Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision Undermining Employees’ Rights to Collective Action
05.21.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis. "The National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers the right to collectively stand together to improve their wages and working conditions. However, today the Supreme Court ignored the plain text of the law and held that employers may force workers into signing arbitration agreements that waive the right to pursue work-related claims t… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Honor Brown v Board Anniversary by Highlighting Administration’s Attacks on Students’ Civil Rights
05.17.18 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Democrats honored the 64th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision by expanding the focus of a hearing on data privacy to include a wide range of threats to students' rights and educational equity. While acknowledging the importance of protecting students' data, Democrats highlighted the Trump administration's actions to roll back protections for transgender students, rescind Obama-era guidance on combating sexual assault on campus, and halt… Continue Reading
On the Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Top Democrats Introduce a Resolution to Affirm Support for Meaningful Enforcement of the Civil Rights Act
05.17.18 WASHINGTON - Today, on the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Democratic leadership is unveiling a resolution affirming Congress's intent for the Trump administration to fully enforce federal civil rights law to advance equal opportunity in education. The original co-sponsors include Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, as well as all Members … Continue Reading
Bipartisan Lawmakers Challenge Education Department’s Attempt to Block State Consumer Protection Laws
05.16.18 WASHINGTON, DC [05/16/18] - Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Mia Love (R-UT) challenged the Department of Education to reconsider its decision to block states from regulating student loan companies. "States have a historic role in consumer protection regulation, including protecting residents from predatory, unfair, and deceptive business practices," the lawmakers wrote. "The Department's interpretation, if implemented, would preempt stat… Continue Reading
Members Discuss Bipartisan Retirement Savings Solutions, Press for Further Action to Ensure All Americans Can Retire with Dignity
05.16.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Enhancing Retirement Security: Examining Proposals to Simplify and Modernize Retirement Plan Administration." The hearing focused on four bipartisan retirement savings bills: Retirement Security for American Workers Act (H.R. 854), Retirement Plan Modernization Act (H.R. 4158), Increasing Access to a Secure Retirement Act of 2017 (H.R. 4604), and the Receiving Electronic Statements to I… Continue Reading
Top Democrats Urge Department of Education to Maintain Rule Intended to End Harmful Practices for Students of Color and Children with Disabilities
05.14.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions submitted a public comment to Assistant Secretary Johnny Collett, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, to express their strong objection to any delay of the "Equity in IDEA" rule. This rule is intended to reduce the over- and under-identification of students of color in special education,… Continue Reading
Bonamici Stands Up for Students of Color, Equity in Education
05.14.18 WASHINGTON, DC [05/14/18] - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education Committee, stood up for students of color who are disproportionately identified for special education services, placed in more restrictive classroom settings, and disciplined at higher rates than their same-age white peers with disabilities. Bonamici pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to protect and promote the civil rights of all students and promptly enforce the Equity in Individuals with Disabili… Continue Reading
Closing the CFPB’s Office for Students is Reckless and Harmful
05.09.18 his morning, the Trump administration announced it is dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau office that protects student borrowers from fraud. Roughly 42 million Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans. Here is how Committee Democrats responded: Vice Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01): "The Trump Administration has once again shown that it cares more about corporate interests than it does about the interests of students who are trying to afford higher educat… Continue Reading
Rep. Takano Statement on Mulvaney’s Unconscionable Decision to Close the Office for Students at the CFPB
05.09.18 Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response the announcement from Acting Director Mick Mulvaney to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office for Students and Young Consumers. "The Office for Students and Young Consumers is a vital resource we should be expanding rather than closing. It is the only entity within the federal government entirely focused on protecting young consumers. To date, it has helped return over $750 mi… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Susan Davis Statement on Closing the CFPB’s Office for Students and Young Consumers
05.09.18 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Susan Davis, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, released the following statement on the move by interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mick Mulvaney to shut down the Office for Students and Young Consumers. "Once again, this administration has chosen to undermine the financial security and consumer rights of students. Shutting down the CFPB's Office for Students and Young Consumers signals a clea… Continue Reading
