Chairman's News
Hatch, Thune Lead Colleagues in Encouraging Administration to Abandon Proposed Estate Tax Regulations
Proposed Regulations Would Have Severe Chilling Effect on Family Farms and Businesses WASHINGTON - Led by U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, 41 Senate Republicans today wrote to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew encouraging the Treasury Department to abandon proposed regulations that would significantly increase the estate tax burden on family farms and businesses. The proposed regul… Continue Reading
09.21.16
Hatch Welcomes Committee Action on Bipartisan Pension Bills
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) issued the following statement after the Committee favorably reported out two pension related bills, the Miners Protection Act of 2016 and the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2016: "Today, the Finance Committee examined policies and had a constructive debate on how to best strengthen the American pension system. The result? Two bills to help more American workers build a better nest egg for retirement moved thro… Continue Reading
09.21.16
Hatch Statement at Markup of Pension Bills
WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today delivered the following opening statement at a markup of two pension related bills, the Miners Protection Act of 2016 and the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2016: Today the committee has before it a Chairman's mark that includes the Miners Protection Act of 2016, as modified, as well as the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2016, as modified. These are two important pieces … Continue Reading
09.20.16
Obamacare’s Ridiculous List
Health Law's Failures Reach New Levels of Absurdity With a disastrous summer already on the books and health care costs increasing at the greatest rate in the last 32 years, the health law's failures are becoming more absurd and unworkable for the American people with each passing day. Skyrocketing costs, fewer options for care, and lackluster enrollment forecasts have now forced President Obama to make a last ditch effort to try and salvage his own law. And with little to no signs of improveme… Continue Reading
09.20.16
Finance Republicans Call for Review of Rebate Practices for Mylan’s EpiPen
In Letter to HHS IG, Senators Express Concern over Reports of Potential Rebate Manipulation WASHINGTON - In a letter today, Senate Finance Committee Republicans requested a review of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) administration and oversight of the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) regarding Mylan's EpiPen. The letter, led by Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), was sent to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (IG) Daniel R. Levinson. "Manufactur… Continue Reading
09.20.16
Hatch Expresses Ongoing Concerns with EC State Aid Rulings
Bipartisan Finance Committee Meeting with European Commissioner Vestager Reaffirms Opposition WASHINGTON - Today, members of the Senate Finance Committee met with European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager to discuss the European Commission's (EC) recent ruling regarding Apple and its tax arrangements in Ireland. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who met with Commissioner Vestager prior to the bipartisan Committee meeting, issued the following statement: "Rath… Continue Reading
09.19.16
Hatch, Wyden Announce Markup of Pension Bills
WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced the Committee will markup two pension related bills, the Miners Protection Act of 2016 and the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2016, on Wednesday, September 21st, in Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building at 10:00 a.m. "Pension systems in America face a number challenges to sufficiently set, manage and meet financial obligations for retired workers across… Continue Reading
09.16.16
Senators Urge Administration To Address Trafficking of Synthetic Drugs and Illicit Goods Through Mail Service
WASHINGTON - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Michael Lee (R-Utah), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), David Perdue (R-Ga. ), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, regardin… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico Releases Status Update
WASHINGTON - The bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico today released a status update regarding its work in crafting policy recommendations to promote economic growth and long-term prosperity in the U.S. territory. The interim update, issued to comply with Section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), details information the Task Force has collected to date and outlines other matters the Task Force is considering. "Re… Continue Reading
09.14.16
State by State, Middle Class Families Struggle to Find Affordable Coverage
With the next Obamacare enrollment period just around the corner, Americans are facing higher costs and fewer choices under a broken law that has proved to be anything but affordable. In fact, a growing number of exchanges in states across the country are down to only one health care insurer offering coverage. And in many parts of the nation, middle class families are reeling from significant premium hikes and are being forced to choose between paying a fine or paying for health insurance. St… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Hatch Presses for Answers Regarding Treasury Department’s Iran Payments
WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today sent a letter to Treasury Inspector General Eric Thorson asking a number of questions regarding the Treasury Department's payment to Iran out of the "Judgement Fund" by the Department of State. In the letter, Hatch asks the inspector general to identify whether the payment was in compliance with internal Treasury operating procedures, provide certification and/or payment requests connected with the payments, produce eviden… Continue Reading
09.12.16
Nonpartisan Gov’t Watchdog Warns Obamacare Marketplaces Still “Vulnerable to Fraud”
Undercover Testing Shows Eligibility Determination and Enrollment Processes Still Lack Real Safeguards WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released two undercover reports of the Obamacare marketplace with testing results for the 2015 and 2016 coverage years. In the 2015 coverage year analysis, GAO found that "the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) or selected state marketplaces approved each of 10 fictitious applications GAO made for su… Continue Reading
09.12.16
Senate Finance, House W&M; and E&C; Leaders Call on CMS to Prevent Fraudulent Medicare Spending
"Each dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that is not used to benefit patients." WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the today sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andrew Slavitt to express concerns about fraudulent Medicare spending despite the Agency's recent efforts to prevent improper payments before they are sent out the door. The letter was sent b… Continue Reading
09.09.16
Hatch, Upton Highlight GAO Report Examining Ways to Reform Medicaid’s Financing
Non-Partisan Watchdog Outlines Policy Considerations Designed for Medicaid Per Capita Allotment Reforms WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) today highlighted a new report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing policy considerations regarding per capita Medicaid caps as Congress explores possible approaches to reform and sustain the Medicaid program, which comprise… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Flashback: Summer 2016 Plagued by More Obamacare Failures
As Summer Comes to a Close, Obamacare's Outlook Worsens From the beginning, the President's signature domestic policy achievement, Obamacare, has placed unnecessary burdens on American families and job creators. This past summer, headlines and news stories indicated the implosion of the health law is nearing the tipping point. Premiums on the Rise Now, with next year's enrollment period just around the corner, Americans are bracing for premium increases forecasted to cost substantially more… Continue Reading
