Getting Things Done

Scott Peters has a proven track record in Congress as a problem solver who works across the aisle to get things done for San Diego.

Bills Introduced That Became Law

• Scott introduced a bill that was passed and signed into law that allows all Purple Heart recipients – regardless of how long they’ve served – to gain full access to G.I. Bill benefits.
• Scott introduced a bill that was passed and signed into law that named the federal courthouse in downtown San Diego in honor of Judges James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep.
• Scott introduced and passed a bipartisan law that allows nonprofits to directly use homelessness assistance grants for those in need.  This cuts bureaucratic red tape that previously required non-profits to connect individuals with a government agency to receive aid, rather than administering it directly. The bill was included in the 2015 Highway Trust Fund Reauthorization that passed Congress and was signed into law.
• Scott introduced the Unnecessary Government Printing Reform Act, which reduces government waste by preventing the Government Printing Office from printing and delivering copies of any document of the House of Representatives or Senate to member offices. Aspects of this bill were included in Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY17.
• Scott introduced a bill that would allow the VA to hire more marriage and family therapists to serve veterans. A similar provision was included and passed as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act.
• Scott introduced the Make Every Small Business Count Act with a Republican to incentivize prime contractors to utilize subcontractors at every tier of a project. Previously, prime contractors only received credit for using subcontractors in tier one. This language opens up more subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, and was added as an amendment that the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, passed, and signed into law.
• Scott first introduced the Veteran HOUSE Act in the 116th Congress to expand eligibility for veterans with other-than-honorable discharges to participate in the HUD-VASH voucher program. Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges are more likely to experience homelessness due to an increased risk of mental health challenges, making access to housing and other supportive services critical. The bill became law as part of the annual defense bill at the beginning of 2021.
• Scott introduced the Employer Participation in Repayment Act to incentivize employers help pay their employees’ student loans. The tax incentive will help young Americans enter into good-paying careers and begin to make investments like buying a home or saving for retirement. The bill was included in the CARES Act of March 2020 and received a five-year extension under the FY 2021 federal spending package.
• Scott introduced the bipartisan and bicameral USEIT Act in the 115th and 116th Congress to support carbon utilization and direct air capture research. It will encourage federal, state, and non-governmental collaboration to facilitate planning and permitting of CCUS facilities and the carbon dioxide pipelines needed to enable large-scale deployment. It became law within the FY21 funding bill, which featured the most significant pieces of climate change legislation in a decade.
• Scott introduced a resolution to reinstate the methane pollution standards put in place by the Obama administration. Scott has prioritized reducing methane pollution because it is a super pollutant more than 80 times as harmful as carbon dioxide and is responsible for about 25 percent of the human-made global warming. President Biden signed Scott’s resolution into law in 2021, marking the first major climate legislation passed by the 117th Congress.
• Scott introduced the POWER ON Act to increase transmission capacity for renewable energy, boost electrical grid resilience to maintain reliable power, combat the climate crisis, and lower energy bills for American families. The bill was included and passed into law as part of the historic Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.
• Scott first introduced the STANDUP Act in 2019 after visiting Bernardo Heights Middle School and learning about their efforts to keep each other safe. President Biden signed the bill into law in March of 2022 and it will now help reduce school violence nationwide by increasing mental health awareness and teaching students and educators how to get help for those at risk of harming themselves or others.
• Scott re-introduced the Methamphetamine Response Act in 2021. The bill will designate methamphetamine as an emerging drug threat and direct the Office of National Drug Control Policy to implement a plan to address the issue of addiction and overdose in our communities. He was honored to join President Biden in the oval office in March 2022 for a bill signing ceremony.

Amendments Passed by the House and Signed Into Law

• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, which became law, to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are collaborating on strategies to end veteran homelessness.
• Scott also offered another amendment included in the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, to force the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to change an outdated formula used to distribute federal homelessness resources that had disadvantaged San Diego. This was part of an ultimately successful effort to require HUD to open the federal homeless funding formula to public comment to ensure San Diegans received their fair share. Due to inaction by the Trump Administration, Scott led another letter to HUD in the 118th Congress urging the Department to revisit the Continuum of Care funding formula once more.

Amendments Passed in Committee and Signed into Law

• Scott offered and passed a bipartisan amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act that transferred $120 million to purchase 8 additional MQ-9 Reaper drones for the Department of Defense. MQ-9 Reaper drones are manufactured in Poway, meaning, in addition to giving our soldiers the technology they need, this amendment helped support high-paying jobs.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that reforms the Department of Defense’s acquisition processes to ensure that both small and large businesses are on a level playing field when competing for contracts. San Diego is home to many small, innovative companies that stand ready to contribute to our national defense.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to ensure that state Governors retain the ability to call upon National Guard firefighting units in the event of a disaster.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act asking the Department of Defense to report on the efficacy of its Energy Strategy and Sustainability office.

Amendments Passed by the House

• Scott offered and passed a bipartisan amendment to the transportation and housing appropriations bill in 2015 that prohibits HUD from spending money on contractors that do not have LGBT non-discrimination policies.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act that allowed the Department of Defense to issue rules to protect servicemembers and their families from abusive lending practices.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Energy Security Act that would require the Department of Energy to ensure that we have sufficient energy storage capabilities in the event of natural disasters and wildfires.
• Scott offered and passed another amendment to the Energy Security Act, requiring the Department of Energy to report on the energy savings and emissions reductions of facilities like the methane capture plant at the Miramar Landfill. This will encourage the development of more innovative carbon capture plants that reduce harmful emissions and create energy.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Federal Power Act to allow a preliminary permit to be issued to a hydropower construction applicant for up to four years, instead of three.
• Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act that gives the Army Corps of Engineers the technology to assess our water infrastructure for vulnerabilities before natural disasters.

