Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) received the 2017 Hope House Award. This award is given to those who have made a significant difference in the lives of those who are incarcerated. “I am honored to accept this year’s Hope House Award,” said Congressman Scott. “I commend Hope House for the essential work they do to keep parents in contact with their children in meaningful ways. The work done by Hope House is sadly necessary here in the United States, where we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. I am working in Congress to fix our criminal justice system and address the problems of mass incarceration and the toll it takes on families and children in particular.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a private meeting was held at the Department of Education discussing the “harmful effects” of school discipline guidance from teachers who experienced violence in the classroom. Enacted under the Obama administration, the guidance encourages schools, districts, and states to reassess their policies for and use of suspensions and expulsions that are disproportionately used on students of color and students with disabilities. “Decades of research consistently shows that exclusionary school discipline is at best ineffective, and at worst, counter-productive.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the co-chair of the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Task Force, introduced the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017. This legislation increases mandatory funding for the Bay, strengthens the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCCP), and provides more opportunities for effective conservation efforts. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Senate companion measure with bipartisan support. The legislation is supported by Bay State Governors, including Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, and more than 70 conservation groups.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Republicans’ tax plan: “The so-called ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ that passed the House today, with only Republican votes, is deeply irresponsible. By passing this bill, the Majority has voted to add $1.5 trillion in new deficits.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2810 – National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018: “I am very pleased to see the passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for 2018. I want to especially thank Representatives Robert Wittman (R-VA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT), the leaders of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, for their tireless work to include provisions for shipbuilding and ship maintenance in the Hampton Roads area which I proudly represent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the National Education Association (NEA) released its analysis of the potential impact of eliminating the state and local tax deduction (SALT) on public education: “New analysis from the NEA estimates that if Republicans succeed in eliminating much of the state and local tax deduction, as proposed in H.R. 1, it would likely have a devastating effect on state and local public education budgets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on today’s announcement by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) that he will retire at the end of the 115th Congress: “Bob Goodlatte has dedicated his life to serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bob and I arrived in Congress the same year, and I have enjoyed working with him on issues important to the Commonwealth.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Jason Lewis (R-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at safely reining in the size and associated costs of the federal criminal code and prison system. H.R. 4261, the Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act takes a broad-based approach to improving the federal sentencing and corrections system, spanning from sentencing reform to release policies. The legislation, which is inspired by the successes of states across the country, will break the cycle of recidivism, concentrate prison space on violent and career criminals, increase the use of evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, curtail over-criminalization, reduce crime, and save money.