Sen. Tim Scott will present the Republican Party’s rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s joint session speech to Congress next week.
The South Carolina senator announced on social media that he would deliver his party’s response to Biden’s address on April 28.
“I’m humbled and honored to have this opportunity to share my positive conservative message with the American people,” Scott wrote.
Scott, the upper chamber’s sole black Republican, has served in the Senate since 2013. His tenure has been marked by some significant legislative endeavors.
He helped spearhead a major legislative effort to establish “opportunity zones,” part of a tax program meant to revitalize poor communities through investment, that was signed into law in 2017. He also proposed a sweeping police reform bill, called the JUSTICE Act, in June 2020, but it was blocked by Senate Democrats.
LIN WOOD AND TRUMP-BACKED SOUTH CAROLINA GOP CHAIRMAN TRADE ‘RINO’ BARBS AHEAD OF MAY ELECTION
Exciting news: I’m giving the official @GOP response to Joe Biden’s first address to Congress! I’m humbled and honored to have this opportunity to share my positive conservative message with the American people. pic.twitter.com/YDrqnGTwoi
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) April 22, 2021
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement on Thursday commending Scott as “one of the strongest leaders in the Senate.”
“He is one of the most inspiring and unifying leaders in our nation. I’m glad he’ll be delivering the Republican Address following the President’s remarks on Wednesday,” the Kentucky Republican wrote.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also lauded Scott. “He is a conservative optimist with the right vision for a stronger, more united country,” the California Republican said.
INBOX from McConnell’s office: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina Will Deliver Republican Address to the Nation pic.twitter.com/POexBpmDeA
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) April 22, 2021
While it is typical for the opposition party to deliver a rebuttal during joint session addresses, Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman announced that he would be speaking on behalf of the left-wing Working Families Party after Biden delivers his first address.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Presenting the opposing party’s rebuttal to the president’s joint session address, an annual event dubbed the “State of the Union” after a president’s first year, is seen by some as a make-or-break moment for rising political stars.
Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, for instance, was the rebuttal speaker to former President Barack Obama’s first address in 2009, and garned some negative reviews. Sen. Marco Rubio, who was the speaker in 2013, was mocked for reaching off-screen for a water bottle.
