Press Releases
Ranking Members Scott, Bonamici Praise Proposal to Provide Expanded, Healthier Food Options for WIC Participants
02.17.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) wrote to the Department of Agriculture in support of its proposal to improve food assistance for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). “The WIC program has proven vital to infants, children, and pregnant and postpartum women by promoti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Administration’s Progress to Reduce Student Loan Debt by Fixing Income-Driven Repayment
02.10.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) applauded Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona for the Department’s proposed rule to reform the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) system. The proposed reforms make the IDR program more generous for low-income borrowers, automatically enrolls delinquent borrowers in the IDR program, sunsets old IDR plans, and eliminates monthly accrual of interest to borrowers. “I am encouraged by the Department’s proposed rule, which makes significant change… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Opening Statement at Education Hearing
02.08.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the state of education. “When the Supreme Court decided the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, it outlawed legal segregation in education, and said - among other things - that, ‘In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on the State of the Union
02.07.23 WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden delivered the State of the Union address. “As Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I was pleased that President Biden laid out a clear vision for providing quality and affordable education for all students, improving the lives of workers and families, and expanding access to affordable health care. “As… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises Biden Proposal to Provide Healthier Meals for Children
02.03.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration issued a proposed rule to improve nutrition standards for child nutrition programs and align them with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). “I am pleased that the Biden-Harris administration is making progress toward the evidence-based nutrition standards that our children need to grow up healthy. We know that providing nutritious food for chi… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on January Jobs Report
02.03.23 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 517,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.4 percent. Since President Biden took office, the economy has created more than double the average number of jobs each month compared to the Trump administration’s pre-pandemic performance. “Today’s jobs report is further proof that Congressional Democrats’ and President Bid… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden’s Proposal to Improve Access to Contraceptive Services under the ACA
02.02.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration published a proposed rule to ensure that individuals can access no-cost coverage for contraceptive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Currently, many individuals covered by employer-sponsored plans and student health insurance plans can be denied coverage for contraceptive services by individuals and entities that claim a religious or moral objection.… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ahead of 30th Anniversary of FMLA, Democratic Lawmakers Hold Press Conference Unveiling Legislative Package To Establish Paid Leave And Expand And Modernize FMLA
02.01.23 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representatives Richie Neal (D-MA), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Sean Casten (D-IL), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) held a press conference ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to announce a legislative package to establish a paid family and medical leave program and expand and moderniz… Continue Reading
NEW: 118th Congress Democratic Committee Assignments
01.31.23 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce appointed subcommittee ranking members, subcommittee member assignments, and a vice ranking member for the 118th Congress. This Congress, Committee Democrats include a diverse group of lawmakers, including educators, labor advocates, parents, business owners, and civil rights leaders. The Members’ experience and expertise will help guide Committee Democrats’ work to ensure that all students have access to a quality education, ex… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Welcomes Democratic Committee Members for the 118th Congress
01.27.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that the House Democratic Caucus unanimously affirmed the recommendations of the Steering and Policy Committee for Members to serve on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. “The Committee’s Democratic Members reflect a broad cross-section of America. They include educators, labor advocates, parents, business owners, and civil rights leaders. T… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration Efforts to Help Miners, Families Access Care
01.19.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would make reforms to the Black Lung benefits program to ensure that coal operators honor their responsibility to fund the workers’ compensation benefits miners and their survivors are entitled to receive. “Decades ago, Congress established the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide monthly compensation and medical coverage for coal miners who dev… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Release New Report Documenting Weaponization of Religious Freedom in Federal Policy at Expense of Americans’ Civil Rights
01.16.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—Religious Liberty? The History of Religious Liberty in Federal Policy from 1990 to 2022—that examines how, in recent decades, the federal government has advanced religious freedom interests at the expense of others’ civil rights and access to critical services. “The balance between protecting religious liberty—a fundamental American value—and protecting the civil rights of others has been essential to our d… Continue Reading
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