Committee on Education and Labor
More on Committee on Education and Labor
September 15, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act, to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The new legislation builds on President Biden’s historic one-time student loan debt relief announcement last month to forgive up to $20,000 in outstanding federal student loan debt for millions of borrowers.
September 7, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a District Court judge ruled to invalidate several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that govern which forms of preventive care—such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving health services—must be covered by health insurers. “For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Americans with access to preventive care, such as cancer screenings, vaccinations, contraception, and chronic disease screenings, without having to pay anything out of pocket.
September 2, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 315,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent. Today’s jobs report shows that the economy is continuing to exceed pre-pandemic job levels and returning to a steady and stable position. Just over 9.7 million jobs have been created since January 2021, exceeding the pre-pandemic highwater mark by 240,000 jobs. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and Congressional Democrats’ swift action, our nation’s workforce has not only recovered, but come back even stronger. This is a direct result of the American Rescue Plan Act, which got people back to work safely; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is creating millions of good-paying jobs; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering the cost of everyday goods.
August 24, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced that the Department of Education is extending the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through 2022, providing up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients, and capping the amount borrowers would pay monthly for undergraduate loans at 5 percent of their income. “President Biden is providing unprecedented relief for America’s student loan borrowers. Today’s announcement delivers on President Biden’s promise to cancel up to $20,000 of borrowers’ federal student debt. Also, extending the pause on student loan repayment will further help get borrowers back on track.
August 3, 2022
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS – Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced $11 million in new federal funding for the Hampton Roads Workforce Council along with Kevin Gallagher, Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, during a tour of the Virginia Career Works Hampton Center. During the tour, Congressman Scott and Mr. Gallagher met with career coaches, job seekers, and employers to discuss how this funding—made possible by the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant—will help workers access higher-paying jobs and ensure employers have access to qualified candidates.
July 28, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, was named this year’s recipient of the Advocacy Award at the 2022 Melwood Ability Awards event. Melwood is a non-profit organization – based in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area – that advocates for people with disabilities. Melwood is also one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in the country. “I have spent my career in public service advocating for civil rights, and that includes advocating for people with disabilities,” said Congressman Scott. “Nearly a quarter of the disabled population lives in poverty, which is more than twice its portion of the general population. Access to competitive integrated employment is the key to remedying that.
July 27, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, in a House Committee on Education and Labor markup, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) led Committee passage of legislation to help address and prevent child hunger by reauthorizing federal child nutrition programs. The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act builds on the Committee’s work to expand school and summer meal programs, increase access to federal nutrition programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and prevent and address child hunger. “One of the key lessons reaffirmed by our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that, when we invest in child nutrition programs, we help reduce child hunger.
July 27, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, in a House Committee on Education and Labor markup, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) led Committee passage of legislation to protect indoor and outdoor workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat. “Workers in this country still have no legal protection against one of the oldest, most serious, and most common workplace hazards: excessive heat. Heat illness affects workers in our nation’s fields, warehouses, and factories, and climate change is making the problem more severe every year,” said Education and Labor Committee Chairman Scott.
July 20, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced a comprehensive, evidence-driven reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs that meets the needs of children and families. The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 8450) builds on Congressional Democrats’ work to expand school and summer meal programs, increase access to federal nutrition programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and prevent child hunger.
July 19, 2022
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Department of Education released new guidance for states and school districts to help school leaders address disparities in discipline for students with disabilities. In 2018, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that students with disabilities, along with Black students and boys, face disproportionate rates of discipline when compared to their peers. “The guidance the Biden administration issued today will help schools keep students and staff safe.