United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Encyclopedia
The Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives
. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic
control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.
and during the rapid industrialization of America. On December 19, 1883, the committee was divided into two, the Committee on Education and the Committee on Labor. The committees again merged on January 2, 1947, after the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, becoming the Committee on Education and Labor again. On January 4, 1995, when the Republicans took over the House, the Committee was renamed the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. It was renamed again as the Committee on Education and the Workforce two years later on January 7, 1997. On January 4, 2007, with the Democrats once again in the majority, the committee's name was changed back to Committee on Education and Labor. After Republicans recaptured the House majority in the 2010 elections, they returned to the name, Committee on Education and the Workforce, effective with the opening of the 112th Congress in 2011.
The Education and Labor Committee's purpose is to ensure that Americans' needs are addressed so that students and workers may move forward in a changing school system and a competitive global economy.
The committee and its five subcommittees oversee education and workforce programs that affect all Americans, from early learning through secondary education, from job training through retirement.
The Education and Labor Committee Democrats' goal is to keep America strong by increasing education opportunities for students, by making it easier to send young adults to college, and by helping workers find job training and retirement security for a better future. The following education issues are under the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee:
Education. The Committee on Education and Labor oversees federal programs and initiatives dealing with education at all levels—from preschool through high school to higher education and continuing education. These include:
Labor. The Committee on Education and Labor also holds jurisdiction over workforce initiatives aimed at strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers. Workforce issues in the jurisdiction of the Education and the Labor Committee include:
, from Minnesota
, and the Ranking Member
is George Miller
of California
.
Sources:
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.
History of the Committee
Attempts were made to create a congressional committee on education and labor starting with the early congresses but issues over Congress's constitutional ability to oversee such issues delayed the committee's formation. Finally, on March 21, 1867, the Committee on Education and Labor was founded following the end of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and during the rapid industrialization of America. On December 19, 1883, the committee was divided into two, the Committee on Education and the Committee on Labor. The committees again merged on January 2, 1947, after the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, becoming the Committee on Education and Labor again. On January 4, 1995, when the Republicans took over the House, the Committee was renamed the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. It was renamed again as the Committee on Education and the Workforce two years later on January 7, 1997. On January 4, 2007, with the Democrats once again in the majority, the committee's name was changed back to Committee on Education and Labor. After Republicans recaptured the House majority in the 2010 elections, they returned to the name, Committee on Education and the Workforce, effective with the opening of the 112th Congress in 2011.
Jurisdiction
From the Official Committee Webpage:The Education and Labor Committee's purpose is to ensure that Americans' needs are addressed so that students and workers may move forward in a changing school system and a competitive global economy.
The committee and its five subcommittees oversee education and workforce programs that affect all Americans, from early learning through secondary education, from job training through retirement.
The Education and Labor Committee Democrats' goal is to keep America strong by increasing education opportunities for students, by making it easier to send young adults to college, and by helping workers find job training and retirement security for a better future. The following education issues are under the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee:
Education. The Committee on Education and Labor oversees federal programs and initiatives dealing with education at all levels—from preschool through high school to higher education and continuing education. These include:
- Elementary and secondary education initiatives, including the No Child Left Behind ActNo Child Left Behind ActThe No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
, school choice for low-income families, special education (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), teacher quality & teacher training, scientifically based reading instruction, and vocational and technical education; - Higher education programs (the Higher Education Act), to support college access for low and middle-income students and help families pay for college;
- Early childhood & preschool education programs including Head Start;
- School lunch and child nutrition programs;
- Financial oversight of the U.S. Department of Education;
- Programs and services for the care and treatment of at-risk youth, child abuse prevention, and child adoption;
- Educational research and improvement;
- Adult education; and
- Anti-poverty programs, including the Community Services Block Grant Act and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Labor. The Committee on Education and Labor also holds jurisdiction over workforce initiatives aimed at strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers. Workforce issues in the jurisdiction of the Education and the Labor Committee include:
- Pension and retirement security for U.S. workers;
- Access to quality health care for working families and other employee benefits;
- Job training, adult education, and workforce development initiatives, including those under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), to help local communities train and retrain workers;
- Continuing the successful welfare reforms of 1996;
- Protecting the democratic rights of individual union members;
- Worker health and safety, including occupational safety and health;
- Providing greater choices and flexibility (including "comp time" or family time options) to working women and men;
- Equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment;
- Wages and hours of labor, including the Fair Labor Standards Act;
- Workers' compensation, and family and medical leave;
- All matters dealing with relationships between employers and employees.
Members, 112th Congress
The current chairman is John KlineJohn Kline (politician)
John Paul Kline is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville and Eagan. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:Kline was born...