Growing San Diego’s Innovation Economy

• Increasing Research Funding: Scott has been a consistent and vocal advocate for increasing funding for basic scientific research through the National Institutes of Health. As a freshman, he led his colleagues on a tour of the NIH so they could see the important work done there and around the country. He sent a number of letters to appropriators urging increases in the NIH budget, and  helped pass the 21^st Century Cures Act, which provides an unprecedented $1.75 billion in annual mandatory spending on NIH research. This is in addition to more than $8 billion in annual authorizations. San Diego’s labs and universities depend on federal investment through the NIH to support jobs in science. The House passed a funding level of $49.4 billion for the NIH for FY 2022.
• Standing Up for Innovators: In both terms, Scott led bipartisan opposition to the so-called “Innovation Act,” which would have threatened small innovators by making drastic, sweeping changes to the patent system. Universities, researchers, and inventors opposed the bill because it would have turned our innovation ecosystem inside out, chilled investment in new discoveries, and put small inventors at a disadvantage. Scott was credited with being instrumental in blocking the bill in part by leading a letter signed by a bipartisan group of 78 members of Congress.
• Delaying Medical Device Excise Tax: San Diego’s innovation ecosystem creates new, innovative devices that improve the lives of patients with difficult illnesses. The medical device tax has slowed growth in the industry, leading to fewer jobs and less investment. Throughout his time in Congress, Scott has helped introduce the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which would repeal the tax established by the Affordable Care Act. At the end of 2015, Scott was credited by industry leaders with forcing a two-year delay of the tax as part of the government funding bill.
• Supporting Small Businesses
  • Scott offered and passed an amendment that reforms the Department of Defense’s acquisition processes to ensure that both small and large businesses are on a level playing field when competing for contracts. San Diego is home to many small, innovative companies that stand ready to contribute to our national defense.
  • When Congressional leadership failed to come to an agreement, Scott joined a bipartisan effort to break gridlock and force an ultimately successful vote to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, which helps small business owners sell their products to consumers outside the United States. In the last five years, the bank has supported nearly $2.5 billion in exports from Scott’s district alone.
  • In 2013, Scott helped introduce The Make Every Small Business Count Act that encourages prime contractors to subcontract with small businesses. The bipartisan policy change was included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 and became law that December.
• Promoting Job-Creating Trade: In 2015, Scott hosted both U.S. Trade Ambassador Froman and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez in San Diego to highlight the importance of trade to growing our region’s economy and to allow local labor leaders to voice their concerns with labor aspects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Scott was one of only 28 House Democrats to support passage of Trade Promotion Authority. Scott’s courageous vote, which crossed party lines, was critical to passage.
• Backing Nuclear Energy Research: In 2016, Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act ensuring that innovative companies in San Diego would receive support for doing nuclear fusion research for the Department of Defense. He has consistently led efforts to secure funding for advanced nuclear technology, including a $121.5 million award in 2019 to General Atomics for fusion research, emphasizing the role of San Diego in creating the clean energy of the future.
• Supporting Warfighters and Expanding San Diego Jobs: In the 117th Congress, Scott led a bipartisan effort to increase the amount of MQ-4C Triton aircraft bought by the Navy in Fiscal Year 2022. With one more platform over the President’s budget submission, the amendment brings jobs to San Diego and makes our Navy stronger abroad.
• Supporting a Growing Algae Industry: UC San Diego is leading the way in algae biotechnology research, which will reimagine the way we produce fuel and food. Scott introduced the bipartisan Algae Agriculture Act of 2018 to secure investment opportunities for algae. As a co-chair of the Congressional Algae Caucus, he championed funding for carbon capture technologies and secured $44 million in 2018 and $65 million in 2019 for algae research. Major elements of his Algae Agriculture Act were included in the 2018 Farm Bill. In 2021, Scott co-led an appropriations letter in support of funding the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Algae Systems program at $40 million and providing $10 million for research and development of carbon utilization using algal systems. The final House bill matched Scott’s requests for funding.
• Advancing Federal Technology Innovation: Scott co-sponsored an amendment to the SHARE Act of 2019, establishing a program for federal agencies to test and share spectrum technologies. The amendment, which enhances spectrum efficiency, passed in the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2019, aiding San Diego’s cutting-edge research in this field.
• Finding Cures for Rare Diseases: In the 115th Congress, Scott championed legislation to ensure children with rare diseases can receive advanced genetic testing. He organized briefings to demonstrate the benefits of genetic sequencing for diagnosing and treating these conditions. Scott also secured federal funding for states to use whole genome sequencing for sick children and advocated for guidance to help state health programs implement this technology. San Diego’s leading research institutions are driving these innovations, and Scott has been a steadfast supporter of their work.

