Chair's Press

New report shows 5.4 million laid off workers became uninsured during first months of COVID-19 pandemic   Finding underscores the stakes of partisan lawsuit where President Trump and Republicans are fighting to strip health care from four times as many people Murray and Democrats have urged Republicans to work on policies to ensure access to...

New white paper from Senate Democrats outlines policies in eight areas crucial to ensuring one or more safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines that are produced, distributed, and administered widely enough to end the COVID-19 pandemic   Policies aim to avoid repeat of the mistakes that have plagued the Trump Administration’s testing efforts...

Trump Administration proposal would let legacy health care plans increase patients’ health care costs   Senator Murray: “This is no time to leave patients with higher health care bills they can’t afford, and yet every move from President Trump makes clear that’s the cornerstone of his health care...

Interviews with COVID-19 test manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, laboratories, industry associations, and state officials reveal chaotic, uncoordinated federal response led to avoidable shortages of certain supplies, delays, and mistakes   30-page report warns supply chain issues could make it impossible to expand—or even...

Recent Supreme Court decision found that the Civil Rights Act protections against sex discrimination include discrimination motivated by gender identity or sexual orientation   Reasoning used in the Court’s decision applies with equal force to Title IX and its protections against sex discrimination in education   Democrats:...

Senator Murray and Casey announce plan to reintroduce Protect Access to Birth Control Act, bill would stop Trump Administration rules undermining access to birth control   Move comes on heels of SCOTUS decision upholding Trump rule, announcement House cosponsors will reintroduce legislation as well   Murray:  “We can’t...

Senator Murray: “As a mom, and a grandmother, the thought of using students’ safety as a bargaining chip is truly appalling—and  I hope that Senate Republicans don’t stoop to that level just because the President wants to.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking...

In Bostock v. Clayton County, the Supreme Court ruled that federal anti-sex discrimination law covers discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation   In new letter, HELP Dems urge Azar to rescind harmful rule rolling back protections for LGBTQIA+ patients under Section 1557 of the ACA because it conflicts with Supreme...

Senator Murray:  “I’m incredibly disappointed by the Court’s decision that leaves many who can’t afford birth control on their own, but I’m as determined as ever to keep up the fight for reproductive rights”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the...

Senator Murray sharply criticized the Trump Administration for announcing the U.S. will withdraw from the World Health Organization   Move undermines global fights against COVID-19, polio, measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and more, and will leave the U.S. less prepared against future health threats   Senator Murray: “This is an...

Senator Murray and Representative Pallone criticize President Trump’s politicization of public health and use of anti-science rhetoric in response to the COVID-19 pandemic   President Trump continues to undermine scientists and public health authorities, said COVID-19 would “disappear” as cases across the country...

Murray and Scott: “The DOL owes it to the public to take the time to meaningfully engage with people about their concerns rather than rushing through a rule that would seriously damage the retirement security of people across the country.”   30-day comment period is less than half of what similar proposals were granted in the...

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on reports that the White House will release a proposal to advance their ideological privatization agenda, including direct funding to private schools and...

Senator Murray: “As public schools across the country face devastating budget shortfalls … it’s especially devastating to see that the conservative wing of the Supreme Court has issued a decision that will make it easier for states to take money away from public schools.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S....

Democrats urge CDC Director Redfield to address the threat of antimicrobial resistant infections compounding the public health threat posed by COVID-19   There are nearly three million antimicrobial resistant infections in the United States each year   Murray, Democrats: “It is critical you act to make sure the threat of...

In remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Murray called for a vote on her $430 billion bill to ensure child care providers, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities can continue to provide quality services to children and students across the country   Republican Senator Mike Lee blocked Senator Murray’s efforts   Senator Murray:...

Murray, Schumer bill will provide relief to students and families and ensure child care providers, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities can continue to provide quality services to children and students across the country   Bill will address growing inequities in our education system by funding services for students from low-income...

As COVID-19 deaths pass 126,000 and cases soar, Senator Murray presses health officials about Trump Administration’s response   Senator Murray: “I want to get to the point quickly and be blunt about it: the COVID-19 response in our country is still a disaster.”   Following mistakes, delays, and disparities with testing...

Senator Murray blasts Trump Administration for inadequate proposal on conflicted investment advice   After suing the Department of Labor to strike down the Obama-era fiduciary standard, Scalia took over the Department as Secretary and worked on the new, weaker proposal   Senator Murray: “Instead of moving ahead with this proposal...

Secretary Scalia instructed some DOL employees to return to their workplaces without a safety plan—even though many DOL offices are located in areas with high rates of COVID-19   Senator Murray slams Scalia’s risky decision and urges him to issue enforceable safety standards to protect his employees and all workers   Senator...