Ranking Member's Press
Murray Blasts President Trump, Republicans for Abandoning Protections for Pre-existing Conditions
President Trump's Department of Justice announced it will stop defending pre-existing conditions protections in court Move jeopardizes protections that prevent insurers from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, gender, or age Nearly unprecedented move threatens coverage for millions of families, ignores overwhelming public support for protecting people with pre-existing conditions Murray: "[President Trump] has continued to undermine health care for our families at every … Continue Reading
06.13.18
As Inequality Reaches Highest Levels Since The Great Depression, Senate & House Democrats Introduce New Legislation To Provide A Better Deal For American Workers
As Inequality Reaches Highest Levels Since The Great Depression, Senate & House Democrats Introduce New Legislation To Provide A Better Deal For American Workers Democrats' New Bill Strengthens American Workers' Freedom To Negotiate, Penalizes Predatory Corporations, Protects Workers From Workplace Violations And Abuses, And More As The GOP Continues To Protect The Wealth of Special Interests And Big Corporations Instead Of Protecting The Rights And Well-Being Of American Workers, De… Continue Reading
06.12.18
Murray: Republican Support for Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions is News to Patients Still Fighting Back Against Trumpcare
Murray calls on Republicans to put patients ahead of extreme, partisan special interests and join Democrats in opposing President Trump's steps to roll back protections for patients with pre-existing conditions WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on Majority Leader McConnell's claim that "everybody" in the Senate supports current law protections that ensure patients with pre-existing conditions can't be denied coverage, even though Repub… Continue Reading
06.12.18
Murray, Scott Oppose Rule Delay to Hold Online Education Programs Accountable
Murray, Scott submitted a public comment opposing the delay of rules that clarify how state protections are applied to students In delaying this rule, Secretary DeVos is once again putting predatory for-profit colleges ahead of students Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, submitted… Continue Reading
06.12.18
Senator Murray Blasts President Trump’s Drug Pricing Blueprint as Short on Solutions
Murray sharply criticized President Trump for backing away from campaign promise to negotiate lower prices through Medicare Murray: "As a candidate, President Trump talked a big game on lowering drug prices, but after 500 days the only health care price he has dropped is his former Secretary." Murray: "… your Blueprint has 135 questions-that's not a plan Mr. Secretary, that's a questionnaire." Murray unimpressed by late update of Obama Administration's Medicare pricing dashboa… Continue Reading
06.12.18
Murray Questions DeVos’ Inaction, Lack of Public Input, and Contradictory Statements on Gun Safety Commission
Last week, DeVos said her gun safety commission would not look at guns, contradictory to the Administration's previous statements DeVos' commission also held a "public listening session" without giving the public sufficient notice to attend or attending herself Murray previously requested information on gun safety commission, received no response Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, … Continue Reading
06.04.18
As Insurers Announce Higher Premiums in Washington State, Murray Continues Push for Resumed Bipartisan Negotiations to Lower Health Costs; Roll Back Trump Health Care Sabotage
Since Republican leaders tanked bipartisan negotiations on legislation to roll back President Trump's health care sabotage and lower costs, Murray has pushed GOP to return to negotiating table Murray: "I want to work with anyone, from either party, who is ready to focus on lowering costs for patients" 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 insurance … Continue Reading
06.01.18
Democratic Health Leaders Call on Departments to Hold Off on Junk Insurance Rule and Redo Dubious Analysis
Democratic heath leaders question large discrepancies between Departments' analysis and nonpartisan analyses regarding potential damage of rule to expand junk insurance plans Departments' analysis is far off from others by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Urban Institute, and Oliver Wyman that show large potential harm of the proposed rule Members call for the Departments to hold off on finalizing the rule, update their analysis, and re-open the public comment period… Continue Reading
05.29.18
Senator Murray Praises Bipartisan Work as HELP Moves Forward Vital Public Health Preparedness Bill
Senator Murray praised bipartisan work to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, highlighting the contributions of colleagues and new steps in the bill Murray: "The recent resurgence of Ebola in the Congo should serve as a stark reminder that the threats we are working to address in this bill aren't hypothetical. They are real, and present, and deserving of serious attention…" Murray highlighted bipartisan commitment to funding critical research and developmen… Continue Reading
05.25.18
Murray Takes Another Step to Shine a Spotlight on Workplace Harassment, Requests Information from Groups Representing Tech Industry on Efforts to Address and Combat Harassment
Murray sent letters to associations representing companies in the technology and venture capital industries, inquiring about harassment statistics and steps being taken to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace Leaders in this sector have made national headlines over the last year for discriminatory and abusive behavior One study found 60% of women in the tech industry received unwanted sexual advances in the workplace Murray: "Workers across the country are speaking … Continue Reading
05.25.18
Murray, Baldwin, Gillibrand Introduce Resolution Opposing Trump-Pence Administration’s Radical Restriction on Family Planning Funds
