“Our two ally nations should work together to help Colombia improve its labor laws, decrease the ongoing violence, and finally put an end to the impunity enjoyed by those who have perpetrated thousands of anti-labor killings,” Miller wrote. “These challenges have taken on heightened significance this year as the violence in Colombia has escalated over 2007 levels.”

According to the Escuela Nacional Sindical, an independent Colombian think-tank, nearly 2,700 Colombian union leaders or union members have been murdered since 1986.  The overwhelming majority of these killings remain uninvestigated by the Colombian Attorney General’s Office.  In addition, ENS statistics show that so far this year, more union leaders have been assassinated than during all of 2007. 

Last year Congress approved $39 million to assist the Colombian government in improving the rule of law and human rights. This funding included $5 million for Colombian prosecutors to address the backlog of murder investigations. However, the Bush administration has delayed the distribution of these funds.

“Many members of Congress are very disappointed that the Bush administration has not transferred the funds that we appropriated last year to the Colombian Attorney General’s Office,” said Miller. “If the Bush administration had not created these inexplicable delays, the Government of Colombia could have already hired even more investigators and prosecutors, and Colombia might by now be several steps closer to creating an effective and sustainable system of justice to address the grave problem of anti-labor violence.”  

Miller traveled to Bogotá earlier this year to meet with Colombian government officials, judges, prosecutors, human rights advocates and labor union leaders. Since then the committee’s staff have continued to conduct additional fact-finding on Colombia’s efforts to improve its judicial system and the need for further labor law reforms. 

“One advantage stemming from our Congress’ decision to postpone the vote regarding the proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement is that it has given my colleagues and me additional time needed to assess whether or not Colombia has in fact created an effective and sustainable system of justice to combat anti-labor violence,” wrote Miller. “I hope that this ongoing fact-finding work will allow Congress to provide helpful recommendations to the next administration in the United States over how we can further strengthen our nation’s relationship with Colombia in such a way that promotes increased trade and higher labor standards.”   

Congress delayed the consideration of the Colombian Free Trade Agreement in April.

To read the letter to President Uribe, click here.

# # #

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“Our success in the 21st century economy is directly tied to our ability to produce a high quality labor force. And that ability is, of course, directly tied to our ability to meet the challenge of providing every child – including every Indian child – with a world-class education,” said Chairman Dale Kildee. “We must ensure that Indian tribes – which are sovereign entities who best understand their children’s needs – are full partners in that process.”

The federal government provides elementary and secondary education and educational assistance to Indian children directly through federally-funded schools or through assistance to public schools. Ninety percent of Indian students attend public schools operated by local school districts.  However, 10 percent attend BIE schools, which are schools funded by the Department of the Interior. BIE schools are subject to NCLB with limited exceptions.

“Recognizing and validating the cultural, social and linguistic needs of American Indians is critical to guaranteeing the continuity of their communities,” said Dr. Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert, President of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), who testified that the BIE should expand upon the culturally based instruction currently taking place in Indian schools by promoting stronger integration of Native culture and languages into the curriculum. “We believe with good faith collaboration that we can provide our children with an education that honors their Native identities while simultaneously preparing them for successful futures by providing them with opportunities to incorporate into the curriculum their rich cultural heritages, languages, and traditions.” 

Ted Hamilton, Executive Director of the Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium discussed the need to develop strong accountability systems tailored to BIE schools under NCLB. “The frustration with this situation is NCLB provides opportunities for tribes to have a significant voice on assessing the quality of education for their children and making changes to their educational programs based on those assessments,” explained Hamilton.  “The manner in which the BIE has chosen to implement NCLB has left tribes with no voice in educating their own children.”

To view all the witness testimony from today’s hearing and for more information, please click here.

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“I am thrilled to welcome such dedicated and talented staffers to our team,” said Miller. “With their strong backgrounds in policy and communications work, they will be vital assets to our Committee as we continue our work on behalf of America’s students, workers, and families.”

