Chair's Press

Senator Murray: “Democrats understand that in the same way we need roads and bridges, helping working families manage caregiving responsibilities, ensuring people with disabilities and older Americans get the care they need to live independently, and investing in the home care workforce are critical parts of our economic...

HELP Committee held a hearing today on health inequities and the COVID-19 pandemic    Senator Murray: “The reality of health inequities is that how you live, and even whether you live or die in a pandemic, is impacted by your race, your income, your zip code, your disability, your gender identity, your sexual orientation, and these...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, at the direction of Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is requesting input from stakeholders on policy ideas on workforce development.   The Senators announced they intend to work together to develop bipartisan...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), reintroduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Care (EACH) Act, a bicameral bill to guarantee...

Senate confirmed Dr. Levine in a 52-48 vote, and Dr. Murthy in a 57-43 vote   Senator Murray: “Dr. Levine has been on the frontlines of this pandemic, which is why she knows firsthand what our states and communities need from the Department of Health and Human Services.”   Senator Murray: “I’m pleased to have Dr....

Senator Murray urged colleagues to support Marten’s nomination and build on the progress of the American Rescue Plan to get students safely back in the classroom as quickly as possible   Senator Murray stressed the importance of a fully-staffed Department of Education in order to address the systemic inequities that have been made worse...

EEOC “conciliation rule” helps employers delay or deny workers justice when they’ve experienced discrimination on the job   New, unnecessary red tape would make the EEOC less responsive to workers’ claims   Murray-Scott resolution of disapproval would rescind this unfair, anti-worker rule and restore a fair...

The Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act develops national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, strengthens the sexual assault examiner workforce, and expands access to sexual assault examination services   ***WATCH: PRESS CONFERENCE INCLUDING SENATORS MURRAY AND MURKOSWKI, REP. JAYAPAL, LEAH...

Senate confirms Marty Walsh to lead Department of Labor by a bipartisan vote of 68-29   Senator Murray: “Our country cannot fully recover from this crisis, unless we begin to change that by rebuilding a stronger, fairer economy. And that starts by making sure we have a Secretary of Labor who will actually champion workers and...

President Biden announced his intent to nominate Dawn O’Connell to serve as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response O’Connell is a Senior Counselor at HHS, and has been a key advisor on the U.S. response to COVID-19, Zika, Ebola, and other public health threats   Murray: “Dawn O’Connell has helped guide our...

Senate confirms Xavier Becerra to lead Department of Health and Human Services by a bipartisan vote of 50-49   Senator Murray: “We have our work cut out for us. But in Attorney General Becerra—we have a Secretary of Health who is up to the job.”   ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FULL...

HELP Committee holds first hearing with Biden Administration COVID task force members: NIH’s Dr. Fauci, CDC’s Dr. Walensky, HHS’ Dr. Kessler, and FDA’s Dr. Marks   Senator Murray highlights how the American Rescue Plan and the work of the Biden Administration has finally put the federal COVID response on track in...

Dr. Murthy advanced out of committee by a bipartisan vote of 16-6   Dr. Levine advanced out of committee by a bipartisan vote of 13-9   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 16-6 to advance the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to be U.S. Surgeon General and 13-9 to...

Senator Murray urged colleagues to support Julie Su’s nomination and build on the progress of the American Rescue Plan to support workers and ensure our economy works for everyone   Senator Murray: “Secretary Su’s record as a champion for workers is long and clear, and the need to confirm her is obvious, and...

Report confirms cyber threats pose major risk to the over one hundred million Americans with a private defined contribution retirement plan, like a 401k   As of 2018, 106 million people were participating in private sector employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans with assets of nearly $6.3 trillion   GAO recommends...

Murray: “Financial security is about planning for the long term, and the Trump Administration’s requirement that people doing that ignore environmental, social, and governance criteria made about as much sense as telling someone planning a trip they can’t look at a map.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator...

Senator Murray re-introduces Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA) to establish a dedicated $4.5 billion fund to build and maintain nation’s public health infrastructure at every level   Bill comes as Trust for America’s Health releases annual report on nation’s preparedness for public health emergencies,...

Senator Murray: “As workers continue to bear the brunt of this pandemic, ensuring they can stand together and fight for better pay, quality health care, a safer workplace, and a secure retirement has never been more important.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education,...

Murray emphasized how investments in testing, vaccines, and health care in the American Rescue Plan will help to end the pandemic—but that more work lies ahead   Murray made clear vaccine equity remains a pressing issue, and asked witnesses about how to make sure vaccines reach communities of color and people with...

The American Rescue Plan, which the Senate passed today, includes $49 billion for testing, tracing, and sequencing to identify new variants of COVID-19 and slow the spread   Bill also includes $14 billion to improve vaccine distribution and administration, and $50 billion through FEMA to ramp up national vaccination program   American...