Chairman's Press
What’s in the Fine Print? Sidewalks, Grocery Stores, and Jungle Gyms HELP Committee Democrats’ Bill Chock-full of Wasteful Spending
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate'sonly accountant, today criticized wasteful spending in a health care reform bill releasedby HELP Committee Democrats this week. "The Kennedy-Dodd bill will pave sidewalks, build jungle gyms, and open grocerystores, but it won't bring down health care costs or make quality coverage moreaffordable," Enzi said. "In a time of record debt and deficits,… Continue Reading
06.10.09
Enzi: Democrats Can't Write a Bipartisan Bill on Their Own
Washington, D.C. - After meeting with President Obama today to discuss health care reform, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said he remains committed to developing a bipartisan reform bill but warned that locking Republicans out of the process won't deliver genuine reform that most Americans want. "I believe there is a way forward that can get the support of 75 to 80 Senators, but the bill Democrats released ye… Continue Reading
06.10.09
Enzi: Democrats' Proposal Would Force Americans Into Second-Rate Health Care Program
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said that the Democrats' proposal to expand Medicaid would force about 50 million Americans into a health care program that may not meet their needs and drive up costs for the rest of the country. "The Democrats' proposal would lock 50 million Americans into a second-tier health care program where they couldn't see their choice of doctors or get the care … Continue Reading
06.10.09
Enzi Rejects HELP Committee Democrats' Plan to Ration Life-Saving Care
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said the HELP Committee Democrats' health care proposal would lay the groundwork for Washington bureaucrats to ration and deny life-saving treatments. "The Kennedy-Dodd bill would give Washington bureaucrats the power to deny you and your family the care you need," Enzi said. "Republicans are going to fight tooth and nail to stop Democrats from rationing … Continue Reading
06.09.09
Enzi: Democrats' Proposal a Partisan Road to Government-Rationed Care
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said that he will workaggressively to achieve a bipartisan solution on health care reform, a final product he said willneed to look "very different" than the draft legislation released by HELP Committee Democratstoday. "For health care reform to work and have broad support, it needs to be bipartisan," Enzisaid. "Unfortunately, the draft bill that Democrats released today is a partisan wish-list that will put us on the road to governm… Continue Reading
06.08.09
ENZI SAYS NO TO GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said he strongly opposes creating a government-run health care program that would force millions of Americans to lose the health insurance they currently have and join a plan where Washington bureaucrats would ration care. "Adding a government-run health care program would force millions of Americans to lose the care they have now," Enzi said. "A governme… Continue Reading
06.04.09
ENZI: GETTING HEALTH CARE REFORM RIGHT MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEETING ARBITRARY DEADLINES
Washington, D.C. - After meeting with other Senate leaders to discuss healthcare reform, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) today again called on Congress to takethe time to reach a bipartisan agreement on health care reform and warned against agovernment takeover of the health care system. "I am disappointed in the focus that some Democrats have placed on meetingarbitrary deadlines over getting the legislation done right," said Enzi, who serves asRanking Member of the Senate Health, Education, La… Continue Reading
05.20.09
ENZI: PEACE TREATY WITH PHILIP MORRIS NO WAY TO WIN WAR ON TOBACCO
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today denouncedHELP Committee approval of a bill requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) toregulate tobacco, arguing that the bill would do nothing to stop anyone from smoking orhelp them quit, and would place new burdens on a struggling agency. "Trying to make cigarettes safer through a billion-dollar bureaucracy is awaste of time and money," Enzi said.… Continue Reading
05.19.09
ENZI: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION BEST CHOICE TO REGULATE TOBACCO
Washington, D.C. - At today's Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)Committee markup on a bill requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve andregulate tobacco products, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) offered an amendment that wouldshift that responsibility to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "FDA is the wrong agency to regulate tobacco," said Enzi, Ranking Member of theHELP Committee. "CDC has the infrastructure, personnel and mission to take o… Continue Reading
05.19.09
ENZI: SCIENCE, NOT POLITICS, SHOULD DRIVE TOBACCO REGULATION
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said that sound science, not politics, should guide decisions on regulating or banning addictive tobacco flavorings, particularly menthol, used to market cigarettes to kids. "Tobacco companies use flavors to get kids hooked on cigarettes," Enzi said. "While the bill before us today would ban the use of some flavorings, it doesn't cover all flavored produc… Continue Reading
05.18.09
