Legislative Accomplishments

Improvements to VA Medical Facilities

In 2020, Scott helped pass the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2020, which secured funds for a major project at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The project will use $230,840,000 to expand the building for patients being treated for spinal cord injuries, and build a new community living center as well as a new parking structure at the medical center in La Jolla. The facility serves around 700 San Diego veterans and active-duty military personnel every year, as well as some veterans from Arizona, Nevada and other areas in Southern California.

Veterans Choice

In 2014, Scott offered a motion to the VA Access, Accountability and Choice Act to ensure our veterans receive the quality care they earned. It was credited with breaking the gridlock over the Veterans Choice program. The bill gave veterans more options to access health care, and still be covered by their VA benefits, as a way to address wait and travel times.  It also improved accountability at the VA by making it easier to fire Senior Executive employee; expanded access to in-state tuition rates at public higher-education for veterans and their families; and expanded counseling care and services to victims of military sexual trauma. Our veterans answered the call to serve our country and it’s our duty to ensure they’re not left behind when they return home. San Diego is home to one of the nation's largest veteran populations and our heroes should not face barriers to getting the healthcare they need.

Veterans Homelessness

In 2019, Scott introduced and passed the Veteran HOUSE Act, which expands eligibility for veterans with other-than-honorable discharges to participate in the HUD-VASH voucher program. The bill has unanimously passed both the Financial Services Committee and House Veterans' Affairs Committee in 2019. In January 2020, the House passed the bill 362-31. Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges can be more likely to experience issues with mental health and could be more vulnerable to homelessness. It’s crucial that they have access to housing and supportive services.

In 2018, Scott introduced and passed legislation to stop cuts to homeless veterans' programs in the VA when the Trump administration attempted to transfer money intended to house homeless veterans (HUD-VASH program) to fund other VA programs. This amendment was included in the FY2019 spending bill that became law in September 2018. When the Trump Administration tried to cut funds to house homeless veterans, Scott made sure they couldn’t follow through with their plans to move the funds elsewhere. Homeless veterans need permanent supportive housing to transition out of homelessness.

Veterans Hiring

In 2020, Scott introduced an amendment to the Rights For Transportation Security Officers Act, requiring a GAO study on how TSA recruits veterans for their workforce. His amendment passed the House, as did the base bill. The veteran workforce is skilled and should be able to access opportunities where they can lend their specialized talents to our nation's different industries.

In 2013, Scott offered and passed an amendment to the FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act to encourage the hiring of veterans for military construction projects. San Diego is home to one of the nation’s largest veteran populations and the Department of Defense is in the process of several major construction projects. As we work to ensure that veterans can find good-paying jobs, the Department of Defense should work with contractors that employ veterans.

Veterans Support

In 2015, Scott helped introduce and pass the Sergeant Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act, a bipartisan bill to improve mental health care for veterans who took part in classified missions during their service. The bill was inspired by Sergeant Daniel Sommers, who suffered from post-traumatic stress and tragically took his own life. Although Daniel sought help at the VA, he was unable to share any classified missions in group therapy sessions. Daniel’s parents?Coronado residents Dr. Howard Somers and Jean Somers?came to share his story and propose solutions to Congress. Now, because of Daniel’s parents’ advocacy and the bipartisan effort to pass the bill, veterans who engaged in classified activities in the course of their service will be able to transition individualized therapeutic treatment if needed.

Support for zero8hundred

In 2014, Scott was instrumental in launching zero8hundred, a unique military transition support program in San Diego. Scott convened military leaders, veterans’ service organizations, and philanthropic groups to create zero8hundred. He also offered and passed language expressing congressional support for private-public partnerships like zero8hundred. Today, Zero8hundred provides a coordinated effort in San Diego to help servicemembers transition from active duty to civilian life.

Mental Health for Veterans, Families, and Jobs

In 2018, Scott introduced and passed legislation to strengthen peer counseling for mental health at the VA. The VA MISSION Act included this bill to expand the peer counseling program at the VA, which embeds peer counselors into patient-aligned care teams (PACT), to 25 additional VA sites. It became law in June 2018. Veteran peers can guide veterans through the complex system of mental health care and connect them to resources they may otherwise not know.

In 2015, Scott introduced the Marriage and Family  Therapists for Veterans Act which aligns state and federal guidelines to allow marriage and family therapists certified by regionally accredited programs to be considered for employment at VA medical centers. Similar language was included in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act that passed the House. San Diego is home to one of the nation’s largest veteran populations and sadly, an average of 22 veterans commit suicide every day. When veterans are struggling, their struggles can also take a toll on their families. The bill helped ensure America keeps its promises to our veterans by allowing the VA to hire more mental health professionals.

