See how Scott H. Peters's votes line up with your values.
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Prediction track record
How often we called Scott H. Peters's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.
To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
Based on 7 data points across public statements and recorded votes · AI analysis of public records
118-hr-4367·Consistent
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024
92/100
What they said
Mar 26, 2026
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Representative Peters explicitly opposed the Republican DHS bill for allocating $28.8 billion to immigration enforcement, calling it 'unserious.' His recorded 'no' vote on passage of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act is directly consistent with this stated opposition to the bill's immigration enforcement funding priorities.
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Representative Peters stated opposition to the Republican DHS bill allocating $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious. The Secure the Border Act of 2023, which Peters voted against on passage, directly implements expanded immigration enforcement through increased border wall construction (900 miles vs. current 700 miles), asylum restrictions, and employer verification requirements. Peters's stated opposition and his no vote on passage are strongly aligned on the shared question of whether to support this immigration enforcement legislation.
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025
92/100
What they said
Mar 26, 2026
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Representative Peters stated opposition to the Republican DHS bill allocating $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, calling it unserious. His recorded vote against passage of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025 is directly consistent with this stated opposition. Both the statement and the vote point in the same direction—rejection of the bill.
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Representative Peters opposed the Republican DHS bill allocating $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious. His no vote on the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act—which restricts federal funding to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement—aligns with this stated opposition to aggressive immigration enforcement measures. Both the statement and vote reflect resistance to Republican immigration enforcement priorities.
Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024
85/100
What they said
Mar 26, 2026
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Representative Peters opposed the bill in his statement, characterizing the Republican DHS funding allocation for immigration enforcement as unserious, and voted against passage. The bill does include $28.8 billion in immigration enforcement funding and imposes limits on asylum eligibility, directly matching the subject of his criticism. His NO vote on passage is consistent with his stated opposition to the bill's immigration enforcement provisions.
The release advocates for the CERTAIN Act, which would streamline federal energy permitting timelines, strengthen interagency coordination, protect issued permits from revocation, and reduce political interference in the permitting process.
The statement advocates for streamlined federal energy permitting, stronger interagency coordination, and protection of issued permits from revocation—all core elements of the CERTAIN Act. The Atomic Energy Advancement Act addresses nuclear energy permitting specifically, directing the NRC to efficiently license reactors, expedite licensing decisions, and implement timely environmental reviews. The rep's YES vote on nuclear permitting acceleration is directionally consistent with the stated support for permitting reform and streamlined energy project deployment. However, the CERTAIN Act is technology-neutral and applies broadly to all energy projects, while this bill focuses narrowly on nuclear reactors, creating a granularity mismatch between the broad permitting reform statement and this specific nuclear-focused bill.
Representative Peters opposes the Republican DHS funding bill that allocates $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious.
Rep. Peters' statement opposes a Republican DHS bill allocating $28.8 billion for immigration enforcement, characterizing it as unserious. The Police Our Border Act requires DOJ reporting on border policies' impact on law enforcement. Peters voted no on passage. While both address immigration enforcement policy, the bill's specific mechanism (reporting requirement on Biden-era policies' law enforcement impact) differs from the statement's focus (opposing increased enforcement funding). The no vote is directionally consistent with opposing Republican immigration enforcement priorities, though the bill itself is narrower in scope than the statement suggests.
Pairs with ambiguous language and high uncertainty are withheld until more data is available. Procedural, cloture, and amendment votes are excluded — they don't cleanly signal substantive support or opposition.
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Get an AI-narrated read on Scott H. Peters's full voting record against your stated values — aligned themes, conflicts, notable votes, and what to watch for.
Positions Scott H. Peters took during their campaign, scored against their subsequent record — public statements cross-checked with related votes. “Kept” means 80%+ of those statement-vs-vote pairs aligned; “Broken” means 30% or fewer.
0 kept0 broken0 mixed0 no action yet
Scott H. Peters has 6 tracked positions but no scored statement-vs-vote pairs touching them yet. Verdicts will appear here as related statements and votes accumulate.
No action yetSupports
Medicare should be allowed to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.
“Scott's plan laid the groundwork for Medicare drug-price negotiation, $35 insulin and a cap on what seniors pay for medicine.”
Passage votes where Scott H. Peters broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status".
