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September 4, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 1.4 million jobs in August with the unemployment rate at 8.4 percent. “As we approach Labor Day, the August jobs report shows that while the economy is slowly recovering, the pandemic is continuing to devastate workers, families, and communities. The absence of federal leadership has allowed this public health emergency to balloon into an economic crisis of historic proportions.
September 3, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations, and Bobby Scott (VA-3), Chair of the Education and Labor Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting immediate action to correct the Department’s recent Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program guidelines. The Members expressed concern the Department’s guidance is misleading and includes requirements that will result in limited access to the program.
September 3, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL) hosted a press call for regional reporters today demanding the Senate act to support local schools and provide the resources they need to keep students safe and protect against potentially devastating cuts to state education budgets. The House passed funding to support local schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic more than 100 days ago. But the Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to act.
September 1, 2020
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Tomorrow, September 2nd, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, will host a virtual roundtable with parents, teachers, students, school support staff, health experts, and school officials to discuss the need for federal funding to help schools reopen safely and maintain services for students. The roundtable comes more than 100 days since the House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act to provide schools the resources they need to cope with this crisis.
September 1, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement following a pair of reports produced that found private schools received billions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the CARES Act. A report by Covid Stimulus Watch found that private schools received as much as $4.5 billion under PPP, and a separate report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projected that roughly $6 billion went to private and charter schools.
August 31, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s decision to extend waivers allowing states and schools the flexibility to more easily operate emergency summer meal programs until December 31, 2020. The announcement came days after USDA told Congress that it did not have the authority or money to extend the waivers. “After a summer in which as many as 17 million children went hungry, the federal government should be doing everything in its power to address our nation’s child hunger crisis.
August 26, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor, Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision and take action to provide healthy meals to students for the duration of the school year. “The Department’s refusal to extend all school meal waivers is inconsistent and baffling during this national crisis, especially considering that as many as 17 million children did not get enough to eat this summer and there are no signs of the situation improving once the summer is over
August 24, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) expressed strong opposition to the Department’s newest plan to misuse CARES Act emergency education funding in way that violates the intent of the law. Specifically, Chairman Scott criticized the Department’s plan to divert funds meant for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to support the Trump administration’s political agenda, including funding the ill-conceived industry-recognized apprenticeship program (IRAP), at a time when schools across the country are desperately seeking funding to cope with COVID-19.
August 22, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act: “Families, veterans, seniors, small businesses, and nonprofits across the country rely on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to receive medication, essential goods, learning materials, and more. However, the Trump Administration has implemented operational changes that have caused egregious mail delays all over the nation.
Issues:
August 22, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after a federal court blocked an interim final rule issued by the Department of Education that redirects COVID-19 relief funding from high-poverty public schools toward services for students in private schools, regardless of their wealth. “Last night, a federal judge affirmed the position of many Democrats and Republicans in finding that the Education Department is violating both the letter and spirit of the CARES Act in its handling of emergency education funding.
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In The News
September 2, 2020
In The News
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Many schools have started the new year — some in person, but most online. Some colleges are even reworking plans after COVID-19 cases spiked on campus. On Wednesday, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) spoke with parents, teachers and health experts about how to return to school safely. The virtual roundtable discussion featured parents, students, school administrators, health experts and more. Scott kicked the discussion off by saying federal funding is key for school districts to safely reopen, something that would be provided in the Heroes Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives, but is waiting for Senate approval.
August 18, 2020
In The News
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Tuesday morning, Congressman Bobby Scott met with Post Master Sharon Parker at the Newport News Post Office. The move comes after the United States Postal Service warned states mail-in votes are in jeopardy of disqualification due to lags in service. “It’s not a local problem. It’s a national problem. We need to make sure the national problems don’t filter down to the local. There have been some areas in the 3rd District where mail has been delayed. We understand that it may be temporarily COVID related and they’re working to fix that,” said Congressman Scott.
July 22, 2020
In The News
NORFOLK, Va. — Via video call, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) sat down with school principals from across the district he represents to discuss how school instruction will safely proceed in the fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congressman Scott represents Newport News and Portsmouth as well as parts of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Suffolk.
July 17, 2020
In The News
NORFOLK, Va. - The average school division needs an extra $1.8 million dollars to safely reopen this fall, according to the School Superintendents Association. Local Congressman Bobby Scott is calling on Congress to help cover that expense. "Without federal funding school districts cannot afford the personal protective equipment, soap, the hand sanitizer, the cleaning sanitation services, and many other critical measures recommended by the CDC," Scott said during a virtual round table with teachers on Friday morning.
July 17, 2020
In The News
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are criticizing the White House for blocking the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from testifying at a public hearing on safely reopening the nation’s schools. Democrats said they invited CDC officials, including director Robert Redfield, to testify at a hearing next Thursday but were rebuffed by the White House. A committee spokesperson said the panel asked for any CDC official to testify but was rejected.
July 8, 2020
In The News
House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) on Wednesday blasted President Trump's push for schools to fully reopen in the fall despite rising coronavirus cases in the U.S. as a dangerous move that could pose health risks to students and educators. Vice President Pence said earlier Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will issue additional guidance next week on reopening schools after Trump criticized the agency's current recommendations as "very tough and expensive."
June 15, 2020
In The News
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Congressman Bobby Scott is working on a bill to reform police departments. Scott introduced the “Justice in Policing Act” to House and Senate Democrats last Monday. This comes after the senseless death of George Floyd. While in police custody, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Issues:
June 11, 2020
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) — Congressman Bobby Scott sent a letter on Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General William Barr demanding the Justice Department to enforce the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013 (DCRA). The DCRA requires states receiving federal criminal justice grants to report the deaths of individuals that occur in police custody. This includes those who are arrested, in transit to incarceration, or incarcerated in state or local facilities.
Issues:
June 1, 2020
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Bobby Scott is calling on the government to implement the Death in Custody Reporting Act which would require states to report any deaths during arrests or in custody to the Attorney General.
Pointing the killing of George Floyd, Scott said we’ve again witnessed the “senseless and avoidable” death of an unarmed black man at the hands of law enforcement. Scott said understanding the scope of the problem requires data but charged that the Department of Justice has “repeatedly failed” to implement the Death in Custody Reporting Act.
Issues:
May 7, 2020
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) — Nearly two months after coronavirus concerns shuttered many American businesses, Congress is beginning to talk about how to reopen the country. Virginia Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va. 3rd District) held a press conference on Thursday with other members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia and Maryland. The lawmakers spoke about the necessary steps the United States must take before reopening businesses, schools and governments.