Senator Scott Delivers Message on One Year Anniversary of the Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Today, one year after the United States went under lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released a statement on the challenges we’ve endured, the progress our nation has made, and the light he sees at the end of the tunnel. 

“About a year ago, our nation and the world was devastated by COVID-19,” said Senator Scott. “Five hundred and twenty thousand Americans have lost their lives, and our nation will forever mourn that loss. But while there is still work to do, there is also good news on the horizon: we went to work on behalf of the American people, and I am thankful to say the seeds we sowed in 2020, like the Payment Protection Program and broadband efforts, are now coming to fruition in 2021.” 

Senator Scott has worked in four important ways over the last 12 months to help the people of South Carolina through the pandemic: 

1) Protecting public health: As a member of the Senate health committee, Senator Scott helped draft the three 2020 pandemic response bills. He also worked to provide increased resources for vaccines, personal protective equipment, telehealth services, and more. 

2) Supporting jobs and the economy: As a member of the Senate tax and small business committees, Senator Scott helped craft the Payment Protection Program (PPP) to support small businesses and workers. He worked with the Treasury Department to ensure Opportunity Zones survived through the crisis, and he supported both rounds of the 2020 stimulus checks. 

3) Keeping our children healthy and educated: Senator Scott has led the fight to protect our students mentally and intellectually by re-opening schools. He also helped secure funding for HBCUs and other struggling schools across the country, and he advocated for increased broadband—working to close the digital divide that has made it harder for many students to learn remotely. 

4) Protecting the vulnerable: Senator Scott worked to increase support for charitable giving, ensure non-profits were eligible for PPP loans, and increase funding and authority for emergency feeding programs. 

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