Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Wage and Hour Issues
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Denounces Misnamed ‘Working Families Flexibility Act’
04.26.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the House Committee on Education and the Workplace approved H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act: "The Working Families Flexibility Act is misnamed - it neither supports working families nor provides flexibility. If passed, this bill would mean more overtime hours and less money for workers without any guarantee of time off when they need it.… Continue Reading
Rep. Takano, Committee Democrats Voice Strong Opposition to Bill that Weakens Overtime Rights for Low-Income Workers
04.05.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Rep. Takano and Committee Democrats voiced strong opposition to the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 (H.R.1180). The bill would weaken overtime rights for low-income workers who are already struggling to keep pace with the economy. Instead of paying workers for their overtime work, the legislation allows employers to pocket employees' overtime pay in return for a vague promise that employees may be able to… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Press Acosta on Upholding DOL Mission
03.21.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Committee on the Education and Workforce Democrats sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions regarding the upcoming nomination hearing of Mr. R. Alexander Acosta, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Department of Labor. Specifically, they want to know how Mr. Acosta intends to carry out the DOL's mission to "foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners [.]" "During Mr. Acosta's upcoming… Continue Reading
Democrats Highlight Priorities for Updating Wage and Hour Policies
02.16.17 WASHINGTON - Today the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on "Federal Wage and Hour Policies in the 21st Century." Committee Democrats believe updating wage and hour policies for the 21st century means raising wages, making more workers eligible for overtime pay, ensuring that workers' schedules are fair and that they can take a day off when they get sick without losing pay, finally securing equal pay for equal work, and stopping wage theft. "It is my hope that the work we to … Continue Reading
Scott, Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Fully Account for Puzder’s Business Record
01.31.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), and other Committee on the Education and the Workforce Democrats sent a letter to the leaders on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, urging them to conduct a complete and thorough investigation of Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor. In light of Mr. Puzder's past statements and business practices, there are serious concerns about whether he would fulfill this critical mission i… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Latest Attempt to Deny Workers Their Hard-Earned Pay
11.23.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a federal judge in Texas placed an emergency injunction on the Department of Labor's overtime rule. "Yesterday, a federal district court in Texas granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Labor's overtime rule from going into effect nationwide on December 1. The overtime rule would raise the salary threshold under which most workers are automatically eligible for time-and-a-half pay when t… Continue Reading
Hoyer, Scott Hold Forum on the Working Families Agenda
06.27.16 BOWIE, MD - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted a Working Families Field Forum with Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03) as a special guest. Local elected leaders, policy experts, and workers joined Congressmen Hoyer and Scott in a discussion on House Democrats' Working Families Agenda, which includes policy solutions to raise the federal minimum wage, ensure pay equity, and provide paid leave for all workers. "I was pleased to join Rep. … Continue Reading
New Oxfam-EPI Report: Working People Need Responsible Solutions That Boost Wages & Level the Playing Field
06.22.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) highlighted the findings of a new report by Oxfam and the Economic Policy Institute. The report entitled "Few Rewards: An Agenda to Give America's Working Poor a Raise" illustrates the struggles of millions of low-wage working people across the nation. The report highlights the need to: increase the federal minimum wage; provide access to earned sick leave; protect overtime pay … Continue Reading
The Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule Gives Hardworking Americans a Long Overdue Raise
06.09.16 WASHINGTON- Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing entitled, "The Administration's Overtime Rule and Its Consequences for Workers, Students, Nonprofits, and Small Businesses." The hearing focused on the Department of Labor's (DOL) new rule that strengthens overtime protections for millions of workers nationwide. An estimated 4.2 million workers will directly benefit from the new overtime rule which raises the salary level under which most salaried workers automatical… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Praise New Overtime Protections for Millions of Hardworking Americans
05.17.16 (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statements after the Department of Labor announced its final overtime rule. The new rule would raise the salary threshold to $47,476, expanding overtime eligibility to 4.2 million workers and boosting wages for workers b… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats to Hold Forum on the Business, Economic Benefits of Raising the Minimum Wage
