Press Releases
Democratic Health Leaders: Trump’s ACA Rule Doubles Down on Raising Out-of-Pocket Costs and Forcing People to Go Without Coverage
03.11.26 WASHINGTON - House and Senate Health Committee leaders wrote to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz today expressing opposition to the harmful consequences that will follow should the Trump Administration move forward with its proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. The letter was signed by Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, J… Continue Reading
NEWS: GAO Report Finds Trump’s Dismantling of the Education Department Leaves 43 Million Borrowers Without Support
03.11.26 WASHINGTON — According to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the Trump administration’s efforts to fire hundreds of workers at the Department of Education (ED) have undermined the accuracy of student loan borrower records and have failed to hold servicers accountable for providing high-quality customer service to America’s 43 million student loan borrowers. Commissioned by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Workforce Pell Proposed Rule
03.06.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) proposed a new rule regarding the Workforce Pell Grant program. “Expanding Pell Grant access to support students seeking short-term training programs, such as IT, health care, finance, and welding courses, has long been a bipartisan priority. Although I did not support Congressional Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ when it… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on February Jobs Report
03.06.26 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 lost 92,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.3 percent to 4.4 percent. “Hardworking Americans are finding that a comfortable, affordable life is increasingly out of reach. The cost of health care, groceries, child care, student loans, and rent continues to rise, while … Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders to President Trump: Hand Over Your Secret Deals with Pharmaceutical Companies
03.05.26 WASHINGTON - House and Senate Democratic Health Committee leaders wrote to President Trump today requesting copies of the most-favored-nation agreements struck with pharmaceutical companies, which have been kept hidden from Congress and the American people. The letter was signed by House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E.… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Rejected Every Attempt to Make Child Care More Affordable for Working Families
03.05.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans forced through eight bills that do nothing to bring down the cost of child care, increase the supply of child care, or improve working conditions for child care providers. Instead, these bills make it more difficult for states and providers to administer child care assistance for working families. “[C]hild care is a necessity for millions of American families. And in many places, the cost of child care, when families can even find it, can be as much as,… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Disappointed by Republicans Disinterest in Lowering Child Care Costs
03.05.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 7720, 7721, 7722, 7723, 7724, 7725, 7677, and 7726. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, child care is a necessity for millions of American families. And in many places, the cost of child care, when families can even find it, can be as much as, or more than, their rent or mortgage payment. And in many communities, child care simply does not exist in… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Demand Chairman Walberg Hold HHS Secretary Accountable
03.04.26 WASHINGTON - All Committee Democrats urged Chairman Tim Walberg (MI-05) to hold an oversight hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. To date, Secretary Kennedy has not appeared before the Committee. The Members asserted that budget oversight hearings are critical to the Committee’s understanding of the administration’s priorities and make clear that Congressional oversight hearings provide transparency and accountability for budget decisions and actions taken by … Continue Reading
One Year Later, Secretary McMahon is Failing America’s Students, Families, and Educators
03.04.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement following the one-year anniversary of Linda McMahon’s tenure as the Secretary of Education. “I remain deeply alarmed by the direction the Department of Education has taken in the one year that Linda McMahon has served as Secretary of Education. “Over the last twelve months, Secretary McMahon has carried out President Trump’s orders to dismantle the Department… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Raises Concerns about Future of Bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization
03.04.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Building an AI Ready America: Strengthening Employer-Led Training.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank our witnesses [who are here] with us today. “A strong workforce development system can provide our workers with the skills they need to succeed, helping employers find the required talent, and pos… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Supports Bipartisan Legislation Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking
03.03.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in favor of H.R. 4307, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. This bipartisan bill would allow Department of Labor personnel to receive training necessary to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4307, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. This bipartisan… Continue Reading
House Democrats Slam Proposals to Exacerbate the Student Loan Crisis
03.03.26 WASHINGTON - Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), led over 85 House Democrats’ opposition to the Department of Education’s proposed rule on federal student loans. The proposed rule, titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE),” implements changes that Republicans’ “Big Ugly Law” made to the federal student loan program in the Higher Education Act of 1965, including new graduate loan limits and the elimination of affordable repayment opt… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Agency Report Highlights Lessons from COVID-19 Education Funding to Improve Accountability
02.27.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Maintenance of Equity provision. The report was requested by House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Committee on Appropriations. As a condition of receiving ARP funds, states and districts agreed not… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott on DOL’s Radical Independent Contractor Rule that Robs Workers of Overtime Pay and Fair Wages
02.26.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule on the classification of independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). DOL’s rule would narrow its interpretation of who is considered an employee under the FLSA. “Today, the Department of Labor proposed a rule that will make it more difficult for workers who have been misclass… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on AI in Teacher Preparation
02.24.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. It’s encouraging that there is a lot of common ground, Mr. Chairman, in the things you brought up today and the opportunities and the challenges. “We know that artificial intelligence is already b… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Remarks at Hearing on Paid Leave
02.24.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Balancing Careers and Care: Examining Innovative Approaches to Paid Leave.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today. “Currently, the United States is one of the only wealthy countries in the world that does not guarantee paid family and medical … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Universities Capitulating to the Trump Administration’s Illegal Demands
02.20.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education announced 31 resolution agreements with institutions of higher education to cease their partnerships with The Ph.D. Project. The agreements reportedly also require the institutions to audit partnerships they have with other organizations that “restrict participation based on race.” “In 2025, roughly 24 percent of Business Ph.… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Agency Reveals that Disabled Job Seekers Still Face Challenges Accessing Federal Workforce Programs
02.20.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report examining how disabled job seekers still face challenges accessing state and local workforce development programs. This report was requested by House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). This new report details that despite significant progress made towards accessibility, many individuals with disabilities still face b… Continue Reading
House Democrats Press ED on Negative Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Students
02.18.26 WASHINGTON - House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and 69 House Democrats are pressing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon again about the impact of immigration enforcement actions on students, families, and schools, and seeking a response to their prior oversight inquiry. This comes after an increased presence of federal immigration enforceme… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Lee Saunders’ Leadership Upon Retirement
02.11.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after AFSCME President Lee Saunders announced he will retire in August 2026. “Lee Saunders’ retirement marks the close of an extraordinary 14 years of leadership dedicated to strengthening worker power in the workplace and defending the rights of public sector workers across the country. I’m proud to call Lee a friend and to have worked alongside him to advoc… Continue Reading