Education and Labor Committee Combined Feed

House Democrats Introduce Legislation to End the High School Dropout Crisis

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:33:35 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. Democratic lawmakers announced today they will introduce critical legislation to address the high school dropout crisis, which poses a growing threat to the nations economic stability and global competitiveness. Nearly one-third of all high school students do not to graduate every year, costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Nationwide, about 7,000 high school students drop out every day. Only about 70 percent of students now graduate from high school with a regular diploma. There are 2,000 dropout factories across the country, which produce more than 50 percent of the nations dropouts, and a recent study suggests that in the 50 largest U.S. cities, only 53 percent of students graduate on time. Poor and minority children disproportionately attend these dropout factories, and graduation rates for African American, Hispanic, and Native American students are significantly lower than those of their white peers. In addition, only 56 percent of all students with disabilities earn diplomas each year.

The Graduation for All Act would help end this crisis by providing eligible school districts with competitive grants to help turn around their lowest-performing high schools, often deemed dropout factories, as well as struggling, feeder middle schools. In order to be eligible to receive a grant, a district must first identify schools most in need of comprehensive reform, determine a strategy for turning around each school, and form a team of experts and community leaders, called a Graduation Improvement Team, to help carry out these turnaround strategies. Districts receiving grants would be required to implement data systems to help better detect early warning signs of dropout behavior (such as frequent absences or failing a course), use appropriate interventions targeted to student needs and monitor the impact of interventions so that they can be refined as necessary. Research shows identifying and addressing these patterns early on can help keep at-risk students in school.

We are failing our students, failing our communities and failing our nation if we allow this dropout crisis to continue, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. Ending this epidemic is a civil rights imperative, a moral issue and an economic necessity. This bill says that it is no longer acceptable to let an at-risk student fall through the cracks and empowers schools to make the changes needed to help at-risk students thrive in school, earn a diploma and go on to college or a good job.

We must stop the everyday dropout rate of thousands of students from our middle schools and high schools. In particular we must address the problems encountered by so many minority students who are at a higher risk of dropping out of school. The Graduation for All Act of 2009 builds on The Graduation Promise Act which directly addresses our nations dropout crisis, said U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness. I continue to work with Chairman George Miller and other Members of Congress on the Education and Labor Committee on legislation to address our nations dropout problem. The only way for the United States to be a world class contender in the global market is to ensure that all of our children stay in school and graduate not only high school, but college as well. We are working together to make that happen.

I am extremely proud to join with my colleagues to introduce the Graduation for All Act. This legislation includes provisions from my legislation, the Fast Track to College Act, which makes important investments in early college high school partnerships and dual enrollment programs, said U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. These programs enable students, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education, to earn an associates degree or up to two years of transferrable college credits at no cost to their families, while still in high school. These programs have a proven track record of reducing dropout rates, keeping students engaged, and providing a seamless transition to college.

The dropout rate has reached epic proportions in minority communities, said U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL). Only 48% of African American males and 58% of Latino males graduate from high school. The social, economic and human costs are horrific. This bill will meaningfully advance efforts to identify and help individual youth at risk for dropping out early on and we know that early identification and intervention significantly reduces the dropout rate and significantly increases the graduation rate.

One of the most important aspects of this legislation is that it provides students in high-need schools with rigorous curricula and the teacher support to master college-ready courses. said U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), architect of the nationally acclaimed college access program GEAR UP. Students will be given information about the college admission process and financial aid opportunities keys to encouraging students to keep their focus on a college education. We have learned through GEAR UP that increasing academic rigor, demystifying the college and financial aid application processes, and focusing on post-secondary education dramatically increases high school graduation rates. This bill builds on that experience and I am proud to have contributed to its development.

This bill not only makes a strong financial commitment to ending our nations school dropout crisis, it puts the right programs in place to encourage greater college enrollment and improve educational opportunity at many age levels, said U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ). No cause could be more important than educating American students, and this bill gives timely and needed support to struggling middle schools and high schools around the country to make that goal achievable.

I applaud Chairman Miller and my colleagues for moving forward on this vital issue, said U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA). This is a significant step forward in our fight to address the drop out dilemma. Recent research has shown that nearly 600,000 students dropped out of the high school class of 2008 in the nation's fifty largest cities and the surrounding areas. We must do more to stem this tide and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to bring support to Iowa and states across America.

This legislation will make a strong investment in education, intervention services and resources that are critical to addressing the dropout crisis and turning low performing schools into high achieving schools, said U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA). We must address these shortcomings that are persistent in our schools in order compete in todays global economy with a highly skilled and educated workforce. I am pleased that this is one more step we are taking to improve the quality of education for all our children.

The legislation also will help prepare students for college and careers by requiring schools to provide them with their financial aid options and other college-related information. This bill includes $150 million for Early College and dual enrollment programs to allow students to earn up to two years of college credit at no cost to the student, which would help decrease the overall cost of college for these students.

For more information on the Graduation for All Act, click here.

Executives Received Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Before Dropping Workers Pensions, GAO Finds

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:55:42 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. Forty executives at ten high-profile corporations that terminated their workers pensions collected at least $350 million in compensation in the years leading to pension termination, the Government Accountability Office reported today. The investigation was requested by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

The companies surveyed by the GAO which the Congressional watchdog agency did not identify included major airlines, electronics, insurance and steel companies that filed for bankruptcy in the last decade and dumped their pension liabilities onto the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. PBGC provides pension protection for 44 million workers and is responsible for administering benefits for more than a million Americans.

It is fundamentally wrong that executives were able to line their pockets with millions of dollars from bonuses, stock options and free joyrides on corporate jets, while watching their workers retirement security slip into peril, said Miller. Executive compensation and golden parachutes should be aligned to the fate of workers retirement plan. This will create an incentive for executives to fix workers pension plans before they go broke.

Miller said the he is considering legislation that will freeze executive compensation if the companys rank-and-file pension plan becomes significantly underfunded.

While rank-and-file employees face freezes or cuts in benefits if their pension plans liabilities significantly outstrip assets, there are no laws that link the underfunding of workers pension plans to an executives benefits. GAO found that millions of dollars in executives retirement and other fringe benefits were protected from bankruptcy while some workers saw a drastic reduction in benefits.

The GAO also found:

At four companies, executives received $49.5 million in retirement, deferred compensation or severance pay. Four executives at one airline alone received $32.6 million in retirement and deferred compensation.
Executives at some companies received salaries in excess of $10 million dollars in the years leading up to bankruptcy.
Some executives received millions of dollars in stock awards, income tax reimbursements, retention bonuses, severance packages, and supplemental executive-only retirement.
Some were provided other benefits such as apartments, personal trips on company airplanes and helicopters, club memberships, legal fee reimbursement, and automobiles.
The families and executives at one insurance firm used the companys Boeing 727 and Sikorsky helicopter for personal trips to, among other exotic locations, China, Spain, Greece and Hawaii.

To read the full GAO report, click here.

Miller, Hinojosa Join Secretary Duncan in Urging Colleges to Ensure Reliable Federal Student Loan Access

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:12:49 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) today joined U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in urging college campuses to take prudent action to ensure that their students continue to have access to stable, low-cost federal college loans, regardless of what happens in the economy. Their letter to college presidents echoes a letter Duncan sent to institutions last month.

Specifically, the lawmakers urged the presidents to prepare to make the Direct Loan program available to their students as an option for the 2010-11 school year. Both the Direct Loan and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs offer federal loans to students at the same terms and conditions and are much less expensive than private loans. However recent economic turmoil has seriously weakened the stability of the FFEL program, putting lenders participation in the program in doubt. In contrast, the Direct Loan program, which is cheaper for taxpayers, has remained insulated from the economic crisis and continued to operate normally for the campuses and students that use it.

The recent economic turmoil has adversely affected the stability of one of our nations student loan programs, Miller and Hinojosa wrote. As you know, Secretary Duncan recently sent a letter urging institutions to be Direct-Loan ready for the 2010-2011 academic year and offering the help of the Department of Education in preparing for such a transition. I agree with the Secretarys sentiments and I hope that you will seek the assistance and information offered by the Secretary and his staff in making choices about how the students at your institution can access Federal student loans. If we all take prudent action, we can achieve our shared goal of ensuring that every eligible student has access to the dependable student aid needed to pay for college and pursue their dreams.

Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Hinojosa, the chairman of the panels higher education subcommittee, are the authors of legislation, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, to make the federal college loan program reliable for all students by switching all federal lending to the Direct Loan program by July 1, 2010. This move would save $87 billion over ten years, which would then be invested in historic increases in the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of aid to help students pay for college. The legislation was proposed by President Obama and passed by the House of Representatives in September.

In their letter today, Miller and Hinojosa said that making necessary preparations to also administer Direct Loans on campuses was critical to guarantee students loan access, regardless of the outcome of the legislation or whatever happens in future economies.

In testimony before the committee last May, Pennsylvania State University, which switched to Direct Loans in March of 2008 to protect its 38,000 students from the credit crunch, reported that the campus did not have to hire extra staff or increase its budget resources during the transition, that Direct Loans offered better loan repayment and loan forgiveness options for students.

A July survey of financial aid officers from institutions that switched to Direct Loans found that 73 percent of those surveyed said the switch was easier than they thought. Eighty-four percent said the Department of Education was helpful in the conversion and 61 percent said administering DL was less burdensome than FFEL. Eighty percent of those surveyed report that they were able to switch programs within four months.

The full text of the letter to college presidents is below.

***

To whom it may concern:

As the head of your institution, Secretary Duncan recently sent you a letter urging institutions of higher education to be Direct Loan-ready for the 2010-2011 academic year and offering the help of the Department of Education in preparing for such a transition. I agree with the Secretarys sentiments, and I hope that you will seek the assistance and information offered by the Secretary and his staff in making choices about how the students at your institution can access Federal student loans. This step will guarantee that your students will have uninterrupted access to Federal student loans in the coming years. I have attached his letter for your reference.

The recent economic turmoil has adversely affected the stability of one of our nations student loan programs. Specifically, as the economy fell into recession, private lenders continued participation in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program was in doubt. Many lenders did not have the capital needed to continue originating federally-guaranteed student loans, threatening students access to critical financing needed to pay their tuition and other postsecondary expenses. In response, Congress swiftly enacted a temporary backstop --the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) -- that provided government financing to private lenders to originate Federal student loans. While ECASLA temporarily ensured students access to loans, the Act is not a permanent solution to stabilize the FFEL program and expires in July 2010. Despite ECASLA, moreover, private lenders, including some of the nations largest, continue to withdraw from the FFEL program. In contrast, the Direct Loan program, which offers students the exact same loans but is cheaper for taxpayers, has remained insulated from the downturn in the economy and has continued to operate normally for those campuses that use it.

Additionally, as you may know, President Obama has proposed, and the U.S. House of Representatives has passed, legislation to make the Federal college loan system reliable for all students by moving to a 100 percent Direct Loan delivery system and investing the associated taxpayer savings in historic investments in Pell Grant and other forms of student aid. I strongly believe that this legislation will ensure that the Federal student loan program works in the best interests of students, schools, and taxpayers, and will offers a permanent solution that guarantees access to Federal student loans regardless of economic conditions.

In light of the above, it is increasingly important that institutions are prepared to also deploy the Direct Loan program for the 2010-2011 academic year. That way, loan access for students will be assured, regardless of the outcome of Congress deliberations over the Presidents proposal, or whatever future economic conditions could occur that might affect FFEL lenders ability to fund loans without government intervention.

If we all take prudent action, I am confident we can achieve our shared goal of ensuring that every eligible student in this country has access to the dependable student aid they need to pay for college and pursue their dreams.

Sincerely,

George Miller Ruben Hinojosa

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Paid Sick Leave Helps Slow Spread of H1N1 Flu Virus, Witnesses tell House Panel

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:15:02 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. Ensuring workers have access to paid sick leave can help slow the spread of highly contagious illnesses like the H1N1 flu virus, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. By giving workers access to paid sick leave, employees will not be forced to choose between losing pay and infecting co-workers and the public.

When youre struggling to make ends meet youre going to do everything possible to not miss a days pay, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee. The lack of paid sick leave encourages workers who may have H1N1 to hide their symptoms and come to work sick risking the health of their co-workers, customers and the public.

