releases: https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=C98936A6-2B07-48D1-9A66-20C42DFA8CE6
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=C98936A6-2B07-48D1-9A66-20C42DFA8CE6 | Alexander: Congress, President Poised to Deliver Christmas Presents of Tax Cuts, Lower Cost Health Policies | 2017-12-15 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | TN | Lamar Alexander | A000360 | www.alexander.senate.gov | legacy | BRENTWOOD, Tennessee,December 15, 2017United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), in Middle Tennessee today, said Congress and President Trump are set to deliver Christmas presents to Tennessee families next week by reducing taxes and health care premiums. This Christmas season is a good time for Congress to give Christmas presents to both taxpayers and hardworking Tennesseans who have been struggling to pay for skyrocketing insurance premiums,Alexander said. And thats exactly what Congress and President Trumpwill do when we passa legislative package that would lower premiums by 18 percent in 2019, according to Avalere,one of the leadinghealthcareconsultingfirms in the country. On top of that,according to the Congressional Budget Office, thispackagewould also mean fewer federal dollars for Obamacare subsidies, less federal debt,and no taxpayer money bailing out insurance companies. Alexander continued, The legislative package would includea bill I as chairman of the Senates health committee -- worked onwith Senator Patty Murray from Washington which was co-sponsored by 11 other Republicans and has the support of President Trump. This billfundscost-sharing reduction payments for two years, which would help low-income Tennesseans pay for co-pays and deductibles. It would also give Tennessee more flexibility in creating policies at a lower cost and allow any Tennessean to buy a catastrophic health care plan with lower premiums and high deductibles. The packagewould also include the Collins-Nelson bill written by Senator Susan Collins from Maine and Senator Bill Nelson from Florida -- which is based upon the experience of Maine and Alaska in using invisible risk pools and reinsurance funds to create a pool of money to pay for the health care needs of the very sick, thereby reducing premiums by as much as 20 percent for everybody else. Alexandertold Brentwood rotary members the storyof Marty, afarmer he met in Nashville last week whowill pay $1,300 a month next year in premiums, making it very difficult for her to afford. The average Tennessean has seen premiums rise 176% over the last five years and an additional 58 percent this year, the senator said. So a very good Christmas present for Marty and men and women like her across this country would be for this Congress, before the end of the month, to pass what we call the Alexander-Murray and the Collins-Nelson legislation which will lower premiums by 18%." Alexander said Tennesseans will also receive a well-deserved Christmas present after Congress passes a tax reform bill next week that will help create more good-paying jobs for Tennessee families and keep more money in Tennesseans pockets. Alexander told rotary membersthe Senate and House have been working together on their different bills to send to President Trump legislation that can become law by the end of the year. Alexander voted for the Senates tax reform bill onDecember 2. Please email Ashton_Davies@alexander.senate.gov for high resolution photos. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |