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February 27, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concerns with H.R. 228. While the legislation seeks to provide additional flexibility and support to Indian tribes--a worthy goal--I remain concerned that it could have the effect of weakening the services provided to families and children in Indian tribes.
Currently, Indian tribes have the option to consolidate certain federal funding streams related to work and job training into one grant. H.R. 228 includes a number of changes to this consolidation option and expands the number of programs that can be consolidated.
February 22, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the White House announced that it will repeal the Obama Administration’s Title IX guidance protecting the rights of transgender students.
“The impact of the Trump Administration’s repeal of the Title IX guidance leaves LGBTQ students in at least 31 states vulnerable to bullying and discrimination. A student’s right to equal education should not be impeded by an unsafe learning environment.
“Last May, the Obama Administration’s Department of Education issued guidance to clarify that transgender students are protected under Title IX. That law, passed in 1972, prohibits disparate treatment, disparate impact, and retaliation based on sex in education.
February 18, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) will hold a town hall on the Affordable Care Act in Franklin, Virginia on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. The town hall will provide an overview of the Affordable Care Act and other health care initiatives at the federal level. This will be an opportunity for constituents to ask questions and receive information regarding repeal efforts and the impact this will have on their health care coverage.
Issues:Health Care
February 15, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) received the Congressional Champion of Youth Award from Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Congressman Scott was honored for his extraordinary support of Boys and Girls Clubs and his ongoing dedication to the youth of our nation.
“As a strong supporter of Boys and Girls Clubs, I am honored to receive the Congressional Champion of Youth Award,” said Rep. Scott. “Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe haven for our youth and encourage them to make good life decisions. In my district alone, Boys and Girls Clubs serve thousands of young people across Hampton Roads. Through active engagement in our communities, we can help effect change, one child at a time.
February 15, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, our country is experiencing a retirement security crisis. Nearly 40 million private sector workers do not have access to a retirement savings plan at their jobs. The data and research also show that many middle- and low-income workers lack the ability to save enough on their own for retirement. Too many Americans lack access to retirement savings plans and too few are able to build a retirement nest egg on their own.
Unfortunately, Congress has not stepped up to comprehensively address our country's retirement security challenges, but many States have stepped up and enacted innovative solutions to expand working people's access to retirement savings. California passed a law establishing a program that is estimated to provide 6.8 million workers access to a retirement savings plan. In Illinois, more than a million people are expected to benefit from the State's retirement savings program.
February 14, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Grace Meng (NY-06) issued the following joint statement today on the recent shooting death of Jiansheng Chen, a Chesapeake, VA. Late last month, Mr.Chen was fatally shot by a neighborhood security guard while playing Pokemon Go. Police are presently investigating the incident. “We are deeply saddened over the death of Jiansheng Chen. We are also concerned about the manner and circumstances in which he lost his life. Many questions remain and need to be answered, and we call on local authorities to conduct their investigation thoroughly and expeditiously.
February 14, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and Representatives Robert Wittman, Donald McEachin, and Scott Taylor to honor Dr. Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, an extraordinary group of women from Hampton Roads, Virginia recently featured in the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Tomorrow evening, Senators WARNER, KAINE, and BROWN are joining me in hosting a screening of Hidden Figures here at the United States Capitol. I would like to take a moment to recognize the accomplishments of the remarkable women depicted in this film
Breaking down barriers of both gender and race at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, these women, and many like them, laid the groundwork for John Glenn to become the first American to orbit the earth, and for Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon. I am proud that their stories are reaching a wider audience.
Issues:Civil RightsEducation
February 7, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Rob Wittman (R-01), Bobby Scott (D-03), Gerry Connolly (D-11), Don Beyer (D-08), and Scott Taylor (R-02) today reintroduced legislation to grant federal recognition to six Virginia Indian tribes. The bill, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017.
The legislation would grant federal recognition to the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribes. These tribes have received official recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia but have faced barriers preventing them from receiving federal recognition because of gaps in official records. Specifically, the Virginia tribes lack formal treaties with the U.S. Government because they made peace with England well before the establishment of the United States.
February 7, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 58, the joint resolution of disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to teacher preparation programs.
This resolution would not only block the rule in question, but according to the rules of the CRA, it would tie the hands of this and of any future administration from re-regulating the provisions until a successful reauthorization of the Higher Education Act might take place.
Mr. Speaker, this rule in question provides clarity to States on how to increase teacher preparation program quality, transparency, and the equitable distribution of well-prepared teachers. It was promulgated to enable compliance with the statutory provision included in the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
February 7, 2017
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition of H.J. Res. 57. This resolution takes aim at the heart of the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. That bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This resolution would strike down regulations that provide necessary clarity to States about what it means to ensure that all students are taught to high standards, and what it means to provide accurate data on student academic performance and resource equity.
States now lack direction needed to proceed with implementation of the bill. Just last week, the Department removed all ESSA technical assistance to the States from the public domain, despite numerous and repeated requests for technical assistance from State and local leaders.