Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Civil Rights in Employment
Ranking Member Scott Joins Bipartisan Push to Protect Older Job Applicants
09.22.25 WASHINGTON — Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, introduced the bipartisan Protect Older Job Applicants Act, which would restore critical protections for older Americans facing age discrimination in hiring. Introduction of this bill comes at the beginning of National Employ Older Workers Week, which begins on September 22, highlighting the need to strengthen protections and opportunities for older Americans in the workforce. Ranking… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement Condemns Trump Administration Plan to Stop Investigating Workplace Discrimination Claims
09.22.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after it was reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) would end investigations where an employee alleges solely disparate impact workplace discrimination charges, pursuant to an Executive Order issued by President Trump. “Every worker deserves fair treatment on the job. However, prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, o… Continue Reading
Scott, Takano, & Bonamici, Lead Letter Demanding EEOC Chair Address Gender Identity Discrimination
06.13.25 WASHINGTON - In advance of the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton Countywhere the Court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and Workforce, Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC) Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), and CEC Vice Chair Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), led 70 members in sending a letter urging Andrea Lucas, Acting C… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Full Committee Hearing with DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer
06.05.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Labor.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Madam Secretary, it is always good to see a former colleague welcome back to the committee you served on. It was good to talk to you early this week, and I understand you’ve been in touch with every member of the committee, Democrat and Republican, and that obvious… Continue Reading
Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Reintroduced to Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination
05.20.25 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan and bicameral group of Members reintroduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a proposal to strengthen anti-discrimination protections for older workers. In the House, the bill is led by Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Representativ… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Second Forum with Civil Rights Leaders on How to Fight the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Americans
05.16.25 WASHINGTON - This week, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a forum with civil rights leaders to discuss how they are fighting the Trump Administration’s systematic attacks on students, workers, and families. This follows weeks of reckless and illegal activity by the Trump Administration to strip students, workers, and families of their basic civil rights. Click here to watch the forum on YouTube. “Thank you for being here, and thank you for your dedication to the fight i… Continue Reading
Ranking Members Scott, Connolly Demand Answers on Trump’s Attacks on Civil Rights Protections for Workers
04.28.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, and Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Catherine Eschbach, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) regarding the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to OFCCP staff. These cuts will leave millions of federal contract workers vulnerable to discrimination in the workpla… Continue Reading
Democratic Leaders Demand Reversal of Unlawful EEOC Commissioner Firings
03.25.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on the Judiciary, and Ranking Member Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, are demanding the immediate reinstatement of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels following their unlawful and unprecedented termination from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). “Their fi… Continue Reading
Civil Rights Leaders Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Protections, Restore Intent of Federal Religious Freedom Law
03.06.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressional 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 Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Seeks Answers on DOGE's Access to Sensitive Data
02.25.25 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) is demanding urgent action after reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has gained unauthorized access to sensitive data at the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor. Ranking Member Scott raised serious concerns that DOGE's actions could violate the Privacy Act of 1974, which protects Americans' personal data. In his letters, R… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on January Jobs Report
02.07.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 143,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate slightly ticked down to 4.0 percent from 4.1 percent. Under President Biden, the economy added 16.2 million jobs. That is more jobs in four years than any President on record. And more jobs than any Republican President, whether they served four or eight years. He has also made hist… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Calls on Government Watchdog to Assess DOGE Access to Americans’ Private Information at ED, DOL & HHS
02.07.25 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to immediately assess the security of information technology (IT) systems at the Department of Education (ED), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following reports of President Trump and Elon Musk’s unsanctioned Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) illegally accessing data from various go… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Honors Black History Month
02.03.25 WASHINGTON - In honor of Black History Month, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, House Education and Workforce Committee, released remarks on the powerful connection between labor unions and civil rights movements. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Hi, I am Congressman Bobby Scott, and I represent the third district of Virginia and serve as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and Workforce. “This Black History Month, we are reminded that the la… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Firing of EEOC Commissioners Burrows and Samuels
01.29.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after President Trump fired Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Charlotte A. Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels. Project 2025, Chapter 18 details the Trump Administrations plans to weaken the EEOC. “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent, bipartisan federal agency that protects millions of workers from illegal… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on President Trump Rescinding EO 11246
01.22.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after President Trump rescinded Executive Order (EO) 11246 of September 24, 1965 (Equal Employment Opportunity). “The Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) ensures that taxpayer dollars do not fund companies that discriminate against workers and helps provide redress to those who do experience unlawful discrimination. In fact, over the past 10 year… Continue Reading
House Labor Leaders Request DOL Investigation Amid Resurgence of Child Labor Violations
07.18.24 WASHINGTON -Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) requested the Department of Labor (DOL) examine potential risks of child labor and occupational safety and health violations in youth workforce programs. Specifically, the Members raise concerns about incidents in programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Authorization Act (WIOA), and the school-based Work Experience and Career Explorations Programs (WE… Continue Reading
Bonamici, Scott, Markey Introduce Legislation to Fully Compensate Workers for Discrimination, Hold Employers Accountable
05.08.24 WASHINGTON - Today Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to allow workers to receive full compensation when their employers are found liable for employment discrimination. The Equal Act corrects an outdated 1991 law that caps awards in cases of employment discrimination, which prevents workers from receiving the full amount awarded by a jury. The… Continue Reading
Reps. Scott, Huffman, Raskin Applaud Biden’s Faith-Based Regulations and Champion Religious Liberty
04.24.24 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led their colleagues in applauding the Biden administration for rescinding Donald Trump’s discriminatory faith-based regulations and finalizing updated regulations to protect religious freedoms and other civil rights for all people participating in federally funded social services. “When the government funds social service programs, it must protect religious freedom and make… Continue Reading
New Government Watchdog Report Raises Concerns About Lack of Faculty Diversity
04.09.24 WASHINGTON—Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled “Higher Education: Employment Discrimination Case Referrals between Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Could Be Improved.” The GAO found that while overall faculty diversity has increased in recent years, it is still not representa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on President Biden's State of the Union Address
03.07.24 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement in response to President Biden's State of the Union address to Congress. “President Biden spoke directly to the American people about the historic economic progress we have made under his leadership and laid out a vision for the future which stands in stark contrast to the extreme MAGA Republicans’ agenda. Instead of passing tax cuts for corporations a… Continue Reading