Press Releases
Education and Labor Committee Votes to Advance Ambitious Proposal to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs
10.17.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor voted to advance the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, H.R. 3, an ambitious proposal to cut the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans. The Committee advanced the bill on a party line vote, 27-21. "The skyrocketing cost of drugs is undermining the health and financial security of seniors, taxpayers, and American consumers - who are routinely forced to pay far more for the same drugs as people in other countries," said Chairman Scott. "The A… Continue Reading
College Affordability Act: What People Are Saying
10.16.19 WASHINGTON - The College Affordability Act (H.R. 4674) is a comprehensive overhaul of our higher education system. The bill is a down payment on bold reforms to lower the cost of college, improve the quality of higher education, and expand opportunity for students from all backgrounds. Here's what education leaders are saying about the landmark legislation: AccessLex: "AccessLex Institute is pleased to offer our support for the College Affordability Act, which we believe would further the funda… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Announces Future of Work Hearings
10.16.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) announced a series of three legislative hearings to explore challenges, opportunities, and policy solutions related to the "future of work." The three hearings will specifically focus on: Preserving worker protections and benefits in the face of changing business models and work arrangements; Empowering workers with the skills they need to avoid or address job displacement and remain competitive; and Protecting workers' civil … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Responds to USDA Analysis Showing Nearly 1 Million Kids Would Lose Automatic Access for Free Schools Under Proposed Cuts to SNAP
10.16.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to an internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing nearly one million children will lose automatic access to free school meals under its proposed changes to eligibility for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). "The internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture shows that the impact of its proposed rule would be even worse than we had feared… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Unveil Comprehensive Legislation to Lower the Cost of College
10.15.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor introduced the College Affordability Act-a comprehensive overhaul of the higher education system that lowers the cost of college for students and families, improves the quality of higher education through stronger accountability, and expands opportunity by providing students the support and flexibility they need to succeed. The landmark legislation comes more than 10 years after the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) a… Continue Reading
Health Committee Chairs’ Statement on CBO Analysis of H.R. 3
10.11.19 Washington, D.C. - Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released a joint statement today on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) initial analysis of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. The CBO estimates savings from Title I of the bill to Medicare of $345 billion between 2023-2029: "The CBO analysis confirms that H.R. 3 lives up to its name of lowering prescriptio… Continue Reading
Committee Report: Education Department Ignored Early Warnings of Problems in Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
10.11.19 WASHINGTON - A report released today by the Committee on Education and Labor reveals that the Education Department ignored early warnings from internal staff that could have prevented the disastrous implementation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The report, "Broken Promises: How the Department of Education Failed America's Public Servants," includes previously unpublished audits completed by Education Department staff in 2016 and 2017 that raised significant issues regardi… Continue Reading
Scott, Adams Call on Labor Secretary to Protect Workers from Deadly Silica Exposure
10.07.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chair Alma Adams (NC-12) sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to strengthen monitoring and protections for engineered stone fabrication workers at high risk of silicosis and other silica-related diseases. The letter comes one week after the Centers for Disease Control and Preve… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on DOL’s Proposed Tip Rule
10.07.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor proposed a new tip rule that would codify the Trump administration's repeal of the long-standing 80/20 rule, which prohibits employers from paying the tipped subminimum wage to workers that spend more than 20 percent of their time performing tasks where they cannot earn tips. "The 80/20 rule helps prevent employers from paying workers the tipped subminimum wage for doing non-tipped work, which… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Ruling in Harvard Affirmative Action Case
10.01.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a district judge in Boston upheld Harvard's admissions process in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard Corporation. "The District Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard Corporation affirms the constitutionality of admissions policies that recognize that there is a compelling interest in advancing a diverse student body. There is extensive research that diverse campuses expand acce… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Revisions to OSHA’s Beryllium Standards for Construction and Shipyards
09.27.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it is vacating the June 27, 2017, proposed rule to roll back protections for construction and maritime workers from exposure to beryllium. That proposal would have eliminated ancillary protections that had been included in OSHA's final beryllium standards issued on January 9, 2017. The compliance date for the ancillary… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Bold Proposal to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize
09.25.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor advanced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, H.R. 2474, a bold proposal to ensure American workers can organize and negotiate for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. In response to rising income inequality that is leaving workers and middle-class families behind, the PRO Act would empower millions of Americans to stand together and negotiate for a fair share of the profits they produce. A recent study … Continue Reading
All Committee Democrats to Secretary Perdue: Proposed Rule Strips Free School Meals from More Than 500,000 Low-Income Children
09.24.19 WASHINGTON - All 28 Education and Labor Committee Democrats submitted a comment letter to the Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue expressing strong opposition to the Trump administration's proposed changes to eligibility standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According the administration's own analysis, its proposed changes to SNAP eligibility would eliminate access to free school meals for more than 500,000 low-income children, but that analysis was not made avail… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: New Overtime Rule Leaves Millions of Middle-Class Workers Behind
09.24.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor published a final rule to raise the overtime salary threshold to $35,568 from $23,660. Under the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), hourly workers and salaried workers who earn below a salary threshold set by the Department of Labor are automatically eligible for overtime pay of one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. "American workers have not … Continue Reading
Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act: What People Are Saying
09.23.19 WASHINGTON - The Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act, introduced by Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is a direct investment in the training and employment advancement opportunities for America's direct care workers. Here's what experts are saying: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO: "We suppo… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Senate GOP Blocking Funding for HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions
09.19.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) to pass the FUTURE Act by unanimous consent. "The FUTURE Act preserves critical funding for Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions that expands opportunities in communities throughout the country. The House of Representatives did its job by passing the FUTURE ACT earlier this week, and I am disappoi… Continue Reading
Scott, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Support Direct Care Workers
09.19.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Representative Susie Lee (NV-03), along with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), introduced legislation to invest in and support direct care workers. The Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act (H.R. 4397) invests in training and employment advancement opportunities for America's direct care workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mor… Continue Reading
Education and Labor Committee Approves Bill to Help Address Impact of School Shootings on Students and Teachers
09.18.19 WASHINGTON – Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act, legislation to establish a definition of “school shooting” in federal law and collect data on school shootings, which will help measure and address the impact of gun violence on children and educators. “The Committee has a responsibility to advance evidence-based legislation that ensures the safety of our schools,” said Chairman Bobby Scott at tod… Continue Reading
Education and Labor Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize the Older Americans Act
09.18.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the Dignity in Aging Act (H.R. 4334), a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). H.R. 4334 increases funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity. The Older Americans Act (OAA), originally passed in 1965, is the primary legislation that covers social and nutrition services for older Americans and their caregivers. The Dignity in Aging Act responds to the challen… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Praises Passage of FUTURE Act to Provide Extended Funding for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs
09.17.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the House voted to pass the FUTURE Act, a bipartisan proposal to preserve funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The legislation extends funding for these institutions that was set to expire on September 30, 2019. "The funding that supports Minority-Serving Institutions is the only program authorized in the Higher Education Act that expires if it is… Continue Reading