Chair's Press

Senators Murray and Wyden write to Treasury and IRS seeking explanation of decision to reverse 2015 policy on regulating lump-sum payouts to retirees   Lump-sum payouts help companies save money by dumping financial risk onto retirees—who also often receive less money than they would otherwise   2015 Notice made clear Treasury...

At HELP Committee Hearing, Senator Murray outlines key issues regarding health information technology as more hospitals adopt electronic health records      Use of electronic health records has skyrocketed since Congress passed the HITECH Act in 2009 to support adoption of health information technology      Murray...

Trump Administration filed letter in support of ruling that would fully strike down the Affordable Care Act   If Trump Administration gets its way, protections for people with pre-existing conditions would end, millions of people would lose their health coverage, and costs would skyrocket for millions more   Murray: “President Trump...

Senators write to Secretary Azar after report reveals Trump Administration’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) kept spreadsheet monitoring pregnancies of young women in its custody     Last year a federal judge issued an injunction barring ORR from obstructing pregnant unaccompanied minors in its custody from...

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 the White House proposal to reform the Higher Education Act. Senator Murray is currently working with Chairman Alexander on a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher...

Murray writes to CEO of Claire’s after FDA announcement last week confirming presence of asbestos in some Claire’s products   Claire’s has issued a recall of three cosmetics products since FDA’s announcement   Claire’s customers are mainly teens, tweens, and children, and the company serves approximately 900...

After court order, Department of Education finally implemented a 2016 “borrower defense” rule intended to protect students from predatory for-profit colleges   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...

Healthy Families Act Would Allow Millions of Workers to Earn Paid Sick Days   WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Labor,...

Homeless and foster youth often face major barriers and lack support when pursuing higher education and seeking out financial aid   Bipartisan legislation would improve financial aid processes and ask colleges and universities to improve outreach to and resources for homeless and foster students   (Washington, D.C.) –...

Murray, Duckworth, and Democratic colleagues in the Senate introduce bill to ensure access to reproductive health care regardless of income, race, location   Bill would lift current restriction preventing women receiving health coverage through government-sponsored plans from having access to the full range of reproductive health care...

At Senate HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray submitted a statement for the record outlining the need to increase aid, support, and investment in students in a comprehensive HEA reauthorization   Murray also highlighted the importance of easing the burden of verification and targeting FAFSA questions to ensure students are getting the...

Senator Murray criticized Trump Administration for reversing Treasury Department’s 2015 position on regulating lump-sum payouts, which save companies money by giving retirees more risk and often less money   2015 Notice made clear Treasury would propose rules to address the practice, Trump Administration’s new 2019 Notice reverses...

Senators highlight opposition to new gag on health care providers participating in Title X family planning program; call on GOP to stand up for women’s access to basic health care     Final rule from Trump Administration threatens millions of people’s access to contraception, wellness tests, cancer screenings, reproductive...

Senator Murray released a new oversight memo detailing opposition to the Trump Administration’s Title X rule from patients, experts, and stakeholders across the country   Memo features the comments of patients, providers, city and county officials, and religious organizations opposed to the Administration’s changes to the Title X...

Murray called on Republicans to live up to their claims on fighting for protections for people with pre-existing conditions and oppose judicial nominee who led brief arguing they should be struck down   Republican Senator once said Readler’s argument in the brief he led against families’ health care was “as far-fetched as any...

Murray, Davis sent two letters to DeVos on Department’s mismanagement of federal student loan program   Recent Inspector General report found internal failures by Department in oversight of student loan servicers that receive federal contracts   Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate...

At HELP hearing, Senator Murray speaks about importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy   Hearing on vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks comes as several states work to address measles outbreaks   WA State Secretary of Health spoke about the...

Murray, and 24 cosponsors, reintroduce legislation following recent incident where a pregnant woman detained by ICE went into labor prematurely, ending in a stillbirth   Murray first introduced the legislation last summer following reports of pregnant women in ICE custody receiving inhumane treatment   Last March, Trump Administration...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) blasted the Trump administration following reports that it is poised to set the salary threshold under which workers would be guaranteed overtime pay at $35,000, down from $47,476...

At an event hosted by the Center for American Progress, Senator Murray delivered the keynote address, highlighting her vision for higher education   As Senate works to reauthorize Higher Education Act, Murray laid out four priorities that must be included to help students succeed in higher education   Democratic priorities are focused...