Press Releases
Lawmakers Raise Questions on “Mitt Romney” IRA Tax Loophole
08.02.12 WASHINGTON - Members of Congress are raising new questions about possible abuse of tax-preferred retirement accounts by wealthy individuals like former Gov. Mitt Romney and others. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.), ranking member of the Budget Committee, asked federal officials today for information on the prevalence of misusin… Continue Reading
Under Tierney Rule, Millions of Families and Employers Now Receiving Rebate Checks from Insurance Companies
08.01.12 WASHINGTON - Americans across the country are now being sent rebate checks from their insurance companies as a result of the "Tierney Rule," included as part of the Affordable Care Act. The Tierney Rule" also called the medical loss ratio' or the 80/20 rule, requires insurance companies to spend generally at least 80 cents of every dollar that Americans pay in premiums on health care versus CEO pay and bonuses and other administrative costs . If this requirement is not met, insur… Continue Reading
More than 100 House Democrats Introduce Bill to Increase the Minimum Wage
07.26.12 WASHINGTON - Saying it is time for working people to get a raise, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, led more than 100 other House Democrats in introducing legislation today to raise the minimum wage to $9.80. This would be the first increase in the minimum wage since 2009 and the first increase in the minimum wage for tipped-workers in 21 years. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is expected to introduce companion legislation in… Continue Reading
House GOP Panel Holds Hearing on Proposals to Weaken the Middle Class
07.25.12 WASHINGTON - A House labor committee held its 7th partisan hearing today to examine numerous proposals that would benefit the powerful and well-connected over working families and their rights. Rather than moving forward on efforts to grow and strengthen the nation’s middle class, the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee instead considered a variety of bills proposed by Republicans that will weaken the National Labor Relations Act and workers’ rights. “I think the American peopl… Continue Reading
Miller Requests Hearing on the Impact of Sequestration
07.25.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today requested that Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) schedule a hearing to examine the impact of sequestration on programs within the committee's jurisdiction, on the individuals and families served by those programs and on the economy. If Congress does not chart a different fiscal path, federal programs will see across-the-board cuts - known as sequestration - of approximately… Continue Reading
Committee Dems Push Amendments to Protect American Workers and Jobs, Not Special Interests
07.23.12 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats today called on House Republicans to allow a full vote on amendments to ensure workers and jobs are protected from special interest legislation set to be debated this week. The Rules Committee will begin debate this afternoon on whether to allow any amendments to be offered to Republican legislation (H.R. 4078) that, if enacted, would block rules to protect workers from health and safety hazards and stymy agency-level efforts to … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on New Private Student Lending Report
07.20.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after a new joint report from the U.S. Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that students were another group of consumers who were adversely affected by the boom and bust of the subprime lending financial crisis. The report found that risky lending practices and loose underwriting has resulted in… Continue Reading
Miller, Hinojosa Introduce Legislation to Help College Students Seeking to Transfer Between Schools
07.18.12 WASHINGTON - Last night, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Rubén Hinojosa (D -Texas), the senior Democrat on the Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee, introduced legislation aimed at removing the "friction of transfer" within a state's public system of higher education, including for community college students seeking to move on to four-year institutions. The legislation, the Transferring Cred… Continue Reading
Miller asks GAO to Investigate the Weaknesses in Child Abuse Reporting Laws and Policies in Wake of Penn State and Other Abuse Scandals at Schools
07.18.12 WASHINGTON - While continuing to press for committee action in wake of sex abuse scandals at The Pennsylvania State University and other educational institutions, Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether existing laws and policies adequately prevent abuse of children in schools or on school campuses. “The child sexual abuse scandal at The Pennsylv… Continue Reading
House GOP Spending Bill Sides with the Powerful and Well-Connected, Against Middle Class and Working Families
07.18.12 WASHINGTON - A Republican spending bill advancing through the House Appropriations Committee sides in favor of the powerful and well connected, at the expense of working families and the middle class, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) said today. The spending bill was approved today on a partisan vote by the committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee. “The House Republican blueprint for the Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
