Press Releases
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
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Strengthening Accountability for Student Loan Servicers
08.09.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education released a new legal interpretation that enhances oversight and accountability for student loan servicers. In 2019, Chairman Scott sent a letter to then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding the Department’s efforts to shield student loan servicing companies from state law enforcement. … Continue Reading
Rep. Scott and Colleagues Urge OSHA to Adopt Federal Heat Standards
08.06.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) joined Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urging them to adopt federal heat standards for workers. The Congressmembers submitted a letter to Labor Secretary Walsh outlining the dangers extreme heat poses to blue-collar workers in various indus… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Biden-Harris Administration for Extending Pause on Student Loan Payments
08.06.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration extended the pause on federal student loan payments and interest until January 31, 2022. In June, Chairman Scott and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter urging President Biden to extend the pause, which was set to expire at the end of September. "I applaud President… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
08.06.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 943,000 jobs in July as the unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent. "Today's jobs report continues to show that the American Rescue Plan is helping Americans get back to work. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris economic agenda has created more than 4 million jobs. Just last week, a comprehensive analysis found that our focus on supporting… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Passing of Richard Trumka
08.05.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO: "The nation has lost one of its most fierce and effective champions for workers and their families. As a former coal miner, Richard Trumka deeply understood the power of the labor movement and the importance of defending workers' right to organize. His commitment to improving the lives of workers and their families never waned and… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Biden Administration’s School Reopening Roadmap
08.02.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration released a School Reopening Roadmap to help schools reopen safely for in-person instruction. "Getting students back into the classroom safely is one of the most important things we can do for children and families across the country. I applaud the Biden Administration for issuing clear and comprehensive guidance to help schools re… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Highlights Newly Released American Rescue Plan Funding for Students Experiencing Homelessness
07.30.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) praised the Biden Administration's release of $600 million in funding to support student experiencing homelessness, including $10 million for Virginia students. The funding was provided by Congress under American Rescue Plan, which set aside a total of $800 million to help identify and support students and young people who lack stable housing. The Education Department released the first $200 million in funding in April. With today's announ… Continue Reading
Scott & Nadler Reintroduce the Restoring Justice for Workers Act
07.29.21 WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) introduced the Restoring Justice for Workers Act, legislation to end forced arbitration clauses and protect workers’ ability to pursue work-related claims in court. The bill would overrule the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis that allowed employers to continue to require… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Protecting U.S. Workers from Wage Theft
07.29.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Labor Department finalized a rule to rescind the Trump-era Joint Employment Rule that would cost workers more than $1 billion every year if it remained in effect. The Fair Labor Standards Act's broad joint employment standard has long ensured that workers can hold multiple employers accountable for wage theft where the employee establishes that he or she is economically dependent on a joint employer.… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Gov. Northam Proposal to Increase Funding for Safe School Reopenings
07.28.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott released the following statement in response to Governor Ralph Northam's proposal to dedicate $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding to help schools repair and upgrade ventilation systems, or complete other air quality projects. "I applaud Governor Northam's proposal to dedicate additional American Rescue Plan funding to helping schools reopen safely and stay open safely. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that proper ventilation is essential to r… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement 12-Year Anniversary of $7.25 Minimum Wage
07.24.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement acknowledging the 12-year anniversary of the $7.25 federal minimum wage on July 24. We are now experiencing the longest period of time without an increase in the federal minimum wage since it was created in 1938. "Today our nation reached a shameful milestone. Today marks 12 years since the last increase in the federal minimum wage - the longest period without an increase since it was established more than eight decades ag… Continue Reading
House and Senate Democrats, Biden Administration Leaders Stress Importance of Workforce Investments to Build Back Better
07.22.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, hosted a remote press conference with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Education Department Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and other guests to highlight the importance of investing in workforce development. The unemployment crisis spurred by COVID-19 demonstrated the need for increased training and career navigation services to en… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Rule Implementing $15 Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
07.21.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released a proposed rule implementing President Biden’s Executive Order 14026, which requires all federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage. “I applaud the Biden Administration for making good on its promise to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 an hour. “By both raising the minimum wage and phasing out … Continue Reading
Committee Advances Four Bills to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence, Older Americans, Students of Color
07.15.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor advanced four bills to support survivors of domestic violence, protect older job applicants from age discrimination, help communities desegregate their schools, and strengthen efforts to fight discrimination in education. The Family Violence and Prevention Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2021 modernizes and adequately funds FVPSA to support survivors of domestic violence and increases prevention efforts to ensure no American experien… Continue Reading
Rep. Grijalva Leads Members of Congress in Urging Summer Vaccination Campaign and Coordination for Farmworkers
07.15.21 TUCSON— Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva led 35 Members of Congress in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky urging them to facilitate a summer campaign to increase the vaccination rate within the rural farmworker community through a collaboration between the CDC, states, localities, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start network. Farmworkers have historically faced numerous health disparities and were di… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bills to Address Intimate Partner Violence, Protect Older Workers, and Promote Equity in Education
07.15.21 WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, H.R. 3992, the Protect Older Job Applicants Act, H.R. 729, the Strength in Diversity Act of 2021, and H.R. 730, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2021. “Today, the Committee is marking up four bill… Continue Reading