Full Committee
On Tuesday, May 19, the House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a hearing to examine abusive and deadly uses of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools. Seclusion and restraint are physical interventions used by teachers and other school staff to prevent students from hurting themselves or others
Witnesses to be announced.
Witnesses to be announced.
On Tuesday, May 12, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine how policies for addressing the high school dropout crisis and improving graduation rates can strengthen America’s economic competitiveness.
Nationally, only 70 percent of students graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma. Approximately 10 percent of high schools in this country produce close to half of these dropouts. In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama called on lawmakers to address the dropout crisis.
Archived Webcast »
Nationally, only 70 percent of students graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma. Approximately 10 percent of high schools in this country produce close to half of these dropouts. In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama called on lawmakers to address the dropout crisis.
Witnesses:
- U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) »
- U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) »
- U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) »
- U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) »
- Robert Balfanz, Ph.D. » Research Scientist The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
- Scott Gordon » CEO Mastery Charter Schools Philadelphia, PA
- Marguerite Kondracke » President and CEO America’s Promise Washington, DC
- Vicki L. Phillips Ed.D » Director of education for the US program Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Seattle, WA
- Bob Wise » President Alliance for Excellent Education Washington, DC
- Michael Wotorson » Executive Director Campaign for High School Equity Washington, DC
On Thursday, May 7, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine how federal agencies can help child care, schools, colleges and workplaces prepare for the H1N1 flu virus and future pandemics. The hearing will also provide an update on how schools and workplaces are being affected by and responding to the current outbreak.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
- Jordan Barab » Acting Assistant Secretary Occupational Safety and Health Administration Washington, DC
- Ann Brockhaus » Occupational Safety and Health Consultant ORC Worldwide Washington, DC
- Jack O'Connell » Superintendent of Public Instruction California Department of Education Sacramento, CA
- Miguel Garcia » Registered Nurse and member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Los Angeles, CA
-
Bill Modzeleski »
Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
Department of Education Washington, DC - Dr. Anne Schuchat » Deputy Director for Science and Program (Interim) Centers for Disease Control Atlanta, GA
Official photos can be found here.
On Wednesday, April 29, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine how states can better prepare their students to compete in a global economy by using internationally benchmarked common standards.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
- The Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr. » Former Governor of North Carolina and Foundation Chair James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Durham, North Carolina
- Ken James » Commissioner of Education Arkansas Department of Education Little Rock, Arkansas
- Greg Jones » Chair California Business for Excellence in Education (CBEE) Sacramento, California
- Dave Levin » Co-Founder KIPP: Knowledge Is Power Program New York, New York
- Randi Weingarten » President American Federation of Teachers New York, New York
Additional Items Submitted for the Record:
- The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia, on behalf of The National Governors Association
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on whether our nation’s health and safety laws ensure that employers who fail to protect their workers are adequately penalized and deterred from committing future violations.
Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970 with the goal of assuring safe and healthful working conditions to all American workers. Nearly 40 years later, while workplace health and safety has improved, many workers remain at risk of death, injury or illness while on the job.
Archived Webcast »
Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970 with the goal of assuring safe and healthful working conditions to all American workers. Nearly 40 years later, while workplace health and safety has improved, many workers remain at risk of death, injury or illness while on the job.
Witnesses:
- Rebecca Foster » stepmother of Jeremy Foster who died as a result of a workplace safety violation Danville, Ark.
- Lawrence P. Halprin » Partner Keller and Heckman LLP
- Margaret Seminario » Safety and Health Director AFL-CIO
- David Uhlmann » Professor and Director of Environmental Law and Policy Program University of Michigan Law School
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, opening statement.
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine how the economy is affecting jobs in the arts and music industries, and the role these industries play in communities across the country. This is the first in a series of hearings the Committee will hold this Spring.
Recent news reports have highlighted the tough economic realities arts and music organizations are facing – many are cutting budgets and programs that are the engine of the local economy and provide meaningful employment opportunities for workers. According to research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, unemployment in the arts rose at a higher rate than the overall workforce in 2008.
Archived Webcast »
Recent news reports have highlighted the tough economic realities arts and music organizations are facing – many are cutting budgets and programs that are the engine of the local economy and provide meaningful employment opportunities for workers. According to research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, unemployment in the arts rose at a higher rate than the overall workforce in 2008.
Witnesses:
- U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) » Co-Chair Congressional Arts Caucus
- Michael Bahr » Education Director Utah Shakespearean Festival Cedar City, UT
- Tim Daly » Actor and Co-President The Creative Coalition
- Joanne Florino » Executive Director Triad Foundation, Inc. Ithaca, NY
- Robert L. Lynch » President and CEO Americans for the Arts Washington, DC
- Michael Spring » Director Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Miami, FL
- Bruce Ridge » Musician and Chairman International Conference of Symphony Raleigh, NC
-
John Thomasian »
Director
National Governors' Association
Center for Best Practices Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) Member, Committee on Education and Labor
GAO to announce the results of its investigation into the Labor’s complaint intake and enforcement process
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine the findings of the Government Accountability Office’s undercover investigation into the Labor Department’s ability to enforce and investigate violations of our nation’s minimum wage, overtime and child labor laws.
