Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Child Safety
House Democrats to Secretary DeVos: Don’t Spend Education Money on Guns
08.28.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and more than 170 House Democrats sent a letter today to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos calling on the Department to issue formal guidance prohibiting the use of federal education funding to buy guns for teachers and school staff. The letter comes in the wake of a New York Times report revealing the administration's consideration of a proposal that would allow schools to redirect federal K-12 education funding, for services like mental health coun… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bobby Scott on Report of DeVos’s Proposal to Arm Teachers
08.23.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a report from the New York Times that the Department of Education is considering a proposal that would allow money that was intended to be used for mental health services and bullying prevention to be used to purchase guns. "The Trump administration has a duty to carry out the laws as Congress intended. As one of the primary authors of Every Student Succeeds Act, I am certain that Congress never intended - or e… Continue Reading
Blunt Rochester Leads Education And Workforce Committee Democrats Call for Secretary DeVos to Clarify Testimony on Gun Violence and School Safety
06.08.18 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) and Education and Workforce Committee Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos seeking clarification regarding her testimony on gun safety in schools. This week, Secretary DeVos testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies regarding President Donald Trump's Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Education Budget Request. During an ex… Continue Reading
In Secretary Azar’s First Appearance Before the Committee, Democrats Seek Answers on Health Care Sabotage, Attacks on Civil Rights
06.06.18 WASHINGTON - Today, in Secretary Alexander Azar's first appearance before the Committee, Democrats expressed deep concerns about the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sabotage of the Affordable Care Act, its proposed cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and other health programs, and its efforts to erode basic civil rights protections for people across the country, particularly women and LGBTQ Americans. Members used the rare opportunity to question Secretary Azar to seek explanations for t… Continue Reading
Scott, Nadler Release New GAO Report that Proves Students of Color Suffer Harsher Discipline for Lesser Offenses
04.04.18 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled, "Discipline Disparities for Black Students, Boys, and Students with Disabilities." The ranking members requested that the GAO investigate disparities in discipline policies and practices applied to students of color,… Continue Reading
Top Dems Hold Forum on Comprehensive Approach to Prevent School Shootings
03.20.18 WASHINGTON - TODAY, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Committee Democrats, and Democratic leadership hosted a forum entitled, "Preventing School Shootings: A Comprehensive Approach." "In the wake of Columbine, the knee-jerk reaction was to put more police in schools, invest in security infrastructure such as metal detectors, and turn our schools into fortresses. The research, on such policies, is clear: that more guns and schools bu… Continue Reading
Scott Urges DeVos to Uphold and Protect Students’ Civil Rights
03.19.18 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos requesting the Department of Education (ED) maintain a 2014 School Discipline Guidance Package. The guidance, developed jointly with the Department of Education and the Department of Justice (DOJ), was issued to remind schools of their legal obligations to administer school discipline without discriminating on the base of race, color, or na… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Passage of HR 4909
03.14.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the passage of H.R. 4909, the "STOP School Violence Act of 2018" [407-10]. Democrats will continue the conversation on school safety next week at our forum entitled, 'Preventing School Shootings: A Comprehensive Approach.' "Today's vote is a positive first step, but more must be done. "I am pleased that H.R. 4909 rejects President Trump and Secretary DeVos' misguided proposal to arm teachers by prohibiting p… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump’s Proposal to Arm Teachers and Harden Schools
03.12.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Trump administration released their proposals for school safety. "Yesterday's school safety proposals from the Trump administration are both inadequate and concerning. The administration has misplaced its focus on arming school personnel and dismantling civil rights protections for students instead of offering meaningful, evidence-based solutions to gun violence prevention. Our students and families do not … Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Urge Majority Hearings Examining School Shootings
02.16.18 WASHINGTON - All 17 Democratic Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce sent a letter to Chairwoman Virginia Foxx requesting hearings before the full Committee to examine school shootings. This request comes after Wednesday's preventable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where at least seventeen students and faculty died as a result. In response Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has called on Congress to hold hearings on this issue. "[Secreta… Continue Reading
Bonamici: Kids are Being Murdered in Schools, Prayers are Not Enough
02.15.18 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Bonamici (D-OR) made the following remarks during the beginning of an Education committee hearing. You can download video of her remarks here. "We've all been praying in our own ways. We prayed after Sandy Hook. We prayed after Pulse. We prayed after Umpqua Community College. We prayed after Las Vegas. We prayed after the church shooting in Texas. And of course the nation is all praying in [our] own way after [the school shooting in Florida]. "But kids ar… Continue Reading
House Passes Bill to Enhance Protections for Missing and Exploited Children
05.23.17 WASHINGTON - The House today passed the Improving Support for Missing and Exploited Children Act (H.R. 1808) by a voice vote. Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, the bill updates the Missing Children's Assistance Act to strengthen national efforts to recover and protect missing and exploited children. Members issued the following statements: "Updating the law for the National Center fo… Continue Reading
Committee Approves Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Support for Missing and Exploited Children
04.04.17 WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Education and the Workforce today advanced the Improving Support for Missing and Exploited Children Act (H.R. 1808). Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, the bill updates the Missing Children's Assistance Act to help the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) strengthen its recovery and prevention efforts. Members issued the fo… Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Recovery, Prevention Efforts for Missing and Exploited Children
03.30.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the Improving Support for Missing and Exploited Children Act (H.R. 1808), legislation to strengthen efforts to recover missing children and support youth who are the victims of violent crimes. Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02), chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, the bipartisan bill updates and streamlines the Missing Childr… Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Efforts Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
03.23.16 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act. The legislation will strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect by strengthening and requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to better ensure states are meeting current child welfare requirements. Upon introduction, the bill's co-sponsors released the following statements: "We … Continue Reading
Democrats Call for Investments in HHS Programs to Support Nation’s Families
03.15.16 WASHINGTON - Today the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing entitled, "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services". The hearing focused on funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue to expand critical investments that protect the health and wellbeing of hardworking American families, and invest in our nation - from childhood into advanced age. "From the Ebola outbreak to Zika to the Flint crisis, … Continue Reading
Speier, Scott Welcome Release of GAO Report on Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports
06.29.15 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) made the following statement on the release of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report Youth Athletes: Sports Programs' Guidance, Practices, and Policies to Help Prevent and Respond to Sexual Abuse. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is entrusted with oversight and legislative jurisdiction over student safety. "Youth … Continue Reading
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Strengthen Support for Victims of Youth Sex Trafficking
01.22.15 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A bipartisan group of House members today introduced legislation that would improve support for youth who are victims of sex trafficking. It is estimated that each year 300,000 children become victims of sex trafficking. Many of these children were once involved in a state child welfare system, yet their experience with sexual exploitation may go undetected. Led by Reps. Joe Heck (R-NV) and Karen Bass (D-CA), members are introducing bipartisan legislation that will enhance oth… Continue Reading