Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Congress Should Incentivize High Quality, Low-Cost Innovative Partnerships that Benefit Students, Witnesses Tell House Education Panel
09.18.13 WASHINGTON, DC - As colleges outsource more functions such as classroom materials, housing, and financial aid disbursement to the private sector, they must ensure that such partnerships operate for the benefit of students, making college more accessible and affordable, not less, witnesses told the House Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee. “I strongly support innovative partnerships that work to make high quality higher education more affordable and accessible for all students… Continue Reading
Congress Must do More to Help Service Members Transition Back into Civilian Life, Witnesses Tell Education Subcommittee
09.11.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - With more than 2 million service members returning from combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress and colleges must do more to help them transition back into civilian life, witnesses told the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training today. “Congress must have federal regulations in place to protect veterans and service members from unscrupulous companies, institutions, and lenders attempting to cash in on their GI benefits,” said Rep. Rubén Hinojo… Continue Reading
Students & Taxpayers Will Be Better Protected Under Ed Department’s Efforts, Says Inspector General
09.10.13 WASHINGTON - Recent higher education proposals and other efforts by the U.S. Department of Education, including a “gainful employment” regulation currently under negotiation, would help better protect students and taxpayers from waste and fraud, according to an analysis by the agency’s independent inspector general released today. This analysis is contrary to a House GOP-authored bill, H.R. 2637, that would block these efforts to strengthen the integrity of federal student-aid programs. “We bel… Continue Reading
Miller: Promising Proposals from President Obama to Rein in College Costs
08.22.13 Washington, DC - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement on President Obama's proposals to address access, innovation and affordability in post-secondary education. "President Obama is offering a bold effort to rein in skyrocketing college costs. As Congress works to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, his important ideas must be drivers in our conversations to push America's higher education system in… Continue Reading
President Obama Signs Legislation to Save Students Billions in Lower Interest on Student Loans
08.08.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama signed into law the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act. Passed in the House by a vote of 392 to 31, the legislation reverses the July 1 doubling of interest rates for more than 7.4 million students and provides students and parents $25 billion in student debt relief through lower interest payments over the next seve… Continue Reading
House Passes Bipartisan Student Loan Legislation Saving Borrowers Billions
07.31.13 WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation that would reverse the July 1 student loan interest rate hike. By a vote of 392 to 31, the House passed the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, bipartisan legislation that the Senate approved last week, which provides students and parents $25 billion in student debt relief through lower interest payments over the next several years compared to current law. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signatur… Continue Reading
Republicans Pass Bill that Exposes Students and Taxpayers to Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Higher Education
07.24.13 WASHINGTON - With a vote of 22-13, Republicans on the Education and the Workforce committee today approved legislation that would repeal critical protections for students and parents while at the same time stymieing the administration from being able to root out waste, fraud and abuse in our federal student aid programs. "By halting critical rules on accountability and integrity in the student aid system this bill makes college more expensive, leaves taxpayer investments at risk, and hurts the … Continue Reading
Miller Urges Immediate House Passage of Senate Student Loan Bill
07.24.13 WASHINGTON - In a letter sent to Speaker John Boehner today, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) urged immediate consideration and passage of the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, the bipartisan Senate legislation that would reverse the July 1 student loan interest rate hike. "Mr. Speaker, the House passed a bill that was detrimental to students and families. The Senate has passed a bill that helps students and families afford college as they climb out of a deep recession," wrote Rep. Mill… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Today’s Senate Student Loan Vote
07.10.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), released the following statement today as the Senate attempted to move legislation that would reverse the July 1 doubling of interest rates on student loans. "I applaud Senators Reid and Harkin for standing up again today for the 7.2 million students who saw their interest rates double last week. Last month, a majority of the Senate voted in support of a responsible solution that puts students first, only to have it blocked by a Republican minori… Continue Reading
Miller: Students Need Relief Now, Congress Must Act Today to Reverse Rate Increase
07.09.13 Rep. George Miller (D-CA) Opening Statement at Committee Hearing on Improving Higher Education through Innovation WASHINGTON, DC -- Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, for the committee hearing on improving higher education through innovation. *** Good morning, Chairman Kline. We meet today to examine ways to improve higher education. We will look at innovations from around the country… Continue Reading