Veterans and Military Families

• zero8hundred: San Diego has a strong veteran community prepared to offer services, but many veterans struggle to be connected with the help they need. Knowing this, Scott helped launch an organization called zero8hundred that works with service organizations and the military to get our veterans the services and support they need to make a successful transition to civilian life. In Congress, Scott has worked to pass legislation that supports public-private partnerships like zero8hundred that bring together military leaders and veterans organizations.
• Getting Veterans the Care they have Earned: In 2013, when partisan gridlock held up the VA Access, Accountability, and Choice Act, Scott offered a motion that was credited with breaking the gridlock and getting it passed.  This bill makes it easier for the VA to fire bad employees, extends in-state tuition for veterans and their families, and allows veterans facing long wait times or who live far from a VA facility to receive private health care paid for by the VA.
• Protecting Servicemembers from Fraud: Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act that allowed the Department of Defense to issue rules to protect servicemembers and their families from abusive lending practices.
• Helping Veterans Get Good Jobs: Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in 2016 that encourages the Department of Defense to prioritize the hiring of veterans for military construction projects like those at Coronado and Miramar.
• Improving Mental Health Care: Scott introduced a bill that would allow the VA to hire more marriage and family therapists to serve veterans. A similar provision was included and passed as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Scott also helped introduce and pass a bill that would ensure veterans who have trouble participating in group therapy because they took part in classified missions get the individual care they need. Coronado’s Dr. Howard and Jean Somers, who tragically lost their son to suicide after he left the military, brought this idea to Scott and he worked to make it law.
• Supporting Military Children: Scott offered and passed and amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that authorizes the Department of Defense to provide resources for grief camps like Camp Erin in San Diego that helps children of military households who have been hurt by substance abuse or suicide.
• Connecting More Veterans to Mental Health Support: In 2021, Scott introduced the Veteran Peer Specialist Act, which builds on his previous work to expand peer counseling services within the VA. Fellow veterans are in the best possible position to help guide their peers through the mental health and other supportive services offered by the VA.
• Supporting Servicemembers in their Transition to Civilian Life: In the 117th Congress, Scott serves as the co-chair of the bipartisan Military Transition Assistance Pathways (MTAP) “Transition” Caucus. The goal of this caucus is to better advocate for servicemembers as they transition back to civilian life, and to engage with the VA to see how Congress can support initiatives that address community care issues. Scott also successfully led an effort to mandate a study on how members of the Special Operations community utilize transition assistance programs. This study will ensure we are addressing the unique needs of Naval Special Warfare and the broader SOF community to better support their transition to civilian life.
• Honoring Community Heroes: Scott’s bill to rename a Poway Post Office after WWII veteran, Ray Chavez, became law during the 116th Congress. In 2021, the post office was officially renamed to honor Ray, who at his passing, was the oldest surviving Pearl Harbor veteran. The post office stands as a tribute to his legacy, and to all those who’ve served our nation valiantly.

San Diego Priorities

• Returning More Than $7 million to San Diegans: Since being elected, Scott and his congressional staff have focused on providing the highest level of service to constituents who are having difficulty navigating the federal bureaucracy.  As a result of their efforts, more than $7 million in benefits owed to them have been restored to San Diegans since he took office in 2013.
• Getting San Diego its Fair Share of Resources to Fight Homelessness: Since 2013, Scott has led the charge to change an outdated formula used to distribute federal homelessness resources that has disadvantaged San Diego. Scott urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development, brought federal officials to San Diego to see the need for resources, and even passed a bipartisan amendment forcing HUD to consider changes to the formula. Then HUD Secretary Castro called Scott personally to tell him they were considering four options to replace the formula, all of which would bring more federal dollars to San Diego to help end homelessness.
• Modernizing and Naming Courthouse: Scott introduced a bill that was passed and signed into law that named the federal courthouse in downtown San Diego in honor of Judges James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep. Scott also successfully fought for federal funding to improve security and build a new childcare facility at the courthouse.
• Preserving Mt. Soledad: In 2014, Scott worked with a Republican Congressman from San Diego to pass legislation that transferred Mt. Soledad from the Department of Defense to a local non-profit to ensure that the cross will be maintained.
• Port of San Diego Land Exchange: Scott wrote a portion of the National Defense Authorization Act that passed the House and allows the Navy and the Port of San Diego to exchange land parcels in the Broadway complex to improve parking for parkgoers.
• Expanding Trolley Access: In 2015, Scott supported federal funding between SANDAG and the DOT to match the local funding for the extension of the trolley system known as the Mid-Coast project. Since then, Scott successfully pushed for congressional appropriations in the DOT Capital Investment Grant program to fulfill the annual funding needs. In November of 2021, the Mid-Coast trolley expansion of the Blue Line opened to connect residents to job opportunities, universities, the VA, etc.
• Building Pure Water: As droughts become more frequent, prolonged, and severe, San Diego’s Pure Water Program is critical to securing our water independence. With Scott’s advocacy and support, Pure Water San Diego was selected as one of 12 projects to apply for more than $2 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) in 2017. In 2021, the Pure Water Project began Phase One. Scott’s Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II would provide further regulatory certainty to the City of San Diego as it continues to make significant progress. His bill passed the House in 2021.
• Strengthening Coast Guard Resources: Scott added a provision to the FY’23 Coast Guard Authorization Act to study sensor technology deployment in San Diego, which will help the Coast Guard improve maritime monitoring, secure the harbor, and enhance their operations. The language became law as part of the NDAA FY23.
• Supporting Ocean Research and Weather Preparedness: In the 115th Congress, Scott played a key role in securing $5.9 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), significantly increasing funding from the previous year. He also led efforts to obtain $43 million for NOAA programs aimed at improving weather forecasting and disaster preparedness. These investments greatly benefit San Diego, home to the world renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
• Ensuring Safe Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Removal: Scott has actively monitored the decommissioning process at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), ensuring proper incident management and community involvement. He co-leads legislation for permanent and interim nuclear waste storage, prioritizing the removal of waste from San Diego’s coast to safeguard residents and the environment.
• Supporting National Arts Grants in San Diego: In the 115th and 118th Congresses, Scott’s advocacy for arts funding has resulted in over $1 million in grants for San Diego, benefiting organizations like the San Diego Youth Symphony, UC San Diego, Balboa Art Conservation Center, and the San Diego Museum of Art.
• Modernizing San Diego’s Water Infrastructure: In the 116th Congress, Scott collaborated with the City of San Diego to pass a bill deauthorizing part of the San Diego River and Mission Bay Improvement Project, allowing the remaining system to meet current standards and qualify for federal rehabilitation assistance. This bill was included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act.
• Securing Climate, Environment, and Clean Energy Funding: In the Fiscal Year 2023 funding bill, Scott obtained community project funding for several initiatives:
  • $1.5M for a study on coastal water pollution impacts to understand the transfer of contaminants from the ocean to the atmosphere.
  • $3M for Coronado’s Parker Pump Station to upgrade the sewer and stormwater systems and enhance climate resilience.
  • $1.88M for zero-emission bus charging equipment on Imperial Avenue, supporting up to 230 zero-emission buses.
  • $3.3M for electric charging stations at San Diego International Airport for ground support equipment.
  • $750K for mobile solar-powered EV chargers to provide off-grid charging solutions.
  • $3.75M for a twin-engine firefighting helicopter to improve firefighting capabilities in San Diego.
• Improving Access to Education and Community Growth: Scott secured 2023 funding for educational and community projects:
  • $4M for the Ocean Beach Library Expansion to create new spaces for books, community meetings, and other events.
  • $2.16M for UC San Diego’s development of STEM curriculum.
  • $1M for San Diego College of Continuing Education’s Gateway to College and Career Program to support former foster care youth with professional development opportunities.
• Enhancing Mental Health Care Services: Scott and Congressman Mike Levin obtained $4.48M in funding for 24/7 mobile behavioral health crisis response teams in San Diego County.
• Supporting Workforce Development: In 2023, Scott obtained $800,000 in funding for the San Diego Workforce Partnership to support technology internships for members of historically underrepresented communities.
• Improving Infrastructure: In 2023, Scott obtained funding for the following infrastructure projects:
  • $2M for the Light Up San Diego Streetlight Improvement Program to replace outdated infrastructure and enhance streetlight reliability.
  • $3.144M for Downtown Mobility Phase 3A to carry out the cycle track network as part of the city’s downtown mobility plan.
• Advancing Water Projects: In 2023, Scott obtained nearly $1M for the San Dieguito Valley Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project, helping to enhance local water supply.

