Since 2013

Statistics for 2018

Dollars Returned to San Diegans
$55,743
Letters, Calls and Emails Answered
10,154
San Diegans Helped by Our Office
56

Congressman Scott Peters

Representing the 52nd District of California

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

April 13, 2018

Dear Friend,

I wanted to share an opportunity for San Diego high school students to have their artwork featured in the United States Capitol. The 2018 Congressional Art Competition is underway and I am encouraging students to enter.

2018 Art Competition FINAL

 

As a former board member of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and a leader in the Murals of La Jolla effort, I know supporting San Diego's thriving art scene means not only investing in our leading art institutions, but also emerging artists.

How to Enter

Students are encouraged to create original artwork according to the following guidelines:

Entries can be no larger than 26” x 26” x 4” when framed. Artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution.

Artwork may be:

  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
  • Prints: lithographs, silk screen, block prints
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
  • Collages (must be two dimensional)
  • Computer-generated art
  • Photographs

Art Examples

 
Visit my website for more details and a complete list of rules and regulations.

Deadline


Artwork must be dropped off at our San Diego office by Wednesday, April 25th at 4 p.m.

Get directions to our office here.

For questions, please contact my San Diego office at 858-455-5550. I look forward to seeing this year's submissions.
San Diego Artists: Enter for the Chance to Win
Apr 13, 2018

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

February 9, 2018


Dear Friend,

I joined the Veterans Affairs Committee for a special meeting on veterans’ homelessness. I wanted to get answers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and veteran support groups on how the federal government can address housing affordability, access, and supply to support veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness.

In San Diego, high housing costs make it competitive for individuals seeking a home, especially those using rental assistance vouchers through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

 

Vets Homelessness Hearing

 

Click here to watch Rep. Peters question HUD officials and veteran support groups.


I asked what HUD is doing to address the gap between high housing costs and the value of vouchers for veterans.

The General Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD acknowledged the rising housing costs in coastal cities, like San Diego, and noted that a decrease in housing supply has increased prices. She suggested solutions like project-based vouchers which encourage public housing authorities to build affordable housing.

I’ve worked to address homelessness in San Diego, including confronting the challenges faced by our veteran community. In 2016, we had a critical breakthrough with HUD when they agreed to consider alternatives to the Continuum of Care formula, which determines how federal homelessness funding is allocated. Replacing the severely outdated formula would better measure San Diego’s need for resources to address homelessness.

I will continue fighting to get San Diego a fair share of the resources we deserve to address homelessness and serve our veterans. 

Sincerely,
Supporting Homeless Veterans
Feb 9, 2018

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January 25, 2018

 

Dear Friend,

I know many San Diegans spent the weekend concerned about what the government shutdown meant for them. More than 15,000 active duty service members call San Diego home. There are also roughly 35,000 federal employees in our region, some of whom were at risk of being furloughed.

I spent the weekend in D.C. working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find consensus on a long-term spending plan that would bring certainty to our national defense, our economy, and working families across the country. 

I also pledged to donate my pay during the shutdown to an organization in San Diego, and I renewed the call for the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would withhold congressional pay until the budget is complete. 

Messages to San Diegans

If you missed our messages during the shutdown, view them below. 

Message 1

   Day 2 of the Shutdown

Day 3 of the Shutdown 

 Message 2

Fighting for Certainty

When the government shut down, we saw the consequences of too many stopgap bills. This is no way to run our country. We know our military, research institutions, and federal agencies need more certainty because when they’re forced to plan for multiple budget scenarios, it’s a waste of time and money. 

San Diegans rightfully expect their leaders to work together to find solutions. I’m ready to work with my colleagues on a budget that adequately funds our military, increases our resiliency to natural disasters, helps San Diego address cross-border sewage, and doesn’t increase the national debt. These short-term stop-gap measures are just not good enough.

PR

Read my full statement on the latest, stop-gap spending bill. 

My offices are always open during this time; please feel free to reach out to us in San Diego at 858-455-5550 or DC at 202-225-0508 if we can be of help.

Sincerely,
Avoiding Another Shutdown
Jan 25, 2018

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

December 15, 2017

 

Dear Friend,

The VA recently announced updates to The Decision Ready Claims (DRC) process, which allows eligible San Diego veterans to get a decision on VA claims in 30 days or less by working with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO).

