Press Releases
Currently showing results related to K-12 Education
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Mahmoud v. Taylor Decision
06.27.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, in which the Court ruled in favor of parents desiring to withdraw their children from public school lessons involving children’s books featuring LGBTQIA+ themes. “One of the many benefits of education is the exposure to new ideas and information that expands students’ worldview and encourages them to learn. Today’s Supreme Court decision sets a da… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Blasts Committee Republicans for Rubberstamping Trump’s Agenda
06.25.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 3453, H.R. 2516, H.R. 4054, H.R. 2528, H.R. 2571, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 3170. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, today, we will consider seven bills, six of which I am concerned are at odds with the priorities of America’s students, workers, and families. When I am home in my district, I speak with constituents, and they tell me they want better p… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Screentime in Schools
06.10.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Screentime in Schools.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. We appreciate your time and your expertise. We all want students to grow up and learn in a safe and healthy environment where they’re protected from harm and equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Full Committee Hearing with ED Secretary McMahon
06.04.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning. “I want to thank Secretary McMahon for joining us today to discuss the Department’s priorities and the effect this budget will have on students, teachers, and families. “Secretary McMahon, as Secretary of Education, you took an oath to oversee the Dep… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Rips Apart Republicans’ “Big Bad Billionaires Bill”
05.22.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to the “Big Bad Billionaires’ Bill,” which makes extreme cuts to federal education, health, and child nutrition programs, and raises the federal deficit, all to give more tax breaks and handouts to wealthy Americans and corporations. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, it’s hard to take my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seriously wh… Continue Reading
Up to 18.3 Million Children Could Lose Access to Free School Meals Because of Republican Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
05.20.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Urban Institute released a new report shedding light on how the Republicans’budget reconciliation proposal could cause up to 18.3 million children to lose access to free school mealseither through individual certification or through their school or state’s participation in universal school meal programs. “Republicans’ proposal denies low-income students access to free school meals and the ability to reach their full potential. For some students, the food served at sch… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Charter Schools
05.14.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Reimagining Education: How Charter Schools Are Closing Gaps and Opening Doors.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here. “Charter schools, as a reminder, are public schools that receive taxpayer dollars. At their best, they offer the potential for innovation, flexibility, and responsiv… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Demands ED Answer Questions Regarding Status of Students’ Civil Rights Investigations
05.12.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) of the Committee of Education and Workforce demanded answers from Secretary McMahon of the Department of Education (ED or the Department) regarding recent reports that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)’s recent mass layoffs resulted in pending cases being abandoned without adequate caseworkers. As of January 2025, OCR reported a backlog of over 12,000 cases. Soon thereafter, the Department let go nearly half of OCR’s staff and closed… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on President Trump’s FY 2026 Proposed Budget
05.02.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after President Trump released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “In the first 100 days since Donald Trump has returned to the White House, he has made one thing abundantly clear: he has no plan to improve the lives of students, workers, and families. Instead, he has decimated federal agencies that provide key services, stripped away workers’ rights, … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Condemn Trump Executive Orders Repealing “Disparate Impact” Enforcement and School Discipline Protections
04.25.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on the Judiciary released the following statements in response to President Trump’s executive order entitled, “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” and “Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies.” To see how this action is part of President Trump’s agenda to benefit billionaires and corporations at the expense of… Continue Reading
Republicans ‘Close Their Eyes’ and Follow Trump as he Dismantles ED
04.09.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Workforce Democrats forced Committee Republicans to take a vote on the President’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). H. Res. 237 would require the President and Secretary of Education to share information with Congress regarding the Administration’s efforts to dismantle ED and its potential impact on students nationwide. In accordance with House Rules, if the Resolution of Inquiry was marked up in the Committee within fourte… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott's Opening Statement on Bill Demanding Transparency and Accountability for Trump Dismantling ED
04.09.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H. Res. 237 and H.R. 2616, 2617, 2262, and 2270. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today, we will consider five bills that could impact millions of American students, workers, and families: three education bills, two of which will continue to wage Republican culture wars in our classrooms, and two labor bills that incentivize people to work more to get paid less. … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on AI in K-12 Education
04.01.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “ I am encouraged that all of the witnesses submitted testimony that recognizes the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 education. “We are at a p… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Statement Following Concerning Reports of States Attempting to Avoid their Title I Obligations
03.25.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement in response to reports of Republican-led states asking the Department of Education’s Secretary, Linda McMahon to consolidate school’s federal aid into a single grant with little to no spending requirements. To see how this action is part of President Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda to benefit billionaires at the expense of workers, students, and families, read pa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to the DETERRENT Act
03.25.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott spoke in opposition to H.R. 1048, Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, which imposes unnecessary burdens on universities by requiring them to report gifts of any value from individuals in “countries of concern.” The bill risks overwhelming an already understaffed Department of Education and discriminating against international faculty. Watch Ranking Member Scott… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott's Opening Statement at Markup of Bills to Burden School Administrators and Make Students Less Healthy
02.12.25 *Amendments and letters of opposition for today’s markup can be found here.* WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 1048, H.R. 649, H.R. 1069, H.R. 1005, and H.R. 1049. “Thank you, Chairman Walberg. Today, we are here to mark up four education bills and one nutrition-related bill. “With regard to the education bills, it is hard to overlook the glaring irony in today’s markup. My Republic… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Pass Unfunded Mandates, Bills to Make School Meals Less Healthy, and Weaken Our International Relations
02.12.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four education bills and one nutrition bill that would further burden the U.S. Department of Education even as they seek to dismantle the Department and endanger the future of public education. “[T]he proposals we are considering today will not actually improve students’ education and outcomes. We are considering a series of bills that only add complexity and confusion and, frankly, are solutions in search of a problem,” said Ranking Member Sc… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Executive Order to Ban Transgender Girls from Sports
02.05.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order to ban transgender girls and women from female sports. To see how this action is part of President Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda, see pages 332-334 here. “This executive order is yet another overreach by this Administration, and a clear example of government stepping in where it doesn't belong. Rather than add… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on the Nation’s Report Card
01.29.25 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the National Center for Education Statistics released the results of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Mathematics and Reading Assessments. “COVID-19 was a once-in-a-century pandemic that highlighted existing inequities in our nation’s education system. Regrettably, today’s report from the National Center for Education Statistics s… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Bonamici Leads Opposition to Republican’s “Child Predator Empower Act”
01.14.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) spoke on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 28, the Republican’s “Child Predator Empowerment Act.” This bill would not make school sports more fair or safe by banning transgender women and girls—as young as kindergarten—from participating on school sports teams with their friends. Moreover, the bill would endanger women and girls by requiring girls to “prove their gender.” Watch Congresswoman Bonamici’s floor remarks on YouTube… Continue Reading