Chair's Press

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution from U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.   “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, which were signed into law on July 30, 1965.   “Fifty years ago, President Johnson signed into law a promise to...

Sen. Lamar Alexander walked into Sen. Patty Murray’s office and closed the door. Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee, had just taken control of the education committee in the new GOP-led Senate and was determined to rewrite No Child Left Behind, the main K-12 federal education law. It was early February, and he had released a draft of his...

Some college administrators are complaining they already have enough regulations about responding to sexual assault, but lawmakers like Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have no intention of abandoning plans for new federal rules on the issue. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee will hold its first hearing Wednesday on the Campus...

When it comes to retirement in America, we’re sailing directly into a perfect storm. Never before in human history have more people been looking ahead to more years of retirement. At just the moment that our largest generation, the baby boomers, is entering its golden years, it is becoming harder for Americans to save for retirement. Right...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990.   “In the 25 years that have passed since...

Imagine you’re a veteran who was critically wounded while serving your country. You’ve returned home, struggled through rehab, and now, finally, you’re ready to get on with your life and start a family. Your injury has made it difficult to conceive the old-fashioned way, so you turn to in vitro fertilization—only to discover...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a HELP Committee hearing on Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Exploring Barriers and Opportunities within Innovation. In her remarks, Murray expressed interest in innovative ways to help...

With only 8 percent of salaried workers currently covered by overtime rules, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., says it’s time for the federal government to intervene. After becoming the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in January, Murray is among the leading backers of a White House plan to expand overtime...

Murray: “Boosting wages and expanding economic stability and security is good for families, and it’s good for our economy.”    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of the Obama...

Change will help reduce income inequality, jump start local economies   WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama announced last month that the Department of Labor (DOL) intends to raise the salary threshold below which workers must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. Today, nearly 150 Democrats across both...

This week marks the 50th anniversary of signing of Older Americans Act into law   WASHINGTON, D.C., July 17 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), with Senate health committee members, Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Senate Special Committee on...

Bipartisan bill to fix K-12 education law that expired seven years ago passes Senate by a vote of  81 to 17 WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16 – The Senate today passed by a vote of 81 to 17 the Every Child Achieves Act, the bipartisan agreement by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray...

In the report, Murray outlines several policy solutions that would help women better prepare for retirement  Murray: “The retirement crisis is especially acute for women” (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act, legislation that would establish physical activity recommendations for children and adults. The bipartisan legislation would call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) submitted remarks for the record in support of a bipartisan amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act that would address inequalities in educational resources. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 46-50. “While...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act, legislation that would establish physical activity recommendations for children and adults. The bipartisan legislation would call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue...

Bipartisan bill to fix K-12 education law that expired seven years ago passes Senate by a vote of  81 to 17   WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16 – The Senate today passed by a vote of 81 to 17 the Every Child Achieves Act, the bipartisan agreement by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor supporting an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act to strengthen accountability measures. Murray noted that the amendment from Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Cory...

Senate Republicans defeat amendment to protect LGBT students   Murray: “As we debate our nation’s K through 12 education bill, we need to do everything we can to prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking...