Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Ranking Member Scott Criticizes Education Department for Raising Student Loan Payments and Limiting Access to Higher Education
04.30.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education finalized a rule titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE),” which implements changes to the student loan program that Republicans’ passed in the ‘Big, Ugly Bill.’ “The Department of Education’s final student loan rule will put getting a college degree out of reach for millions of students, particularly for l… Continue Reading
HEWD Ranking Member Adams Defends Students Rights to Free Speech on College Campuses
04.29.26 WASHINGTON - Higher Education and Workforce Development (HEWD) Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today’s HEWD Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. “Let me start with a point that I think everyone on this dais should agree on. Every student is entitled to the full protection of their First Amendment a… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Pushes ED to Protect Students in Workforce Pell Expansion
04.09.26 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott urged Secretary of the Department of Education Linda McMahon to strengthen oversight and accountability in response to the Department of Education’s (ED) proposed Workforce Pell Grant rule, which implements the newly authorized expansion of Federal Pell Grants to students enrolled in certain short-term certificate programs. Ranking Member Scott emphasized that expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on ED Leaving LBJ Headquarters After 40 Years
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced that the Trump Administration will turn ED's Lyndon B. Johnson headquarters building over to the Department of Energy. “This is one of the most overt actions by Secretary McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and disregard the law, federal courts, and Congress. The Trump Administration cannot un… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Delivers Opening Statement on Rising Costs of Higher Education and Impact of Dismantling ED
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “U.S. Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “A college degree remains a sure path to the American Dream, and it’s the most reliable engine of economic mobility… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on ED Transferring Defaulted Student Loans to Treasury
03.19.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced it intended to sign an additional interagency agreement to transfer partial responsibility for handling student loans in default to the Treasury Department. “Since the Trump Administration returned to Washington, Secretary McMahon has executed President Trump’s goal to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) t… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing on Workers’ Compensation Programs
03.18.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Strengthening Federal Workers' Compensation Programs: Ensuring Integrity, Efficiency, and Access.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “At its core, workers’ compensation represents a fundamental promise to the people whose work makes this country function. To the federal employees [who] deliver our … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Frustrated Republicans Prioritizing Messaging Bills Over Lowering Costs
03.17.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R.7894, 7890,7892, 7891, 7893, 7661, and 6084. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, hardworking Americans are finding that a comfortable, affordable life is increasingly out of reach. The cost of health care, groceries, child care, student loans, gasoline, and housing — all of those costs continue to rise while workers are being left behind. According … Continue Reading
NEWS: GAO Report Finds Trump’s Dismantling of the Education Department Leaves 43 Million Borrowers Without Support
03.11.26 WASHINGTON — According to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the Trump administration’s efforts to fire hundreds of workers at the Department of Education (ED) have undermined the accuracy of student loan borrower records and have failed to hold servicers accountable for providing high-quality customer service to America’s 43 million student loan borrowers. Commissioned by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking… Continue Reading
House Democrats Slam Proposals to Exacerbate the Student Loan Crisis
03.03.26 WASHINGTON - Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), led over 85 House Democrats’ opposition to the Department of Education’s proposed rule on federal student loans. The proposed rule, titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE),” implements changes that Republicans’ “Big Ugly Law” made to the federal student loan program in the Higher Education Act of 1965, including new graduate loan limits and the elimination of affordable repayment opt… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Universities Capitulating to the Trump Administration’s Illegal Demands
02.20.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education announced 31 resolution agreements with institutions of higher education to cease their partnerships with The Ph.D. Project. The agreements reportedly also require the institutions to audit partnerships they have with other organizations that “restrict participation based on race.” “In 2025, roughly 24 percent of Business Ph.… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Consequences of Dismantling the Department of Education
02.11.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, hosted a rogue event on the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and what’s at stake for students, schools, and parents. The Trump administration’s illegal dismantling of the ED has already proven inefficient and wasteful, and has negatively impacted student success. The Members were joined by Ray Li, Policy Counsel at the NAACP Legal De… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Remarks on College Affordability Crisis
02.04.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “As this committee’s first Higher Education and Workforce hearing of the year, I’m glad we’re starting by focusing on what is top of mind for Americans across this country — rising … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes for ‘Labor-H’ Funding Bill
01.22.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the House passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. “I applaud Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray for their work to secure funding for many of our shared priorities in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. Moreover, this bill is a s… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Bill to Keep Pregnant Students in the Dark About Their Rights
01.22.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which would provide pregnant students with a limited set of resources and information regarding their rights and protections. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. “This bill requires schools to provide pregnant students with … Continue Reading
Committee Republicans Vote to Limit Students’ Access to Reproductive Health Care
01.08.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans voted to limit pregnant students’ access to information on all resources available to them as they pursue their education. “Women should be able to control these decisions. By shielding students from health care information, resources, and rights that are available to them, Republicans are denying them the choice to decide what is best for them and their families,” said Ranking Member Scott. The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act (H.R. 6359) directs college… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Education Department Ending Funding for Minority Serving Institutions
12.19.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel’s (OLC) issued an opinion on the constitutionality of the Department of Education’s Minority Serving Institution Program. “A college degree remains the surest path to financial stability. This is particularly true for low-income students and students of color whose educational and workforce opportunities have historically been limited by interge… Continue Reading
Committee Advances Education Bills Intended to Improve Transparency and Access
12.11.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee passed a series of bills that aim improve access and transparency in higher education. “We are all aware of the polls that show that many believe that college is not worth the cost. The solution should not be to ignore that fact. We should make college more affordable rather than have students cut their education short because they cannot afford the cost.” said Ranking Member Scott. “Bills that explain the cost do not reduce the cost, anymore than — as a farmer… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Opening Remarks at Markup of Education Bills that Increase Transparency
12.11.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6392, 6472, 6498, and 6502. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Today, we are here to mark up four education bills intended to increase transparency and access to higher education. “The first bill under consideration is the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, which essentially restates and clarifies the current law allowing home-schooled students to be elig… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Remarks on the Growing Student Debt Crisis
12.03.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s subcommittee hearing entitled, “Public Funds, Private Politics: Examining Bias in the Truman Scholarship Program.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. “Let me start with a number that says a lot about the crisis we’re facing: “The cost of attending college today is 40 times higher than it was… Continue Reading