Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor, Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision and take action to provide healthy meals to students for the duration of the school year. “The Department’s refusal to extend all school meal waivers is inconsistent and baffling during this national crisis, especially considering that as many as 17 million children did not get enough to eat this summer and there are no signs of the situation improving once the summer is over

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) expressed strong opposition to the Department’s newest plan to misuse CARES Act emergency education funding in way that violates the intent of the law. Specifically, Chairman Scott criticized the Department’s plan to divert funds meant for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to support the Trump administration’s political agenda, including funding the ill-conceived industry-recognized apprenticeship program (IRAP), at a time when schools across the country are desperately seeking funding to cope with COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a federal court blocked an interim final rule issued by the Department of Education that redirects COVID-19 relief funding from high-poverty public schools toward services for students in private schools, regardless of their wealth. “Last night, a federal judge affirmed the position of many Democrats and Republicans in finding that the Education Department is violating both the letter and spirit of the CARES Act in its handling of emergency education funding.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to a letter from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue stating that the Department will not extend waivers that allowed states and schools to more seamlessly operate emergency summer meal programs. The waivers – which expire at the end of August – allow schools to locate food service sites in more accessible locations and serve all children, regardless of paperwork.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use its full authority to provide healthy meals to students for the duration of the school year. In the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Congress granted authority to the USDA to provide waivers that allow children to receive school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine the accessibility of federal resources for people with disabilities experiencing domestic violence. In the letter, the Members note that one in three adults, including those with disabilities, have experienced domestic violence, and individuals with disabilities are victims of sexual assault at rates more than seven times those for people without disabilities.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to a report from the Department of Labor’s Inspector General that found the Department’s implementation of the paid leave provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act needlessly excluded too many workers. The report also finds the Department has not developed a clear plan to enforce paid leave protections. “The Department of Labor Inspector General’s report confirms that the Trump administration is using its discretion to prevent workers from accessing emergency paid leave during a global pandemic.