[House Report 111-696]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 419
111th Congress
2d Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Report
111-696
_______________________________________________________________________
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
DURING THE
111th CONGRESS
December 23, 2010.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
99-006 WASHINGTON : 2010
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
http://bookstore.gpo.gov. For more information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government Printing Office. Phone 202�09512�091800, or 866�09512�091800 (toll-free). E-mail, gpo@custhelp.com.
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
GEORGE MILLER, California, Chairman
Dale E. Kildee, Michigan, Vice John Kline, Minnesota,
Chairman Senior Republican Member\2\
Donald M. Payne, New Jersey Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
Robert E. Andrews, New Jersey Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Virginia California\3\
Lynn C. Woolsey, California Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Ruben Hinojosa, Texas Michael N. Castle, Delaware
Carolyn McCarthy, New York Mark E. Souder, Indiana\4\
John F. Tierney, Massachusetts Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Judy Biggert, Illinois
David Wu, Oregon Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Susan A. Davis, California Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona Tom Price, Georgia
Timothy H. Bishop, New York Virginia Foxx, North Carolina\5\
Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Rob Bishop, Utah
David Loebsack, Iowa Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania Tom McClintock, California
Phil Hare, Illinois Duncan Hunter, California
Yvette D. Clarke, New York David P. Roe, Tennessee
Joe Courtney, Connecticut Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania\6\
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio
Jared Polis, Colorado
Paul Tonko, New York
Pedro R. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
Northern Mariana Islands
Dina Titus, Nevada
Judy Chu, California\1\
Mark Zuckerman, Staff Director
Sally Stroup, Republican Staff Director
(resigned July 12, 2009)
Barrett Karr, Republican Staff Director
(appointed July 13, 2009)
------------
\1\Appointed July 16, 2009.
\2\Appointed Senior Republican Member June 17, 2009.
\3\Resigned Senior Republican Member June 16, 2009.
\4\Resigned May 21, 2010, leaving a vacancy.
\5\Resigned January 21, 2009.
\6\Appointed February 4, 2009.
STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES
------
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan, Chairman
Donald M. Payne, New Jersey Michael N. Castle, Delaware,
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Virginia Ranking Minority Member
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
Susan A. Davis, California Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona Mark E. Souder, Indiana\2\
Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
David Loebsack, Iowa Judy Biggert, Illinois
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
Jared Polis, Colorado Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
Pedro R. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico Rob Bishop, Utah
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Northern Mariana Islands Tom McClintock, California
Lynn C. Woolsey, California Duncan Hunter, California
Ruben Hinojosa, Texas
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio
Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania
Dina Titus, Nevada
Judy Chu, California\1\
------
Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning,
and Competitiveness
RUBEN HINOJOSA, Texas, Chairman
Timothy H. Bishop, New York Brett Guthrie, Kentucky,
Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania Ranking Minority Member
Joe Courtney, Connecticut John Kline, Minnesota\3\
Paul Tonko, New York Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Dina Titus, Nevada California\4\
Robert E. Andrews, New Jersey Michael N. Castle, Delaware
John F. Tierney, Massachusetts Mark E. Souder, Indiana\2\
David Wu, Oregon Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
Susan A. Davis, California Judy Biggert, Illinois
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio David P. Roe, Tennessee
Jared Polis, Colorado Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania
Pedro R. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico
------------
\1\Appointed July 16, 2009.
\2\Resigned May 21, 2010, leaving a vacancy.
\3\Appointed June 17, 2009.
\4\Resigned June 16, 2009.
Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities
CAROLYN McCARTHY, New York, Chairwoman
Yvette D. Clarke, New York Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania,
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Virginia Ranking Minority Member
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Paul Tonko, New York California
Jared Polis, Colorado Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
George Miller, California David P. Roe, Tennessee
Judy Chu, California\1\ Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania
------
Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
ROBERT E. ANDREWS, New Jersey, Chairman
David Wu, Oregon Tom Price, Georgia,
Phil Hare, Illinois Ranking Minority Member\2\
John F. Tierney, Massachusetts John Kline, Minnesota\3\
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio California\4\
Dale E. Kildee, Michigan Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Carolyn McCarthy, New York Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey Washington\5\
Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
David Loebsack, Iowa Tom McClintock, California
Yvette D. Clarke, New York Duncan Hunter, California
Joe Courtney, Connecticut David P. Roe, Tennessee
------
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California, Chairwoman
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
Donald M. Payne, New Jersey Washington,
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona Ranking Minority Member\6\
Timothy H. Bishop, New York Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Phil Hare, Illinois Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, John Kline, Minnesota\7\
Northern Mariana Islands Tom Price, Georgia\8\
------------
\1\Appointed July 16, 2009.
\2\Appointed June 17, 2009.
\3\Resigned Senior Republican Member June 16, 2009.
\4\Appointed June 17, 2009.
\5\Resigned June 16, 2009.
\6\Appointed June 17, 2009.
\7\Resigned June 16, 2009.
\8\Appointed June 17, 2009.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Education and Labor,
Washington, DC, December 23, 2010.
Hon. Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Miller: Pursuant to Rule XI, clause 1, paragraph
(d) of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, I am
hereby transmitting the Activities Report of the Committee on
Education and Labor for the 111th Congress. I circulated this
report to all members of the Committee on December 15, 2010,
and received the attached views before transmitting this report
to the House today.
This report summarizes the activities of the Committee and
its subcommittees with respect to its legislative and oversight
responsibilities.
Sincerely,
George Miller,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Introduction..................................................... 1
Full Committee................................................... 1
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 1
A. Full Committee Accomplishments........................ 1
B. Oversight Plan and Activities......................... 9
II. Hearings Held by the Full Committee...................... 12
III. Markups Held by the Full Committee...................... 13
IV. Legislative Activities................................... 14
A. Legislation Enacted Into Law (Bills Referred to
Committee)............................................. 14
B. Legislation Enacted Into Law (Bills Not Referred to
Committee)............................................. 15
C. Legislation Passed the House (Bills Referred to
Committee)............................................. 16
D. Legislation Passed the House in Another Measure....... 29
E. Legislation Passed the House (Bills Not Referred to
Committee)............................................. 29
F. Legislation With Filed Committee Reports.............. 30
G. Legislation Ordered Reported From Full Committee (Not
Passed by House)....................................... 31
H. Conference Reports Filed With Education and Labor
Members Appointed as Conferees......................... 31
V. Committee on Education and Labor Statistics............... 31
A. General Statistics on Referred Matters................ 31
B. Not Referred Matters Containing Committee's
Jurisdiction........................................... 32
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
Education...................................................... 32
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 32
II. Hearings Held by the Early Childhood, Elementary and
Secondary Education Subcommittee........................... 34
III. Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and
Secondary Education Statistics............................. 35
Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and
Competitiveness................................................ 35
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 35
II. Hearings Held by the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning
and Competitiveness Subcommittee........................... 36
III. Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and
Competitiveness Statistics................................. 37
Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities................. 37
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 37
II. Hearings Held by the Healthy Families and Communities
Subcommittee............................................... 41
III. Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities
Statistics................................................. 41
Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions........... 41
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 41
II. Hearings Held by the Health, Employment, Labor and
Pensions Subcommittee...................................... 43
III. Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
Statistics................................................. 43
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections............................ 43
I. Summary of Activities..................................... 43
II. Hearings Held by the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.. 45
III. Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Statistics........ 45
Minority Views................................................... 46
Union Calendar No. 419
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 111-696
======================================================================
ACTIVITIES AND SUMMARY REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
_______
December 23, 2010.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Miller, from the Committee on Education and Labor, submitted the
following
REPORT
FULL COMMITTEE
I. Summary of Activities
A. FULL COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In January 2009, Representative George Miller (D-CA), the
Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced
that, in the 111th Congress, the Committee would continue its
legislative and oversight focus on rebuilding and strengthening
America's middle class. A strong middle class is key to a
strong economy and a strong nation. During the 111th Congress,
the Committee took historic action on multiple fronts on behalf
of the middle class and those who aspire to join the middle
class, helping America's students, workers, and families. The
Committee's efforts focused on both long-term solutions and
more immediate needs as the economy continued to recover from
the recent recession.
Reducing Health Care Costs, Guaranteeing Choices, and Ensuring Access
to Quality, Affordable Care
Addressing the nation's unsustainable health care system is
essential to rebuilding and strengthening the middle class.
Lack of access to affordable care underlies a great deal of the
economic insecurity among working families. And out-of-control
health care costs for employers, employees and the Nation
hinder economic growth and America's competitiveness.
Health Care Reform (Signed into Law)
The Committee marked up historic health care reform
legislation and ultimately joined other committees in enacting
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA).
Under these laws, for the first time in America's history, all
Americans will have access to quality, affordable health care.
The law will protect Americans from the worst insurance
industry practices, offer the uninsured and small businesses
the opportunity to obtain affordable health care plans, and
cover 32 million otherwise uninsured Americans, all while
reducing the deficit by $143 billion over the next decade and
more than a trillion dollars over 20 years.
Making College More Affordable
Like rising health care costs, the rising costs of higher
education have stifled the growth of America's middle class.
And, like with health care reform, the Committee took historic
action to address this issue.
Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (Signed into Law)
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA),
signed into law as part of the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010, saves taxpayers $61 billion over
the 10 years by switching to the more efficient Direct Loan
program. In addition, SAFRA will help America reach President
Obama's goal of producing the most college graduates in the
world by 2020 by making college accessible and transforming the
way our student loan programs operate. It will strengthen
community colleges and training programs to help build a
highly-skilled, innovative, 21st century workforce ready for
the rigors of a global economy. It will boost the fiscal health
of the country our children will inherit by paying down the
deficit by at least $10 billion over 10 years. And it invests
$36 billion in the Pell Grant program to increase the maximum
Pell Grant award for students to $5,975 by 2017.
Saving and Creating Jobs
In addition to enacting solutions to long-term problems,
the Committee was involved directly or indirectly in a variety
of measures to help ease immediate economic difficulties and
put the economy on the path to a fair and sustainable recovery,
in the wake of the severe recession precipitated by the
financial crisis of 2008.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Signed into Law)
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), portions
of which were matters within the Committee's jurisdictional
interest, to save and create millions of jobs, invest in
education and get the economy moving forward again. The
Recovery Act increased the number of people employed by as many
as 2.8 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office
(CBO). It also lowered the unemployment rate by as much as 1.5
percentage points, CBO said. The Recovery and Act also provided
extended access and subsidies to fund continued health care
benefits for unemployed workers and funds to repair and
modernize existing public schools and higher education
facilities; update schools with 21st century technology; and
create environmentally protective, state-of-the-art classrooms
and schools. Davis-Bacon provisions ensured that the jobs
created would provide fair pay and not drive down existing
worker wages.
Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (Signed into Law)
The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, signed into
law on August 10, 2010, will save or create 319,000 American
jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs, and
also discourage American corporations from shipping jobs
overseas. The measure includes $10 billion to save teacher jobs
and $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states. The
funding will also keep police officers and firefighters on the
job.
The Committee also played a role on other jobs bills. These
included the Jobs for Main Street Act, which passed the House
on December 16, 2009, and would create new jobs for
construction workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters
and others, and extend critical assistance for the unemployed
and those who have lost health insurance, using existing
available funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
They also included the HIRE Act, which was enacted on March 18,
2010, to, among other things, provide tax incentives for
business that hire unemployed Americans, subsidies for state
and local construction bonds, and funding ($19.5 billion) for
transportation and infrastructure programs.
Protecting Worker Rights and Safety
Strengthening workers' rights, health, and safety on the
job ensures that middle class families' breadwinners come home
safe and sound after every shift. Reducing workplace injuries,
illnesses, and outright disasters saves businesses' money in
the long run when some are tempted to cut corners in the short
run. High-profile disasters like the BP oil spill and the Upper
Big Branch mine explosion underscored both lessons in 2010.
Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act (Passed by Committee)
On July 21, 2010, in the wake of the Upper Big Branch mine
disaster, the Committee passed the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety
and Health Act to reform the nation's mine and worker safety
laws. The bill would provide stronger tools to ensure that
underground coal mine operations with repeated safety
violations improve safety performance, empower workers to speak
up about safety concerns, and give the Department of Labor the
tools it needs to ensure that all workers go home safely at the
end of the day. In addition, the bill would update the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to increase
penalties to account for the effects of inflation, hold
employers accountable if they knowingly put their workers in
danger, and provide victims and their families with rights
during investigations.
Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act (Passed by
House)
On July 30, 2010, in the wake of the BP oil spill, the
House passed the Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower
Protection Act to protect oil and gas workers from retaliation
by their employers for raising health and safety concerns
regarding operations on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Protecting Miners: Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 (Signed into
Law)
H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010, was
signed into law on July 29, 2010. Among other things, the
measure provides a $22 million down payment to reduce the
backlog of mine safety enforcement cases and to ensure that
there are sufficient resources for the federal Mine Safety and
Health Administration to meet all of its legally mandated mine
inspection requirements. The House-passed version of this bill
also included a provision guaranteeing collective bargaining
rights for first responders, identical to the Public Safety
Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. However, this provision was
not included in the final enacted bill.
Preserving Retirement Security
With defined benefit pension coverage declining over recent
decades and middle class families more and more reliant on
defined contribution plans to provide a decent retirement, the
Committee focused on addressing practices that undermine
workers' 401(k) accounts.
