Congressman George Miller is a leading spokesman in Congress on education, labor, and the environment and has represented the 7th district of California since 1975. Miller plays a key leadership role in the House of Representatives for strategy, development and communications on a wide range of public policies.

Miller is serving his first term as the Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee; he had served three terms as the panel's Senior Democrat before Democrats won control of Congress in 2006. He is in his third term as chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, an appointment made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In both of those roles he is responsible for helping Democrats to develop and articulate policies to benefit all Americans. Miller also serves on the Natural Resources Committee where he was chairman from 1991 to 1994 and the ranking Democrat from 1995 to 2000.



Among his most recent legislative achievements, Miller was one of the four co-authors of the historic No Child Left Behind education reform law and continues to promote new policies to improve teacher quality and help boost student achievement. In 2007, he will be working to improve the No Child Left Behind law and increase funding for it. He was the author of bills to increase the national minimum wage and to cut interest rates on student loans, both of which were approved by the House in January 2007.

Blog Entries by Rep. George Miller

Millions of Americans Will Benefit From Minimum Wage Increase Today

4 Comments | Posted July 24, 2009 | 09:56 AM (EST)


I am proud to announce that millions of Americans will receive a much-needed pay raise today.

Almost four and a half million workers in 31 states will see a bigger paycheck when the federal minimum wage increases from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour. This is the final...

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GOP Pushing Hidden Health Care Tax on All Americans, Not Reform

42 Comments | Posted July 15, 2009 | 05:42 PM (EST)


Republicans and right wing commentators who oppose health care reform hope to turn our effort at lowering costs and expanding access into a debate about whether or not to tax small businesses. In opposing our reform they would instead continue the hidden health care tax on all Americans that exceeds...

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The Progressive Case for PAYGO

34 Comments | Posted July 9, 2009 | 08:38 PM (EST)


America is in a massive fiscal hole. And on behalf of President Obama, we have helped to introduce a bill designed to start digging us out: pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO. The idea behind PAYGO is simple: our country, like any family struggling with deep credit card debt, must start paying for...

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New Benefits Make Student Loan Repayment More Manageable and Affordable for Millions

16 Comments | Posted July 1, 2009 | 09:55 AM (EST)


Today new benefits go into effect that will make monthly student loan payments more manageable and affordable for millions of students and borrowers struggling to stay afloat in this tough economic climate.

These benefits were enacted as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, a...

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Health Care Reform Will Ensure Quality Coverage for All

19 Comments | Posted June 19, 2009 | 02:46 PM (EST)


Below are the prepared remarks of Chairman George Miller at a press conference with the chairs of the other committees with health policy jurisdiction at the U.S. House of Representatives to unveil the Tri-Committee Discussion Draft for Health Care Reform.

Today marks a historic moment in America's urgent quest...

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Duncan is Smart Choice for Education Secretary

Posted January 13, 2009 | 11:00 AM (EST)


Arne Duncan is an incredibly smart choice for Education Secretary. He is the right person, in the right position, at the right time. His leadership and commitment to improving our nation's schools, along with his experience and proven track record of success as the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago...

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Senate Should Quickly Confirm Rep. Solis as Next Secretary of Labor

Posted January 9, 2009 | 11:21 AM (EST)


Congresswoman Hilda Solis is a strong champion of working families and will be an outstanding Secretary of Labor. Given the enormous economic challenges facing our nation, I urge the Senate to take swift action and confirm her nomination.

Congresswoman Solis will take the helm of the Department of Labor during...

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Principles to Preserve and Strengthen 401(k)s in the 111th Congress

Posted November 17, 2008 | 02:52 PM (EST)


On Friday, a Wall Street Journal editorial further perpetuated an active campaign that is blatantly misrepresenting Democratic efforts to preserve and strengthen Americans' retirement security. In light of these ongoing distortions, Chairman George Miller reiterated the committee's legislative priorities in preparation for the next Congress' efforts to help Americans...