Reps Peters, Vargas, Levin, and Jacobs Back San Diego County Registrar of Voters Amid Trump Admin Probe for Voter Data
Position: The release reports that four San Diego-area representatives sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General supporting the San Diego County Registrar of Voters amid a Department of Justice effort to obtain California voter roll data.
San Diego, CA — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) led members of the San Diego Congressional delegation, Reps. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51), in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche amid the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) attempt to sanction voter rolls across California, including in San Diego County’s Registrars of Voters (ROV).
Peters Urges Trump Admin to Cancel Mass Deportation Flights to Afghanistan and Iran
Position: Representative Peters and 64 other bicameral Members urge the administration to cancel deportation flights carrying Afghans and Iranians, arguing that deportees face persecution, torture, or death and that the U.S. retains obligations even when flights route through third countries.
San Diego, CA. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) led 65 bicameral Members of Congress on a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, demanding the immediate cancellation of any deportation flights carrying Afghans and Iranians, whether sent directly or through another country.
This letter comes after reports that over 150 Afghans could be deported to Pakistan in the coming days, which would constitute one of the largest single expulsions of Afghans ever. San Diego has served as a primary hub for incoming Afghan refugees, with nearly 5,000 resettling in the region. The Members also expressed concern over another flight with a mass deportation of Iranians — the first since the U.S. launched its military conflict against Iran— and that relatives of Afghans who helped American troops could be among those on board.
“Our nation made a promise to stand by Afghans who risked their lives and their families’ safety to stand by U.S. service members,” the Members wrote, adding that deporting them “is a violation of that promise and our moral obligations to the Afghan community who stood alongside our troops.”
The Members emphasized the well-documented danger awaiting deportees. The State Department lists Afghanistan as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” country, and for those who aided U.S. forces, “their assistance to U.S. troops puts a target on these individuals and their families to this day.” They detail the torture, detention, and extrajudicial killing of dissidents and LGBTQ persons, as well as the severe repression of women — noting that women and LGBTQ refugees could be on the flight.
The Members also raised alarm over reports that Iranians, including women, Christian converts, and pro-democracy activists, may be deported to Iran, where they face imprisonment, torture, and a possible death sentence. “Sending people who sought protection from the Islamic Republic of Iran back to a war zone and a repressive regime is unconscionable,” they wrote. They cited how even President Trump has warned about the dangers faced by pro-democracy and anti-government protesters in Iran.
The Members stressed that routing a flight through a third country does not change U.S. obligations, and urged the Trump Administration to warn Pakistan that the U.S. will not accept its participation in sending deportees onward to the Taliban.
These individuals “came to the U.S. because they believed in its promise of democracy, religious freedom, and liberty,” the Members concluded, and “we must uphold those values and commitments, not abandon people to autocratic regimes.”
“Sixty-six members of Congress, from both chambers, needed less than 24 hours to say what every veteran of the Afghanistan war already knows: you don’t hand the people who stood with our troops to the Taliban. When even the Taliban are voicing ‘serious concern’ about your deportation plan, you’ve lost the moral argument and the national security one. This flight isn’t immigration enforcement. It’s a betrayal with a boarding pass, and the whole world is watching whether America keeps its word. We are grateful to Rep. Peters for leading. Secretary Rubio and Secretary Mullin, ground this plane,” said Shawn VanDiver, U.S. Navy veteran and President and Founder of #AfghanEvac.
"Having effectively dismantled our protection system, this administration is set to deport vulnerable people back to Afghanistan and Iran, in violation of our human rights commitments and our nation's values," said Sarah Mehta, deputy director of immigration policy at the ACLU. "So many of these men and women never had a meaningful opportunity to defend their claims and are now the casualties of this administration's assault on asylum. We thank Congressman Peters for his leadership and all the members standing against these unconscionable deportations back to persecution, torture, or even death."
The Members requested an immediate response. Read the full letter here.
Background:
San Diego has served as a primary hub for incoming Afghan refugees, and Rep. Peters has been a staunch advocate for the safe relocation, protection, and legal adjustment of Afghan wartime allies who served alongside U.S. forces. He is a cosponsor of the Enduring Welcome Act to codify the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) within the State Department, and the Afghan Adjustment Act to help settle Afghans and their families who supported U.S. forces.
