Chairman's Press
25 Senate, House Education Committee Members: Education Department Should Withdraw Rule that Violates “the Unambiguously Expressed Intent of Congress”
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 - Twenty-five Republican members of the Senate and House education committees today urged the Department of Education to withdraw its proposed "supplement not supplant" regulation, saying it "violates the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress," and called on the department to instead work with Congress to implement the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act as it is written. The regulatory proposal would change the longstanding requirement that prevents school districts f… Continue Reading
10.25.16
Alexander Statement on District Court Ruling Halting Obama Administration’s “Blacklisting” Regulations
ALAMO, Tenn., Oct. 25, 2016 - Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) made the following statement on the United States District Court's preliminary injunction Monday, which temporarily halted implementation of the administration's "blacklisting" regulations on federal contractors and subcontractors: "The District Court's decision to halt the administration's 'blacklisting' regulations - which were set to take effect today - is good news for our nation's federal contractors an… Continue Reading
10.19.16
Alexander: 1,444 Cocke Countians on Obamacare Lose Blue Cross Blue Shield as an Option Next Year, Will Have Only 1 Insurer to Choose From
NEWPORT, Tenn., October 19, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today told members of the Cocke County Chamber of Commerce that "the next Congress and the next president must fix the Obamacare emergency," noting that the 1,444 Cocke Countians who this year have insurance on the Obamacare exchange have lost the option to buy Blue Cross Blue Shield next year, and will have only one insurer to choose from. In August, Tennessee's insurance commissioner described the state's Obamacare excha… Continue Reading
10.19.16
Alexander: 2,366 Hamblen Countians on Obamacare Lose Blue Cross Blue Shield as an Option Next Year, Will Have Only 1 Insurer to Choose From
MORRISTOWN, Tenn., October 19, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today told members of the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce that "the next Congress and the next president must fix the Obamacare emergency," noting that the 2,366 Hamblen Countians who this year have insurance on the Obamacare exchange have lost the option to buy Blue Cross Blue Shield next year, and will have only one insurer to choose from. In August, Tennessee's insurance commissioner described the state's Obamaca… Continue Reading
10.18.16
Alexander: More Than 400 Organizations Representing Non-profits, School Boards, Cities, Roofers, Farmers, Restaurants, and Others Support Bill to Fix Obama Administration Overtime Rule Alexander bill would stretch out the timeline for implementation
GREENEVILLE, Oct. 18, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced that more than 400 organizations-from Christmas tree farmers to festival organizers-are supporting his legislation to change the timeline for implementation of the Obama Administration's "Time Card" overtime rule, which is set to take effect on Dec.1, 2016. "Non-profits, local governments, and job creators across the country are supporting the Overtime Reform and Review Act because it makes urgently needed modifica… Continue Reading
10.12.16
Alexander Statement on Education Department’s Final Regulation on Teacher Preparation Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 12 - Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) made the following statement on the Education Department's regulation on teacher preparation programs, which was made final today: "Today's regulation appears to violate the Higher Education Act, which specifically says that states-not bureaucrats at a distant department in Washington-are responsible for evaluating whether a college's program gives teachers the skills they need for the classroom. The regul… Continue Reading
09.29.16
New Nonpartisan Report Examines Tools to Help Medicaid Beneficiaries Find Providers to Receive Care
WASHINGTON, DC - Bicameral Republican leaders today shared a new report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) examining state resources for helping Medicaid beneficiaries find providers. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 77 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid this year. Managed care is the dominant mode that beneficiaries receive their care. Still, GAO found that an estimated 16 million beneficiaries remain in fee-for-service delivery syste… Continue Reading
09.29.16
BREAKING: Nonpartisan Watchdog Rules Obamacare Reinsurance Scheme Unlawfully Diverting Billions From Taxpayers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A group of bicameral Republican health care leaders are pointing to a new legal opinion issued on Obamacare's controversial reinsurance program. The leaders urged the Comptroller General of the United States this spring to publish a legal opinion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) decision to ignore federal law, and a previous CMS regulation that required taxpayers and the Treasury be paid under the Obamacare reinsurance program. To date, CMS has ignored … Continue Reading
09.29.16
Alexander, Collins, Lankford, Scott, Flake Introduce Bill to Protect Workers, Non-Profits, Colleges, Local Governments from Dec. 1 Overtime Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 29 - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today introduced legislation similar to a bill introduced by Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon to change the timeline for implementation of the Obama Administration's "Time Card" overtime rule - set to take effect on Dec.1, 2016. The legislation would stretch out over five years the administration's increase in the salary threshold f… Continue Reading
09.29.16
Senate, House Leaders: Cures to be Top Priority in Lame Duck
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2016-The Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House, and Senate and House health committee leaders all said this week that it is a priority to pass medical innovation legislation into law this year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters today that "We've got about three weeks back here after the election. My own personal priorities are funding the government and the 21st Century Cures bill, which I think could end up being the most significant pie… Continue Reading
09.28.16
