Ranking Member's Press

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto President Bush’s and Secretary Leavitt’s criticism of the Children’s Health InsuranceProgram. The CHIP legislation is fiscally responsible and does not add to the...

WASHINGTON, DC— At 10:00am on Thursday, November 8th, 2007, Senator EdwardM. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, willhold a hearing on protecting the employment rights of veterans. The hearing will addressreemployment problems service members face when they return from their tour of duty,including rights...

WASHINGTON, DC — Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and Rep. Tom Allen introduced legislation to increase the ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The Non-Prescription Drug Modernization Act comes in the wake of a recent FDA advisory panel...

(As Prepared for Delivery) It’s a privilege to join my colleagues to support children’s health. I commend toothe former Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Woodie Kessel for his courage in speaking outfor children. He has worked tirelessly for children’s health in Republican andDemocratic Administrations alike – and he recognizes...

WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Edward M. Kennedy today commended the Senate’spassage by voice vote last night of legislation permanently extending the provisions ofthe Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, originally enacted in 2003. The Act authorizes the Secretary of Education to waive or modify any statutory orregulatory...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement urging President Bush not to veto the Children’s Health Insurance Program. “The President and every Member of Congress enjoy guaranteed health care coverage.We owe the children of America no less. If the President vetoes the CHIP bill,overwhelmingly...

Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. The $35 billion agreement will bring healthcoverage to approximately ten million children in need – preserving coverage for all 6.6million children currently covered by CHIP and providing coverage to an additional 4million uninsured children. The agreement provides $100 million in grants for newoutreach...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy made the followingremarks on the signing into law of the College Cost Reduction Act and the FDAAmendments Act. Senator Kennedy is the lead Senate sponsor of both measures.The College Cost Reduction Act will provide the largest increase in student aid since theGI Bill– helping millions of...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto President Bush’s remarks on reauthorizing No Child Left Behind. “Today President Bush called on Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Actand not to turn back...

(As Prepared for Delivery) A measure of a great society is how it treats its children. The actions of Congressand the President over the coming days will determine whether we meet that test.Today, there are still 9 million children without health insurance. That’s not justwrong, it’s outrageous – it is immoral. We have a chance...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the followingstatement in response to the settlement reached late last night between the United AutoWorkers Union and General Motors. “I congratulate the United Auto Workers and General Motors on reaching their landmarkagreement on key issues like job protection and spiraling...

(As Prepared for Delivery) Sometimes, the American people demand that Congress and the Administrationenact initiatives to address fundamental national needs. During the Depression, weenacted Social Security to see that seniors could live their later years with dignity. In the1940’s, we opened the doors of education for returning veterans...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto the House passage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. “The House has voted for the most important advance in children’s health in a decadeand so will the...

WASHINGTON, DC— Tomorrow, at 11:45am, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and Senator Ken Salazar will join with religious leaders Fr.Clarence Williams of Catholic Charities USA, Sister Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ,Network—National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and Rabi Michael Namath of theReligious Action Center...

WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto the report released today by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. “Today’s good results show there’s a rising tide in America’s schools, but it hasyet to...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement inresponse to the United Auto Workers Union going on strike. "General Motors should return to the bargaining table as soon as possible. I urge GM tonegotiate in good faith and to recognize...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement inresponse to this morning’s New York Times story detailing Medicaid’s decision to denychemotherapy to illegal immigrants with cancer. “It's unbelievable that in a single...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the SenateHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement onthe agreement between the United States Senate and House of Representatives on theState Children’s Health Insurance Program. “CHIP has made access to health care possible for...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto President Bush’s threat to veto the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. “This is a cruel threat to needy children and I urge the President to reconsider....

(As Prepared for Delivery) I want to start by thanking my colleague, Senator Domenici, for his tirelesseffort. And I want to recognize the late Senator Paul Wellstone, who championed thisfight for so many years. Without the leadership of these two remarkable Senators, wewouldn’t be here on this historic day. Americans believe that we are all...