Assistant secretary of state nominee for democracy, human rights and labor. We could also see work on 2020 spending for defense, plus energy and water. Now live Senate Coverage here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, who judges justly our nation and world, we honor your name. You are so patient with us. Cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly, open our hearts that we may love you more dearly. We confess that sometimes injustice seems to prevail. Avenge injustice, o god, and cause the godly to rejoice. Deliver us from those who seek to set an ambush for freedom. Lord, give our lawmakers the wisdom to look to you for safety for you are our strength and salvation. We pray in your loving name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america
With vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 85, the nays are 1. The nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senates action. Mr. Kennedy mr. President . The presiding officer the senator for louisiana. Mr. Kennedy mr. President , i have three requests for committees to meet during todays session of the senate. They have thate approval of the majority and of the they have the approval of the majority and minority leader leaders. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Kennedy thank you, mr. President. Mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Kennedy thank you, mr. Pre
Enclosures in the best way forward and handling payment disputes. This is two hours and 20 minutes [inaudible conversations] the committee on Health Education labor and will come to order. Senator murray has an important meeting right now and she has asked me to proceed with the hearing because we have six excellent witnesses and we want to make sure that we hear from each of you. We want the senators to have a chance to ask questions of each of these so patty should arrive around 10 lock. When she comes we will enter and let her make her Opening Statement and then we will resume the hearing. Good morning senator murphy. Nearly a year ago after brent james from the National Academy testified before the Senate Health committee with a startling statistic. Up 21 2 of what the American People spend on Health Care May be unnecessary. Let me repeat that. Up to half of the 3. 5 trillion the United States collectively spent on health care in 2017 was unnecessary according to dr. James and many
[inaudible conversations] the committee on Health Education and labor and pensions will come to order. Senator murray has an important meeting right now and she is asked me too proceed with the hearing because we have six excellent witnesses and we want to make sure we hear from each of you and we want the senators to has questions of each of you. So patty should arrive at about ten. When she comes we will interrupt and let her make her Opening Statement and we will resume the hearing. Good morning senator murphy. Nearly a year ago doctor brent james from the National Academy testify before Senate Health committee with a startling statistic up to one half of the American People spend on healthcare may be unnecessary. Let me repeat that, up to half of the 3. 5 trillion, the United States collectively spent on healthcare in 2017 was unnecessary according to doctor james and many of the other witnesses at our hearings agreed with that. That is 1. 8 trillion, three times as much as we spen
In the Company Health care plan we have about 85,000 eligible associates. The rest of our associates are represented under collective bargaining agreements and their benefit plans are provided through other funds. So where we innovate and where we try new things really within the company plan, and thats where the target Pricing Initiative is today. So thats where ill focus our discussion for this afternoon. Mainly, we operated Grocery Retail centers throughout the country, but we also have distribution centers, fuel centers, manufacturing centers, fine jewelry stores. Usually get a few eyebrows that raise a message or restores but we are one of the larger jewelry chains in the country as well. To talk a little bit about what our objectives are with on health care plan, we really focus on trying to keep it simple for 350,000 people to try to understand what we are trying to accomplish with the Health Care Benefits that we provide to them. We really focus on objective. The first one is t