Representative Scott Peters

Dear [salutation],

On Wednesday, I hosted a telephone town hall and talked with you about what I'm working on in Congress to address our cost-of-living crisis and the Trump Administration's recent actions on immigration. I was also joined by a special guest from FWD.us, a policy organization pushing for resilient solutions on criminal justice and immigration, who talked about where federal immigration policy stands.

Listen to the full town hall here.

What’s happening in Washington Right Now

Earlier this month, Congress passed 11 out of 12 government spending bills for fiscal year 2026. We did not fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), though. Instead, Congress kept it open for two weeks to continue negotiations on how to fund DHS. However, as of Friday last week, Congress failed to reach an agreement, and the agency has shutdown. But DHS is not just ICE and boarder portal.

A shutdown will also disrupt vital agencies within DHS, including FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and cybersecurity– not ICE. Not only does this shutdown jeopardize the livelihoods of vital employees, but it risks our disaster response, aviation security, maritime safety, and cybersecurity. This is reckless and indefensible.

So what am I doing now? I’m working to get more support for my Stop Excessive Enforcement in Immigration Act to rein in ICE, and I’m cosponsoring legislation to provide full-year funding for essential DHS agencies while excluding funding for ICE and Secretary Noem’s office. Secretary Noem has not acknowledged that what happened to Renee Good and Alex Pretti was wrong. She has not promised reforms. Instead, she has doubled down and blamed the victims. That's why I have called for her resignation or impeachment. But shutting down all of DHS will not achieve meaningful reform or remove Secretary Noem from power.

Everything Else I Continue to Work on

I also shared a few updates on what I’m doing on clean energy, housing, healthcare, and to bring home federal resources:

In San Diego, we know all too well about the sky rocketing costs of energy. I introduced the bipartisan SPEED and Reliability Act to accelerate the process of building electric transmission lines to carry energy from where it is generated to where it is needed. My ePermit Act passed the House in December last year and will expedite the approval process for projects like renewable energy, housing, and transportation projects. And I introduced a draft of my CERTAIN Act to ensure federal agencies handle project authorizations and environmental reviews efficiently and no president cancel energy projects they don’t like.

We are also making progress to tackle the housing shortage in San Diego and across the country. The House and the Senate both recently passed bipartisan comprehensive housing packages, which included my Housing Supply Expansion Act and my Build More Housing Near Transit Act. I'm hopeful that the House and Senate can come together and send a compromise package to the President's desk.

I know many people are concerned about rising costs and the risk of losing coverage. I voted to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits in December. The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ put millions at risk of losing their insurance, and that’s a mistake the American people won’t forget. I’ll keep working with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to lower costs and protect access to care.

I secured $13 million for all 15 projects I lead in the FY26 Community Project Funding requests. And my office has now returned a total of $23.5 million dollars in veterans and military benefits, Social Security payments, federal tax refunds, and many other federal benefits since I took office in 2012.

Your Questions

I also took several questions from you. I talked about everything from the Republicans’ SAVE Act, immigration, and cross-border sewage, to government shutdowns, a congressional stock trading ban, and President Trump’s executive overreach. I couldn’t get to every question, though, so here are a few more.

Rena from Hillcrest: “How can Congress counter what was just done to air quality and rollback of clean air standards by DJT & EPA?”

President Trump's illegal repeal of the science-backed Endangerment Finding is a message to the American people: he doesn’t care about the facts if they don’t serve his political or financial interests. Science proves that unregulated greenhouse gas leads to more heat waves, more droughts, and more wildfires destroying your health, your homes, your water, and your air. Abandoning this science means more pollution in your neighborhood, failed crops, and more kids with asthma. I will continue to speak out and fight to reverse this disastrous policy. Some organizations have sued the EPA to challenge the decision and I’m hopeful that the courts will rule on the side of science and public health. I will also use every tool available to me to require the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as mandated under the Clean Air Act.

Myrna from San Marcos: “Do you have a plan to hold the President accountable to the Constitution and the 14th Amendment Sec.3 through appropriate legislation if he does not allow a free and fair election in 2026?”

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and increased funding in the annual appropriations package for election security is critical to safeguard our elections from security threats, while also ensuring the accuracy and efficient administration of our elections. I will continue to push for more funding for Election Security Grants to ensure elections now and in the future remain secure. And as part of the DHS funding negotiations, I’ll continue to demand that ICE agents not be allowed around sensitive locations, like polling places. Congress should use every power at our disposal if the President does not allow a free and fair election.

Megan from San Marcos: “How are you directly addressing the ice activity going on in your direct community?”

I have led the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act and have cosponsored other federal legislation that protects sensitive locations and immigrants' rights. I have also supported San Diego school districts in pushing back against ICE enforcement at our schools, I have conducted oversight into the detentions at the federal courthouse and Otay Mesa Detention Center, and I continue to call out and push back against harmful DHS actions in San Diego. Last May, after the raid of Buona Forchetta, I led the San Diego delegation to express our outrage to Secretary Noem over the dangerous tactics used in the operation and demand answers from DHS. I am committed to funding the agencies that keep our communities safe and push for real reform and accountability for ICE.

Scott’s Reads

This Bloomberg article discusses the resolution I led to reduce our budget deficit to no more than 3% of gross domestic product.
This Op-Ed in the Hill talks about the need to advance housing and transportation policy together (and mentions my Build More Housing Near Transit Act as one potential solution).

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Thanks, and take care.

Scott H. Peters
Member of Congress

What’s happening in Washington Right Now

Everything Else I Continue to Work on

Your Questions

Scott’s Reads

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