| 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 Vaccine Mandates
President Biden’s heavy-handed and unpopular vaccine mandate on private businesses has put 800,000 jobs at risk in South Carolina alone. And this big-government overreach is a threat not just to our economy, but also to public safety. In the midst of an alarming, nationwide crime wave, vaccine mandates are further handicapping our police departments and first responders. From firefighters to EMTs to nurses and doctors, thousands of brave men and women across our nation will no longer be on the job, saving lives. This week, I joined my Republican colleagues at a press conference decrying President Biden’s destructive executive order. Click to watch my remarks at the press conference I was also proud to join all 50 Senate Republicans—and two Senate Democrats—in voting to formally disapprove of the president’s vaccine mandate. This bipartisan vote sends a clear message to the president that we will not stand for government overreach that threatens the success of communities across our nation.
Working for Seniors and SSA Beneficiaries
In March of 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) closed its offices to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 21 months later, it has still failed to fully reopen, resulting in disruptions to millions of applicants and beneficiaries.
As ranking member of the U.S. Special Senate Committee on Aging, I wrote a letter to Acting SSA Commissioner Kijakazi, urging her to immediately reopen SSA’s field offices to the public. Our nation’s Social Security beneficiaries—more than four-fifths of whom are seniors—are counting on SSA to provide reliable and timely services. Click here to read more about the letter.
Blocking Democrats’ Immigration Plans
While the crisis at our southern border rages on, President Biden’s Department of Justice (DoJ) reportedly wants to give $450,000 per person to immigrants who broke our laws by coming here illegally. This misguided action would further incentivize illegal immigration, putting the lives of countless migrants at risk, and it would further strain American taxpayers, who are already struggling under the weight of inflation.
This week, I joined 28 of my Republican colleagues on a bill to block the DoJ’s plan entirely. Click here to read more.
Sincerely, | 