On November 3, Rep. Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, introduced the Emergency Influenza Containment Act (H.R. 3991). The temporary legislation will guarantee up to five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by an employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that the flus spread is very unusual this early in the season. They estimate that 22 million Americans have already become ill in the last six months with H1N1 and 3,900 have died. The CDC issued guidance in August that said, in part, that workers feeling symptoms of the flu should stay home and employers should not penalize them for staying home.

Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness as well as flu-related hospitalizations and deaths among children and young adultsare higher than expected for this time of the year, said Assistant Surgeon General Anne Schuchat, who is also the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. Some ways to combat the spread of respiratory infections include staying home when you are sick and keeping sick children at home.

Public health officials say that isolating the virus is important to slow the infection rate of the H1N1 flu virus. They recommend strong measures to ensure that those with the infection stay away from others and that mandatory sick leave policies can be helpful to not only slow the spread, but also to improve businesses productivity.

This is particularly a plus for small employers where preventable losses of even a small number of workers can have a devastating effect on the business, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association. Mandatory sick leave encourages employees to stay out of the workplace when appropriate, protecting the business and I believe hastens the employees return to productive work.

While public health officials have advised employers to show flexibility in allowing workers to stay home without taking punitive actions, some workers have reported that employers are not providing needed time off.

At least 50 million American workers currently do not have access to paid sick leave, many in lower-wage industries that have direct contact with the public such as food-service, hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.

Our nations failure to provide a minimum standard of paid sick leave is putting our public health at risk. More than two-thirds of flu cases are transmitted in schools and workplaces, said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families. Workers in child care centers and nursing homes, and retail clerks disproportionately lack paid sick days. Because the lack of paid sick days forces employees to work when they are ill, their coworkers and the general public are at risk of contagion.

Studies also show that businesses stand to lose billions in productivity when workers come in sick. Ness said when sick employees come into work and infect co-workers, they lower productivity by as much as $180 billion a year and have the potential to cripple vital business operations.

For more information on the Emergency Influenza Containment Act, click here.

To read the testimony of the hearing, click here.

Chairman Miller Statement on USDA Food Insecurity Report

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:04:19 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its report on the food security. The report, Household Food Security in the U.S, showed that in 2008, 17 million households in the United States were at times unable to provide food for their families. The number of children who at times went without food in 2008 rose from approximately 700,000 to 1.1 million.

"This report shows us the haunting realities facing far too many Americans who cant meet their families basic needs. More than one in five households in this country struggled to put food on their table last year the highest number in more than a decade. As we work to reauthorize child nutrition laws, we need to keep our focus squarely on ensuring more eligible children are participating and have access to healthy meals through the federal child nutrition programs. These programs serve as a nutrition safety net for millions of children and can have a central role in reducing hunger among children."

To read the full study, click here.

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GAO Finds Incentives to Underreport Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Pervasive

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:11:06 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report today that found that incentives for employers and workers to underreport illness not only adversely impacts the accuracy of data that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses to target unsafe workplaces, but also has put pressure on health professionals to change diagnoses or provide insufficient treatments.

The report was requested by U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Patty Murray (D-WA), and U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

A third of occupational health professionals surveyed by the GAO said that they were pressured by employers to provide insufficient treatments to workers in order to hide or downplay work-related injuries or illness. More than two-thirds of health professionals observed worker fear for reporting an injury or illness, and 53 percent of practitioners said they were pressured by an employer to downplay an injury or illness so it is doesnt have to be reported on an official log.

"The widespread underreporting so clearly documented in this report is undermining the health and safety of American workers, said Sen. Harkin, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. If we don't know the full extent of the workplace hazards workers face, we cannot fully address these risks. We need to take steps to require employers to provide a full account of on-the-job injuries and to protect workers so they can report workplace incidents without fear of retaliation."

We cannot allow the lack of accurate information to permit hazardous working conditions to go unaddressed, putting workers health and lives at risk, said Rep. Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. The GAO report underscores the need for OSHA to have all the tools they need to eliminate incentives that result in underreporting injuries.

Injury and illness records assist OSHA to better allocate its resources, accurately target its inspections and evaluate the success of efforts to improve the health and safety of American workers. Employers may underreport injury and illness rates because lower rates likely lead to fewer inspections, improves their competitiveness when bidding for new contracts, and lowers the employers workers compensation costs. Workers may also be discouraged from reporting injuries or illnesses because of prizes given by employers to groups of workers that report fewer injuries or illnesses.

"This report confirms that when it comes to the documenting of workplace injuries, we can't just take employers at their word. The system, to this point has been all too easy to game, said Sen. Murray, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. Government has the responsibility to be a stronger partner in ensuring that every worker who punches in for their next shift returns home safe and healthy at the end of the day. But to do that, we must have accurate information and that means more input from those on the factory floor and in the workplace. We need to ensure the inclusion and protection of victims and family members throughout the reporting process.

GAOs survey results make clear that there is pressure on workers and health care providers to underreport and under-treat job-related injuries and illnesses, said Rep. Woolsey. GAOs report underscores the need for Congress to enact provisions in the Protecting Americas Workers Act, which would prevent employers from implementing safety incentive programs that discourage accurate recordkeeping and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses.

The GAO recommended that OSHA inspectors to interview workers during records audits, update the list of hazardous industries that are scrutinized, and provide employers with better education and training on recordkeeping requirements.

The Protecting Americas Workers Act, introduced by Harkin, Miller, Murray and Woolsey, would give OSHA additional tools to combat underreporting of injuries and illnesses by employers.

For more information on the bill, click here.

To read the GAO report issued today, click here.

Chairman Miller Asks GAO to Expand Investigation into Contaminated Beef in School Meals

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:05:15 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. In light of several recent deadly outbreaks of E. coli that led to a recall of ground beef from major supermarkets, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the risk of contaminated beef from the commercial market entering the school meal programs. This would be part of an investigation GAO launched at Millers request last year into the safety of meat served in school cafeterias.

A recently issued GAO report identified standards and procedures to help reduce the risk of school children consuming recalled food purchased as commodities to use in school meals. The report specifically focused on eliminating contaminated food provided to schools through the commodity food program for use in the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) school meal programs. In his letter today, Miller asked GAO to also examine what protocols exist to ensure foods, specifically processed meat, that schools purchase on the commercial market, outside of USDAs commodity program, is safe.

I write because I remain concerned about the safety of our nations food supply and whether there is an undue risk for food contaminated with dangerous pathogens to be unknowingly purchased by schools for use in the school meal programs, wrote Miller, whose committee has jurisdiction over school nutrition programs. Recent media reports have drawn our attention yet again to significant recalls of contaminated ground beef that was available in the commercial marketplace. Although there are no reports of schools being implicated in any of the food safety illnesses related to this latest wave of recalls, I am concerned that the systems in place do not adequately minimize schools risk for procuring and providing contaminated products purchased through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that beef contaminated with E. coli, produced at a New York meat processing plant, killed two people and sent 16 others to the hospital. That outbreak led to the recall of over 500,000 pounds of ground beef from retailers, including Trader Joes, Price Choppers and Giant Foods. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that all ground beef made available to schools through the commodity program be tested for E.coli, ground beef processed and sold to schools on the commercial market is not subject to the same minimum standards. It is currently up to local school districts to decide whether to require ground beef products purchased from the commercial market to undergo similar quality and safety testing as USDA commodity products.

The full text of the letter is below.

Mr. Gene L. Dodaro
Acting Comptroller General
U.S. Government Accountability Office

Dear Mr. Dodaro:

I write because I remain concerned about the safety of our nations food supply and whether there is an undue risk for food contaminated with dangerous pathogens to be unknowingly purchased by schools for use in the school meal programs. In light of this concern, I ask that GAO investigate the food safety standards and procedures within the complex partnership of federal, state, and local entities responsible for ensuring the safety of food procured through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.

In response to a request several fellow lawmakers and I made in the wake of highly publicized food recalls early last year, GAO issued a report in September focused upon food purchased for use in schools through the federal commodities program. While this report provides important information to help ensure the safety of the school meal programs, I am especially concerned about beef purchased on the commercial market and not through the federal commodity program that GAO focused upon in its September report. Recent media reports have drawn our attention yet again to significant recalls of contaminated ground beef that was available in the commercial marketplace. Although there are no reports of schools being implicated in any of the food safety illnesses related to this latest wave of recalls, I am concerned that the systems in place do not adequately minimize schools risk for procuring and providing contaminated product purchased through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that GAO investigate whether sufficient protocols and standards exist at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure the safety of meat and other food procured by schools through commercial channels. Specifically, I ask that GAO compare the protocols and standards for ensuring the safety of foods made available to schools purchased through the federal commodity program to the protocols and standards for similar foods purchased from the commercial market. I also ask that GAO investigate whether there is any deficiency in the safety and quality of ground beef sold or made available to schools in the commercial marketplace compared to the safety and quality standards demanded by other buyers of the same product in the marketplace.

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Sincerely,

GEORGE MILLER
Chairman
Committee on Education and Labor

Cc: Richard Durbin
Senator

John Kline
Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor

Carolyn McCarthy
Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Healthy Families

Rosa DeLauro
Chairwoman, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture

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House Makes History on Health Reform

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:15:00 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. For the first time in Americas history, all Americans will have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The legislation will cover 96 percent of Americans by 2015, while reducing the deficit by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. The House approved the measure by a vote of 220 to 215.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), blends and revises the three versions of reform legislation passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July. It embodies President Obamas key goals for health reform. It will slow the growth in out-of-control health costs, and introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest. Additionally, it will protect peoples choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all have Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the net cost of expanding coverage at $891 billion, consistent with the $900 billion coverage mark laid out by President Obama in September. The legislation will be fully paid for. CBO estimates the bill reduces the deficit by at least $30 billion over 10 years, not counting the additional deficit reduction generated by the CLASS Act.

Tonight, for the first time in our nations history, the House voted to guarantee every American access to quality, affordable health insurance, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. Our bill embodies President Obamas goals and reflects what we have heard from the American people. Because of this legislation, never again will Americans have to worry about losing their health care if they lose their job or get sick. For all of the great leaders before us who tried to get this done, and for all of the workers and families who will finally have greater health benefits and financial security because of this bill, tonight we made history.

God has been good to our country and this Congress and that means we have a responsibility to extend our power to make certain that every American has access to quality, affordable health care, said U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. We are so proud of this bill because it will cover 96 percent of our nation and ensure that no one will be denied health care because they have a pre-existing condition, or lose their coverage because they lose their job. This is truly an historic effort to improve the health and well-being of our nation, create jobs and grow our economy.

Today is a historic moment for the House of Representatives. said U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It is a significant victory that the House has passed comprehensive health reform legislation for all Americans. This bill will at long last reform the health care system by expanding choices, reducing costs, and providing people with peace of mind about their health insurance.

With this historic vote, tens of millions of Americans are closer to getting health insurance. With this historic vote, we stand to reduce our deficit by billions of dollars over the next decade, said U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman Emeritus of the Energy and Commerce Committee and lead sponsor of H.R. 3962. With this historic vote we are closer to bringing relief to American families who are forced to decide whether they will pay the mortgage or their health insurance premium. And with this historic vote, we will help American business compete in the global marketplace. Many legendary members who served in this body before have fought for national health insurance reform, only to never see it happen. It is a great honor to serve with a new generation of members who today took bold action, delivering on our promise of change. Our actions will earn the respect and appreciation of Americans for generations to come.

With this historic vote we are one step closer to fulfilling the promise of making the world's best health care system more affordable and accessible to all. This plan significantly limits the costs that have been spiraling out of control for decades, which have threatened the health, well-being and economic stability of our nation, said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee. Making health care more affordable not only reduces the burden on families and businesses, but also frees up the resources needed to create and sustain countless jobs without adding to our nation's deficit. While there is still much work to do, I value the discussions and debates that I have shared with my constituents and colleagues over these past few months. I am proud and humbled to be part of such historic change that will improve the quality of life for millions of Americans and help put our country back on the course of long prosperity.

The Affordability Health Care for America Act will mark history with reforms that will put nearly every American within reach of quality health care at affordable costs, said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) the Chairman of Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. More important than the history books is what it will mean for all Americans. It will stop the insurance industry from denying or cutting off care and it will help prevent illness before it strikes. And it will reduce the amount spent on medical care in the country without adding one dime to the deficit. It will make the best of the health care system and help allow America live up to its promise and its ideals.

