Hello Friend,

Welcome back to my economic opportunity newsletter! This is where we will share stories of our efforts to bring lasting change through an Opportunity Agenda that benefits our neighbors in South Carolina and across the country.

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Fighting for Opportunity-Creating Legislation

Last month, my colleagues and I re-introduced the Skills Renewal Act, a bill to give a $4,000 training credit for newly unemployed Americans. Not only would this legislation help people get back on their feet after the pandemic, but it also provides new avenues of opportunity for workers to compete for new, high-skilled, in-demand jobs.

We also re-introduced the Neighborhood Home Investment Act. This bill is designed to help first time homebuyers across the United States further their dreams of being homeowners. Homeownership is an important part of the American Dream, and for far too long too many people have had to face an uphill climb to owning their own property—we want to change that.

Celebrating & Supporting Entrepreneurs

As a former small business owner, I know the importance of both earning a living and helping others to reach their full potential. That’s why I introduced a bipartisan resolution to declare this week National Entrepreneurship Week and reintroduced the bipartisan Enhancing Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century Act. American small businesses have borne the brunt of the economic downturn in our nation, and it’s our job in Congress to work together to ensure entrepreneurs have adequate resources to make their American Dream a reality. As we emerge from the pandemic, I will continue to fight for commonsense policies that will allow our nation’s entrepreneurs to rebuild our economy. This is just one of the many tools we can enact to get the American economy firing on all cylinders again.

Good News for Opportunity Zones

In December, I sent a letter to the Treasury Department to ensure that the more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones across the nation are taken care of in light of disruption caused by the COVID pandemic. In response, the Department of Treasury and the IRS sent a notice meeting all of my requests to provide relief to Opportunity Zones and those that invest in Zones. This is a huge victory for Opportunity Zones and will help to further ensure that those utilizing the incentive are not wrongfully penalized for the delays and obstacles created by the pandemic. There are deadlines coming up, so I encourage everyone to read the notice, so we can work together to ensure the continued success of Opportunity Zones, which are creating thousands of new jobs in overlooked communities in South Carolina and across the country.
 

Sincerely,