Catherine E. Brown, 33, joins the Committee as Senior Education Policy Advisor. Brown previously served as the Domestic Policy Director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, specializing in education, family, and poverty issues. Prior to her work on the campaign, she served as the Director for Teach for America's Early Childhood Initiative, and as a Legislative Assistant in Sen. Clinton's office, where she served as Senator Clinton’s lead education staffer on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  She also worked as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), handling his education and domestic policy issues. Brown, a native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, received her undergraduate degree from Smith College in Massachusetts, and earned a Masters Degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Melissa Salmanowitz, 26, joins the Committee as Press Secretary. She spent the past year as the Deputy Director of Women's Outreach for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, where she helped lead the team responsible for all communications, outreach and policy development for Women for Hillary program. Prior to the campaign, Salmanowitz worked as a Senior Communications Consultant at M+R Strategic Services, managing day-to-day media outreach and providing strategic client management to leading non-profits and advocacy organizations. Salmanowitz also worked as an Associate in Burson Marsteller 's DC based Media practice on behalf of corporate, public affairs, and healthcare clients and awareness campaigns. She previously served as the Deputy Director of Media Relations at Media Matters for America.  Salmanowitz graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is a native of Knoxville, TN.

Jessica Kananek, 22, joins the Committee as Press Assistant. Kahanek is a recent graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she earned a degree in political science. She previously interned in the communications office of U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), and also served as a campaign intern for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX). Kahanek is a native of Waco, Texas.  

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“Today’s news is yet another reminder that American workers continue to pay the price for eight years of President Bush’s economic policies. Already this year, more than 600,000 workers have lost their jobs, joining more than nine million Americans that are desperately looking for work. As separate data released yesterday shows, workers are now working harder for less. In today’s rough economy, this isn’t just bad news – its frightening news for the millions of workers who are working longer hours, taking on second and third jobs, and retiring later in life in order to make ends meet.

“In light of this administration’s failed economic policies – giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy and hoping it trickles down – we need a new economic stimulus package that will create new jobs for workers and help strengthen middle class families. In June, the Democratic Congress took an important step by approving a much-needed extension of unemployment insurance to help out-of-work Americans.

“Republicans in Congress should immediately drop their opposition to another economic stimulus and join us in working to provide additional, much-needed relief for workers.

“Most economists agree that our nation’s turbulent economic times are not over. The combination of high energy costs, rising food prices, the housing crisis, and stagnant wages will continue to put stress on Americans’ pocketbooks. Despite all this, the Republican presidential ticket has failed to show any real grasp of how the ailing economy is hurting families – let alone offer any proposals for fixing it. After eight years of Bush economic policies and eight straight months of job losses, the last thing Americans need and want is more of the same – but it’s clear that’s exactly what the Republicans have to offer.

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“Labor Day is a time to reflect on the achievements of the American worker and our nation’s commitment to helping all families pursue the American Dream. But for millions of workers, there is little cause to celebrate this weekend.

“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, since President Bush took office, median household income has dropped by more than $2,000 while health care, energy, and education costs have skyrocketed. This year alone, close to 500,000 workers have lost their jobs and millions more are still looking for employment.

“Workers desperately need a new direction and deserve an administration that ensures the rights to organize, fair pay, decent benefits, and safe working conditions. In order to keep our country competitive, we need leaders who understand the importance of driving innovation and investing on behalf of our nation’s workers.”

# # #

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"Three years ago today, this country watched as Hurricane Katrina devastated cities, towns, and communities up and down the Gulf Coast. Families' lives were ripped apart; businesses and homes were demolished; schools were destroyed. In the months following, I visited the region along with other members of Congress. We heard heartbreaking stories of the obstacles families faced while trying to get their lives back in order. We visited schools and colleges housed in trailers, met with students, teachers, school administrators, and parents. We witnessed their incredible determination to return to the classroom and rebuild their lives. Even in the face of great tragedy, their hope, spirit, and unshakeable resolve were nothing short of extraordinary.

"Yet in the storm's immediate aftermath, despite the magnitude of the devastation facing millions of Americans, the Bush administration completely failed to provide any of the leadership needed to help communities recover -- even trying to slash wages for Gulf Coast workers helping to rebuild the region. Sadly, three years later, not much has changed. While communities have made tremendous strides to get back on track, the Bush administration continues to turn a blind eye to the many challenges facing the region's businesses, schools, and families.

"The Democratic Congress has a very different view. We believe that rebuilding the Gulf Coast -- especially the schools and colleges that have long been the cultural and economic engines of these communities -- should be a top national priority. Over the past two years, we have taken steps towards this goal by providing much-needed funding to help recruit teachers and rebuild and restart the schools and colleges in the region.  But we also know that there is much more to do in order to fully help students, teachers and the broader education community get back on track. Ultimately, we need a new administration that understands that long term investments are needed to help the entire Gulf Coast region recover and thrive. On this third anniversary of Katrina, it's time for a renewed commitment to helping Gulf Coast schools and communities come back stronger than ever -- and a new President who will join Congress, the philanthropic community and education entrepreneurs in this effort."

