Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Committee Hearing on Antisemitism at Columbia University
04.17.24 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 the campus of Columbia University. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. And thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. “I would like to start my opening remarks with a video from 2017 to remind everyone of what happened on the University of Virginia’s campus during a “Unite the Right” rally. As a warning, this video may co… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden for Protecting Miners from Exposure to Hazardous Silica Dust
04.16.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration issued a final rule to strengthen protections for miners against respirable crystalline silica. “Experts have repeatedly stressed that, when inhaled, silica dust can cause a range of serious diseases, including lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, and silicosis. The Biden Administration’s final rule takes an important st… Continue Reading
Reps. Scott, Grijalva, & Chu Urge Speaker Johnson to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat
04.16.24 WASHINGTON - In response to the recent news that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law an inhumane measure banning local governments from requiring employers to institute basic heat protections to protect workers, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), and Judy Chu (CA-28) issued the following statement: “Americans across the country are grappling with some of the hottest temperatures on record. Yet workers in this country still have no legal protecti… Continue Reading
Congressman Kim Secures $279 Million to Protect 10,252 Service Industry Workers’ Retirement Benefits
04.16.24 MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced that the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 152 Retail Meat Pension Plan (UFCW Local 152 Plan), based in Mount Laurel, will receive $279.3 million from the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program to pay participant’s retirement benefits without reduction for many years to come. Congressman Kim helped create the SFA Program through the American Rescue Plan in 2021. “Across any industry, American workers deserve to … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Wilson Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining FAFSA Implementation Delays
04.10.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing, entitled, “FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families, and Schools.” “Thank you so much, Chairman Owens, and thank you to the witnesses for coming today. “We know that a college degree is the surest pathway to economic mobility in America. “Unfortunately, for many low-income students, particularly those at HB… Continue Reading
House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Support Missing and Exploited Children
04.09.24 WASHINGTON - Today, the House passed S.2051, the Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023. The House companion bill, H.R. 5224, was authored by Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the Committee. This bipartisan legislation renews the Missing Children’s Assistance Act(MCAA) and makes critical updates to help the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Urges Colleagues to Vote in Favor of Transformative Bill to Update Federal Workforce Development Programs
04.09.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in support of H.R. 6655, the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act. “Workers who are looking for higher-paying careers and businesses looking for skilled workers should be abl… Continue Reading
What People Are Saying: A Stronger Workforce for America Act
04.09.24 WASHINGTON - Today, the House will consider A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655), which makes critical updates to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to strengthen connections between employers and the workforce system, and put more Americans on the pathway to a successful career. Advocates and experts support provisions in this legislation that expand opportunities for workers who are looking to access good-paying jobs and employers seeking to fill jobs with skilled… Continue Reading
New Government Watchdog Report Raises Concerns About Lack of Faculty Diversity
04.09.24 WASHINGTON—Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled “Higher Education: Employment Discrimination Case Referrals between Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Could Be Improved.” The GAO found that while overall faculty diversity has increased in recent years, it is still not representa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds USDA for Expanding Access to Healthy Foods for WIC Participants
04.09.24 WASHINGTON - Today, on the 50th anniversary year of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Agriculture released the final rule that would better align WIC food packages, address disparities, and increase access to healthy foods. “The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is vital for the healthy devel… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on President Biden’s Plan to Deliver Debt Relief to Over 30 Million Student Borrowers
04.08.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled initial details of a new set of plans that would provide student debt relief for tens of millions of borrowers across the country. The plans, if implemented, would provide debt relief to over 30 million Americans when combined with actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to cancel student debt over the past three years. “Today’s announceme… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
04.05.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 303,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate ticked down from 3.9 to 3.8 percent. Since President Biden took office, the economy has added 15.2 million jobs. And initial unemployment insurance claims have remained below former President Trump’s pre-pandemic average for 20 consecutive weeks. “Four years ago, millions of retirees we… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Ensuring Workers Have a Voice on the Job
03.29.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden Administration issued a final rule to strengthen employees’ voice in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace. “The most basic right for American workers is to return home safely at end of their shift. Regrettably, workers continue to be injured, made ill, or killed on the job due to preventable workplace hazards or employer negligence. And when the Occupational Safety and Health … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes for Second FY24 Government Funding Bill
03.22.24 WASHINGTON- Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) voted for H.Res. 1102, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, the second legislative package that includes the final six the regular fiscal years 2024 appropriations bills. This package includes the following funding bills: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. “This fundin… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Weaken Worker Protections, Fuel Culture Wars, and Undermine Public Education
03.21.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four bills that weaken essential worker protections, fuel culture wars on college campuses, and undermine our public schools. “Similar to most of the markups we have had this Congress, Committee Republicans are rallying behind another set of bills that shirk our responsibilities to workers, students, and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. H.J. Res. 116 would repeal the Biden Administration’s final rule determining whether a worker is… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Legislation to Undermine Workers, Fuel Culture Wars, Jeopardize Public Schools
03.21.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.J. Res. 116, H.R. 6418, H.R. 3724, and H.R. 7683. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx, and good morning. “Similar to most of the markups we have had this Congress, Committee Republicans are rallying behind another set of bills that shirk our responsibilities to workers, students, and their families. “The first proposal we will consider is, H.J. Res. 116, will repeal… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Continued Responsible Stewardship of the Historic Special Financial Assistance Program
03.15.24 WASHINGTON - Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a policy to ensure that excess Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program payments can be refunded to the U.S. government. Last month, the Central States, Southeast, Southwest Areas Pension Fund (Central States) wrote to the Biden Administration and requested guidance on whether the excess payment in the … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on the President’s Budget
03.12.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. “President Biden’s proposed budget details the Administration’s vision on how we can continue to build an America where everyone can succeed. The budget proposal calls for transformational investments that would grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and lower costs for students, workers, and families. “The Presi… Continue Reading
On American Rescue Plan Act 3rd Anniversary, Committee Democrats Release New Interactive Map of Multiemployer Pension Rescue
03.11.24 WASHINGTON - Today, on the third anniversary of the American Rescue Plan Act, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats unveiled a new Multiemployer Pension Rescue interactive map. It highlights the hard-earned pensions saved and businesses protected thanks to Congressional Democrats’ and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. The multiemployer pension crisis threatened to strip more than a million retirees of the pensions they earned over a lifetime of work, jeop… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on February Jobs Report
03.08.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 275,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent. Under President Biden’s leadership, the economy has added 14.9 million jobs. President Biden added more jobs in his first two years in office, than his predecessor did in four years in office. “Today’s job report is proof that the policy choices made by Con… Continue Reading