Murray, Baldwin, and Gillibrand introduced a resolution opposing new domestic gag rule to restrict Title X family planning funds New restriction on family planning funds would undermine health care access for millions of patients Gag rule would interfere with the ability of providers receiving Title X funding to discuss the full range of reproductive care with patients (Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor,… Continue Reading
05.25.18
Murray, Wyden Ask President Trump to Explain Sudden Replacement of Director at Critical Agency Working to Address Nation’s Pension Crisis
Senators Murray and Wyden sent a letter to President Trump questioning his sudden decision to replace Reeder at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Reeder's term was set to expire in 2020, just a few years shy of the projected insolvency of PBGC's multiemployer program Senators: "In light of your Administration's pattern of politically motivated and ethically questionable personnel decisions, the decision to replace Mr. Reeder, who has decades of experience working on pensions and… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Murray Supports Bipartisan Reform of Congressional Harassment Policies; Calls for Continued Work
Murray: "This is a long-overdue and much-needed step toward overhauling the way harassment is addressed in the United States Congress." Murray: "I also want to make very clear that while this legislation is an important step, it is the first step and cannot be the last. There is so much more we need to do to ensure that no matter where someone is employed, she can focus on the job she came to do without fear of harassment." (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Murray, Senators Denounce Move By Secretary DeVos to End Investigations and Office Responsible for Protecting Students from Predatory Colleges
Secretary DeVos has sidelined investigators tasked with protecting students from predatory for-profit colleges, according to recent media reports In letter, 29 Senators urge Department to reverse course by adequately staffing the Student Aid Enforcement Unit's investigations team and resume investigating fraudulent practices by predatory for-profit colleges Senators also cite recommendations of independent Office of Inspector General, which urged strong oversight of predatory colleges by… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Senator Murray: New Report Shows How Trump-Pence Gag Rule to Restrict Family Planning Funds Would Hurt Washington State
Senator Murray, Senator Smith, and advocates and experts from Planned Parenthood, NFPRHA, and the Guttmacher Institute discussed the impact of the Trump-Pence Administration's proposed domestic gag rule Murray released a new report showing the harmful impact Title X restrictions would have on family planning services and women's health in Washington state Title X-funded health care providers delivered contraceptive care to more than 80,000 patients in Washington state in one year Murra… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Senator Murray Highlights Bipartisan Health Care Workforce Programs, Condemns Harmful Cuts Proposed by President Trump
Senator Murray discussed the challenges facing the health care workforce and vital health workforce training programs targeted to address them Murray highlighted Washington state's leadership in addressing workforce needs for seniors and care in rural and underserved communities President Trump's budget proposal would have cut health workforce programs by 90 percent Bipartisan budget deal increased funding for behavioral health training and support for underserved communities Mur… Continue Reading
05.21.18
Murray Statement on Decision to Weaken Workers’ Rights to Join Together: This Decision Sends A Chilling Signal To Workers That They Must Stand Alone
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the 5-4 Supreme Court decision Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, which ruled employers can ban workers from joining together in a legal dispute when their rights are being violated. "As more and more women and men are coming forward and bravely sharing their stories of workplace harassment, we're witnessing the power of many… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Murray Vows to Fight Trump-Pence Administration’s Latest Radical Attack on Women’s Access to Health Care
New domestic gag rule would forbid health care providers who receive federal family planning funds from discussing the full range of reproductive health care options with patients Murray: "Let me be clear: President Trump and Vice President Pence's opinions have no place in a woman's conversations with her doctor about her health care-and I and women nationwide are going to fight this deeply harmful, ideological effort every step of the way." Earlier this week Senator Murray joined Senat… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Murray Stands With Gillibrand to Demand Reform of Congressional Policies on Sexual Assault and Harassment
Senator Gillibrand today marked 100 days since House passage of key reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995; Murray joined call for action in Senate Murray: "…to say we in the Senate are overdue for action is a massive understatement." Murray: "… the longer we wait to act, the longer the Senate is sending a message that it's still business as usual, that sexual assault and workplace harassment can still be swept under the rug." Murray: "Women and worker… Continue Reading
05.16.18
Senator Murray Questions President Trump’s Decision to Replace Director in Charge of Protecting Retirees, Vows Careful Vetting of New Candidate
President Trump has nominated Gordon Hartogensis to lead the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation If confirmed, Hartogensis would replace Director Reeder who was sworn in for a five-year term in 2015 News comes as the nation grapples with multiemployer pension crisis threatening many workers' retirement resources Senator Murray demanded a clear explanation for the change and promised to carefully vet the new candidate (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranki… Continue Reading
