Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
Miller Fought to Protect Taxpayers, Workers' Lives from House Republican Efforts to Impose Unnecessary, Onerous New Requirements
02.27.14 WASHINGTON-Today House Republicans jammed misguided legislation through the House that would unnecessarily hamstring the federal government's efforts to protect taxpayers and preserve American lives. In response to the 60 onerous new requirements included in the All Economic Regulations Are Transparent Act (Alert) Act (H.R. 2804), Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) offered two amendments aimed at safeguarding taxpayers and students, protecting public and workplace safety and health, and otherwise inc… Continue Reading
American Retailers’ Garments “Made With Violence Against Women” in Bangladesh, Miller Says
02.11.14 WASHINGTON-Women working in Bangladesh's garment factories are caught in a web of exploitive social and economic structures, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) said today after meeting with a teenage garment worker who was trapped in the building collapse at Rana Plaza that killed more than 1,100 workers and injured 2,500 more. Following a meeting between Reba Sikder, the 19-year-old garment worker; Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity; the International La… Continue Reading
OSHA Needs Better Tools to Protect American Workers from Job-Related Injuries and Illnesses, House Labor Subcommittee Learns
02.04.14 WASHINGTON—At a congressional hearing intended to attack the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exceeding its authority, Members of Congress instead learned that legislative reforms are needed to give OSHA the tools and resources necessary to protect worker health and safety. “Our committee needs to focus on helping OSHA address the challenges of updating outmoded health standards, but instead, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to use this h… Continue Reading
Bangladesh Factories See Little Oversight of Labor, Safety Conditions from U.S. Military Contractors, Say Committee Democratic Staff
12.23.13 WASHINGTON-Democratic staff of the House Education and the Workforce Committee today released a report which details how U.S. military provides little to no oversight of the labor and safety conditions in Bangaldeshi factories that produce garments for sale by military exchanges. Read the report by clicking here.… Continue Reading
Miller Meets with Colombian President to Discuss Labor Rights Abuses
12.03.13 WASHINGTON-Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today joined fellow Democratic lawmakers in a meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to discuss labor and human rights abuses in Colombia. "The long-standing challenge of securing labor rights in Colombia continues to this day," Rep. Miller said after the meeting. "Together with Rep. McGovern, I traveled to Colombia last summer to examine the implementation of the Labor A… Continue Reading
Miller Seeks to Prevent Abuse of Workers During Qatar World Cup Preparations
12.02.13 WASHINGTON-Today Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior House Democratic lawmaker in charge of worker safety and labor rights issues, sent two letters pressing for details on the efforts being taken to ensure that the migrant workers currently building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are being adequately protected from abuse. A growing number of accounts of squalid living and working conditions for workers at Qatar's World Cup-related construction projects have emerged in … Continue Reading
Democratic Lawmakers Press for Stronger Workplace Safety Rules for Military Exchange Suppliers in Bangladesh
11.26.13 WASHINGTON-Democratic lawmakers last week urged support for a defense bill provision that would require U.S. military exchanges and commissaries to hold its clothing suppliers to stronger fire and worker safety standards in Bangladesh, in line with requirements recently adopted by the Marine Corps Trademark and Licensing Office for its licensing contracts. In a letter to the leaders of the House Committee on Armed Services, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education a… Continue Reading
Reps. Miller, Courtney ask Inspector General to Investigate Alleged Misconduct in Black Lung Benefits Program that Denied Sick Workers Benefits
11.07.13 WASHINGTON - Today, two members of Congress asked the Department of Labor's Inspector General to investigate claims surfaced in news reports from the Center for Public Integrity and ABC News that some doctors and attorneys working on behalf of the coal industry have engaged in misconduct that has resulted in coal miners being improperly denied health-related benefits and compensation under the federal Black Lung Benefits Program. "According to a year-long investigation of the Black Lung Benefit… Continue Reading
Miller and Levin: 6 Months after Rana Plaza Tragedy, Companies Need To Step Up & Compensate Victims
10.23.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) issued the following joint statement today marking the six-month anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy where more than 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh died and 2,500 injured after the building housing several garment factories collapsed. The International Labor Rights Forum and the Clean Clothes Campaign also issued a report today highlighting significant problems in compensating the families of the victims and those… Continue Reading
Reps. Miller, Courtney Applaud DOL’s Proposed Rule to Protect Health, Safety of American Workers
08.22.13 WASHINGTON - Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), the senior Democrat on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, issued the following statements today regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's proposed rule to strengthen workplace safety protections regarding exposure to Silica. "I commend Labor Secretary Tom Perez and OSHA Director Dr. David Michaels for proposing powerful new protections to reduce lung… Continue Reading
