Press Releases
Nadler, Katko, McBath, Herrera Beutler, Scott Reintroduce Bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to Protect Pregnant Workers From Workplace Discrimination
05.14.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Bobby Scott (D-VA) reintroduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation that would protect pregnant workers from workplace discrimination. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would address legal ambiguities and help ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job. The legislation, which is closely modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA… Continue Reading
Committees Call on White House and DOJ to Stop Withholding Documents on Decision to Attack the Constitutionality of the ACA and Undermine Pre-Existing Condition Protections
05.14.19 WASHINTON-Five House Committees sent letters to the White House and the Department of Justice demanding documents in response to a request made more than a month ago regarding the Trump Administration's sudden decision to reverse its legal position in court and assert that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be held unconstitutional. The letters were signed by Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah E. Cummings, Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., Co… Continue Reading
Scott, Foxx Statement on Surprise Medical Billing
05.09.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05) released the following joint statement after the White House summit on surprise medical billing. "Last month, this Committee held the first-ever congressional hearing on surprise medical billing. That discussion revealed bipartisan support for a solution that protects patients and their families from the financial and emotional harm of unexpected out-of-pocket health care costs. We remain committed to working ac… Continue Reading
Education and Labor Committee Unanimously Approves Bipartisan Bill to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect
05.08.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor unanimously approved H.R. 2480, legislation to strengthen federal efforts to prevent and treat child abuse. The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Stronger CAPTA) is a bold, bipartisan response to combat the rising rates of child maltreatment experienced as the opioid crisis has devastated families and communities across the country. "As the opioid epidemic and other pressures have devastated communities and families acros… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.03.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 263,000 jobs in April and the hourly wage growth fell back to 3.2 percent. "Today's jobs report continues to show that the economy is not working for everyone. Despite strong overall job growth and record increases in worker productivity, four in 10 American households cannot afford basics like food, housing, and health care. And for those working at th… Continue Reading
House and Senate Democrats Unveil Landmark Legislation to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize
05.02.19 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act-comprehensive legislation to strengthen protections for workers' right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. As wage inequality continues to leave workers and middle-class families behind, this legislation would empower millions of Americans to stand together and ensure hardworking people are getting their fair share of economic growt… Continue Reading
Chairmen Scott, Pallone Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Roll Back of Health Care Protections for Women, Transgender Patients
05.02.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and Labor, and Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following joint statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final rule that would deny patients necessary and lifesaving health care based on religious beliefs and erode nondiscrimination protections: "Today's final rule, along with the expected release of a second rule that would undermine health ca… Continue Reading
Top Democrats: CMS Rule Undermines Home Health Care Workers, Jeopardizes Quality of Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
05.02.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Committee on Education and Labor, and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) release of a final rule designed to obstruct home care workers from directing their own wages to support their union. "The administration's final rule is a transparent attempt to limit the ability of home care work… Continue Reading
Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
05.02.19 WASHINGTON - Today, four Democrats and four Republicans on the Committee on Education and Labor introduced H.R. 2480, legislation to strengthen federal efforts to prevent and treat child abuse. The Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Stronger CAPTA) is a bold, bipartisan response to combat the rising rates of child maltreatment experienced as the opioid crisis has devastated families and communities across the country. The four Democratic co-sponsors are Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (W… Continue Reading
GAO Report: Inadequate Federal Oversight, Inconsistent State Policies and Practices Are to Blame for Failure to Identify Children with Disabilities
04.24.19 WASHINGTON - A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today reveals that inconsistent state policies and inadequate federal oversight are denying thousands of young people with disabilities the services and support required under federal law. The report, which was requested by Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, examined … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Congratulates Rodney Robinson, 2019 Teacher of the Year
04.24.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Rodney Robinson was announced as the 2019 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Robinson is a social studies teacher at Virgie Binford Education Center inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center. "I am proud to congratulate Richmond public school teacher Rodney Robinson, who was named 2019 National Teacher of the Year this morning. While Congress has a critical role in providing students, parents, and educators the resources t… Continue Reading
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