Chair's Press
At Hearing, Murray Opposes President Trump’s Proposal to Let Insurance Companies Ignore Pre-existing Condition Protections, Award Bigger Executive Bonuses
At latest HELP hearing on health costs, Murray stressed that Congress should work to reduce administrative costs while assuring safety and quality for patients Murray slammed Trump Administration move to expand access to junk insurance plans, which undermine basic patient protections, noting the most common plans spend about half of their revenue on administrative overhead, executive bonuses, and marketing Murray: "President Trump wants to make it easier for insurance companies to disc… Continue Reading
07.30.18
Senators Concerned About Validity of Information from Trump Administration, Question Criteria for Deeming Separated Families “Ineligible for Reunification”
In letter, Senators Murray, Feinstein, and Wyden question validity of information on separated families the Trump Administration has determined it cannot reunify, request briefing from the Administration Court order set deadline for Trump Administration to reunify children impacted by family separation policy with their parents In court filings, Trump Administration deemed hundreds of children "ineligible for reunification" with little information explaining the justification for that d… Continue Reading
07.27.18
Murray Presses Secretary Azar on Providing Trauma Care for Children Affected by Trump Administration’s Cruel Family Separation Policy
In letter, Senator Murray urges Department of Health and Human Services to provide trauma care for children separated from families by Trump Administration American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical experts warn family separation can lead to mental, behavioral, and physical consequences for children Murray demanded Department outline any steps being taken to provide relevant mental and physical health care services to children in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody Murray al… Continue Reading
07.26.18
Scott, Murray, Butterfield, Casey: To Improve HBCU Campuses, Direct Outreach and Loan Modification is Needed
WASHINGTON ? Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Action Needed To Improve Participation in Education's HBCU Capital Financing Program. The mem… Continue Reading
07.25.18
Murray Voices Support for Federal Workers and Right to Organize, Highlights Kavanaugh’s Anti-Labor Record
Murray voices support for federal workers, condemns Trump Administration executive orders targeting federal employees' right to organize and ability to collectively bargain Murray: "The federal government should be a model for employers-demonstrating how to treat their workers fairly and with respect." Murray criticized Kavanaugh nomination to Supreme Court as latest step in President Trump's anti-worker crusade Murray: "Judge Kavanaugh's record proves he would not be the fair voice … Continue Reading
07.25.18
Murray Applauds Progress of Legislation to Address Health Issues for Families Across the Nation
Senator Murray praised HELP Committee passage of legislation to help increase drug price transparency, support families dealing with congenital heart defects and Sickle Cell disease, and increase dental access Drug pricing transparency bill would help patients get information about the most affordable way to get the drugs they need and increase transparency of pay-for-delay agreements used to stifle competition Congenital heart defect legislation would help gather data and increase under… Continue Reading
07.25.18
Murray Lays Out Case Against Judge Kavanaugh’s Vision for Women in America, Calls on Men and Women to Speak Out Against Nomination
Murray made clear that President Trump's decision to nominate Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court threatens the right to safe, legal abortion guaranteed by Roe v. Wade Murray: "Roe, and the rulings that have upheld it, make clear what women across the country know at their core to be true-that reproductive freedom is essential to a woman's ability to control her future, plan her family, and contribute to her community…" Murray: "Let me say again that the threat to women's reprodu… Continue Reading
07.25.18
Murray Statement on DeVos Rule to Cut Billions of Debt Relief from Cheated Students: “A Clear Sign That Students Cannot Rely On Secretary DeVos”
Secretary DeVos' proposed borrower defense rule would cut $12.7 billion dollars in relief to students who were cheated or defrauded by predatory colleges Secretary DeVos delayed a previous rule that would have provided cheated students with relief and attempted to provide students with partial relief Murray: "For more than a year… desperate student loan borrowers pleaded with Secretary DeVos to help them with unmanageable debt, and at every turn she ignored them and instead prior… Continue Reading
07.24.18
One Year After Senate Trumpcare Bill Failed, Murray Highlights Trump Administration’s Health Care Sabotage, Urges People to Speak Out
Almost one year after harmful Trumpcare proposal failed in the Senate, Murray highlights President Trump's efforts to sabotage families' health care on his own Murray condemned ongoing health care sabotage by the Trump Administration which has hiked premiums, eroded patient protections, slashed investments that help people find coverage, and refused to defend protections for pre-existing conditions in court Murray: "Last year we came together and gave President Trump's health care repea… Continue Reading
07.23.18
Enzi, Casey, Alexander, Murray applaud Senate passage of bipartisan career and technical education bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., along with Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Wash., applauded the Senate's passage of legislation to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would make important, necessary updates to career and technical education to give workers and students the ski… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Murray, Wyden Urge Internal Revenue Service to Clarify That Cheated or Defrauded Students Cannot Be Taxed on Loan Discharges
