October 21, 2022

Friends, 

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

Our Oil Reserves Are Not for Playing Politics 

Joe Biden has depleted our strategic oil reserves more than every President in United States history combined and has sold 200 million barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve and recently announced the release an additional 15 million barrels of oil. As a result, our oil reserves are at a dangerously low point—the lowest since 1984. This threatens our energy security and national security and leaves us vulnerable to threats from foreign powers or natural disasters. Joe Biden is playing political games with our national security to artificially lower gas prices and cover up the damage his anti-American energy policies have caused. It’s time to unleash domestic energy production and utilize our vast natural resources to restore American energy independence and dominance.  

Instead of draining our strategic oil reserves to artificially lower gas prices for political purposes, Joe Biden should unleash American energy and end his war on domestic production. Our nation is blessed with abundant natural resources but is cursed with liberal politicians who refuse to utilize them. For more on this, click HERE. 

Pushing for the Biden Administration to Unleash American Energy 

This week, the Biden Administration let a five-year offshore oil and natural gas leasing plan expire, which continues the Administration's anti-American energy agenda that further restricts domestic energy production. 

In response to this, I was proud to join over 100 of my colleagues to urge President Biden to announce a new offshore leasing plan and unleash American energy production. The Biden Administration is effectively allowing for the possibility of no new offshore leasing for the next five years—another unprecedented move by this Administration to destabilize domestic energy production. President Biden can’t say he is doing everything he can to lower energy prices, then take actions like this. When you make intentional decisions to take resources off the table, you’re responsible for the results that follow. President Biden, actions speak louder than words—stop raising energy prices. Click HERE to read our full letter to President Biden. 

Biden's Cruel Economy

In Joe Biden's economy, everything is more expensive, and this 8.2% inflation is taxing all Americans. Over two-thirds of workers say their paychecks cannot keep up with rising costs, and inflation has outpaced wages for 18 months in a row. It's time to restrain reckless federal spending that's adding fuel to this economic disaster—Americans cannot afford to fund the Democrats’ radical agenda.

401(k)s are down 25% on average, equating to a loss of roughly $34,000 per saver. The Biden economy has stolen a combined $2.1 TRILLION from retirement savings as Americans are already struggling with the effects of skyrocketing inflation on everyday necessities. Wages are flat, purchasing power is down, and prices are up. We are over $31 trillion in debt and in the midst of inflation, and what do Democrats do? Spend more money. This reckless spending adds fuel to the fire of inflation, and I will keep fighting for common sense in Washington. For more information, click HERE. 

Noncitizen Voting is a Terrible Idea, and the Washington Post Editorial Board Agrees with Me

It's not often I'm on the same page with the Washington Post Editorial Board, but in the case of this op-ed, we can agree that allowing noncitizens to vote is a terrible idea. Washington, D.C.’s proposed bill to make this a reality would allow an estimated 50,000 noncitizen residents, legal and illegal, to vote in local elections.

Voting is a hallmark of democracy reserved for citizens. Allowing noncitizens to vote dilutes the value of American citizenship, threatens our national security, and is a slap in the face to the men and women who worked hard to legally obtain American citizenship. Senator Marco Rubio and I have introduced legislation to combat this growing trend nationwide because of the dire implications this has on our nation. H.R. 6299, the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens From Voting Act, has over 70 cosponsors and would prevent federal funds from being made available to state or local governments that allow noncitizen voting in federal, state, or local elections. For more on this, click HERE. 

Legislative Action

I cosponsored Rep. Mike Johnson's H.R. 9197, the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act. This legislation would prohibit the use of federal funds for any activity or literature that depicts sexual content to children under ten years old and put a three-year pause on federal funding for any entity found guilty of two or more violations in a five-year period. This legislation would take necessary steps to protect American children from exposure to dangerous and explicit sexual ideologies.

In the District

E.A. Sween Company, a ready-to-eat sandwich supplier, hosted its groundbreaking ceremony in Greenwood this past week and will create around 300 jobs. The company is investing $38 million in Greenwood County and purchased the first building constructed at the North Greenwood Industrial Park.

The Anderson County Disabilities and Special Needs Board is highlighting employers who hire workers with disabilities in honor of National Disability Awareness Month. The board is working to close the disability employment gap and has added 1,500 workers to Anderson County’s workforce and hopes to see even more in the future.

Sixteen-year-old Ansley Burns, an Easley native, appeared on the most recent season of The Voice. Burns was on Blake Shelton’s team and said she learned a lot from working with the singer. Even though she was recently eliminated from the show, Burns plans on continuing to pursue a professional music career.  

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.