Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today in response to a new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP).  The report showed that providing universal access to hybrid retirement plans - like Harkin’s USA...

*** "It is deeply troubling to hear of more patients who may have been harmed by tainted compounding drugs…We know the problem, we have the solution, and it’s up to Congress to pass this bill as soon as it returns.” – Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, August 12—The senior Republican on the U.S. Senate health policy...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned health care professionals against using sterile products supplied by Specialty Compounding in Cedar Park, Texas because bacterial infections have been potentially associated with contaminated calcium gluconate infusions produced by the company.  According to the...

*** "This permanent, market-based plan makes loans cheaper, simpler and more certain for the 11 million students nationwide – including more than 200,000 in Tennessee – heading to college this fall.” – Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, August 9— Sen. Lamar Alexander (R. Tenn), the senior Republican on the U.S. Senate...

“NewsHour” Segment Also Features Ricardo Thornton, Who Was Warehoused—Until His Early Twenties—in an Institution for Individuals with Disabilities; Thornton Testified Before the HELP Committee in 2012 WASHINGTON, D.C.—In case you missed it, PBS’ NewsHour program last night reported on an investigation issued by...

HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Lamar Alexander Lead Effort on Legislation to Clarify Oversight of Large-Scale Drug Compounders  Report: “Differing FDA Authority to Oversee Compounded Drugs Across the Country Has Resulted in Gaps in Oversight of Drug Compounding” WASHINGTON, D.C. — A newly-released...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today regarding health insurance coverage for Members of Congress and their staffs. As Chairman of the HELP Committee, Harkin played a pivotal role in the passage of the health...

WASHINGTON, August 1—A group of 39 Republican Senators today called on the White House to provide details on efforts by at least 21 federal agencies to help implement the new health care law—specifically, “agencies with no responsibilities” to implement or promote under that law. In a letter to White House Counsel Kathryn...

WASHINGTON, July 31 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the senior Republican on the U.S. Senate education committee, today released the following statement on passage by the House of Representatives, by a vote of 392 to 31, of the bipartisan student-loan bill Alexander and a bipartisan group of senators cosponsored in the...

WASHINGTON, July 31—Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the senior Republican on the U.S. Senate education committee, on Tuesday joined committee members Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah),  in hosting a forum on school choice, where the...

Reauthorization Bill Clears Senate HELP Committee by Vote of 18-3 WIA Reauthorization Has Been Overdue Since 2003 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) applauded the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee vote to pass reauthorization...

*As Prepared for Delivery* “Today we will mark up the Workforce Investment Act of 2013, a bill to reauthorize our nation’s primary workforce development system. Our actions today are crucial and long overdue – the last reauthorization of this law expired in 2003. With this mark-up, we have the opportunity to strengthen the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today after the Senate confirmed five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The HELP Committee held confirmation hearings for the nominees in May and earlier this...

WASHINGTON, July 30—The senior Republican on the U.S. Senate labor committee said today that the president’s withdrawal of two National Labor Relations Board nominees whose appointments have been ruled unconstitutional by multiple federal courts was “an important moment in the history of our ability as a country to maintain checks...

By Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Tim Scott, Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander One of the most important things we do as a society is educate our kids. Opportunity in education is the gateway to opportunity everywhere else -- in our economy, in our society and in our democracy. All children, no matter who they are or where they live, deserve an...

One of the most important things we do as a society is educate our kids. Opportunity in education is the gateway to opportunity everywhere else -- in our economy, in our society and in our democracy. All children, no matter who they are or where they live, deserve an equal chance to develop their skills and intellect. But today in America, too many...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement today on the 23rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Harkin was the Senate sponsor of the ADA and delivered the first-ever Senate floor speech in American...

WASHINGTON D.C., July 25 – A bipartisan coalition of senators on the U.S. Senate committee overseeing health policy today urged Senate action on their legislation to help prevent another compounding crisis like the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that has led to 61 deaths and 749 illnesses, as well as protect the nation’s drug supply...

WASHINGTON D.C. – A bipartisan coalition of senators on the U.S. Senate committee overseeing health policy today urged Senate action on their legislation to help prevent another compounding crisis like the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that has led to 61 deaths and 749 illnesses, as well as protect the nation’s drug supply chain for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Senate HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a bipartisan bill to re-authorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), legislation first passed by Congress in 1998 and overdue for...