Dear Friend:

Nearly two years have passed since the 111th Congress was sworn in to session.  During that time, Congress passed legislation to stop anti-consumer credit card practices, help students save on student loans, improve veterans' benefits, expand health care choices and create tax incentives for small businesses.  I would like to share a few bills with you that passed with my support in the 111th Congress.

Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights

As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I helped to negotiate and pass financial reforms, including H.R. 627, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act.  This measure bans unfair rate increases, forbids abusive fees and penalties, and gives consumers the rights and information they need to make educated decisions about their finances. The legislation also mandates greater transparency to give consumers clear information, such as requiring credit cards to post their agreements online and fining companies that engage in deceptive practice. H.R. 627 was signed into law in May 2009.

Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act

I have been working to reduce the rate of foreclosures nationwide.  Georgia is ranked seventh worst in the nation, as one of every 271 households currently experiences foreclosure.  In the Financial Services Committee, I worked to draft the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, which is now law. The measure responds to the subprime mortgage crisis by preventing bad loans from being offered to consumers. H.R. 4173 aims to curb predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices. In addition, the legislation further holds creditors responsible for the loans they originate by requiring new federal rules to be written to require creditors to retain an economic interest in the credit risk of each loan.

Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

As the cost of education rises, Americans are finding it increasingly more difficult to afford the cost of a college education. Passed by the House in March 2010, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) increased the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to a maximum of $5,500 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017.  In Georgia, Pell Grants were awarded in greater numbers in the 2009-10 school year, increasing 67 percent from $247 million to $412 million.  The legislation also supports an Income-Based Repayment program to lower the monthly cap for new borrowers from fifteen to ten percent of their discretionary income.

H.R. 3590- The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The health of the constituents in the 13th district has been a concern of mine since I was elected to Congress. During the 111th Congress, I hosted two district health fairs to ensure that constituents without care had access to preventative tests and services. This concern also led the me to vote in favor of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The law expands access to affordable health insurance by creating a private health insurance exchange which will open in 2014. The law also protects patients from companies that deny claims based on pre-existing conditions and eliminates life-time coverage limits.  For the first time, children under the age of 26 may also elect to remain on their parent's health insurance. The new law also eliminates the "donut hole" under Medicare for seniors and strengthens both the Medicare and Social Security Trust fund.

Economic Recovery and Small Business

In the 111th Congress, I hosted two jobs fairs to expand job search opportunities to the unemployed.  I also voted in favor of H.R. 4380, the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act, which is helping U.S. manufacturers to compete at home and abroad through over 600 tariff suspensions and reductions on intermediate products or materials these companies use that are not made domestically. The bill was signed into law by President Obama in August 2010. I also supported H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which closes tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship American jobs overseas and cuts the deficit by more than $1 billion.  The bill was signed into law by President Obama in August of this year along with H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs Act. The law provides 8 tax cuts for small business and creates new tools to help American small businesses to export goods and compete abroad. I also support unemployment insurance extensions for Georgians currently facing unemployment in order to ensure that families have a safety net until the economy rebounds.

Seniors

Social Security has provided America with retirement security and has protected families for 70 years. Today, some 92 percent of Americans over 65 receive Social Security retirement or spousal benefits. During the 111th Congress, I voted for legislation that will strengthen Social Security for seniors, including H.R. 5987, the Seniors Protection Act of 2010 which would have offset the lack of COLA for Social Security recipients with a one time $250 payment.  I also voted in favor of overturning the Sustainable Growth Rate Formula so that doctors who accept Medicare will not have to face painful cuts so that they continue to treat their Medicare patients.

Foreign Affairs

Iran’s access to nuclear technology has become a major international issue because of its unstable and belligerent government. H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the President to impose sanctions if an Iranian government entity, person or business makes an investment of $20 million or more that directly and significantly contributes to Iran's ability to develop petroleum resources. In addition, H.R. 2194 requires the Director of National Intelligence to identify countries where sensitive U.S. technology is being illegally shared with Iran via other countries.  I was a member of the Conference Committee  to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Sanctions Bill. It is my hope and belief that these tough sanctions will help bring about a favorable democratic regime change in Iran and help the people there who are oppressed by their government.

Veterans Affairs

In response to the economic crisis, Congress enacted critical measures to expand educational opportunity and economic relief for veterans.  The new Post 9-11 GI Bill, which took effect last August, restores the promise of a full, four-year college education, allowing up to 2 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts to be part of a new American economic recovery, just like after World War II.  We have extended those crucial college benefits to all children of fallen service members since 9-11-01.

Recognizing that veterans coming home are facing a tough hiring climate, this Congress has enacted incentives for businesses to hire unemployed veterans, as well as efforts to increase job opportunities with veterans on-the-job training in the energy sector and to ensure fairness to veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracts.  

The House of Representatives has worked to improve our veterans’ health care. It has been critical for the 382,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of care this year -- with expanded mental health screening and treatment -- to treat the signature injuries of the war, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.  Working with the President, Congress ended the Bush Administration’s ban on enrolling modest-income veterans for VA health care – providing VA health care access to nearly 300,000 veterans. 

America faced many challenges during the last two years and it appears that economic recovery is slowly returning.  I am working in Congress to create an environment where the hard work and ingenuity of America’s citizens can reach its full potential. I look forward to hearing from you as the 112th Congress begins work in January.

Sincerely,

David Scott
Member of Congress