Press Releases
Committee Releases New Report about Risks of Ending Preventive Health Care Coverage Protection for Workers and Families
09.29.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—No Right to Deny Care—on the significant benefits of the requirement, under the Affordable Care Act, for private health insurance plans to cover preventive care, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving services. The requirement is currently under threat following a federal court ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra to restrict which forms of preventive care mus… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
09.28.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. In 1985, then-Virginia Senator Robert C. “Bobby” Scott chaired the Joint Subcommittee on Hunger and Malnutrition in the Commonwealth and commissioned a report on hunger in Virginia. “I applaud President Biden for organizing the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in more than a half a century. We know that, even … Continue Reading
Democratic Leaders File Amicus Brief in Case that Could Curtail the Ability of Individuals to Enforce Their Rights to Federal Programs in Court
09.23.22 WASHINGTON - On Friday, House and Senate leaders submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski. The Democrats wrote in support of the ability of individuals to use federal courts to enforce the requirements of certain federal programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Assistance Program, the Children's Health Insurance Progr… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Ending Wasteful Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program
09.23.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to rescind the Trump-era Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program. “I applaud the Department of Labor for ending the previous Administration’s Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), a wasteful scheme to divert funding away from the proven Registered Apprenticeship system. “IRAPs discarded key features responsible for the success of our R… Continue Reading
WATCH: Chairman Scott Leads House Debate of Bill Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Escape Abusers' Debts
09.20.22 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during today’s floor debate on the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act. View Chairman Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “I’m pleased to rise in support of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act, led in the Senate by my colleague from Virginia, Senator Mark Warner, and led in the House by the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman David Price.… Continue Reading
What People Are Saying: Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act
09.20.22 WASHINGTON — On September 15, 2022, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investments Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. Specifically, the new legislation doubles the Pell Grant, improves the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and makes loans more affordable and accessible. … Continue Reading
Chairman Sablan Opening Statement at “Back to School” Hearing
09.20.22 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Gregorio Sablan (NMI-At Large) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “Back to School: Meeting Students Social and Emotional Needs.” “As students across the country return to the classroom for the 2022-2023 school year, the Committee is meeting today to discuss how our nation’s schools are helping students get back on track academically and meet their social and emotional needs. “The … Continue Reading
Higher Education Leaders Introduce New Bill to Lower Cost of College
09.15.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act, to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The new legislation builds on President Biden’s historic one-time student loan debt relief announcement last month to forgive up to $20,000 in outstanding federal student loan debt for millions… Continue Reading
Starbucks Worker, Michelle Eisen: “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure you have a voice at work.”
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - At today’s Education and Labor Committee hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing,” Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks barista, explained what it was like to organize at her workplace. View Michelle Eisen’s full remarks on YouTube. “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure that you have a voice at work. We need Starbucks to recognize our desire to organize, which the NLRA explicitly states is our right. We need Starbucks to stop mistreating the workers it claims t… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Labor Organizing Hearing
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing. “One week and a half after the nation celebrated Labor Day, this Committee is meeting to discuss the growing popularity of unions among the American people and the steps Congress must take to ensure every worker has an opportunity to reap the benefits of joining a union. “Some of our nation’s gre… Continue Reading
Scott Statement After Texas Federal Court Rules Employers Are Not Required to Cover Lifesaving Health Services
09.07.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a District Court judge ruled to invalidate several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that govern which forms of preventive care—such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving health services—must be covered by health insurers. “For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Americans with access to preventive care, such as cancer sc… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
09.02.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 315,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent. “Today’s jobs report shows that the economy is continuing to exceed pre-pandemic job levels and returning to a steady and stable position. Just over 9.7 million jobs have been created since January 2021, exceeding the pre-pandemic highwater mark by 240,000 jobs. “Thanks … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Biden Student Loan Announcement
08.24.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced that the Department of Education is extending the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through 2022, providing up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients, and capping the amount borrowers would pay monthly for undergraduate loans at 5 percent of their income. “President B… Continue Reading
Scott Announces Support for Inflation Reduction Act
08.10.22 NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement announcing his support for the Inflation Reduction Act: “The Inflation Reduction Act delivers key components of President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ agenda to invest in jobs and the economy while lowering costs for working families. This legislation will lower the cost of health care, prescription drugs, and energy for millions of American families.… Continue Reading
New Watchdog Report: ED Needs to Streamline Process for Students Impacted by School Closures
08.10.22 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that student loan borrowers whose schools close need more timely and complete information to know if they are eligible to have their loans discharged. Under closed school discharge, student loan borrowers—who suffer school closures and do not complete their education elsewhere—may be eligible to have their loans discharged. Unfortunately, the GAO found that, be… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
08.05.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 528,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5 percent. “Today’s jobs report shows a strong labor market—a sign that our economy is growing, and Americans are finding work in rewarding careers. “The recovery of our labor market did not happen by accident. It is a direct result of the investments by the Biden-Harris Admi… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Republican REAL Reform Act
08.05.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after Republican House leaders proposed changes to the student loan system, including provisions to eliminate the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, tie the hands of the Department of Education in providing relief to borrowers, limit access to federal financial aid, and restrict the flexibility of loan repayment. “When President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act in 1965, he said the legisla… Continue Reading
Scott Celebrates $11 Million in New Funding for Hampton Roads Job Training, Reaffirms Commitment to Delivering Sustained Workforce Funding
08.03.22 NEWPORT NEWS - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced $11 million in new federal funding for the Hampton Roads Workforce Council along with Kevin Gallagher, Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, during a tour of the Virginia Career Works Hampton Center. During the tour, Congressman Scott and Mr. Gallagher met with career coaches, job seekers, and employers to discuss how this funding—made possible by the American … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Leads Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Reaffirm Race-Conscious College Admissions
08.02.22 WASHINGTON - On Monday, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), in addition to 64 House Democrats, filed an amicus brief—in the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College—urging the Supreme Court to uphold narrowly tailored race-conscious college admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. In the brief, the Members describe the persistent need for race-conscious admissions policies … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Cost of Student Loan Program
07.29.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, “Student Loans: Education Has Increased Federal Cost Estimates of Direct Loans by Billions due to Programmatic and Other Changes.” “A college degree remains the surest path to achieving the American Dream. The student loan program was originally created to ensure that all students—regardless of their family’s income—could afford t… Continue Reading