04.26.16 WASHINGTON - ON WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), along with fellow Committee Democrats, will host a forum for the House Democratic Caucus to focus on how businesses and the overall economy will benefit from raising the federal minimum wage. Raising the federal minimum wage will stimulate consumer spending, help businesses' bottom lines, and grow the economy. A modest increase in the minimum wage would improve worker productivity, and reduce employee … Continue Reading
Scott to Participate in Working Families Agenda Roundtable in Los Angeles
02.04.16 Will tour worker center, be joined by U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, State Sen. Connie Leyva LOS ANGELES - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, will participate in a Working Families Agenda roundtable discussion at the Los Angeles Black Worker Center tomorrow with workers, local elected officials, labor leaders, policy experts and family advocates to examine how recent policy changes in California can be a model for the rest of the coun… Continue Reading
Scott Introduces Bill to Protect Workers from Widespread Wage Theft
01.13.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, introduced H.R. 4376 the Pay Stub Transparency Act - legislation to protect American workers from the rampant problem of wage theft. "Wage theft is all too common, especially among low-wage workers," said Ranking Member Bobby Scott. "Given the prevalence of this problem, we must work to ensure that hardworking Americans have the tools necessary to fight back against t… Continue Reading
House Democrats Introduce Working Families Resolution
10.29.15 WASHINGTON - In honor of hardworking families across the nation, today, 108 House Democrats introduced H. Res. 506, the Working Families Resolution. This resolution calls on Congress to take up the responsible policy solutions working families need to make a better life for themselves and their families. Earlier this week, in commemoration of National Work and Family Month, Members came together for a Working Families Day of Action to highlight the many ways Congress can continue to support our … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on D.C. Circuit Court Home Health Workers Decision
08.21.15 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) praised the unanimous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Home Care Association of America v. Weil, in support of the U.S. Department of Labor's rule to cover home healthcare workers under minimum wage and overtime protections. This decision will extend these protections to nearly two million workers. "Today's decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals will benefit home healthcare workers and attract… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2015
07.29.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott issued the following statement today after Representative Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, introduced the Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2015. The bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to accurately classify their workers and provide employees with notice of that classification: "Workers who are misclassified as independent contractors are denied the wages they… Continue Reading
Over 100 Democrats in House, Senate Send Letter to President Obama in Support of New Overtime Rule
07.20.15 Change will help reduce income inequality, jump start local economies WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced last month that the Department of Labor (DOL) intends to raise the salary threshold below which workers must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. Today, nearly 150 Democrats across both chambers of Congress-led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03)-sent a letter to the President in strong support of the rule. Ra… Continue Reading
Scott, Warren, Delauro, Murray, Murphy Introduce Schedules That Work Act to End Unstable Scheduling Practices
07.15.15 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2015 Contacts: Lacey Rose (Warren), 202-224-2292 Sara Lonardo (DeLauro), 202-225-3661 Helen Hare (Murray), 202-224-5398 Kiara Pesante (Scott), 202-226-0853 Laura Maloney (Murphy) 202-228-1056 Legislation Supported by Women, Labor and Civil Rights Groups Would Provide Greater Stability to Hourly and Low-Wage Workers Fact Sheet Washington, DC - Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.),… Continue Reading
New overtime salary floor will mean more workers can earn overtime pay
06.30.15 Rule change will help reduce income inequality WASHINGTON - President Obama announced this morning that the Department of Labor (DOL) intends to raise the salary threshold below which workers must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. The current salary threshold is $23,660, and today’s proposed rule would raise it to $50,440. Following this morning’s announcement, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott expressed his strong support for the increase. “Today’s announc… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on 'Fast Track' Vote
06.18.15 WASHINGTON — House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement on stand-alone legislation to grant the President Trade Promotion Authority, commonly known as Fast Track: “As I did last week, I again opposed Trade Promotion Authority because it lacks sufficient safeguards to ensure that labor standards, environmental standards, and consumer protections are respected in partner countries and here at home. I remain conce… Continue Reading