Ranking Member's Press
Senate HELP Committee Passes Burr-Murray PREVENT Pandemics Act in Overwhelming Bipartisan Vote
Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) and Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statements on the Committee's 20-2 vote to advance the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act). The legislation strengthens the nation's public health and medical preparedness and response systems and is the result of bipartisan efforts Senators Burr and Murray kicked off n… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Senate HELP Committee Considers Bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act
Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held an executive session on the Prepare for and Responded to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), legislation recently introduced by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to strengthen the nation's preparedness and response framework amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The PREVENT Pandemics Act represents nearly a year of Committee work reviewing the nation's… Continue Reading
02.15.22
Senator Burr Applauds Senate Confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf to Serve as FDA Commissioner
Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50-46 to confirm Dr. Robert Califf to be the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Ahead of today's vote, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support this critical nomination at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency that has not had a Senate-confirmed Commissioner since the beginning of the Biden Administration. WATCH: Se… Continue Reading
02.15.22
Burr: If We are Going to Find Lasting Workforce Solutions, We Must Work Together
Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Supporting Quality Workforce Development Opportunities and Innovation to Address Barriers to Employment." Ranking Member Richard Burr's prepared opening statement: "Good morning, Chair Murray. I am glad we are having this hearing today. "Thank you to our witnesses for testifying. I am glad to see that we could have some of you join us in the hearing room. "We are here to talk about America… Continue Reading
02.08.22
Burr: Congress Should Support Pathways to Employment for People with Disabilities, Not Eliminate Options
Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Highlighting Innovations, Maximizing Inclusive Practices and Overcoming Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities." Ranking Member Richard Burr's prepared opening statement: "Good morning Chair Murray. "Thank you for working with me to schedule this hearing. "Thank you to our witnesses for testifying today. I am glad to see that we could have some of … Continue Reading
02.02.22
Senator Burr Highlights Importance of Medicare Sustainability for Retirees, Future Generations
Today, the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth held a hearing titled, "The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Future of Medicare Financing." In his statement for the record, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) highlighted the stark contrast between the Democrats' harmful proposals to end Medicare as we know it and the Republicans' efforts to maintain long-term sustainability of the program for future generations. Senator Burr's submitted statement for the reco… Continue Reading
02.02.22
Bicameral Education Committee Leaders Request DOJ Update on Recent HBCU Bomb Threats
Today, leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), and the House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC), sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting information on the disturbing trend of bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This week, as America marked the start of Black History … Continue Reading
01.28.22
Bicameral Health Committee Leaders Request Update from FDA on Delayed MDUFA Agreement
Today, leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) and Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock to request an update on the timeline for transmitting the commitment letter for the Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) to Congr… Continue Reading
01.25.22
HELP Ranking Member Burr: Discussion Draft of Bipartisan Pandemic Response Bill “Starts the Conversation”
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to improve our nation's pandemic preparedness and response. The bill, titled the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), includes input from bipartisan Committee members and was co-authored with Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA). The discussion draft i… Continue Reading
01.13.22
Ranking Member Burr Statement on SCOTUS Blocking OSHA’s Sweeping Vaccine Mandate
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to block the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate for private employers with more than 100 employees: "The Supreme Court is right to block the Biden Administration's sweeping federal vaccine and testing mandate, which continues to face ongoing legal challenges. If enacted, the federal mandate would affec… Continue Reading
01.13.22
HELP Ranking Member Burr Statement Opposing Biden Labor Nominee David Weil
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, opposed advancing the nomination of Dr. David Weil to serve as Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. The HELP Committee previously voted on Dr. Weil's nomination in August 2021, but failed to favorably report the nomination on an 11-11 vote. The nomination advanced today on a narrow 11-10 vote, despite previous bipartisan opposition. … Continue Reading
01.13.22
Ranking Member Burr Votes to Advance FDA Commissioner Nominee to Full Senate
Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held an executive session to consider the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to be the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and other nominees to fill vacancies at the Department of Labor and Department of Education. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee, voted in support of Dr. Califf to serve as FDA Commissioner. The Senate HELP Committee reported Dr. Califf out of the Committee by a vote of… Continue Reading
01.12.22
Senators Burr, Hickenlooper Introduce Bill to Bolster Research and Better Detect, Prepare Nation for Future Threats
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, introduced the Early Countermeasure Discovery Act. This legislation will enhance the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) collaboration with academic institutions, research centers, and relevant government agencies to support the research and development of medical c… Continue Reading
01.11.22
Senator Burr Demands Clarity on COVID-19 Strategy Amid Disastrous Shortage, Omicron Surge
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), demanded answers from federal officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the Administration's COVID-19 communication failures and testing strategies as Omicron variant cases surge. Senator Burr questions fede… Continue Reading
01.11.22
Burr: It’s No Wonder the American People are Confused by CDC’s COVID-19 Guidance
Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, "Addressing New Variants: A Federal Perspective on the COVID-19 Response" with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is the Committee's fifth hearing with federal officials on the COVID-19 pandemic in the 117th Congress. In his prepared openin… Continue Reading
01.06.22
Burr, Foxx Press Biden Admin for Clarification on Unilateral Changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, sent a letter again calling on U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to clarify the Department's statutory basis for reforming the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. In October 2021, the Department of Education claimed it had executive authority to w… Continue Reading
01.03.22
Burr, Blunt Demand Answers from Biden Administration on Dire COVID-19 Test Shortage Despite Ample Funding
Today, U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senator Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to detail the administration's strategy for solving the nation's severe shortage of COVID-19 tests as coronavirus cases driven by the… Continue Reading
12.16.21
Republican Senators Blast Democrats’ Destructive Child Care Plan
On Wednesday, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a press conference with Republican Senators highlighting the devastating impacts the Democrats' destructive child care plan, which is included in their reckless tax-and-spending bill, would have on child care costs and available options for families across the nation. With inflation rising to a near 40-year high last week, the Senators also criticized the outrageo… Continue Reading
12.15.21
Burr, Senate Republicans Highlight Actual Cost of Democrats’ Disastrous Child Care Plan
Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a press conference with Republican Senators on the disastrous impact Democrats' reckless tax-and-spending bill would have on child care providers and families. On Friday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis indicating that the Democrats' reckless tax-and-spending spree would end up costing $4.9 trillion while adding $3 trillion in new debt. Additi… Continue Reading
12.14.21
Burr: FDA Made Historic Progress During Pandemic, Now Time to Build Off Developments to Bring Even More Innovative Products to Americans
Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a nomination hearing to consider Dr. Robert Califf to serve as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In his opening remarks, Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) highlighted the significant role the FDA Commissioner plays during public health emergencies and peacetime and underscored the importance of leveraging next generation innovation to address the unmet needs of devastating diagnoses. Rank… Continue Reading
