Senator Alexander Re-Elected Chairman of HELP Committee for 116th Congress

Statement

United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after he was re-elected to serve as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) for the 116th Congress:

"I thank my colleagues for my re-election as chairman of the Senate HELP committee. This Congress, the committee has a lot of work to get done. One top priority is reducing the cost of health care. Testimony from experts at the National Academy of Medicine said that up to half of health care spending is unnecessary. That startled me and it should startle the American people. That is a massive tax on American families, businesses, and state and federal budgets. A second priority is reauthorizing the Higher Education Act to ensure that the expense of a college education is worth it for students.

"The committee will also work to extend funding for approximately 12,000 community health center delivery sites, and reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which supports the organization and delivery of social and nutrition services to older adults and their caregivers. Another priority is reauthorizing the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, important legislation that funds major grant programs that provide a social services response to issues of child abuse and neglect.

"Last Congress, President Trump signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, legislation that Leader McConnell called "landmark' opioids legislation. This legislation represented the work of eight committees in the House and five committees in the Senate who worked together to reach consensus about how to help address the opioid crisis. In 2016, the committee produced the 21st Century Cures Act, which McConnell called "the most important legislation of this Congress.' The committee will conduct oversight on both of these new laws to make sure the Administration is carrying out the intent of Congress to help the American people.

"This committee touches the lives of virtually every American, and I am proud to continue serving as its chairman."

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