Legislation to Expose Hidden 401(k) Fees: American Jobs and Closing Tax
Loopholes Act (Passed by House)
The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act,
reported by the Committee and ultimately passed by the House as
part of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, would
help workers shop around for the best retirement options by
requiring simple fee disclosure on the investment options
contained in their employer's 401(k) plan. Further, it would
provide adjustments to pension funding rules to ensure plans
can weather the economic crisis without being forced to choose
between cutting jobs or freezing plans.
Ensuring Fair Wages
In the 21st Century, pay discrimination remains a problem.
The Committee undertook multiple actions to address unfair
disparities in pay, particularly for female workers.
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (Signed into Law)
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act overturned a Supreme Court
ruling that made it harder for workers to pursue pay
discrimination claims. The legislation is named after Lilly
Ledbetter, whose pay discrimination claim was denied by a 5-4
Supreme Court decision in 2007. Ms. Ledbetter had worked as a
supervisor at a Goodyear plant. Unbeknownst to her, she had
been consistently paid less than her male counterparts. A jury
found that the pay disparity was due to gender discrimination.
But the Supreme Court said she had waited too long to sue for
pay discrimination, despite the fact that she filed a charge
with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as soon
as she received an anonymous note alerting her to the pay
discrimination. The court ruled that since she did not raise a
claim within 180 days of the employer's decision to
discriminate, she could not receive back pay. The decision
undermined workers' ability to rectify pay discrimination,
since most workers are not privy to an employer's decision to
discriminate when it is made and therefore would rarely know to
file a claim in time under the Court's ruling. The Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restores prior law and clarifies that
every discriminatory paycheck resulting, in whole or in part,
from an earlier discriminatory pay decision constitutes a
violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Paycheck Fairness Act (Passed by House)
On January 9, 2009, the House passed the Paycheck Fairness
Act to help end the discriminatory practice of paying men and
women unequally for performing the same job. Loopholes created
by courts and weak sanctions in the law have allowed many
employers to avoid liability for engaging in gender-based pay
discrimination under the Equal Pay Act. The bill would
strengthen workers' rights to equal pay for equal work by
closing those loopholes.
Renewing and Improving National Service and Volunteer Programs
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (Signed into Law)--The
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act creates 175,000 new service
opportunities and rewards Americans for their service
commitment. Among other things, it creates a new service corps
to meet key needs in low-income communities, provide incentives
for middle and high school students to engage in service, and
boosts opportunities for disadvantaged and foster youth, Native
Americans and older Americans.
Training Workers and Making Higher Education More Accessible
The DREAM Act (Passed by House)--The Committee-referred
bill, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors
(DREAM) Act, was passed by the House as part of another measure
on December 9, 2010. The bill would provide a limited group of
young people, brought to the United States when they were
children, with access to higher education, an opportunity to
contribute their skills and talents to the nation's economic
well-being, and a path to citizenship.
Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success Act
(SECTORS) (Passed by House)
The House passed the Strengthening Employment Clusters to
Organize Regional Success Act (SECTORS) on July 19, 2010, to
help address local skills shortages by bringing employers in
key industries together with education, labor, workforce, and
other groups to identify and provide training tailored to meet
the sector needs of that region's economy.
Helping Children Stay Safe and Healthy
The Committee addressed a number of fundamental problems
affecting children's basic health and safety at school.
Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act and the
Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (Passed by Committee and Signed
into Law, respectively)--The Committee passed the Improving
Nutrition for America's Children Act on July 15, 2010, and its
Senate companion, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, was
ultimately enacted, to support children's health and reduce
childhood hunger by dramatically improving federal child
nutrition programs. The legislation dramatically improves the
quality of meals children eat in school and in child care,
increases the number of healthy meals available to needy
children and provides the first real increase in the Federal
reimbursement rate for school lunches in more than 30 years.
The legislation also eliminates junk food from schools by
requiring schools, for the first time, to apply nutritional
standards to food served outside the cafeteria.
Keeping All Students Safe Act (Passed by House)
The House passed the Keeping All Students Safe Act on March
3, 2010, to protect children from misuses of restraint and
seclusion in classrooms. A U.S. Government Accountability
Office report released in the spring of 2009 exposed hundreds
of alleged cases of schoolchildren being abused through
inappropriate uses of restraint and seclusion, often involving
untrained staff. In a number of cases, children died. Among
other things, the Keeping All Students Safe Act would
establish, for the first time, minimum federal standards to
provide equal protections to all students, in every state
across the country.
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (Passed
by House)
The House passed the Stop Child Abuse in Residential
Programs for Teens Act of 2009 on February 23, 2009. The
Government Accountability Office found thousands of allegations
of child abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens--
including therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot
camps, and behavior modification facilities--between 1994 and
2007. Tragically, in a number of cases, this abuse and neglect
led to the death of a child. To address this urgent problem,
this measure would establish minimum health and safety
standards for preventing child abuse and neglect at teen
residential programs. The bill allows for civil penalties
against programs that violate the new standards. It also
requires states, within three years, to take on the role of
setting and enforcing standards for both private and public
youth residential programs. The legislation would also help
ensure that parents have the information about teen residential
programs that they need to make safe choices for their
children.
Improving Early Learning
The Early Learning Challenge Fund (Passed the House).--The
House passed the Early Learning Challenge Fund as part of the
Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act on September 17,
2009. To ensure more kids reach kindergarten ready succeed, the
Early Learning Challenge Fund would increase the number of low
income children in high quality early learning settings by: 1)
investing $1 billion each year in competitive grants to
challenge states to build a comprehensive high quality early
learning system for children from birth to age 5; and 2)
transforming early learning programs by insisting upon real
change in state standards and practices.
Modernizing Schools
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities
Act (Passed by House)--On May 14, 2009, the House passed the
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act
to invest in modernizing public school buildings across the
country. The measure would invest $6.4 billion in school repair
and renovation projects for fiscal year 2010 that would create
safer, healthier, and more energy-efficient learning
environments for students.
Recognizing the Educational and Community Roles of Libraries and
Museums
The Museum and Library Services Act of 2010 (Signed into
Law)--The Museum and Library Services Act of 2010 updates
current law to better reflect the role that libraries and
museums play in our nation. The legislation encourages greater
collaboration between libraries and museums and other
organizations and agencies to leverage resources and revitalize
communities. The legislation also enhances current training
opportunities for library professionals and supports the
development of a diverse library workforce. Finally, the
legislation seeks to preserve library and museum collections
and improve the ability of libraries to meet the information
needs of their communities during disasters.
Accountability and Responsibility
The Committee conducted oversight over government agencies
and industries within its jurisdiction, including continuing
its oversight work over retirement security issues, workers'
rights to organize, and employment trends. Some other
significant examples from this Congress include the following:
Wage Theft--Continuing work from the 110th Congress, the
Committee held a hearing, anchored by the undercover work of
the Governmental Accountability Office, exposed troubling
instances of worker wage theft. The GAO's work highlighted the
inattention the Bush Administration paid to this critical
issue. The investigation helped lead to the hiring of a
substantial number of new Wage and Hour Division investigators
by the Obama Administration to remedy the problem.
School Food Safety--In the wake of several recalls of food
that was to be served in schools to students, the Committee
explored how products make it into the school lunch rooms
through the various public and private distribution channels.
This work, along with the continuing policy initiatives in this
area, was aimed at empowering local school districts to make
the best decisions for the safety of their students.
Inappropriate Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools--
The Committee held a hearing exposing many cases of the
inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint techniques in
schools across the country. Some of the instances resulted in
the death of a child. This work led directly to the House's
passage of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. The
work also exposed the ability of teachers who have committed
abuse to move from one school district or state to another
taking advantage of the inconsistent patch-work of state
reporting laws. Additional work on this aspect of the problem
is ongoing.
State Occupational Safety Plans--After OSHA uncovered
significant problems in Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health
state plan following a cluster of construction fatalities, the
Committee undertook its own investigative work and held a
hearing highlighting the issue. The work highlighted the need
for OSHA to have authority to assert ``concurrent
jurisdiction'' in those states where state plans are not ``at
least as effective as'' federal OSHA in their standards,
staffing and enforcement.
Mine Safety--The Committee highlighted a growing backlog at
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the
agency that oversees administrative law judges hearing Mine Act
enforcement cases and hears appeals of these cases. The
backlog, the direct result of inattention from the prior
administration, had the potential to hamstring MSHA's
enforcement activity. In February 2010, the Committee held a
hearing highlighting the issue and exploring possible
solutions. Unfortunately, just two months later an explosion at
the Upper Big Branch Mine, an underground coal mine in West
Virginia, killed 29 workers where enforcement had been
hamstrung, in part, by the backlog. The Committee worked with
colleagues in the Senate and the Administration to craft a bill
to improve our mine safety laws, and requested an Inspector
General review of MSHA's program to deal with serial violators
of mine safety laws. This effort led to the Committee mark-up
and report of H.R. 5663, the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and
Health Act of 2010. This Act would fix many of the problems in
the Mine Act that have come to light as a result of recent
tragedies and reviews and empower MSHA to better protect our
nation's miners. A similar version of the bill, H.R. 6495, was
brought before the House on suspension.
Additionally, the Committee obtained deposition authority
for an investigation into the mining industry's corporate mine
safety and health practices in the wake of the Upper Big Branch
mine disaster. With such deposition in hand, the Committee was
able to obtain information through requests and ultimately did
not need to exercise the deposition authority. Oversight work
in this area continues.
By the Numbers
During the 111th Congress, the Committee held 81 hearings
and enacted or helped enact more than two dozen laws in its
efforts to grow and strengthen the nation's middle class. How
laws enacted by the Committee have affected American families:
More than 31 million of the Nation's children will
have access to healthier, more nutritious school meals.
Millions of volunteers are performing service in
their communities meeting local education, health and
environmental needs, contributing close to 8.1 billion hours of
service in 2009.
Community colleges, serving over 11 million
students nationwide, will have access to $2 billion dollars
over the next four years, to expand the educational and
training programs in the fastest growing fields that are
critical to driving our economy forward.
Over 8 million students receiving the federal Pell
grant award will see an increase to their federal Pell grant
award, with the Pell grant maximum award reaching $5,975 by
2017.
$2.55 billion will be invested in Historically
Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving
Institutions.
Child protection and domestic violence services
for millions of children who are exposed to domestic violence
every year will see improved services.
Millions of workers have stronger rights against
pay discrimination.
32 million more people will gain health care
coverage.
Millions of Americans have gained new rights
against abusive health insurance industry practices, including
a right to be insured regardless of a pre-existing condition, a
right to stay on parents' health insurance plans until the age
26, and a right to not be dropped from coverage when illness
strikes.
The Committee moved or assisted with a number of
new laws that have saved or created millions of jobs to help
the economy on the road to recovery.
B. OVERSIGHT PLAN AND ACTIVITIES
1. Oversight Plan
The oversight plan adopted by the Committee for the 111th
Congress was, in substantial part, as follows:
Oversight is a constitutional prerogative and
responsibility of the Congress. Oversight is a core objective
of the Committee. Accordingly, the Committee will thoroughly
oversee and investigate the various agencies, departments, and
programs within its jurisdiction. In doing so, the Education
and Labor Committee will actively consult with other House
committees having concurrent or germane jurisdiction. In its
oversight proceedings, the Committee will make full use of
formal hearings, both in Washington, D.C. and in regional field
hearings, to ensure that all relevant voices are heard and made
part of the official record. Among other investigative
techniques, the Committee will visit relevant sites, correspond
with impacted parties, and review audits and investigations by,
among others, the Congressional Research Service, Government
Accountability Office (``GAO''), the United States Attorney
General, and the Offices of the Inspectors General (``IGs'') of
the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human
Services (``HHS''). The Committee has identified several
particular areas for oversight and investigation in the 111th
Congress. These areas are discussed below.
Protecting the Financial Interests Students and Taxpayers--
The Committee seeks to ensure that the financial interests of
students, their families, and taxpayers are protected. To do
this, the Committee will monitor the implementation of
provisions of the Higher Education Opportunity Act signed into
law last year, specifically provisions included to prohibit
conflicts of interest among colleges and student loan lenders
and to enhance consumer disclosures and protections for both
Federal and private loans. The Committee will also monitor the
implementation of the Ensuring Continued Access to Student
Loans Act, especially as experience with this Act might inform
broader reform of the student lending industry, and look more
broadly at the adequacy of mechanisms in place to ensure lender
and guaranty agency compliance with laws and regulations. The
Committee will seek to protect taxpayers and keep funds
available for deserving students by exploring allegations of
educational programs that receive federal student aid for
``ghost students'' purportedly participating in programs, but
whom do not exist. Finally, looking to protect students beyond
traditional higher education financing, the Committee will
assess and investigate as warranted, non-student loan business
relationships between colleges, lenders, and students.
Safeguarding the Federal Child Nutrition Programs--The
Committee will seek to keep children safer by ensuring that the
foods they receive through federal child nutrition programs are
safe. In light of last year's unprecedented food safety-related
recalls affecting large numbers of schools and districts
nation-wide and concerns about infant formula, the Committee
will continue to review the safety of the food that is served
as part of the federal child nutrition programs and investigate
as appropriate.