The committee held a hearing last July that identified failures by the Bush administration to properly protect workers from the problem of “wage theft” by adopting weak enforcement strategies and reducing funding and staffing levels of the Wage and Hour Division. This agency is responsible for investigating complaints of wage, hour, and child labor violations. For more information on July’s hearing, click here.
Archived Webcast »
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine the findings of the Government Accountability Office’s undercover investigation into the Labor Department’s ability to enforce and investigate violations of our nation’s minimum wage, overtime and child labor laws.
The committee held a hearing last July that identified failures by the Bush administration to properly protect workers from the problem of “wage theft” by adopting weak enforcement strategies and reducing funding and staffing levels of the Wage and Hour Division. This agency is responsible for investigating complaints of wage, hour, and child labor violations. For more information on July’s hearing, click here.
Witnesses:
- Greg Kutz » Managing Director of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations U.S. Government Accountability Office
Next week, the House Education and Labor Committee will launch a series of committee and subcommittee hearings devoted to strengthening early childhood education. The hearings will examine the early learning and child care needs of children and families, as well as collaborative state efforts and other initiatives to deliver high quality care and education to children from birth through age five.
This effort comes a week after President Barack Obama delivered his first major speech on education, in which he discussed early education as a critical part of his agenda.
Archived Webcast »
This effort comes a week after President Barack Obama delivered his first major speech on education, in which he discussed early education as a critical part of his agenda.
Witnesses:
- Harriet Meyer » Co-Chair Illinois Early Learning Council
- Jessie Rasmussen » Vice President Buffett Early Childhood Fund Nebraska
- James Redmon » Executive Director Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund
- Holly Robinson » Commissioner Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
- Don Soifer » Executive Vice President Lexington Institute Virginia
- Helene Stebbins » Project Coordinator National Center on Children in Poverty New York
To build on the important conversations happening across the country on national service and volunteerism, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 25, to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. This will be the first full committee education hearing held in the 111th Congress.
Boosting community service is a key priority for President Obama, whose official Inauguration activities included a “National Day of Service” where hundreds of thousands of Americans volunteered in their communities. Among other things, the hearing will focus on reinvigorating civic engagement across all levels of society, expanding opportunities for young people to participate in service, and how national and community service can help “green” America.
Archived Webcast »
Boosting community service is a key priority for President Obama, whose official Inauguration activities included a “National Day of Service” where hundreds of thousands of Americans volunteered in their communities. Among other things, the hearing will focus on reinvigorating civic engagement across all levels of society, expanding opportunities for young people to participate in service, and how national and community service can help “green” America.
Witnesses:
- Usher Raymond IV » Recording Artist and Chairman Usher's New Look Foundation
-
James Harris »
Youth Participant
Usher's New Look Foundation - Richard Stengel » Managing Editor TIME Magazine
- Van Jones » Founder and President Green for All
- Cheryl L. Dorsey » President Echoing Green
- The Honorable Harris Wofford » former US Senator (D-PA)
- Sgt. Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston » United States Army
- David L. Caprara » Director and Nonresident Fellow Brookings Initiative on International Volunteering and Service
- Lisa Hamilton » President UPS Foundation
In light of the current financial crisis, on Tuesday, February 24, the House Education and Labor Committee will begin a series of hearings to explore the shortcomings of our nation’s retirement system and look at solutions to ensure that Americans can enjoy a safe and secure retirement after a lifetime of hard work.
The first hearing will examine how the current economic crisis has highlighted existing weaknesses in the 401(k) retirement savings system. As a result of economic conditions, older workers are putting off retirement plans, retirees are thinking about going back to work, current workers are reducing 401(k) contributions, and more are borrowing from their retirement savings to pay for basic necessities.
Archived Webcast »
The first hearing will examine how the current economic crisis has highlighted existing weaknesses in the 401(k) retirement savings system. As a result of economic conditions, older workers are putting off retirement plans, retirees are thinking about going back to work, current workers are reducing 401(k) contributions, and more are borrowing from their retirement savings to pay for basic necessities.
Witnesses:
- Dean Baker » Co-director Center for Economic and Policy Research
- John C. Bogle » Founder Vanguard Group
- Alicia Munnell » Director Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research
- Paul Schott Stevens » President and CEO Investment Company Institute
Statements Submitted for the Record:
Profit Sharing Council of America »
American Benefits Council »
Matthew Hutcheson »
Independent Pension Fiduciary
Mellody Hobson »,
President, Ariel Investments, LLC and Chairman, Ariel Mutual Funds Board of Trustees
Witnesses:
- Mr. Jose Luciano Sanin Vazquez » Escuela Nacional Sindical Medellin, Colombia
- Ms. Yessika Hoyos » Bogota, Colombia
- Dr. Jose Nirio Sanchez » Bogota, Colombia
- Ms. Maria McFarland » Senior Researcher Human Rights Watch Washington, DC
- Mr. James M. Roberts » Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC
Committee Rules for the 111th Congress
Democratic Subcommittee Assignments for the 111th Congress
Republican Subcommittee Assignments for the 111th Congress
Democratic Subcommittee Assignments for the 111th Congress
Republican Subcommittee Assignments for the 111th Congress
This hearing examined strategies – including investments in rebuilding crumbling infrastructure – to create good-paying jobs in order to put the nation’s stalled economy on the road to recovery. More than 2.2 million American workers have lost their jobs in the past 12 months and millions more are still looking for permanent employment.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
- Panel I:
- Hon. Charles E. F. Millard » Director Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
- Panel II:
- Jared Bernstein » Director of the Living Standards Program Economic Policy Institute
- Ron Blackwell » Chief Economist AFL-CIO
- Christopher Hansen » President and CEO AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association)
-
Robert Pollin »
Professor of Economics
Founding Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute University of Massachusetts at Amherst - Dana Stevens » Unemployed Worker Thorofare, New Jersey
-
William W. Beach »
Director
Center for Data Analysis The Heritage Foundation
This hearing, held in San Francisco, CA, further examined how the current financial crisis is impacting pension funds and workers’ directed retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans.
