Press Releases
Scott, Murray: National Labor Relations Board Decision to Weaken Workers’ Rights “Represents a Low-Point for the Board”
12.21.17 WASHINGTON- Led by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member, William Emanuel, voicing their concerns that his vote… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on ED’s Latest Action to Harm Defrauded Students
12.20.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced a new process for assessing and awarding borrowers defense to repayment claims submitted by former students of the now-closed Corinthian Colleges. "Today's action by the Department of Education will short-change thousands of students defrauded by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges, Inc. "By structuring financial relief according to earnings in comparison to other car… Continue Reading
Sablan and Takano Statement on NLRB Chairman’s Abuse of Power During Final Days
12.15.17 WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, and Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-M.P.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, released the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued multiple, rushed 3-2 decisions that will undermine workers' rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). These decisions included Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors, Ltd., … Continue Reading
Scott Condemns Action to Seek Delay of Rule Addressing Inequities in Special Education
12.14.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education (Department) intends to seek a comment period for a delay of the Equity in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) rule, which addresses disproportionate identification, placement, and disciplinary treatment of students of color in special education. "I am deeply disappointed by the Department's efforts to propose a delay of the rule that addresses widespread disp… Continue Reading
After 13-Hour Markup, Republicans Pass Partisan HEA Reauthorization Under the Cover of Night
12.13.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on H.R. 4508, the "Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act." H.R. 4508 makes college more expensive for millions of students and families by forcing students to borrow more, pay more to borrow more, and pay more to repay student loans. Just like the Republican tax plan, it puts corporate profits before students, asking families and students to pay more for a lower qua… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on NLRB’s Proposed Rollback of “Fair Election” Rule
12.12.17 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it will issue a Request for Information on whether to rescind its 2014 "Fair Election" Rule, which modernized the NLRB process for union representation elections. "The National Labor Relations Board voted 3-2 to issue a Request for Information on whether to rescind or modify the 2014 Fair Election Rule. This Rule i… Continue Reading
Democrats Respond to DOL Extending Tip Regulations Comment Period
12.12.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05), vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), vice ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee issued the following joint statement in response to the Department of Labor's decision to grant … Continue Reading
The PROSPER Act: What People Are Really Saying (Continued)
12.12.17 Under the so-called "PROSPER Act" (H.R. 4508), for-profit colleges and corporate interests are the clear winners. Students and working families are the clear losers. Don't just take our word for it, we have received more than fifty letters from organizations who oppose H.R. 4508. Association of American Universities: "As drafted, the House plan is seriously flawed. It seeks to eliminate subsidized loans, on which nearly six million undergraduate students depend each year. It would eliminate t… Continue Reading
46 Democrats Urge Administration to Extend New Tip-Pooling Regulations Comment Period
12.11.17 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05), vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), vice ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and 42 other Democrats sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Alexander Acosta to reques… Continue Reading
The PROSPER Act: What People Are Really Saying…
12.08.17 Under the so-called "PROSPER Act" (H.R. 4508), for-profit colleges and corporate interests are the clear winners. Students and working families are the clear losers. Don't just take our word for it, read what other people are saying: The Institute for College Access & Success: "Simply put, this bill will make it both harder and costlier for students to earn a high-quality certificate or degree." Association of American Universities: "As drafted, the House plan is seriously flawed. It s… Continue Reading
Bonamici, Scott, 45 Democrats Fight to Protect K-12, Higher Education in Tax Reform
12.08.17 WASHINGTON - Today Education and the Workforce Vice Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), and 45 Democrats stood up for public education and urged tax bill conferees to mitigate the harmful aspects of the current tax proposal and instead advance a tax plan that supports public schools and investments in higher education. "This partisan tax proposal will have irreversible and lasting consequences for the future of K-12 and higher e… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on November Jobs Report
12.08.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 228,000 jobs in November, with the unemployment rate at 4.1 percent. "Today's jobs report shows that our economic recovery remains stable, but our work in Congress is far from over. The reality is too many working people and families are still struggling to make ends meet because of stagnant wages. This is particularly relevant as Congressional R… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray, Casey Unveil New Report Showing Need to Protect Meat & Poultry Workers
12.07.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) released the findings of a Government Accountability Office report (GAO) calling for federal agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), to do more to protect w… Continue Reading
Scott, Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Protect Freedom to Join Unions
12.06.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Congressman Gregorio Sablan (MP-AL), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), and Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced H.R. 4548, the Workplace Action for a Growing Economy Act of 2017, or the … Continue Reading
Democrats Promote Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family and Medical Leave Proposals at Hearing
12.06.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to examine workplace leave proposals. Millions of working people across the country lack access to the flexible workplace policies that help them balance work and family. In 2016, only 13 percent of private industry employees had access to paid family leave through their employers, 37 million workers did not earn a single paid sick day, and approximately 41 percent of hourly workers received their work… Continue Reading
Top Democrats Urge Departments to Rescind Harmful Actions Taking Away Coverage for Preventive Services for Women
12.06.17 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (MA-01), and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Eric Hargan, Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, and Department of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to share their comments on the Interim Final Rules (IFRs) that allow employers and institutions of … Continue Reading
Representatives David Price and Susan Davis Introduce Reauthorization of Title VI of the Higher Education Act
11.30.17 WASHINGTON (Nov. 30, 2017) - On Thursday, November 30, Congressman David Price (D-NC) and Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) introduced legislation to reauthorize Title VI of the Higher Education Act. HEA-Title VI supports foreign language and international education programs at colleges and universities which help to educate citizens as they engage with diverse cultures both at home and around the globe. The 'Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act' will increase and expand ex… Continue Reading
Scott, Takano, Brown, Murray Introduce Bill To Expand Overtime Pay For Millions Of Workers
11.30.17 WASHINGTON- U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Mark Takano (D-CA), today introduced legislation to make at least four million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours a week, providing economic security to millions of working families. The Restoring Overtime Pay Act (H.R. 4505) would increase the overtime salary level from $23,660 per year to $48,412 per year, making at least four mi… Continue Reading
Scott, Butterfield, Lee Unveil New Report on Diversity in the Tech
11.30.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce was joined by Reps. G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Barbara Lee (CA-09) to release a Government Accountability Office report entitled, "Diversity in the Technology Sector: Federal Agencies Could Improve Oversight of Equal Employment Opportunity Requirements." The report found that the environment and access to these opportunities have not improved in more than a decade, for women, Black an… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the 42nd IDEA Anniversary
11.29.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in recognition of the 42nd anniversary of the landmark PL 94-142, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "Following the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, parents of students with disabilities pointed out that separate settings for students with disabilities were, and continue to be, unequal and discriminatory. Twenty-one years later, in 1975, Congress recognized the rights of… Continue Reading