Scott, Austin

Austin Scott is a Republican representative from Georgia's 8th Congressional District, serving since 2011. As chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, he oversees policies affecting farm commodity markets, crop insurance, and rural credit—areas critical to his agricultural district. The subcommittee chair position gives him significant influence over legislation affecting farmers and agribusiness, including the ability to schedule hearings and shape farm policy priorities.

Scott brings substantial expertise to agriculture policy through his background and prior service. Before entering Congress, he owned and operated an insurance brokerage firm for nearly twenty years and earned a degree in risk management and insurance from the University of Georgia. He previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1997 to 2010, where he chaired the Governmental Affairs Committee. His district encompasses central and south Georgia, home to two major Air Force bases and significant agricultural operations, making agriculture and defense priorities for his legislative work.

As subcommittee chair, Scott has held hearings on critical agricultural issues, including the reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and challenges facing commodity market participants. He has worked to secure provisions in farm legislation benefiting rural communities, including broadband investments in the 2018 Farm Bill. He also co-chairs the Congressional Crop Insurance Caucus and focuses on increasing export market access and free trade agreements for Georgia farmers. Beyond agriculture, Scott serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, reflecting his district's military installations and his focus on national security.

Scott is the longest-serving Republican in Georgia's current congressional delegation and maintains a relatively low profile while building influence through committee work. He is known as a fiscal conservative who emphasizes limited government and supports policies benefiting small business and agricultural interests. In 2023, he briefly entered the race for House Speaker, positioning himself as a pragmatic alternative to more contentious candidates, though he withdrew after losing the GOP conference vote to Jim Jordan.