Ranking Member's Press
Alexander Statement on Iowa’s Decision to Withdraw 1332 Waiver Request
WASHINGTON, October 23, 2017 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on Iowa's decision to withdraw its 1332 waiver request, citing "inflexible" requirements of the Affordable Care Act: "Iowa's decision is further evidence that the Affordable Care Act is too restrictive to allow states to help people who need to buy insurance. The so-called guardrails have become road blocks. The Alexander-Murray bipartisan legislation - co-sponsored by Sena… Continue Reading
10.19.17
Alexander: 24 Senators, including 12 Republicans, Cosponsor Temporary Legislation to Keep Premiums from Rising 20 Percent, Keep Federal Debt from Spiking $194 Billion in 10 Years
WASHINGTON, October 19, 2017 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander today spoke on the Senate floor, announcing he and eleven other Republican senators are among 24 senators cosponsoring temporary legislation to keep premiums from rising 20 percent and to keep the federal debt from spiking $194 billion in 10 years. "Our agreement permanently amends the Affordable Care Act to give new flexibility for states to create insurance policies that have a larger variety and lower costs and i… Continue Reading
10.19.17
Group of 24 Senators Cosponsors Short-Term Legislation to Stabilize Premiums, Access to Insurance
WASHINGTON, October 19-A group of 24 senators-12 Republicans and 12 Democrats led by Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.)-today released short-term bipartisan legislation to stabilize premiums and access to insurance in individual health insurance markets. Alexander and Murray said: "We have reached an agreement on bipartisan legislation that will extend cost-sharing reduction payments during 2018 and 2019, protect consumers facing… Continue Reading
10.19.17
Alexander: To Really Improve Americans’ Health, Connect Wellness Programs and Employer Insurance
WASHINGTON, October 19 - Today, Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said, "if we really want to focus on improving Americans' health, why not connect the consensus on wellness to the insurance policies that 178 million Americans get from their job." "There is remarkable consensus that a healthy lifestyle leads to longer and better lives, and reduces the nation's health care costs," said Alexander. "Wellness programs that reward behaviors such as exercising, maintaining a … Continue Reading
10.18.17
Alexander Statement on Committee Approval of Kyle Fortson to Serve as Member of the National Mediation Board
WASHINGTON, October 18 - Today, Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) made the following statement after the committee confirmed Kyle Fortson to serve as a member of the National Mediation Board: "While the Board is very fortunate to have Kyle as a member, it will be a loss to the committee, where she has served for so many years. Her experience, knowledge and diligence will make Kyle an ideal member of the board, and I hope the Senate will quickly confirm her." Forts… Continue Reading
10.18.17
Alexander: Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee Advances 10 Well-Qualified Nominees to Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, October 18, 2017 - Following the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's approval today of 10 well-qualified nominees, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) called on his Senate colleagues to quickly confirm the nominees. The committee met today to advance the nominations of Patrick Pizzella to serve as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor; Cheryl Stanton to serve as Wage and Hour Division Administrator at the U.S. Department of Labor; David Zatezalo to … Continue Reading
10.17.17
Alexander: Bipartisan Bill Will Help Stabilize Individual Health Insurance Market, Then Lower Premiums
WASHINGTON, October 17 - Today, Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced he and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have reached a short-term deal to offer bipartisan legislation to stabilize the individual health insurance market and begin to lower the costs of premiums, so all Americans have access to health insurance. "Our legislation is based on the four bipartisan hearings and other meetings that our committee held last month and engaged nearly 60 senators," Alexander s… Continue Reading
10.17.17
Alexander Statement on Senator Tim Scott’s Legislation
WASHINGTON, October 17, 2017 - U.S. Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R - S.C.) that will make "copper" catastrophic health care plans available to all: "Sen. Scott's leadership will help many Americans avoid turning a medical catastrophe into a financial catastrophe. We are grateful for his expertise and knowledge in helping us come to a result on an issue that is so important."… Continue Reading
10.17.17
Alexander: 2nd Hearing Examines What Goes into Price Americans Pay When Picking Up Their Prescriptions
WASHINGTON, October 17 - Today, Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) chaired the second in a series of bipartisan hearings on what goes into the prices Americans pay when picking up the 4.4 billion prescriptions written every year. "There are many issues that have caused health care spending in this country to grow from consuming nine percent of the Gross Domestic Product in 1980 to nearly 18 percent in 2015," Alexander said. "We need to look at all aspects of health care … Continue Reading
10.05.17
Alexander Begins Series of Hearings on Opioid Crisis That is “Tearing Our Communities and Families Apart"
WASHINGTON, October 5 - Today, Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) began a series of hearings on the opioid crisis with the federal response, saying the crisis is "tearing our communities apart, tearing families apart, and posing an enormous challenge to health care providers and law enforcement officials." "Last year, 1,631 Tennesseans died of a drug overdose -12 percent more than the year before," Alexander said. "Last year was the highest rate of drug overdose deaths i… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Alexander to Labor Nominees: You Will Be Responsible for Protecting Working Americans
