Press Releases
House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Applauds Successful Effort to Defend Education Department
05.22.25 WASHINGTION - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on Judiciary, and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), House Committee on Appropriations issued the following statement after a federal judge blocked the Trump Administration from dismantling the Department of Education. The Court also ordered the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminat… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Rips Apart Republicans’ “Big Bad Billionaires Bill”
05.22.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to the “Big Bad Billionaires’ Bill,” which makes extreme cuts to federal education, health, and child nutrition programs, and raises the federal deficit, all to give more tax breaks and handouts to wealthy Americans and corporations. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, it’s hard to take my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seriously wh… Continue Reading
What They’re Actually Saying About Republicans’ “Big Ugly Budget Bill”
05.21.25 WASHINGTON - House Republicans’ “Big Ugly Budget Bill will make college less affordable for students, raise student loan payments for current borrowers, and expose students to predatory, for-profit institutions— all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. Here is what advocates, experts, and scholars are actually saying about how this bill will impact them: AFL-CIO: “These and other harmful cuts swamp the few new investments in the bill. The bill makes higher education less affo… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing Attacking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Programs
05.21.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI.”? “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to first of all thank our witnesses for being here today. “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts are essential to ensuring that our education system reflects the richness of our society and provides every student with … Continue Reading
Vice Ranking Member Casar Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Worker Misclassification
05.20.25 WASHINGTON - Vice Ranking Member Greg Casar (TX-35) delivered the following opening statement at a Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Empowering the Modern Worker.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “The nation’s labor laws establish basic worker protections, like a decent wage, reasonable hours, a safe workplace, the right to organize, and the right to collectively bargain, the right to overtime. “But ever since workers won thes… Continue Reading
Up to 18.3 Million Children Could Lose Access to Free School Meals Because of Republican Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
05.20.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Urban Institute released a new report shedding light on how the Republicans’budget reconciliation proposal could cause up to 18.3 million children to lose access to free school mealseither through individual certification or through their school or state’s participation in universal school meal programs. “Republicans’ proposal denies low-income students access to free school meals and the ability to reach their full potential. For some students, the food served at sch… Continue Reading
Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Reintroduced to Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination
05.20.25 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan and bicameral group of Members reintroduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a proposal to strengthen anti-discrimination protections for older workers. In the House, the bill is led by Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Representativ… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Second Forum with Civil Rights Leaders on How to Fight the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Americans
05.16.25 WASHINGTON - This week, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a forum with civil rights leaders to discuss how they are fighting the Trump Administration’s systematic attacks on students, workers, and families. This follows weeks of reckless and illegal activity by the Trump Administration to strip students, workers, and families of their basic civil rights. Click here to watch the forum on YouTube. “Thank you for being here, and thank you for your dedication to the fight i… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Decision to Abandon Mental Health Care for Americans
05.15.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced its plan to abandon mental health parity enforcement. “Nearly 30 years after the enactment of the bipartisan Mental Health Parity Act, insurance companies and health plans still fail to provide meaningful coverage of behavioral health care. Rigorous enforcement of this landmark law is more important now than ever befo… Continue Reading
Scott, Boyle Demand Answers about How Tax Cuts for the Rich will Limit Access to School Meals and Nutrition Programs
05.15.25 WASHINGTON- Committee Leaders are raising alarm over the Republicans’ drastic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid included in the budget reconciliation which will negatively impact children’s access to school meal programs and threaten food security for millions of families that rely on summer grocery benefits and other health and nutrition services. Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Memb… Continue Reading
NEWS: Scott, Sanders, Murray, Baldwin, DeLauro Decry Trump Administration’s Illegal Firings, Cuts at AmeriCorps
05.15.25 WASHINGTON - Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Re… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Charter Schools
05.14.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Reimagining Education: How Charter Schools Are Closing Gaps and Opening Doors.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here. “Charter schools, as a reminder, are public schools that receive taxpayer dollars. At their best, they offer the potential for innovation, flexibility, and responsiv… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on RFK Jr. Decision to Rehire Only A Few Wrongfully Terminated NIOSH Employees
05.13.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reinstating some but not all of the wrongfully terminated National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) civil servants. “I am encouraged to see Secretary Kennedy begin to reverse course on his decision to fire hundreds of civil servants at the National Institute for Occupa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Demands ED Answer Questions Regarding Status of Students’ Civil Rights Investigations
05.12.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) of the Committee of Education and Workforce demanded answers from Secretary McMahon of the Department of Education (ED or the Department) regarding recent reports that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)’s recent mass layoffs resulted in pending cases being abandoned without adequate caseworkers. As of January 2025, OCR reported a backlog of over 12,000 cases. Soon thereafter, the Department let go nearly half of OCR’s staff and closed… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Question Labor Department about Impact of Mass Layoffs on Workers
05.09.25 WASHINGTON - Committee Democrats are demanding answers from Department of Labor (DOL or Department) Secretary Chavez-DeRemer regarding mass layoffs at the Department and the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on working Americans. This letter follows President Trump’s first 100 days in office, during which he stripped federal contract workers of civil rights protections and greenlighted Elon Musk and his associates’ access to sensitive data, including workers’ financial and health data, a… Continue Reading
Education Leaders Urge McMahon to Reject Waiver Requests for K-12 Education Funds That Allow States to Avoid Accountability
05.08.25 WASHINGTON- Today, congressional Democrats urged Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to reject any efforts by states to undermine the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which specifically directs funding to high-poverty schools, English as a Second Language programs, afterschool and summer learning, and more. The letter was sent by Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at 8th Hearing on Campus Antisemitism
05.07.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank our witnesses for being with us today. “The month of May marks Jewish American Heritage Month, when we celebrate the generations of Jewish Americans who have made incredible contributions to this country. This month, we reaffirm our commitment … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Reforming Worker Compensation
05.06.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “FECA Reform and Oversight: Prioritizing Workers, Protecting Taxpayer Dollar.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, or FECA, is more than just a compensation statute—it is a solemn promise. A promise that if a federal worker is injured on th… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on President Trump’s FY 2026 Proposed Budget
05.02.25 “In the first 100 days since Donald Trump has returned to the White House, he has made one thing abundantly clear: he has no plan to improve the lives of students, workers, and families. Instead, he has decimated federal agencies that provide key services, stripped away workers’ rights, and imposed reckless tariffs that threaten to skyrocket prices. “President Trump’s budget proposal is yet another attack on working families. The budget calls for slashing funding for the Department of Health … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.02.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 177,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate remained the same at 4.2 percent. During President Biden’s first 100 days in office, the economy created 1.7 million jobs. In President Trump’s first 100 days in office, he created less than half a million jobs, and the economy shrank at a rate of 0.3 percent. Under President Biden, the… Continue Reading