In The News
Opportunity Zones Offer Powerful Potential For Investors And Communities
Monday | January 14, 2019by Joshua Pollard
In December of 2017, when President Trump's thousand-page Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect, it included a short, unassuming piece of bipartisan legislation that quietly flew under the radar. It was no surprise that the Investing in Opportunity Act didn't receive much attention, initially, surfacing at a time when the nation was gripped by more intriguing political news. But now, over a year later, it is finally receiving the buzz it deserves. The Opportunity Zone program offers … Continue Reading
Sen. Scott on trade talks with China, impact of government shutdown, response to Steve King's comment on white supremacy
Monday | January 14, 2019Republican member of the Senate Banking and Finance Committees Sen. Tim Scott urges Democrats to return to Washington and fund border security. Watch full video … Continue Reading
‘The gold standard for college football.’ Graham, U.S. Senate sound off on Clemson win
Friday | January 11, 2019by Emily Bohatch
As members of the Senate work to end the government shut down, they found some time to give a shout out to South Carolina's National Championship winning team. Senators gathered Friday to pass a resolution congratulating Clemson's football team for their Monday night win, according to a statement from Sen. Lindsey Graham's office. The resolution detailed the team's accomplishments during the game in Santa Clara, including totaling 482 yards across 63 plays, finishing with a perfect season … Continue Reading
Tim Scott: Why are Republicans accused of racism? Because we’re silent on things like this.
Friday | January 11, 2019by Tim Scott
Over the past two years, Republicans have focused on spreading opportunity, and it has paid dividends: From the creation of opportunity zones in some of our nation's most distressed communities to amazing job-creation statistics and low unemployment rates, there's no doubt that the future is brightening for many Americans. However, we are often still struggling when it comes to civility and fairness. This was driven home once again Thursday as Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) wondered aloud: "White … Continue Reading
Sen Scott Committee Assignments
Friday | January 4, 2019WASHINGTON-United States Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has been named to five committees for the 116th Congress, including the Committee on Finance, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). "I have been blessed to represent the best state in the nation, and serve on some of the most important committees during my time in the United States Senate. This Congress is no different. I look forward to working alongside my new and … Continue Reading
Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Making Lynching a Federal Crime
Thursday | December 20, 2018by Mihir Zaveri
The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would, for the first time, explicitly make lynching a federal crime. "For over a century, members of Congress have attempted to pass some version of a bill that would recognize lynching for what it is: a bias-motivated act of terror," Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who introduced the bill, said in a statement. "Today, we have righted that wrong and taken corrective action that recognizes this stain on our country's … Continue Reading
Sen. Tim Scott: Passage of First Step Act a victory for criminal justice reform
Thursday | December 20, 2018GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) - Republican senator Tim Scott is counting the recent passage of new legislation as a win for criminal justice reform. On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the First Step Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at curbing recidivism and, in Scott's words, aiding those behind bars by helping them transition back into civilian life. Scott, the junior senator from South Carolina, was an original cosponsor of the bill. "Today the Senate took a great step forward in building … Continue Reading
SC Sen. Tim Scott’s bill making lynching a federal hate crime passes Senate
Thursday | December 20, 2018by Caitlin Byrd
More than a century after an anti-lynching bill was first proposed by a black congressman, the Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime. Introduced this summer by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and two Democratic colleagues, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, the bill defines lynching as the "willful act of murder by a collection of people assembled with the intention of committing an act of violence upon any … Continue Reading
Landmark criminal justice reform
Wednesday | December 19, 2018The U.S. Senate took a major step toward prison and sentencing reform Tuesday night with the passage of the First Step Act. The welcome and much-needed changes represent the most sweeping revamp of the federal criminal justice system in decades. The measure garnered strong bipartisan support as both Republicans and Democrats understood the need for an overhaul of the federal criminal justice system. The bill now heads to the House, where it also has the backing of both parties. President … Continue Reading
Senator Tim Scott Talks About Victory For Criminal Justice Reform
Wednesday | December 19, 2018Watch full video at the link below! The White House claimed a major legislative victory after the Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill backed by President Trump. Lawmakers approved the bill 87-12, after defeating three amendments pushed by conservative Republicans. The measure now goes to the House, where it is expected to be approved quickly. Its passage would mark a significant win for Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared … Continue Reading
Farm Bill OK gives S.C. position on U.S. peanut board
