Press Releases
Ranking Member Scott Praises Biden Admin Efforts to Combat Taxpayer-Funded Religious Discrimination, Protect Civil Rights
01.13.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden administration released proposed rules for nine federal agencies—including the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), Labor (DOL), and Agriculture (USDA)—that would restore key civil rights protections for beneficiaries and students in federally funded social service programs. “No one should be forced to pass a religious test to access federally funded social servi… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Report Finds ED Must Bolster Investigations into False, Misleading Advertising by Colleges
01.12.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and the Workforce, released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that the Department of Education—particularly while under the Trump administration—has not adequately conducted oversight of colleges that substantially misrepresent themselves to students. “When planning for college, students and parents should be able to trust that institutions are providing accurate in… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises ED Proposal to Reduce Student Loan Debt
01.10.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration released a proposed rule to improve the Income-Driven Repayment program—which allows borrowers to reduce their monthly repayment amounts, extend repayment periods, and have their loans forgiven after 20-25 years of repayment—by modifying its Revised Pay As You Earn plan. “Today’s announcement marks a major victory for student loan borrowers and will help address the l… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.06.23 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 223,000 in December and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5 percent. “Today’s jobs report caps another historic year of growth. President Biden has added more jobs in his first 24 months in office than any previous Administration in the same amount of time. Moreover, since President Biden took office, the economy has created more than d… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Roll Back of Trump Rule that Supported Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination Against Patients
01.05.23 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration issued a proposed rule to partially rescind a Trump-era rule that would have allowed religiously motivated discrimination against health care patients in federally-funded programs. “Today, the Biden-Harris administration took yet another step to revive and improve critical civil rights protections against discrimination that were gutted by the Trump administration. “Und… Continue Reading
In 117th Congress, Committee Democrats Put People Over Politics
12.26.22 Today, the House Committee on Education and Labor released a report highlighting how Committee Democrats put people over politics, and met the needs of students, workers, families, and our economy throughout the 117th Congress. “During this session of Congress, Democrats have created a record number of jobs, lowered the number of uninsured Americans to the lowest rate in history, reopened the schools safely, saved pensions, and reduced child poverty. That’s a record of accomplishments,” said C… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on House Passage of Government Funding Bill
12.23.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus spending bill. “Today, the House passed a government funding package that will improve the lives of students, workers, and families. “I am particularly pleased the package makes sizable investments in early childhood through post-secondary education. The bill seeks to improve access to early learning and child care programs by increasing funding fo… Continue Reading
Scott Statement After Elected by Colleagues to Serve as Ranking Member of Education and Labor Committee in the 118th Congress
12.22.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after he was elected by the House Democratic Caucus to serve as the next Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Labor. “Governing should be guided by the values and aspirations we share - improving the lives of people from all walks of life. Regardless of the political challenges that lay ahead in the 118th Congress, the American people are still counting on us to find common ground, when possible; … Continue Reading
In the 117th Congress, Committee Democrats Conducted Robust Oversight on Behalf of Students, Workers, Families
12.21.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the House Committee on Education and Labor released a report highlighting the Committee’s oversight work to ensure that the federal government properly implements laws and delivers for the nation’s students, workers, and families. Under the leadership of Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), the Committee conducted rigorous oversight in the 117th Congress through dozens of letters, meetings, and public hearings. ###… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Child Nutrition Provisions in the Omnibus Government Funding Legislation
12.20.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the release of omnibus government funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2023. “Over the last two years, we had a real opportunity to help improve the lives of children and families by passing a comprehensive child nutrition reauthorization. My committee took this opportunity seriously, and advanced the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, a comprehensive, science-driven reauthorization of federal child nutrit… 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
Chairman Scott Leads Members in Support of Proposed Rule to Protect Workers’ Rights
12.08.22 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) led a letter with 52 House Democrats to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in support of its proposed joint employer rule. The proposed rule would help ensure that workers—who are hired through subcontractors, temporary staffing agencies, and other intermediaries—can hold all the entities that control their working conditions accountable for their right to bargain collectively for higher pay, … Continue Reading
Retirement Benefits of More Than 350,000 Central States Workers and Retirees Saved by the American Rescue Plan Pension Relief
12.08.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced that 357,056 participants of the Central States Pension Fund will have their retirement benefits saved and 1,005 businesses contributing to the plan will be protected. The pension relief was made possible through the American Rescue Plan, which included a solution to the multiemployer pension crisis. To watch the video, click here.Special Thanks: Ken Stribling, Davey Grubbs, Bernie Anderson, Dana Vargo, Don Vargo, F… Continue Reading
Education Leaders Urge Education Department to Better Protect Students Against Abusive College Recruiting Practices
12.05.22 WASHINGTON - On Friday, House and Senate education leaders wrote a letter urging the Department of Education to increase its oversight of online program managers (OPMs)—third-party companies that help colleges run and recruit students for online academic programs—to ensure they are not engaging in abusive recruiting practices. In May 2022, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office released a report that found the Department of Education does not have the information it needs about colleg… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on November Jobs Report
12.02.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 263,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. Under the previous administration, the pre-pandemic average (seasonally adjusted) number of jobs added was 186,000. Under President Biden, the average (seasonally adjusted) number of jobs added is 479,000 - over 2.5 times the previous Administration’s pre-p… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Extension of Student Loan Pause
11.22.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration announced that it will extend the pause on student loan repayment, collections, and interest accrual. “Extending the pause on student loan repayments will give borrowers some stability while President Biden’s student loan relief program remains blocked due to lawsuits from Republican Attorneys General. This extension will prevent borrowers from making payments on a loan t… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Proposed Improvements to WIC Food Packages
11.17.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service announced proposed updates to strengthen food assistance for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. “The Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) proposed rule makes critical improvements to the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). By advancing a science-based review of… Continue Reading
NEW: Pension Recipient Shares Impact of Relief Secured in American Rescue Plan
11.07.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee released a new video of Dana Vargo, the spouse of a retired Teamster and a leading advocate in the fight to protect pension plans. In the video, Vargo discusses how the relief that Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration secured in the American Rescue Plan has allowed her and her husband to spend more time with their grandchildren. To date, the American Rescue Plan has saved the pensions of 156,759 Americans and protected … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
11.04.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 261,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent. “Today’s jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda is producing a record number of jobs. President Biden has added more jobs in his first 22 months in office than any previous Administration in the same amount of time and, important… Continue Reading
Retired Truck Driver Celebrates Relief Secured in American Rescue Plan
11.02.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee released a new video of retired truck driver Jack Palush discussing the impact of the relief that Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration secured in the American Rescue Plan. To date, the American Rescue Plan has saved the pensions of 156,759 Americans and protected 785 businesses from being at-risk of closing their doors. To view the video, click here. The multiemployer pension crisis threatened to strip more than a … Continue Reading