George Miller

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for offering this amendment and join Mr. Keller in support of this amendment. I think this is an important amendment. As the gentleman pointed out, not only are these difficult positions, but they are becoming more and more difficult to fill with the wave of retirements and all the other impacts on schools. I want to thank him for bringing this to our attention and getting it included in the bill. I join in its support.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett). Thank you so much for offering this amendment. Madam Chairman, this is a critical amendment if we are, in fact, going to simplify the process of applying for student loans, if we are going to make it understandable to parents and to students who make these applications, and we are going to cut down the time that is required by them to do this. This linking of the data between the IRS and the Department of Education, we have been given excuse after excuse after excuse why this couldn't be done. The Doggett-Hayes amendment allows this to happen, requires that it happen. It's very important that we support this amendment and that it be part of the final bill when it comes out of the conference committee. I want to thank the gentlemen, Mr. Doggett from Texas and Mr. Hayes, for offering this amendment, a very, very important amendment if we are going to change the way we do business and do it on behalf of families and students to make their life easier and to save the Federal taxpayers a lot of money.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I want to thank the gentleman for offering this amendment. Madam Chairman, I think that this is a very important amendment. It starts to make the attempt to conform our policies with the make-up of the college population and the reasons that people go back to college, which are much more diverse today than they were 10, 15 years ago; and I want to thank him and urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for offering this amendment. As has been pointed out, mentoring can be a very powerful force in students' lives as they struggle. To have mentoring by older students or older members of the community who have a grasp of the subject matter can really turn around their abilities to read and do math and comprehend so many other subjects and lead to improved performance in school or in other activities in the community. I thank the gentleman for offering this and urge support of the amendment.

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

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

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina for offering this amendment. This information would be helpful to us. It would also give us the ability to determine whether we're putting our resources and our time and our talents in the right place with respect to properly preparing people for the workforce. I would urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, one of the great coalitions we have in the Congress of the United States, supported by every school board, every teacher organization, every educational group in the country was to fully fund IDEA. It was bipartisan; letters went down with 200, 300, 350, 375 Members of Congress saying fully fund IDEA. We got pounded on our side when we weren't in control of the Congress; that's the way it was. Everybody was for it, right up until the moment that they took control of the Congress of the United States, because in No Child Left Behind, when we asked to fully fund IDEA, the now-minority leader of the Republicans pulled the plug, and that great bipartisan coalition hasn't been heard of since. I would be embarrassed too. I would try to struggle to come back because you disappointed the American public. You certainly disappointed the families of these children, and you certainly disappointed these children and those who struggle to give them an education every day. So now as they struggle to come back, what are they going to do? They are going to say unless you fund IDEA, you can't spend any money on higher education under this bill. Folks, that's all money in higher education under this bill, which is under this bill. So you won't be able to provide loan forgiveness for firefighters and policemen and public defenders and prosecutors and nurses. You won't be able to help veterans reenter the higher education system when they come back with so many of the injuries that they are coming back from. We won't be able to give them the assistance that's in this legislation. For those veterans who lost a family member, this bill says they are automatically entitled, the children are automatically entitled to the Pell Grant. Those veterans' families won't get that, a member of their family paid the supreme price in the defense of this country. They won't get that. You are not going to get what we have been working for for so many years, led by Mr. McKeon, led by Rahm Emanuel, to simplify it so families can understand the access to the loan program so they can pay for their kids' education. For the first time in 25 years, we have a simplified system. But you won't get that; families won't get that. What about safety on college campuses? We had a moment of silence here for those students. We had hearings all over Capitol Hill for those students, but we address campus safety on a bipartisan basis. We slugged it out, we worked it out, we did it. You won't get that. Those campuses won't get that kind of assistance. What about now for the first time a master's program for the historically black colleges? You won't get that. Because you shirked your duties year after year after year for over a decade, you have now decided these are the people that you are going to punish. This is the tenet of this party on the other side of the aisle. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. It is tough to do when I realize the substance of this amendment. It should be directed to the author of the amendment and to the party that supports it. What about Teach for America? Have you talked to the principals in the school districts that have these magnificent young people who have come to this system to give us a couple of the best years of their life? It won't be allowed under this amendment. Finally, what about the disabled kids that are in college where, for the first time, in the Higher Education Act, we speak to the needs of the disabled community that can thrive and do well in colleges but they need help. You pit them against their brothers and sisters. Make your choice, ladies and gentlemen. You can vote for the past and a scandalous record and commitment on education, or you can vote for the future. How about some change?

