death of over 60 million children in the womb since 1973. Overturning Roe is one of the most significant civil rights victories in our nation’s history and will result in countless lives being saved.

The very purpose of government is to protect our God-given natural rights, and the most fundamental of these rights is the right to life. With Roe being overturned, states have new opportunities to expand protections for the unborn. I encourage every state legislature, especially in South Carolina, to immediately move forward with pro-life legislation that will protect all children in the womb.

At the same time, we must be ever vigilant against attempts by Democrats to undermine this victory by enacting radical federal legislation that would legalize abortion to the point of birth and allow unborn children to be killed based on sex or disability. I will continue to fight for the rights of the unborn, and protect the sanctity of life.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, marched, volunteered, worked, and rallied for the pro-life cause and the unborn right to life over the last five decades. The fight for life is just beginning, and I encourage you to continue standing for the rights of unborn babies as the question of abortion returns to the states.

Condemning Domestic Terrorist Groups Targeting Pregnancy Centers

Jane's Revenge is a domestic terrorist group violently attacking and vandalizing pro-life pregnancy centers. The Biden Administration must condemn these actions and classify this group as a terrorist organization for their despicable acts of violence nationwide. Click HERE for more information and the letter my colleagues and I sent to the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation urging them to take action. 

Opposing Red Flag Laws, Standing for the 2nd Amendment 

I opposed the red flag bill because red flag laws violate due process rights and other language in the bill tightens rules that could make it easier to implement a mandatory gun registration program in the future. At a time when the Supreme Court is finally reaffirming the correct and expanded interpretation of our Second Amendment rights, many in Congress (on both sides, unfortunately) want to move us backwards by eroding the Second Amendment. I will continue fighting for our Constitution and for an American’s right to keep and bear arms.

Supreme Court Win for the 2nd Amendment 

This week, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of the 2nd Amendment in a landmark case that will further protect a citizen's right to keep and bear arms. This is a significant win for our constitutional rights and will restrict Democrats' radical attempts to unarm law-abiding Americans. To read my full statement on this, click HERE. 

As Justice Clarence Thomas said, "We too agree, and now hold ... that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home. ... We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need. That is not how the First Amendment works when it comes to unpopular speech or the free exercise of religion. It is not how the Sixth Amendment works when it comes to a defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him. And it is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense." 

Supreme Court Win for Religious Freedom and School Choice

This week, the Court ruled in Carson v. Makin that Maine's tuition assistance program for students violated the First Amendment by excluding religious schools. This is a huge win for religious freedom in the United States. Our Founding Fathers fought to ensure Freedom OF Religion, not Freedom FROM Religion. I’m hopeful this decision will help reverse decades of terrible legal precedent that has driven faith out of the public square. For more information on this, click HERE.

Biden's Proposed Federal Gas Holiday 

American families need real solutions to combat $5 gas, not gimmicks and political Band-Aids. A federal gas tax holiday won’t fix the underlying problems the Biden Administration is causing. The solution to the energy crisis is to cut damaging regulations and greenlight American energy production.

Joining Mornings with Maria on Fox Business

I joined Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria to discuss energy policy and gun control. We discussed the House Energy and Commerce Republicans' solution to Joe Biden's war on American energy and how I am fighting back against unconstitutional red flag laws to protect our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Click HERE to see my conversation on Fox Business this week. 

I was also able to join the Christian Worldview with Tony and Austin this week to discuss the Supreme Court's Second Amendment decision. To listen to this radio interview, click HERE. 

Joining the Annual Ridge Peach Festival Parade

It was great to be a part of the 50th Annual Ridge Peach Festival Parade in Trenton, SC this weekend. I enjoyed the southern hospitality of this wonderful town and celebrating 50 years of the peach festival! Did you know South Carolina leads the Southeast in peach production and is only second to California?  

Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month to raise awareness about the more than 50 million people suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia worldwide and to support their families and caregivers. We pray for a day when we will see an end to this terrible disease.

Legislative Action

This week, I cosponsored legislation introduced by Rep. Troy Nehls' Stop Child Abuse Act to rescind Joe Biden's executive order advocating for harmful procedures like permanent sterilization and puberty blockers for children. 

In the District

The Fountain Inn Museum is producing a 15-minute film of the city’s history to show in the museum and surrounding schools. Actors in period costume play in vignettes of Fountain Inn’s history from Cherokee nation to Reconstruction to present day. The film takes place along Durbin Creek by the old Jones Mill. A matching grant from South Carolina Humanities has helped fund the project.

Duke Energy and Oconee County officials announced testing for outdoor warning sirens near Oconee Nuclear Station the week of June 28. A select, limited number of sirens will be tested for both short, 20-second tests and longer three-minute tests. Officials say if there were ever a real emergency at the plant, local radio and television stations would broadcast instructions to the public.

Renewing Your Passport

Whether you plan to travel out of the country in the near future or not, I encourage you to update your passport if it is soon to expire. U.S. passports must be renewed every nine and a half years, and it is a good idea to be proactive about updating your passport, as some countries will not let you travel within six months of your passport's expiration. Passport agencies are extremely overwhelmed at this time, and the turnaround time to expedite your passport is around five to seven weeks. In-person emergency appointments are also extremely limited in Atlanta. For more information on renewing your passport or applying for the first time, click HERE. If you have any further questions regarding passports, please reach out to my Anderson office.

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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.