Press Releases
Bonamici, Casey Defend Community Voices in Education
04.03.17 WASHINGTON, DC [04/03/17] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), and members of the House and Senate Education Committees requested that the Department of Education enforce requirements in law that direct states and school districts to consult with local stakeholders while implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Last month, the Department removed stakeholder consultation requirements from its revised template that states must submit for federal a… Continue Reading
Democrats Push Trump Administration to Protect the Education of Undocumented Children
04.03.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Bobby Scott (VA-03), John Conyers (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), the Ranking Members of the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, respectively, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly asking them to remind public schools that they are still required to educate un… Continue Reading
Ranking Members of Ed & Workforce, Nat. Resources, and Science Committees Condemn Group Misleading Students on Climate Science
04.03.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Members Bobby Scott (D-Va.) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) of the Committee on Natural Resources, and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, today condemned the Heartland Institute's distribution of politically motivated and scientifically inaccurate materials on climate change to science teachers at the nation's public schools. The campaign was recently uncovered by the PBS p… Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Opportunity for Vulnerable Children
03.30.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Republican and Democratic members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 1809). Sponsored by Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), the bipartisan legislation reauthorizes and reforms the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) to help state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders. Upon introduction, members issued the following statem… Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Recovery, Prevention Efforts for Missing and Exploited Children
03.30.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the Improving Support for Missing and Exploited Children Act (H.R. 1808), legislation to strengthen efforts to recover missing children and support youth who are the victims of violent crimes. Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02), chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, the bipartisan bill updates and streamlines the Missing Childr… Continue Reading
Scott Condemns Trump Administration’s Decision to Pull Funding for School Diversity
03.30.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education's decision to not fulfil grant awards to school districts seeking to make public schools more diverse: "The Trump Administration's decision to end the Opening Doors, Expanding Opportunities Grant Program is not only disappointing, but also shortsighted. The Administration's assertion, as reported by the Washington Post, that using $12 million already appropriated federal funds is… Continue Reading
Scott, Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Strengthen Opportunity for Disconnected Youth
03.28.17 WASHINGTON, DC - TODAY, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) introduced H.R. 1748, the Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2017-legislation to address the challenges facing youth who are disconnected from both school and work. Disconnected young people are commonly referred to as "opportunity youth" because of the tremendous potential they possess. At a panel discussion, Reps. Scott, Susan Davis (CA-53) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Matt Zone, National League of Cities President, highlighted the n… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Stand Up to Attacks on Community Service, Volunteers
03.28.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing in the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers the AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps programs. Since 1994, more than one million individuals have served the nation through AmeriCorps, and earned more than $3 billion in scholarships to help pay for college or pay back student loans. "Since its founding, CNCS has engaged mi… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Trump Administration Rolling Back Workplace Rule, Giving Serial Labor Law Violators a Free Pass
03.27.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Trump signed a Resolution of Disapproval (H.J. Res 37) which overturned the rule implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (EO). This rule would have ensured that contractors disclose their labor, safety and civil rights violations, and that federal agencies evaluate those violations which are serious, willful, repeated, and pervasive when determining whether a contractor should… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Condemn President Trump for Weakening Accountability for Students, Parents, Teachers and Communities
03.27.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statements today on President Trump signing two resolutions that significantly weakens both the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act and makes it more difficult for teacher candidates to make informed decisions on the quality of their teacher pre… Continue Reading
Senate, House Education Committees Request Education Department Take Steps to Assist Students While Student Aid Tool Is Unavailable
03.27.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively, and Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, respectively, and 39 additional Members of the Senate and House Education committees, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today asking the Department to take action… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Republicans Failed Attempt to Pass TrumpCare
03.24.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after House GOP Leadership postponed consideration of H.R. 1628 - Trumpcare: "Today is a victory for health care security for millions of families. The bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act was a bad deal for the American people, and even those who oppose the Affordable Care Act recognized the serious flaws with the Republican plan. By every measure, the Republican bill made things worse - by increa… Continue Reading
Bonamici Statement on Canceled TrumpCare Vote
03.24.17 WASHINGTON, DC [03/24/17] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement after House leadership canceled the vote on the American Health Care Act, also known as TrumpCare: "This bill was a disaster, and I'm glad it was pulled from consideration before a vote. "TrumpCare would be devastating. Oregonians and Americans would pay more and get less. Many would face a future without health insurance, or with inadequate coverage. It's especially bad for seniors, who wo… Continue Reading
Blunt Rochester Statement on President Trump and House GOP Pulling ACA Repeal Bill
03.24.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Blunt Rochester issued the following statement after President Trump and the House GOP pulled the Affordable Care Act repeal bill: "Twenty-four million Americans and tens of thousands of Delawareans would have lost coverage under the American Health Care Act. What happened today is a victory for them and all Americans. The Affordable Care Act insured tens of millions of Americans, added protections against gender discrimination, and ensured that those with preexisting con… Continue Reading
Leading Children’s Health Groups to House of Representatives: Keep Medicaid Strong
03.22.17 WASHINGTON, DC -The American Academy of Pediatrics, Children's Defense Fund, Children's Dental Health Project, Family Voices, First Focus Campaign for Children, March of Dimes and National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners issue the following joint statement opposing the American Health Care Act's (AHCA) drastic changes to Medicaid and their detrimental impact on children and families: "Our organizations represent children, pregnant women, families, children's health care providers a… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Students with Disabilities
03.22.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today after the Supreme Court released their decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. The case addressed whether or not the school district provided a free, appropriate public education to a student with autism. Ranking Member Scott co-lead an amicus brief to the Court with Senator Patty Murray last fall, citing the extensive legislative history showing congressional intent to provide a meaningful bene… Continue Reading
Scott: Association Health Plans Shift Costs Onto Workers
03.22.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1101, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, by a vote of 236-175, largely on party lines: "H.R. 1101 would undermine the progress made under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), weaken state-level consumer protections and shift costs onto working people. This association health plan idea has been studied for years and it has been concluded that it's a bad idea. Under t… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Press Acosta on Upholding DOL Mission
03.21.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Committee on the Education and Workforce Democrats sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions regarding the upcoming nomination hearing of Mr. R. Alexander Acosta, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Department of Labor. Specifically, they want to know how Mr. Acosta intends to carry out the DOL's mission to "foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners [.]" "During Mr. Acosta's upcoming… Continue Reading
Davis: Financial Aid Programs Require Investment, Targeting
03.21.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, delivered the following statement during a hearing on federal student financial aid. Rep. Davis emphasized the need to expand access to higher education through robust investments in federal student aid. Key Excerpts from Rep. Davis' Remarks: "Since the Higher Education Act's enactment, the United States has made substantial progress in college access. Student of col… Continue Reading
Bonamici: Education Department Turns Back on Struggling Student Loan Borrowers
03.17.17 WASHINGTON, DC [03/17/17] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement after the Department of Education rescinded guidance that prohibited imposing collection fees on borrowers who take action quickly to repay their defaulted loans: "Those who are struggling to pay their students loans can face lifelong consequences that will affect their ability to rent an apartment or buy a car if they go into default. We must create more opportunities to prevent individuals… Continue Reading