Press Releases
Chairman Scott Statement for the Record in Support of House Staff’s Efforts to Form a Union
05.11.22 WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) submitted the following statement for the record in support of House staff’s right to organize and form a union. “I rise in support of ensuring that House staffers have the same fundamental rights to organize and collectively bargain as workers across the nation. Unions play an essential role in providing higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. For decades, un… Continue Reading
Scott, DeLauro, Murray Introduce Bill to Stop Wage Theft and Improve Wage Recovery
05.10.22 WASHINGTON – Today, Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act; comprehensive legislation to put hard-earned wages back in workers’ pockets and crack down on … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.06.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 428,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate remained the same at 3.6 percent. "Today's jobs report reflects another outstanding month of job growth and economic recovery. Under President Biden's economic agenda and the investments Congress made through the American Rescue Plan, our economy has added 8.3 million jobs and the unemploymen… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Helped Hundreds of Constituents Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
05.06.22 WASHINGTON— Last night, Office of Federal Student Aid and the Student Borrower Protection Center— where they provided constituents with the resources and information they needed to seek Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The previous Administration did not faithfully implement PSLF and despite the Chairman holding hearings, sending letters, and making public statements, they never took meaningful action to address borrowers concerns. “The … Continue Reading
Chairs Scott, Murray, Colleagues Release Report Highlighting Need to Ensure Companies Managing Colleges’ Online Programs Aren’t Violating Ban on Abusive Recruiting Practices
05.05.22 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Tina Smith (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighting the need for the Department of Education to collect more data to ensure online program managers (OPMs)—third-party companies that help colle… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Secretary Walsh Visited Local Community College, Apprentice School to Discuss Workforce Development Programs
05.02.22 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Thomas Nelson Community College and The Apprentice School and hosted a roundtable with students, higher education professionals, and local business leaders to discuss the importance of workforce development programs. Workforce development programs—like Registered Apprenticeships—are essential to ensuring workers can access better-paying jobs and busi… Continue Reading
WATCH: Chairman Scott Commemorates Workers' Memorial Day
04.28.22 WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor to commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day. View Chairman Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Worker Memorial Day is a reminder of the toll of workplace injury and illness. “One study conducted about ten years ago estimated that, on average, 15 people die every day becau… Continue Reading
New GAO Report: Income-Driven Repayment System in Urgent Need of Reform
04.20.22 WASHINGTON – A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that long-standing flaws in the Department of Education’s Income-Driven Repayment program that have left thousands of student loan borrowers without the loan forgiveness for which they may be eligible. Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans allow borrowers to reduce their monthly repayment amounts and extend repayment periods. Under IDR plans, the borrower’s remaining … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Congratulates Kurt Russell, 2022 National Teacher of the Year
04.19.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Council of Chief State School Officers announced Kurt Russell, a history teacher in Ohio, as the 2022 National Teacher of the Year. “I am proud to celebrate Kurt Russell as the 2022 National Teacher of the Year. Across the country, educators have been charged with the challenging task of helping our nation’s children recover from the pandemic. W… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Education Department Plan to Support Student Loan Borrowers in Income-Driven Repayment
04.19.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced major fixes to improve the Income-Driven Repayment program. “The Department of Education’s announcement marks a key milestone toward ensuring that Income-Driven Repayment delivers on its promise to student loan borrowers. Just last week, Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray and I urged the De… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Push Biden Administration to Fix Longstanding Failures with Income-Driven Student Loan Repayment System
04.18.22 WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, wrote to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to urge the Department of Education to extend the student loan payment pause until 2023 and use the intervening time to adopt meaningful and lasting reforms to the federal income-driven repayment (IDR) sy… Continue Reading
Representatives Scott, Lee, Frankel Call Upon GAO to Conduct Study on Caregiving Youth
04.13.22 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Scott (VA-03) as well as members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Lois Frankel (FL-21) sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that the GAO conduct a study on minors under 18 years of age who serve as a primary or secondary caregiver for a family member, also known as caregiving youth. “Many caregiving… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden-Harris Administration for Extending Student Loan Pause, Providing Second Chance to Struggling Student Borrowers
04.06.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement applauding the Biden Administration for today’s announcement that the Department of Education will extend the pause on student loans through August 31, 2022. In addition, the Department is putting currently defaulted federal student loan borrowers into good standing and erasing the default from their credit history. “Across the country, borrow… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Bills to Modernize Nation’s Workforce Development, Strengthen Retirement Security
04.05.22 WASHINGTON – Today, the Education and Labor Committee advanced two bills—the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 (H.R. 7309) and Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (H.R. 7310)—to update the nation’s workforce development system and strengthen retirement security for workers. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 reauthorizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) fo… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Legislation to Strengthen and Modernize Our Nation’s Workforce, Achieve Retirement Security for Americans
04.05.22 WASHINGTON – House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Committee Markup of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 (H.R. 7309) and Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (H.R. 7310). “Today, the Committee is marking up two bills to support America’s workers, families, and businesses. “… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Actions to Strengthen the Affordable Care Act
04.05.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced actions to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, including by eliminating one barrier – the “family glitch” – which has prevented some workers from accessing tax credits to purchase affordable coverage for their families. “Today’s announcement will expand access to affordable health care coverage… Continue Reading
McBath, Democratic Colleagues Lead Legislation Protecting Retirement Security for Americans
04.04.22 Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Lucy McBath has introduced legislation in the House to help Americans save for retirement and safeguard their investments. The Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (PARSA), H.R.7310, is co-sponsored by Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Lauren Underwood, Rep. Kathy Manning, and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. This legislation will help Americans plan… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on House Passage of Bill to Lower Insulin Costs
03.31.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 6833, the Affordable Insulin Now Act. “Today, the House took a critical step to ensure that Americans can get the affordable insulin they need. For people across the country, access to insulin can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, our nation’s consumers continue to face skyrocketing insulin costs. In just five years, the a… Continue Reading
Chairs Scott and Wilson Introduce Legislation to Update Nation’s Workforce Development Programs
03.31.22 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chairwoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022, legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), H.R.7309, and expand America’s workforce development system. WIOA provides training and career services that help working people across the country… Continue Reading
House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Secure Retirement
03.29.22 WASHINGTON – Today, the House passed sweeping bipartisan legislation to help more workers save and prepare for retirement. The legislation—Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (H.R. 2954)—includes the Education and Labor Committee’s bipartisan Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement (RISE) Act (H.R. 5891) as well as other retirement-related provisions approved by the Ways and Means Committee. The RISE Act, which the Education and … Continue Reading