Press Releases
Democrats, Experts, Small Business Owners Highlight Economic Benefits of Raising the Minimum Wage at Forum
04.27.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) held a forum, along with other Committee Democrats and House Democrats, to highlight the business and economic benefits of raising the federal minimum wage. Leading economists say that a modest increase in the minimum wage would improve worker productivity, and reduce employee turnover and absenteeism. It would also boost the overall economy by generating increased consumer demand. In tandem with today's forum, Committee Democ… Continue Reading
Department of Labor’s Persuader Rule Promotes Transparency for Working People
04.27.16 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), held a hearing entitled, "The Persuader Rule: The Administration's Latest Attack on Employer Free Speech and Worker Free Choice." The hearing addressed the Department of Labor's (DOL) final persuader rule, which requires employers and "union avoidance consultants" to report their persuader arrangements to DOL, pursuant to the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959. When workers seek to … Continue Reading
Committee Democrats to Hold Forum on the Business, Economic Benefits of Raising the Minimum Wage
04.26.16 WASHINGTON - ON WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), along with fellow Committee Democrats, will host a forum for the House Democratic Caucus to focus on how businesses and the overall economy will benefit from raising the federal minimum wage. Raising the federal minimum wage will stimulate consumer spending, help businesses' bottom lines, and grow the economy. A modest increase in the minimum wage would improve worker productivity, and reduce employee … Continue Reading
Scott, Smith, Cummings Oppose NDAA Amendment to Reward Pervasive Violators of Employment, Non-Discrimination, and Safety Laws with New Government Contracts
04.26.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Members Bobby Scott (VA-03), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Elijah Cummings (MD-07) of, respectively, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued the following statements today after learning about forthcoming efforts to ban implementation of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order via an amendment in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Defense Authorization Act. The Fair Pay… Continue Reading
House Democrats Issue Joint Statement on 3rd Anniversary of Bangladesh Rana Plaza Collapse
04.22.16 WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), and Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Jackie Speier (D-CA) today released the following joint statement ahead of Sunday's three-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh. The collapse killed 1,134 workers and injured approximately 2,500 more in the… Continue Reading
Scott, Cummings, 50 House Members Urge President to Make Federal Government “Model Employer” With Fair Chance Hiring Policies
04.20.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) led 50 House Members in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to take steps to solidify fair chance hiring policies in the federal government. Fair chance hiring helps level the playing field for those reentering society after incarceration and can include “banning the box,” or prohibiting questions about criminal histories early in the hiring process. “As we move toward National Reentry Week (A… Continue Reading
Scott, Hinojosa, Bonamici Laud Signing of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization into Law
04.19.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) issued the following statement on the President signing S. 192, Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 - a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act - into law: "We commend our colleagues in the House and Senate for working together to make this day possible and thank President Obama for signing this legislation. Since the Older Americans Act … Continue Reading
Scott, Kildee and Nine Ranking Members Urge HHS & Partnering Agencies to Identify Additional Ways to Support Flint, Michigan
04.18.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) and nine House Committee Ranking Members sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health Human Services (HHS) and other agencies to examine additional ways to provide more funding and technical support to the Flint, Michigan. The Members also thanked HHS and the partnering agencies for providing initial emergency funding and services to the Flint community. "We are concerned that - despite repeated … Continue Reading
Scott, Murray, Wilson and Courtney Unveil New Report on Workplace Violence against Healthcare Workers
04.14.16 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) unveiled the findings of a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on actions needed to reduce and mitigate the incidence of workplace violence in healthcare facilities. Although healthcare facilities are perceived as a place to get well, many who are employed in these facilities face elevate… Continue Reading
Scott, Fudge Express Strong Concerns about House Republican Child Nutrition Reauthorization Draft
04.14.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Marcia Fudge (D-OH) expressed their strong concerns with the contents of a child nutrition reauthorization discussion draft crafted by House Republicans. "Child nutrition programs provide critical resources in the effort to reduce the incidence of food insecurity and malnutrition facing millions of childre… Continue Reading
Scott, DeLauro, and Murray Lead 76 Members of Congress in Supporting the Department of Labor’s Actions on Paid Sick Leave
04.13.16 WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led a group of 76 Members of Congress in writing to the U.S. Department of Labor to express strong support for the proposed rule implementing Executive Order 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors. "The lack of guaranteed paid sick days forces far too many working families to make an impossible choice between caring for themselves and … Continue Reading
Scott, Fudge Welcome Release of Report Showing Community Eligibility Provision’s Success in Helping Students Access School Meals
04.08.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Marcia Fudge (D-OH) made the following statement on the release of the joint Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) and Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) report entitled Community Eligibility Adoption Rises for the 2015-2016 School Year, Increasing Access to School Meals. Democrats on the Hous… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Administration Efforts to Protect Retirees, Investments
04.06.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the final "conflict of interest" rule to protect workers' retirement savings and ensure they receive investment advice that's in their best interest. "I strongly support the Department of Labor's 'conflict of interest' rule, which finally closes gaping loopholes in a critical retirement savings regulation that dates back to 1975. When workers seek out pe… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
04.01.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that during the month of March, the economy added 215,000 jobs: "Today's job report represents the 73rd consecutive month of private sector job growth with unemployment steady at 5 percent. This extends the longest streak of job growth on record, which was previously set in April 2000 at 51 months. This is welcome news, however more work must be done … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision for Working Families
03.29.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's 4-4 tie decision in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, preserving the Ninth Circuit Court ruling in favor of working families: "The Supreme Court 4-4 decision in Friedrichs upheld the rule that when non-union members share in the wages, benefits and protections negotiated by a union in a collectively bargained contract, they need to pay their fair share for the co… Continue Reading
Scott on Silica Rule: Most Significant Worker Health, Safety Protection in 40 Years
03.24.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released the final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America's workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime: "This sta… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Department of Labor’s Rule to Improve Transparency for Workers Considering Union Representation
03.23.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the final rule - Persuader Agreements: Employer and Labor Relations Consultant Reporting under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) - to implement the LMRDA provisions that prescribe transparency measures regarding the employment of union avoidance consultants: "I am pleased that the Department of Labor's persuader rule closes a sign… Continue Reading
Scott, Levin, Pallone: Six Strong Years for the ACA
03.23.16 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2016 CONTACTS Kiara Pesante (Scott), 202-226-0853 Kevin Parker (Levin), 202-226-3354 Christine Brennan (Pallone), 202-225-5735 WASHINGTON, DC - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)- the top Democrats on committees with jurisdiction over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - … Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Efforts Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
03.23.16 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act. The legislation will strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect by strengthening and requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to better ensure states are meeting current child welfare requirements. Upon introduction, the bill's co-sponsors released the following statements: "We … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Update the Older Americans Act
03.21.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passage of S. 192, Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 - a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act: "Today's bipartisan vote to reauthorize the Older Americans Act underscores our moral obligation to help older Americans live in dignity and stay connected to their communities. "I commend my colleagues for their commitment and diligence to reauthorize the Older Americans Act in … Continue Reading