Press Releases
Economic Crisis is Having Catastrophic Effects on the Arts and Music, Witnesses Tell House Panel
03.26.09 WASHINGTON, DC - Communities across the country are suffering as arts and music organizations struggle with declining budgets, job losses and other effects of the economic crisis, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. The hearing is the first in a series the Committee will hold this spring as Congress renews its focus on how the economy is impacting the arts and music and the role these sectors play in local communities, schools, and the broader economy. “Arts and music … Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Budget and Student Loan Reform
03.26.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the House Budget Committee considered and passed the House Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010. Among other things, the resolution includes instructions for the House Education and Labor Committee to enact reforms that produce $1 billion in savings for taxpayers over the next five years. Miller today announced the committee intends to use these instr… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation to Expand National Service
03.26.09 WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and chief House co-sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement today after the Senate passed H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, national service legislation, by a vote of 78 to 20. Last week the House approved similar legislation with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 321 to 105. “Today’s Senate vote comes at a time when Americans are facing unprecedented… Continue Reading
Bush Labor Department Failed to Properly Investigate Wage Theft, GAO Tells House Panel
03.25.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The government agency responsible for investigating complaints of minimum wage, overtime and child labor violations left workers vulnerable to unscrupulous employers, the U.S. Government Accountability Office told the House Education and Labor Committee today. The GAO’s conclusions were based on the results of an undercover investigation into the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor from July 2008 to March 2009. “Those most vulnerable to wage theft are likely… Continue Reading
Last Minute Bush Regulation Could Put Americans’ Retirement Security at Risk, Witnesses tell House Pension Panel
03.24.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A last minute Bush administration regulation could reduce Americans’ retirement security by allowing firms to give conflicted financial advice to workers who participate in their 401(k) plans, witnesses told the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee today. The proposal, finalized on Jan. 20, 2009, would largely remove the prohibition of pension plan investment advisors in giving self-interested financial advice to their… Continue Reading
Miller, Andrews, Harkin Statement Opposing “Alternative” to Employee Free Choice Act
03.22.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) today said that a proposal unveiled by three companies this weekend as an alternative to the Employee Free Choice Act would further undermine workers' rights on the job. Miller, Andrews and Harkin, leaders in the House and Senate on the Employee Free Choice Act, issued the following statement opposing this approach: “This proposal is unacceptable. It was written by CEOs for CEOs. It is not a… Continue Reading
California Delegation to Schwarzenegger: Take Every Step Possible to Prevent Teacher Layoffs
03.19.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of California’s Democratic Congressional Delegation today urged Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state education officials to release emergency funding provided to school districts under President Obama’s economic recovery plan as soon as the state receives it. Without these funds, the lawmakers warned in a letter, thousands of teachers throughout California could lose their jobs in coming weeks. “Thousands of California teachers will be laid off in coming weeks with… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Congratulates Gabriella Gomez on Department of Education Post
03.19.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised the nomination of Gabriella Gomez, a senior education policy advisor for the committee, as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the Department of Education. “I am thrilled that President Obama has nominated Gaby to be Assistant Education Secretary. Over the past three years, she has helped Congress enact some of the most significant changes to higher e… Continue Reading
House Passes Bill to Launch a New Era of National Service and Volunteerism
03.18.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a bill to dramatically expand national service opportunities and help Americans play a role in the economic recovery. The bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, passed the House with a vote of 321 to 105. This is the most significant expansion of national service since President John F. Kennedy issued a call to serve more than 50 years ago. Last month, President Obama called for Co… Continue Reading
Improving Access to Quality Early Childhood Programs will Benefit all Americans, Witnesses tell House Education Committee
03.17.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With millions of families losing jobs and becoming more vulnerable in today’s economy, it’s more critical than ever to expand access to high quality, comprehensive early childhood programs for the nation’s youngest children, witnesses told members of House Education and Labor Committee today. For many families, child care is the second highest monthly expense after housing. “As President Obama made clear in his first major education speech, if we only start focusing on kids at… Continue Reading
Woolsey Statement on Overturning Last-Minute Bush Delays on Protecting Workers from Severe Lung Disease
03.17.09 WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s announcement that they will withdraw a Bush era procedural roadblock to that slowed protections for workers who handle the dangerous food flavoring diacetyl. The notice that will be published today withdraws a last-minute Bush action that would have significantly … Continue Reading
White House Strongly Supports Landmark Service Bill Moving Through House
03.17.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Obama administration today commended legislation the House will consider tomorrow that will provide the most significant expansion of service and volunteer opportunities for Americans in over fifty years. In a Statement of Administration Policy issued this evening, the White House vowed to work with Congress to enact the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act as quickly as possible. “Service is a fundamental American value, in every neighborhood and… Continue Reading
More Needs to Be Done to Guarantee Quality Education to At-Risk Youth, Witnesses Tell House Subcommittees
03.12.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - More needs to be done to guarantee that at-risk youth educated outside of traditional schools receive a quality education, witnesses told members of House Education and Judiciary subcommittees today. These alternative education settings include certain foster care placements, juvenile justice facilities, alternative education programs and other environments. “We can’t afford for any of our children or at-risk youth to fall through the cracks. Addressing the educational needs o… Continue Reading
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