Press Releases
House Democrats Introduce Working Families Resolution
10.29.15 WASHINGTON - In honor of hardworking families across the nation, today, 108 House Democrats introduced H. Res. 506, the Working Families Resolution. This resolution calls on Congress to take up the responsible policy solutions working families need to make a better life for themselves and their families. Earlier this week, in commemoration of National Work and Family Month, Members came together for a Working Families Day of Action to highlight the many ways Congress can continue to support our … Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Reject Republican Bill That Undermines Workers’ Rights to Bargain with Joint Employers
10.28.15 Democrats Offer Solutions to Strengthen the National Labor Relations Act, Boost Wages, Level the Playing Field WASHINGTON - At an Education and the Workforce Committee markup today, the Majority reported legislation that would weaken collective bargaining efforts and suppress wages for workers employed by joint employers. Committee Democrats, however, offered a series of alternatives that would strengthen working families by boosting wages, helping workers better balance work and family lif… Continue Reading
Leading Democrats Commend Department of Education on Rule Protecting Students, Taxpayers from Abusive Financial Practices
10.28.15 WASHINGTON - Following the release of a new Department of Education rule, Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) joined Committee on Financial Services Ranking Member Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) in expressing their support for critical protections that would put an end to financial companies steering college students to abusive, predatory financial products. In 2009, President Obama signed the CARD Act into law, banning the m… Continue Reading
Democrats Urge Congress to Strengthen Safety and Health Protections for Miners at Oversight Hearing
10.21.15 Issue a Call to Level the Playing Field for Coal Miner Claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing entitled "Protecting America's Workers: Reviewing Mine Safety Policies with Stakeholders." Subcommittee Democrats called for strengthening health and safety protections for miners to help prevent black lung disease, providing the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) with additional tools to enforce safety standard… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray, Sanders Urge Stronger Oversight of State Workers’ Compensation Programs
10.21.15 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to strengthen oversight of state workers' compensation programs. In the letter, the members of Congress noted that state workers' compensation laws have eroded and are no longer providing adequate levels of support and compensation for those who are injured on the job, leaving workers to turn to… Continue Reading
Committee Hears from Judge, Advocates on Need to Update Juvenile Justice Law
10.08.15 WASHINGTON - Today, the full Committee on Education and the Workforce held a legislative hearing on “Reviewing the Juvenile Justice System and How It Serves At-Risk Youth.” Committee Members came together in a bipartisan way to address the need to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974, which has not been reauthorized by Congress in over a decade. “In the 13 years since we last reauthorized the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, there ha… Continue Reading
Democrats Call for Adequate Funding, New Enforcement Tools for OSHA
10.07.15 WASHINGTON - At a hearing entitled "Protecting America's Workers: An Enforcement Update from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)," Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections learned from the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels, that OSHA has very limited resources to inspect the typical job site. In fact, at the agency's current funding levels, they would only able to inspect a site once every 140 years. Th… Continue Reading
Committee Holds First Head Start Hearing of the 114th Congress
10.07.15 WASHINGTON - Research shows that investing in programs like Head Start leads to better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower crime rates. Research also shows a return of $7 in future avoided costs for every dollar spent on high quality Head Start programs. At today’s Full Committee hearing, Democrats and Republicans agreed on taking action to invest in quality, early learning programs, to ensure that all children enter kindergarten with the building blocks to succeed in schoo… Continue Reading
Committee Releases New Report Highlighting Union Membership Impact on Country’s Economic Stability
10.06.15 "Stronger Together: How Unions Help Strengthen Families and the Nation" includes data-driven analysis, worker stories WASHINGTON - The Committee on Education and the Workforce's Democratic Staff - led by Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) - has released a new report entitled Stronger Together: How Unions Help Strengthen Families and the Nation. The report makes a renewed case that unions are essential to restoring the American Dream for millions of hardworking people in our countr… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Secretary Arne Duncan’s Announcement
10.02.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that he will be stepping down from his post in December: "Just this morning, I joined Secretary Duncan at an area elementary school to announce a $237 million federal investment in high quality, early learning for three and four-year-olds in 18 states. This work is at the heart of why Arne has made an outstanding public servant and Education Secret… Continue Reading
Scott asks Committee to shift focus to important, bipartisan legislation
09.30.15 Remarks come after Committee vote on partisan reconciliation proposal that defunds Planned Parenthood and guts the Affordable Care Act WASHINGTON - Following today's markup in the Education and the Workforce Committee of a reconciliation proposal that will gut the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) made the following statement: "I am deeply disappointed that the Committee saw fit to report this proposal today. The sole aim of t… Continue Reading
Reps. Cartwright, Scott, Senator Casey Introduce Sweeping Reforms to Black Lung Benefits Program
09.29.15 Legislation aims to prevent coal companies from unfairly denying benefits to deserving miners and families WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17), Bobby Scott (VA-03) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (PA) today proposed sweeping reforms to the federal program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease. Federal law requires that coal companies compensate disabled miners who contract black lung, which is caused by inhaling coal dust ov… Continue Reading
Republicans’ Joint-Employer Legislation Scored by Labor Law Experts as “Harmful”
09.29.15 Democrats promise fight to block legislation that would undermine workers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act WASHINGTON – Today, the HELP Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3459, the Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act—a bill that would overturn the recent National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) decision regarding the definition of a “joint-employer”. Democratic Members of the HELP Subcommittee and witnesses with expertise in la… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Appointment of Ivory Toldson as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs
09.25.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Barack Obama announced that Dr. Ivory Toldson, an associate professor at Howard University, will be the permanent Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Toldson had been serving as the interim Executive Director since late July, after the death of Dr. George Cooper: "For the progress of society and our democracy, it is e… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Speaker Boehner’s Announcement
09.25.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Speaker John Boehner announced that he is resigning from Congress at the end of October: "I commend Speaker Boehner for his leadership and service to our country. During his chairmanship of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Speaker Boehner proved that by coming together in a bipartisan way, we can find solutions to the nation's most pressing issues. I'm hopeful that the Speaker's anno… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Introduce WAGE Act to Strengthen Protections for Workers
09.16.15 Legislation would help ensure workers can advocate for higher wages and improve workplace conditions without unlawful interference from employers WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Workplace Action for a Growing Economy (WAGE) Act, legislation to strengthen protections for workers who want to raise wages and improve workplace conditions. The WAGE Act would amend the National Labor Relations Act to help ensure wor… Continue Reading
Members of Congress Introduce Bill to Restore Pell Eligibility for Students
09.16.15 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Contacts: Scott: Kiara Pesante, 202-226-0853 Boxer: Peter True, 202-224-8120 Durbin: Christina Mulka, 202-228-5643 Warren: Lacey J. Rose, 202-224-4543 Waters: Twaun Samuel, 202-225-2201 Hahn: Michael Levin, 202-225-8220 Hirono: Marvin Buenconsejo, 202-224-9813 Murphy: Laura Maloney, 202-228-1056 Members of Congress Introduce Bill to Restore Pell Eligibility for Students WASHINGTON - Today, Members of… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
09.04.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today after the release of the monthly jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS announced that during the month of August, 173,000 jobs were added to the economy, while the unemployment rate dropped from 5.3 percent to 5.1 percent: "The jobs report released today shows that our economy continues to recover from the worst financial crisis in a generation - the economy added 173,000 jobs… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on John Kline’s Retirement
09.03.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott made the following statement after Chairman John Kline (R-MN) announced he will retire at the end of the 114th Congress: "It has been my pleasure working with Chairman Kline over the years, and his leadership has helped the committee forge bipartisan agreements on a number of critical issues. While he is still here, our committee has a lot of challenging work to get done. I look forward to working with the Chairman on ESEA, reauthorizati… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890
08.31.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott issued the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the Second Morrill Act which created what are now known as Historically Black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities (1890 land-grant institutions): "On August 30, 1890, passage of the Second Morrill Act led to the creation of Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions of Higher Education. The 1890 land-grant institutions are a network of historically black colleges and universi… Continue Reading