Senator Collins’ Statement on Senator Alexander’s Retirement

Washington, D.C. – Following the announcement by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that he will not seek reelection in 2020, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) released this statement:

“Lamar Alexander is an extraordinarily effective member of the U.S. Senate, with a strong record of bipartisan accomplishments that take aim at the problems facing the American people.  Simply put, he is a great Senator.  Throughout his Senate service, Lamar has repeatedly demonstrated exemplary leadership on our nation’s most pressing issues.

“From pursuing ways to make health insurance and health care more affordable, to authoring comprehensive legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, to improving our education system and strengthening the skills programs that help Americans get good jobs, Lamar has successfully forged bipartisan solutions that have improved the lives of millions of Americans.

“As a member of both the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Lamar chairs, and the Appropriations Committee, on which we both serve, I have had the privilege of working closely with Lamar on a number of these issues.  I have always valued his intelligence, his diligence, his mastery of policy details, his fairness, and most important, his friendship.

“I look forward to continuing to work with him over the next two years as he completes his term and adds to his outstanding record of public service.”