Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Early Childhood Education
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Remarks at Hearing on Child Care Crisis
09.01.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here. “Affordable, accessible, and quality child care is essential for children, families, employers, and for the economy. And because a substantial amount of brain development happens in the… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Impact of Dismantling ED on Adult Education, TRIO Programs
07.16.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a rogue event on the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to transfer Adult Education and Family Literacy programs from the Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Labor (DOL), warning that the move shifts the focus of adult education from lifelong learning to workforce training. For decades, these programs have helped adults build foundational skills that prepare them for further education, career advancement,… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans for Blindly Rubber-Stamping Trump’s Plans to Dismantle ED
07.15.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 9607, 9609, 9602, 9603, 9605, 9606, 9611, 9610, 9608, and 9604. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Today, we will consider legislation that will effectively codify 10 of the Department of Education’s 14 interagency agreements (IAAs). If these bills were to be adopted, it would result in the permanent transfer of the Department of Education’s core responsibiliti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Bill that May Limit Students' Access to Financial Aid
06.10.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce, spoke in opposition to H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act. Watch Ranking Member Scott’s remarks on YouTube. Here is a transcript of his remarks: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7892, the so-called No Aid for Ghost Students Act. “Let me state on the outset that protecting taxpayer dollars and preventing fraud in our student federal aid programs is always a good idea. … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns Republicans’ Decision to Advance Divisive Legislation
05.21.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 8736, 8705, 7362, 7895, and 8684. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this Committee has the responsibility to pass legislation that ensures that students will receive a quality education, that protects workers, [and] expands access to affordable, quality care. While I appreciate the bipartisan work reflected in some of the measures before us, seve… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Remarks at ED Secretary McMahon Hearing
05.14.26 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 Education.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “And thank you, Secretary McMahon, for your testimony today to discuss the Department’s priorities and the effect this budget will have on students, teachers, and families. “When you last testified before this Committee in June 2025, I remarked that the Department… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Hearing on Equity and Excellence in Education
04.28.26 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood and Secondary Education (ECESE) Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s ECESE Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Leveling Down: How Equity Policies Undermine Excellence and Harm Students.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for your testimony. I’ll start by saying that Gifted and Talented programs, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual-enrollment courses do offer ex… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Remarks HHS Budget Hearing
04.17.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing entitled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services.” “Thank you, Chairman Walberg. And thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for your testimony today. Your appearance before this Committee has been a long time coming. “Mr. Secretary, you lead an agency that has immense responsibility to both enhance and protect Americans’ w… Continue Reading
Scott, Ocasio-Cortez, Murray, Warren Establish Child Care for America Working Group to Lower Costs, Deliver Child Care for Every American Family
03.26.26 WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats’ fight to lower costs and deliver child care for every American family. The Child Care for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark ch… 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
Committee Republicans Rejected Every Attempt to Make Child Care More Affordable for Working Families
03.05.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans forced through eight bills that do nothing to bring down the cost of child care, increase the supply of child care, or improve working conditions for child care providers. Instead, these bills make it more difficult for states and providers to administer child care assistance for working families. “[C]hild care is a necessity for millions of American families. And in many places, the cost of child care, when families can even find it, can be as much as,… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Disappointed by Republicans Disinterest in Lowering Child Care Costs
03.05.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 7720, 7721, 7722, 7723, 7724, 7725, 7677, and 7726. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, child care is a necessity for millions of American families. And in many places, the cost of child care, when families can even find it, can be as much as, or more than, their rent or mortgage payment. And in many communities, child care simply does not exist in… Continue Reading
House Democrats Press ED on Negative Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Students
02.18.26 WASHINGTON - House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and 69 House Democrats are pressing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon again about the impact of immigration enforcement actions on students, families, and schools, and seeking a response to their prior oversight inquiry. This comes after an increased presence of federal immigration enforceme… 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
Scott, Sanders, Bonamici, 71 Lawmakers Slam Trump Administration for Making Child Care More Expensive
02.05.26 WASHINGTON - House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 71 of their House and Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter slamming Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s new rule that would make child care… 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
Committee Republicans Advance Bills Weakening Accountability and Oversight of Charter Schools
01.21.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans voted to advanced two bills (H.R. 7082 and 7086) that weaken accountability, transparency, and long-standing protections for students in charter schools. H.R. 7082, the Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools (FLEX) Act, weakens oversight of the federal Charter Schools Program while redirecting funding away from classrooms. The bill expands vague allowable uses of federal funds and gives the Secretary of Education broad discretion over a si… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Markup of Bills to Weaken Accountability and Transparency of Charter Schools
01.21.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 7082, 7086, and 4624. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this week, the Joint Economic Committee released a new report finding that, in the year since President Trump returned to office, families spent an average of $1,625 more due to inflation. Despite this troubling fact, today, we are marking up three bills that do nothing to lower the cost of … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement on the Importance of Congress Putting Guardrails on Artificial Intelligence
01.14.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Building an AI-Ready America.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today. “From chatbots to programming to grocery lists, artificial intelligence has rapidly integrated into the daily lives of millions of Americans, transforming how we interact with technology and the world around us. “Due to the rapid rise of AI technol… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Child Care Crisis
01.13.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Who’s Watching the Kids? How Employers, Innovators, and Parents Are Solving America’s Child Care Crunch.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “This hearing is about an issue that is critical for children, families, for employers, and for the economy. Too many families are stru… Continue Reading