DRC

You can now file a DRC for the following claim types:

  • Direct Service Connection Claims: Claims for conditions that began during your military service or were caused by an event while serving.
  • Presumptive Service Connection Claims: Claims for conditions that are presumed to have been caused by an event during your military service, even if there is no specific evidence showing a connection between your condition and your military service in your service records.
  • Secondary Service Connection Claims: Claims for conditions that were caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
  • Increased Disability Claims: Claims for existing service-connected conditions that you have medical evidence to show have gotten worse.
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Claims: Claims for surviving spouses of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease or who was rated 100% disabled due to service-connected conditions (including entitlement to Individual Unemployability) for 10 years prior to their death.
  • Pre-Discharge Claims: Claims for disability compensation filed by Servicemembers who have less than 90 days remaining before their separation from military service.
VA

Visit our website to learn more about Decision Ready Claims. 

 

Veterans can also contact our San Diego office at 858-455-5550 with questions or for assistance with their benefits.

Sincerely,
Update to VA Claims Process
Dec 15, 2017

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

October 20, 2017

Dear Friend,

I'm honored to announce our office is now an official partner with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a program to properly honor Vietnam-era veterans and their families.

As a Commemorative Partner, my office will host events and activities each year to recognize the tremendous sacrifices of Vietnam-era veterans, highlight the contributions made on the home front, and celebrate the advances made in science, technology, medicine, and military research. 

Vietnam Vets Commemoration

Many Vietnam veterans were treated badly or met with indifference after their service. The controversy surrounding U.S. involvement in Vietnam sparked protests and demonstrations that continued long after our service members returned home. 

Decades later, it is important that we recognize the sacrifice these veterans made for our country. Regardless of our feelings about the Vietnam War, that blame should have never been placed on heroes who served their country.

If you are a veteran or surviving family member of the Vietnam War-era (anyone who served active-duty during November 1, 1955 - May 15, 1975) and want to be included in an upcoming event to honor Vietnam-era veterans, you can sign up to be notified of our next event. 

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more about the Vietnam War Commemoration and eligibility requirements. 

Vietnam Families
Vietnam Memorial


Sign up here to be notified of our next event or ceremony. 

It's an honor to be part of this new opportunity to give our Vietnam heroes and their families, the overdue recognition they earned through their service. If you have additional questions, please visit our website or call our San Diego office at 858-455-5550.
Honoring Vietnam Vets & Their Families
Oct 20, 2017

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September 22, 2017

Dear Friend,

This month, the President rescinded the DACA program, which protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from being deported. DREAMers are our friends, neighbors, and coworkers working toward the American Dream and driving our economy. I wanted to share a recent op-ed I wrote calling on Congress to pass the Dream Act and protect the 38,000 Dreamers that call San Diego home. I hope you will take a moment to read it in the Union Tribune. 

DACA

Share Your Thoughts

As your representative, I'd like to know where you stand. Share your thoughts and join my email updates.

Do you think Congress should pass the DREAM Act?

Yes, we need to protect DREAMers.

No, we should end the DACA program.

I'm not sure.
DACA Guide

Wondering how proposed changes to DACA could affect you? Check out our guide.
Stay Updated

Stay updated on how we're working to defend DACA and other priorities for San Diego. 
Congress must act to protect DREAMers
Sep 21, 2017

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

September 15, 2017

Dear Friend,

Each year, I have the privilege of nominating young men and women to the U.S. Service Academies. I'm honored to help students interested in joining San Diego's legacy as a proud military town. We know the application process can be daunting, so we're hosting an information night next week. 

Academy Seals
Date and Time

View and download the Information Night flyer.

Learn About Each Academy

Hear from representatives from each of the U.S. Service Academies: the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Army ROTC representatives will also be there to answer questions about officer training programs. 

A Note About USCGA

USCG


A congressional nomination is not required for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy admissions process. To learn more about their requirements call 800-883-USCG (8724).

West Point

 

For more information, visit our website or contact our San Diego office at 858-455-5550.