Rep. George Miller Statement on Obama Executive Order to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security
08.01.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama signed an executive order today asking federal agencies to develop a plan to improve safety oversight, and coordination and informational sharing with other agencies at chemical plants and other facilities that store dangerous chemicals. "President Obama's executive order is a positive step to better protect the safety … Continue Reading
Levin and Miller Joint Statement on So-Called Bangladesh Safety Alliance
07.10.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Reps. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, and George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following joint statement on today's announcement of the U.S. corporate-led Bangladesh factory safety alliance by the Bipartisan Policy Center. "This May, following a long string of preventable tragedies in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh, we called on the major U.S. bra… Continue Reading
Levin and Miller Joint Statement on Suspension of GSP Trade Preferences for Bangladesh
06.27.13 WASHINGTON - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, issued the following joint statement after the Obama administration announced that it will suspend Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade benefits for Bangladesh. "Given the deteriorating conditions for worker rights in Bangladesh, President Obama's decision to suspend GSP trade benefi… Continue Reading
On FLSA’s 75th Anniversary, Time to Renew Commitment to Nation’s Minimum Wage, Overtime and Child Labor Protections
06.25.13 WASHINGTON - On the 75th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) issued the following statement urging Congress to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and stop Republican attacks on the law’s basic wage protections. “Seventy-five years later, the Fair Labor Standards Act remains the nation’s bedrock laws that ensures workers are paid fairly for the work they perform. It established the minimum wage, made the 40-hour work week possible and provided tha… Continue Reading
House Approves Bill Containing Amendment Regarding Bangladesh Safety Accord and Military-Branded & Licensed Apparel
06.14.13 WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives approved a defense authorization bill today containing a measure that will require that military-branded garments made in Bangladesh and sold at base retail stores owned by the Department of Defense, known as exchanges, comply with an enforceable fire and building safety accord that will improve conditions in Bangladesh ready-made garment factories. The amendment was authored by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and George Miller (D-Calif.). “We thank Chair… Continue Reading
Military-Branded & Licensed Apparel Sold at Base Stores Must Comply with Bangladesh Fire & Safety Accord, House Dem Amendment Says
06.12.13 WASHINGTON - An amendment filed by two House Democrats to a defense authorization bill would require that garments made in Bangladesh and sold at base retail stores owned by the Department of Defense, known as exchanges, comply with an enforceable fire and building safety accord that will improve conditions in Bangladesh ready-made garment factories. A number of garments and documents with Marine insignias were found in the rubble of the November 2012 Bangladesh Tazreen Fashions fire that kille… Continue Reading
U.S. Congressman George Miller Travels to Bangladesh this Week to Inspect Garment Industry
05.23.13 WASHINGTON - A senior member of Congress is traveling to Bangladesh this week to personally inspect conditions in the world’s second largest garment industry that is experiencing a high rate of fatalities and injuries and to meet with workers, victims, and industry and government officials. U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is the first member of Congress to visit Bangladesh since more than 1,100 workers died and m… Continue Reading
Senior House Democrats Urge U.S. Retailers to Join Coalition Supporting Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh
05.17.13 Call on Retailers to Commit to Fully Enforceable Agreement on Bangladeshi Worker Rights WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats have sent letters to nine separate U.S. retailers calling upon them to join a broadening global coalition supporting a May 12 Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, developed by the Worker Rights Consortium and a number of key stakeholders. The accord has won the support of labor rights organizations and unions around the world, and it has gained significant mom… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller: Wal-Mart Needs to Stop Stonewalling on Bangladesh Safety Agreement
05.14.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after Wal-Mart announced that it would conduct its own safety efforts in Bangladesh rather than signing onto an enforceable agreement that several major European retailers and fashion brands have recently agreed to. “Wal-Mart needs to stop stonewalling and sign the binding agreement that a dozen other companies have signed. Wal-Mart's a… Continue Reading
Rep. Miller Statement on H&M, Inditex(Zara) and C&A Joining Bangladesh Worker Safety Agreement
05.13.13 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after news that H&M, Inditex (Zara) and C&A agreed to sign onto an enforceable fire and building safety agreement for their suppliers and contractors in Bangladesh where more than a thousand workers have died recently in garment factory tragedies. Miller has a long history of working against the use of sweatshops and has been urg… Continue Reading