Ranking Member's Press
Murray Statement on Trump Administration’s Decision to Gut Investments in Helping Inform People of Coverage Options
Trump Administration slashes funding even further for Affordable Care Act navigators; doubling down on cuts announced last fall Murray: President Trump has chosen a Supreme Court nominee who has already made clear he'll stand with President Trump, not families, when it comes to health care in our country WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on news that the Trump Administration will further slash investments in helping families seeking… Continue Reading
07.10.18
Murray Statement on Trump Administration Missing Court-Ordered Deadline for Family Reunification: Democrats Will Keep This Administration’s Feet to the Fire
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human Services where the Office of Refugee Resettlement is housed, issued the following statement on the Trump Administration's failure to meet a court-ordered deadline for reunifying children younger than five separated from their parents under President Trump's "zero-tolerance" immigration polic… Continue Reading
07.10.18
Murray Joins Workers, Teachers, and Unions to Fight Back Against Special Interest Attacks; Stresses Importance of Speaking Out in Light of President Trump’s Anti-Worker Supreme Court Nominee
Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) hosted forum on organized labor's path forward following the Supreme Court Janus decision and role of dark money in bankrolling anti-union, anti-worker campaigns In Janus decision, Supreme Court majority sided with corporate special interests over workers, undermining collective bargaining ability of public sector unions Murray emphasized critical role unions play in raising wages and creating pathways to the middle class Murray: … Continue Reading
07.06.18
Democratic Leader Patty Murray Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
"Let's be clear: President Trump has broken a whole lot of campaign promises, but he has never wavered in attacking Obamacare and undermining women's access to health care," said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Senator Murray: "… those who want to go back to the days when insurers could deny patients coverage because of a pre-existing condition-or when women had to seek out back-alley abortions-want you to feel powerless now… But we can't let them… Tweet, post, march, call… Continue Reading
07.05.18
Murray, HELP Committee Staff Raise Alarm About President Trump’s Ideological Appointee Overseeing Family Planning Program
HELP Committee Democratic staff memo outlines alarming history of ideological positions from Diane Foley, President Trump's appointee overseeing the Title X family planning program Earlier this year, the Trump-Pence Administration announced a domestic gag rule to restrict Title X funds that would limit access to care for millions of women Foley has compared abortion to slavery and the Holocaust and referred to adoption following an unplanned pregnancy as a "double death" Murray lett… Continue Reading
06.29.18
Murray & Scott on the Rollback of Civil Rights for Students with Disabilities, Students of Color
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statements after the U.S. Department of Education announced a two-year delay of the Equity in IDEA rule. Senator Murray said: "By delaying a critical rule aimed at addressing the widespread disparities in the treatment of students of color… Continue Reading
06.29.18
Senator Murray Writes to BIO, PhRMA CEOs Calling for Stronger Industry Steps to Address Workplace Harassment
Murray sent letters to associations representing biomedical and pharmaceutical companies asking about harassment in the industry and what steps they are taking to address harassment in the workplace Inquiry follows troubling reports on industry-sponsored party: "Biotech Firms Run Away After Industry Party With Topless Dancers" Murray: "Workers across the country are speaking out about their experiences, and their stories have made clear that we all have a great deal of work to do to addr… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Health IG Launches Inquiry After Democrats Demand Investigation of Health Department’s Treatment of Children Separated from Parents Under Trump Policy
41 Democrats wrote to Health Department's Inspector General requesting comprehensive review of program charged with caring for children impacted by President Trump's family separation policy Senators: "We are alarmed by the uncertainty and pain inflicted on thousands of families arriving at the U.S. border, particularly the mental and physical harm inflicted on immigrant children and their parents by this policy, and we are deeply troubled by recent reports of maltreatment of children while… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Senator Murray: Republicans Must Address Elephant in the Room on High Health Costs—President Trump’s Sabotage
At HELP hearing on health costs, Murray condemned sabotage by the Trump Administration, which has hiked premiums and eroded patient protections Murray also criticized President Trump's inaction on his promises to lower drug costs and efforts to sabotage innovative pilot programs to deliver high quality care at lower costs Murray: "Since day one, [President Trump has] not only failed to rein in prescription drug prices, but has brought chaos, uncertainty, and higher costs to health care i… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Murray on Supreme Court Decision to Weaken Unions: “A Loss for Workers and Yet Another Win for Corporate Special Interests”
