Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released the following statement on Secretary DeVos’ decision to extend the deadline and drastically change the requirements within the gainful employment rule for predatory career...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on news that the Trump Administration has chosen to make payments this month intended to help lower health care costs for families, but has still not committed to...

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 16, 2017 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to make August cost sharing reduction payments: “The president’s decision helps 18 million Americans who buy health insurance on the individual...

  Report by non-partisan CBO, Joint Committee on Tax confirms: Silver-plan premiums would increase by 20-25% if Trump stops CSR payments   (Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee, today released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee...

  Under Sec. Price, HHS continues to remove guidance, delay enforcement of Section 1557; Sec. Price has failed to respond to questions from Senate Dems   In new letter, Senate Dems say Sec. Price is sending “concerning signals” about whether Trump Admin will protect individuals against discrimination   Senate Dems to Sec....

  Murray: Report “further underscores” need for bipartisan approach to stabilize health care markets   (Washington, D.C.) – Senate HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on a new report released today by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation finding President Trump’s actions to...

According to court filing, Department of Labor to seek delay of “fiduciary rule” despite seven years of robust examination by Congress, Administration, industry, stakeholders   Led by Murray, Senate, House Ranking Members warned Secretary of Labor Acosta last month delay would cause “considerable financial harm” for...

Letter calls for Chief Enforcement Officer to crack down on bad actors, for-profit colleges that rip off taxpayers, students   (Washington, D.C.) –U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) want the Department of Education to appoint a qualified, independent permanent Chief...

  FDA delays critical oversight on tobacco products aimed at youth   In new letter, Senate Dems warn delay is “free pass” to e-cig, cigar manufacturers; Push FDA for timeframe on plan to combat nicotine addiction   Senate Dems: “Our nation is at a critical juncture in continuing to make progress against the harm...

WASHINGTON, August 2 — The Senate today passed bipartisan legislation led by health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to speed safe drugs and medical devices into patients’ medicine cabinets and doctors’ offices. Alexander said: “The Senate has sent to the...

Senate overwhelmingly passes FDA Reauthorization Act   Today’s vote culminates negotiations spearheaded by Senate HELP Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray   New user fee agreements will take effect October 1st; Agreements reflect input from FDA, industry, patient and consumer groups   In floor speech, Murray hailed bill...

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2017 — United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm Marvin Kaplan as a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): “This position has been vacant for 23 months, since President Obama declined to nominate a Republican to this then-minority...

Murray Slams Trump’s Nominee for National Labor Relations Board for His Lack of Experience and Anti-Worker Record   Murray urges colleagues to vote against Marvin Kaplan for National Labor Relations Board – LINK   As President Trump continues to roll back worker protections, NLRB is critical to ensuring workers are being...

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2017 — The Senate labor committee today approved the nominations of Heather MacDougall and James Sullivan to serve as members of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today called on his Senate colleagues to confirm the nominees as soon as...

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2017 — The Senate health committee today approved the nominations of Lance Allen Robertson to serve as Assistant Secretary for Aging, Dr. Brett Giroir to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Robert Kadlec to serve as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Dr. Elinore F. McCance-Katz to serve...

The Senate has the opportunity now to reverse the trend of an activist National Labor Relations Board and bring stability to our nation's workplaces by voting on two nominees who will fill long-vacant openings on the board. Marvin Kaplan and William Emanuel, President Trump's nominees to the NLRB, are eminently qualified to be confirmed. Their...

WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 1, 2017 – At today’s confirmation hearing in the Senate health committee, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said, “confirming today’s Department of Health and Human Services nominees will help ensure the department can deliver on its mission of protecting and improving the health of all...

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 1 – Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following remarks:   “This committee, which is the Senate’s health committee, will hold hearings beginning the week of September 4th on the actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance market so...

WASHINGTON, August 1, 2017 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today released the following statement: “This committee will hold hearings beginning the week of September 4th on the actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health...

The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act would crack down on employers who steal wages from their workers   Employers steal more than $15 billion from workers every year, particularly from workers in low-wage industries     (Washington, D.C.) – Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Al Franken...