Chair's Press
Murray Votes NO on Advancing Betsy DeVos Nomination: “I Have Not Been Persuaded that She Has the Experience, Skills, Understanding, or Vision to Lead” Education Department
At Senate HELP Committee markup, Murray says President Trump's education nominee is the "wrong choice to lead our nation's Department of Education" Among many concerns, Murray cites DeVos' long history fighting to privatize public schools, serious potential conflicts of interests, and alarming responses to questions on protections for students with disabilities, gun violence in schools, and enforcing federal law protecting women and girls from sexual violence Senate Dems unanimously vo… Continue Reading
01.31.17
New Report from Senators Murray, Warren: Workers Under Andrew Puzder Are Overworked, Underpaid, and Lack Basic Benefits
Today Senators Murray and Warren released a new report detailing first-hand accounts from workers at Hardee's and Carl's Jr. restaurants across the country Workers reveal shocking mistreatment-rock-bottom wages, no sick time, and unsafe working conditions Pattern of disrespect for workers-Puzder has described employees at his restaurants as the "best of the worst" available in the employment pool-LINK Third delay of hearing on Puzder nomination has raised serious questions-LINK (… Continue Reading
01.30.17
Senate Democrats Urge Republican Leadership to Postpone Committee Vote on Tom Price, Allow Outstanding Ethical Questions to be Fully Answered
In new letter, Senate Dems call on Leader McConnell and Chairman Hatch to postpone tomorrow's vote to advance the nomination of Tom Price for HHS Secretary until he answers "significant questions about his qualifications and ethical conduct" In contrast to previous HHS nominees of both parties, Price has failed to respond to the HELP Committee's questions for the record; new information about his stock trades continues to emerge and raise questions--LINK Senators say moving forward with … Continue Reading
01.27.17
Murray: Republicans Are Creating Trumpcare by Sabotage
(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump Administration's decision to cancel outreach about open enrollment, which ends on January 31st. "Republicans haven't been able to come up with a plan for families' health care, but last night's decision by the Trump Administration to work against getting people covered shows Republicans are wasting no time… Continue Reading
01.26.17
After Murray Push, Trump Dept. of Ed Releases List of Investigations into Mishandled Sexual Assault Cases on Campus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, following criticism from U.S. Senator Patty Murray, top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the Trump Administration cited a "misunderstanding" and released a weekly public list of active investigations into potentially mishandled cases of sexual assault on college campuses, as the Department of Education has done for the last two years. "I'm glad that the Trump Administration chose this week to reconsider keeping this im… Continue Reading
01.26.17
Murray: Third Delay of Hearing on Trump Labor Nominee Raises Questions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the announcement that a hearing on President Trump's nominee for the Department of Labor, CEO Andrew Puzder, will be delayed for a third time until February 7th. "This is now the fourth hearing date that has been set for Mr. Puzder, and we have yet to receive any of his required paperwork. If those documents raise… Continue Reading
01.26.17
Senator Murray Calls on Andrew Puzder to Release Three Years of Tax Returns, Complete Committee Paperwork
Today in a new letter Murray calls on Puzder, nominee for Secretary of Labor, to provide three years of tax returns to fully understand his past investments and financial transactions With his committee hearing days away, absence of any of the required paperwork from Puzder has raised serious questions Murray to Puzder: "While press has reported that you find the paperwork involved in the nomination process to be burdensome, I hope you will not allow that to interfere with our efforts t… Continue Reading
01.26.17
Murray: Trump Administration Silence on Active Campus Sexual Assault Cases “Speaks Volumes”
Murray: "To be very clear, the Trump Administration is taking office with absolutely zero credibility on the issue of sexual assault" Murray urges Trump Administration to resume weekly public updates on active investigations into mishandled sexual assault cases on campus Comes after Trump pick for Education Secretary failed to commit to upholding key Department of Education guidance on campus sexual assault cases WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, top Democrat on th… Continue Reading
01.24.17
Following 44th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Women’s Marches Across Country, Senator Murray and Democrats Vow to Defend Women’s Constitutionally Protected Rights and Health Care
Today, Senator Murray and Senate Democrats went to the Senate floor to "stand up and be a voice for women" everywhere against President Trump's extreme agenda After 44 years of protection under Roe v. Wade, Senator Murray says women's constitutionally protected rights and health care are more at risk than ever-LINK Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order limiting access to safe abortion-and other family planning services-on women worldwide by reinstituting the "global gag ru… Continue Reading
01.23.17
Following Additional Concerns on Congressman Price’s Financial Transactions, Senate Democrats Call For SEC Investigation Into Potential Violations of STOCK Act and Insider Trading Laws
