Republican:
The Congressman who represents Clinton and is not seeking re-election has endorsed former President Donald Trump in the Republican nomination for a return to the White House.
Jeff Duncan became the final SC Congressional officials to make an endorsement as he joined the “Trump Train” last Monday, just ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
An energy subcommittee chairman in the U.S. House, Duncan said Trump’s administration demonstrated “how strong our nation can be, how energy independent we can be, and how economically powerful we can be.”
“Since President Trump left office, our nation has struggled - with an open border, an inflation crisis, and a disrespected position on the world stage,” Duncan continued. “I know that President Trump can fix the problems our nation faces and position America for sustainable success. President Donald Trump has my full endorsement, and I look forward to helping him Make America Great Again.”
Duncan made his statements on X, formerly known as Twitter. It is not on his official Congressional Facebook page.
Senator Danny Verdin, R-Laurens: President Trump was a great president. I voted for him before and I’m excited to vote for him again in a few weeks when he is on the South Carolina Presidential Preference ballot. I believe it’s time for the Republican Party to come together, united in support of Donald Trump. The stakes of this election are far too great.
President Trump has my full support and endorsement. - on Facebook
Democrat:
SCDP Statement on Tim Scott Endorsing Donald Trump for President
Columbia – After pretending to be shocked about Tim Scott endorsing Donald Trump for president, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain released the following statement:
“No one is less surprised than me that Tim Scott would throw his full support behind Donald Trump’s plans to ban abortion nationwide, destroy our democracy, rip away access to affordable health care, and give more tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of working families – they’re the same dangerous policies he’s been parroting in our state for years. Scott’s endorsement makes clear what we’ve been saying all along – Tim Scott is just as MAGA as Donald Trump, and their extreme agenda would be a disaster for this country.
“South Carolinians deserve better. That’s why we’re organizing to keep the one person who can stop the threat of Trump in the White House – President Joe Biden.”
South Carolina leaders pick Trump over native daughter Nikki Haley here.
See Image here.
VOTING: Remember, South Carolina has an open primary:
Presidential Preference Primaries
in SC: Democrats: Feb. 3;
Republicans: Feb. 24.
Vote Early or Absentee in 2024
Democratic Presidential Primary
COLUMBIA (January 19, 2024) - The State Election Commission is encouraging voters to seize the opportunity to vote early in the upcoming Democratic Presidential Primary. You don’t have to wait until Election Day, February 3, to vote. You can vote at any early voting center in your county starting this week!
Vote Early
The early voting period starts on Monday, January 22, and ends Friday, February 2. (Closed Sunday, January 28.)
Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. during the early voting period. Voters will be asked to present Photo ID when checking in to vote.
Visit scVOTES.gov or contact your county elections office to find a list of early voting locations.
Vote Absentee
Qualified voters can vote absentee by mail. An example of a qualified voter could be a person with a physical disability or someone who is age 65 or older.
To see a full list of qualifying reasons to vote absentee, visit the absentee voting page on scVOTES.gov.
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 23.
To vote absentee by mail, get your application by contacting your county elections office.
After you receive and vote your ballot, be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed.
Anyone age 18 or older can witness your signature. A notary is not necessary.
Return your ballot by mail or personal delivery as soon as possible.
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, February 3.
Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to Election Day to help ensure timely delivery. You must present Photo ID if returning an absentee ballot in person.
Find more information about at scVOTES.gov on how an Immediate Family Member or Authorized Representative can assist you with requesting and returning your absentee ballot.
Make sure you Prep for the Polls
See who will be on your ballot by checking a copy of your sample ballot.
Find FAQs and our Voter Go-To Guides for the 2024 Presidential Primaries.
Find contact information for your county elections office.
Stay connected with us on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates!
Republican:
Vivek Ramaswamy Statement
on Former President Trump’s
Post on Truth Social
DES MOINES—Presidential candidate and political outsider Vivek Ramaswamy issued the following statement following former President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social:
“Yes, I saw President Trump’s Truth Social post. It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack.
“I’ve met tens of thousands of Iowans across 390+ events here, and they are deeply worried - and so am I - that this “system” won’t allow Donald J. Trump anywhere near the White House again. It seems they will stop at *nothing* to keep him away from power.
“I’m worried for Trump. I’m worried for our country. I’ve stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and I’ve defended him at every step. I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorado’s ruling. I pledged to remove myself from Maine’s & Colorado’s primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same. But we have to open our eyes. Last time it was a man-made pandemic & Big Tech election interference. Now, the same billionaires funding the lawsuits against Trump are the ones trying to prop up Nikki Haley. The same MSM blasting Trump is lavishing praise on Nikki. They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House.
“We can’t fall for that trap. 1 year from now, we won’t look back and say we were shocked that it happened. We’ll kick ourselves for not stopping it.
“Our movement must live on. America-First didn’t start in 2016. It started in 1776. We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump & to save this country. Let’s do it together. You won’t hear any friendly fire from me.”
Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign after finishing 4th in the Iowa Caucuses (Jan. 15) behind Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Asa Hutchinson, and later DeSantis, also suspended their GOP presidential campaigns.
Non-Profit
Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director
Date: January 22, 2023
Re: Ahead of NH, Trump and Haley Are Out of Step with Americans on Gun Safety
Trump and Haley Embrace Dangerous, Unpopular Gun Extremism
New Hampshire voters head to the polls tomorrow to vote in the quickly dwindling Republican presidential primary. While Donald Trump and Nikki Haley’s campaigns focus on the differences between them, the most troubling position is one that they share: gun extremism.
While we don’t know who will win in the Granite State tomorrow, we do know who will lose: the overwhelming majority of Americans who support commonsense gun safety laws.
The gun safety debate among voters is over. More than three-fourths of Americans—including the majority of Republicans—support top GIFFORDS priorities, including background checks on all gun sales, “red flag” laws, corporate gun industry accountability, basic licensing to purchase weapons, and required safety training. Additionally, 76% of voters in battleground states support President Biden’s 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal gun safety law in 30 years.
By catering to the gun lobby, Trump and Haley are simply appealing to a shrinking minority within their party. Voters in November will not overlook their flawed records as our nation faces a gun violence crisis.
