House to Vote to Extend the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act

The House is expected to vote today, September 15, to extend the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act through July 1, 2010. The Act was signed into law on May 7, 2008, providing new protections in addition to those in current law to ensure that families can continue to access the loans they need to pay for college.
More »
 

ADA Amendments Act Coming to House Floor This Week

This week, the House is expected to vote on the Senate-passed version of the ADA Amendments Act. This measure would overturn the erroneous Supreme Court decisions that have eroded protections for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, restoring original Congressional intent. More »
 

House Expected to Vote on No Child Left Inside Act

The House is expected to vote this week, the week of September 15, on the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008. The measure, which was passed by the Committee on June 18, would improve environmental education for schoolchildren both inside and outside of the classroom.
 

Higher Education Opportunity Act Signed Into Law

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137) was signed into law on August 14, 2008. Passed by the House on July 31, 2008 by a vote of 380-49, this law overhauls our nation's higher education laws, advancing key reforms that address the soaring price of college and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college. More »
 

House Passes Paycheck Fairness Act

The House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act on July 31, by a vote of 247-178. The measure would help end the discriminatory practice of paying men and women unequally for performing the same job. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, will strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. More »
 

Bill Introduced to Stop DOL's 'Secret Rule'

Chairman George Miller and other House Democrats introduced the “Prohibiting the Department of Labor’s Secret Rule Act” on July 30 to prevent the Department of Labor from finalizing a last minute rule that could dramatically weaken future workplace health and safety regulations and slow their enactment. The measure specifically forbids the Department of Labor from issuing, administering or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget on July 7. More »
 

MSHA Report Confirms Committee's Conclusion That Murray Energy Recklessly Endangered Miners' Lives

Chairman Miller: "Today, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) fined the operator of Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine $1.85 million for the disaster that was the site of the worst coal mining tragedy of 2007... MSHA's accident investigation 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." More »
 

Stronger Math and Science Education Key to Boosting U.S. Competitiveness

Improving the teaching and learning of mathematics and science in U.S. schools is vital to maintaining America’s global leadership, witnesses told the Committee in a July 22 hearing. The panel of experts, which included business leaders, a teacher, and the first American woman to travel in space, recommended expanding partnerships between the business and education communities that focus on bolstering STEM education, and increasing training and support programs for teachers. The witnesses also urged lawmakers to fully fund the America COMPETES Act. More »
 

Witnesses Tell Committee That High Standards and Outstanding Teachers Will Close the Achievement Gap

Setting high standards, ensuring that all children have access to outstanding teachers, holding educators accountable for their schools’ progress, and restructuring chronically struggling schools are vital to creating a world-class public education system, mayors and superintendents of major U.S. cities told the Committee. More »

 

Labor Department Not Effectively Fighting Wage Theft

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), testified at a hearing on July 15 that findings from two separate investigations indicate that the U.S. Department of Labor is failing to effectively enforce the nation’s wage and hour laws. The two investigations found that the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department -– the agency responsible for investigating complaints of wage, hour, and child labor violations -– is failing to fully investigate and properly address violations of the law. More »