Today's vote is the most important in my career," said U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. I am proud to have helped author this legislation, which will finally guarantee affordable, quality health care to every American. I urge the Senate to act so we can achieve health care reform this year.
The legislation will ensure affordability for workers and middle-class families, security for seniors with a stronger, more solvent Medicare program, and a healthy fiscal future.

The key components of the Affordable Health Care for America Act include:

Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers choices.

If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.
Individuals who arent currently covered by their employers and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can comparison shop from a menu of affordable, quality health care options that will include private plans, health co-ops, and a new public health insurance option. The public health insurance option will operate on a level playing field with private insurers, spurring additional competition.
This Exchange will create competition based on quality and price that leads to better coverage and care. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.

Giving Americans peace of mind. The legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care coverage so that they wont lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.

Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and will strictly limit age rating.
The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expenses to protect every American from bankruptcy.

Improving quality of care for every American. The legislation will ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees, have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness, and strengthening programs that work.

Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing, and vision benefits.
Provides better preventive and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the Exchange and by employers, after a grace period, will cover preventive care at no cost to the patient.
Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid and closes the Medicare Part D donut hole so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.

Ensuring shared responsibility. The bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.

Employers can continue offering coverage to workers, and those with payrolls over $500,000 who choose not to offer coverage will contribute a fee of up to eight percent of payroll.
All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income. Individuals facing difficulties can apply for hardship waivers from the penalty.
The federal government will provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families, to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.

Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation will put the interests of consumers first, protect them from insurer discrimination and mistreatment, and reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

Provides transparency in plans in the Health Exchange so that consumers have clear, complete information, in plain English, to select the plan that best meets their needs.
Establishes consumer advocacy offices as part of the Exchange to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.
Simplifies paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all benefit from a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer-friendly system.
Increases funding of efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse; and creates enhanced oversight of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Reducing the deficit and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation will be entirely paid for it will not add a dime to the deficit and will actually reduce the deficit over at least the next two decades. It will also put Medicare and Medicaid on the path to a more fiscally sound future, so seniors and low-income Americans can continue to receive quality health care benefits for years to come.

Pays for the entire cost of the legislation though a combination of savings achieved by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient without cutting seniors benefits in any way and through revenue generated from placing a surcharge on the top 0.3 percent of all households in the U.S.(married couples with adjusted gross income of over $1,000,000) and other revenue measures.
CBO estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at over $30 billion over ten years, not counting the additional deficit reduction generated by the CLASS Act.
Extends the life of the Medicare trust fund by 5 years.
Estimates also show the bill will slow the rate of growth of the Medicare program from 6.6 percent annually to 5.3 percent annually.

To view a copy of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, click here.

To view the immediate benefits for Americans that kick in under this legislation, click here.

To view a bill summary, detailed fact sheets and more information on what the health insurance reform will mean for Americans, click here.

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Chairman Miller Statement on Historic Health Reform Legislation

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:00:53 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a key architect of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, during consideration of the legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives today.

***

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this historic legislation to fix our broken health insurance system and finally bring affordable health coverage to every American.

We are truly on the verge of making history.

Never before has the House or Senate approved a bill to guarantee every American access to affordable health care. Never.

Not that we havent tried.

The fight to reform this nations health care system has spanned nearly 100 years, across generations and many great leaders, from Teddy Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy to President Clinton to my own personal hero, Ted Kennedy.

But time and again these efforts were stymied by special interests.

The need for reform is dire.

Hundreds of thousands of people are losing insurance each month. At least 36 million   Americans have no coverage at all including nearly 50,000 people who live in my district in Northern California.

Over half of all personal bankruptcies are due to a medical incident. Businesses are chocking on bloated health care costs. Innovation is being stifled. Our competitiveness is undermined.

But this year is different. This time is different. The American people cannot afford to wait any longer, and today we will cast a history-making vote to guarantee all Americans access to quality, affordable health insurance.

We must not fail again.

An unprecedented effort by the House led us to this milestone. Three committees and our diverse Caucus worked together in an extensive and coordinated fashion, with one purpose to fulfill a decades-old, and yet still urgent, promise.

We engaged the public in one of the most transparent debates of federal legislation in history, including over 2,000 events across the U.S. since July alone.

The result is a bill that reflects what we have heard from workers and families, from small business owners and economists, from seniors and college students, from doctors and nurses.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act will directly meet the needs of Americans and the goals that President Obama set for reform: it lowers costs for families and businesses, protects peoples choice of doctors and health plans, reduces the deficit, and ensures access to quality, affordable health insurance for all Americans.

For the first time in U.S. history, all uninsured Americans will be able to purchase quality, affordable coverage through a new Health Insurance Exchange, where they will be able to choose from a menu of options: a public health insurance option or several private plans.

And for those that already have insurance, our bill will grant them the security of knowing that their coverage will always be there.

Never again will Americans worry about losing their health care if they change or lose their job.

Never again will someone be denied health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Never again will a patient have to worry about their insurance company rescinding their policy when they need coverage the most.

Never again will a small business owner have to worry about unpredictable and unaffordable premiums.
Our bill, H.R. 3962, will end the many injustices that workers, families, and businesses face in todays system. It will finally make health insurance work for consumers not insurance CEOs.

Let me be specific about what our reforms will mean for the American people:

   No more co-pays or deductibles for preventative care;
   No more rate increases because of a pre-existing condition, gender, or occupation;
   An annual cap on out-of-pocket expenses;
   Guaranteed affordable dental, hearing and vision care for children;
   Lower prescription drug costs for seniors;
   Young people will be able to stay on their parents insurance through their 27th birthday; and
   A ban on lifetime caps on what insurance companies will pay, so patients will never again be one treatment away from medical bankruptcy.

In my district, the 7th district of California, that means:

   406,000 residents who receive coverage through their employer will benefit from insurance reforms;
   Credits in the Exchange will help 123,000 households obtain affordable health insurance; and
   13,800 small businesses will have access to provide affordable coverage for their employees.

As I mentioned earlier, this legislation meets our commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Every piece of this bill is fully paid for through a combination of revenue raised by placing a surcharge on the wealthiest Americans and savings generated by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient.

These reforms will strengthen Medicare for seniors and shift our systems focus from quantity of health procedures to quality of care and producing healthier outcomes for patients.

The Congressional Budget Office reports that our bill will reduce the deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade and slow the growth of health spending, leading 11 chief health care economists to declare our legislation vital to the nations fiscal and economic future.

As with previous efforts to reform health care, this bill received an enormous amount of public scrutiny. In the last few months, opponents of health reform have conjured up every falsehood imaginable about this bill in an effort to scare the American people and once again try to stymie reform.

But as I said, I believe that this year is different. Our legislation has been tested in public and the momentum continues to grow in support of the bill.

The American people have seen through the lies and distortions. And they are not fooled by the hoax of an eleventh-hour Republican bill that is nothing more than a cruel rebuke to the needs of families. Their bill would do nothing but maintain the status quo and guarantee insurance profits at the expense of tens of millions of hard working Americans.

The American people understand the true meaning of our bill. They know it will cover 96 percent of the American people. They know that, under our bill, if they lose their job they will continue to have health coverage for their children, spouses and families.
They know that this bill means that if they have cancer, the insurance company can no longer pull the rug out from under them while theyre in the middle of treatment.

They know that this bill will protect them, through any economic cycle.

Nearly fifty years ago, as he was fighting to expand health care benefits, President Kennedy said,

All of the great revolutionary movements of the Franklin Roosevelt Administration we now take for granted. But I refuse to see us live on the accomplishments of another generation. I refuse to see this country and all of us shrink from the struggles which are our responsibility in our times.

The struggle for health insurance reform is our responsibility today. This is our moment to revolutionize health care in this country.

We have arrived at this historic moment thanks to the hard work of so many people.

I would like to thank my good friends and colleagues, Chairman Rangel and Chairman Waxman, and our three subcommittee chairs, Representatives Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone and Pete Stark, and especially Dean John Dingell. We could not have had better teammates in this journey.

I would also like to thank the Democratic Leadership, our Speaker, Ms. Nancy Pelosi, the Majority Leader, Mr. Steny Hoyer, our Whip, Mr. James Clyburn, and all the members of leadership for the countless hours they spent working with the committee chairs to arrive at this point today.

And of course we could not have completed the work on this bill without the work of our incredibly talented staff, who worked long nights and weekends for months on end. They are the unsung heroes of this process, and I know all our colleagues join me in thanking them for their extraordinary work.

From my staff I would like to thank Mark Zuckerman, Alex Nock, Danny Weiss, Michele Varnhagen, Megan OReilly, Jody Calemine, Tico Almeida, Meredith Regine, James Schroll, Rachel Racusen, Aaron Albright, Amy Peake, Courtney Rochelle, and Mike Kruger.

Finally, Id like to pay tribute to my mentor and friend, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Health care was the cause of Teds lifetime. Our effort would have been impossible had he not carried the torch of justice and equality for all those years.

I know I am not alone when I say that I sincerely wish Ted Kennedy could be with us today to see his dream of quality, affordable health care for all become a reality.

Mr. Speaker, this is the most important bill I have ever worked on during my many years of service in Congress.

I could not be prouder to have helped to write this bill, to encourage each of my colleagues to support it, and to cast my vote in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

We stand at the doorstep of history.

Let us go in.

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CBO Confirms Republican Health Care Bill Would Maintain the Status Quo

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. Fifty-two million people would continue to go uninsured if the House Republican health care legislation was enacted, the Congressional Budget Office said tonight. Overall, CBO estimates that the bill would only reduce the number of uninsured by 3 million and would cover 83 percent of Americans by 2019 about the same as what would happen under the status quo. In contrast, the House Democratic health insurance reform bill would cover 96 percent of Americans by 2019 and provide an additional 36 million people with access to quality, affordable health care.
Tonight CBO confirmed that the Republicans only solution for health reform is to preserve the status quo, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. It will leave 52 million Americans literally out in the cold, does nothing to help low-income and middle-class families afford quality health care, and protects insurance companies power to deny claims and stand between patients and their doctors.

Their bill fundamentally fails to repair our broken health care system. Under this proposal, Americans will continue to lose coverage if they have a pre-existing condition or lose their job, seniors will continue to suffer from the donut hole, and millions of Americans will file medical bankruptcy due to illness. This legislation may be a nice giveaway to insurance companies, but it is not the comprehensive reform American needs to cover the tens of millions of uninsured and reduce the hidden costs all Americans pay to cover them.

According to CBOs analysis:

   Only 3 million people would gain coverage, roughly in line with the current share. By 2019, CBO By 2019, the number of nonelderly people without health insurance would be reduced by about 3 million relative to current law, leaving about 52 million nonelderly residents uninsured. The share of legal nonelderly residents with insurance coverage in 2019 would be about 83 percent, roughly in line with the current share. [p. 3]

   Would not lower premiums for most consumers. And in the large group market, which represents nearly 80 percent of total private premiums, the amendment would lower average insurance premiums in 2016 by zero to 3 percent compared with amounts under current law, according to CBOs estimates. [p. 5]

   Premiums could increase for older consumers. For example, states that loosened rating rules in the market for individually purchased insurance to allow premiums to vary more on the basis of age would cause premiums for older people to increase and premiums for younger people to decrease. [p.7]

To view the CBO letter, click here.

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MIT Analysis Confirms That H.R. 3962 Will Deliver Substantial Savings

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

WASHINGTON, DC According to a new analysis by MIT Professor and CBO health advisor Dr. Jonathan Gruber, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) will lower premiums and improve coverage for individuals and families purchasing in the non-group market. The MIT study estimates that an individual and a family of four would save from $470 and from $1,260, respectively, in health insurance premiums, even without subsidies. The savings would be even greater for low- and middle- income individuals and families who qualify for affordability credits that can amount to thousands of dollars per year.

This analysis confirms that the House Democratic health care legislation will lower premiums for individuals and families who purchase insurance in the Exchange, said Chairman Henry A. Waxman, Chairman Charles B. Rangel, and Chairman George Miller. The individual health care market is the part of the health care system that is most dysfunctional today. The Affordable Health Care for America Act will reform that market in a way that will reduce premiums.