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 4137, the Clerk be authorized to correct the table of contents, section numbers, punctuation, citations, and cross-references and to make such other technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Father Angelo D'Agostino, SJ, MD. Father D'Ag, as he was called by all who knew and loved him, was born on January 26, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island. Unfortunately, Father D'Ag was taken from us in 2006. However, his birth is a cause for continued celebration as he was a living testament to the principle that one person can indeed make a difference. I have met many wonderful and inspiring people in my years of service in Congress, but there was clearly something very special about Father D'Ag, and I feel honored and, frankly, lucky to have had the opportunity to meet him in Kenya and in Washington. He made a lasting impression on me, just as he did on so many others throughout the world. In 1992, at a time in Africa when so many lives were lost to the scourge of AIDS, Father D'Ag set up the first facility in Kenya to care for HIV infected children known as Nyumbani, Swahili for ``home''. These children were orphaned by the loss of a parent from the same affliction or who were abandoned by parents who could not or would not care for an HIV-positive child. His first three children soon blossomed into a community of children, but they were dying at an alarming rate. Through strong perseverance and advocacy on behalf of the children, Father D'Ag battled the drug companies for affordable anti-retroviral medicines. He also battled the Kenyan government to allow the children into the public primary schools. Ultimate success on both fronts enabled him to manage the virus and start to chip away at the societal HIV stigma against these precious children. As a result, Nyumbani was transformed from a hospice into a program that nurtured the children's growth and development, thanks to the painstaking care and love that he and his staff gave to these kids. Nyumbani today has 107 bright children with loving hearts, beautiful smiles, and boundless energy on the soccer field. Despite this monumental accomplishment at Nyumbani, Father D'Ag did not rest after providing a home for HIV-positive children without parents. He went on to develop another program: Lea Toto, Swahili for ``to raise the child'', to provide medical care and nutrition to HIV- positive children who have parents but live in poverty in the many slums in and around Nairobi. Today there are approximately 2,500 people who benefit from this community outreach program and stand a chance to survive under extreme hardship because of Father D'Ag. However, Father D'Ag was not done. After reading the stories about abandoned street children that had been slain by police, Father D'Ag felt a need to expand his reach and protect the ever burgeoning number of street children in Kenya. He designed an additional program, one that pairs children and the elderly, the two groups most vulnerable to the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Father D'Ag designed this program in his mind, and through his perseverance and guile acquired a tract of land in Kitui that became his beloved Nyumbani Village. In this eco- friendly, self-sustaining village the grandparents care for their own grandchildren as well as other needy children in a house with a garden, access to the village school, and training in one of the many income- generating projects. While this village is still a work in progress, it already has 258 residents, 29 grandparents, and 229 children, with a capacity of 1,000 residents. These achievements by Father D'Ag should serve as an inspiration to us all. He changed the world one child at a time, and he expanded his reach to do so much for so many people who are in desperate need of food, medical care and love. Even though he has departed from this world, he has left behind an enduring legacy through his programs for children. His passion and commitment are carried on through his incredible disciple and partner, Sister Mary Owens, who continues his work. She is joined by many other dedicated staff members and volunteers who will continue to nurture and protect Father D'Ag's children. No one can visit Nyumbani without being changed forever. Today, Kenya, the home of Father D'Ag's work, is facing unusually difficult civil discord. This recent civil unrest reminds us how fragile life can be in a nation where so many people live in such quiet desperation. Hopefully, these tribal divisions will soon be healed. In the meantime, we must stop and take a moment to reflect upon one man--a Jesuit priest and medical doctor--who put his heart, soul and life into caring for those who could not care for themselves. It is an honor to rise today and call on all of my colleagues and people around the world to join in celebrating the great fortune that the birth and life of Father D'Agostino was for the children of Kenya and each of us who had the opportunity to know him. Happy Birthday, Father D'Ag, and thank you for your enduring contributions.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, the economy needs our help right now. And it will need our help in the long-term as well. The American people don't need expert economic forecasts to tell them that our country and our economy are seriously off track. They experience it every day--when their paychecks shrink, when foreclosure signs go up in their neighborhoods or even on their own home, and when friends and family members receive pink slips. It's clear that the economy needs help. The bill before us today, the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act, offers an urgently-needed first step to boost the economy and help save jobs. The economy may be complicated, but the reasoning behind this bi- partisan bill is not. By putting money into the hands of low- and middle-income families who will spend it quickly, we will inject demand back into the economy. While we can't know for sure what the future holds for our economy, we know that we can make a difference if we pass this stimulus package quickly. I am very pleased that this package includes unprecedented tax relief for 35 million American families who work hard every day but earn too little to pay income taxes. Past economic relief packages, including the one developed to respond to the 2001 recession, did not benefit these families. But these families must be included to really help boost the economy. This represents a very significant change in policy thanks to pressure from Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in Congress and I applaud the Speaker for working so hard to ensure that these families and workers were included in our package. Under this bill, a married couple with two children and an annual income of $33,000 will see a rebate of $1,450. A single parent with an annual income of $20,000 and two children will see a rebate of $1,035. This financial assistance will provide substantial relief to families struggling with the rising costs of energy, food, transportation, and other basics. Another important feature of our stimulus plan is the help it provides to homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure. The bill increases loan limits for single-family houses from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from $417,000 to $729,750 for 2008. This increased loan limit will enable qualified homeowners with larger mortgages to refinance their mortgages, lower their monthly payments, and avoid foreclosure. In Contra Costa County, CA, where I live and which I am proud to represent in Congress, the median home price in 2006 was more than $640,000. In Solano County, which I also am proud to represent in Congress, the price was nearly $490,000. Both prices are well above the current $417,000 limit. So, the change our bill makes will provide critical help to untold numbers of families in my district and around the country who are struggling to hold onto their homes. Indeed, foreclosures in California skyrocketed in the fourth quarter of 2007, up 421 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2006. This is an economic crisis that we must address, and our bill takes a strong first step in that direction. We have a responsibility to do everything we can to limit the economic trouble that our country is now facing. We have this responsibility to American workers who could lose their jobs and to families that could lose their financial security. We also know that passing this legislation is only a first step. That's because our economy faced fundamental problems well before the housing bubble began to burst and the turmoil started in the credit markets. Indeed, ever since the end of the last recession in November 2001, the economy has been growing. But the benefits of that growth went mostly to corporate profits--not to workers' paychecks. Indeed, despite that economic growth, median family income last year was actually lower than it was before the 2001 recession. Since 2001, the number of Americans living in poverty has increased. So has the number of Americans without health insurance. These are long-term challenges that we must continue to address after we pass this short-term stimulus package. We have an obligation not just to get the economy on the right track again, but also to create a stronger economy that truly benefits all Americans for years and years to come.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I very much appreciate his remarks against this amendment to eliminate Davis-Bacon. You cannot build good solid communities on the backs of poor people, and you can't build good solid communities on the back of poor wages, poor working conditions. This is about prevailing wages; it is not about a union wage. They constantly year after year come and mischaracterize this amendment; they mischaracterize the program. But the fact of the matter is the majority in this House understands how important this provision is to working people in this country and to the communities in which these projects are being built. In fact, all projects in this country where we invest taxpayer money, we should get good projects, good wages and good working conditions for the people on those projects. I thank the gentleman for his statement. I rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by Mr. King of Iowa. Here we have a bill to reauthorize the HOPE VI program. That program provides grants to localities for the construction, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, demolition of public housing units. That work is going to be done in some of the poorest neighborhoods in this country. That work is going to be done in areas with some of the highest unemployment in this country. And what does the King amendment do? It eliminates prevailing wage requirements for this work. It gives the money to contractors who would be free to pay poverty wages and pocket the rest as profit. This amendment worsens the cycle of poverty in the very areas that need the most help. But that's not all. This is taxpayer money. What do you get when you give taxpayer money to contractors who pay poverty wages and treat their workers poorly? You get shoddy work. And you have to spend more taxpayer money to fix it later. Let's summarize: The King amendment uses taxpayer money to worsen the cycle of poverty in the poorest neighborhoods in this country. It uses taxpayer money to buy shoddy work that just increases the costs later on. It's difficult to tell who the amendment is trying to hurt the most--the poor neighborhoods, the workers, or the taxpayers. This Amendment is outrageous and should be roundly defeated by this House.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

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

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. This amendment, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, does four things. First, it will authorize $30 million for the Department of Labor to buy a new generation of personal dust monitors required by the builder and provide them to miners. These dust monitors greatly enhance the accuracy in measuring the concentration of coal dust in underground coal mines. Both miner and industry representatives have expressed support for this initiative. It will go a long way in helping us reverse the rise in black lung and save untold amounts of costs in dealing with such debilitating disease. Second, the amendment will increase the time permitted for the mining industry to install a new generation of fire-resistant conveyor belts, significantly cutting industry compliance costs with the underlying bill. This amendment takes into account the industry concerns about significant amounts of old-style conveyor belts already purchased and in reserve. Under this provision, miners can use up the reserved belts before purchasing new fire-resistant belts so long as after 5 years of use they pass a proper annual inspection. Third, the amendment would eliminate delays by some mine operators in providing supplies of breathable air in underground coal mines for miners who may become trapped as required under the MINER Act of 2006. We recently learned that some miner operators are putting refuge chambers on order, with a wait of several years in some cases, and MSHA has been treating these purchase orders as sufficient to comply with the MINER Act's breathable air requirement. In the meantime, miners are underground without the breathable air that this Congress intended them to have. At least 11 of the 12 miners of the Sago explosion, for example, did not die because of the explosion. They died because, after many hours of awaiting rescue, they ran out of air. So this provision closes an apparent loophole in the MINER Act and ensures that breathable air is readily available to miners underground today while operators await the delivery of refuge chambers. Such air supplies can be provided via air cylinders or through boreholes to the surface pursuant to MSHA instructions. Finally, this amendment deals with the potential safety problems posed by substance abuse in a direct and responsible fashion. Many of us have seen the recent reports about the rise of substance abuse problems in mines and mining communities. There is no doubt that the injuries, overwork and stress that miners experience can leave some of them vulnerable to abusing substances like painkillers. Now, none of the recent tragedies have been linked in any way to drug use, but we should be proactive in this area. The amendment directs the Secretary of Labor to study the problem in consultation with all parties and to impose the program if she determines it to be feasible. I urge my colleagues to pass the manager's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong support of his amendment. I think it's well thought out. It recognizes the problems that were described in the article and experienced among his constituents to provide the kinds of resources for what clearly, from the narrative in the story, is a very difficult problem, encountering numerous substances, of people who are caught in very difficult situations, many of whom are struggling to stay employed. And I think the kinds of services that the gentleman provides in his amendment are absolutely necessary, and I rise in strong support of the amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support of legislation that would greatly enhance the health and safety protections in the Nation's coal mines. Despite significant progress over the last several decades, mining remains one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Mining fatalities occur at a rate more than seven times the average of all private industries; and we are reminded of how dangerous mining can be by the tragedies like the one in Utah in August of this last year, where six miners and three rescuers died in what appears to have been a preventable disaster, and the tragedies of Kentucky and West