Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
What They’re Actually Saying About Republicans’ “Big Ugly Budget Bill”
05.21.25 WASHINGTON - House Republicans’ “Big Ugly Budget Bill will make college less affordable for students, raise student loan payments for current borrowers, and expose students to predatory, for-profit institutions— all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. Here is what advocates, experts, and scholars are actually saying about how this bill will impact them: AFL-CIO: “These and other harmful cuts swamp the few new investments in the bill. The bill makes higher education less affo… 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 Delivers Opening Statement at 8th Hearing on Campus Antisemitism
05.07.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank our witnesses for being with us today. “The month of May marks Jewish American Heritage Month, when we celebrate the generations of Jewish Americans who have made incredible contributions to this country. This month, we reaffirm our commitment … Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Bend the Knee, Vote to Slash Education to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Rich
04.29.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Workforce Committee Republicans bent the knee and advanced the unpopular Republican budget plan— which would raise student loan payments for student loan borrowers. The Republican’s budget raises the cost of going to college for students and families by restricting access to federal student aid and affordable student loan repayment plans, and it exposes students and taxpayers to predatory and low-quality institutions by repealing existing student protections. … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans’ Disastrous Plan to Raise Student Loan Payments to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Rich
04.29.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H. Con. Res. 14 Section 2001(b)(3) and H.Res.344. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, in this town, there is a saying that if you want to see someone’s values, show me their budget. “Regrettably, the reconciliation plan that has come before us today reveals a betrayal of the promise that President Lyndon B. Johnson made when he signed the Higher Educat… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Reports College Students Still Struggle to Access Health Coverage
04.17.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) unveiled a new report examining how some students continue to struggle to receive adequate health care coverage, although there has been progress made because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2022, over 19 million students were enrolled in nearly 3,900 colleges around the United States. As the cost of living and the cost of college both continue to skyrocket, many college students cannot access quality health care. Although th… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Directive to Pull Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status
04.16.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce released the following statement after reports that the Trump Administration asked the Internal Revenue Service to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status. “With history as our guide, the President cannot weaponize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) against his political enemies. I have not seen any evidence that Harvard has broken the law and is deserving of having their tax-exempt st… Continue Reading
Rep. Courtney, DeSaulnier Reintroduce Legislation to Institute Major Reforms to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Following Attacks from Trump Administration
04.10.25 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee, reintroduced new legislation to institute major reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In 2007, President George W. Bush enacted the law creating PSLF to attract more Americans to careers like teaching, public health, and law enforcement by providin… 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 Statement on Trump Dismantling ED
03.20.25 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 dismantle the Department of Education (ED). 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 page 352 of Project 2025 here. “Abolishing a federal agency requires an act of Congress. President Trump’s exec… 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
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Nomination of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education
11.20.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President-elect Trump nominated Linda McMahon to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Education. McMahon is chair of the board of the America First Policy Institute, which advocates for school choice and the use of public funds — through vouchers and tax credits — for private educational institutions. “The vast majority of America’s students attend a public school. As such, the… Continue Reading
*NEW* Watchdog Report: College Students Experiencing Hunger Face Barriers Accessing SNAP Benefits
07.25.24 WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on how many college students experiencing hunger apply for and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The GAO found that an estimated 23 percent of college students experienced food insecurity in 2020. And, of those food insecure students, a majority reported multiple instances of eating less, or skipping a meal because they could not afford enough food. The GAO estimated that fewer than tw… 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 Scott Statement on Final Title IX Regulations
04.19.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education released the final Title IX regulations. “The Education Department’s final Title IX regulations mark a monumental step in our fight to address sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination in K-12 and higher education—all while preserving the rights of the accused. By expanding the critical protections under this law, the new regulations would help ensure that all stu… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Committee Hearing on Antisemitism at Columbia University
04.17.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on antisemitism on the campus of Columbia University. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. And thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. “I would like to start my opening remarks with a video from 2017 to remind everyone of what happened on the University of Virginia’s campus during a “Unite the Right” rally. As a warning, this video may co… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on President Biden’s Plan to Deliver Debt Relief to Over 30 Million Student Borrowers
04.08.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled initial details of a new set of plans that would provide student debt relief for tens of millions of borrowers across the country. The plans, if implemented, would provide debt relief to over 30 million Americans when combined with actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to cancel student debt over the past three years. “Today’s announceme… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Weaken Worker Protections, Fuel Culture Wars, and Undermine Public Education
03.21.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four bills that weaken essential worker protections, fuel culture wars on college campuses, and undermine our public schools. “Similar to most of the markups we have had this Congress, Committee Republicans are rallying behind another set of bills that shirk our responsibilities to workers, students, and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. H.J. Res. 116 would repeal the Biden Administration’s final rule determining whether a worker is… Continue Reading
Scott, Foxx on New Data Showing Americans Overwhelmingly Support Workforce Pell
02.15.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) and Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) celebrated the National Institute for Civil Discourse’s (NICD) latest polling results that show overwhelming support among Americans for Workforce Pell. “The new polling data from the National Institute for Civil Discourse shows that Americans, no matter their political affiliation, overwhelmingly support expanding the Pell Grant to high-quality, short-te… 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