Chair's Press

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a Committee hearing on Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Exploring Institutional Risk-sharing. In her opening statement, Murray noted the importance of holding colleges and universities...

Murray introduces legislation to expand access to preschool and improve early learning opportunities (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee introduced the Strong Start for America’s Children Act, legislation that would expand...

Murray: “Freedom from discrimination is a requirement for making sure all Americans have the opportunity to work hard and succeed.” (Washington, D.C) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a Committee hearing on oversight of the Equal...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee released the following statement commemorating the 50th anniversary of Head Start. “For fifty years, Head Start has helped young learners build their skills so they have the opportunity to learn,...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on House passage of legislation that would severely restrict a woman’s constitutionally protected access to reproductive care.  “Today’s vote is more of the same...

The Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity when applying for credit (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act (FDCA) of 2015, which would amend the...

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate introduced legislation on Wednesday that would have the effect of barring discrimination against LGBT people in credit if signed into law. The bill, known as the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act, was re-introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and in the U.S. Senate by Sen....

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the updated recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding gay men and blood donation. “The guidance released today was a step in the right direction,...

Announcement follows Murray-led letter urging HHS to act to ensure insurance companies uphold ACA requirements on women’s health  (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the announcement by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)...

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) joined with fourteen of their colleagues to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase consumer protections for patients seeking coverage for mental health and substance use services and...

Lawmakers Write, “Our First Priority Should Be Making Sure We Help These Students Any Way We Can.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and seven other Senate Democrats today sent a letter to Secretary of...

Murray calls for clear and consistent information to help students navigate college options Murray: “Expanding access to higher education couldn’t be more important for students who want to gain a foothold into the middle class.” (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at a HELP Committee hearing on Continuing America’s Leadership: Realizing the Promise of Precision Medicine for Patients. In her opening statement, Murray highlighted that it is one of her...

Following reports of violations, Murray and Democrats call on HHS to ensure ACA contraception coverage provision is fully implemented (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and 38 Senate Democrats sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services...

Amid reports that insurers aren’t providing women accurate information about birth- control coverage under the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Tuesday urged federal officials to take a stronger stance to ensure compliance with the law. In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Murray called for the...

If we have learned anything about the economy over the past few years, it is this: Real, sustainable and fair economic growth comes from the middle out, not the top down. If the middle class isn’t feeling secure, and if workers can’t climb their way up the ladder, it doesn’t matter how many millionaires are getting bonuses or how...

IF we have learned anything about the economy over the past few years, it is this: Real, sustainable and fair economic growth comes from the middle out, not the top down. If the middle class isn’t feeling secure, and if workers can’t climb their way up the ladder, it doesn’t matter how many millionaires are getting bonuses or how...

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) introduced the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $12 by 2020. The Raise the Wage Act would also index the federal minimum wage to the median wage, and gradually eliminate the...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) introduced the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $12 by 2020. The Raise the Wage Act would also index the federal minimum wage to the median wage, and gradually eliminate the...

Top Democrats laid down their minimum-wage marker on Capitol Hill on Thursday, setting up their party's middle-class-focused economic message heading into the 2016 elections campaigns. Their pitch: "$12 by '20" — a $12 per hour federal minimum wage by 2020, which they say will give a pay raise to nearly 38 million Americans. "This is a...