Press Releases

(As Entered into the Record) The nation is facing a worsening health care crisis that demands our immediate attention. As a nation, we spend two trillion dollars a year on care, yet 1 in 2 Americans suffer from chronic diseases that decrease quality of life and increase health costs. Estimates indicate that close to 200 million Americans alive...

WASHINGTON, DC— A hearing on the role of states in keeping Americans healthy will be held tomorrow, Thursday, January 22nd at 10am. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will chair the hearing that will take place in the HELP Committee’s hearing room, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 430. This is the second hearing Harkin has held in his role...

United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing (As Entered into the Record) In this new century of the life sciences, almost every day brings new medical breakthroughs and extraordinary scientific discoveries. Biotechnology has created undreamed-of solutions to longstanding medical challenges. Conditions which once...

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today urged theSenate to reject the Ledbetter bill, and called for consideration of reasonable alternativelegislation to protect American workers. “The Ledbetter bill is an unreasonable overreach that will...

ate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today told ArneDuncan, nominee for Secretary of Education, that he plans to work with the Obamaadministration to improve student achievement and expand lifelong learningopportunities for all Americans. “We can’t afford the lost economic opportunity that results when students...

(As Entered into the Record) I commend Arne Duncan for his nomination to be Secretary of Education and welcome him to our committee today. Mr. Duncan brings inspiration, dedication, and ability to the field of education and I look forward to learning more about his vision for improving and strengthening all aspects of education, from early...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today’s report shows a loss of 524,000 jobs – it’s now a full year of consecutive monthly job losses. The national unemployment rate rose to 7.2% and the number of unemployed Americans rose to 11.1 million. “Today’s depressing news highlights the magnitude of the challenge we face in revitalizing...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today emphadthat the Department of Labor would achieve better results by approaching employeeemployerrelations in a cooperative, not confrontational, manner, and urged the Secretaryof Labor designate to work...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said he is“ready to work with the Obama Administration to make access to affordable health care areality for all Americans.” “I want to work with you and President-elect Obama to help...

(As Prepared for Delivery) It is an honor to welcome our members to our first hearing of the new Congress. I particularly welcome our very special witness today – a valued friend and former colleague, Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle is a leader of great integrity and strong dedication. He has served his nation with distinction, both in uniform and...

WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today released the following statement on today’s CBO report on report on financing health care: "Today's report from the Congressional Budget Office is a major contribution to health reform, and gives Congress important...

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), today announced that Senator Jeff Bingaman will lead the committee’s health care reform working group on insurance coverage. Senator Bingaman replaces Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of State. Last month, Kennedy asked Senator Dodd to...

Washington, D.C. – Marking the 20th anniversary of “World AIDS Day,” U.S.Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Laborand Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said that the United States has made great stridescombating AIDS at home and across the world, and must continue to lead the way totreat,...

WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of extended unemployment benefits. The legislation provides an additional 7 weeks of unemployment insurance to workers whose benefits have expired, for a total of up...

Washington, DC— Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee committed today to work together early in the 111th Congress toward comprehensive health care reform. Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and HELP Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) were joined at an afternoon discussion in...

Washington, DC— Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee committed today to work together early in the 111th Congress toward comprehensive health care reform. Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and HELP Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) were joined at an afternoon discussion in...

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were joined today by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) in announcing legislation to help ease the financial strain on American...

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), andSenator Tom Coburn, R-OK, have asked the Food and Drug Administration to provideinformation about a no-bid contract that officials awarded to a public relations firm withties to the agency. “We...

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), said areport released today demonstrates that, “America’s community colleges are doing atremendous job of controlling costs while providing lifelong learning opportunities toprepare...

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), todayapplauded President Bush for signing the “Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008,” whichhe said will make it easier for patients to receive quality health care in rural andunderserved...