In March of 2006, six months after the storm, Miller led a congressional delegation to tour Katrina-impacted schools and colleges in the greater New Orleans area. He visited again in May 2007. Over the past two years, the Democratic Congress has passed several bills that provide assistance to Gulf Coast teachers, schools and colleges. In 2006, Congress provided $60 million to attract top teachers and principals to Gulf Coast schools and to assist college students and institutions of higher education that had been damaged in the storm – an effort based on Miller’s RENEWAAL legislation.  Last September, Congress sent the College Cost Reduction and Access Act to the President and provided $170 million in new funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina. In June, the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act, legislation that authorizes half a billion dollars over five years for public schools impacted by the storm, which continue to face hundreds of millions of dollars in unmet need. And earlier this month, Congress enacted the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which establishes a disaster relief loan program to help all colleges and universities recover and rebuild in the event of a disaster.

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“The House Education and Labor Committee opened an inquiry today into allegations reported by the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets that local union leaders of the Service Employees International Union may have engaged in financial misconduct. According to media reports, the president of SEIU’s second largest local union may have misdirected union funds to the benefit of his family members and other business associates. Our committee takes these reported allegations seriously and we plan to thoroughly review this matter.”

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“For far too long, the rules of the financial services industry have been tilted in the interests of companies and consultants, not the millions of American workers who are deeply worried about saving enough for a secure retirement. Now, the Bush administration is proposing to further tip the scales towards special interests by opening the door to conflicts of interest among the very consultants purporting to offer unbiased investment advice, and potentially allowing companies to reap windfall profits at the expense of America’s workers.

“With more and more workers having to dip into their nest eggs just to stay afloat in today’s economy, there is a clear and urgent need to ensure that workers are getting the best deals possible on their 401(k) and other retirement plans. Instead, these proposals could make it much harder for workers to receive fair and honest advice when making key financial decisions about their futures.

“In its final months in office, this administration has developed a disgraceful pattern of sneaking in last-minute regulatory changes at the behest of special interests. At a time when Americans’ retirement accounts have already been pummeled by the nation’s economic downturn, it is deeply extremely troubling that the department is trying to push through proposals that would further jeopardize workers’ hard-earned savings. Indeed, the rules proposed by the administration today are nothing less than a boon for Wall Street and corporate executives, and I urge the Department to immediately withdraw these harmful proposals.”

Miller is the author of legislation, the 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act (H.R. 3185), which would help workers shop around for the best retirement investment options by ensuring that workers receive full disclosures about the fees charged on their 401(k) plans. For more information on that bill, click here.

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“Today is truly a momentous day for America’s current and future college students and families. Over the past two years, the Democratic Congress has charted a new direction to help make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. We’ve enacted the single largest increase in federal student aid since the GI Bill and key measures to protect federal college aid from turbulence in the nation’s credit markets – and all without costing taxpayers a dime. We’ve proven we can work in a bipartisan way to enact good public policies that make sense for students, for our economy, and for taxpayers.

“Now, with this bill signed into law, we have taken the next critical steps towards restoring the promise of our nation’s higher education programs: To help all students gain access to a world-class college education. For the first time in years, students and parents will encounter a higher education system that is more consumer-friendly and that operates in the best interests of helping them pay for college. This law will help every student in this country get their fair shot at a college degree, and reclaim their piece of the American Dream.”

For more information on the legislation, click here. For more information on the Democratic Congress’ efforts to make college more affordable, click here.

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"One year ago today, six coal miners were trapped after a series of catastrophic – yet preventable – events resulted in the collapse of the Crandall Canyon Mine. Our nation became transfixed on the heroic attempts to save the miners and prayed that everyone would return to their families unharmed. On this sad anniversary, our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and communities who lost loved ones in the mine and the rescue attempt.

“After the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, the U.S. House of Representatives acted promptly to strengthen our nation’s mine health and safety laws by passing the S-MINER Act. This bill will require more vigorous oversight of retreat mining plans and activities.

