Press Releases
Levin, Waxman, Miller Joint Statement on Introduction of Health Reform Bill to Provide Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans
03.18.10 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, leaders of the Committees with jurisdiction over health policy, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), issued the following joint statement upon introduction of comprehensive health reform legislation: “In the coming days, the House will take an up or down vote to improve the lives of tens of millions of American families and smal… Continue Reading
Miller: Health Care Bill Will Include Student Loan Reform and Deficit Reduction Legislation
03.18.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A landmark measure to make college more affordable and create jobs that stay in the U.S. at no cost to taxpayers will be included in the historic health care legislation scheduled for an upcoming vote in Congress, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced today. The measure represents the single largest investment in federal student aid in history, and includes many of President Obama’s key education initiatives. “This … Continue Reading
House Chairs Introduce Bill to Recognize Family Friendly Workplaces
03.17.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), today introduced legislation to recognize workplaces that provide employees the ability to achieve work-life balance. Woolsey also announced that the Workforce Protections Subcommittee will hold a hearing Tuesday, March 23 on the legislation. “Achieving a work-life balance is essential for families today,” said Woolsey, the chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. “The Work-Life Balance Award will send a clear… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement at Committee Hearing On “The Obama Administration’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization Blueprint”
03.17.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, for a committee hearing on “The Obama Administration’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization Blueprint”. ***Good afternoon.Today Secretary Duncan joins us to discuss the Obama’s administration’s newly released blueprint for rewriting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for meeting with us again. Two weeks ago, … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Senator Lincoln’s Child Nutrition Bill
03.17.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry released the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a bill that will help improve child nutrition across the nation. “For millions of children, the meals they eat at school, in afterschool programs or child care are their nutritional sa… Continue Reading
Tougher Safety Penalties Will Improve Workplace Health and Safety, Witnesses tell House Subcommittee
03.16.10 Witnesses told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee that legislation to strengthen and modernize workplace health and safety laws will save lives and hold employers accountable if they knowingly put their workers in danger. “There is no question that [current health and safety law] has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and countless others have avoided preventable illnesses and injuries,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D- CA), chair of the subcommittee. “But we cannot claim victory because mo… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Blueprint to Reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
03.15.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the Department of Education released their blueprint for rewriting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind. “President Obama has outlined a bold vision for reform that puts our efforts to rewrite our education laws on strong footing. Congress now has an incredible opportunity to help reshape the future of t… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Student Loan Reform Boosts Support for Health Reform Bill
03.11.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Including student loan reforms in a reconciliation package will help pass health insurance reform in Congress because it is a once-in-a generation opportunity to make historic investments in college students and families, instead of banks - and at no cost to taxpayers, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House education committee, at a press conference on Capitol Hill today. Miller was joined by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the chair of the Senate educa… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement from Press Conference on Urgent Need for Student Loan Reform
03.11.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, from his press conference on the urgent need to include student loan reform as part of the reconciliation.Senate Democrats have a very simple choice to make in the next few weeks. This choice speaks to the true character of our country and of our Congress. It speaks to what America’s priorities will be for the next generation. It speaks to fiscal responsibilit… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Reports of Senators Leaning Toward Including Student Loan Reform in Reconciliation
03.11.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - News reports this afternoon indicate that Senate leaders are leaning toward including student loan reforms along with health insurance reform as part of one reconciliation package - a move that would allow Congress to take an up or down vote on legislation that would invest tens of billions of dollars in students instead of banks, without costing taxpayers a dime. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House education committee and the author of the student loan r… Continue Reading
Congress and Mayors Announce New Jobs Plan
03.10.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With states and municipalities facing more potential layoffs amidst budget squeezes, today House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors announced new legislation to create one million public and private sector jobs in local communities. (Listen to the audio of the press conference call introducing the legislation here.)The Local Jobs for America Act, authored by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), will save and create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and hel… Continue Reading
Sec. Duncan Urges Swift Bipartisan Action to Rewrite Federal Education Laws
03.03.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a hearing on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan called on Congress to take several steps to build a lasting economic recovery by helping all students get a world-class education. In his second appearance before the House Education and Labor Committee to discuss the Obama administration’s education agenda, Duncan specifically urged lawmakers to take quick action on a bipartisan rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act - currently known as N… Continue Reading
Houses Approves Bill to Protect Schoolchildren from Harmful Restraint and Seclusion
03.03.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to a recent government investigation that found widespread allegations that children were being abused through misuses of restraint and seclusion in classrooms, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation to protect children from inappropriate uses of these practices in schools. The Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 4247) passed by a vote of 262 to 153. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released last spring exposed hundred… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Time to Cross the Finish Line on Health Reform
03.03.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement today on President Obama’s remarks on moving forward on health insurance reform. Miller is the chairman of one of the three committees that developed the House health reform bill and participated in the President’s bipartisan summit last week. “President Obama is absolutely right. After a year of hearings, and countless hours of debates on ideas from both sid… Continue Reading
Improving Child Nutrition Programs Will Help More Children Succeed, Witnesses Tell House Committee
03.02.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With child obesity and child hunger both on the rise, Congress has a critical opportunity to help children be healthy and succeed in school by improving access to and the quality of the U.S. child nutrition programs and the Women Infants and Children (WIC), witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. Providing children with access to healthy food during the critical years of early development, in child care, at school and during the summer can help fight the … Continue Reading
Chairs Miller and Andrews Statement on Department of Labor Retirement Security Proposal
02.26.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rob Andrews (D-NJ), chairman of the pensions subcommittee, today issued a statement on a Department of Labor proposal to protect workers’ retirement from investment advisors who have a direct financial interest in the products they recommend. Vice President Joe Biden announced the proposal today as part of the Middle Class Task Force’s annual report. “Today’s announcement is welcome new… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller's Statement After Bipartisan White House Health Reform Summit
02.25.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement today on President Obama’s bipartisan health insurance reform summit. Miller, who chairs one of the three committees that developed the House health reform bill, participated in the summit and spoke on the vital need to reform the way insurance companies treat their customers. “This was a remarkable meeting and I am honored to have been a part of it. “I belie… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Inconsistent State Policies on Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
02.24.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education released information collected from states over the past six months on the state laws, regulations, policies and guidelines in place on preventing abusive restraint and seclusion in schools. The information released via the Department of Education shows inconsistent state and local policies, which could lead to further … Continue Reading
Charter Schools Can Be Critical Tool for Education Reform, Witnesses Tell House Panel
02.24.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Congress begins efforts to rewrite and strengthen the nation’s federal education laws, lawmakers should examine ways to expand students’ access to high-performing charter schools, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. While charter schools are not the silver bullet for fixing struggling schools, high performing charter schools offer many low-income and minority students the opportunity to receive a high quality education. “High performing charter sc… Continue Reading
Backlog of Mine Operator Appeals of Safety Violations Undermines Worker Safety, Witnesses Tell House Committee
02.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A flood of mine owner appeals of health and safety violations are delaying tougher penalties for the country’s most dangerous mines and undermining efforts to protect miners, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. “MSHA’s stronger emphasis on safety is saving lives and reducing injuries,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of committee. “Some of the largest mining operations have responded by challenging tougher sanctions at a staggering rat… Continue Reading