Press Releases
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
Miller Statement on the 40th Anniversary of the Pell Grant Program
06.22.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of the Pell Grant program. “40 years ago, Congress took steps to make the dream of a college degree a reality for millions of low- and middle-income students and their families with the passage of the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, known today as the Pell Grant program. Since its inception in 1972, the Pell Gr… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on the 40th Anniversary of Title IX
06.22.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of Title IX. According to the National Women's Law Center, before the passage of Title IX, it was common for schools to discourage young women from studying math or science, and to encourage them to focus on domestic skills, like cooking, sewing and child rearing. There were few opportunities for girls to play sports… Continue Reading
GAO Report Finds Students with Disabilities Underrepresented in our Nation’s Charter Schools
06.20.12 WASHINGTON - As charter schools continue to grow steadily and have become an important part of our education system, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that nationally, charter schools are not serving students with disabilities at the same rates as traditional public schools. In addition, while charter schools have the potential to provide students with increased educational options, additional measures are needed to ensure access for students with disabilities. The charter schoo… Continue Reading
New Data from the Department of Education Empowers Families to Make Informed Decisions about Higher Education
06.11.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education released new information on college costs. Displayed on the Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center website, the college cost data highlights institutions with the highest and lowest tuition and fees and net prices. It also lists schools where costs are rising the fastest - provi… Continue Reading
Ed & Workforce Republicans Approve Legislation that Harms Job Training and Job Creation Efforts
06.07.12 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans pushed Workforce Investment Act legislation (H.R. 4297) through the committee that walks away from Congress’ duty to help create and sustain a highly-skilled workforce, especially for the most disadvantaged workers. “We should be building a workforce system to expand opportunity for all Americans, builds on what works, gives businesses the workers they need to compete globally and grows the middle class,” said Rep. Geor… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement after his Meeting with Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy Families
06.07.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Labor Committee, issued the following statement after meeting today with families who lost loved ones at the April 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine explosion that killed 29 miners. Families were on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers asking them to strengthen protections for miners and increase penalties for mine operators who put miners in danger. It has been two years, two months and two days sinc… Continue Reading
Miller, Durbin Urge Examination of Student Debit Card Practices
06.07.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Assistant Senate Majority Leader, today sent letters to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray and Department of Education Inspector General Kathleen Tighe, expressing concern over the adverse financial impact debit card agreements between banks and institutions of higher educati… Continue Reading