Donald Trump’s Legacy: 34% National Increase in Gun Homicides
Despite his tough talk on the campaign trail, America became much more dangerous during Trump’s presidency. Gun homicides across the country rose from 14,415 in 2016 to 19,384 in 2020—a whopping 34% increase in just four years.
Trump—who, let’s remember, earlier this month told Iowa parents they’d need to “get over it” after a school shooting in Perry, Iowa—has promised to be a “loyal friend” to the NRA and made national concealed carry reciprocity a fixture of his campaign. He has committed to gutting states’ ability to enforce their own permitting laws and qualifications for carrying a concealed firearm in public. Data shows that states with weak permitting laws experienced violent crime rates 13% to 15% higher than they would with stronger laws, so it’s no surprise that American voters, concerned for their safety, oppose permitless carry by a 2–1 margin.
Nikki Haley’s Legacy: 26% Increase in Gun Homicides, 10th Deadliest State for Guns
South Carolina grew much more dangerous under Nikki Haley’s leadership. The number of gun homicides in the state increased by an eye-opening 26% from her first full year in office to her last. When she left office, South Carolina had the 10th highest gun death rate in the nation.
When a violent neo-Nazi obtained a weapon through a loophole in federal law and used it to murder nine Black parishioners at a historic Black church in Charleston, Haley infuriated victims’ families by refusing to support closing the same loophole. Rev. Sharon Risher, the daughter of one of those murdered, relayed her anger with Haley to a local newspaper, “You witnessed the heartache and pain of the families. You attended my mother’s funeral. Yet you won’t support the bill to extend the wait time for background checks?”
As a presidential candidate, Haley continues to oppose commonsense gun safety measures that have broad bipartisan support.
Bipartisan:
Proposed Bipartisan Tax Plan Released
Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024: What does it Mean for You?
On January 16, 2024, the websites of the United States Senate Committee on Finance and the United States House Committee on Ways and Means, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) jointly announced “a commonsense, bipartisan, bicameral tax framework that promotes the financial security of working families, boosts growth and American competitiveness, and strengthens communities and Main Street businesses.”
The plan, introduced as The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (the Act), generally proposes to revive expired breaks for businesses and increase the child tax credit for low-income families (but also includes disaster relief provisions and other tax relief measures). Congress hopes to push the roughly $80 billion in tax breaks through Congress in the next few weeks (before the January 29, 2024 start of tax season) with parts of the bill being retroactive. The agreed-to framework proposes to pay for the tax breaks by cutting off new claims for the COVID-19 era employee retention credit program filed after January 31, 2024.
THE ACT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Supports Working Families with an Enhanced Child Tax Credit
- Expands Innovation and Competitiveness with Pro-Growth Economic Policies
- Increases Global Competitiveness
- Provides Disaster Relief
- Targets Affordable Housing
- Ends the Employee Retention Tax Credit Program
One important measure left out of the proposal advocated by some politicians is an increase to the State and Local tax deduction limitation. The deduction is currently limited to $10,000.
Finally, there is no guarantee that the proposed legislation embodied by the framework in its current form will make it past both the House and Senate, let alone be signed by the President.
Democrat:
ICYMI: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Energizes South Carolinians Ahead of FITN Primary
Columbia, S.C. –
Yesterday (Jan. 21), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) joined the South Carolina Democratic Party’s “We Go First” statewide tour in Aiken to tout the historic investments the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress have delivered for South Carolinians, meet with community members and students, and energize voters ahead of our historic first-in-the-nation primary.
Read about it below:
Post and Courier: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood campaigns for Joe Biden in Aiken
- The youngest Black woman to ever serve in Congress visited Aiken on Sunday afternoon as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s effort to get out the vote for the Feb. 3 First in the Nation Democratic presidential primary.
- Underwood became the youngest Black woman to serve when she was sworn in Jan. 3, 2019. Underwood also became the first Black woman since Shirley Chisholm in the 1970s to hold a leadership position in the Democratic House Caucus when she was elected to the Policy and Communications Committee in 2022.
- “I’ve been a longtime supporter of President [Joe] Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris,” Underwood said before the event began.
- “This is the First in Nation primary,” Underwood said. “This is the first time South Carolina’s been the first state.”
- “The power of the Black vote has been so tremendous here within this state,” Underwood said.
- In 2020, 60 percent of the people who voted in the Democratic primary were Black.
- “I wanted to make sure people understood how much power they had and that they were so enthusiastic about getting out the vote as I feel about this upcoming election,” Underwood said. “So, I was really honored to be asked and happy to come and travel from Illinois and talk to some folks around your community.”
- Biden called the 2020 election a battle for the soul of the nation with the extremism of then-President Donald Trump and the Republicans on one side and the foundations of American democracy on the other.
- “That is something we’re all looking for,” Underwood said. “This kind of stability, a steady leader. We’ve rejected the politics of chaos and cruelty that we’ve seen in other past leaders.”
- She added that the Biden administration’s accomplishments during their first three years have affected the life of every American.
- “Here in South Carolina, there’s been over 200,000 new jobs created,” Underwood said. “That’s bigger than the whole city of Charleston.”
- She also said nearly 14,000 South Carolina residents have had some portion of their student loans forgiven and another 18,000 have had their student debt canceled.
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Democrat:
ICYMI: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Energizes South Carolinians Ahead of FITN Primary
Columbia, S.C. –
Yesterday (Jan. 21), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) joined the South Carolina Democratic Party’s “We Go First” statewide tour in Aiken to tout the historic investments the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress have delivered for South Carolinians, meet with community members and students, and energize voters ahead of our historic first-in-the-nation primary.
Read about it below:
Post and Courier: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood campaigns for Joe Biden in Aiken
- The youngest Black woman to ever serve in Congress visited Aiken on Sunday afternoon as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s effort to get out the vote for the Feb. 3 First in the Nation Democratic presidential primary.
- Underwood became the youngest Black woman to serve when she was sworn in Jan. 3, 2019. Underwood also became the first Black woman since Shirley Chisholm in the 1970s to hold a leadership position in the Democratic House Caucus when she was elected to the Policy and Communications Committee in 2022.
- “I’ve been a longtime supporter of President [Joe] Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris,” Underwood said before the event began.
- “This is the First in Nation primary,” Underwood said. “This is the first time South Carolina’s been the first state.”
- “The power of the Black vote has been so tremendous here within this state,” Underwood said.
