Press Releases
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
Committee on Education and Labor Approves the Rebuild America’s Schools Act (H.R. 865)
02.26.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the Rebuild America's Schools Act (H.R.865). The Rebuild America's Schools Act invests more than $100 billion in America's public schools. According to economic projections, the bill would also create more than 1.9 million good-paying jobs. "For far too long, students, parents, and teachers have felt the consequences of our chronic failure to prioritize funding for public education. The Rebuild America's Schools Act would provi… Continue Reading
Education and Labor Committee Approves Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7)
02.26.19 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7). The legislation strengthens protections against gender-based wage discrimination to ensure that all women receive equal pay for equal work. Today, a woman still makes only 80 cents, on average, for every dollar earned by her white male counterpart. "The gender wage gap, which collectively withholds up to $500 billion from women's paychecks each year undermines the financial stability of famili… Continue Reading
House and Senate Democrats Introduce Comprehensive Child Care and Early Learning Bill to Ensure Child Care for All
02.26.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor, and Chairman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (NMI-AL), House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, along with 96 other cosponsors, introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act − a comprehensive early learning and child care bill to ensure affordable, high-quality child care for working middle class families and those living paycheck to paycheck. Senator Patty Murray… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Foxx Announce Five Bipartisan Hearings on Higher Education
02.21.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05) announced plans to hold five bipartisan hearings on higher education, marking the formal start of an effort the reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) in the 116th Congress. The joint announcement reflects the Committee's shared intention to host a thoughtful and open exchange of ideas for improving America's higher education system. The five hearings will be: The Cost of College: Student Centered … Continue Reading
Congressman Courtney Introduces Legislation to Reduce Violence Against Health Care and Social Service Workers
02.21.19 WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior Member of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced legislation this week to curb rising rates of workplace violence facing health care and social service employees such as nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical assistants, and social workers. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1309) is co-sponsored by Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the House … Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Rip Trump Administration’s Proposed Health Insurance Market Rules for Making Care More Expensive, Less Accessible
02.20.19 (Washington, D.C.) -Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, sent a letter to Administrator Seema Verma at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services… Continue Reading
House, Senate Democrats Send Secretary DeVos Second Request for Information Regarding Attempt to Undermine Independence of Education Department Watchdog
02.19.19 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate Democrats sent Education Secretary Betsy DeVos a second request for information regarding an abandoned effort to replace the Department’s Acting Inspector General, an independent watchdog tasked with investigating allegations of fraud, waste, and criminal wrongdoing within the agency. The letter also demanded an explanation for a new and troubling revelation that - prior to replacing the Acting Inspector General - a senior department official had sought to ha… Continue Reading
Scott, Sensenbrenner Lead Bipartisan Group of House Members to Introduce Bill Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination
02.14.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, and Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05) introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a proposal to strengthen anti-discrimination protections for older workers. They were joined by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Mark Takano (CA-41), Will Hurd (TX-23), John Katko (NY-24), and Glenn Grothman (WI-06). The bipartisan legislation is a companio… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Anniversary of Parkland Tragedy
02.14.19 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "One year ago, 17 students and educators lost their lives in the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. For many of us, that day will always be remembered for the mixture of shock, frustration, and profound grief we felt as we witnessed another mass shooting at an American school. Today, we join together as one nation to h… Continue Reading
Murray, Scott Request Oversight of Cybersecurity in the Retirement System
02.13.19 WASHINGTON -Senator Patty Murray, (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman Bobby Scott, (D-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education & Labor sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting GAO to examine the cybersecurity of the retirement system. “We write to request the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the cybersecurity of the pri… Continue Reading
DeLauro, Gillibrand Reintroduce the FAMILY Act
02.12.19 WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today stood with workers, business leaders, and advocates to reintroduce of the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act-legislation that would create a universal, gender-neutral, national paid family and medical leave program. The FAMILY Act is the gold standard for paid leave legislation in Congress and would ensure that workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for a pregnancy, the birth or … Continue Reading
On Ninth Anniversary of Kleen Energy Explosion, Congressman Courtney Reintroduces the Protecting American Workers Act
02.07.19 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, reintroduced the Protecting America's Workers Act. Courtney was joined by Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. The Protecting America's Workers Act would strengthen and modernize the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 by gi… Continue Reading
Blunt Rochester, Castor, Kildee, and McBath Introduce the MORE Health Education Act
02.06.19 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Dan Kildee (MI-5), and Lucy McBath (GA-6) introduced H.R. 987, the Marketing and Outreach Restoration to Empower (MORE) Health Education Act. This legislation would reverse funding cuts to Affordable Care Act (ACA) education, marketing, and outreach efforts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This increase in funding will assist providers and navigators in educating Americans about open enroll… Continue Reading
Underwood Introduces Legislation to Protect Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions, Ban “Junk” Insurance Plans
02.06.19 WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) today introduced legislation with Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Steven Horsford (NV-4), and Gwen Moore (WI-4) that would help protect Americans with pre-existing conditions by overturning an Administration rule that expands limited duration insurance, commonly known as "junk plans." In August, the Administration finalized a rule that expanded short-term, limited-duration he… Continue Reading