Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee
Committee Republicans Vote (Again) to Undermine Affordable Care Act and Fuel Culture Wars in Schools
06.13.23 WASHINGTON – Today, Committee Republicans advanced two bills—H.R. 824 and H.R. 3941—that would undermine access to affordable and high-quality health care coverage and further politicize education by threatening badly-needed funding for schools and colleges. “I am disappointed that, yet again, we’ve decided to take up two bills that do nothing to support students or improve access to affordable, quality health care for workers and families,” said Ranking Memb… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.06.22 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 428,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate remained the same at 3.6 percent. "Today's jobs report reflects another outstanding month of job growth and economic recovery. Under President Biden's economic agenda and the investments Congress made through the American Rescue Plan, our economy has added 8.3 million jobs and the unemploymen… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray: New GAO Report on 401(k) Fees is a Wake-Up Call
08.26.21 WASHINGTON – A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that almost 40 percent of 401(k) plan participants do not fully understand the fees they are paying on their retirement accounts, with many unaware they are even paying fees. It also found that consumers have difficulty using the information that the Department of Labor (DOL) requires 401(k) plans to provide about their fees. According to the report, 45 percent of participa… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats to Scalia: Stop Undermining Americans’ Ability to Make “Sustainable Investments”
07.30.20 WASHINGTON - In a letter to Secretary Eugene Scalia, 21 Committee Democrats expressed deep concern about the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule to undermine workers' ability to invest responsibly when saving for retirement. The rule would needlessly restrict retirement plans for considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions. In the letter to Secretary Scalia, the Members said the DOL failed to provide an adequate justification for overtu… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Foxx Unveil Bipartisan Proposal to Ban Surprise Billing, Markup Scheduled Tuesday
02.07.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05) unveiled the Ban Surprise Billing Act, a bipartisan agreement to protect patients from devastating surprise bills. The Committee is scheduled to markup the legislation on Tuesday, February 11. "Patients across the country know the frustration, anxiety, and financial hardship that comes with a surprise medical bill," said Chairman Scott. "There is bipartisan agre… Continue Reading
House Democrats to NLRB: Protect Graduate Students’ Right to Organize
01.16.20 WASHINGTON - Today, led by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), 35 House Democrats sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) condemning the agency's proposed rule to strip students at private universities of their protections under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when they work for their school. The NLRB has denied the affected workers an opportunity to comment on this rule in a public hearing. In their letter to the NLRB, Members raised concerns that the proposed … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Collective Bargaining Rights for Public-Sector Union Members
06.26.19 WASHINGTON - Today, Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) introduced legislation to guarantee public service employees in every state the right to stand together and negotiate for fair wages and working conditions. Under the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act (PSFNA), H.R. 3463, public se… Continue Reading
Democrats: GOP Bill Could Cut Workers’ Access to Paid Leave
07.24.18 WASHINGTON - Today, at a legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions' Democrats criticized a Republican proposal that could ultimately cut workers' access to paid sick leave. The Workflex in the 21st Century Act (H.R. 4219) preempts numerous state laws, including existing laws covering paid sick days, overtime and predictable scheduling if the employer offers a voluntary flexible leave program. "H.R. 4219 does not guarantee workers the ability to earn ti… Continue Reading
Members Discuss Bipartisan Retirement Savings Solutions, Press for Further Action to Ensure All Americans Can Retire with Dignity
05.16.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Enhancing Retirement Security: Examining Proposals to Simplify and Modernize Retirement Plan Administration." The hearing focused on four bipartisan retirement savings bills: Retirement Security for American Workers Act (H.R. 854), Retirement Plan Modernization Act (H.R. 4158), Increasing Access to a Secure Retirement Act of 2017 (H.R. 4604), and the Receiving Electronic Statements to I… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Oppose DOL’s Harmful Rule on Association Health Plans
03.20.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing entitled, "Expanding Affordable Health Care Options: Examining the Department of Labor's Proposed Rule on Association Health Plans." On January 5, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule on association health plans, which puts comprehensive and affordable health care coverage for small businesses and their employees at risk. "The Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule o… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Combat Effects of Opioid Epidemic in the Workplace
02.15.18 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittees on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions and Workforce Protections held a joint hearing entitled, "Opioids Epidemic: Implications for America's Workplaces." American workplaces are feeling the effects of substance use disorders. Studies show that more than 70 percent of employers are feeling the direct impact of prescription drug misuse in their workplaces, ranging from absenteeism and reduced productivity to higher health care costs. "It is no surprise t… Continue Reading
Bonamici: Opioid Crisis Affects Everyone Including Workers, Employers
02.15.18 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined a Congressional hearing on the affect of the opioid crisis on America's workplaces, workers, and employers. Bonamici has hosted community discussions in each of the five counties she represents to hear about the opioid crisis directly from health care providers, social service providers, law enforcement, and people in recovery. You can watch Bonamici's questions at today's hearing here. Studies show that more than 70 percent of emplo… Continue Reading
Democrats Promote Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family and Medical Leave Proposals at Hearing
12.06.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to examine workplace leave proposals. Millions of working people across the country lack access to the flexible workplace policies that help them balance work and family. In 2016, only 13 percent of private industry employees had access to paid family leave through their employers, 37 million workers did not earn a single paid sick day, and approximately 41 percent of hourly workers received their work… Continue Reading
House Republicans Continue to Sabotage Working Americans Right to Form Unions
06.14.17 WASHINGTON- TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on three bills that deny workers' of their right to bargain for better wages and working conditions. These bills undermine the union election process, a critical step towards workers joining together for a stronger voice in the workplace. "When working Americans are empowered to collectively bargain with their employers over wages and conditions of employment, productivity gains can be… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Continue Efforts to Endanger Retiree Savings
05.18.17 WASHINGTON - TODAY, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled "Regulatory Barriers Facing Workers and Families Saving for Retirement." Subcommittee Democrats stand ready to work on meaningful bipartisan solutions to help Americans achieve a secure and dignified retirement. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration's policies and priorities are the actual 'barriers facing working people and families saving for retirement' - no… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Alexander Acosta
02.16.17 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the nomination of Alexander Acosta for Secretary of Labor, following Andrew Puzder's withdrawal from consideration. "The Secretary of Labor must be an individual that will fight for increased wages, safer working conditions, and retirement security for America's workers. If confirmed, Mr. Acosta will be joining an Administration that has supported legislation and executive actions that have jeopardized civil righ… Continue Reading
Sablan: We Can Address the Needs of Working Americans by Updating Labor Protections
02.14.17 WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, delivered the following statement during a hearing on the National Labor Relations Board. Rep. Sablan emphasized new legislative ideas to improve the National Labor Relations Act - outlined in the WAGE Act - and hoped the Committee would refocus its attention on issues where there is bipartisan consensus, rather than attacks on workers' right to organize on … 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
Scott Statement on April Jobs Report
05.06.16 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that during the month of April, the economy added 160,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent: "Today's job report represents the 74th consecutive month of private-sector job growth while the unemployment rate remains steady at 5 percent. This is excellent news and proves that under President Obama and his Administration, we continue… Continue Reading
Department of Labor’s Persuader Rule Promotes Transparency for Working People
04.27.16 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), held a hearing entitled, "The Persuader Rule: The Administration's Latest Attack on Employer Free Speech and Worker Free Choice." The hearing addressed the Department of Labor's (DOL) final persuader rule, which requires employers and "union avoidance consultants" to report their persuader arrangements to DOL, pursuant to the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959. When workers seek to … Continue Reading