Improving San Diego’s Quality of Life

• Helped Reduce School Overcrowding, Jump-started Canyon Crest Academy: As enrollment at Torrey Pines High School climbed past 3000 students, we heard complaints from parents about overcrowding. At the same time, Scott heard from the school administration that the City was not being helpful with the construction of Carmel Valley’s planned second high school. Scott convened the city building department and engineers to make it clear that this was a priority for him and the community. They responded. We got the plumbing, electrical and sewer built so that the school could open on time, and today Canyon Crest is a stunning success.
• Brought Traffic Relief by Completing Highway 56: Thousands of homes in and east of Scott’s district were constructed on the assumption that this critical east-west freeway would be constructed; but in 2000, 15 years after its planned completion, it was still unfinished. Scott committed himself to see this highway’s completion. Working with our regional transportation partners, our local developers and our communities, Scott helped to finish the highway in 2004 and made it possible for thousands of families and employees to move east and west in this congested area.
• Built Trails and Trail Connections throughout the City:  San Diego’s climate makes this a natural place for bicycling, hiking and horseback riding, and improving trails has been a priority for Scott. He made sure that every new development in his district contained trails and trail connections. Since he left the City, Scott has continued to be active in adoption and implementation of SANDAG’s Bicycle Master Plan, and has represented the Port on and served as co-chair of the Bayshore Bikeway Work Group, which is building a 26-mile dedicated bikeway around the perimeter of San Diego Bay.
• Created the Super Loop: San Diego has spent over a billion dollars developing the trolley system, which is focused on downtown. But our major job center is now to the north, including North University City, where there was absolutely no transit. Working with the transportation staff and the community, he worked to create the “Super Loop”, a circulator that now moves people throughout North UC at frequent intervals, with upgraded stations and traffic priority. The Super Loop has been a tremendous success in the community, and strong demand has led to expansion of the program.
• Passed the Transnet Extension: Few issues are more vexing to San Diegans than traffic, yet the 1/2¢ sales tax that funded so many of our road and transit improvements was set to expire in 2008. Scott knew that if we lost that income, San Diegans would notice reduced service. He also knew that we had to present a plan San Diegans would embrace if we were to get them to vote to extend the tax. Scott was deeply involved in creating the package of improvements put before the voters in 2004, and raised more money for the campaign than any other elected official. The passage of Transnet II, with only 3000 votes to spare countywide, made $14 billion available to the region for investments in roads and mass transit.
• Banned Smoking in our Parks and on our Beaches: San Diego is defined by our parks and beaches, and they were consistently littered with cigarette butts. Scott worked with a broad range of community members, including the Lung Association, Surfrider Foundation, and the Prevention Coalition, to convince the City Council that it was time to ban the butts. Today, our parks and beaches are cleaner and smoke free.
• Banned Drinking Alcohol at the Beach: San Diego was one of the few coastal cities that still allowed alcohol on its beaches, and partiers knew it. Beaches were overrun by drunken partiers, and were no longer appropriate places for families. After a riot broke out in Mission Beach, Scott took action. He imposed a one year ban on alcohol consumption at our beaches, and then campaigned for a city-wide ballot measure to extend the ban permanently. Residents and visitors and even former ban opponents recognize that the experience of going to the beach has been greatly improved.
• Restarted Utility Line Undergrounding: In the 1990s, the City abandoned its plan to force SDG&E and other utilities to underground the unsightly overhead power lines that drape our older neighborhoods. In 2003, the City Council resurrected the plan, working with the local utilities and the state Public Utilities Commission, so that over time, the “graffiti of the sky” would be buried once and for all.
• Built the Peñasquitos Skate Park:  For six years, the community had fought over whether to site a skate facility in Hilltop Park, a beautiful community park in the middle of a residential area, where the lights and noise from teens could be disruptive. Scott located surplus property owned by Caltrans near a shopping mall and convinced Caltrans to give it to the city so it could serve our community teens. The community itself designed the skate park, the City Council approved it, and today, Rancho Peñasquitos has preserved the pastoral nature of Hilltop Park and created a separate and exciting place for its teens to skate safely.
• Turned Sorrento Valley Road into a Park: In 2000, a segment of Sorrento Valley Road had been closed because it was unsafe and had to be reconfigured; reopening this road was an urgent priority for the high tech businesses in the area. However, when a group of environmentalists showed Scott what a treasure the road was without cars, adjacent to sensitive and rare lagoon habitat, he agreed that the road should remain closed to automobile traffic, and got the City Council to agree with him. Today, the expansion of Highway 5 to more than 20 lanes and the opening of the new Carmel Mountain Road exit provides more than enough room for cars, while bicyclists, joggers and rare birds continue to enjoy that special space where cars can’t go. Watch Video
• Completed 24 New Parks or Major Park Improvements: Despite San Diego’s tight budget, Scott was able to complete numerous park improvements to serve the neighborhoods of City Council District 1, including new tot lots, dog parks, field turfing, rest rooms, and 12 entirely new parks.
• Opened the Nobel Park and Library: In 2007, the city opened a gorgeous new library on a plateau above a 30-acre park. The facility was funded entirely by developer fees collected to ensure that infrastructure was built as communities grew. Today, the library is a treasured resource for this community of 60,000, and the park gives hundreds of baseball, soccer and lacrosse players in this urban area a wide-open space to play.