WASHINGTON, October 4 - The Senate labor committee, chaired by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), today held a confirmation hearing on three labor nominees "tasked with leading important agencies that protect working Americans." The committee met to consider the nominations of Cheryl Stanton to serve as the Wage and Hour Division Administrator at the U.S. Department of Labor; David Zatezalo to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health; and Peter Robb to serve as the G… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Alexander: Tennessee, Louisiana, New Mexico Are Making the Most of New Education Law by Designing Innovative Plans
WASHINGTON, October 3 - At the Senate education committee hearing on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that "Tennessee, Louisiana, and New Mexico have taken the most advantage of the flexibility we offered under the law in creating innovative state plans." "When President Obama signed our bill fixing No Child Left Behind, he called it a 'Christmas miracle.' I said that I hoped we were 'unleashing a new era of innovation and excellence in student ac… Continue Reading
10.02.17
Tennessee Education Commissioner McQueen to Testify to Congress Tomorrow about State’s New Education Plan Under New Law that Alexander Sponsored
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 2, 2017 - U.S. Senate education committee Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced Tennessee's commissioner of education, Candice McQueen, will be testifying Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate education committee, which he chairs, on innovative approaches states are pursuing in their new state plans for holding schools accountable under the Every Student Succeeds Act [ESSA] - the law Alexander sponsored that fixed No Child Left Behind. "In the last few years, Tennessee … Continue Reading
09.29.17
Alexander Statement on Secretary Price
MARYVILLE, Tenn., September 29, 2017 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's resignation: "I understand and respect Tom Price's decision, but the news is disappointing. He has had a distinguished career as a physician and public health advocate, and I hope I have the opportunity to work with him again." ###… Continue Reading
09.28.17
Alexander on Perkins Loans: Time to Simplify Student Aid System to One Grant, One Loan, One Work Study Program
WASHINGTON, September 28 - Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the expiration of the Perkins Loan Program: "In 2015, Congress passed a bipartisan law to phase out the Perkins loan program as a part of a longer term effort to simplify federal student aid. The Senate education committee will begin this fall to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, and my hope is that we can move toward a simplified student aid system of one gr… Continue Reading
09.26.17
Chairman Alexander Statement on Stabilizing 2018 and 2019 Premiums, Ensuring Access to Health Insurance in Individual Market
WASHINGTON, September 26 - Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the Senate's health care work: "I will consult with Senator Murray and with other senators, both Republicans and Democrats, to see if senators can find consensus on a limited bipartisan plan that could be enacted into law to help lower premiums and make insurance available to the 18 million Americans in the individual market in 2018 and 2019. "I would have voted for t… Continue Reading
09.25.17
Alexander: Senate Confirmation of Republican Bill Emanuel Restores Balance to National Labor Relations Board
WASHINGTON, September 25, 2017 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm Bill Emanuel as a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): "Filling this final vacant seat on the National Labor Relations Board will help restore the board to its intended purpose of acting as a neutral umpire after years of playing the role of advocate. Bill Emanuel will help bring balance to the board and stability to our nation's workplac… Continue Reading
09.19.17
Chairman Alexander Statement on Bipartisan Health Insurance Stabilization Work
"Senator Murray and I had hoped to agree early this week on a limited, bipartisan plan to stabilize 2018 premiums in the individual health insurance market that we could take to Senate leaders by the end of the month. During the last month, we have worked hard and in good faith, but have not found the necessary consensus among Republicans and Democrats to put a bill in the Senate leaders' hands that could be enacted."… Continue Reading
09.19.17
Alexander to EEOC Nominees: Encourage Better Health, Lower Costs With Clear Guidelines for Employee Wellness Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2017 - At a confirmation hearing for two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) nominees, Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the EEOC should encourage better health and lower costs with clear guidelines for employee wellness programs. "While there are many components to the cost of health care, there is consensus that wellness and leading a heathier lifestyle reduce the need for health care and save money and lives," Alexander … Continue Reading
09.14.17
Alexander: If We Want to Protect Patients, Congress Needs to Get a Result to Help States Stabilize Markets, Limit Premium Increases
WASHINGTON, September 14 - At the Senate health committee's fourth health care hearing this month, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that "it's clear to truly protect patients, we need to stabilize the markets, limit premium increases, and begin to lower premiums in the future." "For seven years, hardly a civil word was spoken between Republicans and Democrats on the Affordable Care Act," Alexander said. "But for the last 10 days, senators from both sides of the aisle have engaged in seri… Continue Reading
