Chairman's Press
Alexander: Democrats’ 5-month Delay in Confirmation of Deputy Education Secretary “Inexcusable”
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2018 - Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said today that Senate Democrats' five month delay in confirming Brigadier General Mitchell Zais as Deputy Secretary of Education was "inexcusable" and "this extremely well-qualified nominee did not deserve to be subject to Democrats' unreasonable and unnecessary obstruction." "Mitchell Zais has broad experience in public education. He has been a college president, state superintendent of education and a… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Alexander: Federal Watchdogs Agree that 340B Discount Drug Program Needs Better Oversight
"It very well may be that hospitals and clinics are using the savings to benefit low-income patients as intended. But it is hard to know that until we have more information." WASHINGTON, May 15, 2018 - At the Senate health committee's second hearing this year on the 340B Drug Discount Program Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that federal watchdog reports find the program needs better oversight, and the agency in charge may need more authority to conduct that oversight and collect … Continue Reading
05.11.18
Alexander Statement on President Trump’s Drug Pricing Announcement
WASHINGTON, May 11 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on President Trump's drug pricing announcement: "The President's plan is sweeping, comprehensive and sophisticated. It appears to put patients and taxpayers first. I especially welcome the proposals to lower prices by creating more competition and to examine the practice of list price rebates which make it hard for consumers to know what they are paying and what alternatives ar… Continue Reading
05.11.18
exander Statement on President Trump’s Drug Pricing Announcement
WASHINGTON, May 11 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on President Trump's drug pricing announcement: "The President's plan is sweeping, comprehensive and sophisticated. It appears to put patients and taxpayers first. I especially welcome the proposals to lower prices by creating more competition and to examine the practice of list price rebates which make it hard for consumers to know what they are paying and what alternatives ar… Continue Reading
05.08.18
Alexander, Bennet Introduce Resolution Celebrating 19th Annual National Charter Schools Week
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2018 - United States Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) today introduced a resolution celebrating the 19th annual National Charter Schools Week, which runs from May 7 through May 11, 2018 and commends the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of our nation's more than 6,900 charter schools across 44 states and the District of Columbia. Senator Alexander said: "The 2017-2018 school year was the first year that states and charter schools started … Continue Reading
05.08.18
Alexander: Democrats Already Busy Finding Someone to Blame for Rising Obamacare Premiums
** Click here to watch Senator Alexander's full remarks ** "Health insurance rates didn't start increasing when President Trump took office, they've been increasing since Obamacare took effect five years ago." WASHINGTON, May 8 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said on the Senate floor that Democrats are "already busy finding someone to blame," after they blocked a proposal that could have helped avoid a sixth straight year of insurance rate increases since … Continue Reading
04.26.18
Senate HELP Committee Members Release Bipartisan Discussion Draft to Combat Bioterrorism and Pandemics
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senators Burr, Casey, Alexander, and Murray released a bipartisan discussion draft to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), making targeted improvements to the tools at our nation's disposal to prepare for and respond to the threats that we face, whether naturally occurring like pandemic flu, or as a result of a deliberate attack on our country. PAHPA was enacted in 2006 and reauthorized in 2013 to establish and build upon an all-hazards fr… Continue Reading
04.24.18
Alexander: Senate Health Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill to Take Next Step in Helping States Fight Opioid Crisis
"The challenge before us has often been described as needing a moonshot. Solving the opioid crisis might require the energy of a moonshot, but ultimately it is not something that can be solved by an agency in Washington, D.C. What the federal government can do is create an environment so that everyone can succeed in fighting the crisis." WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2018 - The Senate health committee today voted to approve the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, which Chairman Lamar Alexander (… Continue Reading
04.17.18
Sens. Alexander, Murray Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address “Urgent Opioid Crisis”
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2018 - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), leaders of the Senate health committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to address the "urgent opioid crisis" and said the committee will markup the legislation on Tuesday, April 24. The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 (S. 2680) will improve the ability of the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes … Continue Reading
04.17.18
Sens. Alexander, Murray Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address “Urgent Opioid Crisis”
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2018 - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), leaders of the Senate health committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to address the "urgent opioid crisis" and said the committee will markup the legislation on Tuesday, April 24. The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 (S. 2680) will improve the ability of the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Hea… Continue Reading
