| Dear Friend,
Welcome back to my Week in Review newsletter. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina!
Securing Our Border
President Biden’s inaction on the border crisis has devastated our country, leaving our communities ridden with crime. Instead of securing our border, the Biden administration took billions of taxpayer funds to hire an army of IRS agents to target hardworking Americans.
President Biden continually fails to prioritize Americans. That’s why, this week, I introduced the Securing Our Border Act. This legislation takes funding from Democrats' $45 billion to hire 87,000 IRS agents and instead uses that money to bolster security on our southern border. Americans need more border agents to keep them safe – not more IRS agents looking over their shoulder.
Read more about the Securing Our Border Act here.
Targeting Fentanyl Trafficking
The Biden administration’s weakness on the world stage has emboldened China and Mexican drug cartels and enabled the deadly flow of fentanyl into our neighborhoods. In South Carolina alone, fentanyl was related to more than two-thirds of all opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2021. This must stop.
To protect our state and nation, I introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act- a sanctions and anti-money laundering bill aimed at combating the country’s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain at its core. I am committed to using my role as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to direct the Treasury Department to prioritize addressing this crisis. We must use the full weight of America’s economic power to restore hope for communities suffering from this epidemic.
Read more about the FEND Off Fentanyl Act here.
Revitalizing Affordable Housing
Watch my opening remarks here. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, I highlighted my ROAD to Housing Act during this week’s hearing on the U.S. housing market. This legislation’s targeted reforms of the U.S. housing sector addresses decades of failed federal housing policies and improves access to housing for all Americans.
Click here to watch my statement in full.
Taking Care of Our Farmers American farmers create a secure food chain and a line of defense against dependency on our adversaries. The Department of Labor recently announced a new burdensome wage rule which undermines farmers’ ability to work, raises their costs, and increases food prices for Americans.
To stand up for hardworking farmers in South Carolina and across our country, I joined Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act. Overturning this misguided rule, taking the regulatory burden off the agricultural industry, and bringing down food prices for our families is a priority.
Read more about our resolution here.
Expanding Credit Access and Financial Inclusion
This week, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing on credit reporting. As Ranking Member, I expressed my commitment to opening doors for more Americans by responsibly increasing access to credit and opposing progressives’ efforts to eliminate the use of objective standards in lending. As a former small business owner, learning how to build credit was critical to enabling me to live out my dream. I will continue fighting to make sure that every American has the opportunity to build their credit.
Click here to watch my remarks.
Addressing Workforce Shortages
There is a growing labor shortage for skilled jobs across our nation. Americans need expanded training to fill the workforce gaps and take advantage of the over 4 million jobs waiting to be filled.
This week, I, along with Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), reintroduced the Training America’s Workforce Act, which would provide workers with the training they need to plug into a wealth of jobs. Instead of more heavy-handed government programs, this legislation incentives the private sector to put Americans on the path to a lifelong, good-paying job.
Read more about the Training America’s Workforce Act here.
The #SCSweetTea on Staying Local Small businesses are the core of our economy here in South Carolina. Two family-owned businesses in Georgetown County are showcasing South Carolina’s entrepreneurial spirit and fueling growth in our local economy. Their hard work getting their stores ready for the public paid off during their recent grand opening. I never get tired of seeing entrepreneurs roll up their sleeves and push themselves to make their dreams a reality.
Read more about this story here!
Sincerely, | 