Protecting Workers' Right to Organize Effectively--The
Committee will investigate as appropriate to ensure the
protection of the right of workers to organize and collectively
bargain. The Committee will also investigate as appropriate to
ensure that unions provide workers with the effective and
ethical representation workers deserve.
Safeguarding Workers' Retirement Security--The Committee
held a number of hearings on the issue of retirement security
during the 110th Congress. As the economy has changed,
employers have shifted much of the burden of retirement
planning and saving onto workers. Numerous studies have
concluded that most workers are not accumulating adequate
retirement savings. The financial crisis caused by Wall Street
abuses has further weakened and jeopardized workers' retirement
security. In an effort to protect the integrity of retirement
savings, , the Committee will investigate any impropriety in
the selling and operation of the various retirement products
and investments offered to workers, including the disclosure
and appropriateness of fees and the disclosure of the risks and
costs associated with such products. The Committee has
requested that the GAO examine problems related to the selling
of conflicted investment advice, target date retirement funds,
and rollovers of retirement savings to Individual Retirement
Accounts (IRAs)
Protecting Workers from Exploitation and Wage Theft--In the
110th Congress, the Committee held a hearing on the Department
of Labor's enforcement of federal wage and hour laws. The
Committee charged GAO with investigating this issue and will
continue this work. The Committee will investigate and
highlight the last administration's enforcement of wage and
hour laws to further Congress' efforts to encourage and assist
the new administration in protecting vulnerable workers from
exploitation.
Strengthening the Middle Class--The Committee will
investigate trends in economic conditions and employment
practices generally that affect the ability of the nation's
workers to acquire and maintain decent standards of living for
themselves and their families, including respect for
fundamental workers' rights, trade issues and compensation,
benefits, and other workplace policies and practices.
Promoting Legislative Oversight of the Executive Branch--
The Committee plans to lay the foundation and establish a
baseline for program oversight in the new administration. The
Committee will explore with GAO ways in which GAO can identify
and prioritize programs that may most benefit from an in-depth
review. The Committee will also work with the new
administration to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of
the programs under the Committee's jurisdiction.
Fraud, Waste and Abuse--Where appropriate, the Committee
will investigate specific concerns raised by Members, staff,
informants, and others regarding allegations of fraud, waste
and abuse. The Committee will remain vigilant over the
taxpayer's investment in government, and the health and safety
of the Nation's workers, students, and children. The
Committee's vigilance will include monitoring the expenditure
and use of funds appropriated under any economic recovery
legislation. The Committee reserves the right to review and
investigate as appropriate any issues within the general
legislative, administrative, and regulatory jurisdiction of the
Committee.
2. Oversight Activities
The Committee's oversight activities pursuant to the
oversight plan include those investigations and actions
summarized in the preceding section under ``Accountability and
Responsibility,'' as well as numerous hearings held at the Full
Committee and Subcommittee levels as detailed in the following
sections. Some oversight activity continues, including pending
GAO reports requested by the Committee Chairman on management
efficiencies at the Departments of Labor and Education.
The Committee's oversight activities included hearings held
pursuant to Rule XI, clause 2(n), on waste, fraud, abuse or
mismanagement in Government programs authorized by the
Committee. Examples of such hearings included: the March 25,
2009, Hearing on GAO's Undercover Investigation: Wage Theft of
America's Vulnerable Workers, which examined the mishandling of
wage theft cases by the Wage and Hour Division of the
Department of Labor in the previous years; the May 19, 2009,
Hearing on Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion
and Restraint in Schools, which explored the use of abusive
disciplinary and control practices in the nation's schools; the
October 29, 2009 Hearing on Nevada's Occupational Health and
Safety Enforcement Program: OSHA's Findings and
Recommendations, which examined the failures of a state OSH
plan to effectively enforce workplace health and safety law;
the February 23, 2010, Hearing on Reducing the Growing Backlog
of Mine Safety Cases, which examined the management and
processing of a massive caseload of mine safety cases at the
Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Review Commission; the May 18, 2010, Hearing
on Examining GAO's Review of Selected Head Start Grantees,
which explored problems, including alleged fraud, among certain
Head Start Grantees; and the June 23, 2010, Hearing on Worker
Health and Safety from the Oil Rig to the Shoreline, which
examined the effectiveness of government regulation and
emergency response to prevent and clean up the BP oil spill in
and along the Gulf of Mexico.
The Committee's oversight activities also included a
hearing held pursuant to Rule XI, clause 2(o), on a disclaimer
of an agency's financial statement. On December 7, 2010, the
Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a
hearing on the disclaimer received by the Department of Labor
on its FY 2010 financial statement, hearing from both the
Department's Inspector General and its Chief Financial Officer.
The disclaimer resulted from problems arising from the agency's
implementation of a new data system. The agency explained the
steps it was taking to fix those problems and gain an audit
opinion.
II. Hearings Held by the Full Committee
111th Congress, First Session
February 12, 2009--Hearing on ``Examining Workers' Rights and
Violence against Labor Union Leaders in Colombia''
(111-1).
February 24, 2009--Hearing on ``Strengthening Worker Retirement
Security'' (111-3).
February 25, 2009--Hearing on ``Renewing America through
National Service and Volunteerism'' (111-4).
March 17, 2009--Hearing on ``The Importance of Early Childhood
Development'' (111-8).
March 25, 2009--Hearing on ``GAO's Undercover Investigation:
Wage Theft of America's Vulnerable Workers'' (111-11).
March 26, 2009--Hearing on ``The Economic and Employment Impact
of the Arts and Music Industry'' (111-12).
April 28, 2009--Hearing on ``Are OSHA's Penalties Adequate to
Deter Health and Safety Violations?'' (111-16).
April 29, 2009--Hearing on ``Strengthening America's
Competitiveness through Common Academic Standards''
(111-17).
May 7, 2009--Hearing on ``Ensuring Preparedness Against the Flu
Virus at School and Work'' (111-19).
May 12, 2009--Hearing on ``America's Competitiveness through
High School Reform'' (111-20).
May 19, 2009--Hearing on ``Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use
of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools'' (111-22).
May 20, 2009--Hearing on ``The Obama Administration's Education
Agenda'' (111-23).
May 21, 2009--Hearing on ``Increasing Student Aid through Loan
Reform'' (111-24).
June 4, 2009--Hearing on ``Building on What Works at Charter
Schools'' (111-25).
June 16, 2009--Hearing on ``The Future of Learning: How
Technology is Transforming Public Schools'' (111-28).
June 23, 2009--Hearing on ``The Tri-Committee Draft Proposal
for Health Care Reform'' (111-29).
September 23, 2009--Hearing on ``H.R. 3017, Employment Non-
Discrimination Act of 2009'' (111-32).
September 30, 2009--Hearing on ``Teacher Equity: Effective
Teachers for All Children'' (111-33).
October 1, 2009--Hearing on ``Ensuring Economic Opportunities
for Young Americans'' (111-34).
October 29, 2009--Hearing on ``Nevada's Workplace Health and
Safety Enforcement Program: OSHA's Findings and
Recommendations'' (111-37).
November 17, 2009--Hearing on ``Protecting Employees, Employers
and the Public: H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies'' (111-
40).
December 8, 2009--Hearing on ``Improving Our Competitiveness:
Common Core Education Standards'' (111-43).
111th Congress, Second Session
February 3, 2010--Hearing on ``Strengthening the Economy and
Improving the Lives of American Workers'' (111-44).
February 23, 2010--Hearing on ``Reducing the Growing Backlog of
Contested Mine Safety Cases'' (111-45).
February 24, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 4330, the All Students
Achieving through Reform Act of 2009'' (111-46).
March 2, 2010--Hearing on ``Improving Children's Health:
Strengthening Federal Child Nutrition Programs'' (111-
47).
March 3, 2010--Hearing on ``Building a Stronger Economy:
Spurring Reform and Innovation In American Education''
(111-48).
March 17, 2010--Hearing on ``The Obama Administration's
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization
Blueprint'' (111-52).
April 14, 2010--Hearing on ``How Data Can Be Used to Inform
Educational Outcomes'' (111-54).
April 21, 2010--Hearing on ``Reforming the Juvenile Justice
System to Improve Children's Lives and Public Safety''
(111-56).
April 30, 2010--Hearing on ``Understanding Problems in First
Contract Negotiations: Post-Doctoral Scholar Bargaining
at the University of California'' (111-59).
May 4, 2010--Hearing on ``Supporting America's Educators: The
Importance of Quality Teachers and Leaders'' (111-60).
May 18, 2010--Hearing on ``Examining GAO's Review of Selected
Head Start Grantees'' (111-62).
May 19, 2010--Hearing on ``Research and Best Practices on
Successful School Turnaround'' (111-63).
May 20, 2010--Hearing on ``The Impact of Concussions on High
School Athletes'' (111-64).
May 24, 2010--Hearing on ``The Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy:
Testimony of Family Members'' (111-65).
June 17, 2010--Hearing on ``The Department of Education
Inspector General's Review of Standards for Program
Length in Higher Education'' (111-67).
June 23, 2010--Hearing on ``Worker Health and Safety from the
Oil Rig to the Shoreline'' (111-68).
July 1, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 5504, Improving Nutrition for
America's Children Act'' (111-71).
July 13, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 5663, Miner Safety and Health
Act of 2010'' (111-72).
September 23, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 6172, Protecting Student
Athletes from Concussions Act'' (111-75).
III. Markups Held by the Full Committee
111th Congress, First Session
January 21, 2009--Organizational Meeting. The Committee Rules
for the 111th Congress were adopted by unanimous
consent. Subcommittee assignments were announced.
February 11, 2009--H.R. 911was ordered favorably reported to
the House by a vote of 32 to 10.
February 11, 2009--The Oversight Plan was adopted by unanimous
consent.
March 11, 2009--H.R. 1388 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 34 to 3 (House
Report 111-37).
May 6, 2009--H.R. 2187 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 31 to 14 (House
Report 111-100).
June 24, 2009--H.R. 2989 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 29 to 17 (House
Report 111-244).
July 17, 2009--H.R. 3200 was ordered reported favorably to the
House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
The Committee authorized the Chairman to transmit the
bill, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute,
to the Committee on Budget in compliance with Section
310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as the
first part of the Committee's recommendations, pursuant
to the reconciliation instruction in S. Con. Res. 13,
by a vote of 26 to 22 (House Report 111-299, Part III).
July 21, 2009--H.R. 3221 was ordered reported favorably to the
House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
The Committee authorized the Chairman to transmit the
bill, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
to the Committee on the Budget in compliance with
Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as
the first part of the Committee's recommendations,
pursuant to the reconciliation instruction in
S.Con.Res. 13, by a vote of 30 to 17 (House Report 111-
232).
111th Congress, Second Session
February 4, 2010--H.R. 4247 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 34 to 10 (House
Report 111-417).
July 14, 2010--H.R. 5504 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 32 to 13.
July 21, 2010--H.R. 5663 was ordered favorably reported, as
amended, to the House by a vote of 30 to 17 (House
Report 111-579).
IV. Legislative Activities
A. LEGISLATION ENACTED INTO LAW (BILLS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE)
H.R. 2 (Public Law 111-3) To amend title XXI of the Social
Security Act to extend and improve the Children's
Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr.
H.R. 1388 (Public Law 111-13) The Edward M. Kennedy Serve
America Act, an Act to reauthorize and reform the
national service laws. Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn
H.R. 1777 (Public Law 111039) To make technical corrections to
the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other
purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 3962 (Public Law 111-192) To provide a physician payment
update, to provide pension funding relief, and for
other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, John D.
H.R. 4691 (Public Law 111-144) To provide a temporary extension
of certain programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor:
Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 4851 (Public Law 111-157) To provide a temporary extension
of certain programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor:
Rep. Levin, Sander M.
H.R. 5610 (Public Law 111-213) To provide a technical
adjustment with respect to funding for independent
living centers under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in
order to ensure stability for such centers. Sponsor:
Rep. Miller, George
S. 2781 (Public Law 111-256) A bill to change references in
Federal law to mental retardation to references to an
intellectual disability, and to change references to a
mentally retarded individual to references to an
individual with an intellectual disability. Sponsor:
Sen. Mikulski, Barbara
S. 2865 (Public Law 111-200) A bill to reauthorize the
Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and for
other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I.
S. 3307 (Public Law 111-296) Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of
2010. Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L.
S. 3817 (Public Law 111-378), CAPTA Reauthorization ACT of
2010. Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J.
S. 3984 (Public Law 111-) Museum and Library Services Act of
2010. Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack.
B. LEGISLATION ENACTED INTO LAW (BILLS NOT REFERRED TO COMMITTEE)
H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Obey, David R.
H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Obey, David R.
H.R. 1586, FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety
Improvement Act. Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 2647, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2010. Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike
H.R. 2701, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Reyes, Silvestre
H.R. 2847, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. Rep.
Mollohan, Alan B.
H.R. 2997, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Olver, John W.
H.R. 3548, Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act
of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim
H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sponsor:
Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 4213, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
H.R. 4899, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Obey, David R.
S. 181, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Sponsor: Sen.
Mikulski, Barbara A.
S. 1422, Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act.
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty
S. 1818, Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National
Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009. Sponsor:
Sen. Bingaman, Jeff
C. LEGISLATION PASSED THE HOUSE (BILLS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE)
H.Con.Res. 59, Supporting the goals and ideals of senior
caregiving and affordability. Sponsor: Rep. Terry, Lee.
H.Con.Res. 77, Recognizing and honoring the signing by
President Abraham Lincoln of the legislation
authorizing the establishment of collegiate programs at
Gallaudet University. Sponsor: Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C.
H.Con.Res. 99, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National
Early Educator Worthy Wage Day. Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy,
Carolyn
H.Con.Res. 123, Recognizing the historical and national
significance of the many contributions of John William
Heisman to the sport of football. Sponsor: Rep.
Thompson, Glenn
H.Con.Res. 126, Recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title VI
international education programs within the Department
of Education. Sponsor: Rep. Watson, Diane E.
H.Con.Res. 222, Recognizing the leadership and historical
contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic
community and his remarkable efforts to combat racial
and ethnic discrimination in the United States of
America. Sponsor: Rep. Ortiz, Solomon P.
H.Con.Res. 275, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning on the second Sunday of September as Arts in
Education Week. Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie
H.Con.Res. 284, Recognizing the work and importance of special
education teachers. Sponsor: Rep. Sessions, Pete
H.Con.Res. 285, Recognizing the important role that fathers
play in the lives of their children and families and
supporting the goals and ideals of designating 2010 as
the Year of the Father. Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers,
Cathy
H.Con.Res. 323, Supporting the goal of ensuring that all
Holocaust survivors in the United States are able to
live with dignity, comfort, and security in their
remaining years. Sponsor: Rep. Wasserman Schultz,
Debbie
H.Con.Res. 329, Recognizing the 35th anniversary of the
enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children
Act of 1975. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.Res. 6, Recognizing the significant contribution coaches make
in the life of children who participate in organized
sports and supporting the goals and ideals of National
Coaches Appreciation Week. Sponsor: Rep. McIntyre, Mike
H.Res. 39, Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Lipinski, Daniel
H.Res. 41, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Mentoring Month 2009. Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A.
H.Res. 43, Recognizing the efforts of those who serve their
communities on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the
holiday as a day of national service. Sponsor: Rep.
Platts, Todd Russell
H.Res. 50, Honoring the life of Claiborne Pell, distinguished
former Senator from the State of Rhode Island. Sponsor:
Rep. Miller, George
H.Res. 56, Expressing support for designation of the week of
February 2 through February 6, 2009, as ``National
School Counseling Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Sanchez, Linda
T.
H.Res. 58, Commending the University of Florida Gators for
winning the Bowl Championship Series National
Championship Game. Sponsor: Rep. Stearns, Cliff
H.Res. 60, Recognizing and commending the University of
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for winning the 2008
Heisman Trophy and for his academic and athletic
accomplishments. Sponsor: Rep. Fallin, Mary
H.Res. 77, Congratulating the University of Mary Washington in
Fredericksburg, Virginia, for more than 100 years of
service and leadership to the United States. Sponsor:
Rep. Wittman, Robert J.
H.Res. 90, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Capus
Safety Awareness Month. Sponsor: Rep. Sestak, Joe
H.Res. 91, Honoring the life and service of Dr. William
Spoelhof, president emeritus of Calvin College in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J.
H.Res. 114, Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Girls
and Women in Sports Day.'' Sponsor: Rep. Sires, Albio
H.Res. 128, Honoring Miami University for its 200 years of
commitment to extraordinary higher education. Sponsor:
Rep. Boehner, John A.
H.Res. 146, Designating March 2, 2009, as ``Read Across America
Day.'' Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Betsy
H.Res. 150, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that A. Philip Randolph should be
recognized for his lifelong leadership and work to end
discrimination and secure equal employment and labor
opportunities for all Americans. Sponsor: Rep. Rangel,
Charles B.
H.Res. 153, Commending the University of Southern California
Trojan football team for its victory in the 2009 Rose
Bowl. Sponsor: Rep. Watson, Diane E.
H.Res. 167, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of
Campus Fire Safety Month, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr.
H.Res. 182, Expressing support for designation of the week of
March 1 through March 8, 2009, as ``School Social Work
Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J.
H.Res. 196, Congratulating the University of Tennessee women's
basketball team (the ``Lady Vols'') and Head Coach Pat
Summitt on her 1000th victory. Sponsor: Rep. Duncan,
John J., Jr.
H.Res. 210, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that providing breakfast in schools
through the National School Breakfast Program has a
positive impact on classroom performance. Sponsor: Rep.
Moore, Gwen
H.Res. 222, Congratulating the National Assessment Governing
Board on its 20th Anniversary in measuring student
academic achievement. Sponsor: Rep. Castle, Michael N.
H.Res. 232, Recognizing and commending the Toys for Tots
Literacy Program for its contributions in raising
awareness of illiteracy, promoting children's literacy,
and fighting poverty through the support of literacy.
H.Res. 240, To support the goals and ideals of Professional
Social Work Month and World Social Work Day. Sponsor:
Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol
H.Res. 247, Expressing support for designation of March 22,
2009, as ``National Rehabilitation Counselors
Appreciation Day.'' Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike
H.Res. 297, Recognizing May 25, 2009, as National Missing
Children's Day. Sponsor: Biggert, Judy
H.Res. 300, Congratulating Camp Dudley YMCA of Westport, New
York, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M.
H.Res. 335, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Volunteer Week. Sponsor: Rep. Platts, Todd Russell
H.Res. 336, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Library
Week. Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J.
H.Res. 337, Supporting the observance of National Child Abuse
Prevention Month, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep.
Granger, Kay
H.Res. 338, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Community College Month. Sponsor: Latham, Tom
H.Res. 344, Commending the University of Connecticut Huskies
for their historic win in the 2009 National Collegiate
Athletic Association Division I Women's Basketball
Tournament. Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe
H.Res. 347, Congratulating Averett University in Danville,
Virginia, for 150 years of service and leadership to
the United States. Sponsor: Rep. Perriello, Thomas S.P.
H.Res. 348, Congratulating the University of North Carolina
men's basketball team for winning the 2009 NCAA
Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.
Sponsor: Rep. Price, David E.
H.Res. 353, Supporting the goals and ideals of Global Youth
Service Days. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
H.Res. 362, Expressing the support of the House of
Representatives for the goals and ideals of the
National School Lunch Program. Sponsor: Rep. Watson,
Diane E.
H.Res. 368, Congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes
wrestling team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I
National Wrestling Championship. Sponsor: Loebsack,
David
H.Res. 374, Recognizing the roles and contributions of
America's teachers to building and enhancing our
Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam
H.Res. 375, Supporting the goals and ideals of Workers'
Memorial Day in order to honor and remember the workers
who have been killed or injured in the workplace.
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice
H.Res. 382, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter
Schools Week, to be held May 3 through May 9, 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Rob
H.Res. 386, Commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics
Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship.
Sponsor: Rep. Broun, Paul C.
H.Res. 390, Recognizing the Winston Churchill Memorial and
Library in Fulton, Missouri, as ``America's National
Churchill Museum,'' and commending its efforts to
recognize the importance of the historic legacy of Sir
Winston Churchill and to educate the people of the
United States about his legacy of character,
leadership, and citizenship. Sponsor: Rep. Luetkemeyer,
Blaine
H.Res. 396, Honoring the graduating Class of 2009 at the
University of California, Merced. Sponsor: Rep.
Cardoza, Dennis A.
H.Res. 411, Supporting the goals and ideals of the Intermediate
Space Challenge in Mojave, California. Sponsor: Rep.
McCarthy, Kevin
H.Res. 428, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of
fathers in the healthy development of children,
supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging
greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their
children, especially on Father's Day. Sponsor: Rep.
McIntyre, Mike
H.Res. 438, Expressing support for designation of September as
``National Child Awareness Month.'' Sponsor: Sanchez,
Loretta
H.Res. 442, Recognizing the importance of the Child and Adult
Care Food Program and its positive effect on the lives
of low income children and families. Sponsor: Rep.
Miller, George
H.Res. 448, Congratulating the University of California, Davis,
for a century as a premier public research university
and one of our Nation's finest institutions of higher
education. Spsonsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike
H.Res. 453, Recognizing the significant accomplishments of the
AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a
national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and
alumni, and raise awareness about the importance of
national and community service. Sponsor: Rep. Matsui,
Doris O.
H.Res. 454, Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sponsor:
Rep. Poe, Ted
H.Res. 455, Congratulating the Wichita State University men's
and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 United
States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling
National Championship. Sponsor: Tiahrt, Todd
H.Res. 459, Expressing support for designation of ``National
Safety Month.'' Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J.
H.Res. 487, Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the State News
at Michigan State University. Sponsor: Rep. Rogers,
Mike J.
H.Res. 491, Encouraging each institution of higher education in
the country to seek membership in the Servicemembers
Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium. Sponsor: Rep.
Adler, John H.
H.Res. 493, Recognizing the significant contributions of
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life to
college campus communities in the United States and
around the world. Sponsor: Rep. Klein, Ron
H.Res. 503, Recognizing National Physical Education and Sport
Week, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Altmire,
Jason
H.Res. 517, Congratulating the University of Washington women's
softball team for winning the 2009 Women's College
World Series. Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim
H.Res. 558, Supporting the increased understanding of, and
interest in, computer science and computing careers
among the public and in schools, and to ensure an ample
and diverse future technology workforce through the
designation of National Computer Science Education
Week. Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J.
H.Res. 561, Congratulating the Onondaga Community College Lady
Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) Division I Women's Lacrosse
Tournament. Sponsor: Rep. Maffei, Daniel B.
H.Res. 562, Congratulating Syracuse University for winning the
National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I
Men's Lacrosse Tournament. Sponsor: Rep. Maffei, Daniel
B.
H.Res. 563, Congratulating the Onondaga Community College
Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) Division I Men's Lacrosse
Tournament. Sponsor: Rep. Maffei, Daniel B.
H.Res. 583, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that Lester Flatt has made an
invaluable contribution to American art as both a
songwriter and a performer, leaving an indelible legacy
in bluegrass music. Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Lincoln
H.Res. 616, Congratulating the Louisiana State University
baseball team for winning the 2009 National Collegiate
Athletic Association Division I College World Series.
Sponsor: Rep. Cassidy, Bill
H.Res. 650, Recognizing that country music has made a
tremendous contribution to American life and culture
and declaring country music to be a uniquely American
art form. Sponsor: Rep. Stearns, Cliff
H.Res. 659, Congratulating Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on
98 years of serving local communities and enriching the
lives of collegiate men throughout the Nation. Sponsor:
Rep. Hastings, Alcee L.
H.Res. 660, Recognizing the distinguished history of the
Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute. Sponsor: Rep.
Kissell, Larry
H.Res. 684, Recognizing and honoring Howard University School
of Law's 140-year legacy of social justice and its
continued commitment to the training of capable and
compassionate legal practitioners and scholars.
Sponsor: Rep. Kilpatrick, Carolyn C.
H.Res. 686, Recommending that the United States Constitution be
taught to high school students throughout the Nation in
September of their senior year. Sponsor: Rep. Grayson,
Alan
H.Res. 696, Acknowledging and congratulating Western Wyoming
Community College in Southwest Wyoming on the occasion
of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and
citizens of the State of Wyoming. Sponsor: Rep. Lummis,
Cynthia M.
H.Res. 700, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning on November 9, 2009, as National School
Psychology Week. Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, David
H.Res. 707, A resolution expressing support for designation of
the week of October 18, 2009, as National Adult
Education and Family Literacy Week. Sponsor: Rep.
Polis, Jared
H.Res. 730, Honoring the 100th anniversary of the University of
Wisconsin-Lacrosse. Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron
H.Res. 737, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that a National Hispanic-Serving
Institutions Week should be established. Sponsor:
Grijalva, Raul M.
H.Res. 741, Expressing support for designation of October 8,
2009 as national Jumpstart's ``Read for the Record
Day.'' Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Betsy
H.Res. 752, Recognizing the tragic loss of life that occurred
at the Cherry Mine in Cherry, Illinois, on its 100th
anniversary and the contributions to worker and mine
safety that resulted from this and other disasters.
Sponsor: Rep. Halvorson, Deborah L.
H.Res. 768, Expressing support for the designation of the month
of October as ``National Work and Family Month.''
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn
H.Res. 769, Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a
teaching strategy to effectively engage youth in the
community and classroom, and expressing support for the
goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.
Sponsor: Rep. Platts, Todd Russell
H.Res. 776, Congratulating the Dartmouth Outing Club of
Hanover, New Hampshire, for the 100 years of service to
the United States and its wilderness. Sponsor: Rep.
Hodes, Paul W
H.Res. 791, Congratulating the Aldine Independent School
District in Harris County, Texas, on winning the 2009
``Broad Prize for Urban Education.'' Sponsor: Rep.
Green, Gene
H.Res. 811, Expressing support for designation of October 2009
as ``National Principals Month.'' Sponsor: Rep. Davis,
Susan A.
H.Res. 817, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives that Congress
should continue to raise awareness of domestic violence
in the United States and its devastating effects on
families and communities, and support programs designed
to end domestic violence. Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al
H.Res. 822, Expressing support for students to learn about
Christopher Columbus. Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn
H.Res. 824, Congratulating the Northwestern University Wildcats
on winning the 2009 NCAA women's lacrosse championship,
and to commend Northwestern University for its pursuit
of athletic and academic excellence. Sponsor: Rep.
