Ranking Member's Press
SENATORS KENNEDY, HATCH, CLINTON, ENZI ANNOUNCE FDA BIOLOGICS AGREEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, Senators Kennedy, Hatch, Clinton, and Enzi announced anagreement on legislation authorizing the FDA to approve a follow-on version of biologictherapies. The legislation includes standards for the FDA to approve follow-on biologics, amechanism to resolve patents in an expedited way, and strong but responsible incentives toencourage innovation and the development of new therapies. A summary of the legislation willfollow. Senator Kennedy said, "This century of the life scie… Continue Reading
06.21.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE PASSAGE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to theDepartment of Education's report "Evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program:Impacts After One Year." "America's competitiveness in today's rapidly shrinking world hinges on our ability to ensureaccess to the highest quality education for all our children. The study released today by theDepartment of Education on… Continue Reading
06.21.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON REPORT BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to theDepartment of Education's report "Evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program:Impacts After One Year." "America's competitiveness in today's rapidly shrinking world hinges on our ability to ensureaccess to the highest quality education for all our children. The study released today by theDepartment of Education on… Continue Reading
06.21.07
LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BI-PARTISAN HEALTH IT BILL
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, legislation put forth by Senator Edward M. Kennedy andcolleagues, Senators Mike Enzi, Hillary Clinton and Orrin Hatch to modernize health care forthe 21st century successfully was introduced in the United States Senate. Patient care declinesin quality when physicians do not have access to timely information about the patients theyserve and health care costs skyrocket when tests or procedures are duplicated because criticalrecords are missing or inaccessible. Wasting scarc… Continue Reading
06.20.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON PASSAGE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT AND AMENDMENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response tothe passage by the HELP Committee of the Higher Education Access Act of 2007 and theHigher Education Amendments of 2007. "This is a historic day for America's students. The HELP Committee has passed two bills thatwill increase access to college and make sure scarce federal dollars are going where they aremost needed - to student… Continue Reading
06.20.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement inresponse to the Republican remarks on the Employee Free Choice Act. "Opponents of American workers are trafficking in the politics of fear, by grosslymischaracterizing the policies in the Employee Free Choice Act. They're afraid to give workersa voice, so they're obscuring the truth. I think it's important to set the record straight. TheEmployee Free Choice Act does one thing - it empowers workers. It gives them… Continue Reading
06.20.07
CHAIRMAN KENNEDY HOLDS MARK-UP FOR HEA LEGISLATION Kennedy: No student should have to turn down a college education
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the United StatesSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, convened an executive session ofthe Committee to move forward on two bills that will help millions of students attend college,the Higher Education Access Act and the Higher Education Amendments of 2007. The Higher Education Access Act will provide substantial benefits to students, includingincreased need-based grant aid for low-income students and expanded loan … Continue Reading
06.19.07
MILLER, RAHALL, AND KENNEDY ANNOUNCE MINE SAFTEY AND HEALTH INITIATIVE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Sen. EdwardKennedy (D-MA) today announced a new package of legislation to help improve health andsafety in U.S. mines. The legislation would improve mine emergency response plans, strengthen the ability of thefederal Mine Safety and Health Administration to enforce health and safety regulations,strengthen rescue, recovery and accident investigation practices, and update the 35-year oldstandard that is not effectively prev… Continue Reading
06.19.07
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY APPLAUDS LONG-AWAITED PASSAGE OF HEAD START REAUTHORZATION
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to thepassage by the United States Senate of the Improving Head Start Act. "For forty two years, Head Start has been a lifeline of support for our nation's neediestchildren and families. I am pleased that we were able to work together in the Senate toproduce a bill that will advance and strengthen this important program. This legis… Continue Reading
06.19.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY IN SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT And comments on the fallen firefighters of South Carolina (As delivered)
(As delivered) My heart goes out this morning to the families of the nine fallen firefighters in Charleston, andto my colleagues Senator Graham and DeMint and to the people of Charleston. These fallenheroes made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow citizens. And today we rememberthem and all firefighters and their families for whom courageous service is a part of theirservice is a part of their everyday lives. My home state of Massachusetts endured similardisaster several years ago wh… Continue Reading
06.18.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
