Ranking Member's Press

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...

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 theNational Evaluation of Early Reading First by the Institute of Education Services. “Helping our youngest children develop their early literacy and language skills is...

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 aseries of reports published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the concernssurrounding Avandia. "Today's reports are a call to action for Congress to strengthen the...

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 theformation of Health IT Now!, which will provide healthcare information technology to patientsand health care providers. “Information technology has already...

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,...

BOSTON, MA—Senator Edward M. Kennedy today discussed the critical need for sustainedsupport of adoption initiatives in the United States Congress at an event hosted by theCongressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) held at the Downtown Harvard Clubsponsored by Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management. “I’m proud to support...

WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement inresponse to the Department of Education’s release of its notice of proposed rule-making onstudent loans. "Today's announcement is a positive development from the Department of Education. Itindicates movement forward on issues Congress has identified as...

KENNEDY TO ADDRESS VITAL NEED FOR SUPPORT OF ADOPTIONS KENNEDY TO KEYNOTE EVENT HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COALITION ON ADOPTION INSTITUTE BOSTON, MA- Tomorrow, Friday, June 1st at 12:15 PM, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, will discuss the efforts of the Congressional Coalition on...

WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement inresponse to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NEAP) released by theDepartment of Education on mapping the standards set by each state for the No Child LeftBehind Act. “I commend the U.S. Department of Education for this important report. The...

As Congress meets for a final session before we adjourn for the holidays, we should be focused on the true meaning of Christmas and the special thoughts that Americans of many faiths have at this time of year regarding their families, their friends and neighbors, and the rest of humanity. There are those in America who urge the return of the word...

Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy praised Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings’ announcement to recognize the progress of certain students with disabilities for their achievements under the No Child Left Behind Act. Kennedy believes that it’s especially important for students who for years were excluded from...

Washington, DC- Today, Senator Kennedy and Congressmen Hoyer and Miller stood before the Capitol Christmas tree to discuss the true meaning of Christmas: hope, generosity, and goodwill toward others. In this spirit, the lawmakers called upon Congress to raise the national minimum wage so that the millions of working families struggling to survive...

As Congress meets for a final session before we adjourn for the holidays, we should be focused on the true meaning of Christmas and the special thoughts that Americans of many faiths have at this time of year regarding their families, their friends and neighbors, and the rest of humanity. Christmas is a season of great hope – a time of...

The President should try speaking with seniors in communities across America rather than a handpicked group – to get a real idea of the myriad of problems they’re facing in light of the massive overhaul of the prescription drug program. I’ve heard from countless seniors in Massachusetts that the system is simply not working. One...

Washington, D.C.- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy spoke on the floor of the United States Senate on the wrong priorities in the Republican plan to cut billions from critical programs while securing tax cuts for the wealthiest. Kennedy, ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, outlined the many programs in...

BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS- Senator Edward M. Kennedy discussed the importance of early education to a child’s health and development at the New England Head Start Association’s regional conference at the Sheraton Hotel. Kennedy delivered the keynote address marking the 40th Anniversary of the Head Start program and discussed his...

Today's results demonstrate that in many cities across the nation, the hard work of students, teachers, and school leaders is beginning to pay off. Such progress is hopeful, but it's clear that our work is far from over. Student achievement is still static in reading, and we have a long way to go to eliminate achievement gaps. In today's...

BOSTON, MA--- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy discussed the challenges of poverty at Wheaton College upon receiving the “Otis Social Justice Award,” which is awarded to individuals who enhance the understanding of peace, human rights and economic opportunity. Kennedy shared his views of how the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina shined a...

I applaud Secretary Spellings' continued efforts to work with states, schools and teachers to find effective approaches to carry out the No Child Left Behind Act. Much can be learned from measuring student growth. When done the right way, these models can move school reform forward by reviewing progress made by individual students from year to year...

"The defeat of this irresponsible attack on families sends a strong message that America deserves better. The Bush Administration and the Republican leadership are so out of touch with the priorities of American families that even the normally lockstep House of Representatives soundly rejected their proposal to undermine critical national...