Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Miller asks GAO to Investigate the Weaknesses in Child Abuse Reporting Laws and Policies in Wake of Penn State and Other Abuse Scandals at Schools
07.18.12 WASHINGTON - While continuing to press for committee action in wake of sex abuse scandals at The Pennsylvania State University and other educational institutions, Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether existing laws and policies adequately prevent abuse of children in schools or on school campuses. “The child sexual abuse scandal at The Pennsylv… Continue Reading
Miller Requests Chairman Kline to Investigate Child Abuse Reporting Laws After Release of Penn State Sexual Abuse Investigative Report
07.12.12 WASHINGTON - In light of the Special Investigative Counsel report released today on the child sexual abuse scandal at The Pennsylvania State University, Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, sent a third letter to Chairman John Kline (R - Minn.), requesting the committee begin a significant investigation into whether federal laws adequately protect children from physical and sexual abuse. "Our Committee has a duty to act. We sh… Continue Reading
House Approves Legislation to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Lower and Create Construction Jobs
06.29.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to keep interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year and also keep thousands of American construction workers on the job building bridges and repairing roads. The legislation passed by a vote of 373 to 52. "This action comes just in the nick … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on the 40th Anniversary of the Pell Grant Program
06.22.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of the Pell Grant program. “40 years ago, Congress took steps to make the dream of a college degree a reality for millions of low- and middle-income students and their families with the passage of the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, known today as the Pell Grant program. Since its inception in 1972, the Pell Gr… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on the 40th Anniversary of Title IX
06.22.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D - Calif.), the senior democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of Title IX. According to the National Women's Law Center, before the passage of Title IX, it was common for schools to discourage young women from studying math or science, and to encourage them to focus on domestic skills, like cooking, sewing and child rearing. There were few opportunities for girls to play sports… Continue Reading
New Data from the Department of Education Empowers Families to Make Informed Decisions about Higher Education
06.11.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education released new information on college costs. Displayed on the Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center website, the college cost data highlights institutions with the highest and lowest tuition and fees and net prices. It also lists schools where costs are rising the fastest - provi… Continue Reading
Ed & Workforce Republicans Approve Legislation that Harms Job Training and Job Creation Efforts
06.07.12 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans pushed Workforce Investment Act legislation (H.R. 4297) through the committee that walks away from Congress’ duty to help create and sustain a highly-skilled workforce, especially for the most disadvantaged workers. “We should be building a workforce system to expand opportunity for all Americans, builds on what works, gives businesses the workers they need to compete globally and grows the middle class,” said Rep. Geor… Continue Reading
Miller, Durbin Urge Examination of Student Debit Card Practices
06.07.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Assistant Senate Majority Leader, today sent letters to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray and Department of Education Inspector General Kathleen Tighe, expressing concern over the adverse financial impact debit card agreements between banks and institutions of higher educati… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Republican Efforts to Block Democratic Student Loan Bills
05.08.12 Washington, D.C. - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement today after House and Senate Republicans voted to block Democratic efforts to prevent student loan rates from doubling on July 1. "Today, Senate Republicans blocked debate on a Democratic student loan bill. An hour later, House Republicans yet again rejected efforts to allow a vote on a Democratic student loan bill in the House. Our young peopl… Continue Reading
Speaker Boehner’s Comments on Student Loans Issue Not Based in Fact, House Democratic Members Write
04.30.12 Calls to work together to keep student loan interest rates low ignored for months by House Republicans WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders on education and public health issues wrote Speaker John Boehner today, challenging statements he made over the weekend on the pending doubling of interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans. Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Speaker Boehner said that “Democrats and Republicans for months have been working together to try to figure out a w… Continue Reading
GOP House Approves ‘Cynical’ Bill to Keep Student Loan Rates Low by Slashing Funding to Support Women’s and Children’s Health
