Government Transparency

Representative Scott Peters Fights for Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability in our Government, and for Ethical and Inclusive Elections

Our government works for the people; San Diegans deserve a transparent and accountable government. During his time in Congress Scott has consistently worked to improve government efficiency, increase government transparency and accountability, and protect individuals’ right to vote.

I. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

As a member of Congress Scott knows a key part of his job is ensuring our government is transparent and accountable to the people.

Scott introduced:

• H.R. 5634, the Stop Hiding Congressional Farm Subsidies Act, which would require public disclosure of crop insurance premium subsidies received by Members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, their immediate families, and entities of which they are majority shareholders.

Scott co-sponsored:

• H.R. 5095, to mandate all Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives to complete annual ethics training conducted by the Committee on Ethics.

Scott voted for:

• H.R. 325, which adopts a version of “No Budget, No Pay,” an initiative Peters declared his support for prior to being elected to Congress. This would require Congress to pass a budget in order to receive a paycheck.
• An amendment to H.R. 5016, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which increases transparency and record-keeping at the IRS.
• H.R. 313, the Government Spending Accountability Act, which would limit spending on federal conferences to $500,000 per conference, require agency head approval for the most expensive conferences, and require agencies to publicly post online their conference itineraries and the costs of the conferences to the federal government.

II. GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

Scott has taken action on several common-sense solutions to increase government efficiency.

Scott introduced:

• H.R. 2781, the Stop Paying Something for Nothing Act, that closes already empty bank accounts, as identified by the Government Accountability Office, that are currently being charged bank fees to the tune of nearly $1 million this year.
• H.R. 5154, the Open Government Technology Work to More Businesses Act, to simplify, streamline, and digitize the registration process for small businesses to be eligible to contract with the federal government

Scott cosponsored:

• H.R. 2689, the Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act, which directs energy managers of federal government facilities to evaluate those facilities’ water and energy use, and implement and publically report conservation measures. 
• H.R. 540, the Energy Efficiency Government Technology Act, which requires the use of energy-efficient and energy-saving technologies in federal data centers, and also requires agencies to formulate specific benchmarks and performance goals to calculate overall cost savings from energy efficiency improvements.

Scott voted for:

• For H.R. 4195, the Federal Register Modernization Act, which requires the Federal Register be distributed digitally instead of on paper.

III. ELECTIONS: IMPROVING ACCESS TO VOTING

Among our most basic, sacred rights as Americans is the right to vote and Congress must protect that fundamental right.

Scott cosponsored:

• H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act, which would create a competitive alternative to our current big money dominated campaign financing system. Leveling the playing field by preventing Super PAC’s and outside special interests from overshadowing small donors. 
• H.R. 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act, which would restore Voting Rights Act protections that the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling struck down. 
• H.R. 465, the Leadership PAC Limitation Act, which would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit the conversion of leadership PAC funds for personal use.