Press Releases
HELP Subcommittee Addresses the DOL’s Proposed Conflicts of Interest Rule
06.17.15 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing on the "Restricting Access to Financial Advice: Evaluating the Costs and Consequences for Working Families and Retirees." The hearing addressed the U.S. Department of Labor's proposed standards to ensure retirement advisors act in the best interest of their clients when giving investment advice. "Families look to financial advisors and institutions for trusted advice, and should not need a fi… Continue Reading
Democrats Fight to Safeguard Healthy Meal Standards for Nation’s Children
06.16.15 WASHINGTON - The Committee on Education and the Workforce held a full committee hearing today entitled, "Child Nutrition Assistance: Are Federal Rules and Regulations Serving the Best Interests of Schools and Families," to discuss the continued implementation of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) discussed the importance of safeguarding the healthier standards for child nutrition programs. "The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has giv… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Trade Votes
06.12.15 WASHINGTON- House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement on today's trade votes: "While I am a strong supporter of Trade Adjustment Assistance that provides needed support to workers who have had their jobs shipped overseas, I was unable to vote for today's TAA title of the Trade Act. When taken into context, this TAA authorization fell woefully short in our duty to support American workers. It lacked adequate f… Continue Reading
Scott Introduces Bill to Reauthorize Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
06.11.15 WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) today announced the introduction of H.R. 2728, The Youth Justice Act of 2015. The legislation would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974, which has not been reauthorized by Congress in over a decade. The bill reinforces federal safeguards for state juvenile justice systems, by renewing education, safety, and prevention standards for our nation’s youth. The legislation is… Continue Reading
Scott to Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
06.10.15 Scott to Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) will hold a press conference to preview the Youth Justice Act of 2015. The legislation would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974, which has not been reauthorized by Congress in over a decade. The bill reinforces federal safeguards for state juvenile justice systems, by renewing education, safety, and preven… Continue Reading
Education and Workforce Committee Democrats Call on Republicans to Support Legislation to Address Growing Income Inequality and Stagnant Wages
06.10.15 WASHINGTON - The Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing today, entitled, "Reviewing the Rules and Regulations Implementing Federal Wage and Hour Standards." At the hearing, Democratic Members of the Education and the Workforce Committee called for Congress and the Department of Labor to continue standing up for working families by raising the minimum wage, and improving overtime protections for low-wage workers through the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Ranking Member Robert C. "… Continue Reading
Scott, Kline Issue Joint Statement on Education Department’s Corinthian Colleges Announcement
06.08.15 Scott, Kline Issue Joint Statement on Education Department's Corinthian Colleges Announcement WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) issued the following joint statement in response to today's announcement from the Education Department regarding Corinthian Colleges: "A lot of men and women have been hurt by this unfortunate situation, including low-income and minority students. Helping those eligible stude… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on May Jobs Report
06.05.15 WASHINGTON- House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) released the following statement today after the release of the monthly jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS announced that during the month of May, 280,000 jobs were created - the strongest month this year. The private sector has now added 12.6 million jobs over 63 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. "Today's employment report s… Continue Reading
Scott Joins Colleagues in House, Senate to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Pregnant Workers from Discrimination
06.04.15 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), joined Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH), along with U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Dean Heller (R-NV), to unveil new legislation that would protect pregnant workers from workplace discrimination. "Women continue to face unnecessary obstacles in the workplace- whether it is the lack of suitable paid … Continue Reading
Democrats Emphasize Need for Stronger Unions to Sustain Growing Middle Class
06.03.15 WASHINGTON - The Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing today entitled, "Compulsory Unionization through Grievance Fees: The NLRB's Assault on Right-to-Work." At the hearing, Ranking Member Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott highlighted evidence-based research that shows stronger unions are essential to building and sustaining our nation's middle class. A recent International Labour Organization report found that countries with collective bargaining coverage rates under 15 percent, su… Continue Reading
Scott Applauds SCOTUS Anti-Discrimination Decision
06.01.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.'s action to deny employment to a qualified Muslim applicant who wanted to wear a headscarf at work - coupled with a motivation to avoid an accommodation of her religious practice - is a "disparate treatment action" in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: "Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the position that Title … Continue Reading
Scott Commends Proposed Guidance for Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Executive Order
05.27.15 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Labor issued proposed guidance on how the federal government should implement the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order that President Barack Obama signed on July 31, 2014: "The proposed regulations for implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order are an important first step in ensuring that the federal government will only issue contracts to companies … Continue Reading
Scott Joins Edwards, Democrats to Introduce Pell Grants for Prisoners Bill
05.21.15 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) joined Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4), along with Reps. Danny K. Davis (IL-7), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), and Cedric Richmond (LA-2), to introduce the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act today, legislation that would reinstate Pell Grant eligibility for federal and state prisoners. "Studies have shown that reinstating Pell Grant eligibility for state and … Continue Reading
Scott Joins Over 70 House Democrats Urging President Obama to Adopt Fair Chance Hiring
05.21.15 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, joined more than 70 Members of the House of Representatives - led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) - in issuing a letter to President Barack Obama to adopt a federal fair chance hiring policy. This effort was co-led by Reps. John Conyers (MI-13), Danny Davis (IL-07), and Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18). "The federal government should not be in the business of erecti… Continue Reading
Democrats Reject Proposal to Cut Benefits for Injured Workers
05.20.15 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing to review the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposal that would cut workers' compensation benefits for federal workers who have been disabled due to job-related injury. Democratic committee members fervently rejected the proposal as it would leave most workers considerably worse off than if they had not incurred the injury. Ranking Member of the full Committee, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Ranking Membe… Continue Reading
Reps. Hanna, Scott Introduce ‘Strong Start’ Legislation to Improve Early Education for America’s Children
05.19.15 WASHINGTON - Access to affordable high-quality early learning programs for nearly 20 million children would be dramatically improved under bipartisan legislation introduced today by U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY), co-chair of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus, and U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The Strong Start for America's Children Act 2015 is an innovative 10-year fed… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the 50th Anniversary of Head Start
05.18.15 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), issued the following statement on 50th Anniversary of the Head Start program, which has granted millions of children access to high quality preschool: "Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced from the White House Rose Garden that enrollment would begin for an early childhood education program called "Project Head Start" as part of his Great Society and War on Pov… Continue Reading
Statement on Department of Education’s Proposed Cash Management Regulations
05.15.15 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement on the Department of Education's proposed cash management rules: "The Department of Education has released proposed regulations to protect students from excessive fees on co-branded debit and prepaid cards offered by institutions of higher education that have agreements with banks. About 40 percent of college students attend these institutions, and inve… Continue Reading
Statement on the 61st Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
05.15.15 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), issued the following statement on 61st Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education - Topeka, Kansas on May 17, 1954: "As we commemorate the 61st anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision to desegregate our nation's schools, we remember the reverberating impact the civil rights case had on our children, our communities and our nation. … Continue Reading
Revising the Management of Native American Schools
05.14.15 WASHINGTON - The full committee held a hearing today to address the deteriorating state of Native youth education. The hearing entitled "Examining the Federal Government's Mismanagement of Native American Schools" is the second hearing the subcommittee has held this year to facilitate tangible and long-lasting change in the management of American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) schools. Ranking Member of the full Committee on Education and the Workforce, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (V… Continue Reading