04.12.18
Senate Confirms Patrick Pizzella to Serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor
WASHINGTON, April 12, 2018 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm Patrick Pizzella to Serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor: "As we learned at his confirmation hearing last July-Patrick Pizzella is well-qualified to be Deputy Secretary of Labor. America's workers deserve a properly staffed Labor Department to help ensure workers are safe on the job and are paid the wages they're owed as well as help ensure employers comply … Continue Reading
04.11.18
Alexander: Opioids Bill Next Step in Helping End National Opioid Crisis
"This committee has spent the last six months hearing from governors, state and local officials, doctors, families, and experts from the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration at our six bipartisan hearings." WASHINGTON, D.C., April 11, 2018 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today chaired a hearing on the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, draft… Continue Reading
04.11.18
Senate Confirms John Ring to National Labor Relations Board
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2018 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm John Ring to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board: "The National Labor Relations Board is important to our nation's workers and employers. John Ring's varied experiences working for a labor union while attending college and law school, and then having been a management lawyer will be a strength to the board. I am glad the Senate confirme… Continue Reading
04.10.18
Alexander: Trump EEOC General Counsel Nominee Can Improve Agency after “Embarrassing Losses, Rebukes” Under Previous General Counsel
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018 - Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the "Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Counsel is important to our nation's workers." The committee today held a hearing on Sharon Fast Gustafson to serve as General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). "If confirmed, Ms. Gustafson will be in charge of ensuring compliance with well-established anti-discrimination statutes, including Title VII of the… Continue Reading
04.09.18
Alexander: Senate to Confirm Two Important Labor Nominees This Week
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2018 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the Senate this week is set to confirm two important labor nominees-John Ring to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board and Patrick Pizzella to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor: "America's workers will benefit from Patrick Pizzella at the Labor Department and Mr. Ring at the National Labor Relations Board. Mr Ring is a well-qualified nominee to serve on the labor board - he has represented … Continue Reading
04.04.18
Committee Leaders Release Discussion Draft of Bipartisan Legislation to Address Urgent Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2018 - The leaders of the Senate health committee today released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis. The leaders also announced that a committee hearing on the draft legislation will take place on Wednesday, April 11th. The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 will improve the ability of the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of H… Continue Reading
03.26.18
Alexander: Draft Legislation Would Require Dispensing Opioids in Short-Term Blister Packs, Help FDA Stop Illegal Fentanyl at Borders
NASHVILLE, March 26, 2018 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released two discussion drafts of legislation to improve the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ability to address the opioid crisis. "The Senate health committee has held six bipartisan hearings so far this Congress on nearly every aspect of the opioids crisis, to inform legislation to better help states and communities on the front lines," Alexander said. "I want to ensure that the Food and Drug Adm… Continue Reading
03.23.18
Democrats Block up to 40% Reduction in Health Insurance Premiums
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2018-Democrats today blocked legislation that its Republican sponsors said would lower health insurance premiums by up to 40 percent for self-employed business people, plumbers, farmers, and songwriters who buy individual insurance without a government subsidy. "They are going to have a hard time explaining to working Americans who make $60,000 and pay $20,000 for insurance why they blocked cuts to premiums of $8000 over three years," Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Alexander: Democrats Scrambling to Explain Why They Just Blocked Bill to Lower Premiums Up to 40%
Click here to watch Senator Alexander's floor speech. "Today Democrats are voting in the Omnibus appropriations bill to apply the Hyde language to more than 100 other federal health programs while saying they can't apply Hyde to health insurance." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, March 22, 2018 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said today that Senate Democrats' are "scrambling and coming up with excuse after excuse" after blocking an up to 40 percent health insurance rate decreas… Continue Reading
03.21.18
Alexander: Spending Bill Includes Billions to Help Fight Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2018 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill includes "$3.6 billion to help fight the opioids crisis - an increase of $2.55 billion or 244 percent - a major boost to those on the frontlines of this epidemic." "The devastation of the opioid crisis has touched nearly every community," Alexander said. "This funding will help the National Institutes of Health develop a non-addictive painkiller… Continue Reading
