Chair's Press

Senator Murray: “This rule is yet another example of Secretary DeVos keeping relief from those who need it most in order to serve her partisan privatization agenda.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the...

Proposed rule from Labor Department would discourage financial advisors from considering how investments accomplish environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) good   Labor Department proposal ignores findings that show ESG investments outperform traditional investments   Senator Murray: “We know that by focusing on the...

Senator Murray slammed the Trump Administration for pressing ahead with its effort to strike down health care for tens of millions of people during a pandemic   A Republican victory in court would strip health care from tens of millions of people, end protections for pre-existing conditions, increase heath care costs, and more   The...

Trump Administration is ending federal funding for 13 COVID-19 testing sites at the end of the month   Move comes as several states continue to see COVID-19 cases increase at record breaking rates   Senator Murray: “The pandemic is clearly getting worse in states nationwide—and instead of trying harder to stop it, President...

At HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray warned her colleagues that immediate action is still needed to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic   Senator Murray: “I want to be absolutely clear from the start: reflecting on how we prepare for the next crisis is no substitute for responding to the crisis at hand, which has infected over 2...

Recent reporting indicates that EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon unilaterally overhauled the EEOC’s conciliation process to addresses workplace harassment and discrimination—without consideration from the full EEOC   New pilot would make it harder for EEOC to hold employers accountable for workplace harassment and...

Senator Murray and Congresswoman DeLauro press Secretary Azar on Trump Administration’s removal of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) employees from COVID-19 vaccine project leadership   Removal of BARDA employees from leadership positions undermines scientists and threatens to create unnecessary delays in the...

Millions of FAFSA applicants and student loan borrowers do not file taxes and thus have struggled to access the direct payments made available through the CARES Act   In a letter, Murray, Wyden push Trump Administration to conduct public awareness campaign to reach all eligible students and their families   Senators Murray, Wyden:...

Senator Murray: “ The reports from the HHS inspector general lay bare the troubling gaps in safety and reporting protocols that are far too often leaving children under federal care in harm’s way.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...

Senator Murray and Congresswoman DeLauro press Secretary Azar on Trump Administration’s slow process for disbursing funds for nursing home oversight   CARES Act provided the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services $200 million for COVID-19 response—at least half of which is to be spent on supporting oversight of nursing...

Trump Administration’s updated report on COVID-19 demographic data remains incomplete and still falls short of what Congress required   Report shows that race and ethnicity data is still missing in over half of COVID-19 case reports   Report fails to include data on sex and geographic regions   Administration’s previous...

Murray slams decision to weaken protections against discrimination in health care during a pandemic and amid nationwide cry for action against racism   Murray: “This is presidential malpractice… We need a leader focused on keeping everyone safe and healthy. Instead, President Trump chose to focus on politics with a...

Senator Murray: “As students across the country are struggling to make ends meet in the face of unprecedented financial challenges, Secretary DeVos’ efforts to deny some much-needed aid is cruel.”    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...

At HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray pressed K-12 education leaders on their plans to address growing inequity and keep schools safe   Senator Murray calls for more federal funding as schools face enormous budget cuts   Senator Murray: “…whether schools are able to open physically, operate virtually, or use a hybrid of...

Recent report shows that a fraudulent crime network has been filing unemployment claims   Murray, Wyden, Democrats:  “We all share a common goal of ensuring the integrity of the unemployment insurance program … However, any long-term solution will require additional guidance, resources, and support from the...

At HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray pressed higher education leaders to ensure that in their COVID-19 response, institutions put public health first and address disproportionate impacts of the virus on Black students and staff and other communities of color   Senator Murray: “We must recognize and address the disproportionate...

Murray urges Trump Administration to reverse course after it announced testing lead would step down with no replacement planned   Trump Administration plans to eliminate position even as the U.S. remains far off from what experts say is needed to safely reopen   Move is latest example of Trump Administration failing to lead on testing,...

Secretary DeVos’ new rule governing how schools handle allegations of sexual harassment and assault will weaken protections for survivors   Despite the impact of the coronavirus crisis on schools across the country, Secretary DeVos gave schools only 100 days to implement the harmful rule   Senators: “Not only does your...

Murray questions Trump health officials about decision to award non-competitive, multimillion dollar contract that doesn’t address critical gaps in COVID-19 data While country still lacks detailed information on tests, supplies, production and manufacturing gaps, and comprehensive demographic data, new contract duplicates existing CDC...

(Washington, D.C.) —Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Bob Casey (D-PA) in introducing the Child Care is Essential Act, to address the child care crisis exacerbated by...