Dear fellow South Carolinians, Thank you for subscribing to my weekly e-newsletter, and please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Remarks on Recent Tragedies: As I watched the events of this past week from the devastating murder of George Floyd to the fatal shooting of retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn my heart broke. Like many of you, I have felt overwhelming anger, fear, and frustration in response to these deaths and the crises we are facing. While our nation has come a long way since its beginning, there is no denying that there’s still a lot of progress to be made. When it comes to race and justice in this nation, solutions are needed now. In the wake of these tragedies, I am reminded of South Carolinians’ response after the shocking Walter Scott and Emanuel AME Church shootings in our home state. South Carolinians chose to take a step back and listen to one another, creating constructive conversations between law enforcement communities and communities of color. These are the kinds of actions we need today, along with peaceful protests. I discuss this and more in my conversation on Fox Business' Evening Edit, which you can view by clicking the video below. Walter Scott Notification Act: In the coming weeks, I will continue working to create solutions around race and justice, ensuring that all people regardless of color and economic class have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. In pursuit of that goal, I have reintroduced the Walter Scott Notification Act, which requires states to report a number of details surrounding officer-related shootings in order to receive federal law enforcement funding. With accurate and transparent data regarding officer-related shootings, we can begin to find and create lasting solutions. You can read more about the act here. The Path Forward: In 2015, after the Walter Scott and Mother Emanuel tragedies, our state came together and showed the world how to respond in a constructive way that brings about empathy and understanding. By following in the footsteps of leaders like John Lewis, who used conversations and peaceful protests to bring systemic change, we can make progress once again. Let’s keep finding solutions together, creating a better path for the future of our nation. Sincerely, Tim |