In September, Rep. Peters led a Congressional delegation on a letter to the Trump Administration urging them to reunite the families of U.S. service members with their loved ones stranded overseas, and to reconnect Afghans with immediate family already lawfully in the U.S. In July, he hosted a virtual town hall with Afghan allies stranded at the Camp As Sayliyah facility in Doha. And in February, Rep. Peters attended a shadow hearing where he highlighted the consequences of the Trump administration's decisions to freeze the U.S. refugee admissions program and eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans.
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Peters, Whitesides, Crank Urge Inclusion of Forestry Bill in Annual NDAA Package
Position: The release urges Congress to include the Fix Our Forests Act in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act or another must-pass vehicle to ensure its enactment, citing rising wildfire frequency and severity as a threat to military readiness and national security.
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), George Whitesides (D-CA), and Jeff Crank (R-CO) led 28 House Members on a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL), and HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) to urge the inclusion of the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), or any other must-pass vehicle, to ensure it becomes law this Congress.
The Members stated that the rising frequency and severity of devastating wildfires demand immediate action. In 2026 alone, roughly 66,000 fires burned through more than 9 million acres, or 132% and 141% of the 10-year average, respectively. At the same time, over 1,600 firefighters and support personnel are still assigned to catastrophic incidents across the country.
The Members explained that the crisis is a “significant – and growing – hazard to our military readiness and national security, endangering the safety of the American people, as well as the National Guard, Reserve forces, and other service members across the country.” They noted that by including FOFA in the 2027 NDAA, it could become law by the end of this Congress.
The Members highlighted several stark instances of the impact of recent wildfires, including those around key military installations in Washington and Arkansas that threaten weapons and munitions. These fires also force critical units like the National Guard to divert man-hours to firefighting. Additionally, the Members noted the economic toll as wildfires cost the U.S. between nearly $400 billion and almost $900 billion annually.
Preventing wildfires before they occur would save $3.75 in prevented damages for every $1 spent, and the “Fix Our Forests Act represents our best chance to realize those savings while improving forest health, streamlining wildfire mitigation, and defending communities across the country,” the Members continued. “It is the only package that is bipartisan, bicameral, and has undergone a comprehensive committee process in both chambers of Congress. It represents thoughtful legislation that will meaningfully address the wildfire crisis.”
Read a full copy of the letter here.
Background:
Rep. Peters has been a vocal advocate for bipartisan, bicameral forestry and wildfire legislation, a priority for his constituents in San Diego, which is highly vulnerable to climate-driven wildfires. For the past two Congresses, Rep. Peters has been the House lead of the Fix Our Forests Act to establish requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities. The House passed this bill in January 2025. Prior to launching Fix our Forests, Rep. Peters has led the Save Our Sequoias Act to protect California’s giant sequoias from wildfire as one-fifth have been destroyed since 2015. Without faster, proactive forest restoration, more of these ancient trees will be lost. This bill would help federal, state, tribal, and local land managers accelerate critical forest restoration projects and strengthen the resilience of sequoia groves. The House passed the bill in March 2026.
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Rep. Peters, Labor, Clean Energy Leaders Urge Action on Permitting Reform
Position: Rep. Peters urges the House and Senate to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) this Congress to reform the federal permitting system, and states opposition to a proposed data center at the NAVWAR site.
San Diego, CA – Today, Rep. Scott Peters hosted a roundtable with leaders from the renewable energy and labor sectors to discuss local and federal efforts to hold data centers accountable, increase clean energy production, lower costs, and create jobs. After the roundtable, Rep. Peters joined leaders from the renewable energy and labor communities to urge the House and Senate to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) in this Congress to fix our outdated, broken federal permitting system.
Senators Whitehouse (D-RI), Capito (R-WV), Heinrich (D-NM), and Lee (R-UT) introduced the package on September 30th. The bill has strong reforms that will help us keep data center costs off our electricity bills, meet surging energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and outcompete countries like China.
Amid recent news of plans to develop Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) into a data center, Rep. Peters also noted his opposition to the project and clarified how BAAJA will prevent ratepayers from paying for the rise in usage and the infrastructure costs of data centers nationwide.
“I've spent years calling for America to get out of our own way and build this critical infrastructure faster so we can lower costs, create jobs, fight climate change, and push back on data centers,” said Rep. Peters. “BAAJA still needs some adjustments and clarifications, but it ought to be voted on this Congress and I’m confident it will have strong bipartisan support. This is our chance for Congress to prove to the American people we can still accomplish big things. We can’t waste it.”
