Press Releases
Currently showing results related to K-12 Education
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Extreme MAGA Republican Bill to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
07.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, extreme MAGA Republicans in the House voted to pass their Scapegoating Not Solutions Act, a mean-spirited proposal that threatens to take away education funding from a school if any its facilities are used to temporarily house asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this bill is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor rem… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns MAGA Republican Resolution to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
06.22.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans voted to pass H.Res. 461, a mean-spirited resolution—authored by extreme MAGA Republicans—that threatens to take federal funds from public schools if any of their facilities are used to temporarily house refugees or migrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this resolution is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. Ranki… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Legislation to Undermine Affordable Care Act and Fuel Culture Wars
06.13.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 824 and H.R. 3941. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. “I am disappointed that, yet again, we’ve decided to take up two bills that do nothing to support students or improve access to affordable, quality health care for workers and families. “In fact, so far this Congress, Committee Republicans’ priorities for K-12 education have focused entirely on culture wars. Leg… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Undermine Health Care Protections, Fuel Culture Wars, and Make School Meals Unhealthy
06.06.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four bills that would further politicize our classrooms, undermine essential health care coverage protections, and make school meals unhealthy. “Ultimately, these four bills fall short of our promise to protect students, strengthen child nutrition, and ensure access to affordable, quality health coverage,” said Ranking Member Scott. “If we are serious about fulfilling our promise of helping students, we can work together to end gun violence in… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement at GOP Markup of Bills to Undermine Health Care, Fuel Culture Wars, and Make School Meals Unhealthy
06.06.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.Res. 461, H.R. 1147, H.R. 2868, and H.R. 2813. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx, and good morning. “I had hoped that we would be able to start this Congress by passing bipartisan priorities that support the American people. But, regrettably, today, Committee Republicans are calling up another set of bills that neglect our responsibilities to students, workers, and fa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott, Rep. Beyer Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Students from Dangerous Seclusion and Restraint Practices
05.18.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08)—alongside Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA)—reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, legislation to protect students from dangerous seclusion and restraint discipline practices in school. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would make it illegal for any school receivin… Continue Reading
On Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Education Leaders Introduce Key Bills to Address School Segregation, Ensure Equal Access to Education
05.17.23 WASHINGTON - Today, on the 69th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (NY-12), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) reintroduced two key pieces of legislation to help achieve equal education in America. The Strength in Diversity Act, introduced with Congresswoman Jayapal, and the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act, introduced with Ranking Member Na… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing with ED Secretary Cardona
05.16.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education” with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that tomorrow is the 69thanniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. In the decision, the Chief Justice wrote: ‘In the field of public education,… Continue Reading
Ranking Members Scott, Bonamici Praise Biden Push to Expand Free Access to School Meals
05.09.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) wrote to the Department of Agriculture in support of its proposal to expand children’s access to free school meals by strengthening the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). “We commend the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or the Department) for its efforts to ensure that students in hi… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Politics Over Participation Act
04.20.23 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during yesterday’s floor debate on H.R. 735, the Politics Over Participation Act. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this bill is a mean-spirited attack on transgender women and girls’ participation in sports. “It essentially requires women and girls to ‘prove their gender.’ In Kansas, where a sim… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About H.R. 734, the “Politics Over Participation Act”
04.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives will consider extreme Republican legislation that bans transgender women and girls in school sports and makes school sports less fair and less safe for all students. Athletes, advocates, and experts agree that politicians in Washington should be addressing the most pressing issues facing students and parents—not targeting transgender student athletes and endangering women and girls in school athletics. Here is what they are saying about Republican… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Prioritizing Safety and Fairness in School Sports
04.06.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education released a proposed rule to update Title IX regulations regarding participation in school athletics programs. Specifically, the proposed rule would prohibit schools and athletics programs from adopting or applying one-size-fits-all policies that categorically ban transgender students from participating in school sports activities consistent with their gender identity. “… Continue Reading
Despite Internal Opposition, Republicans Force Through Anti-Student, Parent, and Educator Legislation
03.24.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans advanced the Politics Over Parents Act (H.R. 5) despite opposition from parents, students, educators, and members of their own party. Moreover, Republicans unilaterally rejected the Democratic alternative offered by ECESE Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01). The Democrats’ alternative would have: Prevented schools from banning books; Created a designated parent coordinator at every public school; Increased funding for statewide family… Continue Reading
WATCH: Ranking Member Scott Leads Fight Against Anti-Student, Parent, Educator Legislation
03.23.23 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during today’s floor debate on H.R. 5, the Politics Over Parents Act. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. "First, let me be clear: House Democrats believe parental engagement is central to student success. Parental engagement in schools is closely linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills. "Unfor… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About Extreme MAGA Republicans’ “Politics over Parents” Bill (H.R. 5)
03.22.23 WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives will consider Republican legislation that would undermine public education under the guise of 'parental rights.' Experts and advocates for students, parents, and teachers agree that this proposal would only further politicize classrooms and jeapordize support for public education while doing nothing to increase real parental partnership with schools. Here’s what they are saying about Republicans’ so-called Parents Bill of Rights Act: Secretary of… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: Biden Budget is a Roadmap to a Stronger America
03.10.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024. “The Biden-Harris Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal is a clear roadmap to a stronger America. It calls for transformational investments that would grow our economy and improve the lives of students, workers, and families across the country. “The proposed budget would take significant steps to ensure every student has access to hig… Continue Reading
Under the Cloak of Darkness, Republicans Force Through Anti-Student, Parent, and Educator Legislation
03.09.23 WASHINGTON - Democrats showed up for work today and introduced legislation to meet the real challenges facing students, parents, and educators. Committee Republicans played political games and voted against 25+ good-faith efforts to help students succeed. “We all agree that parental engagement is essential for student success, and that Congress has a role in promoting students’ participation in sports. Unfortunately, neither of the bills before us today addresses the real challenges facing… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: “Politics Should Never Prevent a Student from Receiving a High-Quality Education”
03.01.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to recent House Republican proposal to undermine public K-12 schools under the guise of parents’ rights. “Politics should never prevent a student from receiving a high-quality education. Regrettably, Republican politicians want to turn classrooms into the epicenter of an extreme culture war while doing nothing to meaningfully help students get back on track. In fact, every Congressional Repu… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Opening Statement at Education Hearing
02.08.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the state of education. “When the Supreme Court decided the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, it outlawed legal segregation in education, and said - among other things - that, ‘In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken… Continue Reading
NEW: Government Watchdog Report Finds Unequal Enforcement of Dress Codes May Make Schools Less Safe for Students
10.25.22 WASHINGTON - A new report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealedthat discriminatory enforcement of school dress codes may make school environments less equitable and safe for students and lead to harmful discipline practices. Specifically, the GAO report found that dress codes typically restrict items most frequently worn by girls, students of color, and LGBTQI+ students. As a result, schools remove these students from the classroom at significantly higher rates compa… Continue Reading