Dear fellow South Carolinians,

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Trying Times:
Last week, the national weather service confirmed at least 21 tornadoes in our state, leaving devastation throughout. For a time, nearly 300,000 South Carolinians were living without power. This was a deeply saddening event in the midst of such difficulty brought by COVID-19. My prayers are with the friends and families of the nine South Carolinians who lost their lives in the storm, as well as with all of our affected communities. I want to thank all of the first responders who are working to aid folks across the state, as well as all South Carolinians for maintaining high spirits and confidence in one another throughout this difficult time.

If your area is affected, please report damage to your county Emergency Management office, which can be found by visiting SCEMD.org.  This site also contains disaster planning tips and other information on disaster assistance.

If you need more immediate assistance, call 211 to find out what resources are available in your community.

Small Business Aid:
The Payroll Protection Plan has approved 22,933 loans for more than $3.8 billion in South Carolina alone (and nearly $350 billion across the US). This much-needed assistance ensures that workers can receive their paychecks and that businesses can stay open. Unfortunately, while Republicans have tried repeatedly to pass a clean, one-page bill to extend funding, Congressional Democrats have blocked these attempts and allowed this critical help for workers and small businesses to deplete.

Last Wednesday, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and I wrote an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal. We discussed the need for Congress to replenish PPP funds as soon as possible. You can read the full article here.

Reopening the Country:
On Thursday morning, I spoke with President Trump and was given the honor of joining his task force on reopening the economy. As a former small business owner, I know the vital role that small businesses play in our economy, and I am devoted to opening them in a safe and responsible way. Through bipartisan efforts, this task force will ensure that American families and workers can one day return to life as they have known it. You can view my full statement here.

COVID-19 Weekly Update
Throughout this time of uncertainty, I am continuing to post regular summaries of the White House and Governor McMaster briefings on my Facebook page.

Here are some highlights from last week:

• The US Treasury Department has distributed relief payments to over 80 million Americans. If you have not yet received a direct deposit and believe you may be eligible, please visit http://irs.gov/getmypayment.
• According to the White House Coronavirus Task Force and their team of experts, the past week has shown declines in the number of coronavirus cases across the country, leading them to believe the curve is now flattening. 
• As of Friday, approximately four million tests had been administered, and 660,000 ID NOW tests (diagnostic tests that provide results within five to fifteen minutes) had also been completed.  Another new test will identify those previously infected and could screen up to 20 million people in a matter of weeks.
• Based on the most recent data and the capacity for additional testing, the White House has released new guidelines on the reopening of the economy in the coming weeks and months. These guidelines recommend that governors take an individual, three-phased approach to opening their economies on either a statewide or county-by-county basis.  The intent is to restore economic life “one careful step at a time,” while continuing to shelter and protect at-risk individuals. Some states, having already met certain criteria, are permitted to move to phase one immediately. You can view the new guidelines and phases by clicking here.
• Governor McMaster said that although there is still work to be done in South Carolina, the state continues to make good progress. He expects the economy to be humming again by the end of June.  He also announced the formation of Accelerate South Carolina, a group made up of representatives from different sectors, tasked with finding solutions and creating best practices to reopen our state again quickly and safely.

Resources:
If you are feeling ill, click here for information from the South Carolina Hospital Association on tele-health options. More complete information on resources for South Carolinians is also available on my website or my Facebook page.

As always, remember to follow public health guidelines by washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds, using cloth masks in public (leaving medical-grade masks for medical personnel), and – critically – staying home when feeling ill. More CDC guidelines and other helps are available at www.coronavirus.gov. 

Do not lose heart! There is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will make it out together.


Sincerely,

Tim