Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
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
Ranking Member Scott Remarks at Hearing on Innovation in Higher Education Without Accountability
11.18.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome back! It’s been quite a while since we have seen Republicans in town. Democrats came back a few times to see if we could entice you back. “It was good to see you then, and it’s good to be back at work. “Innovation in higher education is crucial if we w… Continue Reading
Education Leaders Sound the Alarm on Trump Administration Lack of Support for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs
11.12.25 WASHINGTON — House Education leaders raised concerns with Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon about recent Reductions in Force (RIFs) that would leave the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) nearly empty. This would leave ED unable to properly support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The letter was sent by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott on Judiciary Committee’s Baseless Allegations Against George Mason University President
11.07.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement following the release of the Judiciary Committee’s interim staff report entitled, “Illegal Racial Discrimination in Faculty Hiring at George Mason University Under the Direction of President Gregory Washington.” “Under President Gregory Washington’s tenure, George Mason University welcomed the largest and most diverse freshman class in its history and its most academically prepared, with more than 70 percent of f… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Trump Administration Politicizing Public Service Loan Forgiveness
10.30.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education released a final rule restricting access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). “Public service loan forgiveness was created as a bipartisan effort to make higher education more affordable and attract talented individuals to serve our communities, including law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, and nurses. “Now, the T… Continue Reading
In Letter to Education Secretary McMahon, Courtney & Adams Blast Changes to Politicize Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
09.17.25 WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, led a letter with 48 of their colleagues to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing their strong disapproval to the Department of Education’s proposal to restrict eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) beyond what … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on HBCU Funding Announcement
09.16.25 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 it is cutting millions of dollars intended for minority-serving institutions, teacher preparation, magnet schools and other education programs to pay for a one-time allocation of $495 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities. "Historically Black Colleges and Univer… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Adams Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on College Cost Transparency
09.16.25 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, “No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and certainly I want to congratulate the gentleman and thank him for his work as well. Thank you to our witnesses today for being here. “I want to first acknowledge the horrific events that occurred last we… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Administration Cutting $350 Million in Funding for Minority Serving Institutions
09.10.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Education announced it will not disburse any Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Title III or V discretionary funds in FY2025. “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 intergenerational poverty and systemic… Continue Reading
Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks at 10th Hearing on Antisemitism
09.09.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Unmasking Union Antisemitism.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome back to all the witnesses, thanks for being here. “Let’s start by saying, no one should be threatened, harassed, or attacked because of who they are, who they worship, or what they stand for. I agree we should do more to combat antisemitism in America. I a… Continue Reading
House Democrats Sound the Alarm on the Impact of the ‘Big, Ugly Law’ On Student Borrowers
08.26.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce led 53 of his colleagues in a letter to the Department of Education (ED or the Department) urging the Department to account for the harm Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Law’, passed earlier this year will have on students as the Department begins carrying out the law’s changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965. These changes will increase monthly payments and delay forgiveness for Americans struggli… Continue Reading