Witnesses:
- Shlomo Benartzi, Ph.D. » Professor UCLA Anderson School of Management Los Angeles, CA
- Steve Carroll » Retiree Petaluma, CA
- Mark Davis » Partner Kravitz Davis Sansone Encino, CA
- Jacob S. Hacker, Ph.D. » Professor University of California at Berkeley
- Roberta Quan » Retiree Richmond, CA
- Tif Joyce » President Joyce Financial Management Sebastopol, CA
This hearing examined how the current financial crisis is impacting pension funds and workers’ directed retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans. According to a recent poll by the Associated Press, more than half of all Americans are worried that the ongoing financial crisis will force them to postpone retirement.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
- Jerry Bramlett » CEO BenefitStreet, Inc.
- Dr. Teresa Ghilarducci » Professor of Economic Policy Analysis The New School for Social Research
- Dr. Peter Orszag » Director Congressional Budget Office
- Jack VanDerhei » Research Director Employee Benefit Research Institute
-
Dr. Christian Weller »
Associate Professor of Public Policy
University of Massachusetts-Boston Senior Fellow
Center for American Progress
This hearing explored options to safeguard promised retiree health benefits. With insurance premiums skyrocketing and companies looking to cut expenses, an increasing number of companies have been rolling back or eliminating promised retiree health benefits.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
- C. William Jones » Chairman ProtectSeniors.org
- Bill Kadereit » President National Retiree Legislative Network
- David Lillie » Retiree Raytheon Missile Systems Tucson, Arizona
- Scott Macey » Senior Vice President and Director of Government Affairs Aon Consulting, Inc.
- Norman Stein » Douglas Arant Professor of Law University of Alabama
- Dale Yamamoto » President and Founder Red Quill Consulting
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Ron Kind » Congressman from the Third District of Wisconsin
- The Honorable Zach Wamp » Congressman from the Third District of Tennessee
- Richard Simmons » Fitness Expert and Advocate
-
Tim Brown »
Former Oakland Raider Wide Receiver
Nine Time Pro-Bowler -
Dr. Russell Pate »
Associate Vice President for Health Sciences & Professor
Arnold School of Public Health
University of South Carolina -
Lori Rose Benson »
Director of the Office of Fitness and Health Education
Fitness and Health Education
New York City Department of Education - Robert M. Keiser » Student Advisor to Florida Governor Charlie Crist Council on Physical Fitness
The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine how business-education partnerships can help drive innovation and strengthen math and science education in America’s schools.
A report released by the National Math Panel in March found that the nation’s system for teaching math is “broken and must be fixed” if the U.S. wants to maintain its competitive edge. In May, the Committee first examined the report’s findings and recommendations; this hearing follows up on that hearing.
Archived Webcast »
A report released by the National Math Panel in March found that the nation’s system for teaching math is “broken and must be fixed” if the U.S. wants to maintain its competitive edge. In May, the Committee first examined the report’s findings and recommendations; this hearing follows up on that hearing.
Witnesses:
- Dr. Ramona Chang » Director of Curriculum Torrance Unified School District Torrance, CA
- Melendy Lovett » Senior Vice President & President of Education Technology Texas Instruments
- Tom Luce » President, CEO and Director National Math and Science Initiative, Inc.
- Phil Mickelson » Professional Golfer & Co-Founder Mickelson Exxon Mobil Teachers Academy
- Dr. Carlo Parravano » Merck Institute for Science Education
- Dr. Sally Ride » First American Woman in Space & President and CEO Sally Ride Science San Diego, CA
- Patty Sullivan » IBM Education Solutions Executive IBM Corporation
- Brian Wells » Chief Systems Engineer Raytheon
Witnesses:
- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg » New York City
- Chancellor Joel I. Klein » New York City Public Schools
- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty » District of Columbia
- Chancellor Michelle Rhee » DC Public Schools
- Arne Duncan » Chief Executive Officer Chicago Public Schools
- Beverly L. Hall » Superintendent Atlanta Public Schools
The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on Tuesday, July 15 to examine the U.S. Department of Labor's record of enforcing the nation's wage and hour laws. The Government Accountability Office highlighted the results of two separate investigations requested by the chairman of the committee, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), into the Labor Department’s failures to fully investigate and properly address violations of the law.