• Completed the Carmel Valley Road Enhancement Project: While it is in one of the most beautiful settings, adjacent to the Peñasquitos Lagoon, Carmel Valley Road was a safety nightmare for bicyclists and poured polluted runoff into the lagoon. Working with the community and SDG&E on this $6 million project, the city improved the road with new, safer bicycle lanes, pedestrian amenities and protections for the lagoon from storm water pollution.
• Kept the Water Authority’s Hydroelectric Plant out of Ridgewood Park: The County Water Authority planned a massive $700 million water project, and planned to put it adjacent to a neighborhood park in Rancho Peñasquitos. Scott helped mobilize residents to let the Authority know that wasn’t acceptable, and convinced them to spend the extra money to put it in a commercial area instead.
• Reconfigured the Throat: Traffic in and out of La Jolla had been jammed up for decades, with traffic clogged in the second busiest intersection in San Diego, known as the “throat.” The City Council approved the plan to increase green light time in and out of the village while replacing the 90-year-old water pipes that seemed to break and cause floods every six months.  Now the intersection conveys traffic efficiently and has been beautifully landscaped – it’s now an appropriate gateway to La Jolla. This project won the 2004 Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association.
• Protected Taxpayers by Eliminating Charger Ticket Guarantee: In the 1990s, the City Council agreed to guarantee the sale of a minimum number of tickets to Charger games, putting the city budget on the line for the success of its football team. Scott’s council eliminated that provision in 2003.
• Reformed Port Finances: The year that Scott became a Port Commissioner was the first in memory that Port expenses exceeded revenues. The Commission acted, cutting the workforce 15% through attrition and early retirement incentives to save the Port $26 million. Scott consolidated departments and eliminated management excess, including reducing the number of vice presidents from 13 to 6. The Port accomplished these real reforms together with its employees, without a single layoff or lawsuit.
• Ended Pension Under-funding: As a City Councilman, Scott ended the 30-year-old practice of pension under-funding at the City of San Diego, a budgeting practice that began in the 1980s to balance the budget by under-funding the city retiree pension system; after 2008, pension payments declined as a percentage of the city budget because of these actions.
• Achieved $350 million in pension-debt savings and eliminated costly benefits: As a City Councilmember, Scott secured $350 million in pension debt savings by working with employees in 2004 and 2005 to reach an agreement that froze pay and required city employees to contribute more of their own pay to fund their benefits. In the same negotiations, Scott eliminated – for all employees hired after July 1, 2006  – the unpopular DROP program, the “13th check,” and purchase of service credits program that was created in 1996. This was real progress, achieved at the bargaining table in partnership with employees, not the illusion of pension savings offered by speculative litigation or ballot measures that will lead to litigation and delay.
• Negotiated a More Affordable Benefit Structure for New Employees: In 2008, there were calls to eliminate city pensions at the ballot box, but city employees were adamant about preserving their existing benefits. Scott knew that most employees, who don’t get Social Security, had modest pensions, averaging $36,000 per year after 30 years of work. He also knew that the City would still have to reduce those benefits to be able to afford them into the future. So as Council President, Scott worked with the Mayor and employees to create a new benefit structure that provided modest retirement benefits, but at a lower cost to the city. When fully implemented, the new structure will save the city over $22 million per year. These real savings Scott negotiated were reached without a lawsuit or layoff, and without the expense and uncertainty of a costly ballot measure.
• Accelerated pay-off of pension debt: While on the City Council, Scott placed Proposition G before the voters in 2004, which created accelerated pay-off period for pension debt to eliminate negative amortization of the pension debt. For years, the City had been artificially lowering its pension debt by using overly aggressive accounting methodologies. Prop G established a maximum allowable amortization period that was more responsible and more accountable.
• Reformed the makeup of the pension board: The pension board was criticized because a majority of its members had pensions in the system they governed. This created a perceived conflict of interest, so Scott supported Proposition H, which was approved by voters in 2004. It reformed the pension board to be controlled by a majority of private citizens with no personal interest in the pension system, creating more confidence in the board’s decisions.
• Retiree Health Care Trust Fund: In the 1980s, then Mayor Pete Wilson and the City Council guaranteed city employees lifetime health care in exchange for getting them to give up Social Security. Then they instituted the “waterfall,” a financial practice of using a portion of the pension system earnings to pay for health care. That diversion of assets from the pension fund is the single biggest contributor to our pension deficit. As Council President, Scott stopped the practice of funding retiree healthcare from pension system assets by creating a retiree healthcare trust fund. This new trust fund will help restore the integrity of the pension fund and will ensure accountability for future health care costs.
• Safeguarded Local Tax Revenues on the Commission for Tax Policy in the New Economy: Scott was appointed by the Governor to be a representative to this commission, charged with reviewing our 20th century tax system in the 21st century economy. One recommendation, which evolved into 2004 statewide ballot measure Proposition 1A, protected local tax revenues from any further raids by the state legislature, so we can dedicate that money to local police, fire, and neighborhoods.
• Passed the Transnet Extension: Few issues are more vexing to San Diegans than traffic, yet the 1/2¢ sales tax that funded so many of our road and transit improvements was set to expire in 2008. Scott knew that if we lost that income, San Diegans would notice reduced service. He also knew that we had to present a plan San Diegans would embrace if we were to get them to vote to extend the tax. Scott was deeply involved in creating the package of improvements put before the voters in 2004, and raised more money for the campaign than any other elected official. The passage of Transnet II, with only 3000 votes to spare countywide, made $14 billion available to the region for investments in roads and mass transit.

