Ranking Member's Press

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2019 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said China’s decision today to control all forms of fentanyl “will save thousands of American lives.” Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be 100 times stronger than opioid prescription pills and is the source of the...

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2019 — U.S. Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement: “I was glad to hear that the Alexander-Murray legislation came up in the White House meeting today. It is probably the best known piece of good legislation in my 17 years in the Senate that has yet to...

NASHVILLE, April 20, 2019— Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on a new draft of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that will improve the exchange of information across health networks:   “This proposed rule is an important step...

“Congress should create a new measure of accountability that looks at whether students are actually repaying their loans. A second step to improve accountability would be for the federal government to make the data it collects from colleges more useful to students and families. And third, we should strengthen the 44 federally recognized...

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2019 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said China’s decision to control all forms of fentanyl “will save thousands of American lives.” Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be 100 times stronger than opioid prescription pills and is the source of the greatest increase in opioid...

“I would like to focus on three issues raised by the Education Department’s proposed Title IX rule: The requirements of due process, including cross examination; the effect of the location of the alleged assault; and the definition of sexual harassment. As Congress seeks to reauthorize the Higher Education Act this year, we should...

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2019 — Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s new proposed “joint employer” rule: “The Trump Administration’s proposed rule will help restore to franchise owners, who are hurt the most by...

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 21, 2019 – Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s Higher Education Executive Order: “I agree with the administration that colleges should provide better data on student debt and put some ‘skin in the...

NASHVILLE, March 18, 2019 — Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s Higher Education Reform Proposal: “I share the Administration’s goals to make a college education worth it and to make it simpler to apply for federal...

“After five years of bipartisan work, the FAFSA is simpler and on mobile devices, and Congress is now ready to take the final step to make it easier for 20 million American families to apply for federal financial aid and to eliminate $6 billion annually of mistakes that are unfair to taxpayers.”  -- Sen. Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON,...

 “Vaccines are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and meet the FDA’s gold standard of safety. There is nothing secret about any of this science.  It is important for those who have questions about vaccines, especially parents, to speak with a reputable health care provider. As with many topics, just...

WASHINGTON, February 27, 2019 — Following the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s approval today of 11 well-qualified nominees, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) called on the full Senate to quickly confirm their nominations. Alexander said, “This Committee has already approved all but three of...

Now that we have started to turn the train around and head in a different direction on the use of opioids, everyone – doctors, nurses, insurers, and patients – will need to think about the different ways we should treat and manage pain. WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2019– Senate health committee Chairman Lamar...

WASHINGTON, February 11, 2019 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the new Trump Administration proposals to improve electronic health records will help patients access their personal medical information. "These proposed rules remove barriers and should make it easier for patients to more quickly...

“I have asked for specific suggestions on what the federal government can do to lower the cost of health care for American families, and this year, I am committed to passing legislation based on that input to create better outcomes and better experiences at a lower cost.” WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2019 – Senate health...

“The questions I hear most often about college are: Can I afford it? Is it worth it? And can you make applying for financial aid and repaying student loans simpler? And from administrators—can’t you do something about the jungle of red tape that makes it so hard to apply for federal financial aid, to pay back student loans and...

“Community health centers have also been an important part of combating the opioid crisis that has impacted virtually every community across the country.”  WASHINGTON, D.C., January 29, 2019 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said, “27 million Americans receive their primary care and...

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2019 — Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement commemorating National School Choice Week of 2019: “Low-income families should have more of the same choices of schools that wealthier families already have for their...

WASHINGTON, January 18, 2019 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today introduced legislation that will extend for five years federal funding for community health centers, and four other federal health programs, that are set to expire at the end of the fiscal...