Friends,

This was a dark week for our nation. It is an absolute tragedy that fulfilling a Constitutional duty led to the violence we saw this week at the Capitol. It is every person’s right to protest peacefully, but there is no excuse for the violence that took place at the Capitol on Wednesday. 

I am thankful for the Capitol Police officers who bravely protected us that day and everyday. Their heroic efforts during the siege on the Capitol will not be forgotten.  Friday was National Law Enforcement Day; may we not forget that Law Enforcement Officers are heroes.

Joint Session of Congress

I am honored every day to serve the Seventh District of South Carolina. It is my duty to be your voice and your vote in Washington and to defend the Constitution. All Americans should have confidence in our elections.

I attached my signature to five objections to the electoral votes. This was a decision that I weighed heavily, and I waited until the last moment to complete.  Because it is so momentous an issue, I wanted to hear every argument before I decided.   It was perhaps the most difficult decision in my eight years. But, 70% of Republican voters believe the election was not fair.  

I knew that regardless of any objection the votes would be certified. No one in the democratic majority would cross the aisle, and a substantial minority of Republicans had said they would not support objections.  I was angry that the President and some Republican leaders were promoting the lie that if we only fought hard enough he would get 4 more years.

My decision was not based on love or hate of Trump, nor was I trying to play to the base.

Before making a decision to certify or object to the electoral results, I wanted to know two things:

1. Were there proven problems with the election?

2. Did Congress have a role in reviewing the vote since states run their own elections, or was our job merely ministerial?

I read, I researched, and I listened to reasoned arguments by brilliant people on both sides.  I said over and over I would wait until I heard everything before I made up my mind. I was leaning toward not objecting until the night before.  However, in the end two documents cemented my decision to object:

1. A letter received the night before the vote, from the President of the Pennsylvania State Senate objecting to their own electoral vote and outlining problems that occurred in that state 

2. A letter from the Vice President which laid out his view of the role of Congress in the approval of the electoral college vote 

It was apparent to me that the right thing to do was object and make the argument, even knowing it would be defeated. However, our nation is better than the violence displayed in our capital this week. We must do better as a nation to move forward together.

Grants Seminar

I am excited to announce that my team will be hosting a Grants Seminar on January 13th! We are bringing in some of the best in the business to provide insight into the federal grant process. Be sure to RSVP to learn about the grant process and grant opportunities that may be available to your organization.

Covid-19 Vaccine

Individuals in Phase 1A who want to be vaccinated should contact their local hospitals to request and schedule an appointment no later than Jan. 15, 2021.

For more information, click here.

Telephone Town Hall

I'm hosting a Telephone Town Hall on Monday, January 25th at 5:30 p.m. During the call, I will provide an update on current federal issues and answer questions from you on issues concerning the Seventh District. My title is Representative, and I can't do my job unless I hear from you. I hope to talk to you then! More details coming soon!