Ranking Member's Press
Murray Statement on Court Decision Supporting Basic Protections for Home Care Workers
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to uphold the expansion of minimum wage and overtime protections to home care professionals. "This decision is welcome news to home care professionals in my home state of Washington and across the country who deserve the economic security that comes with minimum wa… Continue Reading
08.14.15
Murray Statement on Social Security’s 80th Anniversary
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Social Security Act. "Eighty years ago, with the stroke of a pen, Franklin D. Roosevelt forever changed what it meant to be a senior in America, so that after a lifetime of hard work, families had a solid base of economic security and stability in retirement. It gave seni… Continue Reading
08.10.15
Murray, DeLauro, Scott Urge President Obama to Expand Access to Paid Sick Days through Executive Order
Executive Order could guarantee access to paid sick days to 28 million federal contractors (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who has introduced the Healthy Families Act in every Congress since 2004 and whose home state of Connecticut was the first in the nation to ensure service workers had access to paid sick days, and Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott… Continue Reading
08.06.15
Murray, Scott Applaud New Worker Protections Limiting Harmful Beryllium Exposure
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), the ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, praised a new standard to reduce workplace exposure to beryllium, a mineral that has been linked to lung disease and, in some cases, been fatal. In addition to limiting beryllium exposure, the proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Labor's … Continue Reading
08.05.15
MURRAY, WARREN, AND BLUMENTHAL REQUEST INSPECTOR GENERAL EXAMINATION OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S STUDENT LOAN SERVICERS' COMPLIANCE REVIEW
Senators raise doubts about whether ED officials adequately reported results of their Servicemembers Civil Relief Act reviews A copy of the letter is available here A copy of the Warren staff report is available here WASHINGTON, DC - Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today sent a letter to the Education Department's (ED) Office of Inspector General (O… Continue Reading
08.05.15
Murray: Congress Should Break Down Barriers That Hold Students Back; Ensure All Students Can Succeed in Higher Education
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a hearing on Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Opportunities to Improve Student Success. In her remarks, Murray said she would continue to be focused on making sure more students from all walks of life have clear pathways to success in higher education, and she called for removing barriers that hold many students back, including rising college c… Continue Reading
08.05.15
Senate Republicans Block Murray, Warren Effort to Move Forward on Legislation to Support Workers
*WATCH: Murray, Warren call for moving forward on legislation to help working families, Republicans object* (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) asked unanimous consent to move forward on legislation to expand economic security and stability for working families across the country. The Senators asked to call up legislation to raise the minimum wage, ensure access to paid sick days, and crack down on scheduling abuses, but were blocked by Senate… Continue Reading
08.04.15
Murray Highlights Democrats’ Efforts to Support Workers in 114th Congress
Murray: "In Congress, we must act to give workers some much needed relief. We need to grow our economy from the middle out, not the top down. And we should make sure our country works for all Americans, not just the wealthiest few." (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor on Democrats' efforts to date in the 114th Congress to expand economic security and stability for… Continue Reading
08.03.15
Murray on GOP Attempt to Defund Planned Parenthood, Attack Women’s Health: Not On Our Watch
Murray: "Political attacks and threats to shut down the government aren't going to get in the way of women's access to the care they need." (Washington, D.C) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee delivered remarks on the Senate floor ahead of a vote on proceeding to a bill that would deny women access to health care by defunding Planned Parenthood. In her remarks, Murray stated that Planned Parenthood i… Continue Reading
07.30.15
House, Senate Education Leaders Discuss Efforts to Replace No Child Left Behind
Agree to recommend House Chairman John Kline to chair the conference committee to reconcile House- and Senate-passed bills WASHINGTON, July 30 - House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.), Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Senate Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and House Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) today met to discuss proceeding with a conference committee to resolve differences in the Hou… Continue Reading
07.29.15
Murray on Campus Sexual Assault: “The Status Quo Is Completely Unacceptable”
Murray: "Simply put, in colleges and universities across the country, basic human rights are being violated." (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a HELP Committee hearing on Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Combating Campus Sexual Assault. In her remarks, Murray discussed the fact that sexual violence on campus is a widespread, growing, and unacceptable problem, and expressed he… Continue Reading
07.29.15
Alexander, Murray Introduce Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act
Bipartisan bill will improve programs to increase awareness, prevention, and early identification of mental health conditions WASHINGTON, D.C., July 29 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today introduced the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, a bill to continue and improve programs that help states and local communities in suicide prevention, helping children recover from traumatic events, mental health awareness f… Continue Reading
07.29.15
Senate Passes Hatch, Murray Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary
(Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution from U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. "As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we recognize it as a special kind of civil rights law because it not only prohibits discrimination but it requires reasonable accommodation," said Senator Ha… Continue Reading
07.29.15
Murray Statement on the 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, which were signed into law on July 30, 1965. "Fifty years ago, President Johnson signed into law a promise to our nation's seniors and low-income families that they would be able to access the health care they need to live longer, healthier lives, and since then Medicare and… Continue Reading
07.25.15
Murray Statement Commemorating 25th Anniversary of Landmark Civil Rights Legislation for Americans with Disabilities
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990. "In the 25 years that have passed since the ADA's signing, doors to equality and inclusion have opened for Americans with disabilities, but while we celebrate this anniversary and the progress that we have… Continue Reading
07.22.15
Murray: Innovation in Higher Education Should Work to Break Down Barriers Students Face
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a HELP Committee hearing on Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Exploring Barriers and Opportunities within Innovation. In her remarks, Murray expressed interest in innovative ways to help break down the significant barriers students face in higher education, including completing their degrees or credentials and finding affordable options. However… Continue Reading
07.21.15
Murray: Updating Overtime Protections is Good for Families and the Economy
Murray: "Boosting wages and expanding economic stability and security is good for families, and it's good for our economy." (Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of the Obama Administration's proposed rules to restore overtime protections for millions of Americans. In her remarks, Murray highlighted that updating overtime protections will reward hard work … Continue Reading
07.20.15
Over 100 Democrats in House, Senate Send Letter to President Obama in Support of New Overtime Rule
Change will help reduce income inequality, jump start local economies WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced last month that the Department of Labor (DOL) intends to raise the salary threshold below which workers must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. Today, nearly 150 Democrats across both chambers of Congress-led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03)-sent a letter to the President in strong support of the rule. Rank… Continue Reading
07.17.15
Senate Passes Older Americans Act, Bipartisan Legislation to Support Social and Nutrition Services for Nearly 12 Million U.S. Seniors
This week marks the 50th anniversary of signing of Older Americans Act into law WASHINGTON, D.C., July 17 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), with Senate health committee members, Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) commended Senate passage yesterday of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation to support… Continue Reading
07.16.15
Senate Passes Alexander, Murray Bill to Fix No Child Left Behind
Bipartisan bill to fix K-12 education law that expired seven years ago passes Senate by a vote of 81 to 17 WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16 - The Senate today passed by a vote of 81 to 17 the Every Child Achieves Act, the bipartisan agreement by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to fix the No Child Left Behind law, which is seven years overdue. Alexander said: "Last week, Newsweek Magazine called this the 'law that everyone wa… Continue Reading