The MIT estimates are based on an analysis of the bill and the CBO report released yesterday which found that the premiums in the Exchange would be significantly lower than the premiums in the non-group market. The analysis noted that the savings are in addition to the more generous benefits that individuals and families will receive through the Exchange compared to the non-group market. Dr. Gruber also noted that the lower premiums are in addition to all the other benefits that this legislation will deliver to those consumers in particular the guarantee, unavailable in most states, that prices would not be raised or the policy revoked if they became ill.

House Democrats Introduce H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:07:24 -0800

WASHNGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus. The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation the week of November 16.

Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldnt have to choose between their livelihood, and their coworkers or customers health, said Miller. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees dont spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.

To help control the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, workers who are sick should stay at home, said Woolsey. This bill will ensure that workers who are directed to stay home by their employers can do so without paying a financial penalty.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that a sick worker will infect one in ten co-workers. As a result, the CDC and other public health officials have advised employers to be flexible when dealing with sick employees and to develop leave policies that will not punish workers for being ill.

At least 50 million American workers do not have access to paid sick leave, many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields. The National Partnership for Women and Families estimates that the economy loses $180 billion in productivity a year when sick employees show up to work, also known as presenteeism.

Among other provisions, the Emergency Influenza Containment Act:

Guarantees a sick worker up to five paid sick leave days a year if an employer directs or advises a sick employee to stay home or go home.
Covers both full-time and part-time workers (on a pro-rated basis) in businesses with 15 or more workers. Employers that already provide at least 5 days paid sick leave are exempt.
An employer can end paid sick leave at any time by informing the employee that the employer believes theyre well enough to return to work. Employees may continue on unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act or other existing sick leave policies.
Employees who follow their employers direction to stay home because of contagious illness cannot be fired, disciplined or made subject to retaliation for following directions.
Takes effect 15 days after being signed into law and sunsets after two years.

Miller: Direct Certification is an Important Tool to Ensure More Eligible Students Receive School Meals

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:13:10 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. More school districts are implementing ways to directly enroll more eligible students for free and reduced priced school meals, according to a new report out today.

The report, Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP): State Implementation Progress, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), examined the effectiveness of states and school districts in helping to eliminate barriers to direct enrollment in the NSLP. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required school districts to create systems to automatically enroll children for free school meals whose families receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called Food Stamps.

There are millions of children who rely on school meals as a nutritional safety net and millions more who are eligible but are not receiving their due benefits. This report shows us the important progress schools are making to use direct certification systems to increase childrens access to school meals, but there is more work to be done to continue to improve these systems and provide critical nutrition support to working families and their children, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. The school meal programs ensure that families dont have to choose between paying their bills and feeding their children. Direct certification helps ease that burden even more.

Last month, Congress made important investments to help more schools to directly certify their eligible students, which will be a big step forward toward reducing this hunger risk and in a fiscally responsible way, Miller continued. President Obama, Secretary Vilsack and I know that one of the most important things we can do to help our most vulnerable children succeed is to ensure they have access to healthy, safe, nutritious and affordable meals.

"This report highlights what we heard last month from witnesses before our subcommittee that if we are to ensure all eligible kids have access to these important meal programs, we need to improve our direct certification capabilities," said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

For more information about the investments in child nutrition, click here.

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CBO Affirms H.R. 3962 Will Control Costs, Lower Premiums

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:15:00 -0800

Washington, D.C. Today the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released estimates confirming that H.R. 3962 the Democratic health reform bill will succeed in controlling costs that will be reflected in individual and family premiums. CBO found that by 2016, premiums will be $5,300 for an individual and $15,000 for a family of four in the Exchange. This is well below the $24,000 family premium expected if Congress fails to act and premiums grow as projected under current law.
This underscores that this legislation will control health care costs and lower health care premiums for families and individuals relative to today, said Chairman Henry A. Waxman, Chairman Charles B. Rangel, and Chairman George Miller. The Affordable Health Care for America Act will make health insurance and health care accessible for millions of low-income and middle-class families who currently lack affordable coverage.

A Kaiser/HRET survey found that in 2009, premiums for employer-sponsored coverage are $4,824 for individuals and $13,375 for family policies. Current employer insurance is comparable to the coverage individuals and families will be able to expect in the Exchange with the bills insurance reforms and consumer protections in place. One recent projection estimated that health insurance premiums in 2016 will be over $8,000 for individuals and over $24,000 for families if health reform is not enacted.

CBO additionally recognizes that the House affordability credits and insurance reforms offer more help to more people than the Senate Finance Committee proposal. These provisions work in tandem to make it more attractive and likely for all people, including older Americans and those with pre-existing conditions, to get insurance instead of remaining uninsured when compared to the Senate Finance Committee proposal. The House legislation insures seven million more individuals, reaching 96 percent of all Americans.

Chairman Miller Statement on the Recovery Act Saving and Creating Education Jobs

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:04 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Education issued a report showing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments in education helped save or create 325,000 jobs.

It is clear the historic investments in education are already starting to pay off education budget cuts are being delayed, jobs are being created, and children arent losing a year of learning as the economy recovers. In my home state of California, where a budget crisis has meant major cuts across the board, these funds have helped save or create 80,000 education-related jobs. There remains an enormous amount of work ahead, but this report shows were on the right track to helping in the short term, while building a highly skilled, competitive workforce for generations to come.

To read more about the Recovery Act, click here.

To view the report, click here.

The Graduation for All Act of 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:26:00 -0800

Strengthening Our Schools, Our Community and Our Future Competitiveness

The high school dropout crisis poses one of the greatest threats to our nations economic growth and competitiveness. Each day 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school. More than half of all students who drop out are from the so-called dropout factories the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates above 40 percent. Many of these students come from a struggling middle school. President Obama has challenged Congress and the American people to take action by asking every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or training. This will require addressing our nations dropout crisis and dramatically improving graduation rates.

The Graduation for All Act (H.R. 4122) will make a down-payment on our future competitiveness by helping our lowest-performing middle and high schools improve student achievement, increase graduation rates, and promote college enrollment. Specifically, the legislation would:
Turn around schools with the highest dropout rates.

Creates a new $2 billion competitive grant program to improve nations lowest performing high schools and middle schools.
Provides school districts with clear guidelines on turn around strategies and encourages flexibility in implementing the appropriate model at the school level.
Supports partnerships among school districts and their lowest performing high schools, their feeder middle schools and the local community to help systemically align best practices in turnaround strategies.

Provide students at risk of dropping out with the tools to stay in school and succeed.

Combines rigorous coursework with academic and social support services to encourage students and keep them engaged in school.
Helps schools implement a data system to allow teachers and other school staff to identify students at risk of dropping out early on, based on key indicators such as attendance or failing a core course.

Promote college enrollment and career readiness.

Prepares students for college by providing them with information about financial aid options, developing graduation and career plans and offering classes on a college campus.
Allows students to earn up to two years of college credit through Early College High Schools or dual enrollment programs while still in high school to increase access to college and employment.

How the bill works:

An eligible district who receives a grant must:

Identify which schools, middle school and high schools, will be redesigned using evidence-based strategies and materials to provide rigorous, relevant curricula and instruction.
Conduct a needs analysis of a range of factors including graduation rate, capacity, and at-risk students.
Choose a Model of Success, as defined in the bill, to help make the most effective and appropriate changes in the school. These models range from transformation to restarting the school as a charter.
Build a Graduation Improvement Team, including school leaders, teachers, experts and other staff from the school and the community to help carry out the Model of Success.
Implement Early Warning Data Systems to use academic and behavioral indicators to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, determine which interventions are appropriate, and to monitor the effectiveness of the interventions so that changes can be made as necessary.
Ensure the principals have autonomy over staffing and budget in their schools.

Support for H.R. 4122:

First Focus Campaign for Children:
"First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the Graduation for All Act. The legislation provides a critical focus on supporting the nations middle and high school students. While we understand that this is a work in progress, the legislation includes a comprehensive approach to strengthening student achievement from which we can build. We applaud this effort, and look forward to working with Congress to support the success of the nations young people."

National Middle School Association:
"National Middle School Association called on policymakers, educators, and business leaders to lead a national effort to transform middle level education and give every young adolescent the opportunity to achieve to the highest standards. The Graduation for All Act is an essential step in meeting that goal. The legislation calls for the bold actions that are needed turn around our lowest performing middle and high schools and make access to quality education for students a reality, not just a promise."

-- Betty Edwards, Executive Director

Democrats for Education Reform:
"Democrats for Education Reform congratulates House Democrats for introducing the 'Graduation for All Act.'

"We particularly want to applaud the leadership of Chairman Miller, and key authors of the bill like Representatives Fattah, Hinojosa, Scott, Griijalva, and Davis for bringing together their ideas and working to create an integrated and comprehensive approach to high school reform.

"'This bill draws some very bright lines for intervening in the nation's 'drop-out' factories and, if necessary, shutting them down so that students can attend schools that will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and in the workforce,' said Charles Barone, DFER's Director of Federal Policy. 'We've known for years what the problems are. What the authors of 'Graduation for All' have shown is that they have the political courage to act.'

"'A skilled and educated workforce is absolutely essential to students' futures, and to our nation's economic recovery. We urge Congress to put this bill on the legislative fast track given the dire condition in so many of our nation's high schools which deny millions of students the opportunity to attend college and obtain secure employment that pays a living wage.'"

This Week: Hearing on H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies, and Hearing on Literacy Skills

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:09:13 -0800

The Committee has a full schedule this week, including:

November 17: Hearing on how employer paid sick leave policies can help slow the spread of contagious diseases, like the H1N1 flu virus.

November 19: Hearing to review current federal literacy initiatives and explore ways to improve the reading comprehension skills of all children from birth through high school.

Note: The previously-scheduled Committee vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been postponed.

News of the Day: For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

In response to President Obama's declaration of the H1N1 flu as a national emergency and federal health and labor officials urging sick workers to stay home, Rep. George Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey introduced the H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill. It would provide five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

Today the Los Angeles Times wrote an excellent article on why this legislation is necessary. As they said, "For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option." And they explained it this way:

For now, some feel torn between public health and protecting their jobs. Nationwide, 84% of workers said they felt pressured to come to work sick because of the recession, according to a September poll by Vancouver-based Angus Reid Strategies. The poll also showed that 69% of workers had not been offered vaccines or other precautions from employers.

One in six workers say they or a family member have been fired, suspended, punished or threatened for staying home sick or caring for a sick relative, according to a survey last year by the Washington, D.C.-based Public Welfare Foundation. Many large employers, such as Disney and Wal-Mart, dock workers disciplinary points for staying home even when they are ill.

"We are seeing more and more stories of workers who are infected with the virus but can't afford to stay home because they don't have paid sick leave," Miller said. "This puts both their co-workers and their customers at risk -- and could cost their employers money in lost productivity."

Chairman Miller cited an estimate, based on a 2004 study at Emory University, that the economy loses $180 billion in productivity a year when sick employees show up to work. The H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill covers both full-time and part-time workers (on a pro-rated basis) in businesses with 15 or more workers. Employers that already provide at least 5 days paid sick leave are exempt. Additionally, an employer can end paid sick leave at any time by informing the employee that the employer believes theyre well enough to return to work. Providing security for employees who follow their employers direction to stay home because of contagious illness, they could not be fired, disciplined or made subject to retaliation for following directions. This bill would take effect 15 days after being signed into law and sunsets after two years.

According to the article, providing sick leave is not only good for the employee, but also beneficial to the bottom line.

Some employers say paid sick leave saves them money in the long run.

"If they're sick and they're getting other employees sick, that's just going to impact our employees more," said April Boduc, a spokeswoman for San Diego-based Sempra Energy, which gives employees 10 paid sick days a year and allows them to bank unused days and donate vacation days to sick co-workers.

News of the Day: A serving of food safety

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

The Las Vegas Sun ran an editorial on Tuesday entitled,"A serving of food safety: Congress should make sure children are protected from food-borne illnesses" that highlighted Chairman George Miller's letter to the GAO asking for an investigation into contaminated beef in school meals.

The Sun said:

A recent report to Congress found that the Agriculture Departments Food and Nutrition Service, which provides up to 20 percent of the food served in the nations schools, doesnt always provide the schools with timely recall notices. That increases the risk of contaminated food making its way onto childrens plates.

