Committee on Education and Workforce

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement acknowledging the 12-year anniversary of the $7.25 federal minimum wage on July 24. We are now experiencing the longest period of time without an increase in the federal minimum wage since it was created in 1938. “Today our nation reached a shameful milestone. Today marks 12 years since the last increase in the federal minimum wage – the longest period without an increase since it was established more than eight decades ago. Despite several efforts by House Democrats to raise wages for millions of workers, Republicans continue to block any increase in the federal minimum wage.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released a proposed rule implementing President Biden’s Executive Order 14026, which requires all federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage. “I applaud the Biden Administration for making good on its promise to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 an hour. By both raising the minimum wage and phasing out the tipped minimum wage for federal contractors, this rule will ensure that hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans can provide for themselves and their families.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement reporting that key provisions from the PRO Act are included in the Senate budget agreement. “The Senate needs to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act in its entirety, but any step we can take to defend workers’ rights is meaningful. Based on past precedent, there is good reason to believe important PRO Act provisions can pass through the Budget reconciliation process, and I applaud their inclusion in the Senate Budget Committee’s agreement.