George Miller

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today and invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Louis B. Burgelin, of Vallejo, California, for his many accomplishments and contributions to our community. Louis has provided remarkable leadership to countless organizations during his lifetime and the good citizens of our community have been the beneficiaries. Louis Brosnahan Burgelin was born in Vallejo, California, on January 20, 1916, to Otto and Frances Burgelin. One of three children, Lou started his education at St. Vincent's Elementary School at the tender age of 4. During his years at Vallejo High School he studied hard but also spent a good deal of time playing football and tennis and perfecting his ability as a track sprinter. Following his high school graduation in 1932, Lou entered UC Berkeley for 2 years of study before transferring to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard Apprentice School. Lou graduated as a Marine Machinist and began an illustrious career. Quickly rising to management positions, Lou's leadership was instrumental in the success of several of our country's shipyards. At Hunter's Point in San Francisco, Lou served as both Head Progressman, and Labor Relations Superintendent. During his time at Mare Island in Vallejo, he served as Chief Progressman, Workload and Scheduling Manager, as well as the Production Equipment and Construction Manager. At Norfolk Naval Shipyard Lou was the Production Control Manager. After retiring from the Federal Service in 1972, Lou served for 19 years as the Executive Secretary of the Armed Services Committee of the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. He participated in the acquisition of more than $200 million in project authorizations for Mare Island. He was also instrumental in maintaining the dredging operations so necessary for shipyard operations. Over the years, Lou Burgelin has also donated his time and talent to countless professional and community organizations. He is a Charter member of the Naval Civilian Manager's Association and served as both local and national President. He also served as President of the Navy Yard Association of Mare Island and the Council of Naval Employee Groups, representing all of the employees of the West Coast Naval Shipyards. He has been elected National Vice President of the Retirement Federation of Civil Service Employees, the first Chairman of the Combined Federal Campaign for Napa and Solano Counties, the first Chairman of the Vallejo Senior Citizens Council and the President of the Vallejo-Napa United Way. Lou has served as President of the Vallejo Chapter 16 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) and he is a long-standing member of the Vallejo Salvation Army. Among his many civic activities, Lou is an active member of the Vallejo Elks Club having served as Exalted Ruler, a National Officer, and as the Elks National Ritual Judge, has served as Foreman of the Solano Grand Jury and is one of the founders of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. Lou has received a Public Service Medal from the Navy's Chief of Naval Operations, the prestigious ``Others'' designation from the Salvation Army, and the Man of the Year award presented by the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. And it pleases me to report that Lou Burgelin is still active in the community. He serves on the Vallejo Council of the Navy League, he's Secretary of the Tobacco Fund Advisory Board for Solano County, Tresurer for the Salvation Army, volunteers at St. Vincent's Church, Past Big SIR and Chaplain for Branch 88 and he is National Legislative Chair for Vallejo NARFE. Lou has been happily married to Betty Greenwell Bergelin for almost 69 years. They have three children, three grandchildren and five great-grand children. Madam Speaker, recognition of Mr. Burgelin's devotion to his family, his community, and his country, it is my honor to recognize him today.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 5 minutes. Mr. Chairman and Members of the House, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which was reported by the Committee on Education and Labor with unanimous bipartisan support. This legislation strengthens and reauthorizes our Nation's higher education program. With our recent enactment of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, this Congress has already taken a historic step by providing the single largest increase in Federal student aid since the GI bill. But we all know that there's still work to do to ensure that the doors of college are truly open to call qualified students. H.R. 4137 helps us reach this goal. Today's students and families face a number of challenges on the path to college, from skyrocketing college prices, to needlessly complicated student aid application process, to predatory tactics by student lenders. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act will address these challenges by reshaping our higher education system so that, once again, it operates in the best interest of students and families. The bill will create a higher education system that is more affordable and fair and easier to navigate for consumers. For years, prices have been skyrocketing at colleges and universities around the country, and we can all agree that the increase in college aid was vital. But there's no question we must also begin to address these rising tuition prices. This legislation would create a new user-friendly Web site for families with helpful information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases. The Web site would also publish lists of the most expensive schools, the least expensive schools, and schools with the largest percentage increase in tuition prices. Colleges with the largest increases in tuition prices would be required to report their reasons for these price hikes and to create a task force to examine how they can work to keep their prices lower. The bill would also ensure the States would hold up their end of the bargaining by providing higher education, by establishing State maintenance-of-effort requirements. We cannot just keep putting in Federal taxpayer dollars at the top and having States take money out of the bottom. The bill would restore trust and