Press Releases

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after today’s announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuing new guidance on mask wearing: “I’m urging everyone who is eligible but who has not...

Senator Murray: “We have to end the cycle of crisis and complacency in public health that led us here.”   Senator Murray: “Before this pandemic struck, public health departments across the country were woefully understaffed and underfunded, and our nation was unprepared.”   ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S OPENING...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “The Path Forward: Building on Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”  Ranking Member Burr’s Full Prepared Opening Statement: “Thank you, Senator Murray for holding this hearing today. “Even before the...

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today released the following statement on the passing of former Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi:  “The news of Mike Enzi’s sudden passing is devastating for all of us who served with him in the U.S. Senate. Mike was a true problem solver, working across the aisle to build consensus on issues important to...

July 24th marks the 12-year anniversary of the last increase to the federal minimum wage, which has remained stagnant at $7.25 an hour since 2009   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement ahead of tomorrow’s...

4 in 10 women expect the COVID-19 pandemic to have a long-term impact on their finances   The average woman loses over $400,000 over a forty-year career due to the wage gap, and some women of color lose over $1,000,000 due to pay inequality by retirement   Women’s Retirement Protection Act would expand eligibility for...

Senator Murray: “While our ways of working and our workforce may have changed, the need for workers to be able to join together and have a voice in their wages and working conditions—without fear—remains as important as ever.”   (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee,...

Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Tim Scott (R-SC) reintroduced the New Opportunities for Value to Extend Lives (NOVEL) Act. This bipartisan legislation would update coding, coverage, and payment processes at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve seniors’...

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, at a mark-up, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, advanced the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021 by voice vote. Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) highlighted how this bill, which was led by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), makes...

Senate votes to confirm Jennifer Abruzzo by a vote of 51-50   Senator Murray: “Jennifer Abruzzo is the type of dedicated public servant who will make sure the NLRB is enforcing the law and protecting the rights of workers, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting to discharge her nomination and confirm her as General Counsel of...

Murray discussed progress made so far, the recent uptick in nationwide COVID cases, and stressed urgent need for action against future public health crises   Senator Murray: “Even after we are through this crisis, our work won’t be done. We have to make sure we learn from this history, and take action so we never repeat...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “The Path Forward: A Federal Perspective on the COVID-19 Response.” This is the Committee’s third hearing with federal officials on the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Ranking Member Richard Burr’s Prepared Opening...

Roll Call Op-ed: We already have child care and early education programs that work. Let’s invest in them By Sen. Richard M. Burr July 19, 2021  The strength of the relationship between a family and their child care provider is deeply important. It’s one of the many reasons parents today spend months, if not years, researching...

Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Better Wound Care at Home Act, bipartisan legislation to update payment rules at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to give Americans better access to cutting-edge technology and treatment options used in home health settings. “Outdated...

Senator Murray: “Confirming these highly qualified nominees is an important step to reversing the damage of the last four years, rebuilding our country stronger and fairer,  and making our economy truly work for workers and their families.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, during a hearing, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA),...

Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held itsnomination hearing for David Weil to be the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division for the Department of Labor and Gwynne Wilcox and David Prouty to be Members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Excerpt of Ranking Member Richard Burr’s...

Senate votes to confirm Jocelyn Samuels by a vote of 52-47   Senate votes to confirm Seema Nanda by a vote of 53-46   Senator Murray: “Workers are the backbone of our economy. That means, every one of us should be fighting for them, and voting to confirm Commissioner Samuels and Ms. Nanda who will fight for them as...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after voting against advancing the nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo to serve as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel from the Committee: “At the same time President...

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted 50-47 to confirm Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor: “Under Ms. Su’s leadership, California suffered one of the largest cases of unemployment insurance...