Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Miller Statement on Anniversary of Historic Education and Health Care Law
03.30.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and the lead author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which was enacted into law one year ago today, released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the law. “A year ago today, President Obama enacted a law that changed the future for all Americans. We decided that health care should be a right, not a privilege. We also decided that our student… Continue Reading
ADVISORY FOR TOMORROW: House Democrats to Hold Press Call to Discuss Democratic Accomplishments for Young Adults
03.28.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Celebrating the anniversary of the most sweeping overhaul to health care and student loans in recent history, Democratic lawmakers will hold a conference call tomorrow at 10:30 EDT to discuss the success of the student aid investments, as well as the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26 passed under the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. One year ago, Democrats saved taxpayers $61 billion by elim… Continue Reading
More Accountability Is Necessary to Protect Taxpayer Investment in For-Profit Colleges, Witnesses Tell Education Committee
03.17.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The significant federal funds going to for-profit colleges demands accountability to protect the taxpayer investment, witnesses told the Education and the Workforce Committee this morning.“It is completely fair to expect institutions profiting from federal taxpayer money to have a standard to meet in terms of what their schools need to provide for their students,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the committee. “In this economy, graduating from a career … Continue Reading
Program Integrity and Taxpayer Investments Are Protected in New Higher Education Regulations, Witnesses Tell House Panel
03.11.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. -The Department of Education’s regulations regarding how colleges and universities determine the amount of federal aid for which a student is eligible ensure accountability and program integrity, as well as protect the taxpayers’ investment in federal student aid, witnesses told the Subcommittee on Higher Education And Workforce Training today. “In my view, these regulations are greatly needed to strengthen the accountability and review of institutions of higher education that p… Continue Reading
Pell Grant Scholarship Remains at Highest Levels in History
02.01.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With millions of students relying on federal student aid and scholarships to make the dream of a college degree a reality, today U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced the Pell Grant scholarship award for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year. The maximum award, $5,550, reflects historic investments made by Democrats in the most recent Congre… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Spending Measures in the CR
12.21.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement after the House passed the Continuing Resolution (C.R.) that would allow continued government operations through March 4, 2011. Among other spending provisions, the bill will fully fund the Pell Grant scholarship and also includes language that clarifies the definition of a “highly qualified teacher” (HQT). BACKGROUND ON HQT : Current law requires teachers to… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on the DREAM Act
12.09.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below please find the remarks as prepared for delivery by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, on H.R. 5281, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The House passed the bill today.Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the DREAM Act. This is common sense, bipartisan legislation that is a win for our economy. First, in this economy, we need the best, the brightest, the most capable and the most q… Continue Reading
House Approves Critical Investments for Students and Mine Safety
12.08.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a spending measure today to ensure that Pell Grants are available to students, and to hold mine operators accountable for violating health and safety protections. “In light of Republicans voting to block mine safety reform today, these are important investments needed to improve mine safety. Among other efforts, this increased funding will help to make a meaningful dent in the crippling backlog of 19,000 mine owner appeals of heal… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Annual College Board Trends Survey
10.28.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after the College Board released its annual “Trends in Higher Education Series” highlighting trends in both student aid and college pricing for the 2009-2010 school year. “Since Democrats regained control of the House in 2006, the Democratic Congress has made historic investments to make college more affordable -- all at no new cost to taxpayers. This has … Continue Reading
More than $250 Million in Federal Funding To Be Released Today to Help Students Graduate College
09.30.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Over $250 million in federal investments to help fund innovative programs that help students graduate college and aid historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in better serving their students will be released today by the Department of Education, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) announced this morning. “Earlier this year, we made the decision to invest in students and American jobs and protect taxpayers,” said Miller, the a… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Subcommittee Passage of Private Student Loan Fairness Legislation
09.15.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law passed H.R. 5043, the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2010 (H.R. 5043). Miller is a cosponsor of the legislation which would allow borrowers to discharge their private student loans in bankruptcy, the same way they can discharge other private debt. “I a… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on U.C. Postdocs Approval of First Contract
08.12.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after today’s announcement that the University of California’s postdoctoral scholars overwhelmingly approved a long-sought after first contract with the university. “This is a victory for economic justice and a victory for our nation’s economic future. These postdoctoral scholars represent America’s best and brightest. This agreement will bring them closer to g… Continue Reading
Pell Grant Scholarship Increases Today for Millions of Students
07.01.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Student aid benefits increase today, as the Pell Grant scholarship increases to an all-time high and interest rates on need-based student loans decrease. Additionally, all federal student loans will originate through the Direct Lending program, as a result of a measure passed earlier this year that eliminates wasteful subsidies to banks and invests those savings to help students and families, all at no new cost to taxpayers. “Today, students and families working hard to pay fo… Continue Reading
Miller Applauds Key Supplemental Provisions for Workers, Teachers and Students
07.01.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, tonight issued the following statement on the House passage of H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. “With tonight’s vote, the House acted on behalf of American workers, teachers and students across the nation who have suffered in the recent economic downturn. “The bill helps to close a multi-billion dollar shortfall in the Pell Grant program that could have deterred many… Continue Reading
Lawmakers Call for Government Review of For-Profit Colleges
06.21.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In light of recent press reports raising concerns about the for-profit education sector Democratic lawmakers called for a review today of for-profit or “proprietary” institutions of higher education. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Assistant Majority Leader and U.S. Reps. Timothy Bishop (D-NY… Continue Reading
Inspector General Review of Credit Hours and Program Length Raise Important Questions about Assessing Program Quality and Disbursing Federal Student Aid
06.17.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Accrediting agencies responsible for assessing how institutions of higher education determine program length and assign credit hours to coursework should establish definitions of credit hours and minimum standards for program length to ensure federal student financial aid is disbursed appropriately, the Department of Education’s Inspector General told the House Education and Labor Committee today. Credit hours are used to determine the amount of federal aid for which a student… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Praises Science Committee for Vote to Bolster U.S. Competitiveness
04.29.10 WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee released the following statement after the House Science and Technology Committee voted last night to update and reauthorize the America COMPETES Act. Among other things, the COMPETES Act seeks to boost America’s competitiveness by strengthening the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. “As we rebuild our nation’s economy by putting Americans back to work, we must also strengthen… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Time to Restore Fairness for College Loan Borrowers in Bankruptcy
04.22.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House education committee and the lead author of a historic new college affordability law, announced his support for legislation that would allow Americans to discharge their private student loans in bankruptcy, the same way they can discharge other types of private debt. The House Judiciary Committee today held a hearing to examine the bill, the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2010 (H.R. 5043), which wa… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Title IX Reversal
04.20.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) reversed a clarification the Bush administration issued to Title IX in 2005. The clarification, "Additional Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy: Three Part Test - Part Three" allowed universities to use an emailed survey to count towards their compliance with equity in athle… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller: Today America’s Middle Class Won Two Major Victories
03.30.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that makes key improvements to the historic health reform law enacted last week, and makes the single largest investment in college aid ever, at no additional cost to taxpayers. The law makes health care even more affordable for the middle class, lowers prescription drug costs for seniors by closing the “donut hole” over time, reduces the deficit and strips out special deals that favored one state over another. The bill… Continue Reading