Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
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
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 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
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
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
Scott Praises Biden Administration Steps to Strengthen Higher Education for Students and Taxpayers
05.24.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced its intention to begin revising a broad set of higher education policies that determine students' access to debt forgiveness programs and strengthen accountability standards for institutions participating in federal student aid. "Quality higher education programs open doors of opportunity for millions of students and serve as a powerful engine for American prosperi… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Proposals in American Families Plan to Lower the Cost of College
04.28.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Biden released his American Families Plan. The proposal calls for key investments to strengthen Pell Grants, lower the cost of tuition at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions, and take other steps to expand access to quality higher education. "For too long, the rising cost of college-fueled by chron… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Rep. Levin, Chair Murray, Sen. Baldwin Reintroduce Legislation to Provide Two Free Years of Community College
04.27.21 WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee, Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) reintroduced legislation to make the skills and credentials necessary for success in today’s economy attainable for all Americans, regardless of socio-economic status. The America̵… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Hearing to Examine For-Profit College Conversions to Non-Profit Institutions
04.20.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today's full committee hearing, entitled "For-Profit College Conversions: Examining Ways to Improve Accountability and Prevent Fraud." "Today, we are gathered to discuss the need for stronger oversight to protect students and taxpayers from those for-profit colleges that transition to non-profit institutions to trick students and regulators. "Over the last four year… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: Biden Budget Makes Long-Term Commitment to Our Nation’s Students
04.09.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the release of President Biden’s “skinny budget,” which calls for a $20 billion increase for Title I education funding, a more than 200 percent increase compared to the current fiscal year. “Inequity has always been a defining characteristic of America’s education system, and the wide funding gaps that exist between scho… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Comprehensive Review of DeVos Title IX Rule
04.06.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced it is conducting a comprehensive review of the Title IX rule established under the Trump Administration. “Providing students an environment where they are safe and free from discrimination is the most basic responsibility of schools and institutions. It is the foundation that gives all students the opportunity to learn and grow… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Rep. Adams Celebrate Major Victory for HBCUs
04.02.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and HBCU Caucus Founder and Co-Chair Alma Adams released the following statement after the Department of Education announced the discharge of $1.6 billion in capital finance debt for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This action was made possible by Congress through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which was signed into law in December 2020. "Historically Black Colleges and Universiti… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Protecting Student Borrowers with Total and Permanent Disabilities
03.29.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced steps to make it easier for eligible student loan borrowers to get their loans forgiven under the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program. “Today’s announcement is yet another example of how the Biden Administration is using its authority to improve the lives of student loan borrowers and their families. G… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for “Lifechanging” Announcement on Borrower Defense Claims
03.18.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced it would provide full debt relief to roughly 72,000 borrowers that were defrauded by Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute. "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 of Educat… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott and Takano Celebrate Protections for Student Veterans in American Rescue Plan
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, which protects student veterans and taxpayers from low-quality for-profit colleges by closing the "90/10 loophole." Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott: "This American Rescue Plan takes a major step toward protecting student veteran… Continue Reading
Scott Praises Support for Higher Education in American Rescue Plan
03.10.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House voted to approve the American Rescue Plan, which provides nearly $40 billion for institutions of higher education. "The COVID-19 pandemic is causing severe financial hardship for institutions of higher education and the students they serve. The American Rescue Plan provides significant relief to help colleges weather the pandemic, including more than $800 million for Virginia institutions alo… 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
Education Leaders Celebrate Higher Education Agreement in FY21 Omnibus
12.20.20 WASHINGTON - Today, following the release of the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Omnibus bill text, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment Chair Susan Davis (CA-53), and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chair Alma Adams (NC-12) celebrated the major Democratic priorities for higher education included in the spending bill. The bill expands the Pell Grant program, which will result in hundreds of thousands of students becoming newly eligi… Continue Reading