Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on HELP Committee’s Achievements in 2017
"In 2017, our committee took the lead on laws to help improve the lives of virtually every American--including legislation to ensure that safe drugs and medical devices can get into patients' medicine cabinets more quickly, as well as legislation to preserve local control of our 100,000 public schools.
"At the same time, the committee approved 32 of the president's nominees so they can get to work helping deliver results for Americans. Senator
"I am looking forward to continuing our work next year by reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, ensuring states and local communities have the tools they need to combat the opioid crisis, and updating legislation to help our country respond to public health emergencies."
The HELP Committee approved 13 bills that are now public law.
Legislation to improve the health of American families:
* FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 - Sens.
* National Clinical Care Commission Act - Sens.
* The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act - Sens.
* Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 - Rep.
* Authorizing Emergency Uses for Military - Rep.
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the Title X rule regarding family planning grants - Rep.
Legislation to roll back Obama-era laws that hurt American workers:
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the "Volks" rule regarding employer record-keeping - Rep.
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the rule exempting state-run retirement programs for private sector workers from federal retirement law - Rep.
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the rule exempting locality-run retirement programs for private sector workers from federal retirement law - Rep.
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the "Blacklisting" rule regarding federal procurement - Rep.
Legislation to preserve the Every Student Succeeds Act, which restored local control of schools and assist college students impacted by this fall's hurricanes:
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the "Accountability" rule for K-12 education - Rep.
* Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the "Teacher Preparation" rule for K-12 education - Rep.
* Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Education Relief Act of 2017 - Sen.
Legislation to improve public health preparedness to combat Zika:
* The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act - Sens.
Legislation to help inform doctors about patients dealing with opioid addiction:
* Jessie's Law - Sen.
* Jessie's Law - Sen.
The HELP Committee approved 32 nominees to carry out
22 confirmed by the
Gerald Fauth III - Member
The committee approved 10 additional nominations:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Nominees:
The HELP committee held 32 hearings to address important issues that matter to American families.
Looking at ways to help Americans lead healthier lives, including examining the opioid crisis ravaging our communities and the price Americans pay when picking up their prescriptions:
The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis: The committee began a series of hearings on the opioid crisis, starting by hearing what the federal government is doing from administration witnesses. Alexander said the crisis is "tearing our communities apart, tearing families apart, and posing an enormous challenge to health care providers and law enforcement officials."
The Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis: Perspectives from States, Communities, and Providers: The committee held a second hearing on the opioid crisis to hear from those on the front lines how the tools and resources
The Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Pay: The committee held the first in a series of bipartisan hearings looking at the price Americans pay when they pick up their prescriptions and where that money goes. Alexander said, "This is a discussion that affects the well-being of every American family. It is important that we work together to conduct this fact finding in a bipartisan way."
The Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Pay, Part II: The committee held the second in a series of bipartisan hearings on what goes into the prices Americans pay when picking up the 4.4 billion prescriptions written every year. At the hearing, Alexander said the focus is to learn the facts on the drug delivery system and its effects on health care costs.
The Cost of Prescription Drugs: An Examination of The
Examining How Healthy Choices Can Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Costs: The committee held the first in a series of hearings looking at the "remarkable consensus that a healthy lifestyle leads to longer and better lives, and reduces the nation's health care costs." At the hearing, Alexander said, "If we really want to focus on improving Americans' health, why not connect the consensus on wellness to the insurance policies that 178 million Americans get from their job."
Encouraging Healthy Communities: Perspective from the Surgeon General:
Ensuring promising biomedical research leads to results for patients:
Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act: Achieving the Promise of Health Information Technology: At the first oversight hearing on the 21st Century Cures Act - a law the committee wrote in 2016 to bring new drugs and devices more quickly to patients - Alexander said,"electronic health records are a critical piece to the future of medical innovation and the success of the 21st Century Cures Act, and I intend to ensure these provisions are implemented properly."
Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act: Progress and the Path Forward for
Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act: Responding to Mental Health Needs: The committee's third oversight hearing on the 21st Century Cures Act examined the mental health provisions, which updated federal mental health programs for the first time in a decade. Alexander said that early intervention for patients with mental health disorders is critical: "Prior to our work on Cures, the coordination between federal agencies that provide mental health care was not as effective as it could have been...I look forward to hearing about the progress being made to ensure more people can receive the help they need."
FDA User Fee Agreements: Improving Medical Product Regulation and Innovation for Patients, Part I: The committee held its first hearing on updating the
FDA User Fee Agreements: Improving Medical Product Regulation and Innovation for Patients, Part II: At the second of two hearings on updating the
Gene Editing Technology: Innovation and Impact: The committee held a hearing on gene editing technology, including CRISPR-cas9, which Alexander said "has the potential to transform human health, when used properly.... CRISPR's use in humans is more recent, but the possibility of the diseases it could treat and the lives that could be improved is remarkable."
Hearing from governors, state insurance commissioners, and health policy experts on how to stabilize the individual health insurance market:
Obamacare Emergency: Stabilizing the Individual Health Insurance Market: Alexander chaired the committee's first hearing of the year on the individual health insurance market where 18 million Americans and 350,000 Tennesseans purchase their insurance and invited
Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: State Insurance Commissioners: Alexander launched a series of hearings this fall on stabilizing the individual health insurance market and helping 18 million Americans be able to access and afford health insurance in 2018. At this first hearing, the committee heard from state insurance commissioners, including
Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Governors: At the second hearing on stabilizing the individual health insurance market, the committee heard from governors, including
Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: State Flexibility: At the third hearing on stabilizing the individual health insurance market, the committee heard from state flexibility experts on ways to allow states to offer more flexible insurance plans. Alexander said waivers from Obamacare regulations could offer states as many options as a
Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Health Care Stakeholders: At the fourth hearing on stabilizing the individual health insurance market, Alexander said, "it's clear to truly protect patients, we need to stabilize the markets, limit premium increases, and begin to lower premiums in the future."
Confirmation hearings on
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Looking at simplifying applying for financial aid and ensuring local control of schools:
Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Examining Proposals to Simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):At the first hearing on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act Alexander said, "after four years of discussions over how to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, it is time to come to a result to make it easier for students to apply for federal financial aid." Alexander has said the committee plans to continue its work on updating the Higher Education Act in the new year to make it simpler and easier for students to attend college.
Exploring Free Speech on College Campuses:At a hearing on free speech on college campuses, Alexander said, "universities should be the place where people of different views may speak, audiences can listen, and many contrasting viewpoints are encouraged... There should be some sensible way to allow speakers to speak and audiences to listen while still protecting freedoms offered by the First Amendment."
The Every Student Succeeds Act: Unleashing State Innovation: At an oversight hearing on the Every Student Succeeds Act, a law the committee passed in 2015 to fix No Child Left Behind, Alexander said, "
Sen. Grassley Marks Policy, Oversight Accomplishments in 2017
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