Press Releases
Davis, Scott, 10 Committee Members Introduce Bill to Strengthen Teacher Recruitment and Retention
10.04.16 WASHINGTON - Last week, Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53) introduced H.R. 6236, the Innovations to Recruit and Retain Excellent Teachers Act, legislation that will empower school districts to develop targeted recruitment and retention strategies ensuring that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, are taught by an excellent, well-supported, and diverse teacher workforce. The bill is co-sponsored by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and 10 other members of the Committee on Education and … Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Final EEOC Rule on Collecting Pay Data
09.29.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued the final revisions on the collection of aggregate pay and hour data through its Employer Information Report (EEO-1) form. This revision will level the playing field for working people by providing clarity for the EEOC to analyze pay data and better allocate resources to enforce Title VII and the Equal Pay Act. "Discrimination remains a persiste… Continue Reading
Scott, DeLauro Statement on Paid Sick Leave for Workers on Federal Contracts
09.29.16 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health And Human Services, and Education respectively, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor released the final rule to provide paid sick leave for workers on federal contracts. The new rule will provide additional paid sick leave to an estimated 1.15 million people working o… Continue Reading
Scott, Nadler and 68 Members of Congress Applaud NLRB’s Columbia University Decision
09.26.16 WASHINGTON - Following a recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision, regarding Columbia University, which restored the right of research assistants (RAs) and teaching assistants (TAs) to form unions and collectively bargain, 69 members of Congress, led by Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), issued a statement urging private universities and colleges to ensure that TAs and RAs can fully and freely exercise these statutory rights, without interference, delay,… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Improve & Strengthen Juvenile Justice System
09.22.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed (382-29) H.R. 5963, Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act of 2016, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA): "I commend my colleagues for the bipartisan work done in support of our nation's youth. The bipartisan bill we passed today includes necessary improvements to federal policy firmly grounded in facts, proving … Continue Reading
ESSA: Murray, Scott Call on Education Dept. to “Provide Clarity and Direction” For How States, Schools Districts Can Best Use Funds to Address Teacher Shortages
09.22.16 Several states have reported significant teacher shortages-with shortages "disproportionately felt in special education, math and science, and in bilingual and English-language education," as highlighted last week in the Washington Post: LINK Murray and Scott worked to include funding in Title II of our nation's new K-12 law, the Every Student Succeed Act, for "teacher preparation, development, and retention activities" The Education Dept. is planning to issue guidance on Title II of the law… Continue Reading
Scott Introduces Bill to Strengthen Opportunity for At-Risk Youth
09.22.16 WASHINGTON - TODAY, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) introduced H.R. 6117, the Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2016-legislation to address the challenges faced by youth, ages 16-24, who are disconnected from both school and work. At-risk young people are commonly referred to as "opportunity youth" because of the tremendous potential they possess. "It is our responsibility to ensure that all of nation's young people have the opportunity to thrive-not just survive," said Ranking Member Scott. "O… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Oklahoma Supreme Court Decision in Workers’ Comp Case
09.14.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a state law that allowed businesses to opt out of workers' compensation: "This week, a 7-2 majority of the Oklahoma Supreme Court held the Oklahoma Employee Injury Benefit Act, also known as the Opt Out Act, unconstitutional as a special law because it 'creates impermissible, unequal and disparate treatment of a select group' of Oklahoma workers. This model law had drawn… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Bill to Support Youth Opportunity, Improve Juvenile Justice System
09.14.16 WASHINGTON -The House Committee on Education and the Workforce today approved H.R. 5963, the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act. Introduced by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), the 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. The bill passed unanimously by voice vote. "Today we worked across the aisle to p… Continue Reading
House Passes Bill to Strengthen Career and Technical Education
09.13.16 WASHINGTON -Democratic and Republican members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce today praised House passage of H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Introduced by Reps. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA), the legislation reauthorizes and reforms the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to help more Americans enter the workforce with the skills they need to compete for high-skilled, in-demand jobs… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on 2015 Census Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Data
09.13.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today on the 2015 Census Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Data: "Today's Census Bureau report shows that median household income is rising and the number of people living in poverty is falling. When President Obama took office in 2009, the nation was in the midst of a severe recession. The President and his Administration took swift action by making key investments to stimulate the economy. Nearly eight years la… Continue Reading
Scott, Warren Highlight GAO Study on 401k Annuity Options for America’s Workers
09.09.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), released the findings of a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) they co-requested on the challenges working Americans face in making their 401(k) savings last throughout retirement. Specifically, GAO analyzed whether employers' 401(k) plans provided workers with appropriate options to annuitize their savings-of the plans GAO surveyed, very few of them offered such options. GAO made se… Continue Reading
Members Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve & Strengthen Juvenile Justice System
09.09.16 WASHINGTON - Democrat and Republican members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce today introduced the H.R. 5963 Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act. Sponsored by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), the legislation reauthorizes and reforms the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act to help state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders. "Many children are born into circumstances out of the… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Republicans’ Multiemployer Pensions Plan Discussion Draft
09.09.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after Chairman John Kline (MN-02) released a plan to authorize a new multiemployer pension system. "As we work through the rest of the 114th Congress, protecting and strengthening the pensions of America's workers and retirees remains a top priority. I appreciate Chairman Kline's continued interest in addressing the multiemployer pension crisis, and I look forward to a thorough review of the discussion draft legi… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Obama Administration Actions to End the School-to-Prison Pipeline
09.08.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Departments of Education and Justice issued new clarifying guidance to colleges and school administrators on the role of school resource officers (SROs) and campus police: "I applaud the actions taken by the Departments of Education and Justice. Evidence and research shows that instead of protecting children, school resource officers are often policing children and creating a direct link in the school-to-… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Labor Day
09.02.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement to workers today in recognition of Labor Day, which is Monday, September 5th: "Labor Day is a time to recognize the incredible achievements of hardworking Americans. It is also a time to acknowledge that far too many people are working harder than ever, but still struggling to make ends meet. America has made significant strides toward economic recovery, with 77 consecutive months of uninterrupted private sector jo… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
09.02.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 151,000 jobs during the month of August: "Today's job report shows that 151,000 jobs were added to the economy and unemployment stands at 4.9 percent. This report represents the 77th consecutive month of private sector job growth, continuing the longest streak on record previously set in April 2000 at 51 months. Today also marks the 42nd anniversar… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Final Rule for Head Start Performance Standards
09.01.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final rule updating program performance standards for how Head Start programs will carry out education, health care and social services for low-income children and their families. The new standards take a holistic approach and update the structure, rules and governance requirements for lo… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Applaud King for Proposed Title I Spending Rule
08.31.16 WASHINGTON - Today, Representative 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 Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced the proposed rule for Title I spending under the Every Student Succeeds Act: "We applaud Secretary King for working with stakeholders to put forth this proposed regulation on the … Continue Reading
Scott, Conyers Ask GAO to Examine Data on Disparities in School Discipline, Student Absenteeism
08.29.16 WASHINGTON - Last week, Ranking Members Bobby Scott (VA-03) and John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) of the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Judiciary, respectively, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agendy to examine data on the disparities in school discipline practices and student absenteeism by school type. Recent studies show a large increase in the use of disciplinary actions and chronic absenteeism in public schools. "According to research, rep… Continue Reading