| Welcome back to my Week in Review newsletter. In addition to these weekly updates, you can sign up to receive other issue-specific newsletters here. Also, please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina!
Protecting American Innovation
Roughly two in every five Americans are now fully vaccinated, thanks to the public-private partnerships enabled by Operation Warp Speed. In a matter of months, American innovation and investment accomplished an unprecedented medical achievement: a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19.
Now, despite the fact the U.S. has already pledged more money than any other country to global vaccine efforts, President Biden wants to hand over the intellectual property behind these vaccines to our global competitors, including malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party. This move won’t speed up global vaccine production, but it will kill American jobs and discourage American innovation. I introduced a bill—the Preventing Foreign Attempts to Erode Healthcare Innovation Act—to keep that from happening. You can read more about it here.
Alzheimer’s Advocacy
Nearly six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and if we work together, I believe one of those Americans could be the first survivor of this devastating disease.
As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I held a hearing last Thursday, along with Chairman Bob Casey (D-Pa.), on how we can join the fight to eradicate Alzheimer’s. We brought in experts and caretakers—including South Carolina’s Peg Lahmeyer, executive director of The Ark of S.C.—to speak about Alzheimer’s risks, new medical developments, and what we can do to support those living with the disease. Check out my opening remarks below, and click here to read more about the hearing.
Click here for my opening remarks. Fighting for Secure Elections
As a Black man who has voted in the South all my life, I take voting rights personally. That’s why I have been vocally opposed to the Democrats’ power grab masquerading as election reform. At a time when our nation is desperate for election integrity, their so-called “For the People Act” would destroy confidence in our election system. It would deposit your tax dollars into political campaign accounts for candidates you don’t support; turn the nonpartisan Federal Election Commission into a partisan disaster; encourage fraud by allowing unlimited ballot harvesting; and gut voter ID laws that a majority of Americans support.
Last week I wrote an op-ed in Fox News about what a train wreck this bill would be. But there is still good news: With your help, I am confident we can push back against the Democrats’ plans and create a better future for our nation.
Sincerely, | 