- In 2020, 60 percent of the people who voted in the Democratic primary were Black.
- “I wanted to make sure people understood how much power they had and that they were so enthusiastic about getting out the vote as I feel about this upcoming election,” Underwood said. “So, I was really honored to be asked and happy to come and travel from Illinois and talk to some folks around your community.”
- Biden called the 2020 election a battle for the soul of the nation with the extremism of then-President Donald Trump and the Republicans on one side and the foundations of American democracy on the other.
- “That is something we’re all looking for,” Underwood said. “This kind of stability, a steady leader. We’ve rejected the politics of chaos and cruelty that we’ve seen in other past leaders.”
- She added that the Biden administration’s accomplishments during their first three years have affected the life of every American.
- “Here in South Carolina, there’s been over 200,000 new jobs created,” Underwood said. “That’s bigger than the whole city of Charleston.”
- She also said nearly 14,000 South Carolina residents have had some portion of their student loans forgiven and another 18,000 have had their student debt canceled.
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Republican:
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Statement on SCDP Roe v. Wade Press Conference
Columbia – The South Carolina Democrat Party hosted a press conference this morning (Jan. 22) on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade. While Democrats acknowledge an outdated Supreme Court case, the South Carolina Republican Party finds more recent events worthy of recognition.
In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade ending the ability for abortion to be deemed a constitutional right. In South Carolina, the Fetal Heartbeat bill and Protection from Abortion Act were both passed and ultimately upheld by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
SCGOP State Party Chairman Drew McKissick released the following statement on the press conference held today by the SCDP:
"It is delusional to celebrate an outdated decision like Roe v. Wade and is a direct contradiction to what South Carolinians actually believe," McKissick said. "We have fought tirelessly to defend the right to life and protect the lives of the unborn here in South Carolina and we have won. The SC Legislature, the SC Supreme Court, and the people of South Carolina have reaffirmed this time and time again."
"A press conference that celebrates the idea that South Carolina is anything other than pro-life is simply untrue, unjust, and unworthy of any kind of celebration."
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Republican:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ron DeSantis issued a video statement suspending his presidential campaign and thanking his supporters.
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Greetings from Florida,
The warmth of being home is a reminder of why I have chosen a life of public service – from joining the United States Navy and serving in Iraq – to representing the people in Congress – and now serving as governor.
And it reminds me why I decided to run for President: to fight for those who have been forgotten in this country.
This is America’s time for choosing.
We can choose to allow a border invasion or we can choose to stop it.
We can choose reckless borrowing and spending or we can choose to limit government and lower inflation.
We can choose political indoctrination, or we can choose classical education.
These choices are symptoms of the underlying struggle to ensure that constitutional government can endure and that Western Civilization can survive.
We launched this campaign to bring accountability to government, regain sovereignty at our border, and restore sanity to our society.
We cannot succeed as a country if we allow our nation to be invaded, our currency to be debased, our cities to crumble, and our kids to be indoctrinated.
The DC elites who have facilitated this mess do not work for you, they do not care about you; they work for themselves. They seek to accumulate power at your expense to pursue an agenda that is harmful to the American people.
Citizens do not serve politicians; it is the duty of politicians to serve you.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.
Reversing the decline of this nation requires leadership that delivers big results for the people we are elected to serve.
I have a record of leading with conviction, championing an agenda marked by bold colors, delivering on my promises, and defeating the people who are responsible for our nation’s decline.
That is the type of leadership we need for all of America.
Now over the past many months, Casey and I have traveled across the country to deliver a message of hope, that decline is a choice, and that we, in fact, can succeed again as a nation.
Nobody worked harder. And we left it all out on the field.
Now following our second-place finish in Iowa, we have prayed and deliberated on the way forward. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome — more campaign stops, more interviews — I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory.
Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign.
I am proud to have delivered on 100% of my promises and I will not stop now.
It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance. They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance and they see Democrats using lawfare to this day to attack him.
While I have had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden. That is clear.
I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee and I will honor that pledge.
He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear -- a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism -- that Nikki Haley represents.
The days of putting Americans last, of kowtowing to large corporations, of caving to woke ideology, are over.
I thank all of our passionate supporters who have stood by us through it all. That we had people volunteer to come to Iowa in the middle of a blizzard to knock on doors and make phone calls touched us dearly.
No candidate had more thrown at him, but no candidate had so many committed volunteers and staff.
Finally, I want to thank my wife Casey and our kids Madison, Mason, and Mamie. Casey has gone far above and beyond in her support for our campaign and for our cause. She is not only a great wife and mother; she is a great American, who cares deeply about the future of the country that our kids will inherit.
Our kids have seen and done a lot on the trail, from playing on the famed Field of Dreams baseball site in Iowa to making their first snowman in New Hampshire.
They are one of the reasons we fight so hard for what we believe in.
Winston Churchill once remarked that “success is not final, failure is not fatal — it is the courage to continue that counts.”
While this campaign has ended, the mission continues. Down here in Florida, we will continue to show the country how to lead.
Thank you and God bless.
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Tim Scott getting married
@votetimscott
She said YES.
Mindy, thank you for making me the luckiest man in the world.
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” - Proverbs 18:22
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Senator Scott Rips Teachers Union-Allied Group for Weaponizing Race to Promote Anti-School Choice Agenda
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus, slammed Truth in Education Funding, a group backed by the nation’s largest teachers union, for describing school choice programs as “deeply rooted in segregation, racism and discrimination” ahead of National School Choice week, which begins on Monday.
Truth in Education Funding is a group aligned with the nation’s largest teachers’ union, the National Education Association (NEA).
“It's absolutely offensive that the very organizations holding back poor and low-income kids are now deflecting blame on the schools that provide them the opportunity to live out their American dream," said Senator Scott. "In fact, it's teachers' unions and big labor bosses that shut countless minority students out of their schools. Now, they're weaponizing race to lock them out of a brighter future and forward their anti-school choice agenda. The thing that's racist is trapping poor students in failing schools, but this should come as no surprise considering big labor bosses have always prioritized themselves over our kids."
BACKGROUND
This type of outlandish rhetoric isn’t an isolated incident with an NEA-aligned group. Last year, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, made the outrageous claim that school choice is about “undermining democracy.”