Investments in Infrastructure and Job Creation – More than $1 billion for San Diego

• Improving Border Infrastructure: Scott led Democrats and Republicans in securing almost $450 million for the San Ysidro Border Crossing that regional business leaders called San Diego’s top priority for job creation. The improved crossing will strengthen border security and create thousands of jobs by improving the flow of trade and commerce.
• Funding San Diego Defense Priorities: In 2016, Scott successfully fought to include $280 million to complete construction projects in Coronado, including new training facilities for Coronado’s Navy SEALs and $154 million in accelerated funds to build new hangars to house F-35 Lightning jets at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in the National Defense Authorization Act. This investment will give San Diego’s military community the resources it needs and create high-quality jobs.
• Boosting San Diego’s Defense Industry: Scott offered and passed a bipartisan amendment that transferred $120 million to purchase 8 additional MQ-9 Reaper drones for the Department of Defense in 2016. MQ-9 Reaper drones are manufactured in Poway, meaning that in addition to giving our soldiers the technology they need, this amendment helped support high-paying jobs.
• Creating Jobs at the Port of San Diego: Scott sent a letter of support and spoke personally with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to back the Unified Port District’s application for a federal TIGER infrastructure grant to upgrade the 10^th Avenue Marine Terminal. The grant request was approved, giving the Port $10 million to complete the project and make its operations more efficient.
• Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant: Scott worked with the Department of Defense to support of San Diego’s application for an economic adjustment grant as a result of previously awarded defense contracts. In 2016, San Diego received a $1.8 million grant award.
• Preventing Hostile Merger from China: In the 115th Congress, Scott urged the Trump administration to assess the national security risks of a potential acquisition of Qualcomm by Broadcom, a Chinese company. His request led to a review that ultimately prevented the merger, protecting U.S. intellectual property and future tech development.
• Advocating for Long-Term Infrastructure Funding: During the 114th Congress, Scott championed the need for a long-term reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund. He urged Congressional leaders through letters to move away from short-term extensions and secure a stable, long-term solution. His efforts contributed to the 2015 passage of a long-term reauthorization, ensuring stability for infrastructure projects and reliability for commuters who rely on safe and modern roads, bridges, and tunnels.
• Preserving Job Corps Program: In the 116th Congress, the Trump administration planned to shutter almost 40% of the Department of Labor’s Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) facilities. In response, Scott advocated for full funding for the Job Corps program in the FY20 Appropriations and supported an amendment to ensure no funds could be used to change or terminate the program or close any CCC centers. As a result of these efforts, the Trump administration reversed their decision to close the program.
• Protecting Consumers from Forced Arbitration: In the 116th Congress, Scott cosponsored and supported the FAIR Act, which passed the House. This bill aims to remove forced arbitration clauses from employment, consumer, and civil rights agreements, giving millions of Americans the ability to pursue justice through the courts. By addressing mandatory arbitration, the FAIR Act seeks to ensure fair treatment for individuals affected by such clauses in contracts.

Improving Government Accountability

• No Budget, No Pay: During his first year in Congress, Scott voted to pass no budget, no pay, meaning that if Congress doesn’t do its job and pass a budget, it doesn’t get a paycheck. Scott continues working to make that law permanent because, like hardworking Americans, Congress doesn’t deserve a paycheck if it can’t do its job.
• Reducing Government Waste: Scott introduced legislation to reduce wasteful government printing of documents and reports that are available online, and the provision was included and passed within the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act.
• Getting Russia Out of U.S. Elections: In the 115th Congress, Scott voted for a bill that became law to impose new sanctions on Russia for interfering in the 2018 U.S. elections. When the President missed the deadline to enforce these sanctions, Scott sent a letter demanding action, which led to the sanctions being imposed shortly after. In the 118th Congress, Scott continued his bipartisan efforts by participating in the Fix Congress Caucus to promote collaboration in a divided political environment. 

National Security and the Military

• Providing for the National Defense: As a member of the Armed Services committee, Scott worked in a bipartisan manner to help craft and pass the National Defense Authorization Act four years in a row. This bill lays out defense spending priorities for the fiscal year, and in 2019, for his leadership, Scott was selected to be part of the conference committee that negotiates the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
• Supporting Servicemembers’ Mental Health: In 2016, Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act encouraging the military to be more proactive in informing military families of the hardships servicemembers may be encountering during their service.
• Expanding Missile Defense: Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act supporting the expansion of missile defense cooperation we currently have with Israel to other allies in the Middle East.
• Increasing Military Energy Security: Scott has been a leader in supporting the military’s efforts to diversify its fuel supply and reduce its reliance on foreign oil. He was credited with the bipartisan defeat of three bad amendments to the national defense policy bill that would have undermined the military’s work to increase their energy security and invest in alternative fuel sources.
• Funding San Diego Military Priorities: As co-chair of the Special Operations Caucus, Scott successfully fought for funding for a new training facility for Navy SEALs on Coronado and to accelerate funds to build new hangers to house F-35 jets at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
• Backing DoD Energy Goals: Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act asking the Department of Defense to report on the efficacy of its Energy Strategy and Sustainability office.
• Righting Wrongs: In 2016, Scott offered and passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act directing the Navy to investigate whether mutiny charges against a group of African-American sailors stations at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in 1944 was racially motivated.
• Forging Relationships with Allies: Scott worked with Representative Michelle Fischbach to introduce the bipartisan Promoting Ties with Taiwan Act. If passed, it would foster closer relationships with Taiwan and other nations by requiring the State Department to build a strategy that encourages growth of relations between Taiwan and new international partners.
• Incorporating Climate Readiness in Defense Planning: In the 115th Congress, Scott led a successful effort to ensure the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act included climate change in threat assessments, resource planning, and military readiness. This is crucial for San Diego, where climate impacts directly affect our military bases and operations.
• Advancing Defense Technology and DoD Innovation: From the 113th through the 116th Congresses, Scott pushed for Acoustic Hailing Devices to be used in National Guard security programs, helping with communication during disasters and large events. Integrating this smart technology not only keeps us safer but also shines a spotlight on San Diego’s incredible innovation. Additionally, Scott has championed increasing the Department of Defense’s budget for research and development, driving forward next-generation capabilities like solar energy technology and underwater unmanned vehicles. Supporting cutting-edge R&D ensures we stay ahead of our adversaries and continue to lead in defense innovation.
• Supporting Shipbuilding and Repair: Scott fought for substantial shipbuilding and maintenance funding, leading to the largest-ever budget in the FY 2018 NDAA and securing funds for the Littoral Combat Ship. In 2023, he passed the Smart Ship Repair Act, prioritizing private shipyards for Navy repairs and supporting over 1,000 jobs in San Diego.
• Preventing Biosecurity Threats: In the 115th Congress, Scott worked to secure the technology and resources needed to protect against bio threats by offering an amendment to restore funding for the Public Health Emergency Fund, aiding the CDC in public health emergencies. As a member of the Congressional Biodefense Caucus, he was named “Congressional Biosecurity Champion” in 2018 for his leadership in promoting health security and enhancing federal preparedness.