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Education and Labor Committee Will Work with Obama-Biden Administration to Rebuild and Strengthen the Middle Class

Posted November 5, 2008 | 12:21 PM (EST)


Yesterday's historic election of Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden as our next President and Vice President was a true victory for every child, student, worker and family in America. I congratulate Senators Obama and Biden, and I look forward to working closely with them to change the direction of...

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Impact of the Financial Crisis on Retirement Security

Posted October 7, 2008 | 12:52 PM (EST)


This statement was made today by Chairman George Miller at the House Education and Labor Committee's hearing on the "Impact of the Financial Crisis on Workers' Retirement Security."

Good afternoon.

Last week, Congress approved an emergency rescue plan in response to the worst financial crisis our country has seen...

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The Department of Labor: A Damage Assessment

Posted September 1, 2008 | 10:42 AM (EST)


Labor Day is a time to reflect on the achievements of the American worker and our nation's commitment to helping all families pursue the American Dream. But for millions of Americans there is little cause for celebration. While workers' wages have fallen, the cost of living has skyrocketed, the unemployment...

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Minimum Wage Increases Today, Helping Millions of America's Lowest-Paid Workers

Posted July 24, 2008 | 11:11 AM (EST)


Today, the national minimum wage increases by 70 cents, from $5.85 per hour to $6.55 per hour. I am proud to say that this is the second of three increases due to take effect under the Fair Minimum Wage Act, enacted by this Democratic Congress and signed into law...

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Elaine Chao Must Withdraw 'Secret Rule'

Posted July 23, 2008 | 04:20 PM (EST)


This morning, the Washington Post exposed the Bush administration's latest ploy that could radically change the way health and safety regulations are issued. This secret regulation is a clear attempt by the Bush administration and the business community to fundamentally weaken the scientific process for enacting new regulations that...

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Savings on Federal College Loans for Millions of Students, Starting Today

Posted July 1, 2008 | 01:52 PM (EST)


Starting today, July 1, interest rates on need-based federal student loans will drop, making these loans cheaper for millions of college students. With our economy putting enormous financial strains on Americans and tuition prices continuing to soar, these new financial aid benefits could not be coming at a more critical...

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The Labor Department Should Stop Making Excuses About Mine Safety

Posted October 4, 2007 | 09:50 PM (EST)


When nine miners died as a result of the August 6 collapse at the Crandall Canyon Mine and during the ensuing rescue operation, the first thought a lot of people had was: Not again.

In 2006, 47 coal miners died in the nation's coal mines, starting with the 12 miners...

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Don't Let the Supreme Court's Discrimination Ruling Stand

Posted July 31, 2007 | 06:45 PM (EST)


Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company recently sent Lilly Ledbetter a bill for $3,165.20.

It wasn't because Ledbetter bought new tires for everyone in her neighborhood.

Ledbetter, who worked at a Goodyear facility in Alabama for 19 years, was the plaintiff in a pay discrimination lawsuit against...

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Making It Easier to Form Unions

Posted February 8, 2007 | 04:49 PM (EST)


Keith Ludlum tells a story that will make your blood boil.

Ludlum, a veteran of the first Gulf War, returned home to North Carolina in 1993 to look for a job. He got one at a Smithfield food processing plant in Tar Heel, where he quickly found working...

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House GOP Still Protecting Sweatshops

Posted July 31, 2006 | 12:23 PM (EST)


At about 1:30 on Saturday morning, the House of Representatives approved a minimum wage increase that has little chance of survival in the Senate because it is coupled with huge tax cuts for the wealthiest estates in the country (8,200 of them would get an average $1.4 million each). Since...

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DeLay and Abramoff OUT, Human Dignity for the Marianas IN

Posted June 7, 2006 | 07:50 PM (EST)


In the Pacific Ocean, about three quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines, lies the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The islands are a territory of the United States, but U.S. labor laws don't apply to them. The result is that the islands are a haven for...

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Mine Disasters Demand Action From Congress

Posted April 4, 2006 | 10:05 PM (EST)


Three months ago today -- in the early morning hours of January 4, 2006 -- families in Upshur County, West Virginia, learned the terrible news that 12 of the 13 miners trapped by the explosion at the Sago Mine there had died. Since then, a string of accidents at U.S....

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