With Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)'s imminent retirement, there is speculation about who may take over as the Republican leader of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, either as chair or -- if the Democrats manage to pull off two run-off victories in Georgia on January 5 -- ranking member. Inside Higher Education reports that Rand Paul (R-KY), Richard Burr (R-NC), or Susan Collins (R-ME) could take Alexander's place.
From Inside Higher Education: "Regardless of how the jumble of possibilities turns out, lobbyists said one thing is clear. Whoever succeeds Alexander will not have the same expertise and interest in higher education policy as the former president of the University of Tennessee. That could make higher education a lesser priority on a committee dealing with health-care issues amid a pandemic, as well as the potential striking down of the Affordable Care Act by the Supreme Court."
Definitely something for higher education stakeholders to watch.