Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

Scott Statement on Workforce Pell Final Rule

Position: Supports expanding Pell Grant access to workforce training programs and emphasizes the importance of robust oversight to ensure program quality and effective state administration.

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) finalized a new rule regarding the Workforce Pell Grant program. “Expanding Pell Grant access to support students seeking short-term training programs, such as IT, health care, finance, and manufacturing courses, has long been a bipartisan priority. In the 117th Congress, I helped advance legislation to expand access to Pell Grants for workforce programs through the House of Representatives as part of the America COMPETES Act nd in the 118th Congress, I worked with then-Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-01) to lead the Committee passage of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. “If implemented properly, expanding Pell Grant access could create new pathways for Americans to gain in-demand skills, increase their earning potential, and access greater economic mobility in today’s economy. I look forward to conducting robust oversight to ensure that only high-quality workforce programs are approved. We must also ensure the Department provides states with the resources and guidance they need to administer these programs efficiently and effectively to maximize the impact.” ### Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceEducation

Scott Statement on Virginia Supreme Court Decision on Redistricting Referendum

Position: Congressman Scott opposes the Virginia Supreme Court's decision blocking a voter-approved redistricting referendum, arguing it overrides the will of Virginia voters and prevents response to partisan and racial gerrymandering. He criticizes the Court's interpretation of the Virginia Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions limiting voting rights protections.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement: “Two weeks ago, Virginia’s voters stood up to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans’ unprecedented attempt to redraw congressional maps in the middle of the decade in an effort to rig the midterms. And now the Virginia Supreme Court has overridden the will of Virginia’s voters with this unprecedented interpretation of the Virginia Constitution, preventing Virginia from responding to partisan and racially discriminatory gerrymandering all over the country. As Chief Justice Powell noted in her dissent, the majority relied on a convoluted interpretation of the law and definition of ‘election’ to overturn the clearly expressed will of Virginia’s voters. In fact, the majority spent significant time in their opinion describing what they thought the law ought to be instead of what it is. “This happens in the context of the U.S. Supreme Court repeatedly allowing partisan and racial gerrymandering. Just last week in the Louisiana v. Callais case, the Court destroyed what remained of the Voting Rights Act, making it easier for many states to silence the voices of African American communities. Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Missouri have already acted to eliminate many seats held by Black and Hispanic Members of Congress. Just yesterday, the Tennessee legislature approved a plan that eliminated a majority Black district in Memphis that had allowed Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice for over 50 years. And we expect further action in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. “Republican politicians across the country are trying to dilute voters’ voices, but we cannot allow that to happen. Ultimately, Virginia’s voters will have the final say on who represents them in Washington this fall.” Issues:Voting Rights

Scott Statement on April Jobs Report

Position: The statement criticizes the Trump Administration's economic policies, arguing they have prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations while failing to deliver robust job growth and affordability for workers. The release advocates for raising the minimum wage, protecting workers' right to organize, and expanding paid leave as solutions to the affordability crisis.

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy gained 115,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. “Rather than making life more affordable, the Trump Administration has prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations while leaving workers behind. The results speak for themselves: lackluster job growth, multiple months of job losses, and an economy that isn't working for most Americans. And in February 2026, the American Farm Bureau Federation releaseda report which found that Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies surged by 46 percent last year. Under President Biden, at this point in his term, the economy created 8.8 million jobs, compared to just 468,000 under President Trump's second term. “Last month, Committee Democrats convened leading experts to examine the real-world toll of Republican economic policies, from shuttered factories to skyrocketing gas prices. In addition to outlining the damage, they identified concrete steps Congress can take to deliver relief, such as raising the minimum wage, protecting the right to organize, and expanding access to paid leave. “American workers deserve better. Committee Democrats have a clear agenda to address the affordability crisis: lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and raise wages. Together, we can restore the promise of the American dream.” To see a chart comparing the cumulative seasonally adjusted job change by month between President Trump's first and second terms, and President Biden's presidency,click here. To see a chart comparing the total job change between President Trump's first 15 months in office and President Biden's first 15 months in office,click here. ### Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceEconomy and Jobs

Scott Statement on FBI Raid on Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement: “While we await the full facts of the investigation, it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurs in the broader context of President Trump’s repeated abuse of the Department of Justice to target his perceived political opponents. “It should be noted that this is occurring just two weeks after Senator Lucas helped lead the successful effort by Virginia voters to reject President Trump’s attempt to rig the midterm elections, and one day after he took political revenge on at least five state legislators for failing to follow his orders to gerrymander in Indiana. This raid on Senator Lucas’ office and businesses also comes as President Trump has pressured the Department of Justice to pursue investigations and prosecutions against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and multiple Democratic Members of Congress. “Like all Americans, Senator Lucas has a right to due process and a presumption of innocence.”