Bonamici Slams Mulvaney for Closing CFPB Office for Students
05.09.18 WASHINGTON, DC [05/09/18] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, made the following statement after Acting Director Mick Mulvaney announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will be closing its Office for Students and Young Consumers: "The Trump Administration has once again shown that it cares more about corporate interests than it does about the interests of students who are trying to afford higher education. … Continue Reading
As Demand for Skilled Workers Rises, Committee Democrats Push to Restore Public and Private Support for Training and Education
05.09.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing to discuss the role of the public and private sector in supporting education and workforce training to meet the rising demand for skilled workers. The hearing, "Closing the Skills Gap: Private sector solutions for America's workforce," comes at a time of declining private sector investment in worker training and significant cuts to federal funding for workforce development. Researchers estimate tha… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: Proposed Rate Hikes Show that Consumers Are Paying for GOP Attacks on Affordable Care Act
05.08.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after two of Virginia's Marketplace insurers proposed significant premium increases for 2019. The insurers specifically attributed the premium hikes to the Republican repeal of the individual mandate and other initiatives adopted by the Trump administration, such as their plan to weaken the Obamacare Marketplace by loosening restrictions on junk health plans that undermine patient protections. "In response to repeate… Continue Reading
O'Halleran Introduces Resolution to Support Higher Teacher Pay and Education Investment
05.08.18 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran introduced a resolution, cosponsored by more than 100 members of the House of Representatives, to honor teachers on National Teacher Day, support higher teacher pay, and call for increased investments to public schools. "Our teachers and school staff are shaping the next generations of American workers and leaders, and they should have the tools they need to do their job. Unfortunately, as Arizonans have seen over the past week, years of cuts to pu… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Challenge DOL to Combat Opioid Epidemic in its Workers’ Compensation Program
05.08.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing titled, "The Opioid Epidemic: Implications for the Federal Employees' Compensation Act." Reducing over-prescription of opioids in workers' compensation programs is critical to combatting the opioid epidemic. The Department of Labor (DOL) has a responsibility to prevent opioid abuse through its administration of Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Enacted in 1916, FECA provides workers' compensation coverage f… Continue Reading
One Year after House “Trumpcare” Vote, Democratic Health Leaders Call on Speaker Ryan to Allow Vote on Bill to Strengthen Health Care System
05.04.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the three House Democratic leaders of the Committees with jurisdiction over health care, Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA), and Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) urging him to allow a vote on legislation that would help improve the affordability and accessibility of health care in the United States. The Undoing Sabotage and… Continue Reading
Shea-Porter Statement on One-Year Anniversary of House Vote to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
05.04.18 WASHINGTON, DC- Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of House Republicans' vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have taken health care away from 23 million Americans, eliminated the health care rights of millions, and raised health care costs for every American: "One year ago, House Republicans voted to take health care away from 23 million Americans. Their cruel bill threatened the health and economic security… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.04.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 164,000 jobs in April, with the unemployment rate at 3.9 percent. "The latest jobs report shows that our economy remains relatively stable, but the work is far from over and there are those in Congress working to undermine these economic gains. On average during President Obama's last full year in office, the economy added roughly 195,000 jobs a m… Continue Reading
House Democratic Leaders Unveil A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century
04.27.18 Alexandria, Virginia - Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats held a press conference at Northern Virginia Community College to unveil the newest plank of their bold economic agenda, A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century, which focuses on Democrats' commitment to investing in America's workers, pioneering future frontiers and modernizing government. "Too many families have been left behind by technological change, and left wondering where they fit in the economy… Continue Reading
Courtney, Baldwin, Scott, Takano, DeLauro Introduce Resolution in Support of Workers' Memorial Day
04.26.18 WASHINGTON- Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-41), and Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) introduced a resolution in support of Workers' Memorial Day to remember the American workers who have been killed or harmed in their workplaces and promote safer work environments. "Each day,… Continue Reading