Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Markup of GOP’s Extreme Bill to Raise Costs, Reduce Access to College
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act. “Madam Chair, you’ve heard me quote President Lyndon B. Johnson when he signed the Higher Education Act—when he said that it meant—and I quote: ‘a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 states and not be turned away because [their] family i… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Launch Roadmap to College Student Success
01.30.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats launched their Roadmap to College Student Success (RCSS), which will lay out a legislative blueprint for improving our nation’s higher education system for students and families. The “roadmap” will bring together a series of bold proposals focused on bringing down the cost of college, helping students access a quality degree, and—once students are in school—providing them with the support they need to graduate. Watch the la… Continue Reading
Scott Supports ED Decision to Reverse Course and Adjust FAFSA Form to Ensure Students Get Full Amount of Relief
01.24.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education (Department) decided to adjust the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Income Protection Allowance for the 2024-2025 award year to accurately account for inflation. “This is great news for students and families. The FAFSA Income Protection Allowance is a critical tool to help students determine how much aid for which they are eligible. I am pleased that the… Continue Reading
House Democrats Applaud the Biden Administration’s Proposal to Raise Wages for Child Care Workforce
01.23.24 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), and 31 House Democrats applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposal to raise wages for Head Start workforce and better support children and families. “We can no longer stand by as dedicated and qualified early childhood educators leave Head Start programs due to unacceptably low wages, while families struggle to find quality, affordable child care and early education o… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes “NO” on House Republicans’ Extreme, Anti-Choice Bill to Keep Pregnant Students in the Dark About Their Rights
01.18.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ H.R. 6914, an extreme and anti-choice bill that would prescribe the circulation of a limited set of resources and information institutions of higher education must provide pregnant students regarding their pre-existing rights and protections. These resources—which leave out information on contraception, abortion, pregnancy loss, and other reproductive and sexual h… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Release New Report on WIC Funding Cliff
01.17.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—On the Brink: The Case for Permanently and Fully Funding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC). The report outlines the devastating consequences for millions of women and children if Congress fails to provide the funding necessary to serve all families seeking WIC services. “The recognition of how important nutrition is to the health and well-being of pregnant … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Urges ED to Prevent Further Delays in FAFSA Processing
01.12.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) raised concerns with the Department of Education (Department) over delays in implementing the simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 award year. “While I am pleased that the Department met its statutory requirement to launch the FAFSA to students before the January 1 deadline, I am concerned that the majority of FAFSA processing will continue to be delayed this year,” Ranking Member Scott wrote. … 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
Committee Republicans Vote to Keep Pregnant Students in the Dark About Their Rights and Protections
01.10.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced legislation that would limit pregnant students’ access to information and resources regarding all the rights and protections available to them on college campuses. H.R. 6914, the so-called Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, would prescribe a limited set of resources and information that institutions of higher education must provide to pregnant students regarding their rights and protections. These resources—which leave out information on contracep… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Anti-Choice Bill and Bill to Reinforce DOL Response to Human Trafficking
01.10.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, and H.R. 443, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. “Thank you, Madam Chair. Today, the Committee is marking up two bills. “The first bill we will consider is H.R. 6914, the so-called Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. “More than a year and a half ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which tri… 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, CAPAC Chair Chu Support Su to Serve as Labor Secretary
01.08.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statements after the Biden Administration renominated Julie Su to serve as Department of Labor Secretary. Ranking Member Scott: “I fully support President Biden’s decision to renominate Acting Secretary Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. During her tenure at the Department of Labor, Acting Secretary Su has… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.05.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 216,000 jobs in December as the unemployment remained the same at 3.7 percent. “Today’s jobs report caps another strong year for the labor market. Since President Biden took office, the economy has created 14.3 million jobs. Congressional Democrats have consistently prioritized people over politics by making smart investments that … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Announces New Funding to Support Virginia School Infrastructure Investments
01.04.24 WASHINGTON - The Biden-Harris Administration announced eight new grant awards today totaling more than $37 million over five years under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program and one new grant for $10 million over five years under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program. This $47 million investment, issued by the U.S. Department of Education (Department), bolsters the capacity of states to support school districts in improving school facilities with th… Continue Reading
Scott, Sanders Applaud Biden Labor Department Proposal to Close Loopholes and Level the Playing Field for Retirement Savers
01.03.24 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) applauded the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposal to protect workers’ retirement savings. The proposal, which holds trusted advisers to a fiduciary standard under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) when making investment recommendations to their reti… 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: Up to 19 Million Workers will Get a Raise under Raise the Wage Act
12.18.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report on the effect of gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour by 2028. “The clear conclusion from the Congressional Budget Office’s report is that the benefits of the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 for workers far outweigh the potential costs. According to CBO’s estimates, the legislation would give up to 19 million workers a raise,… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes “NO” on Republican Bill to Make School Meals Less Healthy
12.13.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby" Scott delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ H.R. 1147, which would ignore the latest child nutrition science and add whole milk and reduced-fat milk to school meal offerings. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “School meals are critical in reducing child hunger and providing children with the healthy foods they need. Milk, offered as part of these meals, can help deliver essential nutr… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Remarks in Opposition to H.Res. 927
12.13.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during the debate of H. Res. 927, Condemning antisemitism on university campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “I condemn antisemitism in all forms. Moreover, calls for the genocide of Jewish people have no place in reasonable discourse, and I condemn them. I did not think such a statement should be necessary, but in today’s context, it… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott, Vice Ranking Member Hayes Statements on Biden Implementation of Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022
12.13.23 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Vice Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statements after the Biden administration released a final rule codifying the provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022, which Congress passed last year. Ranking Member Scott (VA-03): “All families in America should be able to keep their children fed and healthy. Regrettably, the devastating shortage of infant formula la… Continue Reading