Approximately 47,000 student loan borrowers that were cheated or defrauded by Corinthian Colleges received a notification from the IRS that they will be taxed on relief from their student debt IRS has already clarified that relief on federal loans is not taxable, Senators Murray and Wyden are requesting guidance for students with private loans Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Se… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Murray, Democrats Grill Trump Administration for Ignoring Evidence and Experts, Opposing Resolution in Support of Breastfeeding
According to news reports this month, at World Health Assembly, Trump Administration attempted to use strong-arm tactics to torpedo resolution supporting breastfeeding Despite past U.S. support for breastfeeding, Trump Administration ignored evidence and public health experts and strongly opposed resolution supporting health of women and infants CDC has deemed breastfeeding "clinical gold standard for infant feeding," position echoed by UNICEF, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pu… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Murray, Blumenthal, ACOG Experts Speak Out Against Trump-Pence Efforts to Undermine Women’s Health
Senator Murray, Senator Blumenthal, and experts from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists outlined the potential damage of the Trump-Pence Administration's proposed changes to federal family planning program Administration's proposal would restrict access to care for millions of women and interfere with providers' ability to discuss full range of reproductive care Changes would impact care providers that deliver contraceptives to more than 82,000 patients in Washington sta… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Murray, Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Stop Trump Administration from Detaining and Shackling Pregnant Women
Murray, and 21 cosponsors, introduced new legislation in response to ICE's poor treatment of pregnant women in detention In March, Trump Administration publically ended Obama-era policy against detaining pregnant women Trump Administration changed policy despite opposition of more than 250 civil and human rights organizations Murray joined colleagues to call for investigation into treatment of pregnant women in ICE custody Murray: "It is absolutely unacceptable that in our count… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Senator Murray Criticizes Trump Administration for Failing to Lower Drug Prices, Focusing on Raising Families’ Premiums Through Sabotage
At latest HELP hearing on health care costs, Murray condemned the Trump Administration's health care sabotage, which has hiked premiums and eroded patient protections Murray criticized President Trump's toothless drug pricing blueprint, and released a new report outlining how drug prices have climbed since the start of the Trump Administration Murray: "We confirmed last week that some of the policies in his blueprint were actually proposed by the pharmaceutical industry. That's not ref… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Murray Applauds Push for National Heat Stress Safety Standard
Today, over 130 groups and individuals petitioned OSHA to create a national heat safety standard Washington state is one of only three states with a protective heat standard for workers Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today in support of a petition signed by over 100 labor, public health, environmental, and advocacy groups to urge the Occupational S… Continue Reading
07.16.18
Murray Statement on States Devoting More Resources to Underserved Students Through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Government Accountability Office study found that states and local communities are devoting more resources to the students who need the most support Approximately 4.6 million youth ages 16 to 24 were neither in school nor employed in 2016 In 2014, Murray passed the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to update nation's federal workforce programs and help students, workers, and businesses compete Murray: "I'm pleased that states and local communities are taking strong… Continue Reading
07.13.18
Murray: Report Shows Disgraced Former Health Secretary Owes Nation $341,000 for Public Funds Wasted on Private Luxury Flights
New report from government watchdog finds former Health Secretary Tom Price misused government funds for private travel Price resigned in disgrace last year over reports of his abuse of public funds for private flights OIG report found 20 improper flights, costing well over $341,000 in taxpayer dollars Murray: "The findings of this report are clear-former Secretary Price blatantly cheated the public and wasted taxpayer dollars for his personal luxury travel." (Washington, D.C.) -… Continue Reading
07.12.18
Murray, Murkowski, Jayapal Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral Reintroduction of Legislation to Bolster Critical Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Bipartisan and bicameral coalition reintroduced Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA), on press call featuring Members of Congress and advocates for sexual assault survivors SASCA would expand access to forensic examinations, help develop national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, and improve access to care for native women and women living in rural communities A 2016 GAO report requested by Murray and colleagues outlined major flaws in survivor access to sexu… Continue Reading
07.12.18
Senate Democratic Women Warn Supreme Court Nominee Would Roll Back Reproductive Rights
As several pending cases about women's constitutional right to make their own health care decisions work their way through lower courts, President Trump's alarming nominee for SCOTUS would be a deciding vote against women's reproductive rights Judge Kavanaugh was vetted by conservative groups determined to find candidates who met President Trump's repeated promises to nominate "pro-life" judges to the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade Recent polling finds two-thirds of the country do… Continue Reading
