Press Releases

News reports reveal the Trump Administration covered up its own data showing its proposed tip rule change would allow employers to steal potentially billions from workers   Women make up two-thirds of tipped wage workers nationwide, and would be particularly hard-hit by this rule   Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray...

Each letter details how many complaints the Department has recently received on the basis of sex   Data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suggests a majority of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace   Senator Murray and her Democratic colleagues recently called on Chairman Alexander to hold hearings on sexual...

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today blamed Democrats for the lack of senior officials in the Education Department and other federal agencies. Alexander at a hearing of the Senate HELP Committee, which he chairs, said the Trump administration used to share the blame, because it was slow to make nominations. "But not any more," he said....

Murray repeatedly raised concerns about Fitzgerald’s conflicts of interest and broad recusals from work impacting key public health issues like cancer and opioids   Murray: “Yet another example of this Administration’s dysfunction and questionable ethics”   Murray calls on President Trump to select a new CDC...

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2018—Senate health and labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that Labor Secretary Acosta’s proposed rule on Association Health Plans “could lower the cost of health insurance premiums and finally make affordable health insurance available to the 11 million American small business men...

In hearing, Murray lays out Democratic priorities for Higher Education Act reauthorization   As HELP Committee begins to negotiations to reauthorize HEA, Murray calls for student-focused reform, including holding all colleges accountable for access and student outcomes when they use taxpayer dollars   Murray: “We cannot allow...

“There are two groups of borrowers repaying student loans: nearly half—46 percent – who are repaying on their student loans and a little more than half – 54 percent – who are in default or are not making payments on time… The taxpayer should be concerned not just about borrowers in default, but also about the...

Senator Murray strongly denounces brazenly unconstitutional ban as harmful attempt to turn back the clock on women’s reproductive health care   Proposed ban on abortion after 20 weeks would restrict women’s rights and doctors’ ability to give sound medical opinions   Senator Murray: Voting on bill “exercise in...

  “[The Every Student Succeeds Act] is an especially important law to the members of this committee. We held 27 hearings, spent countless hours working out our differences and reaching a consensus: Continue the law’s important measurements of academic progress of students but restore to states, school districts, classroom teachers...

In hearing, Murray highlights the need for a variety of solutions to support students, improve access, and encourage responsible innovation   To avoid innovation at the expense of our students, Murray calls for evidence-based experimentation by strengthening ‘experimental site initiatives’ within HEA   Murray stresses...

“Our reauthorization and today’s hearing is focused on students. Today we will look at how we can help colleges provide an education that works for every student – whether it is an 18-year-old college freshman, a mom returning to school to finish her bachelors while also working full-time, or a 25 year old low-income student who...

Sen. Murray criticizes Azar’s views on women’s health as outdated and out of the mainstream    Azar’s background raising drug prices as pharmaceutical executive one of many concerns   Sen. Murray highlights Azar’s support for President Trump’s ideology-driven agenda and health care sabotage Sen. Murray...

*Click the above photo or follow this link for video of Senate education committee Chairman Alexander discussing school choice* WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 23 – Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement commemorating National School Choice Week of 2018: “This is school choice...

“The law helps  protect us from the full range of public health threats – from natural disasters to bioterror attacks to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Tennessee has seen already heartbreaking stories this winter as the flu has spread across the state and this country.” WASHINGTON, D.C., January 23, 2018—Senate...

“Further evidence of President Trump’s backwards, extreme priorities…will deny women and men across the country basic health care they need”   Murray: Latest Trump action to appease right-wing base and donors “direct attack on a woman’s constitutionally protected right to make her own choices about her own...

In hearing, Murray emphasizes the importance of financial aid for helping students achieve higher education   The Higher Education Act is due for reauthorization, Murray calls for a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization   Murray: “By simplifying the financial aid process & making it more transparent we can help more students...

“Today’s hearing is to see if we can reach a result on making a more effective system of grants, loans and repayments plans. This is a complicated system for students, which leads to confusion about the aid and repayment options they are eligible for and ultimately makes it harder for them to get that aid.” WASHINGTON, January 18,...

  (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on news that President Trump will deliver live video remarks to the March for Life.   “Over the last year, President Trump has tried in every way he can to...

(Washington, D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued a statement in response to reports that President Trump’s Administration is preparing to propose steps that would put ideology ahead of the health care needs of women and...

Sen. Murray calls for Congress to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act with a focus on science and evidence based-policies that have been proven to protect families   Murray concerned by absence of Brenda Fitzgerald, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to financial conflicts of interest   A...