Press Releases
Miller: Audit Raises Troubling Questions about Whether Americans are Receiving Accurate Benefits from Federal Agency
11.16.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Inspector General released an audit that uncovered a number of serious internal control weaknesses within the agency, resulting in “errors in valuation of plan assets” and “errors in benefit calculations.”“The independent auditor’s report raises deeply troubling questions about whether retirees receiving… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on First Round of States Applying for Flexibility from No Child Left Behind
11.15.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced that 11 states submitted applications for flexibility in the form of waivers from No Child Left Behind. In exchange for a waiver, states had to agree to adopt common-sense reforms that include college and career ready standards, new accountability, school improvement systems and meaningful teacher an… Continue Reading
Democrats Introduce Jobs Bill to Address Long-Term and Youth Unemployment
11.15.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and other Democrats of the House Education and the Workforce Committee introduced legislation today to help out-of-work Americans get a job and gain the skills needed to be successful in the global economy. "With more Americans counted in the ranks of the long-term unemployed, Congress should be doing everything it can to get America back to work. Because we know the longer workers go without a job, the more difficult it becomes for them to ever find a job… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on New Head Start Regulations
11.08.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and original co-author of The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, today released the following statement after President Obama announced regulations that would require low quality Head Start centers to reapply and compete for their federal funding. The new rule stems directly from policy that Miller included in the legislation and will result in improved services for children in H… Continue Reading
Miller: Ohio Voters Send Clear Message to Washington GOP
11.08.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after Ohio voters today overwhelmingly rejected an effort to severely curtail the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. “Voters in Ohio sent a clear message tonight: It’s time for Republicans to end their single-minded obsession with busting unions. For far too long, Republicans have chosen to ignore our nation’s economic problems and… Continue Reading
Woolsey: Oppose Efforts to Weaken Minimum Wage and Overtime Protections
11.03.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the remarks of U.S. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Workforce Protections Subcommittee for the hearing on the Wage and Hour Division’s enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act. For testimony or video of the hearing, click here. Woolsey is also the author of legislation to rein in the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. *** Mr. Chairman, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed nearly 80 years ago to ensure that wo… Continue Reading
Miller: The 99%'s Lives Were Put in Danger While Massey and the 1% Walked Away with $195 Million
11.02.11 Below are the remarks of Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce, in a speech today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding miner safety. Miller is coauthor of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act (H.R. 1579) and, as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, held the only congressional hearings into the tragedy that included the voices of the families and the miners of Upper Big Branch. *** Mr. Speaker, … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Newest NAEP Results
11.01.11 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 on the most recent results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card. "We need all students to progress, to grow and to thrive in school. On one hand, in math, it is clear that what we're doing is working. In reading, a critical component of learning, student achievement remains flat. And in bot… Continue Reading
House GOP to Americans looking for jobs: ‘Gone Fishing. You’re on your own.’
10.27.11 WASHINGTON - After a whole year of blocking any legislation to help create jobs, House Republicans announced today they will celebrate this January by taking a three-week vacation and scheduling only 109 work days in 2012, further indication the GOP has no intention to help the economy recover. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) was incredulous. "Fourteen million unemployed Americans and their families are going to have the worst Christmas since the Great Depression and the response from Republicans in … Continue Reading
Ignoring Jobs Crisis, Ed & Workforce GOP Pushes Through Anti-Worker, Special Interest Legislation
10.26.11 WASHINGTON - House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans today pushed through legislation (H.R. 3094) designed to deny workers a right to a free and fair election, more aptly named the “Election Prevention Act.” Committee Republicans also blocked an effort to put construction workers across the country back to work by fixing our nation’s crumbling schools. “This bill will not provide help to the millions of Americans struggling with stubbornly high unemployment,” said Rep. Ge… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on UMWA Upper Big Branch Report
10.25.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the release of the United Mine Workers of America’s report on the April 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. Miller is coauthor of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act (H.R. 1579) and, as chairman, held the only congressional hearings into the tragedy that included the voices of the families and the miners of Upper Big Branch. “Tod… Continue Reading
Student Loan Transition Was Seamless, Bipartisan Witnesses Confirm to Education Panel
10.25.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Every witness at the Education and the Workforce’s hearing today regarding the Direct Loan Program (DL) agreed that the transition to the more reliable DL program was seamless and successful. The witnesses, seasoned financial aid professionals from colleges and universities of various sizes, all acknowledged that the transition to Direct Lending left no one without the student aid they needed. When asked, none of these professionals said they wanted to go back to the past u… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on New Student Loan Consolidation Efforts by the White House
10.25.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s plan to allow student loan borrowers to consolidate certain loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program into the Direct Lending (DL) program. The savings from this consolidation will be used to support and improve the repayment programs under the DL program. Miller is the original co-author of the College Cost … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge
10.20.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), today issued the following statement after the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced that 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico applied for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, a $500 million competitive grant program to dramatically improve early learning opportunities in the states. “I am excited to see that so many states are applying to be a part of this innovative and critical initi… Continue Reading
Miller Encouraged by the Department of Education’s Initial Steps to Protect Taxpayer Investment in Federal Student Loans
10.20.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the wake of a government investigation and media reports highlighting massive student loan fraud at distance learning programs, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), issued the following statements acknowledging the Department of Education’s actions as important first steps to combat student loan fraud. Following the release of the Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigative findings last month, Miller and Hinojosa (D-TX) urged Secr… Continue Reading
Miller Applauds Senate for Working to Create Jobs, Help Schools
10.19.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement about the Senate’s Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act. The bill is similar to Miller’s Local Jobs for America Act, which among other provisions, would help states to retain or rehire 250,000 teachers and other education staff, and provide funding to put first responders back on the job. “Senator Reid is taking the right step forward… Continue Reading
Woolsey Introduces Bill to Stop Employers who Cheat Workers and Taxpayers
10.14.11 WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced a bill to end the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, a practice that strips workers of benefits and protections, puts responsible employers at a competitive disadvantage, and cheats taxpayers. "Misclassification undermines workers' rights by denying them access to important benefits and protections like workers' compensation coverage, minimum wage and overtime protections, family and medical leave, and the right… Continue Reading
Results of ‘Jobs eForum’ Show Devastating Impact of High Unemployment on American Families
10.13.11 WASHINGTON - The House Education and the Workforce Democrats recommended that the Joint Select Committee take immediate and significant action on job creation in order to get America back to work and reduce the deficit. As part of the submission, committee Democrats forwarded the results of their “eForum on Jobs” initiated last month, highlighting stories submitted by Americans from across the country and underscoring the need for swift action on the jobs crisis. “The report highlights exc… Continue Reading
Miller: Committee Should be Helping to Get Americans Back to Work, Not Taking Their Rights Away
10.12.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for the hearing on H.R. 3094, the “Election Prevention Act.” *** Today, this committee meets for the fifth time this year on issues relating to the National Labor Relations Board. Rather than focusing on getting Americans back to work, the majority is stubbornly continuing their ideological war against workers and their unions. With t… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on House Passage of Trade Deals
10.12.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives voted to approve trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama. Miller voted against all three bills. “Trade is a very important part of the American economy. Small businesses in my district and across the country, for example, are eager for new opportunities to sell their products and services overseas, he… Continue Reading