04.27.12 WASHINGTON - Rather than working in a bipartisan manner to prevent the doubling of student loan rates for more than 7 million college students in a fiscally responsible way, House Republicans instead pushed through partisan legislation that would harm public health. House Democrats have instead proposed to keep student loan interest rates low by eliminating billions of dollars in unwarranted tax subsidies to big oil. “Today’s vote shows that the Republicans are on very thin ice on this issue… Continue Reading
Speaker Boehner Calls Efforts to Protect Funding for Cancer Screenings for Women and Childhood Immunizations a ‘Political Stunt’ and ‘Playing Games’
04.27.12 WASHINGTON - Speaker John Boehner made a rare floor appearance today to urge his colleagues to vote against a Democratic effort to protect preventive medical care like breast and cervical cancer screenings as part of the debate to keep student loan interest rates low. Speaker Boehner’s floor speech came during the Democratic ‘motion to recommit’, which is a last-ditch parliamentary maneuver to amend the bill by a minority party. House Democrats have proposed to keep student loan interest rate… Continue Reading
Sec. Sebelius: Prevention Fund Provides “Critical” Support for Women’s Health and Childhood Immunizations
04.26.12 WASHINGTON - Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius testified today before the Education and the Workforce Committee that the House Republican proposal to eliminate the Prevention Fund to stop the doubling of student loan interest rates would harm public health. House Democrats have instead proposed to eliminate billions in unwarranted tax subsidies to big oil. “The Prevention Fund is a long overdue investment and [part] of the most significant effort to keep our country he… Continue Reading
Miller: GOP Needs to Correct Vote against Students & Join Effort to Stop Doubling of Student Loan Rates
04.25.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on new legislation that will keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st. “Today, we are introducing a bill that would save millions of students and their families from higher student loan debt. As you know, President Obama is calling on Congress to prevent a doubling of interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans that will ki… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Republican Student Loan Legislation
04.25.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on Republican legislation to address the fast approaching student loan interest rate hike. “I commend House Republicans for reversing themselves on the pending student loan interest rate hike. But I am deeply disappointed that Republicans propose extracting the price from women and children. To take health care away from middle class and low-income … Continue Reading
House Democrats Announce New Bill to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low and Reduce the Deficit
04.25.12 WASHINGTON - House Democrats announced that they will introduce new legislation today that will both keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st and reduce the deficit. The House Democratic bill “Stop the Rate Hike Act of 2012” will keep interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year, saving borrowers an average of $1,000 in loan repayment costs. The bill is fully paid for by ending unwarranted tax subsidies to big oil and gas companies. Additional saving… Continue Reading
House and Senate Democrats to Introduce Legislation to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low
04.24.12 WASHINGTON - House and Senate Democrats announced today that they will introduce legislation to keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st. The “Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012” keeps interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year for the more than 7 million borrowers. This will save the average borrower $1,000 in loan repayment costs. The bill will be fully paid for by closing a tax loophole that some of the wealthiest Americans us… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Fast Approaching Increase of Student Loan Interest Rates
04.20.12 Washington, DC - Rep. George Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today released the following statement regarding the approaching increase of student loan interest rates this summer: "This week, instead of taking action to stop a $6 billion interest rate hike on low-income and middle-income families, House Republicans passed a tax cut for the rich-and-famous that adds $46 billion to the deficit. At a time of historically low interest rates and with … Continue Reading
Students face billions in added repayment costs if interest rates double
04.02.12 WASHINGTON - Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee today released new data showing the additional costs that students will incur if interest rates on need-based student loans increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent this summer. More than 7 million students will incur an additional $6.3 billion in repayment costs for the 2012 - 2013 academic school year if student loan interest rates double on July 1. Despite calls from President Obama, Congressional Democrats and student… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on 2-year Anniversary of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
03.30.12 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and the author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which was enacted into law two years ago today, released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the law. “Two years ago today, as part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, President Obama enacted a law that put a college education within reach for students who rely on gr… Continue Reading