Miller: GOP Proposal to Stop Black Lung Protections Outrageous
07.17.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after House Appropriations Committee Republicans unveiled a spending bill that includes language to stop a decades-long effort to modernize black lung protections for the nation's coal miners. "House Republicans' proposal to stop modern protections against black lung disease for our nation's miners is outrageous and should be defeated… Continue Reading
Miller Requests Chairman Kline to Investigate Child Abuse Reporting Laws After Release of Penn State Sexual Abuse Investigative Report
07.12.12 WASHINGTON - In light of the Special Investigative Counsel report released today on the child sexual abuse scandal at The Pennsylvania State University, Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, sent a third letter to Chairman John Kline (R - Minn.), requesting the committee begin a significant investigation into whether federal laws adequately protect children from physical and sexual abuse. "Our Committee has a duty to act. We sh… Continue Reading
House GOP Votes to Put Insurance Companies Back in Charge, Continues to Ignore Jobs
07.11.12 WASHINGTON - House Republicans pushed through yet another attempt to repeal historic patient protections for all Americans today, while at the same time voting to protect their own health insurance benefits. Instead of getting America back to work, House Republicans have tried more than 30 times to repeal, roll back or diminish the impact of the Affordable Care Act over the last 18 months. "Americans are rightly asking House Republicans, where are the jobs? And where is your plan to stop outsou… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller to GOP: Stop Threatening More Economic Chaos, Move Forward to Put America Back to Work Instead
07.06.12 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 regarding the June jobs report and needing to do more to help the American economy. "Today's jobs report shows that Congress should be working together to get America back to work. Instead of addressing Americans' top issue, Washington Republicans have scheduled yet another partisan vote to repeal the health reform law and patient… Continue Reading
House Approves Legislation to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Lower and Create Construction Jobs
06.29.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to keep interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year and also keep thousands of American construction workers on the job building bridges and repairing roads. The legislation passed by a vote of 373 to 52. "This action comes just in the nick … Continue Reading
Expansion of Voluntary Protection Program, Without More Resources, Could Impact OSHA’s Ability to Protect Workers
06.28.12 WASHINGTON, D.C - At a Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing today, members explored the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which recognizes employers with exemplary safety management programs and below average injury rates for their industry. The program exempts participants from regularly scheduled inspections, and there are advocates for its expansion. However, the program's efficacy and OSHA's ability to expand the program while also co… Continue Reading
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) Opening Statement for the Hearing on the VPP Program
06.28.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for the committee hearing entitled, “Promoting Workplace Safety through Voluntary Protection Programs”. *** Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing to examine the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Before we take any ste… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller: Court Decision Huge Victory for the American People
06.28.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and one of the chief House authors of the Affordable Care Act, issued the following statement after today's Supreme Court decision on the historic health reform law. "The Supreme Court makes it clear - You're covered. This decision is a huge victory for the American people, small businesses, women, children and seniors. "Now, the threat that remains to your continued… Continue Reading
Committee GOP Majority Rejects Efforts to Address Outsourcing, Job Creation, Mine Safety and Child Abuse Before Congress Ends
06.27.12 WASHINGTON - At a debate and vote today on the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s quarterly activities report, the committee’s majority rejected requests from Democrats to work on a number of serious challenges facing the country in what remains of this Congress. Committees are required by House rules to review and report on its activities every six months, which often includes a list of upcoming legislative priorities. Democrats offered amendments to the report that would commit … Continue Reading
Miller Renews his Request of Chairman Kline to Investigate Child Abuse Reporting Laws in Light of Sandusky Verdict and New Cases of Abuse
06.27.12 WASHINGTON - In light of newly publicized cases of child sexual abuse and the guilty verdicts in the Jerry Sandusky abuse scandal, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, sent a letter to Chairman John Kline (R - Minn.), again requesting him to engage the committee to thoroughly examine whether laws adequately keep children safe from abuse. Miller made a similar request in November on the heels of reports of sexual abus… Continue Reading