{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-pushes-back-on-biden-mandates-encourages-vaccination-in-new-video/", "Senator Scott Pushes Back on Biden Mandates, Encourages Vaccination in New Video", "2021-09-24", "2021", "2021-09", "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 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released a new installment of his \u201cTwo with Tim\u201d video series, in which he pushed back on the Biden administration\u2019s vaccine mandates and promoted a community-based approach to vaccination.\n\nClick to watch the video\n\nTranscript:\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s recent attempt to force private companies into mandating vaccinations for employees is clear government overreach that won\u2019t bring us any closer together\u2014or help us solve the many problems we are facing.\n\nCOVID-19 has taken a devastating toll on folks across the nation\u2014physically, emotionally, and economically.\n\nAs I\u2019ve said for the past year, I want our economy\u2014and our country\u2014to fully reopen. That means getting kids back in school and adults back to work.\n\nBut our battle with COVID-19 won\u2019t be won by Washington elites making sweeping declarations or federal mandates.\n\nAt a time when our nation\u2019s leaders should be working together for solutions and bringing people together, Biden\u2019s actions are creating a world of division.\n\nInstead of politicizing this issue, we should encourage folks to unite around commonsense solutions.\n\nOver the past few months, it has become clear that vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness and death as it relates COVID-19. This is really important for you to recognize that we can save lives through this approach.\n\nIn my home state of South Carolina, around 80 percent of hospitalized COVID patients have not been fully vaccinated. And nationally, unvaccinated people are nearly 30 times more likely to be hospitalized because of the virus.\n\nIn 2020, as many of us lost loved ones to this devastating disease, we prayed for a safe and effective vaccine. Well, thanks to Operation Warp Speed, we have not one, but three vaccines available.\n\nLook, I believe all signs point to vaccination as the best option. That\u2019s why so many people, including myself, have already gotten the shot.\n\nAll of our living presidents\u2014 from President Donald Trump to President Jimmy Carter\u2014are vaccinated.\n\nAll of our states\u2019 governors\u2014yes, 27 Republican governors and 23 Democrat governors\u2014are all vaccinated.\n\nAnd the vast majority of Congress members\u2014both Republicans and Democrats\u2014[have] all been vaccinated.\n\nAt the end of the day, vaccination is about protecting ourselves and our loved ones from severe illness.\n\nCOVID-19 is a battle that has to be fought not by Washington elites and federal mandates, but by each member of the South Carolina family.\n\nAs with any other issue facing our nation today, if we work together, we can and we will overcome the challenges that we face.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"]], "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/senator-scott-pushes-back-on-biden-mandates-encourages-vaccination-in-new-video/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3128570280969143, "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"}