Press Releases
June 12, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement on today’s trade votes:
“While I am a strong supporter of Trade Adjustment Assistance that provides needed support to workers who have had their jobs shipped overseas, I was unable to vote for today’s TAA title of the Trade Act. When taken into context, this TAA authorization fell woefully short in our duty to support American workers. It lacked adequate funding, left out a large sector of the economy, and is tied directly to Congress granting the President Trade Promotion Authority.
June 11, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) today announced the introduction of H.R. 2728, the Youth Justice Act of 2015. The legislation would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974, which has not been reauthorized by Congress in over a decade. The bill reinforces federal safeguards for state juvenile justice systems, by renewing education, safety, and prevention standards for our nation’s youth. The legislation is based on S. 2999, a bipartisan bill that was introduced on December 11, 2014 by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
June 11, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Rob Wittman, Gerry Connolly, Robert Hurt, Dave Brat, and Don Beyer urged the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations to oppose language in the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that that would jeopardize funding for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) at Fort Pickett. The delegation believes the proposed language is a form of protest against the selection of Fort Pickett over other possible sites and part of a broader attempt to derail the process.
June 5, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) along with U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Randy Forbes (R-VA-4), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-1) applauded the U.S. Navy for signing a more than $4 billion contract to award the construction of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) to Newport News Shipbuilding. “Today’s announcement marks an important step forward in designing and building the second in this new Ford class of aircraft carriers,” said Sen. Warner. “This contract will allow Newport News Shipbuilding to plan for the future and provides stability and predictability for its workers, the world’s best shipbuilders.”
June 5, 2015
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court in Richmond again ruling in Page v. Virginia State Board of Elections that the 2012 congressional redistricting plan implemented by the Commonwealth of Virginia as it pertains to the 3rd Congressional District was unconstitutional and that the Virginia General Assembly must draw new boundaries by September 1, 2015:
“Today’s decision by the U.S. District Court is consistent with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama.
June 5, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) released the following statement today after the release of the monthly jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS announced that during the month of May, 280,000 jobs were created – the strongest month this year. The private sector has now added 12.6 million jobs over 63 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record.
May 26, 2015
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement upon learning of the passing of Franklin P. “Frank” Hall, a former member and minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates:
“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Frank Hall. I always valued his guidance and counsel both during my service in the General Assembly and in Congress. He was the consummate public servant who dedicated his life and career in service to his fellow Virginians. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Phoebe, his children and grandchildren, and his countless friends and supporters.”
May 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his No vote on S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015:
“Human trafficking is abhorrent and a form of modern-day slavery. And as a co-chair of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus, I am committed to ensuring that we end this illegal trade and provide the necessary support for survivors.
“S. 178 incorporates numerous bi-partisan human trafficking bills that I strongly support and will significantly help curtail this illegal trade and provide additional support for survivors. Unfortunately, the bill includes a provision that unnecessarily expands mandatory minimum sentencing.
May 18, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), issued the following statement on 50th Anniversary of the Head Start program, which has granted millions of children access to high quality preschool:
“Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced from the White House Rose Garden that enrollment would begin for an early childhood education program called “Project Head Start” as part of his Great Society and War on Poverty programs. For the last half century, Head Start has been more than just an education program. It has helped generations of disadvantaged families and young children break through class barriers in school and life through a holistic approach that includes high quality preschool and critical support services, including family engagement, health services and good nutrition.
May 15, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his No vote on H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016:
“I support a strong national defense and our men and women in uniform, but I could not support this year’s National Defense Authorization Act in its current form.
“The bill shields the Department of Defense from sequestration by moving billions of Defense Department funding into the Overseas Contingency Operations Account, which is exempted from sequestration. Democrats and Republicans all agree that sequestration is bad policy and must be addressed, but using accounting gimmicks to protect only the Defense side of the budget ledger while still allowing sequestration to arbitrarily cut education, transportation, health care and every other vital function of government is irresponsible and irrational.
Issues:Defense & National Security