“Our committee’s investigation and other inquiries have shown that this tragedy was preventable. Actions by an irresponsible mine operator and an incompetent U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration allowed this disaster to occur. Unfortunately, Secretary Chao has failed to hold anyone in MSHA accountable for the agency’s substantial failure to prevent the Crandall tragedy.

“This anniversary reminds us of the significant risks miners still face while extracting the coal that meets our nation’s energy needs. The several mine tragedies that have occurred recently have been the result of weak laws, outlaw mine operators, and government agencies asleep at the switch. This is unacceptable. We must work aggressively toward a future where all miners can return home safely after their shifts. There is no better way to honor the lives of these fallen workers than to do all we can to prevent these kinds of tragedies from ever occurring again.”

For more information on the S-MINER Act, click here.

# # #

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By a 247 to 178 vote, the committee passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338), introduced by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), a bill that will strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay.

“This is a historic step forward in the fight for equal rights for women. It’s a shame that so many women still struggle to receive equal pay for equal work,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “Congress sends a clear message today that this injustice must not stand. If the Bush administration is truly committed to the principle of equal pay for women, they should immediately drop their veto threat and support this historic measure.”

“I want to thank my friends Chairman Miller and Congresswoman DeLauro for all of their work on this issue,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. “We have to remember that the Paycheck Fairness Act is about a lot more than fixing a couple of loopholes in a law that passed decades ago. It’s about strengthening families, combating poverty, and finally recognizing that equal work deserves equal pay.”

Although the wage gap between men and women has narrowed since the passage of the landmark Equal Pay Act in 1963, gender-based wage discrimination remains a significant problem for women in the U.S. workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

The Institute of Women’s Policy Research concluded that this wage disparity will cost a woman anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over her lifetime in lost wages.

For more information on the Paycheck Fairness Act, click here.

# # #

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“I am delighted that the Senate has joined the House in swiftly passing this landmark legislation, and I want to commend Senators Kennedy, Mikulski, and Enzi for their leadership and commitment to this bipartisan bill. This legislation will empower America’s college consumers – students and families – by providing them with comprehensive information on tuition and textbook prices and key financial protections when paying for a college degree. For students and parents, who continue to face soaring college costs amidst rough economic times, these reforms could not come soon enough. I hope that the president will join our continuing efforts to make college more affordable and accessible by quickly signing this bill into law.”

Miller is one of the authors of the legislation, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137). The bill addresses rising college tuition prices, makes textbook costs more manageable, simplifies the federal student aid application process, provides new borrower protections on federal and private college loans, and much more. For more information, click here.

# # #

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The bill, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137), was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 380-49. It now moves to the Senate for final clearance before being sent to the President for his signature.

“Today’s students face daunting obstacles on the path to college, from skyrocketing tuition prices to predatory student lending tactics. This landmark bipartisan legislation will address these challenges and create a higher education system that is more consumer-friendly, fairer, and easier-to-navigate,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “Already, this Congress has taken historic steps to make college more affordable and accessible. With today’s vote, we are saying that in our nation’s higher education programs, the needs of students and families must always come first.”

“This bill is a real victory for college students and their families.  It puts quality information in the hands of consumers and takes meaningful steps to hold down the college cost increases that are threatening students’ ability to pursue their higher education dreams,” said the Committee’s Senior Republican, U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA).  “I applaud today’s bipartisan vote, and look forward to this bill’s swift enactment.”

“This bill is crucial to the health of our economy and will ensure that more students graduate prepared for the 21st century workplace,” said U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. “It puts smart strategies in place to improve our student aid process, restore confidence in our student loan programs, and provide more low-income, first-generation, and minority students the chance to pursue a college education.”

“I am thrilled at the passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years. This important legislation will allow our nation's students year-round Pell Grants.  It also includes my legislation to curb wasteful spending by closing a loophole that allowed convicted child predators to receive federal financial aid to take college courses, so today the most wasteful spending program in America comes to an end,” said U.S. Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL), the Senior Republican on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee.

An October 2007 report from the College Board showed that tuition and fees have increased across the board over the last five years, at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. These increases have consistently outpaced increases in the rate of inflation and in families’ ability to pay, creating a college cost crisis that threatens to prevent qualified students from pursuing a higher education. 

The bill would address these affordability challenges by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, and providing students and families with consumer-friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases.

Consistent with the bill’s focus on consumer empowerment through sunshine and transparency, the legislation also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill’s new provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans.

