Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Republican budget cuts students from Pell grant program
03.27.12 WASHINGTON - Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee today released new data that illustrates the detrimental effects the Republican budget would have on students seeking access to higher education in each state. The Republican budget would cut 400,000 students from the Pell Grant program in the 2013-2014 school year. Their budget rolls back a key improvement to the program authored by Democrats that indexed the maximum award to inflation and eliminates other protections f… Continue Reading
Miller: Obama’s community college proposal will ensure American workers remain globally competitive
02.13.12 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama presented his fiscal year 2013 budget to Congress and proposed a new partnership between community colleges and local businesses to help connect workers with jobs in demand. "President Obama's budget proposal released today addresses the real challenges facing our nation. By making smart investments today, we can continue to m… Continue Reading
Miller, Hinojosa Urge Action to Prevent Student Loan Interest Rate Increase
02.10.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), the senior Democrat on the Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee, today sent a letter to Chairman John Kline (R-MN) urging action to prevent the student loan interest rate hike that is scheduled to take effect in July. “This July, more than 7 million undergraduate students will see the interest rates on their need-based student … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on Streamlined Process for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
01.31.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a new, streamlined application process for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Eligible public service workers' outstanding qualified federal student loan balances will be canceled after ten years of on-time loan payments. "I applaud Secretary Duncan for making it easier … Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on President Obama’s Higher Education Proposal
01.27.12 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama announced details of the administration's proposal to keep college affordable and within reach for all Americans. "Americans now owe more in student loan debt than credit card debt. Affording a higher education shouldn't be a luxury. The federal government invests billions of dollars in student aid each year, and i… Continue Reading
New Dept. of Ed guidance will ensure flexibility and promote diversity in the classroom, Miller says
12.02.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance to support voluntary efforts to promote diversity in primary, secondary and postsecondary classrooms. The guidance was issued in order to clarify existing law and three recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that addressed the consideration of race by some educational institutions. "Our nation … Continue Reading
Miller Statement on 2009 Default Rate for Student Loans
09.12.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller, senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education released the national student loan cohort default rate for students who defaulted before September 30, 2010. The default rate rose to 8.8 percent, up from 7 percent in 2008. This group of students defaulted on loan payments first owed between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. “Earning a college degree … Continue Reading
Miller Applauds Obama’s Call for Putting Partisanship Aside and Getting Americans Back to Work
09.08.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama’s speech this evening on job creation before a Joint Session of Congress. “Tonight, President Obama laid down a foundation to help get Americans back to work - starting this year and continuing into the future. The President’s proposals have enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the past and I applaud many of the specific … Continue Reading
Republicans Disregard Accountability for Taxpayer Dollars, Miller Argues
06.15.11 June 15, 2011 3:16 PM WASHINGTON, D.C. - Accountability must be paramount when taxpayer dollars are at stake, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), argued in opposition to H.R. 2117, a Republican measure that would repeal two Department of Education regulations that are intended to ensure that students and taxpayers receive a quality education for their investment; the state authorization rules and the rule defining the term, "credit hour." The bill passed the committee by a vote of 27 to 11. Below a… Continue Reading
GOP Budget Would Deny Pell Grants to 1.4 million students, New Data Show
04.15.11 Under the Republican budget, the maximum Pell Grant award would be cut by more than $2,500 for the 2012-2013 school year, bringing the maximum award to $3,040, the lowest it’s been since 1998. New data from the Department of Education show that the Republican budget would result in almost 1.4 million students losing eligibility for Pell grants, and all students receiving significantly reduced awards. For students, this could make college far less affordable. “The Republican budget has America’s… Continue Reading
New Data Show Thousands of Students In Every Congressional District Rely on Pell Grants to Pay for College
04.14.11 Thousands of students in every Congressional district will use a Pell Grant to help pay for college in the upcoming school year, according to new data released today. Under the Democratic majority, the Pell Grant increased to its highest level ever. Beginning in 2014, the grant will keep up with rising costs-of-living being indexed to the Consumer Price Index. In U.S. Rep. George Miller’s (D-CA) district, 17,197 are expected to receive a Pell Grant in the 2011-2012 school year.Under the Republic… Continue Reading
THURSDAY: REPS. DELAURO, MILLER FIGHT BACK AGAINST REPUBLICAN ATTACKS ON PELL GRANTS
04.06.11 H.R. 1 and new budget slash education funding, will cut support for over 9 million college students Washington, DC— From 2:00pm- 2:30pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and George Miller (CA-7) will hold a press conference at the House Triangle to speak out against the proposed Republican cuts to education funding, and specifically Pell Grants. Over 9 million college students in this country rely on Pell Grants to afford college, the most since the program was sta… Continue Reading
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