William Timmons entered Congress in 2019 with a commitment to bring real reform to Washington. His experience as a prosecutor and small business owner inspired him to run for public office. As a state senator, he fought for accountability and transparency in Columbia. In Congress, William is a voice for Upstate residents and South Carolina’s business community as a member of the Financial Services Committee. In addition to his role on the committee, William was chosen by the Republican Leader to serve as Vice Chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and elected by his classmates to represent them on the Republican Steering Committee. William is a lifelong member of Christ Church in Greenville and also serves as a JAG Officer and Captain in the South Carolina Air National Guard. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Greenville.
Washington is broken. I came to Congress to hold the federal government accountable to the people. Our national debt and deficit are skyrocketing with little concern for the burden we are imposing on our children and grandchildren. I believe one of the ways to make the federal government more efficient is to impose term limits, and I have sponsored legislation to impose a limit of six terms for members of the House of Representatives and two terms for Senators. I want less government in our lives and more power with the people.
I proudly serve on the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, a truly bipartisan committee working to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent. Through bipartisan collaboration, we have passed and implemented recommendations that work to increase efficiency in Congress, improve orientation and education for new members, and increase accessibility for all to the Legislative Branch.
I am focused on lowering costs and offering more choices to make our health care system work better for South Carolinians. Many Upstate families struggle with the cost of health care, but a single-payer, one-size-fits-all approach, like Medicare for All, is not the solution.
Obamacare has failed to live up to its promises of affordable and accessible care for all. Obamacare should be replaced with free-market strategies that encourage choice and competition while providing greater consumer control of health care while still ensuring coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
Our health care system should also be modernized to better meet the changing demographics throughout our country. This means giving states greater control and flexibility over their Medicaid programs to meet their population’s specific needs. Medicare also must be reformed to better fit our aging population while allowing for more patient choice with a variety of comprehensive plans. By modernizing these government programs, we can increase efficiency and rid the programs of the waste which drives up the cost of prescription drugs and discourages routine medical checkups.
The United States has positioned itself as the leader of the free world and we must always strive to continue this. It is imperative that we never back down from enemies that continually threaten our freedoms and the ideals of democracy that have made our country great.
To do this, we must ensure that our military continues to be well funded and armed with the best equipment to carry out the mission before them. As a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects that budget cuts can have on our armed forces. To that end, I will always work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms every day receive the resources and support they need.
When assessing our national security, we must also acknowledge the non-military threats that our nation faces today. That is why I introduced H.R. 5698, the Promoting Secure 5G Act of 2020, which will curb the abilities of countries like China to spy on our citizens through companies such as Huawei. I have also cosponsored legislation to move our supply chain back to the United States, decreasing our dependence on foreign nations.
As a small business owner facing burdensome regulations and excessive red tape, I was inspired to enter politics to help business owners have the best opportunities available to them. I have heard from many South Carolina business owners who continue to face challenges with issues like access to capital, data security, and reliable credit reporting.
I was fortunate to be selected to represent the Upstate on the House Financial Services Committee. This committee oversees important issues related to the economy, the banking system, and housing. Our state is also home to the fifth most flood insurance policies written in any state in the country. The House Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over these important issues, and I am looking forward to giving our state and community a voice in the conversation.
The committee oversees real estate, banking, insurance, securities, and public and assisted living. It also has jurisdiction over the Federal Reserve System, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Export-Import Bank, and the National Flood Insurance Program.
There are approximately 35,000 veterans living in the Upstate, and we owe a tremendous debt to them and other veterans across the nation. As members of Congress, it is important to serve those who have served us. It is crucial to hold the VA accountable to their mission and fulfill President Lincoln's promise: "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
I have been and will continue to support legislation and policies that ensure our nation's veterans receive the best possible care they deserve in a timely manner. We have an obligation to fulfill the promises made to those who have served, both on and off the battlefield. These veterans risked their lives serving our country, and now it is our turn to serve them.