Press Releases
Scott, DeFazio Denounce New Legislation That Attacks Working Families
02.01.17 WASHINGTON - Congressmen Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), the Ranking Members of the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Transportation and Infrastructure, respectively, issued the following statement after the introduction of H.R. 785, the so-called National Right to Work Act. These committees have jurisdiction over the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. "This legislation clearly has one purpose: to undermine the capacity of unions to protect worker… Continue Reading
At Full Committee ACA Hearing, Committee Democrats Defend Families’ Rights and Protections, Release New Report on How Repeal Threatens Working Families
02.01.17 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on health care, and how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided quality, affordable health care coverage. At the hearing, Committee Democrats unveiled a new report entitled, Accessible, Affordable Health Care - A Right, Not A Privilege: How Repeal of the Affordable Care Act Threatens the Health and Economic Security of Working Families. "If my Republican colleagues continue on the course to repeal, we know that 3… Continue Reading
Scott, Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Fully Account for Puzder’s Business Record
01.31.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), and other Committee on the Education and the Workforce Democrats sent a letter to the leaders on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, urging them to conduct a complete and thorough investigation of Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor. In light of Mr. Puzder's past statements and business practices, there are serious concerns about whether he would fulfill this critical mission i… Continue Reading
Scott Announces Democratic Members, Committee Leadership for 115th Congress
01.31.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Democrats on the Education and the Workforce Committee voted to elect their Vice Ranking Member and Subcommittee Ranking Members, and announced the subcommittee assignments for the 115th Congress. "The Education and the Workforce Committee jurisdiction focuses on policies and programs that are aimed at improving the quality of life and work for all Americans," said Ranking Member Scott (VA-03). "We are proud to have a diverse membership as Democrats on the Committee and we w… Continue Reading
Democratic Health Leaders Seek Answers from Trump Administration on Efforts to Sabotage ACA Open Enrollment
01.30.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to request further details on the Trump Administration's decision to halt advertising and outreach activities for Healthcare.gov ahead of the crucial January 31st deadline for open enrollment. "We are deeply … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Trump Administration’s Decision to Halt Health Care Enrollment Outreach to Families
01.27.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement amid reports that the Trump administration has ended outreach and advertising that provides America's families and working people with information on how to enroll for health insurance at HealthCare.gov: "The Trump Administration's decision to halt outreach and advertising is designed to undercut ACA enrollment during the peak period for enrollment. In the three years since the ACA Marketplaces began, the final day… Continue Reading
Slaughter, Scott Secure GAO Investigation to Help Protect the Benefits of American Workers
01.26.17 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-25) and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) announced today that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to their request for an investigation examining how restructurings by large corporations impact American workers' pensions and health benefits. Over the last several decades, spinoffs, mergers, bankruptcies, and joint ventures have negatively impacted workers across the country, who have all too often lost their jobs and seen their… Continue Reading
Democrats Call for Strengthening Working Families in the 115th Congress
01.24.17 WASHINGTON - Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held its organizational meeting for the 115th Congress, where members adopted the Committee rules package and the Committee oversight plan. Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) welcomed Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) to her first hearing serving as Chairwoman of the Committee, and called for bipartisan action to strengthen America's working families. "I am pleased there is agreement that the Committee should move forward wit… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Latest Administration Action to Protect Workers
01.17.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released the final rule on Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmental Mines, which will cover nearly 250,000 American miners at almost 12,000 metal and nonmetal mining operations. "Lives and limbs will be saved by MSHA's updated mine examination rule for operators of metal and nonmetal mines and quarries. The rule will require operators to inspect for … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Obama Administration Actions to Protect Student Borrowers
01.13.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education announced automatic student loan discharges for borrowers who attended American Career Institute, a now-defunct college that admitted to breaking state law and purposely misleading students to pursue meaningless degrees and credentials. Former students who attended Corinthian Colleges Inc. and ITT Technical Institutions will also receive approvals for loan discharges in the coming wee… Continue Reading
Scott: Total Chaos if Obamacare is Repealed
01.13.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (Va-03) spoke on the House Floor today against the Republican's budget resolution, which would begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks as delivered: "Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this budget resolution and its intent to compromise the health insurance for all Americans. "Republicans continue to pursue the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, root and branch, despite the fact that there is no cred… Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Call for Hearings on Impact of ACA Repeal Before Any Action in the House
01.12.17 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) sent a letter to the Chairmen of their respective committees today requesting public hearings immediately on the impact of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through budget reconciliation. The three Democratic Committee leaders wrote that public deliberations are essential before any action is taken. … Continue Reading
Scott, Murray, Franken, Wilson, and Courtney Commend OSHA for Efforts to Address Workplace Violence Against Healthcare Workers
01.10.17 WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced new actions to prevent violence against healthcare workers. These actions follow the findings of an April 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the prevalence of workpla… Continue Reading
Scott Applauds Final Rule to Protect Workers from Beryllium Exposure
01.06.17 WASHINGTON - Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the final rule updating the levels of permissible beryllium exposure to workers. The nearly 70-year-old old standard for workers exposed to beryllium has failed to protect workers from contracting chronic beryllium disease and cancer. "OSHA's beryllium rule, which took 18 years to develop, reduces permissible exposure levels by 90 percent, and is estimated to prevent 900 premature deaths due to the ravages of ch… Continue Reading
Scott, Bonamici Statement on New Report Showing How Student Loan Servicing Problems Can Jeopardize Long-Term Financial Security for Older Americans
01.06.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report that examines complaints from older student loan borrowers about servicing practices that can jeopardize their long-term financial security: "Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a new study about older borrowers who have student loan debt. Troublingly, the report exposed tha… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on December Jobs Report
01.06.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added a total of 156,000 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate at 4.7 percent. "When President Obama took office eight years ago, 3.6 million jobs had already been lost due to the recession. Today's December 2016 jobs report demonstrates that our economy is undoubtedly stronger, and since early 2010, the economy has added a total of 15.8 million… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Lead Democratic Amicus Brief Supporting DOL’s Overtime Rule
12.22.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), filed a bicameral amicus brief in support of the Department of Labor's (DOL) appeal of a Texas district court's order enjoining the overtime rule. "As members of Congress working to ensure that workers are provided fair wages, amici have a strong interest in the proper … Continue Reading
Scott, Casey Want Answers on PMF Cases Among Current, Former Coal Miners
12.21.16 Washington - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member on the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families, formally requested the amount of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) cases in active and former coal miners over the past five years from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the Department of Hea… Continue Reading
Democrats Push Trump to Extend Overtime Pay to Millions of Americans
12.20.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, led a group of 16 Congressional Democrats in sending a bicameral letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging the incoming Administration to act to implement the Department of Labor (DOL)'s overtime rule which would ensure workers who earn less than $47,476 are eligible to get paid time-and-a-half for the extra hours they work. "D… Continue Reading
Scott Statement in Support of Enhanced Federal Aid Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges
12.12.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott issued the following statement today after the Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. affirmed the decision made by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) to terminate the recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS): "I applaud Secretary King's decision to affirm the termination of ACICS' recognition as an accreditor. In our higher education system, accreditors are a vi… Continue Reading