GI Bill Education Benefits

In 2018, Scott introduced and passed legislation to provide education and job training benefits to guardsmen and reservists, correcting an inconsistency in the law by extending vocational rehabilitation services to all servicemembers who deploy for preplanned missions, regardless of the authority under which they are deployed. The bill became law at the end of 2018 when the President signed S.2248, the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. Guardsmen and reservists who served side-by-side in active duty with other servicemembers should receive the same education benefits.

In 2017, Scott introduced and helped pass a bill to ensure all Purple Heart veterans can access their full GI Bill education benefits, regardless of how long they served on active-duty. Previously,  Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits were only available if a veteran completed at least 36 months of active duty service or was medically retired; however, some Purple Heart recipients are honorably discharged before either of those qualifications are attained, making them ineligible for full payments. The bill was included as part of a broader reform package called the “Forever GI Bill.” Purple Heart recipients have made some of the most tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation. They earned full education benefits through their service.

Appeals Reform

In 2017, Scott helped introduce and pass the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act. This bill creates three new pathways for veterans’ appeals process in order to fix the back-log and achieve faster results for new cases. This bill acknowledges the broken VA appeals system and creates three new pathways for veterans’ appeals process in order to fix the back-log and achieve faster results for new cases. It also allows the VA Secretary to establish a new pilot program to try other appeal options that may help the program move faster. San Diego veterans should not have to wait years on appeals decisions. This bill will modernize the system and reduce the backlog so that our veterans receive the attention and benefits they have earned.

VA Accountability 

In 2017, Scott supported legislation to provide greater authority to remove or discipline poorly-performing employees. This bipartisan legislation will improve the service that our veterans receive by holding bad actors accountable and protecting the hardworking employees who care for our veterans.

Emissions Free Hydropower

In 2017, Scott introduced and helped pass the HYdropower Permit Extension (HYPE) Act, to cut red tape in the construction permitting process for hydropower projects and incentivize greater investments in carbon-free hydropower. Previously, it took an act of Congress to extend construction permits for hydropower projects, even though these projects have already undergone a rigorous approval processes. The bill also grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to give hydropower projects a four-year extension if delays prevent them from beginning construction during the initial permit. Hydropower is an emission-free source of baseload energy that helps decrease America’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Smart Closed-Loop Hydropower

In 2017, Scott was the lead Democrat on the Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, which gives closed-loop hydropower projects an expedited process for approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Scott led the effort to craft the final language of the bill which helped it earn the bipartisan support it needed to pass. In San Diego, where large rivers and typical hydropower generation are less common, closed-loop hydropower offers an innovative solution and can have other benefits to the region’s energy and reservoir systems. More electricity from hydropower is key to meeting our clean energy goals, and reducing harmful emissions that pollute our air and water and contribute to climate change.

Funded Cutting-Edge Ocean Research

In 2018, Scott supported many successful efforts to enhance ocean research in San Diego. His advocacy led to a funding level of $5.9 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which was $233.9 million higher than the FY2017 enacted level.

In 2019, Scott championed a bipartisan effort to secure $43 million, a $177,000 increase from FY2018 enacted levels for a crucial NOAA program to improve weather forecasting and prepare for natural disasters.

San Diego is home to Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, a world leader in most cutting-edge ocean research.

Global Leader On Climate Change

In 2019, Scott unveiled The Climate Playbook, a compendium of climate-related bills introduced by Members of the House and Senate in 2016. On November 14, 2019, The Chair House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis recognized the importance of the Climate Playbook as an asset for all of Congress. The Climate Playbook has received national praise.

In 2017, Scott was a featured speaker at a conference of world climate experts convened by Pope Francis in Vatican City and the sole representative from the United States Congress.  In his remarks, Scott reflected on the divisive politics of climate change in the United States. The notion of addressing climate change used to be bipartisan, but the divisive state of American politics has caught up to the issue. With President Trump determined to undermine all of the progress on climate achieved by President Obama, local governments and leaders around the world need to act on the existential threat of climate change.

Spearheading National Climate Action

In 2019, Scott and Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced the bicameral Super Pollutants Act of 2019, which will significantly curb the release of methane from oil and gas sites in the U.S. by codifying EPA’s endangered methane rule and creating a regulatory pathway to reduce emissions from existing sources.