With July 1 Doubling of Interest Rates, GOP Once Again Blocks Efforts by Democrats to Keep Federal Loan Interest Rates Affordable
07.09.13 WASHINGTON - While Congress' immediate job today is to undo higher borrowing costs for more than 7.2 million college students, House Republicans are content to leave students saddled with the extra debt. "Today we offered our Republican colleagues a chance to immediately move forward on a bill that would keep rates low for one more year. Not a single one chose to take action," said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member on the committee. "House Republicans may be content to… Continue Reading
GOP Student Loan Bill Harmful to Students, Totally Irresponsible
07.08.13 Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today as congressional Republicans' refuse to act to reverse the doubling of student loan interest rates. Interest rates on need-based student loans doubled last week from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent due to Republican obstruction. This rate increase will cost more than 7.2 million students an additional $1,000 per loan. "Once again, House … Continue Reading
Miller Announces Next Steps on Student Loan Interest Rates
07.02.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, announced today that he is collecting signatures to force committee action on legislation (H.R. 2574) to reverse yesterday's doubling of student loan interest rates. Today's announcement comes after Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) ignored a request from committee Democrats to take immediate action on the Keeping Student Loans Affordable Act of 2013, legislation introduced by Mil… Continue Reading
House Education Committee Democrats Aim to Force a Vote to Prevent Doubling of Student Loan Rates
06.28.13 WASHINGTON - Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee today began a procedural move to force the committee to take up recently introduced legislation to ensure another year of debt relief for college students, keeping student loan interest rates for 7 million people at 3.4 percent. The legislation (H.R. 2574), introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the committee, is identical to a bill introduced by Senate Democrats yesterday that locks in interes… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on New Senate Proposal to Prevent Student Loan Rates from Doubling
06.27.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), released the following statement today after Senate Democrats announced a new plan to keep student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1. "I applaud Senator Harkin's continued efforts to keep interest rates from doubling on July 1 and to keep a focus on students in that process," said Rep. Miller. "The new Senate proposal will provide $4 billion in student debt relief for the neediest students next year. This stands in stark contrast t… Continue Reading
Sen. Franken, Rep. George Miller Announce Introduction of Bill to Train Workers for Open, High-Skills Jobs
06.27.13 WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) announced the introduction of legislation to close the skills gap-where jobs go unfilled because businesses can't find workers with the right skills-by fostering partnerships between community and technical colleges and businesses to train students to fill high-demand jobs in Minnesota and across the country. Rep. Miller is introducing the legislation in the House today, and Sen. Franken plans to introd… Continue Reading
Student Loan Solution that Makes Student Debt Worse No Solution At All, Says Rep. George Miller
06.26.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on the latest developments on student loans. "I'm disappointed that Republicans are blocking an agreement on student loans by insisting that students take on even more debt to pay down the Bush deficit. Their obstruction is unacceptable. A solution that makes the long-term problem of student debt worse, or fails to cap potentially high inter… Continue Reading
Waters and Miller Applaud CFPB’s Proposed Rule to Oversee Nonbank Student Loan Servicers
06.26.13 WASHINGTON- Two senior Democratic lawmakers from the House- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee, and Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic Member on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today released a joint letter to Director Richard Cordray commending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for its proposed rule to subject certain nonbank education loan servicers to its supervisory authority. The letter… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Affirmative Action Case
06.24.13 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court delivered the decision in Fisher v. University of Texas-Austin, a case challenging the use of race as one factor in admissions policies in higher education. The Court preserved the principle that universities may consider racial and ethnic diversity as one factor among many in a carefully crafted admissions p… Continue Reading
TODAY: Leader Pelosi & House Dems Join Students to Urge a Stop to Doubling of Loan Rates
06.20.13 WASHINGTON - College students will join House education leaders Thursday urging Congress to stop the doubling of interest rates on student loans and to speak about how increasing debt burden will harm their futures. If Congress fails to act, approximately 7 million student loan borrowers will see a doubling of their interest rates on July 1st. House Republicans pushed through a bill that would add more debt onto students and families, even more than if rates were allowed to double. Watch live a… Continue Reading