Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) reintroduced legislation to address the increasing use of religious freedom laws to undermine civil rights protections. The Do No Harm Act restores the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to its original purpose, which is to protect religious exercise while ensuring religious freedom is not used to erode civil rights protections. The bill comes amid a sharp rise in the misapplication of RFRA to justify discrimination in a wide range of scenarios.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and accommodations. “Freedom from discrimination is a core American value. Unfortunately, far too many states do not have laws explicitly barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, released a statement on the importance of statewide assessments. Statewide data is valuable because it offers valid, reliable, and comparable measures of student achievement so parents know if their children are learning. “Despite the tireless efforts of students, parents, and educators, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on students’ education.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement to celebrate the start of Public Schools Week. “As we begin Public Schools Week, I want to share my profound appreciation for the commitment and resolve that our students, parents, educators, and school staff have demonstrated over the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our education system and provided a constant reminder of the critical role public schools have in our communities. That is why we are working so hard in Congress to provide states and schools districts the resources they need to reopen schools, keep schools open, and make up for lost time in the classroom.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair Alma Adams (NC-12), Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano (CA-41), and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) introduced legislation to strengthen the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) enforcement of workplace safety laws. The Accurate Workplace Injury and Illness Record Restoration Act would restore OSHA’s ability to effectively identify and cite employers who systematically fail to record and report workplace injuries and illnesses.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced plans to vacate former President Trump’s executive order on Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs), to repeal the Department of Labor IRAP regulations, and to support the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 (H.R. 447). “I applaud President Biden’s decision to halt the previous Administration’s wasteful scheme to divert funding away from the proven Registered Apprenticeship system. The so-called Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) discarded key features responsible for the success of our Registered Apprenticeship system, including quality standards and worker protections.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, a bipartisan group of representatives announced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act – which establishes a pregnant worker’s clear-cut right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue burden on their employer. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was reintroduced by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jamie Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration opened a three-month Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplaces: “Last month, President Biden and Vice President Harris took a long overdue step to expand access to affordable health care during the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a Special Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces. Expanding access to health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act is one of the best strategies we have to help people get covered during this global health emergency.