Scott is also among the leading Democrats advocating for a bipartisan carbon tax in Congress. In 2019, Scott was one of four Democratic leads to introduce the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, and one of two Democratic leads the to introduce the MARKET CHOICE Act of 2019.

In 2017, Scott and Rep. Curbelo introduced the Super Pollutant Emissions Reduction (SUPER) Act, which establishes a task force to combat some of the most significant drivers of global climate change.

San Diego has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent below predicted 2035 levels as part of its Climate Action Plan.

Fighting for Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS)

In 2017 and again in 2019, Scott introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USEIT) Act. The USEIT Act is one of the most significant CCUS bills ever introduced in Congress, authorizing $85 million to support carbon utilization and direct air capture research and encourages 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. In 2019, USEIT passed the Senate as part of the NDAA.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC), without large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal technologies, it is nearly impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. USEIT is supported by the United Steelworkers (USW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC).

Securing SONGS Operations, Getting Nuclear Waste Off Our Coastline

Scott has provided oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which oversees the decommissioning process at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). He’s requested increased attention from inspectors and ensured proper community engagement. He verified that an incident in 2018 was handled properly, and changes to operations were made before restarting the on-site storage of spent fuel.

Scott is also a leader on nuclear waste storage legislation. He co-leads legislation to finalize a permanent resting place for spent nuclear fuel and consolidated interims storage, both of which could be avenues to getting nuclear waste off of the beach in San Diego as soon as it is cools enough to transport. He also helps lead legislation that would prioritize moving this waste before others that aren’t as close to bodies of water or densely populated areas. Political considerations have stopped the advancement of safe nuclear waste storage for years and Scott is actively overcoming that with legislation and funding.

Supporting Funding for the Future of Clean Energy

Nearly every year since coming to Congress, Scott has helped lead the efforts to appropriate funding for advanced nuclear technology to develop nuclear fusion through international partnerships. In November of 2019,  The DOE extended a funding award worth $121.5 million over another 5 years at General Atomics, where many San Diegans work on the project to develop test components and fusion infrastructure. As the 10th best-educated constituency of any congressional district, residents of the 50th Congressional District are working on creating the energy generation the world needs for a safe future.

Promoting Energy Recovery From Waste

In September 2019, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures Chairman Mike Thompson and Committee Democrats released a draft of the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act to incentivize the development of renewable energy technology. The GREEN Act includes the Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalization Act, a bill co-introduced by Scott which extends tax credits for investments in qualified energy production, including closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, municipal solid waste, qualified hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic.

In 2018, Scott introduced the Carbon Utilization Act, aiming to credit to incentivize the deployment of carbon capture technology. The bill would expand USDA research and loan guarantees to include carbon capture technologies that turn the carbon dioxide or methane products produced by organic waste into electricity, heat, or fuel. New energy sources created by this legislation, like biogas, could bring us closer to energy independence and reduce greenhouse gases. San Diego-based biofuel companies are leading the way on clean-tech energy innovation.

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness

In 2019, Scott re-introduced the bipartisan Strengthening the Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground (STRONG) Act that would help communities better prepare for natural disasters. The bill would establish an interagency task force that combines the expertise of federal, state, and local agencies to prepare short and long-term extreme weather strategies. As a military town and coastal city, San Diego is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This bill will help our city prepare, plan for, and more quickly recover from extreme weather events.

Increased Transparency and Accountability of Federal Disaster Spending

In 2019, Scott introduced the Disclosing Aid Spent to Ensure Relief (DISASTER) Act, which requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish a single total of federal disaster relief funding. In July 2019, the House passed this bill, as well as two other disaster transparency bills that Scott introduced with Rep. Mark Meadows—the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act and the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act. These bills are awaiting Senate passage. These disaster transparency bills are crucial to San Diego and California generally as disasters continue to get bigger and more frequent so that we can better prepare to fight and prevent future disasters.

Delayed and Repealed Medical Device Tax

Since coming to Congress, Scott has been a vocal opponent of the Medical Device Tax which stifles both innovation and job growth in San Diego and around the country. In each session, he helped introduce the Protect Medical Innovation Act which would repeal the tax established by the Affordable Care Act. At the end of 2015, a two-year delay of the tax was included in legislation to fund the government.

In 2019, Scott supported the introduction of the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that fully repeals the 2.3% excise tax levied on medical device firms as part of the Affordable Care Act. In December 2019, President Trump signed the 2020 federal spending package.

