Press Releases
110+ House & Senate Democrats Slam EEOC's Proposal to End Demographic Data Collection Key to Fighting Workplace Discrimination
08.25.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-D), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39) and Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) led 112 Members of Congress & Senators in a letter urging the Equal Employment Opportuni… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Demands Answers from Labor Department on “Fake Job” Health Plans
08.14.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and Assistant Secretary Daniel Aronowitz demanding answers about reported settlement negotiations with companies selling junk health plans that use sham employment or partnership relationships to circumvent federal consumer protections and state oversight. The reported negotiations come amid growing concerns about so-called hea… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Calls for Urgent Oversight of Funding Cuts and Dwindling Staff at Federal Statistical Agencies
08.13.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to Chairman Tim Walberg requesting an immediate hearing to examine the impact of the Trump Administration’s attacks on federal statistical agencies within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS or … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
08.07.26 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 23,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1 percent. At this point in his term, the economy under President Biden had created 10.2 million jobs, compared to just 590,000 under President Trump's second term. In the 18 months of the present Administration, not a single mon… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams HHS Plan to Undermine Head Start
08.06.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its proposed rule to deregulate Head Start, undermining the program’s quality standards among other things. “For more than 60 years, Head Start has provided young children with high-quality early education, health and dental care, and healthy meals. It also connects families with services that help lift them out of poverty. “Today, … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on EEOC’s Proposed Strategic Plan and Ongoing Efforts to Undermine Civil Rights
07.30.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter in response to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Draft Strategic Plan, criticizing EEOC for providing insufficient time for Congress and the public to submit meaningful feedback on the plan. The EEOC has engaged in a troubling pattern of shortchanging engagement with the public on a number of its actions. In its current form, the Draft Strategic Plan will under… Continue Reading
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