Press Releases
Miller Statement on Senate Legislation to Rewrite ESEA
06.04.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today after Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced legislation to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind. "I commend Senator Harkin for his leadership in introducing legislation that continues to set high expectatio… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on President Obama’s Speech on Student Loans
05.31.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama’s speech on urging Congress to come together in order to prevent the doubling of student loan interest rates for 7 million borrowers on July 1. “I applaud President Obama for continuing to focus on making college more affordable and accessible for all Americans. At a time of rising college costs, saddling student… Continue Reading
Low Wages at a Single Wal-Mart Store Cost Taxpayers about $1 Million Every Year, Says New Committee Staff Report
05.30.13 WASHINGTON, DC - The price of Wal-Mart's low wages and benefits at just one Wal-Mart store not only costs families in lost income and economic security, but it also may cost taxpayers about one million dollars in higher usage of public-assistance programs by Wal-Mart employees and their dependents, according to a report released today by the Democratic staff of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce. While up-to-date data on Wal-Mart's wage and employment practices are not alw… Continue Reading
California Families Win Big in Major Health Insurance Announcement, Miller Says
05.23.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (Contra Costa County), coauthor of the national health reform law in Congress, known as Obamacare, issued the following statement after it was announced today that more than a dozen health insurance plans will offer a number of quality and affordable coverage options in the newly established insurance market for individuals and families who have been crushed by rising premium costs or who have gone without insurance altogether. The announcement was made by Covere… Continue Reading
U.S. Congressman George Miller Travels to Bangladesh this Week to Inspect Garment Industry
05.23.13 WASHINGTON - A senior member of Congress is traveling to Bangladesh this week to personally inspect conditions in the world’s second largest garment industry that is experiencing a high rate of fatalities and injuries and to meet with workers, victims, and industry and government officials. U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is the first member of Congress to visit Bangladesh since more than 1,100 workers died and m… Continue Reading
Miller Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Students from Sex Offenders and Violent Predators in Schools
05.22.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today reintroduced legislation to prevent registered sex offenders and criminals convicted of crimes against children from working in schools. The Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act would require public school districts to conduct comprehensive background checks for existing employees or applicants for employment or contracting, using state criminal and chil… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) Opening Remarks for Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing on “Examining the Regulatory and Enforcement Actions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission"
05.22.13 WASHINGTON, DC - The following are prepared remarks by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, for the hearing on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. *** Good morning. I want to thank Chairman Walberg for calling today's hearing to examine the important work the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is undertaking through the leadership of the Commission's chair Jacqueline Berri… Continue Reading
Education Department Priorities Restore Competitiveness and Rebuild Economy, Secretary Duncan tells Congress
05.21.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified today before the House Education and the Workforce Committee emphasizing important progress made in education during President Obama’s first term and highlighting urgent educational challenges that remain, such as rewriting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. “Education is not just an expense—it’s an investment,” said Secretary Duncan. “In fact, it is one of the most critical investments in the future that we, as a Nation… Continue Reading
Senior House Democrats Urge U.S. Retailers to Join Coalition Supporting Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh
05.17.13 Call on Retailers to Commit to Fully Enforceable Agreement on Bangladeshi Worker Rights WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats have sent letters to nine separate U.S. retailers calling upon them to join a broadening global coalition supporting a May 12 Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, developed by the Worker Rights Consortium and a number of key stakeholders. The accord has won the support of labor rights organizations and unions around the world, and it has gained significant mom… Continue Reading
NLRB Nominees Deserve Up-Or-Down-Vote without Delay, says Rep. Miller
05.16.13 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 conclusion of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing on President Obama's nominees to the National Labor Relations Board. "Today's Senate confirmation hearing shows that President Obama has nominated qualified individuals to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. What's also clea… Continue Reading
Republicans Pass Legislation to Make College More Expensive for Students and Families
05.16.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce committee pushed through legislation today to make college more expensive for students and families, forcing them into loans with skyrocketing interest rates that fluctuate year by year, further compounding the student debt crisis. The legislation (H.R. 1911) would charge millions of students and families nearly $4 billion over the next decade in additional interest charges relative to current law. “Our students and fami… Continue Reading
GOP Student Loan Bill Would Make College More Expensive, a New Independent Nonpartisan Analysis Shows
05.15.13 New data from Congressional Research Services shows students and families will pay higher interest costs than today WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats released new data from the independent, nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) that shows that the House Republican student loan proposal (H.R. 1911) will increase the cost of students and families to pay for college. The Republican bill is scheduled for a committee vote tomorrow. "It's clear tha… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Reed-Harkin Student Loan Proposal
05.15.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), introduced legislation that would freeze interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans at 3.4 percent for two years. The Student Loan Affordability Act wo… Continue Reading
Miller Reintroduces Legislation to Prevent Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs
05.14.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today reintroduced legislation to protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs from abuse by staff personnel. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2013 would set common-sense, minimum safety standards that states would need to adopt and enforce to protect teens from physical, mental and sexual abuse in these programs. It would also create … Continue Reading
Rep. Miller: Wal-Mart Needs to Stop Stonewalling on Bangladesh Safety Agreement
05.14.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after Wal-Mart announced that it would conduct its own safety efforts in Bangladesh rather than signing onto an enforceable agreement that several major European retailers and fashion brands have recently agreed to. “Wal-Mart needs to stop stonewalling and sign the binding agreement that a dozen other companies have signed. Wal-Mart's a… Continue Reading
Miller Announces New Hires and Promotions For Education and the Workforce Committee Democratic Staff
05.14.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today announced new hires and promotions for Democratic committee staff in the 113th Congress. "I congratulate my hard-working and expert staff on well-deserved promotions, and I welcome the newly hired and returning talent to the committee," said Miller. "The committee Democrats' mission to work on behalf of all Americans to grow and strengthen the middle class will b… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller Statement on H&M, Inditex(Zara) and C&A Joining Bangladesh Worker Safety Agreement
05.13.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after news that H&M, Inditex (Zara) and C&A agreed to sign onto an enforceable fire and building safety agreement for their suppliers and contractors in Bangladesh where more than a thousand workers have died recently in garment factory tragedies. Miller has a long history of working against the use of sweatshops and has been urg… Continue Reading
As Recent Bangladesh Factory Deaths Surpass 1,000, Miller Reiterates Call for Fashion Industry to Sign Enforceable Safety Agreement
05.10.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the death toll from an April 25 Bangladeshi garment facility collapse surpassed 1,000 workers, making it one of the worst industrial tragedies in history. A Bangladeshi woman was found alive today in the rubble after two weeks, and thousands of other workers were injured in the collapse. Miller has a long history of working in Congres… Continue Reading
Miller Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Children from Abusive Seclusion and Restraint in School
05.09.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today reintroduced legislation to protect schoolchildren from abusive use of physical restraints and solitary confinement while in school. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would for the first time set minimum safety standards in the nation’s schools, similar to those protections already required at medical and community-based facilities. It would provide school personnel with… Continue Reading
Miller, Waters Pledge Action on Private Student Loan Debt
05.09.13 WASHINGTON- Two senior Democratic lawmakers from the House - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee - released the following joint statement today after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report highlighting ways in which student loan debt can have a domino effect on other financial decisions for consumers. For example,… Continue Reading