Press Releases
House Approves Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan
02.12.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved President Barack Obama's economic plan to save and create millions of jobs and get the economy moving forward again, paving the way for the President to sign the bill by President's Day weekend. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a champion of investments in the plan that will save education jobs and provide urgent relief to school districts, called the plan a victory for … Continue Reading
House Education Committee Approves Legislation to Stop Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs
02.11.09 WASHINGTON, DC - Today the House Education and Labor Committee approved legislation to protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities, from physical, mental, and sexual abuse and increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children. Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress uncovered thousands of cases and… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Senate Approval of Economic Recovery Plan
02.10.09 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the Senate passed its version of the economic recovery plan. According to new estimates compiled by the Economic Policy Institute, the $14 billion in school modernization passed as part of the House’s economic recovery plan would create at least 315,000 more jobs than the Senate-passed bill.“While I am glad the Senate has now joined the House in passing… Continue Reading
Miller, McCarthy Reintroduce Legislation to Stop Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs
02.09.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) today reintroduced legislation to protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs from physical, mental and sexual abuse and to prevent deceptive marketing practices by operators of private residential programs for teens. The lawmakers also announced that the House Education and Labor Committee will mark up the legislation on Wednesday. Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office durin… Continue Reading
January Jobs Report Demands Immediate Action, Chairman Miller Says
02.06.09 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 598,000 jobs were lost in January and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.6 percent. Approximately 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007.“As President Obama has urged us, now is the time to put tired politics aside and put the future of our country first. Today’s report that ano… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Announces Plans to Examine How Arts and Music Benefits the Economy and Education
02.05.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the arts and music among the many industries being hit hard in economic downturn, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today announced plans to hold a series of hearings this Spring to examine how the arts benefit the nation’s economy and schools - and what can be done to improve support for the arts and music fields. “Like so many other sectors of our economy, the arts and music are suffering greatly - hurting millions of … Continue Reading
Lawmakers Ask GAO to Investigate Spread of Contaminated Peanuts in U.S. Schools
02.04.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following new reports that peanuts associated with the widespread salmonella outbreak made it into the nation’s school cafeterias, Democratic lawmakers today called for the U.S. Government Accountability Office to expand an ongoing investigation into the safety of foods used in the federal school lunch program to include contaminated peanuts. This would be the first independent government investigation into the effects of the outbreak on schoolchildren. The letter, sent by U.S… Continue Reading
Reps. Miller and Barrow Reintroduce Bill to Protect Workers from Dust Explosions at Industrial Work Sites
02.04.09 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today reintroduced legislation to prevent workplace explosions. This weekend is the anniversary of the Imperial Sugar refinery disaster in Port Wentworth, Ga., which killed 14 workers and injured dozens. And yesterday, six workers were injured when a coal dust collector at a power plant in suburba… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on President Obama’s Signing Worker-Friendly Executive Orders
01.30.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor, issued the following statement today after President Obama signed three executive orders to restore workers’ rights in federal contracts and the creation of a Middle Class Task Force “President Obama today reaffirmed that the interests of hard working Americans will not take a back seat to corporations and CEOs. Overturning these three Bush-era orders is an important step to restore a rational balanc… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
01.29.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and chief House sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement today after President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. January 29, 2009, The White House, President Obama hands Rep. George Miller a pen after signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Act, which Miller authored. This was the first signing ceremony o… Continue Reading
As Part of Stimulus, House Passes Significant Relief for College Students
01.28.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of legislation to jumpstart and rebuild the American economy, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed significant increases in college aid that will benefit millions of students and families. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 1, which passed the House by a vote of 244 to 188 would increase the Pell Grant scholarship to its highest amount ever, and create a new tuition tax credit for families. “A long-term recovery falls not only on the shoulders … Continue Reading
House Expands Access to Affordable Health Insurance for Unemployed
01.28.09 WASHINGTON - As part of legislation to rescue the American economy, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved measures to expand access to affordable health care coverage for workers who lose their jobs as a result of the recession by a vote of 244 to 188. The Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that the package would help 8.2 million people keep health care coverage for themselves and their families. “Unemployed workers who have been hit hard by this rece… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Asks GAO to Investigate Cases of Abuse and Neglect of Schoolchildren
01.27.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to further investigate recent reports of seclusion and restraint of children in public and private schools across the country. Miller’s committee plans to hold a hearing on these practices in the coming months. Earlier this month, the National Disability Rights Network released a report detailing hundreds of cases where abusive uses of… Continue Reading
House Gives Final Approval to Restore Americans’ Rights to Challenge Discrimination Claims
01.27.09 WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval today to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that has made it more difficult for Americans to pursue pay discrimination claims. The bill now goes to President Obama and will likely be the first major piece of legislation he signs into law. By a 250 to 177 vote, the House approved the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would clarify that every paycheck or other compensation resulting from an earlier discriminatory pay decision constit… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Senate Passage of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
01.22.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and chief House sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement today after the Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by a 61 to 36 vote. The House passed the bill by a 247 to 171 vote on January 9. The legislation is on track to be one of the first bills sent to President Obama’s desk.“I applaud the Senate’s swift approval of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Our nation … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Congratulates Secretary Duncan
01.21.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee today congratulated Arne Duncan on his confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education. Duncan was among the first cabinet members of the Obama administration to be confirmed by the Senate yesterday. “I congratulate Arne Duncan on his much-deserved quick confirmation by the Senate. Secretary Duncan is not only a dynamic leader and a strong advocate for our schools and our students, he has a proven… Continue Reading
Chairmen Miller, Andrews Statement on Last-Minute Special Interest Regulation
01.16.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), issued the following statement on final regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor today that may undermine retirement savings plans of millions of Americans. It will allow financial services firms to offer potentially conflicted investment advice on workers’ retirement accounts."We are disappointed that the Bush administration moved forward to enact a … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Highlights Details of Economic Recovery Package
01.15.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today highlighted key provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that will provide vital aid to children, students and workers, create jobs, and get the economy moving forward again. (Click here for school district information ») The House Appropriations Committee released full details of the legislation this morning. “With our economy worsening by the day, bold and strategi… Continue Reading
Report Reveals Severe Cases of Abuse and Neglect of Schoolchildren
01.13.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Schoolchildren around the country have been subject to abusive - and in some cases fatal - uses of seclusion and restraint by school administrators, teachers and staff, according to a new report released today by the National Disability Rights Network. The report, the first national effort to examine these practices in both public and private schools identified hundreds of cases where the abusive and negligent use of seclusion and restraint injured or traumatized students, man… Continue Reading
Miller: Duncan is Smart Choice for Education Secretary
01.13.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today voiced his ardent support for Arne Duncan the next Secretary of Education. He urged the Senate to pursue a quick confirmation. “Arne Duncan is an incredibly smart choice for Education Secretary. He is the right person, in the right position, at the right time. His leadership and commitment to improving our nation’s schools, along with his experience and proven track record of succes… Continue Reading