The recent assassination attempt of President Trump was a horrific tragedy of political violence. We can now see in videos and photographs that our former President was millimeters away from extremely grave injuries in which we would be having very different conversations right now. I thank God that President Trump survived this attempt on his life with only a minor wound. 

I was also sickened to see the news that a loving father who was attending the rally was tragically killed in the crossfire. Once he heard shots fired, he used his body to shield his family from danger. This faith-filled man was simply exercising his First Amendment rights. I believe that no one should ever have to fear for their life while peacefully attending a rally. 

It's a sad time in our nation's history where people have so much hatred in their hearts that they resort to political violence. All that to say, the American people need answers. We need transparency. I believe Congress ought to conduct a full investigation of the events that took place over the weekend.

Last week, the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by a vote of 221 to 198. The purpose of this bill is to prevent any and all non-citizens from voting in U.S. federal elections. The SAVE Act preserves one of the most fundamental rights afforded to American citizens--the right to vote--by requiring proof of citizenship in order to cast a ballot in a federal election. 

Currently, there is no requirement that individuals registering to vote provide proof of citizenship or identity. Rather, the National Voter Registration Act relies on individuals to merely attest (under the penalty of perjury) that they are a citizen and eligible to vote. This is simply an attestation, not verification. Under current law, we are not able to ask for documentary proof. the SAVE Act would require states to establish a program to remove non-citizens from their existing voter rolls and give states immediate, no-cost access to federal databases with citizenship information to do so. 

Non-citizens are not supposed to vote in federal election, yet we have proof of them not only registering to vote, but also voting in our elections and impacting the outcome of those elections. For example, in 2014 North Carolina conducted a study that found over 1,400 registered voters on its rolls appeared to the non-citizens before Election Day. 

Look to the Constitution to know that this bill is exactly what our Founders intended: every single suffrage amendment assumes that only U.S. citizens are going to vote by starting off as "The right of citizens of the United States to vote..."

I am proud to have been a cosponsor of this crucial legislation, and I hope that next time I update you, the SAVE Act will have been passed by the Senate and signed by the President.  

Last week, I held a telephone town hall live from Washington, D.C. I discussed the alarming cognitive state of President Biden, the liberal opposition to a bill in Congress that would prohibit illegal immigrants from voting in federal elections, and other important issues facing our federal government and nation. Thousands of residents across SC-05 joined me live to ask questions, and I answered several on the call. 

If you or someone you know needs assistance with any branch of the federal government, my congressional office in Rock Hill is here to help. Whether it's the IRS, Social Security, immigration, passports, veterans’ affairs, or anything else related to the federal government, please give us a call at (803) 327-1114.

Meanwhile, if you have questions about legislation or my votes in Congress, my office in Washington, D.C. can answer those. You can reach my D.C. office at (202) 225-5501.

The most important job I have in Congress is to help folks here at home in South Carolina. Please don't hesitate to call my offices at the numbers listed above. You can also reply to this email or click here to contact me online anytime.