In response to that finding and other news stories, Chairman Miller wrote, Recent media reports have drawn our attention yet again to significant recalls of contaminated ground beef that was available in the commercial marketplace. Although there are no reports of schools being implicated in any of the food safety illnesses related to this latest wave of recalls, I am concerned that the systems in place do not adequately minimize schools risk for procuring and providing contaminated products purchased through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.

The Sun said, "Miller is correct to call for a full investigation, and he should press the issue," and that is exactly what he plans to do.

Chairman Miller's floor speeches about the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:45:00 -0800

Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, delivers his comments during the floor debate on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care For America Act on November 7, 2009.

Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, delivers a rebuttal to the proposed Republican amendment during the floor debate on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care For America Act, on November 7, 2009.

Interactive Graphic for the Affordable Health Care for America Act - H.R. 3962

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

News of the Day: Seniors, doctors groups throw their support behind House healthcare bill

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:15:00 -0800

Big news yesterday as the nation's largest senior citizen group AND the nation's largest organization of doctors both offered support for the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

The [AARP], which has been pushing for a health overhaul for more than a year, had withheld a formal endorsement of any of the healthcare bills being developed by congressional Democrats.

That endorsement was followed by an announcement at about 10 a.m. Pacific time from the American Medical Assn. in which the nation's largest doctors group voiced its support for the measure.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said today that the group saw the House Democratic bill as the most promising proposal.

...

The AMA's support for the House bill comes ahead of a critical policymaking meeting of its House of Delegates in Houston that begins Saturday. The organization is being asked by some constituencies, at the eleventh hour, to back away from supporting healthcare reform.

"These bills go far beyond what is necessary to fix what is broken with our healthcare system, and they grant the federal government considerable new powers and authority, which could ultimately amount to a complete government takeover of healthcare, and which is anathema to doctors and patients," reads a resolution introduced by the American Assn. of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of General Surgeons and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The resolution was also supported by AMA delegations from Georgia and Washington, D.C.

Learn why these groups and many, many others support the Affordable Health Care for America Act at our clearinghouse page.

News of the Day: CNN Reports on H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:45:33 -0800

You're sick with H1N1 flu and even sicker over being out of work without pay. At least one U.S. Congressman wants to help with that. He's proposing emergency legislation now to grant swine flu victims five days of paid leave. How's it gonna work? CNN's Lisa Sylvester has details.

Reporter: If you come down with the flu, you are told to stay home until you get better. That's the advice of doctors, the Centers for Disease Control, even many bosses are saying stay away.

The day of being a hero by coming in sick those days are over. The message now needs to be your a hero if you're sick and you stay home so please don't come to work.

Reporter: According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, 57 million American workers have no paid sick leave. Missing work can mean a deep cut in a monthly paycheck or even possibly a pink slip. Congressman George Miller has introduced the H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave bill. The legislation would grant five days of sick leave a year if an employer directs a sick worker to stay home or go home. It would apply to companies with 15 or more employees that do not already provide that amount of sick leave. Part-time workers would also be eligible on a pro-rated basis. The emergency law would sunset after two years, but businesses would have to foot the bill. Representative Miller says it's in their interest to keep sick workers out of the workplace and away from customers.

We have thousands -- tens of thousands of workers who are working with the public every day in food service, in cafeterias, school lunch programs and airports and hospitality. Those people are generators of additional infections of H1N1 so we got to get them get home, get well, and then go back.

Reporter: According to the Centers for Disease Control, a sick worker can infect 10% of co-workers. Congressman Miller has scheduled a hearing in two weeks on the bill. The legislation will have an impact on some of the workers in the service industry, restaurant and hotel workers who may not currently have a sick leave policy. Now, we did receive a comment from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. They said that while most of their members know it is better to let sick employees go home to recover, they do see this bill as "nothing more than an excuse to force more paid leave mandates on employers in an already weak economy."

Lisa Sylvester. CNN. Washington.

As always, we would love to know what you think about this. We kind of thought it was a talker this morning. Do you actually think that Congress should pass some sort of bill that would mandate employers grant their employees emergency sick leave with direct reference to H1N1? Leave us your comments. You can go to cnn.com/heidi and leave your comments there. We, of course, will share some of them with you a little bit later on, right here in the CNN Newsroom.

Introduction of H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill Garners Great Interest

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Earlier today, Chairman Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

The Wall Street Journal reports, "House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller said his bill would ensure that workers wouldn't miss out on wages if they contract the illness. The employer would be required to pay for the sick leave, and there would be no cost to the taxpayer, Mr. Miller said.

The bill wouldn't oblige employers to pay for workers' time off. It would tell them that, if they intend to send employees who are ill home, they must then pay for them to have up to five days' leave.

Mr. Miller said his panel would hold a hearing on the legislation the week of Nov. 16. If the bill is successfully enacted by Congress, it would take effect 15 days after being signed into law, and expire in two years."

Explaining why this bill is needed, Contra Costa Times quotes Chairman Miller, "Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldnt have to choose between their livelihood, and their co-workers or customers health. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees dont spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.

And the next steps according to Reuters are, "Miller said the committee would hold a hearing the week of November 16 and he would press to have a full vote as soon as possible.

Miller said at least 50 million American workers are not paid for time taken off sick, 'many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.'"

For more background on who does and doesn't get sick leave, see this post on the New York Times' Economix blog.

News of the Day: Massachusetts provides evidence that health-care reform lowers insurance premiums

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0800

Ezra Klein at the Washington Post passes along a new academic paper by MIT health economist Jon Gruber. Mr. Gruber has looked at the health care proposals being considered by Congress and has found that the reforms will lower insurance premiums.

One of those states is Massachusetts, which passed health-care reform similar to the one contemplated at the federal level in mid-2006. The major aspects of this reform took place in 2007, notably the introduction of large subsidies for low-income populations, a merged nongroup and small group insurance market, and a mandate on individuals to purchase health insurance. And the results have been an enormous reduction in the cost of nongroup insurance in the state: The average individual premium in the state fell from $8,537 at the end of 2006 to $5,143 in mid-2009, a 40 percent reduction, while the rest of the nation was seeing a 14 percent increase.

You can read the rest of Mr. Gruber's paper here.(MS Word document)

News of the Day: Mandates, Affordability and Immediate Benefits

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

The New York Times ran an editorial on Saturday discussing individual mandates and affordability. It covers the key areas of:

Why is a mandate necessary? [Those without coverage drive up costs for those with coverage]
Will premiums go up or down? [They would go down]
Will there be help? [Yes]
What's affordable? [The House bill provides affordability tax credits for families of 4 up to $88,000]
Has it been tried? [Yes, successfully]
Which version is more affordable? [The House bill]

See the editorial for a complete explanation of how this would work and how it would improve access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

In another column today, E.J. Dionne correctly points out that, while the mandates and subsidies don't start until 2013, there are 14 benefits that start immediately.

That's why the most important document House Democrats released when they unveiled their bill last week was a list of 14 benefits that would be created immediately.

These include insurance reforms to ban lifetime limits on coverage and an end to "rescissions," under which insurers abruptly nullify patients' policies after they file claims. One of the most popular reforms in the bill -- barring insurers from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions -- wouldn't take effect until later. So the House bill creates an interim high-risk pool to help those who need coverage in the meantime.

There are also particular benefits for Medicare recipients, including an immediate reduction in drug costs, and a very popular provision that would allow parents to keep their children on the family health plan through age 26.

Especially important are new investments in community health centers and in efforts to increase the number of primary care doctors. As millions more people get access to decent care, the system will have to provide more doctors, nurses and facilities to treat them.

"People will be excited about 2013," said Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, which shares jurisdiction on the health-care bill. "But there are enough benefits between now and then to keep them engaged and to keep them favorably disposed."

Learn more about the Affordable Health Care for America Act [H.R. 3962] and how reform will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest, protect peoples choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

Affordable health care for everyone

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:30:00 -0700

This morning, Rep. George Miller published an op-ed in the Vacaville Reporter about the need for affordable health care for everyone. Below it is excerpted in its entirety.

Readers of this paper will know that, for much of this year, Congress and President Obama have grappled with one of the most important and complicated issues affecting our nation's economy and our community: health insurance reform.

I am proud to announce that on Thursday we introduced revised legislation that addresses many concerns raised about reform and brings us closer than ever to delivering on the long-held promise of quality and affordable health care for each of us.

I am a principal co-author of the bill.

Since three House committees passed a bill this summer, we have worked hard to incorporate changes and improvements suggested by people from across the political spectrum. Our revised bill directly addresses the needs of American families. It will:

Not increase the deficit.

Curb out-of-control costs that are bankrupting families and employers.

Strengthen Medicare for seniors, in part by closing the prescription drug "donut hole" and by making the program sustainable for years to come.

Protect people against discriminatory insurance company practices. We eliminate so-called "pre-existing" condition denials, stop insurance companies from dropping coverage if you get sick, and establish yearly caps on what you will pay out-of-pocket.

Keep premiums affordable and insurance companies honest by ensuring competition in the health care marketplace through inclusion of a public consumer option. People in California will be able to choose from multiple private options, such as Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente and others, or choose a public plan that offers the best quality at the best price -- just as they do on Expedia.

Offer affordability credits to ensure that low-income and middle-class families can pay for coverage, and ensure that small businesses can actually help cover their employees.

One of the biggest concerns I heard throughout this process was about the bill's cost. Let me be clear: Our reforms are fully paid for and will not increase the federal deficit. In fact, our revised bill will reduce the deficit by at least $30 billion over the next 10 years.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of our reforms at $894 billion. More than half of this cost will be offset through a combination of savings generated by making Medicare and Medi-Cal more efficient and implementing new technology, but we do not cut services for seniors or low-income individuals. We improve care for people served by these critical programs.

The rest of the bill's costs are paid for by a surcharge on the wealthiest 0.3 percent of U.S. households-- married couples earning over $1 million dollars and individuals earning more than half a million dollars annually.

For the past 70 years, Americans have battled hard for the right to quality, affordable health care. While we still have hard work ahead, next week the House will vote on our truly historic legislation and get us closer than ever to achieving what generations of Americans have been fighting for.

News of the Day: The House Health Reform Bill

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:45:00 -0700

Today's New York Times editorial, The House Health Reform Bill, is strongly in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act because, among other things, it would:

require insurers to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents policies. It would provide immediate help to people who have been uninsured for several months or denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. It would speed elimination of a gap in drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries (the so-called doughnut hole) and would give the government power to negotiate drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, a promising way to reduce costs.

The bill would take a long stride toward universal coverage while remaining fiscally responsible.

We strongly encourage you to read the entire editorial and to learn more about the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Affordable Health Care for America Act

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:30:00 -0700

For the first time in U.S. history, all Americans would have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the House on November 7, 2009, by a vote of 220-215.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act [H.R. 3962], which blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July, embodies President Obamas key goals for health reform. It will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest, protect peoples choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

The key components of the Affordable health Care for America Act include:

Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers choices.

If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.
For individuals who arent currently covered by their employer, and some small businesses, the proposal will establish a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can comparison shop from a menu of affordable, quality health care options that will include private plans, health co-ops, and a new public health insurance option. The public health insurance option will play on a level playing field with private insurers, spurring additional competition.
This Exchange will create competition based on quality and price that leads to better coverage and care. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.

Giving Americans peace of mind. The legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care coverage so that they wont lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.

Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and strictly limit age rating.
The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expensesto protects every American from bankruptcy.

Improving quality of care for every American. The legislation will ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness, and strengthening programs that work.

Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision benefits.
Provides better preventive and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the exchange and by employers after a grace period will cover preventive care at no cost to the patient.
Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid and closes the Medicare Part D donut hole so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.

Ensuring shared responsibility. The bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.

Employers can continue offering coverage to workers, and those who choose not to offer coverage contribute a fee of eight percent of payroll.
All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income, subject to a hardship exemption.
The federal government will provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.

Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation will put the interests of consumers first, protect them from problems in getting and keeping health care coverage, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.

Provides transparency in plans in the Health Exchange so that consumers have the clear, complete information, in plain English, needed to select the plan that best meets their needs.
Establishes consumer advocacy offices as part of the Exchange in order to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.
Simplifies paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all encounter a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer friendly system.
Increases funding of efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse; creates enhanced oversight of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Reducing the deficit and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation will be entirely paid for it will not add a dime to the deficit. It will also put Medicare and Medicaid on the path to a more fiscally sound future, so seniors and low-income Americans can continue to receive the quality health care benefits for years to come.

