Chairman's Press
Enzi Comments on CMS Actuary Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, made the following statement today in reaction to the analysis of the Democrats' health care law from the nonpartisan experts at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): "This report confirms Americans' worst fears about the health care law: it will dramatically increase health spending, cut benefits for millions of seniors and jeopardize access … Continue Reading
04.22.10
Enzi VPP Amendment Included in Budget to Preserve Workplace Safety Program Funding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today praised Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-SD) for including an amendment to protect a key voluntary workplace safety program. The Budget Committee agreed to an Enzi amendment that will restore funding to the Department of Labor's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), a cooperative program between private industry and the DOL's Occupational Safe… Continue Reading
04.15.10
Enzi: Teacher Evaluations Should Not Be Top-Down Directive From Washington
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee made the following statement today at the fourth in a series of hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Today's hearing focused on teachers and leaders. "This reauthorization shouldn't be a top-down directive solely from Washington - far removed from local school districts, teachers and students," said Enzi. "Teac… Continue Reading
04.13.10
Statement of Michael B. Enzi ESEA Reauthorization: School Turnaround
Chairman Harkin, I want to thank you for continuing the series of hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) with the important issue of school improvement and turnaround. We have worked to create a diverse witness list to share best practices and research with the Committee and I look forward to learning more from each of you this afternoon. The knowledge and practice you bring to the table will help us as we move forward to develop legislation that b… Continue Reading
04.06.10
Enzi Statement on West Virginia Mine Explosion
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement regarding yesterday's underground mine explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Coal Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia: "It is with deep sadness that I join others in offering our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those lost as a result of yesterday's explosion at the Massey Energy Mine in West Virginia."… Continue Reading
03.22.10
Enzi Comments on Passage of President's Federal Takeover of the U.S. Health-Care System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee made the following comments regarding this weekend's passage of the health care bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: "Most Americans don't want the health care bill the House just passed. The simple truth is that it raises taxes, cuts Medicare benefits and will put the government between you and your doctor. Does anyone believe we can spend a trillion d… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Enzi: ESEA Renewal Should Balance Needs of Rural Schools With National Goals
Washington, D.C. - At a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing today, Ranking Member Mike Enzi, (R-Wyo.), continued to champion greater flexibility for rural schools and better balancing of federal mandates with local control as the Committee considers the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. "No Child Left Behind has been criticized as a one-size-fits-all law, a claim that has rung especially true in rural areas," Enzi said. "I appr… Continue Reading
03.11.10
Enzi: Passage of Workforce Investment Act Best Solution to Close Earnings Gap
Washington, D.C. - The path to closing the earnings gap between women and men lies in providing the skills and training needed to enable more women - and men - to enter new higher-earning jobs, not burdening employers with new, unfunded mandates," U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said today. "We should reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) this Congress to ensure workers have access to the education a… Continue Reading
03.09.10
The Importance of World-Class K-12 Education for Our Economic Success
Chairman Harkin, I want to thank you for starting this series of hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Beginning with a hearing on the Importance of World-Class K-12 Education for Our Economic Success is an appropriate way to initiate our review of the issues surrounding reauthorization. It sets the stage as we move forward to develop legislation that builds upon what we have learned from No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and improves upon what isn't … Continue Reading
03.04.10
Enzi Hearing Statement - Childhood Obesity: Beginning the Dialogue on Reversing the Epidemic
Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening today's hearing on this important issue: childhood obesity. Our nation faces an epidemic of childhood obesity. As a result of this epidemic, millions of children are going to develop heart disease, diabetes and a host of other serious medical conditions. Costs for programs like Medicare and Medicaid will further increase beyond their already unsustainable levels. Today, we will discuss the First Lady's initiative to stop childhood obesity through a publ… Continue Reading
03.03.10
