Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee
Scott, DeLauro, Sanders, Murray, Baldwin Demand Answers on Trump’s Plans to Dismantle Education Department
02.06.25 WASHINGTON - Reps. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee alongside Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health,… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on the State of American Education
02.05.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “The State of American Education.” “Thank you, Chairman Walberg. Good morning, everyone, and thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening this hearing. “I would first like to start with the elephant in the room. There is current reporting that President Trump plans to issue an executive order to eliminate critical p… Continue Reading
As Students Return to Campus, Ranking Member Scott Urges Schools to Share Plans to Foster Safe, Welcoming Campuses
08.23.24 WASHINGTON - Today, in an open letter to schools, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) urged campus leaders to ensure that they are equipped to create safe and healthy learning environments for students and faculty ahead of the upcoming academic year. The letter comes nearly a year after many college campuses became the site of intense protests and heightened antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents. Following these incidents, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (O… Continue Reading
New Government Watchdog Report: Poor Oversight of Title IX Enforcement Negatively Impacts Female Student Athletes Participation in College Sports
05.09.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Subcommittee on Early Childhood and Secondary Education released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report found that inadequate oversight of Title IX negatively impacts women from participating in college athletics. Under Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, schools that receive federal fi… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Wilson Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining FAFSA Implementation Delays
04.10.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing, entitled, “FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families, and Schools.” “Thank you so much, Chairman Owens, and thank you to the witnesses for coming today. “We know that a college degree is the surest pathway to economic mobility in America. “Unfortunately, for many low-income students, particularly those at HB… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on February Jobs Report
03.08.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 275,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent. Under President Biden’s leadership, the economy has added 14.9 million jobs. President Biden added more jobs in his first two years in office, than his predecessor did in four years in office. “Today’s job report is proof that the policy choices made by Con… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Cuts to the Pell Grant Program
02.29.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after Congress passed the Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024 (H.R. 7463). “In 2020, I agreed to negotiate with former HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander on the FAFSA Simplification Act with the agreement that we would simplify the application process if it also meant that Congress would expand students’ access to the Pell Grant program. Our goal has always been to expand acce… Continue Reading
NEWS: Scott, Sanders, Murray, and 106 Colleagues Urge Department of Education to Address FAFSA Rollout Issues
02.12.24 WASHINGTON - As the traditional May 1st “college decision day” approaches, education leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, along with 106 of their colleagues, today wrote to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education to call on the department to urgently address the operational issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that impacts millions of students across the country. The letter was led by Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-V… Continue Reading
While You Were Sleeping, Extreme Republicans Voted to Raise College Costs, Return to DeVos Era Deregulation and Chaos
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Tonight, Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans advanced legislation—H.R. 6951, the so-called College Cost Reduction Act—that would wreak havoc on our higher education system and inflict pain on students struggling to afford a college degree. H.R. 6951 raises the cost of going to college for students and families by restricting access to federal student aid and affordable loan repayment plans, exposes students and taxpayers to predatory and low-quality institutions by re… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About the So-Called “College Cost Reduction Act”
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans will advance legislation—H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act—that would wreak havoc on our higher education system and inflict pain on students struggling to afford a college degree. H.R. 6951 raises the cost of going to college for students and families by restricting access to federal student aid and affordable loan repayment plans, exposes students and taxpayers to predatory and low-quality institutions by repealing existing consumer protection… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Markup of GOP’s Extreme Bill to Raise Costs, Reduce Access to College
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act. “Madam Chair, you’ve heard me quote President Lyndon B. Johnson when he signed the Higher Education Act—when he said that it meant—and I quote: ‘a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 states and not be turned away because [their] family i… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Launch Roadmap to College Student Success
01.30.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats launched their Roadmap to College Student Success (RCSS), which will lay out a legislative blueprint for improving our nation’s higher education system for students and families. The “roadmap” will bring together a series of bold proposals focused on bringing down the cost of college, helping students access a quality degree, and—once students are in school—providing them with the support they need to graduate. Watch the la… Continue Reading
Scott Supports ED Decision to Reverse Course and Adjust FAFSA Form to Ensure Students Get Full Amount of Relief
01.24.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education (Department) decided to adjust the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Income Protection Allowance for the 2024-2025 award year to accurately account for inflation. “This is great news for students and families. The FAFSA Income Protection Allowance is a critical tool to help students determine how much aid for which they are eligible. I am pleased that the… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Urges ED to Prevent Further Delays in FAFSA Processing
01.12.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) raised concerns with the Department of Education (Department) over delays in implementing the simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 award year. “While I am pleased that the Department met its statutory requirement to launch the FAFSA to students before the January 1 deadline, I am concerned that the majority of FAFSA processing will continue to be delayed this year,” Ranking Member Scott wrote. … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Anti-Choice Bill and Bill to Reinforce DOL Response to Human Trafficking
01.10.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, and H.R. 443, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. “Thank you, Madam Chair. Today, the Committee is marking up two bills. “The first bill we will consider is H.R. 6914, the so-called Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. “More than a year and a half ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which tri… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing on Race-Conscious College Admissions Policies
09.28.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing on race-conscious college admissions policies. “Thank you, Chairman Owens, and thank you to our witnesses for your testimony today. “Our nation still has a compelling interest in fostering racially diverse campuses, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Harvard and UNC cases does not change that. “In fact, it was the S… 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
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
Extreme MAGA Republicans Vote to Deny Debt Relief for More Than 20.6 Million of Their Own Constituents
05.24.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans advanced H.J. Res. 45, which would deny student debt relief for43 million student loan borrowers debt relief, including more than 20.6 million of their own constituents. The resolution could also create chaos for student loan borrowers by potentially forcing them to repay the last four months’ worth of student loan payments. This would trigger a wave of delinquencies and defaults for our most vulnerable borrowers. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosted a Briefing on the Implications of “Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.” SCOTUS Case
05.15.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, hosted a briefing with experts on the implications of the Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. Last fall, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments challenging the longstanding precedent that colleges and universities may consider race as one of many factors in their admissions process. The decisions the Court will issue sometime over the next t… Continue Reading