Press Releases

Senator Murray blasts Trump Administration for inadequate proposal on conflicted investment advice   After suing the Department of Labor to strike down the Obama-era fiduciary standard, Scalia took over the Department as Secretary and worked on the new, weaker proposal   Senator Murray: “Instead of moving ahead with this proposal...

Secretary Scalia instructed some DOL employees to return to their workplaces without a safety plan—even though many DOL offices are located in areas with high rates of COVID-19   Senator Murray slams Scalia’s risky decision and urges him to issue enforceable safety standards to protect his employees and all workers   Senator...

Senator Murray responded to today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down law to restrict women’s access to abortion   Senator Murray: “Today’s ruling is a victory for every person’s right to make their own choices about their own body—and a reminder of just how important it is we keep fighting to defend the...

“Most of the time he's with people who have been tested, he's been tested...but there are times when he could wear a mask or the vice president could wear a mask. I think it would be a sign of strength if he would from time to time wear a mask and remind everyone it's a good way [to slow the spread of COVID-19].” — Senator...

Senator Murray: “This rule is yet another example of Secretary DeVos keeping relief from those who need it most in order to serve her partisan privatization agenda.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the...

Proposed rule from Labor Department would discourage financial advisors from considering how investments accomplish environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) good   Labor Department proposal ignores findings that show ESG investments outperform traditional investments   Senator Murray: “We know that by focusing on the...

Senator Murray slammed the Trump Administration for pressing ahead with its effort to strike down health care for tens of millions of people during a pandemic   A Republican victory in court would strip health care from tens of millions of people, end protections for pre-existing conditions, increase heath care costs, and more   The...

Trump Administration is ending federal funding for 13 COVID-19 testing sites at the end of the month   Move comes as several states continue to see COVID-19 cases increase at record breaking rates   Senator Murray: “The pandemic is clearly getting worse in states nationwide—and instead of trying harder to stop it, President...

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2020 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said on the Senate floor that “now, during this pandemic when we have got our eye on the ball,” is the time for Congress to act on needed changes to prepare for the next pandemic.   Alexander discussed some key takeaways from...

At HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray warned her colleagues that immediate action is still needed to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic   Senator Murray: “I want to be absolutely clear from the start: reflecting on how we prepare for the next crisis is no substitute for responding to the crisis at hand, which has infected over 2...

While the nation is in the midst of responding to COVID-19, the United States Congress should take stock now of what parts of the local, state, and federal response worked, what could work better and how, and be prepared to pass legislation this year to better prepare for the next pandemic, which will surely come.” — Senator Lamar...

Recent reporting indicates that EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon unilaterally overhauled the EEOC’s conciliation process to addresses workplace harassment and discrimination—without consideration from the full EEOC   New pilot would make it harder for EEOC to hold employers accountable for workplace harassment and...

Senator Murray and Congresswoman DeLauro press Secretary Azar on Trump Administration’s removal of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) employees from COVID-19 vaccine project leadership   Removal of BARDA employees from leadership positions undermines scientists and threatens to create unnecessary delays in the...

Millions of FAFSA applicants and student loan borrowers do not file taxes and thus have struggled to access the direct payments made available through the CARES Act   In a letter, Murray, Wyden push Trump Administration to conduct public awareness campaign to reach all eligible students and their families   Senators Murray, Wyden:...

Senator Murray: “ The reports from the HHS inspector general lay bare the troubling gaps in safety and reporting protocols that are far too often leaving children under federal care in harm’s way.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...

Senator Murray and Congresswoman DeLauro press Secretary Azar on Trump Administration’s slow process for disbursing funds for nursing home oversight   CARES Act provided the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services $200 million for COVID-19 response—at least half of which is to be spent on supporting oversight of nursing...

Trump Administration’s updated report on COVID-19 demographic data remains incomplete and still falls short of what Congress required   Report shows that race and ethnicity data is still missing in over half of COVID-19 case reports   Report fails to include data on sex and geographic regions   Administration’s previous...

“In 2016, there were almost 884 million visits nationwide between patients and physicians... If 15-20 percent of those were to become remote permanently due to telehealth expansion during COVID-19—that would produce a massive change in our health care system. Our job should be to ensure that change is done with the goals of better...

Murray slams decision to weaken protections against discrimination in health care during a pandemic and amid nationwide cry for action against racism   Murray: “This is presidential malpractice… We need a leader focused on keeping everyone safe and healthy. Instead, President Trump chose to focus on politics with a...

Senator Murray: “As students across the country are struggling to make ends meet in the face of unprecedented financial challenges, Secretary DeVos’ efforts to deny some much-needed aid is cruel.”    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education,...