| 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! Honoring a Legend If you’re a fan of hockey, you’ve probably heard of Willie O’Ree. Known as the “Jackie Robinson of Hockey,” O’Ree was the first Black player in the National Hockey League. After 22 years of playing professionally, he used his fame to champion underserved communities and create social change. This week, the Senate passed my bill to award him a Congressional Gold Medal. I hope my House colleagues will do the same and honor this trailblazer for his many achievements. I’ll never forget meeting the legendary O’Ree in 2019!
Future Pandemic Preparedness On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on future pandemic preparation and response. I questioned witnesses on key issues—American innovation, telehealth, and more—that could protect our nation in the face of a future pandemic. My MADE in America Act, in particular, would incentivize U.S. drug manufacturing, ensuring the U.S. is not reliant on adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party for life-saving products.
Click to watch my questions at the hearing A Game-Changer for Property Owners More than a third of Black-owned land in the South was passed down informally, without deeds or wills. Unfortunately, farmers who own this land—known as heirs’ property—have been unfairly locked out of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs for far too long. Yesterday, the USDA implemented the Heirs’ Property Relending Program, an initiative I spearheaded in the 2018 farm bill. Finally, heirs’ property owners will be eligible for USDA’s programs, including the loans and conservation funding that keep many rural landowners afloat. I know this will be a game-changer for property owners in South Carolina and across the nation! Showing Off Our State South Carolina has it all: great people, great places, and great food. This summer, I hope you’ll join me in showing off our state by posting a picture of your favorite South Carolina meal with the hashtag #SCeats. Check out my video introducing this summer series by clicking the image below! Click to watch
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
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