Chairman's Press
Alexander: “Hard-Working Tennessee Teachers, Parents, Governor Deserve the Credit” for State’s Top Rank in Student Improvement in Math, Reading
*** "There couldn't be any more important news for Tennessee, in terms of the future of our state."- Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Nov.7 - Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today praised Tennessee's performance in new nationwide test results for 4th and 8th graders that find Tennessee was the only state where students made significant improvements in both reading and math at both grade levels, and Tennessee students also made larger gains than students in any other state in three of the four tes… Continue Reading
11.05.13
Republican Health Committee Senators Confront Administration About Obamacare Failures
In hearing with CMS head Tavenner, senators raise questions about canceled policies, higher premiums, broken website, security issues WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 - At a hearing of the Senate health committee today, Republican senators questioned Marilyn Tavenner, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on the rollout of the health care law-specifically, canceled insurance policies, higher premiums, the broken website and related security issues. On canceled insurance polici… Continue Reading
11.05.13
Alexander to Administration: “Why Not Put the President’s Promise Into Law?”
*** "The president has said repeatedly, and it's on the White House website this morning, 'If you like your plan, you can keep it, and you don't have to change a thing due to the health care law.' Let me repeat, 'You don't have to change a thing due to the health care law.' That's the White House website today." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today called on the Obama administration to put the president's promise that "if you like yo… Continue Reading
10.31.13
Alexander: Committee-Passed Bill Ensures Children Continue to Benefit from Pediatricians Trained at St. Jude
*** "This bill means that our children in Tennessee and across the nation will continue to benefit from pediatricians trained at children's hospitals like St. Jude." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 - The senior Republican on the U.S. Senate health committee today announced the committee approved a bill to continue the successful children's hospital graduate medical education (CHGME) program that supports the training of pediatricians at children's hospitals in Tennessee and across the co… Continue Reading
10.31.13
Alexander Spotlights Innovations at Austin Peay University in Senate Hearing on Higher Education
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 - The senior Republican on the Senate education committee today praised innovations at Austin Peay University in a hearing on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and said lawmakers should look for ways to encourage similar innovations without creating mandates from Washington. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said: "What I am I looking for is the way to encourage a culture of innovation in our 6,000 institutions without throwing a big, wet blanket that smothers… Continue Reading
10.31.13
Alexander Cosponsors Bill to Allow Americans to Keep Their Insurance Plans
*** "The least we could do is keep the president's promise, even if he hasn't kept it, and let Americans stay on insurance plans they like." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today cosponsored a bill to repeal Obamacare requirements and allow Americans to stay on their insurance plans. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said: "The president promised Americans that if they liked their insurance, they'd be able to keep it, but at least 2… Continue Reading
10.31.13
Alexander Supports Subpoena for Exchange Documents Requested by Alexander, House Oversight Chairman Issa
Says "I hope it will force open the administration's black box of secrets that are keeping Congress and the entire American public in the dark" *** "We shouldn't have to issue a subpoena or pass a law to get the administration to tell us basic information about the Obamacare exchanges, but apparently that's what it's going to take." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today released the following statement in support of a subpoena issue… Continue Reading
10.29.13
Alexander: “Disappointing” that Senate Democrats Blocked Exchange Transparency Bill
*** "Before the Internet, RCA knew how many records Elvis was selling every day. Before the Internet, Ford knew how many cars they were selling every day. Before the Internet, McDonald's could tell you how many hamburgers it had sold each day. Yet the Obama administration cannot tell us how many Americans have tried to sign up for Obamacare." - Lamar Alexande WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 - After Senate Democrats this evening blocked his bill requiring weekly reports on the Obamacare exchanges, the sen… Continue Reading
10.29.13
Alexander Votes Against President’s Nominee to National Labor Relations Board
*** "The labor board needs to be umpire rather than advocate and Mr. Griffin's background as a union advocate and his work as general counsel for one of the major unions doesn't do anything to help me believe that he will improve the situation at the NLRB." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 - The senior Republican on the U.S. Senate labor committee today voted against confirmation of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) nominee for General Counsel, Richard Griffin Jr. Sen. Lamar Alex… Continue Reading
10.29.13
Alexander Calls for Resignation of Secretary Sebelius
*** "Expecting this secretary to be able to fix in a few weeks what she has not been able to fix during the last three and one half years is unrealistic. It is throwing good money after bad." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today (Video HERE) called for President Obama to ask Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to resign. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said: "Expecting this secretary to be able to fix in a few … Continue Reading
10.28.13
Alexander Calls for Unanimous Passage of Bill Requiring Weekly Reports on Obamacare Exchanges
*** "Before the Internet, RCA knew how many records Elvis was selling every day. Before the Internet, Ford knew how many cars they were selling every day. Before the Internet, McDonald's could tell you how many hamburgers it had sold each day. Yet the Obama administration cannot tell us how many Americans have tried to sign up for Obamacare." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today introduced a bill (Video HERE) requiring the admini… Continue Reading
10.25.13
Alexander, Issa Raise Possibility of Oversight Committee Subpoena for HealthCare.gov Documents
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 - Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced they have sent a letter demanding Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius provide requested documents related to the major problems with HealthCare.gov by October 28th or face the possibility of a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee. "Your failure to provide… Continue Reading
10.23.13
Alexander on Fox: “Unacceptable that Millions of Americans Have to Buy Insurance on a Website that Doesn't Work or Be Fined by the I.R.S."