accountability to the student loan program. It would also provide students and families with better protections when it comes to the often murky world of college loans. The protections for students and parent borrowers in our bill form a bill of rights for college consumers, including fair disclosure loan terms to borrowers of Federal and private loans. In addition, the bill would simplify the Federal student aid application process and provide families with extra time to plan for their college expenses. The bill would also: Make the Pell Grant scholarship available year round for the first time and would increase the authorization for that program; Strengthen the TRIO and GEAR UP college readiness and support programs that are helping so many students discover that they not only can attend college, they can succeed in college and graduate; Expand the funding for graduate programs at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-serving Institutions and minority serving schools; Increase college aid and support programs for veterans and our men and women in uniform; To ensure equal opportunities and a fair learning environment for students with disabilities; And to make our college campuses safer. The bill does all of that, and it's an important change in the higher education responsibilities of the Federal Government and in the support for our higher education institutions and in our partnership with the States. It has been a long time for this bill to come to the floor. It has been 10 years since we reauthorized this Act. And in recognizing that long time, I want to certainly point out the contributions made by Congressman Buck McKeon, the senior Republican on this committee; Ruben Hinojosa and Ric Keller of the subcommittee; and the Chairs and ranking members of the Higher Education Committee. But I just want to say that much of this bill reflects a lot of work that was done by Mr. Keller, by Mr. McKeon. Certainly the provisions dealing with college costs reflect an awful lot of work that was done by Mr. McKeon when he was in the majority on the subcommittee and the full committee by Mr. Tierney, on our side of the committee, to bring this to fruition so finally we can start to not only make greater contributions in terms of assistance to families, but also help institutions rein in these costs, discuss these costs with parents and students so that they can make smart choices. I would also like to thank my committee staff for helping us craft a strong bill, including Denise Forte, Stephanie Moore, Gaby Gomez, Julie Radocchia, Jeff Appel, Sharon Lewis, Julia Martin, and Rachel Racusen. I would also like to thank the many students across the country whose voices have been so helpful in helping us to understand the changes that needed to be made and also to voice support for this legislation and are a very important part of this process. I think the entire House can be proud of this legislation, and I think it will help us build a better future for our students and for our economy and for our country, both in terms of our economic security and our national security. And I think it will help fulfill the vision that all American families have for the members of their family to be able to participate in a higher education, to graduate and to pursue their hopes and aspirations, in making full contributions. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, I also rise in support of this amendment and commend Mr. McKeon. He has been working on this for a considerable period of time. I think it makes sense even more so now, it was envisioned in an earlier reauthorization, because it will include the programs that survive the conference committee and become law. It will also compare those new programs against existing programs, and I ask our colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, I would simply rise in support of the amendment. I think that the effort that is being made here by Mr. Castle will, in fact, add to some understanding by the public and some transparency for those of us who have to make policy as to exactly what's going on with the increase in college costs. I think these kinds of explanations will be important for all of us, and we welcome the amendment. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I just want to thank my colleagues for support of this amendment. I want to thank Mr. Van Hollen. He's been so persistent on this amendment. Teach for America brings a lot of exciting new people to teaching, to join career teachers to rebuild our schools. And I know there's been some criticism of this program. I would just say, ask a principal who has Teach for America students in their schools. They're delighted. They would like more. I also want to recognize, I see Mr. Regula sitting here, who's been a champion of this program year after year after year in the appropriations process. Mr. Van Hollen, thank you for this amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand) very much for offering this amendment. The question of student safety is something that the committee is hearing more and more about from not only schools but obviously from parents. Parents are asking these questions now as they seek to apply to different institutions, and I think this amendment will be very helpful to us. I urge the support of the amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell). (Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I have 1 minute and I just have one speaker left.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter), a member of the committee.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield myself 1 minute. I want to thank Mr. McKeon and the minority for working on this manager's amendment. With this, it makes additional changes to the Pell Grant program, additional changes to strengthen the TRIO and GEAR UP programs, adds a master's program for the Historical Black Colleges and Universities, and includes changes to encourage colleges and universities to adopt energy efficient sustainable practices in their campuses, and it enhances teacher training and development so we can place qualified teachers in every classroom. It is a bipartisan amendment that has been worked on by the staffs and Members on both sides of the aisle in the committee and Members of the House, and I urge its passage.