Ranking Member's Press
Murray Sounds Alarm as Trump Administration Doubles Down on Ending Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions, Taking Away Families’ Coverage
Trump Administration filed letter in support of ruling that would fully strike down the Affordable Care Act If Trump Administration gets its way, protections for people with pre-existing conditions would end, millions of people would lose their health coverage, and costs would skyrocket for millions more Murray: "President Trump has just sent his clearest message yet to patients and families that he sees their health care coverage as a political football and nothing more." (Washingto… Continue Reading
03.26.19
Murray, Feinstein Demand Answers After Report Reveals Trump Administration Tracked Pregnancies of Young Women in Its Custody
Senators write to Secretary Azar after report reveals Trump Administration's Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) kept spreadsheet monitoring pregnancies of young women in its custody Last year a federal judge issued an injunction barring ORR from obstructing pregnant unaccompanied minors in its custody from accessing abortion care Murray and Feinstein have previously criticized former ORR director Scott Lloyd for his decisions to personally interfere with the reproductive health c… Continue Reading
03.18.19
Murray: White House Higher Education Proposal “Would End Up Hurting Students,” Commits to Working with Chairman Alexander to “Find Real and Serious Solutions”
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 White House proposal to reform the Higher Education Act. Senator Murray is currently working with Chairman Alexander on a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that addresses student-centered priorities, including addressing college affordability, increasing accountability, expanding access to histori… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Murray Demands Answers from Claire’s Stores After Food and Drug Administration Confirms Presence of Asbestos
Murray writes to CEO of Claire's after FDA announcement last week confirming presence of asbestos in some Claire's products Claire's has issued a recall of three cosmetics products since FDA's announcement Claire's customers are mainly teens, tweens, and children, and the company serves approximately 900 million women and girls across the globe Murray: "Claire's top priority should be ensuring the safety of its products, especially as a retailer that primarily sells products to teena… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Murray Statement on DeVos Finally Implementing Rule to Protect Students from Predatory For-Profit Colleges
After court order, Department of Education finally implemented a 2016 "borrower defense" rule intended to protect students from predatory for-profit 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 Department of Education's notice that they are finally moving to implement the 2016 Obama Administration "borrower defense" rule which has been in effect since… Continue Reading
03.14.19
Murray, DeLauro Reintroduce Paid Sick Days Bill
Healthy Families Act Would Allow Millions of Workers to Earn Paid Sick Days WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Labor, today reintroduced the Healthy Families Act, legislation that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are ill, to care for a sick family … Continue Reading
03.13.19
Murray, Portman, Clark, Young Reintroduce Legislation to Provide Support for Homeless Students and Former Foster Youth in Higher Education
Homeless and foster youth often face major barriers and lack support when pursuing higher education and seeking out financial aid Bipartisan legislation would improve financial aid processes and ask colleges and universities to improve outreach to and resources for homeless and foster students (Washington, D.C.) - Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Representatives Katherine Clark … Continue Reading
03.12.19
Murray, Duckworth, and Democratic Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Ensure Equal Access to Reproductive Health Care
Murray, Duckworth, and Democratic colleagues in the Senate introduce bill to ensure access to reproductive health care regardless of income, race, location Bill would lift current restriction preventing women receiving health coverage through government-sponsored plans from having access to the full range of reproductive health care services Congresswomen Lee, Schakowksy, and DeGette introduced corresponding legislation in the House Murray: "As the Trump Administration and its allies… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Murray Statement on the Need for More Accessible Student Aid at Higher Education Act Reauthorization Hearing on FAFSA Simplification and Verification
At Senate HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray submitted a statement for the record outlining the need to increase aid, support, and investment in students in a comprehensive HEA reauthorization Murray also highlighted the importance of easing the burden of verification and targeting FAFSA questions to ensure students are getting the support they need to succeed in higher education Bipartisan work to produce a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is in direct cont… Continue Reading
03.08.19
Murray Slams Trump Administration for Backpedaling Effort to Protect Retirees
Senator Murray criticized Trump Administration for reversing Treasury Department's 2015 position on regulating lump-sum payouts, which save companies money by giving retirees more risk and often less money 2015 Notice made clear Treasury would propose rules to address the practice, Trump Administration's new 2019 Notice reverses that position Pensions pay out regularly over a retiree's lifetime, are covered by federal ERISA protections, and backed by the PBGC Lump sum payouts transf… Continue Reading
