Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the inclusion of legislation to protect retirees’ pensions in the COVID-19 relief package. “Among its many devastating consequences, COVID-19 has further jeopardized already struggling pension plans and put millions of hard-working Americans at risk of not being able to retire with dignity

WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. Ron Wright (TX-06), a Member of the Education and Labor Committee: “The Education and Labor Committee mourns the tragic loss of Congressman Ron Wright. During his time on the Committee, Congressman Wright contributed to our work as a member of both the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, but he will be most remembered for his lifelong service to his constituents and the people of Texas. Today, we remember Congressman Wright as we grieve for the more than 460,000 Americans who have also lost their lives to COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the Education and Labor Committee’s portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill, which enacts President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Under the FY21 budget resolution passed by the House and Senate last week, the Committee was instructed to propose more than $300 billion in relief for students, educators, workers, and families. “More than a year after the COVID-19 case was confirmed in the U.S., we are still losing thousands of people each day to the virus, millions of workers remain unemployed, students are falling further behind, and an unprecedented number of families are struggling to put food on the table.

WASHINGTON, DC –Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on the effect of gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. “The CBO’s report strengthens the case for gradually raising the minimum wage through the COVID-19 rescue package. This nonpartisan report shows that increasing the minimum wage will act as a direct and targeted stimulus for struggling workers and their families. At a time when many of our essential workers are still not being paid enough to provide for themselves and their families, we must do everything in our power give these workers a long overdue raise.

WASHINGTON, DC – Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which invests $3.5 billion in our apprenticeship system, ensures consistency and quality across apprenticeships, and expands opportunities for diverse workers in emerging sectors. “Registered Apprenticeships are this nation’s most successful federally funded workforce development initiative. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans count on Registered Apprenticeships to access paid, on-the-job learning opportunities and career pathways.

WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 49,000 jobs in January with the unemployment rate at 6.3 percent. “Today’s jobs report is further evidence that Congress must take immediate action to defeat the pandemic and provide substantial relief to the American people. After showing early signs of recovery, the economy is once again sputtering as the virus continues to claim the lives and livelihoods of people across the country.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House and Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive labor legislation to protect workers’ right to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The House bill was introduced by House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02). The Senate bill was introduced by Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17) led House Democrats in introducing the Strength in Diversity Act, a bold proposal to help fulfill the promise of equity in education by supporting schools districts that are developing, implementing, or expanding voluntary school diversity initiatives. “Last year the House of Representatives made history by passing the first new investment in school integration in three decades,” Chairman Scott said.