Senator Scott has fought to provide all Americans access to a quality education by:
- Introducing the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, which affirms parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child;
- Slamming Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Board of Education President Jianan Shi for the city’s recently passed resolution that could eliminate school choice for Chicago families, strip minority and low-income students of their preferred high schools and widen the achievement gap;
- Hosting the largest ever National School Choice Week Student Rally at the U.S. Capitol last year, which was attended by more than 300 students from 10 D.C.-area public charter and private schools;
- Leading two bipartisan Senate resolutions – National Charter School Week and National School Choice Week – both of which unanimously passed in 2023, raising attention to critical education issues and priorities;
- Securing House passage of his Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act to protect parental rights and ensure parents remain the lead decision makers in their child’s life;
- Leading the fight to protect high-quality, tuition-free charter schools that serve disadvantaged students when the Biden administration took steps to undermine charter schools;
- Championing the Educational Choice for Children Act to expand educational freedom and opportunity for millions of students by creating $10 billion annually in scholarships for K-12 students; and
- Introducing the CHOICE Act to give more than 6.2 million students nationwide, primarily students from military and low-income families and students with disabilities, access to quality education of their choosing.
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Republican:
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SCGOP joins Amicus Brief filed in U.S. Supreme Court
(Columbia, S.C.) – The South Carolina Republican Party has joined an Amicus Brief in the United States Supreme Court with 32 other state parties regarding the upcoming Colorado case concerning presidential candidate ballot access.
As mentioned in the brief, "this case arises from the Supreme Court of Colorado's novel and untested interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in order to remove a presidential candidate from a political party's primary ballot."
SCGOP State Party Chairman Drew McKissick released the following statement regarding the state party's decision to join the Amicus Brief:
“The South Carolina Republican Party will always defend the ability of the Party to qualify candidates to the ballot and the right of Republicans to vote for the candidate of their choice. Any restrictions on that process are an outright attack on our most fundamental freedoms.
We have been defending those freedoms in federal court here in South Carolina for several months, and now we’re speaking out for those freedoms around the country by joining this case,” Chairman McKissick said.
"Former President Trump is a qualified and certified candidate on the South Carolina Republican Party's Presidential Primary ballot, and I will not tolerate any person or organization that tries to take that choice away from our Republican voters, whether it’s here in South Carolina or around the country."
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Republican:
Lieutenant Colonel, Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Sheri Biggs Announces Candidacy for South Carolina’s Third Congressional District
ANDERSON – Sheri Biggs – a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, a board certified family nurse practitioner, a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Salem resident, and a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment lifelong Republican – announced she is running to serve South Carolina’s Third Congressional District, a position currently held by Congressman Jeff Duncan. Duncan announced yesterday that he is not seeking re-election this year.
In an election announcement video entitled “Healing Our Nation” posted to her website, www.SheriBiggs.com, Biggs details her lifetime of service in the health care industry with an emphasis on veteran and first responder care, her multiple combat missions, her strong Christian faith, and her commitment to help heal the nation by standing for conservative principles in Congress.
“Our nation is struggling and Washington is broken because it has a health problem – mental, fiscal, and spiritual,” said Biggs. “I’m running for Congress to continue my lifetime of service and treat Washington’s health problem with truth-seeking servant leadership – not power-seeking politics as usual.
While there are many challenges before us today, I have unwavering faith that America remains a land of resilience, dreams, and belief in the Almighty God, and can be healed from the troubles of the day with more of the bold, conservative, servant leadership I offer. While I humbly ask my neighbors for their support and vote, I also ask for their prayers for our campaign and more importantly for our nation.”
Sheri has been a vocal strong supporter of President Donald Trump. Biggs said, "I believe that President Trump has shown he has the ability and resilience to Make America Great Again!"
Biggs served as a flight nurse for the Air National Guard, flight commander for the Nursing Services 183 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), and currently serves at Joint Force Headquarters for the Air National Guard. Additionally, she has served as a licensed nursing home administrator and health services consultant, performing oversight and executive functions, to many veterans’ homes and organizations. In her professional career, Biggs earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Samford University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Carolina Bible College. She is currently seeking a master’s degree for professional military education at the Air War College.
The recipient of the Aerial Achievement Medal for efforts demonstrated as medical crew director while stationed in Qatar, Biggs has served as medical crew director of five combat missions and three combat support missions while operating in hostile environment in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. A dedicated wife and mother, Biggs was also recently selected as the cover story in Elysian Magazine’s 2024 Women inspiring Women edition.
Very active in the community, Biggs is a member of the Temple Baptist Church in Anderson, where she provides counseling. Biggs also volunteers at the Dream Center and the WLS Foundation.
To learn more about Sheri Biggs, visit www.SheriBiggs.com.
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Sheri Biggs is a member of the Air National Guard. Use of her military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.
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Republican
SC Legislature makes progress with three crucial bills
Columbia – The South Carolina Legislature made great progress this week in pushing back against the radical liberal agenda.
The Help Not Harm bill (H.4624) which prohibits healthcare professionals from providing so-called “gender affirming” care to minors was passed by the House and is headed to the Senate. The ESG Pension Protection Act (H.3690) and the Prescription for Minors bill (S.882) were passed in the Senate.
With the passage of the Help Not Harm bill, gender-transition surgeries, puberty-blocking drugs and “cross sex” hormone treatment would be illegal to be prescribed or administered to individuals under the age of eighteen. Doctors performing genital mutilation surgeries on minors would face a twenty-year felony charge. The Help Not Harm bill will also direct the South Carolina Medicaid Program to cease coverage of these procedures for anyone under the age of twenty-six, as well as banning state funds from covering these treatments.
The Prescriptions for Minors bill requires the parent or legal guardian of a minor to be notified when a healthcare provider prescribes medications to their child. Under this bill, healthcare providers are also prohibited from restricting parents or legal guardians from viewing their child's medical history and must receive parental consent before prescribing any medications.
The ESG Pension Protection Act will prevent the state pension fund from investing in environmental, social and governance (ESG) causes such as climate change and so-called race equity. Our state pension funds should never be pressured by radical political movements in order for investors to do their job.
Any attempt to harm children will never be accepted here in South Carolina, and our Republican lawmakers reaffirmed that this week.
The South Carolina Republican Party proudly commends our Republicans in both Chambers for taking a strong stand on these issues.
