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March 8, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act: “The For The People Act is a historic legislative package to help reform our democracy. H.R. 1 will help restore political power to the people by strengthening ethics laws, ending the culture of corruption in Washington and reducing the role of dark, unaccountable money in politics."
Issues:
March 7, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor proposed to raise the overtime salary threshold to $35,308 from $23,660. The overtime threshold is the level below which salaried executive, administrative and professional workers must receive overtime pay for each hour worked after 40 hours per week. “The new overtime salary threshold proposed by the Department of Labor falls far short of meeting the needs of workers who are struggling to get ahead. While some people will see benefits under the new threshold, the proposal would exclude millions of workers who would have benefited under the 2016 Obama administration rule, which would have increased the threshold to nearly $50,000.
March 7, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) today announced that she is leading bipartisan House legislation that would fully fund the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program for the next five years, ensuring that states get the resources they need to comply with their obligations to protect and preserve the Bay. Original House cosponsors of the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act include Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force Co-Chairs Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03). Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) are leading the effort in the Senate.
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March 7, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia vacated the Education Department’s delay of the Equity in IDEA rule. The Obama-era rule, which Secretary DeVos had delayed for two years, helps schools address persistent and pervasive disparities in identification, placement, and discipline of students of color with disabilities. “Today’s court ruling is a major victory for students and parents and an important step toward ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality, equitable education in a safe and healthy environment."
March 6, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Committee on Education and Labor approved the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582), a proposal to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2024. The Raise the Wage Act would give nearly 40 million workers a raise and, by putting money in the pockets of American workers, provide an economic stimulus to local businesses and communities. “Today, the Committee took an important step toward lifting millions of American workers out poverty by raising the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade,” said Chairman Bobby Scott.
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February 28, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – With the support of leaders from the civil rights, social justice and faith communities, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), and Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today reintroduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Do No Harm Act would clarify that no one can seek religious exemption from laws guaranteeing fundamental civil and legal rights. Originally introduced in response to the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores decision that made it possible for corporations to deny health care to female employees, the legislation would also overturn the Trump administration’s recent waiver allowing child welfare agencies in South Carolina to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals and different religions.
February 28, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) announced the beginning of the 26th Annual Third Congressional District High School Art Competition. The competition is open to all high school students (grades 9-12) residing in the Third Congressional District of Virginia. Entries are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019. An Artistic Discovery is a nationwide program coordinated by Members of the United States House of Representatives to recognize the artistic talents of our youth. The nationwide competition involves more than 50,000 talented high school students. In the past, over 200 Members of Congress have participated in the program.
February 27, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), a Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus’ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019: “For far too long Congress has sat idly by as countless Americans have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. That ended today with the House passing the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Requiring background checks for all firearm purchases and closing the gun show loophole both have large public support, and they are an important first step in making our communities safer. Today’s vote reflects our commitment to addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country. It is now up to the Senate to follow our lead and pass this long overdue bill.”
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February 26, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 46, a resolution to terminate President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border: “Today, the House voted to stop President Trump’s unconstitutional abuse of emergency power. There is no sudden emergency at the border. Furthermore, the wall does not address any of the alleged problems outlined by the President. We know the wall would not reduce crime, stop the flow of drugs into the country, nor address the issue of refugees seeking asylum at ports of entry.
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February 26, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor, and Chairman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (NMI-AL), House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, along with 96 other cosponsors, introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act − a comprehensive early learning and child care bill to ensure affordable, high-quality child care for working middle class families and those living paycheck to paycheck. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced a companion bill in the Senate with 35 cosponsors.
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In The News
February 6, 2015
In The News
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.
February 3, 2015
In The News
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 2, 2015
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), the ranking Democratic member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2016:
“President Obama’s budget proposal lays out a fiscally responsible blueprint to strengthen the middle class by investing in workers, students, children, and families. The President’s budget would reverse the arbitrary, destructive spending cuts of the last four years and make critical investments in our nation’s future.
January 22, 2015
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, ranking member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today after President Obama outlined his budget plan to increase access, affordability and quality of child care and early childhood education for working and middle-class families across the country:
“Today, President Obama outlined a vital step we must take to give working and middle-class families with young children access to affordable, high-quality child care. By tripling the maximum child care tax credit and making landmark investments in the Child Care and Development Fund, the President’s plan would make child care significantly more affordable for millions of families.
January 22, 2015
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of House members today introduced legislation that would improve support for youth who are victims of sex trafficking. It is estimated that each year 300,000 children become victims of sex trafficking. Many of these children were once involved in a state child welfare system, yet their experience with sexual exploitation may go undetected. Led by Reps. Joe Heck (R-NV) and Karen Bass (D-CA), members are introducing bipartisan legislation that will enhance other support services for victims and improve the child welfare response to trafficking:
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January 12, 2015
In The News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s new proposals for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), ranking member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today, the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the nation’s cornerstone K-12 education law:
January 12, 2015
In The News
Rep. Bobby Scott was appalled by the findings of a Senate report detailing the enhanced interrogation methods used by the Central Intelligence Agency in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Senate report detailed many instances when the U.S. waterboarded suspected terrorists, a drowning-like procedure in which interrogators covered detainees’ faces with a cloth and doused them with water, sometimes until they fell unconscious.
Scott, D-3rd, denounced the waterboarding as a torture method inconsistent with the United States’ image as a "moral authority" and said the report shows the country "failed to lead by example."
"After World War II, we tried, convicted, and in some cases, executed Japanese soldiers for war crimes that included charges of waterboarding," Scott said in a Dec. 9 news release.
January 5, 2015
In The News
Rep. Bobby Scott probably didn’t think he’d be the one wrestling with House Republicans over education bill language and spending levels in the 114th Congress.
Scott, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s new ranking member, was suddenly up for the post last spring, after former ranking Democrat Rep. George Miller announced plans to retire and New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews, who was the next-most senior Democrat on the committee, abruptly resigned amid an ethics investigation. That unexpectedly pushed Scott, a 12-term Democrat from Virginia, to the front of the line. Rumors that Rep. John Tierney might mount a challenge evaporated when the Massachusetts congressman lost his primary race.
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December 11, 2014
In The News
Congress reauthorized legislation this week that will require states to report the number of people killed during an arrest or while in police custody.
"You can't begin to improve the situation unless you know what the situation is," Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), one of the bill's sponsors, said in an interview with the Washington Post. "We will now have the data."
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September 23, 2014
In The News
HAMPTON - Congressman Bobby Scott said if the United States wants to be successful fighting ISIS in the Middle East, Congress needs to be on board with the effort.
Congressman Scott also said that for too long congress has ignored the constitutional mandate to declare war when war needs to be declared. Dating back to the Vietnam War, "Congress wants to have it both ways, you want to be able to complain when things don't go right and you don't want to take responsibility up front, and we've been able to get away with that for 50-years and there's a lot of support for keeping it the way it is," Scott said. 13News Now interviewed Scott at a military veterans town hall meeting. Scott held the meeting to discuss the challenges veterans face with the Hampton V.A. Medical Center.