Press Releases
HELP Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks EBSA Budget Hearing
04.16.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “I also want to welcome the Assistant Secretary. This is your first time testifying before our Subcommittee since you were confirmed. So, welcome. “The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Admi… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Urge EBSA to Go Further to Increase Transparency for Health Care Middlemen
04.15.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Democratic House health leaders urged the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) to further strengthen its proposed rule regarding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are middlemen who manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health plans. The proposed rule partially implements longstanding recommendations of Committee Democrats to require middlemen disclose their direct and indirect compensation. The letter was sent by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Sco… Continue Reading
Workforce Protections Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at 7th Hearing on AI’s Impact on Workers’ Rights
04.15.26 WASHINGTON - Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at today’s subcommittee hearing entitled, “Building an AI-Ready America: Understanding AI’s Economic Impact on Workers and Employers.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for joining us today. “Today marks the seventh hearing this Committee has held on artificial intelligence (AI) this Congress. “To put things into perspective, here is a list of issu… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Request DOL Inspector General Investigate Chavez DeRemer for Not Complying with ERISA
04.14.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House labor leaders requested the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Inspector General (IG) to investigate DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer for failing to comply with certain requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Specifically, the Members are asking the IG to investigate the Secretary’s compliance with the legal requirements surrounding the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefits (ERISA Advisory Council). The request was sen… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Demand Answers on Trump’s Shady Drug Deals
04.13.26 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 Pushes ED to Protect Students in Workforce Pell Expansion
04.09.26 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott urged Secretary of the Department of Education Linda McMahon to strengthen oversight and accountability in response to the Department of Education’s (ED) proposed Workforce Pell Grant rule, which implements the newly authorized expansion of Federal Pell Grants to students enrolled in certain short-term certificate programs. Ranking Member Scott emphasized that expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs… Continue Reading
NEW: Report on How the Health Care Industry Stacks the Deck Against Working Families
04.08.26 WASHINGTON — Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released a new report titled “Denied: How the Health Care Industry Stacks the Deck Against Working Families.” The report examines the growing problem of wrongful health claim denials and the consequences for workers and their families. As health care costs rise, every wrongful claim denial places a greater burden on workers and their families who are already struggling to get by. “He… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on President Trump’s FY27 Budget
04.03.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement on issues related to the Committee’s jurisdiction after the White House released President Trump’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027. “Once again, President Trump’s budget demonstrates how his Administration favors the wealthy over working families. This proposal would raise the cost of living, undermine our institutions, and threaten the future of public e… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
04.03.26 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 178,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate ticked down from 4.4 percent to 4.3 percent. “Families across the country are being squeezed by rising prices for groceries, housing, health care, energy costs, and gas prices— increases that can all be attributed to policy choices by this A… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Criticizes Latest DOL Plan to Threaten Americans’ Retirement Savings
03.30.26 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) proposed a new rule establishing a safe harbor for 401(k) plans to offer so-called alternative assets, such as private equity and cryptocurrency, to workers. “Today, the Department of Labor proposed a new rule to create a safe harbor for 401(k) plans to invest in so-called ‘alternative assets,’ such as private equity or cry… Continue Reading
Scott, Courtney, DeSaulnier Urge Labor Department to Improve Transparency from Health Plan Service Providers
03.27.26 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. 'Bobby' Scott (VA-03), Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) urged Assistant Secretary Daniel Aronowitz of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) to take action to ensure that group health plan service providers, such as pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators, disclose both direct and indirect compensati… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on ED Leaving LBJ Headquarters After 40 Years
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced that the Trump Administration will turn ED's Lyndon B. Johnson headquarters building over to the Department of Energy. “This is one of the most overt actions by Secretary McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and disregard the law, federal courts, and Congress. The Trump Administration cannot un… Continue Reading
Scott, Ocasio-Cortez, Murray, Warren Establish Childcare for America Working Group to Lower Costs, Deliver Childcare for Every American Family
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats’ fight to lower costs and deliver childcare for every American family. The Childcare for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark chil… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Delivers Opening Statement on Rising Costs of Higher Education and Impact of Dismantling ED
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “U.S. Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “A college degree remains a sure path to the American Dream, and it’s the most reliable engine of economic mobility… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Demand HHS Secretary Testify in Overdue Budget Oversight Hearing
03.25.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) led all Committee Democrats in urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to appear before the Committee on Education and Workforce for an annual budget oversight hearing. Since being confirmed, Secretary Kennedy has not appeared before the Committee. The Members emphasized the importance of budget oversight hearings in the Committee’s work to improve the health, welfare, and safety of American families. Th… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Supports Boxing Bill, Encourages Senate to Continue Bipartisan Negotiations
03.24.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in support of H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. “This bill amends the federal law governing safety, transparency, and integrity in professional boxing, the only professional sport that is federally regulated. The original… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on ED Transferring Defaulted Student Loans to Treasury
03.19.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced it intended to sign an additional interagency agreement to transfer partial responsibility for handling student loans in default to the Treasury Department. “Since the Trump Administration returned to Washington, Secretary McMahon has executed President Trump’s goal to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) t… Continue Reading
Workforce Leaders Warn DOL Guidance Encourages States to Evade Worker Protections
03.18.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House workforce leaders wrote to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer raising serious concerns about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) recent Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL). DOL’s new guidance encourages states to waive requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The letter was sent by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Subcommittee o… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing on Workers’ Compensation Programs
03.18.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Strengthening Federal Workers' Compensation Programs: Ensuring Integrity, Efficiency, and Access.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “At its core, workers’ compensation represents a fundamental promise to the people whose work makes this country function. To the federal employees [who] deliver our … Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Advance Partisan Bills, Fail to Address American Families’ Rising Costs
03.17.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced several bills out of committee that Democrats warned prioritize partisan messaging and culture-war issues over substantive solutions for students and families. “This Committee is uniquely positioned to address the cost of living because of the breadth of our jurisdiction,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03). “However, I am frustrated that this is the fourth markup this year, and yet the majority of the bills we have considered … Continue Reading