Press Releases
Currently showing results related to The Committee's Response to COVID-19
Committee Leaders to Biden Administration: Preserve Safety Protections for Health Care Workers
01.17.22 WASHINGTON – In a letter to President Biden and Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) urged the Administration to reverse its plans to remove an emergency workplace safety standard that protects health care workers from COVID-19. The Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) – which was issued by the Biden Administration in June 2021 – requires health care fac… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: SCOTUS Decision Undermines OSHA’s Authority to Protect Workers Against COVID-19
01.13.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to reject the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccine or test requirement for employers with 100 or more employees. “While I am relieved that the Supreme Court upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rule protecting health care workers and patients, today’s decision is a significant setback i… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Effort to Save American Lives, Keep Businesses Open
11.04.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency workplace safety standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure all their workers are vaccinated or produce a negative test on a weekly basis. "The Biden Administration's emergency workplace safety standard is a turning point in the fight against COVID-19. As more than 1,200 Americans continue to die every d… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Calls on States to Stop Sabotaging Safe School Reopening Efforts
08.19.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to eight states banning schools from implementing mandatory mask policies to protect students, educators, and families from COVID-19. “As we begin another school year under the cloud of a pandemic, policymakers must be laser-focused on helping school districts reopen safely and stay open safely. Through the American Rescue … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Biden Administration’s School Reopening Roadmap
08.02.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration released a School Reopening Roadmap to help schools reopen safely for in-person instruction. "Getting students back into the classroom safely is one of the most important things we can do for children and families across the country. I applaud the Biden Administration for issuing clear and comprehensive guidance to help schools re… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Highlights Newly Released American Rescue Plan Funding for Students Experiencing Homelessness
07.30.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) praised the Biden Administration's release of $600 million in funding to support student experiencing homelessness, including $10 million for Virginia students. The funding was provided by Congress under American Rescue Plan, which set aside a total of $800 million to help identify and support students and young people who lack stable housing. The Education Department released the first $200 million in funding in April. With today's announ… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Urge Biden Administration to Extend Student Loan Payment Pause
06.30.21 Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, urged President Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments, which is currently set to expire at the end of September. In a letter to President Biden, the members stressed that the pause on student loan payments has been a lifeline for struggling bor… Continue Reading
Scott, Mrvan Introduce Bill to Secure Support for Longshore and Harbor Workers Who Contract COVID-19
05.12.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (IN-01) introduced legislation to secure critical support for maritime workers who contract COVID-19. The Longshore and Harbor Workers' COVID-19 Compensation Act of 2021 (H.R. 3114) makes longshore and harbor workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 eligible for workers' compensation by establishing a "conclusive presumption" that they contracted the virus at work. Hundreds of longs… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: American Rescue Plan Expands Access to Affordable Health Care
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, which includes a version of Worker Health Coverage Protection Act that Chairman Scott introduced last year along with robust investments in the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. "The American Rescue Plan will expand access to affordable health care for millions of Americans during this global health pandemic. Because of the disastrous economic fa… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Celebrates Protections for Retirees in American Rescue Plan
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, which includes important provisions that he helped craft to address the multiemployer pension crisis and protect workers' retirement benefits. "The American Rescue Plan is a historic victory for more than 1 million retirees who have been at risk of losing everything they had worked so hard to save. Because of this relief package, construction wor… Continue Reading
Scott Praises Support for Higher Education in American Rescue Plan
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House voted to approve the American Rescue Plan, which provides nearly $40 billion for institutions of higher education. "The COVID-19 pandemic is causing severe financial hardship for institutions of higher education and the students they serve. The American Rescue Plan provides significant relief to help colleges weather the pandemic, including more than $800 million for Virginia institutions alo… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Celebrates K-12 Investments in American Rescue Plan
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan, which invests nearly $130 billion in K-12 education. "The American Rescue Plan is the most significant investment in K-12 education in generations. This relief package will provide schools the resources they need to comply with CDC guidelines, protect students and staff, and make up for lost time in the classroom. Throughout the past year, school l… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Calls for Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act. "Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act. "Passing this rescue plan will give schools the resources they need to comply with CDC guidelines to reopen safely and remain open and give the resources needed to make up for lost time in the classroom. "Passing this resc… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: Government Watchdog Report on OSHA Enforcement Demonstrates Need for Emergency Workplace Safety Standard
03.02.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor Office of Investigator General released a report on OSHA enforcement and investigations during the COVID-19 pandemic. "For over a year now, I have called on the Department of Labor to issue an enforceable, emergency temporary standard to protect workers from contracting COVID-19. Yet, despite overwhelming pressure from Congress, workers, and public health experts, the previous ad… Continue Reading
Congressional Leaders Push CDC and OSHA to Address Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19
03.01.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressional leaders wrote a letter to the Biden administration urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to update ventilation and respiratory protection guidance and standards to address aerosol transmission of the COVID-19 virus. In the letter, the leaders praised the administration's science-based approach to defeating the virus but noted that recent expert findings show the CDC's existing gui… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on House Passage of the American Rescue Plan
02.27.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan, which provides urgent COVID-19 relief for students, workers, and families. “Today, the House of Representatives took a monumental step towards defeating the COVID-19 pandemic and creating a strong and shared recovery for our communities. “The American Rescue Plan provides… Continue Reading
Democratic Leaders Applaud Pension Protection Legislation in Latest COVID-19 Relief Package
02.09.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the inclusion of legislation to protect retirees' pensions in the COVID-19 relief package. "Among its many devastating consequences, COVID-19 has further jeopardized already struggling pensi… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Releases Ed & Labor Budget Reconciliation Bill Text
02.08.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the Education and Labor Committee's portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill, which enacts President Biden's American Rescue Plan. Under the FY21 budget resolution passed by the House and Senate last week, the Committee was instructed to propose more than $300 billion in relief for students, educators, workers, and families. "More than a year after the COVID-19 case was confirmed in the U.S., we are still losing thousa… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Yes Vote on FY21 Budget Resolution
02.03.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Scott delivered the following remarks during floor debate on H.Con.Res. 11, a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021. “Thank, Mr. Speaker. The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to inflict widespread harm across our communities. In addition to the thousands of people who are dying every day from this virus, millions of workers remain unemployed, students are falling further behind, and an unprecedented number of American familie… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on President Biden’s Announcement of National Strategy to Fight the Pandemic, Protect Workers from COVID-19
01.21.21 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced the administration's National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, which includes guidance directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine the necessity of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and, if needed, to issue such a standard by March 15. Over the last year, Chairman Scott and Comm… Continue Reading