Press Releases
Currently showing results related to K-12 Education
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Nomination of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education
11.20.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President-elect Trump nominated Linda McMahon to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Education. McMahon is chair of the board of the America First Policy Institute, which advocates for school choice and the use of public funds — through vouchers and tax credits — for private educational institutions. “The vast majority of America’s students attend a public school. As such, the… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Final Title IX Regulations
04.19.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education released the final Title IX regulations. “The Education Department’s final Title IX regulations mark a monumental step in our fight to address sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination in K-12 and higher education—all while preserving the rights of the accused. By expanding the critical protections under this law, the new regulations would help ensure that all stu… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Weaken Worker Protections, Fuel Culture Wars, and Undermine Public Education
03.21.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four bills that weaken essential worker protections, fuel culture wars on college campuses, and undermine our public schools. “Similar to most of the markups we have had this Congress, Committee Republicans are rallying behind another set of bills that shirk our responsibilities to workers, students, and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. H.J. Res. 116 would repeal the Biden Administration’s final rule determining whether a worker is… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Legislation to Undermine Workers, Fuel Culture Wars, Jeopardize Public Schools
03.21.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.J. Res. 116, H.R. 6418, H.R. 3724, and H.R. 7683. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx, and good morning. “Similar to most of the markups we have had this Congress, Committee Republicans are rallying behind another set of bills that shirk our responsibilities to workers, students, and their families. “The first proposal we will consider is, H.J. Res. 116, will repeal… Continue Reading
House Democrats Applaud the Biden Administration’s Proposal to Raise Wages for Child Care Workforce
01.23.24 WASHINGTON - Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), and 31 House Democrats applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposal to raise wages for Head Start workforce and better support children and families. “We can no longer stand by as dedicated and qualified early childhood educators leave Head Start programs due to unacceptably low wages, while families struggle to find quality, affordable child care and early education o… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Announces New Funding to Support Virginia School Infrastructure Investments
01.04.24 WASHINGTON - The Biden-Harris Administration announced eight new grant awards today totaling more than $37 million over five years under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program and one new grant for $10 million over five years under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program. This $47 million investment, issued by the U.S. Department of Education (Department), bolsters the capacity of states to support school districts in improving school facilities with th… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Blasts Extreme MAGA Funding Bill
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following remarks during today’s House floor debate on House Republicans’ extreme appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “I rise in opposition to the amendment and the underlying bill. “The House Republicans’ partisan bill is an attack on students, workers, and families. For 2024, the bill would … Continue Reading
Scott Op-Ed: Youngkin finally dedicated significant funding to combat learning loss. What took him so long?
11.07.23 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, wrote the following op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Governor Youngkin’s ALL IN VA initiative. “In September, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced over $400 million to initiate a plan to address the learning loss that our students continue to suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If implemented properly, this plan could build on the work that schools should already be doing — such… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Expanding Access to Free School Meals
09.25.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Scott applauded the Biden administration after the Department of Agriculture announced a final rule to strengthen the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and expand children’s access to free school meals. CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed according to the percentage of students c… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on Biden Administration’s Guidance on Race in Admissions
08.14.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education and Department of Justice released joint guidance on race in admissions. “Admissions practices that narrowly tailored the use of race as one of many factors in evaluating prospective students were key to fostering diversity in higher education. Such admissions policies not only supported historically underserved students, but research confirmed that diverse campuses a… Continue Reading
What People Are Saying: The Rebuild America’s Schools Act
08.01.23 WASHINGTON - Last week, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act (RASA) of 2023. Advocates and experts agree that this legislation would take key steps to ensure that schools are safe environments to learn and work. Here's what they're saying: [Re]Build America’s School Infrastructure Coalition (BASIC) Executive Director Ally Talcott: “We applaud and are … Continue Reading
Education Leaders Propose Bill to Rebuild America’s Public Schools
07.27.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023. The legislation invests more than $130 billion in our schools’ physical and digital infrastructure, and the resources are targeted at high-poverty schools with facilities that pose health and safety risks to students and staff. “Chronic neglect of America’s public schools has forced stud… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Leads Opposition to Extreme MAGA Republican Bill to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
07.19.23 WASHINGTON - Today, extreme MAGA Republicans in the House voted to pass their Scapegoating Not Solutions Act, a mean-spirited proposal that threatens to take away education funding from a school if any its facilities are used to temporarily house asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this bill is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor rem… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns MAGA Republican Resolution to Threaten Education Funding, Fuel Culture Wars
06.22.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans voted to pass H.Res. 461, a mean-spirited resolution—authored by extreme MAGA Republicans—that threatens to take federal funds from public schools if any of their facilities are used to temporarily house refugees or migrants. Republican politicians falsely claim this resolution is intended to keep students safe and address learning loss. Regrettably, this resolution does neither of those things. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. Ranki… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Legislation to Undermine Affordable Care Act and Fuel Culture Wars
06.13.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 824 and H.R. 3941. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. “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. “In fact, so far this Congress, Committee Republicans’ priorities for K-12 education have focused entirely on culture wars. Leg… Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Undermine Health Care Protections, Fuel Culture Wars, and Make School Meals Unhealthy
06.06.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced four bills that would further politicize our classrooms, undermine essential health care coverage protections, and make school meals unhealthy. “Ultimately, these four bills fall short of our promise to protect students, strengthen child nutrition, and ensure access to affordable, quality health coverage,” said Ranking Member Scott. “If we are serious about fulfilling our promise of helping students, we can work together to end gun violence in… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement at GOP Markup of Bills to Undermine Health Care, Fuel Culture Wars, and Make School Meals Unhealthy
06.06.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.Res. 461, H.R. 1147, H.R. 2868, and H.R. 2813. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx, and good morning. “I had hoped that we would be able to start this Congress by passing bipartisan priorities that support the American people. But, regrettably, today, Committee Republicans are calling up another set of bills that neglect our responsibilities to students, workers, and fa… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott, Rep. Beyer Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Students from Dangerous Seclusion and Restraint Practices
05.18.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08)—alongside Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA)—reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, legislation to protect students from dangerous seclusion and restraint discipline practices in school. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would make it illegal for any school receivin… 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
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing with ED Secretary Cardona
05.16.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education” with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that tomorrow is the 69thanniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. In the decision, the Chief Justice wrote: ‘In the field of public education,… Continue Reading