Virginia in 2006. Accidents every year claim the lives of one or two miners at a time. In 2007, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 32 coal miners and 31 metal and nonmetal miners died on the job. Miners also face serious health risks, including a resurgence of black lung disease. The legislation we are considering today, the S-MINER Act, builds on the work of the last Congress when it passed the MINER Act of 2006. The S-MINER Act represents a comprehensive approach to minimize the health and safety risks facing miners. It is critical that Congress take this action, because one of the things that is clear is that we cannot leave mine safety and health to the Bush administration. When the Sago Mine disaster occurred, we learned that the Bush administration had withdrawn or delayed more than a dozen health and safety proposals that would have benefited miners. The Bush administration filled top-level positions at MSHA with executives from the very industry that the agency was charged with regulating. Dangerous rules favored by the industry, which would leave miners vulnerable to aggressive ``belt air'' fires, became law under this administration. From 2001 to 2006, the Bush administration gutted MSHA by cutting funding and staffing, and especially in coal mine enforcement, where the worst tragedies would strike in 2006 and 2007. Even as coal production increased around the country, the Bush administration cut the Mine Safety and Health Administration's coal enforcement personnel by 9 percent by 2006. And then came the Sago disaster, Aracoma Alma, Darby, and Crandall Canyon mines. Even after these recent tragedies, even after the MINER Act was enacted, we continue to see neglect from this administration. The Inspector General found this past fall that MSHA was failing to conduct mandated inspections on time, leaving thousands of miners unprotected. In 2006 alone, MSHA failed to complete the required inspections of 107 mines, employing 7,500 miners. And, Secretary Chao failed to meet a simple deadline under the MINER Act to produce regulations on rescue teams, fundamental regulations on rescue teams, at the end of this last year. The track record of this administration on mine safety and health has been horrendous, and Congress needs to act. That is why we are here today, to make sure that our government fulfills its obligations to protect those brave men and women who risk their safety to keep this country running. The S-MINER Act addresses three broad issues: disaster prevention; improved emergency response; and long-term health risks. And I will talk more about those areas in a moment. Later today, in addition to the underlying bill, I will be offering a manager's amendment that makes modifications to the bill. Among other things, that amendment will address the troubling problems of substance abuse. Because of injuries, overwork, and stress that miners often suffer, we have heard reports of substance abuse among miners. I want to be absolutely clear. None of the recent mine tragedies have been linked to drug use in any way, but we should nevertheless be proactive in heading off the dangers that drug use poses to the miners. A few States have already adopted drug testing requirements for miners. Most, if not all, of the large coal mining companies already utilize some form of drug testing program. It will take further study to determine what role, if any, the Federal Government should play here, but this issue should be dealt with. That is why the amendment I will offer later today will require the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on best practices and will authorize her, within 6 months, to set up a drug testing and rehabilitation program for miners, in consultation with miners, their unions, operators, State agencies, and public health experts. Two other amendments will be offered by Representatives Boucher and Ellsworth to build upon and modify this legislation, and I support those amendments. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield myself 30 seconds. The gentleman from Alaska is quite correct. It's a pathetic sight to see the President of the United States begging the Saudi prince to release more oil 8 years after that President has been in office; several energy bills passed by the Republican Congress, and the President is left going hat in hand begging the Saudi prince for more oil. It just shows the opportunity cost of this administration, of that Republican Congress and the pathetic energy policy that we were left with. The new energy bill, however, reverses that trend. I'm very proud to be part of it.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. That's 10 years ago.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in strong support of the gentleman from Indiana's amendment and commend him for his very thoughtful work and his diligence on putting this amendment together to make sure that we in fact attack the problem at hand, which was those few irresponsible miners who refused to pay their fines and that have a history of not paying. Then, also the creative use of these fines to provide better enforcement, better safety for our mine workers. I rise in strong support and ask all of our colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Ellsworth amendment.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2768.