03.07.19
Democrats, Patients, Women’s Health Leaders Challenge GOP to Protect Women’s Access To Health Care Under Title X
Senators highlight opposition to new gag on health care providers participating in Title X family planning program; call on GOP to stand up for women's access to basic health care Final rule from Trump Administration threatens millions of people's access to contraception, wellness tests, cancer screenings, reproductive health care, and other affordable services Earlier today, Senator Murray released a new memo highlighting comments from stakeholders across the country opposing the Trum… Continue Reading
03.07.19
Murray Releases Memo Lifting Voices Opposed to President Trump’s Rule Undermining Family Planning Program
Senator Murray released a new oversight memo detailing opposition to the Trump Administration's Title X rule from patients, experts, and stakeholders across the country Memo features the comments of patients, providers, city and county officials, and religious organizations opposed to the Administration's changes to the Title X family planning program Changes would block providers at Title X-funded health centers from discussing patients' full reproductive health care options and shut Plan… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Murray: Republicans Can’t Vote for Readler and Claim to Fight for Families’ Health Care
Murray called on Republicans to live up to their claims on fighting for protections for people with pre-existing conditions and oppose judicial nominee who led brief arguing they should be struck down Republican Senator once said Readler's argument in the brief he led against families' health care was "as far-fetched as any I've ever heard." Murray: "Let's be clear. Chad Readler's nomination is the latest test of whether Republicans are serious about fighting for people's health care-and… Continue Reading
03.05.19
Murray, Davis Request Information from U.S. Department of Education on Mismanagement of Federal Student Loan Program
Murray, Davis sent two letters to DeVos on Department's mismanagement of federal student loan program Recent Inspector General report found internal failures by Department in oversight of student loan servicers that receive federal contracts Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), Chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommitte… Continue Reading
03.05.19
Murray Stresses Need to Build Vaccine Confidence, Educate People About How Vaccines Are Safe, Effective, and Life-Saving
At HELP hearing, Senator Murray speaks about importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy Hearing on vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks comes as several states work to address measles outbreaks WA State Secretary of Health spoke about the ongoing response to the state's current measles outbreak which has infected over 70 people Murray and Alexander recently sent a bipartisan letter t… Continue Reading
03.05.19
Murray Reintroduces Bill to Stop Trump Administration from Detaining and Shackling Pregnant Women
Murray, and 24 cosponsors, reintroduce legislation following recent incident where a pregnant woman detained by ICE went into labor prematurely, ending in a stillbirth Murray first introduced the legislation last summer following reports of pregnant women in ICE custody receiving inhumane treatment Last March, Trump Administration publicly ended Obama-era policy against detaining pregnant women despite opposition of more than 250 civil and human rights organizations Murray secured … Continue Reading
03.01.19
Murray, Brown Blast Reports That Trump Administration’s Proposed Overtime Threshold Would Deprive Workers Of Overtime Pay
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) blasted the Trump administration following reports that it is poised to set the salary threshold under which workers would be guaranteed overtime pay at $35,000, down from $47,476 set by the Obama Administration. Murray and Brown said the Trump Administration's threshold is not nearly high enough and would deny low- to middle- income w… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Murray Delivers Keynote Speech Outlining Need for Bold, Federal Action in Higher Education to Help Students Succeed
At an event hosted by the Center for American Progress, Senator Murray delivered the keynote address, highlighting her vision for higher education As Senate works to reauthorize Higher Education Act, Murray laid out four priorities that must be included to help students succeed in higher education Democratic priorities are focused around helping students by addressing affordability, improving accountability, expanding access, and keeping students safe on campus **WATCH SENATOR MURRAY… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Murray and Roybal-Allard Reintroduce Bill to Tackle Economic Barriers for Domestic Violence Survivors
Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act of 2019 tackles economic barriers that can prevent survivors of domestic violence from taking steps to keep themselves and their families safe Murray: "No survivor of domestic violence should feel forced to choose between their safety and their paycheck, their job, or their ability to support their family." Roybal-Allard: "When we talk about support for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and revenge pornography, … Continue Reading
02.28.19
Murray: DeVos Privatization Proposal is “Dead on Arrival” in Congress
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 Secretary DeVos' proposal to create tax credits for privatization vouchers. "Secretary DeVos keeps pushing her anti-public school agenda despite a clear lack of support from parents, students, teachers, and even within her own party. Congress has repeatedly rejected her privatization efforts and she should expect… Continue Reading
