Making Palmetto State Leaders

June 16, 2023   About Tim Services Media Center Legislative Work   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!   Making Palmetto State Leaders This week, I enjoyed speaking to Palmetto Boys State members at Anderson University ahead of their week-long leadership training. As a proud alumnus of Palmetto Boys State ’82, I make it a tradition to support the group, speaking to the young men about my keys to a successful life.  Read more about the event here.  Fueling Reliable and Affordable Energy President Biden’s so called  “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA) put a $10.5 billion “Superfund Tax” on crude oil and imported petroleum products, reducing America’s energy independence and raising energy costs for the American people. To help lower gas prices and keep more money in Americans’ pockets, I joined my Senate colleagues in introducing the Pay Less at the Pump Act, which repeals the IRA’s “Superfund Tax”. We should be boosting American energy production instead of punishing our energy producers. I will always fight to bring down prices at the gas pump and bring back reliable and affordable energy.  Read more about the Pay Less at the Pump Act here.  American Consumers Demand Accountability                                                 Watch my full statement here.  At this week’s Senate Banking Committee hearing, I expressed my concern about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) progressive regulatory agenda. Instead of doing its job, the CFPB has reduced access to credit, discouraged financial responsibility, and increased costs for Americans. I called on the agency to start protecting consumers, encourage competitive markets, and set clear rules of the road for Americans. Read more about the hearing here.  Making Education More Affordable The cost of higher education has risen dramatically in recent years. As many students take on increasing amounts of debt to attend school, they are left with a heavy financial burden, especially amid President Biden’s uncertain economy. While President Biden and Democrat push radical policies that force hardworking Americans to shoulder student debt they never signed up for, I am committed to responsible legislation that addresses the root causes of soaring student loan debt. That’s why I joined Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D., Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in introducing the groundbreaking Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act, a package of five bills which targets the issues driving the skyrocketing cost of higher education and pushes back on President Biden’s student debt cancelation scheme. South Carolinians cannot afford President Biden’s bailouts or his failed policies that are driving up the costs of higher education.  Read more about the Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act here.  Supporting Americans with Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder affecting 100,000 individuals in the United States, including over 4,000 South Carolinians. Unfortunately, these patients often lack access to specialized care. To support the SCD community, I introduced the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2023. This week, the bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. This legislation makes strides in ensuring those affected by SCD have access to the treatment they need to manage their healthcare and eventually get access to future cures for this deadly disease. Read more about our bill here.  The #SweetTea on Sickle Cell Lights Of Hope This week, I’m spilling the sweet tea on Erica Hunter, the cofounder of Sickle Cell Lights of Hope. This Upstate organization serves as a support system for the SCD community. As someone who has struggled with Sickle Cell Disease, nearly dying multiple times from SCD related complications, Erica has used her story to raise awareness for more resources and support for others struggling with the disease. I love how she has turned a tremendous obstacle into an opportunity to uplift others with her encouragement and support. Learn more about this organization here. Sincerely, Lowcountry 2500 City Hall Lane 3rd Floor Suite North Charleston, SC 29406 Phone: (843) 727-4525 Fax: (855) 802-9355   Midlands 1901 Main Street Suite 1425 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 771-6112 Fax: (855) 802-9355   Upstate 301 North Main Street Suite 1006 Greenville, SC 29601 Phone: (864) 233-5366 Fax: (855) 802-9355   Washington, DC 104 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-6121 Toll Free: (855) 425-6324  Fax: (202) 228-5143     Click here to open a plain text version of this email                Click here to forward this email              Click here to open this e-mail in its own browser window