Bills Introduced That Have Become Law

Scales of justice, gavel and law book.

H.R. 5260, Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act:

In the Fall of 2021, Scott introduced the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act with Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) to establish and reform several programs and requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs. The provisions originally laid out in this bill were included in the Inflation Reduction Act. The provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will: allow Medicare to directly negotiate drug and insulin prices in 2023; cap out-of-pocket costs that seniors pay for medications at $2,000 per year and no more than $35 for insulin; require drug companies to rebate back the difference to Medicare if they raise prices higher than inflation; and stabilize Part D premiums for seniors in Medicare, among other transformative provisions.

H.R. 586, STANDUP Act:

Scott introduced the STANDUP Act during the 116th Congress with Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in 2019 and re-introduced again in 2021 for the 117th Congress. The bipartisan, bicameral measure requires states, schools, and Tribes to teach students, teachers, and administrators to identify and address threats before tragedy occurs to receive Project AWARE grants, which promote youth mental health awareness among schools and communities. The bill's Senate companion, introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in December 2021, became law on March 15, 2022. The STANDUP Act will encourage schools in San Diego and across the country to implement evidence-based suicide prevention training for students in grades 6 through 12.

H.R. 2051, Methamphetamine Response Act:

In 2021, Scott introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Methamphetamine Response Act with Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to declare methamphetamine an emerging drug threat, thereby triggering the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to create and deploy a national strategy to tackle the rising danger of meth addiction and overdose. The bill's Senate companion became law on March 14, 2022. The Methamphetamine Response Act will help stem methamphetamine addiction and overdoses in San Diego, once known as the meth capital of the United States.

H.R. 1514, POWER ON Act:

In 2021, Scott introduced and passed legislation to meet our nation’s energy goals by improving permitting processes and boosting community input to help build more transmission lines and deploy more renewable energy. The bill became law as part of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act of 2021 (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal). On January 12, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the “Building a Better Grid” Initiative to carry out key transmission provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, including Scott's POWER ON Act. The POWER ON Act will boost reliability, help decarbonize the power sector, electrify the transportation sector, adapt the grid to withstand the devastating effects of climate change, and lower electricity costs for consumers in San Diego and across the country.

H.R. 1043, Employer Participation in Repayment Act:

In 2020, Scott introduced and passed bipartisan legislation to incentivize employers to help pay their employees’ student loans. The bill has garnered over 200 cosponsors. In 2017, Scott highlighted the bill at the South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU conference to garner national attention and rally support for the bill. A temporary version of the bill became law in the CARES Act in March 2020 and it received a five-year extension under the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending package. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act will relieve San Diegans of student debt faster so they can afford to buy a home or save for retirement.

H.R. 1166, Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USEIT) Act:

In 2019, Scott introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize carbon utilization and direct air capture research and development - technology that reduces CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. It creates competitive financial awards for innovative technologies that advance direct air capture, which helps to fights the adverse effects of climate change. The bill was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending package in December 2020 and is now law.

H.R. 2274, HYPE Act:

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. His bill became law as part of the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Previously, it took an act of Congress to extend construction permits for hydropower projects, even though these projects have already undergone a rigorous approval process. 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.

H.R. 3584, the Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries Act:

In 2019, Scott introduced and passed bipartisan legislation that 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. It became law as part of an appropriations package for 2020 in December 2019. 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.

H.R. 6080, the Preventing Drug Shortages Act:

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.

H.R. 2398, Veteran HOUSE Act:

In 2019, Scott introduced the Veteran HOUSE Act, which tackles veteran homelessness by expanding the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure chronically homeless veterans discharged under conditions other-than-honorable (OTH), but not dishonorable, are eligible for HUD-VASH housing vouchers and supportive case management services. Ultimately, the bill was included in the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2021 and is now law.

H.R. 1047, Housing Assistance Efficiency Act:

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 FAST Act in 2015 and is now law.

H.R 5830, Veteran PEER Act:

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 as part of the VA MISSION Act 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.

H.R. 2727, the Sergeant Daniel Somers Network of Support Act:

Howard and Jean Somers tragically lost their son Daniel in 2013 when he died by suicide after leaving the military. The Somers felt they could have prevented this tragedy if they knew how to better support Daniel’s transition from active duty to civilian life. After hearing their story, Scott offered and passed language that expressed support for the Department of Defense doing more proactive outreach to families of servicemembers to keep them informed of what their loved ones are experiencing, so they can be better equipped to support servicemembers when they come home. The language was included in the Committee report on the defense policy bill.

In 2019, Congress, Scott introduced and passed the bipartisan, bicameral Sgt. Daniel Somers Network of Support legislation to establish a Network of Support so servicemembers’ family and friends can prevent isolation and suicide. The bill has been included in the annual FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act and became law at the end of 2019. Surrounding servicemembers with their network of support will equip them with the tools they need and reduce the stigma of accessing mental health services.

H.R. 5324, Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act:

The Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act builds on the progress made by the Sergeant Daniel Somers Network of Support Act. In 2019, Scott introduced this bill that directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a network of support that shares information with designated family members and friends of veterans to guide and empower them as they help their loved ones navigate life after service. The information will detail the benefits and assistance the VA and other state and local government agencies offer to veterans, including mental health resources that could reduce the risk of suicide and potentially save lives.

The bill was included in a comprehensive package called the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act and was signed into law by President Trump in December 2020.

With both bills enacted, all servicemembers and veterans are now supported under the Network of Support model.

H.R. 1379, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the entitlement to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for members of the Armed Forces awarded the Purple Heart:

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” in 2017. Purple Heart recipients have made some of the most tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation. They earned full education benefits through their service.

H.R. 5538, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain additional periods of active duty service for purposes of suspending charges to veterans' entitlement to educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs during periods of suspended participation in vocational rehabilitation programs:

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.

H.R. 3005, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13308 Midland Road in Poway, California, as the "Ray Chavez Post Office Building":

Rep. Peters introduced H.R. 3005 in May 2019. This bill names the Poway Post Office on Midland Road in honor of World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, Raymond Barron Chavez. It was signed into law by President Trump in December 2020.

H.R. 1378, to designate the United States Federal Judicial Center located at 333 West Broadway in San Diego, California, as the "John Rhoades Federal Judicial Center" and to designate the United States courthouse located at 333 West Broadway in San Diego, California, as the "James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse":

Rep. Peters introduced H.R. 1378 in March 2013. This bill recognized Judge James M. Carter and Judge Judith N. Keep by naming the Federal Courthouse in Downtown San Diego in their honor. It was signed into law by President Obama in December 2014.