Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) made the following statements after the Senate today sent to the president legislation that would speed safe drugs and devices for use in battlefield emergencies:   Alexander said:...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement about new Food and Drug Administration guidance on regenerative medicine:     “I am glad Commissioner Gottlieb is implementing the 21st Century Cures Act in such a way that Americans can access the...

WASHINGTON, November 16 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after meeting this morning with Alex Azar—President Trump’s nominee for United States Secretary of Health and Human Services: “I was glad to host Alex Azar in my office this morning and was impressed with his...

  Senators Murray, Brown introduce bill to protect workers’ freedom to negotiate and speak up, stop companies from retaliating against workers   The WAGE Act would strengthen protections for all workers and would penalize companies that break the law by attempting to stop workers from exercising their fundamental right to collective...

WASHINGTON, November 15, 2017 — Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing on four of the President’s nominees for positions at the Department of Education and the Department of Labor.  For the Education Department, Brigadier General Mitchel Zais is nominated to serve as...

WASHINGTON, November 15, 2017 — At a Senate health committee hearing today with Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that Dr. Adams’ focus on wellness could have a real impact on the lives of millions of Americans.          “Dr. Adams said at his confirmation...

Murray says Senate Republicans are “sneaking devastating health care changes into a partisan bill at the last minute;” “completely counter to the bipartisan spirit in which we worked on our stabilization bill” Murray criticizes Senate Republicans for jamming partisan health changes into fast-track tax reform at last...

Senate HELP Committee holds hearing with Surgeon General on bringing communities together to prioritize public health   At hearing, Murray encouraged public health efforts that: promote physical activity, improve access to healthy foods, support women’s health, & expand on science-based ways to reduce tobacco use   Murray called...

Murray: “It would make absolutely no sense to stabilize health care with one hand while devastating it with the other”   WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on reports that Senate...

Secretary DeVos has proposed only providing partial relief for students who were defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges   In new letter, Members of Congress express concern that Secretary DeVos may block full debt relief for student loan borrowers who were cheated out of their savings and education   Members of Congress: “The...

WASHINGTON, November 14, 2017 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that “gene editing technology, like CRISPR-cas9, has the potential to transform human health, when used properly.”   “CRISPR is a form of gene editing that essentially uses molecules that can be targeted to...

As negotiations begin to rewrite “borrower defense” rule to help defrauded students, Murray and DeLauro urge Secretary DeVos to open all meetings to the public   Secretary DeVos has a long history of undermining protections for defrauded students, and has refused to provide relief to students of now-defunct Corinthian...

WASHINGTON, November 13 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on President Trump’s selection of Alex Azar to serve as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services:   “As a former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and private sector...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on news that President Trump nominated pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar to the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services. “The Trump Administration...

In new letter, Senate Democrats admonish Trump Administration for preventing young women from obtaining access to reproductive health care while in federal custody   Reports indicate ORR Director personally interfered with Jane Doe, other minors’ attempts to obtain abortions   Senators: “We remain concerned by the actions of...

WASHINGTON, November 8, 2017 – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) released the following statement regarding a provision within the National...

WASHINGTON, November 8, 2017 — Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm Peter Robb to serve as General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board: “As General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Peter Robb will have an...

  WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2017 – Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the House passage – by a vote of 242 to 181 – of the bipartisan Save Local Business Act “restores the path to the American dream” for owners of 780,000 franchise businesses.   “Today’s House...

Focus on Key Decisionmakers:  Was White House Involved? Trump Administration Decision to Pull ACA Enrollment Outreach Ads Cost $1.1 Million Text of the letter available here (PDF) Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Eric...

MARYVILLE, Tennessee, November 3—Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed The CHAMPION Act, which extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and extends mandatory funding for important public health programs in the...