Bobby Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wilson), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. First, I include in the Record letters from the American Federation of Teachers, another letter from multiple unions including the National Education Association, the AFL-CIO and AFSCME, a letter from Minority Vets, a letter from UnidosUS and the National Urban League, a letter from Third Way, a letter from the National Council of Nonprofits, and a letter from 23 various medical organizations, all in opposition to the legislation. American Federation of Teachers, May 22, 2023. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the 1.7 million members of the American Federation of Teachers, I strongly urge you to reject H.J. Res. 45/S.J. Res. 22, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the Biden administration actions to support student loan borrowers that were announced in August of last year. This resolution would immediately force tens of millions of borrowers into abrupt and unplanned repayment with devastating effects, including adding thousands of dollars of interest onto their loan balances. Proponents of the resolution want you to believe that it is simply a method to stop President Joe Biden's student debt cancellation of up to $20,000 that would benefit 43 million borrowers, but the implications are more severe. Passage of this resolution would be particularly destructive for teachers, nurses, servicemembers and firefighters eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This resolution would force the U.S. Department of Education to unwind loans forgiven under Public Service Loan Forgiveness for nurses, educators, servicemembers and hundreds of thousands of other public service workers across the country. Retroactively repealing months of the payment pause initially authorized by the Trump administration would have far greater implications than thwarting Biden's cancellation plan. It would force teachers, veterans and nurses who finally received Public Service Loan Forgiveness to write a check back to the Department of Education. This resolution would reinstate the debt of more than 150,000 public service workers. On the heels of the pandemic, forcing a nurse to pay back debt that was legally forgiven under a bipartisan law is cruel. And the harm wouldn't stop there: More than 400,000 borrowers have received PSLF-qualifying payments under the last payment pause of 2022, but this resolution would claw back those benefits, setting back firefighters and educators' eligibility for PSLF for many months. The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on American workers, many of whom were already struggling to make ends meet. Those workers' precarity and risk of delinquency on their debt has severely worsened during the pandemic. Given the long-term economic impacts of the pandemic, which continue to drive workers out of public service, a permanent solution, rather than a temporary deferment, is necessary. And the law is clear: Student debt cancellation falls squarely within the statutory authority Congress granted the secretaIy in the HEROES Act. Cancellation will help ensure that millions of people are not left in a ``worse position'' as to their loan payments due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of millions of families are struggling under the yoke of $1.7 trillion in student debt. They eagerly await the breathing room that student debt relief would bring, and those struggling to get by will benefit the most. The extra consideration in debt cancellation for Pell recipients focuses like a laser on people in need. Taking away relief that has already been granted to borrowers--the moratorium on payments and interest--while the legal challenge wends its way through the courts, and retroactively making them pay what they cannot afford, is cruel. These borrowers are teachers, firefighters, nurses and so many other dedicated workers. Their current student debt is a far greater burden than the debt carried by those of us who went to college long ago. This means they have little or no wealth to start a family, buy a car or a house, or make other major life decisions, and it undermines plans they responsibly made based on the situation at the time. Congress should be building on the Biden administration actions, not undermining those actions. Throwing tens of millions of student loan borrowers into chaos by retroactively adding interest and missed payments to their loan balances, while extending their student debt sentence, would upend lives. That's the wrong decision. Congress must oppose H.J. Res. 45/S.J. Res. 22. Sincerely, Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, there are many challenges we have in higher education that demand our attention: the rising cost of college, student debt crisis, the eroded value of the Pell grant, student mental health issues, and the list goes on. Instead, we are addressing this resolution which will hurt millions of student borrowers and their families; an average of about 100,000 in each of our districts. Many of our colleagues on the other side have justified the resolution by arguing that we cannot afford the plan, yet ignoring that we were willing to charge taxpayers $1.9 trillion for a tax package a few years ago that overwhelmingly benefited the top 1 percent and corporations. Now they are unwilling to spend much less than that to help students pay for their education. We should be passing proposals that meaningfully support borrowers and make college more affordable for current and future students. The bottom line is that we have a responsibility to strengthen support for those seeking college degrees. Those who want a degree should be able to access that opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the proposal, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my late friend, Dr. William E. ``Bill'' Spriggs, who passed away on June 6, 2023. Serving as both the Economics Department Chair at Howard University and as Chief Economist for the AFL-CIO, Bill was a champion for working people and economic justice. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those of us that had the opportunity to learn from and work with him over the years. Bill was born to World War II veterans and he continued their public service through his years of work in the federal government. He served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy during the Obama Administration, and before that he served in the Clinton Administration in a variety of roles. Bill graduated from Williams College with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science and then attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a master's degree and doctorate in economics. This was at a time when there were very few Black Ph.D.s in economics, and he maintained that trailblazing spirit throughout his life and career. Bill was steadfast in his commitment to uplifting working people through economic policy. He was focused on many issues, including education, minimum wage, and workplace safety and he was particularly passionate about closing racial disparities in the labor market. His work highlighted how people of color, particularly Black Americans, were disproportionately lower income in our country, and he believed economic policy makers had an obligation to address these inequities. At times, he spoke the uncomfortable truth. For example, Bill bluntly stated that ``the reason that racist policies have continued to exist is that racism involves an unexamined set of assumptions.'' This was quite evident during my first term in Congress as we debated the 1994 Crime Bill, and I looked to Bill's scholarship to resist draconian, slogan-driven legislation. Many people were trying to codify tough-on-crime slogans and soundbites, such as ``you do the adult crime, you do the adult time,'' or ``three strikes and you're out.'' Bill steadfastly researched and presented evidence of how programs like Head Start, after school programs and other prevention and intervention strategies did more to effectively reduce future criminal behavior than the slogans and soundbites. On a personal note, Bill and I shared both a personal and professional bond. I first met Bill while serving in the Virginia General Assembly, when he was a professor at Norfolk State University. We were both admirers of the Attucks Theater on Church Street in Norfolk, Virginia that was noted for its unique architecture designed by an African American architect and financed by a Black bank in 1919. Bill's work has significantly influenced how I approach policymaking, especially in my role as the former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. I had the honor of calling him a friend, and I can attest to his personal kindness and fundamental good nature. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my condolences to his wife, Jennifer, his son, William, his loved ones, and everyone else who was influenced by his work.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. James D. Dahling of Norfolk, VA. After serving for twenty years as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD), the only freestanding children's hospital in Virginia, Jim Dahling will retire on June 20, 2023. Jim joined CHKD in 1994 as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He previously served as Senior VP of Richmond Memorial Hospital and held senior management positions at Texas and Minnesota hospitals. Jim became CHKD's Chief Executive Officer in 2003. As a result of Jim's visionary leadership, CHKD solidified its reputation as an internationally acclaimed pediatric hospital. During his tenure, CHKD built the first and only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in Hampton Roads, the region's only pediatric outpatient surgery center, the state's sole pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit, and the region's first pediatric urgent care center. In response to the growing community concern about a lack of pediatric mental health services in Hampton Roads and across Virginia, Jim led the construction of an innovative 60-bed mental health hospital and outpatient center. The initiative marks a historic expansion of CHKD's mental health services for children, bringing nearly twenty child and adolescent psychiatrists and dozens of other mental health providers to Hampton Roads to address the region's youth mental health crisis. The Hampton Roads region is home to one of the largest concentrations of active-duty military in the country. CHKD is one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare to military dependents, and Jim has led more than two decades of tireless and growing commitments to providing outstanding medical care to the children of our servicemembers. For that, we owe CHKD and Jim a debt of profound gratitude. Amy Sampson, a trusted member of CHKD's leadership team and the Board's unanimous choice, will succeed Jim as President and CEO. Amy already has a long and distinguished career at CHKD. Serving for over 30 years in a variety of roles, including strategic planning, government relations, marketing and communications, philanthropy services, community outreach, experience services, the donor milk bank, the call center, and volunteer services. Of Amy's many accomplishments, she has been instrumental in developing CHKD's mental health initiatives, spearheading efforts to secure federal, state and local government approval and financial backing for CHKD's $224 million pediatric inpatient psychiatric facility. I am excited about the vision, energy and enthusiasm Amy brings to the CEO role, and I know she will continue Jim's and CHKD's outstanding record of service to our region's children. Mr. Speaker, Jim Dahling embodies CHKD's mission--``Health, Healing, and Hope for All Children''--and his vision will live on in the spirit of those working tirelessly to provide the highest quality of care to Virginia's children. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. James Dahling for his nearly thirty years of service to CHKD and the Hampton Roads region.