San Diego’s innovation ecosystem results in new, innovative devices and treatments that make it easier to care for individuals with historically difficult diseases and illnesses. The Medical Device Tax has slowed growth in our Medical Device Industry leading to fewer jobs and less investment in our community.

NIH Funding

Since coming to Congress, Scott has been a vocal advocate for increased funding for NIH. In 2013, he led a group of his colleagues on a tour of NIH so they could learn about the important work being done there. He has sent numerous letters to Congressional Appropriators and supported the 21st Century Cures Act which, for the first time, provided $1.75 billion in mandatory spending on NIH supported innovation. This is in addition to more than $8 billion in annual authorizations for NIH’s research activities. In 2015, Scott successfully fought to increase NIH funding to a total of $37 billion—a record high even when adjusting for inflation. The amount includes $500 million in additional funds to address opioid addiction and $414 million extra for Alzheimer's disease research. In 2019, he helped secure a total of $29.1 billion for NIH, a $2 billion increase from the previous year. San Diego’s unique Innovation Ecosystem depends on federal investment in basic scientific research through NIH and other federal agencies.

Stabilizing the Individual Marketplace

In 2017, Scott introduced the Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act, which would stabilize the individual marketplace and bring down health care costs for millions.

As a member of the Problem Solvers’ Caucus, Scott has been leading the effort to get bipartisan agreement on healthcare reform. Repealing the ACA would have a serious impact on the most vulnerable among those who rely on Medicaid for quality healthcare.

Reauthorized Funding for Community Health Centers

In FY2020 appropriations, Scott supported the highest level of funding to improve access to comprehensive and evidence-based mental health and addiction care, securing our requested funding level of $150,000,000 for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Expansion Grants. He also helped secure $722,571,000 for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, which awards funds to states to supplement existing and/or new mental health services.  

In 2018, Scott led a letter to House Leadership calling on Congress to reauthorize the Community Health Center Fund for two years. The Community Health Center Fund represents 70 percent of federal grant funding for health centers that provide care for poor and underserved communities in every state. Community health centers play a critical role in San Diego by providing quality medical and mental health care to millions of San Diegans every year.

Prevented Cuts to Hospitals Providing Low-Income Patient Care

Since 2017, Scott has successfully fought to delay cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments. Medicaid DSH payments allow hospitals to treat low-income and uninsured patients, especially in rural areas where hospitals face added financial burdens. It is crucial that hospitals everywhere have the resources to continue caring for the most vulnerable Americans.

Supported Training of Future Pediatric Doctors and Specialists

Throughout 2017 and 2018, Scott led efforts to reauthorize essential health programs. He helped secure $315 million for Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME), a $15 million (5 percent) increase over FY 2017 to support the training of future pediatricians and pediatric specialists. In 2019, he supported funding requests for $400 million in FY2020. Rady’s Children’s Hospital is the largest children’s hospital in California. The San Diego Health Care System is providing world-class care for children all around the world.

Supported Primary Care, Medical and Dental Residency Programs

In 2017, Scott urged the Energy and Commerce Committee to support renewing federal funding for Teaching Health Centers (THCs). His efforts helped secure funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME), which will provide existing grantees with per resident amount of $150,000.

Safeguarding Vital Drug Discount Program

In 2017, Scott and Rep. Larry Buschon introduced the PAUSE Act, which would put a temporary pause on certain new hospitals entering the 340B program while Congress verifies that these hospitals are passing along savings from the program to the low-income patients the program serves.

In October 2019, Scott led 41 members of the California Congressional Delegation urging Governor Newsom to protect community health centers from any cuts to the 340b drug discount program. The letter was a response to Newsom's Executive Order directing the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to “take all necessary steps to transition all pharmacy services for Medi-Cal managed care to a fee-for-service benefit by January 2021." If implemented, the statutory change could jeopardize prescription drug revenues for many California community health centers.

Drug revenues from the 340B program allow Community Health Centers to provide life-saving treatments to low-income patients in every community in the country.

Lowering the Cost of Health Care

In 2020, Scott and Rep. Angie Craig introduced a bill that will make health insurance premiums more affordable, providing $10 billion annually to states to establish a state reinsurance program or use the funds to provide financial assistance to reduce out-of-pocket costs for individuals enrolled in qualified health plans. The bill also requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish and implement a reinsurance program in states that do not apply for federal funding under the bill. On May 4, 2019, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bill as a part of a larger package called the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019. Between 1.2 and 1.4 million people receive federal subsidies to buy health on the health insurance marketplace. Reinsurance programs are important because they drive down the cost of these plans.

