Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee
Following SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision, Ranking Member Scott Urges ED to Protect Racial Equity in Education
08.01.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter urging the Department of Education (ED) to take steps to protect the civil rights of students following the Supreme Court’s ruling in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC. Despite decades of repeatedly finding that race-conscious admissions policies are consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection… Continue Reading
On Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Education Leaders Introduce Key Bills to Address School Segregation, Ensure Equal Access to Education
05.17.23 WASHINGTON - Today, on the 69th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (NY-12), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) reintroduced two key pieces of legislation to help achieve equal education in America. The Strength in Diversity Act, introduced with Congresswoman Jayapal, and the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act, introduced with Ranking Member Na… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Politics Over Participation Act
04.20.23 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during yesterday’s floor debate on H.R. 735, the Politics Over Participation Act. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this bill is a mean-spirited attack on transgender women and girls’ participation in sports. “It essentially requires women and girls to ‘prove their gender.’ In Kansas, where a sim… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About H.R. 734, the “Politics Over Participation Act”
04.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives will consider extreme Republican legislation that bans transgender women and girls in school sports and makes school sports less fair and less safe for all students. Athletes, advocates, and experts agree that politicians in Washington should be addressing the most pressing issues facing students and parents—not targeting transgender student athletes and endangering women and girls in school athletics. Here is what they are saying about Republican… Continue Reading
Civil Rights Leaders Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Protections, Restore Intent of Federal Religious Freedom Law
04.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate civil rights leaders reintroduced the Do No Harm Act, to address the increasing use of religious freedom to undermine civil rights protections. The bill restores the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to its original purpose, which is to protect religious exercise while ensuring religious freedom is not used to erode civil rights protections. The legislation is sponsored by House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby”… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Prioritizing Safety and Fairness in School Sports
04.06.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education released a proposed rule to update Title IX regulations regarding participation in school athletics programs. Specifically, the proposed rule would prohibit schools and athletics programs from adopting or applying one-size-fits-all policies that categorically ban transgender students from participating in school sports activities consistent with their gender identity. “… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About Transgender Athletes’ Right To Participate In Sports
03.08.23 WASHINGTON - Last month, House Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that needlessly scapegoats some of our most vulnerable students as the cause of inequity in athletics. Athletes, advocates, and experts agree that the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports is not a threat to survivial or success of women’s sports. Here is what they say about including transgender youth in women’s sports: Billie Jean King (Tennis champion, Womens Sports Foundation Founder): “There is no plac… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden-Harris Administration for Taking Step to Protect Workers’ Civil Rights
02.28.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration announced that it will rescind a Trump-era rule that gutted anti-discrimination protections for employees of federal contractors and subcontractors. “I applaud the Biden-Harris administration for rescinding the Trump administration’s religious exemption rule and taking a critical step to protect the civil rights of federal contract and subcontract workers. The Trum… Continue Reading
Committee Chairs to Secretary Azar: Abandon Proposal to Undermine Civil Rights Protections Under Federal Programs
12.20.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar asking the Department to abandon its proposal to weaken civil rights protections for Americans served by a wide array of feder… Continue Reading
Scott, Kennedy, Harris Reintroduce Bill to Protect Individuals from Discrimination
02.28.19 WASHINGTON - With the support of leaders from the civil rights, social justice and faith communities, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), and Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today reintroduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Do No Harm Act would clarify that no one can seek religious exemption from laws guaranteeing fundamental civil and legal rights. Originally introduced… Continue Reading