Press Releases
October 6, 2022
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement: “I applaud President Biden for the actions announced today to reform how the federal government treats marijuana. President Biden said repeatedly on the campaign trail that nobody should be in jail solely for using or possessing marijuana. I was honored to co-chair the Democratic Party’s 2020 Platform Criminal Justice Unity Task Force, and this announcement is consistent with the recommendations we made to then-candidate Biden.
September 29, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) submitted the following remarks in support of H.R. 7780, the Mental Health Matters Act, into the Congressional Record. “I rise today in strong support of the Mental Health Matters Act, led by the gentleman from California, Mr. DeSaulnier. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis among students, workers, and families. In 2021, over 44 percent of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness; almost 20 percent seriously considered suicide; and 9 percent actually attempted suicide.
September 28, 2022
WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. In 1985, then-Virginia Senator Robert C. “Bobby” Scott chaired the Joint Subcommittee on Hunger and Malnutrition in the Commonwealth and commissioned a report on hunger in Virginia. “I applaud President Biden for organizing the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in more than a half a century. We know that, even before the pandemic, far too many Americans struggled to put healthy food on the table
September 23, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to rescind the Trump-era Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program. "I applaud the Department of Labor for ending the previous Administration’s Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), a wasteful scheme to divert funding away from the proven Registered Apprenticeship system. IRAPs discarded key features responsible for the success of our Registered Apprenticeship system, including quality standards and worker protections.
September 20, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks during today’s floor debate on the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act. “I’m pleased to rise in support of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act, led in the Senate by my colleague from Virginia, Senator Mark Warner, and led in the House by the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman David Price.
September 15, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act, to lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The new legislation builds on President Biden’s historic one-time student loan debt relief announcement last month to forgive up to $20,000 in outstanding federal student loan debt for millions of borrowers.
September 14, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Elaine Luria (VA-02) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro urging him to appoint a Director of Psychological Health at each Navy and Marine Corps installation. “There have been over 30,000 estimated deaths [of servicemembers and veterans] by suicide since 2001,” the letter states.“Each death is a tragedy and together they represent a widespread failing to properly treat, manage, and understand the mental health needs of America’s military personnel. This crisis requires decisive and immediate action, and few incidents demonstrate that urgency more than the recent string of suicides among sailors serving on USS George Washington in Newport News, Virginia.”
Issues:Defense & National Security
September 7, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a District Court judge ruled to invalidate several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that govern which forms of preventive care—such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving health services—must be covered by health insurers. “For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Americans with access to preventive care, such as cancer screenings, vaccinations, contraception, and chronic disease screenings, without having to pay anything out of pocket.
September 6, 2022
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement: “Earlier tonight I tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing very mild COVID-like symptoms. Per CDC guidelines, I will self-isolate and will follow the directives of my doctor. I am grateful to be fully-vaccinated and double boosted. Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted if they haven’t yet done so. I will continue working remotely on behalf of Virginia’s Third Congressional District.
Issues:COVID-19
September 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 315,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent. Today’s jobs report shows that the economy is continuing to exceed pre-pandemic job levels and returning to a steady and stable position. Just over 9.7 million jobs have been created since January 2021, exceeding the pre-pandemic highwater mark by 240,000 jobs. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and Congressional Democrats’ swift action, our nation’s workforce has not only recovered, but come back even stronger. This is a direct result of the American Rescue Plan Act, which got people back to work safely; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is creating millions of good-paying jobs; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering the cost of everyday goods.