Gun Safety

• Leading the Charge for Stronger Gun Safety Laws: In his time in Congress, Scott has become a nationally recognized leader in the fight to reduce gun violence. From reading names of gun violence victims in front of the House of Representatives, to live-streaming a protest sit-in by House Democrats to the world, Scott has fought to force a vote on laws to strengthen background checks to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and domestic abusers. Scott’s livestreaming of the House sit in became a history-making event.
• Honoring Victims of Shooting at Chabad of Poway: After the Chabad of Poway shooting, Scott spearheaded a bipartisan effort with 42 colleagues to introduce a resolution condemning the anti-Semitic attack and paying tribute to Lori Gilbert Kaye, who tragically lost her life. This action highlighted the voices of the Chabad community, and Scott remains dedicated to pushing for legislative action to prevent gun violence.

Health Care

• Reducing the Cost of Prescription Drugs: 
  • In 2016, Scott lobbied the Food and Drug Administration to prioritize the approval of cheaper generic prescription drugs. Just months later, the FDA acted on the request, meaning that the generic drug approval process will be streamlined and give consumers more affordable options when they go to fill their prescriptions.
  • In 2021, Scott worked with the White House and his congressional colleagues to negotiate a compromise deal on drug pricing reform, to be included in the Build Back Better Act. The historic deal keeps Democrats’ promise to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate the prices of older drugs in both Parts B and D. The deal is largely based on his Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act.
• Postponing the Cadillac Tax: In the 114th Congress, Scott backed a bill to prevent the Cadillac Tax from reducing health insurance options. In 2015, Congress passed a bill that delayed the tax until 2020, ensuring that multiemployer health plans remained available for people in San Diego and across the country.
• Stabilizing the Individual Marketplace: In the 115th Congress, Scott introduced The Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act to strengthen the individual health insurance marketplace and lower costs. As part of the Problem Solvers Caucus, he pushed for bipartisan healthcare reform, because he knows that repealing the ACA would negatively impact San Diego’s vulnerable populations, including the homeless community.
• Reauthorizing Funding for Community Health Centers: Scott led a bipartisan effort to secure a two-year extension of the Community Health Center Fund, which constitutes 70% of federal funding for health centers serving underserved communities. In FY2020, he supported significant funding increases for mental health and addiction care, including $150 million for Behavioral Health Clinics and over $722 million for Community Mental Health Services Block Grants. Scott was awarded the 2023 Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate Award for his efforts. Community health centers are vital in San Diego, providing essential medical and mental health care to millions annually.
• Protecting Funding for Hospitals Serving Low-Income Patients: In the 115th and 116th Congresses, Scott successfully delayed cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments by at least two fiscal years, ensuring hospitals can continue to care for vulnerable populations.
• Supporting Pediatric Training Programs: In the 115th Congress, Scott championed the reauthorization of key health programs, securing $315 million for Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) to train future pediatricians. In the 116th Congress, he pushed for a $400 million funding increase for FY2020. Rady’s Children’s Hospital, a leader in pediatric care, benefits significantly from these efforts.
• Expanding Medical and Dental Residency Programs: In the 115th Congress, Scott emphasized the need to renew funding for Teaching Health Centers (THCs). His advocacy helped secure funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program, providing $150,000 per resident for existing grantees.
• Protecting a Critical Drug Discount Program: In the 115th Congress, Scott co-introduced the PAUSE Act to temporarily halt new hospitals from joining the 340B drug discount program while ensuring savings benefit low-income patients, as the program was intended to do. In 2019, he led efforts to urge Governor Newsom to safeguard community health centers from potential cuts to the 340B program, which provides essential medications to underserved populations.
• Lowering Healthcare Costs: In the 116th Congress, Scott co-introduced a bill to reduce health insurance premiums. The bill allocates $10 billion annually for states to establish reinsurance programs or provide financial assistance to lower out-of-pocket costs. It also mandates the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement reinsurance programs in states that do not apply for funding. The bill was passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee as part of the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019.
• Reducing Prescription Drug Costs: In the 116th Congress, Scott co-sponsored the ACCESS Act to eliminate copays for alternative versions of expensive drugs under Medicare Part B. He also introduced the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act in 2022 to cap seniors’ drug costs, increase transparency from insurers, and preserve investments in drug innovation. The drug pricing reform language that became law in the Inflation Reduction Act was largely based on the framework put forth in Scott’s RCCCA. His efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs will ensure more Americans can access and afford life-saving medications and treatments. 
• Protecting Access to Diagnostic Services: In the 116th Congress, Scott introduced the bipartisan LAB Act to improve data collection for lab reimbursements and prevent the closure of small labs in rural areas. He also co-led the SALSA Act in the 117th Congress to ensure fair payment rates for lab services. Although SALSA didn’t pass, Scott secured a one-year delay to lab service cuts, ensuring seniors continue to receive essential diagnostic services and individualized care.
• Accelerating Access to Medical Devices and Prescriptions: In the 117th Congress, Scott co-led the Pre-Approval Information Exchange Act, allowing manufacturers to share economic information about pending FDA-approved products with health care entities. This aims to streamline the transition from approval to market, helping Americans access new drugs and devices faster and at more transparent prices.
• Enhancing Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics: In the 117th Congress, Scott advocated for $250M for the CDC’s Public Health Data Modernization Initiative and secured $50M for the new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) in the FY23 budget. His efforts also helped UCSD obtain a $7.5M grant to improve collaboration between public health officials and epidemiologists, ensuring better use of health data to manage future disease outbreaks.
• Enhancing Health Data Sharing: In the 117th Congress, Scott co-led a bipartisan effort to secure at least $5M in the FY23 budget to improve the exchange of health information through Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). This funding aids the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in updating standards, ensuring patients and doctors have comprehensive information to make informed medical decisions.

