Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.09.26 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 added only 50,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate ticked down from 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent. “President Trump’s second term is marked by his failure to deliver on his promise to lower costs and reduce unemployment. Since President Trump returned to office, the economy has experience… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Supports Extending Tax Credits to Reduce Health Care Costs
01.08.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in favor of H. Res. 780, Leader Jeffries’ discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits for three-years. This bill will prevent further premium hikes, protect coverage for millions, and provide stability for families and insurers alike. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of t… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Limit Students’ Access to Reproductive Health Care
01.08.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans voted to limit pregnant students’ access to information on all resources available to them as they pursue their education. “Women should be able to control these decisions. By shielding students from health care information, resources, and rights that are available to them, Republicans are denying them the choice to decide what is best for them and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act (H.R. 6359) directs college… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Full Committee Markup on Pregnant Students' Rights and Human Trafficking
01.08.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6359, and 4307. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and happy New Year, everybody. I hope everyone had a peaceful and joyful holiday season. I look forward to getting back to work to bring down costs and tackle the issues facing Americans. “This morning, we are considering two bills. The first bill fails to provide resources for all pregnant students and jeopardi… Continue Reading
Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Improving Retirement Policy
01.07.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Modernizing Retirement Policy for Today's Workforce.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “I want to thank the witnesses for being here. This is a profoundly important issue that may be very dry to a lot of people, except for staff who study these issues. But in an era where working people have more and more stress and less dispo… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Trump Administration’s Politicization of Science in Nutrition Guidance for Americans
01.07.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Trump administration announced the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) advises the public on the healthiest eating practices and determines the nutritional quality of meals served in schools. Today, the Trump administration’s released brief dietary recommendations that lack specificity and prioritize sc… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams ED for Approving of Iowa’s K-12 Funding Waiver, and Hamstring ED’s Authority to Hold States Accountable
01.07.26 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) Secretary, Linda McMahon approved Iowa’s request to consolidate some federal aid into a single grant with little to no spending requirements. “The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) includes bipartisan accountability measures to ensure states provide all children with high-quality education that is not… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Appointment of Dr. Jeffery O. Smith as Virginia’s Next Secretary of Education
01.06.26 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger nominated Dr. Jeffery O. Smith to lead Virginia’s Department of Education. “I congratulate Dr. Jeffery O. Smith on his appointment to be Virginia’s new Secretary of Education. Dr. Smith has over 30 years of invaluable experience in public education, including service as the Superintendent of… Continue Reading
House and Senate Immigration Leaders Rebuke Trump DHS Proposal That Would Punish Immigrant Families for Lawfully Accessing Health Care and Food Assistance
12.22.25 WASHINGTON - House and Senate immigration leaders submitted a formal regulatory comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing the Trump Administration’s proposed “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility” rule, warning that the proposal unlawfully rewrites longstanding immigration law and would deter immigrant families from accessing basic health, nutrition, and housing assistance they are legally entitled to receive. The proposed rule would circumvent Congress to alter the meani… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Education Department Ending Funding for Minority Serving Institutions
12.19.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel’s (OLC) issued an opinion on the constitutionality of the Department of Education’s Minority Serving Institution Program. “A college degree remains the surest path to financial stability. This is particularly true for low-income students and students of color whose educational and workforce opportunities have historically been limited by interge… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Demand Answers on Trump’s Shady Drug Deals
12.18.25 WASHINGTON - Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), demanded transparency from major pharmaceutical companies on their announcements with the Trump Administration on the cost of certain medications, including anti-obesity medications. Democrats delivered on l… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Lousy GOP Health Care Plan
12.17.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 6703, the “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act,” which fails to protect consumers against stop loss and includes recycled provisions that recklessly expand association health plans. This bill will make it harder for many workers and families to find affordable, high-quality health insurance. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speake… Continue Reading
Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Unions
12.17.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Ensuring Union Leaders Represent Members, Not Agendas.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank the witnesses for being here today. “Let me begin with a simple truth from my perspective: you cannot be pro-worker and anti-union. Workers build unions so they can have a voice strong enough to be heard. You cannot lif… Continue Reading
Scott, McGarvey Introduce Legislation to Improve Black Lung Benefits Program
12.16.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), reintroduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, legislation that would help miners who have suffered from black lung disease access the workers’ compensation and benefits they are entitled to receive under the federal Black Lung Benefits Program. This legislation significantly reduces barriers, such as complex claims processes and l… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Sounds the Alarm on Student Safety at Hearing Regarding Youth Sports
12.16.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. I also look forward to this hearing today. “Whether it’s tee-ball, track and field, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, football, swimming, hockey, figure skating, or anything I left ou… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Issues Statement on Long-Delayed Jobs Report
12.16.25 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 added only 64,000 jobs in November after losing 105,000 jobs in October, and the unemployment rate increased from 4.4 percent in September to 4.6 percent in November. “During former President Biden’s first ten months in office, the economy created 6.3 million jobs. In President Trump’s first ten … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Statement on Republicans’ Latest Health Care Proposal
12.12.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement following the release of House Republicans’ latest health care proposal. “House Republicans’ idea of a ‘new’ health care proposal to lower costs essentially consists of a handful of decades-old proposals that have proven not to work. Specifically, the Republican proposal would expand access to risky Association Health Plans that don’t have to cover essential… Continue Reading
House and Senate Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Students from Dangerous Seclusion and Restraint Practices
12.12.25 WASHINGTON - House and Senate education leaders reintroduced the bipartisan Keeping All Students Safe Act to protect students from dangerous seclusion and restraint practices in school. In the House, the bill is sponsored by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08), and Representative Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08). And in the Senate, it is sponsored by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Education Bills Intended to Improve Transparency and Access
12.11.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee passed a series of bills that aim improve access and transparency in higher education. “We are all aware of the polls that show that many believe that college is not worth the cost. The solution should not be to ignore that fact. We should make college more affordable rather than have students cut their education short because they cannot afford the cost.” said Ranking Member Scott. “Bills that explain the cost do not reduce the cost, anymore than — as a farmer… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Opening Remarks at Markup of Education Bills that Increase Transparency
12.11.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6392, 6472, 6498, and 6502. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Today, we are here to mark up four education bills intended to increase transparency and access to higher education. “The first bill under consideration is the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, which essentially restates and clarifies the current law allowing home-schooled students to be elig… Continue Reading