{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/more-than-a-dozen-scott-provisions-included-in-covid-relief-year-end-funding-and-tax-bills/", "More Than A Dozen Scott Provisions Included in COVID Relief, Year End Funding, and Tax Bills", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 More than a dozen provisions authored by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) to help American families, students and workers are included as part of major COVID-19 relief, government funding, and tax packages currently before Congress.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to have secured more than a dozen provisions helping South Carolina families and small businesses in the COVID-19 relief, government funding, and tax extender packages,\u201d Senator Scott said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s improving educational access for students during the pandemic, providing more resources for small businesses to stay open and their workers to stay employed, increasing broadband access to aid with telehealth, or a number of other solutions, this is a great step forward. I will continue working to ensure access to opportunity for all through the pandemic and into the future.\u201d\n\nA summary of each provision, along with statements from Senator Scott, is below.\n\nHealth Care and the Fight Against COVID\n\nThe pandemic relief package provides the following resources for the fight against COVID-19:\n\n$20 billion for the purchase of new vaccines\n\nThis will make the vaccine available at no charge for anyone who wants it\n\n$8 billion for vaccine distribution\n\n$20 billion to assist states with testing\n\n$600 stimulus checks for both adults and dependents\n\nTemporarily extends a number of CARES Act-created unemployment programs\n\nAdditional $300 a week for 10 weeks (through March 14, 2021)\n\nExtends PUA through April 5, 2021\n\n$10 billion to childcare centers to help with reopening\n\n$4 billion to aid the fight against substance abuse, which has spiked during COVID-19\n\n$25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance\n\nExtends the eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021\n\n$45 billion in transportation funding\n\n$13 billion to support farmers and the agricultural sector\n\n\u201cThe first wave of vaccines is here, and it is critical that we ensure their safe and speedy distribution,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWe have billions directed to that goal, as well as relief for struggling American families through stimulus checks, expanded unemployment programs and rental assistance. The cavalry is coming, and this relief package provides an important bridge to the widespread distribution of vaccines as we enter 2021.\u201d\n\nBetter Tools For Healthy Living Act (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus. Studies estimate more than 20% of medical spending in the United States can be attributable to obesity. This provision instructs the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to create a guide for effective strategies to help states and localities ramp up their efforts to prevent and combat obesity. The guide will emphasize initiatives with a track record of success in lowering health care costs and preventing harmful diseases. The legislation also instructs the CDC to provide technical assistance to state and local health departments, along with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, as they implement these strategies.\n\nThe Better Tools For Healthy Living Act is supported by the South Carolina Hospital Association and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.\n\n\u201cIn order to truly improve our nation\u2019s health care system, we must work to lower costs and strengthen preventive medicine,\u201d Scott said. \u201cNearly 40 percent of American adults are obese, which shows just how important tackling this issue truly is.\u201d\n\nIncreases Medicare beneficiary access to mental health services via telehealth (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus. Senator Scott wrote last week on the importance of telehealth access. From that column \u2013 \u201cUnfortunately, even as we continue working to improve home broadband infrastructure, outdated federal laws and regulations continue to constrain patient access to telehealth services, especially for our older and more vulnerable populations. More than one million South Carolinians are enrolled in Medicare, where extensive restrictions on geographic location, distant and originating sites, provider-type, and services covered limit many seniors\u2019 ability to take advantage of telehealth offerings.\u201d\n\nSecures relief from Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment cuts for three years, protecting South Carolina\u2019s providers from grave reductions that would impede patient access to care (Scott priority)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus.\n\nA provision to ensure continuity of access to home infusion drugs and biologics for seniors covered by Medicare. (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus.\n\nSupport for K-12 and College Students\n\nThe COVID-19 relief package contains $81.9 billion in total education-related relief.\n\nGovernor\u2019s Education Emergency Relief Fund (GEER) and School Choice (Scott priority):\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief package. The package includes $4.1 billion for the Governors Emergency Relief Fund, specifically:\n\n$1.35 billion for an overall GEER to aid schools\n\n$2.75 billion specifically for non-public schools\n\nSupplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities;\n\nPersonal protective equipment\n\nImproving ventilation systems, including windows or portable air purification systems to ensure healthy air in the non-public school\n\nTraining and professional development for staff on sanitation, the use of personal protective equipment, and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases\n\nPhysical barriers to facilitate social distancing;\n\nExpanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress coronavirus, to conduct surveillance and contact tracing activities, and to support other activities related to coronavirus testing for students, teachers, and staff at the non-public school;\n\nEducational technology (including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment) to assist students, educators, and other staff with remote or hybrid learning;\n\nRedeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development, for remote learning, hybrid learning, or to address learning loss;\n\nLeasing of sites or spaces to ensure safe social distancing to implement public health protocols, including guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\n\nReasonable transportation costs;\n\nInitiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote learning, hybrid learning, or to address learning loss\n\n\u201cCOVID has left too many parents and their children without access to the educational environment they need,\u201d Scott said. \u201cThe GEER provisions will ensure states have the ability to aid their students as they see necessary, which I believe will help more students find the best possible educational environment in these challenging times. Public, private, parochial, charter, virtual or homeschool \u2013 whatever is best for our students is where our resources should go, period.