U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spearheaded a bipartisan group of legislators this week in urging U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to aggressively address currency issues in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Read more…
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act into law on Tuesday. The law implements the federal ABLE Act, which Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) shepherded through the U.S. Senate on the way to President Read more…
After the Senate Finance Committee’s release of a bipartisan report on an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) treatment of organizations applying for tax-exempt status, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) released a statement on Thursday to express his disappointment Read more…
The U.S. Senate passed a provision introduced by Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) on Thursday that modifies the federal excise tax on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane. The measure will make changes to the tax calculations on these Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) applauded an agreement last week that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Essentially, the bill would ensure the LWCF will be able to fully realize its promise Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced four amendments on Tuesday — three to a bill that is currently before the Senate Finance Committee and one to the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which recently was enacted. For the Read more…
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote a letter, signed by dozens of fellow senators, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging them to recognize Read more…
The inclusion of Interstate 44 and the U.S. 70 corridors in North Carolina in the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act brought a round of applause from U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) Read more…
In the wake of the U.S. Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) released a statement last week reiterating his support for the measure and applauding his fellow lawmakers Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation last week to eliminate the hurdles that are squelching the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to consider new innovative medical devices and push them to market faster. The Read more…
Since a water quality issue revealed in March at the VA Health Care Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, has yet to be corrected, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) submitted a letter on Monday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald discussing his Read more…
After the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) showed up as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) this week discussed the growing security concerns about cyberattacks. “The recent cyber breach at the Office of Personnel Management Read more…
After the Senate passed the USA Freedom Act this week, Rep. Richard Burr (R-NC) discussed the legislation, which shut downs the National Security Agency’s (NSA) collection of phone records used to search for terrorist threats under the Patriot Act. Burr, who is Read more…
In the wake of an announcement by health insurance companies that premiums are increasing significantly for health plans under Obamacare, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) discussed his ongoing concerns with the president’s health care law on Monday. “Today’s announcements regarding Read more…
In recognition of 529 College Savings Day on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) joined a group of lawmakers in reiterating the importance of their pending legislation to enhance and modernize the already successful 529 College Savings Program. In February, Read more…
U.S. Reps. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Ron Kind (D-WI) discussed the importance of the continued emphasis on 529 Savings Plans to help families save money for college on 529 College Savings Day Friday. H.R. 529, legislation to modernize, expand and strengthen Read more…
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced legislation last week that would designate the Raleigh, North Carolina-Norfolk, Virginia highway corridor as part of the U.S. interstate system. The Road to Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Act of 2015 proposes significant improvements to the transportation Read more…
Several U.S. senators who sponsored the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 said on Wednesday that nearly 8 million undergraduate students borrowing money for college for the coming school year will enjoy the benefits of a lower interest rate. Read more…
With oral arguments set to begin in the U.S. Court of Appeals (D.C. District) case challenging a proposed Department of Labor (DOL) rule that plaintiffs said would damage the quality and affordability of in-home domestic care for the elderly and Read more…
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), along with nine other fellow Republican legislators on the Senate Health Committee, urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to immediately finalize and provide all guidance for biosimilar drugs. Sens. Michael Enzi (R-WY), Read more…
During Wednesday’s committee markup hearing on Senate Bill 335, a pending bill designed to improve 529 College Savings Plans, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) provided a strong opening statement in support of the bipartisan legislation, which was introduced Read more…
Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would prohibit people with gang ties from receiving deferred deportation and other immigration benefits. The bill follows a recent acknowledgement by U.S. Citizenship and Read more…
Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Michael Bennett (D-CO) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) joined together last week in presenting bipartisan legislation to streamline the process for bringing breakthrough medical devices to the front line where patients can enjoy their benefits as quickly Read more…
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) filed a court brief this week on behalf of Congress, protesting proposed labor rules threatening to undermine the quality and affordability of in-home care for seniors and disabled individuals. The Read more…
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA), co-sponsored by Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), through committee on Friday. The act, which advanced by a vote of 14 Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) said independent analysis of the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act provides proof that the proposed legislation is better than Obamacare.
U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) introduced his Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act late last week, a bill that would erase the last six years of regulations and imposed federal standards placed on colleges and universities. Last month, the Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) sent a letter on Monday to the nation’s state governors, asking for their feedback on their pending legislation, the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility and Read more…
A bipartisan quartet of U.S. Senators issued a report Friday that details methods Congress and the Department of Education can use to reduce federal red tape and streamline processes for American colleges and universities without inconveniencing college students or taxpayers. Read more…
A trio of U.S. Senators, including Richard Burr (R-NC), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), introduced a bill on Tuesday that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The bill would keep the fund’s promise to Read more…
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) praised the Senate’s passing of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act on Tuesday. The bipartisan legislation is designed to improve how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released the “Innovations for a Healthy America” report on Thursday, detailing the many hurdles involved with providing innovative medical treatments, equipment and cures to patients in America. Essentially, the report spells Read more…
Alongside his colleague Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) reintroduced the Child and Dependent Care FSA Enhancement Act on Wednesday. The legislation is designed to strengthen dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) by increasing pre-tax deposit limits from $5,000 Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), along with a bipartisan group of five fellow lawmakers, introduced the FAST Act on Thursday, which would simplify the application process for federal funding to attend college, discourage over-borrowing and simplify repayments. The bill, which Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and co-sponsors Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Thursday introduced the Repay Act, a bill designed to reform federal student loan repayment programs. The Read more…
After resounding passing votes in the House and Senate, Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.) said Wednesday that their Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is headed to the president’s desk for final approval. The legislation ABLE Read more…
Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) applauded the Senate’s passing of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 on Monday. The legislation, which will require federally subsidized child care Read more…
Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Susan M. Collins (R-Maine) were among 44 Republican U.S. Senators urging President Barack Obama to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline in a letter sent Friday. The Read more…
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) was among a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders who negotiated a legislative agreement to improve and reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act on Friday. Also negotiated by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Read more…
Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) said on Tuesday that legislation he introduced to make tax-free savings accounts available to people with disabilities has recently gained momentum in Congress. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act would relieve financial stress on Read more…
A group of senators called for the Obama administration to clarify the FDA’s policy on the approval of biological products that are deemed interchangeable with previously licensed products. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Pat Read more…
A group of senators considered legislation on Wednesday that was co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to amend IRS code to provide individuals with disabilities access to tax-free savings accounts. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act would enable Read more…
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs convened a hearing this week on former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald’s nomination to serve as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Sen. Richard Read more…
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said on Wednesday that the lack of accountability and management within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that led to secret wait lists for care was “reprehensible.” Burr, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Read more…
Leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee filed an amicus brief on Thursday that opposed unionization of college athletes in a case before the National Labor Relations Board. Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Sen. Lamar Alexander Read more…
Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Angus King (I-Maine) recently released a discussion draft of legislation that would reform federal student loan repayment programs and establish a single income-based repayment option. The discussion draft aims to simplify the federal student loan Read more…
A group of legislators requested information on Wednesday from FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg about patient access to therapies that are not approved by the FDA to treat life threatening or terminal conditions. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Read more…
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) doesn’t accurately process and follow up on temporary 100 percent disability ratings, according to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (IG) report. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) called the practice “alarming” Read more…
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) became an original co-sponsor of legislation on Wednesday that would allow veterans to seek medical care at facilities that aren’t operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in some circumstances. Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Read more…
A bill introduced on Tuesday would take steps to increase transparency within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and provide veterans more flexibility to choose their own healthcare provider. Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Read more…