Press Releases

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...

“I’d like to thank all of you for being here today as we continue to discuss reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  In our two previous hearings, we gained valuable insight into the need for education reform in order for our country to remain globally competitive; and we heard from Education Secretary Arne...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement today regarding a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) inspections of domestic food facilities.  Among its findings, the report identifies significant...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the statement below following an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia that killed 25 workers, with four workers still missing.  Harkin chairs both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Labor Appropriations...

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...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement today after President Obama signed into law a landmark package of student lending reforms. “The last few weeks in Washington have been truly historic.  Comprehensive health reform is...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor on the importance of extending unemployment insurance. “Let me thank my colleague and dear friend from Michigan, Senator Stabenow, for those kind words. I know...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today announced that landmark legislation to make college more affordable and accessible had passed the U.S. Senate.  The legislation must now go to the U.S. House for a final vote before heading to the President’s...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement after President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Senate-passed comprehensive health reform measure approved by the House earlier this week.  Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions...

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...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) commented today on the findings of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA).  The EEOICPA provides compensation to workers and their survivors for occupational diseases arising from...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) issued the following statement after the U.S. House passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.  With this vote, comprehensive health reform has passed and will go to President Obama for his signature.  The reconciliation package now heads to the U.S....

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...

“I’d like to thank all of you for being here today for the second in a series of hearings focusing on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Today’s testimony will help inform us as we undertake a bipartisan process to reshape this legislation. We have learned a lot since No Child Left Behind was passed...

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...

“The Committee will come to order.  We have convened this hearing to examine the issue of fair pay for women.  This is not a new issue.  In 1963, responding to the fact that the 25 million female workers in the workforce earned just 60 percent of the average pay for men, Congress enacted the Equal Pay Act to end this unfair...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced today that the Committee approved 14 nominations by voice vote this afternoon to fill positions at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education...

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. ...

“I’d like to thank all of you for being here today for the first in a series of hearings focusing on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  Testimony from educators and experts, this morning and in subsequent hearings, will guide us as we undertake a bipartisan process to reshape this bill.  We have...

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...