Press Releases
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Hearing on Parental Rights in Education
02.10.26 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee (ECESE) Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s ECESE Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Defending Faith and Families Against Government Overreach: Mahmoud v. Taylor.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “Public K-12 schools across the country are, right now, facing a deluge of crises that affect the safety, security, and acad… Continue Reading
Scott, Sanders, Bonamici, 71 Lawmakers Slam Trump Administration for Making Child Care More Expensive
02.05.26 WASHINGTON - House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 71 of their House and Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter slamming Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s new rule that would make child care… Continue Reading
Education Leaders Propose Bill to Rebuild America’s Public Schools
02.04.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03), Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026. The legislation invests more than $130 billion in our schools’ physical and digital infrastructure, and the resources are targeted at high-poverty schools with facilities that pose health and safety risks to students and staff. “Chronic neglect of America’s public… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Remarks on College Affordability Crisis
02.04.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “As this committee’s first Higher Education and Workforce hearing of the year, I’m glad we’re starting by focusing on what is top of mind for Americans across this country — rising … Continue Reading
HELP Ranking Member DeSaulnier Remarks on Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
02.03.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I must say, I could have written that opening statement by you myself, so this is a good sign. “I think it’s important for this Subcommittee, and this Committee in particular, because so much of the jurisdiction is here. I am reminded, as … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: DOL’s PBM Rule Should Go Further to Improve Transparency and Affordability
01.30.26 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 regarding pharmacy benefit manager fee disclosures under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). “Working families across the country are facing skyrocketing health care costs and exorbitant drug prices. I have long been concerned that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are not complying with … Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watch Dog Report Reveals Students with Disabilities Still Face Challenges to Access Necessary Support
01.29.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report examining the challenges schools are facing to make assistive technology available for students with disabilities. This report was requested by House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03). Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities are required to have access to assistive technology and services necessary to receive a fr… Continue Reading
Congressional Democrats Slam Trump for Weaponizing the Federal Government, Harming Children, Seniors, and Working Families
01.28.26 WASHINGTON - Congressional Democratic committee ranking members today demanded a reversal of the Trump Administration’s illegal funding freeze for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) programs in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The letter, signed by House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-Va., House Ways and Means Committee Rank… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Scott Scrutinizes EEOC for Abandoning Mission to Protect Workers from Discrimination
01.27.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce scrutinized the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) led by Chair Andrea Lucas regarding its recent moves which signal that the EEOC is straying from its mission to protect workers from employment discrimination and promote equal opportunity in the workplace. “It is imperative that, under your leadership, you discontinue the path of derailing the importance of disparate impact … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Mine Safety and Health Administration
01.22.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone. Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary Palmer, for being here today. “Since its inception in 1977, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, has strived to protect America’s miners from occupational … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes for ‘Labor-H’ Funding Bill
01.22.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the House passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. “I applaud Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray for their work to secure funding for many of our shared priorities in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. Moreover, this bill is a s… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Bill to Keep Pregnant Students in the Dark About Their Rights
01.22.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which would provide pregnant students with a limited set of resources and information regarding their rights and protections. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. “This bill requires schools to provide pregnant students with … Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Advance Bills Weakening Accountability and Oversight of Charter Schools
01.21.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans voted to advanced two bills (H.R. 7082 and 7086) that weaken accountability, transparency, and long-standing protections for students in charter schools. H.R. 7082, the Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools (FLEX) Act, weakens oversight of the federal Charter Schools Program while redirecting funding away from classrooms. The bill expands vague allowable uses of federal funds and gives the Secretary of Education broad discretion over a si… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bills to Weaken Accountability and Transparency of Charter Schools
01.21.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 7082, 7086, and 4624. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this week, the Joint Economic Committee released a new report finding that, in the year since President Trump returned to office, families spent an average of $1,625 more due to inflation. Despite this troubling fact, today, we are marking up three bills that do nothing to lower the cost of … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Plan to Interfere With Workers’ Retirements
01.15.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 2988, the Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act, which would restrict fiduciaries’ ability to consider environmental, social, and governance factors when making investment decisions, effectively undermining workers’ retirement savings. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may co… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement on the Importance of Congress Putting Guardrails on Artificial Intelligence
01.14.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Building an AI-Ready America.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today. “From chatbots to programming to grocery lists, artificial intelligence has rapidly integrated into the daily lives of millions of Americans, transforming how we interact with technology and the world around us. “Due to the rapid rise of AI technol… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Plans to Cut Workers’ Wages
01.13.26 WASHINGTON -Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 2262, H.R. 2270, and H.R. 2313, which would cut workers’ wages. H.R. 2262, Flexibility for Workers Education Act Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. “Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2262, the so-called Flexibility for Workers Education Act. “We’ve heard about… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Child Care Crisis
01.13.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Who’s Watching the Kids? How Employers, Innovators, and Parents Are Solving America’s Child Care Crunch.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “This hearing is about an issue that is critical for children, families, for employers, and for the economy. Too many families are stru… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.09.26 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 added only 50,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate ticked down from 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent. “President Trump’s second term is marked by his failure to deliver on his promise to lower costs and reduce unemployment. Since President Trump returned to office, the economy has experience… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Supports Extending Tax Credits to Reduce Health Care Costs
01.08.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in favor of H. Res. 780, Leader Jeffries’ discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits for three-years. This bill will prevent further premium hikes, protect coverage for millions, and provide stability for families and insurers alike. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of t… Continue Reading