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Phoebus High School Football Team from Hampton, Virginia on becoming the Virginia High School League's Class 3 State Champions. On Saturday, December 10, 2022, the Phoebus Phantoms won the Class 3 State Championship Game against the Heritage High School Pioneers with a score of 48-7. This is the second year in a row Phoebus High School has claimed the title. Led by Coach Jeremy Blunt, the Phantoms won this title on the tail end of an equally astounding season. Phoebus High School closed their season undefeated, with a record of 15 wins and 0 losses, and maintained a 20-game winning streak going back to their previous season. Not only did the Phantoms win the state championship, but they also exemplified the ability to overcome the unexpected. In the semifinal game against Brentsville District High School a week prior to the championship match, Phoebus' starting quarterback, Nolan James, was injured, preventing him from competing in the tournament further. Back- up quarterback, Jayden Earley, stepped up, and in the championship game, passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns leading to their victory. For the final play of the game, the Phantoms carried James onto the field to take the final snap as an instrumental part of the championship run. These young athletes exemplify hard work and sportsmanship. Overcoming adversity requires that we take challenges head-on no matter what obstacles present themselves in our path. The Phoebus High School Football team is a model of this enduring quality and an inspiration for all of us. Mr. Speaker, I want to again congratulate the Phoebus High School Football Team on accomplishing this amazing feat and thank Coach Blunt, the parents, and the entire Phoebus High School community for supporting these students throughout this remarkable season. They have all made their community proud. I wish them the best in their future endeavors, and I wish the program continued success.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my opposition to the House Republicans adjourning for the holiday while leaving the American people in limbo. I get tired of being lectured by Republicans about debts and deficits. Twenty-five percent of the entire national debt was accumulated under the 4 years of the Trump administration. Every Democratic administration since Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than they inherited, and every Republican administration since Nixon has left for their Democratic successors a worse deficit situation than they inherited-- all without exception. Speaker McCarthy has presented a false choice: either we default on our debts for the first time in history, or we agree to devastating cuts in education, law enforcement, veterans benefits, food assistance, border security, and healthcare and going into a recession. House Republicans created this crisis. It is time they ended it by at least five of them signing the discharge petition and agreeing to responsibly pay our Nation's debts.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 45. Forty-three million Americans are eligible for President Biden's student loan relief. That is an average of almost 100,000 people in each of our districts. Nearly 26 million borrowers in congressional districts all over the country have already applied for relief, including 16 million who have already been approved prior to litigation stopping the process. H.J. Res. 45 seeks to deny these borrowers the relief they were promised. To be clear, the people who would be impacted the most are not the wealthy and well-connected. Ninety percent of the relief would go to borrowers earning less than $75,000 a year. You are not even eligible if you are making over $125,000 a year. That is in stark contrast, of course, to the Trump tax scam, where 80 percent of the benefits went to the top 1 percent and corporations. Moreover, my Republican colleagues refuse to acknowledge the serious questions that have been raised about how the resolution would actually be implemented because, under the Congressional Review Act resolution, you don't get to pick and choose which parts of a rule you are overturning. You have to overturn the whole rule, including the pause in student loan payments and the deferral of interest. How do you unpause a payment that you were supposed to make many months ago? What is going to happen to all those interest payments that now have to be added back to the loans? That is about $233 per month in interest and principal. What happens to the credits that participants in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program were promised during those months? Are these firefighters, teachers, police officers, and other public servants who may have had their loans forgiven now on the hook for four additional payments? The reality is that H.J. Res. 45 would trigger a wave of delinquencies and defaults for our most vulnerable borrowers. Intentionally or not, this resolution would create chaos for borrowers and their families, as well as loan servicers. The Congressional Research Service has confirmed that this chaos would be triggered by the retroactive application of this rule. Mr. Speaker, anyone in the country who wants to take advantage of the benefits of a college education should be able to do so, not just the wealthy few. That is the way it used to be just several decades ago. Pell grants covered 80 percent of the cost of attending a State college. Now, it is less than 30 percent. When adjusted for inflation, States are paying less for State colleges than they used to. Mr. Speaker, this proposal does nothing to help students pay for their college education, so I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Virginia that over 90,000 borrowers in his district will be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the assistant Democratic leader for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from North Carolina.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Michigan that over 90,000 borrowers in his district will be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Tennessee that 89,000 borrowers from his district will be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), a member of the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Georgia that over 110,000 borrowers from his district would be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Florida that almost 120,000 borrowers from his district will be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), the ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Illinois that over 75,000 borrowers from her district will be denied debt relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Texas that over 88,000 borrowers from his district will be denied relief if this resolution is enacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Frost).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts.