Press Releases
House Approves Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
01.09.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- The House of Representatives today approved legislation to rectify a Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for Americans to pursue discrimination claims. The bill is among the first considered by the 111th Congress and passed by a 247 to 171 vote. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 11) would clarify that every paycheck or other compensation resulting from an earlier discriminatory pay decision constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act. As long as workers file their… Continue Reading
House Approves Bill to Help Close Gender Wage Gap
01.09.09 WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation today that would help end the discriminatory practice of paying men and women unequally for performing the same job. By a 256 to 163 vote, the House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12), introduced by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), a bill that will strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close loopholes that have allowed many employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. The measure, along with the Lilly Ledbette… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Senate Should Quickly Confirm Rep. Solis as Next Secretary of Labor
01.09.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today offered his strong support of U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis as the next Secretary of Labor.“Congresswoman Hilda Solis is a strong champion of working families and will be an outstanding Secretary of Labor. Given our enormous economic challenges facing our nation, I urge the Senate to take swift action and confirm her nomination. “Congresswoman Solis will take the helm of the Department of … Continue Reading
Without Large-Scale Recovery Package, Economy Could Shut Down, Economists Tell Lawmakers
01.06.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A large scale economic recovery package is needed to create jobs quickly, provide relief for workers and families, help states facing severe budget shortfalls, and invest in innovation and emerging industries, a bipartisan panel of economic experts and scientists told lawmakers on Capitol Hill today. Economists warned that, unless comprehensive action is taken, the economy will shed another 3 million jobs in 2009, real Gross Domestic Product could drop by $750 billion, and the… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on the Passing of Claiborne Pell
01.02.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, today released the following statement on the death of former Senator Claiborne Pell. Senator Pell created the Pell Grant scholarship and established the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. “Senator Pell was an exemplary public servant and a true champion for students and young Americans. His vision of a college education for every American transformed… Continue Reading
Chairmen Miller, Andrews Praise Enactment of Bill to End Unfair Retirement Tax on Seniors
12.23.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- President Bush signed bipartisan legislation today to temporarily suspend a tax penalty for seniors who do not take a minimum withdrawal from their depleted retirement accounts in 2009, such as 401(k)s.The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act (H.R. 7327), introduced by U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), and Jim McCrery (R-LA), suspends an Internal Revenue Service requirement for one year that account holders of 401(k)… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Obama’s Nomination of Solis as Secretary of Labor
12.19.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President-Elect Barack Obama’s selection of U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis as the next Secretary of Labor.“Congresswoman Hilda Solis is a very strong champion of working families and will be an outstanding Secretary of Labor. Her record in the California legislature as a leader on labor issues and her excellent work in Congress on behalf our of nation’s working men and women will resto… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on US Trade Representative
12.19.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today on President-Elect Obama’s selection of Ron Kirk for U.S. Trade Representative.“I congratulate Ron Kirk on his selection as the next U.S. Trade Representative. Earlier this year, he spoke of the importance of ‘responsible trade.’ At this pivotal time for our nation’s economy, our competitiveness, and for the larger global community, I hope that he will c… Continue Reading
Woolsey, Hare Assail Cintas Settlement
12.19.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chairwoman of the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL), a Subcommittee member and a leading advocate of workplace safety, today released the following statements in response to the settlement reached between the U.S. Department of Labor and Cintas Inc. regarding the company’s repeat workplace safety violations, including one which lead to the death of a worker in Tulsa, Oklahoma.“Whil… Continue Reading
Miller Praises Selection of Arne Duncan as Education Secretary
12.16.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President-Elect Barack Obama’s selection of Arne Duncan, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, as the next Secretary of Education.“This morning’s announcement of Arne Duncan as our next Secretary of Education is very exciting news for school reform, students and parents across America. Mr. Duncan is an experienced and accomplished leader who is open to the new, bold and innovativ… Continue Reading
With Latest Midnight Rule, Bush Deals Workers Another Harsh Blow
12.12.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- In another harsh blow to workers, yesterday evening the Bush administration issued a new regulation that will lower wages and gut labor protections for agricultural guest workers - changes that will drive down the wages and working conditions for all workers. Today, Democratic lawmakers condemned this latest move and vowed to work with President-Elect Obama to undo a slew of damaging rules the Bush administration is trying to rush through in its final days.“After eight years of… Continue Reading
Congress Sends Bill to Protect Guest Workers to President
12.11.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- Legislation that would help protect guest workers from fraud, abuse and exploitation at the hands of foreign labor recruiters and U.S. employers cleared Congress yesterday, as part of a larger bipartisan measure to combat human trafficking.The provisions were championed by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and are expected to be signed by the … Continue Reading
House Votes to Suspend Unfair Retirement Tax on Seniors
12.10.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation today that would temporarily suspend a tax penalty for seniors who do not take a minimum withdrawal from their depleted retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s.The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act (H.R. 7327), suspends for one year an Internal Revenue Service requirement that account holders of 401(k)-style plans must withdraw a minimum amount of money every year after they reach 70 ½ years old. This suspe… Continue Reading
Democratic Lawmakers: International Study Highlights Need to Improve Math, Science Education
12.09.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) issued the following statement today on a new report that shows that while American students are making some strides in math achievement, students in other countries still outrank U.S. students in overall math and science performance. The study, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS),compares achievement among 4th and 8th grade students in math and science. The lawmakers said the report was the late… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Dramatic Job Losses in November
12.05.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 533,000 jobs were lost in November and the unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent, the highest number of job losses since 1974. Approximately 1.9 million jobs have been lost since January. “Today’s devastating news that our nation lost more than a half million jobs in November is further evidence that w… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Treasury Proposal to Boost Student Lending
11.25.08 WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced a new plan to bolster consumer lending, including student loans. The plan would allow investors to obtain a loan from the Federal Reserve, using student-loan and other asset-backed securities as collateral, potentially providing more funding to lenders to extend consumer credit. “For months now, whil… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Unveils Principles to Preserve and Strengthen 401(k)s in the 111th Congress
11.14.08 WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, a Wall Street Journal editorial further perpetuated an active campaign that is blatantly misrepresenting Democratic efforts to preserve and strengthen Americans' retirement security. In light of these ongoing distortions, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, reiterated the committee's legislative priorities in preparation for the next Congress' efforts to help Americans enjoy a secure retirement. "The Wall Street Journ… Continue Reading
Statement by the Hon. George Miller (D-CA) on the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007
10.01.07 Wednesday, January 10, 2007 As part of this first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, I am proud to bring to the Floor, H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. For nearly a decade, hard-working Americans earning minimum wage - our nation's poorest workers - have not received a pay raise. The average CEO earns more before lunchtime than a minimum wage worker earns all year. And for 10 years, the American people have been waiting for a clean vote on a real minimum wage bill, without poison … Continue Reading