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), a member of the committee.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I just wanted to say that we did respond in this manager's amendment by making this process more transparent, encouraging greater communication and cooperation between the students, faculty, college bookstores, and publishers in providing an accurate description of what the revisions in the textbooks, what the new edition really means. Very often we have been told by students and faculty and those concerned with this, as you are, that sometimes these changes are de minimis, but you have to have the new textbook; you can't use a used textbook. We think this will be an improvement, and I thank you so much for hounding the committee on this subject. I think this is the beginning of increased transparency and concentration on this problem of rising textbook and educational material cost increases.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I just want to rise and I think support this amendment. I think in the context of going to the conference committee, where we know the Senate has an auction provision, I think, well given even there, where we've done, we have this provision in the reconciliation bill to look at an auction to see whether we can do it and make it feasible, this may be helpful in us making some determinations about how we proceed on that effort and how the Department proceeds on that effort. So I would support the amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman from Wisconsin's amendment. I think having these parallel audits, these are two programs that, for the sake of the taxpayer, compete with one another, and I think that that's important. I was encouraged to see in the President's 2009 budget that, for the first time, the taxpayer costs for student borrowing through the FFEL program are closer to the more efficient direct loan programs, taking into account what we did in the reconciliation bill. I was also interested to see that still we see that it costs only one-fourth as much to make a direct loan as it does to make a FFEL loan program. So I think that we should be encouraged and we should be prepared to have these audits, because I think the taxpayer is winning this discussion, thanks in large part to the efforts of Mr. Petri over many years, to have this kind of comparison, this kind of discussion. Many of the recommendations that we made in the reconciliation bill were, in fact, the recommendations of the Bush administration from the office of OMB about the cost of that program. We were able to take that money out, recycle it in favor of students and families borrowing the money to drive down the cost of borrowing that money and increase the Pell Grants. Now we see that we are still 25 percent cheaper for the taxpayers than the FFEL program.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, I will claim the time in opposition, although I do not intend to oppose the amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I rise in strong support of this amendment, and I thank the gentleman for offering it. We now see that, almost like the subprime home mortgages, that these private student loans have been offered to a great number of people who it's questionable about whether or not they can pay it back. And we now see these private lenders retreating from this market because they know they've now made loans that they're not going to be able to sell off to others. They've made questionable loans. These loans look more and more like consumer loans because there's no requirement that the people who take out these loans in the direct marketing to students, a student signs up, gets a loan, they don't have to pay their tuition, they don't have to pay their books, they don't have to pay their dormitory fees. They're consumer loans. They can buy beer and pizza, they can buy flat screened TVs, and they ought to be treated like those consumer loans. That's why this amendment is supported by the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Consumer Federation of America, the Consumers Union, the United States Students Association, the U.S. Public Interest Groups, because they all recognize that this is far different than the public loans that families and students take out where there's arrangements to work out and help those students if they get into trouble. That's not the case with the private loans. Let the marketplace work. They are now charging these students 18 and 20 percent, and we ought to understand what that means to the future of these students. We ought to support the Davis amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I want to thank the gentlewoman for bringing this amendment to the attention of the committee. I think it is a very good amendment and it is the right thing for us to do with respect to these families that have paid such a high price for their service to our country. I thank the gentlewoman, and I urge our colleagues to support it.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I rise in support of Mr. Welch's amendment and thank Mr. Keller for his support of this amendment. Mr. Keller has laid it out quite correctly. We have been struggling with this for a number of years. I think that this amendment helps with the transparency and with the information that we need to know as we continue to consider public policy. I say that because growing numbers of Members of Congress come up to me every week after they go home and talk about they have been asked the question about the increased costs of college. We know it is complex. We know it is difficult. And we know that it is not easily given to the idea that one policy fits all, one size fits all, whatever cliche you want to use. But it must be addressed when we are asking the taxpayers to continue to step up and to provide the assistance to these families so that we can create a strong Nation and a strong economy and well-educated individuals that are critical to maintaining the democracy in a complex world. So I want to thank the gentleman for offering this amendment and ask my colleagues to support it.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days in which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill, H.R. 4137.