Ranking Member's Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, and the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee will hold a joint hearing to discuss recent decisions issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Bush majority on the NLRB has ruled on numerous cases throughout its term that have...

WASHINGTON, DC— At 10:00am tomorrow, Tuesday, December 11, 2007, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, will hold a hearing on meeting the global challenge of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The hearing will focus on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR). Key issues...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the decision made by the Supreme Court on crack cocaine sentencing. “It’s obvious from today’s Supreme Court decision in the Kimbrough case that Federal Courts at...

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the Center for American Progress issued a reporting revealing the political agenda of the Department of Labor’s subdivision that oversees labor union financial reporting. The report also documents how the Bush Administration, in a concerted effort to undermine unions, has used union reporting regulations to...

WASHINGTON, DC – At 1:15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, December 11, 2007, more than 200 trade union leaders from the United States and around the world will meet in the Washington, DC area as part of a historic conference and congressional forum on the international crisis in workers’ rights and the freedom to form unions and...

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following the establishment of a Joint Pathology Center, a result of the conference report findings for the National Defense Authorization Act. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) specializes in pathology consultation, education and research. Its services are critical to...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced the Working Family Flexibility Act, which will give working Americans the right to request flexible work options in order to balance the demands of their jobs and home life. Senators Dodd, Clinton, Obama, and Congressman George Miller are...

(As Prepared for Delivery) There are some debates in Washington that you need to be an expert to understand. And there are others that are as plain as the headlines in the morning paper. Here’s the headline from the Washington Post from November 11th: “Chinese Government Admits Toys Contained 'Date Rape' Chemical.” November 29th...

(As Prepared for Delivery) I thank Speaker Pelosi and commend her for leadership and for having this ceremony. I am proud that this Congress has made education a priority. Education is central to our economy and central to our nation’s future. In the 21st century, students don’t compete only with their peers in the neighboring county...

WASHINGTON, D.C— Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 4th, at 2:00pm, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, will be joined by Medicare and retiree advocates to support strengthening Medicare through reducing overpayments to private plans. 48,000 signatures collected from seniors across the country...

(As Prepared for Delivery) In an address in Virginia the day before Thanksgiving, President Bush described America as “a nation of great prosperity” with a “strong and growing economy” where it is possible for “people of all backgrounds to rise in society and realize their dreams.” As we return from Thanksgiving...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the report presented by the Food and Drug Administration’s Science Board. “The Bush Administration needs to take this report as a wake-up call that our citizens...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the food safety agreement reached with China. "I commend Secretary Leavitt for this achievement. These agreements are worthwhile initiatives with Chinese authorities to assure the...

Washington, D.C.— Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement today in recognition of World AIDS Day. “AIDS is the worst epidemic of our time. 33 million people- men, women and children on every continent- are infected with HIV worldwide, and the disease...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, made the following statement in response to the audit report released by the US Department of Education on student loans. “I’m very troubled by the Inspector General’s finding that AES/PHEAA received at...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Patty Murray released the following statements in response to the long awaited action of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which published its final rule requiring employers to pay for workers’ safety equipment. A court had imposed a November 30th deadline for the...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the passage by the United States House of Representatives of the Head Start Conference Report. “Today’s vote by the House of Representatives will give the...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy made the following remarks on the floor of the United States Senate as it considered the Head Start Reauthorization Conference Report and the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure this afternoon. The Improving Head Start for School...

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to President Bush’s veto of the Labor HHS bill. "With today's veto, the President has shown once again how out of touch and out of step he is with the values of America's...

(As Prepared for Delivery) Last week, Congress took bold action on behalf of American families by sending an appropriations bill to the President that has important new investments in the every day needs and hopes and dreams of the American people. It’s the bill that funds our investments in education, in health care and in American...