Press Releases
More than 100 Members of Congress Urge House Leaders to Move Comprehensive Immigration Reform with Strong Labor Protections
10.04.13 WASHINGTON - A group of 101 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter today to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi supporting comprehensive immigration reform that includes polices that ensures economic competitiveness and does not undermine working conditions of U.S. workers. "While we build a common sense immigration system to allow millions of aspiring Americans to become citizens a priority, we must also ensure that changes to our legal immigration laws provide access to a just sy… Continue Reading
House Members Announce New Path Forward to Open the Government through a Discharge Petition
10.04.13 WASHINGTON - Senior Democratic Members of the House of Representatives announced today a new effort to overcome the Republican leadership's obstruction and allow the House to vote to open the federal government as early as October 14th through a discharge petition. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House Members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership. "The only thing standing between this Congress and an open government is Speaker Boehner's refus… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller: Every American Finally has Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care
10.01.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today on the official opening of the online insurance marketplaces as part of the nation's historic health reform law, the Affordable Care Act. Americans without health insurance and those who are self-insured but think their premiums are too high are now able to shop for coverage in their community over the next six months via www.healthcare.gov o… Continue Reading
Democratic Lawmakers Ask Big Bank CEOs to Explain Student Debit Card Deals with Colleges
09.27.13 Washington, DC - Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate today expressed deep concern over financial arrangements between colleges and banks that could steer financially-strapped students into fee-laden debit cards that increase the costs of college. In letters sent to some of the nation's largest banks, the legislators ask bank executives to explain the scope of any such arrangements, how much money the deals pay to colleges, and how much in fees are charged to students. Policymakers que… Continue Reading
Federal Investment in High-Quality, Career and Technical Education is Vital to Student Success, Witnesses Tell Education Subcommittee
09.20.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal investments in career and technical education programs must be used in innovative ways to ensure that all students are prepared for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs, witnesses told the House subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education today. "High quality, relevant, and rigorous career and technical education is imperative for our nation to stay competitive and build a stronger economy," said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the ran… Continue Reading
Significant Roadblocks Exist for Workers to Exercise Labor Rights, House Labor Panel Learns
09.19.13 WASHINGTON - Members of a House labor subcommittee learned today about the significant hurdles faced by workers organizing a union and getting a first contract from a Cablevision employee who was fired when he and his colleagues organized and spoke out for fair bargaining at his workplace. "Ten years ago, I put my life on the line 6,000 miles away from home in the name of protecting the basic rights of American democracy. I never thought that I would see the day that I, as an American citizen, … Continue Reading
Congress Should Incentivize High Quality, Low-Cost Innovative Partnerships that Benefit Students, Witnesses Tell House Education Panel
09.18.13 WASHINGTON, DC - As colleges outsource more functions such as classroom materials, housing, and financial aid disbursement to the private sector, they must ensure that such partnerships operate for the benefit of students, making college more accessible and affordable, not less, witnesses told the House Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee. “I strongly support innovative partnerships that work to make high quality higher education more affordable and accessible for all students… Continue Reading
Extending Basic Wage Protections to Home Health Care Workers the Right Thing to Do, Says Rep. George Miller
09.17.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor published a final rule today that extends basic minimum wage and overtime protections to two million home care workers. The final regulation, also known as the "companionship rule," would update an exemption to wage protections meant to apply to those individuals who provide elder sitting services similar to… Continue Reading
Miller applauds vote to increase California’s minimum wage
09.13.13 Washington - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) issued the following comment today after the state legislature passed legislation supported by Gov. Brown to increase California's minimum wage from $8.00 per hour to $10.00 per hour. Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee in Congress, is the author of The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010) that would increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour in three steps. "Three cheers for our legislators and the governo… Continue Reading
Congress Must do More to Help Service Members Transition Back into Civilian Life, Witnesses Tell Education Subcommittee