In 2019, Scott and Rep. Angie Craig introduced a bill to make health care more affordable by encouraging states to create their own state-based marketplaces, which would cover the costliest medical claims and lower premiums for people across the country. The program is estimated to reduce premiums by as much as 10 percent. This bill became the shell legislation for a comprehensive health care package, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, which passed the House in June 2020. 

Protecting Access to Life-Saving Diagnostic Services

In 2019, Scott introduced the bipartisan Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries (LAB) Act with five of his colleagues. The bill directs the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct a joint study that would make recommendations to improve how CMS collects data on lab reimbursements for life-saving lab services. Additionally, the LAB Act would give both CMS and labs additional time to collect complete and accurate data. Without a broad and representative collection of data, CMS's current reimbursement methodology could underpay for lab services, causing small labs in rural locations to close. Language from the LAB Act was included in a federal funding bill in December 2019. Seniors in San Diego have different health care needs, and increasing access to life-saving diagnostic services is one of the most effective ways to provide individualized care.

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs

In 2019, Scott introduced a bill with Rep. Pete King and Rep. Anthony Brindisi that will give Medicare beneficiaries increased access to innovative drugs. The Acting to Cancel Copays and Ensure Substantial Savings for Biosimilars (ACCESS) Act would eliminate a patient’s copay for a biosimilar if they normally would pay full cost for a biologic drug under Medicare Part B. The cost of prescription drugs is soaring, and increasing access to lower-cost biosimilar drugs and give San Diegans more treatment options.

Protecting Access to Life-Saving Drugs

In 2020, Scott introduced the bipartisan Preventing Drug Shortages Act, which would help address the critical issue of drug shortages that affect the quality of care patients receive across the country. The introduction of the bill came days after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first U.S. drug shortage related to factory shutdowns and shipping problems in China due to the recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. On March 27, 2020, the bill became law as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Homelessness Funding Formula

Since coming to Congress, Scott has worked tirelessly to get the Department of Housing and Urban Development to reopen their Continuum of Care homelessness funding formula for public comment. Despite having one of the nation’s largest homeless populations, San Diego doesn’t receive the homelessness funding it needs. Scott sent multiple letters, hosted Secretary Castro in both San Diego and DC, and finally offered and passed an amendment to the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act that required HUD to reopen the formula. Ultimately, in July 2016, HUD reopened the formula for public comment and included four new proposals, each of which would result in increased funding for San Diego.

Effective Distribution of Homelessness Assistance

In 2016, Scott introduced and helped pass the Housing Assistance Efficiency Act, which allows non-profits to directly administer homelessness assistance grants to those who need it. This eliminates a bureaucratic step that required non-profits to connect homeless individuals with federal agencies to receive aid rather than administer the aid directly to those who need it. Ultimately, the language was included in the Highway Trust Fund Reauthorization and is now law. San Diego non-profits do important work in support of our homeless community. Scott’s bill allows them to expand and improve their efforts to support people directly.

Affordable Housing

Scott helped pass the FY18 Omnibus spending bill, which increased the value of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by raising the volume cap by 12.5% and establishing a permanent income averaging provision. The GOP Tax Bill hurt the value of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which finances the construction of affordable housing projects. This strengthens the value of the credit and encourages future housing development.

Youth Homelessness

Scott authored an appropriations letter requesting $100 million set aside for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, which provides specific funding for homeless youth. The funding was included in the House-passed spending bill. The program was funded at $80 million after Senate negotiations. San Diego received the largest Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program grant in 2018, totaling $7.94 million, and leads the country in testing innovative solutions for youth homelessness.

End Unnecessary Government Printing

In 2015, Scott introduced the Unnecessary Government Printing Reform Act that would put an end to wasteful government printing. Similar language was included in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act and was passed. San Diegans are fed up with government inefficiency and waste. Scott’s bill saves paper and government resources.  

Getting Russian Meddling Out of U.S. Elections

In 2017, Scott voted for legislation that directed the President to impose new sanctions on Russia for meddling in the U.S. 2016 elections. The bill became law, but the President missed the January deadline to impose these sanctions, so Scott sent a letter inquiring upon the delay. Days later, the President released sanctions on Russia. Congress must act to protect its republic and the sanctity of its elections. These sanctions remind President Putin and other nefarious leaders who seek to impose their influence that punishment will be administered. 

