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WASHINGTON, DC – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Trump delivered this State of the Union Address before Congress. “During President Trump’s first year in office, his administration and Congressional Republicans have subjected students and workers to a constant barrage of attacks. Under President Trump’s leadership, the administration has moved to allow employers to pocket workers’ tips, jeopardized workplace safety, and made it harder for workers to form a union or save for retirement. This administration has also prevented students saddled with debt from getting relief, removed protections that improve equity in education, and exposed victims of sexual assault and transgender students to potential discrimination and harassment. Congressional Republicans and the administration also spent the better part of a year sabotaging access to affordable health care. These actions include, denying women contraceptive coverage, pushing to undermine consumer protections for small businesses and their employees, increasing the cost of health insurance, and increasing the number of people who are uninsured.

WASHINGTON, DC – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the nine year anniversary of the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that empowers workers to recover lost wages due to pay discrimination by extending the time period in which an employee can file a claim. “Last week, hundreds of thousands of women and men took to the streets to demand equal rights, including workplaces free from discrimination and harassment. As we commemorate the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act ─ a step towards equity in the workplace ─ we must also acknowledge we still have a ways to go."

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Wyatt Tee Walker: “It is with deep sadness that I note the passing of Wyatt Tee Walker. Reverend Walker, a close aide to Martin Luther King Jr., was an international advocate for equality, but he began much of his work in Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Union University, founded the Petersburg Improvement Association, and led the local chapter of the NAACP. He was one of the most prominent voices for civil rights, and his passing is a loss for the Commonwealth and the nation. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and to anyone affected by his passing.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) today requested the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to expand a previously requested investigation into the potentially illegal submission of fake comments to federal regulatory agencies. The four Democratic committee leaders made their request in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray. It follows a June request from Pallone that the DOJ and FBI investigate whether fake comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of the net neutrality public comment period violated federal law.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05), vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), vice ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Alexander Acosta requesting the DOL hold public hearings on its proposed rule to allow employers to pocket tips of workers who are paid at least the minimum wage.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting for the three-week Continuing Resolution (CR) to end the Trump government shutdown: "While I have often said CRs are a bad way to govern, it became increasingly clear that President Trump and Congressional Republicans were willing to never reopen the government. That’s even worse than governing by CRs. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. We now have three weeks to come together to pass a year-long budget to avoid another shutdown. It is incumbent on Republicans to work constructively with Democrats on a long-term agreement that actually funds the federal government and the military for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 and fully addresses sequestration, health care, disaster relief, the opioid epidemic, and guarantees protections for DREAMers.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against the House Republicans’ latest short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government: “Today’s vote was the fourth Continuing Resolution (CR) in as many months. CRs are an abdication of Congress’ constitutional responsibility to ensure that our federal government efficiently and effectively serves the American people. CRs hamstring federal agencies and freeze their ability to award new grants and puts a hold on the Department of Defense’ ability to sign new contracts for shipbuilding, ship maintenance, and other critical national security priorities. Additionally, due to operating under continued uncertainty as a result of CRs, federal agencies waste billions of dollars planning on divergent budget scenarios, including preparing for a government shutdown."