Chair's Press

Today, U.S. Senator Richard Burr, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, announced three new areas of bipartisan oversight as part of their ongoing work to develop policy proposals aimed at improving the nation’s...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), released a new report on the role of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommended reforms. The policy...

Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) introduced the Verifying Accurate Leading-Edge IVCT Development (VALID) Act. This bipartisan legislation would level the playing field by establishing a new regulatory framework for the review and approval...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “Vaccines: America’s Shot at Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Ranking Member Richard Burr’s Prepared Opening Statement: “Chair Murray, I am glad we are able to hold this important hearing together today. “The COVID-19...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Supporting the Needs of Students in Higher Education and Lessons on Safely Returning to Campus.” Ranking Member Richard Burr’s Prepared Opening Statement: “Chair Murray, thank you for...

Today, the Ranking Members on all three Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittees announced they’ve sent letters to their respective subcommittee Chairs requesting appropriate hearings on the Biden Administration’s proposed $6 trillion budget for fiscal year 2022. The letters were signed by Sen. Bill Cassidy...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held an executive session to consider the bipartisan Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization of 2021. Earlier this week, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate HELP...

Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, sent a letter pressing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky to...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), released the following statement on reports the Biden Administration intends to purchase 500 million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses to donate to the world: “This is exactly what the federal government should...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Dawn O’Connell to serve as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and Miriam Delphin-Rittmon to serve as Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.  Ranking Member Burr’s...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), the Ranking Member of House Education and Labor Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Cardona requesting an update on the Department of Education’s plan to transition...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a new policy brief highlighting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) challenges and missteps during the coronavirus pandemic and key recommendations for reforms. The brief, titled...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Rajesh Nayak to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy, Taryn Mackenzie Williams to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, and Doug Parker to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed six bipartisan bills, including legislation to improve maternal care and to provide mental health support for health care professionals. The bills passed during today’s executive session include the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, the Rural...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “Paid Leave for Working Families: Examining Access, Options, and Impacts.” Ranking Member Richard Burr’s Prepared Opening Statement: “Good morning. Thank you Chair Murray for scheduling this hearing to examine paid...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “Retirement Security: Building a Better Future.” Ranking Member Burr’s Prepared Opening Statement: “Good morning.  Thank you Chair Murray for scheduling this hearing to highlight the need for Americans to save more for...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “An Update from Federal Officials on Efforts to Combat COVID-19.” This is the Committee’s second hearing with federal officials on the COVID-19 pandemic in the 117th Congress. WATCH: Ranking Member Burr delivers opening remarks...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), released the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s announcement it will support waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines: “The partnerships developing and...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) released the following statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement that it is committed to prohibiting menthol flavoring in cigarettes and cigars: “I had a productive conversation with Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock this morning about the FDA’s announcement. The...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Jennifer Abruzzo to serve as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Seema Nanda to serve as Solicitor for the Department of Labor. In his prepared opening remarks, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr...