Ranking Member's Press
As U.S. Women’s National Team Returns Home With Their Fourth World Cup Championship, Senator Murray Introduces Legislation to Ensure Equitable Pay For Athletes
Inspired by the tremendous achievements and outspoken activism of the U.S. Women's National Team, the Athletics Fair Pay Act would help to ensure that Olympic and amateur athletes are paid equitably, regardless of gender In addition to the bill, Senator Murray joined every woman in the Senate to invite the U.S. Women's National Team to meet with them during their upcoming trip to the Capitol Senator Murray: "Not only did the U.S. Women's National Team just dominate on the world stage in … Continue Reading
07.10.19
Murray, Kaine Press Department of Justice to Publicize Findings of Investigation into Acosta’s Sweetheart Deal for Jeffrey Epstein
In letter to Department of Justice OPR, Murray and Kaine requested an update into investigation of then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta's sweetheart deal with serial sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein In 2007, Acosta's office approved Epstein to avoid federal prosecution for sex trafficking involving dozens of underage victims In February, a federal judge ruled that prosecutors in Acosta's office violated the law by failing to notify Epstein's victims of a non-prosecution agreement Murray an… Continue Reading
07.09.19
Murray Slams Republicans for Bringing Partisan Lawsuit to Strip Families of Health Care, Scrap Patient Protections, and Drive Up Costs for Millions
Today, Republicans are arguing in court to strip away health care families gained through the exchanges and Medicaid expansion, scrap protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and more Speaking on the Senate floor, Murray shared stories from Washington state showing what a Republican victory would mean for families across the country Murray: "For these families, and so many other patients living with a pre-existing condition, the lawsuit Republicans are bringing today is a mat… Continue Reading
07.09.19
Senator Murray Calls for Trump Labor Secretary Acosta to Resign
Senator Murray: "This is an appalling example of what happens when powerful men protect one another and allow cycles of abuse to continue without any consequences" (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 statement below following Jeffrey Epstein's federal indictment on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. In 2007, Secretary Acosta, then the U.S. Attorney in Florida, allo… Continue Reading
07.08.19
Murray: Congressional Budget Office Report Confirms Millions of Workers Would Get A Raise
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 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis on raising minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The CBO's report concluded that 17 million workers would receive a raise and 1.3 million people would be lifted out of poverty. Previous economic studies have concluded that raising the minimum wage will increase wages for l… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Murray: “Secretary DeVos’ Repeal of the Gainful Employment Rule Is A Gift to Predatory Programs and For-Profit Colleges”
Department of Education withdrew the Obama Administration-era "gainful employment" rule, which will hurt students and cost taxpayers at least $6.2 billion over ten years 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 Department of Education's final repeal of the "gainful employment" rule. Last year, Secretary DeVos announced the Department would abandon th… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Outraged by Trump Administration’s Inhumane Treatment of Children and Families at the Border, Senators Murray and Wyden Demand Accountability
Senator Murray and Wyden slam Trump Administration for abhorrent treatment of children and families in government care, demand briefing from Administration Washington Post: Children in Trump Administration custody have been forced to go without toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, showers, appropriate care or supervision, or even adequate sleep. HuffPost: When lawyers visited one Trump Administration detention facility, four children under age three were found in such poor health they… Continue Reading
06.27.19
Murray Praises Progress for Families, Calls for Further Cooperation on Larger Health Threats Like President Trump’s Attacks on Families’ Health Care
Ahead of Committee vote to advance her bipartisan health care costs legislation, Senator Murray called on her Republican colleagues to join Democrats to tackle larger health care issues like President Trump's health care sabotage Murray: "These are all promising steps that will help families and patients across the country, but I want to stress that while these steps are good-they are absolutely not enough." Murray: "Repairing the train can only get you so far if you are pulling up the … Continue Reading
06.27.19
Murray Demands Trump-Pence Administration Reverse Course and Uphold Protections Against Discrimination In Health Care
During Pride month, Murray and 30 Democratic senators sent a letter to Secretary Azar calling on the Department to maintain protections for the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of color, and other people who face health care discrimination Senators: "No one should have to fear losing or being denied health care because of who they are or the health care decisions they make." Senators: "This proposed rule-predicated on prejudice-would willfully encourage discrimination against transgende… Continue Reading
06.26.19
Murray Opposes Department of Labor Proposal to Allow Corporations to Abdicate Their Responsibility to Workers
Murray submitted comment opposing Department of Labor's "joint employer" proposal, which would allow corporations to shirk their responsibility to workers Murray urged the Department to withdraw the proposal, citing the harm it would cause to workers and children Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, submitted a comment to the Department of Labor urging Secretary Acosta to withdraw the "j… Continue Reading
