Press Releases
Chairman Scott Praises Passage of the Equality Act
02.25.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and accommodations. "Freedom from discrimination is a core American value. Unfortunately, far too many states do not have laws explicitly barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As a result, LGBTQ+… Continue Reading
National Education Groups to Congress: Pass the American Rescue Plan
02.24.21 WASHINGTON - Today, 19 national education groups sent a joint letter to Congressional leadership expressing their support for the American Rescue Plan, which would provide $128 billion to help school districts reopen safely, protect students and staff, and make up for lost time in the classroom. "Declines in state and local revenues that are outpacing the Great Recession a decade ago, have made educator job loss among the hardest-hit sectors during the COVID-fueled economic crisis," the groups… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Statement on Importance of Statewide Assessments
02.23.21 WASHINGTON -Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor and Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions released a statement on the importance of statewide assessments. Statewide data is valuable because it offers valid, reliable, and comparable measures of student achievement so parents know if their children are learning. "Despite the tireless efforts of students, parents, and educators, the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Celebrates Public Schools Week
02.22.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement to celebrate the start of Public Schools Week. "As we begin Public Schools Week, I want to share my profound appreciation for the commitment and resolve that our students, parents, educators, and school staff have demonstrated over the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our education system and provided a constant reminder of the critical role public schools have in o… Continue Reading
Labor Leaders Reintroduce Bill to Curb Rising Rates of Violence Against Health Care and Social Service Workers Amid COVID-19
02.22.21 WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) joined Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the Committee, in reintroducing legislation to the 117thCongress that would curb the rising rates of workplace violence facing health care and social service employees, such as nurses, emergency responders, medical assistants, physicians, and social workers. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health C… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Strengthen Workplace Safety Enforcement
02.18.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair Alma Adams (NC-12), Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano (CA-41), and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) introduced legislation to strengthen the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) enforcement of workplace safety laws. The Accurate Workplace Injury and Illness Record Restoration Act would restore… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Reversing Wasteful IRAP Executive Order and Supporting Apprenticeship Expansion
02.18.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced plans to vacate former President Trump's executive order on Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs), to repeal the Department of Labor IRAP regulations, and to support the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 (H.R. 447). "I applaud President Biden's decision to halt the previous Administration's wasteful scheme to divert funding away from the proven Registered Appren… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on the Nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo for NLRB General Counsel
02.18.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden nominated Jennifer Abruzzo to serve as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). "President Biden's nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board is another important step toward protecting workers' rights to organize. As someone with more than two decades of experience at various levels of the NLRB, Abruzzo brings an unparal… Continue Reading
Bipartisan Group Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Pregnant Workers
02.16.21 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan group of representatives announced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - which establishes a pregnant worker's clear-cut right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue burden on their employer. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was reintroduced by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jamie Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA). "I first introduced the Pregnant Wor… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance Marketplaces
02.15.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration opened a three-month Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplaces: "Last month, President Biden and Vice President Harris took a long overdue step to expand access to affordable health care during the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a Special Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act's Marketplaces. "Expanding access to health i… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on CDC’s School Reopening Guidance
02.12.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new guidance on safely reopening schools. "The CDC's updated guidance on safely reopening schools makes a clear case for why Congress must swiftly enact President Biden's American Rescue Plan. Many schools across the country simply cannot afford to take the safety precautions that CDC recommends in order to protect students and school staff… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on the Nomination of Julie Su for Deputy Secretary of Labor
02.10.21 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden nominated Julie Su to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL). "Julie Su will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Department of Labor. Throughout her distinguished career, she has stood up for vulnerable workers, championed labor rights, and improved the lives of workers and families across California. Her strong rec… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Major Piece of COVID-19 Relief Package
02.10.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Education and Labor Committee's advanced its portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation package, which enacts President Biden's American Rescue Plan. "Our country is at a pivotal moment in the fight against COVID-19. Today, we sent a clear message to the American people that help is on the way. This legislation invests in safely reopening schools, raises wages and increases safety protections … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Markup for FY21 Budget Reconciliation
02.09.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today's markup of the Education and Labor Committee provisions in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget reconciliation bill. "Last week, the House passed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021, which instructed 12 House Committees to write a proposal that would provide $1.9 trillion in relief to Americans across the country. This process-called budget reconciliation-is an important tool that will… Continue Reading
Democratic Leaders Applaud Pension Protection Legislation in Latest COVID-19 Relief Package
02.09.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the inclusion of legislation to protect retirees' pensions in the COVID-19 relief package. "Among its many devastating consequences, COVID-19 has further jeopardized already struggling pensi… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Passing of Rep. Ron Wright
02.08.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. Ron Wright (TX-06), a Member of the Education and Labor Committee: "The Education and Labor Committee mourns the tragic loss of Congressman Ron Wright. During his time on the Committee, Congressman Wright contributed to our work as a member of both the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, but he will be most … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement Announces New Subcommittee and Vice Chairs
02.08.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Committee on Education and Labor formally organized for the 117th Congress. "The Education and Labor Committee oversees a wide range of issues impacting all Americans in every facet of life-from childcare and public education to worker protections and health care access, our duty is to build an America where everyone can succeed. Accordingly, the Committee's membership reflects a broad, diverse c… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Releases Ed & Labor Budget Reconciliation Bill Text
02.08.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the Education and Labor Committee's portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill, which enacts President Biden's American Rescue Plan. Under the FY21 budget resolution passed by the House and Senate last week, the Committee was instructed to propose more than $300 billion in relief for students, educators, workers, and families. "More than a year after the COVID-19 case was confirmed in the U.S., we are still losing thousa… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Reacts to New CBO Minimum Wage Estimate
02.08.21 WASHINGTON -Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on the effect of gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. "The CBO's report strengthens the case for gradually raising the minimum wage through the COVID-19 rescue package. This nonpartisan report shows that increasing the minimum wage will act as a direct and targeted stimulus for struggling workers and their families. A… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021
02.05.21 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which invests $3.5 billion in our apprenticeship system, ensures consistency and quality across apprenticeships, and expands opportunities for diverse workers in emerging sectors. "Registered Apprenticeships are this nation's most successful federally funded workforce development initiative. Each year, hundreds of … Continue Reading