Latest news with #LaborandPensions
The Hill
31-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Watch live: Senate convenes hearing on health care affordability
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) is holding a hearing Thursday morning how to lower health care costs. The hearing comes less than a month after President Trump signed the ' big, beautiful bill ' into law, which included the largest updates to Medicaid since the program began in the 1960s. The legislation's provisions will also impact patients, doctors, hospitals, and insurers, as Republicans partially paid for it by cutting more than $1 trillion from federal health programs. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the top Democrat on the HELP Committee, has been an outspoken critic of the GOP's massive spending and tax package, arguing it could cause 'thousands and thousands' of low-income and working-class people's deaths. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.
09-07-2025
- Health
Senate committee advances Trump's pick for CDC director ahead of confirmation vote
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted to advance Susan Monarez's nomination as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday. The panel voted along party lines 12-11. Monarez is the first CDC director nominee to require a Senate confirmation after Congress passed a law requiring it in 2022. If confirmed, Monarez will be the first CDC director without a medical degree since 1953. Ahead of the vote, in opening remarks, Ranking Member Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., accused Monarez of allowing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to spread misinformation about vaccines. "In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health and repudiate Secretary Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories about effective vaccines that have saved, over the years, millions of lives," Sanders said. Monarez was named acting CDC director in January, stepping down after she was nominated for the position in March. It came after President Donald Trump's first pick, Dr. David Weldon, had his nomination pulled by the White House due to a lack of votes. Weldon was expected to be grilled on his past comments questioning vaccine safety, such as falsely suggesting vaccines are linked to autism. Monarez has worked in both the public and private sector -- including working in the government under former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as during Trump's first term. Her work has included strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. During her confirmation hearing last month, Monarez expressed support for vaccines, in contrast with Kennedy, who has expressed some skepticism. "I think vaccines save lives. I think that we need to continue to support the promotion of utilization of vaccines," Monarez said. While Kennedy has previously cited vaccines as a potential reason behind rising rates of autism diagnoses, Monarez said she did not hold the same view. "I have not seen a causal link between vaccines and autism," Monarez said when asked by Sanders last month if she agrees with the American Medical Association's stance "that there is no scientific proven link between vaccines and autism." While the CDC director role has been vacant, Kennedy has had final say over some CDC decisions, such as ending recommendations for children and pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, Kennedy recently removed all 17 sitting members of the CDC's Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel that provides recommendations on vaccines to the CDC, and replaced them with seven hand-selected members -- some of whom have expressed vaccine-skeptic views. Public health professionals previously told ABC News that, traditionally, only a CDC director would be able to reconstitute ACIP.
The Hill
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Trump's CDC nominee advances on party-line vote in Senate
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted along party lines Wednesday to advance President Trump's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The panel voted 12-11 to advance the nomination of Susan Monarez to be the next CDC director. 'The United States needs a CDC director who makes decisions rooted in science, a leader who reformed the agency and worked to restore public trust in health institutions with decades of proven experience as a public health official, Dr. Monarez is ready to take on this challenge,' said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the HELP committee. 'She is committed to improving transparency the CDC and properly communicating health guidance to the American people.' Monarez, a scientist in the federal service for nearly 20 years, sat for a confirmation hearing last month. She was careful to not discredit scientific consensus while also not breaking with either Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or President Trump. She served as acting CDC director prior to her nomination in March . When asked if she disagreed with Kennedy on anything, Monarez avoided directly answering, saying she looked forward to 'supporting the secretary with science and evidence.' For Democrats on the HELP committee, Monarez did not establish enough daylight between herself and Kennedy's divisive and at times unfounded views. 'Under her watch the Trump administration has illegally delayed or canceled $11 billion in public health funding to fight infectious disease and to prepare for the next pandemic; urged important public health data from the website that scientists need to respond to disease outbreaks; and fire scientists who focus on worker safety, the health of mothers and children, birth defects, disabilities, smoking cessation and HIV prevention,' HELP Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said when explaining his vote against Monarez. 'In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health, repudiate Secretary Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories about safe and effective vaccines that have saved over the years millions of lives,' added Sanders. 'Unfortunately, after reviewing her record, I do not believe that Dr. Monarez sees that person.' HELP Democrat Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) lamented that the committee was not fulfilling its duty to carry out oversight over Kennedy and major health issues like the ongoing measles outbreak. She argued having the 'best CDC director in the world' would make no difference with Kennedy in power and the committee not keeping him in check. 'I really do hope that Dr. Monarez will defy my expectations. I hope she will stand up for science and put public health first. But again, I hope that for others and here we are today,' said Murray.