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act would:

The Higher Education Act was last reauthorized in 1998. The current law expired in 2003.

For more information on the Higher Education Opportunity Act, click here.

# # #

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“While those at the top of the income scale are prospering, since the 1990s, income has actually declined for workers at the bottom rung, and increased only slightly for middle class workers,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the subcommittee. “Opportunity is slipping away for those in the middle class as wages remain stagnant and consumer goods, such as food and gas, have skyrocketed.”

According to Jared Bernstein, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, income inequality has been rising since the late 1970’s. In the 1970’s, the top 1 percent of wage earners earned less than 10 percent of all income. But since then, these top earners have increasingly accounted for a larger portion of the income pie: By 2006, the top 1 percent earned more than 20 percent of our nation’s wealth.

“The existence and expansion of this gap strikes at the heart of our core economic values,” said Bernstein. “Every year that productivity rises, but middle incomes stagnate, poverty increases, and children are blocked from the opportunities to realize their potential, is another year in which the basic American economic contract is broken.”

Income inequality has been growing at the same time that executive compensation has exploded. According to a congressional report, in 1965, an average CEO’s pay was 25 times that of the average worker.  By 1980, pay was 40 times more.  And by 2006, the average Fortune 250 CEO was paid over 600 times more than the average worker

“CEO compensation in America’s public companies is a perversion of the market that imposes enormous and growing costs on America’s working families,” said Nell Minow, editor of The Corporate Library. “These outrageous pay packages juxtaposed with losses in share value and jobs diminish our credibility and increase our cost of capital.” 

Federal tax policies have also contributed to the growing gap between the middle class and the wealthy. According to the Congressional Budget Office, since 2001, the share of before-tax and after-tax income of the top 1 percent increased while income for lower-income households declined.

“We hear from some quarters the argument that the tax system has become more progressive – and that this is proven by the fact that the affluent are now paying a higher share of total income tax revenues. This argument does not withstand scrutiny,” said Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Between 2000 and 2005, the average income tax burden of the top fifth of the population fell by an amount equal to 4.8 percent of their income; in contrast, the middle and lowest fifths of the population saw their average income tax burdens reduced by amounts equal to less than 2 percent of their incomes.”

For more information on today’s hearing, click here.

# # #

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“The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation must comply with our subpoena. The administration’s dismissal of a legally enforceable congressional subpoena is completely unacceptable,” said Miller. “As the U.S. District Court affirmed just today, executive branch officials must fully comply with congressional subpoenas and provide all non-privileged documents. I take seriously our committee’s constitutional mandate to investigate matters subject to our legislative jurisdiction and expect the agency to cease its lawless intransigence.”

The U.S. District Court today ordered Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten to comply with a Congressional subpoena.

The PBGC contracted an outside review of the agency’s practices after the U.S. Government Accountably Office report highlighted several deficiencies at PBGC. The subpoena ordered the production of documents related to this review.

To view the subpoena, click here.

To read Tuesday’s response from the PBGC, click here.

# # #

 July 31, 2008

Mr. Charles E. F. Millard

Director

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

1200 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20005-4026

Dear Mr. Millard:

I find entirely unacceptable your July 29, 2008, letter to me in response to the Committee on Education and Labor’s subpoena of documents from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”).  I am disappointed that an officer of a federal government agency, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, would dismiss a Congressional subpoena.  I take seriously the Committee’s mandate to investigate matters subject to the Committee’s legislative jurisdiction and the Congress’ Constitutional prerogative to do so.

I understand that PBGC commissioned the McKinsey & Company, Inc., report referenced in the subpoena in response to the July 2007 Government Accountability Office report that highlighted widespread problems at PBGC.  The subpoenaed documents undoubtedly contain highly relevant information that would inform the Committee’s members as we explore potential legislative solutions to the challenges at PBGC.

You did not make clear in your letter whether you claim any privilege that would legally excuse you from compliance with the subpoena.  Your letter twice mentions “deliberative process.”  The inadequacy of your response to the subpoena is evident by the fact that you failed to present any legal argument whatsoever.  As you should know, deliberative process concerns are not a valid legal basis for withholding information from a Congressional committee, and such concerns are insufficient to excuse anything other than full compliance with a Congressional subpoena.