06.25.19
Murray: Trump Administration Apprenticeship Proposal is “A Giveaway to Private Corporations and 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 today released the following statement on the Department of Labor's proposed rule to create a system of duplicative, lower-quality "industry-recognized apprenticeship programs." The proposed rule stems from an executive order signed by President Trump in 2017 to create non-registered apprenticeship programs that would undermine existing, high-quality registere… Continue Reading
06.24.19
Murray, Slotkin Lead Colleagues In Honoring Anniversary of Title IX, Landmark Civil Rights Law Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education
47 Years Ago, the passage of Title IX created unprecedented opportunities for women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people to find success both in academics and athletics Members of Congress introduce resolution honoring the anniversary, reaffirm commitment to strengthening Title IX and ensuring equity in the education system Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Elissa Slot… Continue Reading
06.21.19
Murray, Scott Ask Government Watchdog to Look at Fallout of Trump Administration’s Decision to Abandon Investor Protection Rule Following Fifth Circuit Order One Year Ago
Murray and Scott asked GAO to look at how the financial services industry has responded since the Trump Administration abandoned a rule requiring financial advisors to put their retirement clients' interests before their own following the Fifth Circuit's decision Murray and Scott requested investigation on anniversary of the Fifth Circuit's Order to vacate the Obama-era fiduciary standard that the Trump Administration declined to defend despite a Circuit split Members: "In the past yea… Continue Reading
06.21.19
Ten Years After Landmark Legislation to Fight Tobacco Addiction, Murray Presses FDA for Stronger Response to Threats
Senator Murray and 16 Democrats wrote to the Food and Drug Administration urging "proactive and expedient action" to protect kids from tobacco products Letter comes ahead of ten year anniversary of the landmark Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found one in four high school students using e-cigarettes as of 2018 Senators: "This anniversary offers an important reminder of the serious threat posed to p… Continue Reading
06.18.19
During Pride Month, Murray Urges Senate to Reject Trump Judicial Nominee With Hateful and Extreme Anti-LGBTQIA+ and Anti-Women Record
Senator Murray took to the Senate floor to denounce the Trump Administration's nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk to the federal bench Kacsmaryk has a history of targeting vulnerable communities, including fighting tooth and nail against LBGTQIA+ protections Kacsmaryk has also been a fervent crusader against women's reproductive rights, including access to birth control Murray: "Mr. Kacsmaryk is another example of an extreme choice by President Trump to jam courts with individuals who… Continue Reading
06.18.19
Murray, DeLauro Statement on Federal Data on How Often Students Are Secluded or Restrained
Washington, D.C. - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, today released the following statements regarding a new report from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) on federal data on restraint and seclusion collected by the Department of Educa… Continue Reading
06.18.19
Murray Pushes to Continue Momentum, Tackle Greater Health Care Challenges, as Committee Considers Bipartisan Bill to Lower Health Care Costs
Senate HELP Committee holds hearing on bipartisan legislation to lower health care costs Murray highlighted how the bipartisan legislation would take steps to respond to issues like surprise billing, drug costs, vaccine hesitancy, maternal mortality, and more Senator Murray also made clear the biggest health care issues still need to be addressed, and called for Republicans to join Democrats to address President Trump's health care sabotage Murray: "The bill we are discussing today … Continue Reading
06.13.19
#FreeThePill: Murray, Pressley, Ocasio-Cortez, Bera, Hill Introduce Legislation in Push for Affordable Over-the-Counter Birth Control
Democrats make clear to Republicans any meaningful effort to increase access to over-the-counter birth control must ensure affordability Legislation issues challenge to Republicans who have yet to support ensuring any FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control is covered by insurance without cost-sharing and without requiring a prescription FreeThePill: "1 in 3 women who have tried to get prescription birth control face obstacles." Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murr… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Murray Slams Republicans’ Attempts to Sabotage Medicaid and Jeopardize Health Care for Millions of People
Murray and Democrats take to the Senate floor to call out Republicans' efforts to undermine Medicaid and health care for millions of people Murray: "People across the country have been absolutely clear they want us to fight for families struggling with high health care costs, and help make sure everyone in our country can get quality, affordable care. Unfortunately, Republicans so far have been equally clear in their answer-we don't care." Murray: "State after state has worked to expand … Continue Reading
06.11.19
Murray, Brown, Scott, Takano Reintroduce Bill To Expand Overtime Pay For Millions Of Workers
Bill Would Make Millions of Workers Newly Eligible for Overtime Pay WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Mark Takano (D-CA) today reintroduced legislation to make millions of American workers newly eligible for overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours a week, providing economic security to millions of working familie… Continue Reading
