Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
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
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 “NO” on Extreme Republicans’ Anti-Worker, Anti-Union Resolution
01.12.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ H.J. Res. 98, an extreme resolution that would undermine workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The resolution would repeal the National Labor Relations Board’s 2023 joint employer rule, which ensures that companies cannot evade their responsibility to negotiate with workers by hiding behind subcontractors and … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden for Protecting Workers’ Workplace Rights
01.09.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule to address the misclassification of employees as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act. “The guarantee of minimum wages, overtime pay, and safe and healthy workplaces has, for decades, been essential to supporting the workers who fuel our economy. “Regrettably, the pervasive misclassification of workers as independent contra… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Commends Biden Administration for Protecting Access to Affordable Health Care
12.19.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Scott issued the following statement after the Biden Administration announced a proposed rule that would reverse a Trump-era rule that made it harder for workers and families to get affordable, high-quality health insurance. “I applaud the Biden Administration for today’s proposal to rescind the previous Administration’s ‘Association Health Plan’ (AHP) rule and protect consumers from health benefit arrangements that seek to evade important requirements of federal … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Labor Rights Violations
12.07.23 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) introduced the Workers Protecting Our Wage Earners’ Rights Act, or Workers POWER Act, alongside Representative McGarvey (D-KY-03), Congressional Labor Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Representative Greg Casar (D-TX-35). The bill will equip the Department of Labor with the resources needed to tackle federal labor law violations including child labor, wage theft, a… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises Biden Proposal to Ensure Workers Have a Voice in Workplace Health and Safety
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to the Department of Labor regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule to strengthen employees’ voice in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace. The proposal clarifies that workers may authorize a third party, including a union representative, to join an OSHA walkaround health inspection when an inspector deems that they ar… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: Final Joint Employer Standard is “Good for Workers, Good for Law-abiding Businesses, and Good for our Economy”
10.26.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Scott issued the following statement after the Biden administration announced a final rule to ensure that workers hired through subcontractors, temporary staffing agencies, and other intermediaries can hold all the entities with the power to control their working conditions accountable for their right to bargain collectively. “Workers can only negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions if all companies with power to control their employme… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Opening Statement at Oversight Hearing with OSHA
09.27.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “Thank you, Chairman Kiley. First of all, I want to thank Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Mr. Doug Parker. Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing your testimony. “There is no question that the Occupational Safety and Health Adm… Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Ask Republicans (Again) to Hold Hearing on Child Labor Violations
09.13.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) sent a second letter urging Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) to hold a hearing on the rise of child labor violations and legislative proposals to address abusive child labor. Ranking Members Scott and Adams sent the letter as Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chairman Bob Good (VA-05) dedicates the Co… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Introduce Heat Stress Legislation to Protect Workers
07.26.23 WASHINGTON - Today, as temperatures around the world hit record highs, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, House Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), and Alma Adams (NC-12), introduced legislation to ensure the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Alex Padilla (CA) introduced identical companion legislation in the Senate. The Asunción Valdivi… Continue Reading
Following Ranking Member Scott’s Call, MSHA Proposes New Rule to Protect Coal Miners from Cancers, Silicosis, and Black Lung Disease
06.30.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) commended the Mine Safety and Health Administration for its proposed rule to improve the respirable crystalline silica standard. “Silica dust inhaled on the job is a grave threat to miners’ health. When it is inhaled and becomes trapped in lung tissues, silica dust causes scarring and inflammation. It can then cause silicosis, a progressive and incurable disease characterized by a reduction in the lung’s capacity to take in oxyg… Continue Reading
On Workers Memorial Day, Rep. Courtney, Ranking Member Scott Lead Legislation to Improve Workplace Safety
04.28.23 WASHINGTON - To honor Workers Memorial Day, Rep. Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, introduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act. This bill would meaningfully strengthen and modernize the Occupation Safety and Health Act for the first time in over 50 years by ensuring employers promptly correct hazardous working conditions, protect whistleb… Continue Reading
Rep. Courtney Leads Bipartisan Lawmakers in Curbing Violence Against Health Care and Social Service Workers
04.18.23 WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) a senior member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Committee, re-introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to curb the rising rates of workplace violence facing health care and social service workers, including nurses, emergency responders, medical assistants, physicians, and social workers. Health care and social service w… Continue Reading
Reps. Chu, Scott Re-Introduce POWER Act to Create Safe, Just Workplaces for Every Worker in America
03.28.23 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, re-introduced the Protecting Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation (POWER) Act. This updated bill is a vital step towards creating safe and just workplaces for all American workers by providing temporary protection from deportation for immigrant workers who experience retaliation for exercising their rights under existing labor and em… Continue Reading
Bipartisan Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize
02.28.23 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan group of House and Senate Members introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 (H.R. 20), a comprehensive proposal to protect workers’ right to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The House bill was introduced by the Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). The Senate companion was … Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ahead of 30th Anniversary of FMLA, Democratic Lawmakers Hold Press Conference Unveiling Legislative Package To Establish Paid Leave And Expand And Modernize FMLA
02.01.23 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representatives Richie Neal (D-MA), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Sean Casten (D-IL), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) held a press conference ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to announce a legislative package to establish a paid family and medical leave program and expand and moderniz… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration Efforts to Help Miners, Families Access Care
01.19.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would make reforms to the Black Lung benefits program to ensure that coal operators honor their responsibility to fund the workers’ compensation benefits miners and their survivors are entitled to receive. “Decades ago, Congress established the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide monthly compensation and medical coverage for coal miners who dev… Continue Reading
Scott Celebrates Passage of Key Priorities in Defense Bill
12.08.22 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which included key initiatives spearheaded by Congressman Scott. “As the representative from Virginia’s Third Congressional District, I was pleased to support this year’s NDAA which will protect our national security and include a well-earned pay raise for servicemembers and civilians serving our military,” said Congressman … Continue Reading
Chair DeSaulnier Leads Bipartisan Bill to Help People with Disabilities Access Assistive Technology
09.30.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Congressman Joe Sempolinski (NY-23) announced introduction of the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (H.R. 9028), bipartisan legislation to help people with disabilities live independently by expanding access to assistive technology. Assistive technologies—from smart home systems to magnifying glasses—are critical to ensuring that people with disabilities can live, work, and participate… Continue Reading