Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 22, 2017 – Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said Senate passage of legislation to overturn the Obama administration’s harmful “Volks” rule will eliminate a regulation that does not follow the law. “This Obama regulation is a good example of what happens when...

Last year, Sen. Murray, Rep. Scott led a bicameral group of 118 current and former Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in the case—LINK   (Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on today’s...

Following failed nomination of Andrew Puzder, today Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on second Trump Labor nominee, Alexander Acosta   At the hearing, Acosta faced questions about his troubling record leading the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division   Murray cited concerns that Acosta can be an “independent voice for...

Without the strong accountability required for public schools, private schools receiving vouchers allow struggling and at-risk students to fall through the cracks   Privatization programs particularly hurt students with disabilities and students in rural communities   (Washington, D.C.) –Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking...

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 22 – The chairman of the Senate labor committee today said that the Labor Secretary and Congress’s goal is to create an environment for American workers to succeed in a rapidly changing workplace and that harmful Obama-era labor regulations have only made it harder for Americans to create, find, or keep...

WASHINGTON, March, 21 — Today, Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander announced that organizations representing American workers—from small business owners to builders to first responders—support the nomination of Alexander Acosta to serve as Secretary of Labor, saying:   “Alexander Acosta...

Breast, ovarian, cervical cancer deaths occur disproportionately among women who lack adequate preventive services   Today, Senators introduce new legislation, the Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2017, to increase availability of preventive, life-saving cancer screenings   This bill would create new grants to expand preventive...

Senators reintroduce SAVINGS Act of 2017—bill to allow taxpayers to continue receiving IRS refunds in form of U.S. paper savings bonds   These bonds are a critical savings opportunity for workers without a checking or savings account   *Savings bond program at risk to be eliminated*   If eliminated, these bonds will only be...

Senate GOP rejected requests by Senate Democrats to refocus today’s FDA hearing, discuss Trumpcare instead—LINK   At hearing, Murray called attempts by Senate GOP to silence debate “completely appalling”   Murray warned Senate GOP they are impacting Committee’s ability to work together moving...

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21 – Senate health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said Congress owes patients and their families a prompt, bipartisan reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical devices and drug user fees agreements, which are set to expire on Sept. 30.   “We ended last...

  (Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement following reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Secretary Tom Price, has eliminated questions about LGBTQ people...

Senators: We call on President Trump and the Department of Labor to demonstrate their commitment to put retirement savers first   (Washington, D.C.) – Led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, 15 Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Acting...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on press reports that HHS Secretary Tom Price’s medical stock trades may be under investigation by the U.S. Attorney in New York:   “These reports raise...

GOP is silencing debate on Trumpcare—jamming bill through the House; aiming to bypass Senate hearings     With Senate HELP committee already scheduled to hold a hearing next week, Senate HELP Dems call on Chairman Alexander to dedicate hearing to Trumpcare instead   Senators say holding any other health policy hearing would be...

Republicans try to gain support for teetering Trumpcare by promising future “phases” and a “three-pronged approach,” Murray makes clear the time to back away from Trumpcare is now   Republican Senators have already trashed GOP’s three-pronged approach as “political spin” and “the sucker’s...

(Washington, D.C.) –Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively, and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce,...

President Trump has previously committed to “invest in women’s health,” supported Planned Parenthood   In new letter, Murray says budget is his “opportunity to put these claims into action”   Murray lays out principles for budget—protecting access to reproductive health care, family planning health...

41 million workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, are forced to take time off or risk their jobs when they are ill   Healthy Families Act would help our workers, protect public health, and strengthen our economy   (Washington, D.C.) –Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...

Contrary to claims made by Sec. Price, President Trump, CBO confirms GOP bill would rip coverage away from millions of people   In new letter, Murray presses Sec. Price for answers on “efforts to spread misinformation”   NEW—White House predicts even more people would lose coverage—26 million over next decade,...

Senators argue delay hurts students and needlessly stalls important protections for taxpayers   WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to explain the Department’s decision to delay the implementation of the Gainful Employment (GE)...