Committee on Education and Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Chairman Richard Neal (MA-01) reintroduced the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (Butch Lewis Act). "Americans who worked hard their entire lives and planned for secure retirements should not have the rug pulled out from under them. The Butch Lewis Act of 2019 is a bipartisan proposal that ensures retirees receive the pension benefits they have earned. This legislation, in addition to the work of the Joint Select Committee on the Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, is an important step to help address this crisis. As chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, I am committed to the workers, families, businesses, and retirees from all over the country who are counting on us — and the longer Congress waits to act, the more difficult and more expensive the problem will be to solve.”

WASHINGTON, DC – House and Senate Democratic health leaders sent a letter to the Trump administration today renewing their requests for information on the Administration’s Final Rule expanding the availability of junk Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance (STLDI) plans, which jeopardize Americans’ ability to get quality, affordable health care. The letter was signed by Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senate HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (D- Va.), Committee on Education and Labor and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (IG) Scott Dahl requesting an audit of DOL to determine whether the agency deviated from agency regulatory and data quality requirements when it developed a proposed rule relaxing child labor standards in health care occupations. Joining Chairman Scott and Senator Warren in sending the letter are Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 312,000 in December and the unemployment rate increased to 3.9 percent. “Despite the gains shown in today’s job report, the reality is many Americans are still struggling. Wages have remained largely stagnant – particularly for low-wage earners – and too many workers are forced to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. By undermining our health care system, giving a massive tax cut to corporations and wealthy, and forcing an ongoing government shutdown, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have injected uncertainty and volatility into our economy.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after he was elected the next Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor by the House Democratic Caucus. “I am honored to have the support of my colleagues and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor in the 116th Congress. As Chairman, I will work to expand access to the building blocks of a strong middle class – a quality education, a rewarding job, and affordable health care. These goals not only reflect the values of our Caucus, they have the overwhelming support of the American people.

WASHINGTON, DC – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education announced that it is rescinding the 2014 ED-DOJ Discipline Guidance. “The Department’s decision to rescind the 2014 discipline guidance will undermine access to a quality education for students of color and students with disabilities. The guidance was issued to help schools address the troubling and undeniable evidence that Black students, boys, and students with disabilities receive harsher punishments than their classmates for similar or lesser offenses, without jeopardizing students’ safety. Rescinding the guidance will stall, if not reverse our progress toward addressing these disparities.

WASHINGTON, DC – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 155,000 jobs in November. The unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent. “Today’s jobs report reveals the economic state of workers and middle-class families remains fragile despite a prolonged period of low unemployment. Wages have remained largely stagnant – particularly for low-wage earners – and too many workers are forced to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. What’s worse, the Majority’s major legislative accomplishment from the 115th Congress was a massive tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits corporations and the wealthy.