NBC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Three student loan changes in Republican bill: Getting out of debt would be 'extremely hard,' advocate says
Republicans' 'big beautiful' bill, if enacted as drafted, would make some of the biggest changes to the federal student loan system in decades. GOP House and Senate lawmakers' proposals would eliminate several repayment plans, keep borrowers in debt longer and roll back relief options for those who become unemployed or run into another financial challenge. The House advanced its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released its budget bill recommendations related to student loans on June 10. Senate lawmakers are preparing to debate the massive tax and spending package. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said his party's plans would lift the burden on taxpayers of subsidizing college graduates' loan payments. ″[Former President Joe] Biden and Democrats unfairly attempted to shift student debt onto taxpayers that chose not to go to college,' Cassidy said in a statement on June 10. He said his committee's bill would save an estimated $300 billion out of the federal budget. However, consumer advocates say that the legislation will deepen a lending crisis in which millions of borrowers are already struggling to pay off the debt from their education. 'It's not about fiscal responsibility, it's about doing some funny math that justifies tax cuts,' said Astra Taylor, co-founder of the Debt Collective, a union for debtors. 'It's going to be extremely hard for people to get out of debt with these changes,' Taylor said. Here are three big proposals in the GOP bills to overhaul federal student lending. 1. Fewer repayment plans, larger bills Under the Republican proposals, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers, compared with roughly a dozen options now. Student loan borrowers could either enroll in a standard repayment plan with fixed payments, or an income-based repayment plan known as the ' Repayment Assistance Plan,' or RAP. Under RAP, monthly payments would typically range from 1% to 10% of a borrower's income; the more they earn, the bigger their required payment. There would be a minimum monthly payment of $10 for all borrowers. A typical student loan borrower with a college degree could pay an extra $2,929 per year if the Senate GOP proposal of RAP is enacted, compared with the Biden administration's now-blocked SAVE plan, according to a recent analysis by the Student Borrower Protection Center. The new plan would fail to provide many borrowers with an affordable monthly bill — the goal of Congress when it established income-driven repayment plans in the 1990s, said Michele Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute for College Access & Success. 'If Republicans' proposed 'Repayment Assistance Plan' is the only thing standing between borrowers and default, we can expect many to suffer the nightmarish experience of default,' Zampini said. 2. Longer timelines to loan forgiveness As of now, borrowers who enroll in the standard repayment plan typically get their debt divided into 120 fixed payments, over 10 years. But the Republicans' new standard plan would provide borrowers fixed payments over a period of between 10 years and 25 years, depending on how much they owe. For example, those with a balance exceeding $50,000 would be in repayment for 15 years; if you owe over $100,000, your fixed payments will last for 25 years. Meanwhile, current income-driven repayment plans now conclude in loan forgiveness after 20 years or 25 years. But RAP wouldn't lead to debt erasure until 30 years. 'Thirty years is your adult life,' Taylor said. If RAP becomes law, she said, 'We anticipate an explosion of senior debtors.' 3. Fewer ways to pause bills House and Senate Republicans are also calling for the elimination of the economic hardship and unemployment deferments. Those deferments allow federal student loan borrowers to pause their monthly bills during periods of joblessness or other financial setbacks, often without interest accruing on their debt. Under both options, which have existed for decades, borrowers can avoid payments for up to three years. Under the Senate Republicans' proposal, student loans received on or after July 1, 2026, would no longer qualify for the unemployment deferment or economic hardship deferment. The House plan does away with both deferments a year earlier, on July 1, 2025. 'These protections enable borrowers to stay in good standing on their loans while they get back on their feet,' Zampini said. 'Without them, borrowers who suddenly can't afford their payments will have little recourse, and many will likely enter delinquency and eventually default,' she said.
