Congressman David Scott’s Priorities and Leadership
Congressman Scott believes that every Georgian deserves access to a quality and affordable home. He believes in pursuing a whole-of-government approach to build accessible housing and lower housing costs for middle-class families. This means bolstering federal programs with a proven track-record of providing safe, stable, and secure housing, expanding the use of first-time homebuyer tax credits, and by promoting fairness and transparency in rental markets.
Housing Affordability
Rep. Scott requested $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund in 2024 to provide housing assistance for nearly one million households, approximately half of whom are elderly and persons with disabilities.
To help Georgia families who are at risk of being unable to afford to heat their homes in the winter or cooling them in the summer, Rep. Scott sent a letter supporting $1.6 billion in new funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at HHS.
Cosponsored H.R.7132, the Housing Supply and Affordability Act which infuses HUD with new grant funding for the development and implementation of housing policy plans by state and local governments.
To address an infusion of corporate entities—especially from outside GA—buying up properties, Rep. Scott sent a letter to Assembly leaders calling for actions against absent corporate landlords and investors hiding behind shell companies who skirt housing laws.
In May, he voted to pass H.R. 3507 the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, requiring state/ local governments that receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to submit plans for fast-tracking implementation of land use policies that promote new housing.
Rep. Scott cosponsored H.R. 3940, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to create a new tax incentive that can produce 50,000 starter homes in under-resourced communities.
Rental Access
In his effort to expand Section 8 vouchers, Rep. Scott requested a total FY 2024 funding level of $33.7 billion for Housing Choice Vouchers/Tenant Based Rental Assistance.
In February, Rep. Scott urged HUD extend Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing programs—providing an ongoing source of capital so state and local housing finance agencies can keep offering FHA insured multi-family loans at low interest rates to preserve high-quality, affordable rental homes.
Rep. Scott secured language in the FY 2025 THUD funding bill to protect Performance-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) agreements and to ensure HUD provides exceptional services to Section 8 residents and superior maintenance of buildings and units.
In May, he voted against H.R. 802, a GOP bill gutting CARES Act era protections for renters which requires landlords and Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to provide at least 30 days’ notice before an eviction is carried out.
Homeowner Assistance
As a senior Member of the Financial Services Committee, Rep. Scott remains dedicated to curbing foreclosures and late-stage defaults. In July he urged the CFPB to enact rules requiring servicers do more to help Georgia homeowners by temporarily pausing payments or extending loan terms lowering monthly payments.
He cosponsored H.R. 4231, the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, to address the racial wealth and homeownership gap with $100 billion in direct downpayment, closing costs, and mortgage assistance for first-time, first-generation homebuyers to buy a first home.
In March, Rep. Scott sent a letter to the CFPB urging the bureau provide more tailored notices to borrowers after they miss a payment to include details about who their loan investor is and how to get information about available assistance.
Helped secure $3.5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs for homeowners.
Rural Housing
Secured the highest possible funding level for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loans Program in FY 2025. RUS provides financing to improve electric service in rural areas and to implement demand side management, energy efficiency and conservation
Federal programs often fail to reach rural families in Georgia because of the way income limits are calculated—that is why Rep. Scott sent a letter to HUD to review the current methodology for calculating program reach in the 18 states experiencing rural poverty.
Successfully urged the Biden Admin to finalized regulations making it easier to build mixed-income housing, housing for very-low-income tenants, and housing in sparsely populated rural areas by reforming income guidelines for the LIHTC.
He cosponsored H.R. 4231, the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, to address the racial wealth and homeownership gap with $100 billion in direct downpayment, closing costs, and mortgage assistance for first-time, first-generation homebuyers to buy a first home.
Homelessness
In May 2024, Rep. Scott voted for H.R. 8340, the Housing Unhouse Veterans Act, to get homeless disabled veterans into the housing built exclusively for them on veteran land.
Following the disastrous Grants Pass v. Johnson SCOTUS ruling, Rep. Scott sent a letter urging the Administration immediately advance evidence-based solutions to help people experiencing homelessness who have no shelter or housing options available.
Rep. Scott requested a FY 2025 funding level of $4.75 billion for the McKinney-Vento Housing Assistance Grant program to provide outreach, shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, short and medium-term rent subsidies for homeless individuals.
Rep. Scott requested $40 million in new FY 2025 funding of Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI) to better enable GA communities to expand and strengthen treatment services for people with substance abuse disorders experiencing homelessness.
Opposed Georgia State Senate Bill 63 (signed into law July 1) which adds criminal trespass to the list of offenses that require a cash bond for release. Trespass is a charge homeless people often face and could result in overcrowding surges within Atlanta jails.