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TIM SCOTT HAS A LOT TO SAY, especially about China:
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Sens. Scott, Grassley, Risch Lead Colleagues in Demanding DOJ Address CCP Influence on College Campuses
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led their colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland expressing serious concern about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence over Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) at American colleges and universities. Recent reports suggest that the Chinese government is increasingly pushing its agenda on our nation’s campuses through student organizations such as CSSAs. The letter urges the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine whether CSSAs need to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for their work on behalf of the CCP, which would help combat this influence on campus.
“There are currently 150 known CSSA chapters on American campuses. These organizations purport to ‘support’ Chinese students overseas, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shown they often serve as extensions of China’s party-state. They ‘can be co-opted into foreign government appendages’ that intimidate and monitor Chinese overseas students while shaping favorable public perceptions of Beijing foreign policies. Of particular concern are the Chinese government’s efforts to “infringe on the academic freedom and personal safety” of persons at American universities. Some CSSAs receive guidance and funding from, and routinely coordinate with, Chinese consulates in the United States, while attempting to conceal these government ties,” the senators wrote. “…The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires individuals to register with the Department of Justice (DOJ) if they act at the behest of a foreign principal to influence U.S. policy or public opinion. There is clear evidence that CSSAs act as an arm of the PRC for the purpose of shaping U.S. policy and public opinion, and the United States should therefore evaluate whether they are required to register as foreign agents.”
Senators Scott, Grassley and Risch were joined by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).
Dear Attorney General Garland:
We write to express serious concern about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence over Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) at our nation’s colleges and universities. With the closure of many Confucius Institutes, the CCP is relying on other actors, including CSSAs, to influence U.S. academic institutions. This issue requires greater attention from the United States government.
According to the U.S. Department of State, “[w]hen the Chinese government first allowed its citizens to attend western universities in the late 1970s, the CCP created…CSSA[s] to monitor Chinese students and mobilize them against views that dissent from the CCP’s stance. That directive has not changed.” These organizations are overseen by the CCP’s United Front Work Department, a “worldwide network of party loyalists” that directs activities of the Chinese diaspora. In 2016, the PRC Ministry of Education issued a directive demanding that “university and college students be instructed…to ‘always follow the [CCP].’” The directive instructs officials to “build a multidimensional contact network linking home and abroad,” such that “overseas students are seen as a population to be mobilized in support of their country and connected through organizations like the…[CSSA]s…and the consulates.”
There are currently 150 known CSSA chapters on American campuses. These organizations purport to “support” Chinese students overseas, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shown they often serve as extensions of China’s party-state. They “can be co-opted into foreign government appendages” that intimidate and monitor Chinese overseas students while shaping favorable public perceptions of Beijing foreign policies. Of particular concern are the Chinese government’s efforts to “infringe on the academic freedom and personal safety” of persons at American universities. Some CSSAs receive guidance and funding from, and routinely coordinate with, Chinese consulates in the United States, while attempting to conceal these government ties.
There are many examples across the country. At the University of Miami, the CSSA is the only campus organization “authorized by the Chinese Embassy.” The George Washington University’s (GWU) CSSA has publicly acknowledged that it was “directed by” and “works with” the Chinese Embassy. Similarly, a University of Connecticut webpage states its CSSA is supported by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Consulate in New York. The president of the University of Pittsburgh’s CSSA publicly disclosed on a Chinese social media platform that a Chinese consulate allocated $6,000 to the organization annually, but later deleted the post. The Southwestern CSSA— a coalition of 26 CSSAs in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii— revealed on its website that the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles must approve all Southwestern CSSA presidential candidates.
CSSAs reportedly are not open to all students with Chinese ethnicity, but rather only to citizens of the PRC. This is a “violation of the principle that student organizations not discriminate based on nationality,” as noted in a 2020 State Department fact sheet. At the University of Tennessee CSSA, members are obligated to “fervently love the motherland” and “protect the motherland's honor and image.” Membership eligibility hinges on unwavering commitment to “support [China's] national reunification” and “recognize the ‘One China’ principle.” Furthermore, “CSSA chapters actively inhibit debate and interactions with non-Chinese peers” and, at the direction of PRC government officials, “disrupt lectures or events that question CCP ideology or views.” For example, the Brandeis University CSSA organized a coordinated campaign to disrupt an online discussion on the genocide of Uyghurs, featuring human rights activist Rayhan Asat. The event was “Zoombombed” by uninvited attendees, who shared inappropriate content and played the Chinese national anthem during the panel presentation.
Troubling communications from CSSAs have been reported at U.S. universities. For example, a graduate student at the University of Colorado-Boulder told her professor that the CSSA president had called late at night to inquire about the department faculty's work on Tibet. In another case, a Chinese national who was a former University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student said he received a “deluge” of abusive CSSA emails accusing him of “being a traitor to [China], including one death threat,” after expressing belief that a CSSA list-serv email proposed racist and inappropriate slogans to protest a visit by the Japanese Prime Minister. A China expert and professor at the University of California-Riverside stated that CSSAs are a “tool of government’s foreign ministry.” He added that “[t]he effect of that surveillance is less that certain people are caught and punished and more that virtually all Chinese students know they could be reported, and, therefore, watch what they say in public fora.”
CSSAs also use money to wield political influence. The CSSA at Wayne State University reportedly funded travel to China for the mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and three other officials. That funding allegedly came from a Chinese consulate to promote a potential real estate project. CSSAs have also facilitated paid displays of popularity for visiting Chinese leaders. In 2012 and 2015, the Chinese Embassy funneled money through GWU’s CSSA to sponsor students who lined up the streets to welcome Xi Jinping to Washington, D.C.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires individuals to register with the Department of Justice (DOJ) if they act at the behest of a foreign principal to influence U.S. policy or public opinion. There is clear evidence that CSSAs act as an arm of the PRC for the purpose of shaping U.S. policy and public opinion, and the United States should therefore evaluate whether they are required to register as foreign agents.
Please provide a response to the following questions no later than 30 days after receipt.
What actions has DOJ taken to assess whether CSSAs should register under FARA for their work on behalf of the PRC?
Has DOJ sent either a letter of inquiry or a letter of determination pursuant to FARA to any CSSA chapters regarding their status? Has any CSSA ever requested an advisory opinion in relation to work done on behalf of the PRC for purposes of FARA? If so, please provide a copy.
