Ranking Member's Press
Murray, Wyden, Smith and Grassley Release Report Showing Department of Education Can Do More to Support Students in Foster Care
Students in foster care may change schools frequently, impacting their academic achievement Report shows federal support can help state-level agencies ensure that students in foster care remain at their school even when their foster care placement changes Washington, D.C. -Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) rele… Continue Reading
09.26.19
Murray Demands Senate Republicans Stop Playing Politics with HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions, Continues Push for a Comprehensive Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
In a speech on the Senate floor, Murray urges the Senate to take up FUTURE Act and send it to the President's desk Murray: "Let's not threaten the funding for some of our most valuable institutions. We should pass the act right away. And then continue our committee's discussions." Murray: "Since the start of those discussions, I've been very clear. We need to do this reauthorization in a comprehensive way that really helps our students with the many challenges they face." ***Watch … Continue Reading
09.24.19
Murray Votes NO on Advancing Scalia Out of Committee: “He Will Be a Secretary of Corporate Interests, Not a Secretary of Labor”
At Senate HELP Committee markup, Senator Murray reiterates that Trump's labor nominee is the wrong choice for workers Vote comes after confirmation hearing where Scalia avoided supporting policies designed to protect workers, defended work for corporate clients undermining worker rights Murray: "Unfortunately, last week's hearing confirmed my worst fears: that Mr. Scalia will be a yes-man for President Trump's anti-worker agenda, not a champion for working families, that he will let comp… Continue Reading
09.24.19
Murray Blasts Trump Administration for Weak Overtime Rule that Leaves Millions of Workers Behind
Murray slams Trump Administration for finalizing overtime rule which represents a huge step back from the Obama Administration's proposal Trump Administration's rule denies millions of workers the overtime pay they deserve, and pays them less compared to Obama Administration proposal Earlier this year, Senator Murray cosponsored the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to increase the salary level for overtime pay and codify the Obama-era rule Trump Administration's final rule issued minutes b… Continue Reading
09.23.19
Murray, Scott Press to Delay Reorganization of Employee Benefits Security Administration, Demand Justification for Plan
Murray, Scott, question structural changes to Employee Benefits Security Administration, request delay until the impact on the millions of retirees, workers, and families that EBSA helps are better understood Letter requests explanation for purpose of proposed changes and analysis conducted to inform the reorganization plan Members: "The proposed reorganization appears to be a meaningful structural change from the status quo, shifting authorities to EBSA's politically-appointed deputy a… Continue Reading
09.20.19
ROUNDUP: Murray, Democrats Grill Labor Secretary Nominee Eugene Scalia On His Anti-Worker Record
Washington Post: "Eugene Scalia … faced harsh questioning during his confirmation hearing on Thursday as Democrats criticized the former lobbyist's record defending corporations in legal matters against workers and regulators." Bloomberg Law: "Labor secretary nominee Eugene Scalia tried to fend off concerns about his lengthy record defending corporations in court during a Sept. 19 Senate confirmation hearing." The Hill: "Democrats ripped Eugene Scalia, President Trump's nominee to… Continue Reading
09.19.19
Senator Murray Urges Senate to Take Up FUTURE Act; Continues Call for Comprehensive Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
Murray: The Senate must "pass the bipartisan FUTURE Act instead of playing politics with valuable and under-resourced institutions." Murray: The FUTURE Act will "give us time to work out a permanent fix for funding for HBCUs, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions through a comprehensive HEA reauthorization-which is what I've been clear is necessary." Murray: "…any reauthorization of the Higher Education Act needs to have real answers to the challenges students are fac… Continue Reading
09.19.19
Murray On Secretary of Labor Nominee Eugene Scalia: “President Trump Has Nominated a Secretary of Corporate Interests”
Murray: "Instead of nominating a Secretary of Labor, President Trump has nominated a Secretary of Corporate Interests." Murray highlights Scalia's long, troubling record attacking workers' rights and protecting corporations Scalia has fought to overturn and undermine laws protecting workers' health and safety, protecting their retirement savings, protecting their wages, and protecting workers with disabilities from discrimination Scalia has worked to help corporate clients avoid acc… Continue Reading
09.17.19
Senator Murray, Democrats Oppose Labor Department Proposal to Allow Government-Funded Discrimination Against LGBTQ People, Women, and More
In a letter, 5 Democrats urge Trump-Pence Administration to withdraw rule allowing for federal contractors and subcontractors to discriminate on ideological grounds Senators: "The government cannot use religious exemptions as a pretext to permit discrimination against or harm others, and we demand the Department immediately withdraw this proposed rule and cease any action that could subject workers and job applicants to discrimination and harassment" Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Se… Continue Reading
09.16.19
Senators Murray, Blumenthal Urge Google to Ensure Users Aren’t Misled When Seeking Information on Abortion Care
Media reports show that women seeking information on abortion care can be misled by Google Maps and Google searches and are sometimes directed to non-existent or fraudulent providers Senators Murray and Blumenthal urge Google to verify top search results for users seeking care Senators: "During this time of unprecedented attacks on women's health and restrictions on women's access to health care, it is as important as ever that Google be a reliable source of information for women seeking… Continue Reading