Murray: "I urge all Republicans in Congress who claim to care about the economic security of the middle class to work with us to strengthen the rights of workers" 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 today on the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31 to weaken public … Continue Reading
06.27.18
Senator Murray Applauds Bipartisan Progress on Career and Technical Education, Maternal Mortality, and More
Senator Murray praised bipartisan work on reauthorization of key career and technical education program for helping states and local communities maintain a competitive workforce in changing 21st century economy Murray also applauded a maternal mortality bill the Committee passed as an important step in addressing national crisis Murray: "I am pleased we were able to push our partisan differences aside and will vote today on a number of bipartisan bills that aim to build an economy, and a… Continue Reading
06.26.18
Major Bipartisan Breakthrough on Career and Technical Education Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., along with Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Wash., applauded the committee's passage of legislation to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would make important, necessary updates to career and technical education to give workers and students the … Continue Reading
06.22.18
Murray and Senate Democrats Call for Examination of State Efforts to Address Mounting Maternal Mortality Crisis
Murray and group of 11 other Senate Democrats ask the Government Accountability Office to study state-based efforts to combat maternal mortality U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 700 women die from childbirth or pregnancy-related complications in the U.S. each year Maternal mortality rate is three to four times higher among black women than white women Senators: "Families across the cou… Continue Reading
06.21.18
Murray Demands Answers From Trump Health Secretary on Safety, Reunification of Separated Children
Although Senator Murray first asked Secretary Azar about this weeks ago at a HELP Committee hearing, he has still not responded with information he promised regarding President Trump's family separation policy Murray has continually demanded answers on how parents are being informed about their children's safety, where they are located, when they will be reunited, and whether the Trump Administration has a plan to reunite families In letter, Murray requested answers and asked that the He… Continue Reading
06.21.18
On National ASK Day, Murray Urges Azar and DeVos to Take Action Now to Prevent Gun Violence by Promoting Safe Storage
June 21st marks National Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day, a day to promote safe storage of firearms Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, over 210,000 students in over 200 schools have experienced a shooting on campus Senator Murray urged Secretaries Azar and DeVos to develop safe storage plans, promote responsible gun ownership, and prevent unauthorized firearm access by young people Murray: Promoting safe use and storage of firearms "one of many steps the Trump Administration can take… Continue Reading
06.21.18
Murray: Trump Administration Reorganization Proposal is “Unrealistic, Unhelpful, and Futile”
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 today on the reports that the Trump Administration is going to propose a major reorganization and consolidation of the federal government. "Rather than spending their energy proposing unrealistic, unhelpful, and futile reorganizations of the federal government just to have a new talking point, President Trump and Secretari… Continue Reading
06.19.18
Murray: Latest GOP Repeal Proposal Undermines Health Care, Weakens Protections, Raises Costs
Murray: "Republicans are once again trying to bring Trumpcare back from the dead with a harmful repeal proposal that would undermine health care 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 an extreme new right-wing proposal from Republicans that would undermine health care for patients, gut patient protections, and send health care costs skyr… Continue Reading
06.19.18
Senator Murray Condemns President Trump’s Sabotage of Drug Discount Program
Senate HELP Committee held third hearing on 340B program that helps make drugs more affordable for safety net care providers Murray highlighted five safety net providers in Washington state using 340B savings to serve Washington communities Murray: "Unfortunately, instead of working in good faith to make this system stronger, President Trump has worked to sabotage it…" Trump Administration cut benefits to 340B providers and repeatedly undermined program accountability ***… Continue Reading
06.19.18
Murray: Trump’s Latest Act of Sabotage Will Drive Up Costs, Undermine Access to Care for People With Pre-Existing Conditions
Murray joins the vast majority of the medical community including groups representing doctors, nurses, and patients in opposing new Trump Administration health care sabotage Murray: "Let's be clear-this policy has nothing to do with patients and everything to do with appealing to extreme Republican donors and special interests" 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 foll… Continue Reading
06.15.18
Murray Continues Urging Republicans to Stop Sabotaging Families’ Health Care, Work With Democrats on Lowering Costs
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 following Chairman Lamar Alexander's (R-TN) request that the Trump Administration implement select policies originally included in a bipartisan agreement to roll back Trump Administration health care sabotage and lower 2018 and 2019 premiums. Previous steps taken by Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services Administrat… Continue Reading