Before any further action by the Committee or the House, I request that you immediately provide a legal justification for your refusal to comply with the Committee’s legally authorized subpoena.  Alternatively, you can make arrangements to fully comply with the subpoena, beginning with the immediate production of the draft McKinsey & Company, Inc., report that PBGC staff recently circulated for comment to the PBGC board.

Please provide the legal memorandum to the Committee’s Chief Investigative Counsel, Michael Zola, no later than close of business on August 14, 2008.  Mr. Zola may be reached at (202) XXX-XXXX. 

Sincerely,

GEORGE MILLER

Chairman

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The law, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, provides $170 million in new funding for HBCUs over the next two years to help expand college access, strengthen support services that focus on helping low-income and minority students stay in school and graduate, and renovate campuses in need of improvement. The grants provided under the law are mandatory funding, meaning schools will receive them in addition to any funding that is appropriated annually by the Congress. All 99 HBCUs that currently receive federal funds will benefit from this increase.

“This landmark investment in HBCUs will strengthen college opportunities for millions of talented students,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and the author of the law. “HBCUs are a vital part of America’s higher education and economic framework, and have a long history of producing some of our nation’s greatest leaders, innovators, and thinkers. By providing HBCUs with these much-needed federal resources, we are saying that the needs of these vital institutions and their students can no longer go ignored.”

“HBCUs have played and continue to play an integral role in furthering the education of Black students in America,” said U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), the Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Education Taskforce. “Unfortunately, these institutions face increasing challenges and have limited resources.  I am very pleased with the historical investment to HBCUs that the College Cost Reduction and Access Act will provide. It is a much-needed step in the right direction and will go a long way toward helping HBCUs continue to provide a quality education to our nation's youth.”

“As a graduate of the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, I and my brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins and friends know firsthand the opportunities provided by HBCUs, especially to low-income African American students,” said U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), the Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Education Taskforce. “Chairman George Miller and the Committee on Education and Labor are to be commended for this outstanding bill.”

HBCUs play a significant role in helping African American students succeed in college and the workforce. Although they represent only 3 percent of all colleges and universities, they enroll close to a third of all African-American students. Forty percent of their students pursue four-year degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, and about half of all African-American students in teaching fields attend HBCUs.

Despite this progress, HBCUs continue to face a unique set of financial challenges, including balancing limited resources and endowments with a deep commitment to serving students with fewer financial resources. Many schools are in dire need of repair, especially Gulf Coast schools that are still feeling the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Sadly, federal support for HBCUs and other minority-serving schools has dwindled under the Bush administration. In his most recent budget for the fiscal year 2009, President Bush proposed cutting funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions by $85 million, a 35 percent decrease from the previous year’s budget.

In addition to the funding provided by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, Democrats are also working to boost support for HBCUs by enacting the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which would strengthen and reauthorize the nation’s higher education programs. That bill, which Congress is working to finalize this week, would increase the amount of funding HBCUs could receive for capital projects, expand funding eligibility for graduate student programs at HBCUs and other minority serving-institutions and would address the challenges of starting and growing endowments at these schools.

For more information on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, click here.

For more information on the Higher Education Opportunity Act, click here.

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# # #

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Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853

“MSHA's report affirms the conclusions reached by our own investigation: Murray Energy should not have proposed the flawed retreat mining plan and MSHA should not have approved the plan. It is clear that Murray Energy is an outlaw company that recklessly endangered its employees’ lives. It is tragic that the deaths of six miners and three rescuers resulted from the reckless actions of a few individuals and inadequate MSHA oversight.

“Especially troubling is MSHA’s conclusion that Murray Energy misled MSHA regarding bumps that occurred in March 2007.  In April of this year, I asked the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into this very subject.  The April referral was supported by significant evidence committee staff uncovered as they reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents, interviewed many witnesses, and deposed several individuals involved. I am confident that MSHA’s additional evidence in support of our criminal referral will provide further assistance to the Department of Justice in aggressively pursuing this criminal matter.

“We will review MSHA’s investigation report and that of the forthcoming review of MSHA’s actions at the mine. The agency’s track record, however, leads me to believe that MSHA is not up to the task of protecting the health and safety of our nation’s miners. We must ensure that another tragedy such as this never happens again.”

To read the results of the committee’s investigation, click here.

In January, the House of Representative approved mine safety and health legislation that includes provisions to ensure more vigorous oversight by MSHA of retreat mining plans and activities. For more information on that legislation (H.R. 2768), click here.

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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES
Contact: Aaron Albright / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853