Press Releases
Chairman Scott: SCOTUS Decision Undermines OSHA’s Authority to Protect Workers Against COVID-19
01.13.22 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to reject the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccine or test requirement for employers with 100 or more employees. “While I am relieved that the Supreme Court upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rule protecting health care workers and patients, today’s decision is a significant setback i… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.07.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 199,000 in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent. "Today's jobs report caps a historic year of recovery. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our nation created more jobs in 2021 than any other year on record. The Biden-Harris economic agenda is getting Americans back to work. "President Biden's American Rescue Plan no… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Increasing Support for School Meal Programs
01.07.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced an increase in the amount of money the federal government will reimburse states for school meal programs. "I applaud the Biden Administration for taking an important step to help preserve school meal programs for children and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for school meal programs at a time when more families than ever are relyin… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Extension of Student Loan Pause
12.22.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced an extension in the pause of student loan repayment, collections, and interest accrual. “I applaud the Biden Administration’s decision to extend relief for student loan borrowers in response to the surge in COVID-19 infections. As we have seen during similar periods throughout pandemic, the rapid spread of the Omicron varian… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Next Steps for Build Back Better Agenda
12.20.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement regarding the next steps for the Build Back Better Agenda. “The Build Back Better Act advanced by House Democrats secures vital investments in America’s future. Every piece of our proposal addresses an urgent challenge facing families and communities across the country and it is fully paid for by making the wealthiest pay their fair share in taxes. Whil… Continue Reading
Education & Labor Committee Releases 2021 Year in Review
12.20.21 WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Education and Labor released a Year in Review report highlighting the Committee’s accomplishments in 2021. “This report illustrates the Committee’s tireless work to confront the challenges facing students, workers, families, and the economy,” said Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott. “Over the past year, we have advanced vital legislation – including the historic American Rescu… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration Effort to Help School Meal Programs Address Supply Chain Challenges
12.17.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Biden Administration's action to help school meal programs respond to supply chain disruptions. "I applaud the Biden Administration for taking action to ensure school meal programs can continue to provide children the healthy nutrition they need to learn and grow. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for school meal programs at a time when more families than ever are… Continue Reading
Rep. Cartwright Introduces Bill to Help Mine Workers with Black Lung Disease Receive Benefits
12.03.21 WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, legislation that would reform the program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease. “Thousands of miners who suffer from the horrible effects of black lung disease are exploited by coal company lawyers who prevent mine workers and their families from receiving the benefits they deserve,” said Rep. Cartwright. “Mine workers and their survivors … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on November Jobs Report
12.03.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 210,000 jobs in November as the unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent. "Today's jobs report demonstrates once again that America is on the move: 210,000 new jobs have been created, the unemployment rate is down, and two weeks ago, we saw the lowest level of initial jobless claims since October of 1969. President Biden has created more jobs… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Foxx Express Bipartisan Support for Surprise Billing Protections
11.19.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx sent a letter to the Biden Administration expressing bipartisan support for its interim final rule for protecting patients from surprise bills. The rule, which takes effect in January, is required to implement the No Surprises Act, a bipartisan agreement passed by Congress last year to shield patients from unexpected medical bills. The letter was sent to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises House Passage of the Build Back Better Act
11.19.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. “Today, the House took a major step toward delivering historic investments in America’s future. The Build Back Better Act that the House approved today will lower costs for nearly every family, create millions of good-paying jobs, and improve the quality of life for the people we represent. “The Build Back … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Defending Civil Rights Protections
11.18.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) announcement that it is revoking previously issued waivers that allowed discrimination against prospective foster families with federal funding and reversing a Trump-era policy that improperly handed the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) broad authority to promote discrimination under the guise of religious liberty. "I applaud the Biden Administr… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on CBO Estimates of Build Back Better Act Provisions
11.17.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Congressional Budget Office's cost estimate for the Education and Labor Committee's provisions in the Build Back Better Act. "The Congressional Budget Office's estimate confirms two important facts about the Education and Labor Committee's provisions in the Build Back Better Act. First, it shows that the Build Back Better Act makes historic investments in lowering costs for working familie… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Sherrilyn Ifill Stepping Down as President of LDF
11.17.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement on Sherrilyn Ifill stepping down as President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP's Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Throughout her tenure at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sherrilyn Ifill has been a fierce and effective advocate for equity in education, workplaces, and society. Her leadership and expertise have helped this Committee confront a wide range of issues, from school segregation to wo… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Workers’ Access to Secure Retirement
11.10.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee voted to advance the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement (RISE) Act (H.R. 5891), a bipartisan bill to help more workers save and prepare for retirement. The legislation-led by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Allen (GA-12)-advanced through the Committee unanimously… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Protecting Workers’ Civil Rights
11.08.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration proposed rescinding a Trump-era rule that gutted nondiscrimination protections for employees of federal contractors. “I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this important step to restore civil rights protections for federal contractor employees. The Trump Administration’s religious contractor rule gave comp… Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Workers Save for Retirement
11.08.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Allen (GA-12) introduced legislation—the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement (RISE) Act (H.R. 5891)—to expand American workers’ access to secure retirement. “We have… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Colleagues to Advance Build Back Better Act
11.05.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during tonight's Floor debate on advancing the Build Back Better Act. "Madam Speaker, every investment in the Build Back Better Act addresses an urgent challenge facing families, workers, and our economy. "Within the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee, this proposal makes child care affordable and it invests in securing free, universal, and high-quality preschool… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
11.05.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 531,000 jobs in October as the unemployment rate fell to 4.6 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 5.6 million jobs, the most jobs ever created in the first 10 months of any Administration. "The Build Ba… Continue Reading
House Passes Protect Older Job Applicants Act
11.04.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan H.R.3992, The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021, introduced by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) and co-led by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott. The bill will clarify that older job applicants can challenge disparate impact claims about discriminatory hiring practices under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The bill will codify and clarify protections for older job applicants in the current A… Continue Reading