09.11.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With more than 2 million service members returning from combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress and colleges must do more to help them transition back into civilian life, witnesses told the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training today. “Congress must have federal regulations in place to protect veterans and service members from unscrupulous companies, institutions, and lenders attempting to cash in on their GI benefits,” said Rep. Rubén Hinojo… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on California Legislation to Pause on Accountability for Millions of Students
09.10.13 Washington - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today in response to the Obama administration's statement regarding California's pending legislation, Assembly Bill 484, that would remove millions of students from state assessments leading to a year or more gap in information on student progress, which would be a violation of current federal law. As a result, many parents and schools would be… Continue Reading
Students & Taxpayers Will Be Better Protected Under Ed Department’s Efforts, Says Inspector General
09.10.13 WASHINGTON - Recent higher education proposals and other efforts by the U.S. Department of Education, including a “gainful employment” regulation currently under negotiation, would help better protect students and taxpayers from waste and fraud, according to an analysis by the agency’s independent inspector general released today. This analysis is contrary to a House GOP-authored bill, H.R. 2637, that would block these efforts to strengthen the integrity of federal student-aid programs. “We bel… Continue Reading
Congress Must Better Support Education Research, Witnesses Tell House Education Panel
09.10.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government should support education research that is rigorous, relevant to real-world problems, and geared to understanding what works and what should be improved in the classroom, witnesses told the House Education and the Workforce Committee today. Currently, less than 1 percent of the federal education budget goes to research - far less than in other fields. “Research is not effective if it only answers abstract questions or is published in a professional journ… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Labor Day 2013
09.02.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today commemorating Monday's Labor Day holiday. "On Labor Day, we honor all the men and women who built this country and keep our economy running. Working people are the backbone of our nation. That's why we should ensure that the hard-won rights of American workers are respected and not stripped away by special interests in Washington … Continue Reading
Rep. Miller Statement on Dept. of Education’s Waiver Renewal Guidelines
08.29.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education released guidelines for 35 states (Rounds 1 and 2) to renew their flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as No Child Left Behind. "The Department of Education must take this opportunity to hold a high bar for states-in some cases raising the bar-to ensure… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller Statement on Today’s Fast Food Worker Actions
08.29.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after fast food workers in cities all across the country walked off their jobs today demanding a living wage. Rep. Miller is the House author of The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010) that would increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. "Today, I stand with workers across the country who are striving to build a better life for the… Continue Reading
Benefits of the Affordable Care Act Highlighted at Kentucky Field Hearing Despite Intense GOP Sabotage Efforts
08.27.13 LEXINGTON, Ky. - Despite a failing effort to repeal and discredit the nation's health reform law, the Affordable Care Act is already helping Kentuckians and millions of Americans to afford health care, and promises to be a game-changer for working families with a preexisting health condition who are shut out from quality and affordable insurance today, members of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions in Lexington, Ky. learned today. "Across the country, the ACA is putting c… Continue Reading
Reps. Miller, Courtney Applaud DOL’s Proposed Rule to Protect Health, Safety of American Workers
08.22.13 WASHINGTON - Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), the senior Democrat on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, issued the following statements today regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's proposed rule to strengthen workplace safety protections regarding exposure to Silica. "I commend Labor Secretary Tom Perez and OSHA Director Dr. David Michaels for proposing powerful new protections to reduce lung… Continue Reading
Miller Applauds Proposed Elimination of Rule Around ‘2 Percent Assessment’ for Students with Disabilities
08.22.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal register to terminate the use of the "2 percent assessment" for students with disabilities under Title I of ESEA after the 2013-2014 school year. Under the existing regulations, States have been allowed to develop alter… Continue Reading
Miller: Promising Proposals from President Obama to Rein in College Costs
08.22.13 Washington, DC - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement on President Obama's proposals to address access, innovation and affordability in post-secondary education. "President Obama is offering a bold effort to rein in skyrocketing college costs. As Congress works to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, his important ideas must be drivers in our conversations to push America's higher education system in… Continue Reading