Alexander, Murray Committed to Getting a Result This Year on Legislation to Drive Medical Innovation, Support Precision Medicine and Cancer Moonshot
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2016 - The leaders of the Senate health committee, Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), today released the following statement on their work on a Senate version of the 21st Century Cures legislation: "We continue our work on bipartisan legislation to spur cures and treatments and better health for Americans. We've been working for a year and a half on behalf of patients and scientists, and we are committed to getting a result this year that… Continue Reading
09.26.16
Alexander: More Than 131,000 Tennesseans Forced to “Scramble” for New Health Plans as State’s Largest Insurer Exits 3 Major Cities
MARYVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 26 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement on the news that BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee - the state's largest insurer - is pulling out of Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, leaving more than 131,000 Tennesseans "scrambling" to find a new health insurance plan for next year: "More than 131,000 Tennesseans who buy their insurance on the Obamacare exchange will lose their current insurance policy and have to scr… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Casey, Isakson, Alexander: Senate Extends Program to Encourage New Drugs and Treatments for Children with Rare Diseases
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 22 - Senators today reached agreement on short-term legislation to prevent an end to a successful program driving faster treatments and cures to children with rare diseases. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) called on the House to quickly pass the legislation. Today's agreement extends a law enacted in 2012 sponsored by Sens. Casey and Isakson to continue through the end of 2016 a program otherwise set to expire this month tha… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Alexander Statement on Education Department Decision to Withdraw Recognition of College Accreditor
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2016 - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate education committee, today released the following statement about the decision by the U.S. Department of Education to terminate federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a national institutional accrediting agency that accredits 245 colleges serving 600,000 students: "With this decision, 245 colleges will start the extraordinarily difficult hunt to… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Chairman Alexander Holds Senate Health Hearing on Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 22 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander's (R-Tenn.) prepared remarks for today's hearing, "Exploring Current Practices in Cosmetic Development and Safety," are as follows: Today's hearing is an opportunity for the committee to learn about how cosmetics and personal care products are developed, what is being done to make sure they are safe, and what we can improve to better ensure the safety of these products that Americans spend $60 billion on each year. … Continue Reading
09.20.16
Alexander: FDA’s Proposed “Double Regulation” Could Halt More Than 60,000 Lab-developed Tests Americans Depend on for Lifesaving Treatments, Cures
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20-Today U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that under the FDA's proposal to regulate laboratory-developed tests, which Alexander pointed out are already regulated by an arm of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), "the biggest loser, it seems to me, would be Americans who stand to benefit from the rapid pace of science and discovery." At a hearing of the Senate health committee, which Alexander chairs, he said that this amounts to unnecessary "double reg… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Alexander on Democrats’ Public Option Plan: “Democrats are Trying to Cure the Obamacare Disease Using the Same Prescription that Created the Problem”
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 15, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on Senate Democrats' resolution in support of a "public option," meaning a government-run health care plan: "The Democrats are trying to cure the Obamacare disease using the same prescription that created the problem in the first place. Obamacare exchanges are collapsing because of federal mandates and a lack of flexibility for states and choices for families. The right prescription… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Eight Senators Introduce Emergency, One-Year Legislation Allowing States to Offer Americans More Health Insurance Options Next Year
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14-A group of eight United States Senators today introduced emergency, one-year legislation that would give states the authority to allow Americans who rely on Obamacare subsidies to have more options to buy health insurance unavailable on the failing Obamacare exchanges, and waive any penalty if they do not find a plan that suits their or their family's needs. Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said: "If you aren't on Medicare or Medicaid and don't obt… Continue Reading
09.06.16
Alexander: There is No Excuse Whatsoever for Democrats to Block $1.1 Billion to Combat the Zika Virus
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 6 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said "there is no excuse whatsoever for Democrats to block $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus" after Senate Democrats voted against funding to protect babies from Zika-related birth defects for a third time. "You don't need money to fight mosquitos in the wintertime," Alexander said. "Republicans are eager to send help now while the mosquitos are out, and the only thing stopping us is a cynical and i… Continue Reading
08.31.16
Alexander: Tennessee Awarded $1 Million in Federal Grants to Help Prevent Opioid Abuse
MARYVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 31, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said Tennessee has been awarded $1 million in two federal grants to help prevent opioid abuse, including by raising awareness about the dangers of sharing medication and overprescribing of opioids. "Each year, more than 1,000 Tennesseans die from opioid abuse or overdose-this is an epidemic taking more Tennessee lives than car accidents or gunshots do. The way to fight this epidemic is not to wage a distant battle from … Continue Reading
