Press Releases
Chairman Miller Statement on Mine Death at International Coal Group’s Pocahontas Mine in West Virginia
04.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued a statement today after a miner died at a coal mine listed by federal mine safety officials as facing potential higher sanctions if not for a backlog of thousands of owner appeals. A 28-year old miner at the Pocahontas Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia was crushed between a continuous miner and the mine wall last night. The miner died this morning. “I am deeply saddened by yet anot… Continue Reading
Richard Simmons, American Heart Association and Others Team Up with Reps. Kind, Wamp, and Chairman Miller Calling for More P.E. in Schools
04.22.10 WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today with U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp (R-TN), George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, fitness guru Richard Simmons, and representatives from the American Heart Association, Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (SGMA), and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) celebrated the passage of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act, which combats childhood obesity by strengthening physical e… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Time to Restore Fairness for College Loan Borrowers in Bankruptcy
04.22.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House education committee and the lead author of a historic new college affordability law, announced his support for legislation that would allow Americans to discharge their private student loans in bankruptcy, the same way they can discharge other types of private debt. The House Judiciary Committee today held a hearing to examine the bill, the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2010 (H.R. 5043), which wa… Continue Reading
Incentives to Improve Work-Life Balance Are Needed, Witnesses Tell Subcommittee
04.22.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Employers should be incentivized to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance amid Americans’ changing responsibilities at home and in the work place, witnesses told the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee today. In March, U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), introduced The Work-Life Balance Award Act of 2010 (H.R. 4855), legislation to recognize workplaces that provide employees the ability to achieve work-life balance.Balancing work and fam… Continue Reading
Major Reforms are Needed to Protect Youth in the Juvenile Justice System and to Increase Safety in Communities, Witnesses Tell House Panel
04.21.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Education and Labor Committee works to reauthorize Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the committee should implement significant policy changes that will spur systemic change, prevent juvenile delinquency, provide appropriate treatment and create safer communities, witnesses told the committee today. “By focusing early on to support youth with the right tools and resources, we can achieve the dual goal of both helping children at-risk become productive cit… Continue Reading
House Committee Releases Job Creation Estimates for Local Jobs for America Act
04.20.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Education and Labor Committee today released estimates on how many jobs would be created or saved in local communities by the Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812), legislation that would create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families rely on. The bill has 145 cosponsors to date. “Deep job cuts at the local level over the next couple of years threaten to derail our nation’s economic recovery,” said U.S. Rep.… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Equal Pay Day
04.20.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on Equal Pay Day, which falls today. “As we continue working to rebuild our economy and get every American who has lost a job back to work, we must also work to restore the promise of equal pay for equal work. Equal pay for equal work isn’t just a matter of basic fairness, but a smart strategy for economic growth: Paying women the higher incomes they have right… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Title IX Reversal
04.20.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) reversed a clarification the Bush administration issued to Title IX in 2005. The clarification, "Additional Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy: Three Part Test - Part Three" allowed universities to use an emailed survey to count towards their compliance with equity in athle… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on President Obama’s Comments on Mine Safety
04.15.10 U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s comments after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Joe Main, and Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health, Kevin Stricklin, on the Upper Big Branch Mine tragedy.“President Obama is correct that we need to reform a mine safety system that has for far too long been tipped in favor of mi… Continue Reading
Chair Miller Releases List of Dangerous Mines Escaping Tighter Scrutiny
04.14.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, released a list of 48 mines identified by federal mine safety officials in August 2009 for increased scrutiny, but were not targeted due to unresolved appeals filed by mine operators. The list includes the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia where 29 miners lost their lives in an explosion on April 5.“In the name of deep public interest, today I am releasing information important to the immedi… Continue Reading
Chairs Miller, Rahall, Woolsey Call for IG Investigation of MSHA Penalty Enforcement System
04.13.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, Nick Rahall (D-WV), chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today called on the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General to investigate the disclosure that a computer error prevented the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration from issuing a letter to the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virgin… Continue Reading
Chairs Miller and Woolsey Statement on the West Virginia Mine Tragedy
04.06.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, issued the following statement on yesterday’s tragic Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion in West Virginia. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and community who lost loved ones in yesterday’s mine tragedy and with those who still have loved ones trapped in the mine. We grieve the loss of the 25 bra… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Encouraging March Jobs Report
04.02.10 U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 162,000 jobs were created in March, the largest monthly job gain in three years. Excluding the expected bump in temporary census hiring, private sector hiring was still the highest last month since the recession began. “Today’s news that our nation created the most jobs in three years is a sign that our efforts are hel… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Today America’s Middle Class Won Two Major Victories
03.30.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that makes key improvements to the historic health reform law enacted last week, and makes the single largest investment in college aid ever, at no additional cost to taxpayers. The law makes health care even more affordable for the middle class, lowers prescription drug costs for seniors by closing the “donut hole” over time, reduces the deficit and strips out special deals that favored one state over another. The bill… Continue Reading
Chair Miller Statement on NLRB Recess Appointments
03.29.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s recess appointments of Craig Becker and Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board. The five-member board currently has only two members, with one member’s term set to expire in August. “President Obama was right to put aside partisanship and delay to ensure the proper operations of important government functions. The National Lab… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Senate Passage of Companion Health Reform and Student Loan Reform Bill
03.25.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and the House co-author of health insurance and student loan reforms, congratulated the Senate on passing an additional measure that improves the new health reform law and makes college dramatically more affordable. The House first passed this package on Sunday. Early this morning, the Senate made small technical changes to the bill. The House will vote later today to send this bill t… Continue Reading
Groundbreaking Health Insurance and Student Loan Reforms Heading to President Obama
03.25.10 Today, the House approved legislation that makes key improvements to the historic health reform law, and makes the single largest investment in college aid ever, at no additional cost to taxpayers. The package will now go to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The legislation makes health care even more affordable for the middle class, lowers prescription drug costs for seniors by closing the “donut hole” over time, reduces the deficit and strips out special deals that favored one state ov… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on President Obama Signing Health Reform into Law
03.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and the House co-author of both health insurance and student loan reforms, released the following statement after President Obama signed the health insurance reform bill into law. This week, the Senate will vote on a second measure that will make critical corrections and improvements to what the President signed and also make the single largest investment in federal student aid ever,… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Obama Nominations to Chemical Safety Board
03.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama nominated Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso and Mark Griffon the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Moure-Eraso was nominated to be chair of the board. “President Obama has nominated two exceptionally qualified individuals who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Chemical Safety Board,” said Miller. “Since th… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Calls Out Sallie Mae for Scare Tactics
03.22.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education Committee and the author of student loan reforms that would end wasteful taxpayer subsidies for banks and instead invest that money directly in students, called out Sallie Mae for continuing to spread misinformation in an effort to kill the bill in the Senate. The House passed the legislation last night along with historic health insurance reforms; the Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this w… Continue Reading