Chair's Press

Senator Alexander Appointed to Joint Select Committee on the Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans WASHINGTON, February 27, 2018—United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate labor committee, issued the following statement on his appointment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to the Joint Select...

“Data can paint a more complete picture of the opioid crisis, revealing which communities are seeing a spike in prescriptions, helping doctors avoid prescribing opioids to someone recovering from addiction, and recording the last time someone who overdosed had filled a prescription.”  WASHINGTON, February 27, 2018...

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, February 20—United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said in Memphis that Congress could pass legislation this spring to deliver lower cost health policies, and to help the federal government become a better partner for states – like Tennessee – who are fighting the opioid crisis.  “I...

NASHVILLE, February 20 — The chairman of the Senate health committee, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the Administration issuing a proposed rule today to expand the availability of short-term, limited-duration health insurance: “Millions of Americans who are between jobs and who pay...

WASHINGTON, February 13—The Senate education committee is working on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), with all members of the Committee, are seeking comments or suggestions for the Committee’s consideration. Comments are due by Friday,...

“Farmers often use animal drugs to prevent outbreaks of infectious disease, to treat pain, or prevent swelling of joints in animals. According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the cattle and calves industry and the poultry industry are two of Tennessee’s largest agriculture sectors. So it is important that farmers and...

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2018—Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dr. Brett Giroir to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services: “It is bewildering that Americans were...

WASHINGTON, February 8 — The leaders of the Senate and House health committees today released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) animal drug and generic animal drug user fee agreements.   The Animal Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2018 renews FDA's authority to...

WASHINGTON, February 7, 2018—U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate health committee, today released the following statement on the committee's Food and Drug Administration agenda for the spring: "We plan to put out a staff discussion draft on cosmetics reform by...

WASHINGTON, February 8 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and committee members Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), today introduced legislation to advance urgently needed research to address the opioid crisis. The Advancing Cutting-Edge (ACE) Research Act...

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2018—Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dr. Brett Giroir to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services: “It is bewildering that Americans were forced...

“Before we turn to today’s focus, I wanted to say that later today, I, along with Ranking Member Murray, and Senators Young and Hassan, will introduce legislation to help address the opioid crisis. This committee plans to hold a markup on this bill, as well as other opioids legislation, as soon as the end of March.” WASHINGTON,...

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2018—U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate health committee, today released the following statement on the committee's Food and Drug Administration agenda for the spring: "We plan to put out a staff discussion draft on cosmetics reform by...

“The Appropriations Committee will consider whether Congress should appropriate more taxpayer dollars for student aid, but in the meantime, Congress can also help students afford college by better spending the $28 billion in grants and $92 billion in loans we spend annually. This would mean simplifying student aid, redirecting existing...

WASHINGTON, February 1 — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate education committee, today released a staff white paper and asked for feedback on federal accountability concepts and proposals to ensure that students at our 6,000 colleges and universities are receiving degrees worth their time and money. The Senate...

“If you pay attention to politics, you might have heard about the regulatory reforms undertaken by the Education Department or the Environmental Protection Agency. But few have noticed the quiet transformation at the National Labor Relations Board, which is laying the groundwork for stronger economic growth. Under the Obama administration,...

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today blamed Democrats for the lack of senior officials in the Education Department and other federal agencies. Alexander at a hearing of the Senate HELP Committee, which he chairs, said the Trump administration used to share the blame, because it was slow to make nominations. "But not any more," he said....

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2018—Senate health and labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that Labor Secretary Acosta’s proposed rule on Association Health Plans “could lower the cost of health insurance premiums and finally make affordable health insurance available to the 11 million American small business men...

“There are two groups of borrowers repaying student loans: nearly half—46 percent – who are repaying on their student loans and a little more than half – 54 percent – who are in default or are not making payments on time… The taxpayer should be concerned not just about borrowers in default, but also about the...

  “[The Every Student Succeeds Act] is an especially important law to the members of this committee. We held 27 hearings, spent countless hours working out our differences and reaching a consensus: Continue the law’s important measurements of academic progress of students but restore to states, school districts, classroom teachers...