Press Releases

BOSTON, MA- On Thursday, January 17th at 11:30 AM, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s (HELP) Committee, will hold a field hearing in Boston at the Action for Boston Community Development Inc. (ABCD). This HELP Committee Hearing will be the first of a series of hearings on...

KENNEDY ON HOUSE MINE SAFETY LEGISLATION WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in anticipation of the House of Representatives taking up the Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act this week. Senator Kennedy...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to Secretary Spellings’ remarks made this afternoon at the National Press Club on reauthorizing No Child Left Behind. Senator Kennedy said, “I agree with Secretary...

BOSTON, MA- Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s (HELP) Committee, today joined Mayor Thomas M. Menino, administrators, teachers, parents and students in celebrating the success of expanded school day programs in Massachusetts at the Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in...

KENNEDY ON RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report on the rising cost of health care. "This report is an indictment of seven long years of...

Chairman Kennedy holds roundtable discussion on law’s future and effectiveness Cambridge, MA— Today, on the sixth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, held a roundtable discussion at Harvard’s Institute...

BOSTON, MA- On Wednesday, January 9th at 11:30 AM, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s (HELP) Committee, will join Mayor Thomas M. Menino, administrators, teachers, parents and students in celebrating the success of expanded school day programs in Massachusetts at the Clarence...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to President Bush’s remarks on the No Child Left Behind Act made today at the Greeley Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the enactment...

Washington, D.C. – The Bush Administration today appointed Richard Stickler to be Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. Mr. Stickler’s recess appointment expired on December 31, 2007. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following...

unemployment rate, from 4.7% in November to 5.0% in December. Nearly 500,000 more Americans became unemployed, the largest increase in a single month since 2001. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, put out the following statement: "This sharp increase in the unemployment rate comes as...

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry today announced that Massachusetts low-income households will receive $82 million in fuel aid as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill currently before Congress. The amount is enough to assist 95,000 families throughout the Commonwealth who are feeling the economic effects of...

WASHINGTON, DC— The DoD Authorization Conference Report includes a provision to continue the operation of the ombudsman’s office in the Department of Labor, which assists sick energy workers seeking compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education,...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement on the passage of the Fair Competition Amendment in the Defense Authorization bill. “The dedicated civilian employees of the Department of Defense are the backbone of our commitment to keep...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the passage of legislation to create a new Joint Pathology Center as part of the Defense Authorization bill. The Joint Pathology Center will carry on the functions of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, which specializes in pathology...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bush National Labor Relations Board has waged an unprecedented war against long-established workers’ rights, witnesses told the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, and the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee today. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), chairman of the Senate...

WASHINGTON, DC—Today Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, and Rep Roybal-Allard introduced a package of bills that will help to ensure that adults have access to life-saving vaccines. These vaccines include the new vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer as well as vaccines against seasonal influenza, certain pneumonias, Hepatitis B, and...

(As Prepared for Delivery) I’m pleased that our House and Senate subcommittees have come together today to consider the state of democracy in the American workplace. I commend Senate Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray and House Subcommittee Chair Rob Andrews for holding this hearing this hearing. Their strong leadership is making an...

WASHINGTON, Dc— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced legislation to strengthen the employment and reemployment rights of our returning servicemen and women. Recent...

KENNEDY ON SECOND BUSH VETO OF CHIP WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to President Bush vetoing the Children’s Health Insurance Program for the second time. “Once again President Bush has slammed the door...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the recall by Merck of their childhood meningitis vaccine. "Vaccines are essential in protecting the health of millions of Americans from deadly diseases. Today's recall shows once more that our vaccine supply is fragile, and that the nation urgently needs a...