CNBC
18-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
3 student loan changes in Republican bill: Getting out of debt would be 'extremely hard,' advocate says
Republicans' "big beautiful" bill, if enacted as drafted, would make some of the biggest changes to the federal student loan system in decades. GOP House and Senate lawmakers' proposals would eliminate several repayment plans, keep borrowers in debt for longer and roll back relief options for those who become unemployed or run into another financial challenge. The House advanced its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released its budget bill recommendations related to student loans on June 10. Senate lawmakers are preparing to debate the massive tax and spending package. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said his party's plans would lift the burden on taxpayers of subsidizing college graduate's loan payments. "Biden and Democrats unfairly attempted to shift student debt onto taxpayers that chose not to go to college," Cassidy said in a statement on June 10. He said his committee's bill would save an estimated $300 billion from the federal budget. More from Personal Finance:'SALT' deduction in limbo as Senate Republicans unveil tax planHow Senate GOP 'no tax on tips' proposal differs from House planSenate tax bill includes $1,000 baby bonus in 'Trump accounts' However, consumer advocates say that the legislation will deepen a lending crisis in which millions of borrowers are already struggling to pay off the debt from their education. "It's not about fiscal responsibility, it's about doing some funny math that justifies tax cuts," said Astra Taylor, co-founder of the Debt Collective, a union for debtors. "It's going to be extremely hard for people to get out of debt with these changes," Taylor said. Here are three big proposals in the GOP bills to overhaul federal student lending. Under the Republican proposals, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers, compared with roughly a dozen options now. Student loan borrowers could either enroll in a standard repayment plan with fixed payments, or an income-based repayment plan known as the "Repayment Assistance Plan," or RAP. Under RAP, monthly payments would typically range from 1% to 10% of a borrower's income; the more they earn, the bigger their required payment. There would be a minimum monthly payment of $10 for all borrowers. A typical student loan borrower with a college degree could pay an extra $2,929 per year if the Senate GOP proposal of RAP is enacted, compared to the Biden administration's now-blocked SAVE plan, according to a recent analysis by the Student Borrower Protection Center. The new plan would fail to provide many borrowers' with an affordable monthly bill — the goal of Congress when it established income-driven repayment plans in the 90s, said Michele Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute for College Access & Success. "If Republicans' proposed 'Repayment Assistance Plan' is the only thing standing between borrowers and default, we can expect many to suffer the nightmarish experience of default," Zampini said. As of now, borrowers who enroll in the standard repayment plan typically get their debt divided into 120 fixed payments, over 10 years. But the Republicans' new standard plan would provide borrowers fixed payments over a period between 10 years and 25 years, depending on how much they owe. For example, those with a balance exceeding $50,000 would be in repayment for 15 years; if you owe over $100,000, your fixed payments will last for 25 years. Meanwhile, current income-driven repayment plans now conclude in loan forgiveness after 20 years or 25 years. But RAP wouldn't lead to debt erasure until 30 years. "Thirty years is your adult life," Taylor said. If RAP becomes law, she said, "We anticipate an explosion of senior debtors." House and Senate Republicans are also calling for the elimination of the economic hardship and unemployment deferments. Those deferments allow federal student loan borrowers to pause their monthly bills during periods of joblessness or other financial setbacks, often without interest accruing on their debt. Under both options, which have existed for decades, borrowers can avoid payments for up to three years. Under the Senate Republicans' proposal, student loans received on or after July 1, 2026, would no longer qualify for the unemployment deferment or economic hardship deferment. The House plan does away with both deferments a year earlier, on July 1, 2025. "These protections enable borrowers to stay in good standing on their loans while they get back on their feet," Zampini said. "Without them, borrowers who suddenly can't afford their payments will have little recourse, and many will likely enter delinquency and eventually default," she said.
