Press Releases
Miller Statement on 2-year Anniversary of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
03.30.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and the author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which was enacted into law two years ago today, released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the law. “Two years ago today, as part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, President Obama enacted a law that put a college education within reach for students who rely on gr… Continue Reading
Illegal Advanced Notice of Mine Inspections Still a Problem, Puts Lives in the Crosshairs, Rep. Miller says
03.29.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the Mine Safety and Health Administration outlined recent incidents where mine operators and contractors provided unlawful advance notice of impending mine inspections in order to give enough time to cover up or fix hazardous conditions in mines before inspectors were able to arrive in the area where mining was being conducted. “Recent tro… Continue Reading
Republican budget cuts students from Pell grant program
03.28.12 WASHINGTON - Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee today released new data that illustrates the detrimental effects the Republican budget would have on students seeking access to higher education in each state. The Republican budget would cut 400,000 students from the Pell Grant program in the 2013-2014 school year. Their budget rolls back a key improvement to the program authored by Democrats that indexed the maximum award to inflation and eliminates other protection… Continue Reading
President Obama’s Budget Strengthens Workforce and Rebuilds American Economy, Secretary Duncan tells Congress
03.28.12 WASHINGTON - At a hearing on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan outlined for members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 education priorities. In discussing the Obama administration’s education agenda, Duncan underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring all students gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed while continuing to empower states, districts and schools to pursue bold reforms. “The Preside… Continue Reading
Republican budget cuts students from Pell grant program
03.27.12 WASHINGTON - Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee today released new data that illustrates the detrimental effects the Republican budget would have on students seeking access to higher education in each state. The Republican budget would cut 400,000 students from the Pell Grant program in the 2013-2014 school year. Their budget rolls back a key improvement to the program authored by Democrats that indexed the maximum award to inflation and eliminates other protections f… Continue Reading
Congressional Action Needed to Prevent another Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy, Experts tell House Panel
03.27.12 WASHINGTON - Nearly two years after the worst coal mine tragedy in four decades, witnesses told the House Education and the Workforce Committee today that Congress still needs to strengthen the law in order to keep miners safe on the job. In April 2010, a massive explosion ripped through the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, killing 29 miners. Since then, four investigations have concluded that the actions of owner of the mine, Massey Energy, caused the tragedy. “We recognize that the… Continue Reading
Inside Information at NLRB Converted for Private Benefit of Former Members, says NLRB Inspector General
03.23.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, wrote the Attorney General today asking him to consider evidence resulting from an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board Inspector General, which found that current Board Member Terence Flynn, when serving as a chief counsel, provided confidential information to former Board Members Peter Kirsanow and Peter Schaumber for their private benefit. “As the senior Democratic m… Continue Reading
Miller Welcomes Rep. Fudge Back to the Education and the Workforce Committee
03.21.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U. S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), was assigned back to the committee to fill the vacancy resulting from the passing of Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ). Fudge will sit on the Workforce Protections and the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittees. "I am pleased to welcome back to the committee Rep. Marcia Fudge from Ohio's 11th di… Continue Reading
Labor Department Priorities are Moving Country Forward to Rebuild Nation’s Middle Class
03.21.12 WASHINGTON - Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis testified today before the House Education and the Workforce Committee emphasizing efforts that she and the Obama administration are taking to improve employment opportunities and ensure that all Americans can benefit from the economic recovery. “At stake is the very survival of the basic American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home and put enough away for retirement,” said Sec. Solis. “The best way to c… Continue Reading
Reps. Tierney, Hinojosa, Miller to Offer Bill to Address Worker Retraining Crisis
03.20.12 Washington, D.C. - As the House Committee on Education and the Workforce looks to start work on reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, which is the preeminent federal employment service and job training law, Congressmen John Tierney (D-MA), Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), and George Miller (D-CA) held a conference call with reporters today to announce their blueprint for how to strengthen and modernize this critical law. Later today, the lawmakers will introduce sweeping legislation to expand opport… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Council on Foreign Relations Report
03.20.12 Washington, DC - Today, Rep. George Miller (D-CA) issued the following statement on the Council on Foreign Relations' "U.S. Education Reform and National Security" report. The report found that failures in America's education system pose five national security threats, including to economic growth and competitiveness, to U.S. physical safety, to intellectual property, to U.S. global awareness and to U.S. unity and cohesion. "Yesterday we received a report warning of grave consequences from the… Continue Reading
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) Opening Statement for the Hearing on Overtime and Minimum Wage Protections for Home Health Workers
03.20.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. *** Mr. Chairman, the nation's nearly 2 million home care workers, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and minorities, are currently excluded from federal minimum wage and overtime protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Home care workers help patients live in their homes … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on February Jobs Report
03.09.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy created 227,000 jobs in February. January job creation was revised upwards by 51,000 jobs to 284,000 total jobs. "There was more good news today on the employment front. But just imagine how many more jobs the economy would be creating each month if Congress was working together instead of s… Continue Reading
Crandall Canyon Criminal Charges Long Awaited, Congress’ Job to Protect Miners Remains Unfinished, says Rep. Miller
03.09.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City announced two criminal misdemeanor charges against Genwal Resources, a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation, related to the Crandall Canyon Mine tragedy that killed six miners and three would-be rescuers in August 2007. Under the chairmanship of Miller, the Education and Labor Committee launched an investiga… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on MSHA Internal Report on the Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy
03.06.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a report looking into the agency’s actions leading up to the Upper Big Branch Mine tragedy in April 2010. “It is clear the entire system failed these 29 miners, from Congress’s failure to maintain adequate and experienced staffing at MSHA over the years, to the agency’s fai… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Opposes Repeal of Critical Piece of Health Care Reform Law
03.06.12 WASHINGTON - The Energy and Commerce committee today approved a bill, H.R. 452, to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a key cost-efficiency provision of the historic Affordable Care Act. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), who was a coauthor of the Affordable Care Act as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee in 2009 and 2010, issued the following statement in opposition to the Republican bill to repeal IPAB. "I strongly oppose this legislation. It eliminates from the Affordabl… Continue Reading
Miller statement on parent trigger laws
03.06.12 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 in response to the outpouring of parents and families using "parent trigger" laws to improve struggling schools. "We can no longer just pay lip-service to parental involvement in schools. Instead parents must be empowered to stand up and say the status quo isn't good enough for their children. When school districts and communities … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Miller Statement on the Passing of Rep. Donald Payne
03.06.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the news of the passing of Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ). Payne was a senior member of the committee. "I am heartbroken to learn of Congressman Payne's passing. Donald served his constituents and this nation with honor, distinction and a deep sense of justice. He was an uncompromising voice on the committee for the disadvantaged and the powerless. He d… Continue Reading
New Data from the Department of Education Shows Continuing Disparities in Educational Opportunities and Resources
03.06.12 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 the U.S. Department of Education released new civil rights data. The data, released as part of the Civil Rights Data Collection, shines much-needed light on disparities in educational resources and opportunities for students across the country. The data released today includes information on suspensions, seclusion and restraint occurrence… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on National Labor Relations Board Federal Court Rulings
03.02.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement today after a federal judge rejected corporate interests’ suit over President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. In another ruling, the judge ruled that the NLRB has the power to require employers to post rights of workers under the National Labor Relations Act. “Today’s ruling clearly upheld the National Labor Relat… Continue Reading