\u201d\n\nFAFSA Simplification, Support for HBCUs and Restoring Pell Grants (Scott provision with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Doug Jones (D-AL)):\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus.\n\nSimplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid:\n\nReduces total questions on the FAFSA from 108 questions to a maximum of 36 questions, building on last year\u2019s FUTURE Act\n\nGreatly reduces the Department of Education\u2019s lengthy financial data verification process by instead using data from the Internal Revenue Service\n\nCreates simpler Pell Grant eligibility guidelines for maximum and minimum awards, so many applicants will know if they will get a maximum or minimum grant to go to college\n\nEnable san additional 555,000 students qualify for Pell grants each year; and enables an additional 1.7 million students to qualify to receive the maximum Pell grant award each year\n\nRestores the ability for incarcerated individuals to get a Pell grant\n\nForgives outstanding debt of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with loans under the federal Capital Financing Loan Program\n\nRepeals a requirement that limits how long students can borrow under the subsidized student loan program\n\n\u201cAs we lay the groundwork for life after the pandemic, it is vital that we open every opportunity for every student to succeed,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWhether it be codifying a simpler FAFSA application or strengthening our nation\u2019s HBCUs, building upon the FUTURE Act will pave the way for millions of low-income students to reach their full potential.\u201d\n\nProviding support to financial aid administrators as they assist families affected financially by the pandemic (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief bill.\n\nAdds a \u201cSpecial Rule Regarding Professional Judgment During a Disaster, Emergency, or Economic Downturn\u201d that provides rules for financial aid administrators on how to adjust financial aid for students with zero income earned from work or unemployment in the family during specified time periods. This includes adjustments to program review selection by the Secretary during such time periods.\n\nProhibits institutions from maintaining a policy that denies all requests for adjustments under professional judgement.\n\nRequires institutions to publicly disclose the option for a student to pursue a professional judgement.\n\nSignificant resources for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (Scott priority)\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief bill. Approximately $1.7 billion is allocated for direct assistance to HBCUs as they continue to respond to the pandemic.\n\nRelief for Small Businesses and Non-Profits\n\nThe COVID-19 relief package contains:\n\n$325 billion in relief for small businesses\n\n$284 for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)\n\nBusinesses previously receiving a PPP loan can apply for a second draw if they show revenue losses\n\n$20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)\n\n$15 billion for live venues, movie theaters and concert venues\n\nStreamlined PPP loan forgiveness for loans smaller than $150,000\n\n$15 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs)\n\nIncreased PPP loan calculations for the hospitality industry\n\nExpansion of PPP eligible expenses to include PPE, operational costs and supplier costs\n\n\u201cEnsuring continued support for our small businesses is the most important thing we can do for our economy right now,\u201d Scott said. \u201cBy increasing PPP funding, streamlining loan forgiveness and setting aside specific amounts for community-oriented financial institutions, countless jobs will be saved and small business owners will have more security through the winter.\u201d\n\nResources for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief bill. Approximately $25 million is included specifically for the MBDA, which provides grants to minority business centers to assist and provide guidance to all types of minority business enterprises.\n\n\u201cMinority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs of color have been hit disproportionately hard during the pandemic,\u201d Scott said. \u201cThis provision will provide the MBDA with critical resources to help folks get back on their feet.\u201d\n\nExtended and Expanded Charitable Giving Deduction (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the tax package. This provision extends the deduction for 2021 and doubles the amount married couples filing a joint tax return can deduct for charitable giving from $300 to $600 for 2021. Additionally, this restructures the non-itemizer charitable deduction such that, although it can be claimed by non-itemizers, the deduction does not reduce adjusted gross income.\n\n\u201cOur non-profits, houses of worship, and community organizations have done amazing work through tremendously challenging circumstances this year,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWe needed to step up and help them. By extending and increasing this new charitable giving deduction, these selfless folks will get more of the resources they need to continue their efforts to help those most in need.\u201d\n\nCodifying Houses of Worship Eligibility for PPP (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief package. The Department of Treasury has released guidance providing a framework for houses of worship to access PPP loans, and this provision writes that guidance into law. This will also aid parochial schools.