ENZI: FDA SEAL OF APPROVAL NO WAY TO PUT OUT SMOKING
Washington, D.C. - With the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee set to debate this week a bill requiring the Food and Drug Administration to approve and regulate tobacco products, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) today said that putting an implied FDA seal of approval on tobacco is no way to wipe out smoking. "My fierce opposition to smoking is a result of smoking killing my dad, and my mom, and my mother-in-law, and second-hand smoking conclusively affecting me. This i… Continue Reading
05.18.09
ENZI COMMENDS SENATE CONFIRMATION OF HAMBURG
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today commended the Senate for its quick confirmation of Dr. Margaret Hamburg to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "Dr. Hamburg is the right person for a tough job," Enzi said. "FDA needs aCommissioner with Dr. Hamburg's expertise and experience. "I look forward to working with Dr. Hamburg to protect and promote the public health,and to restore FDA's status a… Continue Reading
05.12.09
ENZI LAYS OUT CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM, SAYS REFORM LEGISLATION NEEDS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today outlined conservativeprinciples for health care reform and said he would work to include those principles as Congress drafts bipartisan reform legislation. Speaking to The Heritage Foundation's Conservative Principles of Health Care Reform:The Road Ahead, Enzi reaffirmed his commitment to working in a bipartisan fashion on healthcare reform saying, "Let m… Continue Reading
05.12.09
ENZI SUPPORTS HAMBURG NOMINATION SAYS FDA MUST STAY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC HEALTH MISSION
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today applauded HELP Committeeapproval of Dr. Margaret Hamburg's nomination to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs."Given Dr. Hamburg's expertise in emergency preparedness and public health, it isimportant that the Senate act on this nomination quickly," Enzi said. "I support Dr. Hamburg'snomination, and urge my colleagues to do the same." Enzi said that if Dr. H… Continue Reading
05.07.09
ENZI TO LABOR DEPARTMENT: SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today urged nominees to theDepartment of Labor not to view businesses, particularly small businesses, as adversaries. "I am concerned about the direction the Obama Department of Labor will take," Enzisaid. "I truly hope the Department does not assume an adversary role against small businesses and businesses in general. Small businesses are not the enemy of work… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Enzi Questions Nominee on Flu, Tobacco, Other Critical Issues
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), today said Dr. Margaret Hamburg, nominee for Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if confirmed, will face unprecedented challenges to public health, from bio-defense and preparedness to possibly regulating tobacco, and added that Congress, FDA, and the Administration will need to work cooperatively to meet those challenges. "With the current pandemic flu threat looming, many Americans are concerned about the supply of flu va… Continue Reading
05.07.09
ENZI QUESTIONS FDA NOMINEE ON FLU, TOBACCO, OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), today said Dr. Margaret Hamburg, nominee for Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if confirmed, will face unprecedented challenges to public health, from bio-defense and preparedness to possibly regulating tobacco, and added that Congress, FDA, and the Administration will need to work cooperatively to meet those challenges. "With the current pandemic flu threat looming, many Americans are concerned about the supply of flu va… Continue Reading
05.05.09
ENZI: REDUCING HEALTH CARE COSTS CRITICAL TO EXPANDING ACCESS
Washington, D.C. - At today's Senate Finance Committee roundtable on, "Expanding Health Care Coverage, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said that efforts to expand health care coverage must be coupled with efforts to bring down health care costs. "Unless we halt skyrocketing health care costs, any attempt to expand health care coverage will be financially unsustainable," said Enzi, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and as a member o… Continue Reading
04.28.09
ENZI SAYS STATES CAN OFFER IMPORTANT INSIGHTS ON NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORMS
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) said today dramatic changes imposed on market rules in the name of health care reform could do more harm than good if Congress moves too quickly and without taking into account the lessons learned by state-based health reform efforts. "Forcing states to dramatically change their insurance market rules too quickly could result in some very serious unintended consequences," Enzi said, during today's HELP Committee Round Table, "Learning from the St… Continue Reading
04.28.09
ENZI URGES DEMOCRATS TO REJECT BUDGET WITH RECONCILIATION INSTRUCTIONS
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on the Democrats' decision to misuse budget reconciliation and bypass a full, fair legislative process on health care reform: "How did reconciliation instructions make it into the conference report after so many powerful Senate Democrats said they opposed using reconciliation and would fight to keep it out of the budget? In… Continue Reading