Thursday | December 13, 2018The South Carolina Peanut Parity Act has been approved as part of the 2018 Farm Bill OK'd by Congress. Sponsored in the Senate by South Carolina Republican U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, and in the House by 2nd District Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, the act will put an individual from South Carolina on the Peanut Standards Board at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The legislation will now go to President Donald Trump's desk, where it is expected to be signed into … Continue Reading
Trump creates council to boost 'opportunity zones' in depressed areas
Wednesday | December 12, 2018by Steven Nelson
President Trump created a new White House council on Wednesday to help economically depressed areas, including the "opportunity zones" created by last year's tax reform legislation. Trump signed an executive order creating the Opportunity and Revitalization Council alongside a group including Democratic activist Van Jones and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. It will be led byHousing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. He called the council a "very big thing" and said it would feature "efforts … Continue Reading
Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2018 Passed in Congress, Now Awaits President’s Signature
Wednesday | December 12, 2018On December 10, 2018, S.2465 - The Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018 - was passed by the Congress and now moves forward for the President to sign into law. The bill represents a commitment by the government to continue much-needed research geared towards increasing the understanding of prevalence, distribution, outcomes, and therapies associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). It also reauthorizes SCD … Continue Reading
Sen. Tim Scott’s provisions in approved federal farm bill to aid SC heirs’ property owners
Wednesday | December 12, 2018by David Slade
Tucked in the $867 billion farm bill approved by Congress this week is a provision meant to help owners of heirs' property obtain farm loans, tap in to federal programs and get assistance in resolving land ownership issues. Advocates have called the provisions co-sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., "a watershed moment" and "a game changer" for owners of heirs' property, who historically have been excluded from federal programs that assist farmers and foresters. Heirs' property is common … Continue Reading
The Significance Of Investing In Opportunity Zones
Friday | December 7, 2018by Elie Rieder
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created quite a stir when it was first drafted and eventually passed, with all sides of the political spectrum arguing for and against the proposed changes. It is unfortunate, but commonplace now, that within Congress there are tremendous divides on just about every major issue. On taxes alone, the estate tax, pass-through business taxation, certain personal tax matters, acceptable deductions and the various waivers, each and collectively, are lauded or criticized. … Continue Reading
2018 Bloomberg 50
Friday | December 7, 2018Senator, South Carolina - Politics Thanks to him, about 8,700 low-income census tracts are now designated as "opportunity zones," and they've become the next big investing fad as Wall Street discovers the potential tax savings. Last year, when Republicans rammed through a controversial tax package stuffed with big cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Scott's contribution to the overhaul barely drew notice. He'd managed to codify an idea that Silicon Valley luminary Sean Parker and a … Continue Reading
Analysis: Scott has ideas to help disadvantaged communities
Wednesday | December 5, 2018Editor's Note: The following is from an interview of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott by POLITICO's chief economic correspondent. It was first published on Nov. 20 at politico.com. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) sat down with POLITICO's Chief Economic Correspondent, Ben White for a conversation about bringing development to America's most disadvantaged communities. The $100 Billion Dollar Question As the American economy has grown more unequal, with urban areas thriving and rural areas falling behind, … Continue Reading
S.C. plans Opportunity Zones Summit in January
Sunday | December 2, 2018COLUMBIA -- Led by Gov. Henry McMaster and in partnership with the Office of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and the Council of Development Finance Agencies, the State of South Carolina will present the Governor's Opportunity Zones Summit on Jan. 25, 2019, in Columbia. Taking place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the full-day event will allow attendees to learn how to maximize the positive impacts of Opportunity Zones. "We're proud to partner with Sen. Scott and Gov. McMaster to … Continue Reading
One GOP senator’s plan to save rural America
Wednesday | November 28, 2018by Ben White
A little-noticed element of the 2017 tax cut law now rolling out across the U.S. would allow investors to defer capital gains taxes for up to a decade if they invest their cash in rural and small-town communities largely left behind in the recovery from the Great Recession. And at least one Republican senator believes the program, known as Opportunity Zones, could make lives better for as many tens of millions of Americans. "In the Opportunity Zones, the poverty rate is over 30 percent," … Continue Reading
Sen. Scott on Criminal Justice Bill, China, Auto Tariffs
Tuesday | November 27, 2018Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, discusses the outlook for passage of criminal justice overhaul legislation, President Donald Trump's planned negotiations with China's Xi Jinping, and the impact of proposed U.S. automobile tariffs on his state. He speaks with Bloomberg's Kevin Cirilli on "Bloomberg Markets: European Close." (Source: Bloomberg) Watch full video at … Continue Reading
