Press Releases

Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) and Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statements on the Committee’s 20-2 vote to advance the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act). The legislation...

The HELP Committee today voted 20-2 to advance legislation from Senator Murray and Senator Burr to strengthen the U.S. public health and medical preparedness and response system   PREVENT Pandemics Act reflects ideas from 41 bills and 35 of Murray and Burr’s senate colleagues    Murray: “Time...

Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held an executive session on the Prepare for and Responded to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), legislation recently introduced by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to strengthen the...

Provisions of the Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA), first introduced by Sen. Murray in 2016, will help develop national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, strengthens the sexual assault examiner workforce, and expands access to sexual assault examination services   WASHINGTON - As part of the omnibus...

Murray: “There’s no question this pandemic would have been worse if we didn’t have the benefit of years of medical research that happened long before it began… It’s important we take that lesson to heart as we work to better prepare for future public health threats.”   Burr: “By working as...

Relief from the American Rescue Plan has already saved the pensions of over 8,000 people whose hard-earned benefits were at risk of being cut   PBGC is currently reviewing applications that could provide relief to plans covering over 160,000 additional workers   Murray: “Thanks to the bill we passed a year ago, thousands of...

A record 14.5 million people got covered during the most recent open enrollment period   American Rescue Plan saved families getting coverage on the national exchange, on average, $2,400 a year on their health care premiums    Four in five consumers found coverage for less than $10 a month   Senator Murray: “A record...

American Rescue Plan helped support 150k child care providers caring for 5 million kids, and helped people with disabilities get the home care they’ve needed during the pandemic     (Washington, D.C.) – Today, ahead of the one year anniversary since the American Rescue Plan was signed into law, U.S. Senator Patty...

Over 99% of school districts have safely returned to in-person instruction thanks to American Rescue Plan’s $122 billion investment in our nation’s K-12 public schools & $3 billion for students with disabilities   Every state must use funds to address students’ learning loss    (Washington, D.C.) –...

PREVENT Pandemics Act takes common sense steps to act on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic response and improve the nation’s preparedness for future public health emergencies   The HELP Committee will vote on the legislation at a mark up hearing next week   Murray: “If there’s one thing we can all agree on,...

Murray: “After a pandemic that has pushed our nation’s unconscionable maternal mortality crisis in the wrong direction—these bipartisan bills represent much needed progress to help save lives and keep mothers healthy after birth.”   Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions...

Provision championed by Murray, colleagues will finally empower the FDA to regulate synthetic nicotine products   Senator Murray: “Dangerous nicotine products shouldn’t be on the market totally unregulated just because of an outdated legal loophole—and now they won’t be.”    (Washington,...

Murray and Burr schedule March 15th HELP session to mark up PREVENT Pandemics Act, which they plan to introduce soon   Murray: “By advancing the PREVENT Pandemics Act we will show people across the country that members on both sides of the aisle understand how important it is we take action to protect families and our economy...

Senator Murray: “Tonight, we voted in the Senate to say that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land. Democrats stood up and said women should make their own health care decisions. We trust women. We trust patients. We trust their doctors. We trust them to make their own decisions.”   ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S...

Abbott announced a recall last week after contaminated powder infant formulas led to multiple hospitalizations, one death Company received complaints related to the contaminated formula products as early as September 2021 Senators: “It is completely unacceptable that manufacturing conditions allowed a contaminated product to reach babies,...

Senator Murray: “I continue to be inspired by the Women’s National Team for demanding equal pay for equal work and proving to the country that change is possible when you stand up for what’s right.”   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and...

Defrauded Washington state borrowers will see $10.91 million in relief   Senator Murray: “After being cheated out of their education and their savings by a predatory for-profit college, these students need their loans discharged—and now, after years of waiting, I’m so glad to see that they’ll finally have this stress...

Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50-46 to confirm Dr. Robert Califf to be the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Ahead of today’s vote, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support this critical nomination at the...

Senate confirms Dr. Robert Califf by a vote of 50-46   Senator Murray: “At this critical moment, we need a trusted hand to lead the FDA—and Dr. Califf’s previous service in this role, and his career as one of the nation’s leading research scientists, give him the experience to take on this...

Senator Murray: “We can’t build back stronger, when our economy leaves out people who are ready and willing to take on good jobs.”   ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS HERE***   (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions...