Press Releases
House Labor Leaders Introduces New Bill to Protect Workers and Level the Playing Field
07.26.24 WASHINGTON - Today, House labor leaders introduced the Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET’S) Protect Workers Act(H.R. 9137). The LET’S Protect Workers Act is a transformative legislative bill aimed at bolstering protections for America’s workers and ensuring accountability for employers who flout labor and employment laws. In April, Ranking Member Scott released a damning report entitled, “A Slap on the Wrist: How It Pays for Unscrupulous Employers to Take Advantage of Workers" which illustrat… Continue Reading
*NEW* Watchdog Report: College Students Experiencing Hunger Face Barriers Accessing SNAP Benefits
07.25.24 WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on how many college students experiencing hunger apply for and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The GAO found that an estimated 23 percent of college students experienced food insecurity in 2020. And, of those food insecure students, a majority reported multiple instances of eating less, or skipping a meal because they could not afford enough food. The GAO estimated that fewer than tw… Continue Reading
House Labor Leaders Request DOL Investigation Amid Resurgence of Child Labor Violations
07.18.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) requested the Department of Labor (DOL) examine potential risks of child labor and occupational safety and health violations in youth workforce programs. Specifically, the Members raise concerns about incidents in programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Authorization Act (WIOA), and the school-based Work Experience and Career Explorations Programs (WE… Continue Reading
ICYMI: 42 Percent of Working Single Parents in the U.S. Earn Less than $17 an hour, New Oxfam Study Shows
07.11.24 WASHINGTON -Oxfam, the global organization fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice, released new research on the low wage workforce in the United States, finding that 23 percent of U.S. workers currently earn low wages (less than $17 an hour), with the data revealing even deeper disparities along lines of race and gender. Working single parents bear a particular burden in the crisis of low wages, with a shocking 42 percent earning less than $17 an hour, compared to only 12 percent of p… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Leads Opposition Against Extreme Republicans’ Attack on Title IX
07.11.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici lead House Democrats opposition to H.J. Res 165 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance” Watch Ranking Member Bonamici’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I might consume. … Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Undermine FAFSA and Jeopardize Retirees’ Savings
07.10.24 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce Republicans passed bills to: (1) undermine the Department of Education’s ability to roll out an accurate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and (2) repeal the Biden-Harris’ Administration’s commonsense Retirement Security Rule. “Once again, we’re missing an opportunity to actually advance meaningful solutions that will uplift students, workers, and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. H.R. 8932 would as… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About Extreme Republicans’ Attack on Young Women, Girls, LGBTQIA+ Students, and Sexual Assault Survivors
07.10.24 WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives will consider, H.J. Res. 165, extreme legislation that further stokes culture wars in public education, undermines protections for young women and girls, and perpetuates more attacks on vulnerable LGBTQIA+ youth. Here is what advocates and experts are saying: American Civil Liberties Union: “The ACLU urges a NO vote on H.J. Res. 165, ‘Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bills to Undermine FAFSA and Jeopardize Retirees’ Savings
07.10.24 *Amendments and letters of opposition for today’s markup can be found here.* WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 8932, H.R. 294, H.R. 6319, H.R. 2574, H.J. Res. 142 “Thank you, Madam Chair. “Madam Chair, once again, we’re missing an opportunity to actually advance meaningful solutions that will uplift students, workers, and their families. “The first proposal we will consider is H.R.… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.05.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 206,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly from 4.0 to 4.1 percent. The economy, under President Biden, has created the most jobs in a single presidential term. The previous record was under President Clinton, at 11.6 million jobs. In stark contrast, Trump presided over the worst labor market in modern U.S. hist… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat
07.02.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule aimed at mitigating health risks associated with heat exposure for America’s workers, both indoors and outdoors. This initiative underscores the Biden Administration's commitment to prioritizing worker protections amidst escalating concerns over rising temperatures across the country, and States’ attempts to eliminate lifesaving protections. “… Continue Reading
ICYMI: On One Year Anniversary of SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision, Ranking Member Scott Sets the Record Straight
06.28.24 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a briefing with Attorney Marc Minor, Vice Chair of Racial & Ethnic Diversity for his firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative, to set the record straight on the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC, and the implications on areas outside of higher education. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. Ran… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott on SCOTUS Striking Down Chevron Deference
06.28.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce to strike down the longstanding doctrine of Chevron deference. For the past 40 years, Chevron deference required courts to defer to an agency interpretation of the law if the statute was ambiguous and if the interpretation was reasonable. “Today, the Supreme Court upended 40 years … Continue Reading
What People Are Saying: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act
06.21.24 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, House and Senate education leaders reintroduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working students and families. The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of federal financial aid for postsecondary education, serving over 6 million undergraduate students. Here is what advocates and experts … Continue Reading
Scott, Hirono, Murray, Reed, Whitehouse, Pocan Introduce Bill to Double Pell Grant, Make College More Affordable
06.20.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working students and … Continue Reading
Rep. Courtney’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Health Care Access Advances in the House
06.20.24 NORWICH, CT - In another bipartisan win, the Committee on Education and the Workforce recently advanced (36-0) Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Tim Walberg’s (R-MI) legislation to improve health care access for injured federal workers. The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 618) amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act to ensure injured federal employees, especially those in rural areas can get the appropriate care they need from state-licensed… Continue Reading
New Government Watchdog Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence in College Athletics
06.20.24 WASHINGTON - Today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new reportabout sexual harassment and violence in college athletics. The report found that college athletes face unique barriers to reporting sexual harassment and violence, highlighting the need for increased protection and support for student athletes. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ran… Continue Reading
After Alarming Reports of ‘Mass Denials,’ Labor Leaders Urge DOL to Improve Transparency for Consumers
06.18.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) urged the Department of Labor to improve transparency for consumers after alarming reports of widespread denials of benefits by employment-based health plans. These plans cover more than 130 million Americans and are subject to important consumer protections under the Employee Retirement Income Se… Continue Reading
Scott, Grijalva, Espaillat, Tout New GAO Report Detailing Support for English learners and the Path Forward
06.17.24 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby” Scott (VA-03), and Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement in response to the academic achievement report of English learners in the United States, entitled "K-12 Education: How States Identify English Learners, Including Those with Disabilities," conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). “The recent GAO report high… Continue Reading
House and Senate Leaders Applaud Bipartisan Bill to Support Missing and Exploited Children Becoming Law
06.17.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), House Education and the Workforce Committee Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL-04), Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05), and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Senate Majority Whip, Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) applaud the signing of the Missing… Continue Reading
In Mammoth Markup, Committee Republicans Push Through Partisan Bills to Fuel Culture Wars, Undermine Students Civil Rights and Right to Form Unions
06.13.24 WASHINGTON - Today, during a full Committee markup of nine bills, Committee Democrats opposed a series of partisan Republican bills that would undermine the welfare of students, workers, and educators. “The[s]e partisan bills we will consider only further the Majority’s extreme agenda and inject divisive partisan politics into our children’s classrooms and college campuses,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03). H.J. Res. 165 would repeal the Biden Administration’s final Title … Continue Reading