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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statement today after President Barack Obama announced that the Department of Labor will lay out new standards to ensure retirement advisors act in the best interest of their clients when giving investment advice:
"Today's announcement by the President is another critical step toward improving every American family's retirement security. Too many middle-class and working families are worried about saving enough for retirement. According to recent data, 71 percent of Americans who are not yet retired say that it is too hard keep up with their bills and also save for retirement. And more than half of American households are at risk not saving enough to maintain their current standard of living in retirement. While we need to do more to help families save for retirement, the very least we can do is safeguard the retirement investments they have already made.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-3), and Don Beyer (VA-8) today wrote Interior Secretary Sally Jewell citing their serious concerns that Virginia and neighboring states are included in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s draft five-year plan for offshore oil and gas development.
The Virginia congressmen asked Jewell to reconsider the decision to include portions of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in the offshore leasing program for 2017-2022. Instead, they suggested that the Interior Department “build on opportunities to expand renewable energy production, such as wind energy,” which has the potential to generate nearly as much energy as offshore drilling and create 50 percent more jobs.
Issues:Energy & Environment
Reps. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) have introduced legislation that would allow courts to sentence drug crime offenders on a case-by-case basis. Scott, the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, argued the current policy of mandatory minimum prison sentences for nonviolent drug crimes is ineffective.
"Studies of mandatory minimums conclude that they fail to reduce crime, they waste the taxpayers' money, they discriminate against minorities, and they often require the imposition of sentences that violate common sense," Scott said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the Department of Health and Human Services’ release of open enrollment data for the Health Insurance Marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
“The enrollment data released today shows that the Affordable Care Act is working to provide affordable health insurance to millions of Americans. During the second open enrollment period which ended on February 15th, 11.4 million consumers selected plans or were automatically re-enrolled through HealthCare.gov or state-based Marketplaces – up from the 8 million who enrolled last year. This number includes 384,612 Virginians who selected plans through the Marketplace this year. Even more Virginians could benefit from the ACA if the Virginia General Assembly voted to expand Medicaid.
Issues:Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, and Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Va., introduced the Smarter Sentencing Act today to bring common sense and flexibility to federal criminal sentencing laws. The bill would allow courts to make individualized assessments in nonviolent drug cases, ensuring that limited resources are focused on the most serious offenders, while maintaining public safety. A companion bill has been introduced in the United States Senate by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). "I am honored to join Congressman Labrador as a cosponsor of the Smarter Sentencing Act," said Rep. Scott. "Granting federal judges more discretion in sentencing for nonviolent drug offenses is the right thing to do. Studies of mandatory minimums conclude that they fail to reduce crime, they waste the taxpayers’ money, they discriminate against minorities, and they often require the imposition of sentences that violate common sense.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) received the 2015 Congressional Champion Award from The Corps Network in recognition of his leadership on behalf of service, conservation, and the young men and women serving communities in Virginia and across the country. The Corps Network helps disadvantaged young people develop job and leadership skills through a variety of service projects designed to address important environment and community needs.
“I am honored to be recognized by The Corps Network for my work in Congress,” said Rep. Scott. “Ensuring opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk youth is critical to keeping them on the right track towards graduating high school and going on to college or into the workforce. I have focused my work in Congress on promoting comprehensive, evidence-based efforts to achieve this goal."
Issues:Economy and JobsEducation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner along with U.S. Congressmen Rob Wittman (R-01), Bobby Scott (D-03), Gerry Connolly (D-11), and Don Beyer (D-08) 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 2015, was introduced by Kaine and Wittman in the Senate and House, respectively. The bipartisan delegation introduced an earlier version of the bill in the 113th Congress, which was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in April 2014.
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.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is working, and now is the time to make the law work even better for you — by signing up for insurance in the Marketplace while you have the chance.
If you or members of your family do not currently have access to health insurance through an employer, TRICARE, Medicare, CHIP or Medicaid, then you have until Feb. 15 to sign up for quality, affordable health care insurance via HealthCare.gov.
Already, millions of Americans — including more than 300,000 Virginians — have signed up for health insurance plans through the Marketplace. But we know that even more people could use the Marketplace to get covered.
Issues:Health Care
WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) today introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), which would help protect public school students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) will be introducing the companion bill in the Senate today. “Evidence shows that discrimination against LGBT students deprives them of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underperforming academically, and dropping out,” said Rep. Scott, ranking Democratic member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “School must be a place where all students feel welcome and safe to thrive.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that employers added 257,000 jobs last month. January’s employment figures means the economy has now had a record 59 consecutive months of private sector job growth, resulting in the addition of 11.8 million new jobs.
“Today’s jobs report is a sign that our economy is maintaining momentum and continuing to grow. Job creation over the last 12 months is stronger than it has been since 2000, and January capped off the best three-month span for job growth in 17 years.