Ranking Member's Press
Murray Pushes Surgeon General to Address Rising STD Rates
Following report showing increase in STDs, Senator Murray sends letter demanding Surgeon General take action Nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017, a 9 percent increase from 2016 Murray calls for response that also addresses large health disparities shown by CDC report STDs can be prevented with quality sex education, safe sex practices, vaccines, and frequent STD screenings Murray: … Continue Reading
10.10.18
Murray: Difference on Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions “Night and Day,” Democrats Fight for Them, Republicans Undermine Them
Murray urges colleagues to support effort to overturn President Trump's junk plans rule Murray outlines how rule that went into effect last week gives insurance companies more power to sell junk insurance plans and ignore protections for people with pre-existing conditions Democrats have led the charge against President Trump's efforts to undermine pre-existing condition protections by passing Trumpcare, refusing to defend the protections in court, and expanding junk plans Republic… Continue Reading
10.03.18
Senator Murray Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Address the Root Causes and Ripple Effects of Opioid Crisis
Senator Murray cheers passage of sweeping package to tackle growing opioid epidemic, bill on track to be signed into law Package includes legislation Senator Murray championed in Senate HELP Committee In her remarks Senator Murray spoke about the challenges she heard from families in Washington state and provisions in the opioid package to help address them Senator Murray: "Of course while this is an important bill and an impactful step forward, it is not a final step by any means.… Continue Reading
10.03.18
After Secretary DeVos Forced to Delay Attacks on Student Protections, Senator Murray Vows to “Keep Fighting to Stop the Department In Its Tracks”
Department's final rules to deny debt relief and roll back protections against predatory career training programs will not be published by crucial November 1st deadline Failure to meet the deadline follows outpouring of comments to the Department and widespread opposition from students and families to proposed changes Missing the deadline means no final rule on "borrower defense" or "gainful employment" can go into effect before July 1, 2020-a year later than if the deadline had been met… Continue Reading
09.25.18
Murray Slams DeVos’ Implementation of Every Student Succeeds Act, Urges Republicans to Work to Uphold Bipartisan Law and Key Equity Protections for Students
At Senate HELP Committee hearing on implementation of ESSA, Senator Murray stressed the negative impacts on students due to Secretary DeVos' approval of state plans that do not comply with all of the law's equity guardrails Murray also said DeVos' decision to allow states to use federal funds to purchase guns and firearm training will make students less safe Murray: "[Our federal education law] should be about providing every student no matter where they live, how they learn, or how mu… Continue Reading
09.20.18
Murray Requests Oversight of Process for Dividing Retirement Assets in Divorce
Murray asks Government Accountability Office to look into process of obtaining paperwork required to divide pensions or retirement accounts following a divorce Women's economic security is negatively impacted by divorce, and women are more likely to face poverty in retirement In 2015, Senator Murray released a report detailing the systemic challenges that contribute to stark gender retirement gap Murray asks for study on process for dividing retirement assets that looks at the timel… Continue Reading
09.19.18
Murray, Durbin Slam Department of Education After New Data Shows One Hundred Thousand Cheated or Defrauded Students Are Awaiting Relief
Newly released data shows Department of Education has not processed more than 105,000 borrower defense claims Students who were cheated or defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges are entitled to relief under the law Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statements today on data showing that Department of Education has approved less than on… Continue Reading
09.18.18
Murray: President Trump’s Sabotage Has Increased Chaos, Not Transparency
At latest HELP hearing on health costs, Murray stressed importance of transparency to improve health care Since taking office, President Trump has cut program to help people navigate complexity of health care system from $63 million to $10 million Murray: "Unfortunately, instead of taking steps toward greater transparency, President Trump has only taken steps toward greater chaos by sabotaging our health care system." Murray: "… transparency alone is absolutely not enough. A … Continue Reading
09.17.18
Senate and House Democrats Condemn DeVos for Her Latest Attempt to Put Predatory Corporations and Institutions Over Students
In comment letter, 32 Senate Democrats and 76 House Democrats urge DeVos to suspend sweeping rulemaking process that could undermine protections for students Protections at stake include preventing unaccredited education providers from receiving taxpayer funds and ensuring students are able to receive substantive faculty instruction and interaction Members: "By initiating a process to weaken rules, this Administration is clearly attempting to rewrite the HEA through regulation in a way … Continue Reading
09.14.18
Murray: “Board Is Once Again Attempting To Give Big Corporations The Green Light To Shirk Their Responsibility To Bargain With 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 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposal to rewrite the joint employer standard. The current standard requires all corporations with control over workers' health, safety, hours, pay, or other working conditions to be at the bargaining table with workers. "After a botched attempt to undermine workers' ri… Continue Reading
09.13.18
