Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement after the Department of Labor announced it is withdrawing a Trump-era rule narrowing the Department’s interpretation of employee status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Trump rule would have made it easier for companies to misclassify their employees as independent contractors, depriving their workers of minimum wage and overtime protections under the FLSA. “The Trump administration’s independent contractor rule would have undermined the basic minimum wage and overtime protections that workers have relied upon for more than 80 years.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07), and Rep. Susie Lee (NV03) introduced the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act, legislation that invests more than $1 billion over five years in training and increasing opportunities for our nation’s direct care workers. The Direct CARE Opportunity Act aligns with a key piece of the American Jobs Plan, which calls for significant investments to meet the surging demand for home and community-based services

PORTSMOUTH, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement after visiting Tidewater Community College with President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden: “It was as honor to join President Biden and Dr. Biden today at Tidewater Community College (TCC). TCC is an example of the role that community colleges can have in expanding opportunities for our students and creating jobs in local economies. The American Families Plan would allow all Americans to attend community college tuition-free. This bold plan would give all Americans the opportunity the develop the skills they need to find good-paying jobs and rewarding careers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Biden addressed a Joint Session of Congress: “Tonight, President Biden delivered an optimistic message and outlined a historic plan to build back a better economy. As chair of the Education and Labor Committee, I look forward to advancing legislation that improves our schools, creates millions of new jobs, protects the environment for future generations and strengthens support for families across the country.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement to honor Workers Memorial Day. “Each year, Workers Memorial Day calls on us to remember the workers who have been killed or injured on the job. This year’s remembrance comes amid the worst worker safety crisis in OSHA’s 50-year history. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people have suffered from workplace COVID-19 infections and thousands have tragically died. Workers in health care facilities, meat processing plants, warehouses, grocery stores, prisons, and many other workplaces have been forced to put themselves in grave danger just to provide for themselves and their families.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statements on President Biden’s American Families Plan, which would establish a national child care program, modeled after Congressman Scott and Senator Murray’s Child Care for Working Families Act, which they re-introduced last week, to ensure working families can find and afford high-quality child care.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Biden released his American Families Plan. The proposal calls for key investments to strengthen Pell Grants, lower the cost of tuition at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions, and take other steps to expand access to quality higher education. “For too long, the rising cost of college—fueled by chronic state and federal disinvestment—has barred our nation’s students from being able to access a quality college degree. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing higher education even further out of reach, particularly for our nation’s underserved students.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Biden signed an executive order requiring all federal contractors pay to a $15 minimum wage. “President Biden’s executive order is an important step toward building back a stronger economy and securing fair pay for hardworking people across the country. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, families, businesses, and the economy. Because of President Biden’s executive order, working people across the nation will see and experience the widespread benefits of increasing the minimum wage.