Schakowsky, Janice D.
H.Res. 836, Expressing support for Teen Read Week. Sponsor:
Roe, David P.
H.Res. 837, Recognizing Kentucky Wesleyan College for over 150
years of service as an institution of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie, Brett
H.Res. 854, Recognizing Weber State University for the 120th
anniversary of its founding as an institution of higher
education. Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Rob
H.Res. 860, Supporting the initiatives of Chicago Wilderness
and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. Sponsor:
Rep. Quigley, Mike
H.Res. 862, Congratulating the staff, students, and faculty at
the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy for
winning the 2009 Star Innovator in the Intel Schools of
Distinction competition. Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill
H.Res. 878, Expressing support for the goals and ideals of
National Family Literacy Day. Sponsor: Rep. Platts,
Todd Russell
H.Res. 880, Recognizing the efforts of postsecondary
institutions offering career and technical education to
educate and train workers for positions in high-demand
industries. Sponsor: Rep. Cassidy, Bill
H.Res. 897, Recognizing the importance of teaching elementary
and secondary school students about the sacrifices that
veterans have made throughout the history of the
Nation. Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie, Brett
H.Res. 901, Recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th
anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
H.Res. 970, Congratulating Flint native, University of Alabama
sophomore, and running back Mark Ingram on winning the
2009 Heisman Trophy and honoring both his athletic and
academic achievements. Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Dale E.
H.Res. 990, Expressing support for designation of January 2010
as ``National Mentoring Month.'' Sponsor: Rep.
McCollum, Betty
H.Res. 991, Commending the University of Virginia men's soccer
team for winning the 2009 Division I NCAA National
Championship. Sponsor: Rep. Perriello, Thomas S.P.
H.Res. 1001, Congratulating North Central College on winning
the 2009 NCAA Division III men's cross country
championship.
H.Res. 1002, Honoring the life and work of Dr. Marin Luther
King, Jr. and encouraging the continued commitment to
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national day of
service. Sponsor: Platts, Todd Russell
H.Res. 1004, Congratulating the Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine for its 150 years of
commitment to advancing science and improving health.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K.
H.Res. 1007, Commending the University of Alabama for winning
the Bowl Championship Series National Championship
Game. Sponsor: Rep. Bachus, Spencer
H.Res. 1008, Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Lipinski, Daniel
H.Res. 1015, Congratulating the Penn State women's volleyball
team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National
Championship. Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn
H.Res. 1029, Expressing support for designation of the week of
February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ``National
School Counseling Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Sanchez, Linda
T.
H.Res. 1030, Congratulating Messiah College men's and women's
soccer teams on winning the 2009 NCAA Division III
national championships.
H.Res. 1033, Expressing support for designation of April 2010
as ``National Autism Awareness Month: and supporting
efforts to devote resources to research into the causes
and treatment of autism and to improve training and
support for individuals with autism and those who care
for individuals with autism.
H.Res. 1034, Expressing support for the importance of Braille
in the lives of blind people. Sponsor: Rep. Sarbanes,
John P.
H.Res. 1041, Congratulating and commending the University of
Idaho's football team for winning the 2009 Humanitarian
Bowl in Boise, Idaho.
H.Res. 1042, Commending the Boise State University Broncos
football team for winning the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.
Sponsor: Rep. Minnick, Walter
H.Res. 1043, Recognizing Brescia University for 60 years of
leadership in higher education. Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie,
Brett
H.Res. 1047, Commending The Ohio State University Buckeyes
football team for its victory in the 2010 Rose Bowl.
Sponsor: Rep. Kilroy, Mary Jo
H.Res. 1055, Supporting the designation of National Robotics
Week as an annual event. Sponsor: Rep. Doyle, Michael
F.
H.Res. 1058, Honoring and praising the Sojourn to the Past
organization on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John
H.Res. 1072, Recognizing Louisiana State University for 150
years of service and excellence in higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Cassidy, Bill
H.Res. 1089, Recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana
College in Rock Island, Illinois. Sponsor: Rep. Hare,
Phil
H.Res. 1091, Expressing support for designation of the week of
February 28 through March 7, 2010, as ``School Social
Work Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Patrick
H.Res. 1111, Designating March 2, 2010, as ``Read Across
America Day.'' Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Betsy
H.Res. 1112, Congratulating the Pennsylvania State University
IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) on its continued
success in support of the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn
State Hershey Children's Hospital. Sponsor: Rep.
Thompson, Glenn
H.Res. 1117, Commending and congratulating the California State
University system on the occasion of its 50th
anniversary. Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe
H.Res. 1131, Expressing support for designation of the week of
April 18, 2010, through April 23, 2010, as National
Assistant Principals Week. Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia
L.
H.Res. 1142, Congratulating Silver Lake College for 75 years of
service as an undergraduate institution of higher
education.
H.Res. 1145, Recognizing the University of Arizona's 125 years
of dedication to excellence in higher education.
H.Res. 1149, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Charter School Week, to be held May 2 through May 8,
2010. Sponsor: Bishop, Rob
H.Res. 1157, Congratulating the National Urban League on its
100th year of service to the United States. Sponsor:
Rep. Hastings, Alcee
H.Res. 1161, Honoring the Centennial Celebration of Women at
Marquette University, the first Catholic university in
the world to offer co-education as part of its regular
undergraduate program. Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen
H.Res. 1163, Recognizing Washington State University Honors
College for 50 years of excellence. Sponsor: Rep.
McMorris Rodgers, Cathy
H.Res. 1167, Expressing the support of the House of
Representatives for the goals and ideals of
Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work
Day. Sponsor: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol
H.Res. 1169, Honoring the 125th anniversary of Rollins College.
Sponsor: Rep. Grayson, Alan
H.Res. 1170, Congratulating the winners of the Voice of
Democracy national scholarship program. Sponsor: Rep.
Hunter, Duncan D.
H.Res. 1182, Congratulating Radford University on the 100th
anniversary of the university. Sponsor: Rep. Boucher,
Rick
H.Res. 1184, Congratulating the 2009-2010 University of
Maryland Men's Basketball Team, Greivis Vasquez, and
Coach Gary Williams on an outstanding season. Sponsor:
Rep. Hoyer, Steny H.
H.Res. 1198, Congratulating Lock Haven University of
Pennsylvania for 140 years of excellence in higher
education. Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn
H.Res. 1219, Expressing support for designation of September as
National Child Awareness Month. Sponsor: Rep. Calvert,
Ken
H.Res. 1222, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Library Week. Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J.
H.Res. 1236, Honoring the coal miners who perished in the Upper
Big Branch Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia,
extending condolences to their families and recognizing
the valiant efforts of emergency workers at the mine
disaster.
H.Res. 1239, Commending the University of Connecticut Huskies
for their historic win in the 2010 NCAA Division I
Women's Basketball Tournament. Sponsor: Rep. Courtney,
Joe
H.Res. 1240, Supporting the goals and ideas of Global Youth
Service Day. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
H.Res. 1242, Congratulating the Duke University men's
basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I
Men's Basketball National Championship. Sponsor: Rep.
Price, David E.
H.Res. 1244, Recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense
Competition for its now five-year effort to promote
cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher
learning. Sponsor: Rep. Rodriguez, Ciro D.
H.Res. 1261, Recognizing National Nurses Week. Sponsor: Rep.
Johnson, Eddie Bernice
H.Res. 1270, Expressing support for Mathematics Awareness
Month. Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy
H.Res. 1272, Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 4,
1970, Kent State University shootings.
H.Res. 1276, Recognizing the continued importance of
volunteerism and national service and the anniversary
of the signing of the landmark service legislation, the
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Sponsor: Rep.
Miller, George
H.Res. 1280, Expressing support for designation of April 26,
2010, as National Healthy Schools Day. Sponsor: Rep.
Tonko, Paul
H.Res. 1292, Congratulating the Emporia State University Lady
Hornets women's basketball team for winning the 2010
NCAA Division II National Championship. Sponsor: Rep.
Moran, Jerry
H.Res. 1293, Expressing support for the goals and ideals of
National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Sponsor: Rep.
Biggert, Judy
H.Res. 1312, Recognizing the roles and contributions of
America's teachers to building and enhancing our
Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam
H.Res. 1313, Expressing support for designation of May as
``Child Advocacy Center Month'' and commending the
National Child Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama,
on their 25th anniversary in 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Griffith, Parker
H.Res. 1322, Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albert
Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program and
recognizing the significant contributions of Albert
Einstein Fellows. Sponsor: Rep. Honda, Michael M.
H.Res. 1333, Expressing support for the goals and ideals of
Children's Book Week. Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P.
H.Res. 1336, Congratulating the University of Texas men's
swimming and diving team for winning the NCAA Division
I national championship. Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar
H.Res. 1338, Recognizing the significant accomplishments of
AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a
national effort to raise awareness about the importance
of national and community service. Sponsor: Rep.
Matsui, Doris O.
H.Res. 1353, Supporting the goals and ideals of Student
Financial Aid Awareness Month to raise awareness of
student financial aid. Sponsor: Bishop, Timothy H.
H.Res. 1361, Recognizing North Carolina Central University on
its 100th anniversary. Sponsor: Price, David E.
H.Res. 1372, Honoring the University of Georgia Graduate School
on the occasion of its centennial. Sponsor: Rep. Broun,
Paul C.
H.Res. 1373, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning May 2, 2010, as ``National Physical Education
and Sport Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Altmire, Jason
H.Res. 1389, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of
fathers in the healthy development of children,
supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging
greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their
children, especially on Father's Day. Sponsor: Rep.
McIntyre, Mike
H.Res. 1414, Congratulating Urban Prep Charter Academy for
Young Men-Englewood Campus, the Nation's first all-male
charter high school, for achieving a 100 percent
college acceptance rate for all 107 members of its
first graduating class of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Rush,
Bobby L.
H.Res. 1427, Honoring the life of John Robert Wooden. Sponsor:
Rep. Waxman, Henry A.
H.Res. 1430, Honoring and saluting golf legend Juan Antonio
``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez for his commitment to Latino
youth programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Institute. Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe
H.Res. 1456, Congratulating the University of Dayton men's
basketball team for winning the 2010 National
Invitation Tournament basketball championship. Sponsor:
Rep. Turner, Michael R.
H.Res. 1472, Expressing support for designation of the week of
September 13, 2010, as National Adult Education and
Family Literacy Week. Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared
H.Res. 1480, Commending the University of Southern California
Trojan men's tennis team for its victory in the 2010
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's
Tennis Championship. Sponsor: Rep. Watson, Diane E.
H.Res. 1491, Congratulating the University of South Carolina
Gamecocks on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College
World Series. Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe
H.Res. 1504, Recognizing and honoring the 20th anniversary of
the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990. Sponsor: Rep. Hoyer, Steny H.
H.Res. 1543, Honoring the educational significance of Dr. Jane
Goodall's work on this the 50th anniversary of the
beginning of her work in Tanzania, Africa. Sponsor:
Rep. Polis, Jared
H.Res. 1545, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning on the third Monday in September as
``National Postdoc Appreciation Week.'' Sponsor: Rep.
Stearns, Cliff
H.Res. 1560, Supporting the increased understanding of, and
interest in, computer science and computing careers
among the public and in schools, and to ensure an ample
and diverse future technology workforce through the
designation of National Computer Science Education
Week. Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J.
H.Res. 1564, Commending and congratulating Michigan Technology
University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
Sponsor: Rep. Stupak, Bart
H.Res. 1571, Acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade
College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of
service to the students and residents of the State of
Florida. Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana
H.Res. 1576, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that a National Day of Recognition for
Parents of Special Needs Children should be
established. Sponsor: Rep. Burton, Dan
H.Res. 1582, Honoring and saluting Americans for the Arts on
its 50th anniversary. Sponsor: Rep. Slaughter, Louise
McIntosh
H.Res. 1598, Expressing support for the designation of the
month of October as National Work and Family Month.
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy Carolyn
H.Res. 1611, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning September 19, 2010, as ``National Hispanic-
Serving Institutions Week.'' Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva,
Raul M.
H.Res. 1637, Supporting the goals and ideals of National
Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2010 and expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress
should continue to raise awareness of domestic violence
in the Unites States and its devastating effects on
families and communities, and support programs and
practices designed to prevent and end domestic
violence. Sponsor: Rep. Poe, Ted
H.Res. 1638, Supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR
UP Day. Sponsor: Rep. Fattah, Chaka
H.Res. 1641, Celebrating September 30, 2010, as the 60th
Anniversary of Impact Aid. Sponsor: Rep. Hirono, Mazie
K.
H.Res. 1645, Expressing support for designation of the week
beginning on November 8, 2010, as National School
Psychology Week. Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, David
H.Res. 1652, Expressing support for designation of the month of
October 2010 as National Principals Month. Sponsor:
Rep. Davis, Susan
H.Res. 1654, Expressing support for designation of the week of
April 11, 2011, as ``Undergraduate Research Week''.
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush D.
H.Res. 1655, Expressing support for designation of October as
``National Farm to School Month''. Sponsor: Rep. Holt,
Rush D.