Seventy years ago last month, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act into law. The law has provided generations of Americans with basic rights to minimum wages, overtime pay, and a ban on oppressive child labor. However, critics say that the Bush administration has failed to protect workers from a growing problem of "wage theft" by adopting weak approaches to enforcement and reducing funding and staffing levels of the Wage and Hour Division, the agency responsible for investigating complaints of wage, hour, and child labor violations.
Witnesses:
- Kim Bobo » Founder and Executive Director Interfaith Worker Justice
- Greg Kutz » Managing Director of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations Government Accountability Office
- Anne-Marie Lasowski » Acting Director of Education, Workforce and Income Security Issues Government Accountability Office
- Alexander Passantino » Acting Administrator, Wage and Hour Division U.S Department of Labor
Witnesses:
- Scott Faber » Vice President for Federal Affairs Grocery Manufacturers Association Washington, D.C
- James Harnett » President and CEO Family and Children's Association Mineola, New York
-
Kate Houston »
Deputy Under Secretary
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. -
Paula James »
Director
Child Health and Nutrition Program Contra Costa Child Care Council Contra Costa, California -
Ephraim Leibtag »
Economist
Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. -
Pavel N. Matustik »
Chief Administrative Officer
Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency Santa Clarita, California - Katie Wilson » President-elect School Nutrition Association and Food & Nutrition Coordinator Onalaska School District Onalaska, Wisconsin
Witnesses:
- Edwin Foulke » Assistant Secretary of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- George Cole » Brother-in-Law of Harold Billingsley, Victim of a Recent Construction Accident Las Vegas, Nevada
- Robert LiMandri » Acting Building Commissioner New York City, New York
- Mike Kallmeyer » Senior Vice President of Construction Services Denier Electric
-
Mark Ayers »
President
Building and Construction Trades Department AFL-CIO
Witnesses:
- Mr. A.C. Span, Jr »
- Dr. Robert McLellan » Immediate Past President American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
-
John Ruser, Ph.D. »
Assistant Commissioner
Safety and Health Statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics -
Mr. Baruch Fellner, J.D. »
Partner
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP
Representing the US Chamber of Commerce -
Kenneth Rosenman, M.D., FACPM, FACE »
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Michigan State University - Mr. Bob Whitmore » Former Chief OSHA Division of Recordkeeping U.S. Department of Labor
The Committee held a hearing on bipartisan legislation that would help strengthen American families and help more children arrive at school ready to succeed by expanding access to early childhood home visitation programs for parents and children.
Research shows that these programs, which provide a variety of services ranging from pre-natal medical care to school readiness and family literacy programs, can help improve student achievement, reduce child abuse rates, improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, and improve access to health services.
Archived Webcast »
Research shows that these programs, which provide a variety of services ranging from pre-natal medical care to school readiness and family literacy programs, can help improve student achievement, reduce child abuse rates, improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, and improve access to health services.
Witnesses:
- Laura A. Ditka, JD » Deputy District Attorney and Chief of Child Abuse Unit Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- William A. Estrada » Director of Federal Relations Home School Legal Defense Association Purcellville, Virginia
- Julie Fenley » Participant Parents as Teachers Home Visitation Program Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia
- Makeda London » Healthy Families Program Director and Family Support Services Coordinator Near North Health Service Corporation Chicago, Illinois
- Jeanne Smart, R.N., M.S.N. » Director Nurse-Family Partnership Los Angeles County, California
-
Heather B. Weiss, Ed.D. » Founder and Director Harvard Family Research Project »
Founder and Director
Harvard Family Research Project
Senior Research Associate and Lecturer Harvard Graduate School of Education
The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine a recent report released by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel on the state of math education and instruction in the United States. Among other things, the report found that the nation’s system for teaching math is “broken and must be fixed” if the U.S. wants to maintain its competitive edge.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
-
Dr. Skip Fennell »
Member
National Mathematics Advisory Panel
Former President
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Westminster, Maryland - Dr. William Haver » Professor of Mathematics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia
- Laura Slover » Vice President Achieve, Inc. Washington, D.C.
- Dr. Wanda T. Staggers » Master Teacher and Dean of Manufacturing and Engineering Academy of Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Anderson, South Carolina
- Dr. Mary Ann Wolf » Executive Director State Education Technology Directors Association Glen Burnie, Maryland
- John J. Castellani » President Business Roundtable Washington D.C.
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Leon R. Sequeira » Assistant Secretary for Policy U.S. Department of Labor Washington, DC
-
William L. Carlson, Ph.D. »
Administrator
Office of Foreign Labor Certification
Employment and Training Administration
U.S. Department of Labor Washington, DC - Bruce Goldstein » Executive Director Farmworker Justice Washington, DC
- Javier Riojas » Attorney/Branch Manager Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Eagle Pass, Texas
- John Young » Past Executive Director New England Apple Council Goffstown, New Hampshire
-
Dr. Andrew Sum »
Director/Professor
Center for Labor Market Studies
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts - Bill Beardall » Director Equal Justice Center Austin, Texas
The Committee held a hearing to examine allegations of child abuse and deceptive marketing at residential programs for teens, including boot camps, wilderness camps, therapeutic boarding schools, and behavior modification facilities. The hearing also examined legislation to prevent child abuse in these programs by establishing standards for the programs.