Pays for the entire cost of the legislation though a combination of savings achieved by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient without cutting seniors benefits in any way and revenue generated from placing a surcharge the top 0.3 percent of all households in the U.S.(married couples with adjusted gross income of over $1,000,000) and other tax measures.
The Congressional Budget estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at least $100 billion over ten years.
Estimates also show the bill will slow the rate of growth of the Medicare program from 6.6 percent annually to 5.3 percent annually.

Additional Information:
Complete Bill Text »
Manager's Amendment »
Manager's Amendment Summary »
Top Line Changes »
Top 10 Changes to the Health Insurance Reform Bill »
Side by Side Chart of H.R. 3200 and the Affordable Health Care For America Act »
4-Page Bill Summary »
10-Page Bill Summary »
Section by Section »
What Others Are Saying: Support For Affordable Health Care For America Act »
Supporters of the Affordable Health Care for America Act »

What Health Insurance Reform Means for You »
What You Need to Know About Health Insurance Reform »
Top 10 Ways Health Insurance Reform Works for You »
Top 14 Provisions That Take Effect Immediately »
Immediate Investments on the Road to Reform »
Implementation Timeline »
Myth Vs. Fact »
The Cost of Inaction »
Health Care by the Numbers »
Impacts of Health Insurance Reform by Individual Congressional Districts »

Key Provisions:

Public Health Insurance Option »
The Health Insurance Marketplace »
Shared Responsibility »
Guaranteed Benefits »
Making Coverage Affordable »
Consumer Protections and Insurance Market Reforms »
Employers and Health Reform »
Strengthening the Nations Health Workforce »
Lowering Health Care Costs »
Improving Public Health »
Prevention and Wellness »
Delivery System Reforms »
Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse »
Strengthening Medicare »
Improving Medicare Part D Drug Program »
Closing the "Donut Hole" »
Maintaining and Improving Medicaid »
Medicare Advantage »
Paying for Reform »
Summary of Revenue Provisions »
Joint Committee on Taxation: Estimated Revenue Effects »
Health Care Surcharge and Households »
Health Care Surcharge and Small Businesses »

Women Have the Most to Gain »
Meeting Women's Health Care Needs »
Small Businesses Guide »
How Health Insurance Reform Helps Small Businesses »
A Guide for Seniors »
Young Americans »
Children »
Rural Communities »
Health Care Disparities »
Indian Health »
Personal Stories - Problems That Would Be Solved By Health Insurance Reform »

News of the Day: Early reports: Job gains signal stimulus impact

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:30:00 -0700

According to a preliminary review by the USA Today, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created or saved more than 388,000 jobs so far this year.That number is only for jobs created directly by the stimulus package and doesn't include jobs created indirectly by workers spending their new earnings.

While jobs were created across all sectors of the economy, the USA Today highlights some jobs created in the education sector.

The states' reports suggest the biggest impact has been at schools. Twenty-three states that have reported school job numbers said more than 156,000 jobs had been created or saved.

Carol Bingham, director of fiscal policy for the California Department of Education, estimated the stimulus saved about 20,000 teaching positions. But she and others warn that precisely counting saved jobs has proved almost impossible. "It was intended to be a count. The way it was done, I think it's going to end up being an estimate," she said.

Indiana officials reported that the stimulus had created or saved about 13,000 school jobs. Asked whether he had any idea how many layoffs the plan had prevented, state Education Department spokesman Cam Savage replied: "I really don't."

Learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and read Chairman Miller's statement about the Administration's estimates on education jobs.

Protecting Employees, Employers and the Public: H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing Tuesday, November 17 on how employer paid sick leave policies can help slow the spread of contagious diseases, like the H1N1 flu virus.

At least 50 million American workers currently do not have access to paid sick leave, many in lower-wage industries that have direct contact with the public such as food-service, hospitality industry, schools and health care fields. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that a sick worker will infect one in ten co-workers. As a result, the CDC and other public health officials have advised employers to be flexible when dealing with sick employees and to develop leave policies that will not punish workers for being ill.

On November 3, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, introduced the Emergency Influenza Containment Act (H.R. 3991). The temporary legislation will guarantee up to five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by an employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

For more information on the bill, click here.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Dr. Georges Benjamin »

Executive Director

American Public Health Association
A. Bruce Clarke »

President and CEO

Capital Associated Industries
Debra Ness »

President

National Partnership for Women and Families
Dr. Anne Schuchat »

Assistant Surgeon General of the United States, and the Director of National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Impact of Womens Growing Participation in the Workforce: the Shriver Report: A Womans Nation Changes Everything

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing

Board of Supervisors Chambers, Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive

Due to the off-site location of this hearing, there will be no webcast, photos or videos.

Chairperson Lynn Woolsey (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Ann OLeary »

Executive Director
Berkeley Center for Health, Economic & Family Security

UC Berkeley School of Law

Berkeley, CA
Stephanie Bornstein »

Associate Director
The Center for WorkLife Law

UC Hastings College of the Law

San Francisco, CA
Joan Blades »

Co-founder

MOMS Rising

Berkeley, CA
Claudia Zamorano »

Novato, CA
Maria S. Ferris »

Director
Diversity, Compliance & Employee Experience

IBM Corporation

Cary, NC

Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

On Thursday, November 5, U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Subcommittees on Healthy Families and Communities, held a hearing to examine best practices to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as how to strengthen and improve services for families in crisis.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Carolyn McCarthy (NY) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Rodney Hammond, Ph.D »

Director
Division of Violence Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Atlanta, GA
Caren Kaplan, ACSW »

Director of Child Protection Reform

American Humane Association

Washington, DC
Sandra Oliva »

Executive Director

Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc

Hempstead, N.Y.
Rob Sawyer, MSW, LICSW »

Director Child and Family Services

Olmsted County Community Services

Rochester, MN
Teresa M. Smith, L.S.W. »

Coordinator Executive Director

Childrens Advocacy Center

Harrisburg, PA
Carol Wilson Spigner, DSW »

Associate Professor and Clinician Educator

School of Social Policy and Practice
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Nevadas Workplace Health and Safety Enforcement Program: OSHAs Findings and Recommendations

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on Thursday, October 29 to examine the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administrations critical review of Nevadas workplace health and safety program. OSHA reviewed Nevadas health and safety program between January 2008 and June 2009 and found a number of deficiencies with the plan. A spate of accidents drew national attention during the citys building boom that killed 12 construction workers on the Las Vegas strip over an 18-month period between 2006 and 2008.

To read the OSHA review of the Nevada health and safety program, click here.

To learn more, visit this blog post.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid »

Nevada
Jordan Barab »

Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor

Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Debi Koehler-Fergen »

Mother of worker killed at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
Don Jayne »

Administrator
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations

Department of Business and Industry
Franklin Mirer »

Professor of environmental and occupational health

Hunter College of the City

University of New York

Ensuring Student Eligibility Requirements for Federal Aid

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B.

On Wednesday, October 14, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competiveness will hold a hearing to examine how non-profit and for-profit colleges and universities administer and enforce student eligibility requirements for federal financial aid programs.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Rubén Hinojosa (TX) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

George A. Scott »

Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security

Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC
Robert Shireman »

Deputy Undersecretary

U.S. Department of Education

Washington, DC
Mary Mitchelson »

Acting Inspector General

U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General

Washington, DC
Harris N. Miller »

President and CEO

Career College Association

Washington, DC

Examining Innovative Practices to Improve Child Nutrition

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

On Thursday, October 8, the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing to examine innovative strategies to ensure children have access to healthy, nutritious and safe school meals.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Carolyn McCarthy (NY) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Matt Sharp »

Senior Advocate

California Food Policy Advocates

Los Angeles, CA
Mary Lagnado »

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Management Systems

Westbury Union Free School District

Westbury, NY
Richard De Burgh »

President

DJ Co-Ops

Valencia, CA
Deborah Yargar-Reed »

Physical Education Teacher

Biglerville Elementary School

Biglerville, PA
Tony Geraci »

Director

Food and Nutrition Services
Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, MD
Alice Sheehan »

8th grader

City Neighbors Public Charter School

Baltimore, MD

Ensuring Economic Opportunities for Young Americans

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

On Thursday, October 1, the House Education and Labor held a hearing to examine the impact on declining rate of youth employment and strategies to ensure that there are economic opportunities available for young Americans.

While the recession has disproportionately impacted young adults, the employment rate among 16 to 24 year-olds has steadily declined by nearly 20 percent over the past decade to its lowest level since World War II. The consequences of reduced work opportunities among young Americans results in fewer long-term employment prospects, less earnings and a decrease in productivity.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Jane Oates »

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Administration

U.S. Department of Labor
Algernon Austin »

Director of the race, ethnicity, and the economy program

Economic Policy Institute
Matthew Segal »

Founder & Co-Chair

80 Million Strong
Dorothy Stoneman »

President and founder

YouthBuild USA
D. Mark Wilson »

Principal

Applied Economic Strategies, LLC

Teacher Equity: Effective Teachers for All Children

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

On Wednesday, September 30, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine the progress states and schools districts have made toward ensuring that every child is taught by an effective teacher. Current law requires states to make sure teacher talent is distributed fairly in school districts, so that all children including poor and minority children have access to outstanding teachers. Several of the witnesses are former teachers.

The Obama administration has already taken steps toward improving teacher equity. In order to be eligible for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, states are required to take steps to place effective teachers in the classrooms that need them most.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D - PA) »
U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R - GA) »
Layla Avila »

Vice President
Teaching Fellows Program

The New Teacher Project

Brooklyn, NY
Latanya Daniels »

Assistant Principal

Edison High School

Minneapolis, MN
Rick Hess »

Resident Scholar and Director of Education Policy

American Enterprise Institute

Washington, DC
Linda Murray, Ph.D. »

Acting Executive Director

Education Trust-West

Oakland, CA
Dennis Van Roekel »

President

National Education Association

Washington, DC
Marguerite Roza, Ph.D. »

Research Associate Professor

College of Education, University of Washington

Seattle, WA

H.R. 3017, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, chaired the first full committee hearing in the House of Representatives on legislation to prohibit employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017), introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), would prohibit employment discrimination, preferential treatment, and retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by employers with 15 or more employees. Currently, it is legal to discriminate in the workplace based on sexual orientation in 29 states and in 38 states based on gender identity.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) »
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) »
Hon. Stuart J. Ishimaru »

Acting Chairman

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
William Eskridge »

John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence

Yale Law School
Vandy Beth Glenn »

fired from her Georgia state legislative job when she told her supervisor she was transitioning from male to female
Camille Olson »

Partner

Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Craig Parshall »

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

National Religious Broadcasters Association
Rabbi David Saperstein »

Director

The Religious Action Center
Brad Sears »

Executive Director

Williams Institute
UCLA School of Law

High School/College Dual Enrollment Programs

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Hearing

Northbank Center Ballroom, University of Michigan, 432 North Saginaw Street

Chairperson Dale Kildee (MI) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Thomas Svitkovich, Ed.D »

Superintendent

Genesee Intermediate School District

Flint, Michigan
Dr. Vahid Lotfi, Ph.D »

Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor

Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan

Flint, Michigan
Dr. M. Richard Shaink Ph.D »

President

Mott Community College

Flint, MI
John Brooks »

Student

Mott Community College

Flint, MI
Stephen Skorcz, MPH »

President and CEO

Greater Flint Health Coalition

Flint, MI
Dr. Michael Webb Ph.D »

Associate Vice President

Early College Initiative at Jobs for the Future

Boston, MA

Due to the nature of a field hearing, there will be no video, archived webcast or photos of the event.

Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

WASHINGTON, D.C. On Wednesday, July 8, the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities will hold a joint hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and harassment. Recent studies show students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate when learning environments are free from harassment and violence.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Carolyn McCarthy (NY) Opening Statement »

Chairperson Dale Kildee (MI) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Jackie Andrews »

Student and School Safety Advocate

Haddon Heights, NJ
Josie Andrews »

Student and School Safety Advocate

Haddon Heights, NJ
Rona Kaufmann »

Principal

William Penn Senior High School

York, PA
Dr. Scott Poland »

Professor and Coordinator
Suicide and Violence Prevention Office

NOVA Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL
Steve Riach »

Founder and Board Chairman

Heart of a Champion Foundation

Dallas, TX
Cassady Tetsworth »

Vice Chair
National Youth Advisory Board

Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE)

Greensboro, NC
Kenneth S. Trump, M.P.A. »

President

National School Safety and Security Services

Cleveland, OH
Sirdeaner Walker »

Mother of Bullied Child

Springfield, MA

The Tri-Committee Draft Proposal for Health Care Reform

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B.

