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Dear
fellow
South
Carolinians,
Thank
you
for
subscribing
to
my
weekly
e-newsletter,
and
please
remember
to
follow
me
on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
IIOA
Takes
a
Step
Forward
After
years
of
pushing
for
a
legislative
initiative
to
help
distressed
communities,
I
am
excited
that
the
implementation
of
my
Investing
in
Opportunity
Act
(IIOA)
has
begun.
Last
week,
the
Department
of
Treasury
and
Internal
Revenue
Service
formally
announced
guidance
to
states,
the
District
of
Columbia,
and
all
possessions
of
the
United
States
on
how
to
designate
Opportunity
Zones
within
their
areas
of
jurisdiction.
From
now
through
March
21st,
Governors
and
chief
executive
officers
of
states,
D.C.,
and
U.S.
possessions
will
be
able
to
designate
Opportunity
Zones
that
will
benefit
from
this
new
provision.
Securing
this
provision
in
the
tax
bill
was
a
huge
legislative
win
for
the
millions
of
Americans
living
in
struggling
communities,
and
now
local
leaders
can
start
to
identify
zip
codes
most
in
need
of
a
renaissance.
The
investment
in
neighborhoods
will
help
to
kick
start
local
economies,
grow
jobs,
and
most
importantly,
will
create
a
better
quality
of
life
for
tens
of
thousands
of
our
American
families.
I
want
to
thank
Secretary
Mnuchin
and
his
team
for
their
hard
work
in
establishing
and
pushing
out
the
guidance
that
will
help
local
leaders
select
their
Opportunity
Zones.
This
initiative
will
help
to
create
permanent
and
positive
change
that
will
benefit
generations
to
come.
Budget
Bill
Last
Friday,
Congress
passed
a
two-year
spending
bill.
This
is
not
a
perfect
bill
by
any
means,
and
as
someone
who
consistently
votes
against
wasteful
government
spending,
the
structure
of
this
legislation
made
my
decision
a
tough
one.
However,
after
years
of
our
military
being
underfunded,
this
deal
is
a
unique
opportunity
to
right
the
wrongs
Washington
has
made
in
our
defense
spending
over
the
past
eight
years.
Our
men
and
women
in
uniform
put
their
lives
on
the
line
every
single
day,
and
it’s
about
time
they
know
Washington
has
their
back
not
just
with
words,
but
with
actions.
There
were
multiple
other
provisions
in
the
bill
that
I
supported;
you
can
read
a
full
list
here.
Investigation
into
USOC
and
USAG
Last
Wednesday,
I
joined
my
colleagues
Senator
Jeanne
Shaheen
and
Senator
Joni
Ernst
to
unveil
a
resolution
and
growing
bipartisan
support
to
establish
a
special
committee
in
the
Senate
to
investigate
the
U.S.
Olympic
Committee
(USOC)
and
USA
Gymnastics
regarding
how
team
doctor
Larry
Nassar
was
allowed
to
sexually
abuse
female
gymnasts
over
decades.
We
take
great
pride
in
our
Olympic
athletes,
and
they
should
know
that
as
they
sacrifice
so
much
to
train
and
represent
the
United
States
of
America
on
the
world
stage,
they
should
be
safe.
In
this
regard,
USOC
and
the
USA
Gymnastics
have
clearly
failed
our
athletes.
My
heart
goes
out
to
the
women
affected
and
their
families.
This
investigation
is
so
important
because
we
should
know
what
happened,
to
make
sure
it
doesn’t
happen
again.
You
can
read
more
about
the
resolution
and
what
it
establishes
here.
Remembering
the
Orangeburg
Massacre
Last
Thursday
was
the
50th
anniversary
of
the
Orangeburg
Massacre
–
a
tragic
and
pivotal
day
in
the
fight
for
civil
rights
in
South
Carolina.
I
had
the
opportunity
to
welcome
some
of
my
colleagues
to
Orangeburg
two
years
ago
to
learn
more
about
February
8,
1968,
and
I
encourage
everyone
to
take
a
look
today
and
remember
those
lost,
and
the
blood,
sweat
and
tears
given
by
so
many
during
the
civil
rights
movement.
Sincerely,
Tim |