What steps has DOJ taken to investigate allegations that CSSAs have engaged in transnational repression, harassment, and monitoring of Chinese nationals and diaspora in the United States? If none have been taken, please explain why not.
Are there authorities that DOJ assesses as more appropriate than FARA to address CSSA involvement in CCP influence operations? If so, please explain why those authorities are more appropriate, how the Department is using them, and describe supporting interagency efforts.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to a timely and detailed response.
Sincerely,
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Sen. Scott Fights to Protect Schools from China, Malign Foreign Influence
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in introducing the Protecting Education from Malign Foreign Influence Act, which will prevent higher education institutions and their faculty from entering into certain relationships with foreign adversaries and require states to develop policies to create similar requirements for K-12 schools.
“China and other foreign adversaries are infiltrating every level of our education system,” said Senator Tim Scott. “We cannot allow American students - the future of our great nation - to be corrupted by bad actors who are pushing anti-American propaganda and sowing chaos and distrust around the world.”
“The integrity of our schools is one of the most basic guarantees that we should give to our students. Current federal policies to protect our students from adversaries are incomplete and disappointing. The U.S. is being infiltrated through its educational institutions,” said Senator Rubio. “This bill aims to close those gaps, securing a robust defense against malign foreign influence in our classrooms.”
“It’s a universally accepted truth that Communist China is stealing U.S. technology and intellectual property from institutions of higher learning. We cannot allow the U.S. federal government to sit back and let this dangerous espionage happen,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Now is the time to take a stand against this madness, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in fighting to pass the Protecting Education from Malign Foreign Influence Act to better protect America’s colleges and universities.”
This legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Scholars and Parents Defending Education Action.
On December 8th, Senator Scott led his colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland expressing serious concern about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence over Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) at American colleges and universities.
Senators Scott, Lankford, Congresswoman Foxx Champion Bill to Restore Parental Rights
WASHINGTON —U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) and House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) introduced the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, which affirms parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child. Furthermore, it prevents the federal government from infringing on the fundamental rights of parents without first passing the strict scrutiny test. It also allows parents to use the violation of this right in judicial or administration proceedings on the federal and state levels.
“Parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child, whether it’s in the classroom or at home,” said Senator Scott. “Yet, far too often, parents are being pushed out of their child’s lives, and kids are paying the price. I’m fighting to put parents back in the driver’s seat and ensure they remain the lead decision maker in their child’s life.”
“Moms and dads have the right – and responsibility – to determine what’s best for their kids. Good parents should not live in fear of their own government every day. Whenever parental rights are threatened by federal government overreach, families deserve a fair hearing before a court. The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act preserves the rights of parents and restricts government overreach into our homes and families,” said Senator Lankford.
“In America today, the rights of millions of parents are under siege – this moment calls for a targeted course correction so that these proud men and women can raise their children without government infringement,” said Congresswoman Foxx. “The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act serves not only as a reinforced bulwark for parental rights, but also as a fundamental check against the government whenever it decides to enforce policies that fail to extend due deference to parental decision-making. I am immensely proud to introduce this legislation alongside Senators Scott and Lankford to further safeguard the rights of parents.”
This legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act aims to protect parents’ rights to direct their children’s upbringing. Specifically, the Act:
Affirms parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children
Prevents the federal government from substantially burdening this fundamental right of parents without first passing the strict scrutiny test; and
Allows parents to raise a violation of the Act as a claim or defense in judicial or administrative proceedings at the federal and state levels.
BACKGROUND
Senator Scott’s work to support parents includes:
Leading a group of his Republican colleagues on a letter demanding answers from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on reports that he played a key role in orchestrating a letter from the National School Board Association (NSBA) that called concerned parents “domestic terrorists”
Introducing the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act to protect parental rights and prevent school administrators from concealing information about students’ sexual identity and gender from their parents
Hosting a parental involvement panel in Charleston during school choice week
Championing the Kids in Classes Act, which pushes back against teacher’s unions who deny parental rights, allowing families with children in Title I schools to put unused federal education funds toward in-person education should their school close due to a teachers’ labor union strike; and
Penning a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary outlining concerns with the hyper-partisan makeup of the National Parents and Families Engagement Council as its members push anti-parent and anti-school choice policies.
Republican:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) marked National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by highlighting the troubling increase in human trafficking and sexual exploitation caused by the Biden administration’s open border policy.
Since 2021, the administration has incentivized historic levels of illegal immigration, creating an unmitigated humanitarian disaster including an alarming uptick of women and children sexually assaulted and trafficked while crossing illegally.
“President Biden’s open border policies are anything but humane,” said Senator Scott.
“Illegal immigrants smuggled through our open border are abused, raped and even killed on their way to the United States. Democrats’ continued inaction and failure to secure our southern border fuels this barbaric human trafficking crisis.”
Since 2021, over 10 million known illegal immigrants have entered the U.S., Scott said.
This mass migration is driven by the Biden administration’s repeal of strong border security policies, such as Remain in Mexico and Title 42, and implementation of open border tools like the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) One App, which processes illegal immigrants into the U.S.
These 10 million illegal immigrants include over 85,000 unaccompanied children (UACs), whom the Biden administration is currently unable to account for, and 150,000 UACs who crossed into the U.S. in 2022 – 60% of whom are likely to be exploited through child pornography and drug trafficking.
Furthermore, nearly one-third of women and children are sexually assaulted crossing the border. According to information obtained by Reuters, in 2023, criminal investigations into the rape of foreign nationals were the highest ever recorded in two major transit routes for illegal immigrants – Reynosa and Matamoros.
Championing 10 pieces of border security legislation, Senator Scott has long pressed the Biden administration to end immigration policies which increase human trafficking and sexual violence: The Secure the Border Act of 2023, Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act, Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, Securing Our Border Act and Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act are just a few pieces of legislation the Senator has fought for to disincentivize illegal immigrants, including vulnerable women and children, from embarking on the dangerous journey to the U.S.
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Senator Scott Pushes for Solutions to Fentanyl Crisis During Banking Hearing, Calls for Congress to Pass His Landmark Fentanyl Legislation
WASHINGTON — At a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) continued his push for passage of his sanctions and anti-money laundering bill to target the China-Mexico illicit fentanyl supply chain, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. The bill was debated and unanimously passed out of the Senate Banking Committee on June 21, 2023, during the committee’s first legislative markup since 2019, and has 67 Senate cosponsors. Multiple national groups, including law enforcement associations and anti-opioid abuse organizations, have also voiced support for the bill.
