Press Releases
Scott Statement on September Jobs Report
10.08.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 194,000 in September as the unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent. “Today’s jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris economic agenda is putting Americans back to work. Since President Biden took office, the economy has added 4.8 million jobs, the mo… Continue Reading
House Committee Leaders Urge Biden Administration to Ensure Health Insurance Companies Cover Full Range of FDA-Approved Contraceptives
10.07.21 WASHINGTON - House Committee leaders wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to request that their Departments work together to ensure that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) requirements to provide individuals with coverage for the full range of contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to be protected and enforced. The letter to the Biden Administration cabinet officials was… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration Plans to Fix Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
10.07.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to press reports that the Biden administration is planning major fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. "For three years, my Committee repeatedly implored the Trump administration to address the glaring issues with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Unfortunately, despite hearings, letters, and public statements, the previous administration refused to take meaningful acti… Continue Reading
New Analysis Finds Build Back Better Act Could Deliver Major Savings to Families in all 50 States
10.06.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee released a new state-by-state analysis that found the Build Back Better Act could significantly lower child costs for American families in all 50 states. The Committee's analysis finds that a typical family of four using center-based child care could save thousands of dollars every year. "This is why we need to pass the Build Back Better Act," said Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott. "For too long, the exorbitant cost of child care has strain… Continue Reading
Consider Teachers Act passes House of Representatives, Heads to President’s Desk
09.28.21 WASHINGTON – The Consider Teachers Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the House by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, and in the Senate by Senator Mike Braun, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Senator Tina Smith, Senator Raphael Warnock, and Senator John Cornyn aimed at fixing a broken system burdening teachers with unfair loans, passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This legislation was passed in the Senate in April and now heads to the President… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Effort to Protect Workers and Families from Extreme Heat
09.20.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced an Administration-wide effort to protect workers and families from extreme heat. The effort includes the start of a new Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard. "I applaud the Biden Administration for launching this critical effort to protect workers and their families from extreme heat. Excessive heat is one … Continue Reading
Committee Votes to Advance Transformative Investments in Build Back Better Act
09.10.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor voted to advance its portion of the Build Back Better Act. The Committee's section of President Biden's plan invests in lowering costs for families, helping American workers secure good-paying jobs, and providing a strong foundation for America's children. These investments include a historic proposal to make child care affordable for families and provide free, universal, high-quality pre-K to three- and four-year-olds. "Committee Demo… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Markup for Build Back Better Act
09.09.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today's markup for Build Back Better Act. "Last month, the House passed a budget resolution for Fiscal 2022, which instructed 13 House Committees to write a proposal that would deliver a $3.5 trillion investment that will transform our economy in ways that will make our nation more prosperous, equitable and fairer. "Today, we are marking up the Education and Labor … Continue Reading
Committee to Mark Up Build Back Better Act
09.08.21 WASHINGTON - Thursday, September 9, at 12:00 p.m. EST, the House Committee on Education and Labor will mark up its portion of the Build Back Better Act, which invests $761 billion to lower the cost of child care and education, help Americans secure good-paying jobs, and increase support for our nation's children. "The Education and Labor Committee's portion of the Build Back Better Act makes historic investments that will lower costs for nearly every family, create good-paying jobs for American… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
09.03.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 235,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent. "Today's jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris economic agenda is delivering results, but the emergence of the Delta variant remains a serious challenge for workers and our economy. It is critical that federal, state, and local leaders do everything they can to p… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Celebrates New Democratic Majority at NLRB
08.27.21 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in anticipation of Saturday's swearing in of Biden appointee David Prouty as the newest member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He will replace Trump appointee William Emanuel, whose term ends today. Mr. Prouty joins Gwynne Wilcox - another new Biden appointee - who was sworn in earlier this month, restoring a 3-2 Democratic majority alongside Chair Lauren McFerra… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Extending Relief to 115,000 Defrauded Student Borrowers
08.26.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced that it will make $1.1 billion in closed school discharges available to an additional 115,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute (ITT). "I applaud President Biden and Secretary Cardona for extending student loan relief to 115,000 student borrowers who were defrauded by ITT Technical Institute.… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray: New GAO Report on 401(k) Fees is a Wake-Up Call
08.26.21 WASHINGTON - A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that almost 40 percent of 401(k) plan participants do not fully understand the fees they are paying on their retirement accounts, with many unaware they are even paying fees. It also found that consumers have difficulty using the information that the Department of Labor (DOL) requires 401(k) plans to provide about their fees. According to the report, 45 percent of participants are not able to use th… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Restoring Relief for Victims of Predatory Colleges
08.24.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration announced that it is replacing the Trump-era formula for determining student debt relief for defrauded borrowers. Multiple independent analyses found that the Trump formula was "nonsensical and harmful to students." "I applaud President Biden and Secretary Cardona for restoring access to debt relief for students who were defrauded… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott on House Vote to Advance Build Back Better Agenda
08.24.21 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to advance the Build Back Better Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. "The House of Representatives has taken an important step toward delivering on President Biden's plan to lower costs for families, create good-paying jobs for workers, and invest in the health and well-being of the American people. "Today's vote advances the bip… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Praise Biden Proposal to Strengthen Pay Protections for Tipped Workers
08.23.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair Alma Adams, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) praised the Biden Administration for its proposed changes to strengthen pay protections for tipped workers. The Biden proposal makes clear that tipped workers may only be paid the $2.13 per hour tipped minimum wage when they are performing tip-producing work or performing work that … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Delivering Relief to Student Borrowers with Total and Permanent Disabilities
08.19.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced a policy change that will provide 323,000 borrowers who have a total and permanent disability (TPD) with more than $5.8 billion in automatic student loan discharges. The changes announced today will also make it easier for eligible students to access the relief that they are legally entitled to receive under the TPD program. “… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Calls on States to Stop Sabotaging Safe School Reopening Efforts
08.19.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to eight states banning schools from implementing mandatory mask policies to protect students, educators, and families from COVID-19. “As we begin another school year under the cloud of a pandemic, policymakers must be laser-focused on helping school districts reopen safely and stay open safely. Through the American Rescue … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Calls on Education Department to Hold Executives Personally Liable for the Cost of For-Profit School Closures
08.17.21 WASHINGTON -Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott sent a letter urging the Department of Education to hold the executives of failed for-profit colleges and converted for-profit colleges personally liable for money the institution owes to the federal government. Committee investigations—including a 2020 report on the defunct Dream Center Education Holdings—have found that, when fraudulent for-profit and converted for-profit schools have abruptly closed, college executives have escap… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on OSHA Update to Workplace Safety Guidance
08.13.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor released updated workplace safety guidance for employers not covered under the Emergency Temporary Standard and additional guidance to protect workers from COVID-19. “The updated workplace safety guidance released today by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an improvement over previous guidance, but it still falls well short of the enforceable workplace … Continue Reading