Chair's Press

Without the strong accountability required for public schools, private schools receiving vouchers allow struggling and at-risk students to fall through the cracks   Privatization programs particularly hurt students with disabilities and students in rural communities   (Washington, D.C.) –Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking...

Breast, ovarian, cervical cancer deaths occur disproportionately among women who lack adequate preventive services   Today, Senators introduce new legislation, the Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2017, to increase availability of preventive, life-saving cancer screenings   This bill would create new grants to expand preventive...

Senators reintroduce SAVINGS Act of 2017—bill to allow taxpayers to continue receiving IRS refunds in form of U.S. paper savings bonds   These bonds are a critical savings opportunity for workers without a checking or savings account   *Savings bond program at risk to be eliminated*   If eliminated, these bonds will only be...

Senate GOP rejected requests by Senate Democrats to refocus today’s FDA hearing, discuss Trumpcare instead—LINK   At hearing, Murray called attempts by Senate GOP to silence debate “completely appalling”   Murray warned Senate GOP they are impacting Committee’s ability to work together moving...

  (Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement following reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Secretary Tom Price, has eliminated questions about LGBTQ people...

Senators: We call on President Trump and the Department of Labor to demonstrate their commitment to put retirement savers first   (Washington, D.C.) – Led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, 15 Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Acting...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on press reports that HHS Secretary Tom Price’s medical stock trades may be under investigation by the U.S. Attorney in New York:   “These reports raise...

GOP is silencing debate on Trumpcare—jamming bill through the House; aiming to bypass Senate hearings     With Senate HELP committee already scheduled to hold a hearing next week, Senate HELP Dems call on Chairman Alexander to dedicate hearing to Trumpcare instead   Senators say holding any other health policy hearing would be...

Republicans try to gain support for teetering Trumpcare by promising future “phases” and a “three-pronged approach,” Murray makes clear the time to back away from Trumpcare is now   Republican Senators have already trashed GOP’s three-pronged approach as “political spin” and “the sucker’s...

President Trump has previously committed to “invest in women’s health,” supported Planned Parenthood   In new letter, Murray says budget is his “opportunity to put these claims into action”   Murray lays out principles for budget—protecting access to reproductive health care, family planning health...

41 million workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, are forced to take time off or risk their jobs when they are ill   Healthy Families Act would help our workers, protect public health, and strengthen our economy   (Washington, D.C.) –Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...

Contrary to claims made by Sec. Price, President Trump, CBO confirms GOP bill would rip coverage away from millions of people   In new letter, Murray presses Sec. Price for answers on “efforts to spread misinformation”   NEW—White House predicts even more people would lose coverage—26 million over next decade,...

Senators argue delay hurts students and needlessly stalls important protections for taxpayers   WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to explain the Department’s decision to delay the implementation of the Gainful Employment (GE)...

Secretary DeVos’ new state plan template does not compel public input, which is required in the Every Student Succeeds Act   Murray and Scott: “Republicans may have voted to step away from our bipartisan education law, but Secretary DeVos is still obligated to comply with the requirements of ESSA and implement it to ensure that...

New CBO report—House GOP bill will result in 14 million more people uninsured in 2018—rising to 21 million in 2020, 24 million in 2026   Murray: “The facts are in, and Democrats will make sure Republicans can’t hide from them”   (Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the...

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the selection of Dr. Scott Gottlieb to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).    “Whether in the grocery store, the medicine...

Mylan has faced “well-deserved scrutiny” for radical EpiPen hikes   Murray, Senate Democrats repeatedly pressed Mylan and the FTC for answers   FTC now examining Mylan’s business practices, efforts to block approval of generic EpiPen competition—LINK   Senators write to “commend” the FTC and urge...

Decision by President Trump, Sec. DeVos to revoke transgender guidance has caused “chaos” for educators seeking to comply with Title IX law—LINK   Due to revocation, SCOTUS has sent transgender “bathroom rights” case back to lower court—LINK   Today, Senators seek answers from Sec. DeVos for...

Senate passed resolution to roll back flexibilities for accountability, reporting standards and state plan submission requirements   Murray: “Today, Republicans stepped away from this bipartisan agreement, weakened the Every Student Succeeds Act, and retreated from the law’s commitment to strong federal guardrails we agreed to put...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after meeting with President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, Alexander Acosta. Acosta is President Trump’s second nominee for Secretary of Labor. His first nominee, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination under fierce opposition...