Press Releases
Rep. Miller Statement on New Republican Education Proposal
01.05.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement today after the Republican majority on the committee released two pieces of draft legislation to rewrite the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. "The Kline draft language ignores our responsibility to parents, students and taxpayers. They deserve better. "The release of this draft marks a good day for proponents of the status quo or, wor… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on NLRB Recess Appointments
01.04.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama announced three recess appointments today to the National Labor Relations Board. Currently, the NLRB has only two members and cannot legally render decisions. Only the NLRB can enforce workers’ and employers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act. “Taxpayers deserve a fully functioning government. The National Labor Relati… Continue Reading
NLRB final rule will better ensure workers get a free and fair election
12.21.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board announced today a set of modifications on union representation election procedures. “If workers want an election, they should get an election. It’s as simple as that. Endless delays caused by frivolous litigation only thwart workers’ rights to a free and fair election. This final rule approved by the NLRB wi… Continue Reading
Miller Announces New Hires to Ed and Workforce Democratic Committee Staff
12.19.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today announced two new hires to the Democratic committee staff. "I welcome these talented individuals to the committee's Democratic staff as we work on behalf of all Americans to grow and strengthen the middle class," said Miller. Miller announced the following hires: Tiffany Edwards joined the staff today as press secretary, focused on education issues. Edwards comes to the co… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Calls on House Republican Leadership to Pass Senate Bill to Extend Payroll Tax Cut and Unemployment Insurance for Middle Class This Week
12.18.11 WASHINGTON -- House Republicans have run out of time to delay any further a payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance benefits for middle class Americans and should bring the bi-partisan bill approved by the Senate to the House floor early this week for a vote, said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "Opportunity is at hand. It is time for Republicans and Democrats in the House to come together and approve the payroll tax cu… Continue Reading
Miller: Partisanship means the end to NCLB reform in this Congress
12.16.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after committee Republicans confirmed that they are abandoning bipartisan talks to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known as 'No Child Left Behind' in the law's recent iteration. 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. … Continue Reading
Miller: Democrats successful in removing damaging rollbacks in compromise funding bill
12.16.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement on legislation to fund the federal government through the rest of the fiscal year. "This funding bill is not perfect. It is a compromise. But it is important to note that Democrats secured critical and hard-fought changes in the final bill. "First, Democrats were able to remove nearly 100 repugnant and damaging public policy rollbacks that had n… Continue Reading
Miller: Early Learning Challenge Funds Will Make a Real Difference for Children and Families
12.16.11 WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that nine states, including California, won federal funding in the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge competition. Miller has been a longtime advocate and champion for early education. In 2009, he introduced legislation to create the Early Learning Challenge … Continue Reading
Nation's Labor Law Worked to Protect Workers Rights and Jobs in Boeing Case
12.09.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board announced that they have ended their case against Boeing after workers ratified a new four-year agreement with the company. “Seventy six years ago, Congress gave our nation’s workers the right to organize together and bargain for a better life. The agreement reached between Boeing and workers in Washington demonstrates that the law that protects workers’ rights is vital to our… Continue Reading
Bill Would Dismantle National Commitment to Job Training and Educational Assistance, Say Top House Democrats
12.08.11 WASHINGTON - Leading House workforce training and education advocates spoke out strongly today against legislation introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to dismantle the national commitment to the millions of Americans seeking job assistance, skills assessment, career counseling, and job training programs. H.R. 3610 would eliminate a number of programs that target populations of high unemployment with high need of services and instead block-grant funding to states without meaningful accountabi… Continue Reading
Miller, Woolsey Statement on Upper Big Branch Report and Settlement
12.06.11 WASHINGTON - Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), leaders in mine safety in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statements today after the release of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration’s accident investigation in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 miners in April 2010. In conjunction with the MSHA report, a $209 million non-prosecution agreement was reached by the United States Attorney with Alpha Natural Resources, which acqui… Continue Reading
New Dept. of Ed guidance will ensure flexibility and promote diversity in the classroom, Miller says
12.02.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance to support voluntary efforts to promote diversity in primary, secondary and postsecondary classrooms. The guidance was issued in order to clarify existing law and three recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that addressed the consideration of race by some educational institutions. "Our nation … Continue Reading
GOP pushes through another bill to weaken the middle class by rolling back workers’ rights
11.30.11 WASHINGTON - House Republicans pushed through special-interest legislation today designed to dramatically weaken workers’ right to a free and fair union representation election. H.R. 3094, more aptly named the “Election Prevention Act” would weaken the middle class by frustrating the ability of workers to band together and bargain for more of the wealth they create. “For more than 75 years, the ultimate decision to form or belong to a union belonged to the workers themselves. And the exercise o… Continue Reading
“Seriously Deficient” Handling of UAL Bankruptcy by PBGC and Contractor, Detailed Evaluation Shows
11.30.11 WASHINGTON - An evaluation released today by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Inspector General found that the processing of United Airlines’ terminated pension plans beginning in 2004 was seriously deficient due to systemic failures in auditing the plans, citing a number of errors and omissions committed by PBGC’s outside contractors and PBGC itself. The detailed evaluation was initiated in response to a 2009 request by Rep. George Miller (D-CA). These errors may have affected pen… Continue Reading
House Passes Bipartisan Reforms to Federal Workers' Compensation Program
11.29.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation today on a voice vote to strengthen and reform the existing federal workers' compensation program. “Workers and their families should be no better off, nor worse off, because of a disabling injury or death caused by while in service to the federal government. This bill preserves and protects that commitment,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat of the Education and the Workforce Committee. “I am e… Continue Reading
Miller Demands NLRB Member Hayes’ Documents Regarding Improper Efforts to Shut Down the Board
11.23.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today demanded communications of National Labor Relations Board member Brian Hayes discussing his resignation, future employment, or any enticements by private parties he has received to encourage his resignation and effectively shut down the NLRB. “I have read reports of special interest organizations and individuals calling on you to resign precisely to incapacitate the Board.… Continue Reading
Miller: Anti-Worker, Anti-Family Bill is Ohio and Wisconsin Wrapped up in One
11.18.11 WASHINGTON - Below are the remarks as delivered of Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, on the House floor debate on H.R. 3094, legislation to take away workers' rights to a workplace representation election. *** ; "Seventy-five years ago, this nation decided it is a matter of right and matter of law that the decision of whether or not workers wanted to union belong to those workers. And this Congress passed National Labor Rela… Continue Reading
Miller Calls for Hearings in the Wake of Heinous Abuse Claims at Penn State and the Citadel
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today asked Chairman John Kline (R-MN) to call a hearing to examine whether federal laws specifically designed to protect children and students require changes. “Potential weaknesses in specific laws designed to keep children safe have come to light in the wake of the alleged sexual crimes committed on the campuses of the Pennsylvania State University and the Citadel,” wrote Miller… Continue Reading
GAO: More data needed to monitor distance learning programs
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - In a report released today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that more “pertinent, up-to-date data” is needed to bolster oversight of distance education programs. "Distance education programs can expand access to postsecondary education for some of our most disadvantaged students. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the integrity of these programs and the student and taxpayer investments in them,” said Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Ruben Hinojosa … Continue Reading
Miller to GOP: Drop your special interest crusade and work to tackle our nation’s real problems
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - Below are the prepared remarks of Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, before the Rules Committee on the consideration of H.R. 3094, the more appropriately named “Election Prevention Act.” House floor debate on the rule is expected to begin Friday morning. “Chairman Dreier, Ranking Member Slaughter and members of the Rules Committee, thank you for allowing me to testify. I must begin by saying that I am disappoint… Continue Reading