, from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and the Ranking Member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
is George Miller
George Miller (politician)
George Miller III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 through 2010, Miller served as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, formerly known as the Education and the Workforce Committee.-Early life, education, and early...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
George Miller (politician) George Miller III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 through 2010, Miller served as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, formerly known as the Education and the Workforce Committee.-Early life, education, and early... , California, Ranking Member Dale E. Kildee Dale Edward Kildee is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 5th congressional district, serving since 1977. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Flint, Saginaw and Bay City... , Michigan Donald M. Payne Donald Milford "Don" Payne is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district encompasses most of the city of Newark, parts of Jersey City and Elizabeth, and some suburban communities in Essex and Union counties... , New Jersey Rob Andrews Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County.... , New Jersey Lynn Woolsey Lynn C. Woolsey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and its co-chair... , California Rubén Hinojosa Rubén E. Hinojosa is the U.S. House of Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and the Coastal Bend region... , Texas Carolyn McCarthy Carolyn McCarthy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in central Long Island in west-central Nassau County and includes Mineola, the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Garden City, Hempstead,... , New York John F. Tierney John F. Tierney is the United States representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party and an advocate for liberal policies and government oversight. A former attorney, he has served since 1997.... , Massachusetts Dennis Kucinich Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections.... , Ohio David Wu David Wu is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1999 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of Portland west of the Willamette River, as well as all of Yamhill, Columbia, Clatsop, and Washington Counties... , Oregon Rush D. Holt, Jr. Rush Dew Holt, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently the only Quaker in Congress.-Early life and education :Rush D. Holt was born to Rush D... , New Jersey Raul Grijalva Raúl M. Grijalva is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes half of metro Tucson, all of Yuma and Nogales, and some peripheral parts of metro Phoenix.-Early life, education and career:... , Arizona David Loebsack David Wayne "Dave" Loebsack is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in southeastern Iowa and includes Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Ottumwa... , Iowa Mazie Hirono is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.She was the second Asian immigrant elected lieutenant governor of a state of the United States. She ran against Linda Lingle for governor of Hawaii in 2002, one of the few gubernatorial races in United... , Hawaii |
Sources:
- Resolutions electing Republican members
- Resolutions electing Democratic members
Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking Member |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education United States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education The House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce... |
Duncan D. Hunter Duncan D. Hunter Duncan Duane Hunter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter... (R-CA) |
Dale Kildee (D-MI) |
| Workforce Protections United States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce Protections The House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:... |
Tim Walberg Tim Walberg Timothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:... (R-MI) |
Lynn Woolsey Lynn Woolsey Lynn C. Woolsey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and its co-chair... (D-CA) |
| Higher Education and Workforce Training | Virginia Foxx Virginia Foxx Virginia Foxx is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district takes in much of the northwestern portion of the state and a portion of Winston-Salem.... (R-NC) |
Ruben Hinojosa Rubén Hinojosa Rubén E. Hinojosa is the U.S. House of Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and the Coastal Bend region... (D-TX) |
| Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions United States House Education Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions The House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce... |
Phil Roe Phil Roe David Phillip "Phil" Roe is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in the Tri-Cities area in the northeastern portion of the state.... (R-TN) |
Rob Andrews Rob Andrews Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County.... (D-NJ) |
1867-1883
| Chair | Party | State | Start of Service | End of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jehu Baker Jehu Baker Jehu Baker was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Lexington, Kentucky, Baker moved with his father to Lebanon, Illinois, in 1829.... |
Republican | IL | 1867 | 1869 |
| Samuel M. Arnell | Republican | TN | 1869 | 1871 |
| Legrand Perce | Republican | MS | 1871 | 1873 |
| James Monroe James Monroe (congressman) James Monroe was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Plainfield, Connecticut, Monroe attended the common schools and Plainfield Academy.He was graduated from Oberlin College in 1846.... |
Republican | OH | 1873 | 1875 |
| Gilbert C. Walker | Democratic | VA | 1875 | 1877 |
| John Goode, Jr. | Democratic | VA | 1877 | 1881 |
| Jonathan T. Updegraff Jonathan T. Updegraff Jonathan Taylor Updegraff was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Born near Mount Pleasant, Ohio, he descendant of the german Op den Graeff family. Jonathan was the son of David Updegraff, a Quaker minister, and grandson of Nathan Updegraff, a delegate to Ohio's first constitutional... |
Republican | OH | 1881 | 1882 |
| John C. Sherwin John C. Sherwin John Crocker Sherwin was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, New York, Sherwin was educated in the common schools, Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary in New York, and Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois, where he studied law.He was admitted to the bar and... |
Republican | IL | 1882 | 1883 |
1947-present
| Chair | Party | State | Start of Service | End of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred A. Hartley | Republican | NJ | 1947 | 1949 |
| John Lesinski, Sr. John Lesinski, Sr. John Lesinski, Sr. was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was the father of John Lesinski, Jr., who took his seat in the United States House of Representatives upon his father's death.... |
Democratic | MI | 1949 | 1950 |
| Graham A. Barden | Democratic | NC | 1950 | 1953 |
| Samuel K. McConnell | Republican | PA | 1953 | 1955 |
| Graham A. Barden | Democratic | NC | 1955 | 1961 |
| Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was an American politician and pastor who represented Harlem, New York City, in the United States House of Representatives . He was the first person of African-American descent elected to Congress from New York and became a powerful national politician... |
Democratic | NY | 1961 | 1967 |
| Carl D. Perkins Carl D. Perkins Carl Dewey Perkins , a Democrat, was a politician and member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Kentucky.-Early years:Perkins was born in Hindman, Kentucky... |
Democratic | KY | 1967 | 1984 |
| Gus Hawkins | Democratic | CA | 1984 | 1991 |
| William D. Ford William D. Ford William David Ford was a U.S. Representative from Michigan.Ford was born in Detroit and attended Henry Ford Trade School, Melvindale High School, Nebraska State Teachers College, and Wayne State University.... |
Democratic | MI | 1991 | 1995 |
| William F. Goodling William F. Goodling William Franklin "Bill" Goodling was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Goodling, the son of former Congressman George Atlee Goodling, was born in Loganville, Pennsylvania and grew up in York, Pennsylvania. He received a B.S... |
Republican | PA | 1995 | 2001 |
| John Boehner John Boehner John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991... |
Republican | OH | 2001 | 2006 |
| Buck McKeon | Republican | CA | 2006 | 2007 |
| George Miller George Miller (politician) George Miller III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 through 2010, Miller served as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, formerly known as the Education and the Workforce Committee.-Early life, education, and early... |
Democratic | CA | 2007 | 2011 |
| John Kline John Kline (politician) John Paul Kline is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville and Eagan. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:Kline was born... |
Republican | MN | 2011 | present |