Press Releases

Senator Murray and Wyden slam Trump Administration for abhorrent treatment of children and families in government care, demand briefing from Administration   Washington Post: Children in Trump Administration custody have been forced to go without toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, showers, appropriate care or supervision, or even adequate...

Ahead of Committee vote to advance her bipartisan health care costs legislation, Senator Murray called on her Republican colleagues to join Democrats to tackle larger health care issues like President Trump’s health care sabotage   Murray: “These are all promising steps that will help families and patients across the country, but I...

During Pride month, Murray and 30 Democratic senators sent a letter to Secretary Azar calling on the Department to maintain protections for the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of color, and other people who face health care discrimination   Senators: “No one should have to fear losing or being denied health care because of who they are...

Murray submitted comment opposing Department of Labor’s “joint employer” proposal, which would allow corporations to shirk their responsibility to workers   Murray urged the Department to withdraw the proposal, citing the harm it would cause to workers and children   Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray...

“This legislation helps Americans in three major ways: It ends  surprise billing, creates more transparency, and increases competition to bring down prescription drug costs.” — Chairman Lamar Alexander WASHINGTON, June 26, 2019 — The Senate health committee today approved by a vote of 20-3 the Lower Health...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee today released the following statement on the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to create a system of duplicative, lower-quality “industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.” The...

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2019 — After Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, policy experts and advocacy organizations across the spectrum voiced their support of the bipartisan legislation to deliver better health care at lower...

47 Years Ago, the passage of Title IX created unprecedented opportunities for women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people to find success both in academics and athletics   Members of Congress introduce resolution honoring the anniversary, reaffirm commitment to strengthening Title IX and ensuring equity in the education system   Washington, D.C....

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2019 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced an Executive Order to increase price transparency in the health care industry and expand access to direct primary care: “This Executive Order is consistent with...

Murray and Scott asked GAO to look at how the financial services industry has responded since the Trump Administration abandoned a rule requiring financial advisors to put their retirement clients’ interests before their own following the Fifth Circuit’s decision   Murray and Scott requested investigation on anniversary of the...

Senator Murray and 16 Democrats wrote to the Food and Drug Administration urging “proactive and expedient action” to protect kids from tobacco products   Letter comes ahead of ten year anniversary of the landmark Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act   A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and...

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2019 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today introduced S.1895, the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 — bipartisan legislation to deliver better health care at lower cost. Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray announced that the...

Senator Murray took to the Senate floor to denounce the Trump Administration’s nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk to the federal bench   Kacsmaryk has a history of targeting vulnerable communities, including fighting tooth and nail against LBGTQIA+ protections   Kacsmaryk has also been a fervent crusader against women’s...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, today released the following statements...

“This legislation will reduce what Americans pay out of their own pockets for health care in three major ways: First, it ends surprise billing; Second, it creates more transparency – there are seven bipartisan provisions that will: eliminate gag clauses and anti-competitive terms in insurance contracts, designate a non-profit...

Senate HELP Committee holds hearing on bipartisan legislation to lower health care costs   Murray highlighted how the bipartisan legislation would take steps to respond to issues like surprise billing, drug costs, vaccine hesitancy, maternal mortality, and more   Senator Murray also made clear the biggest health care issues still need to...

Democrats make clear to Republicans any meaningful effort to increase access to over-the-counter birth control must ensure affordability   Legislation issues challenge to Republicans who have yet to support ensuring any FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control is covered by insurance without cost-sharing and without requiring a...

Murray and Democrats take to the Senate floor to call out Republicans’ efforts to undermine Medicaid and health care for millions of people   Murray: “People across the country have been absolutely clear they want us to fight for families struggling with high health care costs, and help make sure everyone in our country can get...

Bill Would Make Millions of Workers Newly Eligible for Overtime Pay   WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Mark Takano (D-CA) today reintroduced legislation to make...

Murray sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Acosta on DOL’s decision to end the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (CCC) program and permanently close nine centers   Job Corps CCCs provide underserved youth in rural areas with job training and help the U.S. Forest Service conserve natural parks and lands, as well as respond to...