It has been an honor serving you for the past 18 months! I look forward to continue serving you in the 116^th Congress. As the 115^th Congress comes to an end, I wanted to provide you an update on some of our accomplishments, and some things you can look forward to seeing from me in the upcoming Congress.

In the 115^th Congress, we have been able to accomplish many important legislative goals. Overall, 275 bills passed both the House of Representative and the Senate and were signed into law. Additionally, the House passed over 1,000 pieces of legislation, 279 more pieces of legislation than the average. I am proud to say that two of my bills passed the House, with one being signed into law so far.

This has been a productive Congress! Some pieces of legislation that I am particularly proud to have supported and seen signed into law, are:

·         The Tax Reform and Jobs Act: This historic legislation had direct, positive impacts on the Fifth District. In our district, individuals saw an average tax cut of $1,334 according to The Tax Foundation and the median household income saw an increase of $2,388 according to the U.S. Census. Not only did this legislation allow American taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money, the Tax Reform and Jobs Act led to the creation of over 1 million new jobs according to Americans for Tax Reform.

·         The VA MISSION Act: This Congress we also passed much needed reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) current healthcare delivery system. This bill helps provide veterans with more choice and better care, by removing barriers for VA healthcare professionals to practice telemedicine, strengthening processes for opioid prescribing by VA and community care providers, and eliminating impediments to hiring and retaining certain VA healthcare professionals.

·         The Small Business 7(a) Lending Oversight Reform Act: The Small Business Committee, one of the committees I serve on, played an integral role in passing this much-needed reform. The 7(a) loan program is an SBA program that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses access credit to start and grow their businesses when they are unable to get a conventional loan. This legislation provides lenders with much-needed clarity.

Not only were we able to pass impactful legislation, our policies have boosted the economy. In October, the U.S. was the world’s most competitive economy for the first time in a decade, according to the Wall Street Journal. Also, the U.S. unemployment reached its lowest level since 1969, according to the Department of Labor. Because of Congress’ actions and support from the Trump Administration, Americans, in large part, are better off now than they were two years ago.

I have also been extremely committed to serving the Fifth District through meeting with constituents, assisting with tours in Washington, helping constituents with federal agencies, and being responsive through correspondence.

·       While my schedule remains busy, I will always find time to personally meet with constituents, attend events, or visit businesses in the 5th District. Since being sworn in, I have:

o   Met with over 400 constituents and constituent groups to directly hear their concerns;

o   Hosted 10 tele-townhalls;

o   Attended over 120 different events across the district; and

o   Visited over 90 businesses in the district.

o   If you would like to schedule a meeting, please call my office at 202-225-5501.

·         When constituents visit Washington, my staff and I provide them with all the appropriate information for various opportunities in D.C. Additionally, you can request, through my office, a flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol for a friend or loved one in honor of a special occasion.

o   My office has given over 500 staff-led tours of the Capitol; and

o   Has processed and flown over 300 flags.

o   To request a tour, click here.

o   To have a flag flown over the Capitol, click here.

·         Additionally, in my office when someone is having trouble with a federal agency, whether it be issues with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, or simply needing their passport expedited, we can help.

o   My staff and I have ‘closed’ over 1,300 “cases” since being sworn into office, helping constituents when they were having serious issues with the federal government.

o   If you are having any issues with a federal agency, click here.

·         Lastly, my office has responded to over 51,000 legislative inquiries, with an average response time of 3 days by sending:

o   Over 45,500 response emails;

o   Over 4,500 letters; and

o   Making over 1,100 personal phone calls.

o   If you would like to leave a comment or have a question, click here.

As you can tell, we have been busy! However, there is plenty more to be accomplished. Please look below to see what to expect in the 116^th Congress.

It is time to start looking ahead to the 116^th Congress. There was so much that Congress and the Administration accomplished this past Congress, but the American people deserve more. I am privileged to advocate for true conservative principles and fiscal responsibility in Washington.

As a result of the November elections, Congress will be divided, with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives and Republicans controlling the Senate. Nevertheless, there is always opportunity to reach across the aisle and work together for the benefit of the nation. Ultimately, I will remain wholeheartedly committed to serving each one of you.

Therefore, I will be launching my “Service Agenda”, ensuring my office continues to focus on serving you. My agenda focuses on three, simple pillars:

I.                    Offering a Helping Hand

I want to ensure my office remains committed to helping you in any, and every, way possible. Whether that includes assisting you when you have trouble with a Federal Agency, working to fix our broken welfare system, or setting up tours when you visit Washington, we are here for you.

II.                 Protecting the Future

It is time to truly start thinking of our children and grandchildren: by reforming entitlement spending, so that these programs remain solvent for future generations, and reining in our federal government’s reckless spending. We must invest in our future.

III.              Growing and Providing Opportunity

For far too long, the Federal Government has continued to grow, becoming an expansive bureaucracy. A limited government prevents over-regulation, which as we have seen, allows the economy to boom. It is time to get the government out of your lives, allowing every individual, family, and business the opportunity to grow.

As always, please let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you by calling my Washington, D.C. Office at 202-225-5501 or my Rock Hill Office at 803-327-1114.

It is a privilege to serve you as your representative of South Carolina's 5th Congressional District.