Press Releases
Scott, Murray, DeLauro Release Report Revealing DeVos’ Failure to Collect Usable Data to Protect Children from Excessive or Discriminatory Seclusion and Restraint
04.22.20 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealing that the Department of Education (Department) failed to collect … Continue Reading
Committee Democrats to USDA: Do Not Undermine Child Nutrition Standards
04.22.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Democrats sent a comment letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to rescind parts of a proposed rule that reverse science-based nutrition standards for child nutrition programs. The Department's proposal, which was published January 23, 2020, would cut back on the required daily servings of fruits and required variety of vegetables, increase access to sugary desserts, and create a major loophole allowing schools to … Continue Reading
As Workplace Infections and Deaths Rise, House Democrats Introduce Bill to Protect Workers from COVID-19
04.21.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12), and Congresswoman Donna Shalala (FL-27) introduced legislation to protect U.S. workers from COVID-19 in response to disturbing, widespread reports of unsafe workplaces leading to preventable illnesses and deaths. The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act (H.R. 6559) would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Sta… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on OSHA Safety Directive
04.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott issued the following statement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new enforcement directive for health care facilities in response to COVID-19. "Over the past few months, we have seen the tragic consequences of the Department of Labor's failure to take urgent action to protect frontline health care workers and other essential employees. Without an enforceable workplace safety standard to protect workers … Continue Reading
House Democrats Introduce Bill to Help Workers Keep Job-Based Health Coverage During COVID-19 Crisis
04.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced legislation to help workers maintain their job-based health insurance in response to an unprecedented wave of layoffs and furloughs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, would provide federal assistance to cover the full cost of COBRA premiums for workers or the full cost of he… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Call on Trump Administration to Help Millions Affected by COVID-19 Access Health Coverage
04.13.20 WASHINGTON - After another staggering and unprecedented spike in claims for unemployment benefits, House and Senate Democratic health leaders reiterated an urgent request for the Trump administration to immediately establish a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for millions affected by the ongoing economic and health crisis. The Democratic health leaders also called on the Trump administration to use all administrative tools available to assist the millions affected by the coronavirus pandemic … Continue Reading
House Chairs Condemn President Trump’s Assault on IGs
04.10.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the chairs of multiple House Committees sent a letter condemning President Donald Trump's assault on Inspectors General (IGs) and requesting direct input from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency on legislative and other proposals to increase the independence of IGs and protect them from retaliation. "Unlike any President in modern history, President Trump has engaged in offensive and unjustified attacks against Inspectors General, criticizing th… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Distribution of First $6 Billion in Emergency CARES Act Funding to Colleges and Students
04.09.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education announced it will distribute some of the CARES Act emergency education to colleges and students. "The COVID-19 public health emergency is putting an enormous strain on our higher education system. In passing the CARES Act, Congress issued a down payment on the immediate and substantial relief that displaced students and cash-strapped institutions need to cope with this crisis. The CARES Ac… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Call on Trump Administration to Help Struggling Americans and Create Special Health Care Enrollment Period
04.03.20 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate Democratic health leaders strongly urged the Trump Administration to put American families first and establish a general Special Enrollment Period (SEP) so that people affected by the coronavirus pandemic can sign up for health coverage. House Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), along with Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Call for Free COVID-19 Treatment for All Americans
04.03.20 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a joint statement today calling for additional Congressional action to ensure that COVID-19 treatment is free of cost for everyone and that people have the opportunity to sign up for health insurance. "Tonigh… 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
Bicameral Democratic Health Leaders Condemn Trump Refusal to Reopen Enrollment on the Marketplaces
04.01.20 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a joint statement today condemning President Trump's decision not to establish a special Affordable Care Act open enrollment period in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. "President Trump's refusal to give … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott to NLRB: End Suspension of Union Representation Elections
03.31.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chairman John Ring calling on NLRB to reverse its suspension of union elections, especially mail ballot elections, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter comes after the NLRB announced it was suspending all representation elections through at least April 3. "The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an extraordinary strain on labor relations. Employers aro… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Remarks on Conference Call on Worker and Patient Safety Needs for the Next Coronavirus Package
03.30.20 WASHINGTON - Today Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott delivered the following remarks on a conference call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. on worker and patient safety legislation that must be included in the next coronavirus relief package. "I want to start by thanking Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Pallone, and all of my colleagues who have been working to provide our constituents the comprehensive support they need during this difficult t… Continue Reading
Scott, Neal, Wyden, Murray, Sánchez Call on DeVos to Return All Amounts Garnished from Federal Tax Refunds for Entire 2020 Filing Season
03.27.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), along with Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ways and Means Committee Member Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) called on the Department of Education (Department) to return all amounts garnished from the federal tax r… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on House Passage of CARES Act
03.27.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed the Senate's third economic stimulus package-the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)-in response to the COVID-19 crisis. "Today's passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, takes important steps to provide workers access to income, maintain students' access to education, and ensure access to health care for all Americans thr… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Colleagues to Vote Yes on the CARES Act
03.27.20 WASHINGTON - Today Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott delivered the following remarks on the House floor urging his colleagues to vote in favor of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to say to the Majority Leader that the hard work we've done is, to a large extent, due to the hardworking staff who have been up late at night doing this work, which usually takes months. It's been just days, but they've been able to put this bill together… Continue Reading
Bicameral Democratic Health Leaders Call for Additional Action to Ensure Cost is Not a Barrier for COVID-19 Treatment
03.27.20 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a joint statement today calling for additional congressional action to ensure that COVID-19 treatment and vaccines are free of charge for patients as well as new measures to reduce the cost of health insurance… Continue Reading
Bonamici Update to Older Americans Act Signed Into Law
03.25.20 WASHINGTON -- Today a bipartisan update to the Older Americans Act led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and co-led by Congresswomen Susie Lee (NV-03) and Susan Wild (PA-07), was signed into law. The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (H.R. 4334) increases funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity. It reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA), which benefits roughly 11 million older Americans who use important social services and com… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Introduction of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act
03.23.20 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement after House Democrats introduced the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act. “The most effective way to help the American people through this public health crisis is to provide direct, immediate, and prolonged financial relief. The Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act will give students, workers, and families the support they need and provides substantial funding to hospita… Continue Reading