Ranking Member Scott Votes for ‘Labor-H’ Funding Bill

Ranking Member Scott Votes for 'Labor-H' Funding Bill

WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the House passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill.

"I applaud Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray for their work to secure funding for many of our shared priorities in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. Moreover, this bill is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget which would have slashed funding for several agencies, including the Department of Education (ED), the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).

"In particular, I support the provisions to rein in the Trump Administration's attempts to dismantle ED by curbing illegal interagency agreements. However, these provisions are only effective if Congress asserts its Article I authority and holds this Administration accountable for breaking the law.

"Notably, this bill includes much of the work undertaken by the Education and Workforce Committee to curb opaque Pharmacy Benefit Managers' (PBM) practices. Specifically, this language will require transparency in PBM services that have driven up health care costs for workers and their families.

"While I would want to see more funding for critical programs, including an increase in the maximum Pell Grant and increased enforcement capacity to protect workers and their health coverage, I am relieved this did not codify Trump's requested elimination of programs that Congress created to help students, workers, and families. While far from perfect, the bill is dramatically better than the original funding request proposed by the Trump Administration."

For a summary of the Labor-H funding bill, click here.

For summaries of the health care division, click here and here.

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