Government Reform
Our government is at its best when we are transparent and accountable to the people we represent. In San Diego, we know working together is what gets things done and solves problems. Unfortunately, Washington operates differently and San Diegans are rightfully frustrated with a gridlocked Congress and an inflexible federal bureaucracy. I’ve taken our bipartisan, solutions-oriented approach to getting things done to Washington because the government has to rebuild the trust it has lost with the American people through reforms and innovative problem-solving. From making Congress actually vote on bills that pass Committees to getting dark money out of our campaigns― we can make government more efficient and ethical. We can also increase transparency and reduce government waste by implementing renewable energy programs in federal buildings. Congress owes it to the communities we represent to make government work for the people again.
Enhancing Election Security
We know foreign countries interfered in the 2016 election. These actions are without precedent and should alarm every American. Ahead of 2020, we must take steps to protect our democracy. Upgrades to our election system will allow voters to securely exercise their right to vote and ensure Americans–not foreign adversaries–determine the outcome of our elections.
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Cosponsored the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, which creates a federal campaign foreign contact reporting compliance system to require campaigns and political committees to report any direct or indirect contact between a campaign/candidate and a foreign government/agent.
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Cosponsored the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, requires voter-verified paper ballots for all votes, either hand-marked by the voter or by a ballot machine that cannot count votes; requires voting machines to be manufactured in the United States; and prohibits voting machines from requiring a WiFi signal to operate. It also provides $600 million for the Election Assistance Commission to improve election infrastructure during Fiscal Year 2019, followed by $175 million every other year starting in 2020 to maintain the higher standard of election infrastructure.
Boosting Campaign Finance Reform
Our democracy depends on transparency and accountability. We need to take dark money out of political campaigns so Members of Congress can focus on making sound policy decisions that help American families by creating jobs, repairing our infrastructure, and stabilizing the economy. We also must realize that while individuals have every right to voice their political opinions, corporations are not individuals. Amplifying the voice of the people will prevent Super PACs and other dark money interests from drowning out the everyday American.
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Cosponsored the Honest Ads Act, which would require the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enact rules for online advertisements, similar to what is in place for television, radio, and satellite ads, to make it clear to the public who is running online political advertisements.
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Cosponsored the Preventing Adversaries Intentionally from Disbursing Advertising Dollars (PAID AD) Act, which would make it illegal for foreign entities to purchase political ads about candidates or legislative issues that have an impact on the election.
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Cosponsored the Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act, which reduces the number of FEC commissioners from six to five to break stalemate decisions; improves how commissioners are selected by revising the qualifications and prohibiting recent politicians from serving as commissioners.
Scott’s Plan to Fix Congress Now
Make Congress Work: Institute 5-Day Congressional work weeks; require floor vote within 60 days on all bills passed in committee; enforce No Budget, No Pay; Reform the Debt Ceiling process to end government shutdowns and protect America’s credit
Improve our Elections: Require “dark money” SuperPACs disclose campaign contributions above $200; increase voter protections nationwide; make Vote-by-Mail available nationwide; Repeal Citizens United to limit the influence of money in politics
Removing Inefficiency and Government Waste: Enact biennial budgeting process; don’t duplicate but consolidate programs to save money; improve federal purchasing to Buy Smarter and Save
Ensure Ethical Standards: Annual Ethics and Sexual Harassment training for Members and staff; Ban lobbyists from the House Floor; No purchasing First-Class air travel on Taxpayer dime
Increase Transparency & Openness: Require Members to disclose personal crop insurance subsidies; Increase public disclosure of Congressional trips; Require Congress to increase awareness of services available to constituents and require outside vendors disclose when Congress can provide services for free
Make Government Green: Increase energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in federal buildings; Cut down on paper waste by requiring opt-in to receive government publications; Improve energy sustainability programs in the military.
More information on making congress work here
More information on improving our elections here
More information on removing inefficiency and government waste here
More information on ensuring ethical standards here
More information on increasing transparency and openness here
More information on making government green here
More on Government Reform
Bills Introduced that have Become Law
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":
SAN DIEGO – Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement regarding the President’s removal of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, the latest in a streak of key dismissals of inspectors general by the Trump administration.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) re-asserted the need for a new congressional calendar that would increase the time members can spend in their districts, increase the number of days Congress is in legislative session, and reduce taxpayer-paid member travel to help fight climate change.
Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) voted to pass one of two government funding bills. The 12 appropriations bills, broken into two packages, will fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2020. Both bills now head to the Senate for passage before the bills go to President Trump for his signature.
Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) questioned Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during a House Budget Committee Hearing about how the American economy will fare in the years ahead, given the recent expansion of the federal deficit to $984 billion, a 26 percent increase from 2018.
Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) voted to oppose the deal reached by the president and congressional leadership to raise the budget caps and suspend the debt ceiling, citing our growing federal debt and concern about saddling the next generation with more taxes and debt. He blasted the deal, releasing the following statement:
Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) voted against repealing the “Cadillac tax,” because it did not include replacement revenue, corresponding cuts to other spending, or another way to rein in healthcare costs for millions of Americans.
Last week, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) helped pass the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act to safeguard our elections from foreign interference. The bill requires voter-verified paper ballots for all votes, either hand-marked by the voter or by a ballot machine that cannot count votes; requires voting machines to be manufactured in the United States; and prohibits voting machines from requiring a WiFi signal to operate.
Earlier this week, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) called attention to the cost of climate change and its risks to the federal budget during a meeting of the House Budget Committee, which covered the budgetary consequences of delaying action on climate change and included testimony from climate scientists, public policy experts, and budget specialists. The meeting follows reports on the catastrophic cost of climate—both in loss of biodiversity and increased disaster-related spending.
Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) helped pass the For the People Act, a bill he cosponsored to improve campaign finance disclosure, protect and expand voting access, and hold public officials accountable to the American public.
“Americans asked, and we listened: the For the People Act delivers on our promise to fix our broken democracy and bring transparency to Congress, the White House, and entire federal government.