Chairman's Press
Senate Health Committee Questions FDA & CDC About Mysterious Lung Illness Tied to E-Cigarette Devices, Injuring Over 2,000 Americans
"I often suggest that Americans look at Washington, D.C., as if it were a split-screen television and today is a good example. On one side, you have the House of Representatives beginning public impeachment hearings. But on the other side, you have a bipartisan group of senators investigating a mysterious illness tied to the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products that has injured over 2,000 Americans, 39 of which have died, at a time when as many as one in ten Tennessee high school students may… Continue Reading
11.06.19
Education Groups Overwhelmingly Support Bipartisan Legislation to Simplify the FAFSA
WASHINGTON, November 6, 2019 - Higher education organizations across the country have announced their support for bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that nearly 20 million families fill out every year to apply for federal student aid. The FAFSA Simplification Act addresses one of the largest challenges low-income students who want to go to college face by reducing the 10… Continue Reading
11.06.19
Chairman Alexander Announces Support for Dr. Stephen Hahn, Nominee to Lead FDA
WASHINGTON, November 6, 2019 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after meeting with Dr. Stephen Hahn-President Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): "I had an excellent meeting with Dr. Hahn and believe he is well-qualified to lead the FDA. As an oncologist, Dr. Hahn knows firsthand the importance of bringing new, lifesaving drugs and devices quickly through the regulatory process as well as the need … Continue Reading
11.05.19
Senate Democrats Block Permanent Funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
WASHINGTON, November 5, 2019 - Senate Democrats today blocked legislation offered by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) that would permanently fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions. "The right way to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities is to pass permanent funding for these institutions as part of a package of bills that I've introduced, which includes simplifying the FAFSA, a bill that Senator Doug Jon… Continue Reading
11.01.19
Alexander Statement on the Nomination of Dr. Stephen Hahn to Serve as FDA Commissioner
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., November 1, 2019 - U.S. Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement on the selection of Dr. Stephen Hahn to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): "Having the right person lead the FDA is critical to virtually every American. The FDA is responsible for ensuring drugs and medical devices that patients rely on are safe and effective, protecting the nation's food supply, regulating tobacco products, and implementing 21st Ce… Continue Reading
10.31.19
Alexander: Senate Health Committee Approves Eight Bipartisan Public Health Bills
"I often suggest Tennesseans look at Washington D.C. like a split screen television. On one side, you have the controversies of the day - Democrat impeachment and the president's daily tweets. But on the other side, you'll often see senators working together to achieve results for the American people. That has been the case for this committee." WASHINGTON, D.C., October 31, 2019 - The Senate health committee today voted on eight bipartisan public health bills, which Chairman Lamar Alexander (R… Continue Reading
10.30.19
Alexander: To Celebrate Halloween, Senate Democrats Have Come Up With a Scary Fairytale Without an Ounce of Truth
WASHINGTON, October 30, 2019 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said "to celebrate Halloween, Senate Democrats have come up with a scary fairytale without an ounce of truth." Alexander made his remarks today on the Senate floor before Democrats tried unsuccessfully to block the Trump Administration from giving states more flexibility to offer affordable health insurance-known as a Section 1332 waiver that was created as part of the Affordable Care Act. The Senate… Continue Reading
10.22.19
Alexander, Jones Introduce Bill to Simplify the FAFSA
WASHINGTON, October 22, 2019 - U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) today introduced legislation to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that nearly 20 million families fill out every year to apply for federal student aid. "The 108-question FAFSA is one of the biggest challenges low-income students who want to go to college face," Alexander, chairman of the Senate education committee, said. "Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam told me that … Continue Reading
09.26.19
Alexander Introduces Long-Term Solution to Fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Serving Institutions
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2019 - Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today introduced a long-term solution to fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions as part of a legislative package of eight bipartisan higher education proposals drafted by 35 Senators - 20 Democrat, 15 Republican. "I am today introducing a long-term solution to permanently provide funding for Minority Serving Institutions, including the six HBCUs in Te… Continue Reading
09.25.19
Alexander: The Senate Should Confirm Eugene Scalia to Serve as Secretary of Labor
WASHINGTON, September 25, 2019 - Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the Senate should confirm Eugene Scalia to serve as Secretary of Labor. "I have received 32 letters in support of Mr. Scalia's nomination from small business owners, employers, workers, and Mr. Scalia's colleagues and mentees, including a number of women and former career attorneys at the Department of Labor," Alexander said in a speech delivered this afternoon on the Senate floor. "Forme… Continue Reading
