Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Extreme GOP Bill that Jeopardizes Global Research Partnerships
12.06.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following remarks during today’s House floor debate on House Republicans’ DETERRENT Act (H.R. 5933). View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Historically, collaborations with global partners—and careful federal investments in research—have enabled our colleges and universities to make bold, forward-thinking strides in health, science, and technology for people around the world. “Additionally, institution… Continue Reading
SECURE 2.0 Act Technical Corrections Discussion Draft Released
12.06.23 A discussion draft containing technical corrections and other clarifications for the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 has been released by House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), along with House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA). Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), along with Senate Committee on Health, Edu… Continue Reading
Stefanik, Scott, Foxx, DeSaulnier Legislation Tackles Workforce Gaps
12.05.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. The legislation provides opportunities for students and workers looking to gain skills in high-demand fields by allowing Pell … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Committee Hearing on Antisemitism on College Campuses
12.05.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s opening statement here. “Historically, college campuses have been hubs for students and faculty to foster intellectual thought and expression. Regrettably, following Hamas’ October 7th attack on innocent civilians in Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, college … Continue Reading
Bipartisan Group of House Members Introduces Bill to Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination
12.04.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Representative Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12), and Representative Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced H.R. 6581, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a bipar… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Addresses Funding Disparities at 1890 Land Grant Universities
11.21.23 WASHINGTON - Last week, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a briefing with experts on the state of funding for 1890 land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which remains inequitable largely due to state underfunding, and the impact these institutions have on Black students and agriculture advancements. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. Ranking Member Scott delivered the following remarks during the briefing: “The first Morrill Act o… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Help Mine Workers with Black Lung Disease Receive Benefits
11.21.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12), and a group of Senate Democrats introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2023to reform and strengthen the program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease. The legislation is led in the Senate by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), She… Continue Reading
Government Watchdog Report Finds Employee Benefits Security Administration Grappling with Limited Resources
11.16.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) announced the release of a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which assessed the management of priorities in the face of years of underfunding that has hindered the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration’s ability to protect the health and retirement benefits of workers and retirees. “Today’s report underscores the consequences of a decade of underfunding that has left the Em… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
11.15.23 WASHINGTON - This week, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the designation of the week of November 13, 2023 as “National Apprenticeship Week.” “Every year, Registered Apprenticeships connect workers across the country with in-demand skills and good-paying jobs and allow employers to tap into a pipeline of talented workers. In short, Registered Apprenticeship programs are critical to strength… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Blasts Extreme MAGA Funding Bill
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following remarks during today’s House floor debate on House Republicans’ extreme appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “I rise in opposition to the amendment and the underlying bill. “The House Republicans’ partisan bill is an attack on students, workers, and families. For 2024, the bill would … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises Biden Proposal to Ensure Workers Have a Voice in Workplace Health and Safety
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to the Department of Labor regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule to strengthen employees’ voice in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace. The proposal clarifies that workers may authorize a third party, including a union representative, to join an OSHA walkaround health inspection when an inspector deems that they ar… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing on Antisemitism on College Campuses
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. “It has been over a month since Hamas’ terrorist attack on innocent civilians in Israel and the start of a brutal, ongoing war in Gaza. This conflict has directly devastated thousands of people—Israelis and Palestinians alike and countless families and friends across the world and in… Continue Reading
Committee GOP Advances Bill to Jeopardize Global Research Partnerships
11.08.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced legislation that fails to meaningfully prevent undue foreign influence and intellectual property theft at colleges and universities while jeopardizing critical global research partnerships. H.R. 5933, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, adds new and onerous reporting requirements under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act that will make it harder for colleges and u… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bill to Jeopardize Global Research Partnerships
11.08.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 5933, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. “This bill, as I understand it, affects gifts to institutions of higher education and their employees, so I’ll focus my remarks on the legislation. “Global partnerships among academic institutions play a critical… Continue Reading
Scott Op-Ed: Youngkin finally dedicated significant funding to combat learning loss. What took him so long?
11.07.23 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, wrote the following op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Governor Youngkin’s ALL IN VA initiative. “In September, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced over $400 million to initiate a plan to address the learning loss that our students continue to suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If implemented properly, this plan could build on the work that schools should already be doing — such… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Praise DOL Proposed Rule to Update Overtime Standards for Salaried Employees
11.07.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (D-NC), Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Higher Education and Workforce De… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
11.03.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 150,000 jobs in October as the unemployment rate ticked up slightly from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent. Under President Biden’s leadership, the economy has added nearly 14 million jobs. “Today’s jobs report once again underscores the strength of our economy under President Biden’s leadership. The Biden administration has consistently pr… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Proposed Rule to Strengthen America’s Retirement Security
10.31.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Scott issued the following statement after the Biden administration announced a proposed rule to close loopholes and prevent unscrupulous financial advisers from ripping off their retirement clients. “Every hardworking American deserves access to a secure and dignified retirement. Unfortunately, workers today are left wondering whether the retirement investment advice they receive is in their best interest or the financial interest of their advisers. While most advi… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: Final Joint Employer Standard is “Good for Workers, Good for Law-abiding Businesses, and Good for our Economy”
10.26.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Scott issued the following statement after the Biden administration announced a final rule to ensure that workers hired through subcontractors, temporary staffing agencies, and other intermediaries can hold all the entities with the power to control their working conditions accountable for their right to bargain collectively. “Workers can only negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions if all companies with power to control their employme… Continue Reading
Scott, Leger Fernández, Baldwin, Dean Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Community College
10.19.23 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) introduced legislation in both the House and Senate chambers to make community college and two-year Tribal Colleges and Universities more accessible by waiving tuition fees for eligible students. “Community colleges play a unique and vital role in providing students a… Continue Reading