In his opening statement, Ranking Member Scott raised awareness of the destruction caused by the fentanyl pouring across our southern border – during the worst border crisis in our nation’s history – which led to the deaths of over 75,000 Americans in 2022. Ranking Member Scott also highlighted his legislation, the Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act and the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which would expedite the processing and removal of migrants illegally entering the country and properly fund and bolster security measures along our southern border – both critical aspects to stopping the flow of fentanyl into the country.
Ranking Member Scott’s opening remarks as delivered:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for each of you being willing to testify before us today. And thank you, Jelly Roll, for the shout out on the FEND Off Fentanyl legislation last night at your concert.
It’s so important for Americans to come together around such an important issue: ending the fentanyl crisis that is devastating family after family after family.
I think specifically of Alan Shao in Charleston, South Carolina – a friend of mine who lost his son, Alan Shao II – to fentanyl. The devastation that has ravished the family is immeasurable, and anything that we can do as a body to make common sense reforms, to hold those accountable, and to stop the cash flow that funds fentanyl is absolutely essential that we get it done right now.
And unfortunately, we’re here today having another hearing on FEND Off Fentanyl because our friends on the other side of the Capitol, because of the shenanigans at the end of last year, did not get the bill included in legislation that would have made this, I believe, law already.
It is incredibly unfortunate that playing politics is still a game played in Washington, especially on something so important. And I think, as the Chairman just said, he and I probably don’t agree on very much, most consistently, but I will say, having 23 of us vote unanimously on this committee, having 68 of us on the same piece of legislation, and not to have a chance to get it done – it’s not just frustrating to those of us on this committee, those of us in Congress, it is incredibly frustrating to the people of our country who watch the devastation eat away at their communities.
Congress needs to come together to stop the Mexican Cartels, Chinese chemical suppliers, and money laundering organizations from profiting off the production and trafficking of fentanyl – resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans.
Put simply: we should all value the health, safety, and security of Americans.
When I think about the path of destruction fentanyl has carved across the United States, it’s truly jaw-dropping. Preliminary CDC data shows that in 2022, 75,000 Americans lost their lives to fentanyl.
In my home state, that’s 1,500 South Carolinians in 2022 alone. The national death toll equates to losing the entire city of Wilmington, Delaware, the President’s hometown, each year, just from overdoses of fentanyl. And for every life lost, our community feels the impact.
What impact? It’s the mothers, brothers, fathers, children who’ve lost a loved one and who try to pick up the pieces because we have a southern border that is so wide open that 48,000 pounds of fentanyl come right through it.
Fentanyl’s destruction has impacted every single one of us personally. I would say that probably half the room knows someone who knows someone whose lives have been devastated and families have been destroyed because of fentanyl.
But let’s take a step back and look at how we got to this point over the last several years. Under this current administration, America is facing the worst border crisis in our nation’s history, and the president’s disastrous policies have turned the fentanyl epidemic into a national crisis.
The CBP reports that fentanyl seizures have soared over 860% since 2019. Our Border Patrol and DEA are working as hard as they can, seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry and across our country. But tragically, for every amount seized, we know even more is trafficked on our streets.
That’s why we must take a two-prong approach to addressing the fentanyl crisis: Number one, we must tackle the physical front by securing our border. That’s why I introduced both the Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act as well as the Secure the Border Act of 2023. These bills would expedite the processing and removal of migrants illegally entering the country and properly fund and bolster security measures along our southern border.
Number two, we must attack the criminal financing of the fentanyl trade by enforcing our money laundering and sanctions laws. That’s where this Banking Committee comes in to play. My bill, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which is bipartisan. is critical to helping on the financial front. I’d once again like to thank the chairman – and all of the colleagues on this committee – for working together in a bipartisan fashion for the health of this nation.
FEND makes combating fentanyl a top national security priority for the United States, and once enacted, will maximize our ability to leverage sanctions and anti-money laundering tools against illicit Mexican and Chinese organizations that traffic deadly fentanyl.
“Follow the money” is a tried-and-true investigative strategy that must be employed more forcefully to combat fentanyl trafficking in the United States.
Cartels and criminals that profit from our devastating losses must be stopped. And to do that, we have to hit them where it hurts – and that’s their wallets. The illicit money engine needs to be turned off – and it needs to be turned off now.
The FEND Off Fentanyl Act makes clear what we all know too well – the fentanyl crisis facing America is a national emergency and must be treated as a national health emergency.
Americans cannot afford for us to wait.
I am grateful we have a panel here today that is willing to share their perspectives, personal stories, and support for our legislation. I look forward to hearing from each witness on this critically important issue.
Thank you.
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Sen. Scott, Colleagues Introduce CONTAINER Act to Help Border States Secure Southern Border
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and eight of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly (CONTAINER) Act, which empowers border states to place temporary barriers on federal land in order to protect their communities.
In 2022, Texas and Arizona began placing large shipping containers along parts of the southern border in an attempt to fill gaps in the incomplete border wall. Following a lawsuit brought by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), Arizona removed its containers while Texas maintained its shipping containers along the border.
Last week, the White House continued its assault on border states’ right to secure their communities by asking the Supreme Court to allow U.S. Border Patrol to cut razor wire that is placed along the southern border in Texas.
“It should come as no surprise that states like Texas and Arizona, which have been decimated by the illegal immigration crisis, have been forced to take matters into their own hands,” said Senator Scott. “It's President Biden's duty to secure the southern border, and his failure to do his job has put the safety and security of every American at risk.”
“Since President Biden took office, there have been over 8.5 million apprehensions at our southern border, turning every state into a border state,” said Senator Blackburn. “Meanwhile, his administration has only exacerbated the problem by trying to stop the use of measures that will secure our border like shipping containers and razor wire. Because Joe Biden refuses to do so, it’s clear Congress must act to give border states the explicit authority to protect their communities and the sovereignty of the United States.”
“The Biden administration’s unwillingness or, worse, inability to do anything to stop the crisis at the border means states should have the right to take action to protect their citizens. This reasonable legislation would ensure states, particularly those directly on the border, can erect barriers to deter the never-ending violation of our borders,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.