H.Res. 1663, Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell
Disease Awareness Month. Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia L.
H.Res. 1715, Congratulating Joe Paterno on his 400th win as
Penn State Nittany Lions football head coach. Sponsor:
Rep. Thompson, Glenn
H.Res. 1759, Expressing support for designation of January 23rd
as ``Ed Roberts Day''. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.Res. 1761, Congratulating Auburn University quarterback and
College Park, Georgia, native Cameron Newton on winning
the 2010 Heisman Trophy for being the most outstanding
college football player in the United States. Sponsor:
Rep. Rogers, Mike D. (AL)
H.Res. 1767, Commending the Wisconsin Badger football team for
an outstanding season and 2011 Rose Bowl bid. Sponsor:
Rep. Baldwin, Tammy
H.R. 2, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr.
H.R. 11, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Miller, George. Passed as S. 181.
H.R. 12, Paycheck Fairness Act. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
H.R. 729, Phylicia's Law. Sponsor: Rep. Rothman, Steven R.
H.R. 780, Student Internet Safety Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Putnam, Adam H.
H.R. 911, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens
Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 912, Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Timothy H.
H.R. 959, Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes
Scholarship Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Patrick
J.
H.R. 1035, Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in
National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. Passed as S. 1818. H.R.
1253, Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations
Clarification Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. Burgess,
Michael C.
H.R. 1253, Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations
Clarification Act of 2009. Sponsor: Burgess, Michael C.
H.R. 1380, Josh Miller HEARTS Act. Sponsor: Rep. Sutton, Betty
H.R. 1388, Serve America Act. Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn
H.R. 1585, FIT Kids Act. Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron
H.R. 1612, Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2010. Sponsor:
Rep. Grijalva, Raul M.
H.R. 1662, Anthony DeJuan Boatwright Act. Sponsor: Rep. Barrow,
John
H.R. 1709, STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009. Sponsor:
Rep. Gordon, Bart
H.R. 1777, To make technical corrections to the Higher
Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Sponsor:
Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 1824, Best Buddies Empowerment for People with
Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Hoyer, Steny H.
H.R. 1855, SECTORS Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, David
H.R. 2136, Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire
Prevention Act. Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia L.
H.R. 2187, 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School
Facilities Act. Sponsor: Rep. Chandler, Ben
H.R. 2377, To direct the Secretary of Education to establish
and administer an awards program recognizing excellence
exhibited by public school system employees providing
services to students in pre-kindergarten through higher
education. Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina
H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Waxman, Henry A.
H.R. 3221, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 3962, Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare
Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010. Sponsor:
Rep. Dingell, John D.
H.R. 4072, AMERICA Works Act. Sponsor: Rep. Minnick, Walter
H.R. 4247, Keeping All Students Safe Act. Sponsor: Rep. Miller,
George
H.R. 4691, Temporary Extension Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Levin, Sander M.
H.R. 5012, Weekends Without Hunger Act. Sponsor: Rep. Titus,
Dina
H.R. 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Gordon, Bart
H.R. 5220, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act. Sponsor: Rep. Hoyer,
Steny H.
H.R. 5458, Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Adler, John H.
H.R. 5610, Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 5851, Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection
Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 6469, To amend section 17 of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act to include a condition of
receipt of funds under the child and adult care food
program. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.R. 6517, Omnibus Trade Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Levin,
Sander M.
H.R. 6547, Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent
Predators Act
S. 2781, Rosa's Law. Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A.
S. 2865, Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of
2009. Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I.
S. 3307, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Sponsor: Sen.
Lincoln, Blanche L.
S. 3817, CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010. Sponsor: Sen. Dodd,
Christopher J.
S. 3984, Museum and Library Services Act of 2010. Sponsor: Sen.
Reed, Jack
S.Con.Res. 30, A concurrent resolution commending the Bureau of
Labor Statistics on the occasion of its 125th
anniversary. Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E.
D. LEGISLATION PASSED THE HOUSE IN ANOTHER MEASURE
H.R. 12, Paycheck Fairness Act. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
The text of H.R. 12, as passed the House, was added to
H.R. 11.
H.R. 413, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act.
Sponsor: Kildee, Dale. Substantially the same text was
added to H.R. 4899.
H.R. 598, To provide for a portion of the economic recovery
package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and
health. Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. The text of
H.R. 598 was added to H.R. 1.
H.R. 629, Energy and Commerce Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Waxman, Henry A. The text of H.R. 598 was
added to H.R. 1.
H.R. 2874, Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009. Sponsor:
Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. Provisions of H.R. 2874 were
added to H.R. 3949.
H.R. 2989, 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of
2009. Sponsor: Miller, George. The text of H.R. 2989
was added to H.R. 4213.
H.R. 5851, Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection
Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George. The text of
H.R. 5851, as passed the House, was added to H.R. 3534.
H.R. 6497, Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. The text
of H.R. 6497 was added to H.R. 5281.
E. LEGISLATION PASSED THE HOUSE (BILLS NOT REFERRED TO COMMITTEE)
H.Con.Res. 85, Setting forth the congressional budget for the
United States Government for fiscal year 2010 and
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal
years 2009 and 2011 through 2014. Sponsor: Rep. Spratt,
John M., Jr. H.Con.Res. 85, as passed, also passed as a
substitute to S.Con.Res. 13.
H.Res. 1363, Granting the authority provided under clause
4(c)(3) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives to the Committee on Education and Labor
for purposes of its investigation into underground coal
mining safety. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George
H.Res. 1481, Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Save
for Retirement Week'', including raising public
awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement
vehicles and increasing personal financial literacy.
Sponsor: Rep. Schwartz, Allyson Y.
H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Obey, David R.
H.R. 748, Center to Advance, Monitor, and Preserve University
Security Safety Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. Scott,
Robert C.
H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Obey, David R.
H.R. 1327, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009. Sponsor: Frank,
Barney
H.R. 1586, FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety
Improvement Act. Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 2647, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2010. Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike.
H.R. 2701, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Reyes, Silvestre
H.R. 2847, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. Rep.
Mollohan, Alan B.
H.R. 2997, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L.
H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Olver, John W.
H.R. 3293, Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Obey, David R. H.R. 3534, Consolidated
Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009.
Sponsor: Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II
H.R. 3548, Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act
of 2009. Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim
H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sponsor:
Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 3949, Veterans' Small Business Assistance and
Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009. Sponsor: Rep.
Filner, Bob
H.R. 4213, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B.
H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
H.R. 4899, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Obey, David R.
H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2011. Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike
H.R. 5281, Removal Clarification Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep.
Johnson, Henry C. ``Hank,'' Jr.
H.R. 5618, Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation
Act of 2010. Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim
S. 181, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Sponsor: Sen.
Mikulski, Barbara A. See H.R. 11.
S. 1422, Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act.
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty
S. 1818, Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National
Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009. Sponsor:
Sen. Bingaman, Jeff. See H.R. 1035.
S.Con.Res. 13, An original concurrent resolution setting forth
the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal year 2010, revising the
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2009, and
setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for
fiscal years 2011 through 2014. Sponsor: Sen. Conrad,
Kent. See H.Con.Res. 85
F. LEGISLATION WITH FILED COMMITTEE REPORTS
H.R. 1388, Serve America Act (House Report 111-37)
H.R. 2187, 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School
Facilities (House Report 111-100)
H.R. 2989, 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of
2009 (House Report 111-244, Part I)
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
(House Report 111-299, Part III) (This bill was
reported to both the House and the House Committee on
Budget pursuant to the budget resolution, S. Con. Res.
13. The Budget Committee subsequently reported H.R.
4872.)
H.R. 3221, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
(House Report 111-232) (This bill was reported to both
the House and the House Committee on Budget pursuant to
the budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 13. The Budget
Committee subsequently reported H.R. 4872.)
H.R. 4247, Keeping All Students Safe Act (House Report 111-417)
H.R. 5663, Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010
(House Report 111-579)
G. LEGISLATION ORDERED REPORTED FROM FULL COMMITTEE
AND NOT PASSED BY HOUSE
H.R. 2989, 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Pension Security Act of
2009 (House Report 111-244, Part I). The text of H.R.
2989 was added to H.R. 4213.
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
(House Report 111-299, Part III). (This bill was
reported to both the House and the House Committee on
Budget pursuant to the budget resolution, S. Con. Res.
13, which subsequently reported H.R. 4872.)
H.R. 5504, Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act. See
S. 3307
H.R. 5663, Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010
(House Report 111-579, Part I)
H. CONFERENCE REPORTS FILED WITH EDUCATION AND LABOR
MEMBERS APPOINTED AS CONFEREES
H.R. 2647, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2010 (House Report 111-288).
V. Committee on Education and Labor Statistics
A. GENERAL STATISTICS ON REFERRED MATTERS
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred.................... 964
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 81
Total Number of Hearings Held by Full Committee................... 41
Total Number of Field Hearings.................................... 8
Total Number of Field Hearings Held by Full Committee.............
2
Total Number of Markup Sessions................................... 14
Total Number of Measures Ordered Reported by the Full Committee... 9
Total Number of Filed Reports..................................... 7
Total Number of Committee Reports................................. 7
Total Number of Filed Conference Reports.......................... 0
Total Number of Conferences with Committee Members Appointed as
Conferees..................................................... 1
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Passed the House............ 238
Total Number of Bills Enacted Into Law............................ 12
B. NOT REFERRED MATTERS CONTAINING COMMITTEE'S JURISDICTION
Total Number of Not Referred Bills That Passed the House.......... 28
Total Number of Not Referred Bills Enacted Into Law............... 16
SUBCOMMITEE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
I. Summary of Activities
The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and
Secondary Education, chaired by Representative Dale E. Kildee
(D-MI), has jurisdiction over education from early learning
through the high school level including, but not limited to,
elementary and secondary education, education of the disabled,
the homeless and migrant and agricultural labor, school
construction, overseas dependent schools, career and technical
training, school safety and alcohol and drug abuse prevention,
educational research and improvement, including the Institute
of Education Sciences, and early care and education programs
and early learning programs, including the Head Start Act and
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.
In the 111th Congress, the Subcommittee held hearings and
helped to write legislation to improve early childhood
education and development, provide millions of children,
teachers and other educators with the opportunity to learn and
teach in a safe, healthy, energy efficient, state-of-the-art
school facility, and to inform the reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Early Childhood
The Subcommittee's first hearing in March 2009, ``Improving
Early Childhood Development Policies and Practices,'' examined
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 hearing helped lay
the groundwork for the inclusion of an $8 billion Early
Learning Challenge Fund in H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and
Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was approved by the full
Committee in June 2009 and approved by the House of
Representatives in September 2009 by 253-171. The Early
Learning Challenge Fund would award competitive grants to
states that implement a standards-based birth-to-five early
learning system. This system would improve early education
standards, classroom environments, and invest in the early
childhood workforce.
Elementary and Secondary Education
In April 2009, Representative Ben Chandler (D-KY), joined
by Chairmen Miller and Kildee and Representative Dave Loebsack
(D-IA), introduced H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-
Performing Public School Facilities Act, to support state and
local efforts to ensure that children and teachers have modern
school buildings. In May 2009, the Committee on Education and
Labor favorably reported H.R. 2187 to the full House of
Representatives after adopting three amendments offered by the
following members: Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) (to ensure
that charter schools receive a share of a local education
agency's funds based on the percentage of low-income students
within the agency served by charter schools and to ensure
consultation between the agency and charter schools concerning
the needs of individual schools); Representative Joe Sestak (D-
PA) (to clarify that improvements to ceilings and floors are
authorized uses of funds); and Senior Republican Member Howard
P. `Buck' McKeon (R-CA) (to require local educational agencies
to conduct a state-certified, independent third-party
facilities audit to receive funds). The House of
Representatives passed H.R. 2187 in May 2009 by 275-155.
In June 2009, the Committee approved H.R. 3221, the Student
Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act which included $4.04 billion
for school modernization and renovation modeled after H.R.
2187, the 21st Century Green High Performing Public School
Facilities Act, and $60 million for modernization and
renovation of school facilities in regions affected by
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The House of Representatives
passed H.R. 3221 in September 2009 by 253-171.
School buildings should be safe and healthy learning
environments for children and teachers. But according to recent
estimates, America's schools are hundreds of billions of
dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good
condition. Meanwhile, research shows a correlation between
school facility quality and student achievement. Despite the
need to modernize school buildings, since 2001 the federal
government has provided almost no direct aid to help states and
schools pay for school construction and repair. Modernizing
school buildings would also create jobs in the construction
industry, one of the industries hit hardest by the recent
economic downturn. And modernizing school buildings to make
them more energy efficient and more reliant on renewable
sources of energy would save money and reduce emissions that
contribute to global warming.
In particular, the 21st Century Green High-Performing
Public School Facilities Act would:
Provide schools with access to funding for
modernization, renovation and repair projects;
Encourage energy efficiency and the use of
renewable resources in schools and save money though the use of
green building techniques;
Provide additional aid to Gulf Coast schools still
recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
Ensure fair wages and benefits for workers by
applying Davis-Bacon protections to all grants;
Improve student achievement and increase teacher
retention by providing more children and teachers with a
modern, safe, healthy place for learning;
Boost the economy by improving communities and
generating jobs;
The Subcommittee also held four hearings to lay the
groundwork for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act. These hearings addressed a wide variety of
topics including issues related to school safety, accelerated
learning through early college high schools and dual
enrollment, a comprehensive literacy initiative, and diverse
learners including English-language learners, students with
disabilities, Native American students, and homeless students.