Energy and the Environment

• Encouraging Alternative Energy Savings: Scott offered and passed an amendment to the Energy Security Act requiring the Department of Energy to report on the energy savings and emissions reductions of facilities like the methane capture plant at the Miramar Landfill. This will encourage the development of more innovative carbon capture plants that reduce harmful emissions and create energy.
• Increasing Energy Security: Scott offered and passed another amendment to the Energy Security Act that would require the Department of Energy to ensure we have sufficient energy storage capabilities in the event of natural disasters and wildfires.
• Funding Wildfire Prevention: Scott brought then Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to San Diego to show her the importance of funding the 10-year average for wildfire costs and reforming wildfire funding. He’s led the fight to fix the way the federal government funds wildfire prevention and response, and led a discharge petition to force a vote on the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act that gained 196 bipartisan signatures. A portion of the bill was subsequently included in the 2015 government funding bill and became law. Additionally, he introduced the Wildfire Prevention Act, included in the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act, to help states access resources for fire mitigation and prevention. Scott also secured $2.1 billion per year for a disaster fund in the 2018 Omnibus spending plan and an additional $577 million in supplemental disaster funds during California’s severe 2018 fire season. His efforts have contributed to a significant reduction in wildfire acreage in San Diego, from 2,205 acres in 2018 to 1,030 acres in 2019.
• Leading Globally on Climate Change: In 2021, Scott introduced the bicameral FAIR Transition and Competition Act. It would establish a border carbon adjustment (BCA) on climate-polluting imports and ensure we address the climate crisis at home and abroad. In November of 2021, Scott traveled to Glasgow, Scotland to participate in COP26 – the United Nations Climate Summit. While there, he discussed the bill and other climate action proposals with policymakers from around the world.
• Cleaning up Tijuana River Valley Sewage Spill: The San Diego congressional delegation secured $300 million as part of the USMCA to fund EPA grants under the Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) and address sewage pollution on the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2021, EPA Administrator, Michael Regan, joined Scott and Representative Juan Vargas to visit the ongoing environmental crisis in San Diego. The White House has since proposed comprehensive solutions to address the pollution issue.
• Promoting Clean Hydropower Projects: In the 115th Congress, Scott championed the Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, which streamlines the approval process for closed-loop hydropower projects by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). These innovative projects use reservoir elevation changes to generate clean power, playing a crucial role in our fight against climate change and helping us achieve a cleaner, healthier future.
• Supporting Energy Recovery From Waste: Scott introduced the Carbon Utilization Act of 2018 to encourage the use of carbon capture technology. The bill supports research and loan guarantees for technologies that transform carbon emissions into energy sources. This initiative aims to boost clean energy solutions, promoting energy independence and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. San Diego biofuel companies are pioneering this innovative effort.
• Improving Disaster Spending Transparency: In the 116th Congress, Scott introduced the DISASTER Act to require the Office of Management and Budget to report total federal disaster relief spending. The House passed this bill and two others Scott introduced to enhance disaster aid transparency. These measures help San Diego and California prepare for more frequent and severe disasters.
• Investing in Clean Energy Transmission: In 2021 and 2022, Scott co-led efforts to secure increased funding for the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO), supporting innovative energy projects including electric vehicle manufacturing. This initiative resulted in significant funding increases through the Inflation Reduction Act and $15 billion in additional loan authority for the LPO.

Equality

• Fighting Discrimination Against the LGBT Community: In 2015, Scott offered and passed a bipartisan amendment to the transportation and housing appropriations bill that prohibits HUD from spending money on contractors that do not have LGBT non-discrimination policies.

Education

• Supporting Students’ Mental Health: In 2021, Scott introduced and helped the House pass the STANDUP Act to expand evidence-based student prevention and awareness training in schools, particularly for students in grades 6-12. By encouraging early prevention, teaching warning signs, and giving students, teachers, and administrators the tools they need to react properly to threats, we can prevent tragedy before it occurs.
• Addressing Student Debt: To help young Americans begin to make investments like buying a home or saving for retirement, Congressman Peters introduced and helped pass the Employer Participation in Repayment Act. It incentivizes employers to help pay their employees’ student loans. The bill was included in the CARES Act of March 2020 and received a five-year extension under the FY 2021 federal spending package signed by President Biden.

Housing

• Promoting Affordable Housing: Scott helped pass the FY18 spending bill, which enhanced the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by raising its volume cap by 12.5% and adding a permanent income averaging provision. These changes counteracted the GOP Tax Cuts and Job Act’s negative effects, boosting the credit’s value and encouraging the development of affordable housing.
• Addressing Youth Homelessness: Scott advocated for $278 million for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, securing $107 million in the FY2023 budget. In 2018, San Diego received the largest grant from this program, $7.94 million, and remains a national leader in pioneering solutions for youth homelessness.