“The humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border demands urgent and swift action, including building more border wall. Yet the Biden administration has taken action against states that attempt to do that. This must stop. This bill will give states another tool to defend themselves against illegal immigration,” said Senator Ricketts.
“The crisis at the southern border is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Instead of facing this situation head on, the Biden administration has taken states to court to block them from securing their own borders,” said Senator Budd. “That’s wrong, and it's why Senator Blackburn’s bill is so critical. It empowers states to quickly place barriers to stop the illegal flow of drugs and dangerous individuals into the United States.”
“If governors and states are willing to step up where President Biden has failed, Congress needs to empower them,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Border states should be able to place physical barriers at their border with Mexico without waiting for a dilly-dallying administration to finally get around to maybe giving an answer, and the answer is always no.”
“The Biden administration’s refusal to secure our southern border has forced states to combat the crisis on their own,” said Senator Cramer. “Instead of fixing its policy decisions, the administration sued states trying to stem the flow. In the face of an administration actively choosing disorder over their solemn duty to safeguard our territorial integrity, states should have the flexibility to take action when the federal government doesn’t.”
Additional cosponsors include Senators J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cindy Hyde Smith (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
BACKGROUND
- Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution provides for the protection of states “against invasion,” and Article I, Section 10 reserves the right of states to defend themselves.
- However, under current federal law, states may not place structures on federal land without first obtaining authorization from the federal government.
- The CONTAINER Act:
- Authorizes border states to temporarily place movable, temporary structures on federal land for the purpose of securing the border without first seeking federal approval; and
- Allows states to keep these structures on federal land for up to a year, subject to 90-day extensions that can be approved by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.
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Senator Scott Defends Israel, Rebukes Antisemitism in Address to Orthodox Union
WASHINGTON — Yesterday, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, forcefully condemned antisemitism and supported Israel’s right to self-defense in a speech at the Orthodox Union’s Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.
“We must stand shoulder-to-shoulder and back-to-back with Israel to make sure that Hamas is wiped off the face of the Earth,” said Senator Scott. “We have a moral obligation to this world, the state of Israel and our conscience to fight back and to win.”
BACKGROUND
Senator Scott has continued to stand by Israel, especially in light of Iranian-backed Hamas’s October 7 attack against our greatest ally in the Middle East, by:
- Introducing the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to permanently freeze the $6 billion released by the Biden administration to Iran and direct the Treasury Secretary to provide an accounting of all high-value Iranian assets around the world that are currently blocked by U.S. sanctions;
- Meeting with victims of Hamas and members of victims’ families, hearing first-hand about the brutality inflicted by Hamas on innocent civilians, including innocent children;
- Pushing for passage of the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act to extend sanctions on funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors and curtail the regime’s ability to develop its nuclear program and finance destabilizing activities;
- Before and after the attack, leading dozens of Republican senators in holding the administration to account for its dangerous Iran policy;
- Championing the Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023, which would provide $14.3 billion of aid to Israel;
- Authoring the Stop Support for Hamas Act to prevent U.S. tax dollars from winding up in the hands of Hamas;
- Introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, directing the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus; and
- Introducing the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, to defund colleges and universities that enable violent antisemitism on their campuses.
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Senator Scott Slams Reckless Anti-Israel Resolution
Resolution emboldens Iran and its proxies that continue to attack U.S. troops and personnel
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, condemned the anti-Israel resolution the Senate voted on this evening.
“This resolution is an outrageous and shameful stunt that undermines our ally, Israel, and emboldens Iranian-backed terrorists, including Hamas,” said Senator Scott. “The Israeli people have been the victims of countless human rights abuses and unspeakable brutality at the hands of Hamas, and I choose to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters – not terrorists.”
This resolution requires the State Department to deliver a report to Congress on whether Israel has violated human rights standards with U.S.-provided weapons and risks freezing aid to Israel by utilizing Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This provision has never been applied to any recipient of U.S. security assistance by vote on the Senate floor.
This unprecedented resolution against Israel comes on the heels of Iranian-backed terror groups’ continued targeting of U.S. troops and personnel in the Middle East.
Yet, despite Iran’s history of using sanctions relief to fund acts of terrorism targeted at the U.S. and its allies, President Biden and Democrats have released $6 billion to Iran as part of a secret negotiation, given Iran access to $10 billion by extending an energy sanctions waiver and failed to develop a coherent strategy to deter Iranian aggression.
In stark contrast, Senator Scott has continued to stand by Israel, especially in light of Iranian-backed Hamas’s October 7th attack, and push back against Iran and its proxies by:
- Championing S. Res. 417, a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the October 7th attack, which passed the Senate with near unanimous support;
- Voting in support of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included numerous provisions to increase U.S. security cooperation with Israel;
- Introducing the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to permanently freeze the $6 billion released by the Biden administration to Iran and direct the Treasury Secretary to provide an accounting of all high-value Iranian assets around the world that are currently blocked by U.S. sanctions;
- Meeting with victims of Hamas and members of victims’ families, hearing first-hand about the brutality inflicted by Hamas on innocent civilians, including innocent children;
- Pushing for passage of his Solidify Iran Sanctions Act to extend sanctions on funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors and curtail the regime’s ability to develop its nuclear program and finance destabilizing activities;
- Before and after the attack, leading dozens of Republican senators in holding the administration to account for its dangerous Iran policy;
- Championing the Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023, which would provide $14.3 billion of aid to Israel;
- Authoring the Stop Support for Hamas Act to prevent U.S. tax dollars from winding up in the hands of Hamas;
- Introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, directing the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus; and
- Introducing the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act to defund colleges and universities that enable violent antisemitism on their campuses.
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Senator Scott Votes Against Funding Biden Policies at Historic Spending Levels
Congress’s first order of business should be to do what President Biden won’t – secure our southern border
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) voted against funding President Joe Biden’s out-of-touch, broken policies at historic spending levels.
“I refuse to continue funding President Biden’s broken policies at historic spending levels,” said Senator Scott. “President Biden’s out-of-control spending has fueled record-high inflation that has suffocated everyday Americans. And what have hardworking families gotten for it? Wide-open borders, fentanyl poisoning our communities and an economy that puts the American Dream out of reach. Congress’s first order of business should be to do what President Biden won’t – secure our border and keep Americans safe.”
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