The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, June 23 on the forthcoming draft proposal for health care reform developed by the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees. The draft proposal is designed to achieve President Obamas goals of controlling health care costs, preserving health care choices, and ensuring quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Panel I
Dr. Christina Romer »

Chair

Council of Economic Advisers

Washington, DC
Panel II
Ron Pollack »

Founding Executive Director

FamiliesUSA

Washington, DC
Gerald Shea »

Assistant to the President

AFL-CIO

Washington, DC
Paul J. Speranza, Jr. »

Sr. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

Rochester, NY
Dr. Jacob Hacker »

Professor and Co-Director of the Berkeley Center on Health, Economic, and Family Security

University of California Berkeley

Berkeley, CA
Michael J. Stapley »

President and Chief Executive Officer

Deseret Mutual

Salt Lake City, UT
John Arensmeyer »

Chief Executive Officer

Small Business Majority

Sausalito, CA
Fran Visco »

President

National Breast Cancer Coalition

Washington, DC
Panel III
Karen Pollitz »

Research Professor and Project Director of the Health Policy Institute

Georgetown University

Washington, DC
Celia Wcislo »

Assistant Division Director

SEIU

Boston, MA
James A. Klein »

President

American Benefits Council

Washington, DC
William Vaughan »

Senior Health Policy Analyst

Consumers Union

Washington, DC
Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D. »

Director

Center for Health Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

Washington, DC
ReShonda Young »

Small Business Owner

Alpha Express, Inc. on behalf of the Main Street Alliance

Waterloo, IA
Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan »

Murdock Head Professor of Medicine and Health Policy

George Washington University

Washington, DC

Items submitted for the record:
Dr. Christina Romer's PowerPoint Slides
Small Business Majority state survey

The Future of Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on Tuesday, June 16 to examine how technology and innovative education tools are transforming and improving education in America.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

Jennifer Bergland »

Chief Technology Officer

Bryan Independent School District

Bryan, Texas
Aneesh Chopra »

Chief Technology Officer

White House Office for Science and Technology
Dr. Wayne Hartschuh »

Executive Director

Delaware Center for Educational Technology

Dover, Delaware
Scott Kinney »

Vice President

Discovery Education

Silver Spring, Maryland
John McAuliffe »

General Manager

Educate Online Learning, LLC

Baltimore, Maryland
Abel Real »

Student

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
Lisa Short »

Science Teacher
Gaithersburg Middle School

Montgomery County Public Schools, MD

Gaithersburg, Maryland

H.R. 2339, the Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act, and H.R. 2460, the Healthy Families Act

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The House Workforce Protections Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Thursday, June 11 to examine proposals for expanding workers access to paid family and sick leave. While more than 80 percent of Americans support having paid sick days, the U.S. is the only country among the 22 nations ranked high in economic and human development that doesnt guarantee paid sick leave to workers.

The FIRST Act, H.R. 2339, provides grants to the states to implement and improve their paid family leave programs. Healthy Families Act, H.R. 2460, mandates that businesses with 15 or more employees provide up to 7 days of paid sick days to their employees.

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Lynn Woolsey (CA) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) »
U.S. Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) »
Rajiv Bhatia »

Director

Occupational and Environmental Health Department of Public Health

San Francisco, CA
China Miner Gorman »

Chief Operating Officer

Society for Human Resource Managers

Alexandria, VA
Deborah Frett »

CEO

BPW Foundation

Washington, DC
Hon. Victoria A. Lipnic, Esq. »

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Debra Ness »

President

National Partnership for Women

Washington, DC
Sandra Poole »

Deputy Director

California Employment Development Department Disability Insurance Branch

Examining the Single Payer Health Care Option

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Hearing

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

Archived Webcast »

Chairperson Robert Andrews (NJ) Opening Statement »

Witnesses:

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) »
Marcia Angell, M.D »

Senior Lecturer in Social Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Boston, Massachusetts
David Gratzer »

Senior Fellow

Manhattan Institute
Geri Jenkins, R.N. »

Co-President

California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

San Diego, CA
Walter Tsou, M.D., M.P.H. »

National Board Advisor

Physicians for a National Health Program

Philadelphia, PA

H.R. 3221 - The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

Bill is the single largest investment in higher education in history

On Tuesday, July 21st, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider legislation that will make college dramatically more affordable by investing billions of dollars in additional student aid, at no cost to taxpayers. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 will generate almost $100 billion in savings over the next ten years that will be used to boost Pell Grant scholarships, keep interest rates on federal loans affordable, safeguard federal student loan access for families, and enact President Obamas key education priorities. The legislation, which was introduced earlier today, pays for itself by making the federal student loan programs more reliable, effective and cost-efficient for students, families and taxpayers.

For more information on the legislation, click here.

H.R. 3221 - The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 was reported favorably to the House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and that the Committee authorize the Chairman to transmit the bill, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, to the Committee on Budget in compliance with Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as the first part of this committees recommendations, pursuant to the reconciliation instruction in S. Con. Res. 13 by a vote of 30 to 17.

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Miller (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Guthrie (KY)
Defeated 16 to 30 Roll Call #1
Amendment #3 to H.R. 3221 by Ms. Woolsey (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #4 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 18 to 29 Roll Call #2
Amendment #5 to H.R. 3221 by Mrs. Davis (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #6 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. McKeon (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #7 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Hinojosa (TX)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #8 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Souder (IN)
Defeated 20 to 27 Roll Call #3
Amendment #9 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Tierney (MA)
Withdrawn
Amendment #10 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Platts (PA)
Rescinded by Unanimous Consent
Amendment #11 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Kucinich (OH) / Mr. Hare (IL)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #12 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Ehlers (MI)
Withdrawn
Amendment #13 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Ehlers (MI)
Withdrawn
Amendment #14 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Loebsack (IA) / Ms. Fudge (OH)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #15 to H.R. 3221 by Ms. Hirono (HI)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #16 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Hare (IL)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #17 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Castle (DE)
Withdrawn
Amendment #18 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Courtney (CT)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #19 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Polis (CO)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #20 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Polis (CO) / Mr. Tonko (NY)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #21 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Polis (CO) / Ms. Hirono (HI)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #22 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Tonko (NY)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #23 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Tonko (NY)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #24 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Andrews (NJ)
Passed 42 to 5 Roll Call #4
Amendment #25 to H.R. 3221 by Mr. Pierluisi (PR) / Mr. Sablan (NMI)
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 3200 - Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), developed jointly by the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees, is designed to achieve President Obamas goals of strengthening employer-provided care, while fixing what is broken. The bill would ensure that 97 percent of Americans will be covered by a health care plan that is both affordable and offers quality, standard benefits by 2019.

The markup was expected to last two days.

Wednesday was only for opening statements only.

Thursday began at 10:00 a.m. in room 2175 Rayburn House Office Building will be for consideration of amendments.

After working through the night, the committee reconvened at 9:15 Friday morning for a series of roll call votes.

H.R. 3200 - Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 was reported favorably to the House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and that the Committee authorize the Chairman to transmit the bill, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, to the Committee on Budget in compliance with Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as the first part of this committees recommendations, pursuant to the reconciliation instruction in S. Con. Res. 13 by a vote of 26 to 22.

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Miller (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Courtney (CT)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #3 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #1
Amendment #4 to H.R. 3200 by Ms. Titus (NV)
Passed 29 to 19 Roll Call #2
Amendment #5 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Scott (VA)
Passed 32 to 17 Roll Call #3
Amendment #6 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Thompson (PA)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #4
Amendment #7 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Roe (TN)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #5
Amendment #8 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. Davis (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #9 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Guthrie (KY)
Defeated 19 to 28 Roll Call #6
Amendment #10 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. Davis (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #11 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. Biggert (IL)/Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 18 to 29 Roll Call #7
Amendment #12 to H.R. 3200 by Ms. Fudge (OH)/Ms. Titus (NV)
Passed 28 to 18 Roll Call #8
Amendment #13 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Wilson (SC)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #14 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Hare (IL)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #15 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 18 to 28 Roll Call #9
Amendment #16 to H.R. 3200 by Ms. Hirono (HI)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #17 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Hoekstra (MI)
Defeated by voice vote
Amendment #18 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Kucinich (OH)
Passed 27 to 19, 1 Member Passing Roll Call #10
Amendment #19 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Hunter (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #20 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Kucinich (OH)
Withdrawn
Amendment #21 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. McClintock (CA)
Defeated 19 to 28 Roll Call #11
Amendment #22 (EN BLOC) to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Holt (NJ)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #23 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. Biggert (IL)
Withdrawn
Amendment #24 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Polis (CO)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #25 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. McMorris Rodgers (WA)
Ruled not germane
Amendment #26 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Sablan (NMI)/Mr. Pierluisi (PR)/Ms. Clarke (NY)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #27 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 19 to 28 Roll Call #12
Amendment #28 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Sestak (PA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #29 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 19 to 28 Roll Call #13
Amendment #30 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Wu (OR) / Mr. Altmire (PA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #31 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Souder (IN)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #14
Amendment #32 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Souder (IN)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #15
Amendment #33 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. Biggert (IL)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #34 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Price (GA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #35 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Hoekstra (MI)
Withdrawn
Amendment #36 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Petri (WI)
Accepted (amended by Unanimous Consent)
Amendment #37 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. McKeon (CA)
Defeated 21 to 27 Roll Call #16
Amendment #38 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Castle (DE)
Withdrawn
Amendment #39 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Wilson (SC)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #40 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #17
Amendment #41 to H.R. 3200 by Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 19 to 29 Roll Call #18
Amendment #42 to H.R. 3200 by Mrs. McMorris Rodgers (WA)
Defeated by voice vote

H.R. 2989 - 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of 2009

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of 2009 was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 29 to 17

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Miller (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 18 to 26 Roll Call #1
Amendment #3 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Holt (NJ) and Mr. Wu (OR)
Defeated 21 to 25 Roll Call #2
Amendment #4 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. McKeon (CA)
Defeated 18 to 28 Roll Call #3
Amendment #5 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Guthrie (KY)
Withdrawn
Amendment #6 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Guthrie (KY)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #7 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Price (GA)
Defeated 18 to 27 Roll Call #4
Amendment #8 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 18 to 28 Roll Call #5
Amendment #9 to H.R. 2989 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 18 to 28 Roll Call #6

H.R. 1988 - The Conflicted Investment Advice Prohibition Act of 2009

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Markup

The Conflicted Investment Advice Prohibition Act of 2009 was ordered reported, as amended, to the Full Committee by a vote of 13 to 8

Chairperson Robert Andrews (NJ) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 1988 by Mr. Andrews (NJ)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 1988 by Mrs. McCarthy (NY)
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 1984 - The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009 was ordered reported, as amended, to the Full Committee by a vote of 13 to 8

Chairperson Robert Andrews (NJ) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 1984 by Mr. Andrews (NJ)
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 2187 - 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

Wed, 06 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 31 to 14

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. Miller (CA)
Included in Motion to Favorably Report the Bill to the House, as Amended
Amendment #2 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. Castle (DE)
Defeated 15 to 28 Roll Call #1

Amendment #3 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. Polis (CO)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #4 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. Kline (MN)
Defeated 15 to 28 Roll Call #2

Amendment #5 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. Sestak (PA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #6 to H.R. 2187 by Mr. McKeon (CA)
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 1388 - Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B.

Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 34 to 3

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 1388 by Mr. Miller (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 1388 by Mr. Tonko (NY) and Mr. Miller (CA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #3 to H.R. 1388 by Mr. Ehlers (MI)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #4 to H.R. 1388 by Mr. Loebsack (IA)
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #5 to H.R. 1388 by Mr. Polis (CO)
Passed by voice vote

Education and Labor Committee Oversight Plan, 111th Congress

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:15:00 -0800

Full Committee Markup

Education and Labor Committee Oversight Plan, 111th Congress was ordered reported to the House by unanimous consent

Oversight Plan as Adopted, 111th Congress

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

H.R. 911 - Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:15:00 -0800

Full Committee Markup

2175 Rayburn H.O.B

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 was ordered reported to the House by a vote of 32 to 10

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 911 by Mr. Bishop (UT)
Failed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 911 by Mr. Hoekstra (MI)
Failed 16 to 25 Roll Call #1
Amendment #3 to H.R. 911 by Mr. Price (GA)
Failed 17 to 25 Roll Call #2

H.R. 1338 - "Paycheck Fairness Act"

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"Paycheck Fairness Act" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 26 to 17

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 1338 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 3289 - "Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007"

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:15:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 31 to 11

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #3 (en bloc) to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Hare (IL) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #5 to H.R. 3289 by Mrs. Davis (CA) »
Passed 26 to 17 Roll Call No. 3 »
Amendment #7 (en block) to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Kucinich (OH) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #8 to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Kucinich (OH) and Ms. Woolsey (CA) »
Passed by voice vote

Amendment #8a to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Hare (IL) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #10 to H.R. 3289 by Mr. Hinojosa (TX) »
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 3036 - "No Child Left Inside Act of 2007"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"No Child Left Inside Act of 2007" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 37 to 8

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #2 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Castle (DE) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #3 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Sarbanes (MD) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #4 (en bloc) to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Ehlers (MI) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #5 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Holt (NJ) and Mr. Souder (IN) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #7 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Bishop (NY) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #8 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Souder (IN) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #9 to H.R. 3036 by Ms. Clarke (NY) »
Passed 27 to 18 Roll Call No. 2 »
Amendment #10 to H.R. 3036 by Mr. Price (GA) »
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 2343 - "Education Begins At Home Act"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"Education Begins At Home Act" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by voice vote

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 2343 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #3 to H.R. 2343 by Mr. Hinojosa (TX) »
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 3195 - "ADA Restoration Act of 2007"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"ADA Restoration Act of 2007" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 43 to 1

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 3195 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote

H.R. 5876 - "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008"

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:15:00 -0700

Full Committee Markup

"Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008" was ordered reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 27 to 16

Chairperson George Miller (CA) Opening Statement »

Amendments:

Amendment #1 to H.R. 5876 by Mr. Miller (CA) »
Passed by voice vote
Amendment #5 to H.R. 5876 by Mr. Bishop (UT) »
Passed by voice vote

EdLabor Insider: Making History on Health Reform

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:58:00 -0800

EdLabor Update: Committee Passes Healthcare Reform Bill

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:56:00 -0700

Edlabor Insider: Landmark Investments in College Affordability

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:47:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Health Care Reform Bill Introduced

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:50:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Health Care Reform Discussion Draft Unveiled

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: New Student Loan Benefits Coming on July 1

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:23:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Exposing Hidden 401(k) Fees

Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Final Passage of National Service Bill

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:51:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Wage Theft Improperly Investigated Under the Bush Labor Department

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:41:00 -0700

EdLabor Update: Take Chairman Miller's Quiz of the Week!

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:44:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: National Service Bill Passes House

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:44:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Employee Free Choice Act Introduced Today

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:50:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Chairman Miller Applauds Confirmation of Labor Secretary Solis

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:09:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: Usher, Time's Richard Stengel Testify About National Service

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:12:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: House Passes Economic Recovery Plan

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:29:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: Fair Pay Bills Pass House

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:26:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: Preserving Jobs and Retirement

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Continuing to Help the Middle Class

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:18:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Hearing on Unemployment & Job Creation

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:37:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Financial Crisis Deepening Retirement Insecurity

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:08:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Protecting Americans with Disabilities from Discrimination

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Safeguarding Access to Federal Student Loans

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:05:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Higher Education Opportunity Act Becomes Law

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:21:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Paycheck Fairness Passes House

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:49:00 -0700

Rep. George Miller: Strengthening America's Middle Class

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:45:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Paycheck Fairness - Closing the Gender Wage Gap

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:40:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Fighting the Child Obesity Epidemic

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:36:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Environmental Education for Schoolchildren

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:48:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Investigating Underreporting of On-the-Job Injuries

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:35:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Protecting Missing & Exploited Children

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:15:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Genetic Information Bill Signed Into Law

Fri, 23 May 2008 11:13:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Student Loans Bill Signed Into Law

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:30:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Investigating Crandall Canyon Mine Tragedy

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:31:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Banning Genetic Discrimination

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:02:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Stopping Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:29:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Exposing Hidden 401(k) Fees

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:49:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Ensure Access to Federal College Loans

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Protecting Workers from Combustible Dust Explosions

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:39:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Tainted Beef in U.S. Schools

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:48:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: Returning Reserve Troops Being Denied Old Jobs

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:26:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:43:00 -0800

A Year of Landmark Education & Labor Successes

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:56:00 -0800

EdLabor Insider: ENDA, Mine Safety, and more

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:32:00 -0800

Democratic Lawmakers Release Final Legislation to Make Single Largest Investment in College Aid Since GI Bill

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:10:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Accomplishments, NCLB, 401(k)s, and More

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:51:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Minimum Wage Increase, Collective Bargaining Rights, and More

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:59:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider 07.16.07

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:06:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: College Aid Increase, Gulf Coast Aid, Title IX, and More

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:27:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Workplace Discrimination, Popcorn Lung, Minimum Wage and More

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:18:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Protecting Workers, Investigating Student Loan Scandal, and More

Tue, 29 May 2007 09:00:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Top 10 Education and Labor Legislative Victories

Fri, 25 May 2007 11:25:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Mine Shelters, Leave for Military Families, and More

Fri, 18 May 2007 13:37:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Head Start, College Loans, NCLB and more

Mon, 07 May 2007 13:12:00 -0700

EdLabor Insider: Worker Safety Edition

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:52:00 -0700

Recovery funds are having a local impact

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:30:06 -0800

Law Oswego Review, November 12, 2009

Stimulus Funds Could Change Oklahoma’s Education System - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:28:18 -0800

Tulsa New On 6, November 11, 2009

Suffolk is a Top Stimulus Recipient

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:02:14 -0800

Times Beacon Record, November 9, 2009

Stimulus money saved 84 jobs, mostly teachers, says MCS

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:10:39 -0800

Commercial Appeal, November 6, 2009

House taps stimulus funding for schools

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:05:46 -0800

Traverse City Record-Eagle, November 6, 2009

Stimulus money helps working parents pay for child care

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:05:04 -0800

Beaumont Enterprise, November 6, 2009

Stimulus dollars pay for 139 Monterey County jobs

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:50:25 -0800

The Californian, November 3, 2009

Stimulus report: 1,400 Neb. ed jobs saved, created

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:47:06 -0800

Fremont Tribune, November 2, 2009

Report: Fed funds create, save 4,500 Va. ed jobs

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:45:45 -0800

Associated Press, November 2, 2009

More than half of Minn. stimulus jobs in schools

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:42:17 -0800

Associate Press, November 2, 2009

Stimulus Saved, Created 16,000 Ga. Education Jobs

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:35:23 -0800

Associated Press, November 2, 2009

Education jobs boost connected to stimulus: Report details effects of funding in D.C., Va., Md.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:18:05 -0800

WAshington Post, November 3, 2009

State Says 6,110 'Stimulus' Jobs Created Or Saved This Year

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:38:53 -0800

Hartford Courant, October 29, 2009

Pre-k programs in Georgia get $1.7M infusion from stimulus | NBC Augusta 26| news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia | Local News

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:38:07 -0800

NBC Augusta, October 29, 2009

Schools Are Where Stimulus Saved Jobs, New Data Shows

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:16:14 -0800

New York Times, October 30, 2009

Education and Labor Committee Combined Feed

House Democrats Introduce Legislation to End the High School Dropout Crisis

Executives Received Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Before Dropping Workers Pensions, GAO Finds

Miller, Hinojosa Join Secretary Duncan in Urging Colleges to Ensure Reliable Federal Student Loan Access

Paid Sick Leave Helps Slow Spread of H1N1 Flu Virus, Witnesses tell House Panel

Chairman Miller Statement on USDA Food Insecurity Report

GAO Finds Incentives to Underreport Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Pervasive

Chairman Miller Asks GAO to Expand Investigation into Contaminated Beef in School Meals

House Makes History on Health Reform

Chairman Miller Statement on Historic Health Reform Legislation

CBO Confirms Republican Health Care Bill Would Maintain the Status Quo

MIT Analysis Confirms That H.R. 3962 Will Deliver Substantial Savings

House Democrats Introduce H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Miller: Direct Certification is an Important Tool to Ensure More Eligible Students Receive School Meals

CBO Affirms H.R. 3962 Will Control Costs, Lower Premiums

Chairman Miller Statement on the Recovery Act Saving and Creating Education Jobs

The Graduation for All Act of 2009

This Week: Hearing on H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies, and Hearing on Literacy Skills

News of the Day: For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option

News of the Day: A serving of food safety

Chairman Miller's floor speeches about the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Interactive Graphic for the Affordable Health Care for America Act - H.R. 3962

News of the Day: Seniors, doctors groups throw their support behind House healthcare bill

News of the Day: CNN Reports on H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Introduction of H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill Garners Great Interest

News of the Day: Massachusetts provides evidence that health-care reform lowers insurance premiums

News of the Day: Mandates, Affordability and Immediate Benefits

Affordable health care for everyone

News of the Day: The House Health Reform Bill

Affordable Health Care for America Act

News of the Day: Early reports: Job gains signal stimulus impact

Protecting Employees, Employers and the Public: H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies

The Impact of Womens Growing Participation in the Workforce: the Shriver Report: A Womans Nation Changes Everything

Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis

Nevadas Workplace Health and Safety Enforcement Program: OSHAs Findings and Recommendations

Ensuring Student Eligibility Requirements for Federal Aid

Examining Innovative Practices to Improve Child Nutrition

Ensuring Economic Opportunities for Young Americans

Teacher Equity: Effective Teachers for All Children

H.R. 3017, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

High School/College Dual Enrollment Programs

Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying

The Tri-Committee Draft Proposal for Health Care Reform

The Future of Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools

H.R. 2339, the Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act, and H.R. 2460, the Healthy Families Act

Examining the Single Payer Health Care Option

H.R. 3221 - The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009

H.R. 3200 - Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

H.R. 2989 - 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of 2009

H.R. 1988 - The Conflicted Investment Advice Prohibition Act of 2009

H.R. 1984 - The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009

H.R. 2187 - 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

H.R. 1388 - Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act

Education and Labor Committee Oversight Plan, 111th Congress

H.R. 911 - Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

H.R. 1338 - "Paycheck Fairness Act"

H.R. 3289 - "Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007"

H.R. 3036 - "No Child Left Inside Act of 2007"

H.R. 2343 - "Education Begins At Home Act"

H.R. 3195 - "ADA Restoration Act of 2007"

H.R. 5876 - "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008"

EdLabor Insider: Making History on Health Reform

EdLabor Update: Committee Passes Healthcare Reform Bill

Edlabor Insider: Landmark Investments in College Affordability

EdLabor Insider: Health Care Reform Bill Introduced

EdLabor Insider: Health Care Reform Discussion Draft Unveiled

EdLabor Insider: New Student Loan Benefits Coming on July 1

EdLabor Insider: Exposing Hidden 401(k) Fees

EdLabor Insider: Final Passage of National Service Bill

EdLabor Insider: Wage Theft Improperly Investigated Under the Bush Labor Department

EdLabor Update: Take Chairman Miller's Quiz of the Week!

EdLabor Insider: National Service Bill Passes House

EdLabor Insider: Employee Free Choice Act Introduced Today

EdLabor Insider: Chairman Miller Applauds Confirmation of Labor Secretary Solis

EdLabor Insider: Usher, Time's Richard Stengel Testify About National Service

EdLabor Insider: House Passes Economic Recovery Plan

EdLabor Insider: Fair Pay Bills Pass House

EdLabor Insider: Preserving Jobs and Retirement

EdLabor Insider: Continuing to Help the Middle Class

EdLabor Insider: Hearing on Unemployment & Job Creation

Executives Received Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Before Dropping Workers Pensions, GAO Finds

The Impact of Womens Growing Participation in the Workforce: the Shriver Report: A Womans Nation Changes Everything

Nevadas Workplace Health and Safety Enforcement Program: OSHAs Findings and Recommendations

H.R. 3200 - Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009