Ranking Member's Press

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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In the report, Murray outlines several policy solutions that would help women better prepare for retirement  Murray: “The retirement crisis is especially acute for women” (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act, legislation that would establish physical activity recommendations for children and adults. The bipartisan legislation would call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) submitted remarks for the record in support of a bipartisan amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act that would address inequalities in educational resources. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 46-50. “While...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act, legislation that would establish physical activity recommendations for children and adults. The bipartisan legislation would call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor supporting an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act to strengthen accountability measures. Murray noted that the amendment from Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Cory...

Senate Republicans defeat amendment to protect LGBT students   Murray: “As we debate our nation’s K through 12 education bill, we need to do everything we can to prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking...

Murray: “If we are serious about closing education gaps in grades K through 12, and if we are truly committed to making sure all students have the chance to succeed, we must invest in quality early childhood education.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member...

(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 on the administration’s definition of a closely-held corporation following the Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores,...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), released the following statement on the House of Representatives passing the 21st Century Cures Act. “I’m pleased that the House has taken a bipartisan step forward by passing the 21st Century Cures Act as...

Murray: “…so many girls across the country have spent this week dreaming of, one day, being one of those women champions they saw on television last weekend. Let’s make sure they know Congress has their back” (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor, opposing efforts to amend the Every Child Achieves Act to use federal education funds for private school vouchers. In her speech, Murray highlighted that as Congress works to fix...