| Dear fellow South Carolinians,
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Border Security
Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval
Two weeks ago, the Senate voted to disapprove the President’s declaration of a national emergency. I personally found this vote to be very unfortunate. We are a compassionate nation but we are also a nation that abides by and values the Rule of Law. At the current pace, we are on track to encounter close to 1 million illegal aliens at the border this yearthat’s a national emergency in my book. As for me, I’m with the President. You can read more on my thoughts about this issue in my recent Op-Ed here.
My Trip to the Border
Last week, I had the opportunity to tour various parts of the southern border in San Ysidro, CA. My tour included stops at the San Ysidro Port of Entry (SYS POE), the Border Infrastructure System, and the Secondary Border Barrier Replacement Project. I was joined by various agents and was able to discuss border infrastructure (technology, enforcement and effectiveness), border barrier prototype testing and evaluation, recent challenges and need for additional resources, and more. The tour only highlighted our need to truly prioritize border security now. You can see pictures of my tour here.
College Transparency Act
Recently, I joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the College Transparency Act (CTA), legislation that aims to provide actionable and customizable information for students and families as they consider higher education opportunities.
CTA modernizes the college reporting system for postsecondary data by ensuring accurate reporting on student outcomes such as enrollment, completion, and post-college success across colleges and majors, while ensuring the privacy of individual students is securely protected. This information will tell students how others with their backgrounds have succeeded at an institution, and help point them towards schools and programs of study best suited to their unique needs and desired outcomes. It will also aid institutions of learning and policymakers in their work to improve our country’s postsecondary education system.
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions that one makes in life. It’s important that we empower students and families to make informed decisions about their educational futures, based on concrete data. You can read more about the legislation here.
Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Act
Earlier this month, I had the honor of spending a morning in Charleston celebrating the passage of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Act. The Act establishes Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie as a National Historical Park, instead of a national monument, revamps protections and preservation of the sites and has the potential to enhance local economic opportunities for the surrounding areas through increased tourism and visitation.
A big thank you to the National Park Service, all of the Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie staff, and all of my fellow Charlestonians for fighting for this designation with me over the years! I had a great time celebrating our accomplishment.
Sincerely,
Tim | 