February 24, 2023

Friends,   

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

Remembering an American Hero

Private First Class Barrett Austin, an American hero and fallen son of South Carolina, will be remembered by his community for generations to come. Last year, my bill to rename the post office in Easley after PFC Barrett Austin was signed into law. This week, I was honored to be a part of the Post Office Dedication Ceremony with Barrett Austin’s parents, Curt and Yolanda. Freedom isn’t free, and Barrett Austin paid the ultimate price to defend our liberty while fighting in the global war on terror.

Not long after PFC Barrett Lyle Austin won his stripes as a private first class in the Army, he was driving an armored truck on patrol in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan when insurgents attacked and a bomb exploded, and he suffered massive head and chest trauma. PFC Austin died in Germany days later at age 20 on April 21, 2013. PFC Austin was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Palmetto State Hero award, and the SC Governor's Award for Extraordinary Sacrifice and Heroism.

John 15:13–“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” God Bless the Austin family and the loved ones of all our fallen soldiers. Click HERE for coverage of the ceremony. 

Welcoming All of Newberry County to SC-03

I had a great time meeting with Newberry City and County officials this week. Since I was first elected to the SC General Assembly, and later as a Member of Congress, I have had the pleasure of serving parts of Newberry County, but with the newly redrawn district, I now have the honor of representing the entire county.

While spending the day in Newberry County, I had the chance to check in on a living legend. Staff Sergeant Henry Kunkle served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as an engineer on the B-26 Bomber. He flew 12 missions on D-Day alone, including flying over Omaha Beach, Caens, and St. Lo. Later in the war he flew missions during the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive. On one of these missions, a bullet struck his first aid kit located on his chest in flight, absorbing most of the blow which saved his life and allowed him to eventually make a full recovery. SSG Kunkle will be 106 this April and is a true American hero! 

Visiting Samsung in Newberry 

I also had the opportunity to visit Samsung while spending time in Newberry. During their nearly six years in operation, they've generated nearly $500 million in capital investment, directly supported over 1,500 jobs, and produced over four million washing machines. We had a great discussion about the issues they face including supply chain concerns, trade, and various federal regulations.

Congratulations to Dr. Whitaker for Twenty Years at Anderson University

This week, I attended the annual AU Founders Celebration Lunch where we honored Dr. Evans Whitaker, President of Anderson University, for over twenty years leading the school. In the past two decades, Anderson University has grown from barely 1,600 students to roughly 4,200 students, making it South Carolina’s largest private university and the 16th fastest-growing regional university in the last decade. I am proud to represent Anderson University in Congress and wish Dr. Whitaker the best as he continues to be a leader at AU and beyond. Go Trojans! 

Anderson Adult Education Center

Thanks to the Anderson Adult Education Center and to adult educators in the area for the tour this week and for discussing the incredible impact you have on our community. Anderson Adult Education (Districts 3, 4, & 5) was established in 1964 and has produced over 5,000 High School and GED graduates! You all play an important role in providing opportunities and helping others reach their goals.

Transparency for the American People

Kevin McCarthy is delivering on his commitment to transparency by releasing more than 41,000 hours of January 6th footage to Tucker Carlson. After nearly two years of the January 6th Committee hoarding evidence, selectively releasing documents, and cherry-picking footage, we will finally have an opportunity to see what Democrats have hidden from the American people.

It’s refreshing to have some much-needed transparency in Washington, and Americans can now make the judgment for themselves. Speaker McCarthy deserves credit for defying the Washington establishment that did not want this footage released. Thank you to Speaker McCarthy for following through for the American public! Why are the Democrats so angry about this footage being released?

Legislative Action

Here is a look into ten more pieces of legislation I am cosponsoring this Congress. 

I cosponsored H.R. 552, Rep. Lance Gooden’s No Tax Dollar for the United Nation’s Immigration Invasion Act, which would protect American Citizens by preventing any federal funding from being allocated to the United Nations International Organization for Migration.

I cosponsored H.R. 551, Rep. Bob Good’s No Taxpayer Funding for the Chinese Communist Party Act, which would help prevent the Chinese Communist Party from benefitting from U.S. taxpayer-funded research.

I cosponsored H.R. 539, Rep. Joe Wilson’s Military Child Educational Freedom Act, which would relieve some financial burden on military families by allowing members of the Armed Forces serving on extended active duty or their spouses to use tax-exempt education savings accounts for certain education expenses.

I cosponsored H.R. 508, Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s ATF Accountability Act of 2023, which would hold the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives accountable by establishing procedures individuals could follow to appeal any ruling or determination from the Bureau. 

I cosponsored H.R. 494, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act, which would prevent EcoHealth Alliance, a non-profit research organization affiliated with China that studies coronavirus in bat populations, from receiving federal funds.

I cosponsored Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s H.Con.Res.9 to denounce the horrors of socialism and oppose the implementation of socialist policies within the United States.

I cosponsored Rep. August Pfluger’s H.R. 484, the Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act, which would reverse the natural gas tax created in the Clean Air Act.

I cosponsored Rep. Nancy Mace’s H.R. 473, to prohibit the closure of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina.

I cosponsored Rep. Morgan Griffith’s H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. This would place more restrictions and penalties on the use and distribution of fentanyl-related drugs and classify fentanyl-related drugs as Schedule I drugs per the Controlled Substances Act.

I cosponsored Rep. Dan Bishop’s H.R. 453, AMERICANS Act, which would provide remedies to any member of the Armed Forces who was wrongly discharged as a result of the COVID shot mandate.

In the District 

America’s Boating Club – Golden Corner Lakes in Seneca is offering free boating safety classes on March 14, 21, and 28. The classes will include information on different types of boats, state and local boating regulations, and mandatory knot-tying training. These classes will be held in person at Saint Marks United Methodist Church between 6:00 and 8:30 p.m.

More than 40 Clemson students gathered near campus last week at the intersection of South Carolina Highway 93 and Newman Road to help plant around 730 trees. The project was a combined effort by Clemson’s landscape department, landscape services, and various student organizations.

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.