Press Releases
Scott, Nadler, Murray Introduce Legislation to Protect Workers’ Rights by Ending Forced Arbitration in the Workplace
07.30.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the bicameral Restoring Justice for Workers Act. The legislation will end forced arbitration clauses, protect workers’ ability to pursue work-rela… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Trump Administration Failing to Hold Coal Operators Accountable
07.29.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) proposed an overhaul of the Black Lung Self-Insurance Rule. “Congress established the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide compensation and medical coverage for coal miners who develop black lung disease. And while the law requires coal operators to purchase insurance that cov… Continue Reading
Congresswoman McBath Opening Remarks at Field Hearing on Protecting Workers from AI
07.24.26 AUGUSTA, GA - Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce.” “And thank you, everyone, for joining us today. “It's so nice to be down here on this side of Georgia, since I'm usually up on the other end of Georgia. So, I feel very welcomed to be here. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this important issue that is affecting our community… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on ED and HHS Eliminating Disparate Impact Provisions
07.23.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services finalized a rule to eliminate disparate impact provisions from the Departments’ regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). “Since returning to the White House, President Trump has worked to rewrite the brutal history of this country, eliminate and undermine pr… Continue Reading
Ranking Members Scott, Raskin, and Pallone Urge DOJ to Rescind Its Opinion Threatening Societal Integration for People with Disabilities
07.23.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately rescind its Office of Legal Counsel Opinion (Opinion) that threatens to gut enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. Olmstead is the landmark decision that allows people … Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Republicans’ Changes to Student Loan Program
07.23.26 WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted an event on changes to the student loan program as the Trump Administration begins to implement Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill.” This follows Committee Democrats’ request to hold an oversight hearing with the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) leadership on its ability to serve students and borrowers. Committee Republicans did not respond. The Members were joined by Dr. Wil?Del Pilar, Senior Vice President, Education… Continue Reading
Congressman Takano Opening Remarks at Hearing with DOL OIG
07.22.26 WASHINGTON - Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections subcommittee hearing entitled, “Broken Trust: How the Biden-Harris DOL Leaked Confidential Information.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “The Department of Labor has central responsibilities, including protecting workers’ rights, recovering unpaid wages and lost retirement benefits, helping families fight wrongly denied healthcare claims, and much, much more. “One legally permissi… Continue Reading
86 House Democrats Demand the Trump Administration Abandon Illegal Plans to Dismantle Civil Rights and Special Education Offices
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Eighty-six House Democrats called on the Department of Education to immediately abandon its plan to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice (DOJ). In their letter, the Members argue that the Trump Administration’s plan to dismantle OCR and OSERS through Interagency Agreements (IAAs) is unlawful because Congress established both… Continue Reading
Republicans’ Advance Divisive Bills That Ignore Affordability Crisis
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Workforce Republicans advanced a slate of bills that prioritize partisan political messaging over addressing the real challenges facing America's workers, students, and families. Instead of strengthening workplace protections, expanding educational opportunity, or lowering costs, Republicans voted to move legislation that weakens civil rights protections, undermines workers' rights, and creates unnecessary burdens for schools. In his opening statem… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans for Ignoring Affordability Crisis
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 8781, 4986, 8747, 8183, 9723, 8660, 8347, 6213, 8775, and 5267. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, here we go again—considering a package of bills that may reflect your priorities—but not the priorities of the American people. Americans are struggling to cover the cost of groceries, housing, child care, health care, and others. And gas has again j… Continue Reading
Education and Workforce Democratic Members Introduce Bills to Protect Workers from Wrongful Health Claim Denials
07.16.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Committee on Education and Workforce Members Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), introduced a series of bills designed to protect consumers from wrongful health claim denials by health insurers and group health plans. The legislation follows the Committee Democrats’ recent report, titled Denied: How the Health Care IndustryS… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Impact of Dismantling ED on Adult Education, TRIO Programs
07.16.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a rogue event on the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to transfer Adult Education and Family Literacy programs from the Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Labor (DOL), warning that the move shifts the focus of adult education from lifelong learning to workforce training. For decades, these programs have helped adults build foundational skills that prepare them for further education, career advancement,… Continue Reading
Republicans’ Bless President Trump’s Illegal Scheme to Dismantle ED
07.15.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Workforce Republicans voted to rubber-stamp President Trump’s scheme to illegally dismantle the Department of Education (ED) piece-by-piece by codifying the Interagency Agreements (IAAs). Each of today’s bills delegates functions, specific grants and programs, and offices currently at ED to other federal agencies. In his opening statement, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott highlighted the endless problems with the current illegal IAAs and … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans for Blindly Rubber-Stamping Trump’s Plans to Dismantle ED
07.15.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 9607, 9609, 9602, 9603, 9605, 9606, 9611, 9610, 9608, and 9604. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Today, we will consider legislation that will effectively codify 10 of the Department of Education’s 14 interagency agreements (IAAs). If these bills were to be adopted, it would result in the permanent transfer of the Department of Education’s core responsibiliti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Opening Remarks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Medical Schools
07.14.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, today the full Committee is holding a hearing titled by my colleagues, ‘Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools.’ The three schools appearing before the Committee today were initially asked to respond to concerns … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Trump Administration Plan to Weaponize Federal Grant Dollars to Undermine Civil Rights
07.13.26 WASHINGTON -Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging OMB to withdraw the Trump Administration’s proposed rule, entitled Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that would politicize how federal grant dollars are managed and administered. Ranking Member Scott warned that the sweeping changes in the Proposed Rule would upend the continuity of fede… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Committee Republicans’ Move to Dismantle the Department of Education
07.10.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after Committee Republicans announced ten bills that would codify President Trump’s Project 2025 agenda to dismantle the Department of Education. “At the behest of Trump, Committee Republicans have introduced a flurry of bills that would dismantle the Department of Education and offload critical offices to agencies that are ill-equipped to carry out core du… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns Rescission of Affirmative Action Guidance
07.06.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rescinded the 1979 rule that establishes affirmative action guidelines for employers. “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) decision to rescind its long-standing guidelines on affirmative action in the workplace is another step in the Trump Administration’s campaign to dismantle civil rights and equal opportunity for wor… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.02.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy gained 57,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2 percent. At this point in his term, the economy under President Biden had created 9.5 million jobs, compared to just 716,000 under President Trump's second term. “In the year since President Trump and Congressional Republic… Continue Reading
HELP Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks on the Pressing Need to Lower Health Care Costs
07.01.26 WASHINGTON - Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s HELP Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Direct Contracting: A Prescription for Lower Health Care Costs.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank all the witnesses for being here today. “In the wealthiest country in the world, Americans are still forced to choose between filling a prescription and paying their rent or putting foo… Continue Reading