| Dear fellow South Carolinians,
Thank you for subscribing to my weekly e-newsletter, and please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also listen and subscribe to my new podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
School Choice:
Last Wednesday, I introduced the School Choice Now Act along with Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN). This Act would provide emergency funds for organizations that give scholarships in each state.
Scholarships would go to students in underserved or hard-hit communities, allowing them to continue the private school education they attended pre-pandemic or, in some cases, to begin private school education. Education is one key to opening a world of opportunity for America’s younger generations, and no child’s schooling should be altered or interrupted due to the pandemic. You can read more about the legislation here.
NDAA:
The U.S. Senate passed the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act last Thursday, legislation that will support our military and their families by increasing pay for all members of the armed services by three percent.
I am proud to live in a state that so many of our brave service members call home. This Act responds to their daily sacrifices by supporting and strengthening our Armed Services, and I applaud Congress for taking this action. You can read more about the Act here.
COVID-19 Relief and Resources:
This week, the Senate introduced the HEALS Act, which includes my proposed legislation – Supporting America’s Restaurant Workers Act – which provides a 100 percent deduction for business meals through the end of 2020. My bill will lead to more customers, more opportunities for hardworking wait staff and kitchen staff, and much needed revenue for small businesses across the country.
Last week, we got some great news as the Senate passed an important bill I introduced. The CARES Act, which Congress passed in March, provided recovery payments of up to $1,200 for qualifying individuals, along with an additional $500 per dependent child, to ensure that our families and the economy could stay afloat in the midst of the pandemic. Last Friday, the Senate passed my bill that will protect these payments from being garnished by private debt collectors, ensuring that American individuals receive the full amount of their relief checks.
While Congress is still working on the next phase of relief, I will continue fighting for commonsense legislation that assists American families in the middle of economic hardship. You can read more about this bill here.
Please continue to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines when out, sanitize and wash your hands thoroughly, and – critically – stay home if you are feeling ill.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, click here for information from the South Carolina Department of Health on tele-health options and testing locations. More information on resources for South Carolinians is also available on my website.
Sincerely,
Tim | 