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!
Strengthening America’s Economic Ties with Israel
Hamas’s terrorist attack against innocent civilians, including so many women and children, made October 7th the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. It is critical our nation continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel as it seeks to eradicate this threat to its existence.
As member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, I was proud to join my Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution reaffirming economic ties between the U.S. and Israel. We must make clear the United States stands with the people of Israel during this dark hour.
Read more about our resolution here.
Holding the Biden Administration Accountable
With Iranian proxies attacking U.S. troops in the Middle East and Iranian-backed Hamas waging terror against America’s greatest ally in the region, strong, reliable, and consistent leadership on Iran policy has never been more important.
Unfortunately, the trust between the American people and our diplomatic leadership was fractured when the State Department hid the fact that the Biden administration’s Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, had his clearance suspended on suspicion that he mishandled classified information. What’s worse is that he was allowed to continue working at the Department for weeks after his clearance was suspended.
That’s why I joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) in introducing the State Department Security Notification Act, which requires senior employees at the State Department to obtain and maintain proper security clearances and requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress if any such clearances are suspended or revoked. The fact that President Biden’s hand-picked Special Envoy to Iran – one of our greatest adversaries – could not maintain a proper security clearance illustrates gross incompetence. The fact that the White House tried to cover it up illustrates blatant misconduct. The American people deserve answers and transparency. More importantly, they demand this never happens again.
Read more about the State Department Security Notification Act here.
Intern With My Office
I am now accepting applications for internships in my Washington, D.C., North Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville offices for the Spring of 2024. Every year, young people from South Carolina and around the country have the opportunity to get involved in their government by interning in one of my offices. The internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students the chance to work with public service professionals and gain practical experience in constituent services, government policy and more. Students of all majors, particularly those studying governmental affairs, public policy, or communications, are welcome to apply.
Learn more internship opportunities here.
Spilling the #SCSweetTea on Veterans Day
As we head into Veterans Day weekend, I’m proud to celebrate the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our great nation. With our troops coming under fire in the Middle East at the hand of Iranian proxies, it’s more important than ever to honor the sacrifice they make every day to protect America, the greatest country on earth. Home to eight military bases and nearly 415,000 veterans, South Carolina doesn’t just talk about supporting veterans—we do it. May we never take their service to our country for granted.
Sincerely,
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