| Dear Friend,
Welcome back to my Week in Review newsletter. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina!
Pushing Back on Workplace Discrimination In 2018, a group of African American employees at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sounded alarms about discrimination at the FDIC, much of which occurred under former Chairman Martin Gruenberg’s leadership. Now that he is once again serving as acting FDIC chairman, Banking Committee Ranking Member Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and I requested information on workplace misconduct that occurred during his prior stint at the agency. While Chairman Jelena McWilliams significantly improved the FDIC’s culture, we must understand how the agency operated before her improvements in order to ensure a toxic workplace does not arise again. Click here to read more about our letter to Acting Chairman Gruenberg. Examining Opioids’ Impact on Older Workers As the opioid epidemic has rapidly worsened in recent years, addiction continues to plague many Americans, including older Americans. Last year, I joined Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the relationship between labor force participation rates and substance use — particularly within our older population. This week, the GAO finally released that report, which confirms the negative impact that opioids have on employment for many older adults. As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I believe we must use all tools at our disposal, including the findings in this report, to support older Americans struggling with opioid addiction. Click here to read more about the report. Honoring our Veterans On Saturday, May 7, I am hosting a special homecoming event in Charleston to honor our men and women who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the son and brother of former servicemembers, I am intimately familiar with the courage and sacrifice of those who serve our great nation. While we will never be able to repay them, it’s critical that we don’t forget their service. Click here to RSVP for this special appreciation event! Click to RSVP Sincerely, | 