09.12.19
Murray: Rushed Hearing on Labor Nominee Next Week Would Undermine Vetting Process
Murray: "I believe holding a confirmation hearing next week would significantly undermine our ability to meet our committee's responsibilities." Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement regarding the announcement of a Committee confirmation hearing next Thursday for Eugene Scalia, President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Labor (DOL). "If confi… Continue Reading
09.12.19
Murray, Duckworth Release Report Highlighting Challenges Student Parents in College Are Facing While Completing Their Degree
Report finds that many colleges do not provide student parents with information about options to increase financial aid to pay for child care, recommends that Department of Education work with schools to inform students of their options One in five undergraduate students are parents, and many are struggling to find and afford child care Murray and Duckworth have worked to expand the CCAMPIS program to make it easier for student parents to access child care while completing their degree … Continue Reading
09.11.19
Senator Murray Slams Move to Protect Companies Committing Wage Discrimination, Abandon Data Collection at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Led by Trump appointees, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it will stop collecting crucial wage data Move undermines transparency and protects companies committing wage discrimination Murray: "President Trump's appointees are using an agency charged with protecting workers' rights to protect companies instead and help them sweep pay discrimination under the rug." Murray: "Let me be clear: you don't solve problems by hiding them and you don't fight for workers by shiel… Continue Reading
09.10.19
Senator Murray on Spike in Uninsured Rate: “Republicans’ Number One Health Care Priority Has Been to Make Things Worse”
New census data shows 2 million more people uninsured from 2017 to 2018 Last year, as President Trump called Republicans "the party of health care," the nationwide uninsured rate jumped from 7.9 to 8.5 percent Millions more at risk of losing health care if Republicans win their lawsuit to strike down families' care Murray: "People across the country are struggling to get the care they need to live, and Republicans' number one health care priority has been to make things worse." W… Continue Reading
09.03.19
Murray Statement on DeVos Rule to Block Debt Relief for Cheated Students: “A Devastating Blow”
Secretary DeVos' borrower defense rule would deny virtually all debt relief to students cheated or defrauded by predatory colleges 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 U.S. Department of Education's announcement of a final "borrower defense" rule which will eliminate more than $11 billion - or nearly 75 percent - of student debt relief that would have… Continue Reading
08.26.19
Murray, Democrats Oppose Labor Department Proposal to Create Duplicative, Lower-Quality Unregistered Apprenticeships
In letter, 45 Senators urge Department to reconsider proposed rule and extend comment period Senators: "The Department's proposal is yet one more attempt to undermine the Nation's registered apprenticeship system, which has existed for 80 years and enjoys broad support from Congress, workers, and industry alike." Washington, D.C. - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, 45 Senators sent a letter to A… Continue Reading
08.22.19
After Years of Pressure, Murray, Warren Applaud Trump Administration Finally Implementing Automatic Student Debt Relief to Veterans With Disabilities
After years of pressure from Senate Democrats, Secretary DeVos will finally automatically cancel student loans of veterans disabled from service Under federal law, veterans who have been "permanently and totally" disabled are eligible for student loan discharges Senate Democrats have spent years urging Secretary DeVos to streamline this process and provide more veterans with disabilities with automatic relief Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the … Continue Reading
08.19.19
Senator Murray Calls On Colleagues to Stand Up for Women’s Health as Trump-Pence Administration’s Gag Rule Undermines Care for Millions
Murray: "It's time for every elected official to make clear whether they will join us to stop President Trump and Vice President Pence from attacking women's health or whether they will join them in putting ideology ahead of patients' wellbeing." Trump-Pence Administration's gag rule undermines bipartisan Title X program which has helped 4 million patients a year get health care-disproportionately young people, women who have low incomes, and women of color Gag rule prevents Title X-funded… Continue Reading
08.14.19
Murray, Democrats Slam Trump Administration Proposal to Weaken Protections Against Discrimination in Health Care
Murray and 35 other Senate Democrats condemned the Trump-Pence Administration's proposed rule to weaken protections against health care discrimination Proposed rule would undermine health care protections for LGBTQ people, women, people with disabilities, and people whose primary language is not English Senators: "In advancing policies that not only allow discrimination - but in fact endorse it - HHS is abdicating its responsibility to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all… Continue Reading
08.06.19
Murray, Durbin Urge Secretary DeVos To Fulfill Her Responsibility And Help Students Impacted By Sudden Closures of For-Profit Colleges
After collapse of three for-profit colleges, Department of Education does little to help affected students In letter, 30 Senators demand that Department fulfill its duty and provide assistance Senators: "The Department must fulfill its obligations to assist students in the aftermath of a traumatic event such as a sudden school closure" Washington, D.C. - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, an… Continue Reading