Congressman Price, nominee for Secretary of HHS, raised further concerns about his financial transactions at last week's Senate HELP Committee hearing-LINK In new letter, Senator HELP Democrats call on SEC for formal investigation Today's letter follows several requests made by Democrats and government watchdog organizations for the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate potential violations-LINK Senate HELP Committee Dems: "The American people deserve a Secretary of Healt… Continue Reading
01.23.17
Murray Statement on Collins-Cassidy Proposal to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the Collins-Cassidy proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "I am glad that some of my Republican colleagues are hearing loud and clear from the overwhelming majority of Americans who do not want to have their lives upended by Republican plans to dismantle our health care system. But I want to be very clear: t… Continue Reading
01.18.17
As Republicans Move Ahead with Dismantling the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Murray Questions President-elect Trump’s Pick to Lead U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about Rushing to Leave Millions without Health Care
Senator Murray, top Democrat on Senate health committee, asked Price about ACA repeal, which affects 750,000 people in Washington state alone According to a new CBO report, 18 million Americans will lose health care coverage in first year of repeal, and premiums would go up by as much as 25% in the first year-LINK Murray: "…just days ago, President-elect Trump promised 'insurance for everybody.' But Congressman Price, your own proposals would cause millions of people to lose cove… Continue Reading
01.17.17
EDUCATION: In Confirmation Hearing, Senator Murray Questions President-elect Trump’s Education Secretary Nominee About Privatizing Public Schools, Potential Conflicts of Interest
Murray: "I am absolutely committed to making sure that the federal government is a strong partner to our public schools, school districts, and states" DeVos refused to commit to not cutting money from public education Murray pushed DeVos to support Office of Civil Rights; maintain strong protections for survivors of sexual assault (Washington, D.C.) - Tonight, during a confirmation hearing for President-elect Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, U.S. Senator Patty Murray … Continue Reading
01.11.17
SCOTUS: Murray Statement on Case Determining Rights of Students With Disabilities to Receive Meaningful Public Education
Today, the Supreme Court held oral arguments in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, a case about the level of educational benefit school districts must provide students with disabilities under IDEA Last year, Murray led a bicameral group of 118 current and former Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in the case--LINK Murray: "I am hopeful that the Court will side with the nearly 6 million students in the United States who receive special education services and preserve … Continue Reading
01.10.17
Scott, Murray, Franken, Wilson, and Courtney Commend OSHA for Efforts to Address Workplace Violence against Healthcare Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced new actions to prevent violence against healthcare workers. These actions follow the findings of an April 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the prevalence of workpla… Continue Reading
01.09.17
On Senate Floor, Murray, Senate Dems Demand GOP Drop Efforts to “Rip Apart” Health Care System, Defund Nation’s Largest Women’s Health Care Provider
Senate Democrats took to the Senate floor tonight to speak out against Republican efforts to repeal the ACA without a clear replacement Hospitals and insurers-including state Republican leaders-agree: repeal of the ACA would create chaos-LINK to Politico's "Obamacare repeal's doomsday scenario" story Murray called out Republicans for "doubling down on their shameful and tired obsession" to defund Planned Parenthood as part of their effort to repeal the ACA Murray also shared storie… Continue Reading
01.06.17
SENATE DEMOCRATS DEMAND SPEAKER RYAN CEASE “HARMFUL, PARTISAN” PATH TOWARD DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Senators make clear in new letter to Speaker Ryan they are prepared to fight back to protect "wellbeing and lives" of millions of women, men, and families nationwide that rely on Planned Parenthood Senators remind Speaker Ryan that President-elect Trump praised Planned Parenthood as doing "very good work for millions of women" and that families "overwhelmingly" support its work (Washington, D.C.) - Following an announcement that House Republicans will attempt to defund Planned Parenthood… Continue Reading
01.05.17
Senator Murray on Meeting with Labor Secretary Nominee Andrew Puzder
Senator Murray: "Working families need strong leadership at the Department of Labor and someone who is going to be on their side fighting for them-and not just for those who are already at the top" (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Department of Labor, Andrew Puzder. "Working … Continue Reading
01.05.17
VIDEO: Murray, Senate Democrats Slam GOP Plan to Defund Planned Parenthood in Affordable Care Act Repeal
Murray: "We are here with a very clear message: not on our watch" "Women and men nationwide who…stand with Planned Parenthood, I urge you to make your voices heard" (Washington, D.C.) -Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) held a press conf… Continue Reading
01.05.17
Senator Murray on GOP Plan to Defund Planned Parenthood in Affordable Care Act Repeal
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after Republican leadership announced the reconciliation bill dismantling the Affordable Care Act would also include measures to defund Planned Parenthood. "I condemn in the strongest terms Republican attempts to pull the rug out from under millions of women and men nationwide who rely on Planned Parenthood as a truste… Continue Reading