\n\n\u201cOur churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship are pillars of our communities,\u201d Scott said. \u201cEnsuring they are treated the same as other non-profits will help not just save jobs at these institutions, but provide emotional and faith-based support for families struggling with the effects of the pandemic.\u201d\n\nLocal Commerce Revitalization Act (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief package. This provision expands PPP eligibility for 501(c)(6) non-profits, such as Chambers of Commerce and Destination Marketing Organizations.\n\nSupport for Restaurants\n\nSupporting America\u2019s Restaurant Workers Act (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the tax package. This provision provides a 100-percent deduction for business meal food and beverage expenses, including any carry-out or delivery meals, provided by a restaurant that are paid or incurred in 2021 and 2022. Currently, the deduction is available for only 50% of such expenses. This provision is supported by the National Restaurant Association, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and US Travel.\n\n\u201cThe coronavirus pandemic has devastated our nation\u2019s hospitality and restaurant industries, especially in my home state of South Carolina, and we must do everything we can to speed up this economic recovery,\u201d Scott said. \u201cMy Supporting America\u2019s Restaurant Workers Act is a pro-worker, pro-restaurant, and pro-small business bill that will lead to increased spending in restaurants and more income for staff. Commonsense solutions like my bill are no-brainers and will help save millions of restaurants across the nation from going under.\u201d\n\nBroadband Expansion\n\nIncreased funding for broadband across the nation (Scott priority)\n\nThe COVID-19 relief package includes:\n\n$7 billion in broadband funding\n\n$300 million to expand rural broadband access\n\n$250 million for telehealth\n\n$2 billion to strengthen the security of our broadband infrastructure\n\n\u201cThe pandemic has shown us just how critical it is that we close our nation\u2019s digital divide,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWe need to expand access to telehealth, connect the nearly 17 million students without access to quality internet, and continue to help our small businesses innovate. These investments are a great step in those directions.\u201d\n\nConnecting Minority Communities Act (Scott provision with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS))\n\nIncluded in the COVID-19 relief package. This provision establishes an Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to focus on broadband access at Historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and other Minority-serving institutions, including the students, faculty, and staff of such institutions and their surrounding communities. It also appropriates $285 million for a Pilot Program to award grants to these institutions and certain businesses and non-profit organizations in the community to support connectivity, and specifies that at least 20 percent of such funds should be used to ensure that students of such institutions have internet service and devices.\n\n\u201cWe must expand access to broadband to help underserved communities bridge the digital divide,\u201d said Scott. \u201cBy harnessing the power of our HBCUs and creating partnerships with their surrounding communities, the Connecting Minority Communities Act will be a huge step forward.\u201d\n\nMaking Public Housing Safer\n\nCO Alerts Act (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus. In January 2019, two men tragically died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a public housing complex in Columbia, South Carolina. Senator Scott has worked diligently with HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to prevent this sort of avoidable tragedy from happening again. This provision makes sure families living in federally-assisted housing are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning by requiring:\n\nCarbon monoxide alarms or detectors in federally-assisted housing, including rural housing managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA);\n\nCarbon monoxide alarms in units that have a potential carbon monoxide source like gas-fired appliances, fireplaces, forced air furnaces, and attached garages;\n\nThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide guidance to public housing agencies on how to educate tenants on health hazards in the home, including carbon monoxide poisoning and lead poisoning;\n\nThe appropriation of $101 million annually for Fiscal Years 2021-2023;\n\nHUD and USDA, in consultation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to conduct a public study on requiring carbon monoxide alarms beyond those mandated by the International Fire Code.\n\n\u201cPassage of the CO Alerts Act is a huge step forward towards keeping families safe,\u201d Scott said. \u201cEven one preventable death in our public housing facilities is too many, and this important provision will help put an end to the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning for families across the nation, especially in the higher-risk winter season.\u201d\n\nThis provision is supported by the National Association of State Fire Marshalls, the Carolina Council of Housing Redevelopment and Codes Officials, the South Carolina Association of Housing Authority Executive Directors, the City of Columbia, SC, and 27 local Housing Authorities across South Carolina.\n\nImproving the USMCA\n\nRelief for small businesses and auto suppliers (Scott provision)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus.\n\nA drafting error in the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) left auto suppliers and manufacturers on the hook for millions of dollars, jeopardizing small businesses and jobs during these already perilous times. The omnibus fixes this technical error surrounding the merchandise processing fee, known as the MFP.\n\n\u201cFixing this technical error in the USMCA is a significant win for small businesses across South Carolina and the country,\u201d Scott said. \u201cThis will provide a significant boost for auto suppliers and their employees.\u201d\n\nSouth Carolina Water, Flood and Storm-Related Projects\n\nWater Resources Development Act provisions (Scott priorities)\n\nIncluded in the government funding omnibus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/more-than-a-dozen-scott-provisions-included-in-covid-relief-year-end-funding-and-tax-bills/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.4769490119069815, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}