Senate Democrats Condemn DeVos Proposal to Abandon Student Protections From Predatory Career Training Programs
In comment letter, 31 Senate Democrats urge Secretary DeVos to reverse course on her proposal to rescind Obama Administration "gainful employment" rule Gainful employment is intended to hold predatory career training programs accountable when they fail to serve students and give students upfront information about their debt and employment prospects after graduation Senators: "It is clear that this Department has little interest in protecting students from enrolling in low-quality program… Continue Reading
09.13.18
Murray Reintroduces Bill to Address Retirement Gap, Bolster Women’s Financial Security
Women's Pension Protection Act addresses set of retirement security challenges disproportionately affecting women Women are 80 percent more likely than men to face poverty in retirement Legislation extends spousal protections to prevent one spouse from undermining a couple's retirement resources without the other's knowledge and consent Changes minimum participation standards for long-term, part-time workers to expand access to retirement plans Bill includes grants to address the… Continue Reading
09.12.18
Senator Murray Continues Push for Action Following Announcement Regarding Curbing Tobacco Use Among Youth
Food and Drug Administration issued over 1,300 warnings and fines for illegal sale of e-cigarette products to minors, warned that e-cigarette use among youth has reached "epidemic proportions" FDA sent letters to e-cigarette manufacturers demanding plan to reduce youth use, is considering ban of flavored products Murray: "We have seen before just how damaging an unchecked tobacco industry can be for public health, and just how dangerous it is to let tobacco products that appeal to youths… Continue Reading
09.10.18
Murray Praises Bipartisan Deal on Opioids Response Legislation
Package includes over 70 proposals from five Senate committees Washington, D.C. - Last week, the Senate agreed to vote on the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 (OCRA)-a bipartisan package of over 70 proposals recommended to the full Senate by five committees: Health, Finance, Judiciary, Commerce and Banking-this week. Senator Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the agreement: "The com… Continue Reading
09.06.18
After Secret Document Unveiled Highlighting Kavanaugh’s Views on Roe v. Wade, Murray and Senate Democrats Join Women to Emphasize Stakes of Supreme Court Fight for Women’s Health and Rights
Senators and advocates shared personal stories about the impact of Roe v. Wade and the stakes of Judge Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination Murray: "Women and men across the country are sharing these deeply personal stories because they want to be sure there is no question about what's at stake here. Women's rights are at stake. Women's health is at stake. Women's economic security is at stake. And women's lives are at stake." Murray: "… to be very clear, Judge Kavanaugh personall… Continue Reading
09.05.18
Murray Slams Trump’s Reckless Trade Policies, Calls for A Coherent Policy That Levels the Playing Field for American Workers and Businesses
In hearing, Murray highlights impacts of President Trump's trade war on workers in Washington state, across the country Murray also called for fair trade policies that lift up workers here and abroad Murray: "President Trump is playing a very dangerous game right now and it's the American workers who are being forced to pay the price" **WATCH SENATOR MURRAY'S OPENING STATEMENT HERE** Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Educat… Continue Reading
08.30.18
Senate Democrats Condemn DeVos Proposed Rule As Another Giveaway to Predatory For-Profit Colleges
In comment letter, 45 Senate Democrats urge Secretary DeVos to abandon her proposed "borrower defense" rule Proposed rule is the latest in a number of steps taken by Secretary DeVos to make it harder for cheated or defrauded students to get the relief they are entitled to under law Senators: Proposed rule "fails to protect students and will encourage precisely the kind of abuse that harmed so many borrowers in recent years." Washington, D.C. - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)… Continue Reading
08.30.18
Murray, Senators Urge DeVos to Abandon Proposal to Use Taxpayer Dollars to Arm Teachers
Last week, the New York Times reported that Secretary DeVos is proposing allowing states and school districts to purchase firearms and firearm training with federal funds Senators: "This plan runs counter to the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act and will make our schools more dangerous, and our students less safe" Washington, D.C. - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, 44 Senate Democrats sent a… Continue Reading
08.30.18
TITLE X FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT: Murray Slams Trump Administration Gimmick to Speed Up Damaging Restrictions to Family Planning Program that Will Jeopardize Care for Women
Health Department plans to announce Title X family planning grants with shortened six-month duration, half that of past funding cycles Decision will hasten Trump Administration's ability to implement its damaging proposed changes to the program which will restrict access to care for women and institute a domestic gag rule on care providers State-by-state data from HELP Committee Democratic staff show current impact of Title X Program for women across the country Earlier this week Sen… Continue Reading
08.29.18
Murray: “It’s Shameful And Appalling That Secretary DeVos Is Considering Issuing A Rule Would Make It Harder For Students To Seek Justice”
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 reports that Secretary DeVos is considering proposing a rule that would make it harder for survivors of campus sexual assault to seek justice and lessen the liability of colleges to act on reports of sexual harassment and assault. Last year, Secretary DeVos rescinded Obama Administration-era guidance that provided clear … Continue Reading
