Press Releases
ICYMI: To Date, Congressional Democrats Saved Pensions of More Than 156,000 Americans, Protected Nearly 800 Businesses
10.26.22 WASHINGTON - 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 Committee’s pension tracker, click here. The multiemployer pension crisis threatened to strip more than a million retirees of the pensions they earned over a lifetime of work, jeopardized tens of thousands of businesses and endangered tens of thousands of jobs. In response, the American Rescue Plan Act created a Special… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Report Finds Unequal Enforcement of Dress Codes May Make Schools Less Safe for Students
10.25.22 WASHINGTON - A new report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealedthat discriminatory enforcement of school dress codes may make school environments less equitable and safe for students and lead to harmful discipline practices. Specifically, the GAO report found that dress codes typically restrict items most frequently worn by girls, students of color, and LGBTQI+ students. As a result, schools remove these students from the classroom at significantly higher rates compa… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Reacts to 2022 National “Report Card”
10.24.22 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chair Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement after the National Center for Education Statistics released the results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Mathematics and Reading Assessments. The 2022 NAEP found significant declines in math and reading scores for grades 4 and 8 compared to 2019. In math, average score declines were historic, and achievement gaps widened for our most vulnerable studen… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on September Jobs Report
10.07.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after theBureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 263,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5 percent. “Today’s jobs report shows that Democrats’ economic agenda is meeting the needs of students, workers, and families. Since President Biden took office, the economy has added, on average, 500,000 jobs each month. Let’s contrast this to the Trump Administration. Thr… Continue Reading
House Chairs Write in Strong Support of the Biden Administration’s Health Nondiscrimination Rule
10.03.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra in support of the Biden Administration’s proposed health care nondiscrimination rule. “The proposed rule reflects evolving judicial precedent, technological developments affecting patient access to care, and is part… 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
Chairman Scott Urges Passage of Mental Health Matters Act
09.29.22 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) submitted the following remarks in support of H.R. 7780, the Mental Health Matters Act, into the Congressional Record. “I rise today in strong support of the Mental Health Matters Act, led by the gentleman from California, Mr. DeSaulnier. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis among students, workers, and families. “In 2021, over 44 percent of students experienced persis… Continue Reading
Committee Releases New Report about Risks of Ending Preventive Health Care Coverage Protection for Workers and Families
09.29.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—No Right to Deny Care—on the significant benefits of the requirement, under the Affordable Care Act, for private health insurance plans to cover preventive care, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving services. The requirement is currently under threat following a federal court ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra to restrict which forms of preventive care mus… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
09.28.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. In 1985, then-Virginia Senator Robert C. “Bobby” Scott chaired the Joint Subcommittee on Hunger and Malnutrition in the Commonwealth and commissioned a report on hunger in Virginia. “I applaud President Biden for organizing the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in more than a half a century. We know that, even … Continue Reading
Democratic Leaders File Amicus Brief in Case that Could Curtail the Ability of Individuals to Enforce Their Rights to Federal Programs in Court
09.23.22 WASHINGTON - On Friday, House and Senate leaders submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski. The Democrats wrote in support of the ability of individuals to use federal courts to enforce the requirements of certain federal programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Assistance Program, the Children's Health Insurance Progr… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Ending Wasteful Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program
09.23.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to rescind the Trump-era Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program. “I applaud the Department of Labor for ending the previous Administration’s Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), a wasteful scheme to divert funding away from the proven Registered Apprenticeship system. “IRAPs discarded key features responsible for the success of our R… Continue Reading
WATCH: Chairman Scott Leads House Debate of Bill Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Escape Abusers' Debts
09.20.22 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during today’s floor debate on the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act. View Chairman Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “I’m pleased to rise in support of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act, led in the Senate by my colleague from Virginia, Senator Mark Warner, and led in the House by the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman David Price.… Continue Reading
What People Are Saying: Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act
09.20.22 WASHINGTON — On September 15, 2022, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investments Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. Specifically, the new legislation doubles the Pell Grant, improves the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and makes loans more affordable and accessible. … Continue Reading
Chairman Sablan Opening Statement at “Back to School” Hearing
09.20.22 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Gregorio Sablan (NMI-At Large) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “Back to School: Meeting Students Social and Emotional Needs.” “As students across the country return to the classroom for the 2022-2023 school year, the Committee is meeting today to discuss how our nation’s schools are helping students get back on track academically and meet their social and emotional needs. “The … Continue Reading
Higher Education Leaders Introduce New Bill to Lower Cost of College
09.15.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act, to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The new legislation builds on President Biden’s historic one-time student loan debt relief announcement last month to forgive up to $20,000 in outstanding federal student loan debt for millions… Continue Reading
Starbucks Worker, Michelle Eisen: “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure you have a voice at work.”
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - At today’s Education and Labor Committee hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing,” Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks barista, explained what it was like to organize at her workplace. View Michelle Eisen’s full remarks on YouTube. “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure that you have a voice at work. We need Starbucks to recognize our desire to organize, which the NLRA explicitly states is our right. We need Starbucks to stop mistreating the workers it claims t… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Labor Organizing Hearing
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing. “One week and a half after the nation celebrated Labor Day, this Committee is meeting to discuss the growing popularity of unions among the American people and the steps Congress must take to ensure every worker has an opportunity to reap the benefits of joining a union. “Some of our nation’s gre… Continue Reading
Scott Statement After Texas Federal Court Rules Employers Are Not Required to Cover Lifesaving Health Services
09.07.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a District Court judge ruled to invalidate several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that govern which forms of preventive care—such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving health services—must be covered by health insurers. “For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Americans with access to preventive care, such as cancer sc… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
09.02.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 315,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent. “Today’s jobs report shows that the economy is continuing to exceed pre-pandemic job levels and returning to a steady and stable position. Just over 9.7 million jobs have been created since January 2021, exceeding the pre-pandemic highwater mark by 240,000 jobs. “Thanks … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Biden Student Loan Announcement
08.24.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced that the Department of Education is extending the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through 2022, providing up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients, and capping the amount borrowers would pay monthly for undergraduate loans at 5 percent of their income. “President B… Continue Reading