Press Releases

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 on the forthcoming Senate vote on the Student Loan Affordability Act of 2013, a fully paid-for bill to maintain the current interest rate on federal subsidized Stafford loans for...

Washington, D.C., May 31 –U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today released the following statement regarding President Obama’s call for Congress to prevent rates on subsidized Stafford Loans from doubling on July 1: "Senate Republicans support a...

*** “We believe a systematic, independent investigation of the matter is necessary to confirm the facts in the case, as well as to detail to what extent any laws, regulations, or internal guidance were not adhered to.” –Letter to HHS Inspector General Washington, D.C., May 30 –Senate Ranking Members Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)...

Last year’s fungal meningitis outbreak was a nightmare for Tennesseans. Our state alone suffered 152 cases, including 15 deaths. The tragedy would have been much worse if not for the heroism of state officials with the Department of Health who discovered the problem and helped to identify the cause. Their work prevented more people from...

Last year’s fungal meningitis outbreak was a nightmare for Tennesseans. Our state alone suffered 152 cases, including 15 deaths. Last year’s fungal meningitis outbreak was a nightmare for Tennesseans. Our state alone suffered 152 cases, including 15 deaths. The tragedy would have been much worse if not for the heroism of state officials...

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 U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that would make college more expensive for millions of American students. In an effort to protect taxpayers and...

WASHINGTON, DC –  Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today reintroduced the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act), a bill to combat childhood obesity and improve the well-being of all students by supporting improved measurement of physical activity...

Major news outlets in recent days have reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is raising money from the private sector—including from health-care executives—for use by a private entity that is helping to implement ObamaCare. The entity, Enroll America, is run by a former White House...

Washington, D.C., May 22 – In a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee vote today on the five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member, opposed the nominations of Sharon Block and Richard Griffin, saying “they have continued to serve, even though...

Washington, D.C., May 22 – The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today passed legislation introduced by Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and his colleagues to fix responsibility for the safety of sterile compounded drugs and, Alexander said, “avoid another outbreak like the meningitis nightmare that killed...

WASHINGTON—Today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Committee’s approval of five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “Today’s vote is a step in the right direction. Unless the Senate acts to...

WASHINGTON—Today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Committee’s passage of S. 959, the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act, and S. 957, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. “I am pleased that the HELP...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, as the HELP Committee approved the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act—legislation that would improve the safety of compounded human drugs by making clear the compounding oversight responsibilities of state and federal authorities—Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Lamar Alexander...

Major news outlets in recent days have reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is raising money from the private sector—including from health-care executives—for use by a private entity that is helping to implement ObamaCare. The entity, Enroll America, is run by a former White House...

Bipartisan Report Finds That Public Health Risks from Large-Scale Drug Compounding Persist; Fall 2012 Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Stemming From the New England Compounding Center’s Tainted Steroid Injections Sickened More than 700 and Killed More Than 50 Since Last Fall’s Meningitis Outbreak, at Least 48 Large-Scale Compounders Have...

WASHINGTON, May 21 – Members of the Tennessee United States congressional delegation today called on the administration to provide details on its policy of awarding Medicare contracts to businesses not licensed in Tennessee, a violation of the administration’s bid policy and a violation of Tennessee state law. The members write:...

WASHINGTON—Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, have sent a letter to the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), requesting documentation and information that could help the Committee identify Americans who may have been...

WASHINGTON—Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, have sent a letter to the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), requesting documentation and information that could help the Committee identify Americans who may have been...

Washington, D.C., May 17 – At a hearing this week of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on addressing the challenges facing individuals with disabilities and removing barriers, Ranking Member U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) recognized efforts among Tennessee businesses to improve accessibility for individuals...

“It’s great to be here today to talk about the retirement crisis and my proposal to solve it by expanding pension coverage.  “But before I get into my remarks, I want to thank Lisa Mensah and the team at Aspen for sponsoring this event as well as the other speakers here today.    I would also like to commend my...