Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 467,000 jobs in January. “Despite a surge in COVID-19 infections, today’s jobs report reflects another month of historic job growth. Under President Biden’s economic agenda and the investments made through the American Rescue Plan, our economy has had the strongest year for economic growth since 1984. In 2021, the economy created 6.7 million jobs – more than any other year on record. Americans are getting back to work. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after at least six historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats on Monday. This is the second time bomb threats have been made at HBCUs in less than a month. “For the second time this month, bomb threats were made to at least half a dozen historically Black colleges and universities. Campuses were closed, classes disrupted, and HBCU students, faculty and staff once again feared for their safety. These threats are unacceptable. Students attending HBCUs or any other institution must be afforded the opportunity of a safe, learning environment. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House posted text of the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act of 2022.  In the Committee’s jurisdiction, the America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes a historic investment to increase pathways to STEM and computer science education, expand Registered Apprenticeship programs to train more workers, and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness. “The success and competitiveness of the American economy depends on the strength of our nation’s workforce. The America COMPETES Act will connect our nation’s students and workers with the skills they need to succeed in high-tech industries while keeping our economy competitive in the years ahead.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement after President Biden signed the Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act into law: “Most public schools in America are largely funded through state and local property taxes. The Impact Aid Grant Program was designed to assist local school districts that serve students that are ‘federally-connected.’ An example of a ‘federally-connected’ student might be someone who lives on a military base, in affordable housing, or a Native American reservation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12), introduced the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act of 2022 (H.R. 6462). This legislation would extend the black lung excise tax rate, which expired at the end of last year, to fund future benefits and health care for miners suffering from black lung disease. Without revenue from the tax, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is at-risk of becoming insolvent at a time when the number of black lung cases is rapidly increasing. A May 2018 GAO report found that failure to extend the tax rate will increase the Fund’s debt from approximately $5 billion to $15 billion by 2050.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Food and Nutrition Service approved Virginia’s plan to participate in the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. The program – established by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – allows states to provide additional funding for struggling families with children who cannot access free or reduced-price school meals during the pandemic. “This is great news for hundreds of thousands of Virginia families who have struggled to put enough food on the table during the pandemic.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to reject the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccine or test requirement for employers with 100 or more employees. “While I am relieved that the Supreme Court upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rule protecting health care workers and patients, today’s decision is a significant setback in our efforts to protect workers from COVID-19 in the workplace.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 199,000 in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent. "Today’s jobs report caps a historic year of recovery. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our nation created more jobs in 2021 than any other year on record.  The Biden-Harris economic agenda is getting Americans back to work. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan not only accelerated our economic recovery, it also delivered vital resources to help communities fight COVID-19.