I hope all is well. Here’s my legislative report for the week.
On Monday, I was privileged to participate in the East Cooper Republican Club’s State of the State legislative panel, where area legislators provide an update on legislation and important issues and take questions. It was a great opportunity to hear from Charleston County constituents.
This week, the House Ways and Means Economic Development Subcommittee I sit on met to consider legislation I cosponsored that would authorize the use of funds from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and determine how the funds would be distributed to eligible renters. This U.S. Dept. of Treasury program makes available $25 billion to states to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID pandemic.
There were a series of bills in the House Judiciary Committee to reform the election system in our state. Currently, our state’s election process is a confusing patchwork – each region of our state has a unique system and there is no central authority to cover the cracks and holes that exist in the system. These bills aim to streamline and structure our state’s election system, preserving the integrity of every citizen’s vote.
During the nationwide shutdowns of the COVID pandemic, churchgoers of all religions were denied the ability to gather and worship. We deserve the right to make that decision within our religious bodies. The South Carolina Religious Freedoms Act that was introduced this week, protects the right to hold religious services, even during a state of emergency.
This week, a legislative oversight committee met with leaders from SCDHEC, MUSC and Prisma Hospital systems on COVID vaccinations. The meeting allowed members to get a pulse on where we are, where we are going, and how we can better work together to vaccinate South Carolina. Clearly, our state is still not getting its fair share of the vaccine.
Currently, frontline healthcare workers and anyone 65 or older is eligible to receive the vaccine. Click here to find a vaccine location near you.
Click here to see the flow chart of future vaccine eligibility based on the availability of vaccine.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt