Ranking Member's Press
Ranking Member Burr Supports Deputy Secretary of Education Nominee, Urges Democrats to Follow Suit Despite Historical Practice
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Cindy Marten to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) highlighted Ms. Martin's experience in elementary and secondary education and underlined the importance of having experience in the higher education system, especially as federal student loan debt has taken on a new urgency. … Continue Reading
03.23.21
HELP Ranking Member Burr Votes Against Confirmation of Biden’s Surgeon General Pick
Today, the Senate voted 57-43 to confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General at the Public Health Service. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) released the following statement after voting against Dr. Murthy's confirmation. "Americans need to be able to trust the messages delivered by the Surgeon General are fact-based and bias free," said Senator Burr. "Unfortunately, I am still deeply concerned about Dr. Murthy's … Continue Reading
03.23.21
Burr: Encouraging Innovation is Essential for Developing Cutting-Edge Treatments and Cures
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee's Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security held a hearing entitled "Why Does the U.S. Pay the Highest in the World for Prescription Drugs?" In his submitted statement for the record, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) highlighted the critical role American innovation plays in bringing new treatments and cures to market, as demonstrated by the development of three highly effective coronav… Continue Reading
03.22.21
Senate Confirms Marty Walsh to Serve as Secretary of Labor
Today, the Senate confirmed Marty Walsh as Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor on a bipartisan vote of 68-29. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), who expressed his support of Marty Walsh's nomination ahead of today's vote, applauded the Senate's confirmation of this important role. "America is in the midst of immense economic challenges," said Senator Burr. "We need a Senate-confirmed Secretary in place at the Department of L… Continue Reading
03.18.21
HELP Ranking Member Burr Votes Against Confirmation of Xavier Becerra as HHS Secretary
Today, the Senate voted 50-49 to confirm California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Last month, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) raised significant concerns about Mr. Becerra's lack of qualifications to lead the nation's largest federal health agency in the middle of a global pandemic. Senator Burr released the following statement after voting against Mr. Becerra's confirmat… Continue Reading
03.18.21
Burr Urges Public Health Officials to Better Prepare for Next Pandemic Threat
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled "Examining Our Covid-19 Response: An Update from Federal Officials." This is the Committee's first hearing on the coronavirus pandemic in this Congress with Administration officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In his prepared opening r… Continue Reading
03.18.21
Burr, King Renew Bipartisan Effort to Reform Student Loan Repayment Programs
Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Angus King (I-ME) reintroduced the Repay Act, bipartisan legislation to reform federal student loan repayment programs. This legislation simplifies and streamlines the current repayment programs by establishing two, easy-to-navigate repayment plans: a fixed, 10-year repayment plan and a single, simplified income-driven repayment option. "The rise in federal student loan debt has been a cause for concern for years, but the issue has taken on a new urgency … Continue Reading
03.16.21
Ranking Member Burr Questions Labor Nom Julie Su on Failures, Fraud in CA’s Massive Unemployment Crisis
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Julie Su, the California and Workforce Development Agency Secretary, to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor. In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) outlined California's economic failures, which include its high unemployment rate and its mass evacuation by businesses to better markets, such as Texas and North Carolina. Ranking Member Burr als… Continue Reading
03.09.21
Sen. Burr: Current Moment Critical for Learning from COVID-19 Response and Letting States Lead
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled "Examining Our COVID-19 Response: An Update from the Frontlines." This is the first hearing focused on the response to the coronavirus pandemic the Committee has held this Congress. In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) underscored the critical role that state and local officials play in leading the response to the pandemic. Additionally, Ranking M… Continue Reading
03.01.21
Senate Confirms Dr. Miguel Cardona to Serve as U.S. Secretary of Education
Today, the Senate voted on a bipartisan basis of 64-33 to confirm Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary for the U.S Department of Education. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), who supported Dr. Cardona's nomination before the Senate HELP Committee earlier this month, applauded the Senate's confirmation of this critical role. "School closures across the nation have left many students stuck at home, disconnected from their peers and strugg… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Burr Supports Qualified Secretary of Education Pick, Underscores Importance of Reopening Schools
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, expressed his support of Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education and stressed the importance of following science to bring students back to the classroom. WATCH: Senator Burr delivers remarks on the Senate floor ahead of Dr. Miguel Cardona's confirmation vote Key excerpts: "[Dr. Cardona] has the background, qualifications, and temperament to serve i… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Ranking Member Burr Raises Concerns about Biden’s Assistant HHS Secretary and Surgeon General Picks
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearings for Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Dr. Vivek Murthy to serve as the Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), questioned Dr. Levine's challenges with testing, treat… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Burr to Becerra: “I’m Not Sold Yet”
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) expressed his concerns regarding Mr. Becerra's lack of experience in the health care sector, especially as America continues to face the unprecedented public health challenges of a pandemic. … Continue Reading
02.11.21
Ranking Member Burr Votes to Support Cardona and Walsh Nominations
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to confirm the nominations of Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Education and Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Today's vote advances both nominations to the full Senate for consideration. After the Committee's vote, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Committee's top Republican, released the following statement on supporting both nominations. "As we enter a new Administrati… Continue Reading
02.09.21
Senator Richard Burr Named Top Republican on Senate HELP Committee
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) was named Ranking Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for the 117th Congress. Senator Burr released the following statement: "I am honored to be selected to serve as Ranking Member on the Senate HELP Committee. Our nation is in the middle of a global pandemic that has posed some of the greatest public health, educational, and economic challenges we've ever faced. This is a critical moment. The decisions we make… Continue Reading
02.04.21
Senator Richard Burr Underscores Importance of Skilled American Workforce, Reopening Economy
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Labor. In his prepared opening remarks, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Committee's top Republican, underscored the need for a skilled American workforce in an increasingly competitive and global economy. Ranking Member Burr also stressed the importance of reopening the economy and supporting policies that strengthen job creation. WATC… Continue Reading
02.03.21
Senator Richard Burr Highlights HELP Committee Priorities, Calls on Schools to Safely Reopen
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a nomination hearing for Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Education. In his prepared opening remarks, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Committee's top Republican, highlighted his priorities for the Committee as the nation continues to face a global pandemic. Additionally, Ranking Member Burr expressed his desire to work with Dr. Cardona to reopen schools quickly and safely and tackle student debt … Continue Reading
