Civil Rights
Congressman Scott is an ardent defender of civil rights. Although America has made great strides in civil rights in the past few decades, current events have shown that we still have a long way to go. The current threats to civil rights are not the explicit actions our predecessors may have seen and experienced. Instead, they are subtle actions that, if allowed to continue, could threaten our rights and lives in the future. Examples of such actions include religious and racial profiling, xenophobic rhetoric in political discourse, expelling minorities from school in disproportionate rates, uneven application of justice, employment discrimination, restricting the right to vote, and pay inequality.
Congressman Scott has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation aimed at correcting or preventing the furtherance of discriminatory acts, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2013, the Student Non-discrimination Act of 2013, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2013, and the Respect for Marriage Act (which would make it illegal for any state to refuse to recognize a legal same-sex marriage from any other state). He also supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and is a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act.
More on Civil Rights
December 3, 2014
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder begin to act on recommendations of an Administration review of federal programs and funding that provide military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; and discussions begin on how communities and law enforcement can work together to build trust to strengthen neighborhoods across the country, Reps. John Conyers (MI-13), Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Hank Johnson (GA04) sent a letter to Attorney General Holder raising questions on the role the Department of Justice plays in the training, monitoring, and controlling SWAT officers and the use of militarized equipment by local law enforcement and SWAT officers. The Congressman are all members of the House Committee on the Judiciary.
November 25, 2014
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-3), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations on the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the Grand Jury’s decision not to issue an indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown:
“The Grand Jury has spoken. While this is not the legal outcome of the state criminal proceedings desired by the Brown family and many in the Ferguson community, it is important to remember that a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice remains ongoing. There are also civil remedies still available to the Brown family.
October 7, 2014
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court in Richmond overturning the boundary lines of Virginia’s Third Congressional District and mandating the Virginia General Assembly redraw the district by April 2015:
"I was not involved in this lawsuit. However, during the last round of redistricting in 2011, I was a strong proponent of the redistricting plan sponsored by State Senator Mamie Locke, which made all congressional districts in the Commonwealth more compact and contiguous. I hope and expect the General Assembly will more equitably and appropriately balance the influence of all Virginia’s voters, as mandated by this decision, when they redraw the third congressional district and adjacent congressional districts next session."
October 6, 2014
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s denial of a writ of certiorari in the case overturning Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriages:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court will finally allow marriage equality to move forward in Virginia and many other states. With the circuit courts so far ruling unanimously on the issue of marriage equality, there was no conflict for the Supreme Court to resolve. Additionally, having allowed so many challenges to stand, today’s decision makes it a virtual certainty that whenever the Court does choose to weigh in on this issue, it will rule in favor of marriage equality. I now expect that there will be many more successful marriage equality cases, so that the right to marry will be extended to same sex couples living in every corner of our great nation.”
October 1, 2014
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on new guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to states, school districts and schools on standards set in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ensure that each student has equal access to educational resources:
"I commend the Department's renewed commitment to equity, especially given the chronic and widespread disparities that still persist in our nation’s schools 60 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. While we have made significant progress, the promise of equal educational opportunity envisioned by the Brown decision unfortunately remains unfulfilled today.
September 25, 2014
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations on the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that he will resign from the Department of Justice upon the confirmation of his successor:
“Attorney General Holder has diligently served as our nation’s top law enforcement official for the last six years. During his tenure, I have enjoyed working with him on efforts to reform our nation’s sentencing laws, protect voting rights, and guarantee the civil rights of all Americans. His leadership was instrumental in passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which I sponsored in the House.
August 20, 2014
In The News
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) – Hundreds of miles from Ferguson, folks on the Peninsula held two very different rallies with the same message.
“Right now we are just walking for peace,” said one woman.
They are calling to end violence, not just in Missouri, but also throughout the country.
“What happened in Ferguson is not an isolated incident, but it has brought us to the forefront of what can go on in urban communities around the nation,” added Ira McMillan-El.
August 14, 2014
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (MI-13), Subcommittee on Crime Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) requesting a Congressional hearing on recent incidents of local law enforcement using excessive force—sometimes deadly—and other violations where civil rights have been infringed upon.
August 6, 2014
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott released the following statement on the 49th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965:
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most consequential pieces of legislation of the Civil Rights Movement. For the last 49 years, the Voting Rights Act has helped ensure that no one's right to vote is infringed. Unfortunately, as we mark this anniversary, we must recognize that we still have work to do to restore the core protections of the Voting Rights Act. Last year's Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder dealt a striking blow to the Voting Rights Act by ruling the coverage formula in Section 4 of the law unconstitutional.
July 31, 2014
Press Release
Today, senior Administration officials met with Members of Congress and their constituents in the Roosevelt Room to engage on criminal justice priorities and discuss policies, Administrative initiatives, and legislative efforts to reform the criminal justice system. The Members and their constituents shared some of the best practices that are working well back home in their districts and states, and discussed ways that the Administration can best partner with Members, local law enforcement, and community leaders to use evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism, improve access to economic opportunities, deter crime, and address our most pressing public safety challenges. The group also emphasized the need to advance common-sense sentencing reform legislation that will address disparities in the justice system and strengthen protections for vulnerable populations. Administration officials reaffirmed the President’s commitment to building fairer and more equitable juvenile and criminal justice systems.