Scott, Foxx to Introduce the Transparency in Billing Act

Position: The representatives support legislation requiring hospitals to provide transparent billing information to patients and health plans, preventing hidden charges and ensuring accurate site-of-service disclosure when hospitals acquire physician offices.

WASHINGTON — Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05) announced that they will introduce the Transparency in Billing Act. The bill would require accurate billing practices by hospitals, ensuring that group health plans pay for appropriately billed services. "We are seeing a growing trend of hospitals acquiring independent physician offices and then charging patients higher prices even if the care they receive is essentially identical to what they received before the hospitals acquired the office. The Transparency in Billing Act prohibits hospitals from billing consumers or private health plans unless they provide sufficient information to allow payers to determine the site at which the care is provided. The American people deserve to know the full picture of the prices they are asked to pay. This bill will help ensure that health care costs are driven by those who provide the highest-quality services—not by those with the most market power,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce. “Patients should always have the information they need to make informed health care decisions – this includes understanding the true costs associated with care. Far too often, many are hit with hidden upcharges and extraneous fees without even knowing it – this is an issue that should be rectified immediately,” said Representative Foxx. “I’m proud to put forward this bipartisan solution with Representative Scott to increase transparency and provide a positive course correction that puts patients first.” ### Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceHealth Care

Warner, Kaine, and Scott Applaud $16 Million in Funding for Portsmouth Agricultural Export Facility

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (VA -03), today celebrated more than $16 million in Department of Transportation funding for the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s agricultural export facility to add storage silos, advanced conveyance systems, and improved rail access. “The Portsmouth agricultural export facility is vital to both regional and international supply chains, providing critical storage and handling capacity to export whole grain and feed from U.S. farms overseas,” said the lawmakers. “This funding will allow the facility to expand operations, meet growing export demand, provide cost effective access to global markets, and further cement the global competitiveness of Virginia agriculture and American farmers.” This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration. This project is a collaboration between the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission and The DeLong Co., Inc. Last year, Sen. Warner wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s grant application. ###

Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v. Callais

Position: Congressman Scott opposes the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, arguing it weakens protections against racial gerrymandering and voting rights violations. He calls for Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore full Voting Rights Act protections.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, issued the following statement: “The Voting Rights Act has long protected minority communities from disenfranchisement, but over the years conservative Supreme Court justices have steadily weakened those protections. Section 2 remained one of the last major safeguards against maps that dilute minority representation in Congress. “This latest decision by the Supreme Court sets voting rights back decades. By creating a nearly impossible standard to challenge racial gerrymandering, the Court has opened the door for Republican-led states to draw new maps that weaken the ability of minority communities to elect candidates of their choice. “Attacks on voting rights have become a defining feature of the MAGA-controlled Republican Party and this Supreme Court. During the recent mid-decade redistricting, Republicans have so far created seven seats in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. Six of those seats are presently represented by African American and Hispanic Members of Congress. Using efforts to undermine voter registration and vote-by-mail, Republicans continue to weaken the foundations of our democracy in order to hold onto power. “Congress must respond by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. We must remain committed to protecting a democracy that represents all Americans and ensuring that every voter has an equal voice in choosing their representatives.” # # # Issues:Voting Rights

Scott, Omar Slam DOL Rule Robbing Workers of Fair Wages and Workplace Protections

Position: Scott and Omar oppose a Department of Labor proposed rule that would loosen restrictions on worker misclassification as independent contractors, arguing it would strip workers of wage and hour protections, overtime, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and other benefits, while giving unfair advantage to employers who evade labor law.

WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) slammed the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule to allow unscrupulous employers to misclassify their workers as independent contractors, robbing workers of their wage and hour and other work protections. The Members argued that by loosening restrictions allowing employers to misclassify their employees as independent contractors, the proposed rule will strip workers of their basic wage and hour protections and leave law-abiding businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Unlike employees, independent contractors do not get essential protections, such as minimum wage, overtime, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, access to employee healthcare and benefits, pensions, or OSHA protections. “Despite the proposed rule’s claims to the contrary, the Department’s proposal conflicts with the statutory text and Congressional intent, as well as controlling law,”wrote the Members.“As a result, the proposed changes in this rule would result in more regulatory confusion among stakeholders and provide more opportunities for lawbreaking employers to evade liability for robbing workers of their wage and other basic federal protections.” “Despite the proposal’s claims, the reality is that Department’s proposal would lead to more widespread misclassification and more exploitation of workers,”the Members continued. In the letter, the Members also asserted that the proposed rule would have a detrimental effect on the economy by giving an unfair advantage to employers who misclassify their workers. Rampant misclassification could also impose significant financial burden on federal, state, and local governments due to lost tax revenues. The Members demanded that DOL withdraw its proposed rule to safeguard workers’ wages and protections. To read the full letter, click here. ### Issues:Committee on Education and Workforce

Democratic Health Leaders Urge EBSA to Go Further to Increase Transparency for Health Care Middlemen

Position: Democratic leaders urge the Employee Benefits Security Administration to strengthen its proposed rule on pharmacy benefit manager transparency by expanding it to cover fully insured plans and other service providers, and to include privacy protections, in order to lower costs for workers and families.

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats WASHINGTON – Today, Democratic House health leaders urgedthe Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) to further strengthen its proposed rule regarding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are middlemen who manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health plans. The proposed rule partially implements longstanding recommendations of Committee Democrats to require middlemen disclose their direct and indirect compensation. The letter was sent by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. The members emphasized that while the proposed rule is a meaningful step forward, it does not address a vast array of middlemen and service providers whose hidden fees and conflicts of interests raise costs for workers and their families. The members argued that the rule should be expanded to include fully insured plans and to require transparency from other service providers, such as third party administrators. The members also insisted that the Department take into consideration privacy protections in the final rule. “The Proposed Rule is a significant step forward that incorporates several ideas to increase transparency that were previously included in legislation supported by Democrats on the Committee on Education and Workforce,” wrote the members. “We encourage the Department to move forward with these aspects of the Proposed Rule, while taking additional action to further strengthen its provisions to lower costs for workers and their families.” The proposed rule is another step in efforts to improve PBM transparency and lower drug prices. In 2022, Representatives Scott (VA-03) and Foxx (NC-05), sent a letter urging the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) to issue guidance to ensure PBMs and other service providers disclose their compensation and potential conflicts of interest. And last year, Representatives Courtney (CT-02) and Houchin (IN-09) reintroduced the Hidden Fee Disclosure Act to shine a light on the opaque prescription drug pricing system and the fees charged by health plan service providers to ensure patients get a fair deal. In 2023, the House passed a previous version of this bill (320-71) as part of the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act. To read the full letter, click here. ### Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceHealth Care

Scott Pushes ED to Protect Students in Workforce Pell Expansion

Position: Ranking Member Scott supports the expansion of Pell Grants to short-term certificate programs but urges the Department of Education to implement strong oversight, accountability measures, and safeguards to prevent institutional abuse and ensure program quality.

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats WASHINGTON – House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott urgedSecretary of the Department of Education Linda McMahon to strengthen oversight and accountability in response to the Department of Education’s (ED) proposed Workforce Pell Grant rule, which implements the newly authorized expansion of Federal Pell Grants to students enrolled in certain short-term certificate programs. Ranking Member Scott emphasized that expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs must include strong safeguards to prevent institutional abuse and ensure program quality. He also urged the ED to uphold strict program eligibility standards, strengthen program oversight, and provide adequate support to states, while also raising concerns about the ED’s capacity to implement the program effectively. “Any time the federal government expands access to federal student aid, strong guardrails must be put into place to protect students from low-quality programs and ensure students do not waste their finite federal student aid eligibility,” Ranking Member Scott wrote. “Unfortunately, the ongoing dismantling of the Department risks weakening the success of this program.” The letterconcludes by urging ED to prioritize students and ensure that Workforce Pell Grants are implemented in a way that expands opportunity while safeguarding against waste, fraud, and abuse. Proposals to expand Pell Grant access to shorter-term programs were considered in two previous Congresses. It was first considered in the 117th Congress as part of the America COMPETES Act, and then again in the 118th Congress as the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Grant Act, which was led by Ranking Member Scott and then-Chairwoman Virginia Foxx. To read the full letter, click here. ### Issues:Committee on Education and WorkforceEducation