Latest News + Updates from Bill Herbkersman
8/9/21: McMaster recommends vaccination, does not think masks are necessary in schools
"Mandating masks is not the answer, personal responsibility is the answer, common sense is the answer," - Gov. Henry McMaster. read more
7/26/21: Wright Family Park - Honoring the Town’s natural resources, history and culture
"As developed, the Wright Family Park gives all residents and visitors a better opportunity to experience the ecology, culture and identity of one of the South’s last historical river villages." read more
7/21/21: SCDOT unveils ‘preferred alternative’ for Highway 278 corridor, asks for public input
"The $290 million plan involved new 3 lane bridges in each direction to help ease traffic, multiple new lanes, lights and turn lanes as you move on to Hilton Head Island to try and keep cars moving smoothly." read more
7/15/21: State funding aims to address nursing shortage in SC
“Lawmakers, like Representative Bill Herbkersman, hope to address the issue with state funding. The Republican from Beaufort earmarked $1 million in the state budget to help technical colleges expand their nursing programs.” read more
6/25/21: Editorial: Sutherland death prompted promising SC program. Here’s what else we need.
“At a meeting just three weeks after video was released showing the last moments of Mr. Sutherland’s life, Rep. Bill Herbkersman told the House Ways and Means Committee that he had immediately called together officials from the Department of Mental Health to ‘figure out how we can work to prevent any more psychiatric patients from mistreatment in detention centers.’” read more
6/11/21: SCDHHS Supports Proviso Amendment to Extend Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months Postpartum
"The amendment introduced by Rep. Herbkersman aligns with the Healthy Connections Community Engagement Initiative SCDHHS pursued in 2019. Extending postpartum coverage to one-year postpartum will help improve health outcomes for new mothers as a majority of pregnancy-associated deaths occur more than 60 days after delivery and will remove a disincentive to new mothers returning to work." read more
6/9/21: SC employment agency partners with technical colleges to help unemployed workers
Under the program, unemployed workers receiving jobless benefits will have the option of enrolling in a short-term retraining program at a local technical college in lieu of completing a weekly job search requirement. read more
5/11/21: GOV. MCMASTER SAYS SC WILL OPT OUT OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC-RELATED BENEFITS PROGRAMS.
“Those businesses that have survived … now face an unprecedented labor shortage … What was intended to be a short-term financial assistance for the vulnerable and displaced during the height of the pandemic has turned into a dangerous federal entitlement, incentivizing and paying workers to stay at home rather than encouraging them to return to the workplace.” read more
3/29/21: UofSC med school leads nation for grads practicing in underserved areas
“From meeting the health care needs of South Carolina’s underserved communities to preparing graduates to excel in careers in all corners of the world, these rankings demonstrate the work our faculty, staff and students do each day to improve the lives of people across the state, nation and world” - William Tate, Provost + Executive VP of Academic Affairs. read more
2/17/21: SC House members pass fetal heartbeat bill; One vote left before it goes to governor
"Legal experts say trying to predict what the Supreme Court will decide on abortion is nearly impossible, especially with new members on the bench. So the journey for this legislation is far from over." read more
12/11/20: 12/11/20: BLUFFTON NAMED SAFEST CITY IN SC
"The report used comprehensive data based on violent, property and hate crimes, in addition to factors like household income, average rent and health insurance. They also took into account of natural disaster safety and public health safety." read more
10/1/20: 'Not on our watch.' State leaders vow to save Parris Island
"We are confident, but we are alert and we will be sure that the closure does not happen," McMaster said. read more
9/28/20: S.C. lawmakers approve $40 million in grants for minority, small businesses
"Priority will be given to minority businesses, applicants that did not receive other assistance, such as a Paycheck Protection Program loan or other CARES funds, to businesses with 15 or fewer employees and to businesses that demonstrate the greatest financial need." read more
9/24/20: Board denies controversial plan to put luxury ‘ecotourism’ resort on SC barrier island
"After hearing calls from citizens to reject a proposed resort on an uninhabited Lowcountry barrier island, a Beaufort County zoning board voted unanimously Thursday night to deny the request." read more
9/11/20: Citizen coalition pushes to enact hate crimes legislation in S.C.
SC is one of only three states in the country without a law that criminalizes crimes committed out of hate for a person’s race, religion, sexuality or gender. I’m proud to co-sign this legislation, introduced by Representative Beth Bernstein for House 78 and Representative Wendell G. Gilliard, along with my colleague Representative Weston Newton, SC House 120. It is an example of taking partisanship out of the equation and uniting for the common good. read more
9/8/2020: SC Leaders applaud Pres. Trump's decision to halt offshore exploration
“South Carolina is blessed with the most beautiful and pristine beaches, sea islands, and marshes in the nation. Seismic testing and offshore drilling threatens their health and jeopardizes the future of our state’s $24 billion tourism industry. Today’s announcement is good news, but we must remain vigilant in the conservation and preservation of our coastline.” Gov. Henry McMaster. read more
8/1/20: Biologists detail improved facilities, services at Waddell Mariculture Center
“Rep. Herbkersman was instrumental in getting $1.2 million to renovate the facility. That enabled us to essentially gut our lab building,” ... “And after that, we were able to secure some other federal funds so that we could redo our entire factory.” - Director Erin Levesque, Waddell Maricultural Center. read more
7/21/20: Gov. McMaster Announces SAFE Grants
Understanding SAFE Grants, a program, developed by Gov. Henry McMaster, to address the educational needs of eligible K5-12 students who attend a participating independent school in SC. read more
Bill Herbkersman
Love Celebrating Bluffton and Beyond with CB2!
"...I believe if there’s a need, and you know you can fill it, you should.” ... “From there and working off of that motivation, good things will always happen.”
- Rep. Bill Herbkersman