Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee
McBath, Moore, Fitzpatrick, Kim Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
04.13.23 Duluth, GA — Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) has reintroduced the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA). The bill will reauthorize and expand funding for programs focused on supporting survivors and preventing family and domestic violence. These programs are the only federal funding sources under the Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to providing domestic violence prevention services. The legislation is co-led by Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI-04… Continue Reading
Democratic Committee Leaders Write to Health Insurers Regarding Coverage of Preventive Care
04.13.23 WASHINGTON - House and Senate Democratic Health Committee leaders wrote to 12 of the nation’s largest health insurers and trade associations representing employer-sponsored health plans today requesting information regarding how they plan to respond to the Northern District of Texas’s decision in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra striking down the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that most health plans and issuers cover preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Ta… Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Praise Biden Push to Improve Access to Reproductive Health Care
04.04.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01) submitted comments to the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and the Treasury in support of the proposed rules to ensure access to no-cost coverage for contraceptive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “With acce… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns Right-Wing Judge’s Ruling to Restrict Access to Preventive Health Care
03.30.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a District Court judge ruled to weaken a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires private health insurance plans to cover preventive care services, including cancer screenings, PrEP for HIV prevention, and behavioral health screenings, at no cost. “Access to preventive care saves lives. By detecting health problems early on, preventive care helps us address serious diseases—such as… 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
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
Scott, Murray: New GAO Report on 401(k) Fees is a Wake-Up Call
08.26.21 WASHINGTON - A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that almost 40 percent of 401(k) plan participants do not fully understand the fees they are paying on their retirement accounts, with many unaware they are even paying fees. It also found that consumers have difficulty using the information that the Department of Labor (DOL) requires 401(k) plans to provide about their fees. According to the report, 45 percent of participants are not able to use th… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats to Scalia: Stop Undermining Americans’ Ability to Make “Sustainable Investments”
07.30.20 WASHINGTON - In a letter to Secretary Eugene Scalia, 21 Committee Democrats expressed deep concern about the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule to undermine workers' ability to invest responsibly when saving for retirement. The rule would needlessly restrict retirement plans for considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions. In the letter to Secretary Scalia, the Members said the DOL failed to provide an adequate justification for overtu… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Foxx Unveil Bipartisan Proposal to Ban Surprise Billing, Markup Scheduled Tuesday
02.07.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05) unveiled the Ban Surprise Billing Act, a bipartisan agreement to protect patients from devastating surprise bills. The Committee is scheduled to markup the legislation on Tuesday, February 11. "Patients across the country know the frustration, anxiety, and financial hardship that comes with a surprise medical bill," said Chairman Scott. "There is bipartisan agre… Continue Reading
House Democrats to NLRB: Protect Graduate Students’ Right to Organize
01.16.20 WASHINGTON - Today, led by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), 35 House Democrats sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) condemning the agency's proposed rule to strip students at private universities of their protections under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when they work for their school. The NLRB has denied the affected workers an opportunity to comment on this rule in a public hearing. In their letter to the NLRB, Members raised concerns that the proposed … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Collective Bargaining Rights for Public-Sector Union Members
06.26.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) introduced legislation to guarantee public service employees in every state the right to stand together and negotiate for fair wages and working conditions. Under the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act (PSFNA), H.R. 3463, public se… Continue Reading
Democrats: GOP Bill Could Cut Workers’ Access to Paid Leave
07.24.18 WASHINGTON - Today, at a legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions' Democrats criticized a Republican proposal that could ultimately cut workers' access to paid sick leave. The Workflex in the 21st Century Act (H.R. 4219) preempts numerous state laws, including existing laws covering paid sick days, overtime and predictable scheduling if the employer offers a voluntary flexible leave program. "H.R. 4219 does not guarantee workers the ability to earn ti… Continue Reading
Members Discuss Bipartisan Retirement Savings Solutions, Press for Further Action to Ensure All Americans Can Retire with Dignity
05.16.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Enhancing Retirement Security: Examining Proposals to Simplify and Modernize Retirement Plan Administration." The hearing focused on four bipartisan retirement savings bills: Retirement Security for American Workers Act (H.R. 854), Retirement Plan Modernization Act (H.R. 4158), Increasing Access to a Secure Retirement Act of 2017 (H.R. 4604), and the Receiving Electronic Statements to I… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Oppose DOL’s Harmful Rule on Association Health Plans
03.20.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing entitled, "Expanding Affordable Health Care Options: Examining the Department of Labor's Proposed Rule on Association Health Plans." On January 5, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule on association health plans, which puts comprehensive and affordable health care coverage for small businesses and their employees at risk. "The Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule o… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Combat Effects of Opioid Epidemic in the Workplace
02.15.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittees on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions and Workforce Protections held a joint hearing entitled, "Opioids Epidemic: Implications for America's Workplaces." American workplaces are feeling the effects of substance use disorders. Studies show that more than 70 percent of employers are feeling the direct impact of prescription drug misuse in their workplaces, ranging from absenteeism and reduced productivity to higher health care costs. "It is no surprise t… Continue Reading
Bonamici: Opioid Crisis Affects Everyone Including Workers, Employers
02.15.18 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined a Congressional hearing on the affect of the opioid crisis on America's workplaces, workers, and employers. Bonamici has hosted community discussions in each of the five counties she represents to hear about the opioid crisis directly from health care providers, social service providers, law enforcement, and people in recovery. You can watch Bonamici's questions at today's hearing here. Studies show that more than 70 percent of emplo… Continue Reading
Democrats Promote Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family and Medical Leave Proposals at Hearing
12.06.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to examine workplace leave proposals. Millions of working people across the country lack access to the flexible workplace policies that help them balance work and family. In 2016, only 13 percent of private industry employees had access to paid family leave through their employers, 37 million workers did not earn a single paid sick day, and approximately 41 percent of hourly workers received their work… Continue Reading
House Republicans Continue to Sabotage Working Americans Right to Form Unions
06.14.17 WASHINGTON- TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on three bills that deny workers' of their right to bargain for better wages and working conditions. These bills undermine the union election process, a critical step towards workers joining together for a stronger voice in the workplace. "When working Americans are empowered to collectively bargain with their employers over wages and conditions of employment, productivity gains can be… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Continue Efforts to Endanger Retiree Savings
05.18.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled "Regulatory Barriers Facing Workers and Families Saving for Retirement." Subcommittee Democrats stand ready to work on meaningful bipartisan solutions to help Americans achieve a secure and dignified retirement. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration's policies and priorities are the actual 'barriers facing working people and families saving for retirement' - no… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Alexander Acosta
02.16.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the nomination of Alexander Acosta for Secretary of Labor, following Andrew Puzder's withdrawal from consideration. "The Secretary of Labor must be an individual that will fight for increased wages, safer working conditions, and retirement security for America's workers. If confirmed, Mr. Acosta will be joining an Administration that has supported legislation and executive actions that have jeopardized civil righ… Continue Reading