“Cleantech San Diego and our members share a goal of advancing San Diego’s access to reliable, affordable, clean energy, and that depends on getting projects built,” said Jason Anderson, President and CEO, Cleantech San Diego. “The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and permitting reform championed by Congressman Scott Peters give developers confidence that a permit, once issued, will actually hold. This critical shift means renewable energy projects can get to market sooner to meet growing power demands and clean energy goals.
We greatly appreciate and commend Congressman Peters’ leadership and efforts to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, said Theresa Carroll, Vice President, Environmental and Land Compliance, GIS and Policy, AES US Renewables and Power. “AES supports a pragmatic, technology-neutral permitting policy that enables the development of the energy solutions needed to meet growing demand. We urge Congress to advance the bill and deliver meaningful permitting and transmission reforms that support reliable, affordable electricity for American families and businesses.”
Since coming to Congress, Rep. Peters has led some of the largest bipartisan efforts in Congress reform our outdated permitting process. Several of his bills are included in BAAJA, including SPEED and Reliability Act, CERTAIN Act, CLEAR Act, BIG WIRES Act, and ePermit Act. American builders, investors, labor groups, climate activists, and taxpayers want Congress to act by fixing our old and slow permitting system.
A livestreamed recording of the press conference can be viewed here. Additional photos from the event, courtesy of the office of Rep. Peters, can be viewed here.
Read Rep. Peters’ full remarks from the press conference below:
The environmental laws from the 1970s weren’t given to us on tablets by Moses. They were written by lawmakers trying to stop bad projects from harming our environment, and they did their job for the challenges we faced at that time. Today, we need to build more, faster to meet our current challenges: high energy bills, increased energy demand, and rapidly expanding data center needs.
That means we need to change how the federal government approves energy and infrastructure projects so we can lower costs and hold data centers accountable.
I've spent years calling for America to get out of our own way. Throughout this Congress, I've been introducing legislation and working with my colleagues to get permitting reform across the finish line.
At last, Congress is on the cusp of a bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform deal that takes a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system.
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Senators compiled dozens of permitting reform proposals and introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA).
I’m gratified that several of my bills are included in the package and will increase energy supply, build more transmission, and make sure the backlog of clean energy projects get built with no more delays.
These and other reforms are a win for affordability, high-paying jobs, and our environment.
In our roundtable just now, I heard from local attorneys, energy providers, engineers, energy developers, and union leaders who all agree: process delays hurt everyone. We have the opportunity to fix that.
The package still needs some adjustments and clarifications, but it ought to be voted on this Congress and I’m confident it will have strong bipartisan support. American builders, investors, labor groups, climate activists, and taxpayers want Congress to fix our old and slow permitting system.
This would be really good for our country and it’s a chance for Congress to prove to the American people we can still accomplish big things. We can’t waste it.
Thank you to Jason Anderson with Cleantech San Diego and Theresa Carroll with AES US Renewables and Power for being here to talk about how your sectors would utilize the provisions in BAAJA to lower costs, employ skilled workers, and power a cleaner economy.
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Peters Leads San Diego Delegation in Demanding Explanation for ICE Surge at Schools and Other Sensitive Locations
Position: Members of the San Diego congressional delegation sent a letter to the DHS Secretary demanding an explanation for reported increases in immigration enforcement activity in San Diego and California, including arrests near schools and other sensitive locations, and asked whether such enforcement has been authorized and who the targets are.
San Diego, CA. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) led members of the San Diego Congressional delegation, Reps Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49), and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) in a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin on recent reports of increased immigration enforcement activity in San Diego and elsewhere in California. This comes a month after San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and San Diego City College both informed the Congressman's office of multiple U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests outside their schools.
The Members cited more frequent reports and videos online of a growing presence of agents detaining individuals throughout San Diego. They stated that these practices are actually more harmful, as the “presence of ICE officers destabilizes the sense of safety schools offer and places an additional burden on school staff and local communities.”
The Members added that the “fear among students and families that these incidents cause can also negatively impact a student’s educational engagement, mental and physical health, academic performance, and developmental trajectories. Parents should be able to bring their children to class and return to pick them up without fearing that a routine school day could end in family separation. Teachers should be able to focus on teaching and students on learning.”
