Floor Statements

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JOHN CONYERS

October 28, 2019

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for holding this Special Order and recognizing the legacy of Congressman John Conyers. I want to join those who are honoring his legacy. He served in Congress longer than any other African American. He represented Michigan and the Nation for over 50 years. He was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and he served as dean of the House. He was a giant in civil rights. He often bragged about being the only candidate for elective office ever endorsed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Issues:Civil RightsJudiciary

RAISE THE WAGE ACT

July 18, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the idea behind the Federal minimum wage is simple: Hardworking Americans should be paid at least enough to provide for themselves and their families.

After more than a decade with no increase in the minimum wage, the longest stretch since the minimum wage was established in 1938, it is no longer serving that purpose.

Today, the Federal minimum wage is a poverty wage in every region of our Nation. Our Nation's workers deserve better.

Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceEconomy and Jobs

RYAN KEITH COX POST OFFICE BUILDING

July 17, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3305, Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia as the ``Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building.'' I appreciate my colleague, the gentlelady from Virginia, Mrs. LURIA, for introducing this bill.

Issues:Civil Rights

REFLECTING ON PRIORITIES FACING AMERICA

July 15, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we are considering the Raise the Wage Act later this week. That proposal will gradually increase the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, and after that, adjust for inflation.

I thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) for convening this Special Order to discuss the minimum wage on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, because this gives us an opportunity to explore the historic and continuing intersection between race and the Federal minimum wage.

Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceEconomy and Jobs

DEBATE ON SCOTT AMENDMENT NO. 347, TO NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

July 11, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 2500, which would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress regarding the Department's progress implementing the 91 priority recommendations from the Comptroller General of the United States. I would like to thank my colleague Congresswoman BARBARA LEE for cosponsoring this amendment. I would also like to thank Chairman SMITH and the House Armed Services Committee for their work on this important legislation.

Issues:Defense & National Security

DEBATE ON AMENDMENT NO. 47, TO NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

July 11, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to Amendment No. 47, which directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunications officers, also called 911 dispatchers, as a protective service occupation in the U.S. Government's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. This Amendment would have no direct effect on these workers' wages, benefits, or other resources; proponents of this reclassification have stated that ``the benefit of reclassification is recognition and respect.''

Issues:Economy and Jobs

HONORING MARGARET ``PEG'' SEMINARIO

June 24, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Margaret ``Peg'' Seminario, who has made the health and safety of American workers her life's work and is retiring after 42 years of tireless advocacy. Through her more than four decades of work at the AFL-CIO, Peg has been instrumental in securing the health and lives of millions of workers.

Issues:Economy and Jobs

COMMEMORATING THE 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPRENTICE SCHOOL IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA

June 24, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia, which was founded in 1919 at Newport News Shipbuilding. The Apprentice School has been continually recognized locally, regionally, nationally, and globally as an extraordinary apprentice program. It is a leading example of how apprentice programs have been redesigned to teach a wide array of skilled trades, while also offering an educational program rich in academic instruction, craft training, leadership, and extracurricular activities.

Issues:Education

DEBATE ON SCOTT AMENDMENT NO. 134, TO COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020

June 20, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3055, which would provide funding for the 400 Years of African-American History Commission. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives JOHN LEWIS, BARBARA LEE, and RASHIDA TLAIB for cosponsoring this amendment which would provide an additional $500,000 to support the work of this important commission. I would also like to thank Chairwoman LOWEY, Chairwoman MCCOLLUM and the Appropriations Committee for working with me to include funding in the underlying bill and their support for this amendment.

Issues:Civil Rights

DEBATE ON SCOTT AMENDMENT NO. 12, TO COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020

June 19, 2019

Floor Statements

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in support of this amendment. It is a straightforward amendment transferring $13 million from the Federal Prisoner Detention account to support local delinquency prevention grants authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Issues:Youth PROMISE Act