January 13, 2023

Friends, 

I hope you and your family are well! There is a lot to update you on from the past few weeks, and I wanted to provide you with an update regarding what’s going on in the 118th Congress –

Honored to Serve You

Last Saturday, I was sworn in (on my birthday) at 1:40 a.m. on the House floor as Representative for South Carolina's Third District. I am humbled to be able to continue to serve as your voice and to fight on your behalf. I look forward to fighting for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and South Carolina values while working every day to hold the Biden Administration accountable to the people. The process to get here took longer than normal, but I'm confident that ultimately it will be proven that it made the House Republican Conference stronger. Congress was designed for debate and deliberation, and the reforms put into place to improve how Congress conducts its business are the best I've ever seen. Now it's time to make the people's business our number one priority and inject some much-needed common sense back into our government.

118th Congress Rules Package 

Each new Congress, the House passes a Rules package that determines how the House will operate for the next two years. Congress has been broken for a long time, and the Rules package for this Congress that passed last night is a step in the right direction to make Congress more accountable to WE THE PEOPLE—as it was intended.

This rules package returns to in-person meetings and in-person votes, ends unconstitutional proxy voting and remote committee hearings, allows the power to fire unelected bureaucrats, and requires bills to be filed for a full 72 hours prior to a vote for full transparency. It also requires a three-fifths supermajority in the House to approve any tax increases and has measures to force the House to put the brakes on runaway government spending that fuels inflation.

This package creates a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party to confront the threat of the CCP and charters a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to investigate gain-of-function research, COVID origins, and the government’s draconian response. It overhauls the way the House operates internally and on the House floor, which will help the House operate by the people and for the people. I am thankful to my Freedom Caucus, Republican Study Committee, and House Leadership colleagues for working to ensure this package puts a check on power and works in favor of the American people.

The House will operate more efficiently and effectively under this rules package, and it makes me all the more excited about what’s in store this Congress—now let’s get to work! Click HERE for my remarks on this. 

The Republican Majority at Work

In one of our first actions in the new Congress, House Republicans unanimously voted to defund $72 billion in spending on 87,000 new IRS agents in the Family and Small Businesses Protection Act with a 221-210 vote.

We also passed the Born-Alive Act, with a 220-210 vote, which requires infants who survive a botched abortion procedure to receive lifesaving care instead of leaving the baby to die. Republicans unanimously voted yes. Every Democrat but one voted no (with one voting present). 

This week, I was proud to support Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers' Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves from China Act, which prohibits the sale and export of crude oil from the SPR to China. This passed the House 331-97. Our strategic oil reserves are profiting the CCP as Americans face record-high energy prices. It's time to reverse this madness and prioritize American energy. Click HERE for my remarks on this.

I will keep fighting to block the radical Left's agenda every chance I get. This is the Republican Majority at work! 

118th Congress Legislation

I introduced ten pieces of legislation this week to begin my work for South Carolina in this new Congress. I am fighting for America-first policies and am ready to deliver commonsense solutions to the crises Americans are facing. The pieces of legislation I introduced focus on protecting American energy production, upholding Second Amendment rights, combatting inflation, protecting children from exploitation, and defending our national security.

I introduced H.R. 143 to prevent the release of GITMO prisoners into the U.S., which would endanger our national security. 

I introduced Adjusting Davis-Bacon for Inflation (H.R. 144) to make a one-time inflation adjustment to the enforcement floor for the Davis-Bacon Act from a $2000 contract or subcontract to a $1 million contract or subcontract to help hardworking federal contractors struggling with inflation.

I introduced RUSH WAS RIGHT, the Reassuring that the United States Has Wide And Scrupulous Rhetorical Insight to Garnish Honest Thought Act, (H.R. 145) to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from re-imposing the Fairness Doctrine, which would silence conservative viewpoints on American talk radio. 

I introduced the Old Glory Only Act (H.R. 146), which prohibits any flag other than the American flag from being flown over American embassies and consulates. Click HERE for more information on this. 

I introduced the Competition in Professional Baseball Act (H.R. 147) to eliminate the MLB's unconstitutional antitrust exemption.  

I introduced the JUSTICE Act (H.R. 148), which protects children from exploitation by prohibiting the importation or transport of child-like sex dolls and robots that often leads to the abuse of children. 

I introduced the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens From Voting Act (H.R. 149) to prohibit federal funds from going to state and local governments that allow noncitizens to vote in elections. 

I introduced the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 150) to prevent the president from unilaterally imposing a fracking ban to shut down domestic energy production. 

I introduced the NFA SBS Act, (No Frivolous Applications for Short-Barreled Shotguns, H.R. 151) to strike outdated ATF regulations and remove short-barreled shotguns from the NFA.

I introduced the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 152), which removes unnecessary burdens in the process to obtain a firearms suppressor by removing suppressors from the NFA definition of a firearm. This would prevent sportsmen from suffering hearing loss from firearm noise.

Representing Newberry County

Throughout most of my time in public service, I've had the honor of representing portions of Newberry County either in the State House or in the halls of Congress. Due to recent congressional redistricting, I now have the pleasure of representing all of Newberry County for the very first time. Newberry is a very special community, and I'm looking forward to working with you in the years ahead!

Legislative Action

This week, I introduced ten pieces of legislation (listed above) and cosponsored dozens of bills to kick off the new Congress. Here are some of the pieces of legislation I cosponsored below.

I cosponsored Rep. Mike Johnson's H.Con.Res. 3 to condemn the recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches.  

I cosponsored Rep. Dusty Johnson's H.J.Res. 8 to propose an amendment to the Constitution that would require the Supreme Court to be composed of nine justices. 

I cosponsored Rep. Ralph Norman's H.J.Res. 11 to propose an amendment to the Constitution limiting the amount of terms a Member of Congress can serve. 

I cosponsored Rep. Christopher Smith's H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023.

I cosponsored Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers' H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy has a plan to increase the amount of federal lands used for oil and gas production. 

I cosponsored H.R. 22, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers' Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, to prohibit the CCP from profiting off of our strategic oil reserves. 

I cosponsored Rep. Adrian Smith's H.R. 23, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, that will rescind money made available to the Internal Revenue Service to fund an excessive amount of IRS agents. 

I cosponsored Rep. Thomas Massie's H.R. 24, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2023, to complete an audit of the Federal Reserve Board, among other transparency measures. 

I cosponsored Rep. Buddy Carter's H.R. 25, the FairTax Act of 2023, which abolishes the IRS to help American taxpayers. 

I cosponsored H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which will require doctors to provide lifesaving care to babies who survive botched abortion procedures. 

In the District

The Food Bank of Greenwood began in 1983 and has served the local community for 40 years. The food bank has partnered with a range of agencies to fulfill its mission of providing for people's critical needs. The food bank will host a luncheon to celebrate its 40th anniversary on January 27.

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.