Reading Names and Letters

Shortly after Scott was elected in 2012, 20 children were tragically and inexplicably shot and killed when a mentally-ill teenager opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School. Since then, Scott has made getting a vote on gun safety legislation a priority. In 2013, 2015, and 2017 he cosponsored the bipartisan Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act to expand background checks and, in 2015, he cosponsored the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act to close a loophole that allows individuals on No Fly Lists to purchase weapons.

Frustrated with inaction from Republican leadership, Scott took to the floor and began reading the names of gun violence victims since Sandy Hook. Following the tragic school shooting in Parkland, FL, he cosponsored a ban on assault weapons, which are weapons of war that do not belong on our streets or in our schools. Scott also amplified constituents’ voices by reading letters asking Congress to act on gun safety measures.

Broadcasting the Sit-in

In 2016, Congressman and civil rights hero John Lewis led a Democratic sit-in protest on the House floor to fight back against Republican leadership’s obstruction of gun safety legislation. House Republican leadership turned off the cameras in the House Chamber to keep the American public from witnessing the sit-in. Scott felt that the American public deserved to see that there are Members of Congress who are committed to stemming gun violence in the United States and broadcast the sit-in via his Periscope app. His feed was carried by national news outlets throughout the day.

Honoring Victims of Shooting at Chabad of Poway

Following the shooting at Chabad of Poway, Scott led 42 of his bipartisan colleagues in introducing a resolution to condemn the horrific anti-Semitic attack and honor Lori Gilbert Kaye, who passed away following the shooting. California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris introduced an identical resolution that passed the U.S. Senate, while we await its passage in the House. This resolution amplified the voices of the Chabad community and Scott has continued to fight for Congress to take action on guns.                                                                                   

Educating the President on DACA

In 2017, Scott sent a bipartisan letter to President Trump, requesting a meeting to discuss immigration priorities, like DACA, and how San Diegans do not support a border wall. Scott was one of a few Democrats to be invited to the meeting in January. It is paramount that the President understands the border and what San Diegans really need to be safe and host a world-class border crossing.

Emergency Relief for Migrants

In 2019, Scott helped pass emergency supplemental funds to provide for relief for migrants at the border. The funding will be used to enhance medical care for migrants, alleviate conditions at temporary facilities at the border, and ensure unaccompanied children will be taken care of after arriving in the United States. The funding also provided $30 million to reimburse local communities who took care of migrants coming through the border. San Diego County and Jewish Family Services received $2.4 million for their services. In the summer of 2019, our country experienced a mass influx of migrants seeking refuge. Congress supported additional funding to address abhorrent conditions at temporary facilities along the border, which were never intended to be used for long-term use, nor were they fit for families.

Protections for Migrant Children

In 2019, Scott introduced the Ensuring Conditions are Humane by Oversight (ECHO) Act, a bill to stop the Trump Administration’s efforts to improperly treat migrant children and hide those efforts on military bases. Reports showed the President was preparing to move detained migrant children onto military bases, which could hinder access from inspectors and other government watchdogs who need to verify safe housing and treatment. His bill language would have ensured that surprise inspections of these detention facilities would still be available, and the bill language was included in the House version of the FY20 NDAA. San Diegan’s see the problems and opportunities at the border every day, and any detained children must be cared for transparently and safely.                                                                                                                        

Defending Low-Income and Disadvantaged Kids

In 2019, Trump announced plans to close nearly 40% of all Department of Labor’s Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) program facilities and end the program in its current form. Scott requested full funding for Job Corps program in FY20 Appropriations. Later, Scott voted for an amendment to keep any money appropriated to Job Corps from being used to alter or terminate the program or close any of the CCC facilities. A week later, the Trump administration announced they were withdrawing their plan to shutter the program.

Supporting an Increased Minimum Wage

Scott co-sponsored and helped pass a federal $15 minimum wage bill out of the House in 2019. This bill would match California’s minimum wage and help support workers across the United States. Scott also cosponsored a bill creating a regional minimum wage, which would tailor the minimum wage to a specific region, based on its comparative purchasing power, as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Increasing the minimum wage ensures that working families receive a living wage.

Protecting Consumers from Forced Arbitration Agreements

In 2019, Scott co-sponsored and helped pass the FAIR Act. This bill would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases, restoring justice for millions of Americans who are locked out of the court system because of the use of mandatory arbitration in contracts such as Terms of Service agreements and employment contracts. Ending forced arbitration restores justice to Americans.