Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Improve Access to College, Make College More Affordable
06.08.17 WASHINGTON- TODAY, Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and Susan Davis (CA-53), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, joined Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Dan Kildee (MI-05) to introduce the Jumpstart on College Act. Reps. Scott and Davis also joined Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education, to introduce the … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Members See Need for Better Data in Higher Education
05.24.17 WASHINGTON - Today the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing entitled "Empowering Students and Families to Make Informed Decisions on Higher Education." Through witness questioning and testimony, it became clear that students, institutions, and policymakers need better information about how students are faring in our higher education system. Improvements to the postsecondary data infrastructure must provide information in ways that better serve students while … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on President Trump’s FY18 Budget
05.23.17 WASHINGTON – Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the White House released its Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal that cuts $9 billion from the Department of Education, slashes funding for the Department of Labor by 20 percent, and diminishes the Department of Health and Human Services’ ability to deliver early learning programs and health care for the American people. “A budget is a reflectio… Continue Reading
Bonamici Slams Trump Budget
05.23.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Vice Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee and Top Democrat on the Environment Subcommittee, issued the following statement on President Trump's Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal: "A budget is a statement of values and priorities. President Trump's proposed budget says more clearly than ever that his values and priorities do not align with those of America's working families. The budget slashes Medicaid health care pro… Continue Reading
Blunt Rochester Statement on Trump’s Budget
05.23.17 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), a member of both the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Agriculture, issued the following statement on the proposed budget from President Trump: "While President Trump's proposed budget should reflect our values, strengthen our economy and improve our quality of life, it, unfortunately, serves only to undermine and weaken the future of working families. Slashing funding for education and agriculture programs is an … Continue Reading
Committee Advances Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Career and Technical Education
05.17.17 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce approved H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Introduced by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-05), the bipartisan legislation will strengthen and improve career and technical education (CTE). Thanks to legislative improvements to increase program accountability, including increased federal oversight and monitoring, the bill passed today is an improvement o… Continue Reading
Davis, Scott, Hirono, Murray Introduce Major Legislation to Secure Pell Grant Program and Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students
05.16.17 WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representatives Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va), and Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act today that will expand and permanently safeguard the Pell Grant program, helping millions of low-income students offset the rising costs of college. The bill would improve the purchasing power of Pell Grants, permanently index the maximum grant to inflation, shift the Pell Grant program to fu… Continue Reading
House Democrats Launch Higher Education Campaign
05.15.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), the Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, launched "Aim Higher," a campaign where House Democrats will put forth bold policy solutions to make higher education work for all students. "For most Americans, education after high school is a necessity, not simply a desire," said Ranking Member Scott. "It … Continue Reading
Scott: HBCUs Are Constitutional
05.08.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Trump suggested financing for Historically Black Colleges and Universities may be unconstitutional: "The President issued a signing statement calling into question the constitutional status of federally-designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the programs that serve them. While he has since issued another statement attempting to clarify his support for HBCUs, there has been… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Omnibus
05.03.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the passage (309-118) of fiscal year 2017 omnibus legislation, H.R. 244 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017: “Budgeting requires making tough choices, and a budget is a reflection of priorities. Today’s spending agreement prevents the government from shutting down and limits harmful efforts to balance the budget on the backs of students, working families, and vulnerable communities across the nation. “As l… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats: Accreditation Systems Must Promote Innovation, High Quality Programs
04.27.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on accreditation systems and how they can be improved to better protect students and taxpayers. The accreditation system is responsible for ensuring America's students are investing in a high-quality education. "While the federal government and state authorizers both have important roles to play in assuring quality, accrediting bodies are the true arbiters of quality in our higher education system," stated… Continue Reading
Scott, Bonamici, Murray, Warren Urge Secretary DeVos to Reinstate Student Loan Protections
04.26.17 (Washington, D.C.) -Led by Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), more than 130 Members of Congress sent a letter today to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos urging her to reverse a decision to rescind Obama-era memos on student loan servicing reforms. The reforms had included new consumer protections for borrowers and improvements to the quality of federal loan servicing. "Your decision to rescind these memos-including t… Continue Reading
Scott, Davis Request Study to Examine Ed Department’s Ability to Forgive Federal Loans of Public Servants
04.24.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Susan Davis (CA-53), the ranking members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Subcommittee on Higher Education & Workforce Development, respectively, sent a letter to the Government Accountably Office, asking for more information on how the Department of Education implements the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Earlier today, Reps. Scott and Davis signed a separate letter asking U.S. Secretary of Educa… Continue Reading
Senate, House Education Committees Request Education Department Take Steps to Assist Students While Student Aid Tool Is Unavailable
03.27.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively, and Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, respectively, and 39 additional Members of the Senate and House Education committees, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today asking the Department to take action… Continue Reading
Davis: Financial Aid Programs Require Investment, Targeting
03.21.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, delivered the following statement during a hearing on federal student financial aid. Rep. Davis emphasized the need to expand access to higher education through robust investments in federal student aid. Key Excerpts from Rep. Davis' Remarks: "Since the Higher Education Act's enactment, the United States has made substantial progress in college access. Student of col… Continue Reading
Bonamici: Education Department Turns Back on Struggling Student Loan Borrowers
03.17.17 WASHINGTON, DC [03/17/17] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement after the Department of Education rescinded guidance that prohibited imposing collection fees on borrowers who take action quickly to repay their defaulted loans: "Those who are struggling to pay their students loans can face lifelong consequences that will affect their ability to rent an apartment or buy a car if they go into default. We must create more opportunities to prevent individuals… Continue Reading
Scott, Foxx, Murray, Alexander Request Briefing from Department of Education on FAFSA Data Retrieval Tool Outage
03.16.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively, and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, respectively, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today asking for more information about the cause and scope of the outage of the Internal Revenue Services'… Continue Reading
Adams Statement on the Budget Blueprint’s Impact on HBCUs
03.16.17 WASHINGTON, DC -Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement after the administration announced their "skinny" budget. "Less than three weeks ago, this administration claimed it is a priority to advocate for HBCUs but, after viewing this budget proposal, those calls ring hollow," said Congresswoman Adams. "This budget slashes critical funding for institutions, students, and their families. "With a 13% cut to federal education funding amounting to a nearly $4 billion rescis… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on President Trump’s FY18 Budget
03.16.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the White House released an outline of its Fiscal Year 2018 budget priorities, known as the "skinny budget." "This budget proposal is yet another broken promise from the Administration to the American people. Cutting $54 billion from programs that help protect and support working families to learn and earn is no way to grow the national economy or put people back to work. Working families deserve a budget … Continue Reading
Bonamici Defends Consumer Protections for Student Loan Borrowers
03.01.17 WASHINGTON, DC [03/01/17] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), the Vice Ranking Member of the Education Committee, stood up for student loan borrowers as the House passed a bill that threatens important federal protections for borrowers. The Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act creates an unbalanced process for repealing federal rules and jeopardizes important protections for workers, families, and the environment. Bonamici offered an ame… Continue Reading