| 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!
Speaking on the Senate Floor
This week, I voiced my support for Israel in the wake of unprovoked Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist attacks that took the lives of 1,400 Israelis and 32 Americans. As antisemitic misinformation and blatant lies sweep the country, with many falsely blaming Israel for incidents such as the Gaza hospital attack, I called out extremist rhetoric and urged Congress to stand with Israel. I will continue the fight to freeze Iran’s assets, target them with sanctions, and destroy their ability to fund anti-Israel terrorist groups such as Hamas.
Watch my Senate floor speech in full here.
Standing for Israel and Taking Action on Iran
It’s been another week of heartbreaking images and news coming out of Israel. The United States must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our ally. That starts with ensuring our country is not enabling terrorist groups, like Hamas, by supporting the regimes who finance them.
That’s why I introduced a bill this week called the Revoke Iranian Funding Act. It prevents the Iranian regime from using the $6 billion the Biden administration recently released. We know Iran is a financial backer to Hamas, and we must do everything in our power to prevent Iran from funding future terrorism. My legislation also requires the Treasury Secretary to report all of Iran’s assets to Congress so we have the ability to hit them where it hurts the most – their wallet.
Read more about my bill here.
Back in May, long before the recent atrocities in Israel, I introduced the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (SISA) to cement energy and weapons sanctions which would cripple two of Iran’s most profitable industries and inhibit the regime’s ability to finance terrorists, including Hamas, and develop nuclear weapons. I will continue to push for this bill’s passage.
Stopping Antisemitism on College Campuses
In the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel, our country has watched schools from Harvard to Columbia turn into hotbeds of antisemitism. I’m committed to making sure no college or university receives a single cent from the federal government to fund violent antisemitism. That’s why I am championing the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which stops federal education funding for colleges and universities who authorize, fund or facilitate events that promote violent antisemitism. America’s heart is too big for bigotry.
Read more about this legislation here.
Expanding Charter Schools
I believe every child, no matter their zip code, should have access to an education that sets them up to live out their version of the American Dream. That’s why I joined my Senate colleagues in introducing the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act, which makes it easier to open first-rate charter schools in the communities that need them most and ensures more students have access to the educational opportunities best suited for them.
Read more about this legislation here.
Following the Law
For months, President Biden has kept Julie Su in place as Acting Secretary of Labor despite her failure to be confirmed in the face of bipartisan opposition to her nomination. Now, the Biden administration is listing her on the White House website as a member of the Cabinet “in order of succession to the presidency.” Not only does this action bypass Congress, but it is also a blatant violation of the Constitution.
The President is not above the law. That’s why I joined Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and my Senate colleagues in calling on the President to withdraw Ms. Su’s nomination and put forward a qualified nominee for Secretary of Labor.
Read our letter to the President here.
Questioning President Biden’s Israel Ambassador Nominee
During this week’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, I questioned Jack Lew, President Biden’s nominee to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. As Israel defends her people against Hamas, it is important that we ensure proper leadership is in place at our embassy. However, it is just as imperative that we confirm a qualified candidate for the job—someone who, for example, understands that Iran policy is Israel policy. With that in mind, I pressed Lew on his support for the dangerous 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal—and his thoughts on the current administration’s Iran policies. How we treat Israel’s greatest enemy, Iran,—the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world—has a direct impact on its ability to threaten our greatest ally in the region.
Watch my hearing in full here.
Spilling the #SCSweetTea on the American Legion
The American Legion is doing a good work in Sumter, South Carolina. This year, they celebrated 107 years of being in the Sumter community by hosting a local fair and returning a portion of the proceeds to the town. Giving back is what they do best, and I’m proud to shine the spotlight on the hard work the American Legion does to support our state!
Read the story in full here.
Sincerely,
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