Press Releases
Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Raise Minimum Wage
07.25.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2023. The Raise the Wage Act would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2028 and give roughly 28 million Americans a long-overdue raise. “No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty. The Raise the Wage Act will increase th… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Report Highlights Importance of Monitoring and Improving Americans’ 403(b) Retirement Plans
07.24.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which underscores the importance of monitoring 403(b) retirement plans in which millions of teachers and non-profit employees invest. The report also highlights several innovative ideas and state-based efforts to improve 403(b) plans. The new GAO report comes as House Republicans advance a budget that proposes a $38 million funding cut for the Employee Benef… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Extreme MAGA Republican Bill to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
07.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, extreme MAGA Republicans in the House voted to pass their Scapegoating Not Solutions Act, a mean-spirited proposal that threatens to take away education funding from a school if any its facilities are used to temporarily house asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this bill is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor rem… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Reintroduce Legislation to Invest in Direct Care Workers
07.18.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07), and Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) reintroduced the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act of 2023. The legislation invests more than $1.8 billion over five years in training and increasing opportunities for our nation’s direct care workers. Between 2020 and 2030, the direct care workforce is projected to add more than 1.2 … Continue Reading
NEW: As Republicans Refuse to Take Action on Resurgence of Child Labor Violations, Ranking Member Scott Hosts Briefing with Experts
07.14.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a briefing with experts on the resurgence of child labor violations as well as legislative solutions to address abusive child labor practices. Members and staff heard from Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League and Chair of the Child Labor Coalition, and Margaret Wurth, Senior Researcher with the Children’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch. Watch an excerpt of the briefing on YouTube. Eighty-five years after… Continue Reading
Education and the Workforce Committee Passes Landmark Health Care Package
07.12.23 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and the Workforce Committee passed a comprehensive health care package comprised of four bills introduced by Committee Members: H.R. 4509, Transparency in Billing Act, H.R. 4507, Transparency in Coverage Act, H.R. 4527, Health DATA Act, and H.R. 4508, Hidden Fee Disclosure Act. “Transparency in health care is essential for fostering meaningful competition, which keeps costs in check for both consumers and employers. The package of bipartisan health care bills t… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs for Workers and Families
07.12.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 4509, the Transparency in Billing Act; H.R. 4507, the Transparency in Coverage Act; H.R. 4527, the Health Data, Accessibility, Transparency, and Affordability Act (DATA) Act; and H.R. 4508, the Hidden Fee Disclosure Act. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. “The bills we are considering today take promising steps to lower health care costs for workers and families by … Continue Reading
Education and the Workforce Committee Leaders Unveil Bipartisan Health Care Package
07.11.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) and Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced the introduction of a bipartisan health care package comprised of four bills introduced by Committee Members. The package works to increase cost transparency for employers and patients, lower premiums and reduce health care spending, and increase competition by removing incentives for provider consolidation. “Transparency in health care is essenti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.07.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 209,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate ticked down from 3.7 percent to 3.6 percent. This is significantly higher than the Trump administration's pre-pandemic average of 182,000 jobs created each month. Since taking office, President Biden has created just over 13.2 million jobs, which is more jobs created in 29 months than any … Continue Reading
Scott Applauds Biden’s Plans to Lower Health Care Costs, Protect Consumers
07.07.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) applauded the Biden administration for announcing multiple actions to lower health care costs, including limiting short-term plans, promoting transparency in health care, and strengthening the No Surprises Act. “Today, the Biden administration announced its plans to reverse the previous administration’s rule to expand short-term, limited duration health plans. The rule was just one of a long list of efforts by the Trump administ… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on SCOTUS Striking Down Biden’s Student Loan Program
06.30.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Department of Education v. Brown and Biden v. Nebraska to strike down President Biden’s student loan program. Under the program, 90 percent of the benefits would have gone to borrowers making less than $75,000 a year. “A college education should not depend on how much money a student’s parents make. In fact, when President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act … Continue Reading
Following Ranking Member Scott’s Call, MSHA Proposes New Rule to Protect Coal Miners from Cancers, Silicosis, and Black Lung Disease
06.30.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) commended the Mine Safety and Health Administration for its proposed rule to improve the respirable crystalline silica standard. “Silica dust inhaled on the job is a grave threat to miners’ health. When it is inhaled and becomes trapped in lung tissues, silica dust causes scarring and inflammation. It can then cause silicosis, a progressive and incurable disease characterized by a reduction in the lung’s capacity to take in oxyg… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on SCOTUS Ruling in Groff v. DeJoy
06.29.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the case of Groff v. DeJoy. “Religious freedom is a fundamental American value. Our civil rights laws protect workers from religious discrimination and proactively require employers to provide accommodations for religious exercise. Today’s Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy clarified employers’ obligation to provide these reasonable accommodations when a… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action
06.29.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC. “The Supreme Court has long held that our nation has a compelling interest in fostering racially diverse campuses. Holistic college admissions practices that narrowly tailor the use of race as one of many factors in evaluating prospective stud… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Introduce New, Bold Legislation to End Abusive Child Labor
06.29.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) announced their plans to introduce new legislation—the Protecting Children Act—to finally end child labor in America. The bill provides federal worker protections agencies with the tools and resources they need to deter violations and prevent harm to children from intensive work in dangerous jobs. Recent, high-profile n… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bobby Scott, Protect Our Care Virginia, and Health Care Advocates Discuss Republicans’ Latest Effort to Weaken Protections for Virginians with Pre-Existing Conditions
06.26.23 *Watch the event here* WASHINGTON — In case you missed it, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Friday joined Protect Our Care Virginia and health care storytellers to discuss House Republicans' vote to weaken protections for Virginians with pre-existing conditions and undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The call is a response to a legislative package House Republicans passed on Wednesday evening that includes several measures to… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns MAGA Republican Resolution to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
06.22.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans voted to pass H.Res. 461, a mean-spirited resolution—authored by extreme MAGA Republicans—that threatens to take federal funds from public schools if any of their facilities are used to temporarily house refugees or migrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this resolution is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. Ranki… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing on Skills-Based Hiring
06.22.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing on equitable, skills-based hiring practices. “Thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Congressional Democrats, our economy is thriving. “In the span of 29 months, President Biden has created more jobs than any previous president has created in a single, 48-month term. And the past two years, respectively, were the first and second largest job growth y… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Bill that Undermines Affordable, Quality Health Care for Workers and Families
06.21.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans voted to pass H.R. 3799, which undermines the Affordable Care Act and jeopardizes essential consumer protections for health care consumers. This legislative package includes H.R. 2813, which prevents critical consumer protections from being applied to stop loss insurance, and H.R. 2868, which erodes consumer protections and increases costs for older and sicker Americans. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. Ranking Member Robert C. “Bob… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Sends Letter in Support of Biden Proposal to Protect Students, Taxpayers from Low-Quality Education Programs
06.21.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) commended the Biden administration for its proposed rule to hold career programs that receive federal financial aid accountable for ensuring their graduates can secure gainful employment after completing a degree. “Two fundamental principles drive these proposed rules: protecting students and taxpayers and holding institutions accountable,” Ranking Member Scott wrote. “The Department’s proposed rule makes great strides to pr… Continue Reading