This first hearing in July 2009, ``Strengthening School
Safety through the Prevention of Bullying,'' included testimony
from school safety experts, students committed to building safe
school climates, and a parent who lost her child as a result of
bullying at school. Witnesses provided recommendations to the
Subcommittee for strengthening many provision in the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act critical to establishing safe
learning environments for students and teachers.
In September 2009, the Subcommittee traveled to Flint,
Michigan to hold a field hearing at the site of two early
college high schools--the Mott Middle College and the Genesee
Early College. Members of the Subcommittee heard testimony from
the Superintendent, officials from partner postsecondary
institutions, a student, and a representative from one of the
partnering business institutions about the success of these
programs. This hearing helped the Subcommittee gain first-hand
knowledge of the role early college high schools and other dual
enrollment programs play in reducing the number of high school
dropouts and expanding access to postsecondary education--
particularly for low-income disadvantaged students.
The third hearing in November 2009, ``Improving the
Literacy Skills of Children and Young Adults,'' gave the
Subcommittee the opportunity to reevaluate the federal
investment in literacy and explore ways to improve the reading
comprehension skills of children and young adults. Witnesses
with experience ranging from early childhood through adolescent
literacy offered testimony on the most effective strategies for
reading instruction and comprehension, recommending a more
comprehensive federal investment in literacy programs that
spans from birth through the adolescent years.
The final hearing in March 2010 entitled, ``Elementary and
Secondary Education Act Reauthorization: Addressing the Needs
of Diverse Students,'' explored causes for the continued
achievement gap and identified strategies for helping all
children succeed in the classroom and beyond. Witnesses with
expertise in educating English Language Learners, students with
disabilities, Native American students, and homeless students
talked about the challenges these populations face due to
resource inequities and limited access to high quality teachers
and challenging coursework. These witnesses also offered
recommendations for eradicating these challenges by
strengthening related provisions in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act.
II. Hearings Held by the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
Education Subcommittee
111th Congress, First Session
March 19, 2009--Hearing on ``Improving Early Childhood
Development Policies and Practices'' (111-9).
July 8, 2009--Joint Hearing with the Healthy Families and
Communities Subcommittee on ``Strengthening School
Safety through Prevention of Bullying'' (111-30).
September 18, 2009--Hearing on ``High School/College Dual
Enrollment Programs'' (111-31).
November 19, 2009--Hearing on ``Improving the Literacy Skills
of Children and Young Adults'' (111-41).
111th Congress, Second Session
March 18, 2010--Hearing on ``Elementary and Secondary Education
Act Reauthorization: Addressing the Needs of Diverse
Students'' (111-53).
III. Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
Education Statistics
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred to Subcommittee.... 217
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 5
Field............................................................. 1
SUBCOMMITEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, LIFELONG LEARNING AND COMPETITIVENESS
I. Summary of Activities
The subcommittee, chaired in the 111th Congress by
Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), has jurisdiction for
education and training beyond the high school level including,
but not limited to, higher education generally, postsecondary
student assistance and employment services, the Higher
Education Act, postsecondary career and technical education,
training and apprenticeship including the Workforce Investment
Act, displaced homemakers, adult basic education (family
literacy), rehabilitation, professional development and
training programs from immigration funding, and pre-service and
in-service teacher training. The subcommittee also oversees
another eight smaller programs.
Chairman Hinojosa and his subcommittee colleagues provided
a hearing schedule that highlighted the major issues pending in
the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act as well as
some key oversight issues involving academic integrity and
financial management procedures involving higher education
institutions supported under Titles III and V of the Higher
Education Opportunity Act of 2008 as well as for-profit
postsecondary institutions receiving funds from Title IV of
HEOA.
Workforce Training
The subcommittee held a series of hearings designed to
solicit practitioner and professional management input on
workforce training issues. Three hearings were held in
Washington, DC, and field hearings were held in New York and
Nevada. All witnesses were invited to address the most
important issues regarding, ``New Innovations and Best
Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act.'' While the
hearing theme was held constant, the witnesses were local,
regional and national experts who represented: the General
Accountability Office, Workforce Investment Boards, Union
members, State Workforce Investment Boards, Vocational
Rehabilitation providers, Departments of Labor and Education,
National Governors Association, private industry and business
representatives, Directors of Adult Education, Community
College and undergraduate college representatives, Directors of
Community Services for Youth and Youth Job Training providers,
among others.
Recurrent themes identified by witnesses for Member
consideration were: need to increase financial resources for
training individuals, alignment of workforce and economic
development activities, integrating workforce opportunities for
disabled individuals, collection and reporting of data showing
the effectiveness of training on client, greater uses of
technology and development of new green job opportunities,
integrating adult education and workforce training especially
for Limited-English-Proficient adults, among other issues.
Higher Education
Chairman Hinojosa and the subcommittee were active in the
passage of health care reform and the Student Aid and Fiscal
Responsibility Act as these efforts were joined in the passage
of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
The passage of this law consumed almost a year and one-half of
the 111th Congress. Of special note regarding the education
efforts, the subcommittee Members were instrumental in
developing and supporting provisions in the bill that directs
$2.5B over 10 years to institutions eligible for funding under
Titles III and Title V of the Higher Education Opportunity Act
of 2008.
Oversight
The subcommittee exercised its oversight responsibility in
two hearings, during which the findings of two important
reports were examined. Chairman Hinojosa and his colleagues
requested the investigations from the General Accountability
Office. The first report involved student eligibility
requirements for federal financial aid. Representatives from
the GAO, Department of Education, the Department of Education's
Office of Inspector General as well as a representative from
the Career College Association testified. The second hearing
examined various aspects of the Department of Education's
oversight of Low-Income and Minority Serving Institutions. Both
of these reports highlighted the lack of oversight provided by
the Education Department over the last ten years. The
investigative findings have led to a new monitoring plan by the
Department of Education as well as some new provisions covered
in pending final regulations promulgated by the Department.
II. Hearings Held by the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and
Competitiveness Subcommittee
111th Congress, First Session
February 12, 2009--Hearing on ``New Innovations and Best
Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act'' (111-2).
February 26, 2009--Hearing on ``New Innovations and Best
Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act'' (111-2).
March 23, 2009--Hearing on ``New Innovations and Best Practices
Under the Workforce Investment Act'' (111-2).
May 5, 2009--Hearing on ``New Innovations and Best Practices
Under the Workforce Investment Act'' (111-2).
May 29, 2009--Hearing on ``New Innovations and Best Practices
Under the Workforce Investment Act'' (111-2).
October 14, 2009--Hearing on ``Ensuring Student Eligibility
Requirements for Federal Aid'' (111-36).
111th Congress, Second Session
May 27, 2010--Hearing on ``Examining GAO's Findings on Efforts
to Improve Oversight of Low-Income and Minority Serving
Institutions'' (111-66).
III. Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and
Competitiveness Statistics
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred to Subcommittee.... 194
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 7
Field............................................................. 1
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
I. Summary of Activities
The Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities,
chaired by Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), has
jurisdiction over a wide range of issues which affect all of
our nation's citizens, from infants to retirees. The
subcommittee's jurisdiction includes national and community
volunteer service programs, child nutrition, juvenile justice
and delinquency prevention, child abuse prevention and
treatment, poverty programs, environmental education, library
and museum services, programs for the elderly and adolescent
development and training programs including providing for the
care and treatment of certain at risk youth. In the 111th
Congress, the subcommittee undertook a bold agenda, with an
emphasis on increasing opportunities for disadvantaged youth
through national service, improving conditions for children in
the juvenile justice system, improving the health of our
nation's students and preventing abuse and improving responses
to families in crisis.
National Service
The subcommittee recognized that national volunteer service
programs play a significant role in educating a new generation
of youth, who can contribute to America's ability to compete in
the global knowledge economy. Volunteerism and community
service have been a part of American culture since the
inception of our nation. There is no better way to bring
community members together to address local or national
challenges. The National and Community Service Act and Domestic
Volunteer Service Act expired in 1996. Congress has done little
in the effort to reauthorize these laws since they expired.
Continuing the work she began in 2007, Chairwoman McCarthy,
along with Chairman Miller, held a series of hearings which
provided an overview of national service programs and
recommendations to make long overdue improvements and updates
to current law. From the information learned in those several
hearings, Chairwoman McCarthy, and Chairman George Miller
introduced H.R. 1388, the ``Generations Invigorating
Volunteerism and Education'' (GIVE) Act which reauthorizes and
reforms national domestic service programs.
The GIVE Act sets a goal for the Corporation for National
and Community Service to recruit 250,000 volunteers by 2014.
The bill also increases service opportunities for middle school
and high school students through the Summer of Service program.
Alumni of the national service programs are encouraged to re-
engage in service activities through an alumni network and a
Reserve Corps. The GIVE Act calls upon our nation's scientists,
technicians, engineers, and mathematicians (the STEM
Professionals) to participate in service to increase America's
competitiveness in the global knowledge economy and to reduce
the digital divide in low-income and rural communities.
Finally, the bill improves program integrity and emphasizes the
critical role of service in meeting the national priorities of
emergency and disaster preparedness. Due to Chairwoman
McCarthy's leadership, the GIVE Act also focuses on expanding
access to participation in volunteer programs to disadvantaged
youth. The House passed the GIVE act, with bipartisan support,
and sent the bill to the Senate for action, led by Senator Ted
Kennedy. Senate consideration resulted in a name change to the
bill, now known as the ``Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.''
In short order the House passed the ``Edward M. Kennedy Serve
America Act,'' and on April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama
signed it into law.
Child Nutrition
With health care experts calling for action to combat the
national childhood obesity crisis, and significant leadership
from the White House and First Lady Michelle Obama, the
Subcommittee continued ground work begun in the 110th Congress,
for reauthorization of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The Subcommittee
held hearings exploring the critical role federal programs can
play to address the issues surrounding childhood obesity, and
in particular, the importance of good nutrition and increased
physical activity. The hearings also examined innovative
strategies to streamline current programs to increase access
children have to healthy, nutritious and safe school meals.
Using the information learned through the hearing process,
Chairwoman McCarthy introduced five bills, all of which aim to
combat childhood obesity and establish healthy habits for
children: H.R. 3626, the ``Exemplary Breastfeeding Support
Act'' seeks to strengthen existing breastfeeding promotion
efforts within the WIC program; H.R. 5431, the ``Start Healthy
Habits Early Act'' calls for common sense action by
establishing nutrition requirements for child care providers
and providing guidance and technical assistance to help
providers improve the health of young children; H.R. 5430, the
``Partnerships for Wellness Act,'' seeks to assist school
districts with improving students' access to physical activity
including in the classroom, and quality recess time; H.R. 3625,
the ``Food Marketing in Schools Assessment Act,'' requires a
study be done on the extent and types of junk food marketed in
our nation's schools and H.R. 5432, the ``Service for Healthier
Kids Act'' which would improve outcomes for children
participating in the all child nutrition programs by utilizing
existing volunteers from the national service programs, such as
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.
In June 2010, Chairman Miller and Chairwoman McCarthy
introduced H.R. 5504, the bipartisan ``Improving Nutrition for
America's Children Act.'' The objectives of the ``Improving
Nutrition for America's Children Act'' are to expand access to
the child nutrition programs to reduce childhood hunger,
improve the nutritional quality of meals to promote health and
address childhood obesity, and to simplify program management
while strengthening program integrity. The ``Improving
Nutrition for America's Children Act'' reauthorizes and
improves Federal programs contained in the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
through fiscal year 2015. Highlights of the legislation include
direct certification for children receiving Medicaid benefits,
eliminating individual applications through community
eligibility, expansion of afterschool meals for at-risk
children, performance-based reimbursement rate increase for new
meal patterns, local school wellness policy implementation,
nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, nutrition
and wellness goals for meals served through the Child and Adult
Care Food Program, and support for breastfeeding in the WIC
Program. The Senate introduced a similar child nutrition bill,
S. 3307, the ``Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,'' which
contains many of the same provisions found in the ``Improving
Nutrition for America's Children Act.'' In an effort to send
the child nutrition legislation to the President's desk without
delay, the House passed the Senate version of the child
nutrition bill, S. 3307, on December 2, 2010. S. 3307 was
signed into law on December 13, 2010.
Child Health and Safety
Child abuse, neglect and fatalities are of significant
social concerns in our nation. The Subcommittee held a hearing
examining best practices to prevent child abuse and neglect, as
well as how to strengthen and improve services for families in
crisis. One of the concerns raised at the hearing was that
child abuse is no respecter of state lines, and that the
responsibility for investigating reports with interstate
complications is unclear. Chairwoman McCarthy introduced H.R.
6498, the ``Protecting Children Across State Lines Act,'' to
assist states with conducting research, and requiring them to
consider adopting recommendations to address concerns involving
reports with a potential combination of jurisdictions. No
report of child abuse and neglect should ``fall through the
cracks.'' On December 8, 2010, the House passed a bicameral,
bipartisan bill, S. 3817, ``the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of
2010''. As passed by the House, S. 3817 improves approaches
used by states to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect by
encouraging states to adopt a differential response model,
strengthens data collection and analysis, and incorporates key
provisions from Chairwoman McCarthy's bill to ensure
bureaucracy does not prevent cases of child abuse from being
pursued. S. 3817 also includes reauthorization of the Family
Violence and Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) and improves
inter-agency collaboration by adding research coordination for
reporting data from all Federal entities that support domestic
violence and establishes a grant program to better meet the
needs of children exposed to domestic violence. S. 3817 is
expected to be signed by President Obama before the end of
2010.
