Chair's Press
Senator Murray Discusses Need to Protect Abortion Rights Ahead of Roe v. Wade Anniversary With Spokane Providers, Patients, and Advocates
Senator Murray: "I want to be absolutely clear: I am doing everything-every way that I can-to protect reproductive rights in this country" ***WATCH VIDEO OF THE EVENT HERE*** (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair of the Senate health committee, held a virtual roundtable to hear directly from patients and providers in Spokane on the importance of Roe v. Wade, and the urgent need to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) in order to protect the rig… Continue Reading
01.20.22
Murray Urges Biden Administration to Make Permanent OSHA’s Protections for Health Care Workers, Ensure Robust Protections for All Workers
Senator Murray to Secretary Walsh: "Given this continuing danger, I urge OSHA to move forward with a permanent standard to protect workers in health care and health care support settings as soon as possible." Senator Murray also pushes OSHA to use its existing authority to ensure robust protections for all workers at risk of COVID-19 infection in their workplace (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP… Continue Reading
01.13.22
Senator Murray on SCOTUS Decision Blocking Enforcement of the OSHA Vaccine or Testing Workplace Safety Standard
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court decision blocking enforcement of the Biden Administration's COVID-19 vaccine or testing OSHA safety standard and upholding the CMS vaccine requirements for health care workers. OSHA issued the standard in November 2021, covering 84 million workers in private sector businesses with 100 or more employees-o… Continue Reading
01.13.22
HELP Committee Advances FDA Nominee Dr. Califf, Others
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a mark-up to consider qualified, experienced nominees for our health, education and labor agencies. "As our nation continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientists and experts at the Food and Drug Administration who are working diligently to ensure we have safe and effective vaccines, tests, treatments, and more, deserve a strong leader who wi… Continue Reading
01.12.22
Senator Murray Statement on Biden Administration Plan to Send COVID Tests to K-12 Schools
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Biden Administration plan to distribute 5 million free, rapid tests to K-12 schools each month, and provide 5 million, free lab-based PCR tests per month to K-12 schools. The Administration also announced it would deploy surge testing sites to increase free testing access for students and educators. "Yesterday, I made… Continue Reading
01.11.22
Amid Omicron Frustration and Anxiety, Senator Murray Pushes Administration for a Clear Path Forward to Expand Testing, Keep Schools Open, and Protect Communities
Senator Murray: "We have the tools to get everyone tested quickly, easily, and for free, to keep schools safely open during the Omicron surge, and beyond, to keep workers-especially health care workers-safe and healthy in the workplace." Senator Murray to the Biden Administration COVID response team: "So what are you doing-right now-to make sure every American can make use of the progress they've worked so hard for? What can my constituents expect to see improve this week, and the week after… Continue Reading
01.03.22
Senator Murray’s No Surprises Act Goes Into Effect, Bans Unexpected Charges to Patients for Out-of-Network Care
Ban on surprise billing from the No Surprises Act went into effect on January 1, 2022 Murray: "For too long, countless patients have been surprised by an exorbitant bill for care they thought was covered by their insurance. That ends now." (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement as the ban on surprise billing she worked to pass went into effect at the start … Continue Reading
12.21.21
Murray On the Importance of Biden Plan to Ensure Testing is Free and Available Amid Omicron Threat
Biden Administration announced plan to make 500 million rapid tests available to the American people for free Murray: "Providing free tests to the American people will mean they can get the testing they need to keep themselves and others safe without waiting in long lines, checking multiple locations, or worrying about cost." Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement in resp… Continue Reading
12.19.21
Murray Statement on Build Back Better Legislation
Murray: "Joe Manchin might have woken up today and decided his job changed, but I know exactly what mine is: fighting for Washington state workers and families. So my fight for Build Back Better, and all it would do to help our state and country, will not stop until it's on the President's desk." (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to Senator Joe M… Continue Reading
12.16.21
Senator Murray Statement on FDA Action Removing Barriers to Medication Abortion: “An Important Step Forward” But We Must Still Pass WHPA
(Washington, D.C.)-Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent action removing barriers to accessing mifepristone, or medication abortion. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA nearly 20 years ago-and significant scientific evidence, research, and clinical experience has affirmed that medication abortion is safe and effective. Today, the… Continue Reading
12.16.21
ICYMI: Murray, Brown, Wyden Join Faith Leaders To Call On Congress To Pass Build Back Better Act To Support Working Families
Faith leaders representing Jewish, Catholic, Evangelical organizations say BBB must pass ***Download Video of Press Conference HERE*** (Washington, D.C.) - ICYMI, yesterday, a broad coalition of faith groups joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to call on Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act to bring down the biggest costs working families face - from housing to prescription drugs to child care - and to substantially reduce child po… Continue Reading
12.14.21
At Hearing to Consider Dr. Califf, Senator Murray Emphasizes FDA’s Important Work to Tackle COVID-19, Opioid Crisis, Youth Tobacco Use, and More
*** WATCH SENATOR MURRAY'S FULL REMARKS HERE*** (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At the hearing, Senator Murray emphasized the important work of the FDA to tackle the urgent challenges our nation is facing, and emphasized that the FDA needs an experienced lead… Continue Reading
12.11.21
Murray Statement on Surprise Billing Lawsuit
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement in response to a lawsuit filed to block the Biden Administration's rule implementing a law Senator Murray passed to ban surprise bills. "The Biden Administration's rule implements the No Surprises Act just as we intended and will save countless patients from being left with an exorbitant bill for care they thought was co… Continue Reading
12.11.21
HELP Committee Posts Updated Build Back Better Text Ahead of Bipartisan Parliamentary Discussions
Washington, D.C. -Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) today released updated text of the HELP Committee's title of the Build Back Better Act. The updates reflect policy and technical changes, including changes to comply with Senate budget rules. "The HELP Committee's title of Build Back Better is updated and ready to go ahead of bipartisan conversations with the Parliamentarian over the next few days," said Chair Murray. "This bill will dramatically… Continue Reading
12.10.21
Senator Murray Joins Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, and Wyden in Briefing with Paid Leave for All to Make Clear: A National Paid Leave Policy Can’t Wait
Senator Murray: "We've seen such an outpouring of determination and passion to finally make paid leave happen, and let me tell you, I'm not surprised. Because we've been told time and time again on paid leave: 'It'll get done next time.' Well, I'm here to say enough. The time is now." ***WATCH THE FULL PRESS BRIEFING HERE*** (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader Ch… Continue Reading
12.10.21
Murray, Wyden Lead Senate Democrats in Call to Ensure All Eligible Same-Sex Couples Receive Pension Survivor Benefits
45 Democrats write urging Treasury, IRS to revise old guidance that permits retirement plans to discriminate against same-sex couples Under current law, some individuals in same-sex relationships who lost their partners shortly after being married or before they were able to legally marry are being denied survivor benefits by retirement plans Senators: "We should not let the echoes of the bigotry that robbed so many people of the right to marry for so long rob them once again after they … Continue Reading
12.10.21
Senator Murray on SCOTUS Allowing the Texas Abortion Ban to Remain in Effect: “We Need the Women's Health Protection Act”
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling in Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson, which allows Texas' SB8-the most extreme and harsh abortion ban in the United States-to remain in effect. "The Texas abortion law has now been in effect 101 days. 101 days where patients can't get the abortions they need. 101 days where women are forced to rem… Continue Reading
12.10.21
Amid Reports that Insurers Are Flouting ACA Contraception Coverage Protections, Senators Murray, Wyden Urge Biden Administration to Protect Access to Birth Control
Senators Murray, Wyden to Biden Administration: "We have heard alarming reports that insurers are flouting the ACA's contraceptive coverage protections, threatening women's health and economic security … Your robust enforcement of the ACA's contraceptive coverage requirement is vital to the women who rely on its protection." (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden, Chair of the… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Senator Murray Slams Republicans’ Dangerous Effort to Undermine Economic Recovery and Pandemic Response by Upending Vaccine and Testing Safety Standard
Republican-led resolution aims to block rule that would protect 84 million workers through COVID-19 vaccines and testing Senator Murray: "Let's get something straight: The big threat to our workforce and our economy is the virus that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and shuttered businesses, not the safety standard that will keep workers safe and businesses open." Senator Murray: "After all we have lost and all the hard work we have done to rebuild, we must not throw our economy… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Senator Murray Highlights Provisions to Drastically Lower Insulin Costs for Washington State Families in Build Back Better
Sen. Murray: "If we are going to build a stronger, fairer nation in the wake of this pandemic, that has to include building a health care system that is focused on patients' health, not drug companies' profits." Build Back Better would cap insulin costs at $35 per month for millions of patients with health insurance across the country. ***WATCH VIDEO OF THE PRESS EVENT HERE*** (Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, and … Continue Reading
