Press Releases

In floor speech yesterday, Murray voiced her opposition to NLRB nominee and pro-business lawyer John Ring   Ring’s nomination is being jammed through in an unprecedented manner, while current Trump-appointed Board members’ integrity is clouded by conflicts of interest scandals   Senator Murray also highlighted Equal Pay Day,...

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2018 — United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote to confirm John Ring to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board: “The National Labor Relations Board is important to our nation’s workers and employers. John Ring’s varied...

Last week Ranking Member Murray and Chairman Alexander announced a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis   The package of proposals was developed over 6 months of HELP Committee hearings highlighting the perspectives of families and experts facing the epidemic   Senator Murray has also held events on the...

Additionally, Senator Murray urged Chairman Alexander to hold a hearing on workplace harassment, more than 10 weeks after Democratic members of the Committee requested hearing   Senate HELP Committee has not held a hearing on workplace sexual harassment in almost 40 years   Murray: “It’s been really unfortunate to see a lack...

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018 — Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Counsel is important to our nation’s workers.” The committee today held a hearing on Sharon Fast Gustafson to serve as General Counsel of the Equal Employment...

On Equal Pay Day, Senator Murray highlights the need to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act   Wage gap is higher for women of color: African American women make 63 cents, Latinas make 54 cents for every dollar their white, male colleagues make   Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health,...

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2018 — United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the Senate this week is set to confirm two important labor nominees—John Ring to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board and Patrick Pizzella to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor: “America’s workers will...

HHS rulemaking on benefits and payments issued today; will allow insurers to undermine essential health benefits, hike rates   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 the proposed benefit and payment...

Recent report found significant changes on HHS website to remove information about breast cancer and women’s health   Yesterday, following public backlash, the Department restored some of the information previously removed   In letter to Secretary Azar, Senator Murray called on the Department to explain and reverse the...

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2018 — The leaders of the Senate health committee today released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis. The leaders also announced that a committee hearing on the draft legislation will take place on Wednesday, April 11th. The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 will improve the ability...

Murray and Democrats submit comment letter detailing strong objections to health department rule allowing providers to refuse patients care   Democrats call on Secretary Azar to withdraw proposed rule “in its entirety”   WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by Senator Murray, 18 Democrats today submitted comments to the...

NASHVILLE, March 26, 2018 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released two discussion drafts of legislation to improve the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to address the opioid crisis. “The Senate health committee has held six bipartisan hearings so far this Congress...

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2018—Democrats today blocked legislation that its Republican sponsors said would lower health insurance premiums by up to 40 percent for self-employed business people, plumbers, farmers, and songwriters who buy individual insurance without a government subsidy.   “They are going to have a hard time explaining...

Click here to watch Senator Alexander’s floor speech. “Today Democrats are voting in the Omnibus appropriations bill to apply the Hyde language to more than 100 other federal health programs while saying they can’t apply Hyde to health insurance.” – Lamar Alexander  WASHINGTON, March 22,...

McConnell blocked previous bipartisan health care bill from coming to a vote—despite wide support on both sides of the aisle—and held votes on repeal legislation and partisan GOP tax bill instead   Earlier this week, Republicans announced a new partisan health care bill, without giving Democrats in negotiations any...

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2018 – Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill includes “$3.6 billion to help fight the opioids crisis – an increase of $2.55 billion or 244 percent – a major boost to those on the...

After workers around the country organized and made their voices heard, Murray worked with Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta on an agreement to ensure corporations cannot steal workers’ tips   Deal is included in Omnibus spending agreement, and is supported by worker groups   Murray: “When President Trump proposed a rule...

New language affirms HHS authority to research gun violence   Senator Murray has sent a letter to Secretary Azar for details on his stated plan to prioritize gun violence research   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee,...

Murray will keep working to get Republicans back to the table; push for policies that lower costs for families   Murray: “It’s unfortunate that Senator McConnell and Speaker Ryan have time and time again rejected bipartisan work on health care in favor of partisan health care politics, and chosen politically-driven show votes over...

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2018 — Senate health Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the president announced Dr. Robert Redfield will serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry...