Press Releases

(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 the Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on expanding Association Health Plans.   “The Trump administration is unfortunately...

MARYVILLE, January 4, 2018 — Senate health and labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said “the Department of Labor’s proposed health insurance rule could make insurance available to 11 million self-employed or small business employees—like farmers, or songwriters, or small businessmen and...

NASHVILLE, January 2, 2018 — United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the announcement by United States Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that he will not seek re-election in 2018: “Orrin Hatch’s gift to the Senate and to the country has been his ability to maintain his principled...

“I am looking forward to continuing our work next year to help improve the lives of Americans by reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, ensuring states and local communities have the tools they need to combat the opioid crisis, and updating legislation to help our country respond to public health emergencies.”  WASHINGTON, D.C.,...

In new letter, Members of Congress call for thorough review of National Labor Relations Board vote to weaken protections for workers and undermine collective bargaining   Last week, NLRB reversed a key worker protection decision in partisan vote with no public input   Members of Congress cite concerns with key Board member’s...

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2017 – U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today said the Senate will introduce legislation early next year that would help songwriters receive fair market compensation for their creative works and also improve an outdated music licensing process for digital music companies. U.S....

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2017 – United States Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) requesting the committee extend Medicare payments that are critical to small, rural hospitals in Tennessee.  “We are writing to request that you...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) announcement it will only provide partial relief to students who were defrauded by predatory...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on Republican plans to postpone action on the bipartisan Alexander-Murray bill through the end of the year.   “Republicans have just severely sabotaged...

In new letter, Democratic senators ask HHS nominee to explain how he plans to prioritize science at an agency currently censoring employees   Trump Administration reportedly restricting use of a number of words and phrases in budget documents, including “diversity,” “science-based,” “fetus,” and...

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee, December 15, 2017 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), in Middle Tennessee today, said Congress and President Trump are set to deliver Christmas presents to Tennessee families next week by reducing taxes and health care premiums.  “This Christmas season is a good time for Congress...

  In new letter, Senate Democrats state opposition to restrictions on women’s access to health care—LINK   Democrats: “Barriers to health care, including restrictions on abortion, should have no place in the [budget]”   (Washington, D.C.) – Led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), today Senate Democrats urged...

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the announcement by the Department of Education to consider delaying protections for children of color and students with disabilities.   “Children of...

NASHVILLE, December 15 — Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the decision by the National Labor Relations Board to overturn its Obama administration-era “joint employer” standard: “The Obama NLRB’s decision changing the joint employer standard was the...

Move would make meaningful collective bargaining impossible for millions, let companies off the hook for violations    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the National Labor Relations Board...

WASHINGTON, December 14 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today sent a letter to every governor and state insurance commissioner in the nation asking for their specific recommendations on how the federal government can be the most effective partner for states in the battle...

  In new letter, Senate, House committee leaders call on Trump Administration to ensure all potential enrollees waiting to register for coverage at midnight on December 15 will be processed & able to receive health care   (Washington, D.C.) – Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Representatives...

“Sean is one person out of nearly 10 million in the United States with a serious mental health condition. Without treatment, his story could have had a very different outcome… Over the past few years, this Committee has worked in a bipartisan way to update parts of the federal mental health system for the first time in over a...

WASHINGTON, December 13, 2017 — The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today approved and sent to the Senate floor seven nominees for the Department of Education and Department of Labor. For the Education Department, Brigadier General Mitchell Zais is nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary, James Blew...

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the passage of a partisan Higher Education Act reauthorization bill out of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.   “You would think...