Committee on Education and Workforce
More on Committee on Education and Workforce
March 13, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office announced that 24 million more Americans would be uninsured under the Republicans’ Pay More For Less bill.
"The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed what we already knew - that millions of Americans would lose access to affordable health insurance under the Republican plan. This proposal was put together without considering the fundamental principles of arithmetic. By skewing the tax credits toward higher income families, it only shifts costs onto those living paycheck to paycheck.
March 9, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, received the 2017 Congressional Voice for Children Award at the National PTA Legislative Conference. The award honors outstanding leadership and commitment to improving education and advancing issues impacting children’s health and well-being. “I am honored to receive the Congressional Voice for Children Award from National PTA,” said Congressman Scott. “PTA members in Virginia and across the nation work every day to ensure that every child has access to a safe learning environment and a great public school. I look forward to our continued partnership to ensure that Congress hears the voices of parents, teachers and communities in support of public education.”
March 6, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Republicans finally released their proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
“The Republican bill to repeal the ACA is fundamentally flawed, because it purports to cover pre-existing conditions without an individual mandate. In states that have tried this, the markets have gone into total chaos. Furthermore, the tax credits proposed are likely to be insufficient for low-income working families, leaving millions worse off than they are today. When CBO ultimately scores this legislation, it will likely find that costs will go up and the number of people covered will go down."
March 1, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 83, the Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that will undermine workplace safety and health. It does so by overturning a clarifying rule issued by OSHA on December 9, 2016, to ensure accurate occupational injury and illness reporting.
Now, first of all, it is strange that we are reversing a rule through the Congressional Review Act that creates no new compliance or reporting obligation, imposes no new costs. It simply gives OSHA the tools to enforce an employer's continuing obligation to record injuries and illnesses.
Spurred by the court of appeals decision, which blocked OSHA from citing continuing violations outside the 6-month statute of limitations, OSHA updated its recordkeeping rule.
February 27, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concerns with H.R. 228. While the legislation seeks to provide additional flexibility and support to Indian tribes--a worthy goal--I remain concerned that it could have the effect of weakening the services provided to families and children in Indian tribes.
Currently, Indian tribes have the option to consolidate certain federal funding streams related to work and job training into one grant. H.R. 228 includes a number of changes to this consolidation option and expands the number of programs that can be consolidated.
February 22, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the White House announced that it will repeal the Obama Administration’s Title IX guidance protecting the rights of transgender students.
“The impact of the Trump Administration’s repeal of the Title IX guidance leaves LGBTQ students in at least 31 states vulnerable to bullying and discrimination. A student’s right to equal education should not be impeded by an unsafe learning environment.
“Last May, the Obama Administration’s Department of Education issued guidance to clarify that transgender students are protected under Title IX. That law, passed in 1972, prohibits disparate treatment, disparate impact, and retaliation based on sex in education.
February 15, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, our country is experiencing a retirement security crisis. Nearly 40 million private sector workers do not have access to a retirement savings plan at their jobs. The data and research also show that many middle- and low-income workers lack the ability to save enough on their own for retirement. Too many Americans lack access to retirement savings plans and too few are able to build a retirement nest egg on their own.
Unfortunately, Congress has not stepped up to comprehensively address our country's retirement security challenges, but many States have stepped up and enacted innovative solutions to expand working people's access to retirement savings. California passed a law establishing a program that is estimated to provide 6.8 million workers access to a retirement savings plan. In Illinois, more than a million people are expected to benefit from the State's retirement savings program.
February 15, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) received the Congressional Champion of Youth Award from Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Congressman Scott was honored for his extraordinary support of Boys and Girls Clubs and his ongoing dedication to the youth of our nation.
“As a strong supporter of Boys and Girls Clubs, I am honored to receive the Congressional Champion of Youth Award,” said Rep. Scott. “Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe haven for our youth and encourage them to make good life decisions. In my district alone, Boys and Girls Clubs serve thousands of young people across Hampton Roads. Through active engagement in our communities, we can help effect change, one child at a time.
February 7, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 58, the joint resolution of disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to teacher preparation programs.
This resolution would not only block the rule in question, but according to the rules of the CRA, it would tie the hands of this and of any future administration from re-regulating the provisions until a successful reauthorization of the Higher Education Act might take place.
Mr. Speaker, this rule in question provides clarity to States on how to increase teacher preparation program quality, transparency, and the equitable distribution of well-prepared teachers. It was promulgated to enable compliance with the statutory provision included in the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
February 7, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition of H.J. Res. 57. This resolution takes aim at the heart of the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. That bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This resolution would strike down regulations that provide necessary clarity to States about what it means to ensure that all students are taught to high standards, and what it means to provide accurate data on student academic performance and resource equity.
States now lack direction needed to proceed with implementation of the bill. Just last week, the Department removed all ESSA technical assistance to the States from the public domain, despite numerous and repeated requests for technical assistance from State and local leaders.