Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Workforce Development
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 January Jobs Report
02.05.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 49,000 jobs in January with the unemployment rate at 6.3 percent. "Today's jobs report is further evidence that Congress must take immediate action to defeat the pandemic and provide substantial relief to the American people. After showing early signs of recovery, the economy is once again sputtering as the virus continues … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Yes Vote on FY21 Budget Resolution
02.03.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman Scott delivered the following remarks during floor debate on H.Con.Res. 11, a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021. “Thank, Mr. Speaker. The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to inflict widespread harm across our communities. In addition to the thousands of people who are dying every day from this virus, millions of workers remain unemployed, students are falling further behind, and an unprecedented number of American familie… Continue Reading
As Nation Faces Record Unemployment, Bipartisan Group Unveils Legislation to Expand Apprenticeships, Invest in Workforce Training
01.25.21 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) led a bipartisan group of Members in unveiling a proposed reauthorization of the National Apprenticeship Act that would create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions over the next five years. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 (H.R. 447) invests nearly $3.5 billion over five years to scale-up apprenticeship opportunities, streamline … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.08.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December with the unemployment rate at 6.7 percent. "Lost in the news of the violent mob incited by the president was the single deadliest day of the COVID-19 pandemic and 42 consecutive weeks of record-high unemployment claims. Due to the disastrous leadership of this administration, Americans are struggling … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on the Nomination of Marty Walsh for Secretary of Labor
01.07.21 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President-elect Biden nominated Marty Walsh to lead the Department of Labor (DOL). "I congratulate Marty Walsh on his nomination to be the next Secretary of Labor. With Mr. Walsh's experience in the Laborers' Union, Massachusetts' House of Representatives, and most recently as the mayor of Boston, I am confident that he will restore the mission of the Department to ensu… Continue Reading
New “Future of Work” Report Details How Congress Can Support Workers in the Modern Economy
12.08.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor released a report on the "future of work," exploring how a flood of new technologies and business models is shaping the American workforce. In the report, the Committee identifies three key challenges Congress must tackle to protect, promote, and prepare American workers in the coming decades. Informed by expert testimony and stakeholder input, the report offers detailed recommendations for how Congress can support workers in the modern… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on November Jobs Report
12.04.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statisticsannounced that the economy added 245,000 jobs in November with the unemployment rate at 6.7 percent. "Today's report signals that economic recovery is continuing to slow as our nation faces one of the worst economic and public health crises in history. As COVID-19 cases and deaths skyrocket in nearly every state across the country, we continue to confront the disastrous impacts of the Tr… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Yes Vote on National Apprenticeship Act
11.19.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) urged his colleagues to vote for the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which invests $3.5 billion in our apprenticeship system, ensures consistency and quality across apprenticeships, and expands opportunities for diverse workers in emerging sectors. "Our economy continues to permanently lose jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it is estimated that 7 million of those who lose their jobs… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
11.06.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 638,000 jobs in October with the unemployment rate at 6.9 percent. "For months now, President Trump has made misleading claims about the economy despite the fact that the country is facing one of the worst economic and public health crises in history. Today's jobs report is further evidence of how this administration's failed response to the pandemic con… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on September Jobs Report
10.02.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 661,000 jobs in August with the unemployment rate at 7.9 percent. "As the nation undergoes the greatest economic and public health crisis in modern history, today's jobs report reaffirms that Congress must pass additional support for American workers, students, and families. More than seven months since this crisis began, a record number of workers cont… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Landmark Legislation to Expand Registered Apprenticeships, Invest in Our Nation’s Workforce
09.24.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor voted to advance the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which would invest more than $3.5 billion to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. The legislation - which would update the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 for the first time since its enactment in 1937 - makes historic investments in workforce training to confront the sharp rise in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rece… Continue Reading
As Nation Faces Record Unemployment, Committee Democrats Unveil Legislation to Expand Apprenticeships, Invest in Workforce Training
09.17.20 The Committee will hold a markup of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 on Thursday, September 24. WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Democrats unveiled a proposal to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act that would create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions over the next five years. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, introduced by Chair Susan Davis (CA-53), Subcommittee on Higher Education an… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: On Eve of Labor Day Weekend, August Jobs Report Demonstrates Need for Senate Action
09.04.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 1.4 million jobs in August with the unemployment rate at 8.4 percent. "As we approach Labor Day, the August jobs report shows that while the economy is slowly recovering, the pandemic is continuing to devastate workers, families, and communities. The absence of federal leadership has allowed this public health emergency to balloon into an economic crisi… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
08.07.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 1.8 million jobs in July with the unemployment rate at 10.2 percent. "Today's jobs report clearly defines the stakes of the current negotiations over the next COVID-19 relief package. The American economy has lost 12.9 million jobs since February, and this is the 20th consecutive week in which more than 1 million Americans filed initial unemployment cla… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.02.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 4.8 million jobs in June with the unemployment rate at 11.1 percent. "While the overall jobs numbers in today's report are promising, unemployment remains above the rates during the Great Recession as workers and families face the devastating impacts of the pandemic. In fact, as of mid-June, more than 1 in 5 American workers were either receiving unempl… Continue Reading
Committee Holds Virtual Briefing on Relaunching America’s Public Workforce System After COVID-19
06.18.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor held a virtual briefing to discuss rebuilding America's public workforce system as the nation endures a deep recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public workforce system funds job training and career navigation support, wraparound services, and helps employers avoid layoffs through supporting the financing of on-the-job training and incumbent worker training. The panelists and Members discussed how our chronically underfunded public… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on May Jobs Report
06.05.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 2.5 million jobs in May with the unemployment rate at 13.3 percent. "Today's jobs report is evidence of Congress' strong initial response to this crisis, but it does not diminish the devastating and unprecedented scale of the economic hardship facing workers and families across the country. On average since this crisis began, weekly unemployment claims… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.08.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April with the unemployment rate at 14.7 percent. "Today's jobs report reflects the devastating economic reality facing students, workers, and families across the country. The share of workers facing unemployment has risen to heights not seen since the Great Depression. Unless our federal response matches the scale of this unpreceden… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
04.03.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy lost 701,000 jobs in March with the unemployment rate at 4.4 percent. "Today's grim jobs report captures only a fraction of the economic hardship that workers, families, and businesses will face in the months ahead. Only yesterday, weekly unemployment claims soared to an astonishing 6.6 million people, nearly ten times the number of weekly claims at the heigh… Continue Reading