Press Releases
House Committee Chairmen Miller, Waxman, and Rangel Pledge to Move Health Reform Forward
03.11.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- Today Chairmen Henry A. Waxman, Charles B. Rangel, and George Miller sent a letter to President Obama regarding their commitment to work together to pass national health reform. The text of the letter follows: Dear Mr. President:We are writing to thank you for organizing the White House Forum on Health Reform last week and to let you know of our intention to work closely together to pass national health reform. Comprehensive reform is essential to controlling health care cos… Continue Reading
House Education Committee Overwhelmingly Approves Legislation to Renew America’s Commitment to Service
03.11.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Education and Labor Committee today overwhelmingly approved legislation to launch a new era of American service and volunteerism. The bill answers President Obama’s call for Americans of all generations to help get the country through the economic crisis by serving and volunteering in their communities The committee passed the legislation, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388, by a strong bipartisan vote of 34 to 3. The bill i… Continue Reading
Rising Health Care Costs Threatening Employer-Based Coverage, Witnesses Tell House Panel
03.10.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - While most Americans get health care coverage from their job, rising costs are forcing more employers to drop coverage or shift costs onto their workers, witnesses told the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee today. “Coverage continues to grow increasingly unaffordable to employers, which has contributed to the precipitous decline in employer-sponsored health coverage over the past decade,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews … Continue Reading
U.S. Senate and House Introduce Employee Free Choice Act
03.10.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leading members of the U.S. Senate and House today introduced legislation that would help enable workers to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions by restoring their rights to form unions. “The current crisis has shown us the dangers of an economy that leaves working families behind. The people who work in our factories, build our roads, and care for our children are the backbone of this great nation. The Employee Free Choice Act will give these hardworkin… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on President Obama's First Major Education Speech
03.10.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement praising President Barack Obama's first major speech on education this morning. “In America today, it’s not just schoolchildren who continue to get left behind - but teachers who are not being treated like the professionals that they are, young children who aren’t getting the tools they need to succeed before they enter kindergarten, and students and … Continue Reading
Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Launch New Era of American Service
03.10.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) today introduced comprehensive legislation that would call generations of Americans to serve and volunteer in areas of national need that are intensifying with the recession. In his address to a joint session of Congress last month, President Barack Obama made national service a key priority and asked Congress to take quick action. This legislation, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, answers … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Obama Leading Way to Real Health Care Reform
03.05.09 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 attending the White House Summit on Health Care. “Today President Obama not only took a very productive first step toward putting us on the path to meaningful health care reform, but he began an inclusive process by bringing all stakeholders to the table. He’s being honest about the reasons we’re in this mess - and that reforming health care is a fis… Continue Reading
More Needs to Be Done to Encourage Family Friendly Work Policies, Witnesses Tell House Labor Subcommittee
03.03.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - More needs to be done to encourage paid sick and family medical leave policies that help workers balance work and family, witnesses told the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Labor Committee. “What we have heard today makes it clear that during good times and bad, employees and employers workers benefit from family-friendly policies,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the subcommittee. “These policies will help people who desperately n… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Praises Obama’s Commitment to New Era of Service
02.26.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President Obama for his significant commitment to investing in national and community service opportunities for Americans in his budget overview. At a committee hearing yesterday, Miller announced that a comprehensive bill to strengthen and grow national service is the next legislative priority for his committee. “In his first joint address to Congress, President Obama made ser… Continue Reading
GAO: Nation’s Whistleblower Laws Inadequately Enforced, Needs Additional Resources
02.26.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Whistleblowers who call out illegal activities are not adequately protected from retaliation from their employer, according to a report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office today. GAO found these problems stem largely from a lack of resources and proper tracking of complaints, as well as a complicated patchwork of regulations that aim to protect whistleblowers. The investigation was requested by U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and U.S. Sen… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Lauds President Obama’s Higher Education Budget
02.26.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement praising President Obama’s higher education budget proposals. “President Obama made it very clear that we should review every program to make sure that its operating in the best interests of taxpayers and that we should eliminate excess waste wherever we find it. The President’s proposal to save taxpayers almost $50 billion within the higher education program… Continue Reading
Congress Must Strengthen and Improve Job Training, Witnesses Tell House Labor Committee
02.26.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Now more than ever, the nation’s job training programs must be improved to give workers the skills and training they will need as the economy starts to recover, witnesses told the House Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee today. Today’s hearing was the second in a series of hearings the Education and Labor Committee is holding as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.“Last week, the President signed the American Recovery an… Continue Reading
Service Can Help America Emerge from Economic Crisis, Witnesses Tell Congress
02.25.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With public needs intensifying in the economic crisis, strengthening national service opportunities must be one of the next steps Congress takes to revive the economy, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. Today’s hearing came a day after President Obama made national and community service a key part of his agenda during his first joint address to Congress by urging Congress to act quickly to bolster service and volunteer programs. “President Obama is … Continue Reading
Nation’s Retirement Security in Peril, Witnesses tell House Panel
02.24.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The economic collapse has uncovered problems in our nation’s retirement systems that must be addressed to ensure that Americans can enjoy a safe and secure retirement, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today.“The current economic crisis has exposed deep flaws in our nation’s retirement system,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee. “For too many Americans, 401(k) plans have become little more than a high stakes crap shoot. If you … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Confirmation of Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
02.24.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, applauded today’s Senate confirmation of Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor.“I congratulate Hilda Solis for her Senate confirmation as our nation’s next Secretary of Labor. With this confirmation, the Department of Labor will finally have a leader who is an advocate for all hard working Americans and someone who understands their everyday struggles. I look forward to working with Secretary Soli… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller to Participate in President’s Summit on Fiscal Responsibility
02.23.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, has been invited to speak at a panel on health care at President Obama’s White House summit on fiscal responsibility. The panel also includes Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, among others. “Passing the President’s economic recovery plan was only the first step in our efforts to restore our nat… Continue Reading
House Overwhelmingly Approves Legislation to Stop Child Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs
02.23.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today approved legislation to protect teenagers attending residential programs from physical, mental, and sexual abuse and increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (H.R. 911) won strong bipartisan support, with a vote of 295 to 102. Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress at the request of U.S. Rep… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Obama Recovery Plan A Good Deal for College Students and Families
02.18.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Millions of college students and families will receive significant help paying for college next year under the economic recovery plan President Obama signed into law yesterday. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will immediately increase the Pell Grant scholarship by an additional $500 next year. The legislation will also provide students and families with a new, partially refundable college tuition tax credit of $2,500, among other things. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-C… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Obama Signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
02.16.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today as President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “Today, just four weeks after taking office, President Obama has taken a critical first step to lift our economy out of this crisis by saving and creating millions of jobs and laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth - in part by making historic investments in th… Continue Reading
Colombia Must Address Anti-Labor Violence and Improve Labor Laws, Witnesses Tell House Panel
02.12.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Colombian government has not done enough to stem the rising violence against labor union leaders or address the backlog of labor union leader killings, witnesses told the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee today. A leading Colombian labor think tank also announced that murders against labor union members jumped by 25 percent in 2008. “Sadly, Colombia has been the most dangerous place in the world to belong to a labor union for decades,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA)… Continue Reading