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October 5, 2024

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!

This week, Category 4 Hurricane Helene made a devastating impact on South Carolina, causing massive and destructive damage for hundreds of miles across the state, especially in the Upstate. I joined members of the South Carolina National Guard to examine the aftermath in the Upstate. My prayers are with all who are affected by this hurricane, and I am grateful for those working hard to restore our communities.

Stay informed with all the latest developments in the recovery from Hurricane Helene by visiting my Severe Weather Resource page here.

 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

News That You Can Use

If you sustained losses in designated disaster counties, you can begin applying for assistance by registering online at disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, or using the FEMA App.

Line crews are working around the clock to restore power around South Carolina. Find here the latest power outage updates in the state.

Crisis Cleanup is a non-profit organization coordinating local volunteers to help with storm recovery efforts. If you need assistance with debris cleanup and removal, call Crisis Cleanup at 1-844-965-1386. 

You can also visit my website for more disaster relief resources!

Week in Review

Meeting the Unmet Needs in Our States

Tens of millions of Americans across the Southeast were impacted by Hurricane Helene. I teamed up with colleagues from southeastern states in calling for the immediate passage of disaster relief legislation to support individuals and their families affected by the storm. Congress needs to be quick in providing relief to our constituents. 

Read more about our letter here

Calling on Port Workers to Delay Strike

After months of negotiations, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) planned to go on strike. On Monday, I called for port workers to delay their strike set to begin on Tuesday to avoid any interruption to our supply chain on the East coast while southeastern states recovered from Hurricane Helene.

After a three-day strike, port workers reached a tentative agreement to continue working. This is good news for our supply chain, economy, and most importantly, those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Protecting Our Elections

The privilege of voting should be preserved for those entitled to it. By protecting elections from non-citizens, we are maintaining the integrity of the electoral and democratic process. I joined colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, expressing our concerns with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) failure to prevent illegal aliens from registering to vote in American elections or prosecute those who evidently have done so. The Department’s inaction and refusal to provide information about its efforts to public trust and confidence in our elections is particularly concerning. I am committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent.

Read more about our letter here.

Protecting Our Commitment to Combat Terrorism

As we approach the anniversary of October 7th and Israel continues to combat the horrific attacks from Iran and its proxy network, I am concerned regarding reports that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NY Fed) failed to implement basic anti-money laundering controls on account relationships with the Central Bank of Iraq. If the reports are accurate, their failure resulted in potentially billions of dollars flowing to Iran and its terror proxies. I led a letter demanding answers from the NY Fed on this, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and transparency in our financial systems. It is imperative that we prevent our institutions from aiding the financing of terrorism while also implementing strong measures to stop funds from reaching those who threaten our national security. We must work to protect our allies and our commitment to combat terrorism. 

Read more about the letter here.

Sharing the #SCSweetTea

The love of family shines through even the darkest of moments. David Jones from Boiling Springs, South Carolina, trekked 27 miles to walk his daughter, Elizabeth, down the aisle at her wedding. David drove as far as he could, but once he couldn’t make it any further due to washed-out roads, bridges, and dangerous conditions, he walked 17 miles to Johnson City, Tennessee to make it in time. Read more about his journey here!

In The News

 WIS: 45K port workers across East Coast go on strike as of Tuesday

By Bella Carpentier

September 30, 2024

Roughly 45,000 port workers across the East Coast started walking picket lines early Tuesday morning after stalled negotiations between the U.S. Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association.

Negotiations between the maritime alliance and union representatives were first suspended on June 11 after disputes over automation at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, according to an ILA news release.

Two main points that ILA leadership is pushing for in a new Master Contract is a better wage package and protections against automation.

Read the full article here!

This Week on Social Media

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Sincerely,

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