Press Releases
$1 Million Chevron Fine Insufficient Alone to Assure Change in Safety Culture, Rep. Miller Says
01.30.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued 25 citations totaling nearly $1 million against Chevron over significant violations uncovered at its Richmond, Calif. refinery after an August 6, 2012 fire. While there were no serious injuries to refinery workers who managed to escape harm, thousands of residen… Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Respond to Reports on Multiemployer Pension System
01.29.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bipartisan leaders on the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee responded today to three reports on the nation's multiemployer pension system. The reports provide a broad examination of the challenges facing the pension system responsible for providing retirement benefits to more than 10 million individuals. Chairman John Kline (R-MN): "Anyone who denies the reality of the growing pension crisis is ignoring the facts. A weak pension system would not onl… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Fourth Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Law
01.29.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today on the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Rep. Miller was the House author of the legislation. “Four years ago today, President Obama signed his first bill into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Ledbetter law restored the right of women and other workers to fight pay discrimination. I rem… Continue Reading
House Democrats Applaud Efforts to Include Students with Disabilities in Extracurricular Activities
01.25.13 WASHINGTON- U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) released the following statements today in response to the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights guidance to encourage school districts to increase opportunities for students with disabilities in physical education and athletic extracurricular activities. A 2010 GAO report, requested by Representatives Miller, Van Hollen, and McCarthy and Senator Harkin, found that schools provide … Continue Reading
Rep. Miller and Andrews’ Statement on Federal Court Ruling on NLRB Recess Appointments
01.25.13 WASHINGTON - Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the ranking member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, issued the following joint statement today after a federal court said that President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board were invalid. “Today’s decision flies in the face of precedent and past practice. It radically undermines the ability… Continue Reading
Miller: Students May Incur Unnecessary Fees to Access Financial Aid
01.22.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today asked Higher One Holdings, Inc. for further information on its debit card and ATM-placement practices nationwide after research indicated that students with Higher One debit cards may have difficulty accessing their financial aid free of fees due to limited ATM locations. Federal rules require that, in cases where a school opens a bank account for a student, the student must have … Continue Reading
Miller Receives Community Builder Award from National Technology Organization
01.22.13 WASHINGTON - Last night, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, received the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training's (NCTET) 2012 Community Builder Award at the Bytes and Books Inaugural Ball. NCTET honored Rep. Miller for his efforts to bring the promise of technology into classrooms across the nation. NCTET recognized Rep. Miller for his "many years of effective work nationally to integrate technology into t… Continue Reading
Ed & Workforce Committee Democrats Announce Subcommittee Membership and Ranking Members
01.22.13 WASHINGTON - The Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats announced ranking subcommittee members and subcommittee assignments today at the full committee’s organizational meeting. “We serve on a committee that affects people’s everyday lives. What we do or don’t do in this committee will have real implications for millions of Americans,” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the full committee. “I remain hopeful that we can work together to advance an age… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller: Final Mine Safety Rule Will Better Protect Miners' Lives, But Work Far from Completed
01.17.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration finalized a proposal today to close loopholes in the agency’s “pattern of violation” sanctions regulations that have allowed some mine operations to escape tougher penalties and face potential closure orders for a sustained pattern of health and safety violations. “I applaud the Mine… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Obama Administration Proposal to Reduce Gun Violence
01.16.13 WASHINGTON -Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today following President Obama's new policy recommendations to reduce gun violence. "I applaud President Obama for moving so quickly to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence in the United States and in our schools. I support his proposal and urge Congress to work quickly to pass it. I also look forward to working with Chairma… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Announcement
01.09.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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 announcement of Sec. of Labor Hilda Solis' resignation. "I join working families in congratulating Hilda Solis for her years of service to our nation. As Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis has been a tireless advocate for all hardworking Americans. She understands their everyday struggles. Among other things, her ser… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on 11th Anniversary of No Child Left Behind Act
01.08.13 WASHINGTON -Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today marking the 11th Anniversary of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and urged Republicans to work in a bipartisan manner to reauthorize the law. Miller has been working in a bipartisan manner since 2007 to rewrite the law so that it works better for our nation's students and families. "Eleven years ago Congress turned the lights on in o… Continue Reading
Miller: Congress must work together to grow and strengthen the middle class
01.03.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) reiterated his pledge to continue to stand up for middle class and working families as he was sworn in today as a member of the 113th Congress. Miller made the following statement: “I am honored by the confidence shown in me by the residents of Contra Costa County and I consider it my highest responsibility to do everything I can to meet their expectations. Today is the beginning of a new Congress. I hope that it also will be the beginning o… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Response to NRA Press Conference
12.21.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after today's National Rifle Association's (NRA) press conference. "To the NRA, gun violence is never about semi-automatic weapons and high capacity ammunition clips. Never. But to a majority of parents across the country, mass shootings and gun violence have everything to do with those types of assault weapons and people who have lost their… Continue Reading
Statement by Congressman George Miller (D-CA) on today’s mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut
12.13.12 CONCORD, CA - Rep. George Miller (D-CA) made the following statement on today's mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut: "Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the parents, families and school employees dealing with the horrific loss of life in Newtown, Connecticut. I join all Americans in grieving for this community suffering from this incomprehensible tragedy. "Today is for sorrow and prayers. But the days ahead are for serious reflection about how we can reduce the flow of guns into the w… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Michigan's Proposed Right-to-Work Law
12.09.12 WASHINGTON -- Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued that following statement today on the expected passage of so-called "right-to-work" legislation in Michigan. Gov. Rick Synder testified before the committee in February 2012 saying that the proposal was divisive and not on his agenda for 2012. "Governor Snyder was correct when he testified before my committee in February that so-called right-to-work legislation w… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
12.06.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement expressing disappointment in the Senate’s failure to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities treaty, an international agreement for protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. “I am extremely disheartened that the Senate failed to ratify a treaty that would confirm our nation’s leadership in ensuring the r… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Reelection as the Senior Democratic Member of the Education and Workforce Committee
12.05.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) issued the following statement today after being reelected as the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "I would like to thank the Democratic caucus' continued support for me as the senior Democratic member of the Education and the Workforce Committee. In the upcoming Congress, our committee must address a number of critical challenges facing the middle class and those families struggling to join it. How elec… Continue Reading
Miller Requests Cooperation from Private Student Loan Lenders in Addressing Challenges Faced by Borrowers
11.29.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today wrote letters to private student loan lenders including Sallie Mae, Inc., Wells Fargo, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and Citi Bank, seeking information on their lending practices and their "cooperation in addressing increasing difficulties confronting private student loan customers who struggle to find work and repay their student loans." A recently is… Continue Reading
GAO: Federal Workers Disabled in the Line of Duty Face Significant Cuts to Important Benefits Under Pending Proposals
11.26.12 WASHINGTON - Proposals by the Department of Labor and approved by the U.S. Senate as part of a postal reform bill (S. 1789) would reduce wage replacement benefits for work-related injuries far below what workers would have received had they been able to work a full career, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in two reports released today. These provisions include reducing workers’ compensation at retirement age from 75 percent to 50 percent of the worker’s wages, lowering benefits … Continue Reading