The committee heard about the results of undercover work from the Government Accountability Office and from individuals who attended residential programs when they were teenagers.
Archived Webcast »
The committee heard about the results of undercover work from the Government Accountability Office and from individuals who attended residential programs when they were teenagers.
Witnesses:
-
Kay Brown »
Director
Education, Workforce and Income Security U.S. Government Accountability Office -
Greg Kutz »
Managing Director
Forensic Audits and Special Investigations U.S. Government Accountability Offic - Jon Martin-Crawford » Former Program Participant the Family Foundation School the Family Foundation School Hancock, New York
- Kathryn Whitehead » Former Program Participant Mountain Mission School Condon, Montana
- Christopher Bellonci, MD » Medical Director and Senior Clinical Consultant Walker School Needham, Massachusetts
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Margaret Spellings » U.S. Secretary of Education
- Sarah Bauder » Director of Student Financial Aid University of Maryland College Park, Maryland
- Roberta Johnson » Director of Student Financial Aid Iowa State University Ames, Iowa
- Terry Muilenburg » Senior Vice President USA Funds Washington, D.C.
- Charlie C. Sanders, Jr. » President and CEO South Carolina Student Loan Corporation Columbia, South Carolina
-
Paul Wozniak »
Managing Director and Manager
Education Loan Group
UBS New York, New York
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Hazel R. O’Leary » President Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee
- Raymond Pierce » Dean North Carolina Central Law School Durham, North Carolina
- Dr. Earl Richardson » President Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland
- Dr. Mary Sias » President Kentucky State University Frankfort, Kentucky
- Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy » President Johnson C. Smith University Charlotte, North Carolina
The Committee held a hearing on legislation to help prevent worksite explosions like the one at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, in early February 2008 that killed 12 workers and critically injured 11 others.
The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 5522) would force the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration already has the authority to issue such a rule without Congress passing new legislation, but the agency has failed to act despite the fact that the dangers of combustible dust have been well known for years.
U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and John Barrow (D-GA) introduced the legislation on March 4, 2008. To learn more about H.R. 5522, <a href="http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edlabor_dem/rel030308.html">click here</a>.
Archived Webcast »
The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 5522) would force the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration already has the authority to issue such a rule without Congress passing new legislation, but the agency has failed to act despite the fact that the dangers of combustible dust have been well known for years.
U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and John Barrow (D-GA) introduced the legislation on March 4, 2008. To learn more about H.R. 5522, <a href="http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edlabor_dem/rel030308.html">click here</a>.
Witnesses:
- The Honorable John Barrow » Congressman Twelfth Congressional District of Georgia
- The Honorable Jack Kingston » Congressman First Congressional District of Georgia
- The Honorable Edwin Foulke » Assistant Secretary of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration
-
Tammy Miser »
Sister of Victim of a 2003 Combustible
Dust Explosion in Huntington, IN - Amy Spencer » Senior Chemical Engineer National Fire Protection Association
- The Honorable Bill Wright » Interim Chair U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
- David Sarvadi » Attorney Keller and Heckman
The Committee held a hearing to examine how to improve nutrition and food safety in the nation’s schools. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the largest recall of meat in the nation’s history after investigations revealed that meat from non-ambulatory (or "downer") cows at a California slaughterhouse had been allowed to enter the food supply. More than a third of the tainted meat had gone to federal nutrition programs, including to schools.
Archived Webcast »
Witnesses:
-
Kathleen Corrigan »
Director
Food and Nutrition Services Mt. Diablo Unified School District Concord, California - Kenneth Hecht » Executive Director California Food Policy Advocates San Francisco, California
- Mary Hill » President School Nutrition Association Jackson, Mississippi
-
Kate Houston »
Deputy Under Secretary
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington D.C. -
Penny Parham »
Administrative Director
Department of Food & Nutrition Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami, Florida -
Dora Rivas »
Executive Director
Food and Child Nutrition Services Dallas Independent School District Dallas, Texas
Witnesses:
-
The Honorable Charles W. Boustany, Jr. »
U.S. Representative
Seventh District of Louisiana
Member
Education and Labor Committee -
The Honorable Michael N. Castle »
U.S. Representative
Delaware
Senior Republican
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
Education and Labor Committee -
The Honorable Ben Chandler »
U.S. Representative
Sixth District of Kentucky
Sponsor of H.R. 3021
The 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act -
The Honorable Bob Etheridge »
U.S. Representative
Second District of North Carolina
Co-sponsor of H.R. 2470
The America's Better Classrooms Act of 2007 -
The Honorable Rush Holt »
U.S. Representative
Twelfth District of New Jersey
Member
Education and Labor Committee
Sponsor of H.R. 3197
The School Building Enhancement Act -
The Honorable Darlene Hooley »
U.S. Representative
Fifth District of Oregon
Co-chair
House Green Schools Caucus - The Honorable Steve King » U.S. Representative Fifth District of Iowa
-
The Honorable Dave Loebsack »
U.S. Representative
Second District of Iowa
Member
Education and Labor Committee
Sponsor of H.R. 3902
Public School Repair and Renovation Act of 2007 - Judi Caddick » Teacher Illinois Education Association Lansing, Illinois
-
Mary Cullinane »
Director
Innovation and Business Development Team Microsoft Corporation New York, New York
Neal McCluskey »
Associate Director
Center for Educational Freedom
CATO Institute
Washington, D.C.Kathleen J. Moore »
Director
School Facilities Planning Division
California Department of Education
Sacramento, CaliforniaPaul Vallas »
Superintendent
Recovery School District
New Orleans, LouisianaDr. Paula Vincent »
Superintendent
Clear Creek Amana School District
Oxford, IowaJim Waters »
Director of
Policy and Communications
Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Witnesses:
-
Hon. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) »
Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Chief Sponsor of H.R. 3195 - Andrew Imparato » President and CEO American Association of People with Disabilities
- Carey McClure » Plantiff in ADA Lawsuit v. General Motors
- Robert L. Burgdorf » Professor of Law University of the District of Columbia
-
David K. Fram, Esq . »
Director
ADA & EEO Services
National Employment Law Institute Washington, DC
Witnesses:
- Elisabeth Chun » Executive Director Good Beginnings Alliance Honolulu, Hawaii
-
Ron Haskins, Ph.D. »
Senior Fellow
Economic Studies Brookings Institution Washington, D.C. - Eric Karolak, Ph.D. » Executive Director Early Care and Education Consortium Washington, D.C.
