Dear friends and neighbors,

Last week, Senator Lindsey Graham (a former member of the House Republican Caucus) was the special guest speaker at our weekly Caucus meeting.  I am thankful for his support, and his continued communication as to the happenings in Washington DC and the effects on South Carolina.

In addition to Senator Graham giving us important updates about Washington and the Biden Administration, I was delighted to attend a news conference later in the day with him as he leads the effort for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Also, as we conclude the third week of session, House committees have been hard at work. We continue to hear budget requests from various state agencies in preparation for the state budget discussion we will have on the Floor in just a few weeks. We also began the legislative process on some critical legislation, which I expect to debate on the Floor in coming weeks.

‘Critical Race Theory’ Is In the Works

In recent years, the idea of critical race theory, also known as CRT, has become a more encouraged curriculum in our education system. This theory promotes the idea that groups of people, based on sex, race, religion, or other defining characteristics, should take responsibility for historical wrongs.

This rhetoric is dangerous and damaging, and certainly should not be instilled in our students. We must keep partisanship out of the narrative when teaching our students about the history of our country and state.

The House Education and Public Works Committee, chaired by Representative Rita Allison, began reviewing a series of bills that prohibits CRT from being taught in South Carolina public schools. I am confident this committee will properly address the issue and we’ll soon have a comprehensive bill to push for that prohibits the teaching of critical race theory.

Finalizing the Congressional Map

On Wednesday, Governor Henry McMaster signed the Congressional redistricting plan House passed last week. The lines reflect changes and growth in our state – primarily in the Lowcountry, Upstate, and near Charlotte. I am proud of our chamber’s tireless work in finalizing these plans.

Passed This Week

• H. 3464: The ‘Seizure Safe Schools Act’ passed unanimously last week, and helps to protect students in our schools when a health crisis strikes. This bill creates a system in which schools and parents of students with seizure disorders work together to create a ‘seizure action plan’. This ensures that all children are cared for correctly in the case of a medical emergency, based on their individual condition.

• S. 203: I voted in favor of a bill that ensures school district trustees who participate in misconduct, neglect of duty, conflict of interest, or are found to have other ethical violations can be removed from their position. This oversight is delegated to the office of the Governor, and is necessary to ensure that all public servants are being held accountable, facing consequences for improper or inappropriate behavior.

In Other News

The Senate recently passed legislation that repeals the ‘Certificate of Need’ (CON). CON regulations require health care providers to obtain permission from a state panel to open or expand services in specific areas… an unnecessary and burdensome step in providing healthcare to citizens of our state. More on the bill here.

Last year, I was proud to support the Heartbeat Bill, which protects the life of all unborn children in South Carolina once a heartbeat has been detected. The Heartbeat Bill was passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor, but was challenged in courts. This week, news broke that the legislation is headed to an appeals court. I am hopeful that the legislation will be upheld to protect all innocent life. Read more here: https://wpde.com/news/local/south-carolina-fetal-heartbeat-bill-heads-to-appeals-court