They also outlined how federal agents have been noted at other sensitive locations, such as hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses, which threatens the very safety these places are supposed to offer.
“When people are afraid to seek medical care, attend religious services, or appear in court, the consequences reach well beyond any individual arrest. These are places where people turn for help, and enforcement practices that discourage access leave entire communities less safe,” the Members added.
To address their concerns, the members demanded a response to the following questions;
Has DHS authorized an “Operation Safe California” or similar immigration enforcement operation for California? If so, what is the scope of the operation? Who authorized it? And when was it authorized?
Has DHS authorized enhanced immigration enforcement in San Diego, and, if so, how long is it expected to last? How many agents are involved?
Who are the intended targets, and what criteria govern whom officers or agents stop or detain?
Have officers or agents been directed or authorized to conduct enforcement at or near schools or other sensitive locations?
“San Diegans deserve a clear explanation of the federal activity being reported in our communities,” the Members concluded.
See the full letter here.
Background: As unregulated ICE activity has heavily increased throughout the second Trump Administration, Rep. Peters has called out DHS for allowing federal agents to terrorize communities without notice or consequences, leaving communities less safe.
Shortly after the arrests at San Diego schools, Rep. Peters hosted a virtual training event with Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) to ensure community members understand how to safely interact with federal law enforcement officers, what to do if they or their loved ones are detained by agents, and what resources are available to San Diego’s immigrant community.
And last year, Rep. Peters led the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, which would establish stronger standards for immigration agents' use of force. The bill would also restrict the use of crowd munitions like tear gas and create greater transparency in enforcement by requiring the use of body cameras and strictly limiting the use of masks. Rep. Peters has pushed Republicans to pass these commonsense reforms, but they have continued to block this bill from a vote.
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Peters Introduces Legislation to Protect Life Science Infrastructure
Position: The release supports legislation that would designate biotechnology manufacturing infrastructure and biological data as critical infrastructure, directing CISA to identify relevant facilities and systems and to develop coordinated security protocols with industry. It frames these protections as necessary for national security and the bioeconomy.
Despite its growing significance to national security and the economy, the federal government does not adequately protect biotechnology infrastructure or sensitive biological data.
Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK), as well as U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced two bipartisan bills to protect biotechnology data and infrastructure from malicious actors.
The Protecting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing as Critical Infrastructure Act and the Protecting Biological Data as Critical Infrastructure Act aim to recognize life science infrastructure and sensitive data as critical infrastructure, ensuring robust cybersecurity and cross-sector protection. The legislation directs Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to designate facilities and systems handling genetic and biometric information as critical and requires collaboration with industry stakeholders to develop coordinated security protocols.
Biotechnology infrastructure spans several critical sectors, including health, agriculture, and industry, yet current policy doesn't explicitly recognize or fully protect it. Biological data, which fuels research breakthroughs and often contains sensitive personal information, isn't treated as a strategic national resource either. Some federal efforts are underway, but they're scattered and leave major vulnerabilities.
“Biotechnology is a major driver of San Diego’s economy, employing 167,000 members of our community and generating $55.2 billion in economic output just last year,” said Rep. Peters. “America’s leadership in the sector is a strategic advantage we cannot take for granted. As technology advances and our adversaries grow more capable, American national security, public health, and competitiveness will continue to face more serious threats. Our legislation will strengthen America’s biotech ecosystem against cyber threats, supply chain disruptions, and other vulnerabilities. To maintain our leadership in biotechnology, we need to make sure that the United States remains a safe place to innovate.”
“Protecting biomanufacturing infrastructure and the most sensitive biological data of Americans is essential for our national security,” said Rep. Khanna. “These bipartisan bills will help ensure we are protecting this sector from physical and cyber threats while keeping America as the world leader in biotechnology.”
“Biological data is one of America’s most valuable strategic resources,” said Rep. Bice. “It is the foundation for new discoveries and an increasingly important driver of innovation at the intersection of AI and biotechnology. Recognizing biological data as critical infrastructure is a vital part of protecting sensitive data from those who could exploit it.”
In its April 2025 report to Congress, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) assessed that malicious actors will increasingly target the biotechnology sector’s infrastructure and data. Critical biotechnology infrastructure, such as hospitals and agricultural facilities, have already faced numerous cyberattacks. Biological data are not currently treated or protected as a strategic national resource. Both bills reflect NSCEB recommendations.
