Bobby Scott

Bobby Scott
Born	Robert Cortez Scott 30 4, 1947
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	U.S. Representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district; Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce
Education	Harvard University (BA); Boston College Law School (JD)

Robert Cortez "Bobby" Scott (born April 30, 1947) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Scott has built a long career in public service spanning more than four decades, beginning with his election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1978 and continuing through service in the Senate of Virginia before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, a position from which he has been a prominent voice on issues related to education policy, labor rights, and workforce development. Scott holds the distinction of being the first African American elected to Congress from Virginia since Reconstruction. Throughout his congressional tenure, he has focused on criminal justice reform, civil rights, healthcare access, and education funding, consistently advocating for policies aimed at addressing systemic inequalities. His district encompasses portions of southeastern Virginia, including the cities of Newport News, Norfolk, and Hampton, as well as parts of Richmond.

Early Life

Robert Cortez Scott was born on April 30, 1947, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Newport News, Virginia, in a family with deep roots in the Hampton Roads community. His father was a physician, and his mother was a teacher, providing Scott with a stable upbringing that emphasized education and civic engagement. Scott's family background reflected the multicultural heritage of the Hampton Roads area; he is of both African American and Filipino descent, making him one of the first members of Congress with Filipino ancestry.

Scott grew up during the era of segregation in Virginia, which profoundly shaped his worldview and later political priorities. The racial inequities he witnessed in the public school system and broader society during the 1950s and 1960s informed his lifelong commitment to civil rights and equal opportunity. He came of age during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a period that galvanized many young African Americans to pursue careers in law and public service.

Education

Scott attended local schools in Newport News before enrolling at Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended Boston College Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. After completing his legal education, Scott returned to Virginia, where he was admitted to the state bar and began practicing law. His legal career focused on issues that would later define his political platform, including civil rights and social justice. Scott also served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve, fulfilling his military service obligations.

Career

Virginia State Legislature

Bobby Scott's political career began in 1978, when he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Newport News and parts of the surrounding area. He served in the House of Delegates until 1983, during which time he focused on issues related to education, criminal justice, and social welfare.

In 1983, Scott was elected to the Senate of Virginia, where he served for a decade. During his time in the state senate, he continued to build a legislative record centered on civil rights, criminal justice reform, and education. His tenure in the Virginia General Assembly provided him with extensive experience in state-level policymaking and positioned him as a prominent figure in Virginia Democratic politics.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1992, following the redistricting that created a new majority-minority congressional district in Virginia, Scott ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia's 3rd congressional district. He won the election, becoming the first African American to represent Virginia in Congress since John Mercer Langston during Reconstruction in the late 19th century. This milestone was widely noted as a significant moment in Virginia's political history.

Scott has been re-elected consistently since his initial victory, serving continuously from January 1993 to the present. Over more than three decades in Congress, he has established himself as a consistent voice on issues of education policy, labor standards, criminal justice, and civil rights.

Committee on Education and Workforce

Scott's most prominent role in Congress has been his work on the House Committee on Education and Workforce (formerly known as the Committee on Education and Labor). He served as Chairman of the committee during the 116th and 117th Congresses (2019–2023) and currently serves as its Ranking Member, the senior Democratic member of the committee.

In his capacity as Ranking Member, Scott has been an outspoken critic of efforts to reduce the role of the Department of Education. In November 2025, he issued a statement responding to reports that the Department of Education was offloading core responsibilities, expressing concern about the impact on students and educational institutions across the country. His position on the committee has made him a central figure in congressional debates over federal education funding, student loan policy, school safety, workforce training programs, and labor protections.

Scott was a key architect of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the major federal education law that replaced No Child Left Behind in 2015. He also played a significant role in efforts to raise the federal minimum wage and to strengthen workplace safety regulations. His work on the committee has encompassed a broad range of issues, including early childhood education, higher education affordability, and protections for workers' rights to organize.

Criminal Justice Reform

One of Scott's signature legislative achievements was his sponsorship of the Youth PROMISE Act, which sought to implement evidence-based strategies for preventing youth violence and reducing juvenile incarceration. Although the standalone bill did not pass, elements of its approach were incorporated into subsequent criminal justice reform efforts.

Scott has long advocated for a data-driven, evidence-based approach to criminal justice policy. He has argued against mandatory minimum sentences and for greater investment in prevention and rehabilitation programs. His work in this area predated the broader bipartisan consensus on criminal justice reform that emerged in the 2010s, positioning him as an early advocate for rethinking incarceration policies.