- Charles Kolb » President Committee on Economic Development Washington, D.C.
- Deborah Phillips, Ph.D. » Professor of Psychology Georgetown University Washington, D.C.
- Kathleen Priestley » Early Education Coordinator City of Orange School District Orange, New Jersey
*Chairman Miller's statement was delivered by Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI) who chaired this hearing.
Witnesses:
- King Alexander » President California State University at Long Beach Long Beach, California
- Dr. John E. Bassett » President Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts
- Jane V. Wellman » Executive Director Delta Cost Project Washington, D.C.
Witnesses:
-
Greg Kutz »
Managing Director
Forensic Audits and Special Investigations Government Accountability Office - Cynthia Harvey » Mother of Child Victim
- Bob Bacon » Father of Child Victim
- Paul Lewis » Father of Child Victim
- Allison Pinto » Research Psychologist & Assistant Research Professor Louis de la Parte Florida Medical Health Institute University of South Florida
- Jan Moss » Executive Director National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs
Witnesses:
- Bradford P. Campbell » Assistant Secretary of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration
- David Certner » Director of Federal Affairs AARP
- Jon Chambers » Principal Schultz, Collins, Lawson, Chambers, Inc.
- Lew Minsky » Senior Attorney Florida Power & Light Co.
-
Matthew H. Scanlan »
Managing Director
Americas Institutional Business Barclays Global Investors - Tommy Thomasson » President and CEO Daily Access Corporation
Witnesses:
- Steve Allred » Brother of miner Kerry Allred
- Wendy Black » Wife of miner Dale "Bird" Black
- Michael Marasco » Son-in-law of miner Kerry Allred
- Sheila Phillips » Mother of miner Brandon Phillips
- Cesar Sanchez » Brother of miner Manuel Sanchez
- Jon Huntsman, Jr. » Governor of the State of Utah
- Wayne Holland » International Staff Representative United Steelworkers
- Cecil Roberts » President United Mine Workers of America
-
Bruce Watzman »
Vice President
Safety, Health, and Human Services National Mining Association
Statements Submitted for the Record
Joint Statement from the Families »
Kristen Kimber »
Mother of miner Brandon Kimber's childrenCasandra Phillips »
Sister of miner Brandon PhillipsNelda Erickson and Amanda Romero »
Wife and daughter of miner Don EricksonAydaliz Sanchez »
Daughter of miner Manual SanchezCody Allred »
Son of miner Kerry AllredJose Luis Payan »
Brother of miner Juan Carlos PayanMarta Sanchez »
Wife of miner Manual Sanchez
Witnesses:
- Freddy Cordero » World Trade Center Recovery Worker
-
Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc »
Professor and Chairman
Department of Community & Preventive Medicine Mt. Sinai Medical Center New York - Patricia Clark » Regional Administrator OSHA Region II New York
-
Brian A. Jackson, Ph.D. »
Associate Director
Homeland Security Program RAND Corporation - Dr. James Melius » Director NYS Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund
Big Picture Panel
Germaine Brown »
Teacher
Stewart Street Elementary School
FloridaBarry Stark »
Principal
Norris Middle School
NebraskaJack Jennings »
President
Center on Education PolicyLinda Darling-Hammond »
Professor of Education
Stanford UniversityJohn Podesta »
President and Chief Executive Officer
Center for American ProgressAndrea Messina »
Commissioner
Aspen Institute Commission on
No Child Left BehindKevin Carey »
Research and Policy Manager
Education Sector
High School Reform & College
and Career-Readiness PanelBilly Cannaday »
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Commonwealth of VirginiaBob Wise »
President
Alliance for Excellent EducationAdria Steinberg »
Associate Vice President of Youth Transition
Jobs for the FutureJames McPartland »
Principal Research Scientist
Center for Social Organization of Schools
Johns Hopkins UniversityBrian Gong »
Executive Director
Center for AssessmentMike Cohen »
President
Achieve, Inc.Janet Bray »
Director
Association for Career and Technical Education
Civil Rights Panel
Nancy Zirkin »
Vice President and Director of Public Policy
Leadership Conference on Civil RightsPeter Zamora »
Regional Counsel
Mexican American Legal Defense FundStephanie Jones »
Executive Director
The National Urban LeagueDan Losen »
Senior Education Law and Policy Associate
The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos CivilesDianne Piche »
Executive Director
Citizens' Commission on Civil RightsDelia Pompa »
Vice President of Education Programs
National Council of La RazaKaty Neas »
Director of Congressional Relations
Easter Seals
The Consortium for Citizens with DisabilitiesMyrna Mandlawitz »
Policy Director
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Business, Foundation and Innovation Panel
Jon Schnur »
CEO