WASHINGTON, DC: Today, as the Senate prepares to take up the Employee Free Choice Actwith a possible vote on Thursday, Senator Kennedy issued the following statement. Also belowis a fact sheet on how the Act will help restore middle class security. "Now that the House has passed the Employee Free Choice Act with bipartisan support, I'mpleased that the Senate is moving forward on this important piece of legislation. We've finallyraised the minimum wage but we still have a long way to go to resto… Continue Reading
06.15.07
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY AND HELP COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASK SECRETARY SPELLINGS TO REFRAIN FROM NEW HEA REGULATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Health, Education, Labor, andPensions Committee members sent the following letter to the Secretary Education, MargaretSpellings, urging the department to refrain from proposing new regulations on accreditationuntil after the Higher Education Act is reauthorized.… Continue Reading
06.14.07
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY RELEASES REPORT ON STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the United StatesSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report on thestudent loan system entitled "Report on Marketing Practices in the Federal Family EducationLoan Program." The report discusses the findings of Chairman Kennedy's investigation ofinappropriate marketing practices in the student loan industry. Chairman Kennedy said, "This investigative report demonstrates that inappropriate marketi… Continue Reading
06.13.07
KENNEDY, LUGAR WELCOME STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO FOSTER CULTURAL AWARENESS
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Richard G. Lugar welcomed 250students from around the world to promote cultural awareness and understanding. SenatorsKennedy and Lugar founded the Cultural Bridges program in October of 2002 after theSeptember 11th terrorist attacks. The program provides scholarships for secondary schoolstudents from countries with significant Muslim populations. Students live with host families,engage in activities to learn about American society, and to he… Continue Reading
06.13.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON HOUSE HEA PACKAGE
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response tointroduction of the Higher Education Act (HEA) package in the United States House ofRepresentatives. "The House bill responds to the urgent needs of students and their families struggling to payfor college. There is bipartisan and bicameral agreement to provide greater aid to students,reform the student loan programs and make col… Continue Reading
06.08.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON SURGEON GENERAL NOMINATION
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released the following statement in response to thenomination of Dr. James Holsinger for Surgeon General. "America faces major public health challenges -- TB, health disparities, the growing crisis ofobesity, and many more. The nation needs a Surgeon General who can bring people togetherto meet these critical challenges. I am disappointed that the Administration looked past t… Continue Reading
06.07.07
KENNEDY, ENZI REQUEST INFORMATION FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ON TUBERCULOSIS PATIENT
WASHINGTON, D.C-Today, Senators Edward Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Michael Enzi sent letters to Dr. JulieGerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Secretary MichaelChertoff of the Department of Homeland Security requesting information on interactions withAndrew Speaker, the man infected with drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). ChairmanKennedy and Senator Enzi requests specific times, documents, guidelines… Continue Reading
06.07.07
Kennedy, Cochran Introduce Bill to Eliminate Health Disparities Legislation will strengthen community efforts to address health disparities, health workforce diversity programs, and research on minority health
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Senator Thad Cochranintroduced legislation that would authorize roughly $500 million to improve the health andhealth care of racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity populations. The bill is alsoco-sponsored by Senators Barack Obama, Jeff Bingaman, Hillary Clinton, Sherrod Brown, andSenate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin. Senator Kennedy said, "Your health should not depend on the color of your skin, the ofyour bank accou… Continue Reading
06.06.07
KENNEDY, HATCH RELEASE PRINCIPLES TO REAUTHORIZE CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)today agreed on goals for reauthorizing the State Children Health Insurance Program(CHIP). The two principal authors of the original 1997 CHIP bill (P.L. 105-33), Kennedyand Hatch are committed to the goal of helping states provide insurance coverage for thechildren of the working poor - those whose parents can't afford private insurance butmake too much to qualify for Medicaid. "No child should have to go without hea… Continue Reading
06.05.07
BROWN, HUTCHISON, KENNEDY INTRODUCE NEW, COMPREHENSIVE TUBERCULOSIS LEGISLATION
Washington, DC - Unites States Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kay Bailey Hutchison (RTX),and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) today introduced the Comprehensive TB Elimination Act of 2007which is designed to fight the reemergence of TB in the U.S. and help combat the diseaseglobally. Joining Brown at a Capital Hill news conference today were Dr. Jim Kim, FXB Professor ofHealth and Human Rights; Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr.Maria C. Freire, CEO of TB Alliance, and Dr. Alfred Mun… Continue Reading
