Ranking Member's Press
Democrats Urge Labor Board Member William Emanuel to Explain Conflicts of Interest on Decision to Weaken Workers’ Rights, Shield Corporations from Responsibility
In December, the National Labor Relations Board held vote to bring joint employer case back to Board, one day before Republican NLRB chair's term expired Despite former law firm's role in case, NLRB member William Emanuel participated in vote Emanuel gave conflicting answers to Congress on his participation Democrats: "This action appears to be in direct contravention of your commitments to the Office of Government Ethics, to the requirements of the Ethics Pledge, and to the require… Continue Reading
02.06.18
Higher Education Act: Murray Highlights Need to Address Rising Costs of College and Massive Burden of Student Debt
Far too many students and borrowers cannot afford the costs of college, or struggle with the burden of student debt with no end in sight In hearing, Murray makes the case for helping students afford college at every phase of their education: before they apply, while they're enrolled, and after they graduate Murray: "The way we finance higher education by asking everyone to take on debt is sending a clear message that college is for the wealthy-not the students who have the most to gain… Continue Reading
02.06.18
More than 120 Democrats Urge Department of Labor to Withdraw Harmful Proposed Tip Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and 122 Democrats submitted a public comment to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to withdraw its proposed change to the tip rules. DOL is considering changing existing rules to allow employers to pocket tips of workers, which… Continue Reading
02.02.18
Murray, Casey, Scott, DeLauro: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Is Abandoning Its Core Mission By Rejecting Safety Recommendations to Protect Vulnerable Meat and Poultry Plant Workers
In letter, Members of Congress highlight concerns with OSHA rejecting GAO's safety and health recommendations for meat and poultry workers Recommendations were made by GAO after investigation found workers lack access to bathroom facilities, often resulting in health issues OSHA also rejected longstanding practice to interview workers away from their workplace when they fear of retaliation from employers Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), R… Continue Reading
02.02.18
Murray, Stabenow, and Peters to DeVos: Nassar Case Shows Need for Systemic Investigations of Campus Sexual Assault
Senators: Department's enforcement of student protections "inadequate" and approach to sexual assault investigations so far "concerning" Last year Secretary DeVos revoked the Department's previous guidance to colleges on handling sexual assault and Title IX complaints Senators urge Department to commit to systemic investigation of sexual assault concerns at Michigan State University and in all cases (Washington, D.C.) -U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate H… Continue Reading
02.01.18
Murray: Higher Education Reauthorization, Including Accountability, “Should Put Students And Taxpayers First”
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 Chairman Alexander's white paper on higher education accountability as a part of the HELP Committee's comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. "I hope that everyone would agree that our work to reauthorize the Higher Education Act should put students and taxpayers first-and that means strengthening our … Continue Reading
02.01.18
Murray: “This Botched Cover-Up of Evidence Proving President Trump’s Policies Help Businesses Steal Billions From Workers Shows Exactly What President Trump Truly Cares About”
News reports reveal the Trump Administration covered up its own data showing its proposed tip rule change would allow employers to steal potentially billions from workers Women make up two-thirds of tipped wage workers nationwide, and would be particularly hard-hit by this rule 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 reports that the Department of Labor c… Continue Reading
01.31.18
Murray, HELP Democrats, Ask for Insight into How Departments are Working to Prevent Harassment
Each letter details how many complaints the Department has recently received on the basis of sex Data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suggests a majority of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace Senator Murray and her Democratic colleagues recently called on Chairman Alexander to hold hearings on sexual harassment and assault in the workplace (Washington, D.C.) - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, La… Continue Reading
01.31.18
Murray on Resignation of Brenda Fitzgerald as Director of the CDC Due to Ethics Concerns
Murray repeatedly raised concerns about Fitzgerald's conflicts of interest and broad recusals from work impacting key public health issues like cancer and opioids Murray: "Yet another example of this Administration's dysfunction and questionable ethics" Murray calls on President Trump to select a new CDC Director prepared to focus on families and communities WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), issued the following statement on news that incoming Secretary of … Continue Reading
01.30.18
Higher Education Act: Murray Calls for Strengthening Accountability in Higher Education to Ensure All Colleges are Setting Students Up for Success in School and Beyond
In hearing, Murray lays out Democratic priorities for Higher Education Act reauthorization As HELP Committee begins to negotiations to reauthorize HEA, Murray calls for student-focused reform, including holding all colleges accountable for access and student outcomes when they use taxpayer dollars Murray: "We cannot allow schools colleges to close the door on the students who have the most to gain from higher education simply because they may face additional challenges than their more a… Continue Reading