09.25.19
Alexander: Senate Labor Committee Approves Eugene Scalia to Serve as Secretary of Labor
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2019 - The Senate labor committee today approved the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as United States Secretary of Labor. "Mr. Scalia is well qualified to lead the Labor Department," Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said during the committee meeting to vote on Mr. Scalia's nomination. "He is currently a partner in the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he has spent the majority of his career working on labor, employmen… Continue Reading
09.24.19
Alexander Statement on Trump Administration’s Final Overtime Rule
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2019 - Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced its final "overtime" rule: "More than one million additional employees will now be eligible to receive overtime pay under the Trump Administration's final rule raising the overtime annual salary threshold to $35,568. This is a reasonable update that should not have the same troubling effects for workers, businesses, non-profit… Continue Reading
09.09.19
Eugene Scalia Letter of Support from Former Labor Officials
The Honorable Lamar Alexander Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Patty Murray Ranking Member Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 August 30, 2019 Dear Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray, We formerly served in various leadership positions as career attorneys and, in one case, as the Chief Administrative Law Judge, in the United States Depar… Continue Reading
07.31.19
Alexander Statement on Trump Administration Drug Importation Plan
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2019 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the Trump Administration's drug importation action plan: "This is the first administration to take concrete steps to allow importation of prescription drugs to reduce their cost and I welcome it. The key for me is whether this plan preserves the Food and Drug Administration's gold standard for safety and effectiveness. Millions of Americans every day buy prescription … Continue Reading
07.24.19
Alexander, Murray Statement on the Lower Health Care Costs Act
WASHINGTON, July 24 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today released the following statement on the bipartisan Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019: "The Senate does not have time before the August recess to consider the bipartisan Lower Health Care Costs Act, which the Senate's health committee approved 20-3 on June 26, and includes proposals from 74 of our colleagues-35 Republican and 39 Democratic Senators. "We are engaged … Continue Reading
07.16.19
Alexander: CBO Says Lower Health Care Costs Act Will Reduce Health Insurance Premiums, Lower Prescription Drug Costs
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2019 - The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today said that the Lower Health Care Costs Act-legislation sponsored by Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), which contains 55 specific provisions from 65 different Senators-will reduce health insurance premiums and lower prescription drug costs. "The Lower Health Care Costs Act contains 55 provisions from 65 different Senators all aimed at reducing wh… Continue Reading
07.12.19
Employers Voice Support for Senate Health Committee Legislation to Reduce Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2019 - Employers across the country are voicing their support for the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to reduce what Americans pay out of their own pockets for health care, which the Senate health committee approved by a vote of 20-3 in June and includes 55 proposals from 65 senators - 36 Democrats and 29 Republicans. 181 million Americans get their health insurance on the job, and the unsustainably high cost of health care adds to the cost of … Continue Reading
07.10.19
Alexander: Instead of Perpetual Partisan Argument Over Obamacare, There’s A Surge of Bipartisan Cooperation to Lower Drug Prices
"The question I hear most often is, 'How can I reduce what Americans pay for health care out of their own pockets?' And the most obvious out-of-pocket cost for most Americans is what we pay for prescription drugs. …Last month, the Senate health committee passed legislation, by a vote of 20-3, that included fourteen bipartisan provisions to increase prescription drug competition to help more lower-cost generic and biosimilar drugs reach patients." - Chairman Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Ju… Continue Reading
06.26.19
Alexander: Senate Health Committee Votes 20 to 3 for Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Health Care Costs
"This legislation helps Americans in three major ways: It ends surprise billing, creates more transparency, and increases competition to bring down prescription drug costs." - Chairman Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, June 26, 2019 - The Senate health committee today approved by a vote of 20-3 the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, legislation that includes 54 proposals from 65 senators - 36 Democrats and 29 Republicans. "The Lower Health Care Costs Act will reduce what Americans pay out of t… Continue Reading
06.25.19
Groups Continue to Voice Support for Senate Health Committee Legislation to Reduce Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2019 - After Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, policy experts and advocacy organizations across the spectrum voiced their support of the bipartisan legislation to deliver better health care at lower cost. National Association of Insurance Commissioners: "We are writing to express our appreciation for your efforts to call attention to and attempt to address … Continue Reading