 

If you or your high school student is thinking about a career in the military, I encourage you to stop by with questions about the application and nomination process. I look forward to seeing you there.
You're Invited: Service Academy Information Night
Sep 15, 2017

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

September 8, 2017

Dear Friend, 

Hurricane Harvey reminded communities across the country that we can better prepare for natural disasters. In the last 15 years, the federal government spent over $200 billion on disaster relief. Estimates of the total cost of Hurricane Harvey range from $75 billion to $190 billion, which would make it the costliest disaster in American history.  

Helping Harvey Victims

Hurricane Harvey

I helped pass a bill to provide emergency disaster funding for Harvey, so Texas can recover and rebuild, but the damage will require multiple aid packages over the next few months. 

Helping one another in times of crisis is at the heart of American values, but building our resiliency to natural disasters will save lives and money in the long run. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, every dollar invested in preparedness and resiliency saves us four dollars in restoration costs. 

Preparing Communities for Disasters

STRONG Act Final

Today, I introduced the bipartisan Strengthening the Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground (STRONG) Act to give state and local governments the tools to plan ahead and improve preparation and response to extreme weather.

Creating a central information center would allow Governors and Mayors to see strategies that are working in other parts of the country and adapt them to make their communities more resilient. The bill would also ensure the federal government is supporting their efforts strategically and efficiently. 

San Diego Country officials predict this year will be the highest risk wildfire season our region has seen in years. Western states are facing some of the largest wildfires in recorded history. We can't wait for another devastating wildfire or Hurricane Harvey to finally have a national vision that strengthens community resiliency in the face of increasing extreme weather.
Fires

Visit our website for tips on preparing your family and home for wildfire season. 
Ready SD

Visit Ready San Diego for hazard maps, emergency kits, and more planning resources. 
Lessons from Hurricane Harvey
Sep 8, 2017

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

July 25, 2017

Dear Friend,

The House just passed the Forever G.I. Bill, a sweeping update to veteran's education benefits and the biggest expansion in decades. The package includes my bill to give eligible Purple Heart recipients the full G.I. Bill education benefits they earned through their service, which will help an estimated 660 Purple Heart veterans a year as they transition to civilian life. 

The bipartisan reforms I worked on with my colleagues on the Veteran's Affairs Committee honors the promise we make to our veterans to help them get a quality education that will set them up for success.

Honoring Purple Heart Veterans

Purple Heart Medal

Purple Heart veterans make some of the most significant sacrifices in service to our country, but one of out five Purple Heart veterans do not qualify for full G.I. Bill education benefits. These heroes fought and bled for us, and my bill gives them the full education benefits they earned.

Whether they use these benefits for college, vocational school, or on-the-job training, expanding educational options will help wounded veterans transition to civilian life.

Scott Vets Purple Heart Speech

Watch Rep. Peters speak during debate of the Forever G.I. Bill.

The progress we made this week builds on a history of taking care of our veterans when they return home from active duty.

A Brief History of the G.I. Bill

GI Bill FDR

Following World War II, Congress passed The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944―more commonly known as the G.I. Bill―which established hospitals, low-interest mortgages, and stipends for college and trade school tuitions as a way to help veterans avoid some of the economic hardships of the WWI generation. 

The programs created by the bill aimed to save veterans from the perils of a devastating war, and also laid the foundation for a system to get veterans the support and benefits they earned through their service and sacrifice. 

The next major update was the Montgomery G.I. Bill, which expanded the educational programs, institutions and financial support of the post-WWII version and also extended these benefits to the Reserve and National Guard. Montgomery G.I. benefits were also tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index and length of service. 
Mont GI
Post 9/11
A New Era of Veterans Education Benefits
Jul 25, 2017

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Rep. Scott Peters Banner

May 18, 2017

Dear Friend,

I wanted to invite you to a community open house at Miramar National Cemetery this weekend.

You're Invited

Join me, Miramar National Cemetery, and the Miramar Cemetery Support Foundation, to learn about the burial options available to San Diego veterans, servicemembers, and eligible family members. 

Miramar National Cemetery is the newest VA cemetery in the western United States and a great addition to San Diego. As a proud military town, this new addition will help us honor those who bravely served our country. 

With Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at capacity for new internments, Miramar Cemetery offers a full range of burial alternatives for San Diego veterans and their families. 

I hope you will join us this weekend to learn how to use VA benefits to access these services.
You're Invited: Miramar National Cemetery Open House
May 18, 2017

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