New Leaders for New SchoolsCharles Harris »
Co-Founder and Executive Partner
SeaChange Capital PartnersNelson Smith »
President
National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsJosh Wyner »
Executive Vice President
Jack Kent Cooke FoundationSonia Hernandez Rodriguez »
Executive Vice President
National Farm Workers Service CenterJohn Castellani »
President
Business RoundtableJim Kohlmoos »
President and CEO
Knowledge AllianceMike Petrilli »
Vice President for National Programs & Policy
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
Teaching and School Leadership Panel
MaryKate Hughes »
Math Teacher
DC Preparatory Academy
Washington, DCKathleen Rooker »
Principal
Neil Armstrong Elementary School
FloridaReg Weaver »
President
National Education AssociationKati Haycock »
President
Education TrustAntonia Cortese »
Executive Vice-President
American Federation of TeachersFrances Bryant Bradburn »
Director of Instructional Technologies
North Carolina Department of Public InstructionMary Kay Sommers »
Principal
Shepardson Elementary
ColoradoKristan Van Hook »
Senior Vice President
Public Policy and Development
National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
State and Local Administrators Panel
David Brewer »
Superintendent of Schools
Los Angeles Unified School DistrictJoan Wodiska »
Director
Education, Early Childhood
and Workforce Committee
National Governors’ AssociationMichael Casserly »
Executive Director
Council of the Great City SchoolsPaul Houston »
Executive Director
American Association of School AdministratorsLaRuth Gray »
Deputy Director
Metropolitan Center for Urban EducationMichael Resnick »
Associate Executive Director
National School Boards Association
Witnesses:
- Lilly Ledbetter » Plaintiff in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Former Goodyear Employee
- Wade Henderson » President and CEO Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
- Prof. Deborah Brake » University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Neal D. Mollen » On Behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce
Due to technical difficulties, approximately 20 minutes of audio is missing from the webcast.
Witnesses:
- Mary Bauer » Director of the Immigration Justice Program Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, Alabama
- James S. Holt » President and Principal James S. Holt & Co., LLC Washington, D.C
-
Ray Marshall »
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
President Emeritus
LBJ School of Public Affairs University of Texas Austin, Texas - Baldemar Velasquez » Founder and President Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC)
- Jonathan P. Hiatt » General Counsel AFL-CIO AFL-CIO (Statement Provided for the Record)
Witnesses:
- Congressman Nick Rahall » Third District of West Virginia
- Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito » Second District of West Virginia
-
Dan Bertoni »
Director
Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team Government Accountability Office Washington, D.C. - Richard Stickler » Assistant Secretary of Mine Safety and Health Department of Labor Washington, D.C.
- Jonathan Snare » Acting Solicitor of Labor Department of Labor Washington, D.C.
-
Larry Grayson »
Chairman
Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering University of Missouri-Rolla Rolla, Missouri - J. Davitt McAteer » Vice President for Sponsored Programs Wheeling-Jesuit University Wheeling, West Virginia
*Due to a power glitch in the House of Representatives, some of the audio is missing.
Witnesses:
-
Steven J. Healy »
President
International Association of Campus Law Enforcement
Director
Department of Public Safety
Princeton University - Louanne Kennedy » Former Provost California State University at Northridge
-
Dewey G. Cornell »
Director
Virginia Youth Violence Project School of Education
University of Virginia -
Jan Walbert »
President
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
Vice President for Student Affairs Arcadia University
Witnesses:
- John Podesta » President and Chief Executive Officer Center for American Progress Washington, DC
- Joel I. Klein » Chancellor New York City Department of Education New York, New York
- Dr. Jarvis Sanford » Principal Dodge Renaissance Academy Chicago, Illinois
- Valdine McLean » Science Teacher Pershing County High School Lovelock, Nevada
- Dr. Jack D. Dale » Superintendent Fairfax County Public Schools Falls Church, Virginia
- Joan Bibeau » Teacher Eagleview Elementary School Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Dr. Joseph P. Burke » Superintendent of Schools Springfield Public Schools Springfield, Massachusetts
-
Dr. Gary W. Ritter »
Associate Professor
Endowed Chair in Education Policy University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Margaret Spellings » Secretary Department of Education Washington, D.C.
