Committee on Education and Workforce

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – According to a new analysis released today by the House Committee on Education and Labor, the Build Back Better Act could save Virginia families thousands of dollars in child care costs each year. The Committee’s report found that the typical Virginia family of four with one infant in full-time center-based child care would save $12,680 each year. The typical Virginia family of four with one infant and one child in full-time center-based child care would save $24,280 each year. “This is why we need to pass the Build Back Better Act,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. “For too long, the exorbitant cost of child care has strained family budgets and pushed millions of Americans out of the workforce, particularly women.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman for the House Committee on Education and Labor, was selected by the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) to receive the 2021 James O’Hara Award in recognition of his “life-long commitment and outstanding leadership in advocating for education as a congressional and federal priority.” CEF is a non-partisan and nonprofit coalition of more than 100 education associations, institutions, and others who advocate for greater federal investment in education.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced an Administration-wide effort to protect workers and families from extreme heat. The effort includes the start of a new Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard. “I applaud the Biden Administration for launching this critical effort to protect workers and their families from extreme heat. Excessive heat is one of the most common and dangerous workplace hazards.

WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup for Build Back Better Act. “Last month, the House passed a budget resolution for Fiscal 2022, which instructed 13 House Committees to write a proposal that would deliver a $3.5 trillion investment that will transform our economy in ways that will make our nation more prosperous, equitable and fairer. Today, we are marking up the Education and Labor Committee’s portion of the Build Back Better Act, which makes historic and long-overdue investments in students, workers, families, and our economy.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 235,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent. “Today’s jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris economic agenda is delivering results, but the emergence of the Delta variant remains a serious challenge for workers and our economy. It is critical that federal, state, and local leaders do everything they can to promote vaccinations and implement evidence-based safety precautions that will protect the lives and livelihoods of Americans across the country.

WASHINGTON, DC – House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in anticipation of Saturday’s swearing in of Biden appointee David Prouty as the newest member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He will replace Trump appointee William Emanuel, whose term ends today. Mr. Prouty joins Gwynne Wilcox – another new Biden appointee – who was sworn in earlier this month, restoring a 3-2 Democratic majority alongside Chair Lauren McFerran. “I am pleased to join workers across the country in celebrating a new chapter for the National Labor Relations Board. Under Republican control, the NLRB contradicted the mission of the agency and neglected its responsibility to workers.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced that it will make $1.1 billion in closed school discharges available to an additional 115,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute (ITT). “I applaud President Biden and Secretary Cardona for extending student loan relief to 115,000 student borrowers who were defrauded by ITT Technical Institute. Numerous investigations into ITT’s conduct have uncovered a pattern of predatory and deceptive practices that tricked students into taking on debt they could not afford to attend schools that were on the brink of collapse.

WASHINGTON, DC – A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that almost 40 percent of 401(k) plan participants do not fully understand the fees they are paying on their retirement accounts, with many unaware they are even paying fees. It also found that consumers have difficulty using the information that the Department of Labor (DOL) requires 401(k) plans to provide about their fees.  According to the report, 45 percent of participants are not able to use the information given in disclosures to determine the cost of their investment fee. And more than four in 10 plan participants incorrectly believe that they do not pay any 401(k) plan fees.