Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12), introduced the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act of 2022 (H.R. 6462). This legislation would extend the black lung excise tax rate, which expired at the end of last year, to fund future benefits and health care for miners suffering from black lung disease. Without revenue from the tax, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is at-risk of becoming insolvent at a time when the number of black lung cases is rapidly increasing. A May 2018 GAO report found that failure to extend the tax rate will increase the Fund’s debt from approximately $5 billion to $15 billion by 2050.

WASHINGTON, DC —Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott and Elaine Luria (both D-VA), applauded $369,000,000 in federal funding for a number of key projects, including the City of Norfolk’s Coastal Storm Risk Management project and the Norfolk Harbor Widening and Deepening project. This funding, awarded through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), was made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which was negotiated by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine and Reps. Scott and Luria.

WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter to President Biden and Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) urged the Administration to reverse its plans to remove an emergency workplace safety standard that protects health care workers from COVID-19. The Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) – which was issued by the Biden Administration in June 2021 – requires health care facilities to take necessary steps to protect health care workers from the grave danger of COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Food and Nutrition Service approved Virginia’s plan to participate in the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. The program – established by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – allows states to provide additional funding for struggling families with children who cannot access free or reduced-price school meals during the pandemic. “This is great news for hundreds of thousands of Virginia families who have struggled to put enough food on the table during the pandemic.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to reject the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccine or test requirement for employers with 100 or more employees. “While I am relieved that the Supreme Court upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rule protecting health care workers and patients, today’s decision is a significant setback in our efforts to protect workers from COVID-19 in the workplace.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 199,000 in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent. "Today’s jobs report caps a historic year of recovery. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our nation created more jobs in 2021 than any other year on record.  The Biden-Harris economic agenda is getting Americans back to work. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan not only accelerated our economic recovery, it also delivered vital resources to help communities fight COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced an increase in the amount of money the federal government will reimburse states for school meal programs. “I applaud the Biden Administration for taking an important step to help preserve school meal programs for children and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for school meal programs at a time when more families than ever are relying on them for essential services. 

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – ON MONDAY, January 10th, Congressman Bobby Scott will host a public health webinar focused on COVID-19. Congressman Scott will be joined by health experts to discuss the Omicron variant, vaccinations, and other precautions individuals can take to protect themselves and their families. This will be an opportunity for constituents to learn and ask any questions they may have.