Georgia — 8th District

Kelly Esti

Supports intrastate rail and broadband expansion

Esti proposes creating the Georgia Intrastate Transit (The GIT), a train system connecting Georgia's major cities to reduce road congestion, highway maintenance costs, traffic accidents, and pollution. He also advocates securing federal funding for rural fiber broadband expansion and local road and bridge repairs.

• Proposes the Georgia Intrastate Transit (The GIT) rail network connecting major state cities
• Advocates federal funding for rural fiber internet expansion
• Supports federal transportation grants for local road and bridge repairs

“Thirdly, I would like to see Georgia invest in the Georgia Intrastate Transit (The GIT)! This is a train that would connect all of large cities to allow investment and people to move freely between the cities via a train.”

Austin Scott

Supports targeted federal infrastructure appropriations

Scott supported major congressional funding measures, including federal continuing appropriations acts that maintain federal infrastructure programs. His infrastructure approach focuses on limited government and backing local small business growth.

• Voted for the 119th Congress budget reconciliation legislation (H.R.1)
• Voted for federal continuing appropriations legislation funding agency operations

“He supports limited government, small business job growth, a strong national defense, and a healthy agricultural economy.”

Kelly Esti

Supports corporate tax increases and cost relief

Esti supports requiring wealthy individuals and multinational corporations to pay higher taxes to fund public investments in rural infrastructure, fiber internet, and education. He focuses on lowering everyday living costs for working families and preventing large tech companies from mistreating rural communities.

• Advocates higher taxes on wealthy individuals and multinational corporations
• Pledges to lower everyday cost of living for families and single adults
• Supports regulatory oversight to stop large tech companies from abusing rural voters

“This would mean ensuring wealthy individuals and large multinational corporations pay their fair share of taxes to fund investments in infrastructure, digital expansion like fiber internet into rural areas, education, stopping large tech companies from abusing rural voters as well, reducing healthcare costs for families and young single adults, etc.”

Austin Scott

Opposes tax increases and advocates spend cuts

Scott signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing net tax increases and voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act to cap federal spending and roll back green energy tax credits. He also voted for H.R. 1 reconciliation legislation in the 119th Congress and supports free-market principles to encourage small business hiring.

• Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge with Americans for Tax Reform
• Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to reduce federal spending
• Voted for H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) in 2025

“AUSTIN SCOTT IS A COMMITTED CONSERVATIVE REPRESENTING GEORGIA VALUES AND FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES IN CONGRESS.”

Kelly Esti

Supports healthcare as a public good

Esti views healthcare as an essential public good and focuses on expanding access, affordability, and reliability across rural Georgia. He advocates strengthening federal health programs and boosting support for rural primary care clinics and regional hospitals.

• Frames healthcare as a fundamental public good for all communities
• Advocates lowering healthcare and prescription costs for families and single adults
• Supports increased federal funding for rural clinics and community hospitals

“Treating healthcare as a public good means focusing on access, affordability, and reliability.”

Austin Scott

Opposes federal health emergency mandates

Scott voted to nullify CDC COVID-19 vaccination mandates for foreign travelers entering the country and supported legislation terminating the national COVID-19 emergency. His healthcare voting record aligns with free-market principles and reducing federal regulatory mandates.

• Voted for H.R. 185 to terminate CDC foreign traveler vaccine mandates
• Voted for H.J.Res. 7 to end the national COVID-19 state of emergency

Kelly Esti

Supports equal protection in federal programs

Esti emphasizes that federal laws and agencies must operate fairly and protect civil rights across diverse populations, including multilingual and immigrant households. He supports ensuring federal systems enforce protections consistently while allowing people to live without unnecessary government barriers.

• Advocates fair treatment and civil rights protections in all federal programs
• Emphasizes equal access to public services for non-English speaking households

“As your congressman, my responsibility is to make sure federal protections are enforced consistently, agencies follow the law, and everyone in the district (no matter their background) can rely on fair treatment when dealing with federal programs.”

Austin Scott

Supports strict border enforcement and detention

Scott voted for strict enforcement legislation, including the Laken Riley Act to require DHS detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft and the Secure the Border Act of 2023. He also supported legislation making driving under the influence grounds for deportation.

• Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring mandatory detention for certain crimes
• Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2)
• Voted for DUI deportation legislation (H.R. 875)

Kelly Esti

Supports public education as a public good

Esti views education as a vital public good and lifelong economic adapter for K-12 students, working adults, and career changers. He advocates strengthening federal support for public schools, adult workforce development, and higher education affordability.

• Declares education a public good essential for innovation and democracy
• Supports federal investments in public K-12 schools and adult job training
• Focuses on keeping higher education and trade certifications affordable

“Education is the cornerstone at keeping the US healthy, ready to innovate, and ready to answer the needs of the world.”

Austin Scott

Supports sports restrictions based on biological sex

Scott voted for federal legislation prohibiting educational athletic programs from permitting biological males to compete in sports designated for women or girls. His educational voting record reflects conservative social stances and local control.

• Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28)

Kelly Esti

Supports renewable energy and utility modernization

Esti advocates helping local communities access federal grants to upgrade aging power grids, water systems, and adopt renewable energy like solar and wind power. He emphasizes providing towns the resources to choose clean energy alternatives that reduce long-term utility costs.

• Promotes solar and wind energy to reduce long-term utility costs
• Supports federal grants to modernize local water and power infrastructure
• Encourages environmental pollution reduction via intrastate passenger rail

“As renewable energy, like solar and wind, becomes more affordable nationwide, communities should have the option to explore these alternatives if they believe they will reduce long‑term costs.”

Austin Scott

Supports domestic fossil fuel production

Scott voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act to expand domestic oil, natural gas, and coal production while streamlining environmental reviews for energy infrastructure. He also voted to nullify Labor Department rules that permitted ESG factors in retirement plan decisions.

• Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1)
• Voted for H.J.Res. 30 to block ESG factors in retirement plan management

Kelly Esti

Supports expanded rural VA healthcare access

Esti, a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a nuclear-trained sailor, focuses on expanding VA healthcare, disability benefits, and housing assistance for rural veterans. He emphasizes improving medical facility access and transportation for veterans throughout GA-08, particularly near Robins Air Force Base.

• Prioritizes expanding VA healthcare and disability resources in rural areas
• Leverages personal experience as a U.S. Navy veteran
• Supports active duty, reserve, and civilian defense workers in Warner Robins and Macon

“Ensuring that veterans in every part of the district can reach the care and resources they earned is an important responsibility.”

Austin Scott

Supports robust national defense spending

Scott serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, prioritizing national security and military readiness. He consistently voted for annual defense authorization bills and military installation support.

• Serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Intelligence Committee
• Voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024 (H.R. 2670)
• Focuses on maintaining strong national defense spending and military installations

“He supports limited government, small business job growth, a strong national defense, and a healthy agricultural economy.”

Kelly Esti

Supports town halls and civics education

Esti commits to holding regular town halls to keep citizens informed and empowered through knowledge of government civics. He draws on his background as Legislative Chair for Georgia Equality fighting discrimination to advocate for open, accessible representation.

• Pledges regular town halls across the district to empower voters
• Focuses on civics education and public transparency in government operations
• Highlights former leadership as Legislative Chair for Georgia Equality

“I will commit to showing up in the community and advocating for their benefit and not their destruction. I will have regular town halls and want to ensure my Congressional office is a place where citizens can come learn and be empowered through knowledge.”

Austin Scott

Supports proof-of-citizenship voting requirements

Scott voted for the SAVE Act to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. He also voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act to mandate DOJ release of unclassified investigative materials.

• Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote
• Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405)