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Press Releases

October 31, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education issued final changes to federal requirements on institution accreditation. “Students and parents view college accreditation as a seal of approval from the federal government. By rolling back standards for accreditors, the Department is undermining a key driver of institutional accountability, further exposing students and taxpayers to fraud and abuse at the hands of low-quality schools.

October 29, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of former Governor Gerald L. Baliles: “I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and our former governor, Gerald Baliles. As the Commonwealth’s 65th governor, Jerry governed with a calm, yet passionate demeanor that allowed him to secure historic investments in transportation, education and the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay.

October 28, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House voted unanimously to pass the Dignity in Aging Act, a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) that increases funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity. The OAA currently serves roughly 11 million older Americans, including 3 million older Americans who regularly rely on OAA programs to meet their basic needs.

October 22, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos threatening to subpoena documents regarding the Department’s role in the abrupt closure of Dream Center Education Holdings, a for-profit college chain that collapsed last year. The letter is Chairman Scott’s second request for documents and transcribed interviews that would shed light on the Department’s behind-the-scenes effort to prop up the struggling schools.

October 17, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Alan Diamonstein: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Delegate Alan Diamonstein. In 1977, I was honored to join Alan and Ted Morrison as members of the Newport News delegation in the Virginia House of Delegates. He helped me to quickly become accustomed to the way business was conducted in Richmond.

October 17, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-07): “The passing of Congressman Cummings is a devastating loss for the Congress, Maryland and the nation. Congressman Cummings served with passion for the rule of law and always governed in a respectful manner, even when dealing with some of the most critical and controversial issues facing Congress.

October 16, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to an internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing nearly one million children will lose automatic access to free school meals under its proposed changes to eligibility for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). “The internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture shows that the impact of its proposed rule would be even worse than we had feared.

October 15, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Committee on Education and Labor introduced the College Affordability Act—a comprehensive overhaul of the higher education system that lowers the cost of college for students and families, improves the quality of higher education through stronger accountability, and expands opportunity by providing students the support and flexibility they need to succeed. The landmark legislation comes more than 10 years after the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and at a time when the combination of rising tuition and inconsistent quality is undermining students’ access to the benefits of a college degree.

October 9, 2019
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – On Friday, October 11th, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) will convene a forum at Hampton University with students and administrators from across Hampton Roads to discuss the cost of college. This roundtable comes as Congress is working to reauthorize the Higher Education Act.

October 7, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chair Alma Adams (NC-12) sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to strengthen monitoring and protections for engineered stone fabrication workers at high risk of silicosis and other silica-related diseases.