A detailed summary of the bills can be found here.
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ICYMI: Peters, Vargas Hold Know Your Rights Webinar with Local Stakeholders
Position: The release describes a Know Your Rights webinar for immigrant community members and states that ICE enforcement activity should be reformed to focus on dangerous criminals rather than families. It also references support for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act and the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, and calls for DHS to end enforcement activity around schools.
San Diego, CA – Last week, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) hosted a virtual training event with Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) and representatives from Kids Belong in Classrooms and Immigrant Defenders Law Center. The webinar helped ensure community members understand how to safely interact with federal law enforcement officers, what to do if they or their loved ones are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and what resources are available to San Diego’s immigrant community.
During the week of September 7th, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and San Diego City College both informed the Congressman's office of ICE arrest activity outside their schools. These are in addition to a dramatic increase in ICE activity across San Diego County, especially around sensitive locations like schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship.
“Regardless of your immigration status, you have certain rights in this country,” said Rep. Peters. “These resources are more important than ever as community members continue to navigate frightening and lawless interactions with federal law enforcement officers under the Trump Administration. Until ICE operations change to responsibly target dangerous criminals instead of hardworking families, I will continue to push for real reforms and hold the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable for the fear it has inflicted on my constituents and communities across the country.”
“Everyone has constitutional rights when interacting with ICE or law enforcement – regardless of immigration status. As ICE continues to target our communities, it’s more important than ever that people know their rights and understand how to exercise them,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “Thank you to my colleague, Rep. Scott Peters, for holding this important Know Your Rights training to help us look out for one another.”
Watch and share a recording of the training here. Additional resources from Kids Belong in Classrooms and Immigrant Defenders Law Center can be accessed below:
Toolkit for Organizing in Your School Community
Spanish Kids Belong in Classrooms Toolkit
How to Talk to Your Kids About ICE Enforcement
How to Make a Family Preparedness Plan
San Diego Immigration Hotline: (858) 751-7553. The Hotline is monitored Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm
Further Background:
Rep. Peters joined his California colleagues to call on DHS to end ICE enforcement activity around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County.
Rep. Peters is an original cosponsor of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would bar immigration enforcement within 1,000 feet of schools, hospitals, and churches except in true emergencies. He also introduced the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, a bill to make our communities safer by establishing a stronger standard for Federal immigration agents' use of force. Rep. Peters has pushed Congress to pass these commonsense reforms, but they have been blocked by the Republican majority.
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Peters Applauds Senate Permitting Package, Touts His Priorities to Speed Up Clean Energy and Lower Costs
Position: The release applauds a Senate bipartisan permitting package and expresses support for measures intended to speed up clean energy project approvals and lower costs.
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after the Senate unveiled its bipartisan permitting package, which includes the language of several bills Rep. Peters has championed over multiple sessions of Congress:
Peters Demands Answers for Afghan Allies and Military Families Stranded Abroad
Position: Representatives and Senators urge the Administration to prioritize exemption determinations and refugee processing for immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans stranded overseas, and to prioritize family reunification cases for Afghans with lawfully present relatives in the United States.
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) led 19 Members of the House and Senate on a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging the Administration to reunite the families of U.S. service members with their loved ones stranded overseas, and to reconnect Afghans with immediate family already lawfully in the United States. This comes days after two Afghan nationals arrived safely in the United States on September 22nd through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program under an exception to current policy.
“This decision shows that the process to exempt certain migrants from both entry restrictions on foreign nationals as well as refugee resettlement works when leaders choose to use it,” the Members wrote. They highlighted that nearly 3,000 immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans, including spouses, children, and parents of Americans who have worn this country's uniform, remain stranded overseas. Roughly 150 of them are at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, alongside more than 1,000 Afghan allies and family members who were vetted by the U.S. government and flown there on U.S. government aircraft.
"No service member should have to choose between serving this country and being reunited with their family," the Members wrote.
The Members called on the Departments to prioritize immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans for exemption determinations and refugee processing, beginning with those at Camp As Sayliyah. The Members also urged the Administration to prioritize family reunification cases, including Afghans whose spouses, parents, or children are lawfully in the United States, and to name them as refugees so these families no longer depend on one-off exceptions.
"This week, your Departments showed what is possible,” the Members wrote. “The families of the men and women who serve this nation, and the Afghans who stood beside them, deserve the same decision.”
