Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Ranking Member Scott Statement on UVA President Resignation
06.27.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after James E. Ryan, the President of the University of Virginia resigned. “The University of Virginia (UVa) has consistently been recognized as one of the nation’s premier public universities because of its commitment to academic excellence. However, today’s decision of UVa President James E. Ryan to resign because of the Trump Administration’s Department of… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Rubberstamp Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda by Voting for Bills that Undermine Protections for Students, Workers, and Their Families
06.25.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced three education bills, two health care bills, and one labor bill that would limit students’ access to high-quality education, undermine the Affordable Care Act, and prevent workers from investing their retirement savings as they see fit. “When I am home in my district, I speak with constituents, and they tell me they want better public education for their children, access to affordable, quality health care, and the ability to work and retire wi… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Agency Releases Report on Negative Economic Effects of State Abortion Bans
06.23.25 WASHINGTON - Ahead of the three-year anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report examining how restrictions on abortion and reproductive care can have negative economic effects for women. This report was requested by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Since the… 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
House Democrats Reintroduce Legislation to Fulfill Promise of Brown
05.23.25 WASHINGTON - Over 70 years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on the Judiciary and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) reintroduced two key pieces of legislation aimed at advancing educational equity and addressing modern challenges to school integration and civil rights enforcement. The Strength in Dive… 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
Ranking Member Adams Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing Attacking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Programs
05.21.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI.”? “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to first of all thank our witnesses for being here today. “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts are essential to ensuring that our education system reflects the richness of our society and provides every student with … Continue Reading
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
President Biden Signs Bipartisan Bill to Protect Students and Stop Hazing
12.25.24 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, President Biden signed H.R. 5646, the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, a critical measure aimed at combating hazing and enhancing student safety across college campuses nationwide. “Since the year 2000, there have been more than 100 hazing-related deaths on college campuses. Fortunately, the Stop Campus Hazing Act aims to prevent students from dangerous hazing on college campuses," said Ranking Member Scott. “By improving reporting and mandating prevention programs, th… Continue Reading
Courtney, DeSaulnier, Sarbanes Introduce Legislation to Institute Major Reforms to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
12.18.24 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee, and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), introduced new legislation to institute major reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In 2007, Rep. Sarbanes authored, and President George W. Bush enacted, the law creating PSLF to attract more Americans to careers li… Continue Reading