*** "This isn't really complicated information. [I'd like to know] how many people tried to sign up? How many were successful? What zip code are they in? What level of insurance did they buy? Here in Tennessee, people are finding when they get on [Healthcare.gov] that their individual insurance might cost twice as much as it did before. Their family insurance might cost twice as much as it did before." --Sen. Lamar Alexander NASHVILLE, Oct. 23 -- U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the … Continue Reading
10.22.13
Alexander to Introduce Bill Requiring Weekly Reports on Obamacare Exchanges
*** "No more hiding the damage of the train wreck-Americans are on this train." - Lamar Alexander KNOXVILLE, Oct. 22 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today announced on a Knoxville radio show that he will introduce a bill requiring the administration to provide weekly reports to Congress and to states with data about Obamacare enrollment, efforts to resolve the site's technological problems, and information about organizations contracted as navigators. Senator Lamar Alex… Continue Reading
10.21.13
Alexander: “The President is Right—This Law is More Than a Website that Won’t Work—It’s an Historic Mistake”
*** "The president is right-this law is more than a website that won't work-it's a mandate that many Americans are finding impossible, and it's an historic mistake that is raising premiums, forcing employees off insurance plans, increasing out-of-pocket costs, and pushing employers to cut jobs and hours." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today released the following statement about the president's speech on Healthcare.gov: Senator La… Continue Reading
10.10.13
Alexander, Issa Investigating Extent of Obamacare Launch Problems
*** "We are concerned by recent comments to the media that the system suffers from architectural problems that need design changes. We seek information about these problems as well as whether you still expect individuals to suffer a tax penalty if they do not purchase government-approved health insurance." - Letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee and the Chairman of the House oversight committee today called on the Obama … Continue Reading
10.10.13
6 Things to Expect When Americans Eventually Log On
*** "These will be tough and disappointing days for many Americans, as they finally log on to the exchanges and discover that health insurance next year will cost multiple times what it costs them now." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 - As Americans begin to make their way onto the Obamacare exchanges, many are experiencing the "rate shock" that Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and other Republicans warned against. Other Americans are discovering that the plans they have now will eit… Continue Reading
10.10.13
Alexander: Obama Administration Has Been “Burying Important Obamacare Changes”
*** "This law is about as clear as mud, and instead of helping Americans understand their new obligations, the Obama administration has been burying important changes-not announcing them boldly, as you'd expect an administration that's proud of its new health care law to do." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 - The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today called on the Obama administration to improve the way it provides information to Americans about Obamacare, after an ad… Continue Reading
10.08.13
A Guide to the Obamacare Exchange “Glitches”
*** "I've been warning that a train wreck is coming with this law, but the truth is that no train wreck has ever had this many warning signs." - Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 - The Obama administration persisted with the roll out of the Obamacare exchanges on October 1, despite countless warning signs that the exchanges were not ready to handle the millions of Americans required to purchase health insurance or face tax penalties from the individual mandate. As Senator Lamar Alexander … Continue Reading
09.28.13
Alexander Statement on Today’s House Vote to Delay Obamacare, Repeal Medical Device Tax, Keep Government Open
NASHVILLE, Sept. 28- Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the senior Republican on the Senate health committee, today released the following statement on the vote by the House of Representatives to delay the individual mandate, repeal the medical device tax, and keep the government operating: "To avoid a government shutdown, the Senate should promptly agree with this eminently reasonable proposal by the House. Seventy nine senators have previously voted to repeal the onerous medical device tax, … Continue Reading