Healthcare and Social Policy

Scott has been a consistent advocate for expanding healthcare access, supporting the Affordable Care Act and opposing efforts to repeal or weaken its provisions. In February 2026, ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address, Scott announced that he would bring Rena Bumbray-Graves, a home care worker from his district, as his guest to the address. According to Scott's office, Bumbray-Graves had chosen to forgo health coverage due to affordability concerns, and Scott highlighted her situation as representative of the challenges facing working families regarding healthcare costs.

Scott's choice of guest underscored his broader legislative focus on healthcare affordability and the working conditions of home care workers, who constitute one of the fastest-growing and lowest-paid segments of the healthcare workforce.

Trade and Economic Policy

Scott has been a vocal critic of trade policies that he views as harmful to American workers and consumers. In February 2026, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down tariffs imposed by President Trump, Scott issued a statement highlighting what he described as the negative economic impact of the tariffs on families and businesses. He emphasized the effects on consumer prices and supply chains, framing the court's decision as a vindication of concerns he and other critics had raised about the tariffs' constitutionality and economic consequences.

Immigration and Civil Liberties

Scott has also been active on immigration policy and civil liberties issues. In February 2026, he co-hosted a public "Know Your Rights" panel in Newport News, Virginia, alongside Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi. The panel was designed to outline constitutional rights for community members amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activities. The event reflected Scott's broader concern with protecting civil liberties and ensuring that residents of his district are informed about their legal rights.

Civil Rights Advocacy

Throughout his career, Scott has maintained close ties with the broader civil rights community. Upon the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson in February 2026, Scott issued a statement paying tribute to Jackson's legacy as a civil rights leader. In his statement, Scott reflected on Jackson's contributions to the struggle for racial equality and social justice, describing him as a figure whose advocacy had a lasting impact on American society.

Scott's legislative record on civil rights includes support for voting rights legislation, anti-discrimination measures, and efforts to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. He has been a co-sponsor of numerous bills aimed at strengthening civil rights protections at the federal level.

Personal Life

Bobby Scott resides in Newport News, Virginia, the community where he grew up. He has maintained deep ties to the Hampton Roads region throughout his career, and his political identity is closely associated with the area. Scott is of African American and Filipino descent, a heritage he has spoken about publicly on multiple occasions.

Scott is a member of several civic and professional organizations. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and has served in various leadership capacities within the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives. His dual membership in both caucuses reflects his multiracial heritage and his commitment to representing diverse communities.

Scott has practiced law in Virginia and served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the first intercollegiate African American fraternity in the United States.

Recognition

Bobby Scott's career in public service has been recognized by numerous organizations. His election to Congress in 1992 as the first African American to represent Virginia in the U.S. House since Reconstruction was itself a historic milestone that received significant attention from national media and civil rights organizations.

Scott has received recognition from education advocacy groups, labor organizations, and civil rights organizations for his legislative work. His role as Chairman and subsequently Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce has positioned him as one of the most influential members of Congress on education and labor policy.

His long tenure in Congress — spanning more than three decades — has made him one of the most senior members of the Virginia congressional delegation and a prominent figure in national Democratic politics, particularly on issues related to education, criminal justice, and civil rights.

Legacy

Bobby Scott's legacy is rooted in his sustained commitment to education, civil rights, and criminal justice reform over a career in elected office that has spanned more than four decades. As the first African American elected to Congress from Virginia since Reconstruction, his 1992 election represented a significant moment in the state's political history and in the broader narrative of African American political representation in the American South.

His work on the House Committee on Education and Workforce has shaped federal education and labor policy across multiple administrations. As both Chairman and Ranking Member, Scott has influenced legislation affecting millions of students, workers, and families. His advocacy for evidence-based criminal justice reform predated and helped lay the groundwork for the broader bipartisan movement toward sentencing reform that gained momentum in the 2010s.

Scott's continued active role in Congress — addressing issues from healthcare affordability to immigration rights to trade policy — demonstrates the breadth of his legislative engagement well into his fourth decade of congressional service. His district work, including public forums on constitutional rights and regular engagement with constituents on pressing policy matters, reflects an approach to representation that combines national policy advocacy with local community engagement.

As of 2026, Scott continues to serve in Congress as one of the most senior members of the House Democratic caucus and a leading voice on the committees and issues that have defined his career.