Chair's Press

Senator Murray: College Accreditation and State Authorization Rule “Undermines Quality Assurance and Oversight of Higher Education,” calls for issue to be resolved in comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act Washington D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health,...

Tomorrow, Democrats will force Republicans to vote on legislation to reverse the Trump administration’s rule encouraging states to promote junk health insurance plans and threaten pre-existing condition protections   Republicans will have to go on the record and show whether they stand with patients and families, or the Trump...

In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Democrats slam the ongoing delay and reported weakening of Trump Administration’s promised action to address epidemic of youth tobacco use   E-cigarette use among teens continues to grow, largely fueled by flavored products   Senators: “[The Trump Administration] must not bow to industry...

Letter requests information regarding Menashi’s role in the case against the Department of Education that has led to a contempt citation against Secretary DeVos for failure to comply with a court order to stop collecting payments from defrauded student borrowers   Menashi served as Acting General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for...

In two letters to NLRB members, Murray criticizes decisions undermining confidence and trust in agency charged with protecting workers’ rights   In letter to Chairman Ring, Murray criticizes unprecedented break from rulemaking standards, urges NLRB to act fairly and impartially   In letter to Board Member Kaplan, Murray demands...

Senate Democrats will be forcing a vote on legislation to reverse President Trump’s rule encouraging states to promote junk insurance plans and undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions   Murray: “I am here today to say that Republicans’ transparent health care charade is coming to an...

Senators urge HHS Secretary Alex Azar to reverse the policy and demand more information on why HHS decided to implement it   Policy could block up to two thirds of those applying for lawful permanent residence   Senators: “President Trump’s proclamation undermines the values that we stand for and are embedded in our health...

New report shows improvements needed to thoroughly assess financial preparedness of servicemembers and efficacy of financial training efforts     New retirement system implemented last year increases importance of providing servicemembers with adequate resources, training, and information on financial management   Murray: “Our...

Senator Murray condemns Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for abandoning collection of data intended to help fight wage gap, wage discrimination   Murray: “People expect the EEOC to hold companies accountable for pay discrimination, not help them sweep it under the rug.”   Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S....

    GAO report offers recommendations on how Department of Education can help student parents access federal financial aid to pay for child care   Contrary to research, Department of Education rejects all three recommendations   Senators: “It is time for the Department to abandon its attacks on student parents and the...

Senator Murray continues pushing Department of Labor to explain hasty move to reorganize Employee Benefits Security Administration   Latest letter raises new questions following evasive response to Murray’s recent request for answers   Murray: Department’s woefully inadequate response “failed to provide any of the...

Murray: “President Trump's Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia is already proving exactly what I feared: that he'll really serve as a Secretary of Corporate Interests”   Murray: “Proposed rule seems to betray the compromise language Congress put into law just last year”   Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S....

Students in foster care may change schools frequently, impacting their academic achievement   Report shows federal support can help state-level agencies ensure that students in foster care remain at their school even when their foster care placement changes   Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member...

In a speech on the Senate floor, Murray urges the Senate to take up FUTURE Act and send it to the President’s desk     Murray: “Let's not threaten the funding for some of our most valuable institutions. We should pass the act right away. And then continue our committee's discussions.”   Murray: “Since the...

  At Senate HELP Committee markup, Senator Murray reiterates that Trump’s labor nominee is the wrong choice for workers   Vote comes after confirmation hearing where Scalia avoided supporting policies designed to protect workers, defended work for corporate clients undermining worker rights   Murray: “Unfortunately, last...

    Murray slams Trump Administration for finalizing overtime rule which represents a huge step back from the Obama Administration’s proposal   Trump Administration’s rule denies millions of workers the overtime pay they deserve, and pays them less compared to Obama Administration proposal   Earlier this year,...

Murray, Scott, question structural changes to Employee Benefits Security Administration, request delay until the impact on the millions of retirees, workers, and families that EBSA helps are better understood   Letter requests explanation for purpose of proposed changes and analysis conducted to inform the reorganization plan   Members:...

Washington Post: “Eugene Scalia … faced harsh questioning during his confirmation hearing on Thursday as Democrats criticized the former lobbyist’s record defending corporations in legal matters against workers and regulators.”   Bloomberg Law: “Labor secretary nominee Eugene Scalia tried to fend off...

Murray: The Senate must “pass the bipartisan FUTURE Act instead of playing politics with valuable and under-resourced institutions.”   Murray: The FUTURE Act will “give us time to work out a permanent fix for funding for HBCUs, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions through a comprehensive HEA...

Murray: “Instead of nominating a Secretary of Labor, President Trump has nominated a Secretary of Corporate Interests.”   Murray highlights Scalia’s long, troubling record attacking workers’ rights and protecting corporations   Scalia has fought to overturn and undermine laws protecting workers’ health and...