Witnesses:
- María "Cuca" Robledo Montecel, Ph.D. » Executive Director Intercultural Development Research Association San Antonio, Texas
- Kevin S. Trump, M.P.A » President National School Safety and Security Services Cleveland, Ohio
- Kenneth Smith » President Jobs for America’s Graduates Alexandria, Virginia
- The Honorable Robert Wise » President Alliance for Excellent Education Washington, D.C.
- Jane P. Norwood » Vice-Chair North Carolina State Board of Education Raleigh, North Carolina
Witnesses:
- John P. "Jack" Higgins » Inspector General U.S. Department of Education Washington, D.C.
-
Christopher Doherty »
Program Director (Former)
Reading First
U.S. Department of Education Washington, D.C. - Dr. Roland H. Good » Associate Professor University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
-
Dr. Edward Kame'enui »
Commissioner
National Center for Special Education Research
U.S. Department of Education Washington, D.C. - Dr. Deborah C. Simmons » Professor of Special Education Texas A&M University College Station, Texas
-
Starr Lewis »
Associate Commissioner
Office of Teaching and Learning
Kentucky Department of Education Frankfort, Kentucky
Witnesses:
- Cecil Roberts » President United Mine Workers of America Fairfax, Virginia
- Debbie Hamner » Wife of deceased miner George “Junior” Hamner Buckhannon, West Virginia
- Melissa Lee » Wife of deceased miner Jimmy Lee Speedwell, Kentucky
- Scott Howard » Miner Roxana, Kentucky
- Chuck Knisell » Miner Westover, West Virginia
- Tony Oppregard » Attorney at Law Lexington, Kentucky
- Bruce Watzman » Vice President for Safety, Health and Human Resources National Mining Association Washington, D.C.
-
Jim Dean »
Director of Extension and Outreach
College of Engineering & Mineral Resources
West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia
Witnesses:
- Stan Dorn » Senior Research Associate Urban Institute Washington, D.C.
- Bruce Herman » Executive Director National Employment Law Project New York, New York
-
Lael Brainard »
Vice President and Director
Bernard L. Schwartz Chair in International Economics
Brookings Global Economy and Development Program Washington, D.C. - David Lee Bevard » Former Maytag Employee Galesburg, IL
- Thea Lee » Policy Director AFL-CIO Washington, D.C.
- Tim Alford, Ph.D » Director Alabama Office of Workforce Development Montgomery, Alabama
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo » Attorney General New York State Albany, New York
Witnesses:
- The Honorable Rose DeLauro » U.S. Congresswoman Third District of Connecticut
- The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton (No Written Testimony Available) U.S. Congresswoman Washington, D.C.
- Catherine Hill » Research Director American Association of University Women Washington, D.C.
- Heaher Boushey » Senior Economist Center for Economic and Policy Research Washington, D.C.
- Dedra Farmer » Plaintiff in the Walmart Sex-Discrimination Class Action Suit Lawrence, Kansas
- Diana Furchtgott-Roth » Director Center for Employment Policy Hudson Institute Washingt, D.C
Witnesses:
- Admiral Frank L “Skip” Bowman » President and CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute Member, BP U.S. Refineries Independent Review Panel
- Carolyn W. Merritt » Chair U.S. Chemical Safety Board
- Eva Rowe » Parents were killed in Texas City explosion
- Red Cavaney » President and CEO
Witnesses:
- Dr. Chrys Dougherty » Director of Research National Center for Educational Accountability Austin, Texas
- Peter McWalters » Commissioner Rhode Island Department of Education Providence, Rhode Island
- Dr. Allan Olson » Co-Founder and Chief Academic Officer Northwest Evaluation Association Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Valerie A. Woodruff » Secretary of Education State of Delaware Dover, Delaware
- Dr. Harold Doran » Senior Research Scientist American Institutes for Research Washington, D.C.
Witnesses:
- Gov. Roy Barnes » Aspen Institute Commission on No Child Left Behind
- Elizabeth Burmaster » Council of Chief State School Officers
- Mike Casserly » Council of Great City Schools
- Wade Henderson » Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
- Ed McElroy » American Federation of Teachers
- Arthur J. Rothkopf » Business Coalition for Student Achievement
- Reg Weaver » National Education Association
Witnesses:
- Barbara Bovbjerg » Director for Education, Workforce and Income Security Issues U.S. Government Accountability Office Washington, D.C.
- Matthew Hutcheson » President and Founder Pension Dynamics Corporation Tigard, Oregon
- Stephen Butler » President and Founder Pension Dynamics Corporation Contra Costa County, CA
- Robert Chambers, Esq. » Partner, Helms, Mulliss & Wicker, PLLC Chairman, American Benefits Council
Witnesses:
- Richard Trumka » Secretary-Treasurer AFL-CIO
- Judy Feder » Dean Georgetown Public Policy Institute Georgetown University
- William T. Archey » President and Chief Executive Officer AeA
- Dr. Lynn A. Karoly » Senior Economist Rand Corporation
Witnesses:
- Jacob Hacker, Ph.D » Professor Yale University
- Eileen Applebaum » Director Center for Women and Work Rutgers University
- Christian Weller » Senior Economist Center for American Progress
- Rosemary Miller » Flight attendant
- Diana Furchtgott-Roth » Director Center for Employment Policy
- Kellie Johnson » President ACE Clearwater Enterprises, Inc.