Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
Ranking Members Scott, Omar Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Destruction of Valuable Workplace Safety Documents, Putting Workers’ Lives at Risk
02.14.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05), House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections demanded accountability from the Trump Administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) amidst concerning reports that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has removed and potentially destroyed several key documents related to worker-safety. These documents may have been destroyed simply because … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Illegal Firing of NLRB Member Wilcox
01.28.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce released the following statement after President Trump fired National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the Board. “The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency designed to function without direct political interference. The President of the United States cannot fire a sitting Board Member without cause, such as malfea… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott and Colleagues Applaud OSHA’s Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule
01.15.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, along with Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) led 52 House Members in submitting a comment letter applauding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s proposed rule to protect workers from occupational exposure to extreme heat. “As Members of Congress, we have been calling on OSHA for years to implement a national standard to… Continue Reading
Scott Applauds Biden-Harris Administration for Caring for Miners and their Families
12.11.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor finalized a 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. “Congress established the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide compensation and medical coverage for coal miners who develop black lung disease. And … Continue Reading
NEW REPORT: Warehouse and Delivery Worker Injuries Rise 20 Percent
10.08.24 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report which found that warehouse workers and delivery drivers are suffering more severe on-the-job injuries as a result of America's rapidly expanding consumer economy and a lack of adequate workforce protections. Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and the Workforce, requested the report. The GAO details how the transportation and warehousing sector— which includes e-commerce war… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Demands Probe into Allegations about ‘Improper’ OSHA Investigations and Misuse of OSHA Funds
08.20.24 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protection Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma S. Adams (NC-12) called on Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to address troubling allegations involving the misuse of federal funds and improper advance notice of workplace safety inspections by state agencies. The Ranking Members expressed concern over disturbing reports that suggest some state OSHA agencies might be ‘tippi… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
08.02.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 114,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 from 4.1 percent. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the economy has added 15.8 million jobs. “In the past four years, Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration have worked together to prioritize workers and their families and rebuild the economy from t… Continue Reading
House Labor Leaders Introduces New Bill to Protect Workers and Level the Playing Field
07.26.24 WASHINGTON - Today, House labor leaders introduced the Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET’S) Protect Workers Act(H.R. 9137). The LET’S Protect Workers Act is a transformative legislative bill aimed at bolstering protections for America’s workers and ensuring accountability for employers who flout labor and employment laws. In April, Ranking Member Scott released a damning report entitled, “A Slap on the Wrist: How It Pays for Unscrupulous Employers to Take Advantage of Workers" which illustrat… Continue Reading
House Labor Leaders Request DOL Investigation Amid Resurgence of Child Labor Violations
07.18.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) requested the Department of Labor (DOL) examine potential risks of child labor and occupational safety and health violations in youth workforce programs. Specifically, the Members raise concerns about incidents in programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Authorization Act (WIOA), and the school-based Work Experience and Career Explorations Programs (WE… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat
07.02.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule aimed at mitigating health risks associated with heat exposure for America’s workers, both indoors and outdoors. This initiative underscores the Biden Administration's commitment to prioritizing worker protections amidst escalating concerns over rising temperatures across the country, and States’ attempts to eliminate lifesaving protections. “… Continue Reading
Rep. Courtney’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Health Care Access Advances in the House
06.20.24 NORWICH, CT - In another bipartisan win, the Committee on Education and the Workforce recently advanced (36-0) Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Tim Walberg’s (R-MI) legislation to improve health care access for injured federal workers. The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 618) amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act to ensure injured federal employees, especially those in rural areas can get the appropriate care they need from state-licensed… Continue Reading
Casar, Labor Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressional Democrats Urge NLRB to Investigate Allegations that Google & YouTube Music Retaliated Against Unionizing Workers
05.30.24 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35) and Labor Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Steven Horsford (NV-04) led 46 House Democrats in urging the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to swiftly investigate allegations of Google retaliating against unionizing workers. In a letter released today, the Members of Congress emphasized that the NLRB's response to the termination of YouTube Music workers an… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.03.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 175,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate ticked up from 3.8 to 3.9 percent. “Four years ago, the economy lost 20.5 million jobs, the unemployment rate shot up to 14.7 percent, and the initial unemployment claims sky-rocketed to more than 6.1 million. “Four years later, because of the investments made by Congressional Democr… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement at Hearing with DOL Acting Secretary Su
05.01.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Labor” with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Acting Secretary Su, good morning. “I think it is important to note that your service as acting Secretary has been verified as constitutionally proper by the Government Accountability Office. So, there is no question as to whether or not you are serv… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Releases New Report on the Ineffectiveness of Current Labor Penalties
04.30.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—"A Slap on the Wrist: How It Pays for Unscrupulous Employers to Take Advantage of Workers.” The report outlines how children, workers, and families suffer when civil monetary penalties for labor and employment violations are too weak or nonexistent to prevent dishonest employers from violating the rights and protections guaranteed to America's workers. Penalties for killing a worker, illegally employin… Continue Reading
Reps. Scott, Grijalva, & Chu Urge Speaker Johnson to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat
04.16.24 WASHINGTON - In response to the recent news that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law an inhumane measure banning local governments from requiring employers to institute basic heat protections to protect workers, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), and Judy Chu (CA-28) issued the following statement: “Americans across the country are grappling with some of the hottest temperatures on record. Yet workers in this country still have no legal protecti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden for Protecting Miners from Exposure to Hazardous Silica Dust
04.16.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration issued a final rule to strengthen protections for miners against respirable crystalline silica. “Experts have repeatedly stressed that, when inhaled, silica dust can cause a range of serious diseases, including lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, and silicosis. The Biden Administration’s final rule takes an important st… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Ensuring Workers Have a Voice on the Job
03.29.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden Administration issued a final rule to strengthen employees’ voice in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace. “The most basic right for American workers is to return home safely at end of their shift. Regrettably, workers continue to be injured, made ill, or killed on the job due to preventable workplace hazards or employer negligence. And when the Occupational Safety and Health … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on the President’s Budget
03.12.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. “President Biden’s proposed budget details the Administration’s vision on how we can continue to build an America where everyone can succeed. The budget proposal calls for transformational investments that would grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and lower costs for students, workers, and families. “The Presi… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes “NO” on Extreme Republicans’ Anti-Worker, Anti-Union Resolution
01.12.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ H.J. Res. 98, an extreme resolution that would undermine workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The resolution would repeal the National Labor Relations Board’s 2023 joint employer rule, which ensures that companies cannot evade their responsibility to negotiate with workers by hiding behind subcontractors and … Continue Reading