The letter was also signed by Reps André Carson (IN-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), J. Correa (CA-46), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Mike Levin (CA-49), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Norma Torres (CA-35), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), as well as by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
Read the full letter here.
Background:
San Diego has served as a primary hub for incoming Afghan refugees, with nearly 5,000 resettling in the region. Rep. Peters has been a staunch advocate for the safe relocation, protection, and legal adjustment of Afghan wartime allies who served alongside U.S. forces. He is a cosponsor of the Enduring Welcome Act to codify and permanently authorize the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) within the State Department. He also previously led the Afghan Adjustment Act, which aids in resettling Afghans and their families who supported U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan.
In February, Rep. Peters attended a shadow hearing where he highlighted the consequences of the Trump administration's decisions to freeze the U.S. refugee admissions program, eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. In July, led a congressional delegation in a virtual town hall with Afghan allies stranded at the Camp As Sayliyah facility in Doha.
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Reps Peters, Miller-Meeks Introduce Bill to Make Safer Products Program Permanent
Position: Introduces legislation to formally authorize and strengthen the EPA's voluntary Safer Choice Program, maintaining science-based standards, conflict-of-interest protections, and public access to safer product information.
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) introduced the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act, legislation to formally codify and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safer Choice Program. The Safer Choice Program gives producers a voluntary framework to evaluate the human health, environmental, and economic effects of the chemicals and technologies they use. This also helps consumers identify safer alternatives for cleaning and other products.
“San Diegans and families across the country rely on safe, effective products every day, and they should know if these products have been vetted against the highest health and safety standards,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bipartisan bill would permanently give consumers that peace of mind and provide American producers the competitive advantage of a trusted, nationally recognized label. I’m glad to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure the Safer Choice Program benefits consumers and producers for years to come.”
“American families shouldn’t have to be chemists to know whether the products they buy meet high standards for health, safety, and performance," said Dr. Miller-Meeks. "This bipartisan legislation gives consumers clearer information while encouraging manufacturers to develop safer products, all without creating a new mandatory regulatory regime. As a physician, I’m proud to support a voluntary, science-based approach that gives Americans more confidence in the products they use every day.”
EPA’s Safer Choice Program has helped drive innovation in safer chemistry for decades but has never been formally authorized by Congress. The Safer Choice Program Authorization Act would permanently authorize the program so that producers have clear health and safety standards and consumers can rely on a trusted federal label for safer products.
The Safer Choice Program Authorization Act would:
Formally authorize EPA’s “Safer Choice” and “Design for the Environment” programs;
Maintain rigorous, science-based standards for participating products;
Strengthen protections against conflicts of interest in product reviews;
Ensure continued maintenance of EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List; and
Support transparency, stakeholder engagement, and public access to safer product information.
The legislation is supported by a wide variety of stakeholders including industry leaders, manufacturers, sustainability groups, and cleaning product organizations. Read statements of support and endorsing organizations here.
A one-pager of the bill is available here. Read a section-by-section summary here and bill text here.
Source: open-data mirrors of the Senate eFD and House Clerk financial-disclosure systems. Disclosure within 30 days of trade is required by law (45 for spouse/dependent trades).
Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle
Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.
1.SANOFI US SERVICES INC. EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
2.ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEFinance3 contributionsAccounting and professional-services PAC — supports candidates aligned with business-friendly tax policy, regulatory efficiency, and professional-services industry interests.AI$10,000
3.TTM TECHNOLOGIES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
4.BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (BUILDPAC)Real Estate3 contributionsHomebuilding-industry PAC — supports candidates backing residential construction, favorable zoning and permitting policies, and housing-affordability initiatives.AI$10,000
5.ABUNDANCE PAC2 contributions$10,000
6.NOVARTIS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
7.NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
8.LUNDBECK LLC EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
9.AMGEN INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
10.ABBOTT LABORATORIES EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.
Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle
Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.
1.RA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP$17,500
2.ARNOLD VENTURES$14,000
3.GENERAL ATOMICS$13,500
4.ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP$8,000
5.ROBBINS GELLER$8,000
6.ENDEAVOR BIOMEDICINES$7,500
7.PETER G. PETERSON FOUNDATION$7,000
8.EDGILITY$7,000
9.DUANE MORRUS$7,000
10.SILBEY STRATEGIES$7,000
Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.