01.29.18
Senator Murray Denounces Republicans’ Extreme and Ideological Abortion Ban
Senator Murray strongly denounces brazenly unconstitutional ban as harmful attempt to turn back the clock on women's reproductive health care Proposed ban on abortion after 20 weeks would restrict women's rights and doctors' ability to give sound medical opinions Senator Murray: Voting on bill "exercise in futility" and passing it would be an "exercise in cruelty" Senator Murray shared a story from a Washington state mother to highlight the cruelty of the proposed ban on abortions a… Continue Reading
01.25.18
Higher Education Act: Murray Calls for Expanding Access to Higher Education for Underrepresented and Nontraditional Students
In hearing, Murray highlights the need for a variety of solutions to support students, improve access, and encourage responsible innovation To avoid innovation at the expense of our students, Murray calls for evidence-based experimentation by strengthening 'experimental site initiatives' within HEA Murray stresses importance of addressing a variety of issues facing students through a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act Murray: "I look forward to a conversation t… Continue Reading
01.24.18
Sen. Murray Opposes Alex Azar’s Nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services; Urges Colleagues to Join
Sen. Murray criticizes Azar's views on women's health as outdated and out of the mainstream Azar's background raising drug prices as pharmaceutical executive one of many concerns Sen. Murray highlights Azar's support for President Trump's ideology-driven agenda and health care sabotage Sen. Murray alarmed by Azar's statement that a woman's employer should be able to decide whether to cover her birth control President Trump nominated Azar to replace former Secretary Price after… Continue Reading
01.19.18
Murray Criticizes President Trump’s Backwards, Extreme Priorities; Calls Attacking Women’s Health Instead of Keeping Government Open “Shameful”
"Further evidence of President Trump's backwards, extreme priorities…will deny women and men across the country basic health care they need" Murray: Latest Trump action to appease right-wing base and donors "direct attack on a woman's constitutionally protected right to make her own choices about her own body" WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and highest ranking woman servin… Continue Reading
01.18.18
Higher Education Act: Murray Calls for Making Financial Aid Process Simple and Transparent in Ways that Increase College Affordability and Ease Burden of Debt for Students Nationwide
In hearing, Murray emphasizes the importance of financial aid for helping students achieve higher education The Higher Education Act is due for reauthorization, Murray calls for a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization Murray: "By simplifying the financial aid process & making it more transparent we can help more students afford higher education-and lower barriers for those who couldn't attend college otherwise." (Washington, D.C.) -Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member … Continue Reading
01.18.18
Murray on Trump’s Planned Address to Extreme Anti-Choice Activists: “Women Who Speak Up for Their Rights Aren’t Going Away”
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on news that President Trump will deliver live video remarks to the March for Life. "Over the last year, President Trump has tried in every way he can to undermine women's health and rights-from trying to gut Medicaid and defund Planned Parenthood, to empowering a woman's boss to interfere with her decisions about getting birth … Continue Reading
01.18.18
Sen. Murray Sharply Criticizes President Trump’s Latest Ideological Plan to Restrict Health Care
(Washington, D.C.) -Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued a statement in response to reports that President Trump's Administration is preparing to propose steps that would put ideology ahead of the health care needs of women and transgender patients. "I am deeply troubled by reports of the unconscionable approach being considered by President Trump's Administration to use the civil rights office … Continue Reading
01.17.18
Murray Demands Bipartisan Action to Prepare for Public Health Threats
Sen. Murray calls for Congress to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act with a focus on science and evidence based-policies that have been proven to protect families Murray concerned by absence of Brenda Fitzgerald, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to financial conflicts of interest A century after one of the most deadly influenza pandemics in history, Senate hearing investigates the nation's preparedness to address serious global healt… Continue Reading
01.17.18
Sen. Murray Questions Emerging Pattern of Undermining Evidence-Based Policy at Department of Health and Human Services
Sen. Murray concerned by decision to suspend the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices Move from Department of Health and Human Services shows emerging pattern of undermining evidence-based policies (Washington, D.C.) -Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee sent a letter to Acting Secretary Hargan at the Department of Health and Human Services, following the Department's decis… Continue Reading
01.17.18
Murray to Oppose President Trump’s Latest Ideological Choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services
Murray criticizes President Trump's partisan, politically-motivated approach to health care, says Azar has made clear he will follow Trump's lead on opioids, drug prices, Trumpcare, women's health Murray: In nominating Mr. Azar, "President Trump once again failed to listen to patients and families who are sick of seeing the President put politics before their health and wellbeing" Murray: "The last thing women need from President Trump's administration is another force for turning back t… Continue Reading
