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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."
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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of longtime Hampton University Photographer Reuben Burrell:
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Reuben Burrell. For more than six decades, he served as Hampton University’s photographer where he affectionately became known as ‘One Shot Burrell.’ He skillfully documented the history of the university and the City of Hampton as it unfolded behind his camera lens.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act (S. 353/H.R. 706) in the Senate and House of Representatives. The Justice Safety Valve Act would give federal judges the ability to impose sentences below mandatory minimums in appropriate cases based upon mitigating factors.
“Mandatory minimum sentences have been studied extensively and have been found to distort rational sentencing systems, discriminate against minorities, waste money, and often require a judge to impose sentences that violate common sense,” stated Rep. Scott. “To add insult to injury, studies have shown that mandatory minimum sentences fail to reduce crime. Our bill will give discretion back to federal judges so that they can consider all the facts, issues, and circumstances before sentencing.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Ranking Members of the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce decried today’s attempt by House Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – the 56th such attempt since the law’s enactment – and the Republicans’ sustained attack to undermine access to quality, affordable health care for millions of hard-working Americans. Ranking Members Sander Levin (D-MI), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) released the following joint statement after today’s vote:
"Once again, Republicans have tried to rob millions of Americans of their access to dependable, quality health care. Today's vote marks the 56th time House Republicans have attempted to undermine the Affordable Care Act. The GOP continues to disregard the plain, simple fact that the ACA is working. In 2014, the uninsured rate dropped to just 12.9 percent, and 19 million Americans have obtained ACA-sponsored coverage. Five years later, it is irresponsible for Republicans to pretend that the law and its landmark reforms can simply be taken away from American families.
February 3, 2015
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 596.
As the new ranking member on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I know that protecting access to affordable health care for America's workers and families is a high priority. Despite scare tactics and misinformation, the bottom line is that the Affordable Care Act is working. Perhaps those who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act have a short memory. It is important to remember why the Affordable Care Act was passed in the first place.