Press Releases
PROMISES KEPT: Committee on Education and Labor Highlights Legislative Milestones in the First 100 Days of 116th Congress
04.12.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor marked its first 100 days of the 116th Congress by highlighting its work on behalf of students, workers, and families across the country. In just over three months, the Committee has advanced legislation to improve public schools, protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and raise wages for millions of workers. "Over the first 100 days of the 116th Congress, the Committee has followed through on the promises we made to our cons… Continue Reading
Education and Labor Committee Approves Bill to Reverse the Trump Administration’s Expansion of Short-Term, Junk Health Plans
04.09.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved H.R. 1010, legislation to reverse the Trump administration's "Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance" rule. The bill would strengthen consumer protections and shield Americans from higher health care costs by halting the expansion of short-term health plans, otherwise known as junk plans. On August 3, 2018, the Trump administration finalized a rule to expand short-term, limited duration plans, adding to the long list of its effor… Continue Reading
House Chairs Seek Documents from Trump Administration on Sudden Decision to Stop Defending Health Care Law
04.09.19 WASHINGTON -Five House Committee Chairs sent letters to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the White House requesting documents and information regarding the involvement of White House officials in the Administration's troubling decision to not defend the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The letters were signed by Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott, Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah E. Cum… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
04.05.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 196,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate held at 3.8 percent. "Today's jobs report continues to show that despite steady job growth, wages are barely keeping pace with inflation. It is another reminder that Congress must take bold action to lift millions of workers out of poverty to help build a thriving middle class. "The Raise the Wage Act wou… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: AHP Ruling is a Victory for Workers, Consumers
03.28.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a federal court partially invalidated the Trump administration's rule expanding the reach of Association Health Plans (AHPs). "Today's ruling is an important victory for workers and consumers who would be harmed by the administration's decision to expand the reach of association health plans. The Department of Labor's final rule is one of numerous examples of this administration's efforts to sabotage the Affordable C… Continue Reading
Sixty-Five Percent of Battleground Voters Support Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 by 2024
03.28.19 WASHINGTON - A recent poll conducted by Hart Research found that 65 percent of battleground voters favor raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. Specifically, 89 percent of Democrats, 55 percent of independents and 46 percent of Republicans in these districts support the proposal. "This polling data confirms that Americans across the political spectrum support gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. Raising the minimum wage is not only good for workers, it will bene… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: The Paycheck Fairness Act Would Make “Equal Pay for Equal Work a Reality for Working Women Across the Country”
03.27.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during the floor debate for the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R.7). "Thank you, Madam Chair. In 1963, the Equal Pay Act codified the right to 'equal pay for equal work regardless of sex.' In fact, the Equal Pay Act was enacted one-year prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that - for the first time - provided for the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. Over the past 55 years, the Equal Pay Act- in combination with … Continue Reading
House Democrats Unveil Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions and Lower Health Care Costs
03.26.19 WASHINGTON- House Democratic leaders today unveiled a sweeping bill that would protect people living with pre-existing conditions, lower health care costs for consumers, and reverse the Trump administration's harmful actions to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019 was introduced today by Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways an… Continue Reading
House Health Committee Leaders Blast Trump Administration’s Refusal to Defend the ACA, Imperiling Health Care for Millions
03.26.19 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) issued the following joint statement today after the Trump administration wrote to the Fifth Circuit urging the court to uphold the district court ruling in Texas v. United States striking down the entirety of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). "The Trump Administration is now actively supporting a lawsuit that would cause millio… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Responds to Republican Request for Hearings on Medicare-For-All
03.14.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Committee Republicans requested that the Committee on Education and Labor hold a hearing on H.R. 1384. "I welcome the Ranking Member and my Republican colleagues to the conversation Democrats have been having about expanding access to care. The Committee is currently focused on undoing the sabotage of the Affordable Care Act orchestrated by the administration and Congressional Republicans. In fact, the most recent Re… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on College Admissions Scandal
03.12.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to a major college admissions scandal in which wealthy parents allegedly used bribery and fraud to game the admissions process at prestigious universities. "The bribery and fraud uncovered in the college admissions scandal undermines the integrity of our higher education system and robs deserving students of opportunities they have earned. I am grateful to investigators for identifying and stopping this illegal… Continue Reading
Don’t Stop Believin’: Committee Report Confirms College is Still Well Worth the Cost
03.08.19 WASHINGTON - A report released this morning by the Committee on Education and Labor reveals that a college degree is still well worth the cost. The report, titled "Don't Stop Believin' (in the value of a college degree)" collects the mountain of evidence showing that - despite the recent skepticism regarding the value of a college - researchers have consistently found that the benefits of a college degree significantly outweigh the costs. "This report lays out the overwhelming evidence that a c… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on February Jobs Report
03.08.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 20,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent. "Today's jobs report continues to show the harmful impacts of the unnecessary partial government shutdown caused by President Trump and Majority Leader McConnell. What's worse, wages are still barely keeping pace with inflation and hardworking Americans are being left behind. "This … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: New Overtime Threshold Falls Short
03.07.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor proposed to raise the overtime salary threshold to $35,308 from $23,660. The overtime threshold is the level below which salaried executive, administrative and professional workers must receive overtime pay for each hour worked after 40 hours per week. "The new overtime salary threshold proposed by the Department of Labor falls far short of meeting the needs of workers who are struggling to ge… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Closing of Dream Center-Owned College Chain
03.07.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued a statement following the announcement that 22 Dream Center-owned colleges will close tomorrow. "The closure of Dream Center-owned college chains, including Argosy University, will have terrible, life-altering consequences for thousands of students on 22 campuses across the country. Many students are now left with burdensome debt and few options to finish their degree. Students should never be put in this situation. "The Department of Education … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Court Ruling Vacating DeVos Delay of IDEA Rule
03.07.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia vacated the Education Department's delay of the Equity in IDEA rule. The Obama-era rule, which Secretary DeVos had delayed for two years, helps schools address persistent and pervasive disparities in identification, placement, and discipline of students of color with disabilities. "Today's court ruling is a major victory for students and parents and an important ste… Continue Reading
Committee on Education and Labor Approves Proposal to Gradually Increase the Minimum Wage to $15 by 2024
03.06.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582), a proposal to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2024. The Raise the Wage Act would give nearly 40 million workers a raise and, by putting money in the pockets of American workers, provide an economic stimulus to local businesses and communities. "Today, the Committee took an important step toward lifting millions of American workers out poverty by raising the minimum wage for the f… Continue Reading
Murray, Davis Request Information from U.S. Department of Education on Mismanagement of Federal Student Loan Program
03.05.19 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), Chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, sent two letters today to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on the recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report that found internal failures at the Department to appropriately oversee student loan servicers that receive federal contracts. The first l… Continue Reading
Rep. Takano: “New overtime salary threshold ignores the economic realities middle-class workers are facing”
03.01.19 WASHINGTON- Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement following reports that the U.S. Department of Labor plans to raise the overtime pay threshold to $35,000 from $24,000 through new rulemaking "The Department of Labor's new overtime salary threshold ignores the economic realities middle-class workers are facing across the country. The $35,000 overtime pay threshold is woefully inadequate compared to the Obama-era regulations that would have increased the threshold to nearl… Continue Reading
Scott, Kennedy, Harris Reintroduce Bill to Protect Individuals from Discrimination
02.28.19 WASHINGTON - With the support of leaders from the civil rights, social justice and faith communities, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), and Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today reintroduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Do No Harm Act would clarify that no one can seek religious exemption from laws guaranteeing fundamental civil and legal rights. Originally introduced… Continue Reading