U.S. Representative David Scott
In 2002, David Scott was elected to the United States Congress. He is currently in his tenth term representing Georgia’s Thirteenth Congressional District, which includes 6 counties around metro Atlanta: Cobb, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton and Henry. He began his public service by being elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1974.
United States Congress
In Congress, David Scott is a strong voice for farmers, jobs, healthcare, education, our veterans, our children, and transportation. He serves on the Financial Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He has authored several laws including student loan repayment assistance for law students who become public prosecutors and defenders so that top attorneys will be attracted to public service. Congressman Scott secured $80 million in funding in the 2018 Farm Bill for agriculture-focused scholarships at the 19 Historically Black 1890’s Land-Grant Colleges and Universities across the country. He also recognized the importance of Fathers by adding Father’s Day to the U.S. Flag Code as a day of special significance. He bridged political gridlock to achieve National Heritage Area designation for the Arabia Mountain in metro Atlanta.
Respect for veterans is important to Congressman Scott. After scandals were revealed at the Atlanta VA, Congressman Scott worked in a bipartisan effort to pass major reforms of the VA and he was the first Democrat to call for the resignation of the VA Secretary. He authored bills that later became law to allow veterans and their children to receive in-state tuition. He also co-authored a law to help increase the number of mental health professionals at the VA by paying for their student loans.
As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Congressman Scott recognizes the vital role agriculture plays in the success of our country and in Georgia, and he fights everyday to protect the interests of farmers, ranchers, and food processors. He also works to ensure that America’s agriculture sector continues to grow and remains globally competitive. He co-authored a law to reform the federal dairy program, which will keep prices affordable to consumers. He also supports land grant universities, such as the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University, recognizing the significance they play in fostering research and education, and improving the agricultural economy.
As a Senior Member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Scott has stood with homeowners and neighborhoods during the financial crisis. He worked to enact the program to provide struggling homeowners who are unemployed with up to 18 months mortgage assistance. He also helped create the mortgage assistance program Home Assistance Mortgage Program (HAMP), the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), and the Making Home Affordable Program. Congressman Scott authored a law to allow insurance agents and brokers to have multi-state insurance licensing, which will provide more options for consumers. After major flooding hit metro Atlanta in 2009, he obtained financial support for his district and wrote the law to allow for flood insurance premiums to be paid in monthly installments rather than one lump sum. He ensured that Georgians receive two free credit reports each year, rather than the one annual report available to most of the country.
As a Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Congressman Scott supports a strong American military and robust foreign policy and has demonstrated a firm commitment to America’s relationships abroad particularly, with Israel and our NATO allies. Congressman Scott has provided strong leadership in passing a resolution at the 2012 NATO meeting, gaining the support of 27 other nations, to join the United States and Israel to stop Iran from securing a nuclear bomb.
Back Home in Georgia
Congressman David Scott spearheads a wide range of local initiatives that benefit his constituents. He sponsors annual jobs fairs that have secured over 7,000 jobs for his constituents. Congressman Scott also hosts an annual health fair, bringing free healthcare exams to help reduce breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, AIDS, and other healthcare issues. He has hosted major home foreclosure prevention and mortgage assistance events, helping over 4,000 constituents find help keeping their homes. Congressman Scott has secured over $367 million in federal funds for transportation projects in his district and $16,765,600 in casework savings for constituents.
Congressman David Scott has chaired the Georgia State Society and the Georgia 2013 Inaugural Ball. He sits on the board of the Dean Rusk Center for International Law and Policy at UGA. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha (Beta Nu), a Mason and a Member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. He received a “Trumpet Award” in 2008, the Urban League’s “Congressional Leadership Award” in 2010, has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential Georgians” and named on James Magazine’s list of “Most Influential” Georgians.
Early Years
David Scott was born on June 27, 1945 on a farm in Aynor, South Carolina to Mamie Polite Scott and Albert James Scott. Soon after he was born, David’s mother and father moved up north to take work as live-in domestics (maid/ cook and chauffeur/butler) for wealthy families, leaving David in the care of his maternal grandparents, Helen and James Burroughs, on the farm.
At age 5, David Scott was relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania where he lived with his paternal grandparents, Minnie and Charles Scott. He attended Washington Street Elementary School in Scranton. At age 10, his paternal grandmother died and David was moved back to the care of his maternal grandmother on the farm in South Carolina for one year.
Then at age 11, David Scott was relocated to Scarsdale, New York where his parents found another job as live-in domestics for a wealthy family. However, this family allowed David to live with his parents in Scarsdale, marking the first period in his life that he actually lived day-to-day with his parents. David attended Fox Meadow School and Scarsdale Junior High School.
At age 13, David moved with his parents to Daytona Beach, Florida where they bought a home and his father started a garbage collection business. David worked with his father on the garbage truck; and worked his way through school as a busboy, waiter and dishwasher at hotels and restaurants along Daytona’s famous beach. David Scott graduated with honors from Campbell High School in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1963.
Higher Education
David Scott received several academic scholarships and attended Florida A&M University where he earned his BA degree and graduated with honors in 1967. During the summers of his junior and senior years at FAMU, David was selected to serve as a management intern in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Management Relations in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, he was awarded scholarships to the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and he earned his MBA degree with honors in 1969.
Business Career
Upon earning his MBA from Wharton, David Scott moved to Atlanta, Georgia and started his own advertising business, Dayn-Mark Advertising. He represented several major corporations as clients. He created and performed in the Georgia PBS Emmy-award winning television production “Langston!” about the poetry and life of the great African-American poet and playwright Langston Hughes. He also created and was the voice for the award-winning national radio program “Inside Black America,” which was heard on radio stations across the United States.
Georgia State Political Career
David Scott began his political career in 1972 by working on Andrew Young’s successful congressional campaign. In 1974, he was elected as a Georgia State Representative, where he served from 1975 to 1982. As State Representative, he authored laws to provide for gun safety, including creating background checks for gun purchases. He also made it a felony to knowingly sell or provide a firearm to a child or minor and held parents and guardians responsible for keeping their firearms away from children. Representative Scott helped create Peachcare, the health insurance program for children.
In 1982, David Scott was elected as a Georgia State Senator, where he served from 1983 to 2002. In the Senate, he successfully passed several major laws including a moment of silence for reflection or prayer in Georgia’s public schools. He wrote the Georgia law that gives women with breast cancer surgery the right to determine their length of stay in the hospital and level of medical care in consultation with their physician, rather than having insurance companies make such critical health decisions. He authored the law to limit and restrict landfills in residential neighborhoods, cleaning rivers and streams, and protecting underground water aquifers. He also passed the state law to provide sex education and AIDS prevention instruction in Georgia public schools.
Family
David Scott is married to Alfredia Aaron Scott. Their family includes two daughters, Dayna and Marcye; two grandchildren, Kimani and Kaylin; and a son-in-law Kwame. David Scott is the son of a minister and a man of strong faith who loves the Lord. He regularly gives guest sermons in area churches.