Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today about S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act:

“It is disappointing that Republicans decided to pull a political stunt to delay passage of this bill at the expense of the deserving children who need healthy meals. I look forward to completing action on this critical legislation tomorrow and sending it to the President's desk for his signature.”

BACKGROUND:

Below please find a statement from House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) about the process moving forward with the legislation:

“I am disappointed Republicans chose to play politics with a bill that enjoys strong bipartisan support and would increase access to school meal programs, improve the standards of food provided, and help reduce childhood obesity. The real purpose of this motion to recommit was to delay this bipartisan bill from being signed into law.

“We will complete action on the Child Nutrition bill tomorrow. We will bring up the Republican motion to recommit as a stand alone suspension bill. After that vote, we will return to the Child Nutrition bill where we left off, voting on the motion to recommit and final passage. This will allow a good, bipartisan bill to reach the President's desk without delay.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final regulation today that is estimated to save insured Americans up to $4.9 billion in cash rebates, lower premiums or increase benefits over the next three years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), issued the following statement after the National Assessment Governing Board released its report on the 2009 12th Grade National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), which measures the progress of high school seniors across the country in math and reading. For the first time this year, the report showed the performance of high school seniors in 11 states. The report shows that 12th graders nationwide improved in math and reading since 2005, but the average reading score was lower as compared with scores from 1992. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after House Republicans blocked an emergency extension of unemployment insurance today.  On November 27, two million workers stand to lose unemployment insurance benefits unless Congress extends them. Millions more will lose this lifeline in the weeks and months to follow.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to filibuster legislation to close loopholes that have allowed many employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay based on gender. On average, women currently make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today recommended that better monitoring and reporting requirements are needed to protect pension plans covering 10.4 million current and future retirees participating in multiemployer plans.

“Congress and the Obama administration must work together to address the significant problems GAO raised in order to protect retirees and the nation’s taxpayers,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “With millions of families’ retirement security dependent on these plans, it is vital that federal agencies have timely information to assess the health of multiemployer plans.”

“I am very encouraged that Speaker Pelosi has decided to stay in Congress and run for Democratic Leader.  We have many talented people in our Caucus, each of whom has contributed to our success over the past few years, but I believe she is the best person for this important job at this time.

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. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee and author of 401(k) fee disclosure legislation, issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s final rule released today requiring increased disclosure of fees 401(k) participants pay.

“I am pleased that the Department of Labor has taken another step to expose hidden fees contained in America’s 401(k) plans.  While families are making difficult choices to put something away for their retirement, it is essential that they know how fees may be eating away at their savings and potentially delaying their retirement plans.

“Americans are understandably anxious about their retirement savings. This requirement is intended to provide accountholders with the critical information to make informed choices for their retirement future. I will continue work with the department on additional efforts to ensure fee disclosure through regulation and continue to push for my legislation that would codify these consumer protections into law for all 401(k)-style plans.”

There is currently no requirement for Wall Street to disclose how much in fees it takes out of Americans’ 401(k)-style accounts. With more than 50 million Americans relying on these plans to finance their retirements, hidden fees can make a big difference in families’ retirement security. According to the Department of Labor, a one-percentage point difference in fees would reduce overall retirement income by 28 percent over a lifetime of saving.  Morningstar recently found that low fees were the number one predictor of good investment performance.

The 401(k) fee disclosure provisions were part of legislation approved by the House of Representatives in May.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, said that a new proposed rule to reduce the amount of coal dust miners breathe in and to provide better monitoring of coal dust is long overdue and will save lives. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, more than 10,000 miners have died from black lung in the last decade and young miners are still contracting the debilitating condition.

“After years of careful study and delays, I applaud Assistant Secretary Joe Main and Secretary Solis’ effort to seriously address the scourge of black lung disease among our nation’s coal miners. The large number of miners still getting sick every year proves that current protections are woefully out of date. When fully phased in over the next two years, these new standards will not only save lives and provide for better monitoring technology of coal dust, but they will reduce the cost of federal disability program for black lung because fewer miners will be contracting this debilitating disease.”