| 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!
Standing up for Kids, Parents, and Common Sense
Earlier this year, the Biden administration’s Department of Education introduced new rules which would upend the 28-year-old, bipartisan Charter School Program (CSP) and add burdensome requirements to charter schools seeking funding. The changes would place federal, one-size-fits-all requirements on charter schools, eliminating educational opportunities from parents and students. President Biden stood against charter schools as a presidential candidate and immediately launched an attack on the first day of his administration.
I understand that access to a quality education has the potential to change one’s trajectory in life, which is why I introduced aCongressional Review Act resolution to nullify the rules from the Education department and preserve school choice options for American families. Charter schools have a proven track record of lifting disadvantaged communities out of poverty and Congress must act to protect them.
Listen to my floor speech here!
Learn more about my resolution here!
Prioritizing Safety
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act sending it to President Biden’s desk. This is great news! As part of my years-long efforts to increase the safety of law enforcement officers and the communities they serve, I joined this bipartisan initiative led by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
The sooner President Biden signs this legislation into law, the sooner America’s law enforcement officers will have the necessary training and resources to help our communities.
Read my statement on the legislation here!
Increasing Opportunity
The American Dream is not a “one-size-fits-all” idea— it looks different for everyone. I believe that homeownership, owning a business, and the opportunity to participate in the market affords people the necessary pathways to change their economic circumstances and pursue their own version of the American Dream.
As Ranking member of the Securities, Insurance, and Investment subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, I lead a hearing examining proposals to improve the ability of diverse entrepreneurs to access funding to grow their businesses and create good paying jobs in their communities.
Listen to my opening remarks here!
Defending our Farmers
Farmers and ranchers make up the largest economic sector in South Carolina. Agribusiness contributes over $42 billion and more than 200,000 jobs to our state’s economy. In March 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission introduced a new climate regulation which would place an undue burden on the farmers and ranchers who provide raw products to the value chain. Farmers and ranchers form a vital part of our nation’s infrastructure, and it is important that they are free from unnecessary and bureaucratic regulations that hinder their operations.
That’s why I joined my Senate colleagues in cosponsoring the Protect the Farmers from the SEC Act. This legislation would exempt family farmers and ranchers from these reporting requirements and ensure that they can continue to feed America.
Read more about our efforts!
Spilling the #SCSweetTea on a Joyful Chorus
This week, I am spilling the #SCSweetTea on the chorus of Southside Middle School. Hearing carols during the holiday season can help raise anyone’s spirits. I’m sure the gift of music from these students helped soothe the patients and families at MUSC Florence.
I’m thankful that they were able to use their talents to give back to their community in such a unique way during this special time of year.
Read about this joyful chorus here!
Sincerely,
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