George Miller

Education and early career

He was born in Richmond, California, the son of George Miller Jr., a leader of the liberal wing of the California Democratic Party at the time. He graduated from Diablo Valley Community College and San Francisco State University.

After his father died on New Year's Day 1969, Miller ran in a March 1969 special election to succeed him in California's 7th State Senate district, but Republican John A. Nejedly defeated him 57% to 42%.

He then attended the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), where he received his Juris Doctor. Miller served as legislative assistant to California State Senate Majority Leader George Moscone before entering the United States House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 1974, incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Jerome Waldie gave up his seat to make an unsuccessful run for Governor of California. Miller decided to run for the open seat, which had been renumbered from the 14th congressional district to the 7th congressional district in a mid-decade redistricting. He won the primary with a plurality of 38%. In the general election, he defeated Republican Gary Fernandez 56% to 44%, the lowest winning percentage of his career. He went on to win reelection 18 times and never won with less than 60% of the vote.

On April 10, 1975, Miller walked out of the House chamber during President Ford's State of the Union Address when he requested military aid for South Vietnam.

2012

After redistricting, Miller's district was redrawn and renumbered the 11th. He ran against, and defeated, Republican Virginia Fuller in the general election.

In a 2012 campaign ad, Miller said that the main challenge the U.S. faces is the need “to correct the disparities that exist in our country.”

Tenure

According to a 2013 article in the National Journal, Miller was one of seven members of the 113th Congress House of Representatives who tied for most liberal.

In 2011–12, Miller sponsored 10 bills (placing him at #40 out of 440 House members), none of which were made into law (ranks 18 of 440). He co-sponsored 199 bills (placing him at #138 out of 440), 4 of which were made into law (ranks 17 of 440).

During Miller's 1974 campaign, he routinely disclosed his donors and expenses, taking advantage of the Watergate scandal that was still in the minds of voters. This helped get him a seat in the House at the age of 29, becoming one of the Watergate Babies. At the time of his retirement, he was one of the last surviving members of the large Democratic freshman class of 1974, and had spent over half of his life in Congress. Miller has been described as someone who has "proven himself both a liberal lion ...and savvy about working both sides of the aisle.”

With his father being the former chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee and mentor Phillip Burton being an integral part of liberal politics in the 1970s, Miller has been described as the “heir to a tradition of Bay Area working-class politics.” Miller had one of the most liberal voting records in the House, and brings "a zest for political combat." A review of Miller's career states that, although he has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of top party positions, he has "learned a legislator’s virtues of patience, timing, and creativity."

Environmental issues

In the House, Miller was a member of the Natural Resources Committee; he was that Committee's chairman from 1991 to 1994. Miller supported efforts to preserve public lands such as the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, which among other things created Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park. In addition, Miller was the chief sponsor of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992, which mandated that the federal government's Bureau of Reclamation manage the Central Valley Project in order to better protect the fish and wildlife populations of California's Bay-Delta region. Miller lost his chairmanship when Republicans won control of Congress in 1994. He stayed as the committee's Ranking Member until 2000, and remained on the committee as a member until 2015. Miller was also a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.

Committee assignments

Committee on Education and Labor (ranking member)

As ranking member of the full committee, Miller may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees of which he is not already a voting member.

Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions

United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (Chair)

Caucus memberships

Congressional Progressive Caucus

Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus

International Conservation Caucus

House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee (Co-Chair for Policy)

Personal life

Miller owned a townhouse in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. for decades, renting rooms to fellow members of the U.S. House, even after some moved to the Senate. His longest-standing tenants were Senators Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin. Miller purchased the residence in 1977 and sold it when he retired from the House at the end of 2014. Prior tenants included former Representatives Marty Russo, Leon Panetta and Sam Gejdenson.