Chair's Press

  ABC: Washington State senator 'frustrated' residents can't get tested for new coronavirus   Spokesman-Review: ‘Way behind the 8-ball’: Sen. Murray decries COVID-19 testing lag time, shortage as virus spreads   The Stranger: Patty Murray Grills Trump Administration Over Seattle’s Coronavirus Outbreak: “This...

Amid coronavirus outbreak, Murray, Wyden and 37 Democratic Senators urge the Trump Administration to prioritize patients’ access to care in order to promote public health   Senators demand Trump Health Department reverse efforts to promote junk plans and undermine Medicaid, and commit to ensuring that any potential coronavirus vaccine is...

At hearing with health officials from the CDC, NIH, HHS and FDA, Senator Murray presses officials about ability to quickly scale up testing   Senator Murray also asks about public health implications of not guaranteeing paid medical leave   Hearing comes following reports of new cases across the country, declaration of state of emergency...

CDC has urged businesses to plan for the coronavirus and its impact on workers   Labor Committee Democrats ask Scalia to outline his plan to protect workers, especially workers on the front-line of coronavirus response, low-income workers, and workers who may not be able to work remotely    Democrats: “As businesses work to...

CDC has urged schools to prepare for the possible spread of coronavirus   Education Committee Democrats ask DeVos to outline her plan for students, teachers, and other school staff, following her announcement of an Education Department coronavirus task force    Democrats: “We write to understand how the U.S. Department of...

Murray: “As people across the country are asking how to protect themselves and stay healthy, the Trump Administration is preparing to explain why it thinks the Supreme Court should take families’ health care away.”   Supreme Court announced today it would hear Republicans’ lawsuit which could jeopardize care for...

Senators question decision to ignore advice of public health experts and transport people infected with novel coronavirus on flight with uninfected people   Senators: “We are concerned the expertise of public health officials may not have been given necessary and appropriate weight, resulting in the potential exposure of uninfected...

EEOC staffing cuts would leave the agency with historically low staffing levels   Cuts come even after Congress increased agency funding for the express purpose of bolstering front-line and investigative staff   Senators: “We are deeply worried these cuts in personnel threaten the agency’s ability to meet the demand for its...

Murray cites Vice President Pence’s lack of public health experience and record of putting ideology over science   Vice President Pence mishandled one of the largest HIV outbreaks in the United States in recent decades   Murray: “Vice President Pence is neither a responsible nor a reliable selection to lead the coronavirus...

Murray: NLRB rule “shields the largest corporations from being held accountable for workers’ rights, and significantly restricts the ability of workers to bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions”   Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the...

Senator Murray and 10 fellow Democratic Senators write to Secretary Azar following his radio program statement implying the FDA might not review all vaping products   Azar’s comments suggest Trump Administration could allow major exceptions for FDA premarket review of new tobacco products   Trump Administration’s about-face...

Departments of Education and Labor propose rules allowing for federally funded service providers to discriminate against members of the LGBTQIA+ community and women   Proposed rules are part of the Trump Administration’s roll-out of similar rules at six other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human...

HHS proposes new rule allowing for federally funded service providers to discriminate against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, women, the non-religious, and religious minorities   Proposed rule is part of the Trump Administration’s roll-out of similar rules at seven other federal agencies, including the Departments of Labor and...

For almost two years, no dedicated senior public health expert has been in place as head of global health security at the National Security Council   Washington, DC - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), led 25 of their Senate...

After years of delay, Democratic senators call on the FDA to immediately take action to ban the use of electric shock devices on children and adults with disabilities   Until the FDA acts, the practice of using electrical shocks to punish children and adults with disabilities will still be allowed   Murray: “It is unconscionable...

  Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today urged the Trump Administration to fully fund pandemic preparedness and response efforts in light of the global Coronavirus outbreak, which has infected tens of thousands of individuals and killed more than 500...

Washington, D.C. – Senate Health Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) today released the following statement on the surprise medical billing proposals from the House Education and Labor...

Washington, D.C. – Following the Department of Health and Human Service’s announcement declaration that the 2019 novel coronavirus is a public health emergency, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led 48...

Trump Administration announces new guidelines for states seeking to convert Medicaid to block grants   States allowed to shift to block grant approach would have their federal Medicaid funding capped even during recessions and public health emergencies   Murray: “President Trump continues to make clear his number one priority when...

Senators respond to Trump’s comments at Davos that he would consider cutting Medicare & Social Security   Senators: “American workers who for decades have paid into Social Security and Medicare should not be forced to relinquish their health and retirement security to pay for your tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and...