Ranking Member's Press

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Senator Murray wrote to Secretary Azar requesting the Trump Administration examine impacts to women from proposed restrictions to Title X family planning program   Proposed rule would restrict family planning funds and jeopardize access to health care for millions of women   Domestic gag rule proposed by Trump Administration would hinder...

In letter to Chairman Grassley, Murray raises concerns about Kavanaugh’s long record of undermining workers and their right to collectively bargain   Kavanaugh has a long history of hostility to workers and their rights, repeatedly sided with corporations and management as a Judge   Murray is requesting documents from...

Recent Government Accountability Office report outlines multiple flaws with Trump Administration’s management of health care enrollment period   Report found confusion and higher cost related to Trump Administration’s approach led to lower enrollment   Democrats sent letter to Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma pressing...

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement in response to a new health care proposal from Republicans regarding protections for people with pre-existing conditions.   “This Republican gimmick does...

Secretary DeVos is reportedly considering allowing states to use federal grant program to purchase guns for schools   Grant program was created in bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, intended to support students and provide academic enrichment opportunities   Murray previously voiced concerns about Secretary DeVos’ commitment to...

In letter to Chairman Grassley, Murray raises concerns with rushed confirmation timeline and refusal to provide public access to Judge Kavanaugh’s records   No records are publicly available from a period Judge Kavanaugh described as the most formative preparation he had for becoming a judge    Currently available...

“The proposed rule lacks any statutory basis for targeting the process by which individual providers voluntarily contribute to their union or other benefits, such as health insurance, with their own wages.” WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Ranking Member...

Department of Education proposing to scrap an Obama-era rule to protect students from predatory career training programs   By Department’s own estimates, abandoning this rule will cost taxpayers $5.3 billion   Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and...

Top Democrats on Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees overseeing NIH ask Director Collins about efforts to address harassment in facilities that receive NIH funding   Murray, DeLauro request information on past harassment cases and current practices to prevent harassment, and encourage greater accountability   One third of women...

Attorney General Sessions and Secretary of Education DeVos rescinded guidance last month that clarifies to schools how to promote diversity and open doors of opportunity for underrepresented students   Senators raised concerns that actions by Trump Administration are another way to undermine the law, divide communities, and destabilize...

 Murray delivered keynote at Seattle event for Commission focused on ensuring global health security   Murray called for U.S. leadership and investments, highlighted successes of U.S. AIDS/HIV initiative, Global Health Security Agenda, and UN Population Fund   Murray warned about health threats facing families living amid disorder in...

Senator Murray launched a website for people to share stories about the impact Roe v. Wade has had for them and their loved ones   In recent floor speech blasting Judge Kavanaugh’s record against women’s reproductive rights, Senator Murray shared stories of women from before and after Roe v. Wade illustrating the importance of the...

Yesterday, the Senate passed legislation reauthorizing Food and Drug Administration’s authority to collect user fees for animal drugs   The bipartisan legislation is critical to supporting reviews that ensure that animal drugs are safe for people, animals, and the environment   Following concerns about the overuse of antibiotics,...