Committee on Education and Workforce
More on Committee on Education and Workforce
August 9, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education released a new legal interpretation that enhances oversight and accountability for student loan servicers. In 2019, Chairman Scott sent a letter to then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding the Department’s efforts to shield student loan servicing companies from state law enforcement. “The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a critical step to improve oversight of student loan servicers and ensure that all borrowers are protected from unfair and deceptive practices.
August 6, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) joined Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urging them to adopt federal heat standards for workers. The Congressmembers submitted a letter to Labor Secretary Walsh outlining the dangers extreme heat poses to blue-collar workers in various industries.
August 6, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration extended the pause on federal student loan payments and interest until January 31, 2022. In June, Chairman Scott and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter urging President Biden to extend the pause, which was set to expire at the end of September. “I applaud President Biden for providing desperately needed relief to federal student loan borrowers as we continue to fight the pandemic.
August 6, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 943,000 jobs in July as the unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent. “Today’s jobs report continues to show that the American Rescue Plan is helping Americans get back to work. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris economic agenda has created more than 4 million jobs. Just last week, a comprehensive analysis found that our focus on supporting families throughout the pandemic has pushed the share of Americans in poverty to the lowest level on record.
August 5, 2021
WASHINGTON – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO: “The nation has lost one of its most fierce and effective champions for workers and their families. As a former coal miner, Richard Trumka deeply understood the power of the labor movement and the importance of defending workers’ right to organize.
August 2, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration released a School Reopening Roadmap to help schools reopen safely for in-person instruction. “Getting students back into the classroom safely is one of the most important things we can do for children and families across the country. I applaud the Biden Administration for issuing clear and comprehensive guidance to help schools reopen safely for full, in-person instruction this fall.
July 29, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) introduced the Restoring Justice for Workers Act, legislation to end forced arbitration clauses and protect workers’ ability to pursue work-related claims in court. The bill would overrule the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis that allowed employers to continue to require workers to sign forced arbitration clauses. These arbitration clauses, which are often buried in the fine print of employment contracts, prevent workers from banding together to enforce their legal rights.
July 29, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, voted to pass H.R. 4502, FY 2022 Seven-Bill Appropriations Minibus – a package that includes the following seven appropriations bills: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Agriculture, Rural Development; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Scott secured critical funding for Hampton Roads as well as students and workers. “I was proud to support this legislation on the floor today,” said Rep. Scott. “The pandemic highlighted all the ways that our economy is slanted against middle class families in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. This funding bill will create jobs and grow opportunity for the middle class and working families while also protecting vulnerable communities. This funding bill is an important step in our work to build back better.”
July 29, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Labor Department finalized a rule to rescind the Trump-era Joint Employment Rule that would cost workers more than $1 billion every year if it remained in effect. The Fair Labor Standards Act’s broad joint employment standard has long ensured that workers can hold multiple employers accountable for wage theft where the employee establishes that he or she is economically dependent on a joint employer. “Today’s action by the Biden-Harris Administration will protect Americans from wage theft and make sure that companies are held accountable for cheating workers out of their hard-earned paychecks. The Trump-era Joint Employment rule improperly narrowed the Labor Department’s interpretation of joint employment liability under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
July 28, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott released the following statement in response to Governor Ralph Northam’s proposal to dedicate $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding to help schools repair and upgrade ventilation systems, or complete other air quality projects. “I applaud Governor Northam’s proposal to dedicate additional American Rescue Plan funding to helping schools reopen safely and stay open safely. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that proper ventilation is essential to reducing the risk of COVID-19. Providing school districts the funding they need to improve air quality and repair or upgrade ventilation systems will go a long way to making classrooms safer for students, educators, and school staff.