Enzi Statement on President's Letter to Congressional Leaders Following Health Care Summit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to the President's Letter To Congressional Leaders On Health Insurance Reform: "The President's bill is polarizing because it was put together by the Democrats and handed to us as the final and only answer. We are still seeing some window dressing to convince America that the majority is right. America didn't buy i… Continue Reading
02.25.10
Enzi Statement Following White House Health Care Summit
"I'm glad we had the opportunity to meet with the President today and talk frankly about our views on health care reform. As I've been saying, I think it's important that we move forward in a bipartisan way, work on the problems that are driving up costs and keeping millions of Americans from finding affordable health insurance, piece by piece instead of trying to pass one huge bill. The glimmers of hope for common ground are further evidence that we should move away from the current partisan … Continue Reading
02.22.10
Enzi Statement on White House Health Care Summit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on Thursday's White House summit on health care reform: "Like most Americans, I agree that our health care system needs reform. I am looking forward to meeting with President Obama and my Congressional colleagues this week. There are serious problems in our health care system. Costs are too high and insurance is unaffordable… Continue Reading
02.09.10
Statement of Michael B. Enzi: Cloture Vote on the Nomination of Craig Becker for the National Labor Relations Board
Mr. President, I rise to oppose cloture on the nomination of Craig Becker to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board. My colleagues know it is very unusual to have a cloture vote on a HELP Committee nominee, but this will be the second in as many weeks. In fact, these two nominees are the only HELP nominations that I have opposed. Over 40 HELP nominees have been swiftly confirmed after appropriate consideration this Congress, but these two nominees are problematic, and instead of wi… Continue Reading
02.04.10
Statement of Michael B. Enzi - Executive Session on Nominations
Let me begin by thanking Chairman Harkin for holding a confirmation hearing this past Tuesday for Mr. Craig Becker, who is nominated to serve as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board. There were a number of concerns raised by Members of this Committee and I think it was important to hear additional testimony from Mr. Becker regarding these issues. However, I am troubled that the Majority scheduled a vote on Mr. Becker without adhering to the regular order of the Committee. Typically, t… Continue Reading
02.01.10
Ranking Member Report: The Nomination of M. Patricia Smith of New York, Nominee to Serve as Solicitor of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor: Accuracy of Senate Testimony
United State SenateCommittee on Health, Education, Labor and PensionsMichael Enzi (Wyo.), Ranking MemberRANKING MEMBER REPORT:The Nomination of M. Patricia Smith of New York, Nominee to Serve as Solicitor of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor: Accuracy of Senate TestimonyU.S. Senate111th CongressCommittee on Health, Education, Labor and PensionsFebruary 1, 2010Table of ContentsI. Executive Summary………………………………&hellip… Continue Reading
12.20.09
Scrooged: Democrats Deliver Lump of Coal with Bill to Raise Health Care Costs, Hike Taxes, Cut Medicare
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement on the vote scheduled to occur at 1 a.m. Monday to cut off debate and move toward final passage of the Reid health care bill: "As families across the country look forward to the Christmas holiday, Senate Democrats are planning to deliver an early lump of coal in every American's stocking. Instead of giving the American people what they asked for - a bill that would reduce health care costs - Senate Democrats are t… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Student Loan Options Are Not Yet Dead
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Reps. John Kline (R-MN) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today wrote college and university presidents regarding their legislation that would preserve critical student loan options for another year. The Members are working to extend the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) which has successfully helped millions of Americans realize the dream of a college education since 1965. "Contrary to recent statement… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Promises Broken: Reid Bill Hikes Taxes on Middle Class, Small Business, Enzi Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) today said the Senate must say no to the enormous tax increase the Reid health care bill will lay on America's middle class families and small businesses, and urged sending the measure back for a re-write that reins in the cost of health care instead. "If the Reid bill passes, your taxes will go up when we ring in the New Year in two weeks," Enzi said. "Most of the reforms in this bill won't kick in for another four years, but you'll start payi… Continue Reading
12.10.09
Enzi: New Reid Bill Worse than the Old Bill
Washington, D.C. - Although details of the latest Reid health bill are still not available for Senators or the American people to read, reports indicate that the latest proposals would make "a bad bill even worse," U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (RWyo.) said today. "I really would like to see this marvelous new idea that's going to solve the whole problem, but the Majority still hasn't shown it to us or the American people. If it were really that good of an idea, I think they would have shared it alrea… Continue Reading