Chairwoman McCarthy focused Subcommittee attention during
the 111th Congress on the issues of school violence, student
health and safety, as well as anti-bullying and cyber-bullying.
The Subcommittee held the first Congressional hearing in almost
20 years on the issue of corporal punishment in schools,
exploring its disproportionate use on minority students and
students with disabilities, its ineffectiveness and detrimental
effect on academic success, and positive behavior intervention
alternatives. As a result of the findings, Chairwoman McCarthy
introduced H.R. 5628, the ``Ending Corporal Punishment in
Schools Act,'' which seeks to eliminate the use of corporal
punishment in the 20 states which still permit it.
Bullying and school violence is a concern of many teachers,
students, and parents across the nation. Improving school
safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and
harassment, was a priority for Chairwoman McCarthy and Chairman
Kildee. In July 2009, the Subcommittees on Healthy Families and
Communities and Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
Education held a joint hearing to examine strategies for
keeping students safe from violence and bullying. In June 2010,
the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee held a follow
up hearing focusing on the issue of cyberbullying, which
examined the rising safety concerns about students using the
Internet, social networking and other technology, especially
the increased occurrence of cyber bullying. The hearing
explored the role schools, students, parents and communities
can play to keep students safe. Chairwoman McCarthy introduced
H.R. 6362, the ``Safe Schools Against Violence in Education
(``SAVE'') Act'' to address issues raised in the hearing. The
bill calls for more accuracy, accountability and transparency
in the reporting requirements for school safety, for guidance
on reporting, and funding assistance to combat bullying and
cyberbullying, and strengthening laws related to guns in
schools.
Following up on work Chairman Miller had done in the full
committee, Chairwoman McCarthy held a hearing on a growing
health concern in our nation, the impact of concussions on
students. Experts have made clear the devastating effects a
concussion can have on a student. The Subcommittee hearing
explored how schools and communities can help raise awareness
of the risks of concussions and improve concussion management
for students.
Juvenile Justice
The Subcommittee continued its focus on disadvantaged and
disconnected youth by looking toward reauthorization of the
Juvenile Justice Prevention and Treatment Act. In March 2009,
the Subcommittee held a joint hearing with the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security to
examine if at-risk youth are missing out on educational
opportunities while in foster care, juvenile justice
facilities, alternative education settings and other
environments. A year later, in March 2010, Chairwoman McCarthy
held a hearing in preparation for the reauthorization of the
Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act, exploring the
unique challenges girls face in today's juvenile justice
system, and examining confinement conditions, mental health,
victimization, and public safety. The hearing also highlighted
the need for stronger family engagement and independent
oversight bodies to monitor facilities, to improve conditions
of confinement and to protect youth from violence. As a result,
Chairwoman McCarthy introduced H.R. 6361, the ``Family Justice
Act,'' which will strengthen family support systems and
establish independent oversight bodies that actively engage
youth and their families.
II. Hearings Held by the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee
111th Congress, First Session
March 12, 2009--Hearing on ``Lost Educational Opportunities in
Alternative Settings'' (111-7).
May 14, 2009--Hearing on ``Improving Child Nutrition Programs
to Reduce Childhood Obesity'' (111-21).
July 8, 2009--Joint Hearing with the Early Childhood,
Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee on
``Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of
Bullying'' (111-30).
October 8, 2009--Hearing on ``Examining Innovative Practices to
Improve Child Nutrition'' (111-35).
November 5, 2009--Hearing on ``Preventing Child Abuse and
Improving Responses to Families in Crisis'' (111-38).
111th Congress, Second Session
March 11, 2010--Hearing on ``Meeting the Challenges Faced by
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System'' (111-50).
April 15, 2010--Hearing on ``Corporal Punishment in Schools and
its Effect on Academic Success'' (111-55).
June 24, 2010--Hearing on ``Ensuring Student Cyber Safety''
(111-69).
September 13, 2010--Hearing on ``The Impact of Concussions on
High School Athletes: The Local Perspective'' (111-74).
III. Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities Statistics
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred to Subcommittee.... 162
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 9
Field............................................................. 1
SUBCOMMITTE ON HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT,
LABOR AND PENSIONS
I. Summary of Activities
Chaired by Representative Robert Andrews (D-NJ), the
Health, Employment, Labor and Pension (HELP) Subcommittee has
jurisdiction over all matters dealing with legal relationships
between employers and workers. This includes employer-sponsored
health care and retirement plans, the National Labor Relations
Act, Labor Management Relations Act, Labor-Management Reporting
and Disclosure Act, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and all matters related
to equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment,
including affirmative action.
During the 111th Congress, the subcommittee focused on
providing health coverage for uninsured workers, expanding
retirement security for American workers, strengthening
workplace anti-discrimination measures, and protecting an
individual's right to collectively bargain.
Health Care Reform
Chairman Andrews and the subcommittee played a significant
role in the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The HELP
Subcommittee held multiple hearings on health care, including:
``Strengthening Employer-Sponsored Health Care'' on March 10,
2009, ``Ways to Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance for
Employers, Employees and their Families'' on April 23, 2009,
and ``Examining the Single Payer Health Care Option'' on June
10, 2009.
Retirement Security
The HELP Subcommittee also played an important role in
improving the safety and security of retirement income for
workers. The subcommittee held a hearing on March 24, 2009
titled ``Retirement Security: The Importance of an Independent
Investment Adviser,'' to show that when workers receive
investment advice, it should be independent and free of
financial conflicts of interest. On June 17, 2009, the HELP
subcommittee held a markup of two bills: ``H.R. 1984, the
401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009,''
and ``H.R. 1988, the Conflicted Investment Advice Prohibition
Act of 2009.'' Both bills were passed out of the subcommittee
and later combined into a single bill (H.R. 2989) that was
passed by the full committee.
On December 2, 2009, the HELP Subcommittee held a hearing
titled ``Examining the Delphi Bankruptcy's Impact on Workers
and Retirees'' to examine the effect of the General Motors
bankruptcy on Delphi salaried employees.
On July 20, 2010, the HELP Subcommittee held a hearing
titled ``Creating Greater Accounting Transparency for
Pensioners.'' This hearing examined whether public policy
requires greater accounting transparency when private pension
funds are invested in hedge funds and other private investment
products, and considered if improved or increased standards for
accountant reporting are required when pensions are invested in
unregulated private investment funds.
Workers Rights
The HELP Subcommittee held a legislative hearing titled
``H.R. 413, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of
2009'' on March 10, 2010. Sponsored by Representatives Dale
Kildee (D-MI) and John Duncan (R-TN), H.R. 413 would extend to
public safety officers (i.e., firefighters, law enforcement
officers, and emergency medical services personnel) the right
to bargain collectively with their employers.
Age Discrimination
On May 5, 2010, the HELP Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing titled ``H.R. 3721, Protecting Older Workers Against
Discrimination Act.'' The U.S. Supreme Court's 2009 decision in
Gross v. FBL Financial Services overturns long-accepted
precedent and makes proving age discrimination in the workplace
much more difficult. H.R. 3721 would overturn Gross and restore
the law to what it was prior to the decision.
Oversight
As a result of the Department of Labor receiving a
disclaimer of an opinion on its financial statements, the HELP
Subcommittee held a hearing titled ``Review of the Independent
Audit of the Labor Department's Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated
Financial Statements'' on December 7, 2010. The House rules
require that a hearing be held when an agency receives such a
disclaimer. The Department's Inspector General for Audit and
the Chief Financial Officer testified as to the causes of the
disclaimer and what steps the Department is taking to improve
financial reporting.
II. Hearings Held by the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
Subcommittee
111th Congress, First Session
March 10, 2009--Hearing on ``Strengthening Employer-Provided
Health Care'' (111-6).
March 24, 2009--Hearing on ``Retirement Security: The
Importance of an Independent Investment Adviser'' (111-
10).
April 22, 2009--Hearing on ``401(k) Fair Disclosure for
Retirement Security Act of 2009'' (111-14).
April 23, 2009--Hearing on ``Ways to Reduce the Cost of Health
Insurance for Employers, Employees and their Families
(111-15).
June 10, 2009--Hearing on ``Examining the Single Payer Health
Care Option'' (111-26).
December 2, 2009--Hearing on ``Examining the Delphi
Bankruptcy's Impact on Workers and Retirees'' (111-42).
111th Congress, Second Session
March 10, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 413, Public Safety Employer-
Employee Cooperation Act of 2009'' (111-49).
May 5, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 3721, Protecting Older Workers
Against Discrimination Act'' (111-61).
July 20, 2010--Hearing on ``Creating Greater Accounting
Transparency for Pensioners'' (111-73).
December 7, 2010--Hearing on ``Review of the Independent Audit
of the Labor Department's FY2010 Consolidated Financial
Statements'' (111-77).
III. Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Statistics
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred to Subcommittee.... 114
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 10
Field............................................................. 0
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS
I. Summary of Activities
The Workforce Protections Subcommittee, chaired by
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), has jurisdiction over wages
and hours of labor including, but not limited to, Davis-Bacon
Act, Walsh-Healey Act, Fair Labor Standards Act , workers'
compensation including, Longshore and Harbor Workers'
Compensation Act, Federal Employees' Compensation Act, Migrant
and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Service
Contract Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Worker Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act, including training for
dislocated workers, Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988,
trade and immigration issues as they impact employers and
workers, and workers' health and safety including, but not
limited to, occupational safety and health, mine health and
safety, youth camp safety, and migrant and agricultural labor
health and safety.
Work-Life Balance
In the 111th Congress, the Subcommittee held four hearings
on work-family balance, including one field hearing on ``The
Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything,'' as well
as two legislative hearings; one on the Work-Life Balance Award
Act (H.R. 4855), and another on the Family Income to Respond to
Significant Transitions Act and the Healthy Families Act.
Military Families
Chairwoman Woolsey also introduced the Supporting Military
Families Act, which amended the Family and Medical Leave Act to
provide that the up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave for `next of kin'
to care for a seriously injured or ill servicemember shall also
apply to care for a seriously injured or ill veteran, so long
as that illness or injury is incurred while on active duty and
manifests itself within 5 years of the veteran's discharge from
the service. The bill also clarified that that the 12 weeks of
``exigency'' leave for matters related to deployment not only
applies to family members of reservists and national guard but
to regular active duty servicemembers as well. Finally, the
bill expanded the ``exigency'' leave provisions to cover family
members of any servicemember who is deployed overseas, whether
or not that servicemember is being sent overseas to participate
in a contingency operation. This legislation was included in
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010,
which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the
President on October 28, 2010.
Worker Health and Safety
The subcommittee also held five hearings on worker health
and safety, including one field hearing on the tragic explosion
at the Kleen Energy Power Plant in Middletown, Connecticut. Two
were legislative hearings on the whistleblower, penalty and
victims' rights provisions of the Protecting America's Workers
Act (H.R. 2067), a bill introduced by the Chairwoman. A fourth
hearing was an oversight hearing on improving OSHA's Enhanced
Enforcement Program, and a fifth was on developments in state
workers' compensation systems.
Green Jobs
The subcommittee held a hearing on environmentally
protective ``green'' jobs. The Chairwoman of the Subcommittee,
with Representative Andrews and Chairman Miller, reintroduced
the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act to crack down on
employers who misclassify their workers as independent
contractors.
II. Hearings Held by the Workforce Protections Subcommittee
111th Congress, First Session
March 3, 2009--Hearing on ``Encouraging Family-Friendly
Workplace Policies'' (111-5).
March 31, 2009--Hearing on ``Green Jobs and their Role in our
Economic Recovery'' (111-13).
April 30, 2009--Hearing on ``Improving OSHA's Enhanced
Enforcement Program'' (111-18).
June 11, 2009--Hearing on ``H.R. 2339, the Family Income to
Respond to Significant Transitions Act, and H.R. 2460,
the Healthy Families Act'' (111-27).
November 13, 2009--Hearing on ``The Impact of Women's Growing
Participation in the Workforce: `the Shriver Report: A
Woman's Nation Changes Everything''' (111-39).
111th Congress, Second Session
March 16, 2010--Hearing on ``Protecting America's Workers Act:
Modernizing OSHA Penalties'' (111-51).
April 22, 2010--Hearing on ``H.R. 4855, Work-Life Balance Award
Act'' (111-57).
April 28, 2010--Hearing on ``Whistleblower and Victim's Rights
Provisions of H.R. 2067, the Protecting America's
Workers Act'' (111-58).
June 28, 2010--Hearing on ``Examining the Tragic Explosion at
the Kleen Energy Power Plant in Middletown,
Connecticut'' (111-70).
November 17, 2010--Hearing on ``Developments in State Workers'
Compensation Systems'' (111-76).
III. Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Statistics
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions Referred to Subcommittee.... 100
Total Number of Hearings.......................................... 10
Field............................................................. 2
MINORITY VIEWS