Press Releases
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
Chairman Scott Statement on PRO Act Provisions in Budget Agreement
07.14.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement reporting that key provisions from the PRO Act are included in the Senate budget agreement. "The Senate needs to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act in its entirety, but any step we can take to defend workers' rights is meaningful. Based on past precedent, there is good reason to believe important PRO Act provisions can pass through the Budget reconciliation process, and I applaud their i… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on ED Decision to Streamline Financial Aid Verification
07.13.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Education Department announced temporary changes to the federal student aid verification process for the 2021-22 award year. The temporary changes will provide relief to hundreds of thousands of students and thousands of colleges who may be facing challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Education Department's decision to streamline the financial aid verification process is an important a… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Strengthen Opportunity for Disconnected Youth
07.08.21 WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), will introduce the Opening Doors for Youth Act (ODYA) (H.R. 4403)— legislation to address the challenges facing youth who lose connection from both school and work. The bill is also sponsored by Chairwoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment, Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17), and Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04). … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.02.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 850,000 jobs in June with the unemployment rate at 5.9 percent. "Today's jobs report is further proof that the Biden-Harris economic agenda is delivering results for the American people. Since President Biden took office, the economy has created more than 3 million jobs and consumer confidence has soared to its highest rate in 21 years. … Continue Reading
President Biden Signs Bicameral Resolution to Protect Victims of Workplace Discrimination
06.30.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden signed a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval (S.J.Res. 13) to nullify the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) conciliation rule. Chairman Scott introduced the House version of this resolution (H.J.Res. 33). "Today, Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration took a significant step to restore access to justice for victims of workplace discrimination. The EEOC… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Watchdog Report Showing Trump Administration’s Education Department Improperly Handed $387 Million to Failing For-Profit Schools
06.30.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Education Department's Office of Inspector General confirmed that the former Under Secretary of Education exceeded her authority and wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to provide a handout to executives and owners at Dream Center Education Holdings. "This independent watchdog report provides clear evidence that the Trump administration's Education Department took unprecedented and impro… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Urge Biden Administration to Extend Student Loan Payment Pause
06.30.21 Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, urged President Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments, which is currently set to expire at the end of September. In a letter to President Biden, the members stressed that the pause on student loan payments has been a lifeline for struggling bor… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Final Passage of Bicameral Resolution to Restore Workplace Civil Rights Protections
06.24.21 WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives passed a resolution introduced by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) that will protect victims of workplace discrimination. The Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval (S. J. Res 13) repeals a Trump-era rule that forced the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to meet new burdensome requirements affecting workers who bring allegations of discrimination. The resolution, which the Senate passed on May 19, now heads to Pre… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Calls for Passage of Resolution to Restore Access to Justice for Victims of Workplace Discrimination
06.24.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of S.J. Res 13, a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that would nullify the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s conciliation rule. “Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of Senate Joint Resolution 13, a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving the Equal… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Hearing with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
06.24.21 WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education,” to discuss the Department of Education’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2022. “Today, we are meeting to discuss the Department of Education’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2022 and examine the Departmen… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Older Workers Against Discrimination
06.23.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, which I reintroduced this year with our colleague from Illinois-Mr. Rodney Davis. "For decades, the federal government has recognized the need to protect older… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia
06.17.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. "The City of Philadelphia lost in today's Supreme Court case because of technical issue in a contract. As a result, Philadelphia will have to give taxpayer money to a religiously-affiliated organization that may discriminate against potential foster parents. However, this decision was ultimately a victory, because moving forward th… Continue Reading
What They’re Saying: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act
06.17.21 Washington, D.C. - Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House Education & Labor Committee, as well as Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, legislation that would double the Pell Grant award, index the award to inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working students and fami… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision Protecting Affordable Care Act
06.17.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision in California v. Texas. "Today, the Supreme Court threw out yet another baseless lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Court's decision will protect millions of Americans' access to affordable health care, secure coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and maintain critical protections that patients rely on every day. "As we continue to confr… Continue Reading
Pocan, Scott, Hirono, Murray Introduce Bill to Double Pell Grant, Make College More Affordable
06.16.21 WASHINGTON - Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), chairman of the House Education & Labor Committee, and Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, legislation that would double the Pell Grant award, index the award to inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working students and fami… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Biden’s ED Providing Thousands of Defrauded Borrowers Debt Relief
06.16.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Education Department announced new categories of borrower defense claims totaling $500 million in relief to 18,000 borrowers. “Today’s announcement means that tens of thousands of defrauded student loan borrowers will finally be granted the debt relief that they are legally entitled to receive. It has been more than four years since the Department o… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Biden-Harris Administration Move to Protect Students from Discrimination
06.16.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the Education Department's Notice of Interpretation that will prohibit schools receiving federal funds from discriminating against students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. "I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this important step to strengthen protections against discrimination in schools. This announcement reflects our shared commitment to providing all … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra
06.16.21 WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” to discuss the Department of Health and Human Services budget request for Fiscal Year 2022. “Today, we are meeting to discuss the Department of Health and Human Services budget request for Fiscal Yea… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Biden-Harris Administration for Preserving Access to School Meals
06.11.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration withdrew a Trump-era proposal that would have terminated automatic eligibility for free school meals for roughly 1 million students. "When the Trump Administration first proposed denying 1 million children